22 July 2010
I just got in some beautiful alpaca yarn from Frog Tree Yarns. The Brushed Suri is just so soft that I can see a beautiful scarf or a light-weight sweater being knit from this.
I also brought in the Sport Melange which would be perfect for one of Penny Straker's sweaters. These colors are just so beautifully blended into soft color shades. Penny's patterns have been around since the 70's but they are so classic they haven't aged a bit.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
17 July 2010
Don't forget that the month of July is the Anniversary Sale month for the shop. Each week the sale items change. You can get up to 50% off of selected items!
We also have shop model garments for sale. This is a great chance to get the model that you have been looking at and wishing that you had the time to knit - at a great price!
Nex weekend is the Middleburg Humane Foundation's "Dog Day in The Plains". All of the shops are donating a percentage of their day's sales to MHF. We have raffle tickets for some great items and the tickets only cost $2 each or three for $5. The raffle items are posted at www.ThePlainsVirginia.com. There will be lots 'o pups looking for a good home. Maybe you have room for one?
I have been buying some great items for the Fall. There are some great yarns coming in over the next several months. The newest item that I am excited about is "Drift" from Rowan. A beautiful yarn in great colors and there is a super pattern book loaded with some fabulous sweaters.
And, for you sock knitters, several new sock yarns have been ordered and one is from Virginia. We ordered "Footprint" from Blue Ridge Yarns. It is just plain fun. The heel and toe have their own special color yarn, dyed to match the body of the sock. Now you can go crazy with color.
Don't forget that the month of July is the Anniversary Sale month for the shop. Each week the sale items change. You can get up to 50% off of selected items!
We also have shop model garments for sale. This is a great chance to get the model that you have been looking at and wishing that you had the time to knit - at a great price!
Nex weekend is the Middleburg Humane Foundation's "Dog Day in The Plains". All of the shops are donating a percentage of their day's sales to MHF. We have raffle tickets for some great items and the tickets only cost $2 each or three for $5. The raffle items are posted at www.ThePlainsVirginia.com. There will be lots 'o pups looking for a good home. Maybe you have room for one?
I have been buying some great items for the Fall. There are some great yarns coming in over the next several months. The newest item that I am excited about is "Drift" from Rowan. A beautiful yarn in great colors and there is a super pattern book loaded with some fabulous sweaters.
And, for you sock knitters, several new sock yarns have been ordered and one is from Virginia. We ordered "Footprint" from Blue Ridge Yarns. It is just plain fun. The heel and toe have their own special color yarn, dyed to match the body of the sock. Now you can go crazy with color.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
4 July 2010
Happy Fourth of July!
Just a note for the less fortunate furry folks out there. The Plains is going to have a Dog Day on July 24th from 11-3 pm. We invite you to join us in activites that will help us support Middleburg Humane Foundation's (MHF) efforts. MHF will be on hand with plenty of dogs that are available for adoption, so come and fall in love with one that needs a home. In addition, we'll have two book-signings from local authors: Kathryn Kadilak who wrote "Tommy Finds His Forever Home" and Leigh McMillan who wrote "It all Started With A Dog". It's sure to be hot that day so we'l have plenty of ice cream on hand to cool you off. Other activities are still in the planning stages so be sure to check www.theplainsvirginia.org of the proceeds from the sales at all of the stores in The Plains will be donated to MHF.
See you all for at least ice cream.
Happy Fourth of July!
Just a note for the less fortunate furry folks out there. The Plains is going to have a Dog Day on July 24th from 11-3 pm. We invite you to join us in activites that will help us support Middleburg Humane Foundation's (MHF) efforts. MHF will be on hand with plenty of dogs that are available for adoption, so come and fall in love with one that needs a home. In addition, we'll have two book-signings from local authors: Kathryn Kadilak who wrote "Tommy Finds His Forever Home" and Leigh McMillan who wrote "It all Started With A Dog". It's sure to be hot that day so we'l have plenty of ice cream on hand to cool you off. Other activities are still in the planning stages so be sure to check www.theplainsvirginia.org of the proceeds from the sales at all of the stores in The Plains will be donated to MHF.
See you all for at least ice cream.
Friday, July 2, 2010
2 July 2010
This is the follow-up to the problems of moths in your yarns.
If you put your knitted goods and yarns away in a sealed container, there will be no moth problem. If the container is not well sealed then there is always a chance that a moth can get in and lay eggs.
If you are not sure whether your container seals well enough, then your only choice is mothballs. Mothballs work because they create a heavier than air vapor that is poisonous to living things - including moth eggs. The container still needs to be closed for the mothballs to be effective.
If you don't like the thought of mothballs your only other choice is a freezer that is -50 degrees for at least 24 hours. Anything less than -50 degrees just over winters the eggs and they hatch - if there are eggs present. So your home freezer doesn't work! And then it is back to a sealed container.
The best way to avoid all of this hassle is to have your sweaters and yarns out in a well lighted room. If your yarn and sweaters are out and are being moved about then moths will never be a problem. Think of your yarn collection as visual display of color and texture that should be enjoyed just as you would a painting.
Remember, moths like warm, dark and undisturbed places. If your yarn is on display, moths will stay away.
This is the follow-up to the problems of moths in your yarns.
If you put your knitted goods and yarns away in a sealed container, there will be no moth problem. If the container is not well sealed then there is always a chance that a moth can get in and lay eggs.
If you are not sure whether your container seals well enough, then your only choice is mothballs. Mothballs work because they create a heavier than air vapor that is poisonous to living things - including moth eggs. The container still needs to be closed for the mothballs to be effective.
If you don't like the thought of mothballs your only other choice is a freezer that is -50 degrees for at least 24 hours. Anything less than -50 degrees just over winters the eggs and they hatch - if there are eggs present. So your home freezer doesn't work! And then it is back to a sealed container.
The best way to avoid all of this hassle is to have your sweaters and yarns out in a well lighted room. If your yarn and sweaters are out and are being moved about then moths will never be a problem. Think of your yarn collection as visual display of color and texture that should be enjoyed just as you would a painting.
Remember, moths like warm, dark and undisturbed places. If your yarn is on display, moths will stay away.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
27 June 2010
I'd like to talk about moths and dispel any myths of what will act as a repellent. I'm probably going to make some people mad and worry some others of you but the facts are facts. I talked with a conservator and got the following information.
The best repellent is clean. Never put wool away dirty. So that means that your winter sweaters are washed (not dry cleaned) before they are stored for the summer. No need to worry about the yarn you bought. It is clean.
All of the nice smelling repellents are just that - nice smelling and nothing more. They do not repel. Sorry! Neither do cedar-lined closets. The reason that the hope chest works so well is that it seals tightly - not the cedar.
Let's think about what clothing moths' larvae want outside of some dirty hair to eat. They like warm, dark and undisturbed places - think closet. If you have a window in your closet (like we do and my grandmothers had) you will probably never be bothered. Most modern homes don't have windows in the closet so now you have the warm and dark. If you put your winter sweaters out of the way in the closet, you now have the last piece - undisturbed.
Many yarns have a repellent built into the dye. The compound called Mitin FF is put into the bath of dye at the same time the yarn is being dyed. It binds to the wool just like the dye does and does not rub off. Follow the link if you want more information.
Products using Mitin FF are marked as such or state that they are "Mothproofed". This is not new. Mitin FF has been used for many years.
My next blog will have some solutions for the moth problem.
I'd like to talk about moths and dispel any myths of what will act as a repellent. I'm probably going to make some people mad and worry some others of you but the facts are facts. I talked with a conservator and got the following information.
The best repellent is clean. Never put wool away dirty. So that means that your winter sweaters are washed (not dry cleaned) before they are stored for the summer. No need to worry about the yarn you bought. It is clean.
All of the nice smelling repellents are just that - nice smelling and nothing more. They do not repel. Sorry! Neither do cedar-lined closets. The reason that the hope chest works so well is that it seals tightly - not the cedar.
Let's think about what clothing moths' larvae want outside of some dirty hair to eat. They like warm, dark and undisturbed places - think closet. If you have a window in your closet (like we do and my grandmothers had) you will probably never be bothered. Most modern homes don't have windows in the closet so now you have the warm and dark. If you put your winter sweaters out of the way in the closet, you now have the last piece - undisturbed.
Many yarns have a repellent built into the dye. The compound called Mitin FF is put into the bath of dye at the same time the yarn is being dyed. It binds to the wool just like the dye does and does not rub off. Follow the link if you want more information.
Products using Mitin FF are marked as such or state that they are "Mothproofed". This is not new. Mitin FF has been used for many years.
My next blog will have some solutions for the moth problem.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
16 June 2010
I know, I know. It has been awhile since my last blog.
I had a great time entertaining Phillipa Turnbull before and after her crewel workshop. Phillipa gave a great powerpoint presentation on the history of crewel. Boy, was I surprised. I now know much more about the progression of crewel through English history and why the designs are like they are. Fascinating!
I will post pictures of the workshop as soon as Lyn has a moment to transfer the photos to me. I forgot (and now can't find) my small camera.
Both Lyn and I are working on the Victorian Peony piece that Phillipa used as her teaching model. Stop by when you have a moment and see what we are doing. We both know, now, how to make perfect french knots!
I know, I know. It has been awhile since my last blog.
I had a great time entertaining Phillipa Turnbull before and after her crewel workshop. Phillipa gave a great powerpoint presentation on the history of crewel. Boy, was I surprised. I now know much more about the progression of crewel through English history and why the designs are like they are. Fascinating!
I will post pictures of the workshop as soon as Lyn has a moment to transfer the photos to me. I forgot (and now can't find) my small camera.
Both Lyn and I are working on the Victorian Peony piece that Phillipa used as her teaching model. Stop by when you have a moment and see what we are doing. We both know, now, how to make perfect french knots!
Friday, June 4, 2010
4 June 2010
If you knit with a single-ply (also known as "singles") yarn, your work can easily become biased. By that I mean your knitted piece will either lean to the left \ or the right / depending on the twist or, which side you're looking at. It will might not be square.
This isn't usually a problem unless your yarn is tightly spun. Tightly spun singles tend to bias more than ones that are loosely spun. The problem with loosely spun yarns is that they tend to be more prone to pilling and loose shape easily. But, the singles yarns feel lusciously soft. Some of the nicest yarns being milled these days are single ply.
All of these problems can be easily overcome with your stitches. Using a stitch pattern that uses both knits a purls will usually solve the biasing problem. As far as the pilling and loosing shape, just drop down a needle size. Knitting the fabric just a touch tighter will give the yarn less room to move around and yield nicer shaping and reduce the pilling to almost nothing.
Simple solutions to vexing problems.
If you knit with a single-ply (also known as "singles") yarn, your work can easily become biased. By that I mean your knitted piece will either lean to the left \ or the right / depending on the twist or, which side you're looking at. It will might not be square.
This isn't usually a problem unless your yarn is tightly spun. Tightly spun singles tend to bias more than ones that are loosely spun. The problem with loosely spun yarns is that they tend to be more prone to pilling and loose shape easily. But, the singles yarns feel lusciously soft. Some of the nicest yarns being milled these days are single ply.
All of these problems can be easily overcome with your stitches. Using a stitch pattern that uses both knits a purls will usually solve the biasing problem. As far as the pilling and loosing shape, just drop down a needle size. Knitting the fabric just a touch tighter will give the yarn less room to move around and yield nicer shaping and reduce the pilling to almost nothing.
Simple solutions to vexing problems.
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