Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn

Cashmere 5

If only you could touch and feel this wonderful scarf, knitted with Art Yarns Cashmere 5.  I could say the 5 stands for 5 times softer than anything you have ever touched before.  It IS, but the five actually stands for 5 strands of lace yarn held together to make this wonderful worsted weight yarn.

In the skein it looks like lace, but when it is wound you see the thickness of the yarn and even more of the beauty!  I was experimenting with this scarf.  I knitted one skein in a reversible cable pattern and then knitted the second skein in a "mistake" rib, which is also reversible.  When anyone comes into the store, I MAKE them feel it.  You can not imagine their reactions!  If you look on our website to see the colors we have left (only 2), it's because everyone seems to think they have to have at least one for themselves...... More will be coming soon!

Brooke has arrived!

Our 5th grandchild (in less than 3 years) arrived on August 23, 2006!  This is Brooke's blankie and her parents are VERY SMART!... Practically all of the pictures that have been sent so far have her near or wrapped in this.  They have even called to ask how to wash it!!!  We now have 3 boys and 2 girls and we will be seeing her very soon.  Unfortunately none our kids live near us:o((

The blankie is knitted with Dark Horse Fantasy and I trimmed it and bound off with Berroco Touche.  Both are fantasic yarns and completely machine washable and machine dryable... It was washed and dried twice before I sent it, because everyone in the store needed to touch and feel.  Now, what kind of yarn store would this be if people weren't given a chance to do that!?!?!?

A Great Friend's MOM!

Dona's son graduated high school in May.  Since January, she has been knitting afghans for all of his friends in the colors of their college choice!  She has knitted 11, gave 3 away already (and they say they are using them in their schools already) and has 2 more to knit... The two are for her son and his roommate (you know, the cobbler with no shoes)!  She has knitted for various schools, most of which are in Virginia... UVA, VA Tech, Hampden-Sydney, William & Mary.  Other schools outside of  Virginia include Princeton and U of SC.  All of the afghans are knitted double stranded worsted with a size #17 needle.  She used machine washable yarn (mostly Plymouth Encore and Darkhorse Fantasy).  They are all soft and cuddly and I am sure that will come in handy with all of these guys away from home, some for the first time.

WOW, Dona!  Many of us have watched you to knit all of those loving stitches.  The boys must be so pleased with their gifts and you sure taught us that once you set your mind to do something, YOU will get it done!  I just can't understand why you decided to knit socks next - going from size 17 needles to #1must be painful!?!?!

Triple anyone?

So, if you can put 2 on one needle, why not 3.... or 4.... or MORE!  I was knitting along, comparing Claudia Handpainted Yarn (middle)to a "NEW" sock yarn that we will be carrying from The Purled Llama (right), when I realized that the new yarn in the color Bear Claw (which is much more purlple than in shows)is a bit thinner.  Both are considered sock weight and it is close to the same gauge, but my thoughts are that it is more like Lorna's Laces Superwash Sock Yarn.  So, of course I had to try this.  It is not a problem knitting this way if you can do 2, but I just don't like all the yarn twisting and the fact that I can't see results on a sock "yesterday"!!! LL seems to be twisted tighter than The Purled Llama.  Otherwise, all 3 above are soooooooooo soft and wonderful!! LL is the only one with a little nylon.  The other 2 are 100% Merino Superwash.  I have washed a pair of the Claudia and will show them to you shortly!

These are my 3 most favorite yarns for socks (along with Artful Ultra sock yarn, Trekking, Regia Silk and Regia Bamboo)!!!  Will probably have more favorites as soon as they are "created", but this is fun working with so many at the same time!  You must try them if you haven't already!  We have most colors of the Claudia that are shown on our color card with more colors coming in early next week.  We will be getting a dozen of The Purled Llama colors in on Monday (Bear Claw included)and we always have most of the Lorna's Laces colors in stock at all times. We will also have ALL of the Regia Bamboo colors in stock next week as well! 

I will be taking Liberty off the needle and putting it by itself to finish after I have shown some right handed knitters how to pick up stitches for a gusset.  I am doing a tutorial on knitting 2 socks at the same time on the magic loop.  Please join us at http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=11596730&uid=165500 if you would like to take part!

AND, please don't forget that Jane Slicer-Smith will be joining us at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn on October 30 and 31, 2006.  Please read information on the next blog down for details!!

Noro Yarns are back at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn!

This is one full skein of Silk Garden #244.  It gives you an idea of all the colors this wonderful yarn has in one shading!  We are beginning to get shipments of this wonderful yarn and it's partners, Kureyon, Iroh, Kocharan, Silver Thaw and more!  Please look at our website and see the colors we have in the Silk Garden and the Kureyon... http://www.eweknitkits.com then go to Yarn and then Noro! 

We are getting many new yarns in daily... Call or come by if you think we might carry the yarn and we will be happy to help you!

We are having a Tutorial!

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=11596730&uid=165500 This is my PictureTrail and I am doing a tutorial on two socks at once using the Magic Loop.  I have already posted Steps 1 - 5 and you can start at any time.  This will be ongoing until the socks are complete and it might take some time as I have many projects going at the same time.  If you are confident to go ahead, please do so and catch up later if you get "stuck"... Sometimes my words are not the greatest.  Sometimes you might have a better way to do something.  You are more than welcome to correct me or ask questions.... bobbiereich@cox.net . 

We have a Winner!

Robin is our winner of this first contest from Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn.  This is Pat and she picked the lucky winner of a beautiful Sweater Kit here last evening!  We had about 50 entries.  Some even did research to find out that Peggy's Cove is in Nova Scotia.  It's a beautiful fishing village outside of Halifax, the nation's capitol.  We visited there 38 years ago and went back a few weeks ago.  That is one place in the world that has NOT changed!!  It's beautiful, it's quaint and your are sure to fall in love with the place!

Thank you all for emailing me!  We are sure to have more contests just because everyone was so excited about this one...... AND, we just love excitement!!!

Claudia Hand Painted Yarns

What can I say!?!?!?  I found another yarn that is one of my favorites!!!!!  I met Claudia at the TNNA Convention.  I was immediately attracted to her colors and ordered enough to make a pair of  socks - Spring Break.  Her yarn was the first to be delivered of the things I ordered at the show and this sock was finished in record time.  She does short strands of color and combines absolutely gorgeous shades.  As soon as my "sock" customers saw the yarn, they ran to her website and told me what colors to order.  If you look at Claudia Hand Painted Yarns on the Yarn page at http://www.eweknitkits.com , you will see what has arrived already.  I have since sent in yet another order of this fantastic yarn!!!!  She also sells, sport and worsted weight of the same Merino and many other yarns, all in her wonderful colorways.  It looks like I will be getting some of the "other" yarns as well, since it is making such a hit at the store :o)))  AND, look at my last BLOG before this... The contest is still going on:o))

Vacation!

Just got back from a week away and did we have a great time!  Here is the deal.... email me at bobbiereich@cox.net and tell me where Peggy's Cove is located.  If you are right, your name will be placed in a bowl and we will draw a name for a WINNER of a Kit from Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn.  The drawing will take place on Wednesday, July 12, 2006.  Please make sure you include your name in the email.

Fantasy is Fantastic!

We at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn just love to receive new boxes from our shipping servers, and Tuesday we recieved 6!  5 of these boxes were our newest yarns.  Four was Fantasy by Dark Horse and 1 was new yarns from Blue Heron - Rayon Metallic and Loop Boucle.  I am finding 2 MAJOR problems with the orders.  I didn't buy ENOUGH!  Everyone who has come into the store has not left without some Fantasy and there are a mere 2 skeins left from the Blue Heron box!

Let's talk...  The owner of both companies came to see me in person about a month ago (distributors and designers TAKE NOTE).  They both told me that they had some great products, did not take a lot of my time and showed me some absolutely great things.  I ordered, they delivered everything that they promised.  I am happy, my customers seem to be happy and all is right with the world.  Of course, I had to take some of this yarn home with me so that I could make sure all was "safe."

Fantasy is wonderful!  It is 50% acrylic and 50% nylon.  This is worsted weight and perfect for baby clothes and EVERYTHING else!  So many people claim to be allergic to wool, but want that feel when they are knitting, and so many do not want to work with wool for babies.  This yarn is perfect for those reasons alone!  I started a pale pink circular baby blanket.  Husband has been out of town for a couple of days and when he is away I become a knitting maniac.  I was able to finish one skein.  Owner of company admits to 205 yards on the skeins (written on the label), but says that not to disappoint people if they are short.  He verbally says there is really about 215 to 220.  I think there is more than that.  I already have a 9 1/2 inch perimeter!  It is very soft and the yarn is a pleasure to knit. As soon as it is completed, the blanket is going in the washer.  The label says the yarn is machine washable.  It says to lie flat to dry, but the sample I saw when this was presented to me had been machine dried and it looked perfect.  I will test dry this in a machine on a delicate cycle... Results to follow when blanket is complete.

In between knitting this adorable blankie and getting NOT ENOUGH sleep, I started working with the Rayon Metallic.  I have a special party to go to the middle of June and hope I finish this in time. This is a DK weight and there are 550 yards per skein.  If you are not familiar with Blue Heron Yarn, this is a small company of hand dyed yarns.  The big attraction (to me and many others) are the boldness of the colors!  Many of the colors are truly electrfying!  The color I chose is Rhasberry.  It has purple, fushia, some burnt orange and it is GORGEOUS!  I am getting 5.5 stitches to the inch on a size five needle (most people would get the same on a #6, but I knit loose).  I have designed a diagonal shell with a cable going down the middle and there is not going to be enough yarn in the color that I chose.  See, I do these things to myself also.  Don't think you are the only ONE!  2 major things have been observed with this yarn... Oh, the colors and it is soooooooooo soft to work with.  The drape looks great and WOW!  I guess that was 4 things noted about the yarn :o)

I could not get pictures of this yarn on our website, because the yarn left here so quickly, but you can see all of the wonderful colors of the Fantasy (what a great name for this yarn) in the yarn section under Dark Horse - http://www.eweknitkits.com .  We have an introductory special on this yarn and minus 2 of the variagated, all are in stock at the moment.