Firefly, Easy-Peasy & In Betweenies

Well yes, folks, you're stuck with me this time because Koryn has a couple of well-deserved days off! I'll try to live up to her standards of fine blogging!!! But it won't be easy.
Let us start with a couple of finished projects. Drumroll please.

Here's the Easy Peasy Baby Jacket from Churchmouse Wee Ones leaflets.

Ridiculously Easy. And Peasy as well.

Every one of the patterns in this collection is easy and unbelievably cute. Plus most have multiple sizes as well as gauges.

Real nice photos by the famous Jared Flood

This one has a buttonhole option or the ties like you see on my version. I made it out of our new Super Soft Cotton from Jarbo Yarns, which really is super soft!
Let me take a moment here to reiterate one of our big tenets of business: if we like the people at the supplier, we buy from them! If they're jerks, we don't! Sounds simple but sometimes there's a lot of pressure to bring in a product that we know doesn't meet that requirement! We're super-happy to report that the family-owned business sending us Jarbo, Marks & Kattens, and other Scandanavian-based yarns is just the very nicest around! They're called Swedish Yarn Imports, and we love them. Wait until you see some of their new fall yarns, including a cashmere-alpaca blend that is like buttah I'm tellin' ya, like buttah!
Okay well now time to reveal the next completed project, made of Firefly from Classic Elite, which is a drapey, shiny dream-to-knit of rayon & linen.

Yech who's that dippy looking model?

Some of the many colors they offer are already gone for the season, but we're adding some other new colors, coming soon.
This pattern comes from the all-Firefly booklet called "Meadow."

And note the buttons, aren't they just perfect? They just leapt onto that sweater, from our favorite ceramic button artist, Donna at Buttoned-Up in Stockton.

Also notice the new Noro cowl from Koryn, using a new Ann Norling pattern

Aw geez could we get some focus here please?

I have some of Donna's larger buttons stationed strategically all over my house, for color inspiration! Really! They're everywhere! Thanks, Donna, keep up the great artistry!
And finally, in our never-ending attempt to carry every needle known to man (we can't, really, but you have to admit we have a monstrous selection!) we want to remind you that we now have a funny in-between Addi Turbo, a 20" circular. Shown here as the biggest one, with the 16" and the 12" for comparison.

One reason we added this length is that we noticed many patterns for the hot-hot-hot slouchy beanies call for this length. And it's great for some of the cowls we're all making, too. Anyway, just some info for you to file away, in case you find yourself in that knitting hinterland where your stitches are either too crowded or too stretched out on the needles you have. You do not have to live that way anymore. There is enlightenment here at Monarch.
Well that's it for me, but don't forget to mark your calendar for the next Big Sur Betty Camping Retreat, the last weekend of September (which spills into October). Betty's Camp You will love it!

Knitting in the Great Outdoors

Hey everybody. I'm back from the great outdoors at Big Sur Betty's, and camp was another great success! The weather was just gorgeous out there! There was alot of lounging in the sun...and knitting. In fact, I enjoyed the sunbathing and knitting so much I got a sunburn on the tops of my hands! It was another small group, but still lots of fun and very relaxing. Thats the main goal of being out at betty's, lots of relaxing and knitting! What a beautiful, peaceful place! Even the pooches were into relaxing in the sunshine :)

Vic soakin it up!

Dale with his "can you pleeaassee throw the stick" look

Of course, there was no shortage of food! Betty cooked us chicken 'n potatoes, there was also burgers and sausages... yum! In the morning there's fresh coffee, fruit, and a number of yummy breads, and muffins waiting for you when you wake up. Betty likes to make sure everyone is a happy camper when you come to visit. We got a nice tour of Betty's garden the first day. She grows just about everything! There were many different types of fruit trees, apple, peach, pear, and avocado. Nice! We also took a short hike to her large pond. There's a rope swing and a small boat for anyone who wants to cool off on a hot day. There are also a number of koi living in the pond that I didn't notice before! Big yellow iris flowers are blooming all around. I just can't say enough how beautiful and peaceful Betty's place is. You all just hafto come see. Its just perfect for a short getaway. We had such a great time. Thanks again Betty! :)

Here are some more pics....

Happy campers!!

There's a mesh tent too if bugs are a bother

knitting in the sun

Betty and little Jasper :)

 While on my little camping adventure at Betty's I made this really cute hat called "Seedling" its another Never Not Knitting pattern. The yarn is Madelinetosh Merino DK. 1 ball makes the hat. The Madelinetosh Tosh DK or Manos Silk Blend would also work nice. Here it is in progress at camp....

looks like fallen autumn leaves

Here it is all done! Soooo perrtyy...I love it!

When I came back from camping, I was happy to see some exciting new things have come in! The new Kim Hargreaves "Whisper" is now available!! If you don't already know by now...she is one of my absolute fav designers!! I just love her classic vintage fashion-forward style! Here are a few designs featured in her new book....

There is also a new issue of Spool Magazine full of fun little projects including knitting, sewing, needlepoint, and more!

Here are some new patterns by Tiny Owl Knits. If you are not familiar, Tiny Owl Knits is very popular on Ravelry. Her patterns are so different...very whimsical! They look like they came right out of a fairytale. Here are a few of them, we have more to look at here in the shop....

Joan made one of her "Fairy Castles". Its so cute!! They are actually double point or darning needle cases! Very clever.

sorry about the dark pic :P

Here it is all done.....

 Cute little felted things!! Another good thing to do with your wool scraps.
Thats about all I have for now, but keep checking in for more fun or better yet, come on over and check it out! There's always something new popping up around here.

We got yarnbombed! Plus new stuff

We've become the victim of International Yarn Bombing Day! Our tree out front has a little cowl on it now:

A Limb Warmer

We have a suspect in mind as to who bombed us Susan, but we have yet to make an arrest. However the authorities have been informed. Yes, the Yarn Police, Susan.
Actually it feels so special to have been bombed. Finally.
As many of you know I'm just back from a leetle vay-cay-shun, to Peru where the fiber arts are alive and well if you can get past all the acrylic souvenir crap to find the real stuff. My big purchase is a poncho woven from baby alpaca, from a farm/weaving/educational place called Awana Kancha. Now I want to try my hand at the pick-up weaving they do, so I had to quickly finish off my groovy shoe laces on the inkle loom:

Handmade shoelaces are oh so special

And then there's this: our friend Jean G. brought in a cashmere hat which she wants to make for her friend, in black. I brought some of our softest cashmere home to the Monarch Dyeing Studios (ha ha, that would be the kitchen) and got it as black as it gets in my world, which is more like a charcoal. With some of the space-dyed yarn of the same ilk I made a cabled hat and it's now available to you if you wish:

Cashmere cable hat

The yarn is superb, very high quality, and we have several colorways.

Monarch Hand-dyed Cashmere

As always the pattern is free with the purchase of the yarn!
Finally for today: Super Soft Cotton from Scandanavia - fantastic!

It really is Super Soft (from JarboYarns)

You have to feel this yarn to appreciate its softness. And it's a worsted weight! So I'll have the "Easy Peasy Baby Jacket" from Churchmouse Yarns & Teas done in a jiffy. There's "Soft": and "Super Soft" but both are really great. Check 'em out in the baby section.

Vibrant Colors in Soft Yarn from Jarbo

Koryn is off at Big Sur Betty's Knitting Camp this weekend! Hope she's having fun & staying warm! I'm sure we'll hear all about it! Stay tuned!