Sweater Shavers

Need to trim the felted surface off your sassy sidekick purse or your groovy Noni bag? Sprucing up your sweater collection that you had picked up for spring and summer? You may need a sweater shaver to defuzz. We have 'em in the notions baskets at VBYC. Shave away for about $1.00!

Addi Click System at VBYC!

We've just received our periodic ration of Addi Click Systems! The sets are very popular world-wide, so their availability is limited. Our number has come up, and our sets have arrived. Since our last shipment, the set has undergone some cosmetic changes. The case is more compact and ergonomic: instead of a boxy case, the needles now come cradled in a sturdy fold-out pouch. Each set contains the needles tips you love, the cables, as well as a cute heart-shaped pin and a card that is personally signed by the industrious German worker at Addi who packed each of the components for you. Addi: Stricken mit Herzen. Knitting with a heart!

New from the Q

Della Q is way groovy, but that's not news! She's sent us more fab-o project pouches in cotton and silk, as well as more superb Priscillas. We have plenty of red Priscillas, some new brown ones as well as a few in some other colors. Check out the Della Q clothes line for your favorite Eden silk pouches (both small and large) and the retro-smooth cotton print Edens.

Zonta Club Art Bra Event

Last night was the Lafayette Zonta Club Art Bra Event at River Oaks. This was the organization's first year staging this creative and utterly fun program. The club commissioned the community to submit decorated and handmade bras for auction to raise funds for local charities that help in the fight against breast cancer. As you've all heard, VBYC submitted "Silky Merino Parrot" to the collection of 20+ bras auctioned last night. It was a handknit bra made of Malabrigo silky merino in vibrant rainbow colors (read the earlier blog post about the bra for an explanation why I chose these colors). Thanks to the event, thousands of dollars were raised for this excellent cause. The Vermilion Bay Yarn Company was happy to have been counted among those who helped.

Moorland and Inca Marl

This just in from Classic Elite: Moorland and Inca Marl. Both yarns make amazingly beautiful sweaters, not to mention amazingly beautiful scarf/hat ensembles. Moorland is a shaded merino/alpaca/mohair blend in a light worsted/Dk-ish weight (suggested on U.S. 6's). Inca Marl (with the cute alpaca on the label) is a worsted weight 100% alpaca yarn with subtile colorways twisted right into the yarn (so, no pooling, just an even distribution of wonderful color). Both yarns, Inca Marl and Moorland are perfect picks for our Louisiana "winter". Warm enough to keep out that wet chill, but light enough that you won't "smother" (as they say). Sweater quantities in stock now, just in time for Christmas knitting/crocheting. Pick up your supply today and work up a gift for someone special....or a special gift for yourself!

Did someone say BIRTHDAY??

Tuesday, October 20th was a special day for everyone at Vermilion Bay Yarn. We celebrated VBYC's turning one year old -- and we celebrated in true Acadiana fashion: with food and friends. Knit Cafe is always a special time at VBYC for folks to get together, knit, crochet, eat, and visit, but this festive day made it all the more special. Not only were we celebrating the shop's birthday, but we also were celebrating our friendships, many of which have started right here in this room. Fiber art is a unifier. It brings folks together into a community as we are engaged in creativity. The lovely items we make reflect who we are. Those closest to us, through our interaction and friendship, certainly become important components of that. Each sweater, scarf, hat, sock, and glove contains a glad spark of the joy, laughter, and life not only of its maker, but also of the community of which that same creative maker is an integral part. As a shop owner, I am of course grateful for your patronage throughout this past year, however, even more grateful am I for the friendships we have made, and for the beautiful work that has resulted from them. A toast to Friends and Fiber!

Doing what we do best: knitting and eating.

Fingers of fury: knitting, and knitting, and knitting, and knitting.....

*K1 P2, eat some soup, sip some wine. Continue from * for rest of Rnd.

Yummy goodness! By the end of the evening, the hungry fiber fans had made quick work of the potluck! Kudos to the fabulous cooks!

Claudia Handpaints

You've been wondering when they'd be arriving. Well, they did yesterday, and the hanks in the first batch are out and waiting for your needles and hooks to transform them into wonderful, extraordinary finished projects. Fall in love with Claudia Merino and Silk/Merino in unique, handpainted colorways. Each batch is a bit different, but utterly delightful!

All the Glitz, yet Tasteful and never Tacky!

Vermilion Bay Yarn knows that sometimes knitters and crocheters like to work with a little glitz, a little bling. Try a little Rowan Shimmer in your next fashion project. This "carry-along" thread will transform your already fabulous fabric into a redcarpet fashion piece guaranateeing you top billing on the A list. It's available in silver and black. Carry it along and let it sparkle! Shimmering, glittery elegance!

IT'S BEEN A WHOLE YEAR!!!!

Thank you to everyone for all the hearty birthday wishes, and especially for being part of this vibrant and welcoming fiber arts community! Today, October 20th marks the first year for The Vermilion Bay Yarn Company. To celebrate, stop in at the shop today for a visit...and bring your projects or start a new one and stay for Knit Cafe! We'll have our drawing for the Fiber Dream gift bag tonight -- you've seen it in the shop and you know that it's packed with goodies for fiber fans: yarn, needles, notions, etc. In Acadiana, community is important -- it's part of our way of life and reflects our unique joie de vivre. It's all about finding a connection. Regardless of whether we've lived here our entire lives or just recently arrived or returned, we find common ground and build friendships. Vermilion Bay Yarn is a meeting place of folks from all walks of life, of all ages and backgrounds, and we greet each other and welcome each other as long-time friends. Come celebrate community!

So, you love the knitting, but hate the finishing?

Are you among the many who love to knit items, but who find it terribly tedious, time-consuming, and utterly boring to block those items and weave the pieces together into the finished product? You're not alone. Many folks feel this way. Of course, we are happy to show you how to block and finish here at VBYC -- we schedule a class for that regularly, and many of you have taken it. But still, knowing how to do it sometimes just isn't the same as really wanting to do it. Lucky for you, you have options besides just letting that pile of sweater pieces, twisty scarves, and random components grow higher and higher in your "waiting to be blocked" bin. Vermilion Bay Yarn will block your garment pieces for you! We will weave them together, if you like, we'll knit on the neck and armbands, if you need. Whatever step in the finishing process you'd rather not do, we're happy to do for you and hand it back at any point along the way, or hand you back your completely finished piece. Come by the shop to drop off what you have, or give us a call and ask about custom blocking and finishing!

Cradle Purse: Make one Tomorrow, October 17

A reminder to crocheters! Come to VBYC tomorrow morning at 10am to create your own cradle purse ("church purse"), an adorable little draw-string bag, which when folded down reveals a minature cradle! What a perfect gift for a very lucky little girl! Her dolly with be snug and cozy in her cradle! A cradle purse also makes a creative gift bag for baby showers. Use it to present a fine gift to the mother-to-be. A handmade gift is always the most special! Tomorrow, 10am, Vermilion Bay Yarn!

Rowan Magazine #46 is here!

It's time to start on fall and winter knitting projects! VBYC has just received the Rowan Knitting Magazine #46. It's jam-packed with fashions in all your favorite Rowan yarns. There're even many many designs for Him as well as for Her. Also, if you like projects that knit fast, you'll be happy to find an excellent selection of patterns done in chunky weight yarn on large needles. Pick up your copy today! Colors that are "in" this season: purples, teals, and charcoals.

It's time to SAVE ZE TA TA'Z!

TONIGHT, Wednesday, October 14 is the Breast Health Symposium at the Lafayette Convention Center. Doors open at 5:00pm, the event begins at 6:00pm! Be sure to attend, listen to the speakers, and stop by to take a look at the Art Bras. Buy a vote and vote for your favorite entries! The Vermilion Bay Yarn Company's art bra is entitled "Silky Merino Parrot". Show your support! Proceeds from the art bra voting go to help persons in Acadiana who are fighting breast cancer. The Silky Merino Parrot is made of Malabrigo silky merino and is multi-colored like a rainbow. I chose this yarn not simply because I liked it, but because the colors are important and symbolic. Pink is of course the color for breast cancer awareness, but I chose to use a spectrum of colors for the VBYC entry to communicate the fact that this disease can impact everyone, regardless of gender, social status, race, etc. But at the same time, everyone, regardless of gender, social status, race, etc. can do their part to help. As numerous as there are colors, so numerous are those who can fight for a cure. Together we can make a difference!

DELLA Q IS HERE!!

The first of the Della Q fall shipment arrived this afternoon! In that batch of delicious items from "The Q" are the exquisite Priscillas we've been waiting for in the Autumn colors! Your red Priscilla is here! They're going fast, folks, so hurry in! Also, there is a selection of cotton Eden pouches in a host of very groovy retro prints (did I mention, they're retro groovy?).

Festival This Weekend!

It's festival time in Lafayette. This weekend, take part in the local cultural activities planned at Girard Park -- music, dancing, food, and crafts! If you're new to our area, be sure to stop over at the park and enjoy a big dose of Acadiana Joie de Vivre! I'll be there with friends later Saturday afternoon and on Sunday! I'm looking forward to my annual Gator-on-a-stick! Good Eats! See y'all at Girard!

Pfeiffer Falls!

It's a scarf with a hood! Very practical in our climate. Just need a little scarf with a comfortable hood? This is it. It's a clever knit that looks great and is fun to make. The shop model is made of SWTC "Inspiration", an alpaca and soy fiber blend -- light-weight, yet cozy comfy. Of course the choice is yours for your own Pfeiffer Falls. Our hooded scarf knit-along starts Saturday. Join many of your friends in making this nifty project at the same time. The pattern is downloadable from Ravelry or from Interweave. KAL participants are asked to go ahead and download the pattern themselves (there's a modest fee involved, around 5 bucks or so), either at home or here in the shop. Don't worry if you can't make it Saturday for the KAL orientation. Schedule that whenever you'd like. We're flexible. Most of the knitters are meeting Saturday, but there are a few who have already scheduled other days to start. On Saturday we'll start the project of course, but we'll also talk about various options you have to alter the garment to reflect your own needs/taste, and I'll give you a few tips to make the knitting a bit easier. Very often, patterns are just like recipes: they can be tweaked and altered however the cook likes. This is one of those. We'll see you on Saturday!

U Needa Knit Kit!

They're back, folks. The famous and very useful Knit Kits! Just a note to the KK community: the original model in white and pink has gone the way of all flesh -- so if you have one of those, you have a collector's item. The black and white model is the main model now, and they're here! Perfect for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, little thank you sussies, as well as a gift for yourself just for being so darned creative! Hurry on in and pick up yours! You deserve it!

SAVE ZE TA TA'Z!!

The Vermilion Bay Yarn Company is proudly showing its support by participating in the Art Bra Event sponsored by the Zonta Club of Lafayette. What's an art bra? It's a special work of art in bra form. Many of you have seen the Vermilion Bay Yarn art bra on display in the shop (Suzie Q the dressform has been wearing it for about two weeks). The piece is made of Malabrigo Silky Merino and is entitled "The Silky Merino Parrot". The art bras will all be "revealed" on Wednesday, October 14 at 6:00pm as part of the Breast Health Symposium at the Lafayette Convention Center. Attend the symposium and purchase a token (or several) to place a vote (or several) for the Silky Merino Parrot. Each vote costs a dollar, a dollar well spent to support local breast cancer charities. But that's not all. On Monday, October 26, starting at 6pm, come celebrate with us at River Oaks for a mix and mingle and participate in the art bra silent auction. Our emcee for the evening will be TV 3's Kate Mundy. Come out and place a bid on the Vermilion Bay Silky Merino Parrot and support a number of organizations who help local people fight breast cancer.

Lana Grossa Arizona

Alert, Alert, Sock Knitters! We just received a nice supply of Lana Grossa "Arizona", the incarnation of Meilenweit that contains Aloe Vera. As I'm typing this, my feet are enjoying my own pair of socks made up in LG Arizona. The Aloe really does make your feet feel great, makes the yarn even softer than it already is, and plus, the great feel the Aloe imbued in the yarn stays in the socks, even after washing. And yeah, you can toss these socks into the machine and dry them as well...worry free. I don't sort my LG Arizona socks out of the dryer load. They just tumble with the rest. VBYC has several great varigated colorways suitable for everyone. The sock yarn tree also offers a couple bins of solid Meilenweit (pronounced "MILE-en-vite"). The name is German for "miles wide"...which means two things: there's plenty of yarn on each ball, and also you'll be able to walk literally for miles and miles in the super comfy and stylish socks you will produce with Lana Grossa Meilenweit on your needles. Hurry in and start your Arizona socks today! Your feet will thank you!

What a Fabulous Sweater!

Suzie Q, our VBYC dressform, is sporting a jaunty new sweater made of Rowan Big Wool. This is a vintage yet, timeless pattern that features a giant cable twist emerging from a seedstitch background with the same styling repeated on the stunning boat collar. Kudos to Yvette Hanks who recently finished this wonderful garment -- it's her first sweater project, and her second knitting project. Excellent work, Yvette!

Amanda's Squatty Sidekick

Ever felted? Here's a little project that's quick and easy: all knits and purls, then pitch it into the washer, take it out and POOF! Instant felted purse. Nothing special or complicated in the knitting, but when you take it out of the machine, it's a mighty special cute item that can go with almost any outfit! The model Squatty Sidekick we have here in the shop was made with one hank of Malabrigo worsted in "American Beauty". The purse will also work up nicely in Boku! Give it a try! The pattern can be downloaded for FREE at KnittingDaily.com!

Swifts and Winders!

A great Christmas gift for a fiber fan is a swift and a winder. The Vermilion Bay Yarn Company has them! Easy to use, and extremely practical for winding yarn that comes in hanks. No more recruiting of human swifts to sit with hands extended holding your newest groovy hank while you furiously wind it into a ball -- and pray that nothing tangles. These swifts require no feeding, no conversation; they don't complain, and they won't run from you and hide the next time you unpack 12 hanks of yarn from your knitting bag! Having a swift at home also gives you a chance to meet your yarn for the first time and get to know it a bit better before it lands on your needles, or travels over your crochet hook!