Customers always ask us what is hot right now. Our answer, “Sundry by Jennifer Dassau.”  We know that some of you have already cast on more than one in standard two color combos but have you seen the latest versions of the Sundry using three colors? If you would like to give this a try, join us beginning Sunday, June 2nd, as we cast on for Sundry.

Join us Sunday: June 2nd from 1-2:30 as we cast on.
           Sunday: June 23rd from 1-2:30 Slip Stitch Houndstooth pattern portion.
           Monday: July 8th from 6:30 to 8:00 for the picot edging.

You must purchase your pattern on-line prior to the June 2nd start date, along with approximately 375 yards* of (1) Main Color and 375 yards of (1) Contrasting Color in either fingering or sport weight and #7 40″ needles. We are asking that your materials be purchased at In The Loop, for a 10% discount, and you register no later than May 28th. Space is limited and this project is suggested for an advanced beginner knitter.

*Note if you are choosing a (3) color version please remember your yardage totals will change.

Friday evening we launched our Q Club Membership with a private trunk show and preview party. Thirty three shelves nested Quince’s Sparrow, Finch, Owl, Lark, Osprey, Puffin, and Chickadee.  You fondled, caressed, ohhhed and awed, helped others choose colors, shared project ideas and we think a few of you even coveted thy neighbor’s  basket, but each and everyone one of you went home with goodie-filled bags and a spring in your step.

Quince has remained right on target with it’s goal to “create a demand for quality American fiber”, artistic creativity and good ol’  “Yankee ingenuity”. We look forward to growing with them, exploring and reveling in every new pattern, fiber and inspiration. As they grow, so do we as a community, hopefully lessening the decline of our mills, our LYS’s and the diminished interest in our younger generation who have abandoned “our grandmother’s hobbies” for the latest electronics and designer “off the rack” creations.

We just wanted to express our gratitude for your overwhelming support and thank Pam, Jerusha, Hannah, Ryan and the rest of the Quince team for giving us this opportunity.

**For those of you who asked about socks for Quince, they will be releasing four new patterns in May, all  knit with Finch, in their first sock book.

These are the tween months, not quite winter, not quite spring and right now, definitely not summer. Since our move a few weeks ago, each day brings us a visit from either UPS or Fed Ex and although we have all anxiously awaited the arrival of Quince and Company yarns, some really great yarns are making their way to our shelves.

One such yarn that easily needs to be showcased is Elsbeth Lavold’s Silky Wool, a silk, wool and  nylon 8-ply blend. I have been singing the praises of my perennial favorite EL Hempathy but I regret, up until this past fall, I would have never given Silky Wool a second look. That is, until a dear friend came in wearing her Siv by Elsbeth Lavold. At first glance, this”wormy” looking skein does not hold any appeal to me and several projects I have seen this knit with using larger gauges, looses something in my opinion but knit at a smaller gauge, this yarn is truly magic!

So, if I am going to sing Silky Wool’s praises, your are going to need some project ideas.

Clockwork by Stephen West (2) skeins MC (1) skein CC

Henry by Mareike Sattler (3) skeins

Belmondo by Tori Curbisz (2) skeins

Something Silver by Veera Valimaki, 980 – 1640 yards one piece raglan sleeve cardigan

Peasy by Heidi Kirrmaier 744 – 1312 yards top-down cardigan

Friday Again  by Ankestrick  920 – 1560 yards one piece top-down pullover

Over a dozen new colors in stock to choose from!

Dedham Street Cowl

From our “Best in Snow” Winter Warmth Collection the Dedham Street Cowl.

2 skeins of Mirasol Ushya #15 24″ needles
large leather button or Jul Screw Button

Great beginner project, quick bulky knit. Option to leave out the button hole and use a shawl pin or add the button of your choice.

Moss Stitch Beanie by Jo Sharp

We are kicking this week off with Rowan All Seasons Cotton (98 yds) and Jo Sharp’s Moss Stitch Beanie and Lace Hat. To honor Jo’s request for not photocopying the pattern for anything other than your personal use, please make sure you download your pattern here Moss Stitch Beanie.

The All Seasons Cotton will take your right into spring and the Moss Stitch Beanie makes a perfect project  for next years gift list.

Thank you everyone for knitting along with us these past twelve weeks and we will be back soon with other great project ideas for you to cast on.

Color Affection by Veera Valimaki

Our suggestions: NBK Superwash Fingering or Fibre Company Fingering, Shibui Sock, Juniper Moon Findley, Cascade Lace or Classic Elite Vail

Color Affection by Veera Valimaki

What we can wrap our heads around  ” the hottest thing for spring”, according to Louise Roe, Fashion Journalist and Commentator,  are the “Turbands”. Basically the headwraps of our past, which were known as turbans back in the 40′s and 50′s and started making their debut on the runways as early as 2010. How many I Love Lucy episodes did we see her in wearing one of these. Now the twenty/thirty somethings are finding them quite chic.

Vintage Headband by Nancy Ricci

Nancy Ricci’s Vintage Headband knit with Jade Sapphire Cashmere, 45-55 yards, oh what a treat!

It’s A Cinch Headband by Elisa McLaughlin

It’s a Cinch Headband and Collar, by Elisa McLaughlin, (free on Ravelry)  is an Anthropologie inspired “turband” and a simple project for the new knitter in worsted weight.

The Twisted Turban Headband by Pierrot

The Twisted Turban Headband by Pierrot uses 106-107 yards of worsted weight, free on Ravelry. This is also a very simple pattern but for some reading the chart may be a bit daunting  in regards to the cable twist.

There are 52 pages to be exact, on Ravelry for you to choose from. Make one for yourself, then make a few more for next years gift list and when the cottons and linens arrive make a few more for the spring/summer. This may be our answer to the  winter fly aways and the summer frizzies!

CHASER

CHASER (click on pattern to download)

Chase all your chills away with Chaser, a new In The Loop original,  released this week and just in time for our frigid Artic weather.

A simple cowl, using  (2) skeins of  Misti Alpaca Hand Painted Chunky or any bulky yarn ( approx 200 yds)  that knits 3 – 3.5 stitches to the inch on a #10 needle. Detail is added in the offset panel with a re-moveable tassel.

The Knit Knight Hat by Judy Marples

I was having a bit of a brain freeze, literally. With our balmy temperatures hovering around 10 degrees at the moment and three anxious Pugs waiting to go out for their morning outing, a  prompted hat search begins.  I needed something to keep my head warm and the question I pose to you, “Do you think there was a hat to be found?”  Nada! Zippo! With an adult daughter on the prowl this can only mean the back seat of her car or the bottom of her closet floor, but that’s a blog post for another day.

So cold heads it is this week. We bring you The Knit Knight Hat by Judy Marples, free on Ravelry. Grab a pair of size 8, 16″ circular needles, some Good Karma Farms 60/40 blend, Manos Maxima, or Nightengale Worsted and in a few hours you’ll have a stylish new hat to keep you toasty warm. Problem solved for now, but  I still have to figure out how to outsmart my “10 fingers Louie”  or Sam, in this case.

Knitter’s Got Flu RX Package

It’s all around us. Everyone has either had it, has or shares a space with someone who does have it and those of you who have been lucky to have dodged it thus far, knows that the flu season this year means business. Secretly, I thought about designing cute little knitted “flu masks” with an under the weather sheep on the front, but I thought that might be a little over the top, so how about the “Knitter’s Got Flu ” RX package.

Assembling instructions: (1) extra large mug from Pottery Barn, (1) skein of sock yarn ( Phydeaux Designs Sock Yarn fills our cup) , (1) set of Knitters Pride DPN’s, (1) pr of HiyaHiya Puppy Snips, my favorite Chai Tea Bags from Numi (available in the natural food section of your supermarket) and a package of Lipton’s Chicken Soup.  To wrap it up, a beautiful satin or organza ribbon.

What a great surprise when you are feeling so crappy and sure to speed up any recovery. Then again, a few extra days in bed to knit….shhhhh…. we won’t tell!

Going to be snowed in? Substitute the tea and soup for homemade Hot Chocolate  Mix and Williams-Sonoma Marshmallows and you have the “Knitter’s  Blizzard Party Package”.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix from The Baker Chick

homemade hot chocolate mix
ingredients:
3 cups nonfat dry milk powder
2 cups powdered sugar
1½ cups cocoa powder (Dutch-processed preferred, but regular okay)
1½ cups chopped good quality dark chocolate
¼ teaspoon salt

directions:
1. Whisk together all ingredients in a large bowl. Working in two batches, pulse the ingredients in a food processor until the chocolate is finely ground. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

2. To make hot cocoa, put 1/3 cup of the cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup of hot milk. Top with  marshmallows.