Vermont Knits

Brighten your day with a blast of color!

As much as I'm not ready for the imminent ice storm, I AM ready for a snow storm (a big one, actually). I love to cross-country ski, sled and make snow angels. I do, absolutely. I don't mind the gray days that we experience in Central Vermont during the winter months especially when they are productive...meaning that the clouds are producing snow. As much as this could be fully explained by my desire to participate in snow related, outdoor activities, I think it also has to do with the place that I spend many of my days. Yup, The Knitting Studio.

Lee and I are surrounded by walls of color...entire walls dedicated to nothing but gorgeous yarn dyed every color of the rainbow. Our day stops being gray the moment that we walk into the store. I can gaze at any of the Noro yarns with their many, unexpected color combinations, combinations that work beautifully even when it seems like they shouldn't, and my mood is altered. I'm changed by what I see. I'm lifted up by the loveliness of big hanks of Heather Prime Alpaca...the colors soft yet bright. I can't tell you, no matter how corny it sounds, what a gift it is to walk into this place any time of year. Now add smiling people, good conversation, knitting, crocheting...and you can easily see why the gray days don't seem so bad and I'm ready for snow. Absolutely.

Stop by and let the colors warm you up...body and soul. We have a group gathering on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to work on scarves for Special Olympics through the 21st of February. We have Stitch Night every Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. There are lots of classes being offered right now...check out the list to see what appeals. Or come to sit and relax with your own project. We welcome that!

Happy New Year!

As 2012 begins, I'd like to wish all our customers, friends & family a happy & hopeful new year filled with joy & beauty! Thank you for being a valued part of our lives, and for creating the warm & wonderful community here at The Knitting Studio. And a special thank you to Gail, Liz and Mary Jane for all your contributions this past year...you rock!

Holiday Gifts for One and All...Again!

I'm nearing the end of my list for the holidays...but I'm not done yet. I finished a neat hat last night. I'm really happy with it. It has a lovely band of Scandinavian color work around the brim, and this nifty liner knit in a truly soft merino that folds under and is sewn in place. It'll be warm and bright and all sorts of other things that a hat should be. Whew. Now if I can only finish a second sock, a few tree ornaments and an elf hat...

Anyway, we do have a terrific selection of projects that can be completed in an evening or two as I mentioned in the last post. One of them is The Warmest Hat Ever. It's knit with Rowan's Big Wool and has a thick brim that folds up to keep even the most avid skier, hiker or skater warm when the temperatures (finally) drop. It's a fun knit and can be done pretty quickly. Yippee! Perfect for the man in your world for whom it's hard to buy a gift. And then we do have a number of great scarf, moebius, cowl or neck warmer ideas like this one knit from Araucania's Yelcho. One skein makes two of them. My suggestion is that you make one to give, and then in January make another...to keep. Sounds like a grand plan. And this yarn comes in such beautiful, warm colors. It's a great gift for anyone from a co-worker to a cousin to a sister-in-law. They will love it!

Remember, if you're not even close to completing the projects that you would like to finish for the holidays...cut out some of the things that are eating up your crafting time. Take a week off of work. You look a little pale to me. Feed the family cereal for dinner. They like two breakfasts in a day. Do whatever it takes to get the knitting/crocheting/felting done...but don't tell anyone that this was my idea.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Holiday Gifts for One and All!

There is a lot to be said for getting a jump on holiday gift knitting/crocheting/felting, and by that I mean starting in July. However, the truth is that most of us create beautiful items for other occasions or reasons or seasons. In July I want to knit a skirt or tank top. In August, I'm maybe thinking ahead to the perfect cable sweater to wear for leaf raking or days in town. Maybe. And in September, personally, I'm knitting Halloween costumes for my kids. Yup. Think snake heads. I really begin to knit for the holidays in the weeks following Thanksgiving. And then...I knit fast. This can clearly lead to some hectic, even frantic, evenings in December. Sound familiar? I'm not going to mention the list of what I've already knit. It might seem braggy. Or not. But there's still time to create more. I need to. And this year there are great (really terrific) options for those of us who want to craft something at the last, or close to last, minute. Something like a lovely, flirty scarf made with Rowan's Kidsilk Creation. I've made two of these for people on my list, and I love the feminine charm of this project. It can be knit or crocheted and takes all of an hour or two. Really! The knit version is two stitches wide. Just two. And then there is Berroco's Link which is another great project that works up quickly and creates a really contemporary gift for the fashionista on your list. One of the hottest trends this year is ruffle scarves created with yarns that make the ruffle for you. Other versions of this idea are Flounce or Triana or Metallic Flounce or....come see all the fun colors and textures! These scarves will take a few evenings to make but they are such fun yarns to work with, you'll enjoy every minute of it.

Happy knitting/crocheting/felting! May your holiday be a happy one!

  

 

Come vote for your favorite holiday toy!

Come see the wonderful holiday window at The Knitting Studio which is currently filled with toys for our People's Choice Toy Competition...and you can cast your vote for your favorite toy. There is a hippo, a rabbit, a frog with a crown, a little frog, an octopus, a cupcake,  juggling balls, martians, a space ship, aliens & even a black hole! They are a colorful collection of adorable creations, and we are tickled to have them. There are three prizes that will be awarded...copies of Laura Long's Knitted Toy Tales as well as a gift certificate for each of the three toys that garner the most votes. So please take the time to participate when you are next in the store...and get inspired to create your own menagerie!