What to stash this week: Giving and receiving

By Lisa | December 18, 2020

Kismet of Lolo Body Care is passionate about giving back. Throughout the year, aside from soothing crafters’ skin with moisturizing body bars, lip balm and face lotion, the company also supports several non-profit organizations, including making a donation to One Tree Planted, which fights climate change by planting trees, every time a LoLo Eco-Bag is purchased. For this holiday season, Kismet has extended that promotion to every order.

In addition, 5% of all Lolo Body Care holiday sales will be donated to Habitat for Humanity, which supports and builds affordable housing.

I brought together super soft Cashmere yarn from fellow Brooklynites Rebecca Kevelson of Clinton Hill Cashmere and Geraldine Yang of The Wandering Flock for my Cashmenorah hat. I think this combination of bespoke yarn and unique hand-dyed would look beautiful in so many other mosaic hat patterns, so I’m offering the yarn as a bundle and including one discounted pattern of your choice. Check out my pattern suggestions here. I’m currently working on using these yarns together for a mosaic constellations hat, so if that intrigues you, snag the yarn while it’s still available!

Stephanie Earp has released a fun sweater design that’s perfect for mini skeins or playing with leftovers — or get a dyed-to-order kit from dyer Annie Paaren. The Bobble Buster sweater comes in both kids and adult sizes, and Stephanie is hosting a cast-on party over on Instagram in the New Year.

Rachel of Six and Seven Fiber’s wintry Grand Teton-inspired colorway is available to preorder on Indie Untangled through next Sunday, December 27 on three bases: Alfalfa, a luxurious 80/10/10 Superwash Merino/Cashmere/nylon heavy fingering-weight yarn, and Amaranth and Soybean, two rustic but soft non-Superwash Merino fingering and DK-weight yarns that would make excellent sweaters.

This set of Julie Asselin’s Nurtured yarn, a unique blend of Rambouillet, Targhee and Merino that Julie and Jean-François hand dye before it’s spun at Green Mountain Spinnery in Vermont, is definitely one of my favorites, with the aqua Picnic and deep plum Tisane that brings out the pinks in the special Leaf Pile colorway (third from the top).

This is one of three color combinations available in the Nurtured Mini Boxes from Indie Untangled. These sets come with six mini skeins so you can try out this rustic Aran-weight yarn and see the nuanced colors in real life. The boxes are available to preorder only through January 8.

After packaging and shipping out 100+ new year countdown boxes, and auctioning one off the benefit the American Nurses Foundation, Inc., I have several extra goodies that I decided to put together in mini mystery packs. You’ll receive four 20g, 87-92-yard, fingering-weight mini skeins dyed in coordinating jewel tones and one non-yarn goodie. (Please note that these packages are not individually wrapped and will ship on December 28.)

If you need a last minute stocking stuffer, Amanda of Doodle Dew Designs has some Christmas stitch markers left! This includes markers made with real candy canes and with fun holiday colors.

Stardust Fiber Studio has a new Winter Wonderland collection.

What to stash this week: Lighting the way to winter

By Lisa | November 6, 2020

I’m thrilled to release Cashmenorah, a mosaic beanie that brings together luxurious Cashmere from Rebecca Kevelson of Clinton Hill Cashmere and Geraldine Yang of The Wandering Flock, both fellow Brooklynites. I have long wanted to get a chance to work with Rebecca, who is also Jewish, and I came up with the idea to combine her bespoke Cashmere yarn with Geraldine’s hand-dyed. I also wanted to create a Hanukkah design that was sophisticated and not overly kitschy, but still representative of this holiday that is defined by hope, patience and light in the midst of darkness.

You can purchase kits for Cashmenorah, as well as the pattern only, in the Indie Untangled shop.

There is also another important winter holiday coming up, and Sarah of Say! Little Hen has some home decor projects for you to knit in time for Christmas. Patterns include her super adorable Nordic Christmas Mice, pictured here — Sarah says this pattern is a great one to start with if you’ve never tried stranded colorwork before — her Nordic Christmas Gnome and the equally precious Mini Jumper (possibly the one of the only jumpers you can finish a few of in time for Christmas!).

Cold weather also brings about dry skin, so counter it with Lolo Body Care’s luxurious and yummy-sounding Face Puddings. These naturally scented puddings come in reusable and recyclable glass jars and will leave your face silky smooth.

Melissa of Alley Cat Yarns is taking us on a trip to Canada to the holidays with her Canadian Holiday gift sets, filled with Canadian-sourced goodies perfect for the yarn crafter in your life (that includes you!).

Speaking of Christmas, Gail of Dragon Thistle Fibers has added some holiday colors to her shop, including some sock sets in 50-gram skeins that come with a mini.

Emily’s Long Distance Coven is a “geometry-meets-witchcraft-themed” shawl that crafts yarn magic by marling together two strands of fingering-weight yarn.

Lena’s new Trellis Beanie, knit with an easy slip-stitch pattern, is 25% off through end of day Sunday, Nov. 8, with the code Trellis on Ravelry and Etsy.

Join Nancy of Tika Bags for Virtual Knitting LIVE from November 13-15. She will have two sessions highlighting her new bag fabrics, a new Bag Club and a few new sewn products. She also carries alpaca yarn from her own animals and speckled skeins from indie dyer Emma’s Yarn.

What to stash this week: Sweater architecture

By Lisa | July 24, 2020

Caroline of The Noble Thread was inspired by the architecture of this vibrant London neighborhood for her latest sweater design. Called Notting Hill, this short-sleeved, tee captures the geometry of the row houses with simple slip stitches. The sample is knit in a natural, undyed alpaca, Merino and silk blend, with a naturally-dyed contrast color in a non-superwash Merino held with a strand of mohair silk. There’s plenty of freedom to explore and customize the length of the sweater, which doesn’t require shaping, and the size inclusive pattern offers a finished bust circumference from 34” to 70”. To celebrate its release, Notting Hill will be free until today at 11:59 p.m. PDT and there are kits on Caroline’s website.

Stefania and Giulia of Lanivendole are taking lemons and debuting yarn with a literal new twist. Their new base, Twisty Chic — a batch of A Chic Blend spun with the wrong parameters by the mill — has a bit more twist, but that just means it has much better stitch definition and color saturation. The update goes live today at 8 p.m. CEST.

Jillian of WeeOnes is heading to the skies this week, with shiny raven and tropical toucan stitch markers, along with ocean-dwelling octopus friends.

7th Floor Yarn is collaborating with Michele Costa of 144 Stitches on East Bound, a new multicolored shawl that uses their DK Yak/Silk/Merino — and comes in both a knit and crochet version. Use the code INDIE for free shipping.

Emily’s new sock pattern, Happy Haunts, is inspired by the classically creepy decor of one of our favorite haunted mansions.

Augusta of ADKnits has new wildflower-themed items, including progress keepers with charms featuring dried flowers cast in resin.

The next Eden Cottage Yarns update on Tuesday features plenty of sock yarn, including Tempo 4ply for Vikki Bird’s Seed Head sock pattern, which is raising money for The Flower Power Fund.

Take care of your hard-working hands with Elderwood Apothecary’s Maker’s Hand Relief, which promises to provide healing nourishment to your skin without leaving your hands feeling oily.

What to stash this week: pay it forward

By Lisa | July 10, 2020

Kismet and the team at Lolo Body Care have donated more than 500 of their portable lotion bars to healthcare workers, and they are drawing on that “pay it forward” ethos for their latest promotion. If you spend $30 before shipping, they’ll send a person of your choosing a free To-Go Bar, and if you spend $60 they’ll send a person of your choosing free a Body Bar, along with a note tucked inside the package.

If you’re dreaming of a beach vacation (aren’t we all?), Heather of Sew Happy Jane has bundles of Magic Mohair or Featherdown Suri for Shellie Anderson’s new Electric Beach shawl. Shelli’s sample used one skein of Electric Raspberry Merino fingering, and one skein of Agate Beach mohair.

If you want a little — but not too much — mystery this summer, then join the Mermaids in the Waves KAL. Lena of SoftYarn Designs has designed a two-color shawl pattern with Jilly & Kiddle yarn, and Jill’s offering kits. The pattern will only remain a “mystery” until it’s released on July 28.

Are you sensing a theme here? Jillian of WeeOnes has released new sea- and beach-inspired stitch markers, including super cool glow-in-the-dark jellyfish ones.

Sharon of the yarn company once know as Stitchjones has rebranded to Garage Dyeworks. Check out new colors on the brand-new website.

Debbie of Murky Depths Dyeworks’ creativity has flourished this summer and she has more than two dozen new colors available on Neptune DK, Deep Sock and Harbor Singles. Get 10% off sweater quantities this week only with code SQS10.

Tomorrow at 5 p.m. UK time, Victoria of Eden Cottage Yarns is introducing a new base that’s available in both fingering and DK weight. Keswick Fingering and Keswick DK (pronounced Kez-ick) are comprised of 85% Superwash Merino with 15% Donegal neps.

What to stash this week: wash your hands and knit on

By Lisa | April 10, 2020

Due to more hand washing than usual, many of us are probably also dealing with extremely dried-out skin, which is not exactly conducive to working with yarn. If you’re looking for a way to quench your parched skin, Kismet of LoLo Body Care has you covered. Based in Vancouver, Washington, this familiar brand on the fiber festival circuit makes the LoLo Body Bar, a quick-absorbing moisturizer that lasts through multiple hand washings, as well as handcrafted, colorful soap with sayings that will lift your spirits long after your umpteenth verse of Happy Birthday.

If you missed out, Heather of Sew Happy Jane has restocked her shop with yarn bundles for the PRIMA shawl by Shellie Anderson, which sold out quickly last weekend. There’s also a KAL starting April 20.

Michelle of Crafty Flutterby Creations decided to theme this month’s mystery box around everyone’s favorite umbrella-carrying heroine. The box is customizable, and you can choose from notions only, shawl pin and notions, or shawl cuff and notions.

Victoria of Eden Cottage Yarn is welcoming a new base to her yarn family. Lowther Lace is a luxurious blend of baby suri alpaca and mulberry silk that will be introduced in a shop update on Sunday at 5 p.m. UK time.

What to stash this week: Last days till knit-mas

By Lisa | December 18, 2015

If you’re looking for some last-minute Christmas gifts, get over to Sweet Sheep Body Shoppe, which Alicia has stocked with the perfect stocking stuffers. Holiday-scented items include sheep-shaped goat’s milk soap in Orange Rosemary, Peppermint Cocoa and Winter Gardenia; lanolin-rich lotion bars in Jingleberry, Fresh Snow, Gingersnap and Frosted Cranberry; and tasty moisturizing lip balms in Winter Clementine or Vanilla Mint. If you need something to ship in time for the holidays, place your order no later than 10 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow.

Kettle Yarn Co. has got a fun promotion going on. Up until the 25th, Linda will be posting special offers on Instagram for the #twelvedaysofknitmas. So far, there have been some great discounts and limited-edition skeins. You can also enter a secret santa prize draw by following @kettleyarnco and reposting each offer, tagging two friends and using the hashtag #twelvedaysofKNITmas. Much better than birds and drummers.

Stitchjones is proud to offer a new base called Upper Left Edge, a lightweight Merino sportweight yarn that was born in the USA and milled in Whidbey Island, Washington. She has dyed it in a range of nature-inspired colors — that’s Patagonian Foxglove above. It works as a sport or DK-weight yarn and has a generous put-up of 360 yards.

Even if your winter plans don’t include a trip to the beach, you’ll want to take along Cottesloe Days wherever you travel. This long, striped, fingering-weight accessory is inspired by designer Mitenae’s trips to Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia. The pattern includes instructions to make a cowl, scarf or convertible scarf — and it’s 25% off for a limited time.

What to stash this week: A button bacchanalia

By Lisa | November 6, 2015

After the French Market Fibers bacchanalia last week, the website is ready for another shopping frenzy. The latest post-Rhinebeck pop-up shop is up and is stocked with a dozen ceramic beauties from Buttonalia. You may find the perfect set for a certain sweater…

The Silversmith Hoodie, the newest design from Meiju Knits, looks like the perfect winter sweater (it definitely went in my Favorites!). Using worsted weight yarn, this cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down with saddle shoulders and modified contiguous sleeve shaping. The pattern also includes a video tutorial on how to work mini cables without a cable needle.

I was bummed to miss meeting Alicia of Sweet Sheep at the Rhinebeck trunk show this year (unfortunately she couldn’t make it in person due to a death in the family). I was also sad when I heard her discount coupons didn’t make it into the goody bags. Now you all get a discount! Enter the code INDIELUV20 at checkout in Alicia’s Etsy shop and receive 20% off your order through Nov 15.

Sarah of The Queen’s Ransome has several new colors inspired by an urban landscape. American Rust (pictured), Concrete Gray and Teal Steel are available on three fingering-weight bases — Cashmere Merino Sock, Alpaca Merino Twist and Merino Gold Sock.

On the 12th day of Knit-mas, Tami gives to you: a Partridge in a Pear Tree — in yarn form. From now until Thanksgiving, Tami is taking orders for her 12 Days of Christmas-inspired yarn. You can get a set of 12 400-yard skeins or 12 30-yard mini skeins inspired by the song.

The newest face on the Indie Untangled marketplace is Gaby of Galiana Creations, a Pennsylvania-based dyer who also makes project bags with cute knitter sayings, stitch markers and even earrings that allow you to show off your yarn obsession. Get a 10% discount in her Etsy shop with the code FRIENDSFAMILY10.

What to stash this week: Spring gifts

By Lisa | March 13, 2015

Indie Untangled newcomer Nancy Whitman is giving us quite the welcome gift: 25% off all her patterns through March 23 with the code MM2015 on Ravelry. Nancy’s accessory designs include Bocce, above, which reinterprets a weaving pattern, with slip stitches for the warp threads and stripes for the weft threads.

Simone is also being very generous and giving away this skein of luscious handspun Merino/silk to one lucky blog reader. The giveaway runs until March 20 and all you have to do is go to this blog post and leave a comment.

To celebrate spring, Alicia has added a new lip balm flavor to her lineup: French Macaron, which draws on the traditional pastel colors of the sugary delights. She describes the flavor as “sweet yet sophisticated, and just a little bit indulgent.” Spring-scented lotion bars, including Spring Meadow and Sea Moss, are also starting to make their way back into Alicia’s shop.

Tavie, a new jacket-like, cabled cardigan from Meiju Knits, is perfect for the breezy, early spring weather some of us have been having. Knit from the top down in worsted weight yarn, there are four different options, and the pattern gives directions for both short and long cardigans with long or short sleeves.

You know it’s spring when bright colors of Islington pop up in the Kettle Yarn Co. shop. You can find the luscious Superwash BFLK/silk yarn in Parapadschada, a juicy pink, the tangerine orange Marigold and several other happy shades.

The Brynhild cowl from KarenDawn Designs is inspired by a female warrior in the Völsunga saga, which is an Icelandic story from the thirteenth century. The cowl’s lace stitch pattern is designed to look like a ring of shields and is sure to protect you from any last bursts of cold.

What to stash this week: Yowza! Whatta pairing!

By Lisa | February 27, 2015

Designer Lara Smoot has had some really fun Game of Thrones-inspired collaborations with Tennessee-based indie dyer Babs Ausherman, better known as Miss Babs. Lara’s latest designs are inspired by none other than Babs herself, whose “likeableness and charm come out in the beautiful yarns that she dyes,” Lara says. The three-piece set includes mitts, a cowl and boot toppers, which can all be made from just one skein of Miss Babs Yowza! The simple cable pattern on each of the pieces can work well with fun variegated colorways, such as Zombie Prom and Funny Papers or semisolids like Vlad’s Red and Blackwatch. All three patterns in the Babalicious set are available on Ravelry for the introductory price of $5.99.

If you’re going to make a cowl, mitts and boot toppers, why not make a hat? Brangien, a new pattern from KarenDawn Designs, is inspired by a character in the medieval love story Tristan and Isolde. The hat is knit in fingering weight yarn and features a cable panel on a background of textured moss stitch.

Karen, a veteran knitter, works full time on her small business Hemlock Springs Soaps, crafting goat milk soaps in fun-sounding scents like Dazzleberry and Sexy Man, as well as lotions and potions — including an Arnica Muscle Rub for your tired knitting hands — out of her farmhouse in the New Hampshire woods. The products are made in small batches with ethically-sourced ingredients.

What to stash this week: Handmade goodies to swoon over

By Lisa | February 20, 2015

Brianna of Swoonish, one of the newest Indie Untangled artisans, dyes out of sunny Palm Coast, Florida (a state I am seriously regretting leaving on Monday). She’s offering 15% off her yarn and fiber, which include workhorse superwash Merino and luxurious Merino/silk blends that you’re sure to swoon over. Use code FB15OFF at checkout through March 1.

You’ll have to do a little more than say the name three times to make the Slipped Stitch Studios Bag of the Month appear at your house. The Beetlejuice bags, notions pouches, needle nooks and spindle totes went up for sale on Friday the 13th and will go back to the Netherworld when they sell out.

Isaura means “gentle breeze” in Greek, according to many baby name sites, and it’s the perfect moniker for Fiber Dreams‘ newest sweater pattern. The light, breezy cardigan is knit in pieces from the bottom up with delicate lace and cable stitches, and looks like the ideal cardi to throw on when spring finally arrives.

When she’s not creating needle felted stuffed animals with the hair of her Bergamasco sheepdogs, Jeanine is creating batches of face and body creams and lip balms with organic ingredients. She just launched the Solstice Handcrafted online shop last month, so head over to sooth your winter-ravaged skin.

Here’s an upcoming fiber festival you can participate in without traveling. Sort of. Jo and Kate over at The Golden Skein have partnered with the Edinburgh Yarn Festival for the Linne Foirthe Club, which celebrates the Scottish city’s vibrant fiber community. The inspiration for the club is “Face Over The Forth” by Chris Combe, an photograph of Forth Bridge, which connects Edinburgh with Fife and turns 125 years old this year. Subscribers will get three 100g skeins of fingering weight yarn, each dyed by a different dyer, using the photograph as inspiration for the colorway. Packages will be mailed out by March 12, to arrive just in time for the festival. TGS ships worldwide, so you if you’re not journeying to the festival, you can still feel like you were there (and if you are going on March 14 & 15, it’s an extra souvenir).