What to stash this week: yarn by the sea

By Lisa | December 20, 2019

If you’re interested in getting a sample of one of my favorite discoveries from Barcelona Knits, Stefania and Giulia of Lanivendole are opening preorders today for a special yarn club called BY THE SEA. For this one-package club, they are dyeing 200 grams of a new blend of Italian Wool and alpaca in an exclusive colorway, and including two accessories, from Marianna of isewsoidontkillpeople and Alice & Eleonora of Last One Stones.

The kits will be listed in the Lanivendole shop at 5 p.m. CEST (that’s 10 a.m. Eastern) and will be open until January 20, or until they’re sold, with shipping in early February.

We need a little Mister Rogers in our lives, now more than ever, so it’s fitting that Laura of Slipped Stitch Studios is ending the year with one of her most requested fabrics of 2019. This tribute to our favorite neighbor will go live in the Slipped Stitch Studios shop today at 9 a.m. Pacific Time and orders will ship today and Monday.

Michelle of Crafty Flutterby Creations is celebrating the new year with dragonfly shawl pins in new colors.

The Indie Untangled Eight Nights of Hanukkah Kits have shipped, which means there are some extra goodies available! Shop the Indie Untangled Hanukkah shop before the first candle is lit on Sunday. Orders made today through Sunday will ship out on Monday and should arrive before the end of the holiday, depending on where you’re located. (If you purchased a kit, don’t click the link and spoil your surprise, though there are Spoiler Alert photos just in case!)

Today is the last day to preorder the otterly adorable Knitting Our National Parks colorway from Kim of The Woolen Rabbit.

Victoria of Eden Cottage Yarns is having a special update planned for this Tuesday, with some Titus 4ply, a Merino and silk blend, Eldwick Lace mohair and silk and some Hayton DK MCN. This random assortment supports an upcoming pattern release that is expected to be quite popular.

First quarter signups are open for October House Fiber Arts’ 2020 Sock Club and the theme is “Souvenir de Paris.”

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: 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: Last call

By Lisa | August 16, 2019

Jennifer of Spirit Trail Fiberworks is sadly closing the doors on her indie dyeing operation after 18 years (!). She’s having one final shop update that’s going on now. The skeins are going fast, so head over to her site ASAP!⁣

Fellow sailors, Cooperative Press made a thing for us. A few things, actually. Their K1FU T-shirt, which particularly comes in handy when you’re counting, is available to preorder through August 31, along with two other fun designs. T-shirt sales go toward helping indie publishing thrive.

Judging by Heather of Sew Happy Jane’s dye pots, which are full of cinnamon, caramel, brown sugar, red wine, pumpkin, crunchy leaves and golden light, she’s ready for fall!

While we’re a ways off from Mardis Gras, Mardi Gras Nights is one of IU newcomer Jennifer of Bugbear Woolens’ favorite colorways. It’s available on any of her yarn bases or spinning fiber.

You have one more week to preorder Earl Grey Fiber Company’s peak purple colorway, inspired by Naches Peak at Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park.

Join Slipped Stitch Studios in the Upside Down today at noon Pacific time. Four indie-designed tributes to Stranger Things will be available for preorder through Monday only.

Julia of Pandia’s Jewels is also in a fall state of mind and her Fall into Halloween Collection will debut on her website starting today at 10 a.m. Eastern.

Amanda of Handmaine Knits has debuted yarn and knitting-inspired mugs in three exclusive designs with original artwork.

Patricia of BeesyBee Fibers had her first shop update in a while with plenty of hand-dyed yarn and spinning fiber.

Join Michelle of Crafty Flutterby Creations for a Mystery Knit A Long inspired by a few favorite locations in her hometown. The KAL, which runs from September 2-30, includes cables, lace and slipped stitches.

As Lisa The Knitting Artist begins her fourth year of teaching art, she’s celebrating with a back-to-school yarn sale! All yarn and prints in her Etsy shop are 20% off through the end of August, no code needed.

Preorders for Stash Yarn Club’s September shipment, which features Forbidden Fiber Co., are open now.

Preorders for the Lambstrings Yarn Spooky Holiday Advent Calendars are now available.

What to stash this week: a peony for your thoughts on a night hike

By Lisa | June 28, 2019

Back by popular demand is Duck Duck Wool’s popular Glaciers & Wildflowers colorway for the Knitting Our National Parks project, available on a Merino/silk single fingering and Merino DK. This Glacier National Park colorway is joined by extremely limited amounts of two new complementary semisolids — Night Hike and Peony For Your Thoughts. I just finished a Tegna sweater in the original colorway and I am in love with it.

Selena of Sweater Sisters knows what makes for the best summer project. Her Sedona Lace Scarf Kit, inspired by the red rock mountains in Sedona, Arizona, is everything a summer knitting project should be. Kits come with a generously-sized skein of WayfaringYarns’ Shangri-La Lace (75% extra fine Merino/25% Mulberry silk) to knit the squishy garter scarf with an easy-to-memorize lace pattern. And there are five color choices, including Apex, a bright coral inspired by Selena’s childhood home, and also Pantone’s color of the year.

Speaking of summer knitting, here’s a bit of a more rustic project that also meets all the requirements, and comes with some bonus sparkle. The Dye Project’s Rosé On Rambouillet colorway is pictured here with the makings for my favorite summer drink. Rosé and Rambouillet Kits also include the pattern for designer Tamy Gore’s Dusky Rose shawl and a rose gold glitter sheep pin from Nerd Bird Makery. Preorder your kit by July 5.

Jen of Porterness Studio has beautiful new sterling silver Yarn Twist earrings and necklaces inspired by hanks of yarn, plus a new Knit necklace if you want to be less subtle. Get 20% off your order through Monday with the code TwistedIU20.

If you want to be really obvious about your fiber love, grab one of Christine of Treasure Goddess Yarn’s Pirate Sheep Shirts in charcoal gray or light teal, which are on sale for $20 through July 8. Have too many T-shirts? She also has pirate sheep pins and keychains.

Joining her Suavest Sheep and Lovable Lambs, Michelle of Crafty Flutterby Creations’ new Sensational Sheep are ready to tackle your next colorwork project. These 3D-printed notions come in two sizes for 5 to 8 yards of fingering-weight or 5 yards of worsted-weight yarn.

Melanie of Baad Mom Yarns is giving her yarn a money-back guarantee with her new Wish To Squish Program. If you don’t think the color matches the photo or the yarn isn’t soft enough for your princess skin, you can send it back within three business days.

Shanna of Lambstrings Yarn has limited quantities of two new colorways available in her shop. Zodiac is a dark and moody colorway with pops of brightness and Petunia is a light peach speckle. Her shop is stocked with plenty of other lovely skeins.

Amy of Summit Road Fibers’ is taking preorders for Advent calendars that come with more than 2,500 yards of hand-dyed deluxe sock yarn, all individually wrapped and ready to count to Christmas, plus a full-size skein to open on Christmas Day.

Preorders for the Pandia’s Jewels Interstellar Yarn Travel Set close at 8 p.m. Eastern time today.

Sign-ups are open through today for the October House Fiber Arts Summer Camp Sock Club.

What to stash this week: A little birdie told me you’d like this

By Lisa | May 17, 2019

Kristi of Birdie Parker Designs is a self-proclaimed fiber addict with a degree in metalsmithing. She uses cupric nitrate and electricity to electro-etch stitch stockinette and garter stitch patterns (crochet coming soon!) into sterling silver, brass and copper for earrings, necklaces, bracelets and stitch markers. If you’re going to Stitches United at the end of May/beginning of June, she’ll be there booth 709. If not, you can take 15% off your online order through June 30 with the code INDIEINTRO.

Sara of La Cave à Laine has fallen down the rabbit hole of linocut, which uses linoleum instead of rubber. She is now offering Linocut Totes, which feature her original drawings. These 100% cotton totes are limited, so act fast!

I’m not shirting you. Slipped Stitch Studios is debuting artist Cynthia Frenette’s less spicy fabric designs. Preorders open today at 9 a.m. Pacific and run through Monday.

Shanna of Lambstrings Yarn has opened up preorders for kits for Caitlin Hunter’s Navelli tee, with 12 possible color combos.

Eden Cottage Yarns is having an update on Tuesday at 8 p.m. UK time with sparkly yarn to mark Eurovision.

Aimee of Pancake and Lulu/PLYarn is taking preorders for her 2019 Advent calendars.

What to stash this week: spring in bloom

By Lisa | May 10, 2019

Heather of Sew Happy Jane has a new, limited-edition colorway, Tulips, that will be available in limited quantities in her shop today.

Kate of McMullin Fiber Co. has a gorgeous new colorway inspired by actress Molly Ringwald and she nailed it, with soft peachy pinks and deep auburn oranges.

Jennifer of Spirit Trail Fiberworks is having a Lucky Pot shop update, for which she’s dyed one-of-a-kind, never to be reproduced colorways (so once they’re gone, they’re gone). This installment of both springtime colorways and autumn-y/earthy shades is on her Aurora single-ply fingering-weight Superwash Merino base.

Slipped Stitch Studios is having a Super(hero) Fun shop update that will go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time today. These limited- edition prints are ready to ship.

Selena of Sweater Sisters has kits for her Nantahala shawl, which she says is “inspired by a summer day in the beautiful hardwood forests of the east coast areas of North America,” available on two skeins of WayfaringYarns’ Monaco, a single-ply fingering weight yarn of 100% Extra Fine Merino.

Robin of October House Fiber Arts has also been inspired by spring and has some new spring colorways. There are tonals, speckles and variegated.

What to stash this week that’s magical

By Lisa | May 3, 2019

All Points South is one of my favorite knits and all-time-favorite FOs, so I was excited to see that Casapinka’s design for LYS Day, Magical Thinking, was a very similar style. It’s a fun knit with varied stitch patterns that keep things interesting, but never too complicated. And I love the fact that I can make another one of these in a similar style, but that I won’t be knitting it all over again. Bronwyn has just kicked off a Magical Thinking KAL in her Ravelry group, so grab those three yarns that just look perfect together and fall in love.

If The Force is strong in you this weekend, then set your alarm for 9 a.m. Pacific today. Slipped Stitch Studios has bags and accessories in four Star Wars-themed fabrics, limited edition Millennium Falcon stitch markers and rare Star Wars Pattern Wallets. These items are limited and ready to ship.

If you’re the plan-ahead type, then you can order your yarny Advent Calendar from Marianated Yarns now to ship in November. Kits include 24 mini skeins in a few different base options, tons of goodies and a custom-dyed full skein.

Aimee of Pancake and Lulu is all about the purples and pale pastels, plus spinners can check out new batts with sparkly Stellina.

Sunshine of My Mama Knits has a variety of one-of-a-kind single batches available in various weights from lace to super chunky.

Lisa The Knitting Artist is having a clearance sale to make room for new bases and colors, with sock and worsted yarn $15 to $18 per skein.

Your indie shopping guide to the 2019 Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

By Lisa | May 2, 2019

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival seems to have snuck up on me this year. While I don’t have a stashing plan in mind (which probably means I’ll do more damage than I planned), I’m looking forward to spending time with beloved fiber friends and meeting some of my favorite indie business owners.

To help you plan, here’s a roundup of the Indie Untangled vendors at both the pop-up at The Knot House and the Howard County Fairgrounds, and a peek at just some of the goodies they’ll be bringing.

THE KNOT HOUSE INDIE POP-UP

This is the fifth annual indie pop-up that Cathy and Heather of The Knot House are throwing. In the spirit of the Indie Untangled Rhinebeck Trunk Show, it brings together a collection of dyers and makers from around North America. Unlike the IU Rhinebeck show, it runs all weekend, with a preview party on Friday night from 5 to 9 p.m.

Dragon Hoard Yarn

A collage of yarn

Dragon Hoard Yarn is a one woman show run by Trysten out of Utah. Her style is inspired by pop culture, geeky fandoms, and witchy themes.

I’ll be bringing the entire Outlander collection, including:
Lallybroch (green), Red Jamie (Orange), Clan Fraser (blue), and Je Suis Prest. (Blue and brown). I’ll also be giving a sneak peek at a new design coming out in July! The Moondrip Summer Tee will be showcased, and I will be there to help people create kits!

The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers

A collage of yarn

The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers specializes in hand-dyed yarns inspired by dyer Candice’s cultural heritage and Montana roots.

Little Fox Yarn

Orange yarn

Aimee & Brian are the dyers of Little Fox Yarn, based just outside of Richmond, Virginia. Their subtle, wearable colorways are inspired by the Blue Ridge Mountains where Aimee grew up.

We will be at the Knot House Indie Dyer Pop Up this weekend. We will have all of our usual lineup of tonal yarns including our new Vixen Lace base.

Also at The Knot House will be ShelliCan and Nice & Knit.

THE FESTIVAL

See the festival map here.

Bare Naked Wools/Knitspot

Main Exhibition Hall, Booth C28

A sweater, shawl, hat and yarn

Bare Naked Wools offers natural, dye-free, artisanal yarns in single breed and wool blends, wool and alpaca blends, and unique luxury blends.

• The hat is the “Happy Dog Cap” which we will be selling at MDSW as a kit with Betty King Natural Dyes Merino DK.
• The pullover sweater is “Multigrain”
• The lace shawl is “Harrier”
• The yarn is Better Breakfast DK, a luxury alpaca blend

Bijou Basin Ranch

Outside North, Booth N1

A collage of yarn

Bijou Basin Ranch provides sustainably harvested, high quality exotic yarns & fibers dyed by various indie dyers across the country. After 15 years of merchandising yarn, BBR will be closing its doors by the end of the year, so don’t miss your chance to see, feel and purchase at our last MDS&W Festival!

Pictured clockwise from the top left are:
Solids by MJ Yarns on Xanadu, 100% Mongolian Cashmere
The Valkyries Series by MJ Yarns on Gobi, 35/65 baby camel/Mulberry silk
The Mariposa Series by Colorful Eclectic on Himalayan Summit, 50/50 yak/Merino — brand new at the show!
Various colors by ModeKnit Yarns on Tibetan Dream, 85/15 yak/nylon

Dragonfly Fibers

Outside Lower Corral, Booth LC9

A collage of yarn and a tote bag

Dragonfly Fibers has been dyeing high-quality yarn and fiber in suburban Washington, DC, for more than ten years. We’re known for our vivid and saturated tonal and variegated colorways, and we have gorgeous neutrals, too! Come see all that’s new and beautiful in the Lower Outside Corral!

Our brand-new tote bag is free to the first 25 customers both days and all purchases over $125. Available for purchase for $12.

Our newest yarn, Faerie, an ethereal mohair-silk blend, is perfect for warm-weather knitting. The Jocelyn colorway (shown in Pixie, also in Jocelyn) makes for a beautiful spring Elton, by Joji Locatelli.

Our show exclusive colorway, Carroll Creek Park’s bright and happy colors make it perfect for spring! It will be available on multiple bases. Supplies are limited, so be sure to stop by early in the morning for the best selection.

We will also have three great kits for the brand-new Casapinka design, Magical Thinking, which made its debut last Saturday during LYS Day.

Fluffy U Fiber Farm

Barn 5, Booth 14

A collage of yarn

We specialize in British and U.S. rare and heritage breed sheep. We gain our inspiration from the sheep themselves and the beautiful countryside. For those participating in the Shave Em to Save Em and the 52 weeks of sheep programs we will have both natural spinning fibers and yarns produced from the sheep here at the farm.

KnittyandColor/Subterranean Woodworks

Main Exhibition Hall, Booth B13

A collage of yarn and wood spindles

Knittyandcolor specializes in eye popping bright, unique pastel, and fun speckled yarn and fiber. Her husband, Subterranean Woodworks specializes in finely crafted, exotic wood and hand dyed Turkish spindles.

Toad Hollow

Outside Lower Corral, Booth LC18

A blue crab tote bag with blue speckled yarn

Created by sisters, Helen and Mary Beth, Toad Hollow makes project bags and hand dyed yarn. Our products all have a whimsical sense usually based on books and fandoms we love. Limited quantities of our Maryland 2019 color, “Crab Pickin,” will be available this weekend.

Wolle’s Yarn Creations

Main Exhibition Hall, Booth B2

A collage of gradient yarn cakes

Wolle’s Yarn Creations will be at MDSW for the third year and we are bringing our amazingly soft and deluxe Cotton/Silk yarns as well as our new Cotton/Bamboo yarns. Also, new this year: DK Cotton yarns, perfect for all your summer tops. Stop by and touch our yarns — feeling is believing.

Also at the festival will be:
Backyard Fiberworks, Main Exhibition Hall, Booth C4
Crafty Flutterby Creations, Barn 3, Booth 5
Into the Whirled, Main Exhibition Hall, Booth B16
Middle Brook Fiberworks, Main Exhibition Hall, Both B26

What to stash this week: The Indie Project

By Lisa | March 29, 2019

Sam of Lavender Lune Yarn Co. has created the ultimate low-comittment indie yarn club with what she has dubbed The Indie Project. Each month, she teams up with another dyer and each of them take a stab at creating one-of-a-kind colorways based on a common inspiration photo. For April, Sam is working with Nicole of Hue Loco to create a set of yarn inspired by the photo above that can be used for a summer top designed by Olga from Handmade Closet. Preorders will go live in Sam’s shop this Monday, April 1 and they will be open for only one week.

To make up for your fiber festival envy, Sheila of BigFootFibers is giving 25% off when you purchase any four items, including mini skein sets, like her Luck ‘O the Irish Mini Skein Set of the Month.

Stephanie of Rock Solid Designs just released these adorable Stealthy Sloth project bags. Because sloths are the new owls.

Augusta of adKnits has introduced new knitters’ mini sketchbooks, which are great for jotting down notes or sketching out a quick idea while on the go.

Elisabeth of Wolle’s Yarn Creations has new DK Color Changing Cotton yarns now available in six colors. They are perfect for summer tops that will actually knit up fast, at a gauge of 5 stitches per inch.

Julia of Pandia’s Jewels will be releasing her latest shawl pattern, called Winter’s Moon, in May and has created a Pandia’s Moon Box filled with everything you need to make the shawl. Preorders are open through this Sunday.

Missy of This Craft Or That has sets available for mug rugs, to hold your cup of coffee or tea and a small snack while you’re working on your WIP. The sets are dyed on Treasure Dust Minis a blend of Superwash Merino, nylon and Lurex.

Lisa The Knitting Artist has been busy creating new colors and designs. The biggest update is the addition of semi-speckled “paintwater” colorways and tonals that are perfect for fades and striping projects when paired with her original handpainted yarns.

Despondent Dyes has introduced a new non-Superwash sportweight base called Vintage Vixen.