Happy New Year!

We hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing holiday weekend! I saw this meme this morning that perfectly describes the week in between Christmas and New Years, and it made me laugh…

I don't know about you, but this is very true for me! I have such a hard time getting back into the swing of things during this week… I just feel it can all be put on hold until the start of the New Year! So with that, we hope you all have a happy and healthy New Year! 

New to the shop this week we have Feza Yarn! We selected two different yarns to start with that we knew our customers would love! First is the Feza Jewel…

This yarn is a super soft is 100% acrylic and metallic. It knits up beautifully, making it a great yarn for a fancy shawl! We have ours sampled in The Daniella Shawl, a free pattern on Ravelry that takes just 3 balls! 

Next is the Baby Gradient Blanket kits. This super soft baby yarn is made up of 50% Cotton and 50% Viscose. It is machine washable as well. The blanket is light enough for a summer baby and yet warm enough for winter. We have 4 different color combos to choose from in this hand dyed yarn! 

All of these new items are available on our website and in our boutique! 

Once again, Happy New Year to all of our customers! Because of you we get to do what we love! Thank you for all your support over the last year! We look forward to seeing you all in 2017!

-YBD

EEK! The Holidays are Nearly Here!

     How can it be December 14th already?  If you are like us, there never seems to be enough time for that last handmade gift.  Don't fret.  Your fiber friends at Yarns By Design have several clever solutions for you.  Ranging from adorable sweater ornaments to tie on that special package (or hang on the tree) to a snuggly, drop stitch cowl that knits up in no time (perfect for the last night of Hannukah), we've got you covered.

     We promise each of these last minute gifts is quick and nice enough that you can rest assures the recipient will absolutely love whichever one you choose.

Felted Coffee Cozy

Cat Toys

Dish Towel

Gift Bag

Tea Bag Cozy

Drop Stitch Cowl

Warmly,

Yarns By Design

MADELINETOSH meets the Jeweled Cowl

MADELINETOSH.  Is it the world's greatest yarn?

Okay, if isn't the best yarn in the world, it certainly ranks up there.  Known for its sophisticated colors and incredible feel, I couldn't wait to knit the Jeweled Cowl by Sachiko Uemura (available on Ravelry for free) out of some Madelinetosh.  The Jeweled Cowl is the latest addition to the YBD store samples.  Knit from one skein of Madelinetosh light on size 8 needles, this amazing pattern works well with many lighter-weight yarns.  I added size 8 seed beads for a little extra sparkle, but the pattern can also be knit with no beads (or you could splurge for some Swarovski crystal bi-cones -- hmmm).  It’s such a simple knit; I may have to make a few more -- maybe a soft, romantic, mohair version (our Berocco Andean Mist is an incredibly soft Alpaca and silk mohair yarn) or a spunky pop of color using our Hedgehog Skinny Singles…  Decisions.  Decisions.

Speaking of Madelinetosh, we are super-excited to tell you that we recently received a shipment of this incredible yarn!  Stop by and check it out for yourself.

Happy Knitting,

Vanessa

New York Sheep & Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck)

  We went to check out the New York Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY, for our first time this weekend and it was amazing! Sheep, goats, llamas, alpaca, and yarn. So. Much. Yarn!

The festival is held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds and the fall colors were in full swing with a crispness in the air. The weather was perfect for everyone to wear their favorite hand knit sweaters and shawls; a Rhinebeck tradition. As I walked around, it became a game to name the patterns and yarns I saw on people: “ooh, a TinCanKnits Flax sweater in MadelineTosh; there’s a Stephen West Exploration Station; and she’s wearing Color Affection in Plucky!”

 We met up with friends, made some new friends and perhaps brought home a few skeins of yarn. (No, I did not bring home any baby goats this time.) My favorite new (to me) vendor was Kelsey Stephens at  Primrose Yarn Co. Her booth was busy and her yarns are amazing. This is where I ran into Stephen West shopping and was able to snap a picture of us. Notice he is towering above me at about 6’5”.

 Next year I’m planning ahead and snagging some of those coveted spots for workshops- like basket weaving and beginning wheel spinning. In the meantime, I’ll be working my way through my basket of beautiful new yarn and making a sweater for #Rhinebeck2017.

-Joanna Elsas

joanna@yarnsbydesignpa.com

That Darn Heel!

     

   Ask any novice sock knitter and they’ll tell you that turning the heel and picking up stitches for the gusset can paralyze even the most adventurous among us.  It’s one of the top reasons knitters think that sock knitting is an advanced project.  Fret not, fiber friends, November’s snuggly sleeping sock class is designed with you in mind.  After this class, you’ll see that any advanced beginner can knit a simple sock. Everyone at Yarns By Design wants each of you to have that Eureka! moment when you turn your first heel and see your gusset stitches just waiting for you to gather them up and conquer the heel once and for all.  If you can count, you can turn a heel.  It really can be that simple.  

   Here’s a quick sneak peek of what you’ll learn:

• Half of the stitches of the sock leg will form the heel flap in nearly every basic sock pattern. (Of course a knitter can customize the flap to fit an unusually narrow or wide foot.)
• The total number of gusset stitches picked up (on both sides of the heel) is the same number of stitches on your heel flap.
• Picking up an additional stitch or two at the top of the heel flap when you pick up your gusset stitches will help avoid the dreaded hole at the top of the gusset.
• Turning a simple heel is no more complicated that knitting a few short rows.
• Vanessa's super-simple trick for knowing WHICH stitches must be picked up to conquer the gusset and more!

   So come join us on November 10^th and see how easy sock knitting can be!  You’ll never fear that darn heel again.

Knitter's Keep Kit by Cocoknits

Keep knitting accessories close at hand …

Are you tired of digging through the sofa cushions to find your stitch markers? Tired of holding your cable needle behind your ear (or with your teeth)? And where is that tapestry needle when you need it?

Problem solved.

Introducing Knitter’s Keep
A silicone slap bracelet fits any size wrist and sports a brushed steel-plated magnet. Nickel-plated accessories attach to the magnet to keep what you need where you need it most.

KIT INCLUDES:
One silicone slap bracelet in orange, green, blue or grey
10 large round stitch markers (accommodate US 15 / 10mm needles or smaller)
10 small round stitch markers (accommodate US 9 / 5.5mm needles or smaller)
10 opening stitch markers (accommodate US 11 / 8mm needles or smaller)
2 cable needles (size US 1 / 2.5mm)
2 curved-tip tapestry needles
One handy 100% cotton pouch to keep everything together in your knitting bag.


© cocoknits

Available in colors: Grey / Blue / Green / Orange

Cocoknits Sweater Care Kit

The Cocoknits Sweater Care Kit contains everything you need for blocking and handwashing your hand-knit items and all of your fine hand-washables. To block seamless sweaters or accessories which do not require pinning, and to wash seamed sweaters whether hand-knit or store-bought, the Sweater Care Kit is perfect. It can be used alone, or in conjunction with the Knitter’s Block kit.

If you knit mostly scarves, shawls, seamed sweaters and other pin-able items, the Knitter’s Block kit is probably best for you.

The Sweater Care Kit includes:
- Two fine mesh, zippered laundry bags (small: 8" × 12 × 8", large: 8" × 22" × 8")
- One large super-absorbent towel (dimensions 36" × 60")
- One super-absorbent grid towel, inches and centimeters on opposite sides (dimensions 40" × 40")
- One mesh pop-up dryer (dimensions 28" × 34" opened, 11" diameter folded)
- A bottle of unscented Eucalan wash
- Jute bag (dimensions 15" × 12" × 5")


© cocoknits

Storage / Project Box

This storage / project box is an exercise in simplicity, but with details that make it amazing. The designs are hand-drawn and screenprinted by Arounna on natural, unbleached linen fabric, which she then sews into these beautiful, fully lined vessels.

Sturdy enough to stand on its own and hold your current craft or knitting project (or supplies, or a houseplant, or whatever you dream up), it also folds flat when not in use — if you can imagine that ever happening!

- made in Canada
- entirely handcrafted
- solvent-free ink screenprinted on 100% natural linen
- fully lined with 100% organic cotton canvas
- base is approx 6 x 7 inches; approx 7 inches tall
- folds flat
- no two are exactly alike

Click here to shop.

Dangling Conversation KAL

Upcoming KAL...



Dangling Conversation knit with sparrow:
Designed by Mindy Ross, this flirty little “number” doesn’t leave conversation dangling for long, if at all! Quite the eye catcher and ‘conversation’ starter! This cute little crescent shaped shawl/scarf/kerchief adds dimension with any outfit. Constructed in linen, it’s wonderful for staying cool…in the hot days of summer, and a lovely embellishment in the cold of Winter.


© skywater


© coppermoon

Quince & Company Sparrow is a plain little yarn, beautiful in its simplicity. Its clean, smooth hand is crisp as you knit it. But after washing and wearing it becomes handkerchief-soft and drapey. It’s spun in Italy from organic linen grown in Belgium. Knit Sparrow on a variety of needle sizes depending on the drape and feel you want in your project. The yarn is a natural in lace patterns, carving out the yarn overs, but it’s fluid, too, in simple stockinette. It’s great in tanks, shawls, and breezy cardigans, and lovely as can be in bags, wash cloths, and other home accessories.


© knitomaticyarns

SAVE THE DATE:
The group will meet on Tuesday evenings, March 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 6:00-7:00pm at the boutique. Pre-registration is required to reserve your spot, seating is limited. The cost is FREE with purchase of materials.

HERE’S HOW THE KAL WORKS: 
- Purchase 2 or more skeins of Quince & Co Sparrow. It is 10% off now through Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Use code KAL0316, call for availability. 

- Purchase a copy of Dangling Conversation by Mindy Ross. 

- The knitalong will begin Tuesday, March 8. If you're local, cast on and knit with us in the boutique from 6-7pm. If you're not local, join us in our Ravelry group.

- Post a photo of your finished project in the KAL thread on Ravelry by Thursday, March 31, 2016 and you'll be eligible to win a FREE GIFT by Yarns By Design! 

SALE

Join us for our upcoming SALE … March 4 & 5, 2016 at the Yarns By Design Boutique.



all sales are final - can not be combined with any other offer
only on In-Stock items - cash payment appreciated

Madder: Anthology 2

Madder: Anthology 2
by Carrie Bostick Hoge

March 5 - 19, 2016

Madder: anthology 2 is a follow up collection to the popular Madder: Anthology 1 which includes seventeen beautiful patterns designed with easy knitting and wearing in mind. A perfect compilation of patterns always there for you when you are looking for a basic staple garment for your closet.


© carrie bostick hoge

As a special for the trunk show, purchase the book and yarn for a project, you will receive 10% off the yarn!

Stop By, Get Inspired!