Skein Merino/Cashmere Fingering: deep colors and soft wool just call out to be made into a shawl.

The most delightful yarn floated into space just ahead of Hurricane Irene: Skein HandDyed Yarns from Australia. This gorgeous stuff, dyed by Kristen Finlay, is available on Skein’s Etsy site and at our shop – so far, nowhere else. Another example of how special fibre space is!

We have three of Skein’s yarns in: the Bluefaced Leicester Sock, the Merino/Cashmere Fingering, and the Merino/Silk Sport. Kristen’s amazing colorways shine in each of these special fibre blends, so this shipment won’t last long. Pop on down to the shop to find out how they dye down under – and read on to find out what to make with the yarn you buy.

Brooklet Cowl: One side lace, one side stockinette, both sides lovely.

Bluefaced Leicester Sock: These are generous hanks of yarn, with 437 yards of superwash Bluefaced Leicester wool. Use two different colors of this wonder-yarn to make Cecily Glowik MacDonald’s Brooklet Cowl – an ingeniously constructed reversible cowl with one side in a simple lace pattern and the other in stockinette. Or, if hats are more your thing, try Kelly McClure’s Sockhead Hat – so cute and would show off a variegated colorway nicely. [As always, consider making one for yourself and one for a lucky gift recipient come holiday time.]

Merino/Cashmere Fingering: Kristen again gives us a generous 437 yards of yarn – this time of 80% merino and 20% cashmere fingering weight yarn. We think these skeins are crying out to become shawls. Select two complementary colorways to make Carina Spencer’s Whippoorwill, or follow Kristen’s own lead and knit Rose Beck’s And So Are You.

The Snuggler hoodie can be made with or without a hood - you just need to decide whether you want to wear it with jeans or a nice black skirt!

Merino/Silk Sport: A fabulous blend of 50% merino and 50% silk, just right for a drapey cowl or a luxurious sweater. Try Laura Nelkin’s Snuggler, a hoodie with lace on the sleeves and a slight cowl neck, to get you into fall with chic simplicity, or Jennifer Lang’s Ribbon Candy Cardigan for a cozy yet stylish winter garment. For a lighter feel, make Cecily Glowik MacDonald’s Gavotte, with a super-cute drape in the front.

Whatever you decide to make, we’re here to help you select yarn and to admire the garment when you’re finished!

A lovely customer stopped by this morning and asked how we all were doing, as she had not seen a post from us in quite some time. I didn’t believe her until I opened up the site and saw that our last post was a full ten days ago…I guess last week was a little nuts? I wish that I could say that an earthquake and hurricane meant that lots of stitching happened, but that would be a lie. I hope that the possible end of the world proved to be more successful for the rest of you. The only thing that I have to show for it is a completed Albers Cowl..something that I have had completely done for at least a week or more but just hadn’t seamed up. Like any last minute crafter, I was motivated to finish the darn thing last night with only a few minutes to spare before we left for the Cirque de Solei show in Baltimore. I thought it would be quite festive at the show and would help keep me warm in the cold arena. This isn’t the first time that I have skipped putting on makeup or properly styling my hair because I wasn’t completely done MAKING my wardrobe  for the evening. I once made two out of town guests wait for me to finish knitting a ribbed sweater so that I could wear it out that night. I freely admit that I get a bit fixated on a project needing to be done for a certain occasion and then force everyone around me to wait for me finish it before said occasion is allowed to begin.  Hey, at least it forces me to finish things…as we know that is a problem.

So here it is, my Albers Cowl in all its glory. I loved this project! I have no idea what all of these yarns are…they were all scrap pieces in my stash. I know that there are several colors of Neighborhood Fiber Company. The great yellow is Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock. The pop of red is Dragonberry from Dragonfly. The deep rich purple is Wollmeise (aka unobtainium). Ok, so it looks like I DO know what all of the yarns are!

The blues of this Moody Kerchief mirror the color of the sky and the sea during a storm. Let's hope this is as close as we get to one!

It’s been an interesting week, weather-wise. First, space had a shaky day on Tuesday with the East Coast Earthquake. Our walls really shook, but nothing was damaged, and – most important – all the yarn is safe. Today, we’ve had some pretty severe thunderstorms. Now, we’re headed into a weekend that could see more big storms from Hurricane Irene. What’s a knitter to do? Grab some yarn and batten down the hatches, of course.

Hurricane-level storms are no joke. Make sure you’re prepared, and if – like some of our knitters – you’re finding your beach vacation was canceled, make sure you listen to the authorities. Wherever you are, we know you’ll want yarn and needles handy, to take the edge off your nervousness and entertain you whether the power goes out or not.

You’ll want a fuzzy, comforting yarn for the storms this weekend – and, from bulky Techno to sport-weight Road to China Light, we’ve got pattern ideas for you.

Knit up a La Luna Cowl out of Techno to bring a little color to our stormy Irene weekend.

Blue Sky Alpacas Techno is a fairly new bulky single-strand yarn. We’re in love with its saturated colors and the speed with which projects knit up in the yarn without feeling heavy or too thick. We suggest you make Elizabeth Mautz-Redmann’s beautiful La Luna Cowl, which is a quick knit with waved ribbing to keep things interesting. This is a great intermediate beginner project and takes just four skeins of Techno.

The Fibre Company Organik is perfect for color fiends. A single-ply yarn, it’s made of wool, alpaca, and silk. Each fibre takes the dye a little differently, and the overall effect is almost iridescent. The perfect yarn to stare at during long, stormy nights or lost weekends when you have to stay inside. Make a two-color Moody Kerchief out of Organik and its cousin Savannah, or get in touch with your dramatic side by knitting the long, cabled Bella’s Mittens (you never know when something supernatural will emerge from the storm).

Ysolda Teague's Peaks Island Hood looks chic with the hood up or down - perfect for any weather.

Mirasol Miski is to die for – worsted weight and 100% baby llama. You can picture hugging a baby llama during a storm, can’t you? We thought so. Use your Miski to make some cozy hand mitts like the ever-popular Fetching (a free Knitty pattern) or the Peaks Island Hood, a versatile hooded scarf that will keep you dry no matter how the rain is pounding.

Keep yourself warm and happy by knitting Cecily Glowik MacDonald's Lavaliere cardigan in gorgeous Road to China Light.

Road to China Light is another Fibre Company masterpiece: a sport-weight blend of alpaca, silk, cashmere, and camel that has gorgeous complex colors and a lovely drape. Use it to make Evelyn Clark’s beautiful Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl, or wrap yourself in Cecily Glowik MacDonald’s Lavaliere cardigan, which features smocking details at the edges and in a placket on the back.

Whatever you decide to make, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Come on by and engage in some yarn-petting therapy!

I like to have a variety of projects going at the same time. I feel my knitting life is balanced when I have a sweater, a shawl, and a pair of socks on the needles. But lately my project bags have been full of bigger knits, and a small and quick knit is a welcome break. I like the kind of project that can be completed in a few days, like a knitted toy.

my Spud & Little Lamb

I’m still absorbing the cuteness in Susan B. Anderson’s Spud and Chloë at the Farm, and I love the twisted loop stitch used to create the fleece in these little ones. The technique is time-consuming, but after a few rows I became quite efficient at it. Stop by the shop if you need a demonstration! I love the combinations people have created with Spud—the project gallery shows everything from green sheep to rainbow sheep.

just a sleeve and a half to go!

These little farm animals are a surprisingly fast knit and sure to impress. I made them out of Spud & Chloë sweater (55% wool, 45% organic cotton), one of my favorites. This yarn truly looks great knitted at different gauges. It compresses nicely on size 4 needles for the sheep, and on larger needles the plies softly relax to fill the looser gauge. I’m knitting the Brigid Jacket (Ravelry) from Vintage Modern Knits, available at the shop. I’m really impressed with the stitch definition and the way the cables pop off this fibre. The yarn is super soft, drapes elegantly, and comes in a happy palette of colors that sound like they belong in a playground (Root Beer, Grass, Waterslide). It’s also user-friendly, as it is machine washable!

Photo © Michelle Sprouse

Another project I want to use this yarn for is the Leafy Baby Blanket by Leyla Alieva (free on Ravelry). The calm pattern of leaves branching out is lovely and it looks fun to knit! I can’t resist a lace leaf design. It uses three skeins of the soft and easy to wash Spud & Chloë Sweater, a perfect match for a family welcoming a new baby!

If you haven’t read it yet, you should read this article by author Peg Aloi who says that we have lost sight of what it means to be a tough woman because we are embracing femine and domestic type activities…you know, like knitting. Cuz making your own sweater makes you soft. Obviously, we disagree. I find it incredibly liberating to be able to make my own clothing. And really, nothing scares off a man at a bar more than holding five US#00 double points in your hands. So here was Pat’s brilliant email to us this morning about this article:

I can’t respond to this article because you have to be a “member” If I were a “member” I’d cancel my membership.

I think the author is completely out of touch with the real world. As you all know, I am over 70, still working full-time and still called on to be aggressive, patient, innovative, etc. This writer is obviously living in the dark ages. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt knitted and delivered “socks for soldiers” in the 1940s to the troops in Japan. Mrs. Hoover’s baby blanket pattern is available on Ravelry – 90 years later.

I can’t wait to hear how many women respond to that article.

 

Football season has almost officially started, and last Friday I got the chance to go to a preseason Steelers game at Fedex field. I was, of course, knitting. During half time, the stadium put a large message up on the jumbotron stating that we should report any inappropriate activity that could be ruining our enjoyment of the game. My husband turned to me and told me that he was going to report me. Why? Because I was knitting. Apparently this isn’t “appropriate” for a football game in his opinion. (Yet bouncing cheerleaders are?) For me, football season is the best knitting time. It is four hours every week of dedicated knitting time. So it has me thinking that I need a football season project…something that I only work on during the Steeler games. I could absolutely be finishing one of several black and gold projects that I have started in past seasons, but what is the fun in that. I am instead thinking that it would be an ideal time to dedicate to my holiday gifts. This means that I have only a couple more weeks to make my gift list and determine what I am knitting for whom and gather my materials together. If you are also a football watcher, let me know what you plan to work on during the season.

Yesterday when our order of Malabrigo Rasta arrived, I was doing ok. I didn’t even open the bags. Our staff put out the boxes at 10% off, and people started coming through the door and rummaging through the boxes. Then Marsha came in. She started making a pile. She said that she likes to keep the Rasta in her stash for emergency knitting projects. She had recently been told that she was attending someone’s birthday party and needed a fast gift. Rasta could be worked up into a scarf in just a couple of hours. She said it was “stockpiling” (since that word sounds so much better than “hoarding.”) Those of you who know me well, know that I am the polar opposite of a hoarder. The same anxiety that causes someone to hoard is what causes me to purge. I can’t keep things. If something has been around for too long and I have forgotten that it exists, it gets pitched. Then later I will regret having tossed or donated the item, but the need to purge is strong. So for me, “stockpiling” Rasta has never occurred to me. But Marsha has a point…I am often in a situation where I wish I had something pretty and superbulky to work up fast for a gift. Since the Rasta never sticks around for more than a few days, Marsha got me to “stockpile.” I have made myself quite a pile in my red cube…so much so that my purse doesn’t fit in there this morning. I know that much of this will end up back out. Or someone will come in desperate for a hank and I will give up one of my squirreled away hanks…but it is a nice start to my “stockpile.” This is why we keep that Marsha around. She is a smart lady.

So this pile of Rasta got me to thinking…what else can I do with one hank of Rasta on the fly for a gifty? Certainly, no one needs to knit more Marion Cowls. Here were some ideas:

For Baby – Shrug Bug

Paid Ravelry download

Photo by Gina Bonomo

For adult hands – Super Funky Bulky Mitts

Available as a free Ravelry download

Photo courtesy of Amy Swenson

For adult neck – Cozy Cabled Cowl

Available as a free download on Ravelry

Photo courtesy of Amber Adrington

For Baby’s Head – Lele Baby Hat

Available for free on Ravelry

Photo courtesy of Vania Jenny

For adult head – Speedy Cabled Beret

Available as a free download on Ravelry

Photo courtesy of Paulina Chin

So then part of me wants to grab a bunch of the black and knit this from Teva Durham’s new book…but I don’t think that will fit in my cube.

Photo from Loop-d-Loop Lace

I have an obsession with feather and fan. I love its simplicity — the kind of lace I can manage not to mess up while talking to others or multitasking. It is a relaxing pattern to knit, and it adds a special touch to a design. A few cleverly placed increases followed by a group of decreases creates this gentle, scalloped edge that graces some of my favorite knits.

One of my favorite blanket patterns is Tweed Baby Blanket by Jared Flood (pattern available in shop). I’ve knitted two of these in the last two months, and I find it addictive! Instead of the worsted weight yarn suggested, I used the Aran weight Eco Wool with size 10 needles. I so enjoy knitting with a sheepy yarn like Eco Wool, and it is fun choosing colors for this pattern. While I love the understated color palette Jared Flood uses (shades of brown or shades of grey), I decided to go with something different. Two harmonious colors with a little pop on the bind off.

Photo Jared Flood/Brooklyn Tweed

Another recent favorite is Levenwick by Gudrun Johnston. I love the seamless sweaters she designs. Although this isn’t a dealbreaker for me when choosing a sweater to knit, I find it fascinating how a sweater can be created with no seams. I’m resisting the urge to knit Levenwick just like the picture, but doesn’t Shelter in Hayloft look perfect in this design? We are offering this as a class this fall, which is a great way to learn sweater knitting or try some new techniques.

When I saw Carina Spencer’s Whippoorwill, I immediately began to plan color combinations for this beautiful, traditional shawl. There are so many possibilities for this design, and I am particularly fond of the version knitted in Mini Mochi, which we have at the shop! I cast on for this in handspun—have you tried making your own yarn? We have spinning classes coming up in the fall!

Manos del Uruguay Maxima: single-ply wool in brilliant kettle-dyed colors.

It’s said that, if someone learns to knit with Manos del Uruguay yarn, that person will be a knitter for life. Here at fibre space™, we’ve met lots and lots of people who swear by this wonder fibre. It’s not just delightful to the touch. It’s not just presented in amazing colorways. It’s also produced by a co-op that started more than 40 years ago to help women in Uruguay earn their own living.

Long a shining example to other knitting companies, Manos recently was admitted as a full member of the World Fair Trade Organization. Membership in the WFTO requires an thorough evaluation in which a company proves that it has a 100% commitment to fair trade and follows the organization’s 10 Principles of Fair Trade in its daily operations. But Manos does much more than that.

Yarn dries in the sun at a Manos Co-Op.

The first kindergartens in Uruguay were founded by the Manos cooperatives, to provide childcare for Manos artisans. Manos provides health insurance, maternity leave, paid vacations, and retirement pensions to its members. The Manos cooperatives are 17 individual small businesses: each is run individually, but together they make up a well-organized business.

The Manos model is truly special, and fibre space™ is proud to become a Manos yarn shop. We’re stocking Manos Silk Blend, Maxima, and Lace – a trio of stunning yarns. Let us take you on a tour of the wonder that has arrived at the shop…

Lacy and cropped, the Moonstone cardigan is sure to be a staple this fall.

Silk Blend. Manos Silk Blend is 70% merino wool and 30 percent silk. The silk gives this yarn a gorgeous sheen, while the wool remains soft and squishy. A DK-weight yarn available in 40 semi-solid colors and 17 space-dyed colors, Silk Blend’s versatility means you’ll use it again and again, while its drape and color will get you compliments once you’re done knitting!

Try knitting Churchmouse Yarns & Teas’ Welted Fingerless Gloves in Silk Blend for a quick-knit holiday present that will earn you compliments (or a gift to yourself to remind you that fall is coming!). Another great gift idea is the Forest Canopy Cowl, a lace cowl that shows off Manos’ silk content nicely. Or treat yourself to a Welt and Rib Raglan, in which different kinds of ribbing shape this raglan sweater to flatter your body and show off the color you select. The truly bold will make themselves a Moonstone Cardigan – striking in space-dyed colorways, and sure to be gorgeous in any of the semisolid options as well. Slightly cropped, with lacy hem and cuffs, this is a great transition garment, as fall arrives and you start layering.

The Cilantro Shawl will keep you warm at a football game this fall or impress a gift recipient this winter.

Maxima. A single-ply, kettle-dyed worsted weight wool, this yarn is Manos at its finest. The yarn is squishy and soft, and Manos’ famous colors are sharp and dazzling in wool. Available in 15 space-dyed and 11 semi-solid colors, Maxima will capture your heart and keep you coming back.

Try Amy Swenson’s Cilantro Shawl in Maxima for cozy flair. This long wrap is warm yet stylish, and lets you knit lace without ending up with a grandmotherly result. Make one for yourself this fall, and one for a friend once you’ve got the hang of it – she’ll be really grateful when the holidays roll around! Or try the Elysium cardigan for a fun transitional garment with a unique fit. Knit from side to side in garter stitch, Elysium is a simple garment that will still teach you something new – and the garter stitch pattern works wonderfully for kettle-dyed yarn. Finally, the Quest Hat patterns from Knitty’s Winter 2011 edition will work wonders with Manos Maxima – and, again, please your nearest and dearest come gift-giving time.

The Veyla Mitts are another great gift idea - or keep them for yourself!

Lace. Last but not least, Manos Lace is a blend of baby alpaca, silk, and cashmere – sure to please the highest standards. You’ll want to make all your shawls in this yarn once you’ve seen it, but start with Susanna IC’s Little Leaves, to remind you that the leaves will soon be falling from the trees and we’ll be back in prime knitting season. If you aren’t yet up for a lace shawl, try Ysolda Teague’s Veyla mitts – their lace cuffs will dress up your winter garb, and (once again) serve as a lovely, quick-to-knit gift.

Whatever you choose to make, we’ll be here for help and encouragement – so hurry down to the shop and check out Manos. You’ll be glad you did!

Last Sunday, we hosted a special event at our shop in honor of one of our own. We had asked you all to donate blanket strips to make a healing blanket for a knitter in our community who is battling cancer. You wouldn’t believe the turn out. We have enough blanket strips for 2, almost 3 blankets! On Sunday, a good crowd showed up to piece the strips together. We seamed them in a staggered way so that the differing lengths worked well together. There is such a lovely variety of stitch patterns and colors. The blankets will most certainly bring a smile to her face and help her to know that we are all thinking of her and hope she gets better very soon.

volunteers seam strips together

more strips being seamed together

Thank you all for your huge support on this project and for making such absolutely lovely pieces!

I have now been back from Seattle for one or two weeks, who knows. I have completely lost track of time lately. I don’t care to get on an airplane again for months.

Albers Cowl project on the ferry to Bainbridge Island

While in Seattle, I made a point of visiting a couple of yarn shops, of course. Mostly as an excuse to buy sock yarn…which I feel is the perfect thing to purchase while traveling. It fits well in a suitcase and there is usually some sort of locally dyed yarn to snatch up. My first yarn store pilgramage was in fact, quite a pilgrimage. We boarded a ferry and traveled across the water to Bainbridge Island to Churchmouse Yarns & Teas. The shop is another of the Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER stores, so I feel like we are sister shops in a way. I met all of their staff, including their wonderful owner Kit. The store is just lovely. It has soft lighting and huge comfy spaces. The fixtures are all wood and feel like furniture pieces. They have a fabulous selection of Habu Textiles and a great little display for this lady’s book..who may look familiar to some of you. Our shops couldn’t be more different in look and feel, but I just loved the place. I could spend a bit of time with a cup of tea in one of their comfy chairs with some knitting needles.

Olga's Book and Habu Textiles at Churchmouse Yarns & Teas

I picked up some Socks that Rock while I was there, of course. It is still my favorite sock yarn base. I have an entire collection of the yarn and eventually will actually knit socks with it. Because I fell down and had some sort of money spending accident at the Fleuvog store in Seattle, I now have three new pairs of shoes that show off hand knit socks quite well..so some motivation to start making some!

My yarn score at Fiber Gallery in their bright lounge and classroom space

My next yarn shop was the Fiber Gallery, which is just north of the city but a short car ride.  Loved this shop. Their inventory is rather similar to ours actually. They carry quite a bit of Blue Sky Alpacas, Spud and Chloe, Malabrigo, Madelinetosh, Berroco and Cascade. Even some of our smaller companies, like O-Wool, were represented there. I picked up these two skeins of sock yarn from Hazel Knits, a local company. Lovely stuff. The owner was marvelous. Definitely a must see when you are out that way.

While we were in Seattle for a wedding, we did manage to get quite a bit of sightseeing in. We did the “adult version” of the underground tour, which was spectacular. We had a cheesey guide who told silly stories, but seeing the underground of Seattle was really cool. If you aren’t aware, Seattle actually has an entire story of buildings under the sidewalks that they built on top of…it’s a little odd. While on the tour, we spotted this very yarn bombed park, which totally made my trip. Every tree and lamp post was covered in brightly covered wraps. Amazing.

Overall, the trip was really fab. I did get a lot of work done on our fall schedule too! So be sure to check it out. I am still adding thing today but a great deal of classes are already posted. I also managed to get my albers cowl almost entirely finished and will post pictures of that this week. But I think I did also purchase more yarn than I knitted with..which makes it seem like I moved backwards a bit.

Yes, it’s August, but far off in the distance lurk…the holidays. If you’re thinking of knitting or crocheting your presents this year, it’s time to get started. [We're not trying to make your summer more miserable; we're just reminding you about the slight panic you had last winter, when you had to pull three all-nighters to finish that fisherman's sweater for your mother.]

Spud & Chloë at the Farm: All Your Holiday Toys in One Place

This month, you should be deciding who among your family and friends is worthy of a handmade item as a gift, and what you’d like to make them. Knitters and crocheters are great recipients, because they know how much work went into that afghan. It’s up to you which non-stitchers deserve your work; think about folks who will appreciate what you give them (for example, Franklin Habit reminds us that someone who actually wants roller skates is not a good candidate for a cabled scarf).

Kids are always good handmade item recipients, in part because most kids are mightily impressed by knitting and crocheting. Plus, anything you make for a kid is bound to be smaller than something you make for an adult. So why not start out your holiday knitting with Susan B. Anderson’s amazing book Spud & Chloë at the Farm?

The Barn Cat would be a great gift for your favorite feline fancier.

Susan B. Anderson writes Spud & Chloë’s blog, Spud Says, and her stuffed animal patterns for the yarn company are wildly popular. In Spud & Chloë at the Farm, she offers patterns to knit an entire farm, including hay bales, a barn, a mother chicken with her brood, and even the famous Spud the Sheep and Chloë the red-haired girl. This is one-stop shopping for your holiday knitting: you can make barn cats for cat-lovers, sheep for your favorite yarn addicts, and Chloë for your favorite small child.

If you’ve never made knit toys before, the Spud Says! blog will help you along the way. Susan offers a tutorial on the twisted loop stitch that forms Spud the Sheep’s wooly coat (above) and on how to embroider a face on a toy (the video is for Spud’s face, but the information therein will help you with all the animals in the book!). The blog is a knitters’ treasure trove in itself, with lots of free patterns and tutorials.

This Mother Hen and her Chicks would make a great gift for the new mother in your life.

If you’re feeling generous as well as adventurous, you can knit the entire farm for some lucky person. Here’s what you’ll need to make a kid’s dreams come true:

Sweater

• 7 skins of Ice Cream
• 3 skeins each of Toast, Firecracker, and Root Beer
• 2 skeins each of Splash, Firefly, and Pollen
• 1 skein each of Watermelon, Grass, Popsicle, and Moonlight

Fine

• 1 skein in Tutu and 1 in Sassafras

Outer

• 2 skeins of Cornsilk

Come on over to the shop for help and encouragement – we can’t wait to see what you make for your nearest and dearest!

Yesterday was a long long day. I didn’t realize how long it was until I added three to the time in Seattle and came to the realization that I had been traveling for nine hours. Seattle is really really far away…in case you weren’t aware. I definitely wasn’t aware until now. Also, for more math fun, subtract 30 from the temperature in DC right now and that is the temperature here. I am actually freezing here. I should be in sweaters, hats and pants. Instead I am walking around like a confused tourist in flip flops and a t-shirt…shivering.

Swatch for Shadow pattern from Wool People / Brooklyn Tweed done in SHELTER Pumpernickel

Anyways, our first flight was at 6 am so there was not much knitting happening at that hour. By the time we endured a two hour layover in O’Hare, I had almost completed my swatch for the Shadow Sweater, which is ultimately what I decided to knit while I was gone.  I also took along my Albers Cowl project, which hasn’t been touched since I returned from Mexico. So anyways, after we reached the second plane and finally got to our seat, I needed to block my swatch and was anxious to do so. The didn’t want to lose my momentum on the sweater and really wanted to cast on right away. I asked my husband to please let me out so that I could ask for a cup of water to block my swatch.  (the plane wasn’t going anywhere for awhile and were just sitting there waiting for everyone else to board.) He was horrified. Really. Quite horrified. He told me that we “aren’t flying on fibre space air” that the plane was “not my personal yarn shop” and that there wasn’t “a swift and ball winder in the cockpit for me to use either.” He absolutely insisted that I could not leave my seat to go get a cup of water to block a swatch. He acted like I was insane for even asking. I found this to be rather unreasonable so I tried to flatten the swatch by smothering it with my hot sweaty hands…which didn’t work at all but did keep me from getting violent on an airplane with my husband in order to get him to move out of the way. So I just got frustrated and put the project away and worked on the Albers cowl. Silly husbands and their unreasonable expectations. Don’t they know that knitters are nuts?

First of three squares for the Albers Cowl

Like many knitters, I eagerly anticipate the publication of next season’s Twist Collective. The latest issue for Fall 2011 has opened my imagination to all kinds of fall knitting ideas. From socks with beads to steeking stripes to lace without a lifeline, I’m beside myself! It’s also exciting to see many of our favorite yarns available in the shop on the “pages” of this stylish collective.

Photo by James Brittain

The Endymion socks by Cirilia Rose are designed with clever increases to ensure a proper fit, while keeping the cable pattern continuous. I can’t imagine a yarn better suited for these gorgeous socks than Miss Babs Northumbria DK, 100% BFL (pictured). The stitch definition is marvelous, it feels wonderful and woolly, and we have so many beautiful colors to choose from at the shop. If you’re not usually a sock knitter, this pattern will go quickly in DK weight yarn, and the beautiful beading at the top of the cuff is fun enough for you to make it to the bind off! Cirilia Rose is a favorite designer at the shop, and you’ve seen her designs in the pages of Berroco pattern books as well as Interweave Knits. She will be at fibre space™ for a special workshop this fall! Keep an eye out for registration opening.

Photo by Jane Heller

I know I will get way too much wear out of Grenadine by Amy Christoffers, and this versatile stitch pattern will look stunning in anything from the luminous, hand-dyed Neighborhood Fiber Co. Luxury Worsted to the rustic heathers of Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER. Maybe I’ll simply knit two of them!

Photo by Jane Heller

If you were a fan of Susanna IC’s Hawthorne shawl, featured in Fall 2010 Twist Collective, then you must knit yourself matching Hawthorne Hat & Mitts in this whimsical stitch. The hat can be blocked into a beret or a slouch, depending on your preference. I think this curvy pattern calls for a bright yarn, like our new addition Organik from The Fibre Company. The color palette is happy and fresh, and the fibre blend of alpaca, merino, and silk provides generous warmth and an eye-catching color intensity. You can make the set with three skeins of this yarn, making it an excellent gift project.

Photo by Jamie Dixon

Enough details to make it unique but not fussy, Twinings by Amy Herzog is a smart, fitted pullover that features the style of a figure-enhancing wrap sweater without the extra fabric. Choose from one of the elegant, understated colors in Fiberphile Super Squish Worsted—the cables will pop in this superwash Merino yarn! Amy Herzog specializes in sweater fitting, and has taught her “Fit to Flatter” workshop here.

I can’t wait for weather that calls for the Boundless cape from Christa Giles. The cables dancing across this design are breathtaking. It will be super smooshy in one of our chain-ply yarns, like Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes, or the undyed shades of Cascade Eco Cloud. These round yarns are perfect for cables, and they are both warm and lofty.

If you are craving something lighter, Nymphaeum by Kerry Milani is a carefree shawl with a beaded edge that will add something special to your wardrobe. Knit it in one skein of Miss Babs Yasmin, a blend of Tussah silk and Merino wool. Have you tried our new lace needles?

View more gorgeous designs at Twist Collective. And be sure to stop by the shop this week, as we are still unveiling new fall yarns!

Berroco Remix in Patina

So here is the main problem for me with any and all travel: decision making. It is the only time that I have to commit to one or two or even three specific projects. There won’t be any other options. Once we hit the airport, that’s it. I can’t decide that my gauge is wrong on the sweater and that I need new yarn. I can’t throw the sock project into a basket and start a different one out of boredom. Nope. I am stuck with the decisions that I made the night that I packed. On Wednesday morning I head off with the hubby to Seattle for a friend’s wedding. We will be gone for six days. If you take the number of days on vacation and divide by two, this is the number of projects that you can take with you. (i just made this up…play along). So that means that I get to take three projects! The first one will be a baby blanket project for a friend. She is in England so I wanted something to match her sheep and nature themed nursery that also had a nice “English tweed” look to it. I decided on this color from Berroco Remix (her nursery is all neutrals). The Remix gives me tweed with the softness and machine washability of cotton. Perfect! I am going to make her the Wool Leaves pattern from Jared Flood. (you could say that I am on a Jared Flood pattern kick lately) This is another one that we carry at the shop and the pattern is one that we use for our intro to lace class.

Photo by Jared Flood

This is going to be my “mindless” project. I have to have one of those. The problem with this one is that it is large…which makes me think that I should also take a mindless ribbed sock with me. Purse sized projects on key while on vacation. You never know where you will need a project to fit into a small purse. Luckily there is a lot of sock yarn in my stash that needs some attention (or even recognition of its mere existence or some memory of how it got there in the first place.) So I am thinking that a hank of sock yarn and some tiny needles will get thrown into the suitcase as project number two.

Now for the third project…I wanted to knit this from Teva Durham from the new Loop-d-Loop lace with Acadia from the Fibre Company. The problem is that I could not get gauge with the yarn. Not at all. And there isn’t another yarn jumping at me for the project. It’s like I decided that Acadia and this sweater were a match made in heaven and they quickly divorced and now I can’t possibly imagine them with anyone else. I don’t know what to do. So I am plotting something else entirely. The new Wool People magazine has me intrigued. I don’t think that an Olga B. pattern is vacation material even though I am in LOVE with her design in this magazine. (that is a LOT of cables) I am thinking that the Sullivan pattern would be lovely as my first Shelter sweater, but I also really wanted a pullover. It seems that I just don’t have enough pullovers in my life. So I guess before I leave, I will have to decide between the two…or throw a random third option into the mix.

Sullivan - Wool People / Brooklyn Tweed

Shadow - Wool People / Brooklyn Tweed

UPDATE: tragedy has struck and my yarn for the baby blanket did not arrive today. Now I have no idea what to do. I think I am headed home to gather a sweater out of my WIP bin and a hank of sock yarn and possibly some yarn for the Olga B. pattern…decisions decisions