Show and Tell: Radiance Shawlette

Bonnie (Bonicita on Ravelry) made a Radiance Shawlette using 1 skein of lovely, bright Knitwhits Freia Handpaints Freia Ombré Sport.

She had this to say about it.

I think my favorite thing about this project was watching the colors change. I really loved working with the Freia Fibers and can’t wait to do another project with this yarn. The pattern itself is very simple and easy to follow and was very nicely written. I love those one skein wonders and this one certainly did not disappoint.

I suppose my one bit of advice is that if you use the Freia Ombré like the pattern suggests, trust the yarn! You will think you’re going to run out but you won’t! Assuming you’ve followed gauge :)

Also, you have to block this project -- there’s just no way around it.

Gorgeous, Bonnie! Thanks for sharing.

The photo is from Bonnie's Ravelry page, and is used with her permission.

Want to share your story? Email me at jessie at stevenbe dot com.

Want to buy something you read about here? Call us! 612-259-7525.

Fiber Fest Teacher Feature: Stephen West

We're thrilled to be hosting Stephen West for Fiber Fest 2013! We're looking forward to his classes with Ragga--Steven spent some time with them in Amsterdam last month, so we know we're in for some big fun!

Ragga, Stephen, and Steven knitting in public!

Stephen first learned to knit when he was a sophomore in high school. "I did a lot of musical theater and many of my friends were crafty, so I asked them to show me backstage during a rehearsal for Once on this Island," says Stephen. We all admire his designs and beautiful stitches now but was he an immediate knitting prodigy? "It was a disaster," he laughed, "but it was enough to get me interested and I later bought a book and yarn from Michael's to teach myself more." He's designed some remarkable pieces since then, some of our favorites being Earth & Sky, Vulpix, and the Moose River cowl, samples of which you can see at StevenBe.

One of our favorite things that Stephen does is his YouTube channel, Places Where You Can Knit. You can check out his fabulous video about knitting in Reykjavik here. The strangest place he's ever knit? A lava field in Iceland! Stephen also loves knitting on trains and planes because "I'm forced to sit down and I can't escape so I always get a lot of knitting done."

Stephen knits at the Eiffel Tower!

We all have projects that were less than successful and Stephen is no exception. "One of the first sweaters I made was a raglan style pullover that I tried to make up without swatching or measuring," he confessed. "I didn't try it on until the whole body and yoke were knit and the bottom was fitted, but the yoke was 8 sizes too big." He has, of course, mastered the sweater since then, as you can see in his marvelous Vaila pullover on Ravelry.

Stephen's worked with fibers galore but his current favorites are Malabrigo Finito (which we carry!), Quince & Co. Puffin, Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER, Still River Mill Harmony, and Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Silk (one of our favorites, too!). For one of his more unusual projects, Stephen knit with strips of plastic bags. "The finished result was beautiful for a gallery exhibit, but the process was laborious and slow," he told us, because the plastic "was so sticky and difficult to work with." Sometimes it's more about the product than the process!

Here are Stephen's Fiber Fest classes, click to register before they're full!
Thursday, April 25th, 10am-1pm @ StevenBe: Top Down Shawl Tips & Tricks
Thursday, April 25th, 2pm-5pm @ StevenBe: Trunk Show & Lecture with Ragga & Stephen West
Friday, April 26th, 10am-1pm @ Yarn Garage: Mixology with RaggaWest
Monday, April 29th, 10am-1pm @ StevenBe: RaggaWest Party Tricks for Knitters

For Your Review: New Sock Needles!

I just picked up some Hiya Hiya double-pointed needles and I love them! They are only 6 inches long - perfect for socks. They are the first stainless steel needles I've ever had. They are super light and smooth! My stitches are just flying. The brand name and size are printed on the sides of the needles. In my experience, that doesn't last forever, but it's still a nice feature.

The tips are pointy enough for decreases, but don't make me fear for my life, which is always a good thing. These are size 1's - I need some size 2's, as well.

What are your very favorite needles for socks? I feel like I'm old-fashioned for still loving double-points, but I can't help it.

More Travels: SoBeit….

SoBeit….Bought their amazing candle moldings for our new lifestyle shop!

Their space was amazing. Sobeit designs.

Here is the candle display. There are so cool. You know Tren is going to want the camera candle. Wait til you see them.

This is the future feel of StevenBe Loft!

The Conceirge desk.

I want this set up….upstairs as part of the Loft.

Nadine posing.

The candles we chose to export. They are mind blowing.

Love the skull lamp. We will zoom around on little scooters like this.

Show and Tell: Paulina Sweater

Dudine on Ravelry (she prefers to keep her "real" name private) made a lovely Paulina Sweater with Habu Textiles A-174 1/8.5 Cotton Gima.

She had this to say about it.

Favorite parts: great outcome without having to think much. Quick. Good project for a hot summer: no wool in your lap. A bit of modesty for all my sleeveless tops.

Absolute favorite: The first time I wore it was to a wedding. Within 5 minutes of arriving, someone asked me where they could buy it!

Advice to a friend: Do it! A very satisfying project.

Sooooo pretty! Thanks, Dudine!

The photo is from her Ravelry page, and is used with her permission.

Want to share your story? Email me at jessie at stevenbe dot com.

Want to buy something you read about here? Call us! 612-259-7525.

A great event in Cape Town, South Africa!

The opening night party of Design indaba. Check out the gig here…..http://www.designindaba.com. Afternoon cocktails on lawn beanbags. In the background the bar is set up in and old freight forwarding container from the bay.

The DJ is everywhere. Saw this all over Amsterdam too. The clothing shops, restaurants/coffee shops all had DJ’s. Gives a fun funk vibe to any event. I think we should institute a jazz/Frank Sinatra DJ Sat. evenings at StevenBe.

This is the main stage of the event. Friday we are full on Indaba conference. We have lectures all day and Expo market on Saturday. What an amazing inspirational event.

Design Indaba!

More Photos of Chunky Knits from Amsterdam and Some Yarn You Can Get Right in the Cities!

If you want this look right here, we have huge, chunky wool from Loopy Mango. We also have Pagewood Farms Unknitted Nations Merino Bumps and Lanas Grande, and Feza Super Bulky Wool. They are all big and chunky.

Come by and grab some!