Year in Review

Happy New Year! In 2010, I fulfilled a longtime dream by joining Classic Elite, and my greatest hope was to reach out and start a conversation with the fabulous knitters and crocheters who use our yarns. I wanted to hear what you had to say, and I wanted to share why I think our work is great. Today, our blog followers number in the hundreds, over 2200 of you are our "fans" on Facebook, and 1126 of you read our tweets. Thank you for listening, and helping me make my dream possible.

That being said, a look back through our 2010 patterns made us think about some of our favorites...

This one is obvious, the "Magic Sweater". So many of you have commented on the Elizabeth cardigan designed by one of my favorite designers, Cecily Glowik Macdonald. It just looks great on everybody!

Liberty Prints, our funky multicolored worsted weight wools, were huge in general in 2010. Everyone seemed to want some, and who can blame them? The color variations are beautiful, and the wool is springy, soft, and machine washable. The Molly scarf really shows off the colors.

This Firefly scarf from Spring 2010 was also a standout--effortlessly chic and cool.

It seems like this silhouette was everywhere this year, open-front sleeveless/short sleeved cardigans to slip over a long sleeve t-shirt, some were open, some suggested an i-cord tie. Haven in Wool Bam Boo is a beautiful cabled version.

Woodland was a huge hit in 2010. A gorgeous yarn in our Verde collection made from wool and nettles, this unusual blend possesses a subtle luster and strong stitch definition, two qualities that really shine in Forest.

Mohair had its moment this Fall! Vogue Knitting even organized a whole contest around it. It seemed like it was everywhere, and La Gran has always been our Grande Dame. Boxcar is one of those cardigans that can take you right into Spring.

We made some changes in our Web Letter this year, and are offering more free patterns than ever before! You had some favorites this year...

This beret knit in Kumara is a great way to sample this luscious camel and wool blend.

Fresco is perfect for colorwork! Clearly, you agree...I wonder how many people unwrapped these mittens this Christmas?

Fingerless mitts were hugely popular-quick and useful knits that keep your hands warm while still allowing you to knit, or crochet, or text...all those activities made difficult by traditional gloves. These are knit in Wool Bam Boo.

Crocheters got some great patterns this year too, this summery bag rolls up and fits perfectly in your handbag or glove compartment. Provence, our mercerized Egyptian cotton yarn, is the best choice for projects that require a strong and beautiful fiber.

Magnolia was one of my personal favorites this year. I made some swatches for the blog. This cozy scarf can go from casual to fancy depending on which color you choose!

Véronik Avery's Lace Ribbon scarf knit in Alpaca Sox  is the big winner, coming in at 5,314 projects on Ravelry!

What was your favorite project this year?

Prius Sweater-We're taking over!

Its only a matter of time...I absolutely love this video, a sweater knit and crocheted in pieces to cover a Prius! Almost like a yarn-bombing, but without the element of surprise. Wouldn't it be fun to organize your own knit-out?



Did you spot the chihuahua in the tiny sweater?

Gauge and Yarn Substitution, Part Two-Swatching!

So last time I mentioned swatching in the round for our Toasty Fingerless Mitts with the lovely and versatile Fresco. Gauge of items knit in the round differ from flat knitting because purl stitches and knit stitches are different sizes (this is also why stockinette will ALWAYS curl). Knit stitches are slightly wider than purl stitches, so when you knit stockinette in the round, eliminating the purl stitch entirely, you have a knitted garment in stockinette that is slightly wider than if it had included purl stitches.

To knit a gauge swatch in the round, you must use a circular needle (or in a pinch, you can use a single DPN).

1. Cast on your stitches. I'm going to cast on 30 stitches so I have a swatch large enough to measure. After you cast on, your ball end of the yarn is on the left side of your circular needle.
   
2. Now, instead of turning your work and knitting back, you will slide the whole thing to the right, so the first stitch you cast on is at the tip of the right needle.
   
3. Now, pulling the working yarn behind the work, knit from right to left as normal, leaving a large "loop" of yarn behind your knitting. Don't forget to leave plenty of slack on the working yarn to make it easier to measure your swatch when you're done.

Cowl Girls Contest Winners!

Wow, do we have a ton of winners today! Thank you to everyone who entered, we love giving things away. Also, thank you to Soho Publishing, who made it possible for us to have 10 additional prizes to give away. It's so interesting to hear from the knitting community, sounds like many of you are already knitting up cowls this holiday season!

Winners, please email me at chelsea at classiceliteyarns.com to tell us where to mail your prize.

Without further ado, here are our ten book winners:

1. Rusty B.
My wife and I are both into knitting cowls for men and women and this book would be a great addition to our library. The yarn would be nice too as we live a fair distance from a LYS. I have a cowl idea in my head I can't wait to translate into pattern and knitted format to share!

2. Lisa
This would make a nice Christmas present for me! Love Classic Elite Yarns!

3. CindyT
I've been struggling to knit hats and scarves. I am the only one without a hat or mittens this year! I'd love a cowl for myself and my daughter. Thanks!

4. kanitta
I love this book -- we carry it at the LYS where I work and it constantly sells out! I've been knitting cowls, a pair of socks, a beret, and hopefully a pair of mitts for holiday gifts. Great giveaway!

5. Rebecca P
I'm am trying to finish up a pair of socks for my Mother for a Christmas gift and this has recently taken over all the rest of my knitting. I'm also working on Norah Gaughan's Orange Pop sweater from Twist Collective, knit out of CEY's Princess. I really love this yarn, especially after washing. It is sooo soft yet durable (no pilling yet!). Of course I have several other things on the needles that are background knitting for the winter, depending on time and my preference...

Thanks for the offer!

6. nekkidknitter
I limit my holiday knitting so as not to drive myself off a cliff. But I'm working on a double-knit scarf for my husband, with a Jolly Roger motif to match a hat I made for him a couple years ago. He thinks I'm ignoring it, because he only sees me working on it every now and then. But I'm actually working on it about an hour every night while he's not home. :D Not sure if I'll actually finish it in time for Christmas, as I have knitting ADD and am also actively working on two other projects, but it'll be cold here till at least March and this isn't his main gift.

7. pencraftco
Knitting shawlettes and clapotis for Christmas gifts.

8. Jamie
Those cowls look wonderful! I've been busy knitting hot water bottle covers this year. I'll have to look for that book at my LYS. Thanks


9. Email hidden
making two shawls...


10. prymnumber
Since November I've been knitting small projects for my husband and me. Things like hats and fingerless mitts that keeps us warm and take no time to do. This book would be a perfect addition to my library!

And now for our big winner! The one who takes home not only the book, but the yarn required to make one of four gorgeous Classic Elite cowls...Colleen! She said, "My mom, the knitter, would love a copy of this book. She is a knitter but not an internetter!" Guess what? She can have the book, and you can keep the yarn. Contact me to claim your prize!

Thanks again for entering everyone. Be sure to subscribe by email or RSS feed to keep up with all our news.

Gauge and Yarn Substitution, Part One

Some women came into my LYS the other day with a hat pattern for a discontinued yarn, and I, a good yarn store employee, suggested some substitutes. As soon as I mentioned "stitches per inch" and "measure your heads" and, (gasp!) "swatching", their eyes glazed over. I finished my explanation with some examples, and when I asked how they would ultimately figure out what yarn to use, they said, "Come see you!"

Understanding the correlation between stitches and sizing and being able to analyze and use the information in a schematic is the key to unlocking some major knitting potential. I have some beautiful Fresco burning holes in my stash, and seriously long arms--fingerless mitts!

I found these fingerless mitts, designed by our friend Leslie Friend at A Friend to Knit With, and they're perfect for bridging the gap between my cold hands and my perennially short coat cuffs (not to mention they keep my hands dexterous and warm enough to knit while waiting for the bus or the train). These gloves are designed in Portland Tweed, a lovely yarn indeed, but not the one sitting on my desk. The gauge is 5.5 stitches per inch, and Leslie asks that we cast on 34 stitches.

34 (stitches)/5.5 (recommended stitches per inch)=6.2 (inches)

Total stitches divided by stitches per inch=inches around of finished object.

6.2 inches is slightly smaller than the stated 7 inches around--I assume that this is giving the mitt some negative ease, which means you want the glove to be smaller than the measurement of your forearm (or else they won't stay up!) Ease is a conversation for another time. For now, let's just focus on matching the 6.2 inches.

The recommended gauge of Fresco is 6.5 stitches per inch on a US 5 needle, the unknown in this case is the total number of stitches I will be casting on.

x (unknown number of cast on stitches)/6.5 (stitches per inch)=6.2 (inches)

6.5 x 6.2=40.3

Since we can only cast on in full numbers, we are going to theoretically cast on 40 stitches. This is only true if my knitting matches the recommended gauge. I know! You hate swatching. But it is a necessary step most of the time to achieve nicely fitted things. Since I will be knitting this in the round, I need to knit a swatch in the round. Stay tuned!

Love Your Shop Update

Our Love Your Shop promotion has been a huge success! Thank you for mobilizing and supporting local yarn shops, they are the lifeblood of our community. The only way to make sure the LYS is here to stay is to support your local shop!

You still have time to enter if you haven't already, sales slips can be dated between November 1st and December 15. Make sure you drop them in the mail before the end of the year. Click the image above for a full page printable flyer your shop can display...let's go out with a bang!

And now, on the eve of the last shopping weekend, we wanted to share some statistics with you.

As of this week...

The knitters and crocheters have spoken! We have received a total of of 864 receipts. The total dollar amount of qualifying merchandise is $62,531!

Average ticket = $73.65

We have received entries from 44 different states and DC. Massachusetts is in the lead with the most entries at 73. Next are Wisconsin (56), California (53) and Michigan (51).

344 stores are represented. Top stores are:

o The Woolpack in Acton, MA (30)
o Webs in Northampton, MA (25)
o Sows Ear in Verona, WI (16)
o Black Purls in E. Sandwich, MA(13)
o Yarns by Design in Neenah, WI (12)
o Beyond the Rainforest in Flint, MI (12)
o Amazing Threads in Maple Grove, MN (10)
o Three Bags Full in Northbrook, IL(10)
o Knitting Bee in Portland, OR(10)

Most frequently bought Classic Elite items are:

o Fresco
o Wool Bam Boo
o Liberty Wool
o Magnolia
o Twinkle

You have 5 more days, get out there and buy some yarn!

Cowl Girls Review and Yarn Giveaway!

UPDATE: Our friends at Soho Publishing caught wind of our giveaway and have offered 10 copies of Cowl Girls to give away! That means one First Prize winner will receive the book AND the yarn required to make one of four Classic Elite cowls; and 10 Second Prize winners will each receive a copy of Cowl Girls! Thank you Soho Publishing!!

In our examination of all things giftable and fast, a review of the fabulous Cowl Girls by Cathy Carron seems appropriate (and aren't you lucky you can win a copy in the Winter 2010 issue of Knit Simple!). This is a must-have book for knitters who love portable, fast projects. This richly photographed book of cowls, gaiters, snoods, balaclavas and all things neck-hugging (don't worry, a glossary is included!) is a wealth of patterns in a variety of shapes, sizes, fibers and skill levels. And its chock-full of Classic Elite yarns! I think we have an abundance of rich, soft fibers that translate perfectly to sophisticated accessories, and clearly, Cathy Carron agrees.

And now for the cherry on the sundae, we are holding a giveaway! One lucky commenter will receive the yarn required to make one of these cowls. Just let us know what you're crafting for the holidays by next Tuesday, December 14th, and you can choose between either of the Ariosa cowls, the adorable Sprout striped cowl, or the La Gran stackable cowl. Unfortunately, winners are limited to the United States and Canada. Comment here to win the yarn then head over to Knit Simple to enter to win the book! Don't forget to leave a Ravelry name or other identifier in your comment.

This fun checkerboard print is for the colorwork lover. Knit in 8 different colors of Ariosa, I wonder if it would make a good stash-buster too?

These stackable cowls take 4 hanks of La Gran and are knit in Trinity Stitch, a pattern you would be likely to see in an Aran sweater, translated into soft, lofty mohair.

This striped cowl in Sprout adds tassels for fun, and is an easy beginning colorwork project! The color effect is achieved by knitting stripes in a pattern--the effect reminds me of Charlie Brown's sweater, zigzag stripes!

Free Patterns+23 Days=Last Minute Gifts!

The weekend is upon us and Thanksgiving came and went...now the procrastinators (myself included) are thinking about holiday knitting. With just over three weeks, what's a girl to do? Consult our Web Letter archives for free patterns! By the way, if you don't receive our weekly emails, subscribe here for patterns and more!

Perhaps my favorite gift idea, a chunky lace throw in Twinkle Soft Chunky for curling up with a cup of tea and watching the snow fall.

One skein of Alpaca Sox completes a pair of cozy legwarmers.

Perhaps a lacy cowl in Fresco?

Whip up a pair of arm warmers with our merino and camel blend Kumara.

Or, for the truly ambitious, an Ariosa wrap cardigan.

Weekend Ravelry Roundup!

Happy Thanksgiving weekend everyone!

Time for our Weekend Ravelry Roundup...Today we have two shawls (Cold Mountain from Knitty and Lavalette from Kirsten Kapur) in Silky Alpaca Lace, a child's Owl Sweater from a classic knitting book in our season-appropriate Portland Tweed, the Middlefield Pullover from New England Knits in Kumara, an aran-designated yarn whose light feel belies its weighty gauge, and a Feather and Fan Cardigan from Make it Modern in Wool Bam Boo that was originally designed in Soft Linen.

Hedwyer's Cold Mountain Shawl knit in Silky Alpaca Lace.

Laughingstar's Lavalette knit in Silky Alpaca Lace.

WIP it! Project Bags from Classic Elite!

These awesome Blossom Project Bags are now available from Classic Elite!

They are made right here in Lowell, Massachusetts and come in a selection of bright coordinating prints. Lucky Heather, our sales manager, had boxes filled with bolts of colorful fabrics in her office all last month. There's only so much fabric we can fit in there, so the prints and patterns are subject to change, but they're all fun and super-colorful!

The round bottom means they stand straight up without flopping over. Perfectly portable, these are just the right size for projects on circular needles or small double-points. A pair of socks perhaps? Maybe a hat or a pair of fingerless gloves?

Love Your Shop Giveaway!

I'll never forget my first LYS experience...I wanted something to do on a weekend at the lake, and my friend Amy offered to teach me how to knit. The first thing we did was drive to the nearest LYS, it was a tiny shop in the next town with walls packed floor-to-ceiling with yarn. I was completely overwhelmed, and to be honest, didn't understand the zeal exhibited by the woman behind the counter (the owner I soon found out). After deciding to start with a scarf, she pressed a pattern book into my hands, and clutching my arm, said with a shudder, "The scarves in this book give me chills!"

I was completely intoxicated by her enthusiasm and bought not only the book, but a Learn to Knit DVD, three skeins of wool and a set of Addi's (that was three years ago and I still haven't made a thing in that book). As I was leaving, she stopped me at the door and gushed, "I'm so excited for you! Promise me you'll knit two rows a day!" I laughed. But she wouldn't let go of my arm and looked right into my eyes with a deadly serious stare. "Promise me!! People start knitting and then they put it down and forget about it. Promise you'll knit two rows!" Okay, okay, lady, geez...

Going to that shop immediately became tradition. I never once went to the lake without stopping there to talk, learn, and take a big whiff of that woman's obsessive, almost scary passion for fibers. I would love to see her today and tell her how far I've come. Sadly, that shop closed last summer.

Now that I work at an LYS myself, I try to pay her lessons forward. We educate a new generation of crafters with Kids Camps and birthday parties, we provide help and encouragement to new knitters, and we are a shoulder to lean on during knitting and non-knitting emergencies, we are a meeting place for our community. Where would any of us be without our LYS? I know I wouldn't have even known my own creativity, and I certainly wouldn't be writing this love letter today.

Classic Elite wants to give back to the men and women who risk it all to follow their dreams, open yarn shops and keep them open in these changing and challenging times. In fact, we have so much faith in those dreams that we want to give everyone a present. Between now and December 15th, spend $40 or more on yarn or books at any CEY retailer in the continental US and send us your receipts. We will send you a free recent pattern book and three mini-skeins! It's our "thank you" to all the knitters and crocheters who recognize the value of supporting our local knitting communities. Please see our website for rules and instructions on how to receive your gift.

If you think your Local Yarn Shop should be involved, click the Download button below to print your own Love Your Shop flyer for display!

Now get shopping!

Vogue Knitting Holiday 2010

Classic Elite has three projects in Vogue Knitting Holiday 2010, on sale today! All photos are by Rose Callahan and appear here courtesy of Vogue Knitting.

First is a gorgeous cowl by by Vladimir Teriokhin (remember the stunning red sweater coat modeled by Paulina Porizkova on the cover of Holiday 2007? That's him too!) knitted in Woodland from our Verde Collection.

Next is a convertible top also designed by Vladimir Teriokhin and knit in our ever-popular Giselle. View the Vogue360 video for all the different ways you can wear it!

Weekend Ravelry Roundup

Happy Saturday! In this weekend's Ravelry Roundup, we have an Intarsia pullover in Princess, a beautiful cardigan also in Princess from my friend Cheryl, the prolific knitter and steward of Hub Mills Store in Lowell, some super-soft fingerless mitts in Fresco, a delicate pointed shawl in Silky Alpaca Lace, and a dense cabled hooded capelet in Twinkle Soft Chunky.

I am thrilled by the design and workmanship of this Intarsia Pullover from LesTricotsdeMarie, knit in Princess.

Snuzy's Keelin, knit in Princess. I have felt and seen this sweater in person and it truly is gorgeous...and soft!

Swatching Magnolia

Magnolia, a new Fall yarn in 70% merino wool and 30% silk, has been calling my name since I first felt its soft, shiny goodness at our Webs trunk show. Its versatile DK gauge and palette of delicate feminine hues suggest dressier garments and accessories, and its excellent stitch definition begs for lacework.

Since seeing a friend's Rambling Rose cardigan, an unusual fitted cardi with a large-scale lace motif from Interweave Knits Winter 2006 by Laura Zukaite, I've been fiddling with the idea of making one. I had a ball of Magnolia at home and thought, "Why not?"

Tell me what you think...

Interweave Knits Holiday 2010

I love holiday gift issues...Could it be because, like a true process knitter, I love knitting things for other people? This year's Interweave Holiday Gifts special issue did not disappoint, and we have some great projects in it!

This hat and mitten set made the cover! The Paprika Hat and Mitten set is designed in Montera Heathers by Michelle Heaney and shown in #3808, peat and #3847, copper. Hat requires one skein of each color; mittens require one skein of each color (you'll need two skeins of each color to make both hat and mittens.)

Mousie Katousie is designed by Jil Eaton and knit in Jil Eaton MinnowMerino, one skein each of #4758 rouge (MC) and #4735 chartreuse (CC).

Pink Part IV-The Final Installment

Here we are at the end of October, and the end of our Pink Scarf project. Didn't this month go by fast?

Pattie has been especially inspired by this project, Grace is her third pink scarf! This is one of those versatile scarves, knit in Summer Set, that we think would work well for men or women with its understated textured pattern. Keep the fringe for some pizazz or leave it off for your favorite guy! Either way, its a sophisticated simple knit (please note that clicking the pictures will begin the download.)

Our next scarf, the Catskills scarf, was designed by Heather.

I chose Magnolia for my project because I LOVE this yarn. I had knit the Royal Empress Shawl as soon as the yarn and the pattern where available and just loved how the yarn worked up and the feel of it passing through my hands. I jumped at the opportunity to knit with it again! I knew I wanted to make a scarf cast on lengthwise as they always seem to work up faster for me, in my mind anyways. I started flipping through stitchionaries, toyed around with a few swatches and settled on one that I could tweak a bit. My intent in decreasing stitches as I progressed was to have a crescent shape scarf. However what I ended up with were peaks opposite the soft scallop of the cast-on edge. I love the end result and how knitting with the best laid plans can sometimes pleasantly surprise us.

Thank you for downloading and knitting these projects; we hope you enjoyed them as much as we did. And whether you knit them in pink or black, purple or brown; for yourself or as a thoughtful holiday gift, we hope you keep our original sentiment in mind. We have two survivors in our midst, so commemorating Breast Cancer Awareness Month was especially resonant for us, but cancer is an indiscriminate disease that affects us all, and the only way to fight it is through research and early detection. So, in these final days of October, we hope you contribute to the fight and remember your favorite charity. Stay tuned for an e-book compilation of all our pink scarf patterns soon!

Cheers to our health and our knitting!

Weekend Ravelry Roundup

So many gorgeous CEY projects on Ravelry right now! Here are some of my favorites for this month-a wedding shawl that is both elegant and contemporary, a delicate keyhole neck sweater, a fun and funky kid's cardigan, an absolutely drop-dead cabled sweater knit in a yarn from our Luxury Division (I'd love to get my hands on that!) and a brilliant emerald Hemlock Ring...

Presenting our very first Ravelry Roundup!

Gleek's Muir, knit in Silky Alpaca Lace

Marnie's Bijou, also knit in Silky Alpaca Lace.