twist

Old Favorites, Great New Yarns

2012-01-20T21:59:00.001-06:00

Some recent shipments you may be interested to know about include some great new yarns, and some old favorites.

In the "Old Favorite" Category, I submit Ultra Alpaca Fine, the fingering version of the fantastic Ultra Alpaca line. Wool, alpaca, and nylon, perfect for socks, shawls, or scarves.

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And Vintage! Hurray! It's nominated in both "Old Favorite" and "Great New" categories, because in addition to restocking our favorite colors, we've added Vintage's new line of variegated yarns!

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What you see here is a cart of Fantasy Naturale cotton, our staple worsted weight cotton from Plymouth. This is what it's like in transition from box to shelf...but it was too exciting and I wanted to show you how pretty all the springy colors were, so I took a picture, even though it's not all priced (yet).

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And now for something completely different.

The "Great New Yarns!"

You probably saw my recent blog post about Berroco Lacey, but here's a picture of all the colors we have. More are on the way, just backordered.

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Dandelion and Daisy are two new yarns from Plymouth that are acrylic/cotton blends: one fuzzy chenille, one springy and cushy. You can get either yarn in each color. Together, you can make all kinds of great baby and kids' stuff. We have a few patterns to go along with them, or use your favorite worsted gauge pattern.

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Have you seen Bodega? It's completely awesome. It's already knit - it's a tube made from mohair and some shiny, soft chenille. You stretch it wide, and then crochet (or knit) it into a ruffly scarf! One skein, about five different ways to work it. The pattern comes with the yarn. We love it. The colors are amazing.

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Last of the "Great New"'s, but not least, I give you Plymouth Kudo. A self-striping, cotton/silk blend that several customers have seen and asked us to carry. It's gorgeous! Ask to see Diane's scarf that she's started in it. You'll love it.

We're not done yet!

2012-01-18T08:38:00.000-06:00

Since frilly scarves are all the rage, we're finding all the greatest, most unusual, and fun yarns!

This one is called Lacey from Berroco. I did it in three episodes of Phineas and Ferb last night (for those of you who don't have kids under 10, that's 45 minutes.) Instructions on the label are for knitting or crochet. It's lightweight, soft, and feels great. One skein makes a nice, long scarf (shown double on our slightly-less-than-four-foot-tall model here.) Right now we have it in green, red, and oatmeal.

Scarf Mania

2011-12-12T09:31:00.000-06:00

We've gotten a load of fun, new scarf yarns lately!

Marley is a super-bulky, self-striping wool yarn. Susan knitted this one-skein scarf in an hour. (Admittedly, she is super-speedy.) But mere mortals, like us, could probably do it in a couple hours. All the colors are beautiful, some are bright and cheerful, others are nice neutrals. Each color is named after a Bob Marley song.

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Joy Rainbow is a self-ruffling yarn (like Cha-Cha, where you knit in the side), but it's got a multi-colored, tiny fringe on the edge for added interest and fun. We've got six fun colors. Also, I've recorded a tutorial video on how to knit with this kind of yarn! (Thanks to KPTS for producing our tutorial videos. You can find a list of them on the right-hand side of the blog.)

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Have you seen the profusion of mesh yarns like Joy Metallic? You can knit or crochet them in just a couple evenings, and they are delightful. You just turn them sideways, and knit or crochet with the openings on the edge. Juli, pictured below, is another version that we have. We have six colors in each of these yarns.

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And other than scarf yarns? We have re-stocked Berroco Comfort (worsted, chunky, and DK!)

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We have re-stocked Cascade Magnum, our favorite super bulky wool yarn.

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And we have brand new needles from Serendipity. They are entirely handmade in the US, and engraved exclusively for Twist. If you're looking for a gift for the special knitter in your life, check out our Christmas and winter-themed needles.

Pretty and new!

2011-09-27T13:34:00.000-05:00

Two-Minute Scarf! (Not even kidding!)

This model was finger-crocheted by my nine year-old son. He'd never done finger crochet before, so it took him about five minutes. You don't need any tools, just your hands. It takes one skein of yarn, and is really fun to do! We'll show you how to do it before you take the yarn home!

Jill just brought us a bunch of new, beautiful yarn bowls!

Plymouth Happy Feet sock yarn is back! We have lots of wonderful colors in this great-priced yarn.

Plymouth Juli is an alpaca yarn, in a chainette construction, with a bit of silver sparkle. Really soft, but won't split because of its unique construction.

Malizia from Adriafil is a thick-and-thin yarn made from wool and acrylic, with a bit of lame' for sparkle. The sparkle is very soft, you don't even notice it in the fiber.

And the beat goes on...

2011-08-10T21:37:00.000-05:00

Cha Cha is a perennial hit, and we've restocked our colors - including some multi-colors!

Flamenco is a very popular new yarn from Trendsetter - you knit the edge (like you do with Cha Cha) but it's a mesh. The ruffles are cute! Here you can see it used with another yarn, but it also makes an adorable scarf when it's just used on its own. Check out the project page on Ravelry.

Regia Hand-Dye Effect is another we've loved so much, we brought it back again in new colors. It's made great socks, but its long colorways that move very gradually make it sensational for shawls. We have a new book featuring this yarn, too!

We've been looking to bring in a good staple DK weight wool. Something basic, at a good price, but exceptional quality. Here it is! It's called Extra Soft Merino Color, and comes from SMC Select. It's a superwash merino wool, there are 142 yards in 50g, and it's $8.05 a ball.
We have both solid and self-striping colors. (The self-striping colors are just like the Liberty Wool, for those of you who have fallen in love with that worsted-weight yarn.)

New This Week

2011-08-10T00:19:00.001-05:00

First is Monsoon from James C. Brett. It's an Aran weight yarn (18 sts. per 4 inches, or between worsted and chunky), that is 70% acrylic and 30% wool. It's machine washable, and has long colors. Perfect for entrelac! Two skeins are enough for a scarf. It's very soft. You'll love it!

Next is a really fun new novelty yarn from Trendsetter. It's called Improv. Much like Cha Cha, it's a combination of strings and blocks, and you knit it to create fluffly, squishy ruffles. I've just started working with it this evening. It's crazy fun.

Regia Extra Twist Merino made its first appearance last fall, and flew off the shelves. We have a couple of new colors, and still have the great pattern book that features this lovely sock yarn with a spray-dye effect.

Jen just finished this sample scarf in our new yarn from Classic Elite called Vail. It's a fingering weight blend of bamboo and alpaca. Light, soft, and gorgeous, we are all completely in love with it. This scarf is one of many in a great new book from Classic Elite called Panache.

Marble Chunky

2011-08-02T11:51:00.000-05:00

Everyone's favorite chunky acrylic is back. We've restocked all the old favorite colors, and added a couple of new colors, too!

We've also gotten Marble DK - we'll post it when it's out of the box and ready to go!

Look what's new!

2011-07-25T21:16:00.000-05:00

You will be glad you stopped by when you enjoy some of our air conditioning, and see what's new in the shop. This is just the beginning. Keep stopping by, we'll post as things come in!

Silky Alpaca Lace is a continual favorite - what's new are some variegated colors - we haven't had these before! As you know, Classic Elite has some of the most beautiful color palettes, and these are no exception!

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I've been waiting a long time to bring you Jil Eaton's Minnow Merino! It's a superwash merino wool - machine washable AND machine dryable! A wonderfully soft, worsted weight wool. Soft and kid-friendly, of course, but you'll want to knit things for yourself, and gifts out of this as well.

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Brand new this season from Classic Elite is a fingering weight yarn called Vail. Completely luxurious, it's a 70% alpaca, 30% bamboo blend in all-natural colors (no dyes). All drape, softness, and luster, you get 236 yards in 50 grams.

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Something fun and different - Popcorn! Puffballs all along a thin string, you can knit this along with any yarn to make a fun novelty yarn, or you can add it to your favorite wool to add pizzazz to a felted bag.

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We've restocked a bunch of our Panda Silk and Panda Cotton!

Cast-On, Bind Off Workshop

2011-06-14T17:29:00.000-05:00

This class will rock your socks off!

What you will learn:

Long-tail CO
Basic BO
Backward loop CO
Knitted-on CO
Cabled CO
Twisted Norwegian CO
Sewn BO
Provisional CO (crochet)
Kitchener Stitch
Provisional CO (twisty-wrap)
Three-needle BO
Channel Island CO
Picot BO
I-cord CO
I-cord BO
Turkish CO
Surprisingly Stretchy BO
Figure 8 CO
K2tog BO

It's 2 sessions, $30, not including materials

Sat., Jun. 18 & 25, 1:30 - 3:30 PM

Materials needed:

Size 8 needles, both straight and a set of DPNs
100 g worsted weight yarn, preferably a light color
tapestry needle
crochet hook
waste yarn in a different color, at least 2 yards

There's still time!

2011-06-08T23:49:00.000-05:00

Trying to beat the heat? Bored out of your mind already? Don't miss the chance to take one (or a couple!) of these classes, coming up soon! More details are available over at the class schedule section of our website.

Susan's Super-Fabulous, Uber-Popular, Gloves on Two Needles (aka Flat Gloves) class starts this Saturday. There's a little homework to do before class starts (you have to knit a 1x1 rib cuff), but you can do that if you sign up now! It's for the next two Saturdays, from 10:30-12:30. Everyone who has taken this class has enjoyed it, and been surprised at how quick and easy it is to knit a pair of gloves.

Knit it without fingers...

Knit it with fingers...

6-Week Stocking. If you need a little help venturing into stranded colorwork, take this class and make a Christmas stocking. This is a long-term class, so your registration fee covers any 2 sessions; if you need to come to more, it's just $5/session. Thursdays, June 16 - July 21.

Sweater Workshop I. Scared of sweaters? Learn how to do all the little things that can be so intimidating in this 6-week workshop. You'll make a little sampler that incorporates all of the tips and tricks. Also a long-term class, and it also runs on Thursdays, June 16 - July 21.

It's a sweater - with colorwork! This is what you can do with the skills you learn from the 6-Week Stocking & Sweater Workshop!

Books!

2011-06-07T23:58:00.000-05:00

It's so exciting to get a shipment of books! Here are the new titles we received. I think there are some really good ones.

Beginner's Guide to Needle Felting.

This one actually isn't new, but cowlgirls has been a big hit, so we've reordered.

ohmygosh, I'm so excited about the Commemorative Edition of EZ's Knitter's Almanac. Hardcover, with color pictures!

Check out the Nether Garments!

I am seriously pumped about this. Can you imagine? Waffle-weave? Wiggly crochet? I'm intrigued!

And what looks to be another great collection of baby afghans, because we can never seem to have enough crochet baby afghan books around here!

Can't wait to see you!
~Shelly

More knitting information than you can shake a needle at

2011-05-21T14:11:00.002-05:00

Hey, knitters! Good news! You may have heard of the elusive tome called The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt. Out of print for the better part of 20 years, it's considered by some knitters to be the definitive reference guide for their craft. Unfortunately, the rare copies that do come up for sale usually run anywhere between $200 and $450 on eBay or other online stores.

And guess what? It's being reprinted in a revised and expanded edition and will be out at the beginning of November; retail price is $45. We've pre-ordered several copies if you're interested - if you'd like to pre-order with us, we'll give you a 15% discount. Let us know!

Cool new yarn

2011-04-05T14:16:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited about two new yarns from Lana Grossa. They are both of an interesting construction - knitted tubes. They are cotton, very fine mesh tubes that are very soft and cool to the touch. Coccinella has little slubs of shiny nylon; Snake is just a big tube of cotton. You've got to feel them to believe them!

Coccinella - five colors

I just finished this scarf in the Cocinella. On size 10-1/2 needles, and one skein. I'm very pleased!

Snake

Six different colors of Snake

Spring continues to arrive...

2011-03-23T14:54:00.000-05:00

A couple new yarns to be excited about -
We have restocked our Fantasy Naturale. This is a mercerized cotton yarn from Plymouth that is worsted weight. A nice quality yarn for a great price ($5 for 100g/140 yds).

Another perennial favorite is Sprout - this is the only bulky cotton I have found that is lightweight. It's also organic, incredibly soft, and comes in gorgeous colors. It's $10.50 for 100g/109 yds.

Grass is a hemp/cotton blend that is going to be outstanding for light summer tops (we have a short-sleeved tee pattern in both knit and crochet) or for light scarves. The speckled colors are pretty, and different from what you normally see. It's $7.50 for 50g/115 yds. 65% cotton, 35% hemp.

Firefly is a 75% rayon, 25% linen blend that is shiny, soft, and has a marvelous drape. We especially like it as a Slink. 50g/155 yds, $8.50.

Kid Seta! New colors in a silk/mohair blend. Some of them even sparkle! 50g/230 yds. $11.50, or $13.50 for Kid Seta Noir (the sparkly ones).

New classes!

2011-03-22T09:25:00.005-05:00

We've started scheduling classes a quarter at a time - and this spring is bringing some great new ideas (and bringing back some favorites) to Twist. These should all be open for registration by April 3!

The Pi Shawl - Jen H. will be leading this class that will show you how to do a circular shawl based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's pattern. You can make it as lacey - or as simple - as you like!

Intro to Intarsia - Pam B. will walk you through a small, two-week intarsia project - intarsia's a kind of colorwork that is used to knit blocks of color without carrying the yarn across the back of the work.
Funky Ribbon Scarf - Susie's going to show you how to put a scalloped crochet edging on some super-wide ribbon scarves. It'd be a scarf perfect for taking the chill off in an over-air-conditioned office.

Crochet Bikini - In three weeks, Pam B. will take you through making your very own swimsuit for this summer. Whether you wear it or use it to decorate for your summer luaus is up to you!

Sweater Workshop I - Deb will walk you through every skill you need to make your first sweater by making a "sweater sampler fish." Based on Jacqueline Fee's book The Sweater Workshop: Knit Creative, Seam-Free Sweaters on Your Own with Any Yarn, you'll learn how to perfect ribbing, stripes, buttonholes, sweatshirt pockets, raglan decreasing, and much, much more - it's an eight-week long-term class. Later this summer, we'll have the second installment of the Sweater Workshop, in which you'll make an actual sweater.

CO/BO Workshop - Lara will lead you through this two-week workshop. In the first session, you'll learn six different ways to cast-on; in the second, you'll learn six different ways to bind off your projects. Never have the wrong start or finish to a project again!

Returning to our lineup: Crochet edging for baby blankets, crochet headband with flower embellishments, Mathematical Socks, 2-at-a-time socks, 6-week Stocking, Basic and Advanced Cables, plus all our regular beginners' knitting and crochet classes!

Spring Project Idea

2011-03-17T09:52:00.001-05:00

Cori just finished the Elise Shawl. It takes just one skein of Cascade Heritage 150 yarn ($18) and the pattern, by Evan Plevinski is free (it's a Ravelry link.)

There's a lot to love about Heritage 150 -it's the same great yarn as Heritage sock (75% wool, 25% nylon), in a sport weight. It's durable and machine washable, yet soft and springy. Just right for a little something for a chilly movie theater.

Berroco Spring has Arrived!

2011-03-04T13:38:00.000-06:00

We've got some great new yarns for the spring from Berrooco - here's the rundown:

Linsey
A wonderful cotton/linen blend. We love linen for its durability, drape, and softness. Linsey comes in tweeds and self-striping colors that are soft and cheerful.

Glint
A chain of cotton with a glimmer of metallic thread, this is a soft, fun way to add a little sparkle to your spring wardrobe.

Origami
Origami was a big hit last year - a blend of acrylic, linen, nylon & cotton, it makes a cool, open fabric. It's colorful without being overbearing, and makes great spring jackets or mesh tank tops.

Vintage DK

One of our favorite yarns, now in DK weight! Easy care wool & acrylic, soft and heathered colors make this a great all-purpose yarn.

Seduce

Soft, shiny, & slinky, this is one of our best-selling yarns season after season. It's perfect for light, fashionable scarves.

What's New!

2011-02-24T21:22:00.000-06:00

We just got a TON of size 10 crochet thread. Some of it sparkles (ooh!) and some of it is variegated, and we really extended the number of colors we offer.

Feza Alp Oriental - a great one-skein scarf, or we have this new rounded scarf/shawl pattern. Pretty cute! We have three new varieties.

Also, we have new colors of Feza's Alp Premiere. Fun! Here's a cute chevron scarf (also one skein.)

Berroco's new Weekend yarn is going to become a spring/summer staple. It's an acrylic/cotton blend, that's gorgeously soft, machine-washable.

Also - I finished this cashmere cowl. It was quick, one-skein, and completely luxurious.

Keep checking in - we're going to be getting new things for spring at a quick pace in the next few weeks!

Class Update

2011-02-16T16:55:00.000-06:00

We have added a couple of classes to our schedule: a basic cable class, Susan's super-popular flat gloves class, and a crochet headband class. We've also filled out the schedule for all the 101 & 102 classes.

We've also re-introduced online registration! You can again sign up for and pay for classes online from the website. Just go to the schedule page and click the link for the class you want.

Flat Gloves! Fingerless or not, your choice. Made from sock yarn.

Stretchy headband, with a flower.

Ooh! New!

2011-01-29T15:50:00.001-06:00

We just got a shipment of Namaste handbags. We have their newest Bitty Bag, Zuma Bags, and Classic Hip Holsters. All are $69, made of earth-friendly PVC, soft and buttery feeling. We love them!

Another new arrival (and we've been waiting MONTHS - I'm not exaggerating) are Knitter's Blocks from Cocoknits. You can read about them here. We have the orange bags, with 9 12" tiles, pins, steaming cloth, and blocking instructions, for $48.

Beautiful Wood Hooks

2011-01-20T15:19:00.001-06:00

We've carried the Laurel Hill brand of crochet hooks since we opened, and we usually carry the ones made of Forest Palm Wood. We are now pleased to carry the same beautiful hooks in two exotic woods from Veitnam: Nam Oc and Trai. The great thing about these hooks is that they are made from sustainable, recycled hard woods. They use the small, leftover pieces from furniture and musical instrument manufacturing and make them into crochet hooks!

They come in sizes D - M, and are $8 - $9 each. We also have hard-to-find larger sizes in Tunisian hooks (L, M, and N) from Laurel Hill, for $13.

People Say the Nicest Things

2011-01-19T11:52:00.000-06:00

Lately, we've gotten some wonderful feedback, and I wanted to share. I sure appreciate all the wonderful, helpful staff that work with me here, and I love how we have created this wonderful, loving community of crafters.

I want to tell you what a wonderful shop you have. Last Saturday I was in Wichita to visit my brother and had a few hours to kill before he got off work. I came in and was warmly welcomed - wanting to stay, I ran out to my car to bring my knitting in and had a very enjoyable time knitting on your sofa. Of course I had to buy something, and after asking for help finding washable sock yarn and I was directed to a lovely, inexpensive wool.

Thank you for providing a learning and caring environment. To keep oneself an interesting person...learn something new! I have met many, many interesting people at Twist. Wonderful new friends may be made at Twist!

Susan, your warm personality and sharp wit, along with your knowledge & skill really made me feel comfortable...I look forward to learning to make socks!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-07T20:50:00.000-06:00

Ohmygoodness. I apologize for the shocking lack of blog posts in December. I can only say (gratefully, humbly), that the shop has been SO busy this month that I've hardly been able to catch my breath. Thank you, very much, for keeping me from the blog! I do appreciate the amazing season we had.

So now, I'm able to get a minute to highlight a couple of fun, new things we've gotten in. One new yarn is a one-skein wonder. A big, fun ball from Feza called Alp Oriental. One ball=one scarf, and - get this - the fringe is pre-cut! A quick project on size 15, 17, or 19 needles.

Isn't that cute? A ball with a little cap of fringe.

A new yarn from Berroco - Remix. This is the coolest yarn - it's made by recycling fibers left over from the ready-to-wear manufacturing industry. The blend of cotton, nylon, acrylic, silk, and linen is soft, light-weight, and perfect for 2-season garments that won't stretch out of shape or be overly warm. Read more about the yarn at Berroco's website. I think you'll love it!

This is a kit from Pagewood Farm. A hand-dyed silk scarf that is the base for needle-felting. You get the scarf and a bag of lovely mixed roving that you needle felt onto the silk. It's super-easy, lots of fun, and great for a little instant gratification.

We have gotten a shipment of Marble DK, in colors that are specifically baby in tone, and then in a range suitable for kids through grown-ups. This acrylic yarn is a great value, makes beautiful stripes as you work, and we have several great patterns, including ponchos, afghans, and sweaters for babies and kids.

New Circular Cases

2010-12-09T22:08:00.000-06:00

These are new circular needle cases from HiyaHiya. In their signature satin jacquard, you can choose red or blue. This compact wallet folds in three, has pockets for both circular needles and DPN's or crochet hooks, and closes with a knotted button-and-loop closure.

Quick gift!

2010-12-09T20:46:00.000-06:00

One evening, one skein, one stylish scarf!

For something fun, funky & different, we have these thick & thin skeins of merino wool, with flowers felted along the length.

Gift Ideas, Day Eighteen

2010-11-16T12:31:00.000-06:00

Pop Tops!

Joan, of SSKnits, has designed these adorable little mittens for ages 2 - 10 years. Easy to make (no individual fingers to knit) and quick, because they're small, you can knit a pair for your kids, grandkids, nieces & nephews!

You can buy the pattern directly from Joan on Ravelry, or get a copy in the shop. They only take between 75 & 160 yards of worsted weight yarn. One skein wonder!

Important Things for November

2010-11-10T22:42:00.000-06:00

We interrupt this stream of gift ideas for a couple of important announcements:

1) Yarn Tasting
We had a wonderful spring/summer tasting, and now we're having an autumn/winter tasting! It's $30 to attend, there will be wonderful food, wine, and a variety of yarns to try, along with some great project ideas to go with each yarn. Bring a variety of needles and/or hooks to try a few rows of each yarn. Space is limited to 20 people, so please reserve a place as soon as possible. Call the shop or stop by to RSVP (we're still working on that crazy online registration to get it fixed.)

2) 2nd Saturday
As we've stated before, you can shop at lots of great places all along Douglas and get good deals, if you've got a $5 tote bag, and if you bring said tote bag into participating merchants along Douglas on the 2nd Saturday of every month. To see which merchants are having which deals, check the Facebook page. (Be sure to click, "2nd Saturday + Others" on the feed to see everything.) If you'd like a list of merchants to print and carry along with you, here's a pdf to download.

This month, we're featuring 25% off all DK and laceweight yarns (excluding Cascade 220 Sport.) We have tote bags available now!

3) Holiday Hours
Thursday, November 25th (Thanksgiving) - closed
(Open regular hours Wednesday before and Friday after)

Friday, December 24th - 10 am - 3 pm
Saturday, December 25th - closed
Sunday, December 26th - closed

Friday, December 31st - 10 am - 5:30 pm
Saturday, January 1 - New Year's Day - 10 am - 5 pm

Gift Ideas, Day Seventeen

2010-11-02T13:23:00.000-05:00

Shawlette

Nothing is better than a little triangle shawl. It's very versatile to wear, can cover your neck with your coat, or your shoulders in a chilly office. It's also a great way to use a skein of sock yarn.

This pattern is free on Classic Elite's website (subscribe to the CEY Web-Letter, it's always good for pattern ideas.) We have a wide variety of Alpaca Sox in stock, both variegated and solid.

Gift Ideas, Day Sixteen

2010-10-30T16:33:00.000-05:00

We have just gotten Interweave Knits' Holiday Gifts issue. It's full of the most wonderful patterns, especially chosen for gift knitting. You can see the projects and yarn requirements here.

Gift Ideas, Day Fifteen

2010-10-29T12:45:00.000-05:00

Yarn Bowls

Ever wonder what to do when your ball of yarn skips away from you (and the dog chases after it, or the cat has her way with it...) Here is an elegant solution. A hand-thrown pottery bowl with a pretty swirl cut in the side, expressly designed for holding yarn. We have small, large, and lidded varieties. ($30-$60 each).

These are made by our friend Jill down the street, who owns Wichita Pottery. Wichita Pottery is home to the Secret Gallery, and is a beautiful gallery and studio space, where they teach classes and exhibit fine art. We are so excited to have Jill's work!

Gift Ideas, Day Fourteen

2010-10-28T17:34:00.000-05:00

Debbie Macomber

Many of you know of Debbie Macomber from her Shop on Blossom Street books. She also has a line of yarns, based on the books, that are delightful to work with. We carry two of them, Cashmere Fleur de Lys and Wild Meadow. There's a great book that features both yarns, and I really like all of the patterns. There are a couple of crochet patterns (a vest and a scarf), an afghan, beret and mitts (I've cast on the beret), and and an adorable baby sweater.

My beret, started a couple of days ago.

How nice the beret will look when it's finished & blocked.

Also, just for fun, we got a letter from Debbie yesterday, which I'll include here, too.

Gift Ideas, Day Thirteen

2010-10-27T12:10:00.000-05:00

Sock yarn is for much more than socks!

One skein of sock yarn will make a small, triangular shawl, a scarf, a hat, a pair of mittens or gloves, and probably more that I just can't think of offhand. In any case, we have a shipment of new colors of Regia Hand Dyed Effects yarn. We've had it before, and it was very popular. This time, we also have a great pattern booklet with lots of great new patterns.

Gift Ideas, Day Twelve

2010-10-26T10:30:00.000-05:00

yo2 Bags

Cass has been busy, and we have a big selection of her one-of-a-kind bags, made from felted sweaters. Each is lovingly made with a fabric lining, perfectly matched to the sweater. Lots of interior pockets, as well as a ring for your keys. We love supporting local artisans, and here would be an opportunity to do that, and give a special gift to someone you care about.

Gift Ideas, Day Eleven

2010-10-24T16:57:00.000-05:00

Local Design!

This little shoulder shawl was a quick knit for me. And you know it was quick if I finished it. (I start far more projects than I ever finish, you know.) I used Lonco, a kettle-dyed, mercerized cotton from Araucania. It's one of my very favorite yarns, and I just love the way it drapes. Plus, it was designed by Kiersten Brandt, one of a bevy of talented local designers. It's called Catenary. We have the pattern available in the shop, and you can also see the project page on Ravelry here.

Gift Ideas, Day Ten

2010-10-22T09:43:00.000-05:00

Regia (a German yarn company) has introduced some adorable children's books with a yarny theme. Two of the books, shown here, are cute little stories that have sock patterns at the end. The sock pattern is written for beginning sock knitters and has great pictures and clear instructions. These two books are only $2. I think they're appropriate to give to your young friend who knows how to knit, and is ready to tackle socks, or you can give it along with the pair of socks you've knitted as part of the gift. Either way, they're adorable.

Gift Ideas, Day Nine

2010-10-21T15:25:00.000-05:00

Custom-Engraved Needles

Show your Twisty love with a pair of needles from Serendipity. They are handmade in Rhode Island, and not only do they have the most adorable sculpted endcaps, they are also now engraved with our name. And slogan, "darn. good. yarn."

Art Show & Sale

2010-10-20T21:54:00.000-05:00

A few of us from Twist have some items in the From the Studio Fall Show. Please stop by this weekend, it's well worth the trip. I had a sneak peek this morning, and I was full of awe and amazement at all the wonderful art made by local women. To see the list of artists & their media, check out our link.

From the Studio
Mixed Media Art Show
October 21 - 23
Thursday 9:30 - 5:00
Friday 9:30 - 5:00
Saturday 9:30 - 4:00

Cards, paintings, fiber art, glass, jewelry, designer clothing.

Gift Ideas, Day Nine

2010-10-20T21:48:00.001-05:00

Fancy!

There's a lot to choose from, here. Many of our fancy yarns take just one skein to make a great scarf. You'll be amazed by the variety of color and texture we have to offer. Browse around Fancy Scarf Land for a while. The simplest stitches are the best - so a fancy scarf = an easy scarf!

Gift ideas, Day Eight

2010-10-19T21:29:00.005-05:00

It's almost time for knitters and crocheters to think about accessories to help themselves or others keep warm! And for that little one in your life, you can't go wrong with Toot's Crochet Booties.

The pattern is written by Twist's very own Tamara Gonzales and costs $6. One pair uses less than 50g of fingering-weight or sock yarn, and you'll need either a size B hook or a size 1 steel hook. And if you're interested but want some help with the pattern, Tamara will be teaching a class on the booties at Twist on Tuesdays, November 2 and 9, from 6 - 8 PM. ($40 for class, plus materials. You can register here.)

Gift Ideas, Day Seven

2010-10-18T10:55:00.000-05:00

Quick!

This yarn is called Thick 'n' Quick Merino. It's super-squishy and soft, and kettle-dyed with subtle variances in colors. The pattern leaflet that goes with it has 4 different patterns: two sweaters and these quick projects.

Gift Ideas, Day Six

2010-10-17T20:14:00.001-05:00

Stephen West's Botanic Hat

A reversible hat, great for men or women, and fun and quick to knit. Mix your favorite solid & variegated yarn, if you like. You can go subtle, or go crazy with contrast. Joe's done three of these hats (thanks for letting me use your pics, Joe!)

But don't just take our word for it - 330 other people have made this hat on Ravelry. Check out their work!

Gift Ideas, Day Five

2010-10-16T09:49:00.000-05:00

Sweaters.

Let's face it. If you were going to get started on a Christmas sweater, now's the time to cast on! If you aren't already familiar with Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac, you should grab a copy and read it. It's a fun read, even before you get to the patterns. For December, she features something she calls the "Hurry-Up Last-Minute Sweater." Knitted in chunky wool, it'll go quickly, and with EZ to guide you, it'll fit perfectly.

For some very attractive pictures of finished sweaters, and ideas for yarn, check out the Ravelry project page. We have some gorgeous new chunky wools - thick and thin, braided, striped, and heathered - all of which would make an extremely attractive sweater.

Gift Ideas, Day Four

2010-10-15T10:06:00.000-05:00

One Skein Wonder!

You can make a scarf 6" wide and 80" long with one skein of Ballet yarn. The pattern, shown here, is free! There are 350 yards of Alpaca and Tencel goodness in a skein of this hand-dyed yarn from Fiesta. (50% superfine alpaca, 50% tencel.) Each skein is only $25.50.

My scarf is 50" long, and I used about 60% of the skein. This bright and pleasant young man volunteered to model for me.

Here's a sample of the colors available. All of them are lovely!

Gift Ideas, Day Three

2010-10-14T09:45:00.000-05:00

Cashmere.

The last word in luxury. We have these great kits from Jade Sapphire, which make a very generously sized 100% cashmere scarf. The seven different patterns included in each kit are really wonderful, and we've got kits For Her, For Him, and in College Colors (WSU, KU, K-State).

Gift Ideas - Day Two

2010-10-13T12:13:00.000-05:00

For that special little animal - or big animal - in your life, we have sweater patterns in all sizes. And if you don't have a dog yourself, you surely have a friend to whom a gift for their pet would mean as much as a gift for themselves. (I plan on making something for my grandparents' poodle for that reason.) We have Fiber Trends' dog sweater pattern in three sizes, and the book, Dress Your Dog.

Gift Ideas, Day One

2010-10-12T21:44:00.000-05:00

Kicking off our series of gift ideas are these wonderful needle and hook cases from Ashland Sky.

Ashland Sky is located in Ashland, OR, and they manufacture a wonderful series of cases and bags out of a soft, supple vinyl. These Knit Stick Sacks are flexible and easy to use. You can fold them in halves or thirds to store flat, or roll them up and stash them in a corner of your bag. The grosgrain ribbon trim is a special edition, hand dyed by Twisted Sisters Knitting. The great folks at Ashland Sky have also sewn on our exclusive Twist label!

Get a Crochet Hook Sack, Straight Needle Stick Sack, or Double Pointed Stick Sack for your favorite knitter or crocheter, or for yourself.

2nd Saturday

2010-10-05T17:21:00.000-05:00

Four districts along Douglas: The Douglas Design District, Old Town, Downtown, and Delano, are all participating in a once-a-month shopping promotion. Participating merchants will give you a deal on the 2nd Saturday of every month. The deals will vary, but will always be great, and exclusively for people who have a 2nd Saturday tote. (See below.)

You can buy at tote at any participating merchants (see list below) for $5. We have them available at the shop now! Then pull it out once a month and go support your locally-owned businesses.

Twist's Second Saturday promotion is: 10% off everything you can fit in the bag PLUS 25% off yarn in the bag if it's select chunky yarns. (Basically, that's all chunky yarn except Cascade Eco, Cascade 128, and Berroco Comfort Chunky.) It will only be good on October 9th, and only if you have a tote.

What we got out of the boxes today.

2010-09-24T18:24:00.000-05:00

Viking Balder - a chunky, SOFT, merino wool that's - wait for it - superwash! You'll love it. It's a self-striping yarn that will be perfect for hats and scarves.

In fact, look what I got done between last night and this afternoon! About 50 more stitches and a couple tassels, and I'll have a hat! It's $11 a 100g/137 yd skein. This hat is taking just over one ball. There's plenty in one skein to make a hat w/o ear flaps.

Here's my hat. Almost done!

My hat pattern ($4)

All the colors (8 total)

This is the pattern book for the yarn - kids' hats, scarves, vests, and jumpers.

Also, Fame Trend has 5 new colors. This is the same yarn as Universal's Poems sock yarn. Really wonderful, long, gradual color changes. We have a pattern for two different, cute, small, triangle shawls.

A laugh for today

2010-09-22T15:48:00.000-05:00

So, I've been decorating the window for Halloween, and posted a picture on Facebook of my crocheting and knitting skeletons. You all have been posting the most hilarious captions.

"I see that the diet is working."

"I'll finish this project if it kills me."
"I think it already has."

"The one with the most yarn still dies. But what a way to go!"

Highlights of new yarns

2010-09-12T19:22:00.000-05:00

We've just gotten a shipment of Fixation, and we're now fully stocked. So if you fell in love with this yarn as the August sock-of-the-month yarn, you can get more! If you haven't tried it yet, Fixation is a mix of soft cotton and elastic. We love it for socks, and lots of customers use it to make headbands for babies. We also have several customers who have knitted underwear with it. (Hey, don't knock it until you try it!) Solid colors are $4.60, variegated colors are $5.50 per 50g/100yd ball.

Another new arrival is 220 Sport. This is the same yarn as Cascade 220, only sport-weight. Or DK. You can work it at either gauge. It's feltable, 100% wool. And it's only $3.75 for a 50g/164yd skein!

You know about Cha-Cha, right? The one that makes its own ruffles as you know. We have two new variegated colors! And navy, which we haven't had before. This yarn is $25, but you only need one skein to make a classy, all-ruffle-all-the-time scarf!

Colorchanges is a new self-striping yarn from Ironstone. It's chunky, wool & acrylic, and so soft and squishy! Love it. It's 50g/100yds. One skein for a beanie, two skeins for a stocking cap with a foldable brim. $6.50 each.

These yarns recently highlighted in our e-mail newsletter. Here are their prices:

Trendsetter Venus - $25 per skein. See what other people are doing with it on Ravelry.

Kami Bison Lace - $30 per skein. Learn about this Bison blend from Fibre Isle (Prince Edward Island, Canada.)

Roof repair this weekend

2010-09-09T10:01:00.000-05:00

Thursday, September 9 & Friday, September 10

Just a (literal) heads-up if you plan on coming to the shop today or tomorrow. The roof is being repaired, and potentially damaging construction materials (spray adhesive) will be used. Please protect your car and park across the street or on Douglas.

Thanks!
Shelly

Mitten of the Month

2010-09-05T20:13:00.000-05:00

by Pam B.

As you may have seen from the Twist Blog or Shelly’s post asking for a Partner in Crime, Twist is starting the Mitten of the Month club again. I thought I might entice you with some of my plans. I won’t let the cat out of the bag, but I’ll tell you my general plans.

The club will be $25 and with that you get 15% off the materials for the mittens. With each pair of mittens you complete, you will also receive an exclusive Mitten stitch marker.

We will have one knit pattern and one crochet pattern to chose from each month. We will explore different techniques, use different weight yarns and different styles ( fingerless, mittens, gloves, convertible, etc.)

I’ll alternate an easier pattern followed by a more time-consuming pattern, that way if you run over one month you can catch up the next.

The group will vote on how often and when to meet. Mondays and Tuesdays are out, but everything else is fair game We will have at least one Finished objects celebration!

We can use this thread to discuss the patterns, ask questions, and show off our finished mittens.

So come join the fun. Oh and by the way I could still use a partner

Central KS Yarn Hop

2010-08-31T00:19:00.003-05:00

The website is starting to come together! All the most important information you need is here, as well as some nice pictures, and a tease, hinting at what's in the Big Prize Basket.

Mitten of the Month is Returning

2010-08-30T07:59:00.000-05:00

Mitten of the Month is returning in October!

There will be crochet pattern and a knitting pattern each month. You get to decide which you want. Same format as Sock of the Month ($25 membership, 15% off each month.)

No Spoilers, so that's all I'll say for now. Watch this blog and your e-mail inbox for more details this week.

Hey! FO's!

2010-08-26T14:18:00.000-05:00

So, I finished a couple of things. (FO = Finished Object).

This is a baby dress that I knitted using Araucania Lonco (fingering weight, 100% mercerized cotton). Rather than knit the skirt, I got some fabric from my friend Cindy at Sew Much and sewed it on. Then I used some of Nanetta Bananto's incredible handmade buttons for the closure. They were so perfect, angels sang when I picked them out.

The pattern for the knitted portion is a free pattern I found on Ravelry called Little Sister's Dress. I just gathered the skirt and sewed bias tape over the gathered edge, then machine-sewed it to the knitted portion. The entire dress is machine washable & dryable.

The other project I finished is the Checks Wrap, from Prism Yarns. It takes one skein of Prism Saki (fingering weight wool/nylon sock yarn). The pattern is available in the shop for $5.

Finishing class - help us out!

2010-08-26T09:10:00.004-05:00

We've had lots of requests of finishing and/or blocking classes, so we're trying to plan one - or several - for this fall and winter. We could use a little help, though, since "finishing" covers a lot of territory in the fiber arts world. If you have a few minutes, please complete a three-question survey that'll help us develop the course (or courses) - the link is below!

Please note: This link should take you to a page hosted by surveymonkey.com. All responses are anonymous unless you choose to identify yourself, and you'll need to answer all three questions.

Click here to take the survey!

Pictures of New Yarn!

2010-08-23T16:55:00.000-05:00

We've been spending every possible second rearranging, building shelves, and pricing yarn, and I didn't get around to taking pictures until just now. But here you are - links are to yarn information pages on Ravelry. More to come! Lots and lots of bulky/chunky.

Alpaca Lace

Baby Alpaca Chunky

Heritage Sock (Solid, Quatro, and Handpaint)

Upcoming KALs

2010-08-12T18:25:00.005-05:00

Well, with the bounty of fall yarns coming in over the next few months, it goes without saying that we want to take advantage of several of the new lines we're offering to do some great knit-alongs. Please keep an eye on our online schedule page for more specific information and online registration as it becomes available!

Baby Sweater on Two Needles (aka "February Baby Sweater"), from The Knitter's Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmermann. What better way to celebrate the centennial of Elizabeth Zimmermann's birth than to have a knit-along with one of her most popular patterns? If you have a little one in your life, or if you want to familiarize yourself with the pattern before giving the February Lady Sweater a shot, this would be a great, quick, 2-skein project. Dates: Saturdays, Sept. 11 - Oct. 2, 2 - 4 PM. Suggested yarn: Malabrigo Worsted.

Goodale by Cecily Glowik MacDonald. It'll make a great transition piece when there's a touch too much air conditioning at the end of the summer, or a bit too much of a chill in the air in early spring. Best part? A wide range of sizes (31.5" - 58.75" bust) and just a few skeins of yarn (from 580 to 1160 yards). Dates: TBD, but we're planning on starting in mid-October, or whenever the yarn gets here. Suggested yarn: The sport-weight Parkwood Farms yumminess that will be arriving in late September/early October.

And the biggie... The Great American Afghan, published by XRX. This will be more than a year's project - we're thinking between 18 and 24 months. We're still working out the details and timelines, but at the end of this, you'll have a beautiful heirloom with 25 very distinct squares. Dates: Date TBA, but starting in January 2011. Suggested yarn: Cascade 220. You'll be able to choose your own colors or purchase kits; if you purchase your own choice of colors, you'll be able to either purchase them all at once and get a discount or put them on a 3-month layaway to hold colors and preserve dye lots.

Questions? Come in to see us, give us a call, or send us an e-mail! This isn't all we've got up our sleeves, but we thought we'd give you a heads-up to start your planning now :)

Joys of Choosing Fall Yarns

2010-08-08T12:48:00.000-05:00

by Lindsey

Believe it or not, fall is nearly upon us. School will soon be back in session, the leaves will start turning colors, Twist will be open on Sunday afternoons…

But I digress.

In just a short while, it’ll be time for us to start unpacking our brand-spankin’-new fall yarns. Due to popular demand, we’re planning on having a fall yarn tasting - and, holy cow, you guys. Bring your hooks, needles, and an appetite for the pretty stuff. One of the most amazing things I’ve ever done as an employee anywhere happened today. I got to sit in on Wayne the Yarn Rep’s visit to Twist Yarn Shop.

Wayne had two sample cases and four clear plastic totes of goodies that he brought with him. I walked in perhaps an hour into his visit (let’s say it was about 2:45 when I got to Twist). He and Shelly and Diane and Susan and I petted yarn and discussed patterns and brainstormed on classes and called customers over to solicit their opinions until at least 5:30 PM. We admired cashmere scarves and felted bag kits and kits for needle felting on silk scarves. There was amazing art yarn with felted flowers and tendrils that Lara and Shelly said might be something you’d expect to see Lady Gaga knitting. There was a giant brass ring with samples of all the yarn bases and colorways from Pagewood Farm. And the bison yarn! Did I mention the bison yarn? Long story short, this was not my grandmother’s color card and swatch book. This was a yarn multimedia experience. My mind was reeling at the end of the visit, and I pretty much want to hoard one of everything that comes in from all of these shipments.

And this wasn’t just about choosing yarn. Once Wayne had convinced me that I would really enjoy sitting down to check out colorways and pet some bison yarn and peruse some patterns, Shelly and I talked classes and knit-alongs. The mere fact of having miles of gorgeous yarn sitting in front of us on the table spurred some excellent brainstorming, and I am so, so excited to get going on planning the schedule for the next six months. Fear not, Twisters. You will not be hurting for variety or new techniques or color or warmth this winter. That’s all I’m going to say on that topic. (Though I will add this – if you’d like to request a class, please let us know what new classes you’d like to see added or what past classes you’d like to see repeated!) The fall schedule will start appearing in early September – as always, the most updated version of the current class offerings is on the website.

So now that your appetite has been whetted, what to do? Well, come in and check out the sales rack – we’ve just added some great things to the mix, like Bollicine’s Dolly 100% extrafine merino DK-weight (previously $7, on sale for $5/ball of 153 yds/50 g). Let’s not forget that there’s new stuff that’s already arrived! There are some amazing new worsted-weight hanks of yarn from Manos del Uruguay – they’re hanging on the pegboard on the west wall of the shop. These yarns are colorful and soft and will be pure bliss to knit – one customer’s just finished half of a pair of mittens in them, and another customer bought two hanks in a colorway that is the yarn equivalent of the musical Wicked (green and fuschsia and black). And the Kollage square needles are now available in circulars – they’re on the rotating rack with the Lantern Moon needles if you’d like to take a look for yourself.

We are in for an exciting fall and winter. More details on everything coming soon!

Look. At. This.

2010-07-22T20:06:00.000-05:00

I found some of Nanetta's Buttons that match these yarns so amazingly well. These are a couple of skeins of Jitterbug and a skein of Chaiten.

Wow.

Tasting = Yummy.

2010-07-20T10:58:00.004-05:00

We had so much fun at the Yarn Tasting last Friday. Everyone tried something new, and some people said, "I would never have tried that yarn, but now that I have, I love it!" Others said, "I wanted to try that, and now that I have, I'm glad I didn't buy it." Which is okay, too. The whole idea was to learn.

It was such a success that we'll do it again in the fall when we have lots of new yarns in the shop.

Button Fest!

2010-07-14T22:07:00.000-05:00

Here's a note from Nanetta about Button Fest:

What's on the worktable this week? Florals and metallics. I achieved some delicate, translucent, pearlized petals with the use of alcohol inks.

My "cracker" buttons are stamped, then tinted with the inks and baked again. These are actually itty-bitty buttons. I think they look like little crackers.

The pearly-pink florals, (green button), are tinted with pink sherbet ink to get the subtle coloring. The little flecks of white enchance the translucency in the petals. On the gold button, (which is straight out of the oven and untrimmed), the petals take on a different hue. These petals are given detail with a sculpting tool, resulting in a modeled and textured surface.

What about all those faces on the table? There are a couple on the way. They were in the oven when the others got their moment in the spotlight.

Look for these and other new delights sometime on Friday.............

nb

Mmmmm, yarn.

2010-07-03T15:21:00.001-05:00

Here's an easy way to get your daily dose of fiber: we'll be holding our first yarn tasting in a couple of weeks! It'll be on Friday, July 16, from 6 PM to 10 PM here at the shop, and registration for a great evening out is just $30.

The yarn tasting will let you knit up some samples of yarns that we've introduced at the shop this summer as well as try out some of the great silk, silk-blend and cashmere yarns in the store. Bring needles and/or hooks in a variety of sizes to try out the different weights of yarn! Hors d'oeuvres and wine will be served, and you'll receive information on the different fibers and blends used; we'll also give you pattern suggestions in case anything strikes your fancy!

Hope to see you there!

What I'm Doing Today

2010-06-27T10:48:00.000-05:00

Another pattern by another of our Twist regulars! Kiersten designed this lovely little shawl called Catenary, which I'm knitting in Araucania Lonco (cotton fingering yarn).

Just remember that blocking does wonders. Because it will really look more like this when I'm finished (this is Kiersten's model.)

You can find Catenary on Ravelry. Aren't we surrounded by the most amazingly talented people? I feel so lucky.

Button Fest Preview!

2010-06-24T16:52:00.001-05:00

Every Friday in July, Nanetta Bananto will be bringing in NEW buttons.

Nanetta's buttons are handcrafted, amazing works of art. You can have a sneak peek tomorrow, and then keep coming back to see what's new, all through July.

Slinky, Fringy, Happy!

2010-06-23T10:29:00.000-05:00

Connie's design for this shallow triangle shawl is a great summer knit, because it works best in our favorite summer fibers - linen, cotton, hemp, rayon, or silk. You can find it on Ravelry here, or buy a copy in the shop. Connie designed this pattern just for us! Don't you feel special? I do.

Lace Shawl Design

2010-06-23T10:24:00.001-05:00

Jennifer, another Twist regular and local designer, just published this gorgeous pattern for a square shawl called Occasus. This pattern would also make a perfect heirloom baby blanket. You can find it on Ravelry here, or if you are not on Ravelry, buy it directly from Jennifer here.

Baby Knits!

2010-06-23T09:14:00.000-05:00

Check out Joan's latest design, featured on the webzine Petite Purls. Joan is a Wichita designer and tech editor. (And Twist regular!) Cute, huh?

WWKIP 2010

2010-06-16T22:00:00.001-05:00

Here's the schedule for Worldwide Knit in Public Day 2010:

All day: Hourly door prize drawings!

11 AM: Knitting Jeopardy, Round 1

Noon: Fastest Knitter Contest (please bring your own US8 needles and worsted-weight yarn)

2 PM: Knitting Jeopardy, Round 2 (Please note: the two rounds of Knitting Jeopardy will be run independently of each other. If you miss the first round, come on down for the second round!)

Thanks to Lindsey for organizing this year's activities! Look forward to seeing you there!

You can RSVP on Facebook.

Cute, cute!

2010-06-16T12:40:00.000-05:00

Tamara made this glorious little shrug from 3 skeins of Noro Taiyo. It's a pattern from the book, CrochetWear by Ann Regis. We still have two copies left!

Neat New Stuff!

2010-06-15T15:25:00.000-05:00

We got a few nifty surprises from Namaste. Check out these great circular cases. There's only one in each color (black, Hollywood Pink, red, and Peacock), and they are $20.

Also from Namaste, we got sets of Oh, Snap! Bags. Aren't they adorable? Very handy. See-through mesh, snaps that don't snag, and a set of three is only $15.

Brenda has made some more stitch markers for us. These are made from chain. I am test-knitting with one now, and I can report no snagging. They're really fun for something different!

Socker Club!

2010-06-08T13:30:00.004-05:00

Last night, a dozen sock knitters met and knitted the first sock of the 2010-2011 Sock of the Month Club!

They meet the first Monday night of every month from 7-9 pm. You are welcome to join - it's $25 for a one-year membership, and includes a discount on a featured yarn and pattern each month.

For more information, visit the webpage.

If you like the June sock, join quickly! Only three balls of TOFUtsies are left.

Holiday Head Start

2010-06-07T23:12:00.004-05:00

Class Spotlight

By Lindsey

As I’ve started teaching at Twist this year, it’s been fun to hear how many of the students plan on doing holiday projects for friends and family this year, or even as decorations for their own homes. If you’re already an accomplished knitter, you’re perhaps already in the planning stages for this year’s gifts.

However, if you haven’t started thinking about it, why not check out a few of our classes this summer that are geared towards cold-weather projects? (True, once the thermometers hit ninety degrees, wool hats and mittens may be further from your mind than at any other point in the year, but you could always find a nice, air-conditioned spot to do some knitting…)

Lara’s offering her Basic Mittens class on Tuesdays, June 8 and 15, from 6 – 8 PM. All you need, apart from materials, are the skills equivalent to those learned in our Knitting 102 class: knitting in the round, increasing, and decreasing. You could always knit one pair in each of a school’s or team’s colors, then give them both to a sports fan in your life to mix and match! Registration is $40, plus the cost of materials.

Deb’s offering her Christmas Stocking class on Saturdays from June 12 to July 17, from 1-3 PM each session. It’s a long-term project class, so registration is $40 for any two of those class sessions and $5 per additional class session (cost of materials not included). If you’ve been considering learning how to do colorwork, this would be a great way to get going!

Our Tunisian Lace crochet class has been incredibly popular – the Moebius cowl that students make as the finished project for the class would be a wonderful gift. Pam is going to offer a second class in the series that will show you how to do a variation on the Tunisian full stitch; she’s used it to make a scarf called “Summer Rain.” The class has a $20 registration fee (cost of materials not included) and will be held from 1 – 3 PM on Saturday, June 19.

The class schedule has been really beefed up for the summer season – classes are filling quickly, so if something catches your eye, register online, call the shop, or stop by to sign up in person! And, as always, you can visit the Twist website and check out the class schedule page whenever it strikes your fancy.

Fuzzy & Shiny...

2010-06-04T15:27:00.004-05:00

...two great tastes that taste great together.

We just got some La Boheme yarn - a strand of mohair and a strand of rayon boucle, hand-dyed in glorious colors. These will be great for fancy scarves!

Speaking of fancy scarves, here's a delightful yarn - thick & thin roving with a wrap of sparkle & shine. It's called Magnolia.

Spotlight on Shawls

2010-05-28T00:00:00.002-05:00

New classes for Summer 2010
by Lindsey

In south central Kansas, summer knitting can be a little daunting. Sweater weather is several months off, socks have gone optional, and blankets or afghans might best be saved for when you’re sure you can be in a well-air-conditioned space for an hour or two.

Well, we might have a few upcoming classes that will satisfy your craving for a good summer project and challenge: Intro to the Pi Shawl, Big Pi Shawl and Lace 3. Not only are these great for building your knitting chops, but the end result will be a project perfect for when you’re in a building or room that’s got the air conditioning set just a tad too low to be completely comfortable.

Jennifer, one of our instructors, hit upon the idea of developing a series of classes based on Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Pi Shawl from The Knitter’s Almanac. The Pi Shawl was originally developed as a portable summer project that would help knitters develop their lace skills; Jen has set up a two-class series in which students will learn the basics of knitting and blocking a circular shawl (Intro to the Pi Shawl) and then set in on the task of knitting and blocking The Real Deal (Big Pi Shawl).

Mini Pi Shawl (Intro to Pi class) done in Poems sock yarn.

In Intro to the Pi Shawl, students will make a mini-shawl perfect for a doll... or as a doll blanket... or even as a nice centerpiece for a table. The class will be held in two sessions on June 1 and June 22, both from 6 PM to 8 PM - there are still spots left, so it’s not too late to sign up! You’ll need to have taken Knitting 102 and Lace 1, or the equivalent skills.

The Big Pi Shawl - In Noro Sekku

In The Big Pi Shawl, students will make the full-sized version of the shawl as described in The Knitter’s Almanac. It’ll be a long-term class that runs on Saturdays from July 3 to August 28, from 2 PM to 4 PM; registration is $40 and covers any 2 class sessions that you’d like over that time period. You can sign up for additional class sessions for just $5 each if you need some extra supervision or help. You’ll need to have taken Knitting 102, Lace 1 and Intro to the Pi Shawl, or have the equivalent skills.

I've been working with Shelly to rework the Lace 3 class. For Lace 3, students will use the book Knitting Lace Triangles as a guide to design their very own triangular lace shawl. If you’ve admired projects like Ishbel, Swallowtail Shawl or Travelling Woman, this is a great introduction to the sorts of skills you’ll need to make those patterns. It will also be a long-term class, running on Saturdays from July 24 to September 11, from 2-4 PM. As with The Big Pi Shawl, registration is $40 and covers any 2 class sessions in that time period; extra class sessions are $5 each. You’ll need to have taken Lace 1 and 2 (or Lace 1 and The Big Pi Shawl), or have instructor approval of the skills necessary for the class.

Around the neighborhood

2010-05-27T11:11:00.003-05:00

The Palette - the great little bistro a couple of doors down - is open late Tuesday - Saturday (5:00 - 10:00 pm.) They have a great little space to hang out, called the Studio Lounge, and a tasty snack menu.

Wednesday evenings, there is a Farmer's Market right around the corner from the shop, from 5:00 - 7:30 pm.

This weekend, check out the Art Pride Parade and Divapalooza II (Facebook link).

Next weekend, it's the third annual Rumble in Delano car show.

June 3rd - 5th - Delano's Area-Wide Garage Sale.

For more about Delano - check out www.delanowichita.com (run by friends of the shop, the Delano Neighborhood Association!)

Silk

2010-05-26T16:47:00.002-05:00

We just got a shipment of the most luscious, hand-dyed silk. It's called La Luz, and it's made by Fiesta. It's a single-ply, 100% mulberry silk yarn that is incredibly soft. 2 oz (87.5 g), 210 yds. $28.50 per skein.

This just in

2010-05-18T12:54:00.014-05:00

Toledo - this shiny yarn will make great summer tops and scarves. We've had it for a while, but we just got some new colors. These are awesome variegated shades. Make a fancy feather & fan scarf like Susan did!

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We got a couple of new colors of Crock O' Dye from Knit One, Crochet Two. If you haven't tried this sock yarn, you should. It's wool & nylon, with a bit of silk for sheen & softness.

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These colors of Ty Dy cotton were backordered, and we just got them in! Hurray!

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Mimi just finished knitting this scarf, Branching Out, from Knitty.com. She did it in Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool.

And look at all the great colors of Silky Wool we have for you to choose from!

We got mail.

2010-04-30T15:36:00.002-05:00

Isn't this the coolest thing ever? Thanks so much, Mickey! You made our day.
Shelly (aforementioned proprietress) & Susan (your friend SkinnyString in the Vintage Knits group.)

La-la-lovely yarn.

2010-04-28T14:02:00.004-05:00

The newest new: a couple more hand-dyed delightful yarns from Araucania.

Chaiten is a 100% silk. It's a raw silk, so it has a bumpy texture, but still retains softness and drape. The colors are rustic, but soft. I love it! 22 sts/4", 100g/309 yds, $20 per skein.

Ulmo is 100% cotton. 22 sts/4", 100g/202 yds, $14 per skein.

And here's my progress with the Lonco. I knitted a headband! The colors came out great, it washed beautifully (cold water, by hand).

Here's the stitch pattern:
Multiple of 3 + 2
Row 1: K1, *yo, sl 1 purlwise, k2, psso the k2: rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 2: Purl

Repeat these two rows.

Birthday Party!

2010-04-24T07:27:00.004-05:00

Wednesday, Susan planned a treat. She set out a yarn feast to entice the Lunch Bunch. Unbeknownst to her, this same bunch was planning a surprise for her birthday. Here's what happened next:

PS Lunch Bunch is happening every Wednesday, around lunchtime. You're always welcome to join us. We have a good time.

Sweet Sugar Yarn!

2010-04-22T20:59:00.007-05:00

This is new. Lovely yarn, Ruca, is 100% Sugar Cane. You must feel it! And it comes in these yummy candy colors. It's shiny and soft.

Another yarn which is, like Ruca, from Araucania, is Lonco. It's 100% mercerized cotton, and fingering weight! The colors are amazing. I promise more on this as I continue working with it (I started a little swatch that's going to be a headband, and I have plans for a kerchief and a crocheted something-or-other).

Time for a work in progress (WIP) and some finished objects (FO's)!
I thought you should see how great the striping is in an OnLine sock yarn. This is the bamboo blend, which Pat is working on.

Sally just knitted this crazy cute cupcake hat (hurray for alliteration!) It's in the book 60 Quick Knits: 20 Hats, 20 Scarves, 20 Mittens in Cascade 220.

I have a FO! Seriously, write it on the calendar. I don't finish things. I started this shawl a year ago and worked on it off and on (more off than on) until I blocked it this last Tuesday. It's Laminaria from Knitty. Knit in Skacel Merino Lace yarn.

New Mirasol, College Color Yarns

2010-04-07T18:28:00.007-05:00

I'm so excited about these beautiful yarns from Mirasol.

First, you need to know the story about the Mirasol Project. The proceeds from the yarn sales go to a foundation that runs a boarding school for the children of alpaca shepherds.

Lachiwa is 60% pima cotton, 40% linen, providing the luscious softness of pima cotton and the drape and durability of linen. The colors are the subdued shades of spring. "Lachiwa" means honey in Quechan. 123 yds in a 50g hank means this is a DK weight yarn, and it is $7 per hank.

Wach'i is Quechan for "sun rays." The yarn is 85% pima cotton and 15% silk. The colors are intense, lustrous jewel tones. There are 116 yds in a 50g hank, (worsted weight) and the cost is also $7.

Mirasol has also produced some great little booklets at $10 each. There is one for kids and men, using Lachiwa. Another for babies & toddlers using Wach'i. There are a couple more for women, one that's exclusively cardigans and the other with a variety of sweater patterns.

Fiesta Yarns has custom-dyed some fingering weight yarn for these great little neckwarmer kits. You get 100g of yarn and a pattern. And the custom dye jobs? Why school colors, of course. Choose from Wichita State, Kansas State, or University of Kansas colors.

The neckwarmer is a little scarflette - you pull one end through the other - very clever.

We Like Big Buttons

2010-04-06T11:55:00.006-05:00

...and we cannot lie.

I'm so sorry. Sometimes I just can't help myself.

So, lots of new buttons, suddenly. Some wooden buttons (which wash in the washer just fine, thankyouverymuch), some glass buttons, and some made out of stone (jasper and rose leopard.)

Gail Hughes, who makes the amazing handmade resin buttons, just sent some new ones.

These abalone shell buttons are as big as my hand. (My hand in the picture, for perspective.) The other abalone shell buttons are just a little smaller than my hand...

These are mother of pearl. About 1-1/2" tall or 1" tall.

Finally, some new 2" coconut buttons. These are all $3 each, and we got a couple of new colors!

Crochet on the Double

2010-04-02T22:16:00.010-05:00

Crochet on the Double, also sometimes known as Cro-Knit, uses a long double-ended crochet hook (sometimes called a cro-hook). It's one of the many variances of Tunisian crochet, and well worth learning. It's fun, easy, and quick.

If you have seen the "Fancy-Pants" scarf in the shop, you'll know that I used Crochet on the Double to make it, using one skein of Prism Stuff and one skein of Merino Mia. If you use a large hook (I used a K), you can make two skeins of yarn go an awfully long way.

I'm going to put a short, quick explanation of the technique here in this blog entry.

For a tutorial that goes into much more detail, download this pdf (three pages long) for a much more in-depth explanation, with more pictures.

CROCHET ON THE DOUBLE
This technique uses two yarns, referred to here as Color A & Color B.

1. Using Color A: Make a chain, the number of stitches desired +1.

2. Using Color B and working right to left: Insert hook into one side of the chain, skipping first chain, yarnover, and draw up a loop.

3. Repeat step 2 in next and every chain across. You will have "knitted on" a row of stitches.

4. Turn your hook over

5. Using Color A and working left to right: Crochet the stitches off your hook, pulling through one loop the first time, and two loops the rest of the way across.

6. Using Color A and working right to left: Knit stitches onto hook, inserting the hook from right to left under the vertical bars created by Color B in the row before. Skip the first bar.

7. Turn

8. Using Color B and working from left to right: Crochet the stitches off your hook. (Remember, first stitch through one loop, the rest through two loops.)

9. Using Color B and working from left to right: Knit on. (Remember, skip the first bar.)

Repeat steps 7, 8, and 9, until your pieces is as long as you want it to be, or until you are out of yarn.

I remember the color sequence this way:
Knit on using the same color as the loop left on your hook.
Crochet off using the opposite color as the stitches loaded on your hook.

What you do with paper yarn.

2010-04-01T14:18:00.005-05:00

Since we got the paper yarn, everyone says, "Well, that's interesting. But what do you do with it?" We've come up with a couple of things.

Diane came up with a pattern for a hat. And, here's a bonus - if you turn it over and make the brim longer, it makes a bag! This is a free pattern offered in the shop. It makes an adult-sized hat (which I crocheted in the green) and a kid-sized hat (which Diane crocheted in the pink. I ought to add, even though I used a size bigger hook than she did, I'm pretty sure I crochet much more loosely than she does.)

We also have a couple of pattern books that feature this yarn. This shoulder bag is from one of them - Katia Sport. Katia publishes a series of magazines each year (one for babies, one for kids, one that's casual, one that's dressy. Sport is the casual one.) The pattern book has a lot of great patterns for spring and summer tops, also.

Next up - placemats! I'll post those with the pattern as soon as I'm finished making one.

Ty Dy Cotton

2010-03-26T20:59:00.004-05:00

Just a note to say that we've unpacked the Ty-Dy Cotton. Lots of gorgeous colors!

What should you make out of this yarn?
A market bag
A summer shawl (for too-cold air conditioning)
A ripple baby blanket
A Baby Surprise jacket!

Spring Upon Us

2010-03-24T17:09:00.002-05:00

We've got Noro's new laceweight yarn - Sekku. Sekku is 50g/420m(457 yds), 50% cotton/17% wool/17% nylon/16% silk. $15.

OnLine has introduced a sock yarn with angora! It's divine. 50% wool/20% angora/30% acrylic. 100g/420m (457 yds). $19.95.

Many of you enjoyed Wendy Happy last year, so we brought it back this year. Sadly, we only have 3 colors so far (the rest were backordered!) Ah, well. Enjoy these, and know that we have more colors to look forward to. 100g/420m (457 yds), 75% bamboo, 25% nylon. $10.

We've got several pattern pamphlets for kids' clothes that use Happy.

Grass! 65% cotton/35% hemp. Worsted weight (5 sts/1" on US 7 needles), $7.50 per ball. Make a shorty cardigan, shell, summer scarf, or string bag.

JanetBaskets are finally in! We have two new designs, and many of the already popular favorites.

Lots of new colors of Baruffa Cashwool. Lovely, soft laceweight with more than 1400 yards for $16.

Noro Aya is a DK weight cotton blend. 50% cotton/35% silk/15% wool. So very soft, with Noro's signature coloring. $10 per 50g ball (147 yds).

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-16T11:48:00.002-05:00

Here are a couple of cool chicks enjoying the St. Patrick's Day parade last Saturday!
(note the lovely hand-knitted beret & cowl!)

Wowza.

2010-03-12T22:02:00.012-06:00

Man, have I got some sweet things to show you.

First, a new cotton yarn from Noro - it's just like Kureyon & Silk Garden (long colors, worsted weight, same price) - except it's mostly cotton and silk, and it comes in 100g skeins instead of 50g skeins. It's called Taiyo. It's gorgeous.

40% cotton, 30% silk, 15% wool, 15% nylon.

We just got our shipment of Cascade's newest yarn, Ultra Pima. It's 100% pima cotton, machine washable, and shiny. DK weight (size US 6 needle, US F hook).

This cool yarn is called Degrade'. (I know what it looks like. You say, "Deh-grah-day"). But it's got that strange name because it has a long gradation of a single color. Also 100% cotton and DK weight.

This yarn is made of paper. Also? It's washable. I kid you not. Seriously. You need to make a market bag, a sun hat, or some placemats out of this yarn.

Last for today? Origami, from Berroco. The pattern book has some fantastic crochet & knit patterns for spring/summer wear. Preview the pattern booklet, #294.

Hats, hats, hats

2010-02-28T10:46:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to our most recent Knitting 102 class! Look at all these great hats!

Thanks to our outstanding instructors, Becca & Lara, this class learned how to make stocking caps over the last two Saturdays.

Wanna learn to knit in the round on double-point-needles? Learn about substituting yarn, and what abbreviations mean in patterns? Then Knitting 102 is for you! We hold this class monthly, just keep an eye on the class schedule.

Our Newest Employee

2010-02-25T18:18:00.002-06:00

This is Bonnie Bubbles. Bonnie is a service dog, and one of her jobs is to pick up items from the floor and give them to her human companion.

Bonnie came to visit the other day, and is so good that I've decided to hire her, since we've got so much yarn to put on shelves. I'm sure she'll do well.

Ribbon! La-di-da!

2010-02-18T13:59:00.003-06:00

We have gotten some great new yarn from Colinette. The ever-popular and lovely Jitterbug (fingering weight merino) AND Giotto! Giotto is a ribbon yarn, 50% cotton, 40% rayon, 10% nylon, that is, of course, hand-dyed in Colinette's amazing colorways.

Some of the new, bright Jitterbug!

Giotto

Springy!

2010-02-13T00:02:00.003-06:00

These are just the yarns to get you in the mood for warmer weather.

First up - Firefly by Classic Elite.

25% Linen, 75% viscose (same as rayon)

6sts/in size 5 needles

Here's a sample - see the entire color card here.

There are a lot of great patterns for this yarn in the booklet, "Picnic." Preview them here. Here's one:

Also from Classic Elite, we have Sprout & Classic Silk (as previewed in the last newsletter.)

I have several finished objects to show you from customers who have been in lately. If you have something you want to show off, e-mail me a picture, or send me a note on Ravelry with your permission to take a picture from your project page.

Palette Tonight!

2010-02-06T09:51:00.002-06:00

Don't forget, scrumptious catering by the Palette this evening.

$5 for a Sandwich Basket (chicken salad on croissant with coconut macaroon) or
$5 for a Soup Sack (golden potato or minestrone and a coconut macaroon)

Drink for $1.50

Around 6:30 we'll give them our orders, and they'll deliver!!

This & That

2010-02-05T12:20:00.005-06:00

Ever wonder what it's like to choose from more than 200 colors of Cascade 220? We may be smiling in this picture, but Michael (my Cascade sales rep) & I were exhausted from the effort yesterday...

We've gotten a couple of neat bags from Namaste. This mesh bag has snaps on top, and is the perfect blend of soft, see-through, and secure. You can thread your yarn through the top when you're working, and snap it all together and pop it in your bigger bag. They come in a package of three (small, medium, and large - medium shown here) and a package of two, XL & XXL, which would hold a sweater or afghan.

We also have these adorable cozies, a long one for needles, a short one for hooks or DPN's. If you want to feel posh when you pull out your needles, this is IT.

Lots of boxes in the back to unpack now. I'll post what's in them soon!

Better stock up!

2010-01-28T09:53:00.003-06:00

I hear snow is on the way. Do you have a project to see you through the next 5 to 9 inches?

For those of you who missed the sticky note folders around Christmas, we have some more now!

If your crocheted or knitted slippers need reinforcement, we're now carrying suede slipper soles. They have a cushy, synthetic shearling inner sole and holes around the edge, so they're ready to sew onto your slippers. They are $19.99 per pair.

Also, if you've got a magnetic board, we now have stands for them - if you need it to sit up on its own. A stand is $9.59.

What else is new?

2010-01-25T15:38:00.004-06:00

Colors of Comfort DK have been restocked. I'm counting over 25 here.

Prism Arts Saki yarn (hand-dyed sock yarn in AMAZING colors).
Also from Prism - Merino Mia. One of our all-time favorites.

A couple of different companies make the same yarn - it's a single ply, wool/nylon, fingering weight yarn with long, gradual color changes. We have Wisdom "Poems Sock" and Marks & Kattens "Fame Trend." (They're the same.)

Day 3 of Major Yarn Unpacking

2010-01-21T12:53:00.006-06:00

Here's what the Comfort Wall looks like now, freshly stocked!

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We've also gotten Universal Yarn's Classic Worsted Tapestry (self-patterning) and Classic Worsted Long Print (big stripes). Great for kids' blankets, sweaters, and hats!

Here are the new colors of puffy yarn (remember Mimi's cool scarf?)

The pink & purple in this picture have SPARKLES!
We've got a new free pattern using this yarn. Both knit & crochet versions. This is the crochet:

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Here's a new pattern from a great design company, Dan Doh. Susan knitted this in about 10 minutes with Alpaca Sox (another yarn we've just restocked with a bunch of new colors.)

Yes, maybe I was exaggerating a little bit. It took her a little longer than 10 minutes. But not much. Because it's got a drawstring top, it can double as a cowl!

Whew!

2010-01-20T17:39:00.003-06:00

We're unpacking lots of yarn!

Lots. of. yarn.

Today: Berroco Vintage.

Yesterday: Berroco Comfort.

Tomorrow: Berroco Comfort Chunky & Comfort DK

We've also gotten some great new yarns from Prism & Trendsetter. More on those tomorrow. Keep watching this space!