Sidewalk Sale!

This weekend, the weather is set to be very nice. Why not come to Rosie's this weekend for our annual end-of-summer sidewalk sale? We've gone through our inventory, making room for more Fall yarns to enable you with, and have found not only some great yarns, but also books and patterns. If there was ever a time when you could fill up your pattern library, or start one, this is a great opportunity.

There will be yarn from Classic Elite, Reynolds, Sublime and others. One of the yarns thatwe'll miss is Rowan 4 Ply Soft. Courtney wrote an obituary for it a while back, but don't worry. We still have some stock, so get it before it disappears!

Come on down during regular shop hours and see what awesome finds are waiting for you!

Books, Books, and More Books!

August seems to be a paradoxical time at a yarn store. It can be as hot as Hades outside, but inside there's excitement about the latest fair isle vest worked in an alpaca/wool/angora blend. These are the last things you'd want to think of touching when the air has a 73% humitidy level, but this is why we plan ahead for cooler weather.

It was great when we received our Rowan shipment last week, and now we have even more projects to think of starting now that Classic Elite has delivered a few much anticipated books for the Fall.










If we were to put every picture of every sweater/accessory we thought was amazing, this post could go on for a bit, especially if commentary were to be inserted. Head to Classic Elite's website and click on each issue for previews of each project, and don't forget to come in and pick up a copy of your favorite!

~*Jen*~

Rowan Alpaca Cotton

I knew we had to have this yarn

as soon as I saw it, which completely baffled Courtney and Kate. When all the Rowan yarns arrived, before it even came out of the box, I think I heard Jenna say "Alpaca and cotton? Isn't that the most ridiculous fiber combination ever?"

Yes, it's 72% alpaca and 28% cotton. Yes, it's fuzzy/shaggy. It does shed while you knit it (ask me how I know). And I still say: it's fantastic. Here's why:

It's light and lofty; it knits at a pretty quick gauge (4 sts per inch, US #8), but it isn't bulky at all. It looks fuzzy like a brushed mohair, but it's much lower pile (so it doesn't add visual bulk to your silhouette), and it doesn't itch (because the fuzz is from alpaca, not mohair). It's nowhere near as warm as 100% alpaca would be (because of the cotton).

To look at it another way, this skein has 148 yds and weighs 50g. Let's compare it to some other yarns that knit at 4 sts per inch: Manos Wool Clasica (and you sure won't catch me dissin' Manos) comes in a 100g skein, but if it were 50g, it would have 69 yds -- less than half. Reynolds' Andean Alpaca Regal would have 55. Even a brushed mohair like Classic Elite's La Gran has only 90. And an all-cotton yarn like Schaefer Laurel would be 88.

Compared to all of those yarns, a ball of Alpaca Cotton will go much farther. This has the potential to make it quite cost-effective, but what I want to point out now is that your finished garment will weigh about half what it would if you made it in any of those other yarns.

What particular applications do I imagine for this yarn? I imagine it for ME. I am (for any of you who haven't seen me recently) significantly overweight. I'm too warm more often than I'm too cold, I don't need any yarn that makes me look any bigger than I am, and my current responsibilities preclude knitting myself a sweater in a small gauge. If this description fits you as well, you might want to consider one of these:

All are sized up to 50" finished bust circumference, by the way -- that's a lot of knitters who won't need to rewrite the patterns.

But don't think this yarn is only for those who wear larger sizes. If you like a warm, cuddly sweater without the itch, check this:

And if you want something a little dramatic for fall-into-winter, try this:

In short, not only do I like the yarn, I think this collection does an unparalleled job of matching the designs to the yarn's inherent qualities.

INCOMING!

Guess what UPS just dropped on our doorstep? 6 GIANT boxes of yarn from Rowan. Yum! Pics coming soon, but be sure to drop in and be the first to see all the great new yarns and colors, and the new MAGAZINE!

Under The Radar

Last week, we got a shipment of new yarn! We may have forgotten to blog about it, but I don't doubt that it's been seen, bought, and stashed by a few of our customers already. The yarn is Joseph Galler Heather Prime Alpaca. It comes in the most luscious hank of 665 yards of 100% alpaca. It knits up to 6 sts/inch using a US 5 needle, making it one of the best choices for a lightweight yet warm sweater.




That brings me to some other lightweight & warm yarns we carry. The first one that comes to mind is The Fibre Company's Road To China Light. It pops up in my brain not just because it's one of my favorite yarns to drool over, but also because our gal Courtney has a pattern in the Fall issue of Interweave that calls for that yarn! Check out Freyja!



It also has a matching hat featuring the same colorwork around the crown as the yoke seen above. Stop by and pick up an issue and the wonderful colors of Road To China Light, but don't wait too long...we all know how fast Fall Interweave Knits issues can fly out of the door!

~*Jen*~

Is Fall Here Already?!?

August is almost here and we've already received the Fall 2009 issue of Vogue Knitting!

The Fall issue always inspires and excites people to get back to heavy-duty knitting, especially if they've taken a break during the warmer months. Sweaters upon sweaters are worked up in varying shades of red & gold. Whether it's rust, maize, or something in between, be sure to see more of it in the coming months.

This issue also boasts not one, not two, but ten knit hat patterns! Which pattern is my favorite, you ask? I have to admit that I'm rather partial to Kate Gagnon Osborn's crowning glory. (rav link). (Get it? "Crowning" glory? Ha! I slay me.)

The modified Japanese butterfly lace pattern, with its undulating ribs, give a detailed finish that Kate has proven to have mastered. The slightly slouchy fit guarantees it to be a staple in your wardrobe that can work for both daytime/nighttime atmospheres. The yarn is The Fibre Company Canopy Fingering in Acai, that berry whose health benefits you probably hear about more and more. The small size (shown) takes just one skein! Stop in, snag a copy, and pick out a color for your beret.

Another Canopy Fingering creation is the July Project of the Month, the Twisted Diamond socks. You'll only need two skeins and you've quite the pair of socks to wear or to give to someone as a gift. In celebration of the new Vogue, Kate's design and the POTM, we've extended our Christmas In July sale into the weekend. If you haven't gotten the chance to make some gift purchases, here's your chance to pick from the jar!

~*Jen*~

Sock N Bowl!

In the July newsletter, we posted a notice about Sock n Bowl, a time of knitting & bowling. A few helpful Ravelers alerted us to the fact that there were a few details missing, so we figured an informative blog post would be a good thing to do lol!

This Thursday, July 16th at 6pm, we will be heading to Lucky Strike Lanes at 1336 Chestnut Street a door or two down from Olive Garden and across the street from Borders. Come bowl with us! It's $4.95 per game, so if you wanted to bowl a game or two and knit for the rest of the night, you'd get your money's worth. There is also a dress code which can be found here. It's not very restricting unless you were dying to break out that dirty, baggy athletic chainmail sleeveless tank top in the back of your closet, but I'd still give it a glance just to be safe.

There's food, wonderful food. You've got your bar staple of hot wings and burgers along with some things I've never heard of like tuna lollipops and chicken pillows. Can I sleep on said pillow? How can chicken be that soft? I guess I'll find out. Bring a friend or two for some fun in the city and you could order a pizza together to save some dough. You can check out the menu here to get an idea of what you might be in the mood for that night.

I think it'll be a great time to be had. Bowling, food, friends, knitting....how can you go wrong? We hope to see you there!

Also, for some more exciting news, the new Fall 2009 issue of Knitscene arrived in the shop today!

I'm getting tingly all over thinking of all of the sweaters to be knit! Knitscene always has sweaters/accessories that are sure to get ooh and aahs from admirers. Another reason why I definitely want to buy this magazine is because our Kate has a new sweater pattern inside!

The Hollywood Herringbone Pullover looks amazing! It's worked in Organik by the Fibre Company, a yarn you can find right here at Rosie's. Kate describes the sweater as "a nice balance between quirky and classic". I couldn't agree more and am already thinking of colors with which to make my own! Congrats Kate!

This Just In!

We received a new book, one that looks to be a gift knitting book to have in your library.

Knitted Gifts: Irresistible Projects to Make & Give

Another lovely work from Ann Budd & friends, this book features projects that are perfect for gift-giving. With 30+ patterns ranging from a beautifully simple heirloom baby blanket, catnip toys, quick-to-knit socks, texter gloves and a hobby horse (yes, a hobby horse), I'm pretty sure you'll find something to knit for even the pickiest recipient.

Speaking of gifts, stop in for our Christmas In July sale. Save anywhere from 15%-75% when you make a purchase with gift knitting in mind. You can get an early jump on your list of people to knit for, and save a little money, in addition to saving some nerves, by not knitting down to the wire.


We've got an entire section of yarn on sale for you to choose from, as well as books that need a new shelf to hang out on (maybe at your place???). Stop by and pick up a few skeins before they fly outta here!


~*Jen*~

Summer Spinning

Now that summer is actually here, and cloudy skies seem to be going away, I've been focusing on other projects to work during the warmer months. One of the ways I keep interest in wools/various animal fibers, without watching it felt in my hands as I knit, is by spinning. I still enjoy yarn as well as the few previous steps required to achieve what's seen on the shelves at the shop. I treasure my copy of Spin To Knit, and Start Spinning is another amazing book. One of the newest kids on the block is Spin Control.
I am in love.



Spin Control is a book that I wish I had when I started to spin for specific projects. At first, I learned to use a drop spindle, and after acquiring 5 or 6 of them, I received a wheel for a birthday present (a Kromski Prelude if you were wondering). I'd had enough experience with spindles to know what my hands were supposed to do. However, I didn't have a lot of control over the speed & tension to make the yarn I envisioned.

This is definitely the book for the spinner with goals and plans. Do you want to spin for a single-ply laceweight? It's in there. Do you want to make a 3-ply worsted weight from space-dyed roving, keeping the color repeats intact? It's in there. How about trying your hand at putting flowers, beads, and/or sequins into your yarn? There's also a section showing you how to do just that. From the sound of it, this could be a Prego spaghetti sauce ad.



We also have the latest issue of Spin Off magazine featuring Quant by Star Athena. You may remember it from the Winter 2007 issue of Knitty. It's a really cute entrelac headband, requiring only 2 oz./200 yards of yarn. That makes it perfect for the new roving that arrives today from Mountain Colors.


Come down to the shop and check it out!

--Jen

P.S.: We will be closed this Saturday, July 4th and will resume normal shop hours on Sunday, July 5th. Have a happy 4th everyone!

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

We recently discovered that one of our classic stand-by yarns is being discontinued. Rowan's 4-Ply Soft, one of the greatest, softest, machine-washable-est (not dryer-able, more on that later) yarns is going by the wayside in favor of everyone's new favorite--the machine washable wool, microfiber and cashmere blend yarns (read: Rowan Cashsoft 4-Ply, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Baby et al). It's sad to see an old friend go, and while there is a time and place for the 'cash-yarns' of the world none can out do the old standard--a 100% wool baby yarn. It is king, it will always be king. Why?


Because your mother knit her baby's things with it, and her mother before her and her mother before her. Because as Elizabeth Zimmerman told us, "wool is good for a baby." Why? Because it's wool. Because it's natural, it's warm, it's soft and it has a feeling of comfort, history and home.


As you can see, I am biased. I knit my baby his going home outfit (my own design) in 4-Ply Soft, as well as his baby Moc-A-Socks (oh so cute!) and his Penny Straker Baby Owl Sweater.



I have 3 bags of Cashmerino Baby in the stash and they have never been cracked open. Not that Cashsoft 4-Ply or Cashmerino are "bad" yarns, but they are not heirloom yarns. If I was going to knit for my own baby, something that would stand the test of time and be there for future generations, it wasn't going to be with a yarn that was part microfiber. Soft, yes. But they won't wear for 100 years. They just don't have it in them the way you did, 4-Ply Soft. For a close relative or friend, I would totally go for one of the 'cash-yarns'. It's a great yarn. It will be soft, warm and easy care. It's one thing if I shrink my baby's going home sweater (because I did, but let us never speak of it again) but if my sister had--well neither I nor she would ever forgive ourselves. As a knitter, I will miss this yarn. It was a beacon of softness, balanced with sturdy and gutsy construction and excellent stitch definition in a world of wimpy merino blends.
RIP Rowan 4-Ply Soft.
You will be dearly missed.

(If you still need a 100% wool baby yarn, may I recommend Dale Baby Ull?)

Misti Lace, get it while it's hot!

Cobalt Blue, Blue Mist Melange, Carbon Teal
Cilantro Melange, Straw Melange, Orange Melange
Coral Melange, Carnival Melange, Mauve Melange

We mentioned it in a past newsletter and are happy to announce our latest shipment of Misti Alpaca Lace has arrived! Shown in these fabulous colors at $6.50 per skein with the same great yardage (437 yds!), it will be in the shop for as long as we can keep it in stock. That might not be such a long time since they're being discontinued by its distributor in Canada, so grab it while you can. However, we snatched some up just in time for that summer shawl you've been eyeing. Maybe the Fountain Pen Shawl from Spring 2009 Interweave Knits? Just a suggestion....heh heh.

Simply Shetland is here!

Simply Shetland Silk & Lambswool is a 59% silk noil, 41% Shetland lambswool blend waiting to be made into a sweater or shawl. The silk noil gives it a nubby texture without the sheen that most silks have, and the Shetland wool is soft and tweedy. The 50-gram skeins have 246 yards, which will land you at 6-7 stitches to an inch on size 2 or 3 needles. We've got it in eight gorgeous colors, each of them named after a Scottish castle:

Venlaw Castle

Slain Castle

Culzean Castle

Ardvreck Castle

At $11 a ball it's a great buy too, perfect for knitting summer shawls or even a garment. Stop in and take a look!

New book: Feminine Knits

We recently received a shipment of the book Feminine Knits: 22 Timeless Designs by Lene Holme Samsoe and just had to share. This book is beautiful!

Previously only available in Danish and Norwegian, it was recently re-published by Interweave Press, complete with yarn substitution recommendations for yarns available in the US.

Diagonal Lace Jacket

While full of projects in lace, cables, texture and fair isle, and classic and unique construction alike, the book is still very cohesive.

Lace Tiered Skirt

You will be sure to find multiple projects with that "knit me now!" appeal -- why not cast on for a cute lacy cover up for a summer night out you can finish in a week or two as well as a sweater with beautiful details you will complete for winter.

Plisse Jacket

Come on in and check it out!

WE'RE OPEN!!!!

Rosie's is open today!

We'll be here during our normal hours, 10am-6pm.

We look forward to seeing you this Memorial Day.
(Come on down if you need a break from the grill...it can get a tad smoky).

How to Weave In Ends

When you were learning to knit, you may have been told that you should never, ever tie a knot in your knitting. "But why?" you may have asked yourself. "By what other possible means will I begin a new strand of yarn? How will I ensure that it doesn't unravel and make me look foolish as I show it off to my knitting circle?" The reason behind the rule is that as your work is washed, blocked, and worn, knots make stiff nobbly bits in the otherwise uniform drape of your knitting.

You may also have wondered what to do with the tail ends of yarn hanging off the cast-on and bind-off rows. Here's what to do:

(1) When you begin and end your work, and when you add new yarn, make sure that the tails are about 6 inches long. Get yourself a yarn needle (also called a tapestry needle or a blunt needle) and thread the tail through it.
(2) You're going to make that tail invisible by actually following a row of stitches, weaving the yarn into the stitches in the rows above and below. (You're weaving in on the wrong side of the fabric - usually the bumpy purl side.) Have you ever looked closely at the stitch structure? It looks like this: Starting from the right, angle your needle so that it goes up through the bottom-row stitch and then up through the upper-row stitch to its right. Next, go down through the next stitch (the upper-row stitch to its left) and down through the bottom-row stitch to the right (the same one you started on). Go up through the bottom-row stitch to its left . . . and so on.

(3)Way to go, knitter! Now you've gained an understanding of stitch structure and made yourself a really professional-looking project. Give yourself a high-five!

Wine and Wind Party!

We had a really great time last night at our annual Wine and Wind party, and we hope you did too! Clyde made a breif appearance to see his fans, and he did not destroy anything, I'm pleased to announce. We got to see some really great yarn and I got some advice from Sherry about how to soften my world's scratchiest yarn which I purchased while in Maryland. Scratchy, yes. But beautiul. I don't have a pic yet, but it is from the Faroese islands, and I am a sucker for historically accurate yarns. More on that yarn later...

It was great to see everyone swatching and talking about everyone's plans for this years (and last years, and that other time...) purchases.

And we did wind some yarn.

I want to thank all of you who took the Rosie Bus to The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival this year! You guys make it tons of fun. Congratulations to the winners of our Rosie's Bus raffle grand prizes--a Namaste Laguna bag and a set of Addi Clicks!

We look forward to doing it again next year!

POTM and Wind and Wine!!

Come on down to Rosie's tonight for our annual post Maryland Sheep and Wool wine and wind. Bring your skeins to show off your loot, use our swift and ballwinder and plethora of needles to swatch the perfect fabric . We'll provide the wine (and a little cheese and bread, too!), you provide the eye candy.
Not sure what to knit with your impulse purchase of luxury hand-dyed? Why not add a skein or two of Kidsilk Haze and knit this month's Project of the Month, the Mobius Cowl? Designed in two sizes (the larger is shown above) and four different gauges for each (dk, worsted, aran and bulky), it is easy to customize to your desired finished end result.

And if that isn't quite what you had in mind, we will be happy to set you up with the perfect pattern, tonight instead!

See you tonight!