KnittingWorkshop

Favorite Colors Sans Zipper

2011-10-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

This is Will modeling a sweater I recently knit using his favorite colors ( purple, red and green). The pattern is "Will" out of Rowan Junior. I modified it somewhat and originally had a zipper all the way down the front. Will didn't like the zipper, however, so I removed it, picked up along one edge ,knit 2 rows of garter in green, 2 rows of red in stockinette and 2 rows of green in garter. The result is a faux zipper, which he approves of.

Stripes

2011-08-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

This striped top is our original pattern that we will be giving away for the Chicago Area Yarn Crawl starting this Friday. I was inspired by all the cute striped tops I have been seeing this past year as well as the many tops I have seen in this shape over the summer. It is done in lace weight mohair so it is light, airy and super-soft to wear. It has a keyhole on one side that can be worn either in the front or back. And look, even Dylan, our part-time helper, approves!

Trendspotting: Capes

2011-08-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

I have noticed that capes and ponchos are making a comeback for Fall. But unlike the sloppy, hippie-ish ponchos of the last go-round with this style, the ones making an appearance this season are more modern. The cape above is from Rowan 50. With a sleeker, more fitted take on the trend,it is almost like a cardigan. And the armholes make it much more wearable. Below is an example of one from Vogue Knitting. The belt gives it some shape, making a much nicer silhouette.

Very Easy Baby Booties

2011-06-24T14:29:00.001-07:00

These are the perfect baby booties for a beginner knitter. They are simply a square sewn together. Incredibly easy to make and very cute when you add a bow! I knit these out of the Baby Milk by Laines du Nord, a super soft blend of merino wool, milk fiber and cashmere.

Summer Dress

2011-06-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about summer is the dresses. And yes, you can even knit summer dresses! This one from Knit Simple, Spring/Summer '09 is a perfect example. Mary knit it out of Amy Butler's Belle Organic Aran. Because it is a wool/cotton blend, the yarn is light enough for most summer days yet the gauge is big enough that it doesn't take too long to knit.

Pretty in Pink

2011-04-30T09:06:00.000-07:00

Here is another wonderful customer's project. It is knit out of the Rowan Pure Wool Aran. So cute for a little girl for in Spring! Can you believe she knit this in two days?

A Small Change Makes a Big Difference

2011-04-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

Here is another wonderful customer project. It is Olive from Ella Rae Book 13, knit out of Ella Rae Classic (one of our favorites- both the yarn AND the book!). But what makes it so special is that she changed the pattern from the plain stockinette stitch to this pretty stitch pattern. The yarn really brings out the stitch pattern. Beautiful.

Spring Hoody

2011-03-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

Mary knit this hoody out of Ella Rae Amity- a washable, self-striping yarn that is great for kids AND inexpensive. Theo really likes it! There is still plenty of cool weather for your favorite little one to wear this (if you starting knitting it soon. If not, there is always Fall!).

Adorable Baby Dress

2011-03-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

A customer just finished this adorable baby dress. Isn't it too cute with the flower at the waist? I love knit sleeveless dresses for baby girls because they are so versatile. They can be worn year-round, just add a shirt and tights for winter. And as the baby grows into a toddler, add pants or leggings and the dress becomes a top.

Trendspotting

2011-03-04T14:29:00.000-08:00

I recently got the March Anthropologie catalog. I see that hand-knits are still a big presence for Spring. This tank would be a great piece for this season and such a quick knit. I am going to get to work on my version. I will let you know when it is finished!

Knit Yourself a Turban

2011-02-05T09:16:00.001-08:00

I hate to do this, really I do. I never wanted to put a picture of myself up here. But I just knit this awesome turban and I had to share it. It doesn't look very good photographed flat and I couldn't fit it on our display head (curses to my small head!). So there you have it- a picture of me in my new (very warm) turban. I had some Dream in Color classy left over from a sweater and I loved the color so much I wanted to knit a hat out of it. But I wanted a new shape- I did the slouchy beret thing but it was never really for me. I have always been more of a cloche girl (fancy myself a flapper) but knitted ones are tricky. So I got my mind set on a turban (how vintage movie star!). One quick search on Ravelry and I found this pattern- you can find it here.
p.s. Just last night I saw a fashion headline online- "Change your sunhat to a turban this Spring".

Thomas the Tank Engine

2011-01-28T21:38:00.000-08:00

If you have a little boy in your life (or maybe a little girl), chances are you are familiar with Thomas the Tank Engine. And you probably also know that some little boys really, REALLY like Thomas. So I am sure you will understand why it was so important that I get this pillow done and under the tree on Christmas morning for a cetain little boy who is very special to me.

The funny thing is, it wasn't the intarsia that took so much time, it was all those darn one row stripes! What a mess of yarn that was to knit! Ahhh, the things we do for love!

Lovely

2011-01-13T14:37:00.000-08:00

Mary is wearing this today. It is Thoughtful from Louisa Harding's Dream Catcher knit in the Rossetti. It looks so cute on her!

Pretty Capelet

2010-12-30T13:41:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays! I just wanted to share this pretty picture of another Louisa Harding capelet. Isn't the color great?

Another Gift Idea

2010-12-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

These Louisa Harding fingerless gloves are knit out of Hand-Dyed Grace, a beautiful wool/silk blend. These are a quick knit, although not quite as quick as the scarf below. You can most likely get these done in a couple of evenings.

Quick Gift Idea

2010-12-11T12:44:00.000-08:00

This yarn came in yesterday. I knit this scarf today. With only 11 stitches on size 19 needles, it is a very quick knit. This would be a fun gift. We didn't get large quantities so hurry in if you are interested.

Winter White

2010-11-11T16:25:00.000-08:00

Mary has finished another beautiful project. This is Sorrel from Sublime's Wool Merino Tweed. I love the cabled collar. Somehow it gives the vest a cozy, winter look.

Fall Jacket

2010-11-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

Mary knit this jacket for her granddaughter out of Balder- a self-striping, 3 sts. to the inch, WASHABLE and yet still super soft merino wool. Adorable! We have it in a variety of colors, good for kids and adults.

Two Finished Rowan Pieces

2010-10-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

Mary recently finished two Rowan projects. This first one is out of Renew from the Purelife Autumn book. I have included a detail of the stitch pattern, it is gorgeous.

Next is an older project. It was on the cover of last year's Rowan magazine. It is knit in Cocoon. How cozy for a cold winter day!

Some Amy Butler Projects

2010-10-16T05:34:00.000-07:00

We have been excited about Amy Butler yarns and her book, Midwest Modern since it came in mid-Spring. And sure, we had samples from the company that are wonderful. But the garments are always much more satisfying to see when we knit them! Here are two examples of recently finished Amy Butler patterns:

This one I finished recently. It is shaped with short-rows so the construction is a little bit different than your average sweater. I can't wait to wear it!

This is the fabulous striped tunic which I desperately wanted to knit but was unable to narrow it down to two colors (they are all so pretty!). A customer beat me to it. It looks great. This piece is so versatile, I think she is going to wear this all the time.

Some more finished projects

2010-10-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

It is finishing time here at the Knitting Workshop. In spite of our current heat wave, quite of few of us are getting some late Summer/early Fall projects done. This is great because we will be ready when the weather turns cooler. Here are two lovely examples:

First is Dusk from Rowan's Silk Twist Classics. This sweater feels like a dream to wear, it is so soft and comfortable. And what a pretty color!

Below is Bleaklow from Louisa Harding's Little Cake. It is knit out of Thistle. A perfect layer for Fall weather. I just love it.

Check back soon, I will be posting even more finished projects.

Oh baby

2010-09-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

These precious baby sandals are from a new Debbie Bliss book, The Knitter's Year. The book is packed with a variety of small projects that make great gifts. Or, the book would make a very nice gift for any knitter from novice to experienced.

Float

2010-09-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

This is Mary's latest finished project, Float. It is a Louisa Harding pattern from Dreamcatcher.

Chunky Cable

2010-09-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

This is a picture from a recent Allure magazine showing the Prada headband that I wanted to highlight in my last post. For those of you who don't like to wear hats but hate cold ears, this should be your next project. Very simple, very of the moment.

Chunky Cable Sweaters

2010-09-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

This look by Prada for Fall 2010 has been showing up everywhere. My "runway to realway" advice is to choose one chunky cabled piece per outfit. But I think this serves as inspiration. If you are not up for knitting an entire sweater, notice her headband. It is a great way to incorporate the trend in your fall wardrobe with minimal investment in time and money. I hope to have a better picture of this headband soon- please check back.

Simple Shapes

2010-09-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

I love this sample that came in today. It is a pattern from the Tahki book, Seaside Tweed. It is knit in Coast, a heathered wool/cotton blend. It is such a simple shape but so effective. I can see it with a skirt, jeans or even over a dress. I am definitely wearing this tomorrow!

Pretty Little Dress

2010-09-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

This is just so pretty. A customer knit it for her friend's new baby girl. What a beautiful gift. It is Blossom from Louisa Harding's book, Bizoo Bizu and knit in Louisa Harding's Aimee.

New Rowan for Fall

2010-08-19T15:48:00.000-07:00

Just look at these packed shelves! The new Rowan yarns are in and they are fantastic. There are three new yarns- Purelife Renew, Drift and Silk Twist as well as beautiful new colors in our old favorites. And of course, Rowan always has great pattern books- we got quite a few in. Check back soon- we have samples in the new yarns and I will be posting pictures shortly.

Chicago Yarn Crawl 2010

2010-08-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Yarn Crawl has begun and continues until August 22.

There are 21 yarn shops are participating. All you need to do to be a part of it is stop in to any of the participating shops to get a passport. Make sure to get it stamped at each shop you visit for a chance to be entered in the Grand Prize raffle worth over $500. In addition, You’ll receive a 10% discount at each shop, a free shop pattern, and a chance to enter a raffle.

Our raffle prize includes:

a della Q bag
a Knit Couture knit kit
Kaffe Fassett sock yarn
a sock pattern
a pair of bamboo dpn's

See you soon!

Another Great Customer Project or What You Learn In A Class!

2010-08-06T10:44:00.001-07:00

Here is another example of a fantastic customer project. It is the Gathered Cardi from from the Spring/Summer '08 Knit 1. It is a great sweater on its own but what makes this one so special is the flower detail. Our customer recently took our Flower Class and realized that they would look perfect on her newly finished sweater. The colors are so pretty, I absolutely love it! Doesn't it look good enough to be for sale in one of the lovely Bucktown boutiques?

Summer Dress

2010-07-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

This cute dress is in the Knit Simple, Spring/Summer 2010. Mary knit it in Louisa Harding's Jasmine- a bamboo blend. It is hard to see in the picture but there is a tiny bit of silver metallic in the yarn. This is the perfect summer dress!

Back by Popular Demand

2010-07-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

We have brought back our popular flower class. This picture shows some examples of the flowers you can learn to make in the class. This class is always fun and always different. Check it out, Sunday July 18th, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (Please make sure you sign up ahead of time- Thanks!).

New Sock Yarn

2010-06-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

We just received a shipment of Baby Boom from Fiesta Yarns. This a hand-dyed sock yarn is 90% extra fine super wash merino and 10% nylon. It feels wonderful. The color combinations are outstanding. Time to start another pair of socks!

Parsnip

2010-06-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

Often, when a few of us are knitting the same thing, Mary is the first to finish. This was the case with Parsnip, a dress/tunic from Rowan's Purelife Recycled Collection. It is knit out of Revive, one of Rowan's new yarns from this Spring. Revive is a silk/cotton/viscose blend yarn made from completely recycled garments. "Think clean. Knit Green" is the Purelife motto.

The great thing about this yarn is that it is all season. This piece is perfect to wear as a dress now and then layer over pants in the fall. And look at the pleated detail on the sleeve (please excuse the poor photography!). I love the simple style with a little added interest. Now that I have seen this in person, I am even more inspired to finish!

Another Louisa Harding!

2010-06-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

As you can see, we are steadily working our way through this summer's Louisa Harding book. This is Willow from Chinoiserie. It is knit in Fleuris. Such a pretty spring color!

What's New?

2010-05-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

We just got in a new shipment of Mirasol's Tupa, a 50/50 merino wool and silk blend. The yarn has a gorgeous sheen and comes in the most vibrant colors. Right now we are looking through all our dk weight patterns trying to decide what to start. We don't need to start a new project but this yarn is too hard to resist.

Pagoda

2010-05-19T11:22:00.000-07:00

Here is my first finished Summer project- Pagoda from Louisa Harding's beautiful book, Chinoiserie. It is knit in Fleuris, a bamboo/wool blend that is super soft. This was a quick and fairly simple sweater to knit but beware- there is an errata sheet for the pattern. You can find it here.
I think this is a great, wear-over-everything summer sweater that looks equally cute over a summer dress as it does with skinny pants. I plan on wearing it a lot!

A Vest

2010-03-27T10:31:00.001-07:00

I haven't finished a project in a long time. But I finally completed this little boy's vest. It is from Sirdar's Little Sweet Peas. I knit it out of Classic Elite's Moorland. I love this yarn. It has just the slightest varitation of color which makes it so pretty.

Einstein Coat

2010-03-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

Sally Melville's book, The Knit Stitch, is a great resource for any beginning to intermediate knitter. The variety of the patterns she designed using only the knit stitch is absolutely genius. This Einstein Coat is an example. A customer knit it out of Araucania's Nature Wool. It is just adorable.

Better Late Than Never

2010-03-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

This adorable cabled jumper is from the Winter 08/09 issue of Vogue Knitting. Mary knit it out of one of our favorite yarns, Ella Rae Classic. And perfect timing, because this is a great Spring piece.

Just in!

2010-01-22T12:31:00.000-08:00

We just got in a new shipment from Dream in Color. Above is Classy in some pretty spring colors. Below is a new sock yarn- Knitosophy. Such beautiful colors!

Lilly

2010-01-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

This is Lilly from Colourscape Folk. Instead of knitting it in the Colourscape which stripes, I decided it would be pretty in a solid color. So, I knit it out of Rowan's Cocoon.
It is hard to see the detail of the back in the picture, but it is knit in a circle starting at the center back with 8 stitches and increasing out. It was a quick, easy knit and fun to wear.

Wine and Cheese Reception Saturday Night

2009-12-15T18:13:00.001-08:00

Another Cowl

2009-11-20T14:07:00.000-08:00

This cowl is knit out of Fiesta Yarn's 32 degrees. It is a super soft ,hand-dyed yarn that is a baby alpaca, extrafine merino, silk blend. I love this yarn! It is so nice to work with and feels wonderful on.

Trendspotting - Chunky is Big

2009-11-19T14:22:00.000-08:00

These cowls/neckwarmers are from Spratters and Jayne Knitwear and were featured in DailyCandy Chicago earlier this week. They are another example of the chunky cowls we are seeing all over this season. Big knits are huge again. These would be so easy to knit and are a great use of cool buttons if you have any you are dying to use!

Sweetheart

2009-11-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

These delicate fingerless gloves are from Louisa Harding's new book, Queen of Hearts. Mary knit them out of angora for her granddaughter. Isn't the cable heart sweet?

Pretty Lace Sweater

2009-11-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

I love cardigans. They are the perfect extra layer. I think this cardigan is a great example. It is a Louisa Harding pattern. A customer knit it out of Elsebeth Lavold's Bambool. It is a simple shape that is easy to wear. But the lace makes it standout.

Tumbling Blocks

2009-10-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

This is a customer's finished project- a blanket in the tumbling blocks pattern. What a beautiful piece of knitting. I think it speaks for itself.
Here is a detail. Wow.

Trendspotting

2009-10-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

I just got the latest copy of the Anthropologie catalog. There is a lot of knitting inspiration in there. But today, I am focusing on striped sweaters. These two sweaters bring to mind Rowan's Colourscape Chunky or Noro. I am so inspired, I think I am going to start a cardigan out of Colouscape Folk.

Trendspotting

2009-09-25T06:35:00.000-07:00

This Fall, chunky knit cowls are showing up everywhere. Cowls make a lot of sense from a practical point of view- they require no decisions about your favorite method of scarf-tying and stay in place once on. The photo above is from the October issue of Vogue. The photo below is a cowl that I knit up yesterday afternoon from one skein of Twinkle's Soft Chunky. It was super quick- a fast way to update your Fall wardrobe. It is also great for gifts. Plus, the pattern is so simple, it would be easy to change it for a smaller gauge yarn if you would like a softer cowl with more drape to it.

Pretty Little Sweater

2009-09-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

This sweater is from Noro's Designer Mini Knits Two. A customer knit it out of Chirimen, a cotton/silk/wool blend yarn by Noro (of course). I think the colors are just beautiful. It is the perfect little cardigan for Fall days.

Getting Ready For Cold Weather

2009-09-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

There, I said it. The weather is not going to be this beautiful for much longer. Sad? Maybe a little but I have a confession- by this time in the summer, I am so tired of summer clothing, I can't stand it. I start to get really excited for Fall clothes and accessories. I have visions of drinking hot chocolate while walking through colorful piles of leaves and of course, wearing different assortments of hats, scarves and chunky sweaters. This hat is the first hat of the season. I knit it out of a hand-dyed cashmere blend boucle yarn. Boucles seem to be everywhere this Fall. If hand-dyed isn't your thing, we have other boucle yarns in gorgeous solid colors that would be just as fabulous.

T is for.........

2009-09-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

This is Lullabye from Louisa Harding's Bizoo Bizu. The pattern calls for duplicate stitching the initial on the front. But I knit the T in intarsia since I knew I would never finish the sweater if I embroidered it later. Isn't it cute? I can't wait to see Theo in it!

In Progress.......

2009-09-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

Mary has started the lace bodice cardigan from Classic Elite's book, Sunday Brunch. She is knitting it out of angora. Beautiful. I can't wait to see it finished.

Another Louisa Harding Sweater!

2009-07-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

This is Dorothee from Nouveau. Mary knit it very quickly since it only uses 5 skeins of Merletto. If you like to knit lace, this is a great end-of-Summer quick knit. It is a great Summer top, but would also be good for layering in the Fall.

2 More Louisa Harding Projects

2009-07-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

It has been a Louisa Harding summer. I have lost count of how many projects we have all done out of Deco and Nouveau. But it has been a lot. Here are the latest:
This is Rumba from Deco. Mary knit it out of Rowan's Handknit Cotton.

And this is Margeaux from the cover of Nouveau. Mary knit it out of Albero in the colors it is pictured in in the book.

Cute!!

2009-07-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

This is Mary Mary from Louisa Harding's baby book, Bizoo Bizu. A customer knit it for a baby gift. Isn't it absolutely adorable?

The 3- Button Wrap Revisited

2009-07-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

I love it when customers bring in their finished projects. Here is cashmere version of the three-button wrap. It is knitted out one skein of Classic Elite's Embrace. It came out even more gorgeous than I imagined. It feels incredible. It is going to a dream to wear.

Quick Gift Idea

2009-07-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

If you are planning on making your holiday gifts this year, now is the time to start. That way you avoid that panicked knitting that is done on say, Christmas Eve. Trust me, it's no fun. This neckwarmer is a great, not-too-expensive (depending on your choice of buttons!), quick knit gift. I made it out of one skein of Filatura di Crosa's Aiko, a wonderful fuzzy cashmere yarn. And of course, we have the pattern here at the store.

Summer Scarf

2009-07-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

Summer scarves are a great way to update your wardrobe. This ribbon scarf is a quick, easy knit. It is a good project when you want something to knit but you don't want to think too much. I knit it on the bias and pressed it flat so it hangs really well. The pattern is free with purchase.

2009-06-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

6/21/09 = Summer Solstice
6+21+09=36% OFF
Summer Solstice Sale
One day only, Sunday 12 - 5, 36% Off all summer yarn

Art Yarns Kaleidoscope Cashmere Scarf

2009-06-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

Look at this beautiful one-ply cashmere yarn. It is from the new Art Yarns Kaleidoscope Cashmere Crochet Scarf Kits that we just got in. It comes in two color ways, pastels and jewels. This is jewels:

Mary started hers last night. It is so delicate and gorgeous.

Baby Hat Kits

2009-06-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

Look at these adorable baby hats. They are very easy to knit and make great quick gifts. Buy two skeins of yarn for $15 and receive the pattern. The yarns come in other coordinating colors as well. Hurry in for the best selection.

One of those projects....

2009-05-31T11:15:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have a project that you fantasize about while you're working on it? This was one of those projects- while I was knitting I imagined how cute it would be, what I was going to wear with it, and so on. And then I got it all sewn together and well, it doesn't go with anything I imagined. Oh well! It is knit in Tahki's New Tweed, which is a dream to work with. The pattern was fun. I had never knit puffy sleeves before and it is always interesting to see how something like that comes together. Plus it's a tiny little thing so it was a great fast project for some quick satisfaction.

an FO and a lesson

2009-05-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

I finished Samba from from Louisa Harding's Deco. I decided on the short version. It is knit out of Mulberry. I got the ribbon for the straps up the street at Soutache. I love the the ribbon. You can't see it in the picture, but there is a stripe of grey the exact color of the yarn. Overall, I am very pleased with it. But............................(and here comes the lesson).........................

If you look closely, there is a big mistake. See the garter and eyelet rows at the top? Well, that pattern is supposed to be repeated at the bottom of the bust, right before going into the lace pattern. But this is knit top down and I was so excited to be done with the stockingnette and get into the lace, I just skipped a whole chunk of the pattern! And I didn't notice until I was 4 rows before the bind off. Rip out the whole lace portion? I don't think so. So, I have to just live with it and let it serve as a reminder: No matter how much you have knit or how anxious you are to get to the "fun" part of the pattern-- make sure you carefully read the ENTIRE pattern!

Louisa Harding Finished Projects

2009-05-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

Mary just finished two projects from this season's Louisa Harding books-

Salsa from Deco And Sabine from Nouveau.

Beautiful as always.

Knitting For Your Home

2009-05-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for something other than sweaters to knit over the summer, why not consider knitting for your home? There are many decorative accessories that you can make. Look at this beautiful pillow knit by a customer, Beth. It is just simple stripes with a few well placed bobbles. And look at how great it looks! Even the back is pretty. Beth made her own bobble buttons. What a wonderful idea.

New Projects

2009-03-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

It didn't take us long to pick out our projects from the new Louisa Harding Books. In fact, Mary already started Sabine from Nouveau: She also decided on Tango, in these exact colors. I'm sure she'll be starting it soon, she just needs to match the colors to a skirt at home.

I picked out Samba, from Deco. Just one question: Short?

Or long?

It is knit in the round from the top down, so I can start it now and decide later.

New Louisa Harding Books

2009-03-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

The Spring '09 Louisa Harding books, Nouveau and Deco, came in today. There are so many good patterns, we haven't chosen our projects yet. But we will and I'll post them. So check back soon.

Clementina, Take 2

2009-03-21T09:41:00.001-07:00

I also recently finished Clementina from Ella Rae Book 13. It is knit in the Ella Rae Classic. It's such a great yarn! Everyone who is using it really enjoys working with it.

I decided to make the pocket linings in a contrasting color. I had this red left over from the Owl sweater. And when it was all finished, I took it over to Soutache and got these great buttons for it. I just love them. We are lucky to have such a wonderful store for embellishments so close.

A few more finished projects.......

2009-03-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

I guess you can call it Spring Cleaning- we are hard at work finishing our Winter projects so that we can start some more Spring and Summer projects guilt-free. Although, I think I have way more starter's guilt than Mary! This is the Hooded Tunic from the Spring 2007 Knit.1. It doesn't photograph very well because it is black. But I wanted to show it off because it was a TON of knitting, it took forever and I really am happy with the end result. I have worn it often. I knit it out of Nashua's Julia which is an alpaca/mohair/wool blend.

Mary finished two more projects recently. This is Roxana's Jacket from Simply Shetland #5. It is knit in Simply Shetland's Silk and Lambswool doubled. It has a great square collar.

This is De Havilland from Rowan 44, a very simple pattern that is knit in one piece. It is knit out of Kid Classic.

Clementina

2009-03-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

Mary finished Clementina from Ella Rae Book 13. Just in time for Spring!

Rowan 45

2009-02-18T10:33:00.000-08:00

The latest Rowan book is in. We are always very excited when Rowan comes in. As usual, we already have several projects picked out. Here are just a couple:

Create. Donate.

2009-02-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

Although it is warmer lately, there is still a lot of Winter left (I know, I'm sorry I said that). Since there is still going to much time spent indoors, why not use some of your extra yarn to make items for children in foster care and animals in shelters? Until April, we are collecting knitted items for donation to the Department of Children and Family Services and the Anti-Cruelty Society. For more information, please visit http://www.createdonate.org/ .

Only a Grandma Would Do This

2009-02-06T09:18:00.000-08:00

This is Mary's latest finished project:
It is a blanket for her grand-daughter, Grace. Grace was very specific in her request. It had to be a red blanket. With:

a bunny.

a horse.

a hedgehog.

a pug.

a panda.

a penguin.

a golden retriever.

an orange cat on a blue bike.

and perhaps most important- Grace, 2000 (the year she was born).

Grace will treasure this forever. And maybe, just maybe, someday she'll realize exactly how much work this blanket was. Grandma must really love her.

Two More Finished Projects!

2009-01-25T07:55:00.001-08:00

Doesn't it feel good to finish projects that have taken way too long? It feels even better if you are happy with the results. I just finished two long over due projects that I am really happy with. Here they are: This first sweater is "Hank" from RYC Classic Babies. I started it so long ago, I didn't even know if it was for a boy or girl. Now he is 15 months old and it just fits. But it looks so cute on him, he is going to wear it every day until it doesn't fit. I knit it out of an old discontinued yarn but any dk weight yarn would work. We still have the book and plenty of yarn options.

The second sweater is a Penny Straker pattern. I just think the owls,which are made from cables, are so adorable. This didn't take long to knit at all. I used the Ella Rae Classic which is such a dream to work with. And very inexpensive! This sweater was under $20 to knit. But it took too long because I hate to sew on buttons and this called for 16 tiny buttons for the eyes (and that's not even counting the 5 for the front placket). It looks great on my son, though, and I think he's worth sewing on a few buttons for!

Swing Jacket

2009-01-24T06:51:00.000-08:00

This is Mary's latest finished project. It is the swing jacket from the Noro book, Jenny Watson #3. It's knit in Kureyon. Aren't the colors great?

A Great Easy Project

2008-12-14T15:47:00.000-08:00

This three-button wrap is a great, very simple project. It is just a large rectangle with one buttonhole and three buttons. You can wear it in any number of ways. I photographed two. You can just pull it over your shoulders like a shawl when you are chilly. Fasten the bottom button to show off all three. Like this:Or, toss it over a shoulder and button it like this:

Just look at what a beautiful neckline that makes.

Mary knit this in Plymouth's Alpaca Boucle. My photography doesn't do the yarn justice- it is a gorgeous heathered green with a tight looped boucle. Like all alpaca, it is very soft and very warm but lightweight even though it is a little bit chunky. It is a fairly quick knit for any fast knitters still looking for a holiday gift to knit.

'Tis the Season

2008-11-30T11:17:00.000-08:00

Join us

Saturday, Dec. 6

for a

Holiday Celebration and Sale
25% off all yarns

10% off needles and books

and Refreshments!

Oh no, another project!

2008-11-14T14:30:00.000-08:00

We just got in the new Ella Rae book today.
I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK.

These are my three favorite sweaters:

I need to start one of these sweaters but I need an excuse. So, does anyone want to start a knit-along? Pick a sweater and let's knit it together! As always for our knit-alongs, we are offering 20% off the yarn for the project.

For Men Only

2008-10-16T11:34:00.001-07:00

We just got this great cashmere scarf kit in from Jade Sapphire designed especially for men. With seven patterns and a choice of seven manly colors with names such as GQ Green, Burly Blue, Five O'Clock Shadow, each scarf will be one he'll be proud to wear. This is a great holiday gift- both as a knit scarf for a non-knitter or as a kit for a knitter.
And by the way, I don't actually think these need to be limited to men only.

Doggie Knits Book Event

2008-09-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

A very big thanks to Corinne Niessner, author of Doggie Knits, Sweaters and Accessories for Your Best Friend. She was in on Saturday helping our customers learn to measure their dogs for a perfect fitting knit sweater. She also brought in samples from her book for the dogs to try on. We had a great time. I even got a couple of pictures of the dogs trying on some samples. What wonderful models! I can't believe how patient they were while being dressed. Don't they look adorable?

Above: Dobby is trying on a work in progress.

Below: Camille and Dobby are modeling some samples.

Sidewalk Sale- Saturday and Sunday, August 23 and 24

2008-08-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

It's SIDEWALK SALE time again. This time we are going to stay inside. But we are still going to have tons of great deals. Come in and see what we have in our $2 bins. Stop by early for the best selection.

Fall Colors

2008-08-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Although I am way past school age, every Fall I still get that "shopping for school clothes" excitement. I love the rich, dark colors of Fall. I just love the way the yarns look on the shelf. The picture above is of old favorites Silk Garden and Kureyon by Noro. As always, Noro outdid themselves with colors in interesting, wonderful combinations this season. Below I have pictured "The Chunkies"-- Twinkle's Soft Chunky (new for us!) and Gedifra's Highland Alpaca. Chunky knits are huge for Fall. There are books that feature both yarns with very fashion-foward patterns. The patterns using chunky yarns have become much more interesting than seasons past. Once again, the only problem is how to decide on a manageable number of projects to work on!

New Yarns Are Starting to Arrive!

2008-07-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

The Fall yarns are starting to come in and they are wonderful. Pictured above is Rowan's British Sheep Breeds wool. It is un-dyed and comes in 5 colors that are from 5 different sheep breeds. There is a great pattern book that goes along with the yarn. There are several good men's patterns in it which I find can be hard to come by.
The other new yarn that came that we are excited about is Colourscape Chunky by Kaffe Fassett. It is a gorgeous striping yarn in color ways that are classic Kaffe. There is also a pattern book for this yarn. Several people have already started the side to side knit vest. Hurry in for the best color selection- this yarn is selling fast!

Finish Your Projects!!

2008-07-18T12:47:00.001-07:00

Okay- it is time to finish up what you are working on because the Fall is starting to come in and it looks like it is going to be a great knitting season. To kick the season off, we just got in Rowan #44 and it is beautiful. Most of the yarn isn't in just yet but it is on the way. So get knitting and be ready to start something new!

SUMMER SALE!!!!!!!

2008-07-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

Our SUMMER SALE starts today. All summer yarns are 40% off. Now is the time to come in and get that project you've been thinking about. The sale goes through Sunday, July 13th.

Just In!

2008-06-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

We got a new shipment of Art Yarns Silk Rhapsody Glitter today. It is so beautiful. It is a blend of 50% silk and 50% kid mohair with a metallic running through. Just look at these hand-painted colors:

We Are Excited To Show Off Some Finished Projects!

2008-06-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

We have been quite productive lately. Mary, of course, more than most. She has recently finished two very cute projects from the new summer books. The first (right) is a tunic from Sublime, made from their Soya Cotton. The yarn is really nice to work with. It makes a fabric with a great drape and the color is beautiful. It is a simple pattern and is good for those of you who want to make something easy for the summer.

Mary finished the second project (left) in an impressive amount of time. It is a dress from Louisa Harding's Summer Classics. It is done out a Mariposa, a viscose/cotton blend with a slight sheen. This is slightly more complicated since it is a lace pattern for those who want a bit of a challenge.

And finally, I want to show off my finished project, even though it took me nearly 3 years to finish and it is a discontinued yarn. It is a beaded sweater from an old Rowan. I am really pleased with it. I just love the color which was called Klein (as in Yves Klein which I think is why I love it so much- it's the art history major in me!).

Check back soon- I'll show you what we're working on.

Addi Lace Needles

2008-05-23T10:55:00.001-07:00

We just got in a shipment of Addi Lace needles. These needle are perfect for lace for several reasons.
Here's a quick list:
1) The tip is just the exact right amount of pointy.
2)The red cable makes it easier to see your stitches.
3)The needles are coated to create a small amount of drag so that the needle isn't quite as slippery as the regular Addi's.

Everyone who has tried these needles, loves them. These are a must have for avid lace knitters. Read the review of these needles on Knitter's Review. http://www.knittersreview.com/article_tool.asp?article=/review/product/070215_a.asp .

Rosalie Knit Along

2008-05-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

We have finally set the date for the Rosalie Knit Along. We are starting Saturday, May 17th at 2 p.m. I'm not quite sure how many people are participating, but we definitely have room for more. There is still time to join in. Remember- there is a 20% discount on the yarn for the project (just in case you need a little more incentive!). Also- if you are not into the idea of a knitted skirt, the pattern also can be made into a cape which is just as beautiful.

I'm Ready for the Farmer's Market, Are You?

2008-05-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

This summer I promise that I am going to the Farmer's Market more often. I think that this market bag will inspire me to do so. It is such a bright happy color. Plus, it is really big and stretchy, so I know it will hold A LOT. It was a very quick and easy knit. If you start now, you can be ready for the markets, too. Hurry, the Green City Market starts on Wednesday! Stop in this weekend, the pattern is free.

Also- here's a quick Fall preview:

I know Summer hasn't even here, but we are already starting to buy yarn for Fall. Opal sock yarn has a new Harry Potter line coming out around the same time as the movie. So all of you Harry Potter fans, get ready! There will some fun promotional events happening with the launch of the yarn. I'll keep you posted as we learn more.

There are other exciting things coming for Fall, but I let you know more later. After all, we still have Summer coming and I don't want to get too far ahead of it!

Rosalie KAL Sample Is Finished!

2008-04-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

Mary finished Rosalie so that the KAL group could see one in person before we officially start. It really is beautiful. Come in and see it, you might just be inspired to participate in the KAL.

We Are Tired But Still Have More Celebrating To Do

2008-04-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to our Bobmas Eve party. We had a great time. I'm really terrible about photographing events, but I did bring my camera. These are the only two pictures I took. I apologize as they are not very good. You can find better ones on Ravelry.

I also took some pictures of the new store for those of you who can't make it in soon. (Yammyknits? Are you reading this? I'm talking about you!)

Don't forget to come in this weekend for our official Grand Opening. We are giving away free tote bags with every purchase while they last. The weather is supposed to be bad, so sitting at the table knitting is a great way to spend the weekend. I think we will start the Knit-Along for Rosalie from Louisa Harding's Dauphine book. If you are interested in participating, we are offering 20% off the yarn for the project.

Party Tonight!

2008-04-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

We hope you can all come to our Ravelry Bobmas Eve party tonight. We have been working hard on the new store and are very excited to be hosting a party. There will be food and prizes and of course, it will be tons of fun. The weather is nasty but it is warm and dry in here.
If you are not a member of Ravelry, come anyway. You can talk to members and find out what it is all about. It is such a great way to see what everyone else is working on as well as to show off your favorite projects. You might just decide to join.

Our Current Obsession

2008-04-02T16:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we opened the new Louisa Harding. This is one of her mid-season books, Dauphine. It is so beautiful. There are many things in there we want to make but the one that really got us excited was this skirt knit out of Impressions and Kimono Ribbon Pure doubled. The only problem is that a color choice needs to be made. Knit-along anyone?

Details, Details, Details

2008-04-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

There are so many things to update you on-- where should we start? The opening of our new store took a little longer than expected because there are always those last minute details that need to be taken care of- phone, lights... the kind of things that we can't do without and of course never happen right the first time. So we have pushed back the opening a few days to Wednesday, April 9th. We promise, promise, PROMISE that is the day. We have been working so hard on the new store and are really proud of it. We think it was worth the wait and hope you will, too.

And of course, what would a Grand Re-Opening be without some festivities? We are excited to be hosting a party on Thursday, April 10th for Bobmas Eve, the celebration of Ravelry's first year. We will have wine, cheese, and prizes. If you are a member of Ravelry, you are invited to join our Ravelry group, Friends of the Knitting Workshop. Not only is it another way to for us to keep you updated but also for you to connect with other Knitting Workshop customers. Share your projects, get ideas for yarn in your stash, be inspired and inspire others. If you are not a member of Ravelry, try it out, it's lots of fun.

On Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13, we will be having our own celebration for our Grand Opening. There will be food and fun all weekend. We will be giving out Knitting Workshop tote bags with purchase while they last.

And of course, we had to end with a little taste of our new Spring yarns. Green is hot and natural is the way to go. This season, there are several choices. We have organic cottons form Rowan and Sublime. And these two yarns here:

Sublime Soya Cotton- 50% Soy and 50% Cotton, dk weight in soft, spring-like colors. We got in great pattern books to go with it.

Mermaid by Fibranatura- 42% cotton, 35% merino superwash, 12% silk and 11% seacell in an array of jewel tones. This yarn feels great.

See you all soon in our new location. We hope you can make to our celebrations.

The Final Week

2008-03-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

This is the last week of The Knitting Workshop Lincoln Park. We feel a little sad to be leaving since we've been here for so long. But we are so excited about our new location. We are busy coming up with ideas for the new store. It is already starting to come together (just a little!) and it looks great. The new neighborhood is fantastic (which is going to be trouble for those of us who like to shop). And of course, we are frantically knitting so we have something to wear for our opening celebration. We will keep you posted on all of the details.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, don't forget there is still time left for some HUGE bargains. Our sale continues until Saturday, March 22.

2008-03-06T14:12:00.000-08:00

MOVING SALE!!!!

As you have probably heard by now, we are moving to Bucktown in April. To make our move a little easier, we are having a HUGE sale until March 22. We have some great deals going. Here's a quick list: Anny Blatt and Maggi's Knits are 75% off; Regia sock yarn is 70% off; Gedrifa, Manos del Uruguay, Fiesta and Tahki/Stacy Charles are 50% off; Noro and Rowan are 40% off, Debbie Bliss and Louisa Harding are 35% off. Things are going fast, so hurry in while we still have yarn left.