FO Friday!!!

Ann just finished up this sweet fair isle yolk sweater for her oldest daughter (who says she likes it and will wear it!) using Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed. The pattern, called Drive-Thru, is from Knit and Tonic and can be purchased from this link here. She's got another in the works for her youngest. Such a great sweater!


Melissa knit this feather-and-fan blanket out of Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton in a whole slew of colors! That yarn is so snuggly, it's sure to be a hit!


Rinne looks so great in bright colors! This Hey Teach from knitty is no exception. She, too, used Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton for her latest creation.


Courtney's joining this edition of FO Friday with her Tender from Kim Hargreaves book Nectar. She used Rowan's Kidsilk Haze in color Hurricane. You can't tell from this picture but the color is gorgeous on her and it's such a flattering shape.


Nancy's Muse from the Rowan Classic book reminiscence is the first of her two FOs this week! Nancy used Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca and Silk for her version with turquoise glass buttons and it's simply stunning. The drape of the Alpaca and Silk is perfect for this cardigan.

Nancy's second FO is equally beautiful. The pattern is the Turbulence U-Neck Pullover from Norah Gaughan's Knitting Nature. Nancy used Rowan's now-discontinued Cashcotton DK. The yarn has just a touch of angora in it giving it the most pleasing halo. Nice job on both!


Laura's latest is her Knitting Pure & Simple Split Neck T-Shirt for Women knit out of Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton (a very popular yarn this week!). It's so squishy and cozy!


Last but certainly not least is Roz's self-designed Cursing Sweater. Using Brown Sheep Worsted Superwash (we don't stock but can order), Roz is going to let her sweater do the cursing for her this winter.

Nice work, knitter! Keep them coming! And have a great weekend!

More new patterns and books to inspire!

These are the latest books to tempt and inspire:
Easy Baby Knits: Clothes & Accessories for 0-3 by Claire Montgomerie is full of super-cute cardigans, dresses, jumpsuits, blankets, hats, etc. for the tiny ones in your life.

Debbie Bliss gives some insight into her inspiration with design it, knit it: secrets from the designer's studio. Included are 15 patterns and oodles of tidbits to spur your inner knitwear designer.


We've brought in a new pattern line, Tree Knitter Designs.
One of the first arrivals is Eve's Leaves, a sweet cardigan knit from the top down using a gauge of 5st/in (think Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed, Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, Malabrigo, Imperial Stock Ranch, Thirteen Mile Farm...) We've also got the adult version call the Magnolia Cardigan, of which I don't have a picture for the blog. It shares the same gauge as it's smaller version.


The Sugar Maple Shawl pattern is given for bulky and worsted weight yarns. For the bulky version, Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky would be gorgeous, or Felted Tweed Chunky when it arrives in August would be a stunning choice, too. In a worsted weight yarn, Malabrigo, Felted Tweed Aran (arriving in August), Louet Riverstone, Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride, Worsted, Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran and DK Tweeds, Berrocco's Blackstone Tweed (arriving in August), Imperial Stock Ranch, Thirteen Mile Farm, O-Wool Classic, Rowan's All Seasons Cotton, Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton...


We also have a very few Get Your Knits in Virginia bags left.... time's a wasting........... think of all that yarn at a discount...

New patterns and the latest KnitScene!

These are Baby Merry-Janes from Bekah Knits. They're just so precious!
This is Bekah Knits Baby Moc-a-Soc for the baby boys and tomboys you know. As stylish as they are casual for the laid-back baby.


This is the Side Cable Sweater from Kate Jackson Knits (I don't think it's the same Kate Jackson of Charlie's Angels fame.....). The gauge is perfect for Jo Sharp's Silkroad Aran Tweed or Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton or Mission Falls 1824 wool or Malabrigo or Louet's Riverstone or Rowan's All Season's Cotton or Imperial Stock Ranch or Thirteen Mile Farm or O-Wool or... you get the idea.

Also from Kate Jackson Knits is this Fern Tee. It's knit from the top down and needs a 20st/4in yarn such as Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece or Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed or Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton or Malabrigo or....


Coco Knits designed this clever jacket/hoodie with the zipper in the back. It's called, appropriately, Zip. It's knit sideways and calls for Rowan's All Seasons Cotton. The latest issue of knitsimple has a fantastic tutorial on sewing zippers into your knits.


Wendy Bernard, aka Knit and Tonic, continues to have stylish well-written patterns. This flirty number is called the Somewhat Cowl and is knit in the round out of Blue Sky Alpaca's yummy Alpaca & Silk.

Also from Knit and Tonic is Fair Enough. It's knit all in one piece and calls for yarn knitting up at 18st/4in (see Side Cable Sweater above for yarn ideas). Warm and flattering with a touch of waist shaping.


The last addition to the Knit and Tonic pattern collection here is the Yogini Bolero. It's written for both short and long sleeves and begs to be knit in yarn getting 20st/4in (see Fern Tee for yarn recommendations). It's the perfect shoulder cover-up in an overly-air conditioned restaurant/bar/office.


All of the following are from Danger Crafts. I was introduced to them at the TNNA show in June and couldn't resist. The pattern come on CD.

Robbie the Radiant Robot

Wasabi the Gregarious Pug
(with brown or black faces, belly buttons, ears)

Beatrice and Bernard The Inseparable Bunny and Bear

Herman the Enigmatic Bear

Chester the Bashful Bunny

This the fall edition of knitscene (fall again! YAY!). It's chock full of not-too-complicated sweaters to take you into the cooler months with some hats, fingerless mitts, and scarves thrown in for good measure.

Now there's no excuse for not knitting.

FO Friday!

It was looking like an all in-house FO Friday until the very last second, Helen came in with her extraordinary holiday stockings. The one on the left is for her grandson, who is older than his sister, whose new stocking is on the right. She knew that they had to be the exact same size or there'd be trouble... Can we be her grandkids, too?

That torsoless knitter sporting hand-knit pants is our very own Melanie! She used Jo Sharp's pattern pamphlet Number 5 as a jumping off point and Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece in color Truffle for her yarn. I've got pants envy... and Nigel digs them, too, especially with her sweet-smelling shoes.

When Sally Melville and Caddy Melville Ledbetter's book Mother-Daughter Knits: 30 Designs to Flatter & Fit, I knew I wanted to make the Reversible Tank Top. It was the perfect July 4th weekend project - 4st/inch using Rowan's All Seasons Cotton and no sleeves! The back is dipped down slightly more than the front so if I'm feeling extra, um, cheeky, I can wear it reversed. I ended up adding a touch of length to the bottom.

New employee and new magazine

Meet The Yarn Lounge's latest addition to the treat-roll:

Nigel Atticus Brown

He loves the cool tile floor. He greets, he kisses, he goes back to his spot on the floor. He's a very laid back five-month-old-with-three-legs (yep, he's only got three of them).

His profiles look like two different dogs. Good and evil? Nahhhh, he's all good!


He is an excellent relaxer, especially when someone's giving him a belly rub.

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Also new in the store today is the Fall 2009 issue of knitsimple. Fall? Already? Cool.

There are patterns for lots of scarves, kids sweaters, simple color work, and an excellent tutorial on sewing in zippers. Yay! Fall in July! Love it!

Interweave's latest book

Knitted Gifts: Irresistible Projects to Make & Give by Ann Budd arrived today! It's chock full of lovely gift knits from Texting Gloves, to a Felted Catnip Mouse, to socks and hats. You really can't go wrong with an Ann Budd book.

FO Friday and a very special visit

We have a solo FOer this week. Anna (who is on her way to California to live!) knit up this sweet baby sack out of Rowan's Cashsoft DK. I don't recall the pattern but it was just a jumping off point. Anna added stripes, cables, colors, etc. It's so sweet!


Anna also knit up this Queen of Hearts Nursing Sweater (sans hearts) from Natural Knits for Moms and Babies out of Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton for her sister. Fashionable and functional! Good luck in California!


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We also had a very special guest. Meet George Gershwin, Fran's right-hand dog. He's a very energetic Boston Terrier, so much so I couldn't get an in-focus picture of him.
Fran's been talking about George Gershwin for years and we met him for the first time today. Though Fran insisted he did (and does) exist, we began to question this because we had seen neither a photograph nor a dog. Now we have physical proof.

We've finally met George Gershwin. He's a handsome devil, no?

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We'll be open today but closed Saturday & Sunday, July 4 & 5. Happy Independence Weekend!