Happy Camping

Hiya everyone! Now that the weather is starting to get better, it’s time for another Big Sur Betty Camp!! May 4th - 6th Betty will be hosting another “creative retreat” on her breath-takingly beautiful property! What a inspiring place to be!! If you feel like you need to just get out of town for a weekend and do nothing but relax in the sunshine and knit, crochet, or spin this is exactly the place to do so! I have been to 2 of Betty’s retreats it is quite relaxing and very fun! While you are there you can just be lazy and relax in the sun or, go for a stroll in the woods and enjoy the beauty nature! There is also a large private pond where you can cool off form the heat, if you so choose. It even has a rope swing! In the eveings it’s so peaceful and serene, you can’t hear a sound! You can see every star in the sky!! I highly reccomend this retreat! Give us a call for more details. Here are a few pics from past retreats...

Entrance to Betty's

Rope swing!!

Camp

Betty's backyard view! 

You deserve a relaxing weekend away from it all.....mark the date and come camp with us! Just think, one weekend of uninterrupted knitting or crocheting!! Yes please! :)

I wonder how everyone is doing with their Kinetik KAL?! Well all the clues have been revealed, and our mystery turned out to be a gorgeous beaded shawlette! I must admit, I am behind....too many projects! It’s not a knit where you can visit with a friend or watch TV. It takes most of your attention, but worth it in the end. Diane finished hers check out how stunning it is.....

Wow! That has inspired me to finish mine! Even with all those beads, it’s not that heavy either. I’m working really hard to finish this one up. I’ll post it once I’m done. Joan is very close to finishing hers as well. Can’t wait to see others come in finished!!

I really have grown to love beaded knits! It is not as difficult as you think. We have these great beaded jewelry kits that would be a perfect start to beaded knitting. I just finished a “Ribband Kit” which can be worn as a bracelet or a necklace.

This one is not difficult! It’s only 4 stitches wide! You can handle that....I know you can! Just look at those pretty czech crystals knitted in! Sparkley! These Ribband Kits come in 5 different colors and inculde the yarn, beads, clasp, and instructions. The instructions also include a web address link to videos on how to string on your beads! 

This week we got in one new yarn. Its by a swedish yarn company beautiful yarns at great prices, plus we just love to support them. It’s called “Moa” by Jarbo Garn. Its a wool, mohair, and polyamid blend with a “loopy texture”. This yarn is perfect for edges of hats, gloves, sweaters, or carry it along with another yarn and make a fun textured scarf! This one might be fun to use in felting projects too. We had a yarn similar to it years ago that was very popular, and then discontinued :P Don’t you hate that! We are very happy to finally find this fun yarn again!

Knitter’s Pride has come out with some new needle sets! The Rose Cubics are finally available in an interchangable set! There is a deluxe set that comes with needle tips in sizes 6 - 11, 1 24” cord, 2 32” cords, 1 40” cord, a set of size markers, 8 end caps, 4 cord keys, and a case! All for only $84! Whatta great deal! There is also a special Cubic set that comes with shorter tips in sizes 6 - 10, 2 16” cords, 4 end caps, 2 cord keys, and a case for only $57.50. The special set with the shorter tips are great for those of you who love to make hats that require shorter length needles. The Dreams also have a special interchangable set available with the shorter tips. This set comes with the shorter tips sizes 4 - 10, 2 16” cords, 1 set size markers, 4 end caps, 2 cord keys, and case - $62.99! These are selling these super fast! In fact, too fast for me to take pictures for this blog! We will get more shortly. Give us a call or come on down and check them out! We will gladly order a set special for you!

That’s about all for this week. Just a quick update before I leave you....Amy Hendrix’s Color Theory Class is now SOLD OUT! I hope everyone who wanted a ticket has got their excited little hands on one :) It’s going to be a very fun class! We are all looking forward to it!

Super Superwash & More...

Hi there! I hope everyone got my update on The Color Theory Workshop schedule change. I’m pretty sure you all did ‘cause as of today there are only 11 tickets left! If you have not signed up yet and want to I would do it asap! I can’t tell you how excited we all are to meet Amy :) 

This week guess what we got.....yes you got it, MORE YARN! I love it when spring comes around! That’s when all the new goodies come flying in. It sometimes feels like Chirstmas morning to me opening all the boxes that come in, so exciting when you are a yarnaholic. It’s very hard not wanting to cast on with evey new yarn that comes through! We all manage tho haha! So anywhoo, on to the new yarns....

We all decided we needed a good superwash worsted weight wool that was affordable but still very high quality. With lots of customer recommendations, we decided to go with Cascade 220 Superwash. Cascade Superwash comes in a HUGE array of colors! It was really hard to pick but we narrowed it down to 36 colors for you all to choose from! Unfortunately, they have so far only sent us 16 of the 36 (errrr annoying!) but the rest will come soon!! Cascade 220 Superwash is great for just about anything! Knit for someone you love with the confidence that they won’t accientally felt all your hours of work ;) This yarn is wonderful to knit or crochet and shows stitch patterns and cables very nicely. A superwash wool at only $10.95 per ball and a generous 220 yards! How can we go wrong?!

From Brown Sheep we got in some new colors of Lamb’s Pride Superwash Sport! This is another great superwash wool in a sport weight and now we have lots, and lots of color choices! Check out the great selection....

With all the new superwash yarns in, we decided to make a little “superwash department” for your shopping convenience! 

Lots of good choices now all in one spot. 

There was a really fun shipment that came in yesterday from Manos Del Uruguay. It was full of 11 colors of  Manos “Serena”. Serena is a sport weight, kettle dyed baby alpaca and pima cotton blend! So, so yummy! No...I didn’t chew on it (crossed my mind for a second hahaha!) but oh man I wanna knit with it!! It’s so soft and the colors are beautiful.....

There are some really cute patterns that go along with the Serena too...

and a couple of new colors in Maxima (a few more coming)

I just need to restrain myself....gotta finish that Mystery KAL first! By the way, how is everyone doing on thier KAL? I’m somewhat behind :/ Just about to start clue 4. This project, although very fun, takes quite a bit of attention! I don’t know about you, but after about 10-10:30 at night my attention span is ALOT shorter. What’s that rule Joan always tells me...don’t rip out after 9pm?! Might be some good advice! Well, onward I go. Here’s mine, so far so good....

I love the dye job! The beads sure do punch you in the face! I like it tho, it looks like lightening to me. I think when everyone is done I’ll take pics and share. I’ll make a little gallery of finished Kinetiks for everyone to see! If anyone would like me to share theirs on our blog, come by when it done I’ll do a little photoshoot with ya! It is something to be proud of, quite a little challenge. If you are having a hard time...don’t give up! We will help you!

Last, but not least, we have a brand new organic cotton by Joseph Galler. It’s called “Inca-Eco”. It’s much like the Organic Inca Cotton we have and done so well with, but now in colors! Inca-Eco comes in 14 colors. The dyes used to make these gorgeous colors are eco-friendly, low-impact dyes. These skeins are smaller than the regular Inca Cotton (140 yds) but still the same wonderful 100% organic cotton and the same softness and texture. 

This yarn is just perfect for little ones! From blankets, to little sweaters and hats! New moms really appreciate the all organic cotton! So soft and so natural.

That’s about it for this week fellow yarnies! Always more to come.... 

Just a Quick Update.....

Hello everyone! Just wanted to give you all a quick heads up on the Color Theory Class with Amy Hendrix of Madelinetosh. There has been a little change on date and time. The class will be held on March 10th from 10am to 1pm. The class fee is $25.00 per person. We do apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused. We hope you can join us for this great opportunity to meet Amy, owner and creator of Madelinetosh Yarns!! Here is a bit more information on the workshop.....

Class Description:

Color Theory / Color Design Workshop  

By Amy Hendrix, President of Madelinetosh 

What you will learn: 

• General color theory and how light alters color perception 

• The Albers color theory and the importance of understanding how colors 

interact with one another 

• What color pairings great artists have chosen historically to create 

stunning palettes 

• How to combine colors to generate complimentary pairings in your knitting 

• How to select colors to pair with your hair, eyes and/or complexions. 

• How to include bright colorways in your knitting in ways you will actually 

wear 

• Warm vs. cool color relationships, how to balance them and why 

• The beauty of analogous color schemes, creating subtle color palettes 

with depth and definition. 

• How to create modern color palettes, and what modern artists practice 

often but never say. 

 Class Summary:

This workshop will provide students with a fun and fascinating introduction to the 

basic concepts of a range of theories regarding the use of color. Many have 

thought color selection is intuitive and unable to be learned.  Yet, by combining 

simple concepts, a smidge of history and a little fun with colored pencils everyone 

can understand and apply both historical and modern color palettes and concepts 

in their crafting projects.  

Supplies:

Please bring a set of colored pencils or pastels and gridded paper as well as a pen/pencil for notes!

  

So exciting!!! There is a limited amount of space for this workshop so reserve your spot as soon as soon as you can! 

New Yarns by Kaffe Fassett and Some Other New Goodies...

The Kaffe Fassett yarns have arrived!! What fun self-stipey goodness! The first one is “Kid Silk Stripe”. Much like the ever-popular Rowan “Kid Silk Haze”, but with a beautiful, self-stiping effect in colors specifically designed by Kaffe himself! Check it out..

Diane has just started knitting a mohair bias loop out of this fab yarn. Not much of it is knit up just yet but you can see the pretty gradual striping coming out. We LOVE this! One ball is sufficiant to make a scarf. In fact, this yarn comes with a pattern for a really easy scarf on the inside of the label! I am dieing to knit with this, but alas....too many projects! Must try to resist ;)

There is a new sock yarn by Kaffe as well called “Ombre Stripe”. One ball makes some fun stripey socks or a fab pair of gloves. Available in 6 Kaffe Fassett inspired colors....

Nice colors! Also, for all you crazy sock knitters...a nice shipment of new colors of Crazy Zauberball

and straight from outer space (haha) more Flying Saucers!!

Flying Saucer Sock has two plys of yarn that are injection dyed, by hand, then put on a special spool so it can then be knitted into two identical socks at the same time! Joan is almost done with a pair..

Very cool idea, I think!

We got in more Rowan Siena too, back by popular demand....well I really demanded we get more haha! This yarn I do really love. It is a fingering weight, mercerized 100% cotton. We have some stunning new colors.

Two summers ago, I started knitting a really cute top from one of my favorite Kim Hargreaves books “Misty”.

I unfortunately had to keep putting this project on the back burner, but I really ejoyed the Siena! It knits up so beautifully....

I’m very hopeful on finishing this cute little top for THIS SUMMER!

Speaking of finishing things. Joan finished a super cute Debbie Bliss kid’s sweater! Check it out....

Look at all of that intarsia! She sure is good at it! If you recall, I shared just a few peices of it a couple of blog entries ago. Its made from Debbie Bliss Cotton DK. The Pattern and yarn are available here if you have a little girl in mind who must have this cute cardi. Don’t let the intarsia intimidate you, it’s easier than it looks.... really. We are always here to help you with your knitting adventures ;)

Finally, I have saved some exciting news for last! For all you Madelinetosh fans out there...Amy Hendrix, owner & creator of Madelinetosh yarns is coming to Monarch!! March 3rd from 10am to 12pm Amy will be giving a class on color theory and design right here in our shop! In this class you’ll get a fun and fascinating introdution to the basic concepts of color theory, and a bit of color history. You will learn how to combine colors to create complimentary pairings in your knitting. Also, how to select colors that are right for you, and much much more!! The class is $25 per person and spaces are limited so sign up while you can! I’ll have a bit more information on this next week or give us a call for more details. We are so thrilled to be able to have Amy here as not all yarn stores get such an opportunity!! Come get inspired by color with us! :)