LMNs -
Last Minute Knits!
|
This colorful cowl is easy to knit but packs a lot of "wow" factor. Pair your favorite color of Silk Garden with a Silk Garden Solo solid. Or like me, choose Amitola Grande for the long repeat and use up a solid from your stash!
Everyone can use a pair of slippers! With 1 Ito Shawl Ball, you can knit 2 adult pair of felted slippers. The pattern is simple and I give it free with the yarn purchase.
 Yet another great hat pattern from the Fall 2020 Noro magazine. This one knit in Llamerino by Cascade. This 50/50 llama/wool blend is warm, soft and holds its shape but silky enough for a good "slouch" (Chris knit an extra repeat on the pattern to add some slouch).
These fingerless mitts are a cinch to knit & will keep the recipient cozy & warm -we lose a lot of heat thru the inside of our wrist, so whip up a pair of these tonight (you can get 2 pair from 1 skein of Phullu or with 1 skein of Herriot Great you can make an incredibly luxurious pair) and whether working in a cold office or out walking the dog, your loved one will be toasty warm.
This is a really simple fingerless mitt pattern that I happened to knit using Noro, but you can pick any 4.5-5 st/inch yarn and knit these up in a jiff!
This cabled headband is a great way to practice some new techniques, but it is a small enough project that it will knit up quickly. Pick either Umina by Mirasol or Llamerino by Cascade for a wonderfully soft and warm headband! Pattern free with yarn purchase!
I knit these two chunky gauge (think Rasta or Ushya) cowls up earlier this fall - both are a cinch and will knit up in an evening using 1 skein of either yarn. Patterns free with yarn purchase.
Don't overlook how much fun it is for every age in the family to needle felt into cookie cutters to create ornaments for the tree! We've got lots of fiber "jack-pots" with mixed colors (and we put some together specifically for the holidays-so red/green/etc).
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Curated Ideas for the
Gift Giving Season
|
I see other states closing down for 3 weeks and wonder if it might happen here too! I can tell from the store flow this week that many customers are already self-isolating in wake of the rising cases, so wanted to be sure you understood that CURBSIDE PICKUP is still an option.
And in case we shut down at a moments notice and you need some wonderful creative gift ideas that will bring joy and happiness to the long winter ahead of us, I have curated some gift ideas for you to browse online.
I've compiled some of my favorite books for all levels of knitter. I know....you hardly ever buy books anymore now that you can get individual patterns on Ravelry! But consider how lovely it would be on XMAS day to curl up with a cup of tea and have a lovely new, colorful book with LOTS of inspiration and maybe some techniques, cultural context and historical traditions to read about! We lose a lot of the "experience" of knitting if we are simply transactional and just go by individual patterns - there is so much to enjoy from patterns presented in the context of either learning new skills or understanding about the history and tradition. So join me in the Icelandic tradition of "jolablokaflod" (literally means flood of books) and gift a book this season on XMAS eve to be enjoyed all winter!
On the XMAS Wish List page, I cover ideas for your own wish-list, for kids in the family, for your knitting buddies, and for the knitter, dyer, weaver, or spinner in your life=whether just starting out or more experienced!
 If you've got some family or friend who isn't yet a knitter, weaver, spinner, felter or dyer, why not share your joy of this craft with them! I've assembled a review of some of the Learn-To kits we offer on that same page. Especially this winter, gifting a new creative outlet to someone who doesn't have one yet, may be exactly what they need to get thru the shorter days/longer nights of winter and the isolation we still need to endure. And just in time for introducing them to needle felting, my niece has come up with another 4 new tapestry kits: sunflowers, Indian Elephant, Gloucester Mermaid, and Swedish Geese!
For that matter, you may want to consider using these winter months to expand your own creative outlet by branching out into one of the "other" fiber arts you haven't experienced yet?
Both tapestry weaving and weaving on a rigid heddle loom have been really popular for over a year now. Pick up a loom and you'll have no trouble passing the time this winter!
 Or give your hand a try at spinning your own yarn with our new Lacquered Drop Spindle Kits. Or think ahead to our summer Natural Dye and Indigo/Shibori classes and pick up one of the absolutely gorgeous coffee table books about natural dyeing techniques among traditional experts from around the world!
You can check out my holiday wish-list and gift giving suggestions here.
And if you don't see something you like, we may have suggestions for additional options if you call or stop by.
|
|
|
|
Thanksgiving:
Closed Wed 25th & Thur 26th Nov
 XMAS:
Closed
Dec 24th - Jan 1st
Reopening and resuming normal hours Jan 2nd!
Woohoo - its 2021!
.
|
|
|
A couple new, more substantial projects to consider.....
|
 I knit Lanesplitter skirt (Ravelry) pattern using 2 balls of Ito. Originally designed for Kureyon and requiring you to alternate skeins every 2 rows for the stripe pattern, I decided to keep it simple and substitute the Noro Ito yarn with more different color changes so I just cast on and knit without bothering to alternate! SUPER simple and yet interesting to knit. And super simple to change size and also length if you like something shorter. Knit one of these up, throw on some black leggings and just about any sweater in your wardrobe will go with just about any color you choose to knit! Really versatile.
Somehow I missed that the company was going to send me the cover jacket from fall Noro magazine so I was surprised when it showed up this week! Also knit using Noro's Ito, this jacket features mitered squares and garter stitch for an interesting play of textures/stitches, and of course, color! I'll give you the magazine free (lots of great hat patterns in it as well) when you purchase the Ito to knit this jacket.
|
|
|
|
thanks to all for the well wishes I've received as I continue with chemo/radiation treatments this fall.
I'm past the halfway mark ( WOOHOO, 'cause honestly this really beats up the body!) and should be done by mid December.
Drs say they're going for a "cure", so I'm looking forward to a healthy 2021 for myself and every one of you!
This may seem like a hard year to be "thankful" for much of anything on the surface of it all, but if we scratch past the obvious difficulties that isolating has brought to us all financially, emotionally and mentally...
if you haven't lost someone to covid and you have family, friends and a good creative project to dig into, that's a lot to be thankful for.
Wishing you the best Thanksgiving holiday possible under these circumstances. Knit on. Spin up a storm, Felt furiously. And have some fun with color!
Stay well, Jen
|
|
|
|
|
