September 2014 Newsletter

Project of the Month... Piper's Journey

Piper's Journey has been in our Ravelry queue for quite some time. Finally Koryn can add it to her project page!  Sometimes there is a perfect marriage between pattern and yarn and this is it.  Piper's Journey is a fun and clever knit and a perfect project for all levels of knitters.  Quince's Chickadee is a 100% American wool full of bounce and lovely stitch definition.  Koryn says that with Chickadee, "the stitches slide across the needles with such ease" and that she cannot put the project down! So come by Monarch, pick up 3 skeins of Chickadee (or your favorite yarn), the pattern, some US6 needles and cast on the perfect fall project.  Your fingers will thank you!

Open House... Show Off Saturday

What did you knit or crochet over the summer? Join us for coffee and treats on Saturday, September 6th from 10:30am to noon to show off what you knit or crocheted.  This fun Saturday open house will give you inspiration and great project ideas for fall.  Nothing compares with seeing a completed project!  Bring the project you are working on and sit and knit for a while as well.  Let's kick off fall with friends!

Accelerating Stripes Fingerless Glove Class

Join Koryn for a fun fingerless glove class on Saturday, September 13th, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.  This version of fingerless begins at the cuff and the stripes become progressively thinner as you knit toward the fingers.  In this class you will learn how to use – and not be afraid of – double-pointed needles to knit in the round.  You will also develop the skill to change color and knit "jogless" stripes.  Koryn will also review how to shape a thumb using directional increases.  Since this is an item where gauge is very important, you will need to knit a swatch. Everyone's tension is unique!  We will review how to check your gauge to assure your gloves will fit. To join in you will need double point needles, size US2.5, two colors of fingering weight yarn, about 175 yards of each, and two small stitch markers.  The pattern is free and the cost of the class is $30. 

Shibui Mix Party

We love our Shibui yarns!  Shibui is a beautiful collection of soft, rich, luxurious and inspiring fibers.  Marge Okuley (aka Ann Norling), our representative from Shibui, will be at Monarch Knitting on Saturday, September 27th from 10:00am to 12:00pm to take us on a tour through the endless possibilities created by mixing Shibui yarns.  Knit single stranded, they are a dream, but mix the fibers, and they sing.  Mix two or three strands and you have a yarn line that will be your go-to each time you look to start a project.  They are also perfect yarns with which to create your CustomFit sweater!  We will also have a Shibui trunk show at the store, so you can see the latest patterns from the line.  If you have knit something from the Shibui line, bring it in... we love seeing what everyone has created!  We will have coffee and treats to munch on, door prizes from Shibui and other special surprises.  Please call the store or email us to sign up for the Mix Party as space is limited.  Cost is $10.00.

Quick Tips for September

Don't miss any of our quick tips to improve your knitting knowledge.  Come in any time between 3:00pm and 4:00pm on Wednesdays or 11:00am to 12:00pm on Saturdays to get a free 10 to 15-minute demonstration on a knitting technique.  This month's tips are:

Week 1 - Felted Join
Week 2 - I-Cord Cast-On
Week 3 - Jogless Stripes in the Round
Week 4 - How to Read a Chart

When you come in do not forget to pick up you Quick Tip Rewards Card!  For each Quick Tip Session you attend, you will receive one hole punch on your card.  Once you have reached ten, turn it in and receive a free Monarch Knitting class of your choice.  

Botanical Knits 2 Trunk Show

Come by Monarch Knitting now through August 23rd to see all of the beautiful knitted projects from Alana Dakos' fabulous new book Botanical Knits 2.  Alana's books, Coastal Knits and Botanical Knits are some of our favorites, as they are spilling over with projects that will fill your "to-knit" list.  Botanical Knits 2 is no exception to this rule.  This book celebrates the beauty of nature and the designs are inspired by leaves, vines and blossoms.  Not only is the book filled with well-written patterns, but also the photographs and design of the book make a joy to peruse.

Coming Soon... Woolfolk Yarns

Fall is coming quickly and along with it a new yarn, Woolfolk. This exciting new line was developed by Kristin Ford, formally with Shibui, who has stepped out on her own to create these beautiful yarns.  Coming to you in a wide variety of colors, 12 total in each weight, Kristin has elected to use Orvis 21 Ultimate Merino for her line as it is the finest merino wool on the market.  Harvested from sheep that live in the grasslands of Patagonia, this fiber is feels more like cashmere than merino.  The wool is single sourced, the amount is limited, and is brought to market as part of a program to support the regeneration of Patagonia's grasslands and to boost the economic opportunities for farmers in the area.  This yarn will only be available in a few stores across the country. Monarch is thrilled to be one, and we are excited to bring you her sport-weight Tydn and aran-weight Far.  Kristin has partnered with with Olga Buraya-Kefelain (you know her as Olgajazzy) to design the single patterns and PDFs for her yarns.

Instagram Prizes! And Don't Forget Facebook

Monarch is happy to announce we are now on Instagram and that could mean a prize for you. We are excited to bring you a wide array of project photos and fun information (and some fun contests) from Monarch so take advantage of this by following us. Keep an eye on our Facebook page as well as the latest news from Monarch is always there along with class and project information.