Crazy for Ewe
It's okay to take a knitting break
Did you get a puppy during the pandemic? A lot of people did. At least that’s what my friend, Norma said. She’s a vet, and she said that she has spent almost all of every day for the last year seeing new puppies. Of course. We’re home more, and we have time for a puppy. What could be nicer?
Other people started knitting. Some started knitting again. They learned a while ago and were regulars in the shop and then they weren’t. And now they are
Knitting for real women, not paper dolls
As a little girl I played with paper dolls. First little Betsy McCall from the back of my mother’s magazine, and then with those more luxurious ones the dolls printed on actual cardboard. I’d sit on my bedroom floor, legs wide, hunched over the books with safety scissors that were never quite sharp enough or pointed enough. My little hands were too clumsy to do a neat job, and there would be white bits clinging to the edges. Sometimes I’d go too close, ruining the illusion once the clothes were on. Worse, was when I’d lop off one of the folding tabs that held the clothes on the doll, or even one of the doll’s hands. You can see why I did not grow up to be a surgeon. Paper dolls were easy. Nice
Read More
Intarsia -- a knitting trend that's here to stay
What do you think of when you hear the word trendy? I think of fleeting fads and foolish looks that you’d be embarrassed to have worn years later. Being trendy, however, is very different from an awareness of fashion trends. Unlike fads, fashion trends are more general developments and changes in the way people dress. Developing slowly over time, fashion trends often become more or less permanent. Even those of us who cling to a fierce sense of personal style can incorporate aspects of fashion trends into our wardrobe.
Read More
Washable Wool vs Superwash Wool
We all have horror stories of beloved sweaters, blankets, scarves,, and more, destroyed by careless washing. I have done it myself, as I’m sure you recall from this blog post. In our effort to avoid felting them into oblivion, we treat our our beloved handknits with great care - perhaps too much care.
Wait, what? You can treat a hand knit with too much care? Yes, you can. Let’s talk about two main mistakes we make with our wool garments, and what to do instead.
Noro Haunui Yarn - an exceptional and exclusive fiber
I talked recently about sustainability and the different yarns in the shop that contribute to greater sustainability in the fiber world. First on my list was Noro, a company whose deep respect for nature flows through every fiber in every skein of every yarn.
Mr. Noro talks about the minimal processing his yarns undergo and the importance of maintaining the aspect of the raw materials that go into the fibers. You will absolutely see tiny bits of silk noile in Silk Garden, poofs of angora bloom from Okunoshima, and an occasional bit of dried grass will probably show up in Kureyon or Ito. It's part of the aesthetic, and it helps keep the yarn
Why do a mystery knit?
If you're new to the shop, you may be wondering, "What is a mystery Knitalong?" In its purest form, it's where you sign up to knit something, but you don't know exactly what that something is. A mystery knitalong is an act of faith. Signing up is a statement that you trust someone enough to follow them on a trip to you-don't-know-where through all manner of you-don't-know-what.
Read More
Knitting a capsule wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is a carefully curated collection of 30-40 really quality pieces that all look great, fit well, and go together in a myriad of ways, typically for a particular season. It’s kind of the holy grail for women who stand in front of a closet brimming with stuff and still have nothing to wear. It’s a great concept, but what about the stuff we knit? Do they fit in? How do you make it all work?
The answers are, yes, handknits definitely fit, and you have to make a plan and get some basics. Let's look
Going forward in knitting and in life
It's been a while since we've had in-person classes. People have asked when we'll go back to normal. Honestly, I think we should look not to going back, but to going forward.
I hesitate to say new normal.. That term has been tossed around so much it's just a tired cliché. We're learning and growing and changing every
Knitting for your personal style
I’ve been talking a lot lately about getting a garment to fit and look great. We’ve worked on taking measurements, finishing, and more. But knitting a sweater you love to wear is about more than just fit and finish. It’s about whether or not it suits you - your personal style and your lifestyle.
Read More