Laurels for the Empress!

Among other beautiful colorways of Schaefer Laurel (that 400 yards of sumptuous cotton yarn we all love), are the outstanding and stately Blues and Golds of Empress Wu Zhao. The colorway is named for the first female sovereign of China, the 7th century Wu Zhao. Schaefer Laurel is very forgiving with ever-excellent stitch definition on size needles 4-9 (I've used Laurel on size 4 with great satisfaction). It's a wonderful yarn choice for garments worn by all ages. Laurel is bit more expensive per hank than most hanks, but a hank of Laurel provides you a whopping 400 yards, almost 4 times the length of an average hank. So per yard, the price is proportional. Add Laurel to your yarn list! One hank is suppply enough to make a baby jacket, a pair of booties and a hat. Two will make a vest. It's in the bins now!!

Dumplings.

No, silly, not Oompa Loompas. Dumplings. From Hiya. They're the supremely spiffy mini pouches with the adorable ring markers inside. Each one is unique, made of a fabulicious silk print fabric. Where can you find them? Should you even have to ask? Pick up a pair of Puppy Snips too. Puppies and Dumplings. T-Na-Na-tastic!

Argyles, Argyles, Argyles!

These are groovy socks -- and comfortable, yes. Hand made socks are superlative to manufactured ones, mostly because they last so long, and when there's a fray, they can be fixed easily. This pair took about a week or so to make, but they'll be used for several years to come before they need repair. Not disposable, hand knit socks are. They're made to be worn and made to last. Make yourself a pair of these terrific socks, order a pair, or take the argyle class next month. What's even niftier: these socks, like most other socks made of yarn specifically for sock projects, are completely machine washable, and do fine in the dryer too.

World Wide Knit In Public

The Knit in Public Day this year was not specified as it was last year. We're having our observance this year on Sunday June 27th, 1-? at BAM, a date we selected ourselves to work with our own class and shop schedules and to fit within the date range of possible dates suggested by the WWKIP folks. So, that said, here's a fun KIP day event from earlier this month with our friends at the Kreativ- und Strickcafe in Leipzig, Germany, who this year opted for the a shady pavillion in the Clara-Zetkin park in Leipzig. Next week, we'll have some photos of our own event at Book-a-million. It's always fascinating to me how similar we fiber folks are, regardless what language we speak, where we live, or what we're making.

That's A Mighty Fine Kit You Got There....

Aren't they cool? The new Knit Kit 2010's are now available at VBYC! New color, new features, with the same convenience of having everything you need in one place. First there was white and pink, then there was tuxudo. Now, fabulous and delicious Turquoise! If you're not familiar with the Knit Kit, it's time you become friends. The kit contains eight (count 'em, eight!) fiber work essentials, including a darning needle. The unit is TSA compliant, which means they won't confiscate your Knit Kit at the airport. If you're like most of us who can never seem to locate snips, point protectors, crochet hook for drops, that always-somewhere-else tape measure, or one of your 10,000 counters, this is just the thing for you! Small enough to hold it all, big enough not to misplace. The Knit Kit 2010. Get yours today!

KNITTING IN PUBLIC

For shame...to do that where everyone can see! Well, yeah, cher! We're knittin' proud! Join Vermilion Bay Yarn (Lafayette) and The House of Yarn (Broussard) for a fantabulous Knit In Public Day on Sunday, June 27th, 1pm-? at Books-a-Million on Kaliste Saloom and Ambassador in Lafayette. We'll be meeting in the cafe area. Bring your fiber projects and your outgoing and friendly personalities, have a mug of joe, a sweet or two, and settle in for an afternoon of public kniting! Those of you who are used to coming to VBYC on Sundays for Sunday Tea: Tea time is the same on the 27th, but we'll be doing it in public at BAM! See you there!

Discover Rowan Summer Tweed

Some of you have already discovered the light-weight comfort of Rowan Summer Tweed. It's a tweed yarn made of silk and cotton -- not a heavy, wooly, tweed that you might think of when someone mentions the word "tweed". The fabric that this yarn produces is, as the name implies, perfect for summer wear (and for us down here, perfect for year-round wear). It's breathable and airy and available in many pleasing colors. The yarn has a slightly "nubby" texture that adds to the beauty of the garment you create with it. Consider Summer Tweed for your next summertime project.

This is not a pasta extruder

We have them, they're accurate,

and they're green

(although the one pictured is blue).

They're also durable and square.

(rhomboid, actually).

From the clever folks

who brought you

PUPPY SNIPS

(which are also green).

As Anelle said in Steel Magnolias....

..."My personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair." You've got to love Anelle. Sometimes weird stuff happens, and there's really nothing we can do about it but just move on forward. Last night, my car died in the turning lane of Ambassador and Johnston, and I facebooked the event right away -- mostly because it was so terribly surreal. The mother of intersections, and for me, another exciting adventure I can scratch off my bucket list. I've always wondered what it was like to be beached there, and now I know. At any rate, thanks to some great friends, we got the car pushed backwards and down into the Exxon parking lot and towed off to see with wizard. Despite this interesting evening after rehearsals for "Batboy: The Musical", here's the point of this blog post: The Vermilion Bay Yarn Company is indeed open today for customary business hours, so no need to alter your knitting schedules! See you soon!

Straight from the design studios of Burda is the summer 2010 edition of your favorite European knitting/crochet magazine! Verena is one of our favorites because what you get is a thick magazine that's heavy on the patterns and light on the advertisements. Page after page of light summer tops, breezy summer dresses, summer scarves, and delicious cool wraps.

OMG, Y'all! This book is terrific!

Heads up! Especially to the Men's Knit Club crew. You're going to want one of everything in this book. I know I do. And you folks who have been avoiding knitting for your man, stop. Just stop. This book is your intervention, and it's here at VBYC. Ever since XRX's Guy Knits, I have not seen a more practical and guy-friendly book of men's knits. Never Knit Your Man a Sweater Unless You've Got the Ring. Snappy title. Not quite sure I agree with that statement 100%, but heck, what do I know, I'm a guy. From little tee-na-na's that guys like (like coasters) all the way to a full-blown Aran sweater, this book has it all. Argyle socks, regular socks, rag socks, gloves, fingerless mittens with the finger flap, hats, beanies, headbands, vests, lap top covers, stuff to keep your iPhone warm (despite the new price hikes on data, thanks video-download hogs!), and regular mittens. And also, this month we celebrate Father's day. There are plenty of fast projects here that dads of all ages will love to use, wear, and receive from special knitting persons. Is this the Be-All-To-End-All of men's knitwear? Naw, probably not, but at least for now, darned tootin' it is. I mean really: this book has iPhone stuff.

This just in....

The Early Fall 2010 Vogue Knitting is here. I haven't had a chance to thumb through it yet, but I've seen previews of the fashions, and they're fantabulous! Pick yours up at Knit Cafe tonight!

Grooviest of scarves, the denim now is fringed with ravels along the brow...

Hat tips to A.E. Houseman. Sit among the cherry trees wearing this fabulous scarf of Rowan denim! A number of folks have been knitting this pattern from Classic Elite Fierfly yarn, and the original features an interesting knit-purl texture. I have been coveting their lovely scarves, but knew that I really couldn't get away with wearing one, at least long enough to avoid getting beaten up walking down the street. So, the challenge: re-invent the Fierfly in another yarn, maybe do some pattern tweeking to perform a fashion sex-change. Voila! Lovely woman's scarf becomes groovy man's scarf. I nixed the stitch pattern and worked the triangle in plain stockinette, chose Rowan Denim (colorway: Memphis) for a heavier, drapier more masculine look. What I particularly like about his piece is the fascinating fringe made by unraveling the first few stitches of the chevron. Those of you who are still in the process of knitting, might be a bit worried about the unraveling. No worries. Knitting won't unravel sideways, only down, and that's the way you need it to do. When you bind off the final three stitches, make sure you have only the edge stitches remaining, and start pulling the stitches apart. It's ratty and and it's terrific! I can not wait to wear this thing come fall with my leather bomber jacket. How long does it take to make? If you're diligent, only a couple days. Major, and I mean major Christmas gift potential here folks. To do it up in Denim takes 4 balls, a bit over 300 yards or so. It's a good "take along" project because all you're making is a stockinette chevron, but as soon as you put it on, you'll be making a fashion statement. Start yours today! Make 12 or more.