With each release of Vogue Knitting we look forward to seeing what wonderful new garments designers have imagined with our Valley Yarns and Early Spring 2016 does not disappoint!

Julie Turjoman has designed the close fitting, High Low Tunic, with a split back and gorgeous slipped stitch texture. Once the body pieces have been knit and seamed the bodice is picked up and worked in the round. While we are sold out of the Winter Lake colorway we have quite a few fun and summer color in Longmeadow. Go classic and beachy with Natural, or add a splash of color with Periwinkle or Coral.

And don’t miss out on all the other incredible designs in this issue!

#4 Graphic Top by Yoko Hatta in Cascade Yarns Anchor Bay, #5 Striped Romper by Courtney Cedarholm in Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Dyed, #13 Open Waves Top by Jacqueline van Dillen in Rowan Creative Linen, #16 Cable & Lace Duster by Yoko Hatta in Plymouth Yarn Linen Concerto, #17 Deep V-Neck Duster by Deborah Newton in Classic Elite Yarns Soft Linen, #18 Lacy Cardi by Sarah Hatton in Rowan Pure Linen, #19 Deep Rib Tank by Annabelle Speer in Cascade Yarns Fixation Solid, #24 Eyelet Top by Yoko Hatta in Fibre Company Meadow.

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This week Kathy talks with Vogue Knitting Editor, Trisha Malcolm, about trends in the industry and the successful Vogue Knitting Live events.

Trisha has seen a spike of interest in colorwork designs, from stripes to color blocking and picture knits with intarsia,  brioche and more! Check out the Winter ’16 issue to see lots of great patterns with colorwork.

Steve’s Yarn Picks of the week:

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Guest: Kathy talks with Trisha Malcolm, Editor of Vogue Knitting. Their newest issue, Early Fall 2013, is available now though they began work on this issue back in January!

Trisha talks about keeping up with developing trends from runway shows and building design stories for their issues. She also talks with Kathy about the design submission process, the submission form is here,  and where designs could be used;  Vogue Knitting, Knit Simple, Noro Magazine or other Vogue publications.

They also discuss the Vogue Knitting Live Events that have become so popular in Seattle, New York and coming up in Chicago in early November.

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Mirasol Sami
• Mirasol Paqu Pura
• Wisdom Yarns Saki Silk
• Wisdom Yarns Poems Forte
• Universal Yarns Deluxe Worsted Concord Tweed – Closeout
• Universal Yarn Deluxe Heirloom Tweed – Closeout
• Feza Alp Light – Closeout
• Kollage Yarns Scrumptious – Closeout
• Kollage Yarns Luscious 50g – Closeout

Upcoming Events:

Classic Elite Fall 2013 Event, Wednesday evening July 24th from 6:00-7:30pm.

Stitches Midwest is happening August 8-11 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL.

Registration has opened for our 7th Annual Bus Trip to the NY Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck!

And don’t forget to check out our new streamlined cashwrap area the next time you stop into the store! The major remodel work is done and we’ll be finishing the new check out counter with some new graphic work and a few more fixtures.

 

Color me tickled!*  We are the featured shop in the Holiday 2009 issue of Vogue Knitting!

How cool is that!  (sorry the photo is a tad blurry)

Since I was interviewed for the article, I knew it was coming.  Still, that was several weeks ago and I had sort of forgotten about it and I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone on the staff.  They were so excited!

What has been really cool has been the reaction by our customers.  They are all so pleased to see “their” LYS featured.  Want to know the true cherry on top moment?  When I started getting a few emails from our mail order customers expressing how excited they were to see us featured.   My thanks to Cheryl Krementz for taking my words and creating a beautiful article.

Although my favorite part of this isse is page 26, there are other great articles and of course some very nice designs.  In particular, you definitely should check out this issue’s KnitLife article about Veronik Avery and written by the lovely Carol Sulcoski.   It’s a great view into Veronik’s world and how she came to not only become a knitwear designer, but also how her new yarn line, St. Denis came to be.

Designs in the issue feature color techniques, chunky yarns, gift ideas as well as some glamorous designs in both pale-barely-there colors that are elegant and sophisticated, as well as some that are knit in powerful plum – a hot color for the fall/winter season.

Of course, there’s a lot more in the issue – be sure to pick up a copy!

One final note – I often talk here on the blog and on the podcast about our hockey playing boys and how that basically dominates our life from early fall through March.  Hockey parents are crazy and we try to keep the boys and ourselves grounded.  Somehow, I think Pixie would beg to differ with our level of success on that front:

Yup – there she is, in the store, stitching new velcro onto Jackson’s goalie pads.  We  have definitely gone over the edge.

Kathy

*I must credit our Berroco Rep, the lovely Andra, for use of one of her signature phrases.

NOTE: This post was started on 7/31 and never finished. Rather than start a whole new post, I am going to finish off the two drafts I have and then get things current)

We have received in so much yarn the past few days, it is mind boggling.

Besides yarn, we have books, patterns and magahttp://yarn.com/webs/0/1/0/4-0-1203/zines flying in at warp speed.

Two highlights – the two things that garnered squeals and general giddieness amongst the staff more than anything else. It has been hard to be focused, to say the least. The Vogue 25th Anniversary Issue is awesome and I suggest you get on-line or stop in the store asap to pick yours up. We had an out of town (really, out of country) visitor today and even that person, who is not a knitter, was thrilled to score a copy. THAT’s how hot this issue is.

We are very disappointed to announce that our event on Sunday, August 12th with Adina Klein, editor of Vogue Knitting has been cancelled. We will hopefully be able to host Adina at the store at another time.

Then, Rowan Magazine #42. It.is.spectacular. I am particularly fond of the Kaffe Fassett design on the cover. For any of you planning to attend Stitches East, Kaffe will be in our booth on Thursday evening starting at 7:00pm to sign books, etc. He is giving a talk earlier in the evening, check out the Stitches schedule for more info at http://www.knittinguniverse.com/.

More later.

Kathy