Just forget Death by Chocolate

We've got the new way to overdose through decadence with the new Staccato, by ShibuiKnits. Can I just say, "Yum!"? 

Is that a technical term? 'Cause it really should be.  I mean, look at it:

No, wait, you should touch it.  The fiber content, just FYI, is 65% Superwash Merino, 30% Silk, 5% Nylon.  I played with a skein and made an a-MAZE-ing sock with it in the Ivory...

Which, unfortunately, I cannot show you just yet.  Patience, though, shall be rewarded.  I did, however, buy two skeins of Staccato in Cotton Candy last night...

For some fun and flirty socks.  There might be a few discreet ruffles involved.  It's tempting me to go ultra-fem.  Must be the combination of the pink and the silk.

But don't be limited by my madness.  Take a minute and imagine the possibilities.  Like, oh, Connie Chang Chinchio's new Geodesic Cardigan:

(from the latest KnitScene)

Or, how about Hannah Fettig's best-selling Featherweight Cardigan?

I know I'm tempted, anyway.  They'd be fantastic Spring knits and would only take 5 - 10 skeins of Staccato. 

Shop talk.  My goodness, lots has been happening around here.  We have quite a few new yarn lines in (see above, below, and the last post!), several new patterns and, well, a flurry of activity.  Just wait for the next Newsletter, it's gonna be a doozy.

Anyway.  Onto vicarious knitting.  I convinced Jenny (our graphic designer) to share her in-progress Man Glove (remember her New Year's Resolution?), which is nearing completion:

For the inquiring mind, the yarn is Joseph Galler Prime Alpaca in "Mist Grey".  The pattern is vintage, which vintage we don't know, but I'd guess the 40's.  It's lookin' good, right?  We're trying to encourage Jenny, so feel free to leave comments!  We'll make sure she gets them.

Next, well, this also involves another New Year's Resolution.  Amazingly, Lindsay is managing to both fulfill and break her resolution in one go.  Lindsay is taking Judy Wilcox's Two Socks on Two Circulars class and has fallen mad in love with the technique.  In fact, she just bought another skein of sock yarn, Madelinetosh Glazed Sock in "Violin", to cast on another pair...

Which she plans to have to the heel (along with the green pair above - Shibui Sock in Seaweed) by the next class on Sunday.  I see a wicked addiction in the making.  But, call me callous, I'm sick of being the only sock addict on staff, so I'm not saying anything. 

Oh, alright, I did tease her a bit.  Feel free to leave comments, she'll definitely see them!

Lastly, we have an overwhelmingly huge new selection of Rowan yarns in the store.  They're not on the web yet, but they will be soon.  The additions include new colors of Denim, Summer Tweed and All Seasons Cottons.  Also in the photography box is the new Purelife Revive, which is an awesome thing (recycled silk, recycled cotton, and recycled rayon).

Expect to see these beauties on the website in a couple of weeks.

And, before I go, here's a super-cute Jake & Co. photo:

Just because.

How we overcome the chill

At this exact moment, iGoogle claims that the temperature outside is 32F (or 0C for you metric knitters), making Portland quite frosty right now. Working in a building that dates to the Shanghai Tunnels (seriously, we're connected via our basement) means that our heating system is older than most grandparents and not the most efficient machinery on the planet. But that's not a problem for knitters!

In the past week we've seen some creative (and often elaborate) ways Portlanders have developed to keep warm when the wind chill causes the temperature to drop into the negatives. One of which was an awesome Chain Link Scarf (pattern by Teva Durham); but, alas, I have no knitter to credit. Blame Kristin, she forgot to get the now Anonymous knitter's info.

Our knitter (I am told) was also wearing handknit mittens and multiple layers. Notice the sweater over a shirt over another shirt. The scarf, if you're into that sort of thing (chances are that, as a knitter, you might be), was made with the new Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed Chunky. Soft, thick and quick. Ideal for sudden forecast changes.

My 0wn coping method involves layering multiple handknits. Right now I'm madly in love with my recently finished Sapphire Sabine:

At 65% baby alpaca, this light little cardigan is surprisingly warm (okay, maybe not that surprising if you know that alpaca is 3 - 7x warmer than wool!). But, darns, people, it is nice and toasty in a frigidly cold basement. All I need are wrist warmers and I'm set. I thought my coworkers were going to strangle me when I said that.

And, before the questions pour in, the pattern is Sabine, by CoCo Knits. The yarn was Road To China Light, in the color "Sapphire". The pattern said I'd need 7 skeins, but I think it could have been done with 6. If you're making the XL size, you probably can get away with a little less yarn than suggested. But don't quote me on that. The Knitting Fates will strike me down.

Next on the list of toasty ideas is our Handknits For Hard Knock Kids clothing drive. Knitters across the PDX area are getting the warm fuzzies after donating their handknit and store bought clothing:

Knit a hat, or buy some mittens, or clear out your closet and you'll stay toasty all winter long!

Our donations box is almost full after a week, which means we'll have to get another box because we're not stopping anytime soon. We have a week and a half left for donors to qualify for one (or more!) of our fantabulous prizes, but will continue to collect donations through the New Year. So, if you want to earn an inner glow and possibly win a skein of handpainted yarn, bring in some clothing to donate!

In less toasty news, we do have some fun events coming up in the next few days:

1. The Holiday Happy Hour #5: Danger Crafts Toy! is scheduled for tomorrow night. I'll be helping Sandy Kay teach students how to create jogless stripes as well as join two in-the-round projects (such as legs) into one. It's gonna be great, and I'm going to endeavor to bring my IP Sammie the Sock Monster with me.
2. a very cool eCard (with preview!) that features one of CoCo Knits' new patterns! Perfect for layering, Tessa is one of those garments that can be worn year-round.
   

Of course, right now I'm thinking I want one made out of Madelinetosh Merino. Just think how warm and soft it'd beee... And it'd only take, like, 4 - 7 skeins. Now there's an idea. A dangerous one, I'll admit, but it does have the potential for greatness.

Now, before I go back to data entry, I have a couple of updates:

1. Have you seen our facebook page? We'd love it if you became a fan or friended us!
2. Our limited edition Super Sock in "Opal Creek Winter" is going to be back in stock shortly. If you read the most recent Newsletter and just missed out on a skein of your own, now is the time to place a preorder before these next 25 skeins are gone for good.
   

With that, we've covered everything. So, until next week, stay warm and keep knitting (or crocheting)!

Fashionknitsta Thursday: 10/1/09

It's Thursday again which means time to share with all of you some great fashion forward designs I've been looking at over the last few days. Fall is upon us and I hope all of you are feeling the wonderful inspiration I am that comes with the cooler temps and changing leaves.

I don't know about you, but I love a good cardigan. Even as a kid growing up in Southern California you would have found me in the middle of July in a cardigan. So, now that I'm an adult and I can make my own, I need to find the perfect one. My instinct right now says shawl collar and with a wrap tie, BUT will I like that next year? If I'm going to put the work (not to mention $$) in I want to like it for a very long time, of course, though I also don't want to put the effort into something plain that I could get at the Gap. Well, I found this sweater by Tory Burch:

Love the ruffle and I think I will continue to love the ruffle for quite sometime. Ok, so style is decided, time to find a pattern. Flo by Kim Hargreaves is the first to come to mind. I know I referred to the wonderful book Thrown Together last week, but I'm really in love with it. The patterns are classic, but with a twist which I think is perfect.

I think I would make the sleeves a touch longer (need to keep my hands warm once the rain starts) and not gather them, but otherwise this fits my vision wonderfully. Now yarn? The book calls for Rowan Cashsoft 4ply and Kidsilk Haze, but I think I would do Isager Alpaca 2 in a grey, and a Shibui Silk Cloud in Mist or perhaps Mulberry for a bit of saucy contrast. Or now that I'm thinking about it, it would be lovely (and washable!) in Shibui Sock. Hmmm....

Another Option I found for this is from Vogue Knitting Fall 2007. This Ruffled Jacket by James Coviello, is really adorable.

Again, I would make the sleeves a little longer but I love the shape of the bottom and how the ruffles follow the whole edge. The original calls for GGH Bel Air and GGH Soft Kid held together, I think I would do Malabrigo Worsted and a strand of Shibui Silk Cloud.

A while ago my roommate asked me to find her a good free pattern for a Mobius scarf. I keep telling her to sign up for Ravelry because it will change her life, but for some reason she still hasn't. This is beside the point though, and I'm quite glad she hasn't gotten her own yet because whilst perusing Ravelry for said Mobius pattern I stumbled upon an amazing collection of patterns I had never seen before. Jane Richmond is a designer from Vancouver Island and I am absolutely in love with her patterns! A few highlights are her Cozy Bolero:

Which I think would be beautiful (and quick!) done in Shibui Highland Wool Alpaca held double. She also has a number of lovely hat patterns, each with the perfect amount of slouch; though I think I'm leaning towards Pasha as my favorite. Probably because I'm a big fan of the yarn it's done in: Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK, which I wish we had on the website, but I don't think it's quite made it there. Although, it would also be quite luscious in Catherine Lowe Alpaca 6.

You should definitely check out her Ravelry page and blog for these patterns and much much more.

For my last pick this week, I didn't have to wander far. I've always been a CocoKnits fan but last week we got in a new pattern, Yvonne that is absolutely fantastic.

I've already expressed my love of the cardigan, but this sweater would also satisfy my wardrobe needs when all I feel like doing is wrapping myself in a blanket. I think it might just be fate that this pattern entered the store right around the same time the Fibre Company's Road to China Light did. I'm so anxious for that yarn to make it onto the website, it is amazingly soft (not to mention the colors! Oh the colors!) and just the perfect gauge for this pattern.

Once again I wish you all a great weekend, and check in next Thursday for the next edition of Fashionknista. Until then, stay chic blogfans!

-Lindsay