every friday store hours 10 - 5
what's new in the gift shop? framed scherenschnitte (don't ask me how to pronounce it) and cross stitch pictures by our own ardis mock and framed nature photographs by her talented photographer daughter, alison. be sure to check them out on your next visit.
new yarns! cascade pima silk and ultra pima cotton - perfect for those summer knits - in pink rose, lime, aqua, and lavender. these colors conjure up a summer sunset! pima cotton is named after the pima indians who first grew it here in the US but its origins date back to its cultivation in peru as far back as 3100 bc. peruvian pima cotton is called the king of cottons. thanks to ideal growing conditions, extra-long staple length and hand harvesting, peruvian pima cotton is the world's finest pima, prized for its exceptional softness and brilliant luster, as well as its durability. one touch is all it takes to show you just how luxurious a cotton can be. i just finished a drop stitch shawl in aqua and lime and it feels divine on the skin. for free patterns using ultra pima, go to http://cascadeyarns.com/patterns_pimaUltra.asp
also several other cascade brands new to raggz includes lana d Oro (50% alpaca, 50% wool), 220 super wash, sitka (80% merino wool, 20% kid mohair), cash Vero (55% extra fine merino, 33% microfiber acrylic, 12% cashmere), and pima silk (85% pima cotton, 15% silk).
imperial yarns have been ordered and are being shipped and should be arriving the first full week of june. more details on this yarn when it arrives.
new patterns:
the drop stitch scarf/shawl. this was knitted in crystal palace panda silk (52% bamboo, 43% super wash merino and 5% combed silk). i am very pleased with the finished product. almost 5 skeins were used for this particular shawl but it would only take 4 if one color were used!
in the second version of this drop stitch shawl, cascade ultra pima was used in aqua and lime (one skein each).
i love this pattern, as it is a perfect summer shawl, so i decided to run a two week class. the classes will be held on fridays, june 15 and 29. the two week interim will be time enough to get all 72 rows done in order to complete the dropped stitches the second week. the cost will be $20 and will include the pattern. if you get your yarn from me, please be sure to purchase it ahead of time. class will run from 1 to 3 each day. the pattern calls for approximately 500 yards of yarn on a size 7 needle (depending on yarn of course but we can discuss this). the ultra pima cotton or silk/bamboo combo make a very light shawl with wonderful draping but other yarns could be substituted.
you may note that these classes are on fridays, when i am normally open. the shop will still be open on fridays from 10 to 5.
another pattern i just finished is topografie's passion vine shrug by andrea marquis. andrea is my rep for the organic wool from mountain meadow as well as JUL designs, so that is the yarn and embellishments i chose to use. this shrug took a little over 4 skeins and i used two of JUL's fern wood portable buttons for the embellishment on the sleeves. the pattern is available at the shop, along with the yarn.
what else is new at the shop you ask? stop by and see some recently purchased items, including a wonderful wooden antique washing machine and new table & chairs, as well as a totally different layout of the first two rooms.
a new knitting group has met at the shop now for the past two months. these ladies have been getting together for quite some time and they have decided that their group would be called the knotty naughty knitters. their leader, betsy, is an expert knitter who teaches the girls something different each month - fair isle, entrelac - and this month cables. they are knitting cabled headbands to donate to charity. another very friendly group of ladies that i am lucky to be associated with and hope that the other groups may get to meet at some time.
the first of the chemo caps was turned in may 25 by donna chianese. several of the ladies from latrobe are working on caps as well and we should be seeing more coming soon. laura mentioned that when the caps are donated to children's hospital, perhaps several of us could accompany her and consider teaching these kids to knit if they want to learn. will keep you posted on this.
the winner of this month's prize - a set of double pointed needles is....... drum roll...... donna chianese! these will come in handy for donna because she is still in the process of collecting all the sizes she needs.
well ladies, nuff said for june.
love
t
"money can't buy happiness, but it can buy yarn which is kind of the same thing."
