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Archive for 2011

Larch

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

I don’t often find myself casting on for a knit for myself and I find myself casting on for a sweater even less often. And yet, I find myself doing both this week! I’m casting on for a Larch cardigan in my most recent favorite yarn: Madelinetosh DK. The yarn is fantastic and I’m working in a dark purple. This sweater has to be the most debated and long awaited project of all time.

I hummed and hawed over the pattern and the yarn for ages. When I finally decided on the Tosh DK I had to wait for the latest shipment to come in. I have been thinking/dreaming/obsessing over this sweater for months! I debated about the colour most. It looks so great in a mustard yellow but I just felt I would wear a darker colour much more, even if some of the details were lost in the darkness of it.

The pattern is the Larch Cardigan and it’s simple but lovely, I’m so excited! As usual I dream of this being the greatest sweater ever knit, visions of grandeur! Definitely come and check out our latest supply of the ever popular Madelinetosh yarns!

Tags: Larch Cardigan, Madelinetosh
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Pigs Three Ways

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

A novel but fantastic idea: a knitted toy in a bulky weight yarn! While the original pattern called for a worsted weight yarn (about 18 stitches per 4 inches) but ingeneous Amanda knit up these three adorable little (a relative term) pigs in Spud and Chloe Outer.

I quite like the idea of a bulky weight toy, it’s so quick and they look so very fantastic. I have balked at the idea of knitting toys in the past because of the tiny needles and yarn but no more! Worsted and Bulky weight toys are making a serge and I’m on board! They are bulky, true, but the pattern so nicely compliments the yarn because, well, pigs are a bit of a bulky animal. Especially the pigs that fly!

The pattern is Oink by Susan B Anderson. In case you haven’t heard of her, she is the lovely woman behind the Spud and Chloe designs. She designed the Spud and Chloe book as well, Spud and Chloe at the Farm, an adorable collection of knitted farm animals and accessories in all three yarns, Fine (sock), Sweater (worsted), and Outer (bulky)

Tags: Amanda Kaffka, Spud and Chloe, Toy
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Summer Flies

Friday, July 15th, 2011

Despite what my window tells me, it is in fact summer time! It’s no surprise that one of the most popular patterns right now is the Summer Flies shawl by Donna Griffin. It’s a pretty aran weight shawl with several different lovely stitch patterns. The texture is fantastic and I love the little butterfly motif. Kynna had hers draped over a chair in my living room and I immediately wanted to knit one for myself!

I am thinking that an aran weight shawl seems impractical for an average summer (in Vancouver anyways) but really it’s ideal. I have spent many evenings walking, watching frisbee games, camping, or just chilling on the patio in the evenings this summer and a shawl is just right. It’s stylish and warm so the party doesn’t have to end early.

Kynna knit hers up in Aslan Trends Royal Alpaca (I think she’s knitting everything up in this yarn, it’s become a bit of an obsession Kynna….). The mustard yellow gives it a kind of retro vibe, which is perfect since Kynna is the only person I know who can really rock a blazer with a crest.

Tags: Aslan Trends, Kynna, Royal Alpaca
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Flood-along complete!

Monday, July 11th, 2011

It was another great time on Friday finishing up our Jared Flood/Brooklyn Tweed knit-a-long! (in case anyone is confused Jared Flood is a designer and he designs/blogs as Brooklyn Tweed). There were some lovely projects knit during the allotted KAL time and Anina and Michael brought some lovely Floodish projects already completed (or nearly so).

There were more Rock Island’s than anything else. I knit one myself! The pattern is intense with lace on both sides and an interesting construction. It was probably one of the most complicated things I’ve knit, although garments have their own measuring challenges. Iona, Marianella, and I all knit our Rock Island shawls in SweetGeorgia Merino Silk Lace. It’s just irresistible! (Colours are Slate, Riptide, and English Ivy)

There were 2 Terra shawls, one knit in Cascade 220 and one in Berocco Ultra Alpaca.

Ashley brought her beautiful Juneberry shawl. It’s also a tricky lace piece with lace on both sides and a different construction. Hers is a stunning blue in the Berocco Ultra Alpaca as well. (Ashley has an awesome blog, you can check it out here)

Anina brought her Umaro, a lovely thick blanket and Michael brought his Koolhaus hat and Grove mittens.

So now that the Flood-along is finished it’s time to KAL something new! This Friday we will be casting on for our Ysolda Teague KAL so pick your projects and yarn and join us either in person or on Ravelry!

Tags: Brooklyn Tweed, Jared Flood, KAL, Rock Island, Terra, Umaro
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The New Guy

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Yet another new face at Urban Yarns, welcome to the New Guy! Michael is the newbie at Urban Yarns but he is no stranger to knitting, that’s for sure. Having recently come across his blog (and I may have spent some time perusing his projects on Ravelry as well) I’m already a fan of his knitterly taste. I have been swept up by the lovely lace and cables! To see for yourself you can check out Michael Knits.

Michael has been knitting for a few years now and he’s mastered some pretty tough projects. One of my faves fits right in with our theme of the week: Jared Flood! This is Bridgewater from the Brooklyn Tweed book. 2000 yards of lace and just stunning. I think the natural colour is just right for this project because it shows off every gorgeous stitch.

Michael is hoping to bring the boys to the knitting circle and he will be hosting Men’s knit nights on Tuesdays 6:30-8:30 so boys bring your knits!

Reminder: Flood Night is tomorrow night (Anina and I laughed about the weather fitting right in….) so bring your project finished or not for some tea and cookies!

Tags: Bridgewater, Brooklyn Tweed, Jared Flood, Michael
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Party Time

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

This Friday is the Jared Flood Knit Along party! Come one come all for some tea and cookies and Floodish goodness. I have been mentioning to people all week that I will be attending a Flood party on Friday and they seem to think I’m going to a party with short pants. Non-knitters may not be as familiar with Brooklyn Tweed’s body of work as we knitterly folk are…..

Since we are all theoretically casting off our BT/JF projects this week (I know a few of you aren’t done, the world won’t end, come party anyways) it must be time for the next KAL! I was chatting with Kynna last week and she said the next KAL just had to be her favorite: Ysolda.

The greatest thing about an Ysolda KAL is that there are so many different types of patterns to choose from. She has a lot of accessories if you are feeling like something small and very finishable or if you are feeling more ambitious she has some serious sweater patterns too. I’m thinking Coraline…..

The end date for the Ysolda knit has yet to be determined but it will most definitely be in the last couple of weeks of September, we are giving this one a nice long time for those who are knitting sweaters! Hope to see you Friday and we can all plot our next KAL knits!

This weeks special is:

Araucania Ranco

Solids 30% off was $14.95, now $10.96

Multis 30% off, $16.95, now $11.87

Tags: Jared Flood, KAL, Ysolda Teague
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Happy Canada Day!

Friday, July 1st, 2011

Maple Leaf Mittens

Time to pick up some red and white yarn and knit yourself up something Canadian! I am personally proud to be a Canadian and I’m pretty excited for baby Hunter’s first Canada day. She will be appropriately clad in red and white and waving a flag (while mummy makes sure she doesn’t poke herself in the eye with it….) today.

There is something fantastically unique about our flag, it stands out distinctively on an encyclopedia page and the symbol of the maple leaf is easily recognizable around the world. On the knitting scene there are many fantastic Canadian designers and dyers so perhaps today you might want to check out their work.

1. Fleece Artist and Handmaiden yarn, dyed in Nova Scotia for your knitting pleasure. Fleece Artist and Handmaiden are lovely hand dyed yarns that come in a wide variety of colours and fibers.

2. SweetGeorgia, dyed in Vancouver. Felicia is (obviously) one of my very favorite dyers and her ‘Unapologetic Colour’ is stunning both in the skein and on the needles.

3. Koigu handpainted sock yarn. This yarn hails from Ontario and has long been a favorite. Be sure to check out the Babette blanket in the shop, all Koigu and stunning!

4. Gourmet Crafter Yarns. This is my own line of yarns with colourways based on photographs I have taken around town. Perhaps some Davie Street or Granville Island Cherries to make you feel Canadian!

Tags: Canadian, Fleece Artist, Gourmet Crafter, Handmaiden, Koigu, SweetGeorgia
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Baby Hat Time Again!

Monday, June 27th, 2011

It’s that time of year again, time to pull out your 16 inch circular needles, your double points, and your purple yarn to put together some hats for a good cause.

Why purple you might be wondering? The period of purple crying is a phase where babies cry inconsolably and the hats are to raise awareness of shaken baby syndrome. You can drop off your hats at Urban Yarns and we will make sure they get to the hospitals.

I love knitting baby hats. I love it a lot more than Hunter enjoyed wearing them at first! Now she’s more accustomed to the hat and it hides her poor bald head from the elements, a practical baby knit, fantastic. If you are looking to knit a simple baby hat there are some great patterns out there. A quick one to check out is the Supernatural Stripes baby hat. Its knit up in worsted weight yarn (16-18 stitches per 4 inches) so it’ll finish right quick!

The pattern can be found for free through Ravelry here.

I’m feeling a bit more ambitious this year so I’m casting on for the following hats:

A Swirl Hat (pattern can be found for free through Ravelry here). Done in sock weight yarn (28 stitches per 4 inches)

And an Owlie Hat (pattern can be found for free through Ravelry here). Done in a worsted weight yarn (16-18 stitches per 4 inches)

Tags: free patterns, Hats, Knitting for Charity
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New Spud and Chloe!

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

4 little words I love to hear! I’m particularly excited about the newest colours from Spud and Chloe: some neutrals! I’ve started referring to baby Hunter as the Johnny Cash of babies because I kind of love dressing her in black. I was in a mad dash around town yesterday because she out grew her black zip up hoodie, I finally found one but I realized I would really need to find a great knitted hoodie pattern so this wouldn’t happen again! It’s not so easy to find baby things in black…..can’t imagine why…..

With my search for black yarn underway (not that it’s hard to find black, but how great is it when you find the colour you want in a yarn you like?) I was so pleased to find Spud and Chloe Sweater in Penguin!

Sweater in Penguin

With neutrals on the brain I was also pretty psyched to find some great new greys and whites as well! Allow me to introduce

Sweater in Beluga

Outer in Snow Day

Fine in Hippo

Fine in Sidewalk

I’m not only excited to knit up these colours for my little one, I think it’s great to add some more subdued colours for those grown ups who are looking for some more understated colours in a great washable yarn.

Brooklyn Tweed KAL update: 48 rows of garter to go……hmmmmm

Tags: Spud and Chloe
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Gretel

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

Kynna has been at it again! She has really become one of the most prolific knitters I know (she’s giving you a run for your money Amanda) and this Gretel hat is just lovely. The pattern is Gretel by Ysolda Teague, published in Stitch and Bitch Superstar Knitting and the yarn is Rowan Kid Classic. The pretty cables work their way up this little number culminating in a charming snowflake decrease at the top. It’s a great tam for a summer evening stroll.

Brooklyn Tweed KAL update: I have 50 decreasing garter stitch rows left to go! It was great to see all of the different Rock Islands at knit night on Friday. By popular demand we will have to postpone the Flood party, so many vacations, and a whisper of desire for a few more weeks of knitting time. The new party date is: Friday July 8th 6-9pm. See you all there with your Floodrific accomplishments!

This weekend was an important one for the ladies at Urban Yarns, it was the annual Ride to Conquer Cancer. Anina and Jan work hard all year to make this ride happen for the Urban Yarns team and to help raise money to cure cancer. They host parties, make calls, and ride their buns off! Congrats on another successful year ladies!

Our sale yarn this week is Debbie Bliss Como – 30% Off. Was $9.95, now $6.97

Tags: Kynna, Ride to Conquer Cancer, Stitch and Bitch Superstar Knitting, Ysolda Teague
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