New Merchandise

Some new items have arrived in time for knitting through the long winter months.

Plymouth's "Happy Choices" is a piece of knit fabric that may be unraveled at one end, worn like a scarf, and reknitted into socks, mittens, hats, whatever. These fabrics have been handpainted in a variety of designs, but who knows what they will look like when reknitted! We also have plain fabrics in a natural color, if you would like to handpaint your own. In total, there is close to 400 yds of superwash wool and nylon in a fingering weight.

"Cotton Kisses" from Plymouth is a cotton blend yarn, dk weight, that comes with three buttons. There's enough yarn to make one of two infant/toddler sweaters from the patterns that are included. One is a cardigan, as shown in the picture, and the other is a pullover.

There's still room in our "Two socks on circular needles" class. Call the shop or e-mail me to register. To celebrate the new year, Noro's Kureyon sock yarn will be on sale at 15% off until January 15th.

We're beginning a new book after the first of the year: "Back on Blossom Street" by Debbie Macomber. Scheduled dates are Thursdays, January 8, 15, 22, and 29. Remember that we've canceled some sessions due to the weather, so let me know if you plan on coming.

As I'm writing this entry, we are having yet another winter storm. My guess is that we've had another 12 inches of snow, and the wind is howling! A good night to sit indoors and knit!

I'd like to wish you all a wonderful Holiday season, and the best in 2009! Thank you for a wonderful 2008!

Fur Trimmed Pillbox Hat

Here's a new pattern--I have this wonderful alpaca/merino/silk blend in a single ply and loads of fur fabric and wanted to come up with a simple project to use them both. When I modeled this hat, I heard comments like "a bad hair day" and "looks like it came from Dr. Zhivago"!

FUR-TRIMMED PILLBOX HAT
Materials: 1 100gm (197.8 yd) skein Araucania’s Azapa (30% alpaca, 45% merino, 15% silk, 10% donegal) color #802, tan
Size 15, 24-inch circular needles
Size 15 double-pointed needles; alternatively you may use a second circular or the magic loop method for finishing the top of the hat
stitch marker
fur fabric, strip approximately 6" wide by 24" long
Gauge: 2.5 st/inch in circular stockinette
Dimensions: Before felting: 10.5" tall, approximately 25 1/4" circumference
After felting: 4" tall; approximately 5 ½" in diameter, measured on the inside of the hat
Directions:Using the circular needle, cast on 72 stitches. Place a stitch marker and join in the round. Knit for 10 ½ inches, approximately 28 rounds. Purl 3 rounds to give the top a more defined edge.
Begin decreasing the top:
Round 1: *Knit 7, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: *Knit 6, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 3: *Knit 5, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 4: *Knit 4, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 5: *Knit 3, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 6: *Knit 2, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 7: *Knit 1, knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 8: *Knit 2 together; repeat from * to end of round.
Draw tail through remaining 7 loops and weave in loose ends.
Felt the hat and dry over a container shaped like a pill-box hat, such as a cookie tin.
When dry, attach the fur fabric:
Fold approximately 1/2-inch of the long edges of the fabric to the inside and hem, using a blanket stitch at 1/4" intervals and a doubled thread. Pin the fabric to the felted hat, using lots of pins. Hand-stitch this fabric to hem of hat, fitting to match the circumference. Trim the short-edges, if necessary. When satisfied with the fit, seam the short edges together, on the wrong side. If desired, take the upper long edge of the fur to the felted fabric to secure.

There's lots of luscious colors in the Azapa, and three colors of fur to match!

Please do not copy this pattern or hat for sale. You may knit the pattern for yourself or family/friends.

It's been doin' nuttin but snowin' here in northern Michigan. We woke up to a foot (at least) of fresh snow this morning. It is beautiful!!!

We've had to cancel the last two book club evenings due to the weather--we'll continue to plan on Thursday evenings, because eventually the weather should settle down. If you plan on coming, please let me know. Give me your phone number so that we can call you if we cancel. We have a couple of regular members that drive from Traverse City.

I've been searching for new patterns that knit up quickly (in time for the holidays) and cheaply (in case you haven't heard, we are in a recession!) I've found two great hats and have been able to knit up one.

It's called the Republic Hat, and you can download the pattern for free at Ravelry or at http://niksknits.blogspot.com/. It's a very easy pattern, and the hat is easily knit up in a couple of hours. I knit it in Esther Bitran's Socos (88 yds/100 gms). It required just a little bit of a second skein, so you might want to consider purchasing 3 skeins to be able to knit a matching scarf or mittens. It sells in the shop here for $12 per skein. Alternatively you could use Encore Chunky, Plymouth's Baby Alpaca Grande or a number of other yarns that knit at 3 st/inch. You'll also need a giant button for this hat.

The other hat is also bulky, the pattern calls for Plymouth's Baby Alpaca Grande, one skein. I'll try to get this one knit as soon as possible and post the picture, but you can find the pattern at http://wallisknits.blogspot.com. The name of the pattern is "Marlo".

Hope you are all doing well. I'm wishing wonderful Holidays for each and everyone of you!

It looks like winter has arrived here in northern Michigan. Over the last several days, we've accumulated 6-8 inches of snow, and there's more in the forecast. Time to knit some warm mittens, scarves, sweaters, and socks!



No new yarns or patterns have arrived in the last couple of weeks. I've been working on the new class schedule and the models for the class projects. I've also been rebuilding the website, which should go "live" sometime this week. Look for the new class schedule on the new site. You will be able to link to this blog from the website.

One of our new class offerings will be the "Tech Square Afghan", using the booklet published by FiberTrends. The afghan is composed of twelve squares, each using a different knitting skill. Each month, we will offer a class to produce one of the squares. You may choose any or all of the classes, as you desire. This project is a great way to build or improve your knitting skills. In the spring, look for a similar lace knitting skill builder.

Thanksgiving is this Thursday. I wish you and yours a very happy holiday, with lots of laughter and good eats.

Well, we did it--Rory won his election for sheriff last night by a narrow margin. So now we can get back to work and play and life as normal! Thanks to everyone for your support.

We finished the chemo cap project last week. We were able to donate 30 caps to Munson's Cancer Services through the work of 13 knitters. Many knitters made caps from their own stash to contribute to the project. The value of the yarn donated by the shop was $362. We will continue this annual event.

Jan Isherwood, the former owner of the Yarn Market, is recovering nicely. She is in Cardiac Rehab, and can't wait to get done! She stops in regularly, so if you have any wishes for her, please forward them to me.

New Yarns since my last entry:

Noro's Iro--a bulky blend of wool and silk in Noro's fabulous colorways
Southwest Trading Company's Infinity--a laceweight 100% soy
Southwest Trading Company's Therapi--wool, silk, and jadeite, in a light worsted weight
Plymouth's Knitcol--a self-patterning superwash wool, light worsted weight
Plymouth's Ashton--an alpaca, wool and silk blend in a sport weight
Queensland's Bebe Cotsoy--a worsted weight cotton and soy blend

We've also received some new patterns from Cottage Creations, Nancy Lindberg, Lisa Knits, and a new designer, Jane Bigelow. We have copies of Mason Dixon's new book, Outside the Lines; Simply Shetland's book 5, Roxanna's Garden, and Melissa Morgan Oakes' book, 2-at-a-time Socks, to knit 2 socks at one time on one circular needle.

The Knitters Book Club finished The Shop on Blossom Street and is now hearing A Good Yarn, both by Debbie Macomber. For those of you who haven't heard, The Knitters Book Club meets weekly to listen to an audiobook while knitting and enjoying a light meal. The group has decided to keep this going, barring really bad weather, and avoiding holidays. We'd love to have new members, so keep this activity in mind for the long winter months. Currently we meet every Thursday evening from 5-9 p.m. The cost is $7 per session to cover the cost of the meal provided. We plan to continue with the Blossom Street series. This group is evolving as it is picking up steam, it will become what you make of it--so please join us. Be sure to let me know that you plan on coming so that I can include you in the meal count.

One class remains on this year's schedule, the double-knitted headband, November 15, from 10 am to 4 pm. It is not by accident that this date coincides with opening day deer hunting. So if you're a hunting widow, join us for this fun class! Headbands make wonderful, quick gifts! Let me know if you have any requests for the next class schedule!

I plan on updating the website in the near future, and will link this blog--making everything easier to access from one location.

As always, let me know how we're doing--Connie and I want to be your full service resource for your knitting needs!

Welcome Fall

This is Labor Day weekend, the official end to the fall season. Summer is our busy time, with seasonal residents and tourists relaxing near our beautiful Crystal Lake. Last night, we had our official good-bye to summer beach fire. The stars were absolutely stunning, the Milky Way was so bright. Got to see a couple of satellites fly by!

The new fall yarns are starting to arrive. New to our shop so far is:

Debbie Bliss Luxury Donegal Tweed, Aran and Bulky weights

Araucania Azapa, a worsted weight alpaca-wool-silk-donegal blend

Ella Rae's Jaspe Wool, a self-striping worsted weight

new colors of Noro Silk Garden and Kureyon

new colors of Opal sock yarn

new colors of Claudia's laceweight silk

Interlacements Spiderweb

Noro's pattern books: Family and World of Nature vol. 24

Debbie Bliss magazine

Debbie Bliss Winter Essentials and Cashmerino Collection

Sirdar's Little Speckled Chicks and Tiny Tots DK

And lots, lots, lots more expected throughout October!

The new class schedule is posted at the website, http://www.theyarnmarket.com/

A big thank-you to everyone for supporting my husband in his campaign for Benzie County Sheriff. On August 5, he won the Republican nomination by a landslide. Now on to the general election on November 4!

For those of you who remember the previous owner of the shop, Jan Isherwood:

Two weeks ago, Jan suffered a major heart attack and lost 60% of her heart. A stent was placed and she feels much better. We're hopeful that she will be able to regain most of the loss through Cardiac Rehab over the next few months. If you would like to drop her a note, e-mail it to me at shop@theyarnmarket.com and I'll deliver it to her personally.

I've been working on some projects for shop models. Completed are the Inside-Outside Scarf, using Noro's Silk Garden, 2 skeins. The pattern is available for free at http://www.knittinguniverse.com/downloadsguniverse.com/downloads. The pattern stitch utilizes a "knit one below" technique and really shows of the beautiful colors of Noro. However, there is a 2 stitch edge border that is quite irregular and wants to curl under. So I would recommend amending the pattern for a 3-5 stitch border and to slip the first stitch of every row.

I've also completed a baby sweater that is really adorable. From Sirdar's leaflet no. 1764, this v-neck cardigan has a decorative border and lace stems for flowers.

Don't forget our book nights. In October, we will be beginning the Blossom Street series by Debbie Macomber. While we listen to the books on tape, we will be knitting! A light supper is provided.

Looking forward to seeing each and everyone of you this fall!

Mittens, Lace and a lost friend

Our dear friend, Blair, lost his battle with melanoma this past weekend. While he was sick, I began knitting a prayer shawl for his wife, Joanne. I didn't get it finished in time, but I did give it to her during his visitation. He was only 44, a Michigan State Police trooper.

The prayer shawl pattern came from Debbie Macomber's book, Back on Blossom Street. The pattern was designed by Myrna Stahman and can be found at http://www.debbiemacomber.com/. I used Claudia's Handpainted Silk Lace 20/2 in the colorway, Jungle. When I gave it to Joanne, I asked her to think about it like a knitted hug; I hope it helps in her grief.

Starting to think about fall classes. We will offer a class in thrummed mittens. Thrums are made from small pieces of roving and knitted into the mitten, leaving the ends to the inside. For one of my class models, I used Lamb's Pride and Kraemer's Mauch Chunky Roving in several colors. For the other, I used Noro's Silk Garden and the Mauch Chunky Roving in black. Look for the dates for the class at my website, http://www.theyarnmarket.com/.

If you have requests for any other classes, please let me know.

Yarn reps have been showing off their new fall lines of both yarns and patterns. I have some beautiful new stuff coming, some really exciting yarns that are blends of fibers, spectacular colors, and wonderful textures. Patterns by new designers seem to be leaning back to basics, for people with "real" shapes and sizes. There will be lots of patterns for men's sweaters. Full length coats are everywhere. The new yarns and patterns will begin arriving in August. In order to make room, I've got lots of yarn on sale, some discounted to 75%.

Welcome to the Yarn Market

This first posting to this website is a continuation of my first blog at live.spaces.com. That site will be discontinued.

Yesterday was World-Wide Knit in Public Day. We had the most beautiful weather, warm, sunny, with a wonderful breeze coming in off the lake. Knitters had such a wonderful time that they wanted to do it again sometime before next year! Other folks learned the art of kumihimo. We are looking forward to next summer's event already!

We still have room in our finishing workshop, scheduled for June 21st. This workshop is designed to help you finished a project that you have already knitted. The summer schedule of all classes is posted on our website, http://www.theyarnmarket.com/.