Yarn Heaven Update February 17, 2012

Good Rainy Morning to y'all! I don't know about anyone else, but I sure am confused as to what to be knitting on. Sweaters, t-shirts, tank tops? This week the weather has seemed to call for all of them, and people wonder why I have 2 dozen projects going at once!

The one I am the most interested in finishing is our Amelie Knitted/Crochted Jacket. Our students are working diligently on their jackets and I can't wait to see them all done. The color selections are just awesome and not one looks anything like another, that is what is so neat about this pattern. It is nice to see people using some of the fabulous yarns that seem to get forgotten, such as the Lana Grossa Cool Wool, also known as Merino 2000, Biosoja, the gentle self striping cotton blend, and some of the new mohair/silk mixtures. One side is done for me and I am hoping to get the other side finished this weekend. My goal is to be all done next weekend, just in time to start the Chris Blysma Summer cardigan! I keep switching back and forth between what material I want to use, there are so many choices! I have one swatch done in Scarlett, which is the most beautiful 100% cotton, next I am doing some in Mystik, which is a cotton/viscose mixture and than thanks to Deb Carlson, she asked if we could use Setanova, a gorgeous silk/cotton mixture, and I could have kicked myself for not thinking of that one on my own! The top is based on a gauge of 5.5 stitches per inch, sign up now as the class is filling and this is really a delightful sweater, what makes it is the simplicity of the wide rib stitches. Two projects in a row with button bands, first time I have ever stuck to a New Year's Resolution!

Let's talk about this crazy Ruffle Yarn Scarf craze...crazy isn't it? We can't even get pictures of the yarns on the website as they sell out way too fast. Our vendors were even caught off guard! We are all waiting for them to receive their shipments from Europe and hopefully in the next week or two we will be recieving many boxes of yarn! As many of you know the yarn industry has been hit very hard by the recession, many, many stores have closed in last two years. Most yarn stores are not ordering as much and our vendors are left with much yarn in their warehouses that we as yarn shops are not buying. Their money is tight also, so this year they brought in small amounts of yarn and waited until it was all sold before ordering more, in the mean time the new "scarf craze" took off and the vendors have placed their orders and we are all waiting to receive ours. So, thank you for your patience and understanding, it is on it's way.

We are working on the new class schedule right now and have had requests for a back to basics classs which would include pattern reading, that will be at the end of March. Our Sock Class is full, but it will be offered again in April or May. Brenda will be teaching the Diagonal Matrix Vest, which the model is in the shop and pictured here on Mondays starting in March. Gorgeous vest it is. We should have the class schedule updated by next week and will send out an email.

Special invitation to join our lovely Therapy Thursdays. We have a very large group of people and would love to have y'all join us. Therapy is anytime after 5:30 and be prepared for alot of laughter!

And a few knitting facts to end our update with:

Where did Arygle knitting come from? It was adapted from a Scottish Tartan! The orginal clan; Campbell of Argyll was the first inspiration for this kind of knitting, therefore the name.

What do the stitches in Aran knitting represent? Symbols of marriage and the fishermans life. The fisherman themselves would knit their own sweaters for cold days on the water. The Aran islands became very famous for their intricate knitting patterns.