Tuesday, April 25, 2017

100% American made Brooklyn Tweed has arrived!

It's here! We are thrilled to announce our latest addition to Yarns By Design:
Brooklyn Tweed.

This Portland, Oregon based company started in 2010 and they use only 100% American made Targhee wool. Their mission includes "we are passionate about wool, knitting and design" and it shows with their true "sheep to skein" story. The Targhee sheep is the 2nd breed to be developed by the USDA. They were bred to have the perfect mix of fine wool with long wool to make for a soft, silky, and strong yarn. The herds of Brooklyn Tweed reside on the plains of Wyoming where they grow their fleece for shearing. Once baled and cleaned, the fleece travels to Pennsylvania for cleaning and dyeing to create an abundance of lovely palettes. Next stop is New Hampshire where the dyed yarn is spun and finished to create skeins ready for you to knit.

Happy sheep make pretty skeins. 


Yarns By Design customer and knitter, Mary stopped by Yarns By Design and couldn't resist giving this yarn a try. She got right to work on her project and had this to say about the "Loft" fingering weight yarn: "I LOVE this yarn so much! I haven't been this excited about a new yarn since I discovered Madelinetosh years ago!" and "the colors are beautiful, the yarn is so soft yet has a nice body and is a joy to knit".


Customer Mary Mervis works up a pattern using Brooklyn Tweed Loft for the first time.
Photo by Mary Mervis


Our boutique is proud to be one of only two retail stockists in the state. We offer fingering weight "Loft", DK weight "Arbor" and worsted weight "Shelter" all in a variety of colors. Brooklyn Tweed also offers an abundance of gorgeous patterns that mix both traditional and modern looks.
Stop by in-store to see the collection in person or shop Yarns By Design online -either way it's yarn you want to check out!


Welcome, Brooklyn Tweed.


Be sure to share your feedback and projects about Brooklyn Tweed with us once you give it a try. We love to hear from our customers. 

Warmly, 

Sarah with Yarns By Design




Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Yarn Mood Changes

Spring is here; the sun is out, the flowers are blooming. Spring has also sprung inside at Yarns By Design! Our customers' eyes seem to be moving away from the grays, blacks and neutrals of winter and over to the pastels and bright palettes.

I started this crochet beach bag  today and definitely was in a bright and sunny mood and had the beach on my mind when I selected the color scheme. I'm making it with Berroco Comfort, a soft worsted weight yarn found at Yarns By Design. It is machine washable after a day at the beach. Look for the finished product in our window display soon.

Feels like sunshine working on these hexagons!


Our shop is full of fun colors to get your spring and summer projects completed. Our Hedgehog Fibres collection is especially colorful and will be sure to put you in the mood of your choice. Whether it's the calming blues, the happy yellows or the romantic pinks…we have the shade for you!


Check out the colors of these Hedfgehog Fibres!

What's your favorite color(s) to work with this time of year? We'd love to hear from you.

Warmly,

Sarah at Yarns By Design


Tuesday, April 11, 2017

The Traveling Fiber Artist

I've had the good fortune of having some amazing travel plans in my recent calendar. My travels made me realize how important it is to plan ahead when it comes to packing the perfect project to match your trip. Here are a few things to consider before you are on the go:

-Type of transportation. While knitting needles and crochet hooks are allowed on your carry-on luggage for flights, keep in mind scissors are only allowed if less than 4 inches on domestic flights. Nail clippers are a good alternative option. Check out TSA's list of allowed items: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring. If your trip is mostly by automobile, think about whether or not your travel time will take place during daylight hours. Interior lights or other light up devices may be distracting to your driver. If traveling by bus or train it may be a good idea to find out if you'll have easy access to your bag or if it will be secured away and out of reach.

Crocheting on a plane helps me pass the time. 


-Time allowance. In the past, I found myself overpacking when it comes to yarn. I completely overestimated how much free time I'd have to work on my projects. Try to tally up your travel time and your down time and make a realistic estimate.

-Pattern picking. If you are short on space in your bag, choose a pattern that doesn't require a lot of color change and can be completed in one skein. You can even pick a pattern that can be completed and worn during your trip! The project pictured below was used with scrap yarn I was thrilled to finally use.
Be sure to have a paper copy of your pattern.  While all of the online patterns are wonderful, you never know when you won't have access to WiFi or your mobile device is low on battery power.

Travel projects can be completed in time to wear on your trip. 


-Choosing yarn. When traveling, I try to avoid yarns that tend to shed. No one wants those fuzzies all over their clothes! I like to make sure my yarn is already wound or is one that has a center pull option. Be sure to keep your project free from dirt and stains that might arise during your trip by keeping it in a project bag when not in use. Shop our Project Bags just in time for your next vacation.

-Challenge yourself.  Don't be afraid to increase your creativity during travel time. One of my favorite project packing challenges was successfully making a pair of baby booties and hair accessories on a road trip to the baby shower. It was completed in perfect time from door-to-door.

-Venture out. If I go to a new city, I always try to check out a local yarn shop. Perhaps pack enough yarn to get to the city then switch to a new project with some new yarn on your return trip home.

Checking out the yarn scene in New Zealand. 


Tell us how you like to travel with your projects, we'd love to hear from you!

Warmly,

Sarah LaVoie

Yarns By Design

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Go Green with Dryer Dots

Earth Day is just around the corner on April 22nd. Looking for ideas to make a difference? We have just the product for you to make an earth friendly effort each time you dry a load of laundry: Dryer Dots!

This product by Gleener comes in a bag of six dryer balls, each about the size of a tennis ball. They are a fabulous alternative to chemical-covered fabric sheets. They are made up of 100% New Zealand wool and soak up moisture and cut dry time by 30%. Other benefits include reducing static and helping to soften and separate items in the dryer. Dryer Dots are free of chemicals and fragrances, making them ideal for anyone with allergies or asthma. They can be used with any dryer-friendly fabric.

Use 3 balls for small loads and all 6 for medium to large loads. 


Gleener's directions for use seem pretty easy, too: "Toss into dryer and run cycle as usual"!

Stop by our boutique to be on your way to a greener 2017 or you can get them on our website: http://yarnsbydesignpa.com/dryer-dots-eco-fabric-softener-6-pack.html

Tell us how being a knitter or crocheter has made you more eco-conscious or how you are making a difference this Earth Day. We'd love to hear your comments!

Warmly,

Yarns By Design