2018 Steel Valley Yarn Crawl

It's that time of year again! Clear your calendar and clear some space for a fresh yarn stash- the yarn crawl is here! This year we welcome 3 new shops participating, and said a sad farewell to 3 that closed. We get a lot of questions about the crawl, and I am here to answer a few! 

@yarnsbydesign

A full shop for the SVYC

What is the Steel Valley Yarn Crawl (SVYC)?

The SVYC is an event hosted by 11 local yarn shops in the great Pittsburgh area. We welcome crafters into our stores from August 3rd - August 12th 2018. To participate, you purchase a bag and passport ($12) and travel from shop to shop getting your passport stamped. Bags can be purchased through the participating shops. Once your passport is full, you leave it with the last shop you visit and it is put towards the grand prize raffle baskets! 

Each participating shop will have 3 raffle baskets as well! You are given tickets with your bag and passport to use towards these baskets. You can also make purchases in order to earn more tickets to use towards the raffle baskets at the shop you are visiting! Every shop will also have a pattern to hand out when getting passports stamped (knit and crochet). 

@yarnsbydesign

One of last years YBD raffle basket winners! 

Who are the participating shops?

Bo Peep Fine Yarns (Ligonier) 

Darn Yarn Needles & Thread (Harmony) 
Dyed in the Wool (McCandless/Ross Township) 
Kathy’s Kreations (Ligonier) 
Kid Ewe Knot (Bridgeville) 
McWalker Yarns (Millvale) 
Raggz Fiber Art (Forbes Road/Greensburg) 
Ross Farm Mercantile (Washington) 
Sewickley Yarns (Sewickley) 
Tonidale Yarn & Needlecraft (Tonidale) 
Yarns by Design (Oakmont)

Is there anything special this year for the 5th anniversary?

YES! This year we have included a SVYC Carabiner with your bag! The shops will be handing out stitch markers to hang on the carabiner. 

@yarnsbydesign

THE BAG????

This years bag has been my personal favorite so far! A mini tote with a pocket on the front, makes for the perfect project bag! 

@yarnsbydesign

What are the grand prizes?

2018 grand prize structure as follows:  THREE prizes - first prize valued at over $500, second prize valued at over $300, and third prize valued at over $200! Each store contributes to the raffle prizes! 

What are the rules?

-Passports must be purchased from one of the participating yarn stores.
-Each participant must have their own passport. Only ONE passport per person.
-Each participant must fill out the contact information on the passport PRIOR to your first stamp. Please print clearly - we need this information to be able to contact you!
-Each participant must be present at each yarn shop to receive their stamp (i.e., no proxy crawling).
-Each participant must be at least 18 years of age.
-All completed passports must be turned in by the end of business on August 12th, 2018 to the last store you visit.

We are getting really excited to meet new friends, and to see some old! This is such a fun event, and we wouldn't be able to do it without all of you! Stop by and get your bags today! 

Now at YBD: Fringe Supply Co.

You have the tools, notions, yarn and patterns but need the perfect tote to carry them in...not to worry! Fringe Supply Co. bags are now available at Yarns By Design. These fun and functional totes are sure to bring a smile to your face while carrying all of your project needs. 

Woollelujah for Fringe Supply Co. bags!

We couldn't be more excited to now be a Fringe Supply Co. stockist. The company was established in 2012 and is located in Nashville, TN. As owner Karen Templer notes- their products are built to last. 

The Knitting Necessities bag is a necessity. 

Currently we carry three totes to choose from-all made of 100% cotton and made and printed in the USA.  The "Knitting Necessities" and "High Fiber" totes are a standard size of 18"wide x 13" high x 6" deep. 

The high-fiber tote. 

The "Woollelujah" tote is for those you you who don't like to pack lightly- this bag fits it all. It is 23" wide x 13" high x 9" deep.  Check out how much our manager Natalie totes around in her bag! 

This bag fits everything.

If you are looking to add a little flair to your bags, we also have Fringe Supply Co. knitmoji enamel pins. Choose from the sheep, the heart-eyed sheep or the frog. Add one (or all) to your jacket or handmade item and these make great gifts for your fiber loving friends. 

Perfect little pins. 

Stop by today to get your Fringe Supply Co. fix!

Warmly,

Sarah with YBD 

sarah@yarnsbydesignpa.com

Is your yarn stash ready for fall?

Can you believe it? Fall will officially be here in a few days! When I think of fall I think of soups, pumpkins, apples, back-to-school, leaves, football and…yarn. Suddenly, I find myself looking up patterns for shawls, cowls, boot cuffs and re-examing my at-home stash. Our customers seem to be on the same page as we notice they are coming in for chunkier weights and darker hues for the change in season.

We have beautiful shades of autumn at the boutique. Rich golds, bright yellows and deep oranges are catching my eye and reminding me that it's time to work on my colder weather projects. Pictured are just a few that felt fall-like, back row left to right: Malabrigo Rasta in "Sunset", Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in "Fauna", Hedgehog Fibres Merino DK in "Monarch", Malabrigo Worsted in "Sunset", Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Paints in "Autumn Leaves", Madelintosh Tosh DK in "Glazed Pecan". Front row: Madelintosh Tosh Vintage in "Amber Trinket", Brooklyn Tweed Loft in "Wool Socks", Malabrigo Mecha in "Piedras", Freia Ombre in "Ember".

Say "leaves". Our fall yarns pose for a photoshoot. 

Yarns By Design also has a refreshed stock of Berroco Comfort in black and yellow, ready for tailgates and game time. With the in-store purchase of this yarn, you can get a free pattern of the "Steeler Scarf". Don't forget to get enough yarn to make the matching hat, shown here using Stephen West's Botanic Hat pattern.

Black and yellow!

Stephen West's Botanic Hat pattern in black and yellow. 

Get your free scarf pattern with in-store purchase of Berroco Comfort yarn.

One of my favorite fall projects was this crocheted poncho and I look forward to taking it out of my closet year after year.  My love for the fall season made using these colors and worsted weight yarn a joy to work with. It is just perfect to wear when the chill in the air isn't quite cold enough for a coat.

What are you working on for fall? Share your patterns and projects with us and stop by the boutique or shop online for your fall yarn fix.


Warmly,

Sarah with Yarns By Design
Sarah@yarnsbydesignpa.com

Oh baby!

It always seems to me like June, July and August are popular months for babies to be born. If you're like me, each summer comes with the joyous addition of newborns amongst friends, family and coworkers. Giving a handmade gift is an extra special way to say congratulations. It may even be something the little one gets attached to and treasures for years! 

Yarns By Design has some beautiful yarns that are perfect for your next baby project. Our most popular  one by J.C. Brett- Flutterby comes in a variety of colors. It's super bulky weight can make for a quick moving project if you need one done before baby gets here. This yarn has many pattern designs to use- you'll need more than one as you'll be hooked on the yarn after feeling it's marshmallow-soft fiber. Looking for something in a lighter weight? Try Cascade Yarns: Cherub Baby for sport weight or Rowan: Super Fine Merino for fingering weight. (All pictured above)

Squishy soft Flutterby yarn patterns. 

To make life even easier, Yarns By Design has in stock the  Feza Baby Gradient Blanket kit. Pattern and yarn ready to go!

J.C. Brett Flutterby Hooded Blanket on top and Feza Baby Gradient Blanket in center. 

If you see more baby projects in your future, consider a pattern book to have handy. We have a collection to choose from including patterns for blankets, booties, garments, and toys.

Just a few of the baby pattern books at YBD!

Finally, if you are looking for something a little bit different than the usual pastels of baby projects I suggest trying something like making a blanket or garment in the baby's birthstone color. June is light  amethyst or moonstone, July is ruby and August is peridot. 

Left to Right: June/Light Amethyst in Malabrigo Rios "Orchid", July/Ruby in Malabrigo Rios "Ravelry Red",  and August/Peridot in Madelintosh DK in "Grasshopper".

Bonus: all yarns mentioned and pictured are machine washable! A must for baby friendly projects.

Do you have a favorite project you like to make for the babies in your life? Share them below or bring them by the boutique to show us (babies too)!

Warmly,

Sarah from Yarns By Design

Meet the Yarns By Design team- Part One

Over the next few blog posts you'll get to meet the Yarns By Design team. 

First up is Michelle who joined our team Winter 2016. You can usually find her at the boutique on Saturdays working the floor and assisting you with your knitting needs. 

Meet Michelle!

Michelle became interested in knitting over 10 years ago when her youngest started first grade and would be gone all day.  When asked how she became interested in knitting she said, "my local YMCA was offering a free class and I thought…why not? I won't say I was hooked right away but I stuck with it and it has become therapeutic for me." "If I'm sitting, my knitting is in my lap" she continues.   

One of Michelle's work in progress. 

When Michelle isn't knitting she is busy with her  family which consists of husband James, teen aged daughters Allyson and Meghan and dog Cha-cha.  She enjoys being outdoors flower gardening and bird watching.  "Fitness is also extremely important to me", she says. "I swim laps Monday through  Friday and run on the weekends.  I also squeeze in a bike ride when I can. I volunteer with Meals on Wheels on Wednesdays."

Knitted hats. 

Her favorite place to knit is on her back porch with her dog at her feet and a glass of iced tea beside her. Her most elaborate project was a baby blanket knitted and sold to a friend to give as a gift.  

Socks handmade by Michelle

Her tips to fellow knitters: "Stick with it if you are just beginning.  Ask more experienced knitters as many questions as you can and don't be afraid to rip a project out and start over.  There isn't a mistake that I haven't been able to fix."

Another project by Michelle

 Stop in to the boutique and say hello to Michelle. Interested in learning to knit or crochet and "stick with it"? Click here for our class information!