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This week Kathy talks with Kristi Johnson from Shalimar Yarns.

Kristi tells Kathy about learning to knit at a young age, opening a yarn shop and beginning her hand-dyeing journey. They also discuss The Shalimar yarns that WEBS carries and the full line available on the Shalimar website as well as the origin of the company name.

Steve’s Yarn Picks :

• Blue Sky Extra – NEW!
• S. Charles Natalia – Closeout
• Katia Hechizo – Closeout

Anniversary Sale through May 31st – This is your last week to order!:

• Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande
• Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace
• Rowan All Seasons Cotton
• Ella Rae Classic & Classic Heathers

Upcoming Events:

Massachusetts Sheep and Wool Festival  is THIS weekend! May 24th and 25th.

WEBS is closed Sunday, May 25th (Head over to the MA Sheep and Wool Festival!) and Monday, May 26th. Enjoy your Memorial Day!

Stop by and check out current the Classic Elite Yarns Trunk Show.

Laura Militzer Bryant, Prism Yarns Trunk Show and Book Signing June 6th and 7th.

The 4th Annual I-91 Shop Hop is happening June 26th-29th, get your Passport Today!

  

I’ve been knitting so many small projects lately, for the ease of finishing them in a week or less. It also gives me a great excuse to try lots of different yarns and I’ve been branching out in my needle choices as well. But I’ve been seduced by a sweater pattern, and like dating, I want to find just the right yarn to settle down with since I’ll be living with it for a while. I think I’ve happened upon the best thing ever–Shalimar Homage DK.  I had an argument with myself about whether to go with the fabulously-named color “Land! Katie Scarlett” or the less-fabulous “Lagoon”, but the ” Lagoon” won, and I took a skein home to swatch. It’s just lovely. Smooth, with some subtle color shadings of blue and grey, but not muddy or with any pooling of darker colors. It knits right to gauge and when I washed my swatch (of course I washed it. Don’t you?) it bloomed but didn’t get fuzzy or pill-y. I think I’m going to really enjoy the miles of stockinette stitch my sweater pattern demands, and when it’s finished, I’ll have a soft, beautiful garment that will last forever. I think I’ll knit it on my current favorite needles, Karbonz; and I think I might even drop a hint about getting the Karbonz Interchangeable Deluxe Set, with the 4.5″ tips and 4 different cables. They hold the yarn smoothly while the pointy tips let me knit at top speed, which is a bonus with a sweater that includes pleats and a shawl collar. I’ll call it my “Happy New Year” gift, since Hanukkah is just a memory now. I hope your New Year includes all the yarn you need and some you don’t!

This week the staff is buzzing about…

1. Everything is cuter when it’s tiny. And with Anna Hrachovec’s new Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi book, there is a ton of cute to go around. I’m particularly excited about the smallest knitted baked potato I’ve ever seen. > Dena C.

2. My hands were itchy for a project while working at Sock Summit and I found myself gravitating towards the squishy and silky Shalimar Breathless. I thought that the Jade color would be perfect for my sister’s birthday coming up soon. I looked around the booth and saw Kirsten’s simple and beautiful shawl Valley Yarns B6 Basic Triangle Shawl pattern. It was really nice to have a smooth and simple knit to show off the subtle variations of color in this yarn. So much fun! > Cara S.

3. S.Charles Collezione Panne – It’s nice to have a chenille option for customers that is great for knitting and crocheting as opposed to the many chenille cones in the warehouse that are better suited for weaving. > Heidi R.

4. I knitted Highland Fling for the store. I loved the yarn (Classic Elite Vista) and found the pattern well written. The pattern book has other nice patterns too. > Marion H.

5. As soon as I saw the sample skein of Madelinetosh Tosh Chunky, I knew I had to bargain with Karen so that I could be the one to knit a store project out of it! Ysolda’s Ripley is an easy and satisfying knit and only uses one skein of this new addition to the Tosh family. Like all Tosh yarns, the colors are gorgeously saturated and the heavier weight flies off the needles. > Emma W.