Join us for our Jody Long Verdi KAL starting April 28th. Verdi was the most popular pattern during Jody's recent US LYS Tour and proved same for our customers. Hence the KAL!
Meet-ups are during our regular Friday sessions12-2pm. Come pick out yarn, get your pattern, choose size etc. Then cast on your swatch (yes....swatching a must!), knit up your sweater and (hopefully) you'll be wearing it by June! Join us when you can make it, or need help...or encouragement...or as an excuse to just sit and knit for a few hours. Weather finally turning warmer so patio table ready and waiting for us to work away at on our Verdi sweaters! Might try to get a zoom session with Jody to show off our finished sweaters if his schedule allows.
Verdi uses a new yarn Lino Moda, a perfect DK linen/cotton blend. The strength of linen pairs beautifully with soft cotton for a yarn that holds it shape and wears well over time. Great for all things baby, kids and garments.
Colors are delightfully tonal. This is achieved since each fiber takes the dye differently. Creates a tonal marl effect. This imparts a rich depth to finished items, be they garments, baby blankets, tote bags, crochet projects..... all are wonderful. It's a great
KAL are great way to work collectively with others on same pattern. It helps to have others in same boat, as we all work our way to the finish line. We can help each other with the tricky bits, offer tips and tricks along the way, and provide encouragement when the knitting gets boring! Kim's got swatches made and will help initiate you to the joys of swatching! Can't avoid that crucial step when making garments. Our Lino Moda order arrived and already a reorder on it's way (few colors sold out fast!). Come by the shop to see pattern and yarns to see if you're up for the challenge.
Join us for the Spring Sweater KAL
starting April 28th from 12-2pm!
Jody Long Event Recap
Our Jody event in March was a blast and super informative. We learned all about Jody's personal background, his attention to tailoring details of his patterns (thanks to his Grandmother....a Royal Tailor to Queen Elizabeth!) and his love of designing flattering garments with little modern touches. How he'd skip school to knit in the woods by his house. His career trajectory and shocking ability to crank out a finished sweater in just a few days.
Grateful for our lovely model, Brig! She's now ready to tour the world with Jodi as his fit model. Our handsome sales rep Joseph happily played dress up as well, in addition to escorting Jody around on the tour.
Having piles of Jody's hand knit garments to see and try on was awesome. Makes a huge difference. As a result of this event we brought in Coastline, an aran weight cotton blend we hadn't brought into shop before. After seeing how great it works up, we said "yep! we need this yarn too!"
Another important fact: Jody prefers to sweaters in pieces, not top down. This allows for a better constructed garment that is more flattering to wear. I know...I hear the groans of "I hate seaming," but if you're wanting sweaters to fit and flatter....rethink avoiding seams. He's not totally averse to in the round patterns....but only when the fit of the final garment is enhanced by this method. Think of knitting in round like a pole, with the rounds slanted up as you go. When put on a body there's a subtle twist to the garment that can be less than flattering. Hence his preference for pieces vs. "tubes".
We also learned Jody is one of world's fastest knitters! He clocks in just behind the official world champion. We hear they're going to have knit off one of these days and he hopes to become #1! It was mesmerizing watching how fast his fingers fly! No wonder he can design so many patterns each year. He can finish a sweater in 3 days or so, a shawl in 2 nights. Truly impressive!
Despite the very stormy, windy, blustery, wet, wild day.....we have perfect turn out. About 20ish total. Thank you everyone for braving the elements! Jody loved it! His future plans next year's tour involve classes and workshops! Thank you Mom for making your awesome Clam Chowder and tons of cookies!
Most importantly we learned he never uses this typical pattern writing shortcut "just reverse shaping" when it's time to make the right or left fronts. Instead he writes all the parts of his pattern out so it's easy to follow!! That "just reverse shaping" is one of our pet bugaboos (Jody's too) and a real PITA. Now we foresee many Jody Long sweater patterns being knit at maisieblue in the future! Yippee!....Kim can cast on more sweaters!!! But don't hold your breath she'll finish them any time soon..... LOL
Okay.... I exaggerate. It's just one Brit and he's awesome.
Come meet Designer Jody LongMar 14th from 12-3pm. He's traveling cross-country with a big ole trunk show of his designs and yarns. It's a unique to have a designer do events....but he's also a yarn line designer!
We're looking forward to insight into the "create a brand new yarn" process. Seriously...how the heck does he have time to twice a year create new yarns and design new patterns (290 patterns in his portfolio)?
Jody arrives with a big trunk show (probably not all 290, but as much as he can pack into the car!). We will hear about his long 20+ year career as a designer and how he got his start as a LYS shop owner many years ago. We plan to ask him to demo his 3 tops invaluable tips or techniques too. There's a specially designed secret USA Tour Shawl pattern just for his event attendees. It's in Alba and it's gorgeous!
So Save the Date! Then head to our shop Mar 14th at High Noon, your projects in tow and questions at the ready! Come for nibbles, freebies, discounts and lots of handmade garments! We love Jody's lines and are thrilled he's winding his way up to the foothills just to see us! We're building our inventory up in anticipation of Jody's arrival (and Kim's casting on new projects of course....).
Read on for highlights of his latest new Fall/Winter collection.
Airspun
This new yarn features merino, blown through a polyamide core to create a soft, fuzzy yarn with a delicate halo effect. This construction will give you a durable, light-weight fabric ideal for cool weather garments and accessories. It's heavenly!
Airspun has 9 colors in a gentle gradient effect in very generous 365 yds (75gm) ball. Hard to capture the subtle, elegant ombre colorways. Need to see them in person to appreciate. It's a DK (#3) and gauge ranges: knit 21-24st on #US 5-7; crochet 12-17 sc = 4" on a F - H hook.
Kim has two Airspun wips on the needles (yeah.....she has a cast-on problem) and finds the yarn has a very flexible gauge range. It's more worsted gauge in a Broken Seed Stitch on an #8. For a lace patterns you could go up or down needle size. It's a very forgiving yarn and delightful to work with. Would make a fantastic lap blanket.
There's a pattern booklet called Autumn Hues(patterns shown in collage below). We have a shop sample of the lovely Grace cardigan (bottom left).
The shop sample is a small.....but Kim can, if wearing a t-shirt, squeeze into it! Its beautiful. Light, lofty and warm. The vertical cable neckbands super slimming and the peplum style is flattering. Our sample is in the dusty Rosette #002 color way.
Rovesoft is a easy-care blend of Peruvian Alpaca and Highland Wool with super-fine acrylic to create a super wash, soft to the touch workhorse yarn. It's worsted weight (#4) with gauges: knit = 16.5 st on 4" on a US 9; crochet = 11-14 sc over 4" on US I. Jody designed yarn to be long-lasting, hard-wearing yet easy care. Lovely blend of alpaca and acrylic. Would make a fantastic cabled hat and scarf set. (Kim's not cast on with this yet....but the day is young so bound to happen at some point! )
As always, Jody has awesome range of versatile, wearable garments to show off his yarn. Winter Vibes has several classic shaped sweaters designed to be wardrobe staples.
Come view this Trunk Show Mar 25-Apr 4th at the shop. The patterns in the new Vintage Baby Digital Collection are the bomb!! P-E-R-F-E-C-T knit and crochet projects for a new baby....or two....or three! Last year Berroco debuted Vintage Baby.
It's a perfect little ball of "baby" (dk/sport weight) yarn. Smaller yardage means less expensive so perfect for baby projects that often use less yarn. Vintage Baby is a lovely blend of fine acrylic + wool = superwash! Another reason it's a yarn destined for all things baby or kid.
Megan and I are so excited about this collection we squealed with delight when Rep Betsy showed us. This crochet blanket is gorgeous! Watch for kits in the future because making up colorways is one of my favorite pastimes! Maybe I'll finally focus on improving my crochet skills with Frankie the Blankie!
Kirby is an adorable sweater, just right for a wee baby or toddler. Just 2-3 balls needed to become a family heirloom for any new baby or toddler.
If the lace pattern a bit too twee....just ignore and make it all St St instead. Or if feeling adventurous add a few stripes in the yoke. However done...Kirby will be a perfect fast knit, easy to crank out for the next baby shower on the calendar. You'll have everyone oohing and ahhing with delight (in between silly shower games and yummy cake).
Below are two versions showing how color choice can change the tenor. Top is in a soft golden while the bottom is in a bolder, more saturated lemon yellow. To make less delicate....opt to leave out the lace pattern and choose the bold hue and bingo... a perfect little baby boy sweater. Or add buttons all the way down for a more traditional Grandpa-Cardi look.
Babies need hats and Ray, a lovely striped bonnet is perfect for topping wee ones little noggins.
And no self-respecting baby can be without a lovey, cuddly animal. Harper the Elephant is not only adorable, but co-ordinates nicely with this whole layette!
Here's a few other free pattern options: Two adorable blankets: Baby Fern Lake (knit) and Baby Eden(crochet).
