Color Inspiration for our next KAL!

In anticipation of the arrival of Stephen West and StevenBe, we're hosting a knit-along! I(Kassie) have prepped some fun color combos for different projects.

Zauberball 2134 & Step Classic 1005

I imagine this combo as a Daybreak.

Trekking Maxima 911 & CoBaSi 033

A customer picked out this combo for a Spectra, which I thought was fun!

Alpaca Silk 16 & Kenzie 1007 and 1001.

I've got these three in my stash, I'm planning on making Flagstone.

Zauberball Crazy 2231 & Trekking XXL Tweed 209

Another stashbuster for me, possibly destined to be a Chadwick!

Any Firefly fans? Schmutzerella Yarns on Dude in
"Yeah, but She's Our Witch" and "Two by Two, Hands of Blue"

A fun combo from a local dyer, I'm thinking Rockefeller for this pair.

I hope you've been inspired, and that I get to knit with you after the LYS Tour! Now I have to decide between making that Flagstone or Chadwick. See you soon! :)

Spring Knitting & Crocheting: A Round-Up!

I've known many crocheters and knitters who abandoned their craft during the warmer months. After all, we are, by and large, a wool-loving people (I know I count myself as such; alpaca, anyone?). Who wants to be at the beach or on a road trip with a sweater's worth of merino piled on their lap?

However, I'm here to tell you that the terms "Spring knitting" or "Spring crocheting" are not oxymorons! There's no need to put down your needles and hooks during the warmer months. Allow me to don my "enabler" hat for the moment and share some warm-weather projects, inspired by our shop yarns, that are catching my eye this season.

First off is Hekla, a versatile short-sleeved pullover designed by Skacel Collection's Cirila Rose. Hekla features two of our favorite yarns, Schoppel-Wolle Leinen Los (a yarn that's been flying out of the shop as of late), and Zauberball Starke 6 (available in-store only), the self-striping, DK weight cousin of the ever-popular Zauberball.

Hekla Pullover by Cirilia Rose

For a quicker knit in Leinen Los, try the Blackberry Hat by Malia Mather. This textured, slouchy cap is a great spring accessory, takes just one ball of Leinen Los, and the pattern is available in-store, too.

Blackberry Hat by Malia Mather. Image © Jarrod Duncan

For you shawl knitters out there, there's no time like Spring for whipping out light, airy accessories! CoBaSi, a delightful blend of Cotton, Bamboo, Silk, and a hint of nylon, is a favorite among customers and staff for it's versatility and great stitch definition.

Last year's Spring Knit Purl Hunter KAL, Ridgely, features CoBaSi in 2 colors.

Ridgely by Michelle Hunter. Image © Michelle Hunter

For crocheters, try this sweet, vintage-inspired apron in Patina from our most recent magalog. Motif projects are great when the weather starts to heat up. They only take a little bit of yarn at a time, and don't overwhelm you with piles of fiber to carry around.

Hexagon Apron by Cirilia Rose

Lastly, there's the ever-popular Riff Tunic, knit up in a variety of non-wool yarn choices. We have seen some gorgeous customer-knit versions show up in the shop. Two of my favorites use Kid Paillettes, a jazzy mohair blend that's peppered with sequins, and Merino Cotton 135, a yarn with a broad enough palette that ANYONE can find a color they love. Both yarns are available in-store.

Riff Tunic in Merino Cotton 135

Riff Tunic in Kid Paillettes

Enjoy your Spring & Happy Stitching!

-Sharon

Basic Blocking

Hi friends! Today I'll be showing you the very basics of blocking. A few tips before we get started: don't change the water temperature drastically, agitate too much, or pour water directly on your item. Doing so can cause felting (felting can be fun if it's on purpose!). Always handle wet projects with more care as they are much more delicate. Finally, always support your piece so it won't stretch out. Let's get started!

Step 1: Gather your small item to be blocked, a bowl, some no-rinse wash, and a towel.

Step 2: Add room temperature water to bowl. Drizzle in a tiny squeeze of the no-rinse wash and give it a good swish. 

Step 3: Place your item in the bowl. Push it to the bottom, gently turn over and push it to the bottom again. Let sit for 30 mins to an hour.

Step 4: Lift item out of the bowl while supporting it from underneath without letting it stretch. Gently squeeze excess water out.

Step 5: Place on towel, gently roll away from you.

Step 6: Reposition item on the dry part of towel taking special care to avoid twisting or stretching out ribbing.

- Sample shown is the Hipster hat by TinCan Knits in Reggae Ombre -

To learn more (with some hands on blocking experience) feel free to sign up for my class Project Finishing 101.

Happy blocking!

Jessica

Where’s your favorite place to knit?

At my home I have three favorite places to knit.  Depending on my mood and what project I am working on depends on where I like to knit.  If I want to get away from everyone I retreat to my craft room, turn up the tunes and relax into my purple chaise lounge chair and knit away the stress, ahhhh!!  If I want to hang out with the family, watch a show, and knit, it is the family room leather sofa, of course on the chaise side.  Do I see a trend?  I think I like having my feet up when I knit. Now, when I have serious knitting which involves charts and a lot of thinking the kitchen table is the place to be. I can spread out, have all my charts and pattern sprawled out in front of me.  So you ask, what projects am I knitting on now?  I have numerous projects but the two main ones right now are Champagne, by Baby Cocktails.  Sounds yummy doesn’t it?  Believe it or not this gorgeous vest is for meeee!!  I am knitting it out of Schoppel Wolle Leinen Los, a wonderful yarn that is 70% virgin wool and 30% linen.  

Crunchy, heathered, Schoppel Wolle Leinen Los

I can’t wait to wear this vest; it will be a great layering piece dressed up with a skirt or dressed down with jeans and a tee.  My second project is for the store called Spate, by Jane Richmond and Shannon Cook in their latest book, “Journey”.  A cute textured fingerless mitt knit out of Schoppel Wolle Reggae, 100% virgin wool that is pre-felted and a dream to knit with. Nice and “squishy”, as Sharon would say. Reggae is a Makers' Mercantile exclusive yarn, and the colorways were hand-picked to coordinate with the many brilliant shades of Reggae Ombre.  Here are a few staff favorites:

Reggae Ombre color #1702

Reggae color #4201

Reggae Ombre color #1536

Reggae color #1881

Reggae color #9093

Reggae Ombre #1700

Makers’ Mercantile has a large lounge for you to find your favorite place to knit, we have lots of tables and chairs to spread out, a couple of sofas, leather chairs and a few ottomans if the need to put your feet up arises!!  So come join us for some fun and of course knitting!!!  Don’t forget yummy coffee, tea, and treats at Rylie Cakes!!!  Hope to see you soon!!

Liz

Mrs. Wobbles the Easter Bunny

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Hi friends I made a Bunny Nugget! Isn't she darling? Her name is Mrs. Wobbles. One of our young knitters named her that because she has no legs! Mrs. Wobbles is made in one of the many colors of Simpliworsted and whips up in no time!

Next to Mrs. Wobbles is a nest (all nests are 50% off!) filled with felt eggs that are only 3 for $1! It's not  too late to make an adorable Easter basket with our many eeBoo and Streamline products.

Happy Easter everyone!!!

P.S. We will be closed this Sunday but we will be back on Monday (the bakery will reopen on Tuesday)

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Gifts…never too early to start!!!

Gifts…never too early to start!!!

Some of my favorite gifts to knit up are fingerless mitts.  They make wonderful birthday and Christmas gifts for our family, friends, and our kids' teachers.  My all-time favorite go-to gift pattern is Fetching by Cheryl Niamath.  This pattern is quick, fun, and looks great on everyone. For the men in your life, Cheryl also has a pared-down, simpler pair of fingerless mitts, Dashing.

Makers’ Mercantile has many yarns that would be perfect for this project! Among my favorites are Mistral, Milford, Kenzie, and Lambswool.  In many cases, this is just a one ball project!

With all of my gift knitting complete, I decided I needed a gift for MYSELF!!  Plus, it's that time of year where it's still a bit chilly in the evenings, and a pair of these will be your best friend for cold Washington nights. Sooo…here is a photo of my pair of Fetching mitts in the works out of Lambswool!!! Which Makers' yarn would you choose for your Fetching? Come in and let us help you pick out something fabulous.

Happy gift knitting!!

 Liz

Summer Class Survey

We are working on our summer class schedule and we want to hear your opinions! Please take the survey and/or shoot us an email with an idea.

We are looking forward to your responses!