welcome to yarntopia

Scarf Contest

2009-07-07T16:27:00.000-07:00

#3

#4

Ok, it is time to vote for your favorite scarf! They are all on display at the store if you would rather vote in person.

To vote, send us an email at yarntopia@comcast.net and vote by number.

Silk, Beads...What More Do You Need?

2009-07-03T12:54:00.001-07:00

Tilli Tomas' Plie Beaded Silk is a gorgeous yarn and with only one hank you can make this stunning accessory.

The pattern is free with the purchase of the yarn. We only have 3 hanks left, but more is on the way!

Also due in next week: Schaefer Yarn and Beaded Scarf Kits from Swallowtail Creations.

Have a great 4th and we'll see you next week.

Anne Slanting Lace Scarf

2009-06-09T15:45:00.000-07:00

I love this project! I knit it in a week while waiting for my mom in surgery and then on a short road trip with my husband. I never got bored. The pattern is quite repetitive but the colors of this yarn are so yummy that I was constantly entertained.

We have 5 colorways of Anne in stock and the pattern is free with the purchase of the yarn.

Come touch, feel and make one for yourself!

Itching to Knit

2009-05-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

Last night at our regular Thursday night stitching group I had the sudden, overwhelming need to knit. I wanted to feel the rhythmic movements as my hands work back and forth working beautiful yarn into something special. The last thing I need to do is buy more yarn so I delayed my gratification until I got home. That is where I went to my stash and found this gorgeous ball of Anne sock yarn from Schaefer Yarns. I also have a pattern for a lace scarf designed for this yarn. I had struck pay dirt!

This is what I worked on today and it is my ideal knitting project: gorgeous yarn and an interesting but not difficult pattern that is perfectly suited to the yarn.

Our order of yarn for Undulating Waves shipped today and I asked them to include 6 hanks of Anne just in case somebody else might consider this their ideal knitting project! The pattern is free with the yarn purchase. Mark your calendars - June 5th is when the Schaefer is due to arrive.

I also have another Schaefer project in my queque, so when I finish this I will cast on for that. If you like that one we will get the yarn for that as well. Can you tell I am on a Schaefer bandwagon? Our retreatees discovered Schaefer at The Tinsmith's Wife in Comfort. Here are three things for you to love about Schaefer:

1. GORGEOUS handpainted yarn.

2. Free patterns with yarn purchase.

3. Large quantities so that many projects can be made with only 1 hank/ball. This makes them great items to make as gifts or to give to a knitter as a gift. No quantity guesses!

Visit their site to see some of the great stuff they have to offer.

Newest Scarf To Throw

2009-05-27T15:46:00.001-07:00

This is a beauty! I love this stitch pattern and it is paired perfectly with the Vermillion Malabrigo. This is the scarf for July and the classes are scheduled for Saturday the 18th from 10:00-11:30 and Tuesday evening the 21st from 6:30-8:00. Come by or give us a call to sign up.

Thanks to Sherry Fox, Minnie now has hair. This is a crochet adaptation of a knitty.com pattern. Now she will look good when we don't have a hat to model!

New Blogs

2009-05-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

Amy and I both have a new blog. Both blogs will have a design/fashion focus. The Yarntopia blog will be the place to find shop news as well as Amy's & my most recent projects.

Click on the links to the right and see what she and I are doing.

Meet Undulating Waves

2009-05-14T14:54:00.001-07:00

This gorgeous beaded scarf is on display at the shop and this will be a class in June. The yarn is Susan, a sock yarn from Schaeffer that comes in some fabulous colorways. We have 10 hanks coming in the first part of June, so if you are interested be watching for a blog post and email announcing the yarn's arrival. We will order beads once the yarn arrives and the class will be scheduled for later in June.

I have another beaded project to knit and then I'll show it off and schedule the class.

Feel the Malabrigo Love

2009-05-14T14:43:00.001-07:00

We got a new shipment of Malabrigo in today! There are 3 new colors - Snow Bird, Stonechat, and Jaen. Returning favorites include Olive, Brilliante, Rich Chocolate, Molly, and Whales Road.

Amy and I have both started our scarf designs - well, we know what we want to do anyway. Come in and get a form, or send us an email and we can send it to you that way. Find a stitch dictionary and let your imagination run wild and free!

Release Your Inner Designer

2009-05-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

We have an exciting opportunity for all you budding designers and all around talented knitters & crocheters out there.

We are going to conduct a scarf design contest.

Here's the low down:

Design a scarf using a yarn currently carried at Yarntopia. The yarn can come from your stash but it must be a currently stocked yarn.
This must be an original design, any scarf that looks like a known pattern will be eliminated from the contest.
We want knit & crochet designs for all seasons.
Write the pattern (a template will be available).
Bring the scarf to the store where it will be on display.
Send the pattern to us in a Word document.
Keep your project a secret from everyone here until you bring it in finished.
We will display the scarves (no names attached) and allow a time for voting to happen both online and in the store.
At the end of the prescribed period of time, we will stop and tabulate the votes.
The number one vote getter will receive a Yarntopia gift certificate and their scarf will be on the cover of a scarf booklet we are going to self publish.

Amy & I will not be voting, but we will each have a scarf in the book.

Let your imagination go wild - knit, crochet, felt, lace, cotton, silk, use multiple yarns - do something wild - most of all, have fun!

Come to the store beginning Monday, May 11th and pick up the contest rules and all the information you will need to get started.

Become a Sock Diva

2009-05-02T13:42:00.001-07:00

The title of Yarntopia Sock Diva is awarded to the first knitter who completes the following requirements:

Buys yarn & knits or crochets enough socks to fill the Sock Diva card (15) AND
Brings all 15 pairs of socks to Yarntopia so she can be "crowned" and photographed.

What do you get in return?

On the day you are crowned Yarntopia Sock Diva, you will receive the following gifts:

Sock Project Bag

Kollage sock needles in your choice of dpn, 40" circular for magic loop or 24" circular for 2 circs

Hank of Malabrigo sock yarn

Sock Knitting book (your choice from our inventory)

$30.00 Yarntopia gift certificate

There is no time limit - we will continue until someone is crowned.

Karen and Sheryl have some sock fun up their sleeves for this summer; June will be a BIG sock month at Yarntopia. If you think all this sounds fun, it is! Come take a class to learn to knit in the round and you'll be ready for socks in June.

Take it Easy, and Keep on Knitting!

2009-04-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

Sale Tomorrow Only

10 - 9

15% off ALL regularly priced merchandise

(books & needles included)

Now, back to our regularly scheduled post:

This is Amy's interpretation of Noni's Flamenco bag. She made it a super cute and chic clutch (clutches are very "in") with a giant button closure. Very cute. This will be a class in June. This bag can be customized with yarn choices as well as buttons & handles.

Here are the first 3 months of the Scarf to Throw class. The center scarf is the May class. It is entrelac which is a fun technique and can easily be transferred to other projects - Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style comes to mind. This class is scheduled for Tuesday May 12th & Saturday May 16th. Whether you want to do one or all of these classes they are a great way to learn new skills.

This is Dragonfly Wings, a gorgeous wrap knit with 5 or 6 different yarns. This class is Monday, May 4th from 10-12. We already have 2 people signed up so if you are interested give us a call! Choosing your yarn and color palette is part of the class, so come have some fun with Karen.

I have come to love using shopping bags and what could be better than a bag that you made yourself? This pattern is super cool because the bag can fold up and store in a pocket that is knit into the base of the bag. These would also be great beach or pool bags. Join Martha as she teaches this class on Thursday, May 14th from 6:30-8:30. If you haven't taken a class from Martha, this is a great place to start. She has a wonderful way of explaining techniques and helping her students succeed.

Watch for a post on Friday with information about our Saturday Sock Posse.

2009-04-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

Amy finished "Louisa" from French Girl Knits and it is so cute! It is knit in the round on large needles so it is fast and easy to fit. We're thinking of offering this as a class. Let us know it you're interested.

This adorable top is knit with Noro's newest summer yarn, Chirimen, a DK weight blend of cotton, silk, & wool. The pattern is from Black Purl Designs.

Sublime does it again. This T is simple but elegant. Wear it with jeans or top a dressy skirt and add jewelry and you have an outfit that is perfect for a night out.

Noni's Flamenco Bag is a purse class that we have wanted to have for a long time. Amy is working on the sample now and the class will be on the May calendar. Check it out!

The Scarf to Throw classes are filling! Month #1 is a type of cable that is quite easy to learn. Month #2 is entrelac and if you have never done entrelac this is the place to learn. I have an idea for a stash busting project using entrelac. Take the class then you'll be ready to play with yarn and bust that stash!

Keep Those Fingering Knitting or Crocheting...

Sheryl & Amy

Scarf to Throw #1

2009-04-13T13:58:00.001-07:00

Minnie is modeling the first scarf in the Scarf to Throw class series. This is a really cool cable technique that produces a woven looking fabric.

This is a close up of the stitch pattern.

You have 2 opportunities this week to take this class - Thursday evening from 6:30-8:00 or Saturday the 18th from 10:00-11:30. Give us a call to sign up. I'm going to cast on for month 2 today so I can show you what it will look like soon.

Head on over to our calendar to see all the upcoming classes. Saturday is a day full of fun. The seaming class is full but will be a regular addition to our line up. There is room in Knitting in the Round and Knitting 911. Come see us and find something fun to knit!

Summer Knitting

2009-04-10T12:33:00.000-07:00

I know that the calendar tells us that it is still spring, but we all know that spring and summer are really one season in Houston. Amy and I will be buying fall/winter yarn in the next few weeks, but we will be knitting for summer.

The new Vogue Knitting is here and it is full of fabulous things. It is eye candy if nothing else. As is generally the case this time of year the folks at Vogue are featuring lace projects. Now, don't scream and run away at the thought of lace. Technically anything with intentional holes in it is lace. There are several items labeled "Very Easy" that are lace beginner appropriate. Project #13 is a dropped stitch basket weave scarf/wrap that would be fabulous knit in one of the new On Line sock yarns.

I have fallen in love with Kristin Omdahl's gorgeous lace sweater (project #1). We don't carry the yarn called for, but we do have some great substitutes and I think this is my next project. I also must make the cover garment - a circular shrug with an incredible center medallion. This would be a show stopper for year round use in Houston.

Come check out the magazine. If the lace intrigues you then we can guide you in taking the classes necessary to master the skills to knit lace (Big Bold Lace is a good place for advanced beginners). I personally love lace and find it the most rewarding thing to knit.

Class News: The Scarf to Throw class originally scheduled for tomorrow (April 11th) has be rescheduled for next Saturday, April 18th from 10-11:30. The class has made and there are openings, so give us a call and come join the fun.

Keep on stitchin' and we'll see you soon.

S&A

New Books and Sock Yarn

2009-04-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

The new summer sock yarn from On Line is a cotton blended with nylon and a small amount of elastic. The colors are cool and soft - perfect for socks, baby garments, fingerless gloves, scarves, shawls and lace. Sock yarn is not just for socks!

We have received our copies of the newest Jenny Watson book for Noro. I love these designs - as usual Jenny has given us simple, modern shapes combined with the great Noro yarns. Chirrimen is their newest yarn and is a blend of cotton, silk, wool & nylon. It is a DK weight so garments are light and perfect for our climate.

The newest book from Ella Rae is also a great basic book that can be used over and over. There are patterns for the whole family using Baby Cotton (a lovely DK weight cotton) and Bamboo Silk.

We are working on the calendar for May - August. We want you to be able to plan your summer of fiber fun. In addition to our basic skills classes, we will be doing color classes, freeform crochet, tunisian crochet, beaded knitting and crochet, socks - top down and toe up, simple summer garments, and lace. There will be something for everyone.

See you soon!

Yarntopia Retreat #2 Is History

2009-04-06T07:04:00.000-07:00

By all accounts, this retreat was an overwhelming success; exceeding last year by leaps and bounds. Meyer Bed and Breakfast was the perfect place for the Yarntopians to gather. It is beautiful, cozy, and walking distance to The Tinsmith's Wife,

Comfort's fabulous little yarn shop. Be sure to go to their site - they have pictures!

We laughed, ate, shopped and for 2 short days, let go of the cares of the world. Before Friday many of these ladies didn't know each other. When I got there I found a large room full of laughing, happy friends. It was as if Amy and I had taken Yarntopia and moved it 200 miles west. The warm, welcoming atmosphere Yarntopia is known for was alive and well that night. It warmed my heart to see. As I say this, we are not taking credit. No, the credit goes to our wonderful customers who welcomed new folks into the fold, helped with knitting issues, and offered encouragement to anyone who needed it. It was everything we hoped it would be.

For those who were there - thank you for making this an awesome weekend. For those of you who couldn't join us this year, start planning now for next year. We will be returning to Meyer and Comfort in spring of 2010.

Happy Birthday to Us!

2009-04-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

Today is Yarntopia's official 3rd birthday. So much has happened during the past three years. It has been a time of learning and growing both personally and professionally. You all have watched (and helped) Yarntopia develop a personality all its own, and we have watched you grow as knitters and crocheters. We have laughed and cried together; shared yarn, food, and fun; and through it all have become friends.

As Amy and I look forward, we envision Yarntopia growing but always being that safe place at the center of the chaos of life. Everyone knits or crochets for different reasons; however, the common thread is that our fiber craft gives us something that soothes, fills, and enhances our lives. I can't imagine a day without it, can you?

4-3-06 - Opening Day with our first 2 customers.

Happy 1st Birthday!

Now we're 2!

Pictures of our 3rd birthday party will come on Monday after our annual retreat. Start planning now so you can come with us next year.

Have a great weekend - knitting, crocheting, or whatever makes you happy.

Amy & Sheryl

Scarf 2 Throw

2009-04-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

These are the colors I have selected for my throw. They compliment the art work and theme of my bedroom. I think it is going to be so much fun a year from now to lay the scarves out and see how everything works together. Malabrigo is such a soft, wonderful yarn but it will have to be dry cleaned. I don't consider that a huge issue for a throw that will be draped over the sofa in my bedroom - used occasionally and only by adults.

If you are needing something a little more sturdy then I recommend Encore by Plymouth. It comes in a huge array of colors.

Because of all the excitement, I have added this class to the April calendar. You can get to the calendar from the website now, so head on over for the dates and info. If you really want to get started but can't make it on any of the dates listed, find a friend, give us a call and we'll set up a class for you.

The kind folks at Jimmy Beans Wool have granted us permission to use some of their patterns. We are going to start where they did, so we are using their pattern for Month 1. If you take the class with us we will print the pattern for you. If you decide to do this on your own, then print the pattern and go for it!

The Flit & Float classes are on the schedule too. The Thursday evening class has made, so if you can come in the evening, come join the fun. I'm going to work on mine during the retreat and have decided to use Ella Rae's lace weight merino. Sock yarn would work great for this project as well.

I'll post again on Monday with a full report from the retreat. Have a great weekend!

New Yarn & New Sweaters

2009-03-07T09:16:00.000-08:00

Linares from Ester Bitran is a hand dyed cotton/rayon blend, dk weight yarn that is perfect for summer tops, sweaters, and scarves. 229 yds/$12.00

Another Bitran hand dye is Olome. This is marked as a sport weight, but we feel it is closer to a fingering weight. The yardage is awesome - 399 yds/$12.00. Crocheters - this is an ideal yarn for you!

This adorable shell is knit with RYC's Natural Silk Aran.

A short sleeve summer cardigan is a great accessory for layering or over a summer dress. We will be offering this as a class next month.

The orange sweater on the left is from Sublime's book #610 and is knit with Soya Cotton DK. The teal cropped cardi is from Rowan's newest yarn - Lenpur - a linen blend that is soft and luscious. There are many cute patterns in the accompanying book.

Retreat Preview

2009-03-02T08:55:00.001-08:00

Well, I had an amazing weekend and have pictures to tease you with. For those who are going on our retreat next month, this is what you have to look forward to.

This is the patio area outside of the Lodge Hall where we can gather to knit, crochet and visit.

This is called the Summer Kitchen; it is a screened porch that has a Coke machine, ice machine and microwave.

Bring your bathing suits, there is a hot tub.

A fountain, swimming pool and comfy lounge chairs.

Dining al fresco with a view of the creek.

And another view of the creek.

It is going to be amazing!

Spring Yarn Preview: Haze

2009-02-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

Haze is a DK weight corn fiber from Queensland Collection. After working with it I think it is more a sport/light dk weight. It is great to knit and crochet with, and the stitch definition and fabric are both lovely. The tight twist and cotton like texture make it an awesome crochet fiber.

The knitted fabric is soft yet sturdy. It is machine washable which makes it ideal for kids - imagine a little summer dress, or a unique blanket. It will also be great for a lightweight summer shawl or scarf - great if you need just a little something to keep the chill off your shoulders in the air conditioning. I am planning a summer shell or T-shirt from it. The colors are great and the yardage and price make it an affordable choice. Come check it out!

French Girl Knits

2009-01-26T06:16:00.000-08:00

The designs from French Girl have been some of the most popular in Yarntopia history. We were one of the first retailers to carry this line and we have supported and been supported by Kristeen through the years.

Her first book is now out and on reorder at Yarntopia. These designs are brilliant, beautiful and vintage French Girl. To pay homage to French Girl we have brought back all the items from her design collection.

Home from TNNA

2009-01-19T09:36:00.000-08:00

I had a fast and furious trip to San Diego. Oh, how I love that city. I walked, and walked, and walked; it was great.

On day one I met Kristin Omdahl - one of the shining stars of crochet design. She is a stunning and delightful person. We have "talked" online but this was our first face to face conversation. Kristin's newest pattern in Interweave Crochet, "Golightly Tunic," is high on my list of projects. She has a line of patterns that we would love your feed back on - head on over to her website and let us know what you think. She is a knit and crochet designer, so there is something for everyone.

Louisa Harding was, as usual, delightful. She went through her two latest pattern books with me and talked about her inspiration and the new fibers coming out. The books are called Nouveau and Deco and the designs are reflective of those two periods. The designs in Nouveau are feminine and are reminiscent of the 1920's; Deco, on the other hand, is bright, fun and full of attitude (my kind of designs!). Similar to Knitting Little Luxuries, Nouveau has loads of smaller projects including hats, bags, wraps and simple little garments. I'm seeing many classes coming out of this book.

New from Lantern Moon is a line of crochet hooks. I feel these hooks combine the best of a hard wood hook that we current love with a design that is more conducive to consistent gauge. The thumb grip is set back farther on the hook and is small - this makes it comfortable for a variety of crocheters. I also ordered more tape measures, this time in cute flower shapes, and adorable little silk holders for those sticky notes we all carry in our kits.

Malabrigo is ordered. I restocked a few solids, but 7 of the colors are multis. I hope I chose something for everyone. I also ordered one bag of sock yarn. The yarn is luscious but the colors are mostly solids and the variegated weren't as bright and fun as I had expected. The colorway is called Caribeno.

And, finally, I chose a few yarns from a company that we don't currently carry. Fiesta/Ironstone is a beautiful line of yarn - custom hand dyes and fabulous fashion yarns. I chose just a few to test drive with you all. I won't say more but will surprise you when they arrive. I really like this company. It is a husband/wife team who dye, spin, create and sell their own products. They are shop friendly and are anxious to work with their customers to provide us with just what we are looking for. I am very excited about adding some bling and fun into the Yarntopia lineup.

Our spring shipments should start arriving in a couple weeks. We will let you know as things arrive. Currently I have a few balls of new yarns on the coffee table. Feel free to cast on and knit a little swatch or pick up that hook and see what you can crochet with one of them.

Lexie Barnes Bags Are Here!

2008-12-17T13:17:00.001-08:00

The Lexie Barnes knitting bags just arrived!

We have the bags and the full line of accessories. They won't be here long, so come check them out and start the new year in style.

Big, New Yarn!

2008-11-10T15:01:00.000-08:00

You gotta see these babies to believe them! They are giant balls of yarn love.

The pink multi balls in front are called Marble and each one has 341 yds.! They are 100% acrylic so they are great for children's garments or anything that will get lots of use. There are children's patterns and a ladies sweater coat. We are waiting on one more colorway in this yarn.

The giant skeins are an aran (heavy worsted) weight acrylic & wool blend perfect for afghans.

And, finally, we ordered several colors of variegated worsted weight kitchen type cotton. There are even 2 Christmas colors just in time for holiday gift knitting.

Come check out these fun new items along with new sock yarns, books and patterns!