knit, Swirl trunk show!!!

Our first knit, Swirl trunk show has arrived!  It is currently being featured at StevenBe in Minneapolis.  Attend an Urban Knitters on Sunday 1-4pm or a Thursday luncheon lounge 12-4 to get the full trunk show experience.  Or, just pop in to see what the fuss is all about! Sandra McIver's garments are clever, unique, and universally flattering.  I swear!  They look amazing on ANY figure.  Come on in to see for yourself!  We have this trunk show until December 31st.  We will be getting another trunk show in the Spring, but this one is not to be missed!

Ruffle yarn, ladder yarn, and Zen Yarn Garden

New Ruffling yarns have finally arrived along with some of your previously sold-out favorites!

Kidsilk Creation from Rowan is the newest limited edition arrival on the ruffle roster. This gorgeous yarn is a net, tubular construction made from Kidsilk Haze which is 70% super kid silk Mohair and 30% silk. The colours have been selected from the favourite shades of Kidsilk Haze cream, dewberry, trance, candy girl, jelly and smoke. One hank creates a heavenly scarf for you or a gift.

Katia Triana and Triana Lux are back! This favorite bouncy ruffle is back in stock in limited quantities after a short hiatus. Visit us at the shop for the best selection before is sells out again!

Steven has located ladder (trellis) yarn!  It was not in production for quite awhile, but we always had a supply.  It has recently become quit popular for necklaces or accessory scarves.  Steven has located some vendors that are carrying it again.  We have fabulous colors.  Some even have glitter!

Add this to any yarn to give it that StevenBe touch or make crochet necklaces!  Steven held it with the Misti Chunky Alpaca for a beautiful vest.  Use it with wool and add some extra color to your felted purse!  The necklaces are so popular as they are so easy and fast to make!

Brand new yarn that Steven just had to have is the Serenity from Zen Yarn Garden.  No, this isn't the name of Steven's latest venture.  There is not a knitting spa in the works - Wouldn't Zen Yarn Garage work, though?!  I want to go somewhere, get a facial, take a yoga class, and learn the German Double Cast On all in one place!  Instead,  Zen Yarn Garden is a little yarn company in Canada that produces this delicious blend of cashmere, superwash merino and nylon.  The colors are so fantastic that you have to come in and see them.  My photography is pretty outstanding, but the photo does not do the colors justice.

And, don't forget the Soak!  If you have taken all that time to knit or crochet an item, then you better take good care of it!  Then, pick up your favorite scent of rinse-free wool wash.  Just a teaspoon or so in lukewarm water with your hand knit will block it to perfection or make it look just like new!  There is a new scent that is Lovey!

New Classes at Yarn Garage!

Fast, Fun Classes for November and December!

The Inca Hat class is a two session class, Monday, November 21st & 28th from
10:30am - 12:30pm.  You will learn to make two earflaps at once, knit in the round, change yarn, and decrease.  Pick any worsted weight yarn for this hat.  We used Malabrigo Worsted because we liked the hand-dyed effect.  You could also use Dream in Color Classy, Manos Wool Clasica, or Araucania Toconao Multy.

You can make it in sports team colors or use angora and sequins to make it really girly.  $28 covers your two class session registration.  Click here for more information: Inca Hat Class


If you register for all three classes-Braided Headband, Holiday Bottle Cozy, and Rasta Scarf, you receive all the classes for only $42!  Come into the shop to receive this special pricing.

The Braided Headband class introduces a  new pattern.  Lori transformed our favorite cable into a headband!  This class will teach you how to create this deceptively easy cable!  With Lori's help you will master this technique in this single session two hour class.  If you don't want to make a headband, you can make a scarf with the same cable!

Lori used Spud & Chloe's Sweater yarn for the headband pictured above.  The pattern allows you to choose between three weights of yarn.  The sample on display at the Yarn Garage was made with Amy Butler's Sweet Harmony yarn.  I think Malabrigo Rios would be a divine option, or Schulana's Angora Fashion for a truly luxurious headband.  Add buttons for flair or weave hand-dyed silk ribbon through the cable.  Make it your own!  The pattern comes free with your $18 class registration!
Click here for the Monday, Dec. 5th Braided Headband Class or here for
Wednesday, Dec. 7th Braided Headband Class.


The Holiday Bottle Cozy Class is a great hostess gift!  Wrap up your favorite wine, olive oil, sparkling cider in this knit bottle cozy for a original gift.

Lori will teach you the magic loop method so you don't have to use double points.    Use Plymouth Select Worsted Superwash Merino and add Angora for a furry trim!  Try Noro Silk Garden for a striped effect!  The pattern comes free with the $18 class registration.
Click here for the Monday, Dec. 12the Holiday Bottle Cozy Class or here for the
Wednesday, Dec. 14th Holiday Bottle Cozy Class

The Rasta Scarf Class will teach you this fun 20 minute scarf!  You can make two or three in this single two hour class session.  

The original was made with Pagewood Farms Lana Grande.  We have also made it with Malabrigo Rasta, Cascade Magnum, and Twinkle Soft Chunky.  You can also add in some sequins, fur yarn, or beads!  This is a great last minute gift!  The pattern comes free with the $18 class registration. 
Click here for the Monday, Dec. 19th Rasta Scarf Class or here for the
Wednesday, Dec 21st Rasta Scarf Class.


See you soon! 

New Pretties for Winter

Hello to all! 

It is Amy Butler madness!  She has launched a line with Rowan.  We have her Sweet Harmony 100% merino wool.  This is a chunky yarn perfect for Lori's new Braided Headband or our Baguette Cabled scarf.

The colors are true to the Amy Butler sensibility.  Of course, there is a fabulous pattern book to go along with the yarn.  Farmhouse Knits features sweater, hats, afghans, and other fabulous pieces.

I love this Bobble Hat from her book.

This is also a great Crochet Scarf.

We also received the new Kidsilk Haze Stripe yarn in colors picked by Kaffe Fassett.

A single skein makes the scarf pattern that is free on the ball band.  The colors are typical Kaffe Fassett and are a pleasure to work into a lovely scarf for a friend or yourself!

Fall Tune Up at Yarn Garage

We kick off our Fall Tune Up with an Intro to Needle Felting.  Some of you took Christy Binoniemi's class at StevenBe.  Come to Yarn Garage in Rosemount for continued instruction on Saturday, September 10th from 2:00pm - 5:00pm.  Or, if you missed the first class, come and learn this fun technique!  Christy will show you how to take wool and transform it into art!  Click here for more information and registration.

Lori is kicking off her Fall Tune Up class schedule with Magic Loop Mittens!  Take this two session class and learn how to knit in the round without double points!  Lori has created a pattern with four different gauge options and four different size options.  Your choices are almost limitless!

Lori's mitten class will be held Monday, September 12th & 19th at Yarn Garage in Rosemount, MN.  It will be 10:30am-12:30pm.  Click here for more details.

Ready to jump into spinning your own yarn?  Devin Helmen will teach Intro to Spindle Spinning Saturday, September 17th 2:00pm - 5:00pm at Yarn Garage in Rosemount, MN.  Click here for more details.

Does the idea of knitting a sweater intimidate you?  Don't be afraid!  Come to Lori's Knit-in-a-Snap class and knit this fashionable yet cozy vest.  It is a perfect project for an advanced beginner!  Lori will walk you through the construction and take all the guesswork out of garment making.

This class is a four session series on Wednesday, September 14th, 21st, 28th, & October 5th from 10:30am-12:30pm.  Click here to reserve your seat!

For those of you who just need casual knitting help, then join Lori for her Study Hall, Mondays & Wednesday 1:30pm-3:30pm.  We also have knit nights, Wednesday & Friday from 6-8pm.  Click here to see the calendar and to save your seat!

Blue Sky Alpaca and Three Irish Girls rule the shop!

Blue Sky Alpaca, what?!  Here it is!  Luxurious Suri Merino from Blue Sky Alpaca is ready for your next project.  You have to stop in to the shops to feel this yarn. 

Has anyone seen the new Three Irish Girls Bamboo Cotton blends?  We have worsted and fingering weights.  Steven is using the worsted weight for the cabled drape shrug pattern that he is writing.  Check it out on Ravelry.  Love this new line from Three Irish Girls!

Sneek Peaks from Stephen West and more from today's Skype Chat!

Hey Gang... we just finished our hour long Skype with the amazing Stephen West. The hour flew by. He started with some insight into his knitting past, current travels, and future inspiration.

 The group shared their color choices for the Mystery Shawl KAL and asked questions about the pattern, the process and the clues! Stephen hinted at some variations he's been working on for a future pattern using intarsia  and color blocking similar to the mystery shawl.

Mr. West treated our group to a gigantic fall preview that included samples that will be in WestKnits Book 3 that is due out in October. My favorite was an earflap hat that he was finishing from the comfort of his Mother's back yard. Other highlights included a chunky cowl with buttons and a cable edged scarf that will be perfect for Minnesota Fall and Winter.

Stephen shared his favorites for fall. We were all WOWed by a fabulous felted bag with a suburst motif he created in Noro and a similarly inspired circular blanket.

Here are some more pictures below. Visit me at StevenBe for a full wrap-up of the chat and details on upcoming patterns. Happy Knitting! -Jeremy

Knit & Crochet Show and Steven's KARE 11 appearance

A week has gone by since the Knit and Crochet Show and I am FINALLY sitting down to tell you all about it!  What a weekend!  Everyone worked so hard and Steven and I were so proud of our team!  The shops wowed the attendees who were brave enough to venture out to Rosemount and South Minneapolis.  We made new best friends from all over the country! 

We were very proud of our booths - we had fun transforming them from trade show boring to StevenBe fabulous.

This was our set up for the KARE 11 interview.  If you were up at 5:45am Friday, August 29th and you were watching KARE 11 you saw Steven discuss his vision for knitting and crocheting.

We had to get up at 3:30am to get ready for the shoot.  It takes allot of work to be fabulous!  Steven is WAY more fabulous than myself!

Jeremy is hmmm.....cute...in a crocheted tam.  He is going to KILL me for posting that picture!  Love your face, Jeremy!

Here is Dave from KARE 11 prepping for the interview.

Here is Dave knitting!  Yes, we got him knitting.  We are waiting for the clip of the interview, so watch for that to be posted soon!  After the interview, the vendor market opened to the public. We had fun meeting everyone from MN and from all around the country.  The show ended at 6pm and then Steven and I attended the dinner and fashion show.  Steven hosted the fashion show with Lily Chin.  She is something else, let me tell you!  It was VERY entertaining having them host together.  Here Steven and I are catching a nap in between the show and dinner.  We were TIRED!

 Thank you to everyone that came out to support us!  We hope you had as much fun as we did!  Thank you to all the authors who had book signings at our booth - Gwen Bortner, Edie Eckman, Pauline Turner, Tove Fevang , and Maire Treanor!  It was great to meet all of you and we hope to have you at our shop again soon!  A HUGE thank you to all our staff that helped make the weekend possible!  THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT!

Irish Lace Crochet w/ Maire Treanor & Knit & Crochet Show 2011!!

The first week of August, historian, author and Irish crochet expert Maire Treanor will host two events that bring to life the intricacies of Irish crochet. Treanor, who lives in Clones, Ireland, will travel to Minnesota to share her 22 years of Clone Lace experience and research.  This is the same kind of lacework that you saw on Kate Middleton's wedding dress.  She has been hanging out at the shops and she has been using some of the new exclusive Three Irish Girls yarn to make necklaces that are too sweet!

Local knit celebrity Annie Modesitt rounds out the week for those knitters who dabble in lace or want to get started. Annie was a big hit here in the spring. Her salon class will be one not to miss.

Click HERE for the complete schedule and interactive registration form. Call, Jeremy, at StevenBe (612-259-7524) if you need help with registration or additional info on any of these exclusive classes!

We are super excited about the Knit and Crochet Show 2011 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis!  We have the market preview tonight and then tomorrow we are open to the public for three days!  Only here can you find the before and after pictures of our booth!

I am not sure Jer knows I took this picture of his backside......nobody tell him!

Look at that mess!  Check back to see the finished product!  Better yet, come visit the booth at the Hyatt!

Steven is being interviewed tomorrow morning on KARE 11 news.  They are doing the interview at 5AM.  No, that is NOT a typo.  FIVE AM!  Hopefully, we can get a link to the interview, but watch for him on the news sometime tomorrow morning!

One more thing.......we received a trunk show from Three Irish Girls that includes their new summer yarns and one of a kind colorways.  ONE OF A KIND, people.  Stop by the booth or StevenBe to see the fabulousness!

Bergere de France is here! Hand Maiden fine yarn! What?! Yes!

I believe many of you have been OBSESSED with a particular cabled poncho from Bergere de France (imagine my outrageous French accent) which appeared in Vogue Knitting.  Well, the pattern is FINALLY here! 

Pretty great, right?!  We also have the yarn, Magic +,  that is used to make it.  We have all earthy tones in the yarn, but I am sure we could find a bright, vibrant color if you wanted something different.
In addition, Bergere de France has some pretty handsome men in their pattern books......

Just sayin'......

We are now carrying a new yarn company in the shops.  Hand Maiden Fine Yarn is here!  We have Maiden Hair, Cashmere and Silk, and the Angel Rumple scarves kits.  It makes either two scarves or one shawl.  It takes one skein of Angel Hair & one skein of Rumple.  The colors are FABULOUS!

Now, be sure to check your email and get your sale voucher for the Yarn Garage progressive sale that we are holding July 22nd - 31st.  We have some exclusions, so beware you are not going to get Madelinetosh on sale!  No way, Jose!

Also, check out the website for the StevenBe/Be Sweet South Africa trip.  It will be the trip of a lifetime!  Imagine all the outfits Steven will wear! 

Books.......KAL.......Stitch & Pitch...and Spud & Chloe...

knit, Swirl! by Sandra Mclver is in the shops!  It is DIVINE!  Her website is a wealth of knowledge.  I love her designs and her concept.

 We also got in another shipment of Knit Your Own Dog.

These patterns are the perfect hot weather project because they are so small!  No heat rash from that wool afghan to worry about! 

 

 We also got the Stephen West Spectra pattern.  This is our second shipment as we sold out instantly the first time!  This is a very cool shawl/scarf using self-striping yarn.  Speaking of Stephen West, you all should join his mystery knit-a-long.  This link will get you the information you need.  It starts August 1st, but you should get your materials ASAP.  Isn't he adorable?  I miss you, Stephen West!!!!!!

We are just crazy for KAL lately!  Our own Steven is starting another one.  Stay posted for more information on that!  It is a fantastic project as you can customize it to your shape and size. 




Steven, Tim, and I and many very BRAVE knitters attended the Twins game yesterday!  It was HOT!  Hot, Hottie, Hot!  Steven sat with the Stitch & Pitchers....thank you all for coming out!  I sat behind home plate with my friend, Missy!  Thanks for the ticket!  It was so much fun!  I mean, it was hot and steamy, but the Twins won!

 

 Here we are at the game......I was going to put my arm around Steven for the picture, but he shouted "Don't touch me!"  Yeah, lots of love in the heat. Note the Twins sweater he knit out of Twins shoelaces. 

Now, for the BIG, BIG news!  I wish this thing had sound on it....can I get a drum roll please?  Anyone?  Anyone?  *sigh*

We now carry Blue Sky Alpaca and Spud & Chloe!

Our first shipment was Sweater from Spud & Chloe.  This is a 55% superwash wool/45% organic cotton blend.  We also received the following patterns: 

the Lovey Dovey Top pattern, the Buck Hill Pullover, and the School Colors Hoodie. 
Cute! Cute! Cute!  I am so excited to have this line of yarn at our shops.  Blue Sky is a local MN company and we LOVE supporting our local companies!  Buy local, people!  Well, stay cool everyone and I hope to see you all at class!  Remember, call or email to let us know you are coming! 

New Exclusives from the Three Irish Girls land on the StevenBe doorstep!

Hello friends, it's Jeremy... I had to add a bit to the blog today. Usually Jessie gets the joy of being the first to see new arrivals, but today a treat was waiting for me on the StevenBe doorstep. As I walked up to the patio this morning, a HUGE box from the Three Irish Girls was there to greet me. Inside the box was an assortment of new exclusives that knocked Steven and I out! Enjoy this sneak peak below... 

Yes... those are sparkles you see! And check out the fabulous Peacock colorway in the last picture! What you can't see is that these are a super soft combo of Merino and Silk!
Get into the shops to reserve your exclusive Three Irish Girls yarns today! These will not last!