You may remember hearing about a fabulous workshop we had before the holidays with Sharon Brant of Rowan.  I learned so much from this session and I know all who attended did as well.  For those of you who weren’t able to attend, we wanted to share a bit of our wonderful experience with Sharon here with you.

Our customers are very familiar with Rowan and was are tremendous fans at the shop, but can you give us your perspective on what makes Rowan such a special force within our industry and maybe tell us something we might not know about Rowan?

Everybody that works on the design and marketing are just as passionate as the consumers. We often wonder why, I think it was born as a very personal company and we have been lucky enough that Coats have allowed us to keep the ethos of the company even though we are part of a huge global company. I also think it is the detail of styling and briefs that make the seasonal stories so special.

Rowan has always been know for being on the cutting edge of the industry and birthing new fabulous designers. Can you tell us about some of the new and exciting developments at Rowan and any of the new designers that are on your watch list?

We work very closely with the universities and their tutors to make sure we find the new fresh talent. We also have key consultants in the industry that make sure the young designers make themselves known to us.

Your new book “The Ultimate Knitting Bible” has become one of my new favorite go too books.  Can you give readers a bit of insight as to what makes this book different and what you were hoping to achieve with this publication?

This was a reaction to all the workshops I do around the world. I have been asked so many times, “Do I have all of my tips written down somewhere?” Can you come home with me?” This is for those people. I have tried to keep it clear and simple to follow. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did for putting it together.

The workshop you just ran at the shop “How to suit a garment to you” was so fantastic and I learned a lot about how I should approach a project for myself.  What would be the one or two purls of wisdom you might give readers when they approach creating a garment for themselves?

Take time to get the tension right and make samples so you know you are going to like the finished piece. Be brave and try something new prepared that you may have to do it again with all the things you learn form not getting quite right the first time.

Also, it was so exciting to hear about some of the work you’ve done outside of Rowan for film knitwear costume design.  Can you give A Yarn Tale readers a bit of insight as to what your experience has been like in creating knitwear for some films?

Working with the films is so much fun but also quite demanding due to the timings. Working on Phantom of the Opera was my absolute favourite as it linked History and knitting. the detail they go down to is amazing and when you watch the film you wonder why? but it is all those fine details that make wonderful historical stories.

Working on the designs are fun and exciting but the challenge comes once you have produced some obscure piece and they say they love it and then need 6 identical pieces! Have a look at Luna’s jacket in Harry Potter and think of my poor mother who had to copy every single fringe in the same colour pattern as the original I made. (She loves me!!!)

Purchase Sharon’s latest book, The Ultimate Knitting Bible, here.

We had an amazing time last Friday night, March 5th, with Jane and Ken from Jade Sapphire for our Cashmere and Cocktails event.  If you haven’t squished Jade Sapphire yarn yet, you simply must.  It’s amazingly beautiful.

Jane and Ken only embarked on this expedition with Jade Sapphire seven years ago because of a lack of access to cashmere yarns for knitting and now are the leading distributor of cashmere yarns for hand knitting in the U.S.

This is Jane, talking to some of our customers about yummy cashmere

We asked Jane why the yarns are labeled by the ply of the yarn, e.g. 2ply, 4ply, 8 ply, etc., rather than by gauge.  she explained to us that she didn’t want to limit knitters and “knit them into a box” so speak by dictating the needle size.  Above she was showing off a long swatch where she knit with the 4 ply from a size 3 needle all the way up to a 10 and the fabric performed beautifully on all.

This is Ken, talking to us about where the cashmere comes from.

Ken and Jade recently visited the region where the cashmere yarn comes from and visited the facilities where it’s process to understand not only the process and quality, but to make sure the goats were happy and healthy as well as the workers in the plants.  What a great company huh?  Squishly yarns that are also socially conscious.

Just a glimps of garments on display during the event

Can you imagine having this many cashmere scarves?

It was a full house that night.  Thanks to everyone who attended the event.  You walked away with some fabulous cashmere, some new info, and hopefully it a great time.

Thanks everyone!

Two updates: We were so excited about squishing cashmere and talking to folks we forgot about door prizes!  So I’ll be drawing from the list of folks who attended and will call you if you win a prize!  Seriously isn’t that awesome!

Also, many customers have since asked where I purchased those AMAZING cupcakes. They were from Kiss Ass cupcakes in Somverville and were all gluten free because I’m a Celiac!

Some of you may be familiar with the Knit Kit, but if you’re not, you simply must get one and get one fast.  These little gems are the “Swiss Army knife” of knitting and are due to be featured on the Martha Stewart show as the craft item of the week!  Congrats to the KnitKit for the fab achievement and for being a staple in our lives.

All the goodies inside, complete with TSA approved scissors

We now stock two colors, black and the new and improved teal.  The teal retails for a bit more because it has a few upgrades (a two sided crochet hook and a darning needle).

Shown here, tape measure, yarn cutter, double ended crochet hook, and darning needle

These were one of our most popular gifts leading up to the holiday season and then we had a HUGE run on them early in the new year with folks deciding they needed one themselves. We just received another shipment of both teal and black. Don’t miss out. I think after the Martha show, there will be another big rush!

I was so excited to discover a little feature in the latest issue of Vogue Knitting about the release of Sciaparelli’s Bowknot sweater pattern for free by Schoolhouse press.  Although this recent pattern has been slightly updated by Lisa Stockebrand, Meg Swansen, and Joyce Williams, this is such a great example of how classic style is always classic.

(photo courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art: Gift of Vera White, 1952)

If you’re not familiar with Elsa Schiaparelli she was an Italian fashion designer who was regarded by many as one of the most prominent figures in fashion between the two World Wars. Her chief rival was Coco Chanel. She launched a her collection of knitwear in 1927 using a special double layered stitch created by Armenian refugees. It’s a neat stranded technique where the accent color is carried through the body fabric, woven in periodically, creating a tweed-like effect in the main color body section of the sweater.

Don’t you just want to knit this?  How about charcoal gray with a pale pink bow? How about a cream sweater with a blue bow? What about a grass green sweater with a khaki bow?  All of the beautiful updates on classic style.

If you’ve been around our shop at all this season or taken a look at the class list, you’ll notice that our Latvian Mitten class, taught by Laurie Bellin, has been all the rage. We’ve run this class numerous times. Student’s have felt like they’ve climbed a mountain but ended up triumphant and like they can tackle anything. One key discussion we’ve noticed during each of the classes is about color dominance and I thought I’d share a little bit more info about it here and a great example.

In stranded knitting,often referred to as fair isles knitting, you carry the multiple colors of yarn in the back of your work.  As the yarns travel along behind the work, one strand will be carried below the other. This bottom strand of yarn will become slightly more prominent in the finished object. This is because its stitches will be just a fraction larger than the stitches of the other strand.

It might not seem like this could all make a big difference, but it really can. One student in the latest class gave us a terrific example of what can happen when one yarn becomes dominant over the other and how it can affect a finished object.

Can you see it? No it's not an optical illusion.

Here you can see just how one color can be more dominant over the other and what happens if you don’t keep the dominant yarn consistent.

Many experienced knitters suggest the contrasting color should ride below the main color when being stranded behind the work. Therefore the main color would be the top yarn and the contrast would be the bottom yarn.

To help you remember which yarn goes in which hand or rides above or below you may want to write it on your pattern just as you do when you jot down which symbol on you chart matches each color use. For example:
Black = background color / right hand or top yarn
White = contrast color / left hand or bottom yarn

Thanks to Jenny for lending us her pics of the gorgeous mitts and showing us a fabulous example of color dominance.

You may remember the free pattern I posted a few months back using Classic Elite Kumara.  Well they’re back with another fabulous free pattern.  I think it would look so scrumptious in white.

You can wear it as a big lovely cowl

Kumara is 85% Extra Fine Merino/15% Baby Camel, 128yd per ball, Knits at 4.5 sts over 4 inches on a U.S. size 9 and sells for $10.95.  Because of its short staple length the camel adds a lovely halo when blocked. The merino component is dyed before the yarn is spun with undyed camel hair. The blend of dyed and undyed fibers makes soft, muted colors. Kumara’s six twisted plies yield great stitch definition.

It also functions as a snood.

Designed by Pam Allan, Classic Elite’s creative director, this pattern leverages simple and very structural garter stitch and is a fabulous use of short rows.  Pam forgoes the wrap and turn technique, thus simplifying the short rows, and allowing the eyelets to become a design element in this piece. The simplicity makes this a great first project for someone new to short rows.

Download it here.

As we know, Rowan hardly ever disappoints and they’ve succeeded again with Rowan Magazine 47 (Buy it now).  It’s out on shelves now, in our store, and up online.  It’s a lovely taste of spring during this particularly cold and snowy stretch of our winter season here in New England.

Doesn't this cover just make you want to spin around

This issue has several lovely “stories”, which is how Rowan Magazine organizes the collections, and some great features.  The first story is Serenity, which is a deeply feminine story inspired by the serene beauty of far off places.  Next up is Jamboree, which is a fun cheery collection for both men and women and is a bit retro and reminiscent of some of my favorite 80’s classics.  There is also Halcyon days which is beautifully inspired by the scenery of Malta.

There is also a great online feature showcased in the magazine by none other than Kaffe Fassete.  It’s a nice treat and a must see.

Beautiful color

As we know at Seed Stitch, crochet is really coming into it’s own this year.  We have so much interest in it and have run tons of crochet classes this winter.  Well the industry is really starting to hear the crochet drum beat and Rowan is sure to answer with some amazing crochet designs in this issue and a soon to be released crochet collection that we’ll stock as well.

Fashion and Crochet Meet

Simply lovely right?  Don’t miss out on this great issue.  It’s a keeper!

This might be one I have to make

Pick up your copy now. Rowan Magazine 47 here.

We’ve had such a great class line up this winter. Not just because of the large number of classes we’ve been able to offer but because of our amazing line up of teacher and the energy and excitement of the students who’ve signed up.

This Sunday was no different. I caught the tale end of our Dorset button class, taught by a new addition to our teaching staff, Jules Means. I walked in to a bunch of smiling faces and lots of jubilation!

See don't they look excited?

Jules really got the ladies’ creative juices flowing.  The table was heaped with yarn in all colors and weights as well as some finished buttons to showcase what can be done.

A seriously inspirational table

The students ended up with some fantastic finished projects.  Also make sure to check out a blog post from fellow SSFY teacher and (on Sunday) student, Rhonda Culbert, about her experience in the class.

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Isn't this beautiful

We hope to run this class again in the coming weeks.  If you’re interested in joining the next session.  Give the shop a call and ask to be put on the list.  Once we have the date secured we’ll give you a call and try to get you registered.  As a reminder, check out our class policy and pre-payment is required to secure your spot in any class as the demand for them is so high.

I found this cute animation from fashion company Pringle of Scotland. Pringle commissioned artist David Shrigley to create a humorous short animated film about life behind-the-scenes at Pringle to celebrate the brands return to Milan Fashion Week and it is a funny little parody on the yarn industry.

I’m always interested in new up and coming designers, simple style, interesting stories, and those folks to watch for their future impact on fiber arts.  Some of you may already know Stephen West, but if you don’t he’s one to watch.  He’s a young designer who has a great blog, showcasing his designs and is quickly rising in popularity on Ravelry.  We caught up with Stephen to talk a little about his background, his work, and what’s next for him.  Check it out and check out his work!

Stephen's reversible Botanic Beanie

Can you tell us a little bit about how you got started knitting and designing?

I started knitting in high school after a couple friends taught me, but my knitting looked as awkward as I felt doing it. Despite this rough first attempt, I was still interested, so I got a knitting book and learned all the basics. My first projects were acrylic scarves and hats until I went to college and found my LYS, Klose Knit in Urbana, IL. I discovered wool, alpaca, and other wonderful fibers and then there was no looking back. I brought projects with me everywhere and worked almost strictly from patterns for about a year. During that time I would often modify patterns to fit my taste and my 6′2 height. After modifying more and more patterns, it wasn’t too long before I started designing my own. By designing my own patterns, I can get exactly what I want or I end up with something completely different and weird, which may spark another design idea.

Stephen's great use of color

Shawls, shawls, and more shawls. They seem to be on everyone’s mind and you have some amazing shawl patterns in your line up. What is it about shawls that inspires your creative juices?

I love making them as much as I love wearing them. I particularly love smaller shawls that can be worn as scarves around the neck because they are easy to wear and they also look fun and stylish. Shawls as scarves or neck pieces are also quicker to make, often taking just one skein of sock yarn. Fingering weight yarn is one of my favorites because it drapes beautifully and the colors can be breath-taking. I don’t knit socks much, so shawls are another wonderful use for sock yarn. Shawls also have multiple functions. They can be wrapped around your neck, positioned several different ways, or draped over your shoulders. There are many different ways of constructing shawls. Most of mine start at the neck edge with just a few stitches and then gradually increase outwards. I love this method of construction because you quickly see progress and by the time rows become painfully long, you’re almost done. I am humbled by responses I receive from knitters who love my shawl designs. So, it is easy for me to develop shawl patterns when there is so much interest in them.

Where does your inspiration come from? Are their any designers out there today that are really inspiring you or you feel are on the cutting edge?

Sometimes my inspiration comes from images I come across or structures and objects in my environment, but mostly I am inspired by yarn, color, and the act of knitting. So, my designs often utilize simple stockinette and garter stitch, showcasing beautiful yarns. Simple, clear lines mixed with some interesting detail or shape appeal to me. I am always inspired by what other designers like Jared Flood, Ysolda Teague, Gudrun Johnston, and Kirsten Kapur come up with. I can tell that they are all passionate about knitting and I think their work has the ability to evoke a strong mood or emotion. All of them also take gorgeous photos, which is something I’d like to learn more about.

What’s up next for you?
A lot, actually. I am going to start working on a website soon and hopefully get my blog updated and going again. I’ve taught a few classes in my local area, but I am interested in expanding my class repertoire and traveling to different shops this year. I have been designing a lot of new patterns recently, which I am very excited about. Some of these new patterns will be part of a Westknits pattern collection that I’m planning to release later this year. I just started working with Deep South Fibers, who now distributes my patterns wholesale to yarn stores, which frees up more time for me to play with new design ideas. I’m also working on some knit art installations with Chicago-based fashion designer, Katrin Schnabl, These installations will be presented in Chicago and New York this spring.

Wingchief pattern

Quick Facts:

On your iPod right now: Spring Awakening soundtrack. I can’t stop listening to it.

If you were a yarn what yarn would you be? Right now, I would be Malabrigo Twist because I can’t stop knitting with it.

Favorite place to knit: Outside in the shade

Current project on the needles: Farmer’s Market Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio, Chevalier Mittens by Mari Muinonen, Expedition by Todd Gocken, a new sweater design and scarf design.