Pages

Showing posts with label shop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shop. Show all posts

Mar 9, 2023

More Jody Long Highlights Before Shop Event Mar 14th

One more long yarn-post before our Meet Jody Long Event this coming Tues Mar 14th at the shop. We hear through the customer grapevine he's awesome and lots of fun! 
A favorite customer hear from her friend from down South USA that her local event was terrific. This made us even more excited. I've ordered up an Ikea Garment rack (I've always wanted one!) to hang up his trunk show samples. It'll be wonderful seeing and trying on just a tiny portion of his 698 patterns (yep....doubled because KFI updated his entire portfolio, 20+ years worth to Ravelry)

At bottom of this post more specific details about event. That's my hook to get you reading (or scrolling quickly) the whole post! LOL 

For our non-yarny-customers: I promise to do a nice big, fat, long book and gift posts once we get past the event. There's been a ton of new stuff arriving practically daily it seems. Bear with me....I promise fun things next post.

Right now trying to beat the Pineapple Express Atmospheric Weather Storm #2...or is it #4? Hope power stays on so I can get this post up. 


New Colors of Favorite Lines

Andeamo and Andeamo Light 

These two yarns highlight Peruvian wool blended with touch of alpaca. It's Jody's homage to the Andes, hence their names. Amo = I love you in Spanish + Andes = Andeamo. Both yarns are harvested and made in Peru. 



Andeamo if the super-bulky blend, lightly spun 2-ply that is 9-10 its = 4" on #US15! This is the yarn to grab for fast projects. Super warm but not as heavy as other super-bulky wools. Kim cast on a new car coat pattern and it goes incredibly fast. (For those playing Kim's Cast On Bingo....we're up to 3 wips now....)



For worsted weight projects, grab a super generous hank of Andeamo Light. A whopping 437yd lightly spun blend of 85% Peruvian wool with 15% Alpaca, which provides a softness and lovely halo effect when worked up. 
Jody is a prolific designer with a knack for highly wearable, functional garments. Usually with a special design touch or interesting stitch patterns. Winter Forest booklet has several great sweaters. Our Sadie shop sample is a favorite (below). Simple moss stitch but in two colors! Makes a great house cardigan or car coat. Super warm and cozy. 

There's lovely range of colors too. The blend of highland wool makes for a lovely palette of heathered shades. A go to yarn for accessories and blankets. The stitch definition is amazing with cables. See below this past KAL sweater, Matthew. It was super popular zoom-KAL last fall. 
 

Read previous blog posts about Andeamo and Andeamo Lite here


Ciao was the first Jody Long yarn we brought in many  years ago. It's a workhorse yarn or 100% superwash Italian spun extrafine merino. DK weigh (#3) with gauges: knit 21-24st = 4" on US #5-7; crochet 12-17 sc = 4" on US #F-7 hook.  

Great patterns too! Martin hat and scarf set awesome. The stitch definition of wonderful. By far my favorite is the Stripe It! Scarf. Our shop sample is usually around my neck (and even got to see San Luis Obispo on a recent visit!). Generous size and takes 1 ball ea of 11 colors. 
There's a ton of pattern support for Ciao ranging from adorable babies, children's' and adult garments. His books are excellent if you're making kids projects or baby blankets:
He has several booklets if you're looking for just a few patterns instead of a big book. Winter Breeze full of adult garments and accessories. Ciao Baby tons of adorable toddlers...and the garments are pretty cute too! 


Due to arrive any minute.....the brand new multicolor Ciao Carnival. Same great bouncy yarn but inmulticolor palette. Say it how I hear it in my head, with a Brazilian Accent "Ciao Car-nee-val-eh"! Great addition for those wanting multicolor and a little fun but the Ciao yarn. Check our website for colors. So new I don't have a pretty collage for colors or patterns made yet! 



Alba another one of Jody's first yarns. This means lots of colors and tons of patterns! It's a wonderful soft tweed blend 50% merino/25% superfine alpaca/25% rayon. It's a DK gauge. Inspired by the Scottish Highlands in colors and patterns.

The subtle soft tweed is exact sub for Rowan Felted Tweed. Great yardage (382yds) but the firm balls love to roll off the shelves! But we love Alba anyways. 

The Seaforth booklet has lovely patterns as usual. Classic, timeless and perfect wardrobe staples. 

This fall he created Tino, a perfect Lounge Around Weekend Pullover for Alba. I adore this pattern. Similar to others but more straightforward knitting, with many special shaping techniques included. Love when you learn as you knit! 


Jody Long Summer Yarns
Won't go into the summer Jody Long yarns we stock yet. Let's wait until we have summer weather (yes....we will have summer weather sooner than we think). For now you can find these yarns in our online shopMy Little Sunshine, Summer Delight. New lines are Flora and My Little Sunshine Stripes. 

Older Jody Long yarn blog posts: here, here and here
Patterns on Ravelry (there's now 698 total!) 
Our website: Jody's patterns and yarns

Save the Date! 
Meet Jody Long Event 
Next Tuesday
Mar 14th 
12-4pm 


Here's Jody's Event Agenda! 
  • A seminar of my experience in the hand knitting industry, including owning my own shop in the UK, and how I came to be to design for KFI. 

  • A Q&A session. "What's your favorite seaming trick?" "How the heck do I do a flipping short row!?" "What's your favorite place to travel?" 

  • An hour “Knitting with Jody”, including minimal technique and knitting help.

  • Jody Long “yarn tasting” and patterns and other goodies! Includes an exclusive Jody USA Tour Design for attendees. 

  • A garment trunk show representing multiple Jody Long yarns and designs.

  • An opportunity to purchase an exclusive Jody Long kit available only to attendees. Kit limited so grab because gone when they're gone!

Nibbles and libations provided by Mom! Come by and help us welcome Jody to Gold Country! 

Hope we have some hearty souls able to row their boats to the shop come Tues! I was doubting the hype....but just now a huge gale wind slashed rain against my window.....Yikes! My husband texted weather report for us: Anticipate 14.5" rainfall from now until Wed..... Gulp...... better go get more sandbags.... 








Jul 21, 2017

Christmas in July: Kit #2 Wesley Bobs

[Click to see video in your browser if viewing in our email newsletter. Link at the very top]

You read it right. I said "Wesley Bobs" but you're thinking Wesley Who?! And what does he have to do with christmas? Believe it or not it's a long-standing advent tradition from Yorkshire:
....it was the custom...for children to go from house to house singing and carrying what they called a "wesley-bob." This they kept veiled in a cloth till they came to a house door, when they uncovered it. The wesley-bob was made of holly and evergreens, like a bower, insido were placed a couple of dolls, adorned with ribbons, and the whole affair was borne upon a stick. Whilst the wesley-bob was being displayed, a song or ditty was sung. At Aberford, near Leeds, two dolls are carried about in boxes in a similar way, and such an affair here is called a wesley-box.[British Popular Customs Past & Present]
It's still a custom today except that over the years it's gone from a special advent box to mean christmas tree ornaments. Which fits since we still buy boxes of christmas balls which is sorta, kinda like what the sweet children of Yorkshire would carry around during Advent!

I stumbled across Wesley Bobs while searching endlessly on Ravelry for "christmas ornaments." Once I found Ann Kingstone's Wesley Bob pattern I knew this was the pattern for our Christmas in July extravaganza. Her pattern is easy to follow and has six motifs, charted out in both color versions. Then reading about the old-fashion tradition behind the unusual name.....I knew it was a done deal! Thankfully our shop elf, Catski whipped out several in record time too.

https://squareup.com/market/maisieblue-inc/item/week-wesley-bobs

Originally I planned to use the Norwegian Julekulers made popular by those fun guys, Arne & Carlos. They even have a great little video on how to make little mini versions....and it's worth a watch. Seriously they make using 0 dpns look easy! They're fingers fly around using those toothpick-sized needles. But once I found the Wesley Bobs I jumped off the Norwegian ship and swam ashore in Yorkshire! (Ah Yorkshire....home of the Crawleys of Downton Abbey.....sigh......I miss them.....can't wait for the movie! But I digress.....) 


Kits contain the pattern and 1 ball ea of two colors: Red & White, Green & White or Blue & White. We used worsted weight (vs. fingering as in pattern) which make a ball about 4" diameter and the yarn should yield 2-3 Wesley bobs. 
https://squareup.com/market/maisieblue-inc/item/week-wesley-bobs
 
As with toys and ornaments use a smaller needle for firmer fabric, like a US 4 or 5 set of dpn's (or circulars if you prefer magic looping it.  Order kits here.

Happy Wesley-Bobbing!

Aug 14, 2016

Yarn Bombing Workshop Weekend

Summer disappeared rapidly and now we're gearing up for our Yarn Bombing project to commemorate the Butte Fire Memorial Celebration.

yarn bombing 
http://www.tentree.com/blog/yarn-bombing/
It's nearly a year since the fire and a big party is planned for Sep 10th at the Mountain Ranch Community Park. There's the unveiling of the Pieces Memorial Wall and lots of festivities honoring the community spirit that helped the area recover.
What are we doing at maisieblue? 
Workshops, Blanket KAL & Installation. Read on!

Yarn Bombing Workshops: 
Aug 21, 28, Sep 4th from 1-4pm

Come help me make up strips, squares and  triangles for banners (or buntings as they say in England) to decorate the Walnut Sisters. The Sunday workshops will be devoted to cranking out as many decorations as possible. We need helpers to make light work of it.
 photo from buttonsandbeeswax blog

Our goals: Loads of triangles to make festive decorations for the trees. Big strips to make "sweaters" for the trees. I'm planning to have our shop's Addi Express machines, supplies and patterns on hand. I've gathered up simple patterns (knit and crochet), but quilters welcome to help too by making fabric triangles. We'll string them all together into festive garlands for the trees.

Can't join us in person? You can still help! Make strips 6" wide (2, 3, 4 ft long) or granny squares or your favorite knitted square pattern. These then will be sewn together into "sweaters" for the trees. Or make a bunch of triangles for buntings. Drop off (or ship us) your finished bits our shop in Murphys, Acme Art in Moke Hill or the Calaveras Co. Arts Council office in San Andreas.

Pattern Ideas

KNIT
Garter Strips: no pattern: Cast on for 6" wide and knit, knit, knit 2, 3, 4ft long scarves. Easy-peasy!
Bunting Party Flags
Knitted Bunting
Fly the Bunting
Log Cabin Squares

CROCHET
Lucy of Attic24 (my favorite crocheter) has great photo tutorials too!
Granny Bunting Triangles
Sunny Log Cabin
Sunny Granny Square

Community Park Installation

We need help dressing the Walnut Sisters! Once everything made it needs to be sewn onto the trees or hung in the branches by Sep 9th. If you can help with installation contact Robin Modlin at robin.modlin@gmail.com to get details of when and how you can help.



Remember last fall & winter? Several customers made lovely blankets in honor of the fire victims. I asked Robin to incorporate them into the celebrations. Can't wait to see these lovely blankets highlighted as powerful gifts of community love. Thank you to our customers for your gorgeous blankets! A wonderful addition to the anniversary healing celebrations.


Here's more links to articles about the project, it's founders and the Calaveras Arts Council. It's truly an inspirational endeavor on so many levels. And a heartfelt testament to life in a close-knit rural community. 

 Pieces Project and the women behind the project. Visit the Calaveras Arts Council Gallery exhibit: Pieces: A Community Art Project at the Calaveras Arts Council Gallery in San Andreas through Sept 22 Main Street (Off Highway 49) www.calaverasarts.org

Check out this lovely review of the exhibit by Margaret Sloan.Sure to make you want to run to see it in person.






May 15, 2015

Reorders have arrived!

More Snap Pouches....Get 'em while we can! Namaste is for sale which means the fate of the beloved Snap Pouches in up in the air. If there's a new buyer and if they want to continue the pouches, I can maybe get more in future...but not sure. As I say....get them now while we got them.

New arrivals



Knit Kits are back! This time in deep purple with new feature: a needle gauge on backside. My favorite McGyver-Knit-Tool is even handier now!

New arrivals



DellaQ organizers and nifty silky project bags to match! Makes a nice gift bags. 

New arrivals



Noro Magazine! They just show up now regularly and I'm thrilled. I've not had a moment to peek at it yet so that's on agenda for tonight.

New arrivals



Interweave Knits Summer edition also showed up this week too.

New arrivals



Sep 30, 2014

New: Laura Nelkin Kits


Laura Nelkin kits have arrived! We have Stereo cuffs,  Cheerio necklace and the Cambio Cowl.

Stereo Cuff Kit





Stereo Cuffs: pictured in Verdant and Iris
 
Cambio Cowl
Cambrio Cowl in Vertigo
http://www.nelkindesigns.com/index.cfm/page/Kits/CambioKit.htm


CheerioKit
Cheerio in Velvet

The Cowl kit has mini skeins of yarn and pattern. The bead kits contain the pattern and supplies and a handy dental floss threader. . . . because frankly that's the hardest part. . . . stringing the beads. Knitting up the project is a snap!




Megan whipped up a Stereo Cuff in a few hours (literally....just a few hours). She said it was a blast  (her exact words were "It's fun!) and it looks great too. Oh so very fashionable!



Laura's just released her very first book: Knockout Knits. Chock full of lovely patterns for scarves, hats, jewelry and accessories - about half beaded and other half not beaded - with a nice tutorial on knitting with beads. I've refrained from casting on this but.....oh it's been so very difficult! Check out her website for nicely done technique tutorials (my favorite: Zen of Kitchener). She's a long-time Craftsy instructor with four excellent in-depth knitting courses. We just love her here at the shop so to celebrate her new book.....


......Let's have a maisieblue class!

It's a perfect intro to incorporating beads into projects. When you're done you'll have a lovely beaded bling-bling to show off, or give as a gift.

Class: 
Sat. Nov 1 from 2-4pm
$35 (kit included)

Call, email or drop by the shop to reserve a spot. 
(Early birds get best choice of colors - it's first come first serve!)


dark roast  -  black  -  iris
Dark Roast (wool) Black (cotton) Iris (cotton)


steel  -  verdant  -  cerise
Steel (wool)  Verdant (cotton) Cerise (wool)


north atlantic

North Atlantic (wool)