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/.