"Totally Over the Top"

It's official! The Yarn Harlot said it! We love being over the top. Come by and check out the view for yourself.

The Harlot in the Cities

Last Thursday, we had a lovely sock class at StevenBe with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (otherwise known as the Yarn Harlot), then, we partnered with our friends at the City of Lakes Waldorf School in South Minneapolis to bring you even more Harlot goodness.

She gave her fantastic "This is Your Brain on Knitting" lecture.

Proceeds went to support the StevenBe Creative Community Foundation and creative fiber arts programs at the school.

"This is Your Brain on knitting" is a hilarious talk about what's happening in your brain while you knit. Using research and years of experience with knitters, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee talked about why you knit, why you can't stop if you do, and why you should start if you don't.

She’s the funniest, most kind, positive person, and a great speaker!

Jeremy setting up our information table at the Waldorf School.

On Friday, we had two more Yarn Harlot classes: Knitting for Speed and Efficiency and Knitting with Mawata.

Knitting for Speed and Efficiency starts with a short history of knitting, a look at knitting styles from around the world, then moves on to what Stephanie calls "lever knitting." Some people call it Irish Cottage Knitting. It is fast, efficient, and doesn't wear on your hands in the same way as other kinds of knitting.

Be careful on YouTube, though. Some people have posted videos that they label as lever knitting, but they're actually not doing it, well, correctly! Here is the real McCoy. And, just for fun, here's a video from the final heat of the Speed Knitting Competition at the Knit Out in Minneapolis from 2008. More than one method is used here, but if you look closely, you'll see that at least one of these knitters is using the lever knitting method.

We don't have any photos from Friday, because we were all too caught up, but, fortunately, Stephanie has awesome photos that kind of hint at the silk process (starting from hankies, not cocoons) in this blog post. There's also a Q&A from her here. If you're still curious, there's a little more information on someone else's blog here (we don't know this blogger, but we love her photos).

Mawata knitting involves degumming silk cocoons, and stretching them over frames to make silk hankies. Then you just pull on the strands and knit with it. It is really the coolest thing ever, it's a weird, mystical kind of experience to go from just a little pile of cocoons, to the fiber, to knitting it all in four hours.

Overall, it was a fantastic two days with a wonderful knitter and teacher.

Want to know more about upcoming awesome events? Sign up for our email newsletter.

You can also see what's coming up on our calendar.

Have an idea for an event or talk we could host? Contact StevenBe by emailing steven (at) yarn garage dot com. (Replace the words with the symbols to get the actual email address, but you knew that already!)

VIP is SOLD OUT, Act Fast to get a Theater Seat for the Show!

Fashionistas, Fiber Artists, Design Gurus, and Party People unite for a Cause: Fashion Takes Balls is less than a week away!

We hope you can join us for this high fashion evening filled with the best in knitwear and handcrafted accessories from designers and divas from the Twin Cities and beyond!

StevenBe presents this electric evening in support of theStevenBe Creative Community Foundation. Mix and mingle with a pre-show reception that includes live models, gourmet snacks, and a "zebra carpet" photo op in your favorite knits!

Our show will have you on the edge of your seat as professional models work the stage in handmade creations from around the corner and around the world. Be inspired as you are surrounded by wearable art, music, and the commentary of StevenBe himself.

Your minimum $28 donation for the evening, supports our new foundation and its mission of engaging the community with fiber arts to Enliven, Inspire, and Uplift! Seats for this magical evening fundraiser are limited.

Get more information here.

Or...Register Now!

When:
Saturday October 6, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM CDT


Where:
Pillsbury House Theater
3501 Chicago Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55407

New Arrivals!

We just received our Madelinetosh Pashmina order!

This is Jessie, reporting on the new yarn shipments!  I opened a box of Madelinetosh Pashmina today.  As you may know, Pashmina is 75% superwash wool, 15% silk, and 10% cashmere.  It is a sport weight that is beyond delicious!  A few of the colors we received are duchess, iris, envy, Heuchera, lowland, and volga. 

We also received the Creature Comforts Cardigan pattern. 
This is the cardigan that Joanna made for me when I was pregnant.

 This is a great pattern that really shows the beauty of Madelinetosh hand-dyed yarn.  Here is the baby Cameron version that Joanna made.

The pattern can be customized by changing the panel of leaves.  Dora from StevenBe found a beautiful cable pattern that she used instead of the leaf motif. 
You can see that Joanna used a "X" and "O" motif in Cameron's sweater.  I wear my cardigan all the time.  To the point that Steven told me I had to wear something else because he was sick of seeing it everyday.

Three Irish Girls arrived with new colors! 
We received replenishment of the Peacock colorway!

 This all just came in today so I think I need to find a new display because the shelves are already stuffed full!  Tove is working on the new display right now!  Come on in to see it!

Malabrigo Sock came in FINALLY!

Calling all Malabrigo lovers!  We have the sock weight and it is going fast!

Stop in to either shop to see all of these beautiful new yarn!

We are kind of a big deal.....

I am so excited to share that Plymouth Yarn company blogged about us!!!  Check it out!

Plymouth Yarn Company Blog

Providing Quality Yarns To Independent Yarn Shops since 1964.

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Hello, and Welcome to Plymouth Yarn's Blog!

You can find Design Details from Cia Abbott Bullemer and Marketing News from Christine Welsh Forester - Find out our newest ideas and thoughts. We plan to talk about all aspects of the industry from yarn, knitting, crocheting, design, patterns, etc. If you are looking to purchase yarn, please click the "Find a Shop" link to the right. We are wholesale only. To always be in the loop, be sure to subscribe to our blog by clicking the links under "RSS Feeds". We welcome all to join and participate. Let's have fun:)

Glitter it up!

Written on September 10, 2012 at 9:19 am, by Allison
“Crochet is alive and well in Minneapolis!” This is evident when you step foot into StevenBe, an elegant yarn workshop located at 3448 Chicago Ave in Minneapolis, MN.  Many of you know Steven Berg as the “Glitter Knitter” and his beautiful shop lives up to his reputation with a sparkling chandelier and plush chairs to welcome you.  Sit back, grab your hooks and needles and enjoy the lovely mix of animal prints and fine art that adorn the space.  Imagine all this while creating your masterpiece with classical music or even a live harp playing in the background. There is lots of great Plymouth Yarn to be had.  I think I’m in heaven.
I enjoy speaking to Steven every time he calls.  So much so that when I saw this ad in a magazine a couple years back, I had to put it on the wall next to my desk.  It reminds me of the rock band pictures I had on my walls as a teenager.
Our Design Director Cia stopped by the shop over the weekend and snapped a couple photos during her visit…..

Plymouth’s Alpaca Puffs, a great addition to any hat or scarf.

Yarn heaven!

Minnesota Necessity

So the next time you are in Minneapolis be sure to visit SteveBe and if you happen to be in Rosemount, MN you can visit Steven’s other location, The Yarn Garage and say hi to his mother Christa while you are there!

Holy Harlow!

All the new Namaste products have arrived at the shop!  Now, I personally, have been anxiously waiting for the new Harlow bag.  After seeing Mama Christa's in Caribbean Blue, I just couldn't wait for our shipment.  My problem now is trying to decide whether to pick the Pumpkin Spice or the Caribbean Blue Harlow bag.  Ah,....decisions. 

We received the Harlow in Caribbean Blue, Pumpkin Spice, Espresso, and Eggplant.  It has many pockets on the outside and a large cloth interior.  I really like that it has two handle length options just like the Laguna.  Michelle is also very excited about the new bag.  We have been drooling over them together!

We also received the circular needle case in Caribbean Blue and Pumpkin Spice.  As you may know, this is THE only way to store and manage your circular needles.  It is a file cabinet for needles!  The new and improved Buddy also arrived in the new colors.  This is the compact container to store your notions.  It has a stronger magnet and new materials.  Get organized with Namaste, today!

Fun with blocking!

So this is what we do for fun around the Yarn Garage - we block new samples!  I know, we are just wild!  Our newest sample is the French Market Shawl from Don Waalen (MinnesotaSticks).  We made it in our new favorite yarn, Blue Heron Rayon Metallic.  We are using this for every version of the Mermaid Shawl, as well as, Knitty's Clapotis.  Steven is also creating a new Cropped Cardi using the Rayon Metallic.

Ok, let's get to the blocking!  First, Missy soaked the shawl in a tub of lukewarm water.  In the water she put a cap full of Soak (a rinse free wool wash) and vinegar.  The vinegar will set the color.  This is important if the yarn used is a hand-dyed, such as, Malabrigo or Madelinetosh.  She let the shawl soak for 5-10 minutes.  Then, she used a towel to wring out the excess water.

 

We spread the shawl out on our blocking mats.  These mats are great because they are interlocking so you can assemble them in whatever shape you need.  

Missy then took blocking wires and wove them through the edge of the shawl to create a nice straight line. 

Finally, she used T-pins to block out the points of the shawl. 

Once the piece has air-dried, we will have perfectly blocked shawl.  Never underestimate the effects of blocking.  It can transform an item!  Happy blocking!