Newsletter 915
Back in Business...With a Caveat!
After ten days of dramatic, challenging weather-related ups and downs, Haus is fully open and operational...but we are operating on a shoestring staff for a bit. Three of us are currently still without power at our homes...two have burst pipes and one has a house with three floors of flooding. We've been notified that power may not be restored for another SEVEN DAYS.
Remember: Patty is here to help folks with knitting problems or questions on a drop-in basis from 10 to 11:30 on Tuesday. No appointment necessary, just drop in with fifteen dollars in cash. If you need to set up a time with her outside of that window, you can contact her directly at patricianknits@gmail.com
Due to the temporarily lighter-than-usual staffing, any other knitting help might be hard to come by for the next little while. You're welcome to stop in and give it a try but...no guarantees. Thanks for understanding!
Also...for the next little bit, there will be a dog at the store, a very vocal mini Schnauzer (above) who has many, many opinions about this entire weather situation. Her name is Mavis and she's actually way sweeter than she sounds. It's her store and don't you forget it.
Monthly Make/Knitalong REMINDER: February!
Just a quick reminder that February's Monthly Make in-store meetup is today (Mon, Feb 2) at 11am right here up in the Haus! If you need the lowdown on what all of that means, check the lead story in Newsletter 910 (you can find that RIGHT HERE). Even if you missed that info the first time around, you haven't missed out on the KAL. This is a yearlong project. You can jump in at any time and catch up (or not, it doesn't matter!) at your own speed.
February's block is Block 2: Harlequin. It's a simple diamond pattern that comes together quickly and it keeps you knitting...gotta finish another diamond, GOTTA FINISH ANOTHER DIAMOND!
The majority of knitalongers so far are using Plymouth Worsted Merino Superwash, but remember: any worsted yarn you want to use is the right answer! Some folks are working it up in Ultra Alpaca, some in Knitting for Olive's Heavy Merino. Just remember: you need about 200 yards for each block. Plymouth Worsted Merino Superwash has been restocked in tsunami-ish quantities...so if you were waiting on a particular color...
Again, you'll find alllll the details for this KAL in Newsletter 910. You can find the Block-a-Month Afghan book RIGHT HERE.
Patterns That Make the Most of Plymouth!
While we were talking about Plymouth Superwash Merino, some nifty little patterns written specifically for that yarn crossed our desk.
Sophia's 2 Color Baby Blanket uses five skeins of Superwash Merino - three in one color, two in another. The 25" x 30" end result is a sampler-style blanket that'll keep your lap (or your baby!) warm no matter how low the temperature goes. It's an easy knit with just enough stitch pattern variation to keep you paying attention. It's a good TV-project!
The Cable & Rib Heart Hat is just that: a sweet little hat that combines ribbing and a sophisticated geometric motif. You can read it as a heart....or not! Despite the name, there's not really any true cabling to do. It's a one-size pattern and you only need a single skein of Superwash Merino.
You'll find the pattern for Sophia's 2 Color Baby Blanket RIGHT HERE.
The Cable & Rib Heart Hat pattern is HERE.
Plymouth Select Superwash Merino is RIGHT HERE in five million colors.
Felted Ornaments with Heart
If you like your hearts a little more, uh heart-shaped than the one in the hat above, check out these adorable little felted ornaments. Each of the solo hearts and the sheep are needle-felted and feature a jute hanger. They're crafted in Nepal and are environmentally friendly.
The hearts are sold separately and come in three shades; we'll choose for you but if you have a preference (from left, light pink, bright pink or red), let us know in the order notes and we'll do our best to honor your request!
Find the Valentine Hearts RIGHT HERE. The sweet Sheep Holding a Heart is HERE.
No, They're Not Cinnamon Red Hots...They're Stitch Stoppers!
One last thing in the run-up to Valentine's Day: keep your stitches safe with these handy heart-shaped silicon stitch stops! These love-able needle point protectors come in sets of two and fit a wide range of knitting needles (US2 - US15). They're stylish and help ensure that your precious stitches stay on the needles when you aren't working on a project. Simply stick your knitting needle points into the hole in the point protector and your stitches will stay secure!
You can find them RIGHT HERE.