We have had such and overwhelming response to our Come On Eileen original pattern since it was posted this week on Ravelry, that we have decided to share the pattern with everyone as a Mother’s Day Gift.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at In The Loop!

Come On Eileen

Come On Eileen

(A Sequined Infinity)

#19 24” Circular Needle

(2) stitch markers

(3) skeins of Rowan Alpaca Chunky (76.9 yds per)

(2) skeins of S. Charles Crystal (144 yds per)

Cast on 90 stitches place marker and join.

Purl 44 stitches and place marker, continue to end of round.

Purl each round for 5”.

Next round purl 2 together and purl all stitches to marker, move marker and purl 2 stitches together. Continue purling to end of round.

Next round purl even.

Repeat these last two rounds until you have 32 stitches between markers.

Purl next round.

Bind of next round in pattern.

You know that feeling when you discover something new that you can’t wait to tell everyone about? Well, this week I discovered “someone” who I can’t wait to tell you about. Her name is Lisa Mutch and she is an Indie dyer and uber talented independent designer from Ontario Canada. I stumbled upon Lisa during  my daily search on Ravelry through a  pop up add for her pattern Iridium. Several correspondences later and In The Loop is now carrying a sampling of Lisa’s designs. Where does this talent come from in only 10 short years?

” I began designing simple knitwear very soon after teaching myself to knit 10 years ago. I always seemed to get a different gauge, or have a different weight yarn than the pattern called for so I would just improvise, or make up something up as I went along.”

Starting this weekend you will be able to purchase Drizzle, Cyclone, Atmospheric and Torrent, her collaboration with Meghan Jackson available as an E-book, called Strange Rains on Ravelry, or as individual patterns,  here in the shop. This is a little of what Lisa had to say about their new collection.

“Strange Rains is a knitwear accessories collection featuring cowls and shawls by myself and fellow Canadian designer Meghan Jackson.

We played on the familiar April showers theme for spring to collaborate on a collection that brings together our different but complementary styles. We wanted to offer stripes, lace, and unique design elements in modern accessories that are fun to knit and wear. Strange Rains is the result! We hope you love it as much as we do.”

Atmospheric by Meghan Jackson

Cyclone

Torrent

Drizzle by Meghan Jackson

Also available are Heartbreak, Heartache, Serrate and coming in June Trivium. I couldn’t resist asking Lisa where the inspirations came from in naming her patterns.

Heartbreak

Heartache

Serrate

“The inspiration for the names of my designs really varies. Sometimes, the shape or colour of the project will inspire me. For example, Heartbreak, being broken into sections and divided by red stripes reminded me of a broken heart, while Serrate with it’s sharp point made me think of a serrated knife. Thinking of an original and fitting name for each design is important to me, and during the whole design and knitting process, it’s something I put a lot of thought into.”

Coming in the next few weeks are Vanadium, Iridium and Leonore, three of  Lisa’s top down sweater patterns all knit with here favorite fingering weight yarn from The Uncommon Thread (which we hope to have on our shelves before the end of summer).

Lenore

Iridium

Vanadium

We would like to welcome Lisa in joining the likes of Hannah Fettig, Alana Dakos, Julie Hoover, Stitch Poet, Courtney Kelley and Kate Gagnon Osborn, our “always growing” group of Indie Designers.

To find out more about Lisa, you can follow her here on Facebook or on her website Northboundknitting.etsy.com

Doing our best to keeping your needles happy!

Inca Eco

Welcome to the first stop on the Joseph Galler Inca-Eco Blog Tour beginning today, March 19th through April 2nd (please check below for the full tour schedule).

What’s better than owning a yarn shop? For Star Galler, the third generation, it is about continuing the dream her grandfather Joseph started in 1951 with Joseph Galler Yarns. Joseph died in 1993, at the age of 92, passed the business to his son Henry and now  Henry’s daughter Star has come to the forefront to continue the tradition.

We thought  it would be nice to get to know Star and the Galler family a little better.

Star thank you for sharing this with us. We think your grandfather is smiling from above and beaming with pride. We would also like to thank you and Marie for inviting us to be a part of the next chapter of  Joseph Galler Yarns.

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With each generation comes change and infusing a younger perspective into a very long lived established company is all it takes.  This year for Joseph Galler Yarns, means a new website, an introduction into social media with a Facebook page , a blog and a Ravelry page.  As Star mentions, they are also introducing two new yarns to their existing portfolio: Inca-Eco a 100% Organic Cotton (140 yds) in 15 ”requested colors” made with low impact, eco friendly dyes and Asana Bulky, 50% superfine alpaca/50% Peruvian Highland Wool (140 yds) in 5 tri-tone shades.  Before we can venture into the new, let’s take a quick step back a few years.

In The Loop was first introduced to the Joseph Galler line four years ago by their rep, Susan Shabo. This was not a hard sell by any means. One touch of the Galler Peruvian Tweed and their Heather Prime Alpaca (both 100%  superfine Alpaca) was all it took, along with introducing us to a very talented designer, Champagne Maker, aka Stitch Poet and one very infamous pattern called the Wrapigan.

The Wrapigan, knit with Galler Peruvian Tweed, was a huge favorite here at the shop and was auctioned off to benefit the American Cancer Society

Stitch Poet's Wrapigan

Then came the Simon Cowl  (also from Stitch Poet),  in Galler’s Heather Prime Alpaca. This sample has seen quite a few functions outside the shop. We  never know who’s going to “borrow  it”.

Simon Cowl

Followed by our most popular sweater to date: The Boyfriend Sweater. The Boyfriend Sweater is our version of a thirty year old Reyonld’s pattern. A super quick knit with one strand of Galler Peruvian Tweed and (1) strand of Frog Tree Chunky. The perfect “go to” sweater for our New England weather.

The Boyfriend Sweater

We also carry Cupcake, now renamed Adorable, (hmm.. wonder why the name changed) which makes the most luxurious baby items. The recommendation for this Alpaca Silk blend is to knit it as a worsted weight yarn on size 7 needles, but we find the stitch definition is more suited to a 5 or 6 needle.

Cupcake/Adorable

…and we saved the most luxurious for last, Galler’s Belangor. Our skeins are “served”  in a beautiful glass bowl. This 100% French Angora Rabbit Hair is pure heaven against your skin.

New Englanders are fickle and with our unusually abnormal, non-existent winter, our customers are in search of spring/summer cottons and linens much earlier than expected.  This was a perfect time for Joseph Galler to release their new line of Eco Cotton, a textured thick and thin cross between Classic Elite’s Sprout line and Blue Sky Alpaca’s Organic Worsted Cotton. Every Friday during the tour Galler Yarns will be releasing  free patterns for the Eco Cotton on their blog site.

For those of you anxious to try some of the new Inca Eco, Galler Yarns has been kind enough to send us a sample skein for some  test knitting and we were happy to take it for a test drive.

Some last words from Star:

There were only a handful of yarn companies in the country when my grandfather started Galler Yarns.  He had a really big personality, and a lot of the owners of the older shops knew my grandfather. We’re a real family business.  You will always get me or my parents on the phone if you call.  We have a 97 year old woman who helps out part-time shipping orders – she has worked with my parents for over 35 years!  We provide very personalized service and have an open door for suggestions from our retailers.  We’re not a big corporation, but just a boutique yarn company.  Galler Yarns is really a special place with a lot of love.

We wish Star and her family continuing success!

Blog Tour Schedule provided by Joseph Galler Yarns

Monday, March 19 – Day 1 - In the Loop in Norfolk, MA (shop website)

Tuesday, March 20 – Day 2 - Knit Purl Gurl

Wednesday, March 21 – Day 3 - FreshStitches

Thursday, March 22 – Day 4 - Crafty Is Cool

Friday, March 23 – Day 5 - Cute Crochet Chat

Saturday, March 24 – Day 6 - Redshirt Knitting

Sunday, March 25 – Day 7 - CraftSanity

Monday, March 26 – Day 8 - Craft Gossip with JD Wolfe

Tuesday, March 27 – Day 9 - Crafting a Green World with Julie Finn

Wednesday, March 28 – Day 10 - Crazy for Ewe in Leonardtown and La Plaza, MD (shop website)

Thursday, March 29 – Day 11 - Crochet Concupiscence

Friday, March 30 – Day 12 - KRW Knitwear Studio

Saturday, March 31 – Day 13 - About.com with Sarah E. White
Sunday, April 1 – Day 14 - Underground Crafter
Monday, April 2 – Day 15 - Monarch Knitting and Quilts in Pacific Grove, CA (shop website)

For anyone who has walked through our doors on a Saturday morning you can and will be, easily drawn into the rather “over enthused” crowd that gathers here for “Happy Hours” knitting each week. For most this becomes the highlight of their overly stressed work week, thanks in part, to the much loved ladies from the Taunton SNB Group. Their combined years of knitting, schooling and wisdom makes for laughter and camaraderie most groups can only wish to achieve.

Today they introduced us to their web page and their version of the “knitting dictionary”.  With their gracious consent we bring you the  “KNITISMS” of the Taunton SNB Group.

CAPE ESCAPE

The chic new cover up for any season is the cape, capelet or shawlette. What ever name you choose to assign it, it will be your perfect “go to” piece.

This past week we were part of the Sweet Shawlettes Blog Tour and right off the top we can easily choose three from the book.  Enigma, a two part poncho upon poncho,  knit in Rowan Kidsilk Haze. Ceilidh, a beautiful intarsia side shouldered shawlette, in Rowan Lima and the Kitty, for those who can’t resist the newly re-surged interest in animal prints.

Enigma - Ceilidh - Kitty

You can’t go wrong with Churchmouse Yarns and Teas EasyFolded Poncho. We have one started in Joseph Galler’s Heather Prime Alpaca or how about Blue Sky Alpaca’s Melange or Aslan Trend’s new Melange Alpaca which should be here some time in the next two weeks.

Easy Folded Poncho

WRAP IT UP

Don’t want that totally confined look? A shawl/wrap is just the thing. Great for the office that is always frigid or over a sweater or blazer when the temps are just not cold enough for a heavy coat.

One of our top picks is Winter Berries. You can knit this in a worsted weight wool, alpaca or wool alpaca blend that can be dressed up or down anytime of the day. The shop sample is flying off Ellen’s needles as we type. Looking forward to spring? How about a worsted cotton or linen blend. The Parasol Stole is destined to be one of those classic wraps you long for. A lighter spring look is easily accomplished with Rowan Kid Silk Haze. For a heavier weight, may we suggest Fibre Company’s Acadia or Canopy Worsted, which knits closer to the DK side than the worsted it is noted as. Lastly, is Lida. I hold no shame in telling you how we feel about Quince and Company. Both their yarns and pattern support can not go without our praises. Knit with Quince’s Sparrow, a fingering linen, it will need to be cast on soon if I am to wear it to a September wedding.

Winter Berries, Parasol Stole, Lida

As the snow flies and the roads ice up, today was a the perfect day to think about warmth and comfort. I am sure by next week we will be looking ahead to spring projects and we look forward to March, as the first of the spring yarns start to arrive. Until then, we have a little surprise coming this week. Milla Mia, a Swedish yarn and design company, now available in the United States through Classic Elite, will be arriving. Their fine quality merino wool and their contemporary children’s designs will have us all looking for a “wee one” to knit for.

Stay warm everyone and happy knitting.

Jean Moss, author of Sweet Shawlettes, is well into her third week of her promotional “Blog Tour” featuring her latest book. We totally underestimated the popularity that this exciting new book would create and quickly had to scramble to reorder more copies. Our thanks to Taunton Press for the rush delivery.

Jean Moss

Jean has been a part of the knitting community/business for some 30 years, beginning her career with Ralph Lauren, then onto Benneton and Laura Ashley. Many of her designs have been featured in well known knitting publications such as Rowan, Vogue and The Knitter. What does she do with her spare time? Honestly, as a business woman myself, I do not know where she finds the time, but she’s cooking, leading knitting tours through Europe, gardening and singing a tune or two.

Whether you are a knitter or admirer of beautiful handwork, all you have to do is visit your LYS or just do some people watching at the mall and you know that cowls, wraps, and shawls are the “it items” right now.  They not only transcend all age groups, but fibers as well. Chunky, bulky, mohair lace, worsted blends, Jean’s book reflects them all. Not to mention that these are a great way to showcase your favorite brooch, pins or buttons.

25 irresistible patterns await and each chapter is broken down into four categories: Country, Couture, Folk and Vintage. We conducted our own little Q&A in house as people were browsing through the pages and we have a list of the “I need to make winners”.

First is Twine (seen below on Leslie) knit with Rowan Big Wool. This was a quick bulky knit completed on large needles and joined with a three needle bind off.  A great project says Leslie, for those beginners who would like to learn some new stitch patterns or a new technique.

Others that would soon be finding their way to the needles were Enigma, Harlequin, Ceilidh and Mantilla. You can see all the patterns from Jean’s photo gallery here.

We have opened this post up for comments and please feel free to ask Jean any questions. Taunton Press has graciously agreed to give away one copy of Sweet Shawlettes so we will be picking one lucky winner from the comments section. You have to comment to enter and please make sure you leave your first name and the initial of your last name. We will contact you for your full name and address so that Taunton can forward you a copy of the book. Good Luck and there are plenty of copies of Sweet Shawlettes here at the shop.

Special thanks to Jean, Phillip and Taunton Press for offering us this opportunity to participate in our first  Blog Tour and we wish them much success with the new book. For more insight into the world of Jean and her many talents check our her blog More Yarn Will Do The Trick.

We all know that a knitters most valuable tool is their hands. Winter seems to be our enemy. Our hands are cold, dry, cracked and achey.

In keeping with this month’s theme of self-indulgence, we would like to invite you to a night all about hands.  Come treat yourself for two hours of hand maintenance and therapy. We will also have a supply of Bradeen Farms Knitters Handcream waiting for you to sample and purchase.

Please join us on Friday, January 27, 2012 from 6:30 – 8:30 for a Hand Care Workshop. Martine Miner L.M.T. from The Massage Therapy Clinic in Wrentham for 17 years, will guide us through the the healthy habits we need to keep our hands in shape for continuous years of happy knitting. She will discuss “warm-up” routines and care and everyone will be treated to a Perfect Sense Paraffin Infusion treatment. Space is limited to 15  for this event. Cost is $20.00 and must be paid at time of registration, (fee will be refunded for weather cancellation) and we ask that everyone arrive promptly at 6:30.

Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.  ~Hal Borland

or

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.  ~Oprah Winfrey

tiny white daisies via a lady's findings

Time passes. For some, more quickly than others. Do we use it wisely to reflect upon the good and/or, the bad? Do we resolute to make a change, learn from our mistakes and hope for the chance to get it right?

2012 what will you do with her? As the closing year worked it’s way through the holidays, there has been much discussion here about where do we journey with you, our knitting companions, into the ever evolving world of fiber and a needle or two.

Our goal has always been to inspire you and many of you have “thrown us for a loop”, with some of your own inspirations. It’s amazing what you have created with a simple post and some suggestions.

We hear so many comments about how great it would be to own/work in a yarn shop. Life behind the scenes is not always a roll in a basket of cashmere. A lot of planning goes into what will be knit for the coming months, workshops to be held, KAL projects, patterns and designers to bring to the forefront, and what yarns, be it the ever faithful name brands, or the hot new “indy” buzzing around the industry, will grace our shelves in the coming months. This is just the fun stuff.

As we count down the hours to the New Year, we are recharged with creative energy and excitement. We may not be chasing away the cold right now but this is New England and if you just wait, the chill may not be to far ahead.  Which means there is plenty of time to fit in the knitted comfort of a poncho, wrap, bulky sweater, not to mention a quick scarf, cowl, hat or some fingerless.

Not all yarn shops are created equal, that’s a good thing…. and Miss Oprah, we welcome a “new year” to get it right!

Happy New Year and Happy Knitting

Join us on Monday, January 16th, as we participate in our first virtual blog tour.  Jean Moss a well known couture knits designer, writer, gardener and musician living in York England has created her own collection of hip shawlettes in a new release, Sweet Shawlettes.

Photos Courtesy of Jean Moss and Taunton Press

25 stylish, budget friendly, portable projects for shawlettes, capelets, cowls, collars and more.  The book goes on sale January 3, 2012 and will be available in the shop.  We have just received our copy for anyone who would like a sneak peek. Stop by the shop to purchase a copy (they will be in next week) and we are welcoming comments or email questions to intheloop@comcast.net which Jean will be happy to answer for our blog post on January 16th.  One lucky customer will be drawn from the blog comments to win a copy of Sweet Shawlettes.

We are honored and excited to have been chosen by Jean to participate in the release of her new book. So please visit us right here, on the blog page, January 16th and join in on the fun.

Dashing to In The Loop. Don’t need a one horse open sleigh (please Santa where’s the snow). You only have 3 more days to finish everything for the big day. Hopefully laughing all the way.

This is it people. We are talking hours till show time and unless you plan on knitting non stop or you have a couple of 11th hour scarves up your sleeves you need to turn your attention to the  last minute non-knitted gifts.

We still have some JaCiva truffles left (all in the shape of a yarn ball), Leigh Radford cable design mugs, Sweet Little Things lapel/bag   pins, holiday and everyday note cards, leather wrap bracelets, soaps and hand lotion.  Hubbies don’t have a clue? There’s always the reliable gift certificate.

Remember we are on a Holiday Schedule for the next two weeks. Monday (yes we are open the 26th), Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10-5, Friday 10-3, and closed Saturday December 24th and 31st.

So keep those spirits bright and oh what fun we’ll have ringing in the New Year.  All of us at In The Loop wish you the Merriest, the Merriest and a Happy New Year.