Knit Happens

Looking for a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon? Why not take a trip down to Adams Morgan and visit Crafty Bastards? Crafty Bastards DC is celebrating its fifth year and is held rain or shine. This exhibition and sale of crafty goodness (everything from yarn and pottery to live entertainment) is all about the artists – both local and national.

Want to find a local handspun? Need to find a unique gift for that crafter in your life? Then this is the place to go. Worried that your significant other will get bored, never fear! There are a number of workshops and demos they can attend – everything from bicycle maintenance to pottery wheels to yoga!

Need another reason? Our friend and partner Knit-A-Gogo will be there to hold two knitting workshops – and we’ll be sharing a bit of space in her big booth! (Thanks Danielle!) Visit the both of us in Booth #1 and say hi.

Want to be in the know on all the Crafty Bastards details before Sunday? Check out their webpage at the City Paper or their blog.

The new fall yarns and books are coming in faster than we can unpack them!

Here are a few pictures of the lovely Rowan yarns we got in last week, courtesy of Steph.

The new RYC Extra Fine Merino DK is a soft springy yarn in bright clear colors that’s machine washable – we’ve had quite a few people buying this already! Perfect for any DK weight project.

The British Sheep Breeds yarns are a new addition to the Rowan Purelife line – these are about as close to straight off the sheep as you can get! These are totally undyed – the natural color of the sheep is the color of the yarn. (It even smells like sheep!)

The pattern book has beautiful classic patterns for men and women that make the most of this delightfully traditional chunky weight yarn – and you can read about the breeds of sheep that the yarn comes from!

Also new to the Rowan Purelife line is Organic Wool Naturally Dyed – 100% certified organic merino wool dyed entirely with natural plant dyes.

The accompanying pattern book has lovely pullovers and cardigans featuring the soft DK weight yarn.

We’ve also got new colors in Rowan Felted Tweed! This is a great classic fall yarn that knits up beautifully – the new Rowan Magazine has some lovely patterns for this.

Yep, this is another DK weight yarn! There’s a definite trend toward knitting in finer weight yarns now, so expect to see lots of patterns written for DK and 4-ply – gorgeous and classic!

On the chunkier side, new colors are in for Rowan Cocoon as well, along with a pattern book featuring this fabulously soft and luxurious yarn.

Last but not least, Knit Happens is now carrying hand dyed merino roving from Chameleon Colorworks.

Try your hand at spinning, felting, or making thrummed mittens for the winter with this soft and colorful fiber!

There’s plenty more arriving every day, so stop in and see what’s new!

Yes, it’s true…yesterday we received 20 boxes full of new Rowan yarns, books, and the much anticipated Rowan Magazine 44. There hasn’t been time to take many pictures as we are frantically unpacking boxes and getting yarn and books up on shelves.

However, here is a bit of a preview:

Cocoon–lovely new rich, saturated colors
British Sheep Wool–this yarn is divine, it smells like sheep and comes from the little guys over in Britian
Pure Life Organic Wool–nothing but natural organic goodness
Extra Fine Merino DK–fans of the Jaeger Merino Extra Fine will love this yarn
Rowan Big Wool–fabulous new colors and old favorties

The pattern support this year is amazing. We’ll have many more pictures later in the day. In the meantime, remember that tonight is Late Night so plan to come down and view all this fabulous yarn for yourself.

Always wanted to try Fair Isle or stranded knitting but hesitated to jump in on your own? Create beautiful colorwork in the Fair Isle Sweater Class, starting September 21st!

You’ll knit the lovely Bohus-inspired Enid Cardigan from Interweave Knits as knitwear designer Olga Buraya-Kefelian guides you through learning continental and combined knitting, steeking, and more!

(Don’t want a cardigan? Make it as a pullover instead!)

Click here to sign up!

(photo credit: Interweave Knits)

That’s right, we’ve got the gorgeous new colors from Lorna’s Laces in Shepherd Sock and Lion and Lamb! (Seriously. You need to come see these. Pictures do not do justice.)

There’s Ashburn, with tones of plum, green, brown, and gold… Maple Grove, in autumnal reds, golds, and browns…

South Shore, with cool blues, greens, lavenders… Woodlawn, with warm golds and oranges…

And one of the special edition Color Commentary colors, (all named after celebrity knitbloggers)…

Franklin’s Panopticon!

Come sample these luscious new colors for yourself! We’re knitting up socks, sweaters, and scarves in them already!

(photo credit: Lorna’s Laces)

Summer’s pretty much over (say it ain’t so!) but we’ve got something that washed up all the way from Nova Scotia just in time to help you hold on to those memories of sand and sea – the lovely Sea Silk from Hand Maiden Fine Yarn.

A luxurious silk combined with SeaCell, (a cellulose based fiber made with seaweed) fingering weight Sea Silk has gorgeous sheen and drape, perfect for all your lace projects. At 400 meters, just one skein is enough to create a beautiful knitted or crocheted scarf.

Don’t let that limit your imagination though… we’ve got enough to create some stunning garments too! (Some of us are already knitting Stitch Diva’s Goddess pattern in Sea Silk!)

Hurry in and take a look – this yarn will go out faster than the tide!

(photo credit: Hand Maiden Fine Yarn)