Petaluma is an elegant and versatile top-down tee, an instant classic for your summer wardrobe. I love the sweet little details of this boxy tee: from its tailored shoulder shaping to its generous neckline. This top will be your go-to summer garment!
Petaluma is designed with Quince & Co Sparrow (which is re-stocked), my go-to summer yarn – my summer “store uniform” is made with Sparrow. Sparrow is the best linen I’ve ever come across – its machine washable (I put it in the dryer on low heat), soft, comfortable durable, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sweaters I’ve made with it. This top is worked on small needles, so the tension is tight enough that you won’t have to wear a cami under it.
Tee is worked seamlessly from the top-down, beginning with the upper back and front, worked flat, and then joined in the round below the armholes. Sleeve stitches are picked up around the armhole and sleeves are worked in the round. The shoulders and sleeve caps are shaped using German short rows. This design features tailored shoulder shaping, in which the shoulder ‘seams’ are shifted towards the back of the body.
We finished this wrap last month, but then we sold through the yarn and I had to wait for our re-stock before blabbing about it to you (we now have plenty on hand now).
I decided to give the Nightshift wrap by Andrea Mowry a warmer weather makeover and a little bit of streamlining! The pattern is pretty straightforward and well written – the colourwork is done with slipped stitches, a simple technique anyone can pick-up, and the edges are worked as you go, so there is minimal finishing. We used Berroco Summer Sesame, a soft, light-weight, machine washable, and easy to work with cotton blend yarn with an ombre colourway and a bit of texture that gives it a bit of dimension.
The original pattern uses 6 different colourways of a gradient yarn, so I simplified things a bit by using only 2 colours Berroco Summer Sesame, and leveraging its natural ombre colour gradation. The substitution served a few functions:
The colours took care of themselves, we didn’t need to pay attention to colour changes: the main colour (background) is 5250 Sand, the contrast (bumps & blips) is 5252 Kaleidoscope.
It made following the pattern simpler. We started with the set-up section, then just repeated section 1 nine times.
We didn’t need to use 6 different colours of yarn, which cut the cost of the project in half and brought it into a comfortable & affordable range.
You don’t have to worry about choosing the wrong colours. Using 5250 Sand as the background, you can choose any of the other colours of Berroco Summer Sesame and they’ll look great together. If you want a darker background I think either 5242 Ocean or 5238 Orchid would look great as the main colour with 5250 Sand as the contrast colour (the inky blue of Ocean sets my heart aflutter … dark blue can be such an effective non-neutral).
The aesthetic is very wearable. You can gift this and anyone can wear it. The yarn is also suitable for vegans and anyone who has allergies to animal products.
There are fewer ends to weave in!
Size/Dimensions
55″/140cm wide (tip to tip, measured across top)
31″/79cm deep
Materials
Berroco Summer Sesame: 2 skeins 5250 Sand, 1 skein 5252 Kaleidoscope. If you want to make your wrap larger I recommend getting an extra ball of each colour (ie. MC: 3 balls, CC: 2 balls).
The discount will be automatically applied at check-out and can not be combined with any other discounts, sales, or offers. Discount does not apply to special orders or pre-orders. The sale starts April 30th, 2022 at 12am and ends April 30th, 2022 at 11:59pm.
Here’s what’s included: Derecho in RemixCinca in MantraAliisa in Pima 100Davit in QuinoaMaldives in MedinaMaxim in Remix
Meet the Twig & Horn Sock Sizing Ruler, designed with your sock knitting needs in mind! Whether you’re working toe up or cuff down, it makes it easy to tackle your next sock project with accuracy and precision. The Sock Sizing Ruler features a center slot opening that’s perfect for measuring as you knit—simply slip the ruler into your sock, peek through the middle, and make sure both the front and back are level and at the same height.
A carefully drilled hole at the top of the ruler enables you to:
Hold stitch markers
Hang the ruler for storage
Keep stitch holders close at hand
Work with multiple yarns (e.g. for colorwork); you can tag the colors and tie them through the hole to use as reference
Stay organized! (keep needed tools close at hand)
Intuitive design meets a clean, modern aesthetic with beautiful graphics, cleanly labeled measurements, and shoe sizing guides for your reference. The Sock Sizing Ruler is crafted using high-quality MDF board made with 100% recycled/recovered, FSC certified wood content. Eco-friendly, yet sturdy in construction, this ruler stands the test of time and holds up to plenty of use without warping or cupping.
Product Details:
Measures in both metric & inches
Center slot opening allows for a more accurate measurement
European shoe sizing on the left, and US men/women on the right
Rounded at the bottom, so it can fit into the heel from either the top or the toe
Crafted from high-quality MDF board made with 100% recycled/recovered, FSC certified wood content
Made in the USA
How to Use:
Use the center slot opening to measure as you knit—simply slip the ruler into your sock, peek through the middle, and make sure both the front and back are level and at the same height.
For knitting toe-up, use this ruler to measure:
From toe to start of heel
From finished heel to start of cuff
Length of cuff
For knitting cuff-down, use this ruler to measure:
Length of cuff
From top of cuff to start of heel flap
From finished heel to start of decrease for toe
Additionally, you can use the ruler as a quick reference for measuring gauge as well as referencing shoe size.
ntuitive design meets a modern aesthetic with our Wraps Per Inch Tool! We chose to make it with an eco-friendly Fibrex MDF board made with 100% recycled/recovered, FSC certified wood content—the same material you’ll find matches the rest of their collection. Next, we added a tiny notch on the left side bottom so that you can easily catch and wrap yarn. A carefully drilled hole at the top can be used to hang it for storage, attach it to a project tote project tote. And to top it all off, we’ve snuck in an original Twig & Horn sheep graphic—just to show people how serious you are about yarn!
Using a classic method of establishing yarn weight, you can easily identify ‘mystery yarns’ in your stash without the stress of hunting down original labels.
Product Details:
Size: 1.75” x 5”
Made in the USA
Here are two (easy) ways to use the Wraps Per Inch Tool:
From the Top: Visually identify yarn weight by laying it across the horizontal grooves and matching the width of the groove to the width of a single strand of yarn.
To the Bottom: Use the lower portion as a traditional wraps per inch tool. Insert the end of the yarn into the left-hand notch to help keep it in place, then wrap carefully horizontally, making sure each wrap is placed next to the previous one, and the yarn is not pulled too tight. The number of wraps that fit within the marked 1” area translates to the numbers on the upper part of the tool (WPI- wraps per inch)
Newly refined and better than ever, Twig & Horn square gauge rulers are crafted using high-quality MDF board made with 100% recycled/recovered, FSC certified wood content. This eco-friendly option stands the test of time and holds up to plenty of use without warping or cupping.
Each ruler is long enough to measure a 4″ or 10 cm swatch, and built with a needle gauge in US and metric sizes from 0 – 15 US [2 – 10 mm].
Lopi Blankets
For reasons related to COVID and international manufacturing, shipping and distribution delays, we ended up with a couple of surplus Lopi Blankets in stock. We only have one of each of the two styles shown (above & below), and we don’t expect to be taking the next round of pre-orders until August.
Lopi ready-made blankets are gorgeous, heirloom pieces for your home or cottage. They’re perfect in the living room, or at the end of the bed, and also make beautiful gifts. Made of Icelandic wool, they are extremely durable, lightweight, breathable and warm. The fabric is additionally combed after weaving to make it softer (they tend to feel a bit like a fluffier version of the Hudson Bay Blanket). The blankets come in various patterns and all are reversible. We also have a sample in store for you to see and feel.
You’re invited to Pom Pom’s yarn party! Issue 41 marks their 10th birthday and they have a host of jubilant and celebratory designs which radiate all the joy they feel on this landmark occasion! This rare bumper edition of Pom Pom Quarterly contains 13 designs for warm and cool climes, so no matter where you live in the world, there’s handmade party outfits aplenty within its pages.
This is their most collectable edition yet! Not only is this unique issue split into warm and cool patterns, they’ve gone all out with a flip double cover. This is also the first issue printed in their new larger format! Expect lush photographic spreads and more room for patterns – something you’ve told them they could work on! They’ve also permanently increased their page count to bring you even more Pom Pom! Over the last decade(!), they’ve had the absolute honour of working with some of the most creative and inspirational people in the fibre world, and they invited a handful of them to contribute to this extraordinary summer collection!
Featuring designs by: ISA CATEPILLÁN // SARI NORDLUND // INYOUNG KIM // MARIE RÉGNIER // GINA FAMA RÖCKENWAGNER // DAWN HENDERSON // AMALIA SIEBER // XANDY PETERS // SYLVIA WATTS-CHERRY // KIYOMI + SACHIKO BURGIN // JAMES N WATTS // AINUR BERKIMBAYEVA
What’s more, Issue 41 comes complete with party favours in the form of two articles and a recipe! Atsushi Futatsuya writes about cultural appropriation and the practice of Sashiko, and Atia Azmi’s ‘A Crafter’s Guide to London’ is a wonderful tribute to the vibrant city in which Pom Pom was founded. Dee Omole shares her recipe for the most stunning white chocolate madeleines we’ve ever seen – we’re sure these would make a statement centerpiece at any shindig. So grab your knitting needles and crochet hooks and celebrate!
With the purchase of your magazine, you can access a digital copy via Ravelry using the download code printed on the inside cover of the magazine from the release date.
IN STOCK. Contrasts: Textured Knitting by Meiju K-P
I’m in the Dominican Republic this week … but I promise I’m still thinking of you! While I’m gone, here’s a popular favourite ….. the four points blanket is a great project all year round. It’s available in both knit and crochet, and you can make it in a baby blanket size or as a throw. It’s a simple composition and can be made in a number of different yarn options. The patterns are free, so you can read them over and see if they work for you without committing. If you want something a bit more jazzy, try the Easy Puzzle Blanket, which uses 6 colours.
MODIFICATIONS
use 3.75mm/US5 to 4mm/US6 needles
for a crib (throw) size cast on approximately 140(204) sitches. You will pick up & knit the same number of stitches.
Berroco Vintage Baby is a new yarn that just cam out this spring. It’s very similar to it’s sibling Vintage DK, but it has a slightly silkier texture and comes in 50g balls. It’s soft, easy to work with, machine washable, reliable and is generally great on both the skin and the wallet. The yarns in the Vintage line are a blend of wool and synthetic, and generally work well for people with sensitive skin. We carry this yarn all year.
KNIT 4 Points Baby: 3 skeins in each of 4 colours ($59.64)
KNIT 4 Points Throw: 5 skeins in each of 4 colours ($99.40)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw: 7 skeins in each of 4 colours ($139.16)
Berroco Vintage DK is a staple around here, we sell tons of it for every kind of project for babies, grown-ups, and everything in-between. It’s soft, easy to work with, machine washable, reliable and is generally great on both the skin and the wallet. The yarns in the Vintage line are a blend of wool and synthetic, and generally work well for people with sensitive skin. We carry this yarn all year.
KNIT 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($159.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.76)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($159.52)
For several years Cascade Ultra Pima has been the go-to yarn for these projects. Its silky soft texture is seductive, and it’s ideal for babies as it’s machine washable, allergy-friendly and excellent for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), and comes in a bunch of great colours.
KNIT 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($95.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($191.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($95.76)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($191.52)
I am so thrilled to be again be carrying Studioloo’s Handspun – this product epitomizes SPECIAL! No two skeins are alike – each skein is inspired by its own theme and style. Different fibres and decorations are incorporated into the spinning process, making each skein a true work of art. Most of the skeins are quite large and are enough to make a cowl or scarf. You can also integrate a ‘regular’ yarn into your project to make the handspun go further. Little inclusions (toys, flowers, needle felts, other goo-gaws) are often spun right into the yarn, and are meant to be knitted into the project. This product epitomizes special!
Note: all skeins have different yardage, weight, fibre content, and each is individually priced. Most are bulky weight, but there is no suggested needle size or tension. All Studioloo Handspun yarns are available in-store and are final sale.
Handspun Art Yarn Cowl
The first thing people say when they see Studioloo Handspun Art Yarn is “What do you make with it?” The quantities are generous and the yarn generally does all the work, but there is still room to play around. I like the idea of using an art yarn as a launch-pad and expanding on the aesthetic with a different texture, colour, or both. This is also a great way to make the most of handspun yarn if you only have a small amount, or you definitely don’t have enough for a full scarf or cowl.
With this pattern I’ve started with a skein of Studioloo Handspun Art Yarn, knitted it in a simple garter stitch, which really makes the different colours and textures in the yarn pop. Then I finished the project with a contrasting commercial yarn (Cascade Spuntaneous) with a slightly different tension and stitch pattern (K2P2 rib). I decided to keep the colour between the two yarns consistent (beige) for the sake of simplicity, but I normally like a little contrast (I was thinking or cream or even navy blue as alternate choices). Both yarns are a single ply, but the Cascade Spuntaneous is thicker and loftier, and knits on larger needles.
New, from the noggin of Studioloo (aka. Cindy Cole) is Studioloo Handspum LED Art Yarn! If Art Yarn and a Christmas Tree had a baby, this is what you’d probably get. LED Art Yarn would make a very cool addition to weaving projects, especially wall hangings, or a fun cowl or hat for cold-weather outings like Nuit Blanche, Halloween, or just your regular pub-crawl.
LED Art Yarn is available in different lengths (10m, 5m, 1.8m, & 1m). Because it’s spun together with LED lights, I don’t think it should be submerged in water, nor should it be cut (well, you can, but then the lights won’t work).
PRE-ORDER: This is a special pre-order. Your book will be available for pick-up or will ship on the bool launch date, May 6, 2022.
Laine Issue 14: Summer 2022, is inspired by the light Nordic summer nights – gentle, delicate and carefree. Our beloved summers are so short and sweet, that even the wee small hours feel too precious to spend asleep. The 10 designs featured in our summer collection embody that summer night’s magic and explore colourwork, texture and delicate details.
Designers featured in this issue: Isabella Clark, Evgeniya Dupliy, Lindsey Fowler, Katrine Hannibal, Ema Marinescu, Claudia Quintanilla, Maria Walters and Sylvia Watts-Cherry.
148 pages
10 knitting patterns, beautifully photographed and illustrated (both charts and written instructions provided)
an interview with knitwear designer Aleks Byrd whose debut book is published in May 2022 by Laine Publishing
an article about Sisters United
an article about vegan knitting
a column about the challenge of running into a creative rut by our regular columnist Päivi Kankaro
a column about how to find comfort in learning a new craft by our regular columnist Jeanette Sloan
Hey! We are going to be closed off & on for a few days, to accommodate some much-needed R ‘n R.
Upcoming Store Hours
Friday April 15 (Easter Friday & Passover): CLOSED
Saturday April 16: 12pm to 6 pm
Sunday April 17 (Easter Sunday): CLOSED
Monday April 18 (Easter Monday): CLOSED
Tuesday April 19 to Saturday April 23: 12 pm to 6 pm
Sunday April 24: CLOSED
Monday April 25: CLOSED
If you need to get you some Haley time, please pop by April 12, 13, or 14, otherwise, I’ll see ya again on the 26th!
Housekeeping
As masks come off and infection rates go up, we in the store continue to keep our masking policy in place. Last time a lot of you reached out to let us know you supported that choice, and I’m really grateful for that. Everything has been working nicely with the masks, and it looks like there is no reason to change that, so we aren’t. If you come to the store but forget your mask, that’s ok, we have lots on hand, for both adults and children.
I know that people are all over the map on masking and COVID protocols, etc, it’s definitely a spectrum. When I find myself falling into a negative frame of mind, especially if it involves blame or “Bad Othering” of any kind, I try to remind myself that we’ve all experienced some form of trauma from the pandemic experience, we’re all burned out from some aspect of it. Our common humanity is a stable place to ground when life feels out of balance.
Not only is Brene’s new book out on paper, kindle and audiobook, but HBO has brought it to TV too (streaming on CRAVE in Canada)! The audiobook is cool, it’s narrated by the author and as a dyed-in-the-wool teacher, she throws in lots of extra stuff and repeats important content to catch your attention. The TV show illustrates her points with TV and movie clips, and includes audience interaction by the third episode.
Whatever way you consume it, ‘Atlas of the Heart’ dives deep into human emotions to give us a foundation in what our feelings really mean. Apparently, language is really important when it comes to feeling our feelings. According to the research, there are 2 parts to the process of experiencing an emotion: feeling it and naming it. Once we give it its label, that’s what it becomes … so best to make an informed decision about what you’re signing yourself up for. Having a lexicon of emotions is also really important for communicating feelings with other people … a very necessary part of human connection, which we indisputably all need. Life is about relationships and we’re here to experience emotions … the clearer you are on them the more meaningful your connections can be.
Many years ago I almost accidentally barrelled into Sarah Polley in a Whole Foods – I was distracted by pretty displays, and being very petite, she was out of my tall-girl line of sight. This was a major oversight on my part because she is someone who you’ll regret overlooking. I read the book on Audiobook, and it was superbly narrated by herself. She has an artist’s perception and skill combined with academic critical and analytical skills, so she’s basically wicked smart and down to earth. The book is a memoir written as a series of essays. She examines trauma, but she somehow manages to go to dark places without downloading any shame or fear onto the reader. Her story is fascinating and moving, and I found myself learning about myself from each chapter of her life. Thank you for sharing Sarah, and I apologize for almost smooshing you, that small package holds a formidable soul.
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
My current Media crush is Jonathan Van Ness, who you may know as the master of grooming from Queer Eye (and before that Gay of Thrones). After bingeing the 6th season of Queer Eye, I fell down a major JVN rabbit hole; I was feeling twinges of resistance to him on the show, which means it’s time to lean into that energy and explore what I’m resisting in myself. It turns out, this dude is AWESOME! He’s had a podcast, “Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness”, since 2016, where he talks to smart, interesting, passionate people about all manner of things. The podcast then expanded into a TV show of the same title streaming on Netflix, which is fun, funny, thought-provoking, and accessible to everyone (sometimes he swears, but I still think it’s a good watch for my 8 & 11-year-old niece & nephew). His new book comes out today, which is at the top of my to-download list. He may come off as fluffy, but don’t mistake his authentic joy and complete self-acceptance for an empty head, he is far, far from an empty vase. JVN is a great example of the true magnificence of unconditional self-love in full bloom, as is my admiration.
