Lancaster Yarn Shop

Teaching Knitting in the 21st Century

2012-02-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

Is knitting an old story? Did we miss the heyday of knitting? Or is this it? Knitting and the twenty-first century seem made for each other.

I taught my first knitting class at Middlebury College in 1990. It was just me, eleven or twelve under-graduates and a mimeographed pattern for a simple pair of mittens. Note, not an easy pair of mittens, but a simple pattern. I stood in front of the group and demonstrated the long tail cast on, worked up to moving the stitches onto three double pointed needles and joining for knitting in the round. We took a breath & worked two inches of two by two ribbing and then increased and started knitting stockinette for the hand--WHILE also learning how to increase for the thumb gusset.

I taught without a book, without written instruction beyond the pattern, without youtube videos, without a power-point, and (gasp!) without ravelry! I had one mitten made up and the other one on needles, and that was it. Everyone worked with the same kind of yarn, 100% wool in natural shades of grey and on wooden double pointed needles. It could as easily have been a class in 1890 as 1990 - not much had changed. (Well, the lighting was better, and so was the heat.)

Here we are in 2012. We still knit with yarn, of course. Instead of just 'knitting worsted,' we may be casting on with a merino/cashmere blend. Perhaps the wool comes from Australia, the cashmere from Nepal--and was spun in England, shipped to the USA & hand dyed here in Lancaster County. Or maybe the yarn is a wool and mohair blend spun and dyed at a mid sized family run business in Nebraska. We may find ourselves knitting with sea-silk, or rayon from bamboo, or fiber drawn from milk, or corn or soybeans. Our needles may be stainless steel, aluminum, birch, bamboo, glass or plastic. The possibilities are global, fascinating and often remarkably beautiful.

When I teach now, I list my classes in a blog online. I send e-mail newsletters to knitters near and far. The posts and emails feature high resolution digital photography, and use links and social networks to spread the word. I send my students e-mails, they download .pdf files and bring them to class on their iPads, Nooks, netbooks and smart-phones. Sometimes they print their patterns out and bring their high tech devices, too. It's still easier to make notes and hash-marks on paper, after all.

When I stand up in front of my class, though, time shifts again. I don't use books, drawings, or videos to teach knitting. It's me and my two hands and some sticks and string. Knitting's heyday? Yeah, I think this is it.

When you have a few minutes, check out our other blog: lysclasses.blogspot.com and sign up for a Free Workshop or Class. Happy Knitting!

Winter Greys and Whites

2012-01-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

Rain on snow after ice - buggies hurrying along slushy highway shoulders - heavy fog and mist rising from melting snow - all working together to create a kaleidoscope of winter greys and whites. A subtle palette of shadow and light. They evoke images from other seasons, the eagle that lives along the creek, the spiders in the summer garden. Perfect colors for knitting or dreaming about knitting. Winter days seem made for staying in with a project. Stop by the shop for cozy ideas for deep Winter knitting.

Winter Hours & Workshops at LYS

2012-01-06T12:35:00.000-08:00

Happy

The new year is under way and so are big plans for lots of fun at Lancaster Yarn Shop!

Please note our Winter Hours:

January & February

Mon - Wed 10:00 - 5:00

Thurs 10:00 - 8:00 (Join us for Knit Night every Thursday evening!)

Fri 10:00 - 5:00

Sat 9:00 - 5:00

Winter Classes and Workshops are being added nearly every day. Keep an eye on our dedicated page for updates and schedules. Our Free Workshops are very popular. Please be sure to register for the workshops that interest you, they fill up quickly.

clip art: http://wordplay.hubpages.com/hub/winter-clip-art

Friendly Reminder/CHANGE OF PLANS!

2011-12-21T09:42:00.000-08:00

LYS will be OPEN for the week of January 9 - 14, 2012.

We'll be here and open for our normal WINTER hours. Looking forward to a month of selfish, satisfying knitting!

Winter Hours: Mon - Sat 10:00 - 5:00 / Thurs 10:00 - 8:00
Happy Knitting!

Hand Made Holidays

2011-12-19T13:00:00.000-08:00

These are the socks I'm making for my daughter for Christmas this year. I just started them today. I'm not stressed out about it, I'm actually quite content to have them underway. To have started them. My family knows if they get a wrapped ball (or two) of yarn under the tree, they are as likely to have something ready by the New Year as not!

'Tis the season for quick finishes & crafty finales.

For some of us, it's the season for a big dose of stress and hustle--especially if we've gotten a late start or if inspiration was elusive. Sometimes we can make it work and sometimes we have to give up, lower our expectations or start over.

And for some of us, it is a time of satisfying little crafty triumphs --the socks both finished, for example -- or the sweater knit with the gauge just right & blocked & finished with time to spare.

Whatever the case may be, and whatever holidays you celebrate, I'd like to reach out with a gentle reminder. WE MAKE THINGS BECAUSE WE LOVE TO MAKE THINGS. We don't make things so other people admire us or think we're clever. We don't generally make things to save time or money. We don't make things to stress ourselves out. We make things because that is something people do. And people have been making things to give --gifts-- forever.

We make things because we love to make things. Isn't that mostly it? Don't you love choosing materials for a project? Isn't the search for the right pattern fun? Knowing you have or can get the right tools to make something interesting or challenging is a small thrill. Casting on is another small thrill. Watching something take shape in your hands is another. And having someone you care about in mind while you're creating a gift transforms the 'stuff' you're working with via some alchemy involving your heart, your mind & your wool.

So, enjoy the holidays. Happy Everything! And enjoy your knitting. Your crocheting, your spinning, dyeing & hooking. Happy cross stitching & embroidering. And happy gift giving. Enjoy the subtle pleasure of giving something you've made to someone you love. If you're knitting or crocheting for charity this year, thank you.

Happy Everything!

Cookies! Knit Night! Coffee!

2011-12-15T10:21:00.000-08:00

YOU ARE INVITED!

JOIN US TONIGHT 5:00 - 8:00 FOR AN EVENING OF KNITTING, HOLIDAY DESSERTS AND COFFEE.

Note To Self

2011-12-15T10:17:00.000-08:00

*Lancaster Yarn Shop*

will be closed for a little LA-DEE-DA

January 9 - 14, 2012

Please schedule your knitting emergencies around these dates.

thank you!

Checking Your List?

2011-12-05T12:45:00.000-08:00

Stocking Stuffers & Gifts for the Knitters and Crocheters

on your list

New Sheepish Greeting Cards

2011-11-29T12:34:00.000-08:00

image copyright Clare Margaret 2011

We are so happy to have Clare Margaret's beautiful greeting cards in the shop! We have Holiday Sheep, a knitting sheep, sheep on a sled--and more. The cards are handsome prints made from her original paper cuttings. Clare Margaret works and makes art in Harrisburg, PA. Stop by LYS to spread some sheepish cheer!

Holiday Hours at LYS

2011-11-25T14:39:00.000-08:00

FRIDAY EVENINGS

OPEN 'TIL 9:00

come knit some cheer!

Clink!

2011-11-25T09:43:00.000-08:00

CLINK
a great new hat pattern
by Ellie Ellis the
Vermicious Knit!

check it out for free on ravelry.com

A Saturday Visit from Kathy Augustine

2011-11-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

Say HI to Kathy Augustine who wrote 'a Brief History of Angora' for the latest issue of Knitscene. Yeah, she autographed our magazine. :)

New Lace Yarns from Whorled Peace

2011-11-12T08:54:00.000-08:00

GOODIES!

2011-11-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

gorgeous new tools & accessories for your hand knitting & crochet

Arriving daily at LYS as we move into high gear for Fall & Winter knitting!

Happy I LOVE Yarn Day!

2011-10-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

Snow Bank Cowl

a free pattern from LYS

Today is I LOVE YARN Day! Celebrate with a free cowl pattern from Lancaster Yarn Shop! Knit in the round on a great big needle, this simple stockinette cowl uses one skein of Snuggle. We've got a bulky wooden cable needle from Brittany holding ours in place.

Available FREE on Ravelry.com--download now & get your knitting out!

Happy Knitting!

Beautiful Autumn Days

2011-10-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Fall Weather just begs for cozy hand knit hats & sweaters! We've got a rainbow of wool yarns and a kaleidoscope of fun patterns to get your Fall knitting underway.

Our series of Free Knitting Workshops continues on Tuesday mornings, sign up and join us to learn whether you are a First Time, Brand New Knitter or an Extreme Knitter! We're available to help with knitting questions and project planning, too.

Lancaster County is celebrating the harvest season as the last of the summer crops are brought in & preserved. Apple cider, pumpkins, and fresh hot pretzels make a Fall afternoon in Intercourse a celebration of Autumn. Stop in this weekend to see Fall colors at Lancaster Yarn Shop!

September 10 Fair Trade Hand Knits at Lancaster Yarn Shop

2011-09-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

images courtesy Minga Fair Trade Imports

A CELEBRATION OF FAIR TRADE HAND KNITS

FOR FALL 2011

SEPTEMBER 10 9:00 - 5:00

Lancaster Yarn Shop has partnered with several small companies that promote fair trade ethics and principles to bring beautifully hand made garments and accessories into the shop this Fall. Come see our beautiful selection of sweaters, hats, mittens & socks. Bright colors, natural fibers & exceptional craftsmanship make each piece a fun addition to your collection of hand made knitwear.

Stop by LYS on Saturday, September 10th and enter a drawing to win a pair of fair trade, Super-Cozy Hand Knit Wool Socks! One entry per person, no purchase necessary.*

Village Outfitters & Village Quilts are celebrating Fall on September 10th, too! Stop in to see new lines at both shops all day Saturday.

*Prize can be picked up at LYS or shipped via USMail to winner. Need not be present to win. Thank you!

Lanaloft Handpaints

2011-08-31T14:56:00.000-07:00

gorgeous!

zauberball!

2011-08-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

A RAINBOW OF ZAUBERBALL!

Fair Trade Hand Knits at LYS

2011-08-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

We have expanded our selection of Fair Trade Hand Knits this Fall. Lancaster Yarn Shop works with several Fair Trade companies to ensure that we have exceptionally beautiful Hand Knit sweaters, hats, mittens & socks.

Fair Trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach to alleviating global poverty and promoting sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a fair price as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of goods.

Meet the knitters of our beautiful children's sweaters: Mercedes and Alberto Males from Otavalo, Ecuador. Mercedes says that the textile arts have been passed down in her family for generations, and she strives to continue this rich family tradition today. She supports her local community by purchasing wool from a factory in nearby Guano. To ensure the quality of the wool, it’s collected from the finest Ecuadorian and Peruvian lambs and is then double washed and dyed to achieve the vivid yarn colors.

We have a great selection of sweaters for children and adults--stylish, warm, eco-friendly & fair trade. We also have mittens, great big cozy socks, wool hats and swinging alpaca capes.

LYS Fall Knitting Retreat

2011-08-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

thanks to hjortron on ravelry for the photo

lace sock knitting retreat & high tea

Lancaster Yarn Shop

Saturday, September 17, 2011
9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Our plans for a Fall Knitting Retreat, like many a good knitting pattern, have been modified! Join us here at the shop for a day of knitting instruction, good company, and high tea! Hosted & taught by Wendy Ellis & Barbara Grubbs, we will enjoy a day of instruction in the finer points of lace sock knitting.

Included are a copy of the book Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush, a set of double pointed needles, sock yarn suitable for the pattern, instruction and High Tea at Ye Olde Tea Shoppe in Intercourse, PA. We will cast on and begin to knit the 'New England' sock pattern, an especially beautiful and wearable lace sock.

This is an intermediate to advanced level class, you must know how to knit on double pointed needles, and have knit at least one pair of socks.

event: LYS Fall Knitting Retreat & High Tea
date: Saturday, September 17, 2011
time: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
cost: $98.00 all inclusive

Pre-registration is required. Sign up now open. http://lancasteryarnshop.bigcartel.com/products

New Sock Yarn from Ty-Dy Socks

2011-08-08T10:04:00.000-07:00


NEW AT LYS FOR FALL
TY-DY SOCKS SKINNY STRIPES

Skinny Stripes is a variation on the popular Ty-Dy Socks yarn, but with skinny stripes that work up into narrow sections of color. There are so many beautiful sock patterns out there--and some work especially well with narrow stripes. What is your favorite stripey sock pattern?

Content: 80% Superwash Wool/20% Nylon
Care: Machine Wash Gentle Cold, Dry Flat
Weight/Yardage: 100g/436yds
Gauge: 8.5 sts = 1" on US 1
Knitting Weight: Sock/Fingering

YARN CAMP 2011

2011-07-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

YARN CAMP 2011

Sign up NOW to attend one, two, three, four or five days of Yarn Camp at LYS! We've set aside five days during the Dog Days of August to introduce you to or reinvigorate your knitting. Five Free Workshops--each focusing on a technique that will teach you what you need to know to make something really fun.

Register NOW to save your spot! Let's go to 'CAMP' this Summer! No Bug Juice, NO poison ivy, NO mosquitos! Just yarn, good company--and maybe even ice cream*!

Call the shop to register for Free Workshops. Space is limited. Materials for Free Workshops at LYS must be purchased at LYS. You may bring and use your own tools. Please read class descriptions carefully! Call Today (717) 768-8007.

*like Mom always said, "We'll see!"

amish country beanie pattern

2011-06-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Our popular amish country beanie is now for sale as a .pdf on Ravelry. The amish country beanie is a simple striped beanie with a scalloped edge that is reminiscent of 19th century Pennsylvania Dutch wedding socks. Designed in iconic PA Dutch colors, this hat can be made in a beanie style or with some slouch. The hat pattern is also available in a kit at the shop. Check it out!

moebius cowl curl pattern

2011-06-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

We have patterns on Ravelry! Our most recent addition is the moebius curl cowl pattern, available for sale as a .pdf--we taught this class on Tuesday & it was fun. Several of the knitters have moved on to their second cowl, it is a quick project & an intriguing knit. Check it out at the link below. You do not need to be a member of Ravelry to make a purchase.

$2.00

Happy Knitting!

Magazines & Patterns & Books--OH MY!

2011-06-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

Several new & notable books on the shelves at Lancaster Yarn Shop this week. Get 'em while it's hot! These knitting books make good beach reading, and are perfect for those afternoons and evenings when you just might start to think it is too hot to knit. (PERISH THE THOUGHT!)

Also in the shop this week: Interweave Knits Weekend! A terrific collection of knits that are a little more casual for weekend wear. Piecework, & Interweave Crochet are in stock, too.

Kettle Dyed: Little Green Apples

2011-06-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

Our newest colorway in Kettle Dyed Sock Yarn: Little Green Apples.

4ounces/484 yards

75% superwash wool/25% nylon

machine wash cold/delicate, dry flat

WWKiP 2011

2011-06-15T07:55:00.000-07:00


A wonderful time was had by all!

LYS Fall Knitting Retreat

2011-05-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

We had such a good time at our first Knitting Retreat, we're doing it all over again!

Join us for either a three day retreat including a Knitting Workshop on Saturday, or for a one day get away including Saturday lunch & the Workshop! The Saturday Knitting Workshop will be jointly led by Wendy Ellis & Barbara Grubbs. Details about the knitting project will be revealed soon! We're test knitting!
White Oak Bed & Breakfast proved to be a friendly, comfortable setting for our first Retreat in March. We are looking forward to getting back for another weekend of Knitting R & R! Join us for a wine & cheese reception on Friday, followed by a country style dinner and a relaxed evening of knitting & visiting. Saturday morning we'll enjoy a hearty breakfast & plenty of delicious coffee before being joined by our Daylong Get Away Knitters for lunch & our Knitting Workshop. Saturday dinner is 'on your own,' so you can take a little jaunt out into Amish Country! We'll enjoy a light breakfast followed by a fancy Sunday Brunch to wind up our time together.

Registration is now open! Click here for details & to reserve your spot!

Join us for our next LYS Farmhouse Knitting Retreat!

World Wide Knit in Public Day 2011 at LYS

2011-04-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

WWKiP 2011

Join us for another day of knittingus maximus!

Whoopie Pies, Lemonade &

Knitting in Public!

World Wide Knit in Public Day comes to LYS on Saturday June 11, 2011! WWKiP is a knitter-run event and a reminder that we build community with our handwork.

Our KiP 'Casts On' at 9:30 am & we'll 'Bind Off' at 5:30! Throughout the day we'll celebrate with door prizes, whoopie pies & lemonade, and ample opportunities to build community together. Don't forget to bring a chair!

We're very excited this year to once again feature the LYS KNiTTING BUGGY! Imagine a horse & carriage ride along beautiful country lanes, through a covered bridge, past cows & maybe even some sheep--while knitting & purling with new crafty friends! The Knitting Buggy is a unique opportunity to celebrate our craft together in the breathtaking landscape of rural Lancaster County.

Buggies leave at 11:00 am & again at 3:00 pm. Reservations for the Knitting Buggy are required! Call the shop at (717) 768-8007 & we'll be happy to add your name to the list. All KiP knitters will receive a very special LYS rate of $8.00 each for the 55 minute buggy ride.

So, grab your knitting, a buddy or two & a comfy chair (& check out this post about how to pack for a KiP, too: http://knittyblog.com/?p=53)! Drop in whenever you can on Saturday, it's going to be fun!

LYS is located at Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA. The shop has ample parking, there are public restrooms, restaurants, shops & a nice cafe' nearby.

WWKiP: "Better living through stitching together."

ps Really, don't forget to bring a chair!

Lancaster Yarn Shop

Kitchen Kettle Village

3519 Old Philadelphia Pike

Intercourse, PA 17534

(717) 768-8007

http://www.lancasteryarnshop.com/

lancasteryarnshop@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/lancasteryarnshop

New Yarn!

2011-04-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

Introducing

'Simplicity'

from Hikoo Yarns

• 55% Merino Superwash -

28% Acrylic - 17% Nylon
• 117 yards per 50 gram hank
• 3.5-4 mm (approx. US 4-6) needles
• Approx. 5 sts per inch

Simplicity is an excellent choice for afghans, children's wear, and anything else that gets daily use. This machine washable wool blend feels like butter in your hands while knitting, but is a true "work horse" of a yarn. I think I'm in love! I've often insisted that I 'only' knit with natural fibers, but to my surprise, acrylics & nylons have gotten nicer & nicer over the years. I have a new niece to knit for, and Simplicity is a perfect yarn for baby goodies. Maybe it is time to cast on a sweet little blanket...

Is this Spring?

2011-04-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

Another chilly, rainy weekend is forecast for Lancaster County, PA. Nothing extends the season for sporting our hand knits like a slow, cool Spring!

We are treated to a veritable hand knits parade here at LYS. Not a day goes by that someone doesn't pull up her pants cuff to show us her hand knit socks--or spin around to show us the drape of a recently finished crochet shawl! Lots of these folks oblige us with a knitter's handshake--you know, instead of a friendly "hand" shake, we just reach in to stroke their hand knit sleeve! Many oblige us when we pull out the camera, too! We just can't resist those fresh hand knits!

Stop by to see new Spring & Summer yarns--and to show off your hand knits! We can't wait to see you this Spring at LYS!

Where are they going with those sheep?

2011-03-21T11:53:00.000-07:00

I really never, ever have taken a photograph of our Amish neighbors. This morning, I could not resist:

The two sheep were completely relaxed, just rolling along behind the buggy in the pouring rain. Extraordinary!

LYS Farmhouse Retreat

2011-03-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to just pack it all up & spend the weekend knitting?

Perhaps you imagine yourself cozied up with your knitting in the living room of a great big farm house in the country--with a cook in the kitchen & a comfy bed upstairs. No meals to prepare or clean up from, no housework, none of the trappings of 'everyday' but all of the trappings of home.

Are you imagining waking up in a restored Amish farm house with a group of knitters & a pot of coffee? Consider joining us for our first ever LYS Farmhouse Knitting Retreat!

Two options are available: Join us for the whole weekend--Stay at the farm house, enjoy all of your meals from Friday dinner to Sunday brunch (dinner Saturday on your own), and spend the weekend on retreat! This includes a Beginning Lace Knitting Workshop on Saturday--including yarn, needles & pattern.
Can't get away for the weekend? Join us on Saturday for lunch and the Knitting Workshop.

Check out these links:
Click here for more information.
To register, click here.

Like to plan ahead? We are planning a Fall Knitting Retreat at the White Oak B & B in Strasburg, PA for the weekend of September16 - 18th, 2011. Pencil it in & plan on joining us for another weekend of knitting!

Signs of Spring!

2011-03-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

photo courtesy Duo Fiberworks c 2011

There are signs of Spring everywhere! From the thousands of geese & swans winging northward over Lancaster County to the backyard peepers-Spring is nearly here! Spring at LYS brings lots and lots of new yarn, workshops & classes & big plans for the summer!

Last week at Knit Night, I cast on a pair of Knitting Pure & Simple Easy Children's Lightweight Socks. I'm using a new yarn from Knit One Crochet Too: Soxx Appeal. This yarn is 96% Superwash Merino, 3% Nylon & 1% Elastic. Reviews on Ravelry rate this as a 5 STAR yarn. I'm happy with the beginnings of my little socks. I may have another one or two--or five--projects on my needles. I'm designing a couple of hats & some kits that will be in the shop next week.

Other new yarns this week: Crock O Dye sock, Ty-Dy Sock, Alpaca Yarn Company's Paca Peds, Whorled Peace, Crabapple Yarns,& Kettle Dyed.

Have you joined us for Knit Night? We knit together every Thursday evening between 5:00 and 8:00. Grab your knitting, your crochet, your spinning wheel or spindle & come set a while! We'll make you welcome--& you may even get some knitting done!

Our Free Workshops have been really fun lately. Filling the studio upstairs with knitters anxious to learn new techniques & tricks makes for a fun day at the shop! New listings for workshops in April & May are on the site now! Please sign up in advance for the Free Workshops as the fill up fast!

Filling almost anything with knitters is a good bet for a fun day! We are really, really excited about our first Bus Trip. We filled a large, luxury bus to take us to the Smithsonian Institute to see the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef exhibit on March 13th. Many of our Thursday Night Knitters helped create 'polyps' for this amazing display. It should be a grand day out!

LYS Farmhouse Knitting Retreat: April 1-3, 2011

2011-01-26T11:31:00.000-08:00

Our first knitting retreat! Join LYS in beautiful, rural Lancaster County for a weekend of knitting, relaxing, and community!

Imagine an Amish farmhouse that has been renovated to offer guests all the comforts of an inn and the hospitality of a home. White Oak B&B, just a few country miles from LYS, is a 'wonderful good' setting for a friendly weekend of knitting and community. The Knitting Retreat is scheduled for April 1st through 3rd, and runs from Friday evening to mid-day Sunday. Cost includes lodging, meals (except Saturday dinner on-your-own), and a Farmhouse Knitting Workshop on Saturday. The workshop is an Introduction to Lace Knitting with fingering weight yarns. You'll receive a kit with locally hand dyed yarn, needles, & pattern. Let's make something beautiful together!

Space is limited. Register NOW to reserve your spot.

There will also be a limited number of spaces for a day-long retreat on Saturday.

Cost: $295.00 each

Arrival: Friday, April 1st 4:30pm.
Check out: Sunday, April 3rd 12:00pm.

Rates based on double occupancy. Everyone gets their own bed. Please telephone the shop with roommate requests when you register.

We expect to fill up quickly, please be advised that if the event over-fills, reservations are first come/first served & not guaranteed until confirmed by LYS.*

*In the event that you register after the event is full, you will, of course, receive a full refund immediately.

Bus Trip to the Coral Reef!

2011-01-12T12:31:00.000-08:00

~~BUS TRIP SOLD OUT~~
Join us next time!

LYS Charter Bus Trip to Washington DC

YES! We are going to see the 'Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef' at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History! A group of knitters & crocheters from the LYS community had an opportunity to learn ‘Hyperbolic Crochet’ and contribute to this amazing exhibit, along with hundreds of others from around the world.

Come with us to ooh and ahh over this incredible mash up of fiber and fauna, earth and sea. Word is it will take your breath away!

The Coral Reef Bus Trip is Sunday, March 13, 2011. We'll leave promptly from Lancaster Yarn Shop at 7:30 AM getting to DC around 10:30 AM. We leave DC promptly at 5:00 PM, arriving back at LYS around 8:30 PM. There’s plenty of free, well lit parking at LYS. It couldn’t be easier!

The cost for the bus is $27.00 per person and includes cost of transportation only (Admission to Smithsonian Museums is free!). Please reserve your seat by registering HERE. Bring your spouse, your kid(s), your friend, your neighbor – AMAZE them with what yarn can do! This will be a really fun day, and we anticipate a full coach. Reserve your spot NOW!

Pre-registration & pre-payment is required. Availability is limited.

Registration ENDS February 25, 2011 or BEFORE if coach is sold out.

In the event of a cancellation by LYS, full refunds will be given.
In the event of circumstances beyond our control, &/or after February 25, 2011, no refunds are available.

For more information, please call the shop at (717) 768-8007.

2010 Wrap up!

2010-12-31T09:38:00.000-08:00

First Day of Winter

2010-12-21T10:41:00.000-08:00

Winter is well & truly here. Last night's dramatic eclipse, which nicely rounded out the shortest & darkest day of the year,was a fitting finale to Fall. Winter means our busy Knitting Season can get under way!

January has been called Selfish Knitting Month which seems to assume that we've all been slavishly knitting holiday gifts this Fall. Winter is a great time to tackle a 'big' project--something complicated or a new technique. After all, the garden isn't calling to us with it's endless weeds--and the grass doesn't need to be mowed! Take time to sit down with your knitting in a bright window--maybe while snow is drifting down--& with a cup of cocoa to hand! Need company? Join us for Thursday Knit Night or for one of our Free Workshops.

I have a sweater I've been haphazardly working on that I plan to finish up by the New Year so I can move on to a project I've been thinking about for the last few weeks. We're available to help plan your next big project! Stop in for yarn, patterns, inspiration & knitting help! You can follow our tweets & posts on twitter & Facebook, & we have a class blog, too.

Not quite finished your holiday shopping? We've got swifts & winders, blocking wires, gift certificates, pretty scissors & tools PLUS hand-knit, fair trade hats, mittens, socks & headbands to stuff into stockings or under the tree!

Ilga Leja's Beech Wood Cowl

2010-12-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a wonderful, wintry day for a workshop! Classic Alpaca yarn wound into balls & patterns in hand, nine knitters spent two hours in the Lancaster Yarn Shop studios casting on Ilga Leja's beautiful 'Beech Wood Cowl' and talking about knitting.
The pattern is available through the website www.ilgaleja.com or on www.ravelry.com. The cowl features bands of alternating garter ridges & stockinette that support innovative lacy openings. Knit with approximately 100 grams of dk weight alpaca on US#7 needles, there's still time to knit this up before Christmas gets here!
I love my cowl, which features a 'mistake' now styled as a modification, & I'm getting lots of opportunities to wear it as temperatures here in Lancaster County remain chilly!
Keep an eye out for our next Free Workshop! We'll have three in January! Check out our new blog over the next few weeks for details as they unfold!
Happy Knitting!

Free Beech Wood Cowl Workshop

2010-11-20T11:47:00.000-08:00

Lancaster Yarn Shop is happy to offer our third in a series of free Knitting Workshops this fall! Class size is limited, please call (717) 768.8007 to reserve your spot right away!

Project: Beech Wood by Ilga Leja
Date: Tuesday, December 7
Time: 9:30 - 11:03a

Check out our new class & workshop blog for details!

See you soon!

What's the Buzz?

2010-11-16T13:29:00.000-08:00

what's happening at lys?

Is it really mid November? It seems like the leaves just started to turn! I turned around the other day & the Quilt Shop next door was redoing their window with, you guessed it, a Christmas tree! You know what that means! The countdown for Holiday Hand Knits is ON!

I have too many projects on my needles, as usual. In fact, if I bring my rational mind in to the equation, I may despair. There really is no way I'll finish everything I've started before the holidays this year. It is a mathematical impossibility. I think. Actually, I'm too busy knitting to do the math!

In the meantime, we are working on our third free Knitting Workshop. The first two went really well. We filled the studio upstairs with cheerful knitters of all sorts--& got some good knitting done! In our first workshop, we learned how to make Jared Flood's handsome 'Turn A Square' hat. Everyone successfully cast on & learned the tricks & tips for this pattern.

Our second workshop pattern was the Baktus shawl. This great little sock yarn scarf now has 33 versions on Ravelry, and more than 5,000 knitters have made one. What a great starting point for a simple project!

Our next workshop should prove to be fun! I'm excited to hear back from the designer so I can let you know what pattern we'll be working on.

Save the date: Tuesday, December 7th 9:30a - 11:30a in the studio at LYS.

Hope your knitting is going well! Need yarn for your next project? Need a gift for a knitter? We're happy to help with knitting questions, too!

Stop in to see us at LYS!

Baktus Workshop Tomorrow

2010-11-05T12:42:00.000-07:00

Hello Knitters!

We are so excited about our second free workshop tomorrow! Here are some details for tomorrow morning.

Yarn for your 'Baktus' may be purchased at Lancaster Yarn Shop in advance of the class or on Saturday morning. We open at 9:00 & class starts at 9:15 (to accommodate choosing yarns, etc). You may purchase necessary tools or you may bring your own. You will need US #2 or 3 circular or straight needles, stitch markers, and a copy of the pattern*. It won't hurt to bring along other needle sizes as your gauge may vary! This is a simple pattern, suitable for beginners & intermediate knitters.

*Links to the pattern for download can be found on our class blog.

Kitchen Kettle is a great destination for shopping & dining & there are several nice restaurants & a cafe nearby.

I'm looking forward to spending the morning knitting with you!

Winter/Holiday Hours

2010-10-25T07:26:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's time to post this already!

LYS follows the lead of Kitchen Kettle Village in posting our hours.

Beginning November 1:
Mon - Fri 9:00a - 5:00p
Every Thursday open til 8:00p
Saturdays in November 9:00a - 6:00p

Saturday Holly Days open til 6:00p
November 27, 2010
December 4, 2010
December 11, 2010
December 18, 2010

Old Fashioned Christmas Friday Nights
Shop until 9pm:
November 26, 2010
December 3, 2010
December 10, 2010
December 17, 2010

We will be open Thanksgiving Day 10:00 - 4:00
We will be open Christmas Eve 9:00 - 4:00

Free Workshop: November 6

2010-10-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

Our next free knitting workshop is scheduled for Saturday, November 6th! We are happy to be offering several free workshops this fall. Pre-registration will always be required for these special events, call soon to reserve your spot.

Our next workshop features the beautiful, simple Baktus scarf. Special thanks to Strikkelise for letting us use her pattern! We'll cast on & discuss alternative methods of increasing for shaping this garter stitch project. This is a simple pattern, suitable for beginners & intermediate knitters.

We have another blog for our workshops & classes. Check it out at www.lysclasses.blogspot.com. We'll be listing additional workshops over the next few weeks.

*Thanks to tryphina on Ravelry for her great photos!

Workshop Gallery

2010-10-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

Maureen has been knitting for two--count 'em!--TWO weeks. This is how far she's gotten in just 2 days! Nice, even knitting & beautiful results using Maxima from Manos del Uruguay & hand spun Wool Classica for her main color.

Janet's hat is knit in peacock blue, heathered Lamb's Pride from Brown Sheep Company with LanaLoft for her handpainted contrast color. She finished it up last night & it is beautiful.

Here's mine! I'm using Maxima & Wool Classica on US #8 needles & I'm nearly done. The Maxima is gorgeous to work with!

This one is Deb's & she did a great job pairing a brown heathered Lamb's Pride with LanaLoft. Another great pairing in both color & texture.

Free Workshop at LYS

2010-10-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

Our first free knitting workshop is tomorrow! We are happy to be offering several free workshops this fall. Tomorrow's workshop is full, pre-registration will always be required for these special events.

This week, workshop knitters will learn how to make Jared Flood's beautiful Turn A Square hat. Knit in the round with two colors, we'll teach two techniques that help make this a great hat. The jogless join is a great way to make color changes less obvious, & using a raglan decrease on the crown makes a distinctive shape.

We have another blog for our workshops & classes. Check it out at www.lysclasses.blogspot.com. We'll be listing a weekend workshop and several additional weekday workshops over the next few weeks.

LYS KAL! Free Pattern from LYS

2010-09-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

Lancaster County Blend

a basic sock recipe
by Wendy Ellis

Materials

100 grams Alpaca Yarn Co. Paca Peds HT

1 set No. 1(2.5mm) or 2(3mm) needles or as needed for gauge

Gauge: 7 sts=1"; 11 rnds=1"

Instructions

Cast on 64 sts. Divide onto three needles as follows: Needle 1: 24 sts; Needle 2: 20 sts; Needle 3: 20 sts. Join, being careful not to twist sts and work K1, P1 rib for 1 1/2".

Establish pattern for leg:

Rnd. 1: Knit.

Rnd. 2: K2, P2 around.

Repeat these two rounds until leg measures 7" from start, ending with rnd. 2.
Set up heel: with Needle 3, K across first 14 sts of needle 1. Turn and P across 30 sts for heel. Slip remaining 34 sts onto two needles for instep.

Heel:
Change to mini skein semi-solid color for heel.

Row 1: *Sl 1, K1, repeat from * across.

Row 2: Purl.

Repeat these two rows until heel measures 2 1/4", usually 32 rows, ending with a K row.

Turn Heel:

Row 1: P across 17 sts, P2 tog, P1, turn.

Row 2: Sl 1, K5, sl 1, K1, psso, K1, turn.

Row 3: Sl 1, P6, P2 tog, P1, turn.

Row 4: Sl 1, K7, sl 1, K1, psso, K1, turn.

Row 5: Sl 1, P8, P2 tog, P1, turn.

Continue to decrease in this manner, having 1 more st between decs. each row until all sts are worked and 18 sts remain, ending on a K row. Slip all Instep sts onto 1 needle. Divide sts of heel onto 2 needles.

Gusset & Shaping:
Change to MC.

Needle 1: Pick up & K 16 sts along side of heel.

Needle 2: Work in pattern across Instep sts.

Needle 3: Pick up & K 16 sts along other side of heel & K remaining 9 heel sts onto this needle.

Rnd 1--Needle 1: K to last 3 sts, K2 tog, K1. Needle 2: Work in pattern. Needle 3: K1, sl 1, K1, psso, K to end.

Rnd 2--Needles 1 and 3: Knit. Needle 2: Work in pattern.

Repeat these two rounds until 15 sts remain on needles 1 & 3.

Foot: Work even on 64 sts, keeping pattern on needle 2 only until foot measures 1 3/4" less than desired finished length. Arrange sts on needles as follows: Needles 1 & 3: 16 sts. Needle 2: 32 sts.

Toe:

Change to mini skein semi-solid color for toe.Rnd. 1: Needle 1: K to last 3 sts, K2 tog, K1. Needle 2: K1, sl 1, K1, psso, K to last 3 sts, k2 tog, K1. Needle 3: K1, sl1, K1, psso, K to end.

Rnd. 2: Knit around.

Repeat these 2 rnds until 24 sts remain. With Needle 3 knit across needle 1. Cut yarn leaving 20".

Finish with Kitchener stitch.

not to be sold, please share link freely

Repairs, Quick Fixes & Letting it Be

2010-09-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

Mistakes can be hard to admit. Not just in knitting, but everywhere. I'm finding that readily admitting a mistake tends to soften the outcome. So, why is it sometimes so hard to look at a mistake in our handwork & just deal with it?
Why is my sweater still lurking in the bottom of my knitting bag?
One of our Knit Night regulars, Beth, is a very, very good knitter . She regularly tackles projects that make me gawk.    One of Beth's strengths as a knitter is her willingness to ask for help. If she is stuck, she asks for help. If she wants to modify a pattern or use a different yarn, she asks for help. When she makes a mistake, she asks for help--or, sometimes, she just RIPS. And I do mean RIPS. Just this week, Beth ripped out nearly the whole back of a vest because her yarn had a less than subtle dye change from skein to skein.

I asked Beth, about her strategies for mistakes. Here are her guidelines for knitting mistakes:

1. If it is painfully obvious or will bug you every time you see the piece/project…then ya gotta fix it.

2. If only you know it is there and it will not affect the pattern sequence in the next row or the overall outcome…keep going.

3.    Migrate toward patterns that have charts. That way you can see what should be happening in the row where the mistake is and maybe fix it on the next round by tinking back on only the stitches that are in error and fixing them from above.

Ripping, Frogging, Tinking--Oh My!

2010-09-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

I let the sweater sink slowly to the bottom of my knitting bag. After a couple of days, I lifted it out of the bag and neatened up the now tangled balls of yarn. I resolutely started knitting again. With my Mistake staring me down the whole time. STOP.
Let's step back and see what happened. I had already calculated that one row of the sweater took about 20 minutes to knit. I knit a row. I knit 4 rows. I had to tink back across one of them when I forgot to read my chart from left to right on the purl rows. No problem, I had lots of time that day. We were at an outdoors music festival, the sun was shining with that peculiar oblique golden light of early fall. It was a Perfect Knitting Day. I got an astonishing 12 rows of fair-isle knitting done. I was flying through the rows!
So, what happened? On the ride home, I put my reading glasses on to review the next pattern section. I knit a few stitches. I stopped and absently tried to smooth out the previous pattern section which was a little...bumpy. I shook my head as if to clear it & kept knitting. About half way across the row I had to admit that it was really bumpy, puckered even. Assuring myself that it would block out--or that maybe it was just compressed on the needle, I kept knitting. For a little while. Like, for another row.
Shortly after that, the sweater started inching it's way towards the bottom of my knitting bag. I had some other things to finish up & samples to knit, so it was easy to think I was just taking a little break. I knit a shawl, a pair of socks, a pair of baby socks...& a hat. I looked around and found another pair of socks that were nearly finished and I worked on them.
Fast forward to last week. At knit night I tried to work on the sweater. Then, I showed the sweater to a couple of other knitters. There was consensus. It has to be ripped out. So, I put it back in my bag--and it's still there. I think I'll make another hat.

Next time: LYS talks to some other knitters about mistakes, knitting, mistakes, fixes, & abandoning projects.

Fall Color from Manos del Uruguay

2010-09-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

NOTHING beats busy Fall days at LYS! We've been patiently (& impatiently!) waiting for Fall yarns to start making their way to the shelves. This week's star yarns are from Manos del Uruguay. Manos del Uruguay is a full member of WFTO (World Fair Trade Organization) and is committed to 100% Fair Trade. Manos’s mission to eradicate poverty through sustainable economic development, pioneering social and environmental policy and practice, and continual reinvestment in marginalized artisans, farmers and producer communities makes this yarn company a darling of the knitting & craft community. Manos works hard to provide a sustainable business model, and they also work hard to produce gorgeous yarns.

We have a beautiful array of semi-solid kettle dyed colors & hand paints in the Wool Classica hand spun yarn.

We've also filled a wall with Silk Blend, one of my favorite yarns! Silk Blend is a kettle dyed 30% silk & 70% merino yarn in a dk weight. It has a remarkably soft hand & is lovely to knit. Check out the free pattern for the sweet Crumpet hat shown above in the colorway 'Citric.'

But wait! There's more! Manos has an exciting new yarn about to hit the shelves! Maxima is a super soft and squishy kettle-dyed yarn. The worsted weight one-ply construction makes it a great all purpose yarn, and the fantastic yardage makes it perfect for one skein accessory projects. Fun, bright, intense colors spun of 100% merino wool are kettle dyed and measure approximately 218 yards per 100g skein. The gauge is 18-20 sts = 4”/10cm on a US Needle #7-#8 US. We'll update you as soon as we have it here at LYS!

Whorled Peace Yarn

2010-08-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

Kellie from Whorled Peace stopped by LYS today and brought us new yarn! She brought hand-dyed sock yarn in a new DK weight, and hand-painted roving. Kellie has designed a pattern for a chevron cowl made with the new sock yarn- free with your purchase of the yarn! We found this great pattern on Ravelry for a DK weight sock.

Summertime Socks & Knitting on the Beach

2010-08-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

Our family was invited to spend a week in South Bethany Beach, Delaware this month. The house was right off the beach, an easy walk to & from the ocean. This meant carrying picnic lunches was easy, & so was running back to the house for the forgotten drinks. Day one I fell asleep under the umbrella, but by day two I was rested & ready to break out my beach knitting.
I saw one other knitter that morning, a 9 year old who had just learned to knit the day before. She was blazing her way through a garter stitch scarf on size 10 needles, & it looked pretty good. Her aunt, who had taught her to knit, was nearby with a giant pair of sunglasses & a magazine.
I loved seeing so many people reading on the beach. Not a laptop or 'mobile device' in sight. I guess there's no service on the beach. I did see ipods & a couple of kindles & readers. Most of them were carefully sealed into ziplock bags. I thought I'd need a plastic bag for my knitting, but I used a small project bag instead & it worked out fine.
So, what did I take along for my beach knitting? NOT the giant worsted weight, fair-isle cardigan I'm making for my August sweater-of-the-month! SOCKS, of course! I cast on a pair of socks in a limited edition color way from Whorled Peace. They're a gift, so pictures will be along in a few weeks. I didn't get a lot of knitting done while we were on the beach, but there was one good stretch when I was sitting alone under the umbrella watching the waves & knitting.
Rather than carrying along a pattern, I'm just making up the socks as I go along. Nothing fancy--I used the surprisingly stretchy cast on, a simple 2 X 2 rib for the cuff, & the leg is a K3,P1 rib.

We're home from the beach now & I've turned the heel & have the gusset under way. Sock number two will have to be worked fairly quickly as I want these to be done by the end of the month. What I'd give for another week knitting at the beach!

Sock Yarn!

2010-08-07T07:06:00.000-07:00

Today is a celebration day at KKV--it's Yummie's birthday! LYS is celebrating with a drawing for a ball of our newest sock yarn, Fortissima Mexiko Cotton Stretch. A great choice for summer sock knitting, this yarn is 41% Wool, 39% Cotton, 13% Nylon & 7% Polyester. Fortissima sock yarn is a perfect mix of wool and cotton and the little bit of nylon and elastic will help it hold its shape for years to come.

Comment on the blog TODAY by 4pm EST to be entered to win a ball of this beautiful sock yarn! Come into the shop & make a purchase & you get TWO chances to win!

Kitchen Kettle events include:

9am-1pm – Families can enjoy fun activities in the Village including crafts, pony rides, cookie decorating, a visit to Yummie’s Barnyard, bounce house, balloon artist & more. Village Outfitters will feature face painting, coloring sheets & snacks for the kids.
10am – New this year - sky diver Steve Lapp will "drop in" to Kitchen Kettle Village with treats for the kids.
11am-Noon – The FREE birthday party gets underway at the stage area with the introduction of all Yummie’s mascot friends from various Lancaster County attractions, as well as games, music and birthday treats.

New Books! A Quick Review of 'Gifted' by Mags Kandis

2010-08-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

A new book by Mags Kandis--this is a collection of projects created for gift giving.
Kandis includes construction details and finishing techniques that encourage knitters & crocheters to learn new techniques while creating appealing gifts. Small projects, these gifts are designed to require a couple skeins of yarn and are leftover & stash friendly. Two sections; Gifts for the Body & Gifts for the Soul fill the book with more than 25 patterns for wearable accessories such as hats, mittens, scarves, & socks, and home decor including a tea cozy, pin cushion, & a needle case. These pieces are sweet, lively and add a little joy to every household.

I have a few favorites queued up--it's almost time to get holiday knitting underway, right?

Pics of Ellie's summer knitting

2010-07-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Ellie is designing a pair of socks in Paca Peds alpaca sock yarn.
Priscilla's Dream Socks in stash sportweight yarn.
Jenkins the very silly, yet to be felted bunny--Lamb's Pride Worsted.
The tour de force hat 'Fungi' in three colors of Classic Alpaca from the Alpaca Yarn Company in a dk weight. Awesome.

Ellie's Needles

2010-07-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Wait a minute! Ellie is knitting up a storm while helping out at LYS this summer. First it was a pair of socks knit with stash she dug out of the summer kitchen at home. Using the pattern 'Priscilla's Dream Socks' (Interweave Knit's "Favorite Socks"), these went fast. They weren't even quite off the needles before the next project was planned--& all of a sudden--there is stash yarn in Ellie's room at home!

You know what happened next, right? Yeah, Ravelry happened next. A list of favorites, projects posted...& then Ellie picked a hat pattern called 'Fungi' to knit. This is an ambitious hat! Knit in dk weight Classic Alpaca in three colors, it is lined & knit in three colors. Finished in about a week, this was a companion project to another pair of socks--designed by Ellie, this time knit with Paca-Peds, another yarn from the Alpaca Yarn Company. These are going a little slower than the first pair. This may be due to the fact that Ellie has also knit a very silly rabbit & is casting on a pair of mittens.

All of these factors point me to one conclusion. Ellie is really, for real, a knitter. A Knitter. Mission Accomplished!

Say 'Hi!' to Ellie on Ravelry & have a look at the projects posted so far! User name: iaoey.

"...the knitting basket...was well equipped, with three long circular wire needles in different sizes, and a sinister-looking set of four double-ended ivory ones, slender as stillettos, which I knew were used in some mysterious fashion to turn the heels of stockings."
-- Diana Gabaldon, Drums of Autumn

Rasta Hat

2010-07-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

I'm knitting a great hat using a new yarn from Knit One, Crochet Too. The new yarn is called Wrapunzel & it's a super soft blend of 70% superwash wool & 30% acrylic in a beautiful changing colorway. The hat is the very slouchy, very pretty Rasta Hat designed by Helene Rush.
Combining Tartelette, a beautiful cotton blend ribbon yarn with a new yarn called Wrapunzel, this hat is a fast, colorful knit. The pattern is written for either knitting or crochet & is worked on US#10.5 (6.5mm) or a crochet hook size N (10mm).
Below is a video of the drop-stitch pattern in the hat. Kits available in three beautiful colors!

What a night at LYS!

2010-07-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

HYPERBOLIC CROCHET for the Smithsonian Community Reef

Knit Night had a new groove at LYS this week. We had a great evening learning how to increase like mad in crocheted chains & rounds! We're crocheting hyperbolic planes that will ultimately be part of the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef at the Ocean Focus Gallery in the Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. Our little circle of knitters & crocheters joins a much larger group working to create a satellite reef for the international project created by IFF in California.
The Smithsonian Community Reef will be displayed between October 16 & April 17, 2011.
We will meet again on THURSDAY JULY 29th for another evening of knitting & crocheting for the reef. This is a great opportunity to work with Lancaster artist Christa Wissler & to learn free-form crochet technique.
YOU are invited! We meet weekly & are a friendly, if occasionally silly, group.
Thanks to everyone who is participating! Plans are in the work for a field trip to D.C. to see the reef! Details as they develop.

Hyperbolic Crochet & the Coral Reef

2010-07-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef is a celebration of the intersection of complex math, handicraft, and the disappearing wonders of the marine world. Created & curated by Christine & Margaret Wertheim of the Institute for Figuring, the reef is coming to the Smithsonian this fall. A reef satellite group called the 'Smithsonian Community Reef' formed to bring the reef to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in a Temporary Exhibit in the Sant Ocean Hall, Ocean Focus Gallery October 16, 2010 – April 24, 2011.

Lancaster Yarn Shop invites YOU to be part of a very exciting, international project! Join us this THURSDAY, JULY 15 between 5 & 8 PM to learn the basics of hyperbolic crochet. Working with Lancaster fiber artist Christa Wissler, we'll put together our own 'South-Central Pennsylvania' reef which will be sent to Washington DC on August 30, 2010 to be installed with the rest of the reef.

We will meet with a teacher at least one additional time--& we get together weekly, so we have several weeks to get our reef together!

Last week at our weekly Knit Night, I mentioned the project & showed a slide show of some incredible photographs of crocheted coral. Interest was really piqued when a visiting cheerful crocheter named Niya from the Washington DC area spoke up. Turned out she is already involved in the project & not only did she have samples of crocheted coral in her car, she had beautiful book marks for everyone here! Many thanks to Niya for her enthusiastic hooking!

relevant links:

This page is Daina Tamina's original article about crocheting hyperbolic planes.
Margaret Wertheim's 'Beautiful Math of Coral (& crochet)'--a lecture from www.ted.com.
The main page for the IFF project is here.
Here are some ideas for creating your own coral.
The Smithsonian Satellite Reef: here.
Of course, there is a great group here on Ravelry!

coming soon...addi LACE CLICKS

2010-07-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

The wait is nearly over for those who have been longing for a lace tip version of the addi Clicks! LYS is currently taking pre-orders for the addi Click Lace! The Lace Click tips are shorter in length, in order to allow for both 16” and 20” applications. While the 24”, 32”, and 40” cords from both sets are fully compatible with any style of tip, the new 16” and 20” cords are not compatible with the Turbo® tips, as the length of the Turbo® tips combined with these smaller cords will not allow for
proper knitting.

Each addi Click Lace kit includes:

8 pairs of addi Lace tips (approx US sizes: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11)
5 blue addi cords which create 16”, 20”, 24”, 32”, and 40” needles (approx lengths)1 Click connector
1 gold addi heart pin
addi needle gauge
Soft-sided brown case with exterior zippered pocket for cables

We do not have a shipping date yet! Our order has been placed & delivery is projected for late summer/early fall. Pre-order now to guarantee you get your set from LYS! Our pre-order price is $169.95.
Additional packs of Lace tips and
cords will be introduced at a later date.

Perfect Summer/Beach Reading

2010-06-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

New issue of Piecework Magazine is in! Featuring samplers in lace knitting, Orenburg-style knitted lace, crochet & tatting samplers & an article by Nancy Bush about knitting bumps/bobbles/popcorn & nupps!

Summer 2010 Crochet!

2010-06-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

Interweave Summer 2010 Crochet magazine is here! With an emphasis on shawls, it also has patterns for flirty skirts, easy-wearing tops and lightweight lacy garments by Annette Petavy, Kristin Omdahl, Doris Chan, Lisa Naskrent, and more. Learn a variation of Tunisian crochet called double-ended
crochet, read about a charity for homeless pets, and check out the first five
squares of the Chain Reaction Afghan Project. In all, 25 projects to keep you crocheting through the summer!

2010-06-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

Whoopie Pies, Lemonade &

Knitting in Public!

World Wide Knit in Public Day comes to LYS this Saturday June 12, 2010! WWKiP is a knitter-run event and a reminder that we can build community with our handwork.

Our KiP starts with a Ceremonial 'Cast-On' at 10:00 am & we'll 'Bind Off' at 6:00! Throughout the day we'll celebrate with door prizes, whoopie pies & lemonade, and ample opportunities to build community together. Don't forget to bring a chair!

We're very excited this year to introduce the LYS KNiTTING BUGGY! Imagine a horse & carriage ride along beautiful country lanes, through a covered bridge, past cows & maybe even some sheep--while knitting & purling with new crafty friends! The Knitting Buggy is a unique opportunity to celebrate our craft together in the breathtaking landscape of rural Lancaster County.

There is still space available for this exciting event! Buggies leave at 11:00 am & again at 3:00 pm. Reservations for the Knitting Buggy are required! Call the shop at (717) 768-8007 & we'll be happy to add your name to the list. All KiP knitters will receive a very special LYS rate of $8.00 each for the 55 minute buggy ride.

We were tickled to be mentioned on the knittyblog last week. Amy Singer posted a 'What's What Wednesday' http://knittyblog.com/?p=31 singling out a record breaking attempt in Toronto, a hand knit fashion event in Dublin--our KiP Buggy rides here in Lancaster County, PA & the legendary I Knit London WWKIP Treasure Hunt! We're certainly in good company!

LYS is located at Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA. The shop has ample parking, there are public restrooms, restaurants, shops & a nice cafe' nearby.

WWKiP: "Better living through stitching together."

ps Really, don't forget to bring a chair!

Lancaster Yarn Shop

Kitchen Kettle Village

3519 Old Philadelphia Pike

Intercourse, PA 17534

(717) 768-8007

www.lancasteryarnshop.com

lancasteryarnshop@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/lancasteryarnshop

2010-05-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Our Thursday Knitting Group is a real highlight of being a LYS owner. For over a year, we've met every week for a couple of hours of knitting, crocheting, & a little spinning here & there. Our group has grown from the 'downtowners' who met in our Gallery Row shop last year to a changeable group of knitters from all over Lancaster & Chester Counties--& occasionally from all over the country & world.

We've watched projects cast on & bound off--cheered on one another & not just about our knitting. Marriages, relationships, buying houses--from the big stuff in our lives to the little--we've gotten to know each other & come to care about each other.

We meet every Thursday at LYS between 5:00p & 8:00p---and you are invited. We're a friendly group & we'll make you welcome!

Here's to everyone who has been part of our knitting group! See you soon!

Ribbon-Drop Scarf

2010-05-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

ribbon drop scarf

a free pattern from LYS

designed/'unvented' by Wendy Ellis

sizes: narrow (wide)

approximate dimensions: narrow: 5" x 45"; wide: 7" x 39"

yarn: Knit One, Crochet Too Tartelette (50% cotton, 50% nylon; 50 gram ball = approx 75 yards) 2 balls in color 222, or approximately 150 yards in a comparable yarn

needles: One set US #9 (5.5 mm). Or size to obtain gauge.

gauge: 16 sts = about 4" in stockinette, not terribly important for this project.

abbreviations:

WS: Wrong Side

RS: Right Side

yo: Yarn Over (an increase)

pattern:

Cast on 20 (26) stitches using long-tail cast on method.

Knit 5 rows, ending on RS. Place removable marker to denote RS.

Begin drop stitch pattern:

Row 1: (WS) K1, *yo twice, K1; repeat from * to end.

Row 2: *K1, drop yo's from needle; repeat from * to last stitch, K1.

Row 3-6: Work in garter stitch (knit every row).

You will have 3 garter ridges between dropped stitches. Yarn overs will always be worked on a RS row. Yarn overs will be dropped on a WS row.

Work in drop stitch pattern until nearly out of yarn ending with Row 5 & binding off.

Weave in ends. Block lightly if needed, do not iron.

This is a great pattern for ribbon yarns. The garter drop stitch pattern is widely known & is interpreted here for use with K1,CToo's Tartelette yarn.

pattern copyright Wendy Ellis, 2010

2010-05-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

When the box of Serena yarns from Manos del Uruguay arrived late last week, it took me a little while to decide to take the beautiful bundles apart so the skeins could be twisted. The colorways are gorgeous--subtle & quiet, but saturated & they're beautifully coordinated.

Manos del Uruguay describes Serena this way: 'Serena is a lightweight, whisper-soft yarn for trans-seasonal knitting. It combines two luxury fibers: baby alpaca and pima cotton. The alpaca gives beautiful drape, and the cotton year-round wearability. Together, both fibers produce softly heathered color effects. The supple fabric is perfect for simple shapes as well as the tucks and gathers of so many contemporary designs.'

Here are the technical specs:

Fiber Content: 60% baby alpaca, 40% pima cotton (oooo!)Yardage: approx. 50g, 170yds/155m (this makes it a fingering yarn)

Gauge: 22-26 sts = 4″/10cmNeedle size: #4-5 US / 3.5-3.75mm

Care instructions: Handwash, dry flat

My current inclination with this gorgeous yarn is a ruffled shawlette made with two skeins. We'll see! I don't know how I'll decide on a color! Check out some of the projects popping up on Ravelry since the yarn was released: http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/manos-del-uruguay-serena/projects Stop in soon to pet this gorgeous new yarn!

MDSW 2010

2010-05-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

MARYLAND SHEEP & WOOL

Has it been a year since our last trek to MDSW? Tomorrow we head over to beautiful West Friendship, MD for another day of full fiber immersion!

I'm really excited about loading up our van-full of knitters & spinners from Lancaster County for a day out! The weather forecast is a little dire. Very hot, relatively humid & 'unsettled' with a heavy thunderstorm in the afternoon. Last year we braved temps in the high 40's & cold wind to boot. It was a nice day for hand knit woolies! My best purchase last year? A pair of raspberry (of course) alpaca socks to wear home in the car! We were soaked by the end of the day & it was cold! This year I guess we'll opt for cotton & linen & enjoy looking at the wool, the sheep & all the goodies.

The exhibition barn is high on my list for this year. I love to see finished pieces, and this exhibit often has the best of the best!

Some of the fiber luminaries we may see: Clara Parkes, the Knitmore Girls, Guido, the SavvyGirls...there is a podcaster meet & greet Sunday at 10:30 in the Columbia Sit N Knit Hospitality tent!

Happy knitting & nattering!

Hope to see you at Maryland Sheep & Wool!

Spring Hours

2010-04-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

Beginning May 1, LYS hours will be:

Mon - Wed: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Thurs: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

Fri - Sat: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

closed Sundays

You're Knitting? What's that?

2010-04-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

A very nice definition of knitting, indeed. Found here: http://http//www.1911encyclopedia.org/Knitting, this is a great working definition of what we're endeavoring to do!

KNITTING (from O.E. cnyttan, to knit; cf. Ger. Kniitten; the root is seen in "knot"), the art of forming a single thread or strand of yarn into a texture or fabric of a loop structure, by employing needles or wires. "Crochet" work is an analogous art in its simplest form. It consists of forming a single thread into a single chain of loops. All warp knit fabrics are built on this structure. Knitting may be said to be divided into two principles, viz. (1) hand knitting and (2) frame-work knitting. In hand knitting, the wires, pins or needles used are of different lengths or gauges, according to the class of work wanted to be produced. They are made of steel, bone, wood or ivory. Some are headed to prevent the loops from slipping over the ends. Flat or selvedged work can only be produced on them. Others are pointed at both ends, and by employing three or more a circular or circular-shaped fabric can be made. In hand knitting each loop is formed and thrown off individually and in rotation and is left hanging on the new loop formed. The cotton, wool and silk fibres are the principal materials from which knitting yarns are manufactured, wool being the most important and most largely used. "Lamb's-wool," "wheeling," "fingering" and worsted yarns are all produced from the wool fibre, but may differ in size or fineness and quality. Those yarns are largely used in the production of knitted underwear. Hand knitting is to-day principally practised as a domestic art, but in some of the remote parts of Scotland and Ireland it is prosecuted as an industry to some extent. In the Shetland Islands the wool of the native sheep is spun, and used in its natural colour, being manufactured into shawls, scarfs, ladies' jackets, &c. The principal trade of other districts is hose and half-hose, made from the wool of the sheep native to the district. The formation of the stitches in knitting may be varied in a great many ways, by "purling" (knitting or throwing loops to back and front in rib form), ".slipping" loops, taking up and casting off and working in various coloured yarns to form stripes, patterns, &c. The articles may be shaped according to the manner in which the wires and yarns are manipulated.

image: The Knitting Girl by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1869

WWKiP at LYS 2010

2010-04-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

Taken almost verbatim from our most recent newsletter, here is a reminder about WWKiP at LYS!

World Wide Knit in Public Day comes to LYS Saturday June 12, 2010! This is a global knitting happening which last year featured 1,000 KiP events happening in over 34 countries!
WWKiP, started in 2005 by Danielle Landes, is about knitting as a community activity. So often, knitting is a solitary act, but this knitter-run event is a reminder that we can build community with our handwork.

Our knitting event starts with a Ceremonial Cast-On at 10:00 am & we'll 'Bind Off' at 6:00! Ongoing through the day we'll celebrate with door prizes, refreshments, & ample opportunities to build community together. Don't forget to bring a chair!
We're very excited this year to take our KiP to the next level with the LYS KNiTTING BUGGY! We've arranged for a Horse Drawn Carriage to come pick you up at our door! Imagine a buggy ride along beautiful country lanes, through a covered bridge, past cows & maybe even some sheep--while knitting & purling with 8 new friends! We see the Knitting Buggy as a unique opportunity to celebrate our craft together in the breathtaking landscape of rural Lancaster County.
Buggies leave at 11:00 am & again at 3:00 pm. Reservations for the Knitting Buggy are required! Send an email to lancasteryarnshop@gmail.com with KNiTTING BUGGY in the subject line, or call the shop at (717) 768-8007 & we'll be happy to add your name to the list. All KiP knitters will receive a very special LYS rate of $8.00 each for the 55 minute buggy ride.
WWKiP: "Better living through stitching together."

Quilts, lambs, & Knit Night!

2010-03-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome, Spring!

Lancaster County welcomes some 10,000-20,000 quilters and textile lovers to the American Quilter Society's 2010 show this week. Just in time, the sheep along Old Philadelphia Pike have lambed, the forsythia is in bloom & the daffodils are everywhere! Sunny skies & light winds made today a beautiful day in Intercourse.

Lancaster Yarn Shop hosts a weekly knitting group. Every Thursday we meet at the shop which is located in a sweet little house at Kitchen Kettle Village www.kitchenkettle.com. Stop in for a cup of coffee & an evening of knitting! This is an informal gathering, bring whatever you happen to be working on, or browse our Spring yarns for a special project to cast on & take home. We feature several local dyers & spinners & have some lovely souvenir yarns!

LYS will keep odd hours this week. Tonight we'll stay open until at least 6:00 PM, Thursday til 8:00 PM & Friday til around 8:00 PM.

Check our website for our usual hours www.lancasteryarnshop.com & become a Fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lancasteryarnshop.

Entrelac Class Saturday at LYS

2010-03-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Entrelac is a knitting technique used to create a textured diamond pattern. The knitted fabric resembles basket-woven strips but is really interconnected squares. The pattern emerges like magic; you won’t believe your eyes! A self-striping yarn enhances this amazing stitch pattern.

Back by popular demand is our incredible Entrelac class. There is still time to register! Sign-up now--registration has been extended through Friday, March 19 or until the class is filled. This class will meet two times for 2 1/2 hours on March 20 & 27th. Class time is 9:30 am - 12:00 pm. LYS favorite Tina Colvin teaches this class.

http://lancasteryarnshop.bigcartel.com/product/entrelac-shawl

Photo courtesy Alissa Barton http://www.ravelry.com/people/KnittingFairy & is an example of entrelac knitting.

Shibui, Baby!

2010-03-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

Shibui Baby
Get ready to overload your cute-meter! This collection of super-sweet, yet entirely practical, baby patterns is what every knitter yearns for.
We are so happy to have this adorable collection of patterns for baby at LYS! Shibui Sock is one of our favorite yarns. A gorgeous, superwash Merino, this yarn can be worn right next to the skin with the comfort of wool & the softness of...well, it's as soft as a baby's bottom!

We stock lots of other patterns for Shibui Sock--including the perennially popular Vintage Baby Cardigan designed by Kristin Spurkland. We have it knit up in the Spectrum colorway--a good choice for the little girl or boy you may be knitting for.

Shibui Sock
Colorway: Spectrum
Peony, Midnight and Lily

The perfect sock yarn. This ultra-soft superwash merino is gentle enough for baby clothing but hardy enough to stand up to a hiking boot. Our intense semi-solid colors create visual interest even in the plainest of stitches.

Fiber: 100% superwash merino wool
Skein weight: 1.75 oz / 50 g
Yardage: 191 yd / 175 m
Yarn weight: fingering weight
Recommended gauge: 30 sts = 4"
Recommended needle size: 2 (2.75 mm) (US)

Spring Magazines

2010-03-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

Wild Fibers Magazine
Exploring the animals, art, and culture, of the natural fiber industry

This beautiful magazine has a mission to 'educate and promote all aspects of the natural fiber industry with special emphasis on sustainable practices and responsible use of natural resources throughout the world. (They) believe fibers represent an important chapter not only to artisans and cultural development, but an increasing sensitivity to environmental impact as well.'

I sometimes refer to Ravelry as 'facebook for knitters & crocheters'--well, Wild Fibers is 'National Geographic for knitters & crocheters.' The stories & breathtaking images take you on an armchair tour of some of the world's most remote & lovely places--where there happen to be fiber flocks, weavers & knitters, and a heritage of traditional crafts.

The new issue of Wild Fibers will at times make you howl as we once again go chasing around some of the most remote areas of the planet in search of wild and unusual stories about the fiber industry. It will also give you pause, as we look at some of the unimaginable struggles that continue to both challenge and threaten the guardians of some of our most precious fibers.

Travel to the High Andes and learn about Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez’s inspiring efforts to save ancient Incan textile traditions, and then “wander” through the Gobi learning some hard facts about the cashmere industry, and finally visit with a diamond digger in Lesotho who has traded his “semi-precious” shovel for a very precious flock.

Thanks again to LYS knitters who participated in the Wild Fibers World's Longest Scarf project last year. We are happy to have contributed to the nearly $25,000. raised to support Heifer International in preserving & protecting rare fiber flock animals around the world.

This Thursday at Knit Night we'll have a random drawing to win a copy of both the Spring 2010 issue & the Winter 2010 issue of Wild Fibers. Can't make it? Leave a comment here before 5:00 p on Thursday March 11 to be entered in the drawing.

Join us at knit night every Thursday 5 p -8 p.

Happy Knitting!

Wendy

The First of March

2010-03-01T11:19:00.000-08:00

"The March wind roars

Like a lion in the sky,

And makes us shiver

As he passes by.

When winds are soft,

And the days are warm and clear,

Just like a gentle lamb,

Then spring is here."

- Author Unknown

***

Shaking Off Winter

***

In the paper this morning, it was official, we've just had the snowiest Winter on record in Lancaster County. Well, no kidding! The best thing about a snow day is when it can be a knitting day, too. There is something unexpected & wonderful about a day (or two, or three!) snowed in at home. I made the most of it, and got lots of knitting done. I hope you did, too!

********

We also spent some time getting our LYS Spring Class Schedule updated & posted. We are offering two classes for Absolute Beginners, both available on several different dates & times. If you've always wanted to learn how to knit, sign up now for a fun & thorough introduction to the craft of knitting. We are offering a variety of classes for our Intermediate & Extreme Knitters (you know who you are!).

*******

http://lancasteryarnshop.bigcartel.com/category/classes

We selected projects that emphasize cool tricks & interesting techniques. Look for knits accomplished on the bias, short-row shaping, entrelac & color-work. Several sock classes are offered: try knitting a sock toe-up using a great customizable pattern from http://www.knitty.com/, or try your hand at the aptly named 'Magic Loop Method' of sock knitting.

******

Two Baby Project classes are on the schedule, too: the perennially popular Vintage Baby Cardigan from Shibui--a pattern suitable for Advanced Beginners to Intermediate, and First Time Baby Socks worked in super soft Zara worsted.

*****

Sunny Winter days at Kitchen Kettle Village bring visitors from all over the world. We have enjoyed meeting wonderful & interesting knitters, crocheters, spinners & quilters this Winter season. We're looking forward to welcoming quilters to Lancaster County for the American Quilter's Society Quilt Show & Contest - being held this year at the new Lancaster County Convention Center March 24 - 27.

****

Mark your calendar for World Wide Knit in Public Day!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Knit_in_Public_Day

Held annually since 2005, WWKIPD promises to be a special day at Lancaster Yarn Shop this year! Drop in at LYS on Saturday, June 12 between 10:00 & 6:00 for a great time knitting together, door prizes, & a really special Amish Country Surprise! We'll keep you posted as we schedule special events for the day! Follow us on Facebook & check our Events tab for details as they develop.

***

Better living through stitching together.

this is the motto of WWKIP Day!

2010-02-23T13:12:00.000-08:00

Shibui...
means "elegant with a touch of bitterness" in Japanese, and ShibuiKnits takes inspiration from that sentiment.
ShibuiKnits fuses modern ideas and classic designs, creating elegant and functional product lines. Shibui stands out by providing natural fiber yarns, inventive patterns and sleek, practical accessories.

We are happy to have a beautiful display of Shibui's beautiful sock yarn in the shop now! 13 colors, including several new ones--just in time for Spring knitting. Shibui Sock is the perfect sock yarn. This ultra-soft superwash merino is gentle enough for baby clothing but hardy enough to stand up to a hiking boot. Intense semi-solid colors create visual interest even in the plainest of stitches. This is the yarn I used when I won a blue ribbon at the West Lampeter Community Fair last Fall!

2010-02-19T13:16:00.001-08:00

Available now at LYS, my favorite magazine of the year (so far!). Knitting Traditions from Interweave Press. Stop in for your copy today, this is a special issue.

Indulge your passion for knitting with Knitting Traditions! This 148-page special publication from PieceWork magazine presents more than 40 projects—socks, shawls and scarves, items for baby, a variety of hand coverings, hats, squares and edgings, and finger puppets—each with a story that provides historical context. Here are just a few examples: Peruvians used a technique—knitting’s precursor—called cross looping or needleknitting to fashion exquisite, tiny figures, using cactus thorns as needles, between 200 B.C. and A.D. 200. Fourteenth-century Italian artists painted pictures of the Madonna knitting. A glove with a romantic history knitted in Sweden during the sixteenth-century is preserved in a museum. Swedish knitters have been using the two-end technique since at least the seventeenth century. By the mid-eighteenth century, Russian shawls from Orenburg achieved international status. Prolific Victorian knitters fashioned all sorts of knitted items in the nineteenth century. German designers were producing hundreds of patterns for “art knitting” in the early decades of the twentieth century. And a veritable “Who’s Who” of late-twentieth- and early-twenty-first-century knitting designers share their passion within these pages!

*image & text courtesy Interweave Press

Spring Classes at LYS

2010-02-19T12:16:00.000-08:00

spring knitting classes

at LYS

Classes are posted for a full slate of knitting classes at LYS! Join us whether you are a beginner just picking up sticks & string or an experienced knitter looking for a challenging & fun project class. Sign-ups are under way, take a look at our schedule & see if we can make some time to knit together!

We currently offer two class sessions on each Saturday and Tuesday. Private knitting & crochet lessons are also available. Call the shop (717) 768-8007 to make arrangements! Here is a direct link to all of the classes currently available at LYS: http://lancasteryarnshop.bigcartel.com/category/classes

Our teachers Spring, 2010:

Tina Colvin is a marvelous knitter. She came to South Central PA from California where she was a well known knitting teacher. Her featured finished objects posted on Ravelry are impressive: http://www.ravelry.com/people/TinaLC

Katie Rogers is a Lancaster County native with an Art & teaching degree from Millersville University. She is a knitter, crocheter, spinner & designer. Find her on Ravelry, & check out her FO's! http://www.ravelry.com/people/Kitner

If the website http://www.ravelry.com is NEW to you, join now! I often say that Ravelry is the best thing to happen to knitting since yarn, & I believe it!

Lancaster Yarn Shop has been open for just about a year at Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA. We are so excited about our beautiful location, our creative & enthusiastic customers & the opportunity to be involved in such a fun line of work. Thank you for being part of the success of LYS!

All the best to you as we wait out the last of this snowy Winter!

--Wendy

Snowed In

2010-02-11T11:36:00.000-08:00

LYS is closed again today & there is no knit night tonight! All festivities including birthday cake NEXT week, February 18th. See you then!

Wendy

What if it snows again?

2010-02-09T12:12:00.000-08:00

Because it is supposed to snow again this afternoon & tonight, please be advised that LYS will close as soon as it starts to snow today. If it snows tomorrow, we'll LIKELY be closed.

If you are heading our way tomorrow (February 10), PLEASE call the shop first! (717) 768-8007. IF no one answers the phone, we're closed!

I'll tweet about it and post on facebook in the morning.

Our facebook page is Lancaster Yarn Shop.

Hope you're somewhere snug with something lovely to knit!

We plan to be back in the shop on Thursday & that evening is knit night. If you have cabin fever, consider coming out between 5 & 8 o'clock for knitting, chocolate birthday cake & good coffee! Everyone is welcome!

Get your Ravelympics projects ready, the Olympics start on Friday! Come in for ideas, knitting advice & some great new spring yarns--we have a sweet trunk show from K1,Ctoo right now.

Happy snowy days,

Wendy

Forlorn Chair & Ravelry LOL

2010-01-26T10:33:00.000-08:00

We couldn't resist sending a picture of this forlorn chair to Lauren a couple of weeks ago. We were missing her friendly face at knit night & thought we'd devil her a little bit. Thanks to Rebecca for being our tech-savvy youth who was able to photograph the chair with her phone, email it to my laptop, show me how to save it & then post it to facebook. Ah, life in the 21st century!

If you haven't joined us for Knit Night, YOU are invited! Our group meets every week at LYS on Thursday evenings between 5 and 8. Bring whatever you're working on, bring questions, or come for new project ideas & help! Last week, we had 3 new faces in our group, and a nice bunch of our 'regulars.' We're getting ready to start a KAL making hats for cancer patients. I'm working on details for that now. LYS provides a big pot of coffee & an occasional plate of cookies. We've been known to have potlucks, random treats of candy & sweets, and sometimes shop give-aways!

I had such a good laugh this week! 'KateyJ' on Ravelry posted a series of pictures of a shawl she'd knit that are so silly, so fresh & so funny I had to share one here. With her cheerful permission, please enjoy her version of the Aestlight Shawl designed by Gudrun Johnson.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kateyj/aestlight-shawl

Keep an eye on the blog for more LYS knitter pics--we've had some creative knitters in the shop these last few weeks!

New classes should show up any second on our website: www.lancasteryarnshop.com.

Hope you're having a happy January!

Happy Knitting,

Wendy

Winter Classes & more!

2009-12-30T13:23:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM LYS!

As the holidays wind down, let your knitting wind up! We're writing & posting new classes this week! Check our website http://www.lancasteryarnshop.com/ for details about Tina's two new classes: the Madeline cardi workshop & a first time fair isle class. Registration is open & classes are small so that students get lots of attention.

More classes coming up soon including wet felting, crochet, & lots of knitting. We're hoping to bring Susan Weaver in soon for another rigid heddle class, too.

Wishing everyone, really, EVERY ONE a happy, prosperous New Year & the health & serenity to enjoy it.

Love,

Wendy

2009-12-23T09:09:00.000-08:00

Hello Knitting Friends!

Any purchase made at LYS through December 31 earns you a coupon for 15% off your next purchase (some exclusions, not many!). The coupon is good through January 31, 2010–so get your knitted thinking caps on & lets plan some Winter knitting!

One per customer/One time use/One love!

Happy Winter!

♥ Wendy

*HOLIDAY HOURS*

Christmas Eve..........9:00 - 4:00

Christmas.................CLOSED

New Year's Eve.........9:00 - 4:00

New Year's Day.........CLOSED

*WINTER HOURS*

begins January 2 - March 1, 2010

Monday - Saturday.....10:00 - 5:00

Thursday....................10:00 - 8:00

Join us Thursday evenings for Knit Night!

December at LYS

2009-12-11T13:59:00.001-08:00

There are so many cliche things to say about the holidays & how quickly they come up--how busy we are & how much knitting there is left to do before Christmas--& it turns out, most of those cliches are true. I just can't believe it's December 11th. Where does the time go?

We have been busy at LYS! We have a fun & very active page on Facebook. Check out our link along the sidebar. I've been posting a weekly event reminding folks about our Thursday knitting group. This week was a real highlight for our knitters. We buckled down & completely ignored our personal holiday knitting. For nearly 2 1/2 hours, we pretended we had all the time in the world to complete those pesky socks, hats, sweaters & scarves we've been working on and instead we broke out some BIG needles & some crazy stash yarn. We are working on an...installation...of some...knitted graffiti. Have you seen or heard of knittaplease? http://www.knittaplease.com/ will link you to a blog about this international knitting sensation. We're excited to 'wrap up' our project & get some photographs in for consideration for a book scheduled to come out Fall 2010.

Next week, December 17th, we'll celebrate the holidays with another evening of indifferent knitting! Please join us for a potluck supper between 5 & 8 pm at LYS. Word on the street is that Eric is bringing clam chowder! RSVP to lancasteryarnshop@gmail.com so we can get a handle on how many to expect--we'd love to make you welcome! Bring your knitting!

Kitchen Kettle Village http://www.kitchenkettle.com/ is all decked out for the holidays! December is a great time to visit . Every Friday between Thanksgiving & Christmas the whole village is open until 9:00 PM. Special events including carolling, s'mores making, & complimentary hot chocolate. Dinner with Mrs. Clause at the Kling House rounds out the fun. Saturdays feature regular hours and lots of holiday fun--this week there will be music, hot apple cider samples & cookie baking in the bakery.

There really is still time to get some projects ready in time for the holidays--well, since Hanukkah starts tomorrow, you'd better find some small projects for that! But we've got two weeks til Christmas, so if you need help with ideas, yarn or inspiration, stop in any time. We're happy to help! Holiday hours are posted on the website & January/February classes will be added soon! www.lancasteryarnshop.com

All the best to you and yours this chilly December!

Happy Knitting!

Wendy

Impromptu Yarn Review--Swizzle from The Alpaca Yarn Company

2009-11-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

I'm at the shop today. It is raining, cold & generally speaking, a very November-ish day. Since a rainy day often means it is a little quiet around here, I am doing some pretty productive knitting. I've just finished the first of a pair of Fingerless Mitts from an Ann Budd pattern in Weekend Knitting. This is one of my favorite knitting books--the patterns are various, the photos are appealing & the projects are realistic. A nice recipe for a knitting book. The fingerless gloves are a simple, and it turns out, quick project. Garter stitch knit end to end with clever short row shaping, there's not much to them technically, but they make a cozy mitt & my fingers are cold!

Here's the impromptu yarn review: I am knitting these fingerless mitts with a new yarn from the Alpaca Yarn Company called Swizzle. Here are the specs: the put up is in 100 g skeins measuring about 215 yards. It is 100% Superfine Alpaca, spun in Peru & hand dyed right here in Central PA. The gauge on a US#7 needle is 5 st = 1". Care instructions, dry clean or handwash.

Now, technical specs & a picture (thanks, Beth & Tasha for letting us grab your image!) can only tell a knitter so much. There is nothing like wandering into a nice LYS, breathing in that first woolie breath & letting your fingers find their way through the yarns.

Swizzle is a beautiful yarn. The 6 colors are lovely, rich & tonal. Twisted into a smooshy skein, this yarn is soft, warm, & pretty. The generous yardage means one skein will make up into a great hat, or a pair or mittens. I've been looking at and selling this yarn for a few months, but I'm just now knitting up my first skein. I'm knitting the purple colorway 'Plum Perfection,' & it is lovely. I made a ribbed beanie (96 st on size 6 needles) and the striping effect was perfect. I had enough left over to cast on for the fingerless mitts, and I may be able to get both of them made out of just this one skein.

I recently knit a very coarse or 'rustic' yarn for a felted bag. The contrast between the corriedale wool and the Superfine Alpaca could hardly be more pronounced! The alpaca knitted fabric is soft and drapey with just the right amount of bounce when knit in rib or garter stitch.

Knitters Knitting Knits!

2009-11-03T11:15:00.000-08:00

So much knitting to talk about! Nearly every day brings new knitters & crocheters & lots and lots of quilters/knitters through the doors at LYS. Our little shop on Old Philadelphia Pike really is a crossroads of the world tucked away in Lancaster County. So, it's hello & happy knitting to Torie who was visiting Intercourse & was suddenly stricken with a need to learn to knit! You were a quick study, Torie & I hope you've started your first sweater!

A big hello to Vanessa & Corrine from Queens. These gals came into the area for a weekend in October. Vanessa bought a big skein of Burly Spun from Brown Sheep company, and stopped in the next day to show us the cool mobius she had crocheted. Vanessa owns a boutique in Queens, NY called Stella Gialla.

If you're visiting the area and your trip includes a Thursday overnight, won't you join us for our Thursday knitting group? We've entertained and been entertained by knitters from all over the place, and we'd love a chance to make you feel right at home at LYS.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for special events, holiday hours & an occasional sweet deal or giveaway! We tweet as www.twitter.com/lancyarnshop. Thanks and hello to Lisa at Kitchen Kettle Village who recently blogged about LYS on http://www.kettletalk.com/. See you around the knitting shop!

Wendy

Congrats Laurel!

2009-10-27T13:11:00.000-07:00

Congrats Laurel! You won our sock kit give away! Below is the proof, you can see for yourself Laurel won fair and square via the random number generator. So happy for her, and we'll be sending her kit in the mail shortly.

Happy Knitting!

Mistake Rib Scarf

2009-09-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

Free Pattern from Lancaster Yarn Shop

This cozy scarf knits up quickly with one skein of super soft Snuggle in a bulky weight. At 3 stitches per inch on a US size 11 needle, Mistake Rib is a bouncy, fun stitch pattern.

Size Information
Length: 31 in. (79 cm)
Width: 4"-6" (10-15cm)

Requirements
Yarn & Notions
* 1 x 100g (104 yds) hank Alpaca Yarn Company SNUGGLE (pictured in shade 6873)

Needles & Equipment
*8 mm needles (US #11)

Tension/Gauge
Not important for this project, but approximately 3 st=1" over rib pattern

Instructions
CO 23 stitches.
*Knit two, purl two across, ending with knit two, purl one.*
Repeat this row for pattern.
Continue knitting until you nearly run out of yarn.
Bind off in pattern with tension to match cast on.

pattern copyright Wendy Ellis 2009
http://www.lancasteryarnshop.com/

How Many Knitters?

2009-09-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

Q. How many knitters does it take to change a lightbulb?

A. Hold on! I'm counting!

2009-09-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

Hi LYS Friends!

We’re excited to tell you that we are ready to start our Friday afternoon knitting group again! We’ll meet at the new location on Friday between noon & 2 P.M. Bring your knitting or crochet projects & come for a visit. Next week (September 11), there will be a door prize for anyone who comes to knit that mentions this post!

There are great restaurants, shops & a nice cafe at Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse–so come early & stay late! In the event that the shop is busy, we have a great space upstairs for knitting & hanging out, too.

Mark your calendars, we will not meet on “Black Friday”–this year that is Friday November 27th.

Don’t forget to check the website for new class listings. We’ll be teaching all sorts of classes between now & the holidays & we’d love to have you sign up for one or two. October is Socktober at LYS–get ready for non-stop socks!

Hope to see you soon,
Wendy

Excited for Socktober Give Away!!!!

2009-07-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

Hello All! Hope you're having a good end to your summer!

We're working on our Fall class schedule. Sign up here for our next e-newsletter! It should be available in the next few weeks.

Our downtown Lancaster shop has packed up and moved. Come see us at our new location at 3519 Old Philadelphia Pike in Intercourse, PA. We're open 6 days a week. Monday - Saturday 9AM - 6PM. Join us Thursday evenings between 6 & 8 p.m. for a drop in knit & crochet group. Bring your own coffee, sometimes there's wine to share! More info at http://lancasteryarnshop.com

Owner, Wendy is still knitting the spot check socks, almost through the second sock! She cast on a sweater that will be a Christmas gift--so we'll be vague about it, except to say how much she loves her Addi turbo needles ! She's got a few shop samples underway, too (of course!). Among other things, she's working on a long, narrow scarf in Schulana kid-seta, a mohair & silk blend. Wendy finished up a couple of ballband dish cloths in TSC Cotton Classic that LYS carries. 2 skeins made 2 dishcloths in that pattern, and a third in a simple stripe.

Rachel-Marie has been knitting on her chevron socks and can't wait to dye new colorways! She specializes in "confetti style" patterns, and likes to watch the different colors pop up in her stitches. She's also been dyeing bamboo, organic cotton, alpaca, and wool. Keeping LYS customers entertained with new colors and textures. This knitty dirty girl keeps track of her upcoming projects very carefully here in her Ravelry notebook.

We're still working on our part of the world's longest scarf! This project is sponsored by Heifer International and Keep the Fleece.org. We've got two scarves going; one is a corriedale wool from a farm up in Denver, PA, and the other is a worsted alpaca from Kur-Del Farm in New Holland. Stop in to knit a row or two for this great cause! Your donation of one dollar a row will support an international effort to safeguard rare fiber producing animals!

Wendy is knitting a square for the Poetry Society 'Knit a Poem' project. Check out their website: www.poetrysociety.org.uk

Are you ready for Socktober? The newest season sweeping the hipster and savvy knitting community? We're planning a month of fun, funky sock-y love! Break out those DPNs and try magic loop! To get you all excited about socks in time for this special month we're running a special give away!

Post a sock related comment on this blog and you might win
the pictured set of KnittyDirtyGirl sock yarn +
matching ball of Ballad for heel and toe +
Addi 40" #1 needles + Favorite Socks Book.

(7-29 revised) We'll use a random number generator to pick a name for the drawing on October 24 and contact the winner! Make sure to leave a way for us to get in touch with you.

Sock Related Comment example:
I just love knitting socks Magic Loop style on Addi knitting needles. They go so fast. I'm looking forward to Socktober!

Okay, more blogs soon. Rachel-Marie has lots of bloggity things to share with you! =)

Knit On!
Lancaster Yarn Shop Staff

WWKIPD + Much More!

2009-06-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

Hello! Good Morning! It's a beautiful day out here at Kitchen Kettle Village LYS.

June 13th was World Wide Knit in Public Day. We had guest knitters at both of our shops. I was at Kitchen Kettle knitting on some socks. How relaxing!

(Pictured Above: WWKIP Day @ LYS in KKV)

Emma's socks in maryjanes stole the spotlight and were the envy of every knitter there!

(Pictured Above: Emma's pretty socks)

Teddy was a good boy.

(Pictured Above: Teddy keeping the knitters company)

We have a June newsletter out. Click here to view it, if you haven't already subscribed.

I'd also like to share with you, LYS owner Bob Ellis is in a really fun band called The Wringers. There have been talks about knitting songs with needle clicks and my high old timey voice for vocals. If you're lucky you can catch them on Music Fridays at the downtown LYS. Call ahead. My son Mister Oc always has a good time dancing right smack in the middle of the band haha.

(Video: The Wringers)

I'm thrilled to say that I took the first part of the Magic Loop class last weekend. I was bursting with sock enthusiasm! My laddering problem is solved. Now when I pull on my stitch to tighten up the ladder it tightens around the circular needle's cord, which is even smaller than the needle part and gets rid of my ladders completely. Thank goodness. Quick, no ladders, and you gets to knit socks on ADDIS! What more could you want??

I was so inspired that I bought Cookie A.'s book Sock Innovation along with the provided book, Sensational Socks. Both inspiring and very helpful. I'm knitting a chevron pattern with my own hand dyed sock yarn (available at both LYS locations) along with a matching Ballad ball in brown.

(Pictured Above: KnittyDirtyGirl sock yarn)

All LYS classes are listed here. They all look very exciting. You should take the Brioch Shawl or the Radiate class! Gorgeous!

(Pictured Above: Brioch Shawl in Zara)

Below is a photo of Wendy's socks in a skein of Whorled Peace yarn + ShiBui, using a pattern from the Handpainted Sock book that I also own. (GORGEOUS BOOK). I watched Wendy knit it and the colorwork has a nice rhthym to it. I think I might want to try that next!

(Pictured Above: Wendy's sock WIP)

Thanks for stopping by! Please come see me @ my reception on July 3rd. I'm the featured artist @ the downtown LYS. http://lancasteryarnshop.com for more info.

Love,
Rachel-Marie + LYS Staffypoo

June Newsletter

2009-06-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

The LYS e-newsletter for June has been sent to our growing list of knitters & crocheters. It's full of news about Lancaster Yarn Shop. If you didn't get one, and would like to, go to our website http://www.lancasteryarnshop.com and sign up to receive it!

We've listed several new knitting classes, which are also on the website. We have several new teachers working with us to build a series of classes for knitters and crocheters of all skill levels.
If you don't see the class you're interested in, let us know so we can look into it!

We have announced our new summer hours for the downtown shop. We are now open only on Market Days--Tuesday, Friday & Saturday between 10 a.m. & 6 p.m. We'll be open late for First & Third Fridays, though, so please stop in when you come to town!

This impacts our Thursday evening knitting group, which we are moving next week (June 11th)to the Intercourse shop. Please join us for a friendly drop-in knitting/crochet group between 6 &
8 p.m. The address is 3519 Old Philadelphia Pike & there is plenty of free parking out back!
The Friday afternoon open knitting group will continue to meet at our downtown shop.

Don't forget about Worldwide Knit in Public Day! Join us at either shop between 10 and 2!
Bring your knitting & a chair! If it rains, we'll knit inside!

Are you on Ravelry? Please join our LYS group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/lancaster-yarn-shop! We'd love to see what you're working on these days!

Follow LYS on Twitter! @lancyarnshop

Happy Knitting!
Wendy

Join us for World Wide Knit in Public Day!

2009-06-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

On June 13th please plan on joining us at LYS for Worldwide Knit in Public Day!!

United States, Pennsylvania, Intercourse
Hosted by: Wendy Ellis
Location: Lancaster Yarn Shop at Kitchen Kettle Village
Time: 10:00-2:00
Date: June 13, 2009

How to get there:

We'll be knitting on the front and back porches at LYS in Intercourse, PA. The shop address is: 3519 Old Philadelphia Pike Intercourse, PA 17534 (717)768-8007 www.lancasteryarnshop.com find us at www.knitmap.com

Please bring:
Please bring your chair, a cold drink for yourself and your knitting!

It can be sunny on the back porch,

so bring sunblock if you think you might need it!

The backup plan is:
In the event of rain, please come anyway!

We'll knit on the front porch and inside!

This KIP is not knitting exclusive
There are free bathrooms available nearby

Last Chance to Sign up!

2009-05-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends!
We have space for a few more students in Susan Weaver's June 6th Weaving Class at Lancaster Yarn Shop!
We can accept registrations through Monday, June 1st. Please visit our website to sign up, or call either shop with any questions.
www.lancasteryarnshop.com
LYS Lancaster (717) 393-4044
LYS Intercourse (717) 768-8007

Thanks!

Susan Weaver Scarf Weaving Workshop
Level: Beginners
Supplies: Students bring scissors & tape measure, teacher supplies looms, yarns
Scarves are such a personal statement. Why not weave your own long, flowing scarf, using a simple table loom. Students have fun watching their scarf build in color & texture. Instruction includes the finishing techniques of hemstitching and creating twisted fringe. No experience necessary.
Instructor: Susan Weaver has been a hand weaving instructor for over 20 years. She worked as the Textile Educator at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster for 7 years. She sells a variety of her hand woven items, locally and nationally. She is a member of the PA Guild of Craftsmen and the Central PA Guild of Weavers.
Dates: Session 1: Saturday June 6, 2009 OR Session 2: Saturday July 11, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. with a break for lunch
Cost: $42.00 $10.00 material fee
Registration open immediately and limited to 8 students per session. Class will meet at LYS at Kitchen Kettle Village.

Online Shop, Field Trip, Ingrid Michaelson

2009-05-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello LYS Friends!

We now have an online shop! yayyyy! The webshop is is now full of classes, Lamb's Pride, and Shibui sock yarn. If you need something special not listed in the online shop, just send me an e-mail @ lancasteryarnshop@gmail.com and I'll do my best to make you a custom listing to buy. That's not the only news to report, we had an LYS field trip last week!

On May 3rd, LYS owner, Wendy, took Katie + Jeanie + I to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. We all had a fabulous time, such an inspirational trip.

(Pictured Above: L to R Jeanie, Katie, and Wendy @ MS&W
during the Ravelry meetup)

(Above Slideshow: Various Pictures + Videos from MS&W)

We came home with lots of goodies including autographs from the Ravelry.com staff!

and we were all tickled pink to meet Amy of Knitty.com!

Even despite all of the rain, we couldn't have asked for a more fiber enchanted day! We all went home with soggy feet and happy hearts.

We're not the only ones with knitting on the brain, Wendy recently discovered Ingrid Michaelson on a PBS show. One of her songs "The Hat" apart of her "Boys + Girls" album, is a beautiful song with some knitting references. She doesn't openly offer this song for free, but you can catch a glimpse of it at around 2:30 in this adorable interview (below). And please, go ahead and buy her music, she's so worth it!

Well I hope you all have a wonderful day. Knit, Knit, Knit!
Love,
Rachel-Marie + the LYS Staff

Crochet + Weaving Classes Scheduled!

2009-04-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

Christa Wissler
Intro to Freeform Crochet

Level: Advanced Beginner

Supplies: Leftover yarn from your stash of various colors and textures, and crochet hooks of various gauges. (If you don't have these on hand the instructor will have hooks that you may use). Additionally, yarns & tools are available for purchase at LYS.

The only requirement for this class is basic crochet skills. You must know how to chain and single crochet. In this class you will learn the fundamentals you need to begin free form crochet. We will learn double crochet, how to increase, and how to change colors/yarns. These simple techniques will open you up to a world of possibilities. This is very abstract, artistic crochet that does not use patterns. Be creative and experiment using the yarn as your canvas and the hook as your paint brush. There are no mistakes, so just have fun and see where your imagination takes you. We will attempt to complete a sample swatch and perhaps more by the end of class.

Dates:
Session 1: Wednesday, May 20
Session 2: Saturday, May 30

Times:
Session 1: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Session 2: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Cost:
$15.00

Registration will open immediately and is limited to 8 students per session.
Classes will meet at LYS on Gallery Row, Lancaster.

--------------------------

Susan Weaver
Scarf Weaving Workshop

Level: Beginners

Supplies: Students bring scissors & tape measure, teacher supplies looms, yarns

Scarves are such a personal statement. Why not weave your own long, flowing scarf, using a simple table loom. Students have fun watching their scarf build in color & texture. Instruction includes the finishing techniques of hemstitching and creating twisted fringe. No experience necessary.

Instructor: Susan Weaver has been a hand weaving instructor for over 20 years. She worked as the Textile Educator at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster for 7 years. She sells a variety of her hand woven items, locally and nationally. She is a member of the PA Guild of Craftsmen and the Central PA Guild of Weavers.

Dates:
Session 1: Saturday June 6, 2009
Session 2: Saturday July 11, 2009

Time:
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. with a break for lunch

Cost: $42.00
$10.00 material fee

Registration open immediately and limited to 8 students per session.
Class will meet at LYS at Kitchen Kettle Village.

--------------------------

Please email lancasteryarnshop@gmail.com to sign up for classes. More classes will be listed soon, and our e-newsletter will be out in a few days. We are also getting very close to opening our internet shop!

Knit, Crochet, and Weave on!
Lancaster Yarn Shop

Sign up for our new fancy newsletter!

2009-04-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I just finished adding the guest book to our newsletter subscription list. We are now using swanky Mailchimp, so the plain text Googlegroup we previously had will be obsolete. The new version will have vivid photographs, jazzy links + formatting, and much more! You can subscribe below, or here.

Italian Ice

2009-04-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Hello!

We have some great new spring yarn in at Kitchen Kettle Village LYS location. Some delicious Italian Ice.

Gauge and Content:

We have 5 colors available.

A beautiful yarn for spring and summer knitting!

Let us know if there's anything special you're looking for.

Yours Knitterly,
Lancaster Yarn Shop

Lancaster Yarn Shop

Teaching Knitting in the 21st Century

Winter Greys and Whites

Winter Hours & Workshops at LYS

Friendly Reminder/CHANGE OF PLANS!

Hand Made Holidays

Cookies! Knit Night! Coffee!

Note To Self

Checking Your List?

New Sheepish Greeting Cards

Holiday Hours at LYS

Clink!

A Saturday Visit from Kathy Augustine

Say HI to Kathy Augustine who wrote 'a Brief History of Angora' for the latest issue of Knitscene. Yeah, she autographed our magazine. :)

New Lace Yarns from Whorled Peace

GOODIES!

Happy I LOVE Yarn Day!

Beautiful Autumn Days

September 10 Fair Trade Hand Knits at Lancaster Yarn Shop

Lanaloft Handpaints

zauberball!

Fair Trade Hand Knits at LYS

LYS Fall Knitting Retreat

New Sock Yarn from Ty-Dy Socks

YARN CAMP 2011

amish country beanie pattern

moebius cowl curl pattern

Magazines & Patterns & Books--OH MY!

Kettle Dyed: Little Green Apples

WWKiP 2011

LYS Fall Knitting Retreat

World Wide Knit in Public Day 2011 at LYS

New Yarn!

Is this Spring?

Where are they going with those sheep?

LYS Farmhouse Retreat

Signs of Spring!

LYS Farmhouse Knitting Retreat: April 1-3, 2011

Bus Trip to the Coral Reef!

2010 Wrap up!

First Day of Winter

Ilga Leja's Beech Wood Cowl

Free Beech Wood Cowl Workshop

What's the Buzz?

Baktus Workshop Tomorrow

Winter/Holiday Hours

LYS follows the lead of Kitchen Kettle Village in posting our hours.Beginning November 1: Mon - Fri 9:00a - 5:00pEvery Thursday open til 8:00pSaturdays in November 9:00a - 6:00p

Free Workshop: November 6

Workshop Gallery

Free Workshop at LYS

LYS KAL! Free Pattern from LYS

Repairs, Quick Fixes & Letting it Be

Ripping, Frogging, Tinking--Oh My!

Fall Color from Manos del Uruguay

Whorled Peace Yarn

Summertime Socks & Knitting on the Beach

Sock Yarn!

New Books! A Quick Review of 'Gifted' by Mags Kandis

I have a few favorites queued up--it's almost time to get holiday knitting underway, right?

Pics of Ellie's summer knitting

Ellie's Needles

Rasta Hat

What a night at LYS!

Hyperbolic Crochet & the Coral Reef

coming soon...addi LACE CLICKS

Perfect Summer/Beach Reading

New issue of Piecework Magazine is in! Featuring samplers in lace knitting, Orenburg-style knitted lace, crochet & tatting samplers & an article by Nancy Bush about knitting bumps/bobbles/popcorn & nupps!

Summer 2010 Crochet!

Ribbon-Drop Scarf

MDSW 2010

Spring Hours

You're Knitting? What's that?

WWKiP at LYS 2010

Quilts, lambs, & Knit Night!

Entrelac Class Saturday at LYS

Shibui, Baby!

Spring Magazines

The First of March

Spring Classes at LYS

Snowed In

LYS follows the lead of Kitchen Kettle Village in posting our hours.

Beginning November 1:
Mon - Fri 9:00a - 5:00p
Every Thursday open til 8:00p
Saturdays in November 9:00a - 6:00p