Socks are such a popular knitting item at UY we have an entire wall of sock yarn. We have a shelf of sock knitting books. There is a bootcamp class dedicated to teaching socks in an evening (or part of an afternoon). They are just so popular! There are a lot of things to like about socks, not the least of which is the fact that the pattern possibilities are endless. Once you know the size of your foot and the heel turn that really works for you you can knit a sock up in any which way. There are also an endless supply of sock patterns online, as well as many sock books to choose from. The other great thing is that the colour options are fabulous. Socks are usually hidden under your shoes or pants (unless you’re a socks and sandals kind of person) so you can be colour adventurous!

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Before leaving us for San Fran Sarah was knitting up some charming socks that inspired me to get back to my own pairs on the go. The first pair she knit up in the ever popular Zauberball. This yarn is a lot of fun for socks, it doesn’t really stripe so much as it moves from one colour or shade to another, making it kind of exciting to knit with. What colour will come up next?! It sounds silly but give it a try and you’ll see what I mean. The only trouble with striping yarns in general is that you usually get more a fraternal twin sock than an identical one. This doesn’t phase me at all but it can be kind of a pain to get your socks to match, not impossible, just more difficult than with a solid yarn. The pattern for these lovely socks is Circle Socks, a free pattern on Ravelry.

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Next is a pair of pretty purple socks in SweetGeorgia’s Cashluxe yarn. We have a couple of sock yarns with a hint of cashmere in them and I am always pleased with the feet treat they offer. I love a nice soft sock yarn that is still washable, it’s the best of all worlds! This colourway is Violet Hill and the pattern is Esther Socks (another Ravelry freebie). The pattern is just beautiful, it is a pretty embossed leafy pattern that is to dye for! So pick up some sock needles and hit the sock wall for some lovely portable knitting!


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It’s always excitement around the shop when the new Blue Sky Alpacas patterns arrive. We all scramble around deciding which colours the items should be knit in and what sizes to make. We argue over who will knit what and which pattern is clearly the best, it’s always a good time! I missed the hubbub this year but I can only imagine! Here are my three faves of the new patterns:

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First up is the men’s vest. There are really so few men’s patterns out there it’s refreshing to see something simple and trendy. Why there are so few men’s patterns I don’t really know but they can be scarce. This is especially frustrating since I find women usually want to knit their hubby something simple that can be worn with multiple other items. This shouldn’t be such a tall order! Digression past, BSA has put out this lovely simple vest pattern which is knit in my fave: Sport or Melange. The colour combos are endless and the yarn is soft and warm, just what I would like in a vest!

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The next two patterns are great for Spring knitting. They are knit in the Blue Sky Alpacas Silk, a warm yarn with the beautiful drape of silk. I knit up the Rectangular Shawl in BSA Silk and it’s one of my favorite pieces (even though I knit it in black which left me incredibly bored by the end of it!). The Alpaca Silk has a great shine as well and comes in perfect colours for spring, or some darker hues if they are more to your liking. First up is the Cecily cardigan. A lovely open lacey item for mild spring days.

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Last is a gorgeous shawl with a leafy patterned edge to it called the Kaw Valley Wrap. I am thinking it will make a really great Mother’s Day gift, or perhaps a beautiful wedding shawl? There are so many uses for a shawl so lovely, as a gift or just for you.


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It’s snowing on Burnaby mountain and I need a new scarf! I’ve been walking around the mountain trying to convince my child it’s time to come out! I need something long and wrapable, warm, soft, luxurious, and maybe with a little cable….. enter the Cinder Scarf. This is a pretty Jared Flood (Brooklyn Tweed) pattern and one of the features I quite like is that it is reversable. Reversable just makes good sense in a scarf because what are the odds, with all the wrapping and twisting a scarf naturally does that it will be lying exactly the way you want it to? Pretty much nil. With this beauty the ribbing makes it completely reversable so  you don’t have to think twice once you wrap it on.

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The yarn for Cinder is one of our newer favorites, Ariosa by Classic Elite. A super soft single ply yarn made up of merino and a hint of cashmere. The single ply combined with the cashmere make it a really luxurious yarn, perfect for any knitting project really. It’s a nice bulkyish yarn too: 14 stitches per 4 inches, so the scarf will go nice and quick even if it is quite long. The one Amanda knit up in the shop is 6 skeins but it’s a REALLY long scarf so anywhere from 4-6 is great depending on your scarf length preferences.

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If you are as smitten with this yarn as we are and are looking for a larger project there is also a wonderful sweater pattern in Jared’s book ‘Made in Brooklyn’ called Rockaway. It’s absolutely gorgeous! It’s knit in the Ariosa as well and I think it would be great for guy or girl, a nice warm wear for the weather.

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Of all the Blue Sky Alpacas patterns I’ve seen the Audrey coat really takes the cake. It’s so elegant and somewhat extravagant it beckoned to me immediately. A big part of the beauty of this pattern is in the clean lines and the details, I absolutely love the covered buttons. This coat really reminds me of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Audrey Hepburn’s great style. A classic coat that would work with any outfit, but remains a statement piece. My fashionable aunties both asked me to knit them one but I declined, this is a knit for knitters, something to knit only for yourself! Now that all the hubbub over holiday knitting has seriously died down, it’s time to get started on a project just for you, and I think the Audrey coat is perfect.

Audrey is knit in warm alpaca sport, held doubled. This means the colour options are practically endless! The fashionable and Audrey-esque Amanda knit hers up in the original red and it’s just stunning. The picture above is the Audrey coat Amanda knit on our UY mannequin, Ursula. I think the beret makes a nice touch don’t you? I’m personally smitten with Blue Sky’s newest colour though: emerald. I think a beautiful emerald Audrey coat would definitely keep the winter blues away!

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One of our favorite lines here at UY is Spud and Chloe. SnC is a sort of spin off of Blue Sky Alpacas, one of our other faves. It’s kind of a new kid on the block (they’ve been around about a year now) but already there are a ton of patterns and projects to choose from. At their blog here you can find all kinds of inspiration, free patterns, and even a fun knit along or two. Anina has joined in on a couple of these knit alongs. Basically they tell you which yarn you will need then they give you pattern instructions a step at a time so  you won’t know what you’re knitting until it’s done. A bit of knitting fun!

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I really like that Spud and Chloe is a very practical yarn as well as coming in a really great colour pallette. It’s a washable yarn that comes in 3 different weights (sock, aran, and bulky) so it’s great for all kinds of projects, especially for children. I am always, as you may have figured out by now, a sucker for a rainbow. It’s not that I necessarily want to knit everything in rainbow format so much as I really like having a large rainbow pallette to choose from. A rainbow really draws the eye and it’s also perfect for knitting all things colourwork.

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With the addition of some really pretty new colours SnC have inspired me to start on some Fine socks. I’m not sure which patter to start first though. I’m also a little smitten with the colour names, Anemone, Cricket, Daschund, so cute. Spud and Chloe has  3 patterns that would be perfect for a rainbow! Whenever I see that rainbow I want to knit one in every colour!

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New years resolution time here are UY and all the ladies are making knitterly promises to themselves. We all have different goals, some to try something new, some to return to projects of old, and some to persevere through projects that have thwarted them in the past. We all have plans for the fresh new year, what is your knitting goal?

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Kynna and I are returning to our Reindeer Sweaters. We originally started these beauties quite some time ago along with Amanda and Anina. We all worked out of different yarns and started at the same time but only Amanda and Anina finished theirs up. Both are absolutly stunning and they are so different. Anina knit hers up in the luxurious Viking Alpaka for her daughter (although they do share and Anina’s sweater is in the shop for viewing). Amanda knit hers up in the Viking of Norway Naturgarn. I love her colour choices, it makes a very traditional pattern into something modern and trendy, classic Amanda! So with all this inspiration around us, Kynna and I will return to our versions of this sweater, mine is in Dream in Colour Classy and hers is being knit up in Cascade Eco Wool.

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Jan and Kathleen WILL be returning to their Fiddlehead Mittens. With these popularity of these little items sweeping the shop the two decided they should get on the bandwagon and see what all the fuss is about. They made it pretty far but seem to have gotten themselves stalled somewhere along the way. With such beautiful yarn (Blue Sky Alpacas Sport for the outside and Brushed Suri for the inside) they can’t leave them unfinished!

Amanda is comitted to finishing all 2010 projects by March 1st. This is quite the goal as she (along with most of us, let’s be honest) has dealt with a battle or two of startitis! I’m sure I’ll be keeping everyone posted with her frequent FO’s (finished objects). One of the most intersting resolutions I have heard this year is also from Amanda: no pressure knitting. This is interesting because I sometimes feel like pressure and deadlines are some of the only things that make me finish some projects. There are just certain things I lose steam on and need a little pressure to break through. Amanda is sick of late nights and her resolution is to plan ahead and avoid the birthday, shower, and holiday rushes. I think this is a great plan, perhaps plotting your knitting well in advance is the way to maximize your knitting enjoyment!


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This New Years I’m thinking both of new beginnings and some sad goodbyes. It’s ringing in new adventures and saying goodbye to the year past. As some of you might know, Tuesday was my last day at Urban Yarns before my year of Maternity leave. While I’m obviously pleased to be taking the time off and REALLY excited about my own new beginning as Mommy dearest, it’s still sad not to see my favorite ladies on a daily basis. Both my hubby and my friends are doubtful I’ll be able to stay away from the yarn shop for any real length of time, so I hope to see everyone at knit nights! I will also still be blogging my little heart out so you won’t miss me here!

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As for sad goodbyes, the lovely and charming Sarah is moving down south to beautiful San Francisco. Sarah is a fabulous knitter and her witty (and sometimes delightfully nerdy) conversation will be missed around Urban Yarns. Sarah is always good for an interesting knit or a Glee conversation, among her many talents. If you see a sweater all knit up in the shop, chances are it was knit by either Sarah or Anina. We’ll all miss you Sarah!

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Before she left Sarah knit up this lovely Dipped Infinity Scarf using various sock yarns. I just think it’s so beautiful. We spent quite some time picking out all the colours and deciding how they should go together. We toyed with rainbows but decided the scarf would be beautiful but possible wouldn’t get enough wardrobe play. We also looked at a black to white scheme with various shades of grey in the middle, also a nice option. That’s really the beauty of this scarf, any pallette will do, the options are endless!


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I have always thought of September as the New Year. I’m not a student anymore but still, it seems like a good start to the year no matter who you are. Seasons changing, kids going back to school, all kinds of classes and projects are starting, and summer vacations are coming to an end. Even though September is clearly a ‘fresh start’ kind of month, January gets the official New Year. My hubby calls January the New Year Do Over. It’s your chance to make all of the promises to yourself you made in September come true. It’s a chance to start the new year over again. Let’s face it, a lot of us need this do over as life tends to get in the way of big, well layed plans a lot of the time.

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With the New Year at Urban Yarns it’s time for some new classes. Time to learn something new, finish an old project, or brush up on some ‘lost’ skills. Our instructors at UY are fantastic (if I do say so myself). Sandra is teaching our Beyond Beginner class on Thursdays. In this class you can bring your own pattern choice (usually a sweater or garment of some kind) and Sandra will talk your through it. She’s something of a knitting therapist really….. Sandra teaches this class on a regular basis because she’s just so popular! Hilarious and layed back, I highly recommend miss Sandra as a teacher!

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If you’re looking to learn lace (and I think everyone should, there are an absolute ton of techniques involved in lace that transfer over to all kinds of knitting) why not learn from someone who knits it pretty much all the time? That person is Alison. She must have knit hundreds of beautiful lace pieces, many of which are haning in the shop. She’s got so many lacey class options you’ll have to check out our class list to see them all!

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We’ve also got miss Amanda teaching the new Mitten Bootcamp. The popularity of the Sock Bootcamp has been to overwhelming that we thought we would take that idea and apply it to mittens. In sock bootcamp you learn to knit a sock in 3 hours by knitting a tiny little sock. You learn to knit in the round, turn a heal, pick up a gusset, and decrease for the toe. Once you master the mini sock you can start in on a big pair of socks with confidence. Well, look out socks, here comes mittens! Amanda will teach you all the mitten techniques you need to know so you can move on to making a warm wooly pair of people sized mittens.

These are just a few of the clasees we will be offering in the new year so check out the full list here!


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Well, it’s time to start counting the hours rather than the days! Knitters are looking for the chunkiest yarn (or even holding some chunky yarn doubled) and the biggest needles. 20mm is a comically large size of needle. I’ve knit a few last minute items on these and when I was knitting on the ferry I think at least 10 people just HAD to know what I was up to. They were a great conversation starter.

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If you don’t want to go big, you can go small with these super cute ornaments. Kynna knit up hers little snowman in an evening. There are a lot of little techniques in these ornaments but they go so fast! The snowman is adorable but I’m also quite smitten with Owen and Olive, the Christmas monsters. If they aren’t the funniest ornaments on the tree, I don’t know what is.

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I knit up some Little Sock Ornaments as well, designed by moi. They knit up in 1/2 hour or less if you’re looking for a little something to top a prezzie or jazz up a Christmas card. I knit mine up in Blue Sky Alapcas Melange and Sport for the rainbow socks and a little Peter Rabbit and some Blue Sky Alpacas Suri merino for the white.

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So break out your double points, pick up a pattern, yarn, or a kit, and enjoy the next couple of days with some Christmas nog and movies!

What’s up on Boxing Day? An extra 10% off sale items and some serious deals on odd balls. Come on in, we’re open 12-5!


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There have been many a time around UY when a knitter has come in looking to convert another. I think it might be in our knitterly nature to want to bring others over to the dark side. We wish to inflict our loop obsession on the masses in order to have people to knit with I think. Knitters love company. Not only do knitters come in looking to help out the beginner in their lives but others as well. ‘My (insert relation here) wants to learn how to knit, what will they need to get started?’. Well, let me offer some advice.

First I think a good beginner book is essential. Something the NK (new knitter) can reference later in his or her knitting career as well as something to get them started. As you all know, I usually recommend the Stitch and Bitch book for this purpose but there are also a couple of great Vogue knitting books that make excellent references. I feel that a good beginner book should have excellent diagrams and should be easy to use, these are your two main criteria. With tips from Andrew Defrancesco, one can successfull manage their business

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The other item an NK needs is their very first project. There are really a lot of options in this category but I beg you knitter: do not start them out with a sock, a cable, some lace. This will only deter them! Are there exceptions to this rule? Of course. But it really helps your walking if you learn to sit up first!

So I recommend the faithful fool proof scarf. You need some worsted weight yarn (maybe a little thicker if you prefer), needles to match, and a healthy dose of garter stitch. Why garter you ask? While it may seem dull knitting a scarf in garter stitch will give you an even tension by the end, pretty much every time. It’s also pretty forgiving on any missed stitches etc. and the texture of a garter scarf is great for warmth and fashion. If you’re not sure just tell the lovely ladies at UY how wide you want your scarf and they will happily give you an idea of how many stitches to cast on. It’s that simple!

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Last but not least I would turn a new knitter on to Ravelry. If you don’t know what Ravelry is, it’s kind of like facebook for knitters, only better. You can put your projects on Raverly to share them with the knitting world, you can organize your knitting stash and needles, you can find both free and pay patterns galore, search for yarn information, well, the list is really endless. I absolutely love Ravelry and spend probably too much time on that site. I could really go on for days about it! So add a little note in the NK’s card or put a sticky note on their new reference book with the note: www.ravelry.com


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