Vermont Yarn Company

Grand Moving Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 15:53:00 +0000

knitting patterns - right at your fingertips

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 22:04:00 +0000

Check out all of our patterns that you can now download from ravelry.

Happy Knitting to you

New Hat pattern

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 21:25:00 +0000

A new hat pattern is on its way!

Currently named Spring Garden - but I think it should have a niftier name.

Help me name the pattern and you'll receive a free copy if your suggestion is chosen.

--   vtyarnco.com  802-388-9665

Inventory Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:01:00 +0000

Feel free to bring your friends ;) - C
VT Yarn Co Yarns

Felting Soap

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Fun with Water, Wool and Soap

Felting hand soap is a fun activity to do with kids, friends or by yourself. You can work inside or outside, and the end product makes wonderful gifts. Use as washing soap, or use to put in your drawers for fragrance.

Materials:

Bar of soap
un-spun wool multicolored is fun ~1 oz
Sandwich bag
Hot tap water

Felt, one of the oldest forms of making cloth, is made matting and pressing wool fibers together. The addition of warm water and soap speed the process. When felting a bar of soap the same principals apply as in regular felting. Since we are felting over a bar of soap you will not need to add additional soap to the felting process.

Begin: Wrapping the soap

First layer of wool fiber on soap

Take the wool, and stretch / draft it out into a thin the layer about the width of your bar of soap. Pull off a length that will wrap around the soap and wrap around soap (see picture).

Second layer of fiber on soap

Turn the soap 90 degrees, and wrap with a second layer of wool.

This layer should end up running perpendicular to the first layer.

Continue to rotate the soap covering all uncovered areas. Each new layer should be perpendicular in direction to the last layer.

Third and Fourth layer of fiber on soap

Turn the soap and wrap two more layers (each time perpendicular to the layer before) over the soap. The soap should be fully covered with wool as in picture below. Should you have more bare spots showing through, then simply cover those spots or wrap the soap again making sure you cover the bare or thin spots.

Decorate:

When you have fully covered the surfaces of the soap you can begin a decorative layer. I like playing with color, and using little bits of colorful wool. You can be creative here and play around. I love abstract, but try a design idea if you wish.

Felting:

Place soap in bag

After all the decorative layers have been applied, place the soap carefully into a plastic sandwich bag.

Now drizzle hot tap water (about 1/4 cup or so) into the bag. Be careful not flood the soap. The goal is to just wet the soap and the fibers with water.
If the wool looks dry, then add more water to the bag.
If you have too much water, and the wool is floating off the soap then drain some off.

Active Felting:
Once the water is added to the bag, wrap your hands around the soap and press the plastic bag gently against the soap. (You do not have to seal the bag shut, but hold it over a sink or a pan.) This step will help adhere your wool to the soap and press the fiber and your design together. Keeping the soap in the plastic bag, cup your hands around it as if you were holding a ball, and begin to squeeze and roll, gently at first, then add pressure as you go. The wool should start to felt.

After a couple of minutes, check the soap inside the bag. The wool should have begun to felt together. If the fiber still looks loose, place the soap back in the bag, add some more hot water, and continue the process of rolling and pressing.

Remove the soap from the sandwich bag and finish felting by hand with more hot water using the same rolling method as before. The whole process should take about 10-20 minutes, and your hands end up wonderfully clean.

Once the felt looks like it has adhered to the soap, remove it from the bag and gently continue the felting process.

Final felting

After a little time you should be able to be less and less gentle with the process. To aid the felting process at this point run some cold water over the soap and then shock it again with hot water.

Finished felted soap

Rinse off soap suds and let dry, or simply place in soap dish ready to use.
Have fun,
C

Life is a spiral after all...

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:32:00 +0000

Eisheiligen or Eismänner

In English we would call them the Ice Saints or Icemen

St. Mamertius, St. Pancratius, and St. Servatus are known in German, Austrian, and Swiss folklore as the Ice Saints, or Chilly Saints. They are thought responsible for ushering in cooler temperatures between May 12th through the15th.

Our Grandmother always advised only to plant the garden after the Ice Saints had come and gone.

This time she sure was right, as cold temperatures, frost, and some snow flurries descended upon our gardens. On Mother's Day it was so cold, I actually pulled out our winter gear again.

Later I thought it a nifty idea to light the Rumford fireplace and warm up. With a fire going there is nothing cozier than to pull up a chair, have a warm cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate and start knitting. A new pair of socks, with a spring motif is what I had decided on. Above is a picture of the prototype. I'm a little stuck right now in refining the design, but perhaps two patterns will emerge from what began as one. ;)

Cozy and warm, it was wonderful!
and best of all the Iceheiligen stayed outside.

Cooler temperatures for some reason always let my creative juices flow. Here is a little something I made while not knitting or gardening. Spiral Shawl or Sweater Pins is what I decided to make with the aid of my friend Laura, who supplied the copper.
These pins are inspired by the fiddle heads which are now unfurling in our woods. After wearing my prototype to the left for a day I found that it stayed put all day no matter what I did! Got to like that.

Today the temperatures climbed back up into the mid 60's low 70's, no more Icemen I hope.

www.vtyarnco.com 802-388-9665

Catch the Spring Breeze Coupon .......

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:58:00 +0000

This week through Mother's Day

mention the coupon code "SpringBreeze"

and receive 20% off on most Yarns and all Books.

Also valid in our on-line shop.

Just type in "SpringBreeze" and you should receive your discount.
Or purchase Caroline's designs this week for a discount at:
http://www.ravelry.com/redeem/vermont-farmhouse-designs---caroline-herzog-designs?code=SpringBreeze

Sock it to me......finally the Randonnee Sock pattern is available

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:26:00 +0000

The sock pattern so many of you have been patiently waiting for is finally available. You can download it either through our web-site or through ravelry. Randonnee is its name.
All the best,
Caroline

--   vtyarnco.com  802-388-9665

Interlocking Hearts

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:22:00 +0000

Here is the start of my newest hat pattern.

I love the way it is knitting up, I especially the interlocking hearts. The inspiration for the hat came from my favorite Minnesang (a lyrical German love poem) which dates between the 11th and 14th century. This poem is one of the sweetest, simplest and most dear little German love poem ever written. The author is unknown, but its meaning holds true now as it did then:

"Du bist mein, ich bin Dein:
dessen sollst Du gewiß sein.
Du bist verschlossen
in meinem Herzen:
verloren ist das Schlüsselein:
Du mußt für immer drinnen sein."

Here is my translation, and yes, I am not a poet. The poem is so simple it is hard to translate without changing its meaning:

"I am yours and you are mine,
that you shall always be.
For you are locked within my heart,
and lost is the key:
And there You shall always remain for me."

Interlocking Hearts Hat

Caroline

Life is about Love

Yarn used for this hat is our own hand-dyed Phoebe Sock Yarn , 100% merino Wool. It feels so good on my head I may never take it off.
Hat head - You bet :).

Eden and Eden-dk

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Introducing Eden and Eden-dk

Eden-dk a new pattern by

Caroline Herzog of Vermont Farmhouse Designs.

For some of us who are gardeners, winter is a wonderful time to use our hands for knitting. As you begin knitting Eden / Eden-dk, the floral pattern will unfurl just like your garden does in the spring time. While strolling through your sleeping garden, Eden / Eden-dk will keep you or your loved ones warm and cozy.

Hats are fantastic, and oh so fun to knit! So grab your yarn and needles, get yourself a yummy cup of tea (mocha for me) and settle into that cozy chair and begin to knit.

Eden-dk: as the name implies is knit with a dk or light worsted yarn.

Eden: knit with fingering weight yarn.

Choose a solid colored yarn or a self striping yarn,

the results have all been fantastic! and they are really fun to knit!

Knitting like a mad woman ..........

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:15:00 +0000

A pattern every month....

that was the challenge my husband threw my way this winter.

I'm not sure he realized how much knitting would be involved in this challenge. So between working, taking care of the kids, my husband, our home and VT Yarn Co, the sheep, and oh yes myself, I am knitting like a mad woman.

Laurel Leaves

I love small gauge knitting and have been devouring fingering weight yarns. The small gauge allows for more detail and much more softness in the patterning. All in all, I am having a ball (all the pun intended). I have now knit close to 14 hats and more to come. It is a bit nuts, and my daughter expects a new hat to covet every three days now.

Eden

Sock yarn, especially self striping yarns paired with a solid color have produced some very fun results, without all the hard color blending or weaving in of all those pesky ends. Just let the colors come off the ball. Should there be a color you really don't like - just omit it - you really don't have to be stuck with it.

The recent patterns Snow Flurries (worsted weight), Laurel Leaves, Sweet Clover and now Eden are so fun to knit, that I really can't wait to begin the next one.

'Tis better to knit than not......

See you out there in your hand knits.

A new look is coming up......

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:26:00 +0000

We are currently in the process of giving our web-site a new look. Let you see what we've been working on and give you a picture introduction to us. Enjoy and thank you for checking in on us.
Caroline

calendar.doc

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:33:00 +0000

Classes at the Vermont Yarn Company

Intro To Knitting
Wednesday January 23 / Firday January 25, 2013
Wednesday February 27 / Friday March 1, 2013
3pm - 4:30pm Intro to Knitting

Description:
Intro To Knitting is designed for the beginner. What do you need to
know about knitting? Really, all you need is the will to learn. You will learn: cast on, knit, purl, fix dropped stitches and bind off/cast off. Discuss what gauge is and why it is important. This class is taught by our very experienced staff at the VT Yarn Co.
Cost: $15, plus $10 materials

Intro To Knitting - Morning and Afternoon Saturday Sessions
January 26, 2013
10:30am - 12pm / 1:30pm-3pm

Intro To Knitting is designed for the beginner. What do you need to
know about knitting? Really, all you need is the will to learn. You will learn: cast on, knit, purl, fix dropped stitches and bind off/cast off. Discuss what gauge is and why it is important. This class is taught by our very experienced staff at the VT Yarn Co.
Cost: $15, plus $10 materials

The Art of Felting
Wednesday January 30, 2013
3pm - 4:30pm The Art of Felting

Description:
Learn an age old art of making cloth from wool. In the early days, before weaving looms and other "fancy" gadgets, people made felt for clothing, shoes, as well as building materials for homes. Come and learn the magic of making felt cloth.
Cost:$25 includes materials

Needle Felting Basics
Friday February 1, 2013
3pm - 4:30pm Needle Felting Basics

Description:
Have you heard people talking about needle felting, but don't know what it is. Come and learn how fun it is to work with wool and create. No prior skills are necessary no knitting required. Make fun little critters, flowers, or decorate a bag. Ages 7- 105
Cost: $25 includes materials

Felt Pouch
Saturday February 2, 2013
10:30am - 1:30pm Felt Pouch

Description:
Come and I (Carrie) will teach you how to make a felted pouch to hold your cell phone, or other little things. We will learn to make felt cloth and magically join it into a pouch. Bring an apron, and be willing to get a little wet. This is a physical project so be prepared
to roll up your sleeves and dive in. You may also want to bring yourself a little snack. Cost: $45 includes materials

Intermediat Knitting: Knit a Hat - 2 Sessions
Wednesday February 6 and 13, 2013
3pm - 4:30pm Intermed Knitting 2parts

Description:
Learning to knit a hat is a fabulous way to transition to larger projects. Some people (me included) love to knit hats and find them endlessly enjoyable. You will learn to knit in the round and use double point needles to produce a seamless hat. We will use "Camie's Hat" pattern, one of the shops most popular simple hat pattern. Cost for two part series is: $30 plus materials (discount will apply to materials purchased from us)

Heels - Turn on a dime
Wednesday February 20 / Fridayday 22, 2013
Saturday Mar 2, 2013
3pm - 4:30pm Heels - Turn on a dime

Description:
Heels for socks! Come and let me (Carrie) help you unravel the mysteries of turning a heel for a sock. In this class we will cover the anatomy of the heel, and you will learn how to work two of the most commonly used heels. Prerequisite: You must know how to: knit and purl, knit in the round (magic loop, double point, or 2 circular needles), and most of all be willing to learn. You will come prepared to class with 2 cuffs knit so that we can be ready to dive into the heel turning! More details will be provided when you sign up for the class.
Cost: $15

Lace Knitting
Saturday February 23, 2013
1pm - 4pm Lace Knitting

Description:
Have you always wanted to knit lace, but been a bit hesitant? Come and let Shannon (our award winning lace knitter) teach you. Shannon will guide you through selecting a project, choosing the right yarn, and reading knitting charts.
Cost: $ 45.00 plus materials of choice (discount applies to materials purchased in the shop)

--   vtyarnco.com  802-388-9665

Ravelry: Ying Yang Hat pattern by Caroline Herzog

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:36:00 +0000

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ying-yang-hat

--   vtyarnco.com  802-388-9665

Need to use up remnants

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:12:00 +0000

Here is a great hat for just that

--   vtyarnco.com  802-388-9665

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 21:15:00 +0000

The Vermont Mitten

Here is a little something we have been working on for us grown ups who want warm hands in winter too.

These fabulously warm mittens are sized to fit Women's small - Men's extra large.

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:29:00 +0000


Wreath Festival 2012

A wreath for the Fiber Enthusiast.

It's the time of year again to adorn our homes,

and add a little color to our lives.

Come to the Mary Johnson's Childrens Center

Annual Wreath Festival

and let the bidding begin.

Ravelry: Portuguese Fisherwoman's Shawl pattern by Vermont Designs by Shelagh

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:10:00 +0000

Portuguese Fisherwoman's Shawl © Vermont Designs by Shelagh

buy yarn from local stores

Vermont Yarn Company Middlebury VT

Find us on line and on ravelry under

Vermont Yarn Company

Caroline Herzog's Ravelry Store

Fear not! We'll give you a guiding hand.

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:43:00 +0000

Road Trip!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 11:14:00 +0000

ROAD TRIP!!!

Carrie, Phoebe, Dolly and Judy drove to the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival this past weekend. Carrie was on a mission – more about that later, Phoebie wanted to see the animals Judy went for the "eye candy" (that's yarn not men) and Dolly stayed in the car and slept.

We left Ripton early Sunday morning and had a beautiful, albeit foggy, drive. As we drove over a bridge, Carrie yelled: "There's Eaton's Sugarhouse!". Judy said: "Huh?" "You mean you haven't heard of Eaton's Sugarhouse? It is a Vermont tradition." (http://www.eatonssugarhouse.com/) Now, Judy has only been in Vermont a year so, it is no "tradition" to her but she dutifully pulled into the parking lot. Well, apparently Carrie was correct. They have a map of the world (and one of the US) with pins that people put in to show where they came from. There is even one from Siberia – no way!

We did not partake of their famous breakfasts because both Carrie and Judy are allergic to wheat but Judy did get a much needed cup of coffee.

We arrived at the VS&WF at about 10:45 am and immediately saw Debbie Kirby of Kirby’s Happy Hoofers farm. Her yarn is to die for and she had some beautiful items for sale as well as her yarn and roving.

We checked out the exhibits in the floral hall and Phoebe learned how to make bobbin lace!

Lucky we arrived when we did because it started to rain and didn’t let up the rest of the afternoon. We walked around the booths and saw lots of beautiful yarn and roving. We met Lee Greenewalt of Big Sky Farm Handweaving who goes by leeweaves on Ravelry. She weaves beautiful rugs, place mats and lots of other wonderful items. We also stopped by to see Debbie Bratton of Maple View Farm Alpacas. Judy really wants a pair of her felted alpaca shoe liners for the winter! Maybe Santa will put a pair in her stocking.

And THEN…Carrie spied what she came here for! Look what she bought!

Carrie bought a new electric skeinwinder. You should come in and see this thing in action. It even counts the yardage as it re-skeins the yarn. As far as the S&WF was concerned, Carrie was finished. She wanted to go right home and dye some yarn so she could re-skein it. Phoebe and Judy wanted to see the animals. Since Judy had the car keys, Carrie was stuck with going through the barns.

We saw Alpacas of every size and one even hummed for us!

And then we saw these lovely little goats that Norma Bromley had brought in from her farm. And of course, how could you resist this softer than air yarn? We each purchase a skein of yarn that Norma had blended with silk. This will be enough to make a thin scarf. Mmmmm so soft!

After this treat, we went home! A good time was had by all (even Dolly).

Vermont - Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:41:00 +0000

Fall has arrived,

and as always, I am craving wool between the fingers!

Just a blur of color - next yarn inspirations?

shall

see

what

the

creative

moment

holds

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:15:00 +0000

KTog Fighting Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 20:14:00 +0000

KTog Fighting Cancer

"Knit Together Fighting Cancer"

Raising $ for Cancer Research!

Thank you to all who contributed in raising money for cancer research.

This years Prouty was once again spectacular in regards to all the participants, the spirit, and the amazing number of volunteers, who were there at every turn, to answer questions and guide us with smiles.

Our team: "Knit Together Fighting Cancer"

raised approximately $3700,

and was represented in:

the 100 mile bike,

the 50 mile bike,

and for the first time,

in the wooded walk.

Our team of 18, was comprised of three children and 15 adults.

Of those 18, two are cancer survivors!

Wonderful proof that

cancer research is

benefitting patients and their families!

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION,

You make a huge difference in all you do,

Carrie

Cancer Research Fundraiser - Prouty

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 20:01:00 +0000

www.theprouty.org

It is amazing how quickly time passes, especially around here.

We have only a few days left before we meet again in Hanover NH, to Prouty!

We have provided a link above for you to explore more, and a way for you to contribute as well should you wish to.

The shop will be closed for Saturday July 14th, 2012 so that we can put our efforts whole heartedly towards raising $ for cancer research.

Every dollar makes a huge difference.

Thank to all who have supported this effort,

Caroline

Just add water.......

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Herzog) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 23:53:00 +0000

and a little imagination, and the result is some fun summer knitting yarn color combinations for you to play with. Phoebe and I love blending colors together, and yes, we go from one color to the next with the dye pot leading the way. The results are pretty cool and fun.

See for yourself:

New Sparkle Silk Merino Lace yarn - 875 yards of uninterrupted relaxation. This yarn is so soft, luscious, and shimmery - a favorite new yarn for sure. This fiber combination has sent me looking for some great lace knits.

Another new yarn for us 100% merino wool, at 875 yards. Great for baby knits and shawls too. Maybe knee socks - I think they are on their way back, are they not?

And one of our customers favorite yarn is the Phoebe Sock yarn we dye up. Our colors have become a bit bolder in these last few batches. Cool colors were dyed on the hot days, and then we were inspired by my friend Kim's beet harvest. Can you tell which ones those were?

Ciao,

Carrie and Phoebe