Last week we finally received our shipment of Madelinetosh Pashmina, a sport wt yarn made up of 75% superwash merino wool, 15% silk & 10% cashmere. It knits up into a luxurious soft fabric with a great drape and is machine washable. With 329m per skein, it takes just 2 to 3 skeins to knit up the popular Goodale cardigan by Cecily Glowik MacDonald. This is a top down raglan with I cord edging and simple fold over pockets. Or there are many one skein projects that would knit up beautifully in this yarn.

The latest in the Stitch’n Bitch series, titled “Superstar Knitting,” has finally arrived. Author Debbie Stoller has written easy to follow instructions to build your knitting skills in more advance techniques such as colourwork, intarsia, cables, lace, knitting with beads, steeking  and more. There is also a section of how to design your own knitting patterns. Included in the book are 41 original patterns. I must say that I am very impressed and I’m certain this book will be a big hit with intermediate level knitters.

New patterns by Bonnie Marie Burns include “Keelin” & matching “Keelin Cap” The cardigan features beautiful fit and detailing and is knit in worsted wt yarn. The pattern offers a 3/4 length medium-wide sleeve option or a tradition long, fitted sleeve. The matching page boy style cap has the same twisted stitchwork detailing and a slightly slouchy fit.

Alana Dakos has a new pattern for a  cozy button-up cowl. She recommends knitting her “Shawl Collared Cowl” in a chunky wt yarn. I think this pattern would adapt to other yarn wts, so choose your favourite yarn and add a splash of colour under your winter coat. And as Alana states, it also makes for a great quick-to-knit gift. We have just received the patterns in the new ”Never Not Knitting” leaflet format.

The latest issue of Knitty is out and features a number of projects that are sure to be in your queue. These include “Rodekool” a pattern in their Extra Spicey level (photo below) as it uses a technique called two colour brioche. It should be a fun knit using Knitty’s wonderful tutorial links on this technique. The yarn suggested is Crystal Palace Mini Mochi, which has just arrived in the store in 12 different shades. (We also got the new Chunky Mochi which Lynn already has out on our shelves). Another great pattern is “Ringwood“, textured gloves with a cute buttoned cuff. The suggested yarn is Madelinetosh DK, which we still have in a great selection of colours. Happy fall knitting!

We are officially back to fall hours, including Sunday opening noon to 4 pm. As well Knit Night resumes tomorrow, Monday Sept 13th from 7 to 9 pm. To newcomers, this is a free drop-in social evening. Just bring a work in progress and enjoy the conversation.

We are cramming  fall yarns into our already full shelves. Some of these include  Berroco Ultra Alpaca, Berroco Blackstone Tweed, Cascade 220, Sublime Chunky Merino Tweed & Ella Rae Kamelsoft. We still have a good selection of Madelinetosh DK, but the Tosh Sock is going fast.

Registration for fall classes is underway. Check out the class section of the website and sign up by phone or in person. When scheduling classes, please take note of our cancellation policy and that we ask that you use yarns purchased at Black Sheep Yarns for class projects.

Join lower mainland yarn enthusiasts for the first annual yarn crawl, sponsored by the Fraser Valley Knitting Guild. For a $5 registration fee you receive a Yarn Harvest ID button, map of participating stores and entry into a prize draw. Each store will offer participants 10% off. (You can also expect other goodies and special discounts when you visit Black Sheep Yarns!) At the end of the day, you are invited to join the Yarn Harvest dinner, where prizes will be drawn. Tickets are available at Black Sheep Yarns and see the Yarn Harvest group on Ravelry for further details.

Fall yarns are arriving almost daily and in order to make room we will be putting some of our present stock on sale. Items will be added to the sale list  when we need to clear out more bins. Presently on sale for 30% off are the following:

Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted

Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky

Sirdar Flirt

Diamond Luxury Superfine Egyptian Cotton

Noro Shirakaba

3 huge boxes arrived from Texas this am, containing 20 colourways of Tosh DK and 12 colourways of Tosh Sock. Both are 100% superwash Merino in the Madelinetosh luscious glazed shades.  So squishy and soft!  Come early for the best selection of colours. Next we are expecting Madelinetosh Pasmina.

Our biggest problem is that we have no room on the shelves! So, in order to clear out some bins we will be putting a few things on sale starting this weekend – more details in the next few days.

Like most avid knitters, when I travel I try to visit a few of the local yarn shops. My 15 year old son tolerated visiting 3 stores while we were in Paris. I was most impressed by a delightful shop called “Lil Weasel”, which had opened 4 months previously. It is located in one of the grand passages – built in the early 1800’s they are precursors to the present day shopping mall. The “Passage du Grand Cerf” is one of the prettiest, with glass domed ceilings 3 floors high, decorated with wrought iron and wood. “Lil Weasel” is one of the shops lining this passage and as the owner Carine’s blog states “Lil Weasel c’est une petite boutique de laines. Et de tissus. Et aussi de boutons, de rubans, et d’articles de mercerie”. When you step inside the “petite boutique” you see a nice selection of yarn arranged by colour, and a cozy sitting area. Carine is very friendly (which is unfortunately not always the case with shopkeepers in Paris!) and speaks fluent English. If you visit Paris and can only visit one yarn shop, “Lil Weasel” should it.

I was interested to learn which yarns are popular in France. It seems that they prefer all the yarns which we have in North America. They love Cascade Yarns and are delighted if they can get Koigu or Lorna’s Laces. Lil Weasel was waiting for a shipment of Malabrigo. So, I didn’t buy any yarn in Paris as I have all that at Black Sheep Yarns! I did purchase some beautiful wooden knitting needles and gorgeous buttons.