New Fall Workshop Schedule and I have Rowanitis

I have finally forced myself to sit down and figure out the workshop schedule for fall. There will be lots of good classes and I hope you guys will find some of them useful, such as knitting 2 socks on 1 circular or Fair Isle so we can all cast on the amazing Felted Tweed vest that took every ounce of my will power not to pull yarn for and cast on last night while I was supposed to be teaching crochet. I went home and spent some quality time with the magazine and the wonderful quiche Max made. And I want to make this: which is called "Neaty" (why?) and is knit out of Cocoon, the new yarn from Rowan for fall. It is a lofty single ply that knits at 14 sts/4" (3.5 sts/1") on 10-10.5 needles. I feel immediately in love with it when we saw it. It comes in only natural undyed colors and I hope it will stick around for a while. It's going to be a classic. A great sweater yarn.

So when I'm done knitting that I'm going to make this: Called Oslo (which is a place I'd always wanted to go) and also knit in Cocoon. And it uses snaps, not buttons. Remember: British="press fastener" American="snaps".

I may be interrupted in my Rowan knitting adventures by the release of Kaffe's new book, Kaffe Knits Again, due to be released on October 2nd. There is a great interview in the new Rowan with Kaffe all about his new book and what he's been up to.

Here is a sneak peek of some of the designs we'll see in the new book:

Called Criss Cross Sweater and Jack's Back Sweater, these show a much more subdued Kaffe, I think, but I don't believe that the sweater on the left can really be black and white and grey. It probably has more colors sneaking around in there!

But once I'm back on track I'll be casting this on, which I think would make a great nursing shawl to shlep around the shop in.

Called "Affric" it is knit in Wool Cotton, which is a great basic yarn that is also machine washable. It's hard to tell in the picture but the moss stitch edging is knit in a different color from the body. Main color is Gypsy and the contrast is Coffee Rich, hands down the best selling color we stock (wait, we stock all the colors!).

And please, someone make this. It is so amazing and so lovely. You know you want to knit this. Let me live vicariously through your knitting! Cologne is knit in 4 Ply Soft color Victoria, Kidsilk Haze colors Liqueur and Hurricane and Kidsilk Night color Bronze. Wow. It's awfully nice.

Rowan Magazine 42

It's finally here! And it's really lovely. There are 60 designs in this one from all the best, Kaffe, Brandon, Sarah Dallas, Erika Knight and more. Lots of the designs are featuring their new yarn Cocoon, which should be here soon. I'm off to read!

New for Fall...

So I have finally locked myself in the office to post some of the new things we've gotten this week. It's been a mad house in here, as anyone who has been in the shop will attest to. There was yarn EVERYWHERE today and yesterday while we made room for the new and said goodbye to the old. Some of our old favorites and spectacular spring yarns will stay around all year like the Rowan Bamboos but some of our summer yarns will be on MEGA GIANT SALE this weekend at our Sidewalk Sale. This Saturday from 9-5 there will be mad amounts of yarn discounted at 50% or more off. You should come and check it out! Not only because Carol will be back and you should come in and say "hi!" While you are here you can also check out these new and great things for fall:

Sirdar Baby Bamboo is a machine washable bamboo blend yarn that is supple and super soft. The pattern book that goes with it has patterns that, as Kate would say, are so stinkin' cute you wanna die!

We also got in a great assortment of Gems Fingering, Cookie A's favorite sock yarn and soon to be mine as I try my hand at psycho argyle socks.

And we got the lovely new Regia colorways designed by Kaffe Fassett. Modern, bright colors for when you just want to knit and feel like a color genius without trying. Isn't it nice when he does all the work for us? And not a "tasteful" (Kaffe's least favorite discriptor, those of you who have taken his class with us know!) lot in the bunch!

And our friends at o-wool organics have a new 2 ply fingering yarn that is, I think, softer than their worsted. Great for baby gifts!
And the new Manos kids book is here, anyone recognize the child second from the left? How cool is that?!

So hope to see you all on Saturday!

So that part where I said...

that fall was starting to "trickle in"? LIES!! Today was an avalanche of Fall yarn (can you say all of our Noro and then some?) and now I'm really starting to freak out. Just needed to share.

Upcoming Events at the Cellar

We are having lots of fun getting ready for all the fall yarn, if you count yarn tetris as "fun." New stuff is coming in every week now and we are madly dashing to keep up with where to put it. There are new sock yarns in, which means deeper discounts on all the sock yarns we had already so do come in and take a peek! $4 a ball Regia? Can't be beat. $8 Trekking? Not too shabby.
Due to all of the room-making we have been doing we are going to have our (drum roll)
2nd Annual Sidewalk Sale on Saturday August 4th from 9-5!
Yes, we will be open an hour earlier. The shop will still be open until 6 but we're going to end the Sidewalk Sale early so we can tidy up. There will be tons of stuff on sale at unbelieveable prices. Sock yarn, Rowan, Noro, Jaeger, all the big guys will be represented in the mad dash to make room for Fall. There will be lots of patterns too, 10-25 cents a pop! (And good ones, not just crazy cat sweaters from 1987...although there will be some of that too, I'm sure, so if that's what your into...). This is a great chance to grab stuff to knit for people you like enough to knit for for the holidays, but maybe you don't like them that much. Also a good opportunity for the students out there. I know you all come in to get stuff for your classes so get a head start and a good deal. There will also be refreshments and a learn to knit station so you can bring your friends who are always nagging you to teach them to knit and we'll do it for you! It'll be a good day.

Upcoming classes for fall go like this:
Beginner Knitting starts Thursday August 23rd
Beginner Crochet starts Tuesday September 25th
Sweater Class starts Monday September 10th, all details here.
And we won't be having any workshops for the month of August, since so many people will be out of town and all that but we will be hosting Drop-in Days. For $5 you can bring in your lingering project from last winter and get help figuring out where the heck you are in your pattern or what on earth you did wrong. Get back into knitting gear! If you let us know you are coming we'll love you, but you don't have to call ahead of time.

And last but not least, I had to let you all know that we just got in a bunch of truly lovely skeins of Shepherd Sock from Lorna's Laces!

Fall is slowly beginning to trickle in...

We finally got in our yarn from Fairthorne Farm! This is a yarn we feel really good about. It is from local producers in Chester Co. who have a 50 head herd of Alpaca and they are producing very nice quality yarn from their fleece. It is a worsted weight and has 20% merino in it for structure and more body. It is truly a lovely, classic yarn. It has a soft feel and a rustic look and it's LOCAL! I love that we have the chance to help support local farms and small producers of real quality goods.



On another note...

And aren't you so beside yourself that the new Harry Potter book is coming out tonight? Okay, maybe that's just me BUT! if you are excited about it maybe you want to come in and take a peek at Charmed Knits, the new book full of knitting designs for Harry Potter fan, even including that psychotic housecoat of many colors that Mrs. Weasly wears in the second movie the first time Harry goes to the Burrow. Yes, I am a giant dork. Don't rub it in. But if you are a giant dork too than maybe you want to go dork out with everyone at the Charmed Knits KAL. It's all about dedication, ya know?

Socksational July!

July is all about sock knitting at Rosie's Yarn Cellar. Socks are perfect summer knitting: they aren't heavy, they pack easily, and they’re a breeze to whip out on a plane, on the beach or while waiting for the kids to get on the Super-Dooper-Looper. So here are the special events we’ve planned to help you fall in step:

July 1st, 12-5 Socksational July Kick-off Party!
All sock yarn and patterns are on sale. How much on sale? You tell us: the percentage off is double your shoe size. Wear an 8? Get 16% off your sock purchases. Find your largest-footed friend and drop in for refreshments, sales and prizes. Everyone wearing handknit socks will be entered into a drawing for a basket of sock-making goodies, including a gift certificate for a pedicure.

July Project of the Month:
Each week there will be a free sock pattern on Rosie's Knitting Circle Blog. Shipping is free on the sock projects and the free patterns will only be available during the month of July so download them while you can!

Yarn of the Week:
Each week a new sock yarn will be marked 25% off with free shipping. Check the website every Friday to see what's new!

Rosie's Sock Race:
Go to rosiesknittingcircle.blogspot.com to join the Rosie's Sock Race anytime during the month (although the earlier the better). Join the blog, grab a button, and post your sock-knitting goal for the month. Some ideas: Create a team and race each other to finish the same project. Bet yourself that you can actually finish both socks. Cast on for one of those "Oh, one day I would love to make those" patterns that you never thought you'd have the time for. Everyone who reaches their goal by July 31st is entered to win a fabulous socky prize!!