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!

CATKIN....can't take it! Must make it! Let's have a Knit-a-long!

Joanna has had her eye on this gorgeous pattern for awhile – Catkin and it is currently the most popular pattern on Ravelry. A few local people Joanna knows are going to do it too, so she thought she'd see if there was interest in doing a Catkin Knit Along (KAL)?  Anyone interested?  I am!

I love it!  I love that there are buttons that allow you to wear the shawl as a cowl, a scarf, the possibilities are nearly endless!  This pattern would be lovely in either Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light or Three Irish Girls Adorn Sock. Check out all the color possibilities: Tosh Merino Light or Adorn Sock. 

A selection of colors from both vendors are available at either StevenBe or Yarn Garage, or we’ll be glad to put in a special order for your favorite combination, too.  We also have some sparkle possibilities...just so you know.

For everyone who participates in the KAL, we’ll be holding an online “Crowd Favorite” poll in September. The top two choices will each have the opportunity to have their finished Catkin displayed in either StevenBe or Yarn Garage for a month!

The online KAL is being held in our stores’ group on Ravelry – Fiber Friends of StevenBe and Yarn Garage. Join us for help/assistance as we all work our way through this exquisite pattern, or just to share the fun with others. You can also join us in-person on Sundays at Yarn Garage in Rosemount, 12-4 pm.

Hope to see you soon!

 

Want to join the fun but think the Catkin is too complex? Pick up some of the new Kauni Effektgarn at Yarn Garage or StevenBe and make a Revontuli! The yarn does all the colorwork, the stitches are much easier, and the result is still quite stunning.

 

Not on yet Ravelry? That’s OK – here’s how to join:

• Ravelry (link to www.ravelry.com) is a wonderful online community for knitters & crocheters. It’s free, but you need your own personal login and password. Just follow the link and click “join now!”
• Once in Ravelry, join the group for StevenBe and Yarn Garage. Go to the “groups” tab and search on “Yarn Garage”. Follow the link that appears and click on the box in the upper right corner that says “join this group”. That will bookmark it so it is easy to find in the future. It will appear on your “Forums” tab.
• The Catkin KAL thread is ‘stickied’ to the top of the forum – please post to introduce yourself.
• If you get stuck along the way, feel free to contact Joanna via Ravelry – she's JoCam1717. 

Announcements and special acknowledgements!

Only in Minnesota can we experience snow one day and balmy weather the next.  I am constantly kept guessing.  One thing I can count on is excitement when it comes to the Yarn Garage and StevenBe.  It is almost time when we will welcome Nadine from Be Sweet yarns, Julie from CocoKnits, and Nicky Epstein from, well, Nicky Epstein, into our midst. 

I am anxious with anticipation!  The staff and I are working hard to make sure both shops look fantastic for our amazing guests!  I also don't want to disappoint any of our fabulous customers that will be gathering for Fiber Fest 2011.  Before I launch into all things Fiber Fest, I need to take care of some business.

BREAKING EASTER NEWS..........
Both StevenBe and Yarn Garage will be CLOSED Sunday, April 24th.  I can't believe it, the Easter Bunny is working and Steven ISN'T!  Feel free to grill Steven about what he has planned for his day of rest.  He has been ordered to relax and not work, but you know Steven........oh, and don't be afraid to bring him ALL of the Easter candy you fail to consume.  His favorites are chocolate, so keep that in mind.

FASHION SHOW WRAP-UP.........
I would like to send out a BIG, BIG thanks to everyone who helped make our fashion show a tremendous success!  I have to do a few plugs here, so hang in there with me.

Hair and Makeup was done by the AMAZING Brett Dorian Artistry Studio.  They are located in the Semble Mansion in Minneapolis and they are true artists! Here is an example of their work on our model Stephanie.

 East 42nd St Salon also provided hair and makeup to our fabulous models.  Here is an example of their work on our model Ashley.

Music and lights were provided by Geoffrey M Blanton and associates.

Turtle Bread/Cafe Levain provided the food.  Vino 100 provided the champagne.

Dave, Thomas Andrs and Mad Dads provided security and valet parking.  Elliot and Nick were our outstanding waitstaff.

Tim and Jeremy were the production staff behind the entire event.  The program was a labor of love spearheaded by Jeremy.  Thanks to Stephanie and Lauren for making the shop look great for the show.  Thanks to all the staff at Yarn Garage for holding down the fort!

BIG, HUGE, couldn't have done it without you thanks go to Emily, my production assistant/intern. 
Thank you to Kathryn who helped dress the models and run errands. Thank you more than I can say to Sarah Burgduff for her unfailing guidance and support.  She helped secure beautiful, talented models and the Brett Dorian Salon.

Photography was provided by a number of sources including Tom Duevel.

We also had talented MN Fashion Week photographer Rhea Pappas.

Additional entertainment was provided by Mistress Ginger.

Of course, it couldn't have happened without all our designers....you know who you are.

All of this was done to benefit Guadalupe, who survived a shooting in November.  We were able to give her a sizable donation which we hope will help to make her home more handicap accessible.

To anyone I may have not mentioned, 
thank you and we couldn't have done it without everyone's support!

FIBER FEST NEWS......

Nadine from Be Sweet will be making a special apperance at Yarn Garage on Wednesday, April 27th for our Wine and Cheese preview party.  It will be really fun.  We will look at trunk show garments from Be Sweet, Coco Knits, and Nicky Epstein.  You can try them on and decide which look is the best for you.  Nadine will also be with Steven all day at StevenBe on Thursday, April 28th.  Thurday launches our class weekend with Annie Modesitt teaching colorwork.  Thursday night we will have another Wine and Cheese preview party for those of you who can't make it to the Yarn Garage on Wednesday night.  Friday brings Nicky to StevenBe and Julie to Yarn Garage.  Come early for the coffee clutch at 9:00am, get settled in, meet your teacher and classmates, and enjoy coffee, tea and snacks.  Saturday we hope to see you all at Yarnover.  Steven, Tim, Kathy and I will be at our booth.  You will know which booth is ours.  It is the biggest and most ostentatious.  I suppose we will also be wearing pink jumpsuits.........

In Ravelry news, Sarah and Mary Heather will be at Yarnover on Saturday.  Come to our booth to see them and get a photo!  Also, Saturday night we will be hosting a meet up at StevenBe.  We will have a Ravelry Red carpet with a special "Wall Bob" as a fun backdrop for you to pose with Sarah and Mary Heather.  Also, bring your favorite Ravelry project for more photo ops. 

Jeremy wants me to remind everyone to have their homework done for class.  "Study Hall" is in session Monday 6-8pm at Yarn Garage and Tuesday, 12-8pm at StevenBe.

Announcing Schedule and Pre-Registration for Fantastic Fiber Fest 2011!!!

YTwo Great Shops........One Amazing Schedule:

Wednesday, April 27th through Sunday, May 1st StevenBe and The Yarn Garage host a series of classes and events in conjunction with YarnOver, the Minnesota Knitter's Guild Annual Knitters event. Classes, Parties, special rates for members, individual rates. Join us for any or all of this Fiber Weekend. You can learn from renown teachers at the Yarn Garage or at StevenBe.

Classes are filling fast, register today to take advantage of Early Bird discounts!
For full information, click here.
If you have questions for Steven, click here.

The Cast for the Weekend at the Shops

Annie Modesitt I knit for a living. I have a blog, I write about knitting, I teach classes online (and in person) and I love what I do!
Nicky Epstein Nicky Epstein is a world renowned knit wear designer, teacher and author of over 20 bestselling books. Her knitting and crochet books range from highly original resource books, to historical books, to travel books, to Barbie Doll books, to amazingly creative design fashion/pattern books. Her books are “must haves” in the libraries of designers and knitters alike, and she has won the National Independent Book Publisher’s Award for Best Craft Book Of The Year…three times! Her innovative, fashionable, whimsical and award winning designs have appeared in every major knitwear magazine, in museums and on television, and she has taught classes to knitters around the world and hosted many Vogue Knitting Tours overseas as well as others.
Julie Wiesenberg, CoCo Knits In 2004, I began teaching classes at Article Pract, a yarn shop in Oakland, California, and in 2006, at knit-one-one, a knitting atelier in Emeryville, California. I offer knitters of all levels a wide variety of classes, including felted work, custom-designed sweaters, and finishing techniques.
Mary-Heather & Sarah from Ravelry Ravelry Staff will be with us to talk about the system and the joys and fun of being the home of thousands of fiber artists online.

Final Days at TNNA

Okay, so we flew back from L.A. on Monday night, and I do realize that I am almost a week late in reporting on our last two days at TNNA.  I beg your forgiveness and I hope the wait will have been worth it!  One of the biggest things that happened at TNNA was Steven placing our first order with Shibui Knits!

Here he is wearing their fabulous Piega Cowl and don't worry, we ordered the pattern and the yarn to go with it.  Their yarn is beautiful and we will be unpacking in a the next month or so.  Julie, the designer behind CocoKnits, uses Shibui yarn.  She will be one of the teachers we are hosting during Yarnover weekend.  Steven will once again have classes before and after the Yarnover.  It will be called StevenBe's Fabulous Fiber Frolic.  Okay, so we are still working on the name of the weekend festivities, but whatever the name it will be amazing.  Also, the Ravelry crew will be in town to discuss Ravelry with everyone!

This is Steven with Mary-Heather, Jessica, Casey and Sarah, all from Ravelry.  This picture was taken in the Madelinetosh booth with the fantastic Madelinetosh girls!  Their booth is ALWAYS beautifully displayed.  They were taking Polaroids of everyone and then you were supposed to write on the Polaroid the name of the color of Madelinetosh that best described your personality.  Not your favorite Madelinetosh color, but the color that matches your personality. 
I chose "Baltic" as my color. 

What would your color be?  Steven got distracted before I could get him to decide on his color.  What color do you think best describes Steven?  Click here to see Madelinetosh colors. 

We were super excited  to see everyone from Namaste and to see the new Namaste Bitty Bag! 
Email Steven for your Bitty Bag pre-order.  Here we are with Kelly from Namaste Inc.

Another celebrity who will be visiting us during Yarnover weekend is.........

Nicky Epstein!!!!!!!!!!!!!  She will be our mistress of ceremonies!  Her new book "Knitting Block by Block" will be in the shop soon.  Steven may let you take a peek at his personalized signed copy before the our arrives. 

We had a good time with the boys from Feza Yarns.  We have some great new samples from them and they sent us great new one skein patterns using Alp Oriental.  Emre and his brother Emir are the brothers that run Feza here in the USA.  Their company has been in the yarn business for 50 years in Turkey, and they have been here in the United States since 2004.  They took us out to dinner at The Ivy. 

Dinner was fantastic and we love Feza and the Feza family!  After dinner we had another run-in with a celebrity.  Well, everyone else had a run-in with Christian Slater!  I just happened to have left the table when he got up and stood right next to our table to talk to a waiter.  When I came back to the table, Steven asked, "Who is Christian Slater?"  Really?! He doesn't know Christian Slater?  Dreamy, dreamy Christian Slater?!?  I just don't think it is fair that Steven kept seeing celebrities and I only saw a terrified Maureen McCormick.  He didn't even appreciate the Christian Slater sighting!  Steven described him as "short and scruffy!" 

Anyway, back to yarn...........

Here is Steven with the Trendsetter team. 

This concludes the TNNA report.  One last picture for you all.  Here is Steven in our rented PT Cruiser convertible.  Please note the amount of luggage sticking out of the backseat.  Keep in mind the trunk was all full of luggage.

And here I am.....

I am attempting to look very chic and sophisticated, but I think it came off as disgruntled.  I have to admit, I was disgruntled that we had to leave the beautiful California weather.  See you later, L.A.!!!