Vogue has a new look and deserves a new look if you are one of these knitters who found it too esoteric, filled with patterns both complicated and “vague” (an epithet for Vogue characterizing the sometimes difficult-to-follow patterns found within). This fall issue debunks any previously-held biases against the magazine. Full of wonderful articles on the Shetland Isles’ traditions and history, Fair Isle patterns for both large and small projects, and a section dedicated to patterns for men, it makes me wish I could claim Scottish roots. Alas, I’ll just have to remain a Scotophile and continue knitting fair isle.
It’s who we are. During the Bethlehem Art Walk, Love.Yarn.Shop. was creating a felted community rug in a paddling pool outside the shop. Many thanks to the folks, young and not-as-young, who popped by to contribute to the rug. It takes a lot of rolling, pounding, and just plain hard work to convince the fibers of roving to become one…similar to a community. All the individual strands need to join together to become strong enough to create something bigger, sturdier, more resilient, and ultimately more appealing. Certainly the rug is a metaphor for the diverse community of Bethlehem and hopefully a symbol for its future—colorful and artistic, but still a little rustic around the edges.
I love fair isle. No apologies. So this issue, with its steeked man’s vest (which I plan to make for myself) and article on steeking by Mary Jane Mucklestone, make it a must-buy issue. (Plus, I have recently stocked Elemental Affects USA Shetland fingering which is perfect for steeking.) This is the 20th year anniversary edition, so it is loaded with great sweater, sock, and shawl patterns. For what is basically the cost of one pattern, you are getting a pattern book chock-a-block full of fantastic patterns. Seven of the patterns have color work and most of the others have cabling or textured stitches of one kind or another.
Every year people knit and crochet purple hats to be given to parents of newborns to raise awareness about the period of purple crying and shaken-baby syndrome. On Sunday, August 21st, we’ll meet at the shop between 1 and 3 to get started on this worthwhile project. I’ll have free patterns for knitting and crocheting and you’ll get 15% off purple yarns. Check out the website Click for Babies.
I went to Nancy’s Alterations and Yarn Shop in North Conway to do the drawing for the grand prize with Nancy. Stephanie Brooks was our winner! The grand prize includes a yarn ball winder, a drop spindle, a pewter shawl pin, project bags, multiple skeins of yarn, a gift certificate to Elegant Ewe, a felting kit, tee-shirts, a book, and much more. How fun for her to open that package! Congratulations!
Love.Yarn.Shop. 