Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Pretty Darn Cute!!!

Oh hell!  That's all I can say about this darling little skirt!  It's knit out of one skein of Jelli Beenz, a new washable wool blend by Plymouth Yarn Company that retails for $8.25.  Jelli Beenz has great yardage.  It took only one ball to knit this Scattered Notions Skirt, a free pattern on Ravelry.  It's as simple as making a hat.  Instead of decreasing for the crown, you just knit one eyelet row to form the waist band and ba da boom....you're done!  Except for adding all the cute finishing touches, of course.   

Friday, August 10, 2012

Gradient is GREAT!

I am continually impressed with Skacel's yarn, especially the Schoppel yarns from Germany.  This yarn is called Gradient which has a "great long gradual colour exchange".  It is a slightly felted 100% virgin wool that is hand-washable.  It is as soft as alpaca but in a more substantial way, if that makes any sense! 

Our rep, the famous Mona Lisa, showed us a beautiful Wingspan made out of this yarn.  It was so inspiring that I ordered two balls immediately to make up a store sample.  And even though it's way hot here in San Diego, nothing could deter me from knitting with this scrumptious yarn.  The way the color changes fall into this pattern is remarkable!  I haven't planned any of this, but doesn't it look like the color changes lined up with the short rows are intentional?  Crazy, right?

This is just one of several new yarns we have ordered for Fall.  We will be bringing them into the shop gradually starting September 15th.  If you would like to start knitting with Gradient before then, just give me a call and let me know which colorway you want and I'll have it sent earlier!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Gone Fishing

The truth is, I haven't actually gone fishing but I'm sort of on vacation the month of August.  I'm not teaching or putting out a calendar.  I will be in the shop August 8 - 15th and August 23rd-29th though so I am available then for knitting purchases and questions.  

Our treasured intern from Arizona Sate University, Megan, will be heading back to school soon.  Her last day working at the Grove is Friday, August 10th.  She will be greatly missed but we wish her every success in completing her Fiber Arts bachelor's degree in 2013!