June, 2009 Newsletter

July Is All About Lace

All Lace, All The Time

Many knitters shy away from lace, fearing that it is too complicated. We're determined to prove that lace doesn't have to be difficult. Through the month of July we're going to do everything we can to encourage our patrons to try this beautiful craft with everything from a knit-along to classes on starting your first lace project!

Still unconvinced? Did you know that the second largest group on ravelry is the Lace Knitters? With over 8,000 members, clearly lace can't be that frightening! We're certain that if you give it a try you'll be bitten by the lace bug. Just start out with something simple, like the Snowdrop Lace Scarf and you'll be yarning over like a pro in no time.

And for the intermediate and advanced lace knitters in our midst, we've assembled a collection of dazzling lace pieces by the best in the field. With choices ranging from traditional Shetland Lace to Faroese Shawls to modern wraps, you'll be hard-pressed to choose just one project this July!

As a little added encouragement, through the month of July all lace projects will be 10% off. Just purchase a lace pattern and yarn together and the discount will be applied when we complete your order. (For customers participating in our Girasole Knit-along, please write "girasole kal" in the Notes section of checkout.)

Take this opportunity to lighten your summer knitting (did we mention that you can make a lace shawl with only 4 oz of yarn?) and challenge yourself. You'll be glad you did.

Thumb through our collection of lace patterns.

All The Rage

MimKnits Patterns

Miriam Felton, designer of Icarus and Seraphim, is known internationally for her creative and modern lace designs.

We're very excited to announce that we're carrying Miriam's five most popular designs, shown left: Cleite (upper right), Icarus (lower right), Juno Regina (lower left), Flutter Scarf (upper left), and the Seraphim Shawl (above).

Knit a set of gossamer wings or a fluttery and flirty scarf. Feel like royalty when you wrap up in the June Regina Stole. Best of all, now you can select everything necessary for a project in one place so you can match the pattern to yarn more easily than ever!

And if you're not already a member of the MimKnits Designs group on ravelry, you will be after completing one of Miriam's patterns!

See what the rage is about.

Staff Picks: Favorite Lace Yarns

You'd expect employees of a knitting store to know about yarn. With that in mind, we held a little staff poll and asked everyone what their favorite lace yarn was. The answers, and reasons why, might just surprise you.

	Habu Tsumugi Silk A-1 Brook's favorite. Why? "Habu's Tsumugi Silk has an elegant texture that is wonderful on its own or held with another yarn. It's awesome for crochet or knitting... and it makes me drool."
	Habu's Cashmere A-34 Jenni's favorite. Why? "Because it's blue." (Don't let her fool you, Habu's Cashmere is a 100% cashmere lace yarn that comes in a rainbow of intensely vibrant colors... including Jenni's favorite color: cobalt blue.)
	Malabrigo Lace Baby Lindsay's favorite. Why? "The colors they offer are great and I love the texture of it."
	ShibuiKnits Silk Cloud Sandy B's favorite. Why? "Because it's so luxurious. Because it has a higher silk content and kid mohair instead of adult, making it softer than other silk/ mohair blends."
	Isager Hoejlandsgarn Sara's favorite. Why? "It's the only Shetland lambswool lace yarn I've found, making it softer texture than other Shetland yarns, plus it comes in an variety of heathers. In fact, I'll be using it to make my Girasole shawl for our upcoming knit-along."

Find your favorite.

Cherry Blossom Shawl

Back in print!

Originally published by Interweave Knits in 2002, this light and airy circular shawl is a sight to behold. Designed by Kristin Spurkland, it offers everything lace knitters crave: a delicate appearance, smooth transitions between stitch patterns, and a simply magnificent finished piece.

Now the focus of the new Cherry Blossom KAL on ravelry, we're offering the pattern for our customers to knit themselves.

Knit your own in Rowan Kidsilk Haze, shown left, or try a smooth yarn like the ones recommended above, and you'll create an heirloom that will be cherished for years to come.

Join in the revelry!