And the winner is.....

chosen by a random number generator - the winner of the Name That Yarn is Rooibos! Congratulations! Send me an email to claim your free skein! All of the colors are on Pick Up Sticks website. And now for the name....I have to admit that Roxanne and I chose a name that was my suggestion and once we had it in our minds we couldn't seem to move onto anything else. And so without further ado....the new yarn from Zen Yarn Garden, spun and dyed exclusively for Pick Up Sticks is to be called

Sanctuary

You can see all the colors by clicking on the name. I spent all day today loading them on the website. This yarn is so special - a blend of all my favorite fibers - merino/alpaca/cashmere/silk - unlike anything on the market!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Roxanne of Zen Yarn Garden for being such a willing partner in crime. You are so great to work with!

So one more bit of news regarding the Yarn Tasting on Saturday, April 2 - we're still on but in a much more informal way. The yarns will be on the table all wound into cakes for you to sit down and try. Want to try them all - go ahead! Want to try just one - that's fine too! People wanted to come but were unable to make it right at 10 am so I thought this was a better way to go - so now everyone can save 10% off the selected yarns. There will be a newsletter going out tomorrow morning first thing with all the details but this is a one day only introductory sale.

Yarns on the Menu

Juno Fibre Arts Alice Sock & Buffy Toughie

Zen Yarn Garden Sanctuary

Spilly Jane Kits

Sunday Knits Kits

Indigodragonfly Polworth Silk

Necklaces for Knitter's Kits

Dream Club Kits

Sock Report

Saturday was our second toe up 2 at a time sock class - and I am happy to report that I still am enamored with the technique and my socks have heels. I love the method so much that I investigating different ways of doing it - different toes, different heels, different, different, different - so much so that Meghan and I are contemplating a Sock Camp for the summer - each method will be covered by approx. 3 lessons. For example, May could be short row toe and heel toe up 2 at a time sock, June could be increased gusset, short row heel toe up 2 at a time sock and July could be.......the possibilities are endless. Is this idea appealing? Email/comment to let me know. Each camp would be approx. $60 plus materials and would run for 3 evenings in the month.

Four boxes of yarn arrived....Sunday Knits Eden, Nirvana, Brigadoon and Angelic 20g have arrived! Yay! Plus more Spilly Jane kits!

One little bag of Juno arrived and I know there are 3 others floating around out there. Next to arrive should be the new Zen Yarn Garden at the end of the month. Stay tuned for the contest winner announcement.

April Event

Ok Rayna - you've inspired me to get going.....

Here's what's coming up for April.

Saturday, April 2, 2011 - Yarn Tasting 10am-1pm - We will be tasting all the newly arrived yarns. 10% off on Tasting Yarns for participants. Zen Yarn Garden - new yarn, Juno Fibre Arts, Alice Sock & Buffy Toughie Sock, Sunday Knits - 4 different yarns! Sounds like fun, right? Email to reserve your spot, space is limited. connie(at)pickupsticks(dot)ca


Saturday, April 9 & 16th - Two At A Time Toe Up Socks 10am-noon. On Day 1 we tackle the cast on, increasing toe and getting going on the foot. Day 2 will have us working on the heel and progressing to the leg. This method is one that allows you to use up every bit of yarn! Once you try it, I'm sure you won't knit socks any other way. Please call or email to reserve your spot. 1-877-780-KNIT $20 plus materials 3.5mm 40 inch circular and 100g of worsted weight yarn (Materials must be purchased from Pick Up Sticks or class cost is $50)

Saturday, April 30th, 2011 - Closed for Knitter's Frolic - come and see us at Booth 46.

Late to the Party....

I have been extremely resistant to the Magic Loop method of knitting - particularly when it is applied to socks. I took a class years ago with Meghan and complained the whole way through - I hate this way, who would want to do this by choice, all those wrap and turns for short row heels and toes - puh-lease a complete waste of time. (Meghan says I'm a high maintenance student but I don't really get that, do you?)nSo when Saturday's Toe Up Socks Two At A Time on One Circular began I was really just thinking that it was a crazy class and really, what was wrong with socks on dpns, one at a time. HOWEVER, after a very stressful week with a serious health scare with my dad I thought - well, I just feel like knitting today so I will give this stupid method a try. The result......I love it....as you can see.............the varigated ones were my first and since I was ready for the heel class early I cast on a second pair. Who knew?

Sarah finished her second Four Seasons Hat - Emma was not happy to be my model - she's not nearly as miserable as she looks.

New mags arrived today - Interweave has a lot of special issues coming out this year! Knitting Traditions is awesome - full of historical knitting with some amazing lace patterns. The new Spin Off is here too - come on in and get yours!

What to do...What to do.....

with Indigodragonfly Polworth Silk.

Just a quick search on Ravelry turned up these beauties

Marschalin by Ilga Leja (can be purchased on Rav)

Stockholm Scarf by Knitted Bliss (free on Rav)

Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West (free on Rav)

Willoughby by Jared (my boyfriend) Flood (purchased on Rav or available in store as part of Made in Brooklyn pattern book)

What am I working on? Well Meghan released a new pattern and I just love it!

Buttercup using Dream in Color March Dream Club Yarn - Irish Sprout.

And who could resist this? Rocky - remember him? (now 85lbs) and Oreo the cat - and yes, they are both comfy on the leather couch in the family room. Actually - that's kind of Rocky's spot :)

Another FO

I finally convinced Emma to take off her riding helmet and model my latest FO. It's the Summer version of the Four Season Hat by Tanis Fiber Arts. It was a fun knit and I just love the way the colors work together.

I just wound up my next project - taking a short break from Fair Isle to do Meghan's new pattern - Buttercup. She came in wearing it yesterday and I just love it! I'm not doing yellow though - I've been dying to us the new Dream Club yarn that came in so my Buttercup will be a real Irish green!


The next Fair Isle on tap is Sea Mineral mittens - Spilly Jane, of course! Oh and my Florida drive knit will be Lincoln Park.

Did you see Roxanne's blog today? It's been added on the sidebar - A Life of Colour- she put up a preview of the new yarn that is being exclusively released through Pick Up Sticks - you can still enter the Name that Yarn contest - but we are looking for a name for the yarn not the colourway - which by the way is outstanding! Yay!

There's another addition to my Blog list - Meghan Jackson Knits - she's a prolific designer but not much of a blogger - perhaps we can shame her into it - that is between all her designs, taking care of her 3 kids under 3 and working at Pick Up Sticks!

Uh....no

this is Polworth Silk from Indigo Dragonfly.

massive 750yd skeins of dk $60!

Fun wow!

Surprise

Is there anything to say, when yarn is as beautiful as this? Except maybe...it's here, you really should come by and give it a squeeze.