Chicken Run.  One of the silliest movies I've ever seen.  Set in Scotland, or the North of England, it's about a chicken farm run by the dimwitted Mr. Tweedy and his cold and greedy wife, Mrs. Tweedy, who's unhappy with the profits from the chicken business.  So she decides to buy a pie machine to increase revenues.  "Chickens go in; pies come out," she says with evil glee.  If you haven't seen the movie, at least check out this 30 second clip.     Very funny 

I'm sure you are wondering what this movie and its terrifying pie machine has to do with knitting.  I will tell you.  As I said last week, it's sweater season.  It's the season when knitters begin their quest for the holy grail of sweater patterns - the one that fits perfectly, flatters our individual shape, and suits our particular style.  Oh yes, and it must also be written for the gauge of the yarn we just fell in love with...

If only there were a way to get such a pattern.   If only there were a pattern machine where measurements go in; patterns come out.  What kind of patterns?  Sweater patterns of course!   We do have that!  But unlike Mrs. Tweedy's menacing machine, we're using the computer and Amy Herzog's wonderful program, Custom Fit. 

There's so much angst in sweater knitting, isn't there?  We think, what if I spend all that time (and money) on a sweater and it doesn't fit?  All knitters share that fear.  I get it.  I've had the bad sweater experience more than once, which is why I've spent the last 12 years designing and teaching Fit and Finish classes in the shop.  These classes taught students how to adjust existing patterns to accommodate their measurement and/or their gauge so the pattern would fit.  We held these quarterly and it was pretty much life changing for our knitters.  Finally you can make a sweater that fits you.  Making the changes was tedious and fiddly, but if you wanted your sweater to fit, that's what you had to do, right?  And we did.  But now we don't have to.  Amy Herzog's Custom Fit Program does all the calculations for you so you can spend time knitting instead of figuring and worrying.  Because we knit to relax and have fun.  If you need an arithmetic challenge, work a sudoku.  If you want to knit a gorgeous sweater that fits, come to Sweaterfest, get measured, get your yarn, and get started on the best fitting sweater you've ever knit.

Reserve your measurement appointment today

Still not sure?  Read more about Sweaterfest and Custom Fit

I look forward to seeing you at Sweaterfest - the shelves are exploding with beautiful new yarns just right for sweaters.  You are always welcome here.  ~Ellen

I went over to my favorite little garden center, Green Acres Nursery, the other day to get some chrysanthemums for the fall.  Run by several generations of Mennonites, Green Acres has beautiful specimens and great prices.  With two big mums (and a few impulse items) safely in my wagon, I stopped by their annuals section to take a peek.  Even when I'm not in the market for anything growing, I love being tempted by the rows and rows of colorful blooms.   But it was all bare.  End of the season.  I looked around and realized that other than the two sweet girls in bonnets, I was the only one in there.  Being Captain Obvious, I said to the young lady that it must be slow this time of year.  She nodded and said, "Yes. It's a lot more fun in the spring," then she added sagely, "Everything in its season, though, I guess."  Indeed.

The season for gardeners is spring.  Nothing is flowering in the greenhouse this time of year.  But the season for knitters is now, and our shelves are in full bloom with gorgeous new yarns.  Sweater knitting season has arrived, and we're kicking it off with Sweaterfest!  Sweaterfest is your chance to get the most beautiful yarns and become part of Amy Herzog's Custom Fit Program at Crazy for Ewe.  Custom Fit patterns fit because they're generated just for you from your exact body measurements and your exact gauge.   Sounds too good to be true, but it is true!  We're bringing in an extravagant array of beautiful yarns in large quantities just for Sweaterfest.  There are hand-dyes and solids, pure merinos and blends.  What they all have in common is they are perfectly suited for sweaters. We chose these particular fibers because they are exactly what you need to make wonderful sweaters that you'll wear again and again, year after year.  First in the shop is Gloria, a spectacular new merino from Manos del Uruguay.

Worsted weight with more than 200 yards per skeins, Gloria is unbelievably soft and bouncy -  great stitch definition.  It's beautiful hand dyed tonal colors are very subtle and wearable, and believe it or not, it's machine wash and dry! Gloria is perfect for  a go-to, wear everywhere sweater.   

Classy, from Dream in Color is arriving this week too.  Also worsted weight, machine washable and dryable, and nice and bouncy, Classy has slightly more variegation.  Still subtle and wearable, but more play in the colors. A perfect choice for sweaters with simple stitch patterns where the colors take center stage.

  Hazelknits fans, you'll be happy to know that also arriving any day is a huge order of Lively DK.  Hazelknits yarns are the most hard-wearing fibers that look brand wash after wash (and trip after trip through the dryer)

We'll have other lovely yarns in house for Sweaterfest, including Truth, a brand new dk weight blend of everyone's favorite fibers - merino and alpaca - in classic solids.  And of course, beautiful Shibui in fibers you can mix and match to create your own stunning fabric in the gauge that's comfortable for you.

This is the season - Sweaterfest!  What could be better than a sweater that fits in a fiber that lasts?  Getting it all for 10% off. Friday, September 16th and Saturday, September 17th.  All day - 10-5.  Don't miss this event. 

I look forward to seeing you at Sweaterfest, or just in the shop and around the table.  You are always welcome here.  ~Ellen

Back to 6 September Newsletter

My happy treasures from Green Acres