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

Upcoming Class: Toe-Up Socks 201: Shetland Lace

Class #09  Teacher: Arwen

Arwen's sock, knit with Millamia in color lilac blossom.

Now that you've discovered toe-up socks, why not challenge yourself with a little lace? This traditional Shetland stitch takes on new life as ribbing for these pretty socks. Choose a bright color for a modern twist!

*Skills needed to take this class - CO, knit, purl, BO, have made toe-up socks before.

Class Dates and Times:
Tue. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 10/16/2012
Tue. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 10/23/2012
Tue. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 10/30/2012
Tue. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 11/6/2012

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

Students receive 20% off all class materials.   

Class Spotlight: Cable Loop Cowl

Class #07 Teacher: Amanda

Learn to cable with this fun, reversible cowl. That's right, reversible; impress all of your friends while staying warm and cozy. It's so easy you'll feel magic!

*Skills needed to take this class: Cast on, knit, purl, bind off

Class Dates and Times:
Thu. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 10/11/2012
Thu. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 10/18/2012
Thu. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 10/25/2012

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

Students receive 20% off all class materials.    

   

Pictured in Cascade 220 Superwash, 100% Peruvian Highland washable wool with 220 yards/ 100 gram ball.

Upcoming Class

Toe-Up Socks 101

Class #03 Teacher: Arwen

These sportweight socks cover all the basics. You'll learn the Figure 8 cast on, how to make a gusseted short row heel, and the always stretchy sewn bind off.  It's easy to get the perfect fit with toe up socks! 

*Skill needed to take this class: CO, knit, purl, BO, comfortable working with small needles, ability to knit in the round with smaller needles.

Class Dates and Times:
Tue. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 9/18/2012
Tue. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 9/25/2012
Tue. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 10/2/2012
Tue. • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • 10/9/2012

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

Students receive 20% off all class materials.

Two balls of Regia Crazy Color 6ply will make a self-striping pair.

 I learned the toe-up technique from Arwen and love it.  It's all I use now and my socks always fit me just right.   -Annie, Yarn Garden

Upcoming Classes for Fun Spring Accessories

via Classic Elite Yarns

Spring classes start next week!
Remember, you can choose between a 20% discount or double points on your Supportland card for purchases of class materials.

First up, these fingerless mitts are perfect for days like today, when we're getting our fair share of April showers. Endlessly versatile and made with Classic Elite Yarns' Lush, the most decadent wool/angora blend, these little cabled mitts would also make a great gift. Emily tells us that this Easy class is just right for anyone who has never made fingerless gloves, or who would like to try out the fascinating interplay of cables and lace with an easy to memorize pattern.

Spring '11 Class #01 -Springtime Fingerless Gloves
Monday, April 23rd, 30th, & May 4th 6:30-8:30pm
Skill Level: Easy
$45.00

via Classic Elite

Next up is the adorable Starboard Scarf. Unusual construction and a knit-on fringe make this more than just your average neckerchief! Classic Elite's "Seedling" is a soft, textured, organic cotton that you are almost certain to fall in love with. Make this scarf, and you'll find yourself reaching for it again and again as the weather warms up and your calendar fills with outdoor fun!

Spring '11 Class #02 -Starboard Scarf
Monday, April 23rd & 30th 6:30-8:30pm
Skill Level: Easy                           $35.00

Mary will help you transform this classic  
Knitting Pure and Simple
pattern for knitting on two 24" circular needles.

Returning this season is Mary's always popular Socks on Two Circulars class. This method happens to be my favorite for all circular knitting, and after Mary takes you through the steps you'll know why! If you've never knitted socks before, this class will get you addicted. There's nothing more comfortable, and they are the ideal portable project.

Spring '11 Class #01 - Socks on Two Circulars
Weds. April 25th, May 2nd & 9th 6:30-8:30pm
Skill Level: Easy                                    $45.00

(C) Amanda Weir 2012

What could be better for Spring than a lovely lace scarf? Amanda's Lace Knitting 101 class is just the thing for anyone who has not made the plunge into lace knitting.

The Twig Scarf combines a gorgeous but simple stitch reminiscent of leaves and crossing branches with a garter stitch border for the consummate light weight accessory.

Amanda used Drops' Alpaca, a lofty, soft, fingering weight. Don't you love the color she chose? 

Spring '11 Class #04 - Lace Knitting 101: Twig Scarf
Thursday, April 26th, May 3rd & 10th 6:30-8:30pm

Skill Level : Easy                                         $45.00 

 

Woolly Penguins

We are in love with Marie Mayhew's felting patterns. We've had so much fun making these Woolly Penguins and Snowmen! 

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Get creative with accessories, here my mom made little ear muffs and a scarf with pom poms!

The Woolly Snowman pattern includes the corn-cob pipe, nose and instructions to make a top hat. We added a little smoke too!

We made our little penguin chicks using a skein of  Cascade 220 in gray, doubled with a skein of  Fresco in cream for the body and a skein of Cascade 220 in black for the head, tail and feet.  

Both patterns are knit in the round on big needles.  I knit my penguin in one evening and it took about a day to dry after felted.   

These would make great gifts!

Come in and check out some of her other felting patterns.  The gnomes are especially adorable.

Gift Ideas - Hats

With the holidays fast approaching, we thought we'd share some of our favorite patterns! Starting with hats.





Eucalyptus is knit up in a couple hours with one skein of Big Montana and US#17 needles.
Six fluffy cables come together at the top creating a little point. Very cute.
This is a free pattern with yarn purchase.




The Elf hat knit with one skein of Toboggan. This is a great last minute gift knit with size US 10 needles and chunky yarn. Adorable.
This pattern is featured in the Toboggan booklet from Classic Elite Yarns.





Voyager is a reverse stockinette hat with one beautiful cable. This is knit using one skein of Berroco Voyage.
This is a free pattern with yarn purchase.




The Alpaca Silk Slouchy Hat is perfect for anyone who's sensitive to scratchy yarns. Knit using two balls of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk, it should pass the soft test!
This a free pattern with yarn purchase.



My mother just finished the Fresco Simply Slouchy Hat . A nice stockinette hat with a rolled brim and a little bit of ribbing. This one is knit using two skeins of Fresco. I love how fluffy this yarn gets!





The Lace & Cables Beret is a sweet pattern knit with one skein of Weekend, a 75% acrylic/25% cotton blend, perfect for those with allergies to animal fibers. We embellished this one with a fun ceramic button made by One of a Kind.
This is a free pattern with yarn purchase.





Hermoine Hearts Ron is a soft and fluffy cabled hat knit with one skein of Classic Elite Fresco, a 60% wool/30% alpaca/10% angora blend. Fresco is one of our favorite yarns, it's a nice sportweight and the little bit of angora creates a soft halo.






Urchin is a beret knit sideways in garter stitch on a nice big US#10.5 needles. We used one skein of Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Chunky in a nice bright red.





Feather & Fan is a vintage looking hat knit with one skein of Baby Alpaca Grande Handpaint on US#10 needles. I love how the pattern creates a scalloped brim that perfectly covers your ears. This a free pattern with yarn purchase.



Man Hat is a wonderful pattern by Haven Leavitt using a chunky weight yarn and size US#8 needles, making a nice warm fabric. This one was knit using one skein of Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Chunky.



Here's another Man Hat knit with Me Too Print, a machine washable merino wool blend that slowly fades from dark to light. This hat is my brother's favorite!



Turn A Square by Jared Flood is a unisex beanie.
We knit this one using two skeins of Tahki Rio, a thick and thin 50% alpaca/35% merino/15% silk blend and US#7 knitting needles. This is a fun hat to knit and using two contrasting colors makes it hard to put down!


These are all hung in the shop, so come in and get some inspiration and we'll help you find those perfect gifts to make!


-Annie, Yarn Garden Staff

Gift Ideas- One Skein Wonders

What can be knit with just one skein you ask? We have the answer! Hundreds of fun projects can be knit with just one skein of yarn. These books are overflowing with creative patterns that will turn you into a "one-skein wonder" in no time!

The original One-Skein Wonder features 101 great favorites to help you use up those leftover balls from your last big project!


The second title brings you 101 stylish designer patterns to create with that irresistible single skein you couldn't pass up!


Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders, 101 beautiful pattern possibilities help you use up that gorgeous cashmere or exquisite qiviut!

And the latest of the series, Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders. This book is filled with patterns to make with sock yarn from scarves to fingerless gloves and yes, even some sock patterns!


Stop in and see our gift idea wall! Whether you're shopping for that special knitter in you life, or making your loved ones a heart felt gift, we've got you covered!