A Knitbot Trunk Show!!

Hello there yarn pals! This week we have something special goin on here at Monarch! June 1st through 18th we will be featuring a Knitbot Trunk Show!! If you are not familiar with Knitbot, her actual name is Hannah Fettig. Hannah designs many beautiful garments featured on Ravelry that are quite popular! You might be familiar with her current best-selling book “Costal Knits”. The Trunkshow features over a dozen of her classic designs that you can see in person, admire, try-on, and get inspired! A perfect opportunity to see how her patterns knit up, and how they fit. I can’t tell you how fun it was to unpack and try on every garment! I was very pleased to see her “Effortless Cardigan” was inculded in the trunkshow since I already have the yarn to make one (wonderful Madelinetosh). So nice to try it on before you knit...

and I’m in love! The design, the fabric, the drape.... wonderful! Can’t wait to cast on! Here are a few more of my favs I wanted to model for you! One of Hannah’s best seller’s “Featherweight Cardigan”.... 

is as light as a feather knitted out of a lace or fingering weight. Another that caught my eye is her “Breezy Cardigan” which I’ve been wearing all day today!

So lightweight and the fronts drape just perfectly! Must add this to my queue :) Great spring/summer wear. There are many more cardigans, pullovers, hats, and cowls! This trunk show is a MUST see! Hannah's pattern's are very simple to knit and directions are carefully written. They are all knit either from the top-down or bottom-up in one piece, which means very little finishing. All the patterns are here and available for purchase. Even if we don’t carry the exact yarn used, our expert staff will help you find the perfect substitute. As you know, we have a very large selection of some of the most fab yarns you can sink your needles into! 

There are a couple great new mags in this week too. For all you Noro lovers....the premiere issue of Noro Knitting Magazine! Page after page of must have items using Noro’s eye popping colors!

and a brand new issue of Jane Austen Knits! What would Jane knit? Pick up this special summer issue and find out. Love those little cuffs featured on the cover!

A couple of new yarns came our way this week as well. A new baby yarn called “Snowflake Chunky”..

This yarn we had many years ago and did very well with it until it was discontinued. Now it’s back! Just as wonderful and as soft as it used to be! Snowflake is a 100% Polyester bulky weight, super soft (like a cotton ball), and machine washable. Just perfect for a super cuddly blanket!!

This next one is very different, and very fun! When we saw it....we knew we must have it! It’s called “Tecido Trico”. It is a fabric like ribbon made from 100% Polyester. When you first look at it you are not sure what it does...

The ribbon fabric has little holes pre-punched out as you can see here....

When you knit into these holes you get a ruffled effect like this...

So cool! So different! One roll will make a ruffled scarf. Instructions are so simple, they come written on the inside of the label. Only $19.95! Too bad they only sent us 2 of the many colors we ordered, but they are one of my favoite things...leopard print, and more leopard print! ;) More will come soon we hope. We’ll keep you posted!

Remembering Sandy Martin

Our good friend Sandy Martin

We’d like to note the passing of Sandy Martin, our long-time knitting teacher and good friend, after a long illness. We’ll miss Sandy, who contributed greatly to the success of Monarch Knitting by gently bringing many, many new knitters into the world. 

Sandy loved teaching children, and was also wonderful at making never-touched-needles-before students feel comfortable and relaxed, so they could learn.

Sandy also brought to us the most wonderful attitude of wanting to learn herself. She was delighted with any new knitting tip she picked up as we all shared our discoveries. She joined the rest of us in getting excited over new yarns, new techniques, and experimental knitting. It was so much fun to have her around on the many Saturdays she came to teach, and to see the delightful items her talented fingers produced.

Sandy was a role model for us as a teacher, mother, grandmother and friend. She had the most generous nature, and was always so kind to everyone. We can still hear her laughter ringing through the shop. 

We loved Sandy very much and would not be the knitters and yarn shop workers we are today without her influence.

Details of her memorial service are still pending.

Exclusive Yarns From Nepal

This week we are featuring a new yarn that is exclusive to Monarch!! Imported directly from Kathmandu, Nepal we introduce Maya Yarns! Maya - meaning love in Nepalese - makes the most unique, creative yarns your needles can sink into! Maya yarns live up to their name. Each skein of thier gorgeous yarn has been hand-made... with love!! That’s exactly what they wanted to send to us, so we can share the love with all our wonderful customers ;) Maya makes several hand-made yarns made from several recyced fibers like silk, cotton, hemp, banana, and even nettle. Even though we would like to carry it all, we have decided to start with Maya’s beautiful recycled silk yarns! 

The first is a hand-spun silk made of colorful saris that women wear in India. The loose ends of the saris are collected from industrial mills and then hand-spun into this beautiful yarn....

Since this yarn is hand-spun, each hank is quite different, and special... with it’s vibrant colors, and it’s unique texture!! This beautiful silk is suitable for many crafts knitting, crocheting, weaving, etc! Just use your creativity and imagination! We knitted a very flowy, loose knit scarf here....

Joan started a bit of weaving on one of our Cricket Looms....

Either way you can’t go wrong! No matter what you do with this yarn, it is a work of art!  

With even more vibrant colors.....our next Maya yarn is a recyled silk ribbon!

What a feast for the eyes, and for the fingers! This beauty is made from recycled silk strips, randomly sewn together to make a very unique skein! Some of the strips are shiny, some even have a beautiful print! We have had other recycled silk ribbons in the past, but none can compare to this one! Even the feel is better, not stiff or scratchey! Just one ball will make you a narrow decorative scarf for the summer or just to add a splash of color to any outfit.

Also great for any knitting, crochet, and weaving. Joan wove a bit of the ribbon as well...

Wouldn’t this make a stunning table runner?! Maybe a set of placemats for your dinning room? Without a doubt, these yarns would be the most unique yarns you will ever encounter!! We are proud to say, these yarns are exclusive to Monarch... you will not find Maya yarns anywhere else!! Come on down, or give us a call and we will share the love of Maya yarns with you....

We love Maya Yarns!

Yup... More Yarn!

Hello again! Here we are, another week and yup....more yarn! As you all know, it’s just not a normal week if Monarch isn’t getting something new and exciting! We will not dissapoint! ;) 

So...let’s get right to it! From Skacel (where we get all our wonderful addi turbo needles from) we got in a nice little shipment of Crazy Zauberball....

This fun striping sock yarn is a superwash merino wool and nylon that gradually stripes in bold beautiful colors! There is no color repeat so each sock comes out looking unique! This yarn is not just for sock knitting....it looks amazing in just about any project! Daine made a really cool scarf out of just 1 ball Crazy Zauber called “Wingspan”

If you are not familiar, the pattern “Wingspan” is a free download on Ravelry and has been the #1 pattern on Ravelry for several weeks now! It’s a simple garter stitch scarf with oodles of short rows, which is why a striping yarn like Crazy Zauber is just perfect! I might just hafto join the club and make one! I just happen to have a particularly pretty Crazy Zauberball that’s been begging me to knit it....

Another great option for one of those “Wingspan” scarves would be our Marks & Kattens “Fame Trend”...

What fun colors! So fun to knit and watch the colors appear and change right before your eyes! 

Skacel also sent us some very unique patterns. They are knitted balloon animals!! Who thinks of these things!? So fun, so different!! Diane couldn’t stand it she has to make one NOW! She made a little mouse holding a cheese. Here it is all knitted....

and here it is folded up just right (instructions tell you how)...

A cute little mouse!!! So, so cute! There are 2 booklets with many cute little animals to make. It comes with instructions to knit (which are pretty simple.... really), and instructions on how to fold them up at the end! What a fun idea. One could make a whole little zoo of these....kids would love them! 

Speaking of stuff for the kiddies....”Jelly Beenz”, one of our popular yarns made for little ones in mind by Plymouth now comes in big 100 gram balls!!!

New 100 gram ball!

Same yarn, same great colors, just now in a bigger size. This yarn is great for kids garments (and big kids like us too) and all washible. 

From Debbie Bliss we have some new colors of “Party Angel”, a fine mohair & silk blend yarn....with sparkle! Don’t forget we have a booklet to go with that too. I would love to knit another Churchmouse Mohiar Bias Loop out of this. I think it would be just stunning! 

If you are looking for something fun and jazzy....well check out these new yarns....

We have had them in the past, but now in lots, and lots of new colors!! “Dazzle” is a 100% Nylon “train-track” type yarn. Perfect for little decorative scarves ‘n things. 

20 new vibrant colors to choose from! 

Then we have “Flutter”, a 100% polyester “eyelash” yarn with lots of pizazz! Now in 10 sparkling colors!

Last night I decided to put these 2 fun yarns together (Dazzle & Flutter) and make something quick and sassy! I came up with what I’m gonna call “Dazzle-Me Tassle Scarf”. I kept it very simple, 2 yarns held together in a narrow scarf with a point on each end. I then made, and added, a tassel out of leftover Dazzle and attached it to each end. I really like how it came out....

So cute, and sassy ;) perfect to dress up and outfit for a night out! It only takes one ball of each, pattern free with purchase! I hope you like it! 

Stay tuned for next week’s goodies!!

Yarns That Ruffle!

Hello again! It’s another week and we got more to share! This time it’s all about the ruffles! These creative yarns that make up into quick (and very simple) ruffle scarf have been so, so popular we just keep gettin more! These fashionable scarves are just perfect for a last minute gift (hey! Mother’s Day is this Sunday!).  We got in a brand new line of “ruffley” yarn by Rowan called “Kidsilk Creation Stripe”....

Ooooh! Pretty colors!! This little pretty is a soft Mohair & Silk mesh that you can knit or crochet (pattern is in the label!) into this fab scarf! All you need is one ball and about 1 hour....

and this is what you get! Love it! We have another yarn very similar in solid colors by Katia called “Park Avenue”.....

This one is so stunning when it’s made up! I made one in black and it goes with everything! I wear it alot, and it’s pretty warm too. 

Right now we have a special goin on with the Park Avenue!! It normally sells for $29.95 each and now just for you only $24.95! Aren’t we nice!? You can also buy Park Avenue in half skeins for only $12.95 and combine 2 colors to make a two-tone ruffley scarf! Super easy! Pattern included.

Isn’t that pretty?! You can also do a shorter scarf out of one halfsie skein...

This one only took 20 mins! Really! We are happy to demonstrate how to use this yarn, just ask! Knit or Crochet either way you can’t miss with this yarn! Don’t forget about our other fun “ruffley” yarns we have like Katia “Ondas”

and our ever popular Katia “Triana”

oh, and remember that cool 1 minute scarf out of Katia “Aloha”? 

This yarn requires no needles or hooks, just your bare, yarn grasping hands! This yarn is also on special right now! Regularly $29.95 Now $24.95!! One ball and only minutes, you get a pretty “Boa” scarf.

so come on in and get creative with our yarns that ruffle!! 

Show Me The Yarn!

Hellloooo everyone!! It’s Koryn again back from a much needed vacation! The hubby and I just celebrated our 6 year anniversary at Bass Lake! Now that I’m all rested, I’m back to my Monarch duties! Thanks to Joan for pickin up my slack while I was gone! I had fun reading her entries too! Oh and I was so happy to see my poncho on display! I just love, love that thing! So easy too! Everyone should have one!! 

Well I do have some stuff to share....so lets get right to it! While I was gone we got some gorgeous new colors of the most wonderful cashmere by Jade Sapphire! 4 new colors of the 4-ply (dk weight) cashmere....

ooooh I love that blue! Then we have 6 new colors of the 2-ply (lace weight) cashmere.....

The lace is so light and so soft! I admit, I have a couple of these babies in my stash to make guess what......a cowl! Haha! Well, thats what I had in mind anyway.

We got in 2 new colors of Tempo too! It’s that cool new yarn from a couple of weeks ago that makes that really neat drop stitch scarf.....

I must make one of these sometime! I wear the model around the shop all the time and I feel myself wishing I had one of my own! Every time I wear it, very excited customers run up and practically yank it right off me! They gotta have it....you can get your own ladies! hahaha! I love to see customers get excited about our stuff :) 

Our summer Beginning Knitting sessions have come out this week. They have been so popular, they just keep filling right up! Here’s the schedule....

June - 2nd, 9th, and 23rd at 2:00pm or 3:00pm (all on Saturday) 

July - 7th, 14th, and 21st at 2:00pm or 3:00pm (also all Saturdays)

August - 4th, and 11th at 2:00pm or 3:00pm (Saturdays too) 

and there it is! I teach all the Beginning Knitting sessions and I’m very patient, and very friendly! I promise! These are for beginners but can be tailor-made for you. Meaning.... I can teach you whatever you want basically, just ask me. My favorite students are the one who have never touched knitting needles in their life. To me, it’s like bringing another knitter into this world and that makes me happy. I think if everyone knit, at least a little, the world would be a better place and people would be happier, don’t you? It’s has given me (and many, many others) much joy in my life! 

Before I leave you for this week...some show ‘n tell! We have a new sample out of Colinette Giotto.....I want to steal it right now! In fact, I’m wearing it right now as we speak....

It’s a pattern out of an old Interweave Knits Magazine (spring 2006 issue). It’s called “Waterlilly Tank”. The pattern can be downloaded from interweavestore.com. I gotta say....this top is too too cute! Super light and airy to wear. Perfect summer top that you can whip up in no time! I love this so much I might beg, and whine....Joan plleeease let me have this one day! haha! I can wear it whenever I’d like, one of the many perks of working here! That will do for me for me for now :)

Joan finished that very cute key-hole scarf out of our new spakely yarn “Crystal” I told you about 2 weeks ago...

new color!

So pretty, so sparkey! I want one! One ball is all it takes. Pattern free with purchase

One of our wonderful customers and friend, Pamela, wandered in one day with this show ‘n tell that we had to show you....

I’m sorry I missed this one! I would’ve loved to see it in person! She made it as a wedding gift that is THIS weekend! A photo finish! Great job Pamela!! The yarn used was Brown Sheep Nature Spun. The pattern was a simple garter (knit every row) slip-stich! Wow! It looks like a complicated, color-changing pattern! Thats the beauty of slip-stitch patterns, simple with amazing results! 

Alrighty! That’s it for today yarn pals! I’m happy to be back in my little knitting world. As always, I’ll keep you updated on all things Monarch Knitting! Until next week.....