The Yarn Shop and Fiber Place

Barb — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:05:57 +0000

February is for Finishing!

Yay! I love the idea of a whole month to concentrate on organizing and finishing up some projects, as well as the fabulous alliteration (yes, I am a geeky language major). I’ve been puttering about my so-called studio lately and “finding things” which is good and bad. Good for fairly obvious reasons. Bad because of the sheer scary number of them. I decided to make a list (heaven help me) of my unfinished projects. I suppose, theoretically, I should also make a list, a queue I believe it’s called, of planned projects with yarns that are already in my stash, but that doesn’t seem quite so urgent. I think I’ll concentrate on the finishing. I’m kind of excited about The List, in a weird sort of way. Not that I don’t make lists all the time; I do. But I tend to make them and then promptly lose them or forget about them. I hope that doesn’t happen to this list. I want to pin it up to my wall and cross off project after bleeping project for that wonderful “I’m actually accomplishing something” feeling. Hmmm… in writing this I seem to recall that I made a list like this a few years ago. I wonder what happened to that one? No matter! I will not get distracted by petty failings in the past! That was then – this is 2012! Moving forward with hope and optimism! I did manage to finish two things this week:

My Kool-Aide dyed socks:

And my gorgeous Bohus Swing Coat, designed by Nicky Epstein. Please forgive the blatant lack of humility but I’m SO excited about this one! You might just see me wearing it everywhere.

Oh, and the cat likes it too. That’s very important:

Best of luck to you all on your February Finishing. I’ll keep you posted….

Barbie Pink

Barb — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:36:58 +0000

Yeah, Baby! That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

Snow! We’ve finally had some glorious snow this weekend, and I think they are saying that more is on the way. At last January is looking like it’s supposed to: white, crunchy cold, and gorgeous. January always makes me think of my dad. He had this little saying that he would repeat every January as Montana was plunged into its customary below-zero spell: “When the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen.” I think Dad liked January. It has an amazingly stark beauty. And there is something invigorating about the cold too. I remember him putting on his work boots and tromping off to whatever project he had going. The cold didn’t slow him much, except perhaps to offer an excuse for slightly more frequent or prolonged coffee breaks with Mom, a little tradition of theirs. Dad’s birthday was in January. He’ll have been gone 29 years this year. I’m now the age he was when he died, an unfair, early death. I still think of him almost every day, and enjoy pondering the legacy he left me and all his kids, including his favorite little phrase about January, which I now repeat to my sons as a family tradition: “When the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen.” I miss you, Dad.

January definitely deserves a mitten pattern, and here it is:

I made it out of a bulky yarn (some of my hand-dyed organic Merino) and knit it on slightly smaller needles (US9s instead of US10s) to make it firm and warm and…voila!

I think it’s suitable to a freezing cold January a la Montana! And it’s easy – fear-not beginning knitters! You can do this!

Download the pattern here:download now">

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/new-years-mittens

Here’s a picture of more of my hand-dyed organic Merino:

Here’s how a large flock of small birds are keeping warm this January in their makeshift birdie condo:

They’ve taken up residence in a pile of branch trimmings that some procrastinators (who could that be?) left out this fall. Once again, we have proof that procrastination can be useful, if not downright virtuous.

Happy January, all! Stay warm!

Barbie Pink

A New Year’s Mitten

Barb — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:46:12 +0000

All was going swimmingly and Things were being accomplished: I knit in the New Year
with a sweet mitten in organic Merino that I had dyed myself. I had written out the pattern and was on the verge of posting it on Ravelry and our own website. I had made Great Progress on an unfinished sweater from … shall we just say awhile ago. We had completed inventory at the shop. Yes, all was going very well, when I made the bold and fearless move to clean up my so-called-studio in preparation for the many wondrous fibery projects I’m dreaming of for 2012, when slam, bam, siss-boom-bah, I threw my back out. All dreams of all kinds came to a screeching halt while I could do nothing for several days but lie in bed and let the cats walk all over me (literally). Today, praise be, I feel myself to be back among the living, although the very slow-moving, delicately-walking living for fear of wrenching the thing again. Clearly the lesson to be learned here is: housework can be very dangerous. Probably best not to do it at all.

Now, to slowly and oh-so-carefully return to some of my ongoing projects:

Here’s some of my recent handspun yarn that I’ll be putting in the shop for sale:

Here’s part of my latest dyeing project, also to go to the shop for sale:

And so, friends!
Let’s surge forth into the New Year, ready to overcome whatever crazy
obstacles may come our way! Best wishes to all for a HEALTHY and happy 2012!

~Barb

Barb — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:34:03 +0000

Hello friends!

What a glorious fall it’s been, and now with the chill setting in, we can say with certainty that it’s time to knit! We’ve been receiving some exciting new things at the shop, just in time for your upcoming projects, as well as gift-making season. Come by and check them out!

New Yarns

Just in this week, a new box of Mountain Colors River Twist yarn in several beautiful new color combinations. River Twist is the gorgeous, soft Merino wool yarn with the handspun look. I noticed right away that I’m crazy for the new colorway, Crazy Creek. It’s pink! But that’s me. I’ll be you will find your favorite colors in this box, too.

Also just in: a new shipment from Habu Textiles including new colors of their Silk/Stainless Steel yarn and the Fine Merino, and Shosenshi Viscose (linen paper) yarn. And for those who love natural fibers, even in their novelty yarns, Habu has a wool pom pom yarn: adorable little puffs of wool on a carry-along thread. What fun will you dream up for that?

And the coolest thing just in may be the official Bobcat hats, mittens, scarf, and Christmas stocking kits! They’re amazing, and developed and made here in Montana. You may have seen the recent article in the Chronicle. We have them and what fun projects they can be for presents. Get in the spirit and Go Bobcats!

New Books

200 Fair Isle Motifs by Mary Jane Mucklestone. From simple and understated to wildly colorful, these motifs will inspire your Fair Isle creations for years to come. A must-have for the color-knitting-lover’s library.

Jane Austen Knits, 2011, from Interweave Press. What a concept! Beautiful creations inspired by all things Jane. Come and see it!

Vogue Holiday 2011: Vogue Knitting does it again; this issue is bursting with amazing knits. I’m making my list and checking it twice…

Have a wonderful, crafty weekend, and we’ll hope to see you soon…

Barb and all your friends at The Yarn Shop

What’s New?

Ausra — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 03:14:35 +0000

This is such an exciting time of year, with new yarns beginning to arrive almost daily! This week we received several delicious-looking yarns: locally hand-dyed, machine washable Merino wool (for dressing up the kids, or yourself);

a baby alpaca/silk blend for knitting and wearing next to the skin;

and giant skeins (660 yards!) of pure alpaca in heathery colors perfect for fall.

Come see, but please be forewarned: you might think you’ve landed in the candy shop.

Total Immersion Fiber Day

gary — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:17:22 +0000

Total Immersion Fiber Day is coming!

When: June 18, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Where: Thirteen Mile Farm, 13000 Springhill Rd., Bozeman

Why: to have fun, learn new skills, and support Montana wool growers!

Wonderful teachers from near and far will be sharing their varied talents to inspire you. Come enjoy a day in the country, tour the Thirteen Mile spinning mill, bring a picnic lunch, hang out at a spin-in, and, in general, celebrate the joys of playing with fiber and yarn! Hope to see you there!

Workshops:

Fiber Preparation. 9 – 10 a.m. with Gretchen Fellerhoff-White and Tina Gilchrist Have you wondered about the best practices for washing wool? How about combing, carding and readying wool for spinning? This hands-on workshop will answer your questions and prepare you to tackle a fleece of your own! – $10 includes materials.

Learning to Spin on a Drop Spindle. 10 – 11:30 a.m. with Barbara French.Learn to spin your own yarn with a simple and ancient tool: the hand-held drop spindle. This small, portable and efficient tool has allowed women (and men) throughout history to spin fiber into yarn, any place, any time. $15 (includes fiber) Spindles will be available for purchase.

Natural Dyeing. 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. with Tina Gilchrist. In this hands-on class you will learn the basics of dyeing wool with plants. You will dye 1 skein of wool and mordant a second skein for dyeing on your own. Additional skeins can be purchased. $25 includes materials.

Painting with Wool. 9 – 12 a.m. with Laurel Orthmeyer. Participants will create a picture in wool of their own design: mountains, flowers, sheep, whatever sparks your imagination! Techniques include needle felting to hold the wool in place, then wet felting to make the design permanent. Beginners welcome! $40 includes materials.

Felted Bag with 3-D Rose Embellishment. 1 – 4 p.m., with Laurel Orthmeyer. We will use a resist form to create the bag shape. We’ll use wool, soap and water to felt the bag and handle, then twist the extra resist piece into a beautiful rose embellishment on the bag front. Wet felting experience is helpful but not necessary. $40 includes materials.

Crochet a Rug with Roving. 1 – 4 p.m. with Becky Weed . Becky will share her technique for creating a beautiful and durable rug with her organic wool roving which she has hand-dyed in color gradations to create a lovely, shaded effect. $55 includes workshop and roving kit.

Spinning Art Yarns. 10 – 11:30 a.m. with Julie Cleary. Learn to spin those exuberant and funky yarns yourself that are commanding the big bucks out there – and have loads of fun while doing so! This intermediate class is for those who can spin a continuous yarn and are comfortable with their wheels. $25 includes fiber kit.

Intro to Needlefelting. 2 – 4 p.m.with LaVonne Stucky. You’ll enjoy learning this fun fiber technique that requires no previous experience! Create an adorable owl by manipulating wool with a felting needle. $20 includes fiber kit.

Lovin’ my Wheel. 1 – 4 p.m. Join us for this free, informal “spin-in.” All are welcome! We want to encourage those in need of guidance, trouble-shooting, or encouragement in their spinning to come hang out with more experienced spinners who are willing to share their knowledge. Bring a lawn chair and come!

Sign up for any of these classes online through our website, or by dropping in to the The Yarn Shop, or calling us at 585-8335.

Habu Month

gary — Fri, 06 May 2011 06:50:39 +0000

Hello friends,

Time to Celebrate Moms! If you haven’t finished your shopping yet, we have a suggestion: a Yarn Shop gift certificate! This Friday and Saturday, we will add 10% to any gift certificate purchased as our way of saying “a very happy Mother’s Day to all!”

We are pleased to announce our
May Yarn of the Month
the lovely and unusual
~ Habu Textiles ~

If you’ve been wanting to try these unique yarns, get them this month at 20% off! We are having fun experimenting with lacy patterns, crunchy and drapey textures, and the ever popular Kushu Kushu scarf.

I dyed some of the cotton Gima at a workshop this spring and can’t wait to start playing with it.	I’m thinking I might enjoy an unstructured cardigan, such as Gisela, by designer Julie Weisenberger.

What would you enjoy? Check out the many astonishing items people have made with Habu Textiles at www.ravelry.com and come have fun!

What’s new: We just received the oh-so-popular giant skeins of organic cotton for an amazingly small price, as well as the giant skeins of Tabitha, a cotton/rayon blend. If you haven’t had the chance to use these yummy yarns before, treat yourself now! At this price, the whole family can wear organic cotton. Yay!

Organic Cotton

Tabitha: cotton and rayon

Also just in: a brand-new publication from Interweave Press geared toward those who are “comfortable knitters,” but beginning spinners: Spin to Knit. This is truly a book in the guise of a magazine: chock full of information and many beautiful patterns, all to showcase your hand-spun yarn.

Have you been wondering about Total Immersion Fiber Day 2011? Well, it’s coming, just a bit later this year. Mark your calendars for June 18 – 19 and stay tuned for all the details. We are planning a slew of wonderful workshops in spinning, dyeing, felting, and crocheting with roving. You won’t want to miss it!

Barb and all your friends at The Yarn Shop

Montana Yarn Shop Hop!

gary — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 18:18:23 +0000

Western Montana is having a yarn shop hop during the month of May! It’s super fun and easy to participate. Here’s what you need to do:

Pick up a Shop Hop 2011 card from The Yarn Shop (or your local shop) and plan a road trip! Wouldn’t some of your friends love to get out too?

Visit at least six of the twelve participating shops between May 1 and May 31 and get your card stamped at each one, and pick up a free gift!

After you’ve collected six or more stamps, turn in your card to your local yarn shop.

On June 4, each of the participating shops will draw for prizes within their own shop.

We hope to see many of you hopping by within the next few weeks!

Best to all,

Barb and all your friends at The Yarn Shop

Here’s what you could win
from the Bozeman Yarn Shop!

First Prize

For the Western Montana Shop Hop! The Yarn Shop of Bozeman if offering 1 lb. of luscious, hand-dyed “Weaver’s Wool” from Mountain Colors in the colorway of your choice, along with a pair of gorgeous, Lantern Moon needles in exotic woods.

Second Prize

will be the lovely more-than-a-coffee-table book, Shear Spirit, the story of 10 different fiber farms including Bozeman’s own Thirteen Mile Farm, along with a skein of Thirteen Mile Organic Wool in your choice of color.

Third prize

will be this extremely popular collapsible basket in your choice of color, perfect for carrying your knitting projects or booty from the farmer’s market.