YAY!!! It's May! 2018

Hello Everyone,

We were so happy that May finally arrived with the full beauty of Spring, we had to proclaim it YAY!!! It’s May! Now that May is almost in the books, we had a busy month knitting some very cool projects where we learned new techniques to add to our skills project bag. 

We started the month with the YinYang Kitty Ankle Socks KAL.

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These socks are purrrrfect (sorry, couldn’t help it!!) for using contrasting fingering or sock yarn. The best part for me is each sock is the inverse color of the other, one’s yin to the other’s yang, and great to wear to yoga (as a fashion statement because yoga with socks spell disaster for me). Aside from being very cute, we learned an easy Intarsia in the round. While Intarsia is generally used in flat knitting, it can be adapted to knitting in the round. We posted a tutorial from the Confident Knitter (http://confidentknitter.com/2s2p/intarsia-in-the-round/) on our Facebook page. Browneyedbabs on Ravelry who has a tutorial on Intarsia in the round says, “While Intarsia ‘in the round’ is a seamless way to achieve a block of color in hats, toys, sweaters, mittens etc. it is not technically knitting in the round as the work is turned and purled each row, but, it looks like knitting in the round and is completely seamless.” Asa Tricosa probably says in best in her tutorial “(sort of) intarsia in the round” where she adapts the technique because as she puts it, Intarsia does not work well in the round, but it can be done with adaptations (http://asatricosa.com/intarsia/). There are also a number of YouTube tutorials for Intarsia in the Round. I liked Julia farwell-clay’s video because it shows you how to knit an invisible join (https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=v2Iu8fkoBuc). Another method you can use is Duplicate Stitch for the kitty’s eyes and nose. We like this technique because the area is small and duplicate stitch really brings out the eyes and nose. Purl Soho’s tutorial shows us how step –by-step (https://www.purlsoho.com/create/duplicate-stitch/). I found Purl Soho’s tutorials very helpful. Not only are the videos very well done, the instructions and pictures are clear and straightforward. 

Speaking of Purl Soho, we learned a new technique, Honeycomb Brioche, with their pattern, “Latticework Shawl”. We all know that once we learned the Brioche Stitch that we couldn’t get enough. And to learn that there are variations of the Brioche Stitch is just wonderful. The pattern and the excellent tutorials provide a solid basis to use this stitch in a variety of projects. You can make the shawl or use the stitch in a cowl or bandana. To get the most from this stitch, I found using highly contrasting yarn shows the honeycomb pattern the best. I think using more complimentary yarns will give a subtler look and I am looking forward to exploring that with fingering yarn. The most important tip is to cast on an odd number of stitches. After that, let you imagination go!

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Our Pop-Up project was a handy cover for your favorite mop. What better way to help our environment than to make a reusable cover? The versions come in knit or crochet and are an easy way to learn crocheting if you knit or knitting if you crochet. Depending on the yarn and stitch, you can make a cover that scrubs, cleans, or polishes. 

We enjoyed “YAY!!! It’s May!” And we learned several new techniques all while having a lot of fun. We also celebrated our Moms and we honored and remembered those who gave the greatest measure in service to our Nation. 

We are continuing with several skill building projects next month with “Over the Moon for June!” What better way to say HELLO to Summer!

Knit, Crochet, & Stitch On, 

Lisa

April Showers Bring...Small, Fun-Filled Projects! 2018

Hello Everyone!

April is a wrap and we enjoyed ourselves by knitting portable projects. As part of our theme, “April Showers Bring…Small, Fun-Filled Projects!”, we explored the fun that comes with knitting smaller projects. Smaller projects portability lets us take our stitching projects with us on those road trips or as a sports spectator. There is definitely a satisfaction to finishing a smaller project more quickly. Of course small does not mean there won’t be new and skill-building techniques. Our first April project, Sweet Little Cowl by Rachel Brockman for Universal Yarns, has Brioche Stitch, Provisional Crochet Cast-On, and I-Cord Bind Off. Purl Soho has one of the best tutorials for Provisional Crochet Cast-On. Check it out the one step method here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/provisional-cast-on-video/

This pattern underwent a change on April 20^thin the form of erratta to the Two-Color Pearl Brioche portion. Like many of you, I had already knitted the original pattern for my first cowl. The pattern is beautiful in the original form. It’s equally beautiful in the update, so I decided to knit the second cowl with the new stitch pattern. The designer has actually just updated her pattern to reflect these two versions of the Two-Color Pearl Brioche stitch pattern. Per her Ravelry page and the updated pattern, Rachel Brockman added, “The errata on this cowl turned out to be a happy accident, so at the advice of a customer, we’ve decided to include instructions for two versions. Version A reflects the sample photos – the Pearl Brioche has a “v” shape. Version B reflects the happy accident in which the two-color portion has small bars in place of the “v” shape shown on the samples.”Both versions are wonderful and look great together! And did I mention that Universal Yarn FibraNatura Cottonwood is so soft and in your hands as you knit? As Rachel says, “Knit, Relax, Smile, Repeat!”

Sweet Little Cowl (LMB)

Log Cabin Mitts (LMB)

Our next project, Log Cabin Mitts by Karen Templar, combines semi-traditional log cabin squares without intarsia and then moves onto a clever joining method and miter techniques. This project is a great way to use up small amounts of yarn and can be knit in colors that contrast, compliment, or in one color. The one color log cabin pattern plays on texture and is a great alternative if you want a one-color mitt. Since the April weather has been quite cold, these mitts worked perfectly and looked great! Watch out, because we bet you cannot knit just one pair!!

And our pop-up project brought smiles and cuteness in threes! Ernie, Esther,& Enid Easter Chickens by Janice Anderson brought us these fabulous and funky toy chicks. There is something so fun about making “stuffies”. The extra embellishments, the little techniques to make your toy unique and special, all of it are smile inducing. I made wings for my chicks by using the part of the crocheted technique for the legs. I used pony beads in the bottom stuffing, and then I stuffed those little chicks to a high cuteness level of chubbiness. It has been pointed out to me that I do like to stuff my toys. Remember Fa-la-la Fred? Well, my Fred is known as Fat Freddie!! More to love, that’s what I say!!

Esther, Ernie, & Enid 

Lastly, April 21^st saw the first annual LYS Day. Local Yarn Store Day is a brick-and-mortar yarn shop appreciation day created by The National Needle Arts (TNNA) Yarn Group. The inaugural LYS Day takes place today on April 21 and is designed to show support for small businesses while bringing together a unique community of knitters, crocheters, weavers and spinners to drive awareness and celebrate the craft. We thank our amazing stitching community for all your support and encouragement. We are very grateful for all of you!!

In closing, April brought us small, fun-filled projects that taught us new techniques and put huge smiles on our faces. April is in the books and now we look forward to YAY!!! It’s May!

Knit, Crochet, & Stitch On! Lisa

March Mowry Madness 2018

Hello Everyone!

During our March Mowry Madness we reveled in the amazing patterns by Andrea Mowry of Drea Renee Knits. While Andrea Mowry is not the first designer to coin the term “fade” (that was Stephen West), she is arguably most responsible through her designs for many of us finding our fade and catching “fade fever”. For many of us in the Yarns Family of Yarns by HPF, we first met Andrea Mowry when we knitted her “What the Fade?!” shawl, her mystery KAL that incorporated six skeins where colors seemed to magically melt into one another. For me, I learned a different way of putting colors together, using keys bits or speckles of color in one skein to bring out a color in the next skein.

During an interview with indie UNTANGLED, Andrea was asked how she “Find Your Fade” shawl, came to be. She explained that she likes to do what she calls a “creativity experiment” and uses yarn from her stash that she most wants to use without constraints or expectations. And finding your fade doesn’t stop at shawls, during our Mowry Madness KAL this month our knitters have “So Faded” and “Comfort Fade Cardi” on their needles. Andrea Mowry also designs modern handmade garments like the “Weekender”, which is not a fade but does incorporate interest with a tubular cast on and well placed slipped stitches and purls. This is my first sweater and with such a well-written pattern and links to new skills, like the tubular cast on, I am confident that my first sweater will not be my last. We are looking forward to seeing everyone’s sweaters. We are also knitting the Vintage Prim Hat because you can never have enough Brioche!

And here’s a little bit more about Andrea Mowry. She learned how to knit from her Grandma Ginny. Andrea started her career as a pastry chef and went to culinary school. The owner of the bakery shop where she got her first baking job loved that she put knitting under ‘other skills” on her resume. When she left the kitchen she went from writing recipes to writing patterns, something she says felt very organic for her. Her designs are inspired by yarn colors and she always swatches. And lucky for us, she is so creative that we have great deal of “Mowry Madness” to choose from. Based on her social media, Andrea looks like she loves to knit with other knitters bring the sense of community among those of us who love having a project on our needles or hooks for that matter. And community is so important to our lives and well-being.

Now, a bit more about community - Jacksonville, AL, the home of Yarns by HPF and many members of our Yarns Family, was recently hit with an EF-3 tornado on March 19^th. This tornado took out homes, the local university buildings, businesses, and a church, among other devastation. The pictures and video on the news cannot capture the brutality of nature. But what are very apparent is the strong sense of community though people’s resilience, volunteerism, and strength. #jacksonvillestrong is not just a hashtag but a way of life as Jacksonville, AL recovers. We were so hearted when our Yarn Family checked in with each other and us. Communities come in all shapes and sizes and our Yarns Family came together to help and comfort each other. We are so grateful that our Yarns Family is safe and we definitely felt the strong sense of community when we gathered in the store so we could be together and find a bit of peace among the severest of storms. Our Yarns Family and our Jacksonville, as always, are in our heart. After all, we are #jacksonvillestrong !!

Knit On, Lisa

Faire Isle February 2018

Hello Everyone!

February is the shortest month, one of of love, freezing cold, and colorwork!! Our theme for this month is Faire Isle February where Caitlin Hunter of Boyland Knitworks, www.boylandknitworks.com,  is our featured designer.

Caitlin Hunter, the designer and creator of Boyland Knitworks is originally from Alaska, and now lives in the Oregon forest with her husband, their three little boys, and an assorted group of all male animals. Being the only female among all the males, she named business "Boyland"! A bit about Caitlin - she has a degree in apparel design and manufacturing and worked in manufacturing as a designer before making the transition to become an independent knitwear designer. Caitlin’s training and experience show in her designs, which are individually colorful and sophisticated. Her designs include hats, scarves, with a range of sweaters, and our KAL for this month, the Ninilchik Swoncho, a perfect combination between a sweater and a poncho. Caitlin’s designs are both stylish and practical. Case in point is the Swoncho, which is loose and easy, but the sleeves keep it in place. Caitlin believes that knitting is an antidote to our instant-gratification world, and she loves designing garments and accessories that can be treasured for a lifetime and longer. And that is very lucky for us because her designs are amazing and fits nicely with our philosophy of making beautiful things with your hands and all the wonderful benefits derived from that. Caitlin’s philosophy is for all of us to slow down, knit some beautiful things and appreciate what we can do with our own hands! Caitlin reminds us that knitting is like any challenges in life - just take it one row at a time and you will be surprised at what you can accomplish! And we couldn’t agree more!

Aim True Hat

Oulu Mitts

In addition to our KAL, our classes this month feature two more designs by Caitlin Hunter, the Aim True Hat and the Oulu Mitts. Each project is quick, portable, and let’s us explore colorwork. Our previously mentioned KAL, the Ninilchik Swoncho, is designed to maximize the beauty colorwork in a larger project while delving into shaping via

Ninilchik Swoncho

short rows and making sleeves. The patterns calls for DK weight yarn and US4 and US6 needles. The pattern has two garment sizes to pick from and here’s where you can play with yarn weight and needle size to adjust the sizing. I decided on the larger size with some tweaks. For colors, I picked a New England Fall palette of olive green, rust, honey, and plum in a rustic sport weight. Linda helped me with needle size, using US3 and US5 instead so I will be able to make my Swoncho smaller than the larger size, but roomier than the smaller size. So far, the combination is working. Linda can guide you through any deviations to your Swoncho. Aside from sizing, picking your colors is both fun and creative. Check out the color combinations on pattern on Ravelry under “About this pattern” to get ideas of your own color palette. And, as always, Linda can help you with color combination ideas. And please checkout the Sunset Highway sweater, knitted by Linda, that is displayed in the store. Caitlin Hunter’s pattern resulted in a truly striking and very wearable sweater that just continues to catch your eye.

Sunset Highway

We want to brighten this short month with color, beauty, and practical style. Come join us as we knit these wonderful projects byour featured designer, Caitlin Hunter of Boyland Knitworks. Happy Faire Isle February, stay warm and…

Knit On!!  Lisa

January 2018 This Year's Theme is Peace and Serenity

Hello Everyone!

The New Year is upon us and the theme for this year is peace and serenity. The world around us is very fast paced, and although this can be exciting, the pressure it causes finds its way into everything we do, even our stitching.  Our stitching is supposed to be fun, perhaps a new learning opportunity, or even relaxing.  Yet, sometimes more than not, there are too many things vying for our attention (like the end of year holiday activities) that we find ourselves putting our knitting or crochet projects in a time out.  But now is the time to pick up those projects that are suffering from separation anxiety and fall in love with them again.  Finishing one project in your WIP stash can have very positive effects; a sense of accomplishment, and yes, a wave of peace and serenity that your project is ready for prime time! That's why we are holding Sit & Stitch Night every Thursday during the month of January before we start new projects with new skills. From a personal note, recently finishing two large projects like "What the Fade?!" and "Speckle & Pop" shawls, was a close to euphoric moment. My Mom fell in love with the colors of my "What the Fade?!" shawl as I was knitting it each time I visited her and my Dad.  Being able to surprise her with this finished gift for her 88th birthday in December was special for both of us (that’s her in the attached picture). 

I will finish the "Speckle & Pop" shawl during January and as I hold it in my hands I realize that I have much less to go towards finishing it and a great deal of knitting has already been done.  For me, keeping my WIPs organized saved the day when I returned to more regularly knitting them.  Although I may have some WIPs at the end of January, I will look forward to new projects in February because I know at least one (or more!!) project will be finished, as in woven in ends and blocked finished!

We think you will find that our peace and serenity theme is reflected in our store update.  With shades of ocean blue and white with warm sand, we want your LYS experience to be fun, light, peaceful and serene.  We appreciate your positive feedback on our new look and we are looking forward to this year of creativity.

My Husband (Linda’s Dad) and I spent the “warmer” holidays with our Alabama Family.  I was also able to spend time in the store with wonderful stitchers and thoroughly enjoyed our conversations.  One of the discussions was about the positive benefits of knitting and crocheting on a person’s health and well-being. I will be exploring this topic in the coming months.  We also had a great time working with Linda, our Son-in-Law Michael, and Grandson Stephen in helping to make Linda’s vision of the store’s new look update a reality.  Our visit came to an end too quickly, but just in time to come home to sub zero temperatures and snow cyclone storms.  My knitting projects enjoyed quite a bit of attention during the foot plus of snow that fell throughout New England. 

We all wish you a new year of peace and serenity as we enjoy getting back in touch with our projects during January and look forward to sharing new projects and new skills throughout the coming year. 

 Knit, Crochet, and Stitch On!!

Lisa

Cables for Christmas! December 2017

Hello Everyone!

It's December! This year of stitching wouldn't be complete without cables! Cables provide interest and warmth to knitting projects. According to dummies.com, the simple technique of cabling (crossing one group of stitches over another) lends itself to many interpretations in knitting. It’s easy to do; you can make all kinds of interesting and imaginative cable patterns. All it takes is a little patience and practice. But where did cables in knitting come from and when did it start?

 According to National Geographic, History and Heritage Abound in Traditional Irish Knits by Lisa Bosley, cable knitting was born out of economics. According to this article, “For centuries the beautiful and unique artwork of intertwined knots has featured in Irish culture.  By the late 1800s, these intricate patterns were being knit into sweaters across Ireland’s numerous fishing villages. Knitters of the Aran Islands, an archipelago of craggy islands in Galway Bay on Ireland’s West Coast, developed a plethora of delicate patterns full of symbolism. These knits share the history and values of the native people of these rugged islands.” Of the intricate patterns, knitting cables were born. “Cable stitches represent fishing ropes, the tools of a hard worker, and come in many variations. Braided cable stitches evoke close family ties. In the early 1900s, industrious Aran women began knitting more sweaters to sell year-round and supplement the islands’ fishing economy. The textured wool sweaters of the Aran Islands have become “as tenacious an international symbol of Ireland as the harp and Shamrock,” says historian Dierdre McQuillan.” Although cables can be found in hats, mittens, scarves, and home goods, it looks like the first cables were knitted into those traditional off-white Aran sweaters to keep hard working fishermen warm and to contribute to family economics.

Of course, to be fair, there is a less romantic story regarding the beginning of cable knitting. According to Kelborne Woolens, “There is a long and confusing history behind cable knitting. Many say that it originated long ago on the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. This wind-swept, craggy string of rocks in the Atlantic Ocean is the perfect romantic setting for a thick woolen knit to take shape. Waterproof and knit tight as armor, densely knit extra thick sweaters were woven through with distinctive patterning developed over the generations by the women of the family. The story goes that the Aran cable patterns were specific to each family so that the bodies of the men lost at sea could be identified when washed ashore. A more likely, and less romantic, tale of the origins of Aran knitting is that the sweaters were developed for tourist trade sometime at the beginning of the 20th century. In any case, the intricate and intertwining patterns are certainly reminiscent of the Celtic knots so recognizable in traditional Irish imagery. These sweaters are beautiful works of art steeped in a long knitting tradition, whatever their beginning. Most likely, these richly patterned sweaters developed simultaneously, through co-development occurring due to the migration and travel of fisherman all over the British Isles, Ireland, Scandinavia, and France. The similarity between fisherman’s sweaters of these areas is plain to see. Regional styles prevailed, through use of wool type and color, style and complexity, but in many cases the overlaps in design are too commonplace to be able to label any one style of sweater strictly of one place. In Britain and France, closer to large cities knitters may have had better access to dyestuffs, or even later on, commercial dyehouses.  In other more isolated areas, natural undyed wool colors were more common. Surely, some version of what we call an "Aran Sweater" existed before they were commercially popularized in the 1950's and 60's, but most likely they had more in common with the traditional fisherman's Gansey than today's richly patterned Aran designs. A Gansey is a distinctive woolen sweater, originally designed to provide protection for fishermen from wind and water but which is ideal for all outdoor activity. The yarn used was commonly referred to as ‘Seamen’s Iron’. In the 1950's, what we now refer to as Aran knitting was popularized in the US by a design in a 1958 Vogue Pattern Book. This sweater, knit - but not designed by - Elizabeth Zimmerman, started a craze for this style of sweater. The Irish Government, recognizing an opportunity to develop a very rural part of their country with a tourist trade, sent knitters and designers to the outlying islands to work with the local knitters to help them produce garments of high quality and using standard sizing methods.” These beautiful sweaters are still popular today and may be commonly referred to as Fisherman Knit sweaters, although the use of the word Aran is finding its way into the sweater’s description, perhaps due to Ireland’s marketing. While both of these accounts differ in their romanticism of cable knitting, the foundation for both is the beauty of knitted cables and economics in supporting one’s family. 

For our December’s projects, we have three knitted cable kits, a hat with pom pom, a shawl, and a poncho. The traditional beauty of cables is coupled with great modern twists. Our kits are available in the store for sale. And since it is the holiday season, we have several ornaments to knit as well. We have elves, a swirl ball, and baskets and baubles all waiting to be crafted and hung on your tree or wreath, or wherever you want! ‘Tis the Season!!!

We wish you all the Happiest of Holidays and many hours of knitting, crocheting, and stitching!

Knit On! Lisa

No Theme November 2017

Hello Everyone!
There are so many things going on in November, Veterans Day, the end of Daylight Savings Time, Small Business Saturday, and of course, Thanksgiving. So in keeping with the various goings on, we decided to have a "No Theme November". 
This is the first year we sold hand crafted Advent Trees. No two were truly alike and your enthusiasm for these trees made us very happy that we could offer these unique trees. We want to thank the "Jolly Man Up North" and you for making our Advent Trees offering very special.
Knit Night has been a staple on most Thursdays for our store, bringing together friends, yarn, needles, and conversation. We noticed that needlecrafts have something in common, the joy of making something with your hands. We wanted our crocheters and  our cross stitchers too, to feel that they are also part of our handcrafting family. And although we love knitting, we love the camaraderie that comes with needlecrafts. And so, our Knit Night is now Sit and Stitch where hand-made rules!
Veterans Day is very important to us at Yarns by HPF. Many of our family members have served or are serving in our Military. Linda and I are Air Force Veterans. We personally appreciate that you support our Veterans. It means more than we can say.
Yarns by HPF had a Store Sample Sale with a Community Twist. As part of selling the hand knitted store samples, we collected donations to support two local animal shelters. Your generosity knew no bounds as we were able to donate hundreds of pounds of food and cat litter, and much needed cleaning supplies. Thank you so much!!
Of course we had two knitting projects, Slipper Knit and Bulky Brioche Poncho, just in time for the cooler weather. We also had a Project Amnesty Day - more on that in the following paragraphs.
Thank you for supporting Small Business Saturday. We so appreciate your patronage. Small Business Saturday is held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, first celebrated in 2010 in the US and then in the UK in 2013. Buying small and local supports "mom-and-pop" shops and small businesses. Everyone benefits, especially our neighborhoods where small businesses live, work, employ, and shop. #shopsmall

And now let's talk about Project Amnesty Day. We all have them, Works in Progress (WiPs), more than one project going at a time. How can we resist when the projects, yarn, and results are so wonderful?! And working on one project at a time from start to finish just can't be the answer. Sound familiar? I can say from personal experience that having more than one project going at a time fuels my creativity and excitement. I don't want to miss out on a new and different project, regardless of size or complexity. I also want to finish my projects without getting lost along the way. We recently had two big projects, What the Fade?! and Speckle & Pop! Shawls. They are large projects that are only alike in that they are shawls. I knitted both of them, at the same time, like most of you. The key to pursuing multiple projects is organization. Separating the projects from each other helps, be it in project bags, plastic containers, or in the ever-reliable Zip-loc bags. Using interchangeable needles with their handy end stoppers will keep the project on its cord until you are ready to return to it. Perhaps one of the most important organizing tips for me is to write down where I am on a pattern. This helps me go back to where I left off. I write down where I am on the pattern, the date I started and left off, the date I returned to the project, and the date of completion. Breaking up the projects in this way makes the whole process manageable and fun. I can handle multiple projects and not get lost along the way. When I need help, I know where I left off. We all have new projects in the future while still working on our WiPs. Being organized makes our projects more fun and we knit, crochet, and craft because it's fun! 

Finally, we hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful that you are on this creative journey with us. We're looking forward to December's Cables for Christmas! We have wonderful projects planned for this magical time of year.
Knit, Crochet, & Stitch On!
Lisa