What to stash this week: Yarn with attitude

By Lisa | May 22, 2020

Heather of Sew Happy Jane has embraced the rustic wool trend with her new line of non-Superwash yarn. She’s dyed her new 100% Peruvian Highland Wool in 10 colorways — eight semisolids and two speckled/variegated — that coordinate beautifully, making it perfect for colorwork. At $18 per 246-yard skein, it’s also an inexpensive entree into the world of crunchy yarn. Heather is taking dyed-to-order preorders until May 25.

Tomorrow, Stefania and Giulia of Lanivendole are launching orders for their next yarn club/collaboration. The Mind Wanderers Yarn Club is themed around where we go when we get lost in our thoughts while knitting. Each club bundle will include three skeins of their luxurious and local blend of Italian wool, Cashmere and alpaca and two accessories from Italian makers.

Debbie of Murky Depths Dyeworks is evoking the childhood nostalgia of the 64 Crayola box (the one with the sharpener on the back) with her new mini skein sets. Each set includes five 80-yard skeins of Deep Sock, perfect for colorwork hats, fingerless mitts or as sweater accents. Debbie is also offering 15% off, using code CXL15.

If your Startitis is flaring up, house your new WIPs in one of Rock Solid Designs’ new project bags! There are sweet honeybees and cheerful yellow poppies to get us in the mood for our socially-distanced spring, as well as reminders of the travels in our future.

Heather of Pumpkins and Wool has launched her new Sock Kits, featuring one 463-yard skein and one 92-yard mini in a super soft Superwash Merino/nylon blend.

Victoria of Eden Cottage Yarns’ next update, taking place on Monday at 1 p.m. UK time, will include a summer-ready restock of laceweight yarns, including Titus Lace (Merino/silk) and Askham Lace (baby alpaca/silk).

Karen Whooley’s new book, Modern Italian Lace Crochet, will be released on June 2 and you can preorder it now. The book includes 10 new crochet designs inspired by her Italian heritage.

What to stash this week: prepare for the coming apoca-knits

By Lisa | May 1, 2020

A silver lining to yet another canceled festival is that independent publisher Cooperative Press has used the opportunity of a virtual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival to re-release two of their most popular titles: the appropriate-for-these-times Doomsday Knits: Projects for the Apocalypse and After, edited by Alex Tinsley, and Subversive Socks, edited by Tabetha Hedrick. Both books are only available to preorder until this Sunday, May 3, so grab yours before they become harder to find than unsalted butter.

Tomorrow, Heather of Sew Happy Jane will be participating in the Virtu-wool fiber festival hosted on Facebook, and her virtu-wool shop will be updated with new colorways and old favorites. Get a preview at 10 a.m. EDT on Facebook and learn how you can enter to win a prize.

The inaugural Virtu-wool Fiber Festival is a two-day event taking place tomorrow and Sunday featuring 20 vendors from across the U.S. Each day, between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT, vendors will present their products via a livestream.

Austin, Texas-based Gothfarm Yarn specializes in blends of naturally-colored fibers from rare and uncommon breeds of sheep and other furry animals, working with small farms and mills.

Elisabeth of Wolle’s Yarn Creations is participating in the virtual Maryland Sheep and Wool, and you can get 20% off her cotton and silk gradient yarns using the code MDSW20 to check out on her website.

Today is your last day to book your ticket for a virtual road trip to Olympic National Park via McMullin Fiber Co.’s two colorways, inspired by the park’s tide pools.

Heather of Pumpkins and Wool created six new super ’80s-inspired colorways for some retro fun during this bogus situation we’ve found ourselves in. Colors such as Ms. Pacman and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun have also been discounted.

What to stash this week: the new spring yarn lines

By Lisa | April 3, 2020

Beckie of Shirley Brien Yarn is having a shop update Sunday at noon EDT, when she’ll introduce a few new sock lines, including these super cool Deconstructed Fade Sock Sets, as well as hugely discounted kits for her Sailing Sweater.

Heather of Sew Happy Jane collaborated with designer Shellie Anderson on her new PRIMA shawl pattern, inspired by the Sassy Ballerina and Ballerina colorways. The pattern debuts today on Ravelry and Heather has yarn bundles for it available in her shop.

Debbie of Murky Depths Dyeworks is running a 15% off sale store-wide if you use code CXL15 at checkout. She’s also using her time at home on a personal “New Item of The Day” challenge, so keep your eye out for new creations!

Laura of Slipped Stitch Studios is offering a little snark and some swear words to help get you through this crazy time, with artist Cynthia Frenette’s best snarky and swear-y fabrics. This preorder goes live today at 9 a.m. PDT and closes on Monday at midnight.

Selenaof Sweater Sisters just released a new shawl pattern called Saratoga Springs. It uses two colors of WayfaringYarns Shangri-La, a blend of 75% Ultrafine Superwash Merino and 25% Mulberry Silk.

What to stash this week: the beginning of the rainbow

By Lisa | March 6, 2020

Lisa of White Birch Fiber Arts seems always ready for spring, with bright and cheerful self-striping colorways, and she recently restocked her website. There are plenty of her trademark rainbows, along with minis and gradient cakes.

Michelle of Crafty Flutterby Creations has launched her Celtic Spring collection of shawl pins that celebrate the rich heritage of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Cornwall. There are also limited edition end minder sets that pay tribute to St. Patrick’s Day.

Party with Woolfred, the lovable Slipped Stitch Studios mascot, today at 9 a.m. Pacific. Woolfred Yarn Socks will be joined by project bags and accessories in some brand new sheep and alpaca fabrics.

Round 2 of the Inner Yarn Zen Outlander Unclub includes one skein of hand-painted Duality fingering-weight yarn and a commissioned set of stitch markers featuring images of this season’s key characters.

In time for spring, Joan of White Lies Designs has kits for the lacy Carly Waterfall Duster.

If you’re going to DFWFiberFest, learn a new way to put beads on your knitting.

What to stash this week: Otterly adorable yarn

By Lisa | December 6, 2019

This month’s Knitting Our National Parks colorway from Kim of The Woolen Rabbit is inspired by this adorable photo of an otter at the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge. Everybody Otter Knit — which is much easier to pet than an actual otter! — will be available on two bases: Pearl, an 80/20 blend of Merino/nylon, and Wren, a DK-weight Superwash Merino.

You can preorder the yarn here through Friday, December 20; it will ship the last week of January. As always, 10% of sales will be donated to the National Park Foundation.

Speaking of animals, Michelle of Crafty Flutterby Creations has added some sparkly friends to her menagerie of creature-shaped “end minders.”

The Yarnover Truck Happiness Gradient Yarn Club is open to new members. The second half of this club includes three packages with a gradient colorway from Apple Tree Knits, knit and crochet patterns and fun themed extras.

Welcome the colder weather with Mona’s new Let It Snow hat pattern! This colorwork pattern is available in both tammy and beanie style.

IU newcomer Lester of Prosper Yarns is obsessed with Goddess, her laceweight Kid Mohair/Merino.

Victoria of Eden Cottage Yarns has a new colourway called Festive Fun that is available to preorder.

Tahoma Vista Fiber Mill has a selection of mill-spun alpaca yarns in natural colors.

The FunHouse Cowl is a new customizable crochet design from ReVe Design Co.

What to stash this week: Places you can knit

By Lisa | November 22, 2019

I’m thrilled to open sign-ups today for Where We Knit 2020. This quarterly club, which will begin shipping in February, brings together four dyer/designer dream teams: Wobble Gobble Yarn and Veera Välimäki, bleu poussière and Paula Pereira, Earl Grey Fiber Co. and Vanessa Smith, and Indie Untangled X The Wandering Flock and Geraldine Yang.

Each pair will collaborate on an exclusive colorway and an accompanying accessory design inspired by their favorite spots to whip out their WIPs. Their inspiration photos are shown in the image above, clockwise from top left.

Aside from the yarn and pattern, each shipment will include a surprise gift from a third artisan. You have the option of a one-time payment for a discounted price or payment each quarter. Spots are limited and sign-ups run through Dec. 31, 2019, or when the subscriber cap is reached.

I hope you join us on this journey next year to get a small sampling of all the indie goodness out there!

Meet and get to know IU newcomer Christy of Les Belles Lainages and her bright, bold colorways with pops of earth tones, and snag one of her sock kits.

Elisabeth of Wolle’s Yarn Creations has fingering weight cotton/silk yarns with a tweedy look.

Julia of Pandia’s Jewels has created some kits for her Winter’s Moon shawl with her Delight DK base in four colors (she will also take custom orders).

What to stash this week: yarn to dye for

By Lisa | November 1, 2019

Elizabeth Colorful Eclectic has launched her Murderino Collection, inspired by the hit true crime/comedy podcast My Favorite Murder, and named for its adoring fan base. The collection includes nine colors with a black dappled effect. They include the signature red dubbed “Stay Sexy, Knit a Sweater,” and a chilling green called “Toxic Masculinity Ruins The Party Again.”

And perhaps the best thing about this collection? Through the end of the year, Colorful Eclectic is donating $2 from each skein of the Murderino Collection sold to End the Backlog, an initiative to eliminate the backlog of untested rape kits in the United States.

I have fond memories of celebrating Hanukkah as a child, deciding which present to unwrap each night. Should it be the one that I know is a cassette I’ve been lusting after because of how it’s shaped and sounds when you shake it? Or the large package that has to be a Cricket doll?

With that in mind, I was inspired to collaborate with some fellow Jewish fiber friends — Julia of Pandia’s Jewels, Spencer and Reggie of The Fiberists and Raya of Blissful Knits — on an Indie Untangled Eight Nights of Hanukkah Kit! Kits will include individually-wrapped items from all of these folks, plus a few special surprises.

We’re partying like it’s the 5780s with an ’80s-themed palette inspired by the colors in the skein-menorah above. Preorders are limited and open only until November 15.

Alisa is back after a semester in England for graduate school and debuted sweater-sized bags at Indie Untangled. They are now available in her Etsy shop! There are both drawstring bags and box bags in a size designed to hold a worsted weight sweater quantity of yarn. As always, Alisa will donate 15% of the sale price to RAICES Texas.

Sue collaborated with designer Adrienne Fong, who recently lost her battle with cancer, on a special colorway called Wisdom. She will be donating $10 for each skein sold to the American Cancer Society in Adrienne’s memory.

Prior to this year’s Indie Untangled, Shireen of The Blue Brick embarked on a fall ombré colorway, taking inspiration from her own photo of fall foliage to create leaf peeping in yarn form. Autumnal premiered at IU and it is now available on the Indie Untangled website on Killarney Sock (regular and 800-yard Woolly Mammoth) and Manitoulin Merino Sparkle. ⁣

This colorway will also be at the Indie Goes West: Hollywood Edition popup in LA on November 9.

Stephanie of Rock Solid Designs, who creates project bags, is collaborating with other makers for holiday gift sets. Her 12 Days of Christmas and 8 Nights of Hanukkah gift sets include items from Fairy Tale Yarn Co, TurtleMade, One Sock Wonder bags and Me Time Botanicals. Preorders are up now, and packages will ship in late November/early December.

Augusta of adknits just had a shop update filled with gift tags and festive stitch markers for your holiday knitting, new notecards and the latest sticker in the Knitional Park Series.

Kate has opened sign-ups for her Le Societe d’Orsay, a yarn club where each month’s colorway will be inspired by art from the Musee D’Orsay in Paris. She is also once again celebrating Socktoberfest with some amazing giveaways and a 24% off sale.

Laura is once again collaborating with artist Cynthia Frenette on some knit-centric items! Orders open today at 9 a.m. Pacific time and close on Monday at midnight.

Julia of Pandia’s Jewels is opening preorders for her Purple Magic yarn set today.

What to stash this week: Fall and Frida

By Lisa | August 30, 2019

If you want to get on the fall sweater train, tomorrow is the last day you can get on board and preorder La Bien Aimée’s Indie Untangled exclusive olive Hudson and speckled Kingston colorways on Merino DK and Super Sock. And as of “press time” there are only seven skeins of Merino Aran in Kingston and three in Hudson — enough for Andrea Mowry’s Untangled shawl and/or possibly one sweater.

A special Slipped Stitch Studios collection of bags and accessories in unique Frida Kalo fabrics and designs goes live today at 9 a.m. Pacific.

Elisabeth’s new Wolle’s Yarn Creations tweed yarns are here! These 480-yard fingering-weight gradient cakes come in skin-soft cotton/silk.

Robin of Birch Hollow Fibers has debuted her super local Sojourner Sock, with U.S. Merino, New York Romney and a touch of nylon, milled at Battenkill Fibers. It will be listed in her shop today at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Get your knitting ready for fall with Augusta of adKnits’ latest shop update! It includes a fall-themed project bag in an original fabric, new stitch markers and new stickers, including this adorable crafty bear.

Shanna of Lambstrings Yarn has a couple of new colorways, including OOAK Leaf Pile, which is just like jumping into a giant pile of yarn leaves.

Aimee of Pancake and Lulu has a new website and is offering 20% off any orders placed through September 2 with the code INDIEFRIEND.

Robin of October House Fiber Arts has restocked Honey Jar, one of her most popular colorways, on several bases.

Seathra of Stravaigin Yarn Co. is offering 25% off select naturally-dyed yarns with the code AUTUMN25.

Shauna of Farm Girl Fibers has some new fall-inspired colors and a Halloween color available for preorder.

Stacey oF Fierce Fibers has kits for Carissa Browning’s Above the Fold shawl that are 15% off until September 6.

Joan of White Lies Designs’ Botanical Scarf Yarn Pack comes with three balls of 100% Cashmere in the three colors shown here and the “The Botanical Scarf Collection” e-book, which contains patterns for these lacy fall foliage-themed scarves.

Summit Road Fibers just released a new fall collection.

Handmaine Knits has enamel camp mugs for sweater knitters.

Wild Hair Studio has opened preorders for Hogsmead Treat Bags.

What to stash this week: yarny birthday

By Lisa | August 23, 2019

Jen of Porterness Studio is celebrating her 25th (or is it?) birthday with 25% off through August 25 with the code Bday25IU. She has a lot of fun new goodies, including long knitting needle and yarn earrings, a new line of sterling silver stockinette stitch motif blanket rings, knitting needle fan girl necklaces, Knit Life rings and more. And if you make a purchase over $40 you also get a free There Will Be Cake sticker and black and gold Edison stitch markers.

Sheila of BigFootFibers has sets for Casapinka’s Perfect Blend MKAL available in three different colorways: Earl Grey, Chamomile and Tropical Hibiscus on her Divine Sock base. The sets come with a tea-themed notions bag and stitch marker set by RandomFandomBags.

Today’s the last day to preorder The Highest Peak, inspired by Naches Peak at Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park. And speaking of birthdays — I love it when a newsletter theme comes together! — Sunday is the National Park Service’s birthday, so entrance to all parks are free! As always, 10% of sales of this colorway are donated to the National Park Foundation.

Ten new batches of Askham Lace, baby alpaca/silk blend, are now up on Eden Cottage Yarns website. Victoria and Co. are also having a summer sale, with 20% off most hand-dyed yarns through Monday, August 26.

Mona is hosting an Autumn Rain mystery knit along for October, with a triangular shawl designed for gradient yarn. Mona is holding a BOGO pattern sale through September 30 with the code Autumnbunny.

What to stash this week: Rosé and Rambouillet

By Lisa | June 21, 2019

A pink shawl and a glass of rosé wine.

Kick off summer with the Rosé and Rambouillet Kit, exclusively from Indie Untangled. Each kit includes a generous 470-yard skein of 100% Rambouillet wool from The Bare Ranch in Surprise Valley, California, dyed by Sarah of The Dye Project in the Rosé On Rambouillet colorway, a PDF of Tamy Gore’s Dusky Rose shawl (you’ll get it three months before it’s released to the general public!) and the utterly adorable Rosé and Rambouillet glitter enamel pin from Nerd Bird Makery. Preorders are open only until July 5.

A pink speckled handknit sock on a sock blocker.

Speaking of domestic wool, Heather of Sew Happy Jane has an update featuring her domestically-produced All American Sock base in collaboration with a new design called Wandering Lost socks from Lindsey Fowler of Lost and Fawned. They’re shown above in the Sly Fox colorway. Order the yarn today for a 10% discount!

Red and pink project bags for knitting.

Sara of La Cave à Laine has debuted new yarn baskets, spacious drawstring bags with double handles and three compartments to hold your next project.

Aqua, teal and sand-colored yarn.
Hazel Knits’ colors of the month — Breeze, Voyage and Castle — are designed to accompany you on your summertime adventures. These colors will be on sale for the month of June.

Blue mini skeins.

Get to know IU newcomer Seathra of Stravaigin Yarn Co., who named her botanical botanical dye studio after an old Scottish word that loosely translates to “having a wee wander aimlessly without intent or a set destination.”

An image of grey feathers and the words "Henrietta: The Colouring of Pigeons. August MKAL Crescent Shawl. A Bunnymuff Knit-Along."
Mona is launching a new MKAL on August 1 inspired by the coloring of pigeons. The pattern will be a crescent-shaped shawl with feathery lace and optional bead details. It was designed specifically for gradient yarn and uses one 150g cake of another IU vendor, Wolle’s Yarn Creations.

Check out IU newcomer Colorshow Creative, who is inspired by colors and textures of fabric and yarn.

Geraldine of Knitting Around NY is holding a dye workshop on Sunday in Brooklyn.