Yarntopia

Look at these yummy goodies.  Mystery Skeins & Carousel from Tilli Tomas and Handspun from Knit Collage.

This lovely little combination is Carousel & Little Big Wool.  It is either going to be a scarf or a shawlette with a fluffy edging.  Stay tuned to find out!

All of the new yarns would be great as the focal point of a Dragonfly Wings Shawl or to use in the "What Can I Do With This Yarn" class.  We'd love to help you pair one of these fancy yarns with something else that will show it off.

This fun scarf is made with 1 hank of Giant Purls from Pagewood Farm.  This yarn came in and left all in the same day.  But not to worry - more shipped on Monday, so hopefully it will be here by the end of the week.

I'm not sure if you can see it in the scarf, but we have a great new selection of shawl pins and sticks: metal, wood, shell, and ratan.  They are the perfect way to hold shawls, scarves, and cardigans closed.

Most of the Knit Collage sold the first day it was in the store (today) but we will be ordering more tomorrow.  Check out their website and send us an email if there is a color you just can't live without!  I think Sugar Magnolia is calling to me.  Also, while there, read the story of how this company came to be - it is a great story of a young woman using her talents to build a business while helping others.

Happy Stitching Everyone!

When we saw these kits at market we knew we had to try them.  The kit comes with a hand dyed silk scarf, silk ribbon, and irridescent fibers add needle felting tools and you are set for fun.

This is my project for the day.  I am very excited.  The picture on the kits shows random flowers but you can do most anything that makes you happy.  I think I will use the brown ribbon to create a vine and use the other colors for flowers and leaves.  After the needle felting is done the scarves are gently ironed to set everything including the irridescent bits of fiber.   This will be in the store by Wednesday (maybe sooner if I can't tear myself away!). 

I am also offering this as a class in August - and the class will be FREE with the purchase of the kit.  The technique is very easy and requires so little instruction I can't justify charging for it;  we'll just gather and have fun together.

These ladies brought so much happiness and excitement to Yarntopia today.  They are refugee women primarily from Bhutan, living in Houston awaiting imigration status.  They are amazing knitters and weavers who sell their handmade items to help support their families.

It was so fun to watch their faces as they touched the yarn, examined patterns and shop samples - truly they were like excited children in a toy store.  What a joy. 

The ladies were here with representatives of Community Cloth - "a microenterprise empowering refugee women in Houston."  It is a nonprofit organization doing an amazing work with these ladies.  Please follow the link to find out more and maybe find a way to support this worthy cause.

I told you all that I am having a love affair with triangular shawls and shawlettes.  The above projects are living proof and I think all will make great classes.  From left to right - this is a long skinny triangle and I am going to try some cotton On-Line sock yarn to see how the colors react.  Next is a simple triangle shawl, but in this class you will learn how to use this formula for any amount of yarn.  You know how we all buy that one gorgeous skein that we just can't seem to resist?  Well, with this you can use it and end up with a shoulder wrap or fulfledged shawl depending on how much yarn you have.  And finally, Multnomah is a garter stitch feather and fan shawl that has quite a following on Ravelry.  The pattern is free there and each student needs to bring their own.  If you don't belong to Ravelry, ask us how you can join.  It is free and a great resource for all fiber folks.

This beauty is the Firefly Scarf, another free pattern from Classic Elite's website.  We don't carry the Firefly yarn, but Allegoro or Soft Linen, both from Classic Elite would make a great substitute for the Firefly.  Simple lace and a few strategically placed bobbles make this a beautiful summer accessory.

I'm going to be knitting hard and fast and whichever one I get done first will be the first class offered.

Have a great Wednesday!

Sheryl

Crazy Lace

June 14th & 16th 10-1

The class on the 16th is full.  Let us know if you want to do this and can't come on the 14th.  We will schedule another class!

My name for this is Spontaneous Lace because I used stitch patterns but I chose which ones I wanted to us and when.  I mixed it up and as long as I had enough stitches to complete the repeat ( 5-8 stitches per repeat), I went for it. 

I now think that anyone interested in lace who knows how to do basic increases and decreases should take this class - here is why:

You will learn not just what to do but why you are doing it.  This is "Lace Logic."  By understanding what happens when a certain increase is paired with a decrease you will have a better grasp of what is happening in traditional lace knitting.  This knowledge will help you catch mistakes as well as avoid them. 

This class is going to be just plain fun!  I have some great ideas and you are guaranteed to leave happy!

Free Range Scarf

aka Sheryl's Dreamscicle

Saturday June 19th & Wednesday June 30th

OK, it will come to no surprise that I LOVE doing this kind of project.   Jane Thornely has graciously given us permission to use her recipe to learn her style of  "free range knitting."  Once again, you will be guided gently into knitting relatively pattern free.  The motto for this class is "Don't worry, be happy!"

Each student is to bring a picture from a magazine with a color palette that makes them happy.  From there we will learn to choose yarn and knit a fun swatch.  You can then raid your stash, and add one beautiful yarn to make something unique.

Sunset Wrap

Tuesday June 29th 6-8

I was so excited when the publisher of Crochet! sent my wrap to me.  We are waiting on the Kudo to arrive from Plymouth Yarns but even if it isn't here by the day of the class, we will learn the lace stitch used for the wrap.  It is easy and this  beautiful yarn does the hard work.

Allegoro Market Bag

Tuesday June 15 6-8

This beautiful bag could be lined an used as a purse.  It is begun in the center and worked out, so pre-requisites include the ability to work on dpn's and knowledge of lace.

Scrumble Saturday

June 19th & July 17th

Come spend a day playing with yarn!  Got a project that needs a little embellishment?  Want to learn how to do freeform crochet or knit?  Come on in!  There is a $10.00 material fee for use of our yarn.

We hope we have found a little something for everyone this month.  There are some classes up on the July calendar as well, so check that out too.  Amy will be teaching beaded knitting, Sony will teach intermediate and advanced cables as well as present our next Because You Asked in July.

Meet the Tunisian Short Row Scarf! 

Designed by Kim Guzman and made with Mini Mochi this is the crochet equivalent of the popular Multi Directional Scarf.  Sheryl will be teaching this class on Tuesday evening, May 18th and Saturday morning, May 22nd.  See the calendar for details and call the store to sign up.  You can choose from several self striping yarns including Mini Mochi, Noro's Chirrimen or Taos from Crystal Palace.

This pattern is not available for sale.  We only have permission to use it for teaching purposes, so if this looks like something you'd like to make, come take a class!

In other news, head over to Sheryl's website to see what's happening in her world.

The beautiful artwork of

Sony Hartly & Misty Urech

from

Knitting Lagniappe

is in the shop through Mother's Day. 

Send your family in for the perfect gift.

Saturday May 1, 2010

11:00 - 1:00

Please join us for a Knitting Lagniappe trunk show.

Sony Hartley is the multi-talented artist, knitter and teacher who has been with us since the very beginning.  Her yarn bowls and mugs are a favorite with Yarntopia customers and she has just returned from an extremely successful show at the DFW Fiber Fest.  She has partnered with her daughter, Misty, to provide a line of "a little something extra" for knitters, crocheters, & spinners.

Come meet the artist between 11-1 on Saturday, May 1st and receive a free gift with each Knitting Lagniappe purchase. 

Among the items Sony will have avilable are yarn bowls, mugs, knitting jewelry, stitch markers, and accessories.

Aren't these beaded bracelets awesome?  Amy made them both and we have a class scheduled for you to learn how to do it as well.  The class is scheduled for Friday, May 7th from 10-12.  We will have a kits made up of the book, beads, thread, and clasp.

Amy completed a bracelet in an hour, so in the two hour class you will be able to learn and leave with a finished bracelet.  These would make great mother's day gifts - or just an awesome accessory for yourself.

Sheryl is working on a crochet beaded bracelet - photos to come later today.  This class with be on Tuesday, May 4th from 6-8.  This will also be available in kit form, so those who don't need a class can just buy the kit.

Sheryl will also be teach a cable class on Wednesday, May 5th at 10:00 a.m. and the project is a very cute coffee cup cozy.  The cozy, mug, and a gift card would be a great gift for mom or for that special teacher.