Polar Pom-Pom Project

Have you heard about the Polor Pom-Pom Project? It’s a great art instillation that Deborah Hamon is working on using yarn pom-poms from eco-friendly yarns in the Arctic Circle!

She will be traveling on a traditionally rigged tall-ship to Svalbard this fall, a mountainous Arctic archipelago just 10 degrees from the North Pole.

Deborah is working with school children in California and New Jersey to make pom-poms that will be a part of an instillation that addresses climate change. She already has over 700 pom-poms made! Her goal is 2,000.

You can read more about Deborah and her journey on her kick-starter page. She is also looking for pom-pom donations. Pom-poms must be made from eco-friendly yarns (our Verde Collection would be perfect) in arctic colors (cream, white, pale blue, aqua, etc.). For more information, please contact Deborah at contact@deborahhamon.com. 

Solstice in the new Twist Collective!

As someone who works in the yarn business, I eagerly await knitting magazines so I can see how designers are using Classic Elite yarns. But as a knitter, I really look forward to them so I can fill up my queue! I LOVE the piece from Tanis Gray in Solstice, Fairfax. (All pictures courtesy of Twist Collective, photos by Jane Heller)

She must be a fan of Solstice...remember the Lodi Cardigan and our office knitalong? (I would love to do another one, if any CEYarnies are reading this...ahem, ahem)

If you haven't tried Solstice, you have to get your hands on some. I admit that I was unconvinced of how devoted I could be to a wool and cotton blend, but I was thoroughly seduced. Bright, rich colors, a perfect and bouncy ply, and a hand that feels very woolly indeed. And for a gal who despises weaving in ends, it will even spit-felt for you.

Did I mention it's organic? With Earth Day coming this Sunday, what better time is there to try it out in one of these glorious colors?

I'm not the only one who loves Tanis Gray...learn a little more about her on Kristin Nicholas's fabulous blog, Getting Stitched on the Farm. She did a great interview there to promote her new book Capitol Knits.

Happy knitting!

VKLive New York!

I suppose I'm a little biased, with New York being my hometown and all, but how fabulous is Vogue Knitting Live NYC? We were lucky to be included, and snapped some quick iPhone pictures while we were there.

With two events already under their belts, VK had plenty of practice for this one...and it showed! There were art installations, unique vendors, an amazing class line-up and expert panels. Our very own Betsy Perry was on the "When Knitting Becomes a Career" panel, and was heard saying something we're used to hearing around the office here in Billerica--"On a bad day, I can say 'Well, at least I got to play with yarn today'"

Unique display/storage containers for crafty stuff

White wedding indeed...an art piece made of yarn!

Lodi Office Knit-a-Long!

It's not often that one pattern lands on more than a few queues in the office. With our own gorgeous patterns to choose from, and so many fabulous indie designs in the knitosphere, it just seems that we never meet in the same spot. Then there was the Lodi cardigan.

You might remember this little cardigan designed by Tanis Gray and knit in Solstice, from the Summer issue of Knitscene. As soon as I saw it, I knew it had to be mine. I do so love a tiny cardigan, often to my detriment, but that's a whole other story. Anyway, one thing led to another and before we knew it, it was on the needles of eight women in our office! Experiences were mixed, from love for the stylish simplicity of the design, to difficulty with the grading, to a newfound appreciation for the wool-organic cotton blend we were all suddenly knitting in.

Solstice is from our Verde Collection, and comes in twenty vibrant colors. The cotton component keeps the stitches crisp and clear, provides structure, and allows the finished garment to breathe. Super soft merino wool adds warmth, drape, and helps pieces hold their shape. I truly dislike weaving in ends, so I was especially pleased to learn that it can be spit-spliced (or "magic-spliced" if the thought of spitting in your yarn is especially unpleasant for you).

What, people don't dress alike at your office?

For those with a larger bust, take heed of your shaping! The eyelet raglan shoulders MUST be increased with each right side row, so while increasing bust size you also increase the arm size! Many who were knitting above a 38" bust had trouble with arms being too large, and remedied it in a variety of ways.

Heather (in the Azalea colorway) merely picked up stitches instead of casting on in the armpit, and knit the sleeves flat, taking in stitches in the armpit. Meg, in the Brass Button colorway, swatched carefully and recalculated the distribution of the fronts and arms. I made mine as is, but wondered in retrospect if you could pair each eyelet increase with a decrease in the armpit area--an unproven theory, but I wonder if it would work? What are your tried-and-true fitting techniques?

Ysolda Review and Giveaway!

Scroll to the bottom of this post for something completely amazing*.

Look what I saw just sitting on one of our tables at TNNA in June.

Dropped off by a mystery person who disappeared as quickly as she appeared. Luckily, there was an inscription.

What a most lovely surprise from the even lovelier Ysolda Teague! I would go so far as to say this book is indispensable for knitters.You will find the patterns you're accustomed to seeing from Ysolda--fashion forward, technically sound, and well written with a touch of whimsy. However, the meat and potatoes of this book is the educational first chapter entitled "Tools for Successful Sweaters".

Every word and picture in this chapter lends credence to the title. The chapter is broken into sections: selecting a yarn, swatching, taking measurements, choosing a size, creating a perfect fit, and blocking. Each section offers a wealth of information, accessible for beginners and relevant even for intermediate to advanced knitters. Tips are peppered throughout, from choosing the best yarn for intarsia work to measuring your body accurately to using dressmaking techniques to accommodate fuller bust sizes.

You'll find Classic Elite yarn modeled by the gorgeous Amanda Jarvis in the Angostura Vest. The introduction to the pattern has comprehensive construction and fitting notes, and the pattern is sized from a 30 inch bust up to a 60 inch one. The vest is knit in Chesapeake from the Verde Collection in the colorway Mephisto, a beautiful blue that almost reminds me of one of my favorite crayons, Cornflower Blue, only darker.

*Ysolda Teague and her fabulous team are collaborating with us on a giveaway! One lucky knitter will receive an autographed copy of Little Red in the City, a limited edition Little Red project bag, and enough Chesapeake to complete their very own Angostura vest! Simply head over to her blog, leave a comment on Ysolda's blog post saying how you would wear/style your own Angostura before August 15th, and then cross your fingers.

Scratch to reveal the eBook link. So clever!

Thank you, Ysolda!