Meet Shirley Paden!

Join us this Sunday, October 31st, for a book signing with internationally recognized knitwear designer Shirley Paden! The book signing will be held from 2-3pm and is free and open to the public. Shirley's book, Knitwear Design Workshop: The Comprehensive Guide to Handknits, will be available for purchase at the boutique.

Shirley is the founder and owner of Shirley Paden Custom Knits in New York City, where she designs an exclusive line of custom-knit clothing. She teaches master knitting classes for the fashion industry and conducts seminars on lace, entrelac, cables, color knitting and finishing techniques. Her designs have appeared in magazines such as Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet, Vogue Knitting, Knitter's, Family Circle, and Knit It! Shirley has also been featured on HGTV and Knitting Daily TV.

Yarns By Design's hours this Sunday only will be from 10am-4pm. Hope to see you then!

This just in: Louet Mooi!

Yarns By Design is pleased to announce that we have recently expanded our Louet North America offerings! One of the fine yarns that we are now featuring is Mooi Lace Weight. Mooi (pronounced moy) is a unique blend of fibers that combines rayon made from bamboo fiber with the luxury of natural bison and cashmere. The rayon is dyed, while the cashmere and bison content remain natural, producing a stunning and vibrant visual effect. The fibers are blended prior to spinning. Mooi (which means "pretty" in Dutch) is simply a pleasure to knit and it adds rich lustrous color to any project.



Also on offer are patterns using this fabulous yarn: the Cable & Lace Shawl, Faith (a hat and scarf set that uses only one skein of Mooi!), Katara (a feminine sleeveless top) and Brianna (a dressy t-shirt with an all-over lace pattern).

Stop in today to see and feel this beautiful yarn for yourself!

Join us this Saturday, October 2nd, for the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival Yarn Tasting!

Yarns By Design is pleased to be participating in the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival's first Yarn Tasting on Saturday, October 2nd! The Yarn Tasting will be held at the Churchill Valley Country Club from 1-4pm and will feature products from Louet North America, Feza Yarns and Blue Heron Yarns.

You will have the opportunity to sample hundreds of yarns from each company, make swatches and test the differences among wools, bamboo, cottons, cashmere, mohair, silk and novelties. Hand dyed, variegated, solids, sport weights, lace weights, bulky, chunky, roving, and so much more. Refreshments, desserts, prizes, trunk shows and giveaways are all part of this new event. All you need to bring are your needles and/or crochet hooks. Spinning wheels and drop spindles will be available to test fibers, but you may bring your own.

Tickets will be sold at the door, but space is limited for this very special event. Click here for more information.

Because we will be attending this event, our boutique hours on Saturday, October 2nd will be 10am-1pm. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but hope to see you at the Yarn Tasting!

Stahman's Shawl Collaboration starts this Wednesday!

Join us for our Stahman’s Shawl Collaboration, beginning this Wednesday, September 22nd at 1:30pm. The Collaboration is a free workshop led by our customer and friend, Amy, who has been very busy working on her latest shawl to show all of you (shown above, on Tamara). The Collaboration will be held on Wednesdays, from September 22nd through October 13th, from 1:30-3:30pm. Purchase your yarn and the book Stahman's Shawls & Scarves from Yarns By Design and the collaboration is free!

Stahman's Shawls and Scarves, by Myrna A. I. Stahman, focuses on seaman's scarves and Faroese-style shawls. A Faroese shawl is a traditional piece of clothing from the Faroe Islands, often with the distinguishing characteristic of center back gusset shaping. The shawls have two triangular side panels, a trapezoid-shaped back gusset, an edge treatment, and usually shoulder shaping, which allows these shawls to drape over the shoulders and remain in place as the wearer moves, even if the shawl is not pinned in place.

"In 2008 I bought the book on shawls that Myrna wrote and fell in love," says Amy. "I am working on my tenth shawl from the book. I love them!"

Amy also offers the following reasons why you should take the collaboration:

1. Every technique that you need to know to make these shawls is included in the book. I have learned the easiest way to make those techniques work. I understand what the author meant by those instructions. I have some little tricks that I use to make the pattern go more smoothly and therefore easier/faster for you.
2. When you knit for a class, you tend to get things completed so that you can learn the next step, and will therefore end up with a completed project.
3. Knitting with friends allows us to share our progress and encourage each other.

So, stop by the boutique today to try on a few of these beautiful shawls, and join us starting this Wednesday for the Collaboration!

Shirley Paden Design Master Class Reminder

Go back to school with internationally recognized hand knitwear designer Shirley Paden, who will teach her Sweater Design Master Class on Sunday, October 31 from 11:00am-6:00pm (with a one-hour lunch break). The class is based on her new book, Knitwear Design Workshop: The Comprehensive Guide to Handknits. Spots for this class are still available!

Shirley is the founder and owner of Shirley Paden Custom Knits in New York City, where she designs an exclusive line of custom-knit clothing. She teaches master knitting classes for the fashion industry and conducts seminars on lace, entrelac, cables, color knitting and finishing techniques. Her designs have appeared in magazines such as Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet, Vogue Knitting, Knitter's, Family Circle, and Knit It! Shirley has also been featured on HGTV and Knitting Daily TV.

Learn to design knitwear with a perfect individual fit! From the initial spark of inspiration to the sewing of the last seam, Shirley will guide you through the knitwear design process. Based on the successful workshops that she teaches to the fashion industry in New York, Knitwear Design Workshop will give you the foundation to take your knitwear designs to the next level with confidence. The class fee is $150 (lunch included). Call the boutique at 412-832-0657 to reserve your spot!

Thursday, on a Tuesday.

Sandy recently completed the Thursday pattern from Kirsten Johnstone's Assemblage line. Knit out of one strand each of Habu Textiles' A-166 2/30 Ramie and A-177 Super Fine Merino, this lovely top, with a delicate pleated ruffle running down the front, is ideal for layering. Interested in making your own? Both the pattern and a wonderful selection of the yarns await you at the boutique!

Have a finished project made with fiber or a pattern from Yarns By Design that you'd like to show off? Email your name, photos and the project details (yarn and pattern info) to info@YBDoakmont.com, and we'll feature your items on the blog!

Hand Painted Knitting Yarns "Scarf-in-a-Scarf" Knitting Kits have arrived!

Many of you have asked about the beautiful scarf sample that's been on view at the boutique for months, and now the kits are here! The Hand Painted Knitting Yarns "Scarf-in-a-Scarf" Knitting Kits include four skeins of soft-as-butter yarn in a 60% silk, 40% fine Merino blend, as well as a handpainted silk scarf that's been dyed to match. Knit the included pattern, thread the silk scarf through your knitting, and you have a beautiful new accessory for fall that can be worn in a number of ways! Stop by the boutique to pick up your kit today!