19 December 2015

HOLIDAY HOURS

Christmas Eve - open until 3 pm

Christmas Day CLOSED

AND

New Years Eve - open until 3 pm

New Years Day - CLOSED

We will be having a Sit and Knit at the shop on the Saturday and Sunday after Christmas and New Year during normal shop hours. Come sit down in the calm of the shop and knit with us. You can tell stories about your holiday experiences too!

19 December 2015

I've done all of the decreases and increases for the Blank Slate. It has taken only two and a quarter balls of yarn to get this far. I'm now knitting the sleeves to be joined onto the body.

As a reminder, this will be a raglan with saddle shoulders.

The knitting has been a breeze but with other projects popping up this becomes a start/stop project. The markers keep me honest with where I am in the project and help me remember (that's the most important part - remembering.)

19 December 2015

If you have a couple of hours you can knit a quick child's hat for Christmas or just for fun. These are really quick knit on a US 9 needle.

We have Santas, elves, kittens, dogs and stars.

19 December 2015

Want a great idea, how about a reflective head band using Lumio. Don't want to knit with a bulky yarn - we've gotten in the reflective thread from Kreinik that you can add to any yarn you're knitting with! Pick a yarn and make it reflective.

Keep a warm set of tootsies when you have a cast on.

Don't want to knit a hat. Knit a headband. Make you visible a night just as well as a hat.

6 December 2015

The shop just got in more Knitter's Pride needles for the holiday season. I've been using the Marblez and I really like them. I think they remind me of the Susan Bates nylon needles of the 1950's. They're flexible in my hands and that makes them feel nice (quite obviously my opinion.)

For new knitter or if you want to try the the acrylic needles we've gotten in Trendz needles that are the clear version of the Marblez. They have the same flexibility and come in larger sizes. These needles are very reasonably priced for interchangeable needles.

If you would like wood interchangeable needles we received Knitter's Pride Symfonie Rose needles that are laminated birch stained Rosewood.

I haven't had a moment to try these but the hand on them is wonderful. They do not flex like the acrylic needles but they sure do feel nice in your hands.

Both of these needle sets are screw down. I've never had them come unscrewed on me but I use a small piece of bottle opener rubber to hold the needle as I tighten down using the 'key'.

You can stop by and try my needles, see if you can get them to come loose if you wish. I've been using screw down needles since the 1960's when I bought a NeedleMaster set from Boye without a problem.

Hope to see you soon!

4 December 2015

Well, it was a struggle but I finally got the new class schedule posted on the website. Seems that the server was changed and I had the information for the old server! Couldn't figure out why I couldn't see the new posting. . . . . . . Very big sigh!!!

You should be seeing the new newsletter in your mail boxes soon. They were mailed out on Wednesday. If you don't see a mailer by the end of next week, please let me know so that I can check to see if I have the correct address on file.

Lyn is wearing her Stephen West's 'The Doodler', shawl from the MKAL. She will be leaving the shawl in the shop for awhile. Stop by and see the finished product in person.

3 December 2015

Here's the progress that I've made on knitting Ysolda Teagues's Blank Canvas sweater. I've about half way through my second ball of yarn and I've knit a bit more than a third of the sweater body. The shaping for the waist are the marker pins you see. In a couple more rows I will be starting to do increases for the bust line.

It is a simple knit with what will be real shaping to fit correctly.

I am going to be getting actual yarn samples of Baa Ram Ewe's Dovestone colors. Yes, real samples of the yarn color. I will post when the samples arrive. This yarn is wonderful to knit with and has a beautiful 'hand'. I'm really enjoying knitting it on the Marblez needles too.

Mailers went out yesterday. Look in your mail box for the bright green trifold.

2 December 2015

The Winter/Spring mailer is going out to the post office today (or so I've been told). See if you can find my cut and paste blunder (I don't know how I make these mistakes, honestly).

I've started knitting the KAL sweater Blank Canvas by Ysolda Teague. The Baa Ram Ewe yarn that I am using is Dovestone and the color is Aire.

This sweater actually has shaping. The sweater has not been tucked up under the model's arm nor is it pinned heavily in the back. It's really shaped as you knit.

I have been told by the supplier that I will be receiving actual color samples - no more color pictures of the yarns.

Tomorrow I will take a photo of the progress of my knitting.

29 November 2015

Hope you all had a pleasant Thanksgiving.

It's done! (Well, it still needs blocking.)

On to the next project.

27 November 2015

Here's hoping that you all have had a pleasant Thanksgiving.

Lyn has finished Clue #3 of Setphen West's MKAL. Here's the photo:

Clue #4 arrived early this morning and Lyn has started working on the clue. There are several finishing variations for Clue #4. All of them depend on how much yarn you have left of color 'B'. Lyn is working the clue for 'there's more than enough left of color B'.

Don't forget –

SIT AND KNIT

NOVEMBER 28 & 29

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

It probably should be SIT AND KNIT AND DIGEST. No matter, we're planning on having fun. Come join us and enjoy the conversation and the knitting, of course.

20 November 2015

Almost turkey day!

Here's Lyn's finished Clue #2 from Stephen West's MKAL.

Clue #3 has been started. 300 stitches have been picked up for the next clue's work!

SIT & KNIT

Don't forget, we will be sitting and knitting Friday and Saturday 28 and 29 November. Stitch off those pieces of pie and second helpings.

18 November 2015

Here's what clue number two looks like partially knitted. That's all there is to clue two. Stay tuned to the next exciting clue!

Cables knitted in garter stitch!

14 November 2015

Here's a picture of the completed clue #1 of Stephen West's, MKAL The Doodler.

Lyn has started on clue #2 and will have enough done by tomorrow to show how it is incorporated into the design.

It will be interesting to see how clue #3 works into the whole. The edge of clue #2 is I-Cord so that essentially is a finished edge. Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

13 November 2015

Stephen West's MKAL clue number two is here! Lyn is knitting as quickly as she can to finish 'wedge' 17 so that she can start on the second part.

Stay tuned for the photo tomorrow.

If you're working on this MKAL, stop by the shop and show us what you've done - we'd love to see!

7 November 2015

Lyn has started on Stephen West's MKAL, the Doodler. Here's the start of the first part of the mystery.

Sort of looks like a butterfly wing.  This will be interesting to see where it ends up. We will post developments as they progress.

1 November 2015

It's all set! Lyn has picked out her yarn and colors and is ready to start the MKAL by Stephen West. Because of the differing colors folks are choosing it should be interesting to see what happens.

The first clue is on Friday November 5. I can't wait. Lyn will start knitting the MKAL on Friday. We will document the progress starting on Friday.

If you want to do Stephen's MKAL you can find it on Ravelry.

See you MKAL'ers on Friday!

30 October 2015

Stephen West is doing it again and Lyn is going to participate. Stephen is starting a mystery KAL. You can find it on Ravelry:

The Doodler: Westknits Mystery Shawl KAL 2015 

 If you've never done a KAL, especially a mystery KAL, you're probably wondering how you're going to buy enough yarn and select colors. Welllllll, if you go to the Ravelry link then you will be connected and Stephen will tell you the amount of yarn and makes color selection combinations to help you 'see' what might work.

Remember this is a mystery.

Stop by if you want to give it a go, we'll help!

22 October 2015

 22 October 2015

The P J Party introduced a new line of yarns to Hunt Country Yarns – Mrs. Crosby. These yarns range from 4.5 – 7 sts/inch. These yarns come in a large range of kettle dyed  and variegated colors and we have color samples. We have knitted samples of the yarns for you to touch.

Mrs. Crosby definitely likes to play.

Click on photo to expand.

14 October 2015

For all of you Jane Austen fans, the new Jane Austen Knits has just arrived!

11 October 2015

The 13th annual PJ Party is almost upon us. This Friday through Sunday we will be at the Clarion Hotel in Shepherdstown for an exclusive trunk show and a surprise guest speaker.

There will be lots of See's candy and Wilbur's buds everyone should have a good time knitting and having lots of chocolate to make the day perfect.

I'll post pictures next week.

See you there!

4 October 2105

Phone lines to the shop have been fixed and your calls will no longer go to voicemail.

Thanks for your patience.

540 253-9990 is working!

3 October 2015

Our main phone line into the store has been taken out by all of the water.

You can call our other line 540 253-9930 until further notice.

Sorry, we're not ignoring you, this is a phone company problem that I can't fix until they show up tomorrow, Sunday Oct 4.

Bob

2 October 2015

The new colors of Tahki Poppy yarn are here! This yarn was a great hit last year. One ball knits a hat with yarn flowers placed randomly around the head. This is a quick knit and can be done in just a couple of hours. Don't worry, the flowers move and the free instructions help you place the flowers.

And yes, we have adult colors too!

There are free patterns for a scarf and a cowl too.

30 September 2015

Let's think soft and cuddly with a tiny bit of bling. Okay, let's think Firefly buy Lana Grossa.

This beautiful alpaca blend yarn knits quickly at 3.5 sts/inch. We're knitting a cape with a cowl but sweaters, hats and scarves are not out of the question. The colors are classic and they have the most beautiful deep wine color that you've ever seen.

The image just doesn't do this color justice. You have to see it to believe it.

We're knitting this yarn into this cape as I type. Just ask to see our progress. This is a very easy to knit pattern.

27 September 2015

The newest trend in sock yarn colors: Arne & Carlos.

The Regia 4-ply Design Line by Arne & Carlos entices with traditional Norwegian effect in six extraordinary color combinations. The six newest colors are in stock. Here's a sample.

Great fair isle patterning without all of the work!

25 September 2015

I know, the days are getting shorter and the nights a bit crisper. Hooray! Time to knit!

Fall yarns have been coming in quickly so that you can be prepared for the cold to come or to get a head start on gifts.

A luscious alpaca has arrived. There is 400 yards to a skein and it can be knit anywhere from 5 to 6.5 sts/inch. You have to touch this yarn to believe how soft Superfine 400 is.

We have a beautiful model of Sublime, Extra Fine Merino Worsted. This machine washable extra fine merino knits up beautifully and has a wonderful feel, so soft. The pattern book contains classic sweaters that are timeless.

Tomorrow, Arne & Carlos (you do know who they are, don't you?)

24 September 2015

Here's a great vest pattern and it can be done with long sleeves if desired. The integrated pockets are a nice addition to the styling. This will be a stylish wardrobe basic for years to come.

The Wash 'N Wear yarn is super soft and is machine washable and dryable; however, we always advise 'flat to dry'.

23 September 2015

The fall yarns have started to arrive! One of the newest is Kasha. It takes one ball to knit a lap blanket and two to make a throw. This is machine washable and makes a quick gift with one skein of 655 yards and knit on a 10.5 needle! Pattern is on the label.

Quick knit gift! We have four colors in stock.

18 September 2015

Remember

PORCH PARTY

TOMORROW

SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

ALL DAY

We will serve iced tea with

sweets and savories.

 

6 September 2015

We have our ducks in a row. How about you?

These little duckies are tape measures. You really need a duckie.

4 September 2015

The Porch Party is fast approaching. Mark your calendars for Sept 19! It's going to be fun!

The good news is that the Front Porch has finally opened. They serve breakfast all day and open at 10 am. They're still working out the kinks but the food is great (so say the reviewer/knitters).

New yarns are arriving. We just received Trendsetter's Firefly yarn. This is a soft alpaca/wool blended chained yarn that is very soft and has just a bit of sparkle. We're going to be knitting a Cape and Loop from Lana Grossa's newest Look Book for fall/winter.

For those of who loved working with Lana Grossa's Lace Lux, it's back. There are great patterns on Ravelry but what comes to mind is the Vitamin D sweater. It would be gorgeous in this yarn.

We've got a great idea of what can be knitted with Kauni Effekt yarn. If you want a sweater with vertical stripes this sweater/pattern could be for you. When you stop by, just ask us.

30 August 2015

It's all about Value. No not how much something costs but but value when discussing color.

When you choose colors you need to remember that there is a value attached to the color. When this is forgotten and the colors chosen are just for their color you can end up with a 'muddy' look that you didn't intend.

Here are some colors:

Maybe not your cup of tea but the colors could be used together and would be pleasant except for one thing. They don't vary much in value:

Knitted together these colors would lack 'value' (think contrast) and look muddy.

Now try these colors:

The last color is a dark blue. Again, maybe not your cup of tea but these colors would work together when knitted because there is a value difference.

Because nearly everyone walks around with a camera these days (your phone), seeing value is a snap. Just take a picture of your intended color combination and change the color photo to black and white. Voilà, you have an instant value meter. Your decisions become much easier!

22 Aug 2015

Oh, boy – food!

We got to sample some of the cooking that will be done at The Front Porch.

Stuffed chicken breast on a wild rice/brown rice mixture with a lime aioli and a caesar salad made with a roasted romaine and a piece of toasted bread that was wonderfully crunchy.

It was all delicious!

We're hoping they will be open for the Porch Party, September 19.

19 August 2015

Oh boy,  oh boy!

The sign on the front of Front Porch is "Now Hiring"! They are shooting for the 24th of August – fingers crossed!

We've all had the Pasini's Thai food from the Sunoco station on the corner and have all proclaimed "It's really good!" The food is for take-out only but it is worth getting it and coming back to the shop to sup.

I've had to postpone work on the Ikat Shawl for the moment. I'm trying to fix a customer's problems with four sweaters. I can only do my best, but the modifications are taxing the knitting. We'll see what miracles can be worked.

See you on the 19 of September for the porch party!

16 August 2015

The mailers have gone out. If you didn't get one then stare at the "post person" until the confession comes forth as to what happened to the mailer.

Good news! The Front Porch restaurant has everything in place to open and is training wait staff this coming week. I am sure that they will be announcing a formal opening date. I will let you know when it is open for business. They are planning to be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

If you didn't get a mailer here's a date to mark on your calendar:

FALL

PORCH PARTY

SEPTEMBER 19

ALL DAY DURING STORE HOURS

I'm still knitting on the mystery piece. It has to be knit tightly and after my shoulder work I can't knit too much at one time. You will see a finished piece and its purpose soon.

13 August 2015

Between a beach vacation with the grandkids and an unexpected trip to California I've not been around much. It seems to be calmer now so I can get on with my more complicated knitting.

I'm still knitting the Vogue Ikat Shawl designed by Prism Arts. It really is fun to knit and the Valhalla is wonderful to knit with.

Here's my latest project:

and it's not a sock or slipper. Any guesses?

I'm knitting with two strands of Swedish Yarn Imports, Raggi yarn.

23 July 2015

The

ANNIVERSARY SALE

will be

ENDING

on
July 31

Don't miss your chance to stock-up on great deals. Winter is coming and knitting needs to be done.

I need a small project to work on that doesn't require much thinking. I have to replace the fuzzy inserts in Valerie's Crocs. Did you know that you can't buy new fuzzy liners from Crocs?

Using a washable wool/acrylic blend I will be knitting her new inserts. These look like fun.
 

Mine will be a bit more brightly colored than these. The Crocs that she has are a dark purple so the inserts need to brighten up the winter.

I will post pictures of my finished project.

22 July 2015

Now that the Dotted Rays shawl is finished I'm back to a project that has been resting.

Ikat is an interesting dyeing technique that lends itself to knitting and weaving. For this Reversible Wrap the designed by Laura Bryant the challenge is the start. If you don't get the cast-on correct the design takes several rows to work into the color changing pattern that meshes with the stitching pattern.

It's fun to knit with Prism's Valhalla yarn. This is a 100% fine merino wool that is sooo soft. It is hard to put down and I've been itching (not because of the yarn mind you) to get back to the project.

Here's a close-up of the pattern.

16 July 2015

What a beautiful day. Nice enough to sit outside.

IT'S DONE!

Well, except for washing and blocking but I couldn't wait to show it off.

Don't forget, the ANNIVERSARY SALE continues with new items this week.

10 July 2015

I got carried away yesterday. Several customers (Melinda, Liz and Laura) stopped by to knit and we had a great time just knitting and talking.

They're having a ticker-tape parade for the women's soccer team today. Their success in winning the World Cup is wonderful. That's great that women are finally getting the honor that they deserve.

With the strange way that my mind works, I wondered how they were going to have a ticker-tape parade because there is no more ticker-tape?

The sad comment is if you know what ticker-tape is you are showing your age.

I am presently knitting the fourteenth color on the Dotted Rays shawl. I will take a picture as soon as I start color fifteen. It's almost done!

Don't forget that this is week two of our

ANNIVERSARY SALE

8 July 2015

We had a great Sit and Knit on July 5. Lots of knitters and lots of conversation. It was nice to see all that came. A good time was had by all.

Don't forget that all of this month is our

Annual Anniversary Sale

Items change every week so be sure to stop by to see what is now on sale.

Good news, the Sunoco gas station is now serving Thai food, and it's good. They start serving at 10:30 AM Monday through Saturday. For the time being it is take-out only. We have a menu at the shop for your perusal.

3 July 2015

We will be closed tomorrow July 4.

We will be here for

SIT AND KNIT

Sunday

July 5

The makers of Kauni yarns have been generous and sent us the three most popular models that we had at Maryland Sheep and Wool. For your viewing pleasure there is:

Brady Scarf
Picot Dot Shawl
and
Dinsmore Cardigan

Stop by the shop and take a look.

2 July 2015

Still knitting Dotted Rays but I'm on band thirteen. I've started to repeat my color sequence but it looks completely different. I've folded over the shawl so I could show you how I solved the color change problem without having the 'small' end be solid turquoise.

And so I knit on........

Don't  for get the

SIT AND KNIT

JULY 5

DON'T FORGET WE'LL BE CLOSED JULY 4

1 July 2015


Lest I forget:

FOR THE MONTH OF

JULY

HUNT COUNTRY YARNS

ANNUAL

ANNIVERSARY SALE!

Each week the sale items change. Don't miss your opportunity to find your favorite yarn on sale.

1 July 2015

We will be

CLOSED JULY 4

But OPEN July 5 for

SIT AND KNIT

If it is a nice day we will be on the porch!

Relax after the holiday.

Susan just finished a baby blanket made from Schachenmayr Journey. It is a soft cotton blend machine washable and dryable. It knits quickly on a US 10 (6 mm). The nice stitch pattern allows for no wrong side so the blanket is reversible.

26 June 2015

So you though that you've had bad hair days – they were nothing compared to this bunny's day. If that rabbit sneezes it could be all over.

Let's hear it for angora!

25 June 2015

Here's a thought from Jo Anne:

Taken from Knitting Paradise

24 June 2015

I've been quiet for a while because it is hard to knit with just one hand. As always there are ways and I've found them so I'm back at the shop full time.

I've heard several complaints that the posting on my Facebook with the picture of my grandson wearing the sweater that I knitted for him is hard to see. I wasn't the photographer and I haven't been able to corner him to take another picture so I had to manipulate the photo and this is the best that I can do.

Here's a picture of the "torsade"

I guess this is what caught my eye. The purl stitches over the cable was interesting. Little did I know that I needed Valerie's help translating the french knitting terms. The cable wasn't bad because it was charted and charts don't usually need much explanation. It was the raglan saddle-shoulder part that required much translating.

As in most European patterns you are pretty much left to your expertise to make the sweater work.

I'm still working on Dotted Rays. I've started the twelfth color and tomorrow I will photograph the new color addition. After this color I will have to choose which colors to repeat.

14 June 2015

Okay, this is the eleventh color. It may be hard to tell but it is a red that is brown. It looks better in person. Now there are only four more bands of color to do but after color twelve I will have to repeat some colors unless I decided to use a medium gray that I ordered. The gray was a possible candidate as a dividing color but I decided to use the aqua instead – more contrast and I like the color.

I will post color twelve when I start it. The bands are getting longer and that means longer to knit. I'm knitting as fast as time allows.

13 June 2015

I'll take a picture of color eleven tomorrow. I just didn't have enough time to day to knit enough the Dotted Rays scarf to be able to show what color eleven looks like. More knitting tomorrow.

I've sworn off of knitting shop projects at home. I knit MY projects while at home. Because I've finished grandson's sweater I'm back to knitting my bete noir. A Kaffe Fassett kit that I purchased years ago. It is for Valerie and it is the colorway that she chose. This pattern is called Foolish Virgins and is named after a fairy tale.

This isn't my knitting, it is an image of what the sweater will look like when I finish it. I started knitting it several years ago and when I looked at what I had done I decided that it needed to be raveled and started again. That isn't the problem. Reusing the six foot lenghts of yarn has been the challenge.

Any row can have up to 22 different colors that have to be controlled. I must say that I'm whipping the yarn into shape and this go-around looks better than the first time but this is a project that requires concentration to follow the color chart. I manage a couple of row a night.

The answer to your question is, "Yes I'm crazy."

12 June 2015

Boy, is it hot outside! I guess we're almost to insufferable summer weather.

We're still knitting away. Here's the progress on the Brady Scarf.

You can see that the yellows are starting and will be working into the greens. It is fun and interesting to knit.

I'm starting on color eleven on the Dotted Rays shawl. I will post a picture tomorrow.

11 June 2015

Jo Anne discovered that there is an answer:

6 June 2015

Not too many more days that the porch will be useful for knitting. Today has been beautiful. I'm now knitting the ninth color. The rows are getting loooooonnnnger so the progress seems slower.

I'm trying not to think about how long a row is, I'm just enjoying knitting every row. The pattern includes stitch counts to make sure that you are on track. I've figured out how to confirm my stitch count without counting every stitch - YES!

Here's the progress so far.

5 June 2015

It's done! Well, at least 99 44/100ths done. I have to wash and block the sweater and then wrap it for gift giving.

Lyn was nice enough to model the sweater.

4 June 2015

I am sooooo close. I've finished in and glued all of the ends and I finished off the neck for a crew neck. Now that I've turned the larger stitches to the inside all I have to do is to sew down the neck edge to the inside of the sweater. Woho!

Tonight I plan on finishing the sewing and gluing in the last end.

3 June 2015

I can't believe it's June and the temperature outside is 58 - I'm not complaining. We're sitting here knitting with the door open, no bugs and it is just beautiful.

I've finished picking up the neck of the grandson's sweater. I've managed to have the sweater's ribbing and cables work into the crew neck. I had to really go down on my needle size to close up the neckline (3.75 mm). I've knit the 6 cm with the smaller needles and now I think I just need to knit one more row while using the 5 mm needles to finishing the final 6 cm. I'll turn down, to the inside, the additional knitting on larger needles and sew it down to give the sweater a proper crew neckline.

It just doesn't seem possible to bind-off the edge of a crew neck and make it look neat.

While the sweater is here at the shop today, it's the big glue down. As I knit the shawl I'm slowly working my way around the sweater and finishing in the ends and securing them with Stop Fraying.

The Dotted Rays shawl is coming along. I'm on color number six with only six more colors to go. My workaround for the one edge is working perfectly.

31 May 2015

June here we come.

I've conquered the color change problem! Now the left-hand edge is not all contrast color. All it takes is knitting two rows without any increases after the numbered rows. Oh so simple.

The crew collar on my grandson's sweater has now been picked up. It was somewhat of a challenge to get the ribbing of the body of the sweater to work into the collar. One of the additional difficulties was the number of stitches used to continue the ribbing. The simple solution was to really reduce the needle size and tighten up the stitches.

So far I've knitted about half an inch and it looks good. Time will tell if it really does work. I still have time to ravel and try another approach if it doesn't look good.