From time to time, I want to keep you in the loop on the goings on behind the scenes in space. Now entering our third spring and summer season, we have learned a few things about the industry and what you all want. Instead of dropping lots of our favorite heavier winter yarns and replacing them with lots of spring and summer selections, we are doing a second fall/winter season. Some of the yarns that we brought to you in July and August will be going away to make room for our newest winter lines. We hope that this will keep you excited about knitting in January and onward. For those of you that really do have to knit with light fabrics and cotton blends for spring, no worries. We have ordered a select few and particularly interesting yarns to get you through the spring season.

The first of our winter yarns have arrived just in time for the holidays, and we’re celebrating the season with gifts from across the pond, fabulous Rowan yarns and Kim Hargreaves patterns!  We’re thrilled that our first shipment arrived just in time for last minute gift knitting….  And for you Rowan lovers out there, a true holiday treat.

Ella from Touching Elegance

Look no further than fibre space™ for an amazing inventory of Kim Hargreaves books. We carry: Heartfelt, Nectar, Winter Blooms, Misty, Touching Elegance, Cherish and Shadows. These stunning books feature Hargreaves timeless designs of understated, simple, elegance.  We want to knit all of them but Ella from Touching Elegance is high in my queue. We won’t have Kid Silk Haze for a few weeks but this would be stunning in Neighborhood Fiber Co Loft. Kim’s latest book should be arriving in the next few weeks.

*A note about these books: While I LOVE the Kim Hargreaves collection, it is definitely written in a very distinct way that will be quite challenging for new sweater knitters. I would recommend these books or accessories and small projects only if you haven’t been knitting sweaters for long.

Rowan Kidsilk Creation pattern available free from Rowan

Our next arrival from Rowan is Kidsilk Creation (70% mohair / 30% silk). This is a limited edition yarn from them. They used their best selling colors of Rowan Kid Silk Haze. We have all except the cream color (which is on order but hasn’t arrived yet). One skein of this wispy mohair and silk yarn is all you need to create a voluminous, festive accessory.  The pattern is a free download from Rowan.  It’s written for both knitting and crochet. I am thinking quick holiday gifts for friends and co workers!

Alpaca Chunky (98% alpaca / 2% polyester) is light and airy, created by a braided or chain construction.  It comes in four natural alpaca colors. This one is ideal for last minute Christmas gifts, particularly for those who want a luxuriously soft fabric (and won’t know how fast you made it!)  Cinder by Jared Flood (available at the shop) would look stunning knit up in this yarn. Or try the Bandana Cowlfrom Purl Soho. For more pattern inspiration, check back next week for a wonderful accessory book (Winter Warmers), which is scheduled to arrive!

This last arrival is giving me fits. I have to knit with it right away! Lima (84% alpaca / 8% Merino / 8% nylon) is buttery soft alpaca blended with Merino and nylon for structure and strength. The ball band calls for a US#9, but it would also be happy on an #8 or #10. For pattern inspiration, dive into Kim Hargreaves pattern books such as, Winter Warmers (coming soon) and Shadows. I spent entirely too much time in a Ravelry black hole today finding an excuse to knit with this yarn. Here is what I came up with: Eleanor by Kim Hargreaves in the Touching Elegance book. It was originally designed in another aran weight yarn, but I might have to whip it up in Lima. Something about a giant snuggly pullover that seems right for this yarn.

Eleanor by Kim Hargreaves

So, come on down to the shop and check out this wonderful new addition to our universe.

Burnham mittens by Leila Raabe - pattern at shop

When I knit things to keep my appendages warm. (well, correction. It is the time of year that I START to knit things that keep my appendages warm. I don’t seem to finish too many). I am currently adding classes like crazy to the winter schedule so part of my project selection is based on what I intend to teach this winter. I am feeling the need for a rather pretty pair of fair isle mittens and the edition of Brooklyn Tweed LOFT to the shop has really made the temptation even worse. I am thinking Burnham by Brooklyn Tweed, worked in one skein of the color Hayloft and one skein of Plume. I like the two fair isle motifs (front and back) on the mittens and the braid of color around the cuff. It was a lot of fun picking from all 32 colors of Loft too! Now to sort out which color to make dominant and which to make the background…

I am headed to the tree lighting ceremony tonight and we have to be there super early! So of course, I will take a project with me. I should take my husband’s Christmas socks but it is entirely too tempting to take these mittens. I already printed the pattern…so yeah, I am kinda screwed on this one.

The Foxhall Glove pattern by Sally Rainey

Sally Rainey of the Rainey sisters just sent me an amazing new glove pattern that she designed in Brooklyn Tweed Loft as well. It is a download on Ravelry. So awesome!!

Don’t ask me how my Loft sweater is coming along.

Brooklyn Tweed Loft - Plume

Brooklyn Tweed Loft - Hayloft

Awhile back,  we asked you all to knit or crochet rockets for our holiday window display. And you sure did! We have the most amazing collection of hand made rockets ever. We are handing out 10 prizes instead of 8. Here are the lucky winners:

Monica L.

CJ

Gerry

Krysta C.

Niya

Rebecca H.

Margaret D.

Trish G.

Maureen R.

Omni M.

Stop by the shop to pick up your prize! So now that we have all of these rockets, you are probably wondering what in the world we are doing with them. Our holiday window display this year has become a bit more intense, as there is a city-wide decorating contest…and we want to win! Our window theme is “Happy Holidays from Space” and features Molly, our little girl, visiting a few aliens in space to teach them about celebrating the holidays. Please help us win the Old Town Window Wonderland contest by going to the Old Town Boutique District facebook page. You must vote by December 5th!! The winning shop will get a giant red bow from the Mayor himself. AND, when you vote, you get entered to win 4 tickets to breakfast with Santa on Dec 23rd at Union Street Pub House.

VOTE NOW!

Molly opens her gift from Alien - a Bobbi Bear!

This little alien is riding a rocket

This alien got a fluffy scarf from Molly.

This alien is really behind on his holiday knitting.

This alien is using a jetpack to string garland on the tree.

Knitters everywhere share a fondness for Jane. She took the same care and attention to detail with her characters that knitters bring to their work. As Austen spent time with her characters they blossomed, became intimate friends, and I imagine, surprised her along the way. Knitting is like that. It begins with some yarn and a pair of needles. Soon surprising you with little secrets as it takes shape.

In Jane Austen Knits the 35 Regency Era patterns are grouped into four sections, Country, Manor, Garden, and Town. Let’s take a look at a sampling of what Jane might knit!

Nothing chore-like about this apron

Out in the Country.

The whimsical Linen Work Apron incorporates a lace bodice and hem and would be beautiful in Hempathy. Short Stays takes the concept of a corset to create flattering outerwear along the lines of a cropped sweater or vest. Show off indie dyed yarns such NFC Studio Worsted, Sweet Georgia, or Miss Babs Yowza to stunning effect.

Do you have a Janeophile on your Christmas list? An accessory from the Regency Era might be just the thing. The Fitz Fingerless Mitts are perfect for racking leaves on a crisp fall day. Knit these up in Miss Babs Northumbria, Shepherds Wool, or Berocco Vintage DK and hands will stay toasty. The Pemberley Slippers are a divine luxury for a girlfriend or sister. Show off the slippers’ leaf lace pattern with Shelter LOFT, Lorna’s Laces Sock, or Dragon Sock.

I doubt Lydia Bennet’s ability to sit still long enough to knit the socks she inspired! With a pattern of lace horseshoes and moss stitch hearts Lydia Bennet Secret Socks will look divine in NFC Studio Sock or Dream in Color Smooshy. The Frivolous Sock incorporates delicate beads and a silk ribbon along the cuff and will knit up beautifully in Sweet Georgia, or Miss Babs Yummy Sock.

A good man (sweater) is hard to find

A good men’s sweater is hard to find. Kind of like the man himself. An Aran for Fredrick solves one half of the equation. Creative cabling gives a modern flourish while retaining a Celtic feel. Knit entirely in the round, the cables are the star of this garment. Choose from the stunning shades of Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER.

Conceived in the shape of a crescent, the main lace pattern of the Georgiana Shawlette is placed next to rows of stockinette, beautifully setting off the delicate design. Dragon Sock or Miss Babs Northumbria would be lovely.

Life in the Manor.

Most women’s clothes were made out of white or pastel muslin, a shawl or cropped jacket added a touch of color and a bit of warmth. While candlelight and fires certainly provided ambiance there was no central heating for our dear Jane.

The Woodhouse Spencercropped jacket is designed to skim the empire waistline. Short row shaping, an embossed ridge, and moss stitch

An easy, yet sophisticated knit

detail on the ruffle, collar, and cuffs provide both structure and a bit of whimsy. Berocco Vintage DK or Northumbria would be a perfect choice. In the Barton Cottage Shrug buttons and neckbands have been replaced with a ribbon that gathers up the neckline into a soft oval. Lovely lace edging along the hemline and sleeves complete the look. Choose one of the Lorna’s Laces Helen’s Lace pastels.

A knitters dream, the Lambton Top, with square neckline, ruffled sleeve cuffs, slightly fitted bodice and top-down construction combine to make this an easy, yet sophisticated knit. Lace weight yarn sets off the delicate details while the main body uses a DK yarn. The tone on tone blends of Viola’s Merino Lace and Silky DK will shimmer.

Delicate beads create this pattern.

The word ‘stockings’ holds so much more promise than nylons, tights, or socks. Imagine knitting one adorned with lace detailing and a picot casing threaded with a silk ribbon garter. Indulge your feet with a pair of Marianne Dashwood Stockings made in NFC Luxury Sock.

At first glance the Flower and Lace Cuffs seem to be intarsia. Look again and you’ll see delicate little beads. Imagine this in a dark, rich color of Berocco Ultra Alpaca with jewel-toned beads.

A turn in the Garden.

The Northanger Abbey Hood uses intricate lace design to create stunning visual appeal. Differing needle sizes and a geometric design combine to create the shaping. Use Vintage DK for a classic look or for a cocktail wrap, Sublime Lustrous.

This Scarlett Capelet falls just below the elbow and would look lovely in Imperial Stock Ranch Columbia. For a rustic look, suitable for the moors, use Tahki’s Tara or Donegal Tweed.

Knit this romantic jacket in tweed.

The faux shawl inset of the Elinor Tunic gives the illusion of layering while paying tribute to the eldest Dashwood sister. Fibre Company Savannah would work perfectly. Add a modern touch to the shawl inset with NFC’s Loft.

The Lydia Military Spencer incorporates the clean lines typical of such jackets while folding in a rouched sleeve cap and a simple collar that impart an air of softness. Knit this up in one of the rich, saturated colors of Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER.

Mr. Knightley’s Vest is imbued with all the elegance of Regency Era gentlemen’s clothing and a clever, yet simple construction gives the impression of exquisitely woven fabric. Knit up in Spud and Chloe Fine or Fibre Company Canopy it’s the perfect gift for your Mr. Darcy.

The Chawton Mittens combine both colorwork and cables to keep your hands toasty and stylish.

Fibre Company Canopy will set off the lovely detail work in this pattern.

Typically made with fur and silk, muffs are stylish and functional. The cables in the Leafy Muff provide texture and chunky yarn makes it a quick knit. The sheen of Berocco Sundae will dress it up or choose the pure warmth of Blue Sky Bulky.

Off to Town.

The right jacket for town is essential. Sporting military flair, The Meryton Coat incorporates traditional colorwork with crisp finishing details such as i-cording and mitered corners. Brooklyn Tweed LOFT is a perfect choice. The Evening Spencer, designed to set off an empire waist, would take on an updated look paired with a classic sheath. Try the luscious colors of the Shepherds Wool or Miss Babs Yowza.

Capes also made frequent appearances in town. The layers in this design mimic those on men’s overcoats popular in Regency England. Worked up in Schulana Kid Seta, the mohair adds grace and femininity to the Picturesque Cape.

Diamond and Cross Reticule

Enhance your wardrobe (or your Christmas gift stash) with one or more of these accessories. The sophisticated architectural lines of the long Kensington Mitts will pop in Dream In Color Smooshy or SweetGeorgia BFL Sock. Try the Sense and Fashion Handwarmers in one of the rich colors of Louisa Harding’s Grace. Bags during Jane’s time were petite and often intricate. The vibrant Diamond and Cross Reticule will knit up beautifully in the Brooklyn Tweed LOFT. Velvet Ribbons and snowflake lace grace Miss Bennet’s Beaded Bag. Choose from a rainbow of Spud and Chloe Fine. More jewelry, than garment, the lacey detail of Miss Morland’s Neckcloth pairs well with the luxury of Manos Lace or Miss Babs Yasmin.

You may not be able to make it to Derbyshire any time soon, but knitting up one of these patterns will certainly transport you to another time.

Tanis, some knitting, and some cupcakes. The makings of an excellent afternoon!

We have had some exciting events in Space recently! Not too long ago, we had the honor of hosting Tanis Gray and her new book, Knit Local at the shop, along with many of the garments from the book. The focus of Knit Local is on America’s Homegrown yarns, which are a big deal for us. We take a great deal of pride in our supply of American yarns, to include Imperial Stock Ranch, Fibre Company Savannah, and BrooklynTweed SHELTER. You can find some amazing patterns in the book for all of these yarns! All of the yarns that are made in the USA have an identifying tag on them at the shop to make it easier for you to find them. If you are ever curious about a yarn’s origin’s just ask us, we love talking about yarns and fibres. Just a forewarning, you may have trouble getting us to stop talking about yarn…

For fibre space, this book is even more local and extra-special, since it features patterns from our very own Danielle, Veronica, and of course Tanis!

Interlocking Rings Cowl, Photo courtesy of Sixth & Spring and Tanis Gray

Danielle’s pattern, the Interlocking Rings Cowl is soft and adorable, and would make a great gift for yourself or someone else this year. It works up wonderfully of in just 250 yards of fingering or sport weight alpaca or wool. Brooklyn Tweed LOFT or Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk or the Fibre Company Canopy Fingering are ideal choices for this project. With all of the amazing colors of LOFT, I am not sure how I would choose…

Daylily Cardigan, photo courtesy of Sixth & Spring and Scott Jones

Veronica’s first book published pattern is the Daylily Cardigan, which is so wearable I think everyone needs one! I remember sitting in Veronica’s living room ages ago when it came time to name this pattern. It never occurred to me that naming a pattern could be such a process! This pattern calls for 640 yards of DK weight cotton blend, and would look smashing in Elsbeth Lavold Hempathy, Berroco Pure Pima or Sirdar Baby Bamboo.

Tanis has several patterns in this book, but I think my favorite is the Appalachian Hat! It’s so fun, and gives us an excuse to use a fun handspun yarn like the the exotic stuff we get from Molly Miller (have you signed up for her workshop yet?). If you are looking for something a little bit less funky, try the Sirdar Big Bamboo or the Tahki Big Montana. Maybe you spinners out there can pick up some of the amazing fibre from Miss Babs to spin up your own hat!

Appalachian Hat by Tanis Gray

Here’s a quick fibre space buying guide to all of the other projects in this great book.

Cabled Car Coat: 10-12 x 200 yards of heavy worsted or aran weight yarn: Cascade Yarns Eco +, Imperial Stock Ranch Columbia 2 ply

Lilly-of-the-Valley Shrug: 4-6 x 181 yards of fingering weight yarn: Brooklyn Tweed LOFT

Maritime Hat and Mitten Set: 2 x 250 yards worsted weight yarn: Sweet Georgia Merino or Dragonfly Fibers BFL

Purple Mountains Majesty Shawl: 3 x 420 yards of fingering weight yarn: Space Cadet Celeste or Dream in Color Starry

Pike’s Mitts: 140 yards worsted weight wool: Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER or Tahki Tara Tweed or Tahki Donegal Tweed

East Coast Tunic: 14-19 x 88 yards of DK weight wool: Miss Babs Northumbria DK, Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool DK

Big Man on Campus Hoodie: 10-12 x 180 yards of DK weight alpaca or wool: the Fibre Company Acadia

Scandinavian Hat: 160 yards of DK weight linen or wool blend: the Fibre Company Savannah DK

Farmhouse Gloves: 133 yards in 5 colors of worsted weight wool: Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER

Jennifer Vest: 3 x 250 yards of light worsted weight cotton blend: Spud and Chloe Sweater or Berroco Remix

Wildflowers Scarf: 320 yards of lace weight yarn: Manos Lace or Miss Babs Yet

McEnroe Diamonds Scarf: 2 x 300 yards of worsted or DK weight wool: Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s DK or the Fibre Company Acadia

Random Harvest Afghan: 380 yards in 6 colors of worsted weight wool: Cascade Yarns Eco +

Sousa’s Mittens: 250 yards of MC and scraps of two contrast colors in worsted weight wool: Stonehedge Shepherd’s Wool or Crystal Palace Mochi Solids

Picnic Kerchief: 250 yards each of two colors Shepherd’s Wool

Straits of Mackinac Vest: 3-4 x 240 yards of Imperial Stock Ranch Pencil Roving

Gloucester Wrap: 10 or 14 x 125 yards of bulky weight: Sublime Chunky Merino Tweed or Berroco Peruvia Quick

Evergreen Ankle Socks: 800 yards of fingering weight merino: Lorna’s Laces Solemate, Space Cadet or Sweet Georgia BFL Sock

Lacy Leaves Scarf: 2 x 200 yards sport weight: Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk or St. Denis Nordique

Dreaming of Spring Mittens: 200 yards of each of three colors in sport weight wool blend: St. Denis Nordique or Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

Betsy Baby Cardigan: 1 or 2 of 450 yards of sport weight wool: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino or Neighborhood Fiber Company Sport

Winterthur Beret and Cowl Set: 275 yards in each of two colors in sport weight wool: St. Denis Nordique or Fibre Company Road to China

Oquirrh Mountains Wrap: 3 x 238 yards worsted weight wool: the Fibre Company Organik or Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER

Nutkin Cardi and Hat: 3 or 4 of 241 yards and 241 yards in each of three contrast colors: Berroco Remix, Ella Rae Superwash or Spud and Chloe Sweater

I was at a meeting last week for retailers and restaurants in Old Town to hear about all of the exciting things that are happening this season in our little town (more on that later), and someone tugged on my arm and said, “You did make THAT, did you?”  Well yeah, I made it! I can’t just go around wearing sweaters that the Gap made. That wouldn’t be right, now would it? I was wearing my recently finished Berkshire Dolman Sweater by Melissa Wehrle (available through Knitting Daily or in the Best of Knitscene book at the shop).  It calls for a aran/bulky weight yarn so I thought I could sneak in a quick pullover and my UFO pile wouldn’t notice. This one is done from the Swan’s Island Organic Bulky, in a colorway made from bugs. Yes, actual bugs. All of the colors are dyed naturally, from organic materials…the old fashioned way. I just loved the color and the idea that it was made from bugs. I figured that would probably freak out a few people, after they got over the fact that I had made the sweater myself.  Since we were eating breakfast at the meeting that morning, I didn’t mention the bugs. Just that I had made the sweater. This person was quite impressed, which is pretty cool.

Now about the holiday season in Old Town. There are a few new and exciting things going on this year. The biggest being SANTA! So instead of hauling your kids to the mall or the National Harbor, come to Old Town. We have brought Santa to Old Town every weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Location: 210 S. Union Street. Read more about it here. Each photo is $15 and will be printed on site. The decor will be amazing!

In addition, the Old Town Boutique District is hosting a city-wide window decorating contest. This will inspire our retailers and restaurants to really decorate this year and help you have the amazing holiday scenes that you would expect from Old Town Alexandria. Our window is in the works right now, featuring the knitted and crocheted rockets that you all contributed the past few weeks. Once it is installed, we will be sure to let you know so that you can vote for the window that you helped to create!

Lastly, you may have heard about the Day After Thanksgiving Sale at fibre space. It is amazing. It is the single biggest sale that we have for the year. Tons of fun (and work)! We open at 6 am and will be offering 30% off this year (higher than last year’s discount). At 8 am, the discount goes to 20% and then to 10% at 10 am. Get in line early because we can only allow 42 people in the store at one time, and you must get through the door to get your coupon for the discount. Folks in line early will also get some free prizes. (we like to use this as an opportunity to clean out the closets here at fibre space…you never know what you will find around here).

The most exciting thing about Black Friday this year is how many other shops have decided to open with us! The first year, it was just us (well and all of you…at 6 am). Last year about 8 other shops joined in. This year, the list is quite impressive. Check it all out here. You can get running shoes, makeup, bras, designer shoes and handbags and jewelry at 30% off!! AND, the City has decided to open their garages early for you as well as waive parking on all meters around town. Now there is just no reason to go to the mall…so can someone do some shopping for me? Because I am kinda trapped at the store….

The holidays are rapidly approaching, we’re making our lists and checking them twice – but what do you give the knitter (or crocheter!) that’s got everything?

We’ve got lots of great ideas for you to give – or receive. (Remember to fill out your wish list at the shop!)

Moving Mud closure

From Vermont glass studio Moving Mud we have gorgeous glass closures for shawls or cardigans, stickpins, darning needles, and even glass knitting needles – each piece is one of a kind so you can be sure your gift is unique!

Moving Mud knitting needles

Moving Mud uses a traditional glassblowing technique called lampworking to create their pieces. Each item is made with borosilicate glass (the same glass used in Pyrex) to make it strong and durable as well as beautiful.

Chic-a Triad set

We just got in a whole range of fun & functional bags from California’s Chic-a, a company started by a knitter who needed a better bag! There are yarn keepers, project bags, and their great Triad set, which includes a mini-tote for small projects, a key ring pouch for notions, and a folding pattern keeper that lets you store your pattern safely and still see it (I definitely want one of these for Christmas – my current “shove all the patterns into a big jumbly mess in my bag” method leaves something to be desired.)

Chic-a yarn keeper

Knitting jewelry from New York company Debra’s Garden is pretty and practical – use one as a pendant, on a key chain, or as a zipper pull for a knitting bag.

Debra's Garden needle gauge

Knitters always need a needle gauge close to hand for those unmarked mystery needles. This one is available in a variety of colors in aluminum – or get one in sterling silver for a really special gift! The numbers are etched into the metal so they can’t wear off.

Debra's Garden row counter

The row counters are really clever – the inner dial counts single rows, the outer dial counts 10s, and there’s a yarn cutter hidden at the 50-row mark too! A Swarovski crystal adds a little bit of holiday sparkle.

But wait, what about the guy crafters on your list? We’ve got them covered!

Family-owned company Namaste from California makes a versatile range of eco-friendly bags – their new Mini Messenger bag has an adjustable shoulder strap and tons of pockets to organize all your gear (and it comes in black!)

Namaste Mini Messenger bag

We also just got in a shipment of KnowKnits GoKnit project bags – these come in a variety of sizes and colors to keep projects from socks to sweaters organized. These are always a favorite – next time you’re in the shop, check to see which staff members have one of these hanging from their belt loop! We even got some in fun fur and fake crocodile this time around!

For a stocking stuffer, how about a Herdy keychain?

Herdy Peep Keyring

This is just a sampling of the great gifts you can find in the shop – stop by to see even more! (After all, who doesn’t need a sheep bank to keep their yarn money in?)

Herdybank

Happy Holidays!

Here in space, we’re starting to get in the holiday spirit…which reminds us of all the gift knitting that comes along! There are only 44 days left until Christmas, but there is still time to knit for the special people in your life. To help you get going, we searched for unique (and fast!) projects for everyone on your list, and wrapped these up with our favorite chunky yarns in a handy Holiday Gift Guide. Stop by the shop to pick up your copy, and view these lovely yarns for yourself. We are offering 20% off all yarns on the guide if you purchase everything on the list—our yarn elves have checked it twice! We have tons of project ideas for these yarns, so take advantage of this fabulous deal!

For mom
Make a luxurious Trellis Scarf with 4 skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky. She’ll stay warm all winter! Or, make the ever-popular Marian Cowl (pattern available at the shop) and matching Really Warm Hat with the same yarn requirements.

Quincy by Brooklyn Tweed

For him
Whip up a soft and cozy Basic, Ribbed Hat with 2 skeins of Sublime Chunky Merino Tweed. It’ll be his new favorite! For a more challenging knit, try Quincy by Jared Flood – part of the Made in Brooklyn book available at the shop.

For her
Cushy One Cable Mitts will have sisters and girlfriends wishing for cold hands! This project is made with just 1 skein of Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes. The royal alpaca in this yarn makes it both luxurious and snuggly soft!

photo by mistybliss

For baby
Keep little heads warm with a precious Pea Green Beanie, made with 2 balls of machine washable Sirdar Big Bamboo. For an alternative to this baby project, use this plush yarn for our free Cozy-Dee Cowl.

Wherever your holiday knitting takes you, let our gift guide lead the way!

This is the time of year knitters and crocheters look forward to—when we can really justify wearing our wool shawls, cashmere socks, and slouchy hats. Not that this stops me from dressing in handknits the rest of the year, but when the mid-Atlantic chill hits, I especially cherish my craft. This year I’m craving pieces that I can pair together, mostly because that means I can show off more of what I’ve made! I also love the idea of creating unique combinations that can only happen when you make it yourself.

handmake your own luxury

One of my favorite trends is a play on the turtleneck: a pullover with a matching cowl. This textured pairing by Laura Grutzeck, Pullover with Cowl, will keep you warm and chic. When you step into a heated building, simply remove the cowl! Stop by the shop for the pattern and yarn from St-Denis. Knit this in the US-made Nordique for an elegant set in any of our 22 versatile colors. For a hand-dyed option, Miss Babs Yummy 3-ply is a lovely superwash merino yarn in gorgeous, nature-inspired colors.

State Street Cowl by Raveler Botzy

Unite a geometric stitch pattern with the State Street Cowl and Monkey socks. I’d love to knit this cowl in the light and fluffy Sirdar Big Bamboo. The stitches appear to float in this yarn, and the misty color palette is perfect for misty weather. This is going to be one of my gift-knitting favorites—super chunky, machine washable yarn is crucial this time of year! Knit coordinating socks in gorgeous SweetGeorgia BFL Sock, as the saturated colors are sure to brighten your day.

One for you, one for me

Stitch something warm for you and your favorite person with He Said She Said. This design features a swirling stitch pattern, and two skeins of Sublime Chunky Merino Tweed will make a couple almost as cute as the two of you.

The Nae shawl and Kozue hat duo has been created with a dilemma in mind: you need two skeins of sock yarn to knit the shawl, but you end up with half a skein left over. Make this beautiful, quiet shawl design in our new arrival SpaceCadet Celeste, and whip up a matching hat with the rest. Stop by the shop to check out these yarns in person!

While I can certainly get behind the growing statement on the internet that holiday decor should stay away until after Thanksgiving, we knitters and crocheters know that for the gifting season to be a success, it’s best to start early. I try to stick to the rule that I will only make presents for family, and mom is always first on my list. I’m lucky, as long as I can find the purplest of all purple yarns, I know she will be thrilled. Last year, I knitted her an “In the Land of Oz” shawl, and she always calls me to tell me that people ask her where she bought it. This year, the new “scorched” purples from Dream in Color Smooshy are calling out to be a cute shawl for mom!

Here are some other great gift ideas for all of the moms out there.

Slippers

Veronica's French Press Slippers

Moms are notoriously hard working, so slippers make a great gift. Not to mention, if you find the right pattern, they can be knit in almost no time at all. My favorites are the French Press Felted Slippers, since they work up fast in several strands of Shepherd’s wool. I watched Veronica knit these last year, and I could swear she finished them in under 2 hours.

Granny Square Slippers from the PurlBee

For me, if a gift needs to be done quickly, the answer is usually to crochet it. That is probably why I love these cute granny square slippers from the purlbee. They remind me of time spent in Russia where everyone had their own house slippers. In a nice bulky yarn like Ella Rae Chunky, these would work up fast enough that you could make a pair for everyone, but if you want an extra special pair for mom, be sure to check out the Blue Sky Techno. She will never want to take them off.

Shawls

Trousseau by Carol Feller Photo by Jane Heller

I love knitting lace, and there is really nothing more satisfying for me than conquering a lace repeat. Even though shawls can seem daunting, they make a great quick knit, and a great gift. Trousseau from Twist Collective has become a go to project for me, as I am currently knitting a second one for a holiday/wedding gift. That really says something about the pattern, because I rarely knit anything twice. I love that there is both a fingering weight option and a DK weight option for this pattern too. It is a showstopper in a solid like Spud and Chloe Fine, but also stunning in Viola Silky DK. I may need to make yet another of these… Pick a color that will match Mom’s new winter coat, and she will love showing it off to her friends.

If you are short on time, the best bet is to go up in gauge to another standby, the Springtime Bandit. With an easily memorable lace pattern in worsted or Aran weight yarn, you really can’t go wrong. And if you happen to get stuck, I think all of the yarnistas at fibre space have knit this shawl at least once (and several have knit it twice), so we will happily get you unstuck. My favorite yarn for this project is the Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Worsted, since it’s 400 yard skeins mean never having to weave in any extra ends!

Fingerless Mitts

Fallberry Mitts by Anne Hanson, Photo by knitspot

Warm hands are important, so every mom needs a pair of fingerless mitts, right? Everyone will be jealous if she has a pair of  Mitt Envy mittens, which can be made with just a small amount of fingering weight yarn. They would be absolutely exquisite in Canopy fingering from The Fiber Company.

For something a little bit more substantial, there is also Fallberry Mitts from Anne Hanson, which knit up quickly in a sport weight yarn. Knit these in Road to China Light for to add a little bit of luxury in mom’s winter wardrobe.

Cowls

Quinnipiac by Leila Raabe, Photo by Jared Flood/BrooklynTweed

Cowls are a reasonably new craze in the fashion world, and they make a great knitting project. All the warmth of a scarf and probably half the fuss. Quinnipiac by Leila Raabe from the WOOL PEOPLE collection has something for every knitter! With lace, cables, and a tailored hem, this is a quick project that is guaranteed to keep you interested. SHELTER is the natural choice for this cowl and the pattern is also available at the shop if you prefer a hard copy to a PDF download.

Don’t worry crocheters, I haven’t forgotten about you. I am madly in love with the Twitterpation cowl! I spotted this on a customer a few weeks ago, and had one for myself by the next day. I have my eye on the Manos Silk blend for on for mom, I think she will love all of the fun colors the yarn comes in.

Short on time, but like the cowl idea? Grab some big yarn and size 15 needles, Jane’s Cozy-Dee Cowl is just the pattern for you!

Be sure to stop by and join us in the Rocket Lounge to get all of your holiday stitching done. See you then!

We have had two amazing Stitch in Space nights here in space. Last week, the DC Rollergirls were at the shop. Micah stayed late to help a few learn to knit and visit with those that are already amazing knitters and crocheters. (He seemed quite delighted to do so).

For the second year in a row, we are sponsoring the Rollergirls season. Check out their schedule here and get to a bout!

Last night, Wendy Johnson and Laura & Leslie of TheKnitGirllls video podcast joined us for our Stitch n Space and drew quite a crowd (as Wendy tends to do). They attacked the new Brooklyn Tweed LOFT, of course. Wendy seemed to enjoy herself as well. (this is Micah and his goofy hat with Wendy J.)

Jane whipped up this fabulous bulky knit cowl pattern for the holidays! Here are the details:

Cozy-Dee Cowl

Materials

2 balls of Sirdar Big Bamboo (44yd per ball)

US size 15 needles

2 large buttons (2 inches)

darning needle

Abreviations

K1tbl = knit 1 stitch through the back loop.

S1 wyif = slip 1 stitch as if to purl, with yarn held in front.

Directions

CO 17 stitches

Row 1: K1, (P3, K1tbl) 3 times, P3, S1 wyif.

Row 2: K 1, P to 1 st before the end, S1 wyif.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until cowl measures approx. 28 inches; end with a Row 2.

Button holes

Row A:  K1, P3, K1, BO 2 st, P1, K1, P1, BO 2 st, K1, P3, S1 wyif.

Row B: K1, P4, CO 2 st, P3, CO 2 st, P 4, S1 wyif.

Finishing

Continue Rows 1 and 2 for another 5 rows.

BO in pattern and weave in ends.

Sew buttons on opposite end of cowl.

Hopefully you’ve had a chance to meet Lucina and Celeste, our two new fingering weight yarns from Space Cadet Creations. We always love the creativity and talent that goes into making hand-dyed yarns – not to mention the fun surprise that is seeing it all when it arrives! But behind all the yarn, there’s usually a story or two to be told. I wrote to Stephanie Alford, the dyer behind Space Cadet Creations, and she was gracious enough to write me a big long email all about who she is and what she does. [Then I told her that I'd edit it all into a narrative, but I think you'll like her words much more than mine, so we're going to do a little Q-and-A instead.]

So, first things first. Where are you from?

I’ve lived my life split between Britain and the United States.  I was born in Pittsburgh to British parents and, when I was young, I grew up in a big community of British immigrants.  But I went to an American school and made American friends, so I also had a very American childhood.  I moved back to the UK right after graduating from university, and stayed there until three years ago. I’ve literally lived half my life in each country, and they are both home to me.  It’s both a blessing and a curse — when I’m in one country, I miss the other, and when I’m in the other, I miss the first!

I see from your website that you spin, knit, weave and crochet a little, and you have a degree in Textiles and Clothing – and this was all before you started dyeing. What got you hooked?

Looking back, I can see I have always been drawn to the fiber arts, but it’s taken me all my life to realise it.  I remember when I was about 11, we went to a pioneer re-enactment day and I was completely fascinated by the woman spinning fleece on a wheel, and begging my mother for lessons.  The woman came round to our house to teach me — I loved the spinning but hated the carding and she insisted you had to card lots and lots first…  and so I didn’t stick with spinning.  I tried it again years later, when the community center near my house in England offered a spinning and weaving class. Most of the women in the class were shepherdesses and I’d buy my fleeces from them fresh off their sheeps’ backs.  And I found that I still hated carding, so I started to spin straight from the fleece, uncarded and in the grease.  And I discovered that, without having to card, I love spinning!

At university, I flailed around from one major to another until I finally settled on Textiles and Clothing.  I had no real talent for fashion or for design, but I love everything I learned about fiber composition, textile chemistry, and clothing history.  I distinctly remember waking up on Thanksgiving morning of my sophomore year with an overwhelming desire to learn to knit. I have no idea why – no one I knew knit, hand-knitting wasn’t even mentioned in my classes, I’d never seen a knitting magazine and this was way before the Internet. And, yet, for some reason, I woke up that morning and knew – knew even before I’d sat up in bed! – that I needed to learn how to knit.  I taught myself from a copy of Vogue Knitting: the Ultimate Knitting Book and started a cardigan about two weeks later  …in cream acrylic yarn!  I still have it — the yarn is hideous, but I love every stitch.

That sounds like something lots of us can relate to! So it wasn’t until later that you began dyeing?

I moved back to the US just as Ravelry was starting to take off and then met some of the members of the Pittsburgh indie fiber arts community – incredibly talented women whose work got me feeling turbo-charged!  I started to experiment with dyeing and…  oh, I loved it!  I felt like I’d finally found my fiber-arts calling! After the encouragement of my friends and knitting group, I set up my studio and started SpaceCadet Creations.  Would you believe, for the first three months of the business, my studio had no running water?!  And I’m married to a plumber!  Eventually, I threatened to ring one of the guys my husband works with and pay them to do the plumbing.  And guess what?  I had running water the very next day!

You say you dye from primaries – what does that actually mean?

When I first started dyeing, I made a list of all the dye colours I wanted to get…  and then I added up the cost!   So instead, I bought just the primaries plus black, and decided to mix my own colours to begin with.  But once I started dyeing from primaries, I realised I really like it — there’s a real art to seeing a colour in your mind and then mixing dyes by hand to hit it exactly.  It makes every colourway feel really special to me — I didn’t just dye the yarn, I created the colours from scratch.

Everybody has a favorite color – and colors they don’t like. How does that work as a dyer?

You can easily find yourself just sticking to the colours you love and never dyeing the ones you don’t, which isn’t good!  For instance, last year I realised I was really avoiding yellow — it’s just not my colour — and I decided to make myself dye more yellow. It was so hard to do!  At first, everything I dyed just felt wrong, none of the shades would work for me — it was really depressing.  But then I realised that even if yellow didn’t work for me, both gold and honey did.  So I warmed things up a bit and tried again and…  fell completely in love with what came out of the pot!  Now I add golds into a lot of my colourways and, every time I do, I feel like I’ve created something really special.

Finally, what’s really fulfilling about what you do?

One of the most exciting things for me is knowing that what I create isn’t the finished product, it’s a part of other people’s finished objects. I want to give my customers’ projects wonderful, intense colour — colour that stays in their minds even after they’ve stopped working on their projects.

I want to extend a big thank you again to Stephanie for sharing a bit of her story, her enthusiasm, and her process with us. Of course, because we’re all space cadets too, I think this is a great match-up!

Bethany submitted this report from her first trip to Rhinebeck this year:

Culinary Institute

When I found my way back to knitting in 2010, whenever I was around knitters I kept hearing one word spoken with reverence:  Rhinebeck.  I soon learned that this was knitter speak for the annual New York Sheep & Wool Festival held at the Duchess County Fair Grounds in Rhinebeck, NY.  About the same time when I was cruising the 746.432 shelves of my local library (aka knitting wonderland) I stumbled on a book by Joanne Seif.  Her book, Fiber Gathering: Knit, Crochet, Spin, and Dye More than 25 Projects Inspired by America’s Festivals, is simply amazing.  The pictures and details about the festivals will make you want to attend each one.  When a friend mentioned she wanted to go to Rhinebeck too, a plan was born.

Many knitters are veteran attendees and have tried and true techniques for getting the most out of the festival.  We had no such plan of attack.  We secured a reservation at a hotel in Poughkeepsie in February and then counted down the months until it was finally October 14.  The six hour drive to  Rhinbeck, NY went smoothly.  Too early to check in to our hotel, we headed to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.  I had read a post by Anne Hanson where she blogged about the Apple Café which does not require reservations.  We decided to go check it out.  We had a 45 minute wait in line before getting into the café to place our orders.  A staffer offered a tip that it was best to come early as the café is open from 11 a.m. – 5p.m, or later. Of course we had arrived in the middle of the rush.  Other than the food, the most incredible thing was the lavender growing at the four corners of the courtyard in front of the main building where butterflies fluttered lazily.  Even an i-phone got a National Geographic worthy picture.

Saturday morning, naively thinking that all fiber festivals open at the same time (as we were seasoned Maryland Sheep and Wool attendees), we left Poughkeepskie at 7:30 a.m. and headed for the fair grounds.  There was no backed up traffic, the lights stayed green, and we got an amazing parking spot on a fairly empty hill. This is when we realized something was wrong.  As we stepped out of the car, we learned the festival opened at 9 a.m. At the same time, I heard my name called.  There was Cindy and her sister – a fibre space™ welcome in the middle of Rhinebeck, NY!

I bumped into Cindy, her sister and several others that I knew from Ravelry, once again standing in line to enter a particularly hot booth.  The line was already about 20 people deep waiting for the festival’s official opening.  At 9 a.m., a swarm of knitters invaded the small booth and then the truly crazy line began – the payment line.  One woman’s husband stood in line for two hours while she enjoyed the festival.  Talk about enabling a yarn addict love!

I saw my first fuzz ball angora rabbit and met Nike, the alpaca who was one of a group of alpacas who stood around for petting.  He was the alpha male of the group and had the coarsest fiber.  There were sheep being groomed for the judges, blue ribbon sheared sheep and Corriedale sheep who also had the best marketing (see below).

Angora Bunny

Nike the Alpaca

Corriedale has the best marketing

I’ve heard it’s a Rhinebeck tradition to wear a finished sweater but space in my suitcase was limited so I wore my Springtime Bandit instead (which I finished recently using one skein of Neighborhood Fiber Company Worsted). It did a great job of keeping the chill at bay and got a lot of compliments throughout the day.  I was just as busy giving out compliments as I was completely surrounded by mind boggling knit wear.  Mitts, sweaters, shawls, hats, and skirts like Knitty’s Lane Splitter. I saw five and they all looked fantastic even though their creators were different heights and sizes.

I lost count of all the vendors that I visited and the food I tried because there were so many choices.  The lamb vendors were located in a group downhill from the cider donuts.  The fried artichokes were across from the main food vendors where spaghetti on a stick was selling well.  On Sunday to counter some of the festival food indulgences I walked  across the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world known as the Walkway over the Hudson.  Check out some of the breathtaking views here.

Having survived my first Rhinebeck, I am looking forward to attending next May’s Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.  If you’ve never been to a fiber festival before it would be a shame to miss it!

Pat sends us the most amazing notes, so I have to start sharing. Pat says,

Seldom do I go to Trivia games. However, my son’s team was going to be short so I went Tuesday night. The bonus (last) question – worth $100 was – “what do garter, cable, and moss have in common?  Only one team out of eight got the answer correct – our team! I couldn’t believe the question was sooooooo easy!  Everyone else tried to relate the terms to the environment.