Button, Button...Who's Got The Button?

We do! Just met with our local resin button artist (and I use that word seriously, these are works of art!)




The photo on the top shows the smaller individual buttons, the bottom photo is the BIG buttons that are on cards. These are lightweight, each one is individually hand made, and they are perfect when you want the WOW factor on a garment! The big guys are perfect for a hat, cowl, one or two button sweater...the smaller ones are ideal for cardigans. You won't find two that are exactly the same. Aren't they great?



Becky

Progressive Needles KAL

For those working on the shawlette for October, clue #2 was posted today at http://www.knitpurlhunter.com/ This is becoming a really beautiful project!

The yarn for the November project arrived today...Austermann Royal, which is a merino/nylon/silk/cashmere blend. Here's a peek, and if you want us to hold a color for you just call 360-755-7086. The project takes two skeins of the same color:

Unpacking a Cascade Yarns order today, and thought you might enjoy a sneak peek:

Eco Duo Alpaca Lace & Alpaca Lace Paints

220 Sport and....220 Superwash Sport

Mountain Colors Yarn Party Doorprize WINNERS

We have winners for the Mountain Colors Yarn Party door prizes!

Lonnie - New Mountain Fusion Teton yarn & hat pattern - colorway Mountain Sky
Jean - Warm & Wooly Throw Trio & pattern - colorway Clover
Lynn - Moguls yarn & Portland Hat pattern - colorway Cedar
Christina - Twizzle yarn & Knit Night sock pattern - colorway Gold Rush
Melanie - Half Crepe yarn & Lattice Scarf pattern - colorway Sandstone

Congratulations to all the winners! We had a great time!!

Zig Zag Cuff Tutorial

Stringing the beads

Thread your working yarn into a big eye beading needle. If you don’t have a big eye needle you can stop in and get one or call the shop and we can send you one. They are just $2.00 each. A dental floss threader or a regular beading needle with a loop of thread tied into the eye will do in a pinch. String 176 or 220 beads onto your working yarn. If you encounter a bead that will not slide easily onto the yarn, do not force it. You could break your needle or damage your yarn. Remove and discard that bead.

Waste Yarn Cast on

Choose a smooth, light colored, fingering weight yarn. Cast on 32 stitches. Start with a purl row and work 6 rows of stockinette stitch. You will be able to reuse this waste yarn tab to make additional cuffs if you work at least two more rows of stockinette stitch for each additional cuff you want to make. End after working a knit side row. Cut waste yarn.

Join working yarn and start working from the graph.

Row #1 is a wrong side row. Read the chart from left to right.

Slip the first stitch as if to purl (shown as “I” on the graph).

Join the working yarn and knit two stitches (two empty boxes on the graph).

Slide 1 bead up the yarn until it is flush against the right hand needle and knit one stitch (“B” on graph). The bead should be trapped on the horizontal strand between two stitches.

Knit one stitch (one empty box on graph).

Place a bead and knit a stitch (“B” on graph).

Knit three stitches (three empty boxes on graph).

Place a bead and knit a stitch (“B” on graph)

Knit one stitch (empty box on graph)

Place a bead and knit a stitch (“B” on graph)

Knit sixteen stitches (empty boxes on graph)

Place a bead and knit a stitch (“B” on graph)

Knit three stitches (empty boxes on graph)

This completes row #1

Row 2 and all right side rows are not shown on the graph. To work row 2 slip one stitch as if to purl with yarn in front. Bring yarn between the needles to the back and knit remaining thirty-one stitches.

Continue working in this fashion. Place beads according to the graph on the wrong side/odd numbered rows and work plain on right side / even numbered rows.

Repeat the graph 4 times for the small size, which will fit most women, or 5 times for a larger size.

After completing row 23 of your final repeat, cut the working yarn leaving a tail about 24 inches long.

Second Tab

Join waste yarn and work 6 rows of stockinette stitch starting with a knit row. Bind off all stitches or thread them onto their own tail. You will be unraveling these stitches as soon as you complete the graft.

Duplicate stitch grafting.

Thread the long tail of working yarn onto a tapestry needle.

Bring the beginning and the end of the cuff together with the beaded side out and the two waste yarn tabs held knit sides together.

Using the tapestry needle and working yarn exactly trace over the bottom, right leg of the first waste yarn stitch on the lower tab

and the top half of the first waste yarn stitch on the upper tab.

Then trace over the bottom half of the second stitch on the lower tab

and the top half of the second stitch on the upper tab.

Work across the row in this fashion.

Pay special attention to the edge stitches. Tighten the new duplicate stitches to the same tension as the surrounding work.

Unravel the second waste yarn tab. It should unravel completely and pull free of the cuff.

If you accidentally sewed through the waste yarn as you were sewing the duplicate stitches you may need to carefully snip part or all of the waste yarn to get it free.

Pull on the cuff gently to check for any loose or missed stitches. If any stitches are dropped and starting to run, unpick the graft. Pick up the cuff stitches and make a new waste yarn tab.

Remove the first waste yarn tab by snipping the tail where it is joined to the cuff and unpick the last row of waste yarn one stitch at a time.

When all waste yarn has been removed from the cuff, double check that the edge stitches are secure and weave in the tails of the working yarn.

Beaded Cuff Tutorial

Our 2011 LYS Tour one-skein project is the Zig-Zag Beaded Cuff. We will be posting a tutorial with step by step photos as soon as possible after the tour concludes. If we're really organized, it might be up before the conclusion of the tour. But it's coming soon!

Sivia Harding Patterns

We're very excited to announce that Knot Just Yarn is now a stockist shop for the entire Sivia Harding pattern line! We had such a wonderful time at the ReTreat (I'm gathering photos and will post an update as soon as they are all together) and were so delighted with Sivia and her class on the Heart To Heart Beaded Scarf that we made a command decision to bring ALL the patterns! So stop in to the shop or give us a call, and we will gladly help you pick out your next Sivia Harding project. We have lots of delicious new yarns to suggest!

Here's a peek at Fluency, the latest design for beaded gloves (or fingerless mitts, also included in the instructions).

Closed February 23, 2011 SNOW DAY

Knot Just Yarn is going to be closed today - Thursday, February 23. We hope to be open tomorrow, depending on weather conditions.

This was the view from my car going home on I-5 last night at 5:30. From news reports, it's gotten worse. Needless to say, the shop is going to remain closed today. I have forwarded the phone to my cell, so if I can help with questions, mail order, etc. please call 360-755-7086. Stay safe and warm today, and hopefully we will be open tomorrow!

~~~ReTreat 2011 & New Yarns~~~

We still have a few spaces left for the March ReTreat ~ this year we will once again be at the Baker Lake Lodge from March 18-20. The ReTreat includes all your meals, our famous goodie bag, door prizes, and this year we are hosting Sivia Harding! Sivia will be staying with us the entire weekend, and will be teaching her Heart to Heart Beaded Scarf in a four hour workshop on Saturday (two hours in the morning, two in the afternoon...we don't want you to work too hard!). So included in the price of $250 is the workshop fee plus the pattern! The project uses either laceweight or fingering weight yarn and appropriate beads, so if you haven't already picked up your supplies at the shop we will bring some yarns and beads to the ReTreat with us.

The ReTreat is a relaxing, fun getaway weekend and we have MANY repeat "ReTreaters" each year. It's a lot of eating, drinking, visiting and just plain fibery goodness. There will be people knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, beading, sleeping, relaxing in the sauna or taking a walk. Many change into pj's upon arrival and stay in that relaxed state until Sunday when it's time to to home. Speaking of which, Diane is once again attending to offer 30 and 60 minute massages (not included in the ReTreat, of course). So if you'd like more information or want to sign up, just give the shop a call at 360-755-7086 or 1-888-477-KNIT (5648).

We unpacked a few new things today. The February Feed Your Creativity Kit (Sonoma Socks) includes the pattern, yarn and project bag:

And just in from Knit 1, Crochet 2 - Ty-Dy Sock, a pretty blend of superwash wool and nylon, 436 yards per 100 gram skein...so plenty to finish a pair of socks. You might also want to get some inspiration from the new Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders book!

That's it for now, have to go work on goodie bags and door prizes! Have a fibery day!

Becky