Wool Free and Lovin' Knit

Day trip to Patternworks

I've been wanting to visit the Patternworks shop in Center Harbor, New Hampshire, for a few years now (ever since I heard they carried Sea Island Cotton) and today it just worked out for me to take a little drive up there.  

This is a beautifully laid out shop with 4 large rooms and one smaller nook full of yarn, patterns, books,  notions and needles and all kinds of knitted-related things.  They carry their own exclusive yarns and patterns but they have a wide selection of others as well. 

the room for baby yarns - photo from Patterworks Website

I found plenty of wool-free yarns in-stock.  This is the home of the Sea Island Cotton I've long desired and they also had Kollage Riveting Worsted which I really wanted for a cardigan, and they had so many cottons, linens,  silks,  bamboo, acrylics and all kinds of blends of all of these.  The selection of wool-free yarns is a little larger at present because of the season, but they do carry them year 'round.

Oh, and they had some fabulous sales on single skeins of this and that. Can you believe I scored a skein of Euroflax Linen at 1/3 of the usual price?  Yes, that was me dancing along those gorgeous pine floors. 

The staff were warm and welcoming but just let me wander around the store in peace.  Then, when I needed help, they were available, knowledgable, and pleasant-- a winning combination.  

They don't usually allow photos to be taken in-store, but she did say I could have one photo (too kind) so I opted to show you my spoils which I laid out in front of this gorgeous ceramic cabled vase holding branches of cotton (sadly it wasn't for sale).  

We are really spoiled here in New England with so many fabulous yarn shops within a few hours driving distance.  This is one shop you'll want to see the next time you are passing through New Hampshire.  

 But if you can't get there, they do have an on-line store as well which is really worth checking out!  And it's free standard shipping on orders of $50.00 or more plus they have a great "yarn test drive" policy.  

Gee, I'm talking myself into ordering more yarn on-line. LOL.  Better close this blog post and get busy with the yarn I bought!  Wonder what I'll play with first? 

 

In Search of Sweaters that both Fit and Flatter

On Sunday,  I drove to Portland, Maine to this yarn shop.

 

Where the lovely new owner, Susie, was hosting a class with the talented teacher, Amy Herzog.

left to right, Myself, Amy Herzog, Susie (store owner)

This was my first step on a new quest in search of sweaters that will both fit and flatter me.  Which is just what Amy aims to teach you in her now famous "Fit to Flatter" workshops. 

We covered a lot of ground in just a little over 3 hours and I learned so much about sweater knitting that my head is still spinning. 

I learned several things about myself that I did not previously know but here are just three facts that were the most surprising to me. 

1. I'm a "curvy proportional" body type  and therefore I must look for sweater patterns that are balanced in and of themselves to keep me balanced (because my body will most likely take on the shape of the sweater versus the sweater conforming to my shape). 

2. I have been knitting the wrong size for my measurements. All along. Like my whole entire life-as-a-knitter. 

3. Since I work with plant fibers, negative ease should be my new best friend. 

Amy has lots of great information on short-row shaping to accomodate a larger bust, or a large tummy, or a curved back etc. but, so far, I don't really need to worry about those modifications in my patterns. 

She also has great tips for those with one of the other two body shapes: Top Heavy or Bottom Heavy.   

If you can't get to one of Amy's classes then you should at least take some time to visit her on-line tutorial that covers most of the tips and tricks  I mentioned above. 

Her sweater designs are absolutely gorgeous too. We saw lots of them and I tried on the ones without wool fiber and others tried on the rest and you definitely want to take a look at these great patterns (which contain helpful tips for modifying them to fit you). 

Now that I've gained this important information about what will fit and flatter my own shape in a sweater, the next step will be fiber research.  

Yes, this is going to mean swatching and a LOT of it and not just to get gauge.  Look for a new fiber swatch feature here on the blog starting in 2012.  I'm actually kind of excited about it.   I just keep thinking about those future sweaters that will both fit and flatter me! 

Now, for one more parting look at  the KnitWit yarn shop. 

Such a beautiful store -- don't you love the giant mittens hanging from the ceiling?   She carries at lot of Quince Company yarns and other wools, but she did have a small, carefully chosen selection of wool-free yarns for me to pet.  I have one skein of Berroco Linsey to test swatch and I picked up some of the Berroco Weekend Chunky (it was 50% off) as a gift for my mom and I got another circular needle to add to my growing collection (you know, just to support Susie and all).  

Be sure to stop in if you are passing by and tell her hello from me!

All the Fun of the Fair

We stopped off in London for a few days on our way home from Paris.   And I managed to find this unique little yarn shop, All the Fun of the Fair.  

It's not your traditional yarn shop but they do have some interesting yarns and all sorts of whimsical accessories for crafting. 

 There were so many lovely things to look at and tiny samples of yarn as well as regular skeins.  There was some lovely crochet cotton from Paraguay (but I don't crochet yet) and there were little balls of recycled silk.   Cards, mugs, buttons,  ornaments.   Too cute, all of it. 

The yarn was arranged by color which always looks so pretty but is a bit challenging for us wool-free knitters.  However, the Record 210 Color  (a cotton aran weight multi-colored yarn) was in a cube all by itself and it was the yarn that called out my name.  I just picked up on 50 gm skein to "try" -- no idea what I'll knit with it as yet, but it was too unique to pass up. 

All the Fun of the Fair is located in Kingly Court off Carnaby street (a really lovely outdoor mall) in Soho.  Right down the row from the yarn shop is a great Tea shop where we went for some tea and scones with clotted cream.  Between the two shops I really did feel like I'd had all the fun of the fair!

The Purple Purl

 

Everytime I come to Toronto to visit family and friends I promise myself that I will somehow squeeze in a visit to the Purple Purl yarn shop.  However, up until this visit, I never managed to get there.   Such a colorful store!

  Since this is Amy Singer's LYS I was pretty sure they would have a decent selection of wool-free yarns in-stock and I was not disappointed.   There was Hempathy, Linen, Cotton, Silks....lots of options for wool-free knitters. And they were placed separate from the wools so it made it easy to go yarn petting for me.

  If you can handle other animal fibers there was llama and alpaca as well.  A very tempting array.  Oh, and some lovely knitting bags and organizers. 

There's lots of pattern books, needles and notions too. The staff are super friendly and welcoming as well.  Wish I lived closer so that I could take in some of their great classes.  

The store is beautifully laid out and there's a coffee counter with sweets which is an obvious invitation to sit and sip and knit awhile.  

I can rarely visit a yarn shop without buying something so the cafe is a great way to spend  just a few dollars in the store.  But this time I was rushed for time so I had to forgo the cafe goodies and  instead I bought another addi circular needle I needed and a small skein of bamboo/alpaca blend yarn for an upcoming project.  

If you happen to be in Toronto, The Purple Purl is located at 1162 Queen Street /Jones and you should definitely stop in for a coffee or maybe just a skein or two of their lovely wool-free yarns!

 

Pit Stop at Halcyon Yarns

I found out that I was going to be passing right by Halycon yarns on my way home from knitting camp, so of course I had to stop in.  

Located right off Highway #1 in Bath, Maine, this store is HUGE both in size and inventory.  So much to see, so much to buy, it's amazing.  They also have lots of interesting classes for those  lucky enough to be living in the area.  

If you are a weaver, spinner,  rug hooker, or yarn dyer, put this store on your "must visit" list.  They are definitely a yarn store too -- but they have all kinds of "extra" stuff to appeal to those who dabble in the above fiber arts.   And books, did I mention they have lots and lots and lots of  fiber related books? 

For knitters there are all kinds of yarn to choose from (dyed and undyed) although a large percentage of the stock is their own brand. For wool-free knitters, it's mostly their own yarn you'll find available to you. Interesting cotton and hemp blends and silks and bamboo.  Some really interesting colors and undyed yarns too. 

I was tempted to try several of their yarns but I have quite a stash of yarn at home at the moment and they do have mail order. 

So I stuck with buying the thing I went there for in the first place -- dye powders.  

I met a professional yarn dyer who was also there to buy dye powders and we got talking about my first dyeing experience and how hooked I was on the process and how I had to do more and he, in turn,  shared a few tips of his own with me. 

He told me which powder he chooses and why  and what methods he uses to dye his yarn and why I should try to do the same.   I'm pretty excited to give it a go later this month when I am visiting my sister.  

As I was standing at the check-out I spotted a pen/measuring tape that summed up my week at WLS perfectly, 

  

For tomorrow, we go home! 

 

 

Atelier Yarn store, San Francisco

 

 

Atelier (Ah-TELL-e-ay) is a French word for an artist or 
designer's studio or workshop.

The last yarn shop I visited in San Francisco was  Atelier Yarns in San Francisco's Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood.  Here I met Linda (the new manager) and Rebecca.  I had a super time chatting with these gals and wish I lived closer so I could stop in and see them more often. 

Although this was the smallest shop of the three I visited, there were still several choices of yarns for the wool- free knitter and a wide variety of yarns in general including some special labels you don't see too often like Dale of Norway yarns.  They have lots of nifty accessories  and a good selection of knitting magazines and patterns too. 

I bought some very pretty stitch markers , some cute gift-enclosure cards and a sweater pattern that were just too irrestible. But the best thing I got from Atelier Yarns was the warm welcome I got from the staff.  Thanks ladies for making me feel so much at home!

So, that rounds up my trip to San Francisco -- Today I'm heading off to Whitehead Lightstation in Maine for Knitting Camp with Shannon Okey.  I'm so excited. 

 

 

Imagiknit Yarn Store

 I went to another yarn store yesterday (actually two of them) here in San Francisco, but today let me tell you about ImagiKnit (don't you love the clever name?)

This is a GREAT store for the wool-free knitter because there are two rooms of equal size and one of the rooms (shown here) is just plant fibers and acrylics.   It was like having a whole yarn store just for me.  WOW!

view as you enter the wool-free side

The staff were super nice and helpful.  The strength of this store is their wide variety of yarns -- everything from Elspeth Lavold Hempathy and Louet Linen to Berroco Comfort and Arucania Cotton and don't forget the milk yarns and corn yarn and sugarcane etc.   And what a wide variety of colors to be seen in -store. Amazing.    I have a long list of yarns I know I want to buy "some day soon" but I did resist and just purchased some needles this trip.   I will probably be ordering some on-line after I get home but for now my case is full to overflowing. 

view of the front of the wool-free side

I didn't take photos of the woolly side of the store (sorry folks) but it has the cash- out counter in place of the comfy couch and wool in the cubbies -- I'm sure you can Imagknit!

Visiting ArtFibers in San Francisco

We are spending a few days in San Francisco this week and you know how I love to visit yarn stores when I travel.  

Yesterday, while my husband was working, I went to visit Artfibers Yarn store which was just a few blocks from our hotel. (Funny thing is that when I stayed at a Kimpton hotel in NYC, Habu textiles was just around the corner and I'm at a Kimpton hotel again and ArtFibers is is just down the street. Do you think this hotel chain chooses their locales based on proximity to fabulous yarn stores? I know I'll be thinking Kimpton again next trip just in case. )

The store is on the third floor (elevator building) of 266 Sutter street and this great banner helps you to spot them from way down the street. 

This is a VERY unique store.  Artfibers purchases fiber from all over the world which they spin and dye themselves so all the yarn carries their own label.  

 The yarns are all on cones and stored in wire pull-out drawers. Yarn is priced "by the yard" starting at about .06/yard and going up from there.  They will measure out the amount of yarn you need if you don't want to purchase a whole cone.

Above each set of  drawers is a label with the name of the yarn and a swatch or two so you can see and feel what the yarn looks like knit up. So many lovely swatches to pet. 

I thought that was wonderful enough, but then Amy (who was working there yesterday) explained to me that they want customers to feel free to knit up their own swatch as well.

So for every yarn (in every color) there's a "swatch cone" (just like those taste testers).  You just take the swatch cone of the yarn you want to swatch, pull up a chair at the table, grab the appropriate sized needles and knit away!! It's a yarntasting cafe!

Aboves is just a sample of some of the yarns I tested.  I happened to arrive during the time a local  knitting group , The West Portal Knitters, were sitting around swatching together so I had a lovely few hours of visiting with them while I played with gorgeous wool-free yarns. 

For the wool-free knitter they have silks (tussah and mulberry to name a few) cottons, linens, bamboo, and a wide variety of blends not to mention some acrylic yarns. It was really hard to choose just one yarn and one color to buy and if they don't have the color you want you can purchase many of the yarns undyed as well. 

They also offer a free service (if you are purchasing the yarn for it) to use their knitting software to create a custom sweater/shawl/shrug pattern of your own design.  I'll let you know if my creation pans out once I start knitting it, but you know I bought some yarn, right?  

If you are ever in San Francisco you must make time to stop in and visit this store and taste some of their luscious yarns for yourself -- just be sure you have several hours to linger and visit with other knitters. Once you sit down, it's a hard place to leave!

P.S.   Thanks, Amy, for being such a great hostess for my visit, and West Portal Knitters for making me feel right at home!

The Black Sheep Knitting Company

I had an errand to run in Needham, MA yesterday and just as I hit the center of town I spotted it -- a yarn store I didn't know was there.  It was the Black Sheep Knitting Company.  

This shop has apparently been in town for many years but was bought last year by a partnership of  five women who had met while knitting for charity.  I met  three of the partners while I was there and what lovely women they are.  

The shop is clean and organized with lots of lovely displays of yarn, handknits and accessories. They are getting known around town for holding many different classes and workshops.  I put myself on the mailing list because it's a  short drive from Boston and it sounds like they get some great workshop teachers. 

I was a little disappointed to discover that they don't currently carry a lot of wool free yarns but there were some silks and cottons and a good selection of Berroco acrylic yarns in varying weights.  I managed to snag some Berroco suede in the sale bin for $2.00/ball (sadly that yarn is being discontinued).  
They also carry a line of silk lace weight yarns that are dyed by one of their staff and the colors are very pretty. 

There's a unique art feature on display at the moment. Hanging from the ceiling is a paper hammock knit by a student (she machine stitched strips of her journal together to form the paper yarn).  The photo doesn't do it justice, it's amazing!

So, if you happen to be passing through Needham, MA this summer, be sure to stop into the Black Sheep Knitting Company and get to know this great little yarn shop for yourself. For that matter, make Black Sheep Knitting company your reason for visiting Needham, MA. 

Serendipity in New York City (or Habu Textiles)

I'm in New York City for two days meeting up with my blogging buddies from  HG's Openhouse Blog and we are staying at the Eventi hotel. 

My time here  is pretty booked with HomeGood's events, but I had an hour or so this afternoon on my own and thought I'd google yarn stores and see what might be within reasonable walking distance.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Habu Textiles was just around the corner (less than a 3 minute walk from my hotel).

I had JUST blogged about Chrysanthemum which was knit, in part, from Habu's stainless steel silk and here I was just steps away from their NYC store.  

This is NOT your regular yarn store.  First I had to find the right door (there are 3 different entrances for 135 W 29th St.).  Then I took the elevator up to the 8th floor  to suite 804 and walked into a room full of yarn (no people to start), just baskets and shelves full of yarn.

Beautiful yarn.

Yarn like I've never seen before.

Paper yarn and stainless steel yarn and silks like I didn't know existed.

 It was like walking into a knitter's fairyland. 

Eventually someone did come out, welcomed me, showed me where to ring the bell when I wanted help and disappeared behind the curtain again.  I was free to just be with all this yarn with no pressure to even make idle chit chat.  It was amazing.