Elizabeth Zimmermann's Green Sweater

When this story hit the knitting world, I was very moved by it and was excited to find out the pattern was available to purchase. We now have copies at the shop.

Each pattern is $8 and you can use Cascade 220, which luckily we have a million colours of. In the summertime I knit a wool sweater for myself to be ready to wear for the winter and this is the sweater I think I want to knit.

It will be the first time I attempt steeks and I'm totally up for the challenge. Anyone else want to join me? Suzie???????

Louet Gems Fingering Weight Yarn!

OMG, this yarn is so super duper awesomely great. Can you beleive that there are SO many great colours to choose from?! Just look...












Each skein has 175 meters, cost $8.50 and you need two for a pair of socks or mittens or hat...the list is endless. But we only got 2 skeins of each colour, so if you see one you like you should snap it up quickly!

Now Thats a Window Display!

With Valentine's day fast approaching, we got a bit naughty at the Sheep and decorated our window with knitted thongs, men's boxer shorts, lots of crocheted hearts and red and white pom poms.

Take a look:

Thermis!

I totally fell in love with this pattern, Thermis when a customer came in last winter to make it. He bought Jo Sharp Aran Tweed, which I would have loved to use as well, but we don't carry it anymore. So I choose the next best thing - Malabrigo Worsted! Yeah baby, this is one awesome yarn and it isn't too difficult to convince people how fab it is. I used about 1/2 skein, 5mm needles, sewn on some buttons, and viola, an instant gratification project:

I'm wondering if you could make two from one skein? I totally think you could!

Knitscene Winter/Spring 2010 Arrived

Holy cow is this one great issue - there are so many things I've added to my to knit next list! Looking at this issue makes me yearn for more hands, but alas, that isn't going to happen.

These are just a few I totally feel in love with and would love to add them to my wardrobe.

Knitty's Citron

If you haven't seen Knitty's newest issue, run, don't walk to http://www.knitty.com/ and check it out. I think this is one of the best issues yet. We truly love Citron knit with Malabrigo Lace. Each skein is @13.00 and you only need one. Yes, that's right, just ONE to knit this awesome scarf/small shawl.

Emily is knitting up a sample using Elizabeth Lavold's Silky Wool as we already have two samples made with Malabrigo Lace - the Featherweight Cardigan and Laminaria, also a Knitty pattern.

New Books!

I have so many knitting books on my shelf at home and although I have not knit many things from these books, I LOVE reading and looking through them from time to time. Here are some we just received that would be a great addition to your library:

The Book of Wool by Clara Parkes (author of The Book of Yarn)




From the Publisher:
What do I knit? Parkes went to some of the most creative and inquisitive design minds of the kniting world to provide more than 20 patterns that highlight the qualities of specific types of wool. The Knitter''s Book of Wool teaches you everything you need to know about wool - and its journey from pasture to pullover. The next time you pick up a skein, you won''t have to wonder what to create with it. You''ll just know.



Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting


Double Knitting - Reversible Two-Color Designs by: M'Lou Baber







Come on in and take at look at them, I think you will fall in love with all the beautiful patterns and helpful information.

My Boyfriend's Hat!

Yep, I knit a Hat Fit for A Byfriend hat! Not for MY boyfriend silly, but for one of my husband's assistant coaches - Bill. I normally do not knit for others outside my family, but I made an exception this time, because the poor bugger has a 24" sized head and can not find hats to fit him.




I used 1.5 balls of Mission Falls 1825 wook, 5mm bamboo DPNs, a bit of time and viola, a hat that finally fits his bowling ball size of a head!

Totally love the decreases! They are awesome.

New Cash Desk!

The shop now has a more grown up look! Along with our outstanding new needles and notions display, we have put in a new cash desk!



This may not sound exciting at first, however, there is so much more room at the front of the store. You can now easily see our computer monitor to search for patterns (no more bending down!) More room for us at knit night, more room to sit around to knit and have fun! Plus it looks awesome!

It has taken 18 months to organize the store to our liking and we hope you like it too - your home away from home!

See you soon!

New Class - Learn To Make Yarn on a Drop Spindle!

We are so proud to announce a brand new class!

Learn How To Spin Yarn on a Drop Spindle!

Expand your fiber habit to include making your own handspun yarn. It is a fun and addictive pasttime that is so rewarding. Let Missy guide you through the process of preparing fibres, drafting, twist, spinning techniques and how to prepare your finished yarn to be used in a project.

By the end of the 2nd class you will be well on your way to creating your own handspun yarn.

DETAILS:
February 11th and 18th

Cost: $50 - a drop spindle and roving for you to use during the class and to keep!

Instructor: Missy Westgate of The Painted Fleece

My Girl Jay's 2010 Sweater!

Since I've been a "serious knitter", I've knit a sweater for each of my two daughters each year. Last year they didn't get one because I was so super duper busy and I didn't hear the end of it! This year I knit them each a sweater and I finally got around to taking a picture of Jay wearing hers.



Introducing Jay's 2010 sweater, (btw I have no idea what that white spot is):








I used Wendy Bernard's Drive Thru sweater, which is pretty much an Elizabeth Zimmermand Percentage System design. I used the Fibre Company's Organik in a burgandy/deep wine colour and the Fibre Company Kroma yarn. I knit 10 rows for each stripe, knit a seed stitch border and button bands, the sleeve cuffs are knit in 1x1 rib, as Jay likes her sweaters to be close fitting and the sleeves even tighter.



She wanted me to take a picture of how she has been wearing the sweater, with her hockey rep vest! Jay is super proud of this sweater and tells everyone that her mom knit it for her!

I have been knitting for a long time and I have to say that this is the best sweater I've knit to date.

There are no errors that I just overlooked, the fit is prefect, the length of the sleeves are grand, the button band doesn't pucker, the buttons are on just right and I am so happy with it!



Thankfully Jay is happy as well!

New Display!

Oh my goodness, we are so excited to unveil the newest change at the shop! My wonderful husband and father in law came in and installed our brand new 8' by 8' peg board to display all our needles, hooks, notions, buttons and anything else we want to put up!

Having all these items nicely organized means you and us can find things oh so much more easily and it looks brilliant.

This great idea was hatched by Emily and I am glad we coud get it done so quickly.

Naked Sheep Needle Gauges!

Look what we just got:

Needle Gauges with the Naked Sheep website and telephone info stamped onto them! I looked around for ages trying to find a good needle gauge and with the help of Missy from the Painted Fleece, we found them!

They are made out of plastic, not metal (I hate the metal ones), provides holes to check needle sizes 1.5mm to 19mm and includes the USA sizes too! It also has cms and inches stamped on! Woo hoo!

Each on is $6, and although we have about 100 left, they are flying out of the store! I better grab one before they are all gone.

Fiddleheads - DONE LIKE DINNER!

I finally took pictures of my finished Fiddlehead Mittens that I gifted to my mom on Christmas morning. I used Tanis' Fiddlehead mitten kit in the pink/purple colourway. I am happy how they turned out, however I would change up a few things when I maked them next time:



I did run out of the liner yarn, so used the leftovers to finish it up - You can see the hot pink thumb?


Mods: the liner is knit with Tanis’ DK yarn which I think is way too thick, so the liner decreases were finished at the same point the outer mitten decreases started. AND the liner is still a bit squishy in there.

You have to move it around so it doesn’t bunch up.

I would suggest using a much lighter yarn for the liner to prevent the bunching up.

ravelympics 2010

During the Winter 2006 Olympic Games, The Yarn Harlot organized the 2006 Knitting Olympics. The concept was:

To cast on a project during the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics and finish before the Olympic flame goes out. You must choose a pattern that is challenging to YOU to complete it during the Olympic games.

For the 2010 games, Kimberli (rav name) and two others have organized the 2010 Ravelympics! Pretty much the same idea as the one the Yarn Harlot devised during he 2006 games. Here is a link to the RULES on Ravely.

Emily and I are Team Captains for Team Naked Sheep on Ravelry!

The plan is to arrive at the Sheep to get ourselves all settled before the Opening Ceremonies begin on Feb 12th, have a few snacks and Cast on Together! We will compile a list of names, the projects you are working on and post progress. The flame goes out on Feb 28th!

We will have prizes for various categories, which will be posted once we know what everyone is working on! Plus, more details will follow!

ARE YOU IN??????

New Tools!

We couldn't resist bringing in these Pom Pom Makers - in all sizes available!! Making poms poms are so much fun.

Add to hats, ends of scarfs, make snowmen - give to kids, so many uses!

New Hat Sample!

Remember this mitten? We knit it with Noro Bonbori but found it was very lonely, so we knit a hat to match! I LOVE this hat. It actually fits my head perfectly and is super duper warm.

I used Knitting Pure and Simple 297 Bulky Hat and Mitten Set, one ball for the hat!

Can you guess what I'm knitting in the picture below? Hint: Valentine's Day is fast approaching!

Klaralund, How I LOVE Thee!

I knit this sweater, Klaralund years ago using 8 skeins of Noro Silk Garden, my first expensive sweater. I actually bought the yarn at The Naked Sheep when Lorena owned the shop and now it hangs in the window. Weird!

It was such a popular sweater in August of 2004, that Wendy from wendyknits.net started a Knit A Long and hundreds of people joined in, including me!


Here's mine, currently hanging in all her glory in our window:





I couldn't bring my Klaralund to the store as the pattern was not available, which surprises me because it is a fantastic sweater to knit for your first one, it looks awesome and suits all body types. Go figure! But Noro but out a book recently, I'm sure you've heard of it -





This pattern is now available to be loved by more knitters.

There's a New Yarn Dyer in Town!

We welcome another batch of a fabulous colours of sock yarn from VIOLA - a new Toronto Yarn Dyer! Miss Emily who works at the Sheep is branching out and dying up sock yarn in colours you won't believe until you see them!

Each skein is $24, enough for a pair of socks, small shawl, scarf, fingerless mitts, the list is endless for what you can knit or crochet with this yarn. It is soft, squishy and to dye for!

We have two skeins of each colour, however I doubt they will last long - the colours are that AWESOME!

A close up of the orange colourway!

A look at at the tag! Ahhh... So cute!