Lion Brand Retro Striped Pullover

Ok so 11 months, 500 loose ends, and 2 shoulder fixes later (well I tried to fix it, and it just looked worse so it reuturned it to its previous position), its finally finished. This is the first sweater I’ve ever finished (I have two others that are still works in progress) and I have to say its been difficult. It doesn’t seem to fit as well as the one the model is wearing, and I don’t have to patience to take it all out and redo it. Here are the pictures below see if you can tell which one is me. If anyone wants to attempt this pattern which I have to add is really quite simple please contact us, and I would advise adapting the pattern to be worked in the round and it will save you from having to deal with so many loose ends.

You can be Happier, healthier & less stressed…

Here’s how… Frazzled?  Blue? Pick up a paintbrush (or a knitting needle) to feel better fast! Studies prove that simply drawing, writing, or singing is enough to ease problems like stress, depression and even pain and illness!  “Being creative triggers positive biochemical changes in the brain,” says Eric Maisel, Ph.D., author of The Creativity Book.  And you don’t have to be Picasso or Pavarotti to benefit.  Just expressing yourself through any creative outlet will give you the feel-good results!

Erase stress …by knitting or sewing…

Harvard Medical School researchers found that knitting, crocheting, sewing or needlepoint are as effective as meditation at triggering relaxation.  What’s the secret?  Scientists say the tasks require all your concentration, preventing you from thinking about anything else–including your worries!

Are you ready to start your crocheted Color Block Coat?

Hi everybody!  I finally have the swatches in this post of the 3 colors I have chosen so far and they are really wonderful up close!  The good news is I think these will be even better than the original yarn choices as all the Caron Charming has been discontinued (bad news)  and I only can get a few skeins of each color.  The new yarns have less stretch and will really hold their shape but will be figure flattering as well and kind of “furry”.  You’ve got to come in and see and pick your colors so we can get the yarn ordered and get you started!  Loretta and I are starting next Tuesday night and everyone else can start whatever Tuesday they like.   If you don’t like these colors, we have a zillion yarn combinations you can swatch up until you have exactly what you want!  Hope to see you soon!  You can post a comment here, call me at 909-584-9715, or come into the store!!!

    

                      Brown and White                                                       Black and White

Fuschia Combo

Made to Measure Clothing

We here at Yarn Designers Boutique have a software that generates a pattern to your specific style requirements and measurements. We can custom make you a piece to wear, or help you design your own pattern, whatever you needs we are here to help. Below are pictures of a sweater that Gena made for me (Criss) for Christmas, it fits absolutely perfectly!

   

Are you ready to join our Project?

Hello Ladies,

I will be making swatches in 3 different colorways for this coat this coming week while I am on vacation in Washington State.  You will be able to pick from one of these!  Two of them will be in “Charming” in the black and white (of course!), and one in a creme/brown contrast.  The 3rd choice will be in completely different, very soft yarn, and will be in the purples, very exciting.  Once each of you choose a colorway, and give me an idea of the garment size you would to make, then I can get budgets back to you to purchase the materials, which will be on a prepaid basis. 

I was hoping to keep everyone updated using this blog and hold the class every week on Tuesday evenings from 5 - 7 pm.  If you can’t make the class, you can still participate online.  I would like to start later in January, once everyone has yarn!

Let me know if this timing works for you on Tuesdays or if you just want to participate online.  If we can stick to Tuesday, there will be no charge for the class (or online), just for the supplies.  Otherwise, there will be a $20 per class per person fee. 

The Project:  Crochet with I, J, K (range) hook lots of square color blocks, single crochet them together with a 3rd trim yarn, and voila!  A beautiful soft coat - dress it up, dress it down!  The trick is FIT and GAUGE which is what the 1st couple of classes will be about!  Also, you will be “feeling” alot instead of seeing your stitches!   The primary stitch in order to get the “fabric” we want is the “extended single crochet”.  I hope you’ll join us in this project!  Please post and leave comments!

Your Yarn Leader,

Gena

New Calendar of Events

We have just put up our calendar of events just follow the link and find yourself and event or class that takes your fancy! We look forward to seeing you.

Charming Color Block Coat

We will soon be starting a new project and class working on a brand new pattern for the ‘Charming Color Block Coat’ . When anyone posts anything about this new pattern could you please tick the box for it on the right hand side of the screen under categories. This will help everyone to immediately find the relevant posts.

Thanks and Happy Yarning!!

Criss

Go Knit Pouch

Check out a review of our new product, the go knit pouch it allows you to not only walk and knit at the same time although that is an impressive feat, but it is an easy way to take you yarn with you when your traveling and not have to keep it in 5 million ziploc bags, yes I’m guilty of it myself. You can also buy it online at our store!

Knitting VS Crochet- Can’t we all just get along?

As amusing as this video is, we would just like to remind everyone, that we here a Yarn Designers Boutique,  not only welcome both knitters and crocheters, beginners and advanced to our store and our community but most of us here both knit and crochet- sometimes even on the same piece.  Scandalous!

Honeypot Yarns

Hey everyone we’ve added some new yarns to the store, check out our Honeypot yarns!

Newcomer Jolene Hollenberger hand dyes these yarns. Raised with knitting and sewing as a childhood activety, and born with the gift to harmonize color and design, it was only natural to pursue these skills in Art and Design School and eventually live the life of a craftsperson. A Wisconsin native, Jolene lives in the Capitol- Madison- where the draw of being surrounded by lakes, trees, and peaceful vibe enhances the spirit of the artistic individual. With the help of her partner, Tom O’Brien, the company has been able to grow from a local business to a worldwide one in a matter of months. The Glass Knitting Needles are made by friend and artist, Scott Andrews, who is also a Madison local and nationally known artist. His book on glassblowing is now in the process of being published. These fine quality, imported yarns are painted with the mindfullness of color harmony and how this effects a knitter’s creative spirit. With a bachelor of Science in Art Therapy, Jolene often takes this knowledge of the healing benifits that knitting can have on a person’s life. By further pursuing the craft knowledge at Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2003, Jolene gained and now implements the knowdge of the crafts of fiber dyeing. With the culminations of life’s journey, HoneypotYarns is brought to everyone in the hopes that pleasure in creating yarns brings pleaure in knitting yarns anywhere and everywhere possible.