Auld Lang Syne

We will be open New Years Eve until 3pm so come in and pick out your project for 2013! 

We are closed New Years Day and open our regular hours Wednesday, Jan. 2nd.  

Treat yourself to a ball winder and wooden swift, Stitchionary books or the Addi Turbo Click Interchangeable needle set.  Get inspired!

Happy Holidays from all of us at Yarn Garden!

Upcoming Class: Learn to Knit Scarf

The New Year is just around the corner and with it comes resolutions for 2013.  

My mother is always encouraging me to take a class and learn something new.  Since our mother's know best, I take the annual challenge and sign up for something different and always have the best time.  So, if knitting is something you've always wanted to learn, I encourage you to sign up for the Learn to Knit Scarf class.  

Learn the basics of knitting while creating a stylish scarf perfect for men or women.

 We will use a pattern that includes many more scarf and wrap options that you can knit later on - it is full of design possibilities!  You will learn how to cast on, knit, purl, bind off, read a pattern weave in ends.

 

We will be making this lovely Textural Scarf.

 Class Dates and Times:
Tue. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 1/8/2013
Tue. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 1/15/2013
Tue. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 1/22/2013

* No knitting experience required to take this class

 

Sign up at yarngarden.net or call us 503-239-7950

 

Students receive 20% off all class materials.  

Gift Idea: Knit and Crochet Classes

Our Winter Classes for 2013 are here and there is one for everybody!  

My mother signed me up for a class 10 years ago to learn to knit while I was visiting her.  I'll never forget my patient and hilarious teacher and the first scarf I made with knits AND purls!  Knitting is a huge part of my life now and I still continue to take classes and now teach them myself.  

There's nothing else like a room full of people bonding over a first scarf so take a look at our class schedule and sign up for one today or gift a class to a loved one for the holidays!

For the last minute shoppers, pick up a Yarn Garden gift card along with a printed out class schedule.

Sign up for classes at yarngarden.net or call us 503-239-7950.

Upcoming Class:  #01 Dickinson V-Neck Pullover

Teacher: Michelle Corcoran

 Learn the basics of sweater construction as you knit this cozy v-neck pullover. In addition to reading a pattern, you'll also learn increases and decreases, seaming, and a decorative ribbing that adds a special touch to this sweater. Knit on larger needles, you'll find this sweater a fun and quick knit!  

This is a great class for new knitters.  Skills needed: cast on, knit, purl and bind off.

Class Dates and Times:
Mon. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 1/7/2013
Mon. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 1/14/2013
Mon. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 1/21/2013
Mon. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 2/4/2013

 -Annie, Yarn Garden

Last Minute Gift Ideas

 Hand made Serendipity knitting needles crafted from Northern White Birch with handcrafted polymer clay finials on top from animals to snowmen!  We carry sizes US #7-9.  

 The ASAP (five hour sweater) from Classic Elite Yarns is a
stylish and warm quick knit using La Gran double stranded (pictured in color Iris).

La Gran is an aran weight blend of 76½% Mohair, 17½% Wool, 6% Nylon, soft and fluffy!

 The Cozy Como Cowl from last season revisited in Classic Elite Yarns Ariosa held double.  Knit this cowl in a couple evenings with circular US #17 needles, two balls of Ariosa.  Pictured above in color Tannin.  Free pattern on our Yarn Garden Ravelry page.

 A simple hat for women or men in a classic tweed yarn.  The Chunkeanie, a free pattern on Ravelry.com, designed by Woolly Wormhead was a fun knit with easy to read instructions and nice decreases at the top.  We knit ours with one ball of Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran in color Sienna and size US #8 needles.  This hat can be worn slouchy or with a folded brim.

The Tivoli Twist, the perfect accessory for her.   Ribbed with a simple twist in the front and buttonhole closure in the back.  Knit with one ball of Tivoli in color Amber from Tahki Stacy Charles, a luxurious blend of  52% Silk, 48% Mohair.  Free pattern with yarn purchase!

We have wooden swifts in stock too!  Who doesn't want one of these?

-Annie, Yarn Garden

Gift Idea: Cloudy Portland Sky Cowl

One of best sellers this year has been the Cloudy Portland Sky Cowl.  A simple infinity cowl knit seamlessly in the round in seed stitch on US #10.5 needles.  The yarn is what makes this cowl really special.

Cascade Yarns Eco Cloud, an aran weight chainette 70% merino wool, 30% baby alpaca with 164 yards/ skein.  A very soft yarn and the chainette ply makes it light-weight, even knit on big needles while giving a simple seed stitch lovely texture.  We carry Cloud in 18 beautiful colors and Eco Cloud in 5 undyed natural shades.

This is a free pattern available on the Yarn Garden Ravelry page, designed by Michelle Corcoran.

"Snow Skies" pictured above was knit with 2 skeins of Cascade Yarns, Eco Cloud in color #1801 natural.

Size can be easily modified by adding or taking away stitches, as long as the cast on number is odd.

Wear it doubled to stay toasty!

Pictured above, 2 skeins of Eco Cloud, color #1810 charcoal.

There is still time to knit a couple of these and gift, or gift the yarn and pattern to the special knitters in your life!

-Annie, Yarn Garden

Gift Idea: Marie Mayhew's Woolly Patterns

 New from Marie Mayhew's imagination are some wonderful felting patterns.  The Woolly Bird Holiday Ornaments are one of my favorites.  I've already cast on a couple to be gifted!  

This pattern gives instructions for four birds: an owlet, a tufted-ear owl, a cardinal, and a penguin chick. When felted, the ornaments measure a little over 2-inches round.

Endless color possibilities with the Woolly Matroyshka Doll pattern.  Personalize them for a friend for the holiday!

The Beehive Skeps are so sweet.  

Marie's take on the old baskets made of grass or straw to house a colony of bees.

Knit and felt a whimsical 3-1/2 or 5-inch beehive as a tribute to the hardest worker out there - the honey bee!

 

 The Woolly Kitty Kat felts to about 8 inches tall.

Something for the cat lover.

 The Woolly Gnome & Mushroom has 3 adaptations now!  Woolly Santa, pictured above, a wee leprechaun and Matilda the witch.  Once you have the Woolly Gnome  & Mushroom pattern you can download Marie's other adaptions on her website.

Last winter we had so much fun knitting the Woolly Penguin Chicks and Snowmen, you can read about it here. 

Come in and check out her other patterns!

-Annie, Yarn Garden

Gift Idea: Eco Duo

We are all knitting and crocheting away as the holidays are fast approaching so we will continue to share patterns we love and hope you will too!

The One Skein Scarf is a wonderful unisex scarf great for anyone that loves soft yarn and neutral colors.

Last season we coveted Eco Duo from Cascade Yarns.  The yarn is so unbelievably soft and with 197 yards we found we could make some beautiful timeless accessories with just one skein.

 

The Pattern
One Row Handspun Scarf by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka the Yarn Harlot. It's a free pattern on her blog and we love it! Mary used only 1 skein of Eco Duo in color Storm #1703 and the scarf turned out long enough to wrap around once.

 For Her

The Burberry Inspired Cowl is another great gift idea.  This is such a classic pattern that looks good in so many different yarns.  We knit this cowl with US #10 needles and 1 skein of Cascade Eco Duo.  I love it pictured here in color Vanilla, the yarn slowly changes from cream to ivory.

This would make a wonderful first cable pattern, it's very easy to read and goes by quickly.

 

The Yarn

Cascade Yarns Eco Duo is an aran weight, undyed blend of 70% alpaca, 30% merino.
There are 197 yds/100 gr in a skein with 4.5 sts per inch on a US 8 knitting needle for $14.95 per skein.
We carry eight different natural undyed colors.  A couple skeins would make great stocking stuffers!

-Annie, Yarn Garden

Gift Idea: Chalet Cowl

 

To keep up with every one's wish list, I am going to continue to share some of Yarn Garden's favorite gift ideas. 

The Chalet Cowl is one of my personal favorites.  The yarn is a dream to knit with and the pattern is easy to read and goes by quickly.  The cowl is knit with Classic Elite Yarns, Chalet, one of the softest yarns we carry.  It's a quick knit on US 10 1/2 needles, worked flat like a scarf  with textured cables and kitchener stitched together at the end for an invisible seam.

 

Free pattern with yarn purchase!

 

Chalet is a bulky weight chainette, 70% baby alpaca and 30% bamboo.  It is part of Classic Elite's Mountaintop collection of yarns that are spun from natural, undyed fibers.  

Eight beautiful neutral colors to choose from.

-Annie, Yarn Garden

Gift Ideas: Yarn Garden Gift Card

The holidays are fast approaching and to make your shopping easy, Yarn Garden has gift cards!
Perfect for the fiber lovers in your life.
We ship anywhere in United States, so you can go ahead and add a Yarn Garden gift card to your wish list and use it on that project you've always wanted to make for yourself.
Order one online at yarngarden.net or give us a call at 503-239-7950.

Gift Idea: Layers of Cashmere

There's nothing like cashmere around your neck, keeping your warm and toasty for the winter.  

 We knit a few of these simple ribbed cowls in different colors using one ball of Aiko, 80% cashmere/ 20% nylon with big needles and layered them.  It feels like a cloud and would make the perfect gift.

Free pattern with yarn purchase!

 Grey, pumpkin and white.

Knit seamlessly in the round, this cowl flies off the needles.  Knit one for yourself and another for a friend and have matching cowls! 

We love layers.