Ewenice is very excited about Super Bowl Sunday

We are experiencing technical difficulties with our Blog.  Please disregard any posts that don't look like they belong.  Vern and I are not experienced in Blogger, so this is turning into a trial and error session.  In the meantime, look forward to an email that will be telling you what we have planned for Super Bowl Sunday!

THE CRAFTER'S TOOL BUTLER!

We have THE BUTLER from Jordana Paige!  This case is a terrific necessity for any Knitter and Crocheter!  It comes in purple, black, gold, and red and is packed with plenty of pockets for circular needles, crochet hooks, notions, scissors and more.  Included is a card to keep track of your needles.  Pick up one for your favorite yarn enthusiast!

Date Correction

The date for the Ravelry class is Feb 3rd, instead of Feb 10th.  Oops...Sorry.

Speaking of Stash...............

 

Are you unsure what to do with your stash?  Have you considered logging it all into Ravelry where you can keep track of what you have and then you can match your yarns to patterns?  Do you know where all your patterns and books are, but don't know how to organize them?  They can also go into Ravelry and you can view them and match them with the yarn you have in your stash.    

Ravelry is one of the best things that has happened to Knitters and Crocheters.  This is a very powerful web site, but once you learn the ins and outs of it, lots of information will be at your fingertips.

Krista is having a class on how to get the most out of this web site.  Her class is Feb 10th from 2-4.  I would encourage you to come if you want to learn more about the website Ravelry.

See anything you like!

Today, we had the pleasure of meeting with a woman who makes ceramic buttons!  Look at all her wonderful creations!!  We especially liked all of the different shapes, colors and textures.  Come and see if any of these are the perfect accompaniment to the garment you are creating.

The New Debbie Bliss!

We have the newest edition of the Debbie Bliss magazine!  It is chock full of  "Gatsby" inspired patterns, wonderful designs for children (check out the super-cute Lederhosen on page 18!), and bright cherry accents for the home.  This issue also features a bright colorway for the Spring and Summer.  Come in and check out this latest edition,

How do you manage?!?

I recently went through my stash of yarn.  And I learned a few things by doing this.  One is that I have a problem a lot of yarn.  Two, my organizational skills are a little lacking.  And three, I need ideas!  My stash can't stay in this state of chaos!  So I am asking... How do you manage your stash?

Is it tucked away into every nook and cranny of your house?  Or is it shoved neatly organized into one devoted area?  Is it in bins?  Bags?  By weight or by color?  By quantity?  Or maybe you're the plan ahead type and have it all separated into individual projects?  Or perhaps, you have it all photoed, labeled and up on Ravelry to share, in which case you are far more organized I could ever hope to be.  Id love to hear your thoughts and the pros and cons to what you have tried!

So Cold!

Its been so cold out lately, even my coffee mug needed a sweater!  

So, I whipped up this little crochet mug cozy the other day.  It was a good little project to break up the monotony of my bigger ones.  And who doesn't like a little instant gratification now and then?  If you want to make a cozy of your own, heres what I did:

Grab some DK yarn and size G hook.

Chain (ch) 4, join with a Slip Stitch (sl st) to form a ring, ch 2
12 Double Crochet (dbl) into ring, join with a sl st to first dbl, ch 2
2 dbl into each stitch, join with a sl st to first dbl, ch 2 (24 stitches)
*2 dbl into next stitch, 1 db into next 2 stitches, repeat from * around, join with a sl st, ch 2 (32 stitches)
*3 dbl into next stitch, skip 2 stitches, repeat from * around, join with a sl st, ch 2 (11 dbl groups)
TURN
Row 1 - 3 dbl into space between groups from previous row, repeat around. Don't join! (11 groups)
Row 2 - Ch 3 (counts as a dbl), turn, 3 dbl into space between groups from previous row, repeat around.  1 dbl into last stitch of last group from previous row, ch 2 turn (10 groups + 2 dbl)

Repeat the last two rows until you have the desired length for your mug.  I have a very large mug so I ended with 7 rows total.
At the end of your last row, ch 16, turn, skip 8, single crochet in last 8 chains and in each stitch around. Cut yarn and tie off.  Weave in ends.  Try it on your mug to figure button placement and attach button.
Now put it on that mug and enjoy a hot coffee, cocoa or tea!

I used Rowan's Felted Tweed DK for mine.  Its a lovely yarn with so many tiny colors woven through it.  We have a variety of colors available at our shop.  And speaking of the shop, you should stop in and see some of the new yarns we just received, like the Mimi by Lotus.  Its a 100% mink lace weight.  And did I mention its MINK?!  Its so soft you'll think you touched a cloud!  We also received some new Dream yarns.  I personally fell for Starry, a rich sparkly fingering weight with tonal variations.  We also received some Classy with Cashmere (yummy cashmere!) and Groovy... a bulky weight which I imagine would make a fabulous cowl just right for these chilly days.

A Sale on a sale??

Sales just make me so happy!!!

We have just finished inventory and we are trying to make room for  new patterns, books and yarn.  If you bring a copy of this Blog post in, or if you receive our Blog on your hand held device, you can bring up our Blog and show us this posting, you will receive a special discount until Feb 9 on all of our SALE items.  Single patterns will be $1.00, books and leaflets will be 50% off and all yarn will be 40% off instead of 25% off.  This offer is extended only to our Bloggers.

Krista will be making some changes to our Blog, so look forward to seeing a new format soon.

A thing about short rows...

"What are short rows and how do you do them?"  Its a question we get a lot at the shop.  Well, simply put, it is a technique in which you create a flair or wedge shape by turning your knitting and working back along a row before you have reached the end of the row.  It looks and can seem intimidating but, once you try it a few times, you will realize, theres nothing to it!

For (a very simple) example, say you have 18 stitches:

You can create a 'short row' by only knitting across the first 15 stitches.  Now, go ahead and turn your work and knit back!

 

Next, only knit the first 12, turn and knit back.

Keeping in this format (in this case, working in increments of 3) repeat this until you have knit the first 3 and turned back.  You have now worked short rows across all your stitches.

Notice the 3 stitch 'bundles' on your needle?  That comes from a little space created by turning your work 3 stitches before your last turn.  In other cases, you may only work in 1 stitch increments, so you will have spaces between each stitch.  Dont worry!  Its SUPPOSED to look that way!

Now you can knit back across all of your stitches!  Notice how there is a wedge or triangle shape to your work?

Its that simple.  You can also go the other way, working only the first 3, then knit back, then the first 6, then knit and so on.

I was inspired to share this with you by my most recent project, Petite Facile, which I knit for my dear 17 month old daughter.  It seemed (and did prove to be) a fast, easy little sweater and a great way to feature a sweet little button I had coveting for a while now.  As I began this project I didn't realize at the time that the sleeves were made using a 'short row' technique.  I have never done sleeves this way but was excited to see how it would come together.  The construction overall is very unique yet not difficult, knit from the bottom back and up over the shoulders.  It was a new way to approach a classic looking pullover design.  

If you want to try some short rows yourself, there are some easy beginner friendly patterns out there.  For example, Wingspan is a very simple and basic short row shawl.  I am currently working on one in Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe available in our shop.  The shawl will be on display soon!  There are also the Short Row Ruffle Scarf, Triangle/Short Row Scarf, or Shortrows Sideways Hat!  OR if you're feeling particularly saucy and adventurous try a Color Affection Shawl or a Vitamin D Cardi!!

Hello everyone!  Krista here again.  We mentioned making a knitting New Years Resolution in one of our latest blogs.  I am so excited about the goals I have made for myself that I want to share them with you!

#1 - I decided I wanted to write a crochet pattern!  With all the ideas and trends on Ravelry it gets my gears going!  And this is the year Im going to get (at least) one of them out there.  As you can see in the picture, Ive already gotten a head start!  I started this sweet number right after Christmas... more details later!    

#2 - I will FINALLY make at least one of these Brooklyn Tweed or Wool People patterns: Graham, Permafrost or Ranger.  If you aren't familiar with Jared Flood or the Brooklyn Tweed collection of patterns you MUST go NOW and check them out!  ...or at least after reading the blog.  They are some of the most beautiful and yet simple 'looking' patterns.  We carry a variety of them in store.  Check out Claudia's Kildare scarf on display in the shop while you're there.  She made it from Cascade 220 Fingering in a gorgeous heather grey.  We have many colors available in case you decide to make your own!

#3 - I will strive to become a better teacher for you.  I love what I do, as do we all at Main Street Yarn.  And there is no better way to share that with the world than to sit down with family, friends and even a stranger and teach them.  Whether its learning a new skill from scratch or improving on an skill already known, we are here to offer our help.  Check out our many help groups and classes for getting you on your way at our website.  If there is anything you are interested in that you don't see on the list, let us know and we might be able to schedule a private lesson for you.

No matter what your goals for 2013, we want wish you the best with all of them!  We also hope you all had a safe and happy New Year and hope to see you in the shop soon!

Happy New Year!

Main Street Yarn wishes you a very Happy New Year!!  May all your knitting resolutions come true!