My friend Rachel has opened a yarn store in Brooklyn called Woolyn (Get it? Wool + Brooklyn = Woolyn). It's a great name for a pretty nice place.
(FYI - I've know Rachel for a while, we were roommates for Sock Summit and Woolyn is selling my project bags.)
Rachel has a wonderful background for a yarn store owner: she has worked in a local yarn store and she has designed knitwear that has been featured in Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits. And she hand dyed yarn for her previous business venture, Studio Avenue Six. She knows her textiles!
Woolyn is stocked with industry workhorse yarns from Cascade 220 and new indie dyers - in fact both Mollygirl and Narwhal Needlework dyed special color ways for Woolyn.
In addition to wool and cotton fiber Rachel also carries the cashmere kit from Lux Adorna Knits which Clara Parkes has just blogged about for Knitter's Review.
Woolyn also stocks roving (Sweet Georgia!) for those who use drop spindles and spinning wheels. There is an area where you can sit down and have some refreshments. And don't forget to browse the highly curated books.
The store opened in mid August which may have been too late to be included in the New York City Yarn Crawl that is happening this weekend (Sept 24-25). If you are exploring the city's yarn stores Woolyn is definitely worth the visit. Near the Brooklyn Bridge Park, the area has great eating, shopping and calling all cat lovers - it's one block from the Brooklyn Cat Cafe.
105 Atlantic Ave (between Henry and Hicks Streets)
718-522-5820
By Subway: R to Court Street , 2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall, F/G to Bergen St
By Bus: B63, B61 (Atlantic Ave and Henry St stop)
www.woolyn.com
It's a new month, so time for a new pattern to go on sale!
This month, I'm featuring my Leila Shawl and Shawlette pattern:
This is one of my favorite designs ever and also one of the best sellers. I've knit at least 6 of these to give away as presents! You can see them all on Ravelry if you're curious.
You probably already know that I have think of diamonds and zig-zag patterns, so it's no surprise that the motif is featured in this pattern as well. I love the symmetry in the lines and the way the pattern grows as the shawl grows.
This pattern looks great in handpainted yarns like Koigu KPPPM and works with either highly-variegated or subtly-shaded colors. It would also look great in a glowy almost-solid like one of Madelinetosh's colors, or if you want to go for a more classic look, knit this in a solid in a luxurious neutral like beige or silver.
This pattern includes instructions to make both a full-size shawl and a shawlette. I love the heft of the full-size shawl in this pattern. It's really cozy to wear a shawl that covers your back fully. I have gotten a ton of wear out of the blue one you see above.
The shawlette is a quick knit that adds the perfect splash of flare to your outfit:
The shawlette knits up so quickly, it makes for a perfect holiday gift. I can't imagine any woman who couldn't use one of these in her wardrobe!
So what're you waiting for? Get your copy of the Leila pattern now! It's on sale for just $2.50 until the end of November 2013.
I took the train+shuttle to Rhinebeck with my friend Nancy this year, and as soon as we got off the bus I snapped this picture of the gorgeousness as we walked in:
http://instagram.com/p/fsdNQ0iLNt/
The weather couldn't have been much better, it was crisp and chilly (yes! we got to wear sweaters!) but also bright and sunny. It was a joy to be outside.
For the next 6 hours, we wandered all over the grounds, stopping to buy supplies and food. Nancy did most of the fiber purchasing while I did most of the food purchases. I actually didn't buy anything knitting-related at all!
But I did buy food. A lot of it.
Stood in line for 30 minutes to buy apple cider donuts:
http://instagram.com/p/fsuxuViLDm/
Then just before leaving, bought an absurd helping of kettle corn:
http://instagram.com/p/fs-85IiLEt/
Which Nancy and I ate during the entire trip home. That was definitely the best kettle corn I've had in years.
All in all, the trip was wonderful. Nancy and I spent a while talking about what a Chiagu booth might look like if I were to do one at next year's Rhinebeck . . . and believe me, if I decide to go that way, I'll tell you all about it as we work on it!
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PS - You should follow me on Instagram if you're on there =)
I'm about to move apartments (yes, again!) and so now is the perfect time to have a sale!
Use the coupon code:
MOVING13
to get 20% off everything* on the website, my Etsy shop, and my Ravelry shop.
Sale ends Sunday, June 23rd at midnight EST!
* excludes mini-club memberships
This is part of the first iteration of one of my next knitting patterns . . .
What do you think it is?
Leave a guess in the comments and I'll pick a random winner to win the pattern!