April 2014 Newsletter

Project of the Month... Mizutama Shawl

Spring has sprung and knitting something light and airy should be on your list. What is more fun than polka dots for spring? This shawl pattern, Mizutama, was designed by Olga Buraya Kefelan. You will need 400-470 yards of fingering weight yarn for this triangular shawl. It is a great piece for spring as you can use a bright color to celebrate the season. It can be knit from bottom up or top down and comes with both charted and written instructions. It is an easy 4 row pattern repeat and uses very basic stitches. We knit our Mizutama with one skein of Anzula's Nebula, and the pink with a hit of metallic makes us happy. Treat yourself to this lovely addition to your spring wardrobe!

Mizutama Shawl Class

If Mizutama is your first "lace" shawl, join us on Saturday, May 10th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm to learn the techniques needed to knit this project.  You will learn about a garter stitch tab cast on and how to work a very simple lace project.  We will explain how to read a chart, which is a great skill to have in your knitting arsenal!  By the time you leave the class you will be on your way to creating the perfect summer shawl.  Class fee is $25.00.  

A New Program at Monarch... Wednesday Quick Tips

Come by Monarch every Wednesday any time between 3:00pm and 4:00pm to get a 10-15 minute tutorial on a different skill each week.  You don't need to bring a thing! Just drop by the store to see how to do something new!  This month's Quick Tips:

     7th - placing a bead

     14th - provisional cast-on

     21st - kitchner stitch

     28th - mattress stitch for seaming

So make Wednesdays your day to learn something new to expand you knitter's knowledge!

Knit Your Way Through The Summer

Join us here at Monarch for a couple programs that will keep you inspired to knit through the summer months.  Long, lazy days are the perfect time to knit something special for you or to knit a few gifts to put away for the holidays.  Vacation is our favorite time to have projects on the needles!

Summer Knitting Club

Join our summer knitting club and be rewarded!  Register with the store by June 15th and pick your projects.  Cast on at the first of the month and finish by the last day and we will reward you with $10.00 in Monarch bucks towards you next purchase.  Knit projects in all 3 summer months and you will be entered into a drawing for a $50.00 gift certificate.  Each project must be a total of 400 yards (you can knit two smaller projects) and the yarn must be purchased at Monarch Knitting, please note that past purchases do not apply.   You pick the project but each month has a theme:

 
     June - knit or crochet something for a friend or a charity (details on charity         knitting at the shop)

     July - try something new... A new technique or pattern
    August - knit or crochet something for YOU!

You can sign up for the club by calling the store, posting to the Ravelry topic titled "Summer Knit Club", sending us a Facebook message, or emailing us at customer service@monarchknitting.com.  Once you have registered we will give you a send you more details on the Club.  

CustomFit Knit Along

Knit a CustomFit sweater along with us here at Monarch.  Who doesn't want to knit a pattern that is made for their body?  If you are new to sweater knitting, this is a great place to start.  Just think, a bit of knitting this summer and your sweater will be ready for chilly fall days!

Join us for morning coffee and treats on Saturday, May 24th from 10:30am to 12:00pm pick your yarn (yarn must be purchased at Monarch Knitting) and start your swatch.  If you have not been measured we are happy to do so that morning.  Please note, if you need to be measured there is a $10.00 CustomFit class fee.  We will have tips to help you get started if this is your first project.  Don't worry if you cannot make it, you can join in at any time!  

Complete your swatch between May 24th -31th and come into Monarch to get your pattern printed.  On Sunday June 1st, it is time to cast on!  Join us at the store for social knitting from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, if you would like to cast on with us! Watch our progress and get tips on Facebook and our new blog.  If you complete your project on or before August 31st, you will receive a $20.00 Monarch Bucks rewards and you will have a beautiful sweater to wear!  Please call the store to sign up for Saturday coffee as we would like to ensure we have enough treats for everyone.  

New Summer Yarns!

Quince and Co. Sparrow - This simply beautiful yarn is perfect for summer knitting.  It has a crisp hand as you knit it but once you wash it and wear it is a perfect soft linen.  Sparrow is 100% organic linen grown in Belguim and comes 168 yarns to the skein.

Quince and Co. Kestrel - Quince explained Kestrel perfectly on their website: "We took the same Belguim-grown organic linen that we use in our little Sparrow and spun it this time in a ribbon structure.  Kestrel knits up quickly at 3 1/2 to 4 stitches to the inch.  Its flat surface adds a slight texture to simple knit and purl stitches.  Bue we think the best thing about it is its incredible drape.  Like all things linen, woven or knitted, Kestrel only gets better as you wash it and wear it."  This lovely yarn is 76 yards to the skein and we will have more colors available next week

Berroco Karma - This beautiful summer yarn is a bulky weight, yet it is very light and airy due to it unique mesh "tape" construction.  It is dyed in softly-shaded tonal colors and comes in a 66 yarns hank.

Classic Elite Sanibel - The soft tonal colors of Sanibel are hard to resist.  This Italian yarn is a combination of cotton and viscose and hard to resist.  We have a great free cowl pattern that will add a pop of color to your summer wardrobe!

Sale Yarns

Come by the store to see some of the yarns we have put on sale.  Mirasol's Sami and Paqu Pura are 20% off.  We will continue to add to the sale throughout the summer to make room for some new lovely Fall yarns.  

Follow Our New Blog and Follow us on Facebook!

We have started a store blog!  Loads of photographs, some personal stories and helpful tips will be at your fingertips whenever the mood to read about knitting strikes you.  You can find the blog at http://monarchknitting.blogspot.com/.  Each new post will be linked though a Facebook post but to make it easy to find you can bookmark the site on your computer.  Also as a reminder, please like us on Facebook at it is the best way to stay in touch with all of the happenings at Monarch Knitting.