Saturday Book Review

New England Knits by Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre is a book that I keep coming back to over and over.  Tina knit up the Melrose Peacoat (pg. 71) using Lamb's Pride Bulky and found it to be a quick knit.  It is hanging up in one of our shop windows if you would like to take a look.  Make sure you check out the gorgeous rose motif on the back.  While this book contains mostly patterns for sweaters, around 16, it also features a couple hats including the incredibly cute "Whale Hat", a pair of mittens, a satchel, and a couple of neck warmers.  Every pattern is extremely wearable for a number of sizes and the lines will stay in style for years to come.  I highly recommend this book, every pattern is a winner, there aren't any dud or filler patterns.

Knitting Traditions

Hello fellow bloggers
It is raining like crazy here!  I hope you are somewhere warm, with your feet up, in front of a fireplace knitting.  Today is a perfect day for it.
We received our "Knitting Traditions" magazine from Interweave.  There are some fascinating articles about Civil War socks, a pattern for "Cuffed Beddies" (basically an old style knitted slipper) and a pattern for a Kimono Shawl.  Lots of good articles and great patterns.

Hope to see you soon!

PS We tried a twin duvet for stuffing the Pouf and it wasn't quite big enough, so now we are on the hunt for a bigger duvet! 

NEW News from Main Street Yarn!

We have been making some changes at the shop!  Come in and see what we have done to rearrange the store!  Hopefully, you find the book section more comprehensive and the yarn easier to browse.  We just recieved a large order of roving fiber.  The collection includes a number of colors of silk tussah, Blue Face Leicester, and Colonial Wool Top.  We  are also extremely excited about our new Crochet teacher, Krista!  Krista is an incredibly talented and prolific Crocheter and Knitter.  She comes to us from Cultured Purls and has a terrific collection of her work on Ravelry.  Stay tuned for a listing of Krista's classes.

The Pouf is done!

Here it is without it's stuffing.

I know it doesn't look like much, but it's going to look beautiful once it's stuffed. 
Keep tuned for the stuffed version and pattern information.

60 More Quick Baby Knits

  Look what we just got in!!!

Cascade has done it again!  This is a book of 60 projects for babies using Cascade's 220 Superwash Sport.  Adorable sweaters, dresses, mittens, hats, sleep sacks, blankets comprise the contents of this terrific book.  Wait 'til you see the argyle sweater vest or the skirted onesie!!!  Great book+Great yarn=Happy Knitters!! 

Stitch of the week!

For the love of Seed Stitch...

How about an "how to" guide for stitches?  Every Monday, I will introduce a new stitch.  I hope it will become a reference of sorts when you are stuck at home and can't make it into the shop for quick help.  Like the book review, I'm just going to start with my personal favorite...  the Seed Stitch.  I love this stitch, let me count the ways...  for one, this stitch provides a lovely texture to any piece.  It is reversible, stretchy and it always lays flat so you can use seed stitch on a border and you don't have to worry about the edges curling up or it collapsing in on itself like a Rib stitch!  It is great for scarves, shawls, anything you need to border like hat brims and sweaters!

The easiest way to  work this stitch is to have an odd number of stitches.  This way, you start every row with a Knit stitch so every row, wrong side or right side looks like this...  K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 to your hearts content!  If you have an odd number of stitches, then the stitches will automatically line up to where you are knitting the purls and purling the knits.  So easy!   

Moonstruck



I'm making up this Slit Scarf from "Moonstruck" by Tahki Stacy Charles. This is the Crystal Yarn we brought in on Friday. I'm knitting it in the lilac color, but the other colors are equally as pretty.





Crystal - Color #06

WIP




 


Moonstruck

Slit Scarf featured in Moonstruck









Saturday Book Review

Boutique Knits

I'd like to start the "Saturday Book Review" with one of my favorite books, Boutique Knits by Laura Irwin.  This book contains a collection of extremely cute accessories including hats, scarves, fingerless gloves, bags and more!  All of the patterns are refreshing in the way they hint at styles from the past with fun little twists.  The designs follow classic lines with added frills and pieces of interest.  My favorite design is the "Sideways Grande Hat" on page 51.  I made it out of Cascade's Venezia Worsted which is a silk and wool blend.  This is one of those books that most anyone can find at least five items they would like to knit.  A big A+!  Another note worthy item is that the directions are extremely easy to follow. 

More New Yarn

Crystal Yarn from S. Charles

Ritratto and Luna from S. Charles

This is the scarf I made yesterday from the Lacey Yarn from Berroco. A quick knit and beautiful scarf
I am now making a scarf combining the Luna and Crystal.  Pics to come. 


Lacey

We just received Berroco's Lacey Yarn.  One hank makes one scarf.  I'm just getting ready to sit down and knit one up, but here is a pictures of one that is already made up.

Here they are in our store.

I'm excited to try it...............I'll let you know....

Berroco

Our Berroco Shipment just came in!

  Ultra Alpaca

Ultra Alpaca Lite

Peruvian Quick

Some of you have requested pictures of the Pouf.  Since we are creating the pattern as we go,  there are no pictures to show you the finished product, but I will be posting pictures of it's progress.

Tina is knitting the Pouf and because she was busy putting the Berroco away yesterday she didn't have much time to work on the Pouf.  I will be posting pictures next week.  Stay tuned............

New Books

We just received new books!  They are new to the store and maybe new to you too.


This is a book by Debbie Bliss. It starts with spring and goes through the four seasons. There are 52 make-in-a-week projects - quick gifts and seasonal knits. Okay - it may take some of us longer than a week.
In the fall section of the book there is a "leftover yarns knitting bag" pattern. A cute knitting bag made with your left over yarns. What a great idea.
"The Knitter's Year" by Debbie Bliss.

This is a new knitting book. You've heard of the one skein knitting books, well this is the two skein knitting book. It has 25+ scarves, shawls and shrugs.
There is a lacy Bolero that would fit perfect over a summer dress. "One + One Scarves, Shawls & Shrugs" by Iris Schreier.

For those of you who love to knit animals, check out this book. There are 15 adorable, easy to knit toys. The crocodile is so cute! There is also a couple of facts about each animal included in the book, such as "Did you know? A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out, however much it may want to". "Knitted Wild Animals" by Sarah Keen

For the finer gauge knitter, this book would interest you. There are 15 knitting projects. There is a beautiful Muckleberry gloves and hat set, using 2 ply Shetland Yarn. "Knit Real Shetland by Kate Davies.

Expectant Mothers or Grandmothers, this book has adorable projects for 0-3 year olds. There are 25 projects total. Your little one would look darling in the dungarees shown in the book. These bib-and-brace trousers are cute, warm, and practical. "Cute and Easy Baby Knits" by Susie Johns.

 

Hope to see you soon!

Pouf

What's a Pouf?  Or is it a puff?

1. A woman's hairstyle popular in the 18th century, characterized by high rolled puffs.

2. A part of a garment, such as a dress, that is gathered into a puff.
3. A rounded ottoman.

If you guessed # 3 you would be correct!  Tina is making a pouf out of Burly Spun by Brown Sheep. 

Stay tuned and watch the progress.....

Classic Home Afghan

In our Saturday morning class Jenn is making this afghan out of Cascade 220 Superwash.  It's made in three strips and then sewn together.  Kim has made one and it turned out beautifully.  The book is from RYC's Classic Home Book 5.

Paul is making this very fun baby blanket out of Cascade 220 Superwash.  Elya is modeling it.  Aren't the colors great?  Good job Paul and nice modeling Elya. 

We are so excited about our new blog!  We will be featuring new yarns as they come in, our staff knitting projects and our customer knitting projects.  Don't be surprised if we ask to take a picture of your project.  The Blog was set up by Paul Flannagan, our newest employee.  If you haven't met him, come by and say "Hello".

Here is the latest Great American Afghan Square.  This square is #17 in The Great American Afghan book, designed by Karen Kendrick-Hands.  It is knit with Cascade 220.   The next class is on Saturday 3/17, we will be working on this square.  It will enhance your skills in entrelac, cable, lace, double point needles and picking up stitches.

In April, our very own Betts Lampers will be teaching her square which is featured in The Great American Afghan book. 

Yesterday we received our notion order so if you were looking for a notion and we were low on stock, hopefully we received what you were looking for.

Have you heard about the new Addi Lace-Long Tips Interchangeable needle set?  We received  a few sets in yesterday.  They are priced the same as the other Addi Interchangeable sets.  It is my understanding that both Lace sets are available. 

Welcome :)

Hello!!!!

Welcome to our new blog!!!

Here is where you'll find the latest info about our store. "Follow" the blog and you'll be the first to know about new arrivals and we'll also feature some of your amazing works!!!

Hope you are having a great day - we'll see you soon :)