AutoCorrect VS. Moss Stitch & All That Glitters Is Floozy

Friday night we had another fun Pizza & Purls class.  There was lots of new yarn and new books to talk about. Such as, this fantastic handspun from Knit Collage. 

It is perfect for the hats and cocoons in Welcoming Home Baby The Handcrafted Way.  SO CUTE!

We welcomed back, Kristi, who has been absent for six weeks!  Here she is with her finds:

 A black sheep yarn bowl and a Dream in Color Starry.  Here she is again with the Daybreak shawl she is making using Three Irish Girls and a strand of sequins.

I hope she doesn't look like a floozy when wearing her sequins!  Another Pizza & Purls attendee, Margaret, seems to like sparkle = floozy.  Anyone care to comment?  I think we are in serious danger of being accused of being floozy since all the yarn we got in had glitter in it! Like the Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere.....wait that doesn't have glitter.  That's just really pretty.  The Dream in Color Starry has glitter.

Here is Deirdre with her coveted Tulip Sweater that she is making for no one in particular.

She saw the Yarn Harlot's blog about it and ran into the shop demanding a Tulip Sweater kit.  I quickly produced said kit and she has not stopped working on it since.  She describes it as a "very satisfying" project.  I may have to buy a kit myself.  So tempting........must resist!

We laughed until we cried last night!  One of reasons for the laughter was Lichele's AutoCorrect debacle.  She had to rip out her Be Sweet Indian Summer Poncho repeatedly because her seed stitch kept getting off.  So, we decided she should do moss stitch since it may be easier to see.  She diligently wrote the pattern in her phone and the autocorrect on her phone changed her pattern from Knit 2, Purl 2 to Knit 2, Pork 2.  No wonder her pattern kept getting off!  We laughed and laughed!  Maybe you had to be there........

We also talked about the new Alisha Goes Round yarn that came in last week.

 This is the new colorway Alisha dyed for Steven called Tailfeathers which he wanted to look like peacock feathers.  I think it really does look like peacock feathers!  Steven's hair ALSO looks like peacock feathers.  He had it dyed blue, purple, and green.  I am not sure if he dyed his hair to match the yarn or the other way round. 

The camera didn't pick up the glitter in the yarn, but there is some subtle glitter throughout the yarn.  She also sent us lace weight yarn with glitter!  I don't think it looks floozy at all. What else.......Ack! I can't stop thinking about that Tulip Sweater!  Argh!  Oh!  It is my big brother, Jason's birthday today!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON!!!

Shop Hop, MadTosh and other things....

Hello all!  BIG NEWS!  The shop hop has begun!  StevenBe is participating and there are big things happening there this weekend!  If you haven't already, you better get to Minneapolis to get your charm, your pattern, and a skein of the limited edition (only 50 skeins produced) Madelinetosh yarn called StevenBe Blue.  This is Steven with his namesake yarn. 

Yes, his shirt does coordinate with the yarn.  No, it wasn't planned.  At least, I don't think it was planned.  You never know with Steven. 

This morning, the UPS man brought me MORE Madelinetosh!  How lucky am I?

Did you see that?  If not.....here's a closer look.

To clarify, the limited edition colorway is at StevenBe in Minneapolis only.  The yarn pictured above is currently at Yarn Garage in Rosemount.  Feel free to stop by and visit me and see the latest MadTosh before Steven even gets to see it. 

In addition to the special Madelinetosh yarn, we also have a limited edition color from Three Irish Girls! Yes, you read that right!  THREE IRISH GIRLS!  We now carry Three Irish Girls!  I am so excited I can't stand it!  Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the Three Irish Girls shipment.  It is all at StevenBe for the shop hop, so I guess you will have to go there to see what it looks like.  It is pretty fantastic, I'm not going to lie.  Steven did report to me this morning that it is flying out the door.  I don't mean to pressure you, but if you want to see it you better get there soon. 

And speaking of beautiful hand dyed yarn......we also received a box of Alisha Goes Around.  Steven also swiped this for the shop hop.

You want more hand-dyed yarn, you say?  How about some beautiful Malabrigo Sock yarn!

Keep in mind, we are still have Malabrigo Rasta and Twist.  However, I think most people's minds have turned from wooly and chunky to light and airy.  Which brings me to my latest cowl creation. 

It uses one skein of Gedifra Rosas and one skein of Gedifra Pertinio.  I cast on 100 stitches on a 10.5 needle.  Now, if you ever hear Steven say I don't finish anything.......

Defend me, because there is the finished cowl (without the ends woven in, but that's how we roll!) on display with our Lucatape cowl (on the left).  Ask Steven if he has finished his version of the Rosas/Pertinio cowl.  Go ahead, ask him.  See what he says.

Another reason to stop by the Yarn Garage, (besides saying hello to me and the other girls) is to see our renovations.  We got new rugs and we are moving all the spring/summer yarn to the front of the store.  It looks fantastic!  See you all soon!

West Knits Book 2, Alisha Goes Around, Namaste, and so much more

Well, after an exciting weekend at StevenBe, I arrived back at the Yarn Garage this morning.   I was greeted by so many new and highly anticipated items!  One was Stephen West's new book West Knits Book Two!

It is FULL of new fantastic designs by one of my favorite new designers!  He is such a sweetheart and we look forward to everything he does. 

 Once again, the photography is amazing!  He really presents his pieces so beautifully and creatively.  I don't know which project to start first, but I will surely be casting on one soon!

Another newbie to the yarn scene is Alisha Goes Around!  We got our first shipment in today, and I am speechless!  And, as most of you know, that almost NEVER happens!

Steven and I met Alisha of Alisha Goes Around at TNNA in January and she is bubbly and fun!  Her booth was decorated with hand-knit peacocks and flamingos! 

 She started her company in her kitchen and she does everything herself!  Her colors are rich and bold.

Alisha is whimsical and vivacious, just like her yarn.  Click here is the free hummingbird pattern available from her website.

In addition to yarn and patterns, we received a shipment of Namaste bags, needle cases, and more!

We received more Bitty Bags, Zuma bags, Hermosa bags, Circular Needle Cases, Buddy Packs.  Each shop now has a nice supply of each of Namaste's signature pieces.  The needle cases always go quickly, so stop in soon to get yours!

The FedEx man came while I was working on this blog and teaching class.  He delivered EIGHT boxes from Aslan Trends!  I demanded he stay and help me process them, but he refused.  Unbelievable!  So, Steph got stuck with the task.

Whoa!  That's alot of yarn!  We received, Del Sur, Guanaco, Litoral, Los Andes, and Tango.  They also sent us some great leather handles for purses. 

Some of the Aslan Trends will be on sale, so stop in to see what discounts Steven is giving out on this yarn.  Have a great week everyone, and I hope to see you soon!