Dream Club Yarns is a selection of yarns in exclusive colors for only those retailers such as The Local Needle, which have joined their club!  We will receive in a special edition yarn teamed with a free pattern each month, from August 2010 until May 2011.

Prices vary each month and quantities are limited so watch close!  We will post here each month as each new package arrives, or if you would like to be one of the first to know, sign up for our newsletter.

August Dream Club includes a skein of  flash-dyed Knitosophy in Rose Smash…

And here is the free pattern that accompanies it!    You can order your August Dream Club here!

Sweet to the taste… sweet on the eyes… sweet as in nice… and, sweet because that was how they were made.

I could just eat this little one up…she’s not only as sweet as they come, but a real treasure to us all.

Here’s Rae modeling one of Jill Eaton’s new designs, the Pinafore Dress.  She looks a little like the model, wouldn’t you say?

This was a very simple knit, made from Jill Eaton’s new yarn, CottonTail.  CottonTail is 100% cotton and completely washable and dryable.  This dress has already been washed and dried in the dryer!

The pattern called for size US 8 needles.  However, even for someone that knits a little on the tight side, this was way too lose.  I moved down to a 7 and fabric looked better and I was then slightly under gauge, close enough though. 

I added a little extra with buttons I found at Stitches South. 

Jill Eaton’s CottonTail yarn and Pinafore Dress pattern can both be found at The Local Needle yarn shop.

We also received in a restock of 5″ fiberspheres.  These are great gadgets for working with 2 colors at the same time.  You can attach 2 of them (each with their own ball of yarn held inside) side-by-side, and the yarns don’t tangle…they stay put like good little yarn balls!

My reason for being a bit late…we stopped knitting for a little and made us some buttons!

I profess at being an amature a beginner at best when it comes to polymer clay play.  However, the great thing about polymer is that it can disguise a lot of mishaps.  While preparing for our Saturday’s class; Button, Button  (an introductin to polymer clay), I wanted to test the bake time for the oven we would be using, because if it’s not right then all of our creations would be for naught!  

So, I made a few buttons to match my 3-button cardi.  I didn’t intentionally make them for my cardi, and they didn’t come out as I had anticipated.  So in a sense you could say I did everything wrong.  Hence, I’ve named them my MB’s, mistake buttons.  I even made 4 so I can sew a spare on the inside.

I think everyone that attended the class had a ball, and there were some beautiful buttons made (a huge improvement over my MB’s!).  I wish I could share them with you, but we were having so much fun that I FORGOT to take a snapshot.   And I don’t think we’ll be seeing Mary for a while, she couldn’t wait to get home and play more.  As she left she was mumbling something about feeding her husband buttons for dinner!

I will say this for future reference….once everyone began to blend their colors a 2nd or 3rd time, they seemed to like the results so much more. 

We had additional distractions as well!  Last year’s KAL was the Great American Aran Afghan and a couple of the ladies that have finished (or so close you can call it finished) blessed us with a show and tell.

First Mag…

Then Marty…

And sweet Marty suggested we have a square designed by The Local Needle.  So designed around the friendships made, the love for fiber and yarns, here it is…

These ladies deserve a pat on the back a holiday weekend celebration! 

A job well done and to be admired by so many.

Well as noted by many participating in the KAL, the 3-button Solstice jacket has an experience level of “Experienced”.  Perfect for working in a group setting, woudn’t you say? 

As we work through the top and most difficult section of the sweater, we find the instructions to be very clear and precise and yet, for some….difficult to keep their place or even to understand.   For example, it appeared that there was a missing WS row in the instructions yet once you work through the section you understand the instructions are accurate.   I thought I would list a few of the cloudy areas participants may have experienced.

Short Rows – The short rows or wrap and turns are done in each sleeve section, not in the back section.  For some reason several were not knitting to the 2nd marker before doing their wrap and turns.  I used Cat Borhdi’s style of wrap and turns (I believe this is in her book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters).  I like the way they look and I’m used to doing them that way.  *Something else I ran into (I’m making the medium size), the last round of wrap & turns took me into my yarnover area, so I actually knitted 2, then W & T instead of knitting the 4 sts the pattern calls for.

Shape Raglan area:  I found it very convenient to figure stitch counts for each increase row repeat, sort of as a map.  If I laid the project down I could count stitches and know exactly where I was.

Buttonhole Row (2nd buttonhole):  This buttonhole ends up falling into the 2nd repeat of the 4 row Shape Raglan repeat.   

For Shaping the Yoke you have to increase evenly across sections.  This is very easily done with the following formula.  # of stitches /# of increases, then take this single number and divide by two for the first and last increase.  For example, my  # of stitches is 36 and I need to increase 6 stitches evenly across the row.  36/6 = 6.  6/2 = 3, so my increases are placed 3, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 3 (where the commas are my increases).  5/21/10 Edited to add…that there is a comment page on Ravelry that includes the increases for each size.

Shape : After casting off for the button band, make sure you keep a 3sts ribbing along the edge and a nice edge stitch like you’ve been doingfront bands.

Eddited 5/21/10 to add a note from the designer…For dividing the sleeves and body: with similar weight scrap yarn, place two crochet chain/provisional cast ons on a straight needle for each set of underarm sts. Work to first marker, with scrap yarn, bind off the sts to the next marker and fasten off loosely, knit the underarm sts from the straight needle. Repeat for second sleeve and underarm.
I’ve always hated placing sts on scrap yarn because the sts get distorted. I also like having them not on a holder so you can try it on to adjust the body length. Picking up the sts from backwards loop cast on can look messy.  The scrap yarn keeps the sts in place and then later it is easy to take out the scrap yarn and the underarm crochet chain in order to get live sts to knit the sleeves. I also mentioned to decrease at each end of the underarm sts to close up the gap on the first round.

Once you’ve divided for the body, the muddy waters are clear and it’s all smooth sailing.  I’m loving the yarn (CEY Chesapeake) and the color!

*Divide for Body: One of the first things you do for this section is to put your sleeve stitches on a holder or waste yarn, and cast on (for under the arm area).  That makes the stitches now on your needles for the body of the sweater only, so you can continue working in the flat from right front, across the back to left front.  

*Sleeves:  After reestablishing the round on the sleeve, I found that the stitches had stretched quite considerably where the held sleeve stitches (those that were on waste yarn), and the underarm stitches (cast on in the prior step) met.   I used Charlene Schurch’s method (for no holes in a gusset of a sock – See “Sensational Knitted Socks”) to close up the hole that was created from the loose stitches. 

*content added 3/17/10.

 Call me what you will, but I have to spell things out for myself to get the thinking part done with.  THEN, I can then enjoy the knit! 

Without giving away the pattern, here are the first few rows which might help you keep track of the RS/WS progress as well as where you are in the double moss stitch pattern.  Just print it out for a little cheat sheet.

1. Row 1 – RS – Sl 1 (wyib) work ROW 1 of Dbl Moss St, k1.
2. Row 2 – WS  - Sl 1 (wyif) work ROW 2 of Dbl Moss St  , p1
3. Row 3 – RS – Sl 1 (wyib) work ROW 3 of Dbl Moss St, k1
4. Row 4 – WS  - Sl 1 (wyif) work ROW 4 of Dbl Moss St  , p1
5. Row 5 – RS – Sl 1 (wyib) work ROW 1 of Dbl Moss St, k1
6. Row 6 – WS  - Sl 1 (wyif) work ROW 2 of Dbl Moss St  , p1
7. Row 7 – RS – Sl 1 (wyib) work ROW 3 of Dbl Moss St, k1
8. Row 8 – WS  - Sl 1 (wyif), k1, k2tog, [yo] 2 times, ssk, work Row 4 of  Dbl Moss St as est  , p1
9. Row 9 - RS – Sl 1 (wyib) work ROW 1 of Dbl Moss St until you reach the double yo, [k1, p1] into double yo, work to 1 st as est, k1
10. Row 10 – WS – Place marker row – just remember to Sl 1 (wyif), work dbl moss st ROW 2 while placing the markers as indicated in instructions.

You are now ready to move to the larger needles!

Here’s my progress so far…I’m using Classic Elite Yarns Chesapeake, in True Blue (first picture depicts the color best); HiyaHiya Bamboo 24″ US 6 Circulars (Try a Hiya!) and I’m lovin’ the Zecca stitch markers.

I’m just past the short rows and things are shaping up well.  Hope everyone is enjoying!!

For those that complete the project by the cutoff date (7/31/10), their names are entered into a drawing (just for The Local Needle!) for which a name is drawn to win a basket of Classic Elite goodies valued at a minimum of $200.00! 

The project that we have chosen can be found in CEY’s just released Curvy Knits, Park Street pattern booklet.  Each pattern in the booklet ranges in size from Medium, up to a 3XL.

The pattern calls for Solstice, 70% organic cotton/30% merino wool;  however, many of us are using Chesapeake, 50% organic cotton/50% merino wool and some are even using Classic Silk, 50% cotton/30% Silk/20% Nylon.  Chesapeake and Classic Silk are both in stock at The Local Needle, Solstice is by special order.  Click here to view Classic Elite Yarns at The Local Needle.

Here’s how you can join us online or in the shop – either way we’ll have a blast!

1. Register by printing out this form and emailing or snail-mail it to The Local Needle. 
2. Purchase your yarn and pattern booklet through The Local Needle
3. join us in the shop each Saturday- 2:00 to 4:00 PM, or online each week at our blog
4. Finish by the deadline (7/31/10), take a picture of your garment, turn in your yarn labels and cross your fingers for the drawing!

We’re looking forward to the initial cast on celebration, Saturday February 20th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM! 

It’s never too late to join us, as long as you can finish by 7/31/10!

She is a delightful lady that is taking her crochet experience to the South during this Holiday Season in order to conduct a workshop that she has coined The Pushmi~Pullyu technique.  The technique is learned while working this beautiful and unique scarf.

This workshop is named after the Pushmi~Pullyu animal featured in the Doctor Dolittle novel written by Huge Lofting.  A Pushmi~Pullyu is the beloved two-headed alpaca/antelope (depending upon which version of the story you know) that delights everyone. 

Many crocheters look at their work in one direction, from left to right, or from right to left.  Is it possible crochet can have more than one direction?  And if so, what are the benefits?

In this popular 3-hour workshop taught at the National CGOA Conferences, Dee will have participants exploring the amazing possibilities of what happens when crochet is turned around!  Not just by turning your work, but by watching what happens when stitches are created backwards! Crocheting in opposite directions has its rewards!  Pattern to create Dee’s award-winning scarf will be provided to participants.

• When:  Sunday 12/20/09 1:30 – 4:30 PM
• Fee:  $40.00 plus materials, space is limited so call today!  (904) 259-5648
• Materials Needed: 2 skeins of smooth DK or worsted weight yarn, simple in texture and color. Crochet hook for yarn chosen.  Optional: beaded trim.  Materials must be purchased at The Local Needle.
• Crochet Experience needed: participants should be comfortable with creating the foundation chain, single crochet stitches, keeping tension, counting stitches.
• Email Joan with any questions:  joan@localneedle.com

And…there’s more than one way to join in the fun…

Crochet Meet-Up!

 Wear your crochet finery, or bring your favorite crochet projects for some Show & Tell while enjoying great food and great crochet conversation!

• When:  Monday, December 21 at 2:00 PM
• Where:  Harpoon Louie’s (www.HarpoonLouies.net)   4070 Hershel St, #8 ,   Jacksonville, FL 
• RSVP:  CrochetWithDee@aol.com

Please consider bringing a new teddy bear … it can be crocheted, knitted or purchased. These teddy bears will be donated to Fire Station #25; they in turn will give the teddy bears to the children in distress when the Station responds to calls.

We hope you can join us!  

“Any human anywhere will blossom in a hundred unexpected talents and capacities simply by being given the opportunity to do so. “ — Doris Lessing

We have some very enticing colors of Shibui Knits Sock and Sock Fluids.

They seduce you into making things other than socks.  Something along these cute little lines:

Then we received in specifically for this Cabled Rib Wrap:

some Baby alpaca DK and some new colors of Silk Cloud – oh SO soft!

Just in the nick of time for our HatHeel Sock KAL this Saturday, we received in a brand new sock yarn from an indie dyer originating in the Oregon area, StitchJones.   Her yarns will literally rock your stash!  Introducing StitchJones Titanium Sock…

And, since I still carry the torch for knitted lace, we received in a tasting of her Nirvana Lace.  Oh, my!  This is 1300 yards of an alpaca/silk/cashmere blend for a very permissive price.

All of these can be found in the shop or online under New Arrivals.

I enjoyed making this.  It was enough to keep my mind occupied, yet relaxing enough to watch the World Series and my favorite… Masterpiece Theatre.

I found a few things to note since the last blog post.  First, if you do not have the exact stitch count when entering into the instructions for row 57, you may get confused.  So I have listed the stitch counts that you should have after completing row 56.  If you lay the shawl on a table and looked at the RS facing you, you should see the following stitch counts:

11 sts, c-8, 23 sts, c-8, 23 sts, c-8, 9 sts, MARKER, 8 sts, c-8, 8 sts, MARKER, 9 sts, c-8, 23 sts, c-8, 23 sts, c-8, 11 sts. (c-8 means it’s a cable and it has 8 sts).

And a reminder; Do not forget to do the increases that are “usually” only done to the center panel.  When you get to row 92, the increases should be done for each set of cable stitches, and the same goes for row 106 and 114.  Ask me how I know this!  I kept humming away and ended up having to frog a good 6″ because I didn’t have extra stitches when I needed them.

Here is our version of the magazine shoot!

I want to thank everyone that has participated in the KAL!  If you’re still working on it, don’t hesitate to drop me a line.

Joan, The Local Needle