Great Yarn Company's Blog

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Sue

Well, no snails here (thank goodness), but we do have puppies and snips! These are the adorable Puppy Snips from HiyaHiya – they are so cute!

These tiny, pocket-sized snips are perfect for carrying in your knitting kit — they’re only 1 7/8″ when closed. To open the snips, just squeeze the puppy’s feet together and pull down, and out comes a tiny pair of scissors.

We’ve had Puppy Snips at our last couple of tradeshows, and we’ve had a ball showing people the tiny snips hidden inside the puppy.

These puppies look so cute hanging on your project bag handle! They come in assorted candy colors — they look like jelly beans or maybe gummy bears!

It’s been super hot in Texas this summer, and we’ve had no rain at all for weeks — but this afternoon, we finally got a good long thundershower.

It was so nice to hear the rumbling thunder and the sound of the rain hitting the ground. I stood at the window for a long time watching branches swaying and moving as raindrops hit the leaves – I even went outside just to smell the rain!

Summer rain taps at my window…
Sue

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Perfect marriage

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Sue

Don’t you love it when you find a perfect marriage of yarn and pattern? I just finished up a new shawl, and I think it looks great! The yarn is Socos from Ester Bitran Hand-Dyes, and the pattern is Nicky, a free Berroco pattern (available at Berroco’s website or as a Ravelry download.) I made only minor changes to the pattern – I used a US size 13 needle and omitted the fringe, and used 3.5 skeins of Socos in color #305.

I think my favorite thing about this quick project is the contrast between the super-bulky, wooly Socos yarn and the open look of the dropped stitches – this was a fun and fast knit, and I can’t wait for things to cool off here in Texas so I can wear it.

Eager for cooler weather…
Sue

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Modern Quilt Wrap Kits are here!!

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Sue

You asked for them, and taa-daa – they’re here!!

We’ve put together Modern Quilt Wrap Yarn Kits, so now you can knit this lovely project without breaking the bank!

We introduced these kits at a recent tradeshow, and they were hugely popular, so we’re very pleased that we can now offer them online as well!

Our yarn kits include just the right amount of nine colors of Rowan Kidsilk Haze, a luxurious silk and mohair yarn. And you can download the Modern Quilt Wrap pattern FREE at KnittingDaily.com.

Happy knitting!

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All in one place

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Sue

Isn’t it frustrating when you’re happily knitting along and suddenly need a knitting tool, but gosh darn it, you just grabbed a few things before you left the house, and you really need a ________ (insert name of useful knitting tool that you didn’t bring with you)?? You’ve been there, right? Dropped a stitch but no crochet hook, need to change yarns but nothing to cut the old yarn with…

The solution, my forgetful knitting friends, is the Knit Kit. I didn’t think I needed one of these, but after demonstrating it about a zillion times at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, I decided to give it a try, and let me tell you – I am totally sold on this gizmo! I’ve been using my Knit Kit for two weeks now, and it’s giving me peace of mind that I have all my most critical knitting tools right there with me. I’ve even stopped carrying my overstuffed little zipper pouch that used to go everywhere my knitting went – I don’t need it anymore!

Just in case you haven’t heard of the Knit Kit, let me explain the wonders of this little device. It’s a small plastic kit, about 3.5 x 5 x .75 inches, so it slips easily into your knitting bag or purse. And tools? The Knit Kit is like a Swiss Army tool for knitters – it’s got a crochet hook to pick up stitches (also works as a cable needle), row counter that locks and resets like the regular kind, thread cutter, 5 ft tape measure, and in a cute little compartment on the back, there is a folding scissors that is TSA compliant, plus two point protectors and several sizes of stitch markers. Plus there’s just a tiny bit of space in this compartment to add one or two small items of your own – I added a blunt tip needle for weaving ends to my kit.

I very quickly became addicted to my Knit Kit, so I’m speaking from personal experience when I recommend this item – it’s one of the most useful knitting tools I’ve come across, and it would be a great gift for knitters.

Can you tell I really like these?? Our first shipment of Knit Kits arrived right before the quilt show, and we sold out of them halfway through the show. We’ve just received our second shipment, and they’re now available online – but with the holidays coming up fast, I expect they’ll go fast!

And if you are in the San Antonio or Austin areas, please come visit us at the Kid ‘N Ewe event in Boerne, TX on November 13-15. This will be our first time participating at Boerne, and we’re really looking forward to it!

Just catching my breath between shows…
Sue

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A little something unexpected

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Sue

Don’t you love seeing something familiar in a new and different context, a little unexpected twist?

Bet you’d expect to see Rowan Kidsilk Haze used in scarves and shawls, but how about a sheer tank top with color work? Is it unexpected? Yep. Does it work? Yes indeed.

This is the Hydrangea Tank on Knitty.com – soft, silky and sheer, colorful – I don’t think I would have come up with this idea on my own, but I love it! Hmmm, I’m thinking that if knitted a few inches longer, it might make a pretty little sweet nothing… as in “Wait right here while I slip into something more comfortable…”

On the home front, we’re going into week two of no dishwasher. Something inside it gave out, and water was seeping into the cabinet next to the dishwasher. Fortunately, DH is handy, so he’s going to fix it… someday… Meanwhile, I’ve rediscovered the zen-like pleasure of hand-washing dishes. Ah, modern life.

Still getting ready for the International Quilt Festival and trying, without much success, to squeeze in a bit of knitting time to unwind. I finished my Malabrigo Crofter’s Cowl this evening, but I want to block it before I photograph it again.

Glad it finally stopped raining and longing for some cool fall days,
Sue

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Jewelry for knitters

Posted on September 29, 2009 by Sue

We’re long overdue for a kitty photo, and who could resist this cutie? I’ve been setting up some wire grid cubes for yarn storage, and Coco’s convinced that I’m doing this for her. She supervises the whole process and loves to sit inside the cubes, so I wonder whether she thinks this makes her invisible.

We’re also getting ready for two upcoming events – the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX, on October 14-18, and the Kid ‘N Ewe fiber event in Boerne, TX in mid-November. We hope to meet lots of knitters at both!

Have you seen GoKnit Stitch Markers from KnowKnits? They’re sterling silver stitch markers in fun shapes and assorted sizes that come on their own black cord necklace. I can’t decide whether they’re knitting notions or jewelry… and really, they’re both. Wouldn’t these make a wonderful gift for the knitters on your holiday gift list? They’ve been flying out of here, so we’ll be seeing a lot of knitters showing the knittin’ love by wearing their stitch markers!

Off to set up more wire grids (and amuse the cat),
Sue

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Have you ever seen a half-shorn sheep?

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Sue

I came across this photo a few days ago, and thought it was the neatest thing! After some research, I also found a bit of background on it – it seems that they had trouble getting a good shot, because it was hard for the sheep to balance with a full fleece on one side and none on the other, so it kept falling over!!
Don’t cha love that?

Baaaaaa (that’s “Bye” in sheep-talk),
Sue

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My dinosaur pal

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Sue

This little guy’s my new buddy! He’s the Stegosaurus in the Prehistoric Pals pattern by Knitting at Knoon. I still have to knit his legs and attach the spikes along his spine, so he’s about half finished. He’s knitted in Noro Kureyon – gotta love the bright colors!

I’ve also finished another Noro Striped Scarf in Silk Garden, just for me. I made DH one a couple years ago, in husbandy colors, but mine’s a lot more colorful – a riot of aqua, pink, green, blue – definitely my colors. I’ve seen this scarf done in many color combinations, from subtle to shout-out-loud, and each one has looked great!

The International Quilt Festival in Houston is coming up fast – this year, it’s October 14-18, two weeks earlier than usual. The Quilt show is total nirvana for quilters, and lots of fun for non-quilters too, as there are zillions of booths to explore. Great Yarn Company will be there again this year, so if you plan to attend the show, please come visit our booth. We’ll have lots of yarns and patterns, and some fun new items that would be perfect gifts for you or someone on your gift list. (Can you believe it? Time to start thinking about gifts again!)

Also coming up, and very exciting (at least for us!) – we’re getting a new logo and redesigning our website! As we get closer to unveiling the new website, I’ll give you some sneak peaks!

Rarrrr – uh-oh, that’s my not-quite-finished dinosaur calling me!
Sue

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Yarn like butta

Posted on September 18, 2009 by Sue

Well, I’ve fallen head over heels for a new love. I was smitten the first time I laid eyes on it, and after I cast on, there was no turning back — it was like butta on the needles. My new love is Malabrigo Worsted yarn — what a wonderful yarn!

This is my first project with Malabrigo, and it’s immediately apparent why this yarn is so popular. It’s incredibly cushy and feels amazingly soft in your hands. I’m using the color Lettuce, a semi-solid with all the subtle variations of color that are characteristic of hand-dyed yarns. And I’m completely in love. Maybe even enough to challenge my well-known affection for Noro Silk Garden. (But don’t worry, Silk Garden – you’ll always be special to me!)

The neckwarmer pattern I’m using is a freebie on Ravelry called Crofter’s Cowl, and I plan to cheat – I’m going to keep knitting repeats until I like the length, instead of knitting it in two pieces and Kitchenering it together. Quicker, and I think it will be just as lovely. (Are you on Ravelry? Come join our Ravelry group “GreatYarnCompany”!)

You can see this neckwarmer and lots more next month at our booth at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, October 14-18, 2009. We made many new friends there last year, so don’t be shy, come visit us in our booth again this year!

I’ve just added several new yarns to our website, so hop on over and check out cotton blend Rowan Calmer, fun Regia Kaffe Fasset sock yarns, and a sweet fluffy baby yarn from On Line called Paloma Soft (Linie 252).

Knitting happy,
Sue

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Gotta love a man who cooks

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Sue

It’s wonderful having a husband who can cook. We trade off on who’s got kitchen duty, and as I write this post, I can hear him working in the kitchen, frying fish and eggplant. Fried eggplant is one of my favorite things in the world! (Bet you can tell that I’m from New Orleans – we’re having two deep-fried foods in the same meal, and I’m not hyperventilating about it!)

Last night, I brought my Modern Quilt Wrap to work on at my weekly knitting group. It’s fairly easy, but does require counting rows to change colors at the right time.

When I got there, I was just about to change colors, so I cut the old color, joined the new color, and knitted five rows before realizing I left out two decreases. Ripped back and re-knitted the five rows with the decreases this time.

Then I realized that I changed colors too soon – should have worked more rows in the old color before changing colors. To some people, this wouldn’t matter, but I can be a tad obsessive about my knitting, so I ripped it back again.

Joined a new strand of the old color and knitted the missing row, then cut it again, added new color, and knitted the same five rows for the third time.

But something just didn’t look right. That’s when I realized that I should have added three more rows in the old color, not one.

Ripped back the five rows again, ripped back the newly-added single row of the old color, joined a new strand of the old color and knitted the three missing rows. Double-checked the pattern carefully, stitch count was correct, row count was correct, all is good.

Joined the new color, knitted the five rows for the fourth time, but who’s counting?

Then I looked even more closely at the pattern, and discovered that while I am knitting with color “I”, I should actually be using color “H”.

Yep, I joined the wrong color. FIVE times.

Now in theory, this shouldn’t matter – in a wrap of many colors, it wouldn’t be apparent if one color were out of place, but my slight obsessiveness kicked in again. So I ripped back one last time, joined the correct new color, and knitted the five rows for the sixth time.

Knit, frog, knit, rip, arrgh…
Sue