Woolbearers First Knitting Retreat with Xandy Peters at the Northwood Inn in Ocean City NJ was a great success.

We were warmly welcomed at the Northwood Inn by our hosts, Marj and John Loeper.






For those who aren't familiar, Xandy is the designer who's pattern "Fox Paw" launched an interest in her own "unvention", Stacked Sttiches.

Friday evening we devoured  pizza from Manco and Manco.  Later in the evening  Xandy gave a talk  about her design process.  It was great being in a place where you were surrounded by yarn and knitters ---you know -- everyone spoke the same language.

.  I had a Pop-up Shop in one room. Everyone hung out and knitted in several other rooms around the house.

After breakfast  on Saturday we started learning how to do stacked increases and decreases and learned how to incorporate this method into our knitting.











We took a  break  for lunch and played with more yarn and patterns

In the afternoon Beth (Xandy's mom) gave a class on photographing your knits.  She also took all of these amazing pictures you see in this blog post.  We had plenty of time for free knitting and yakking, and of course more delicious snacks.

Saturday night was a yummy dinner at Mosaic 701.  After dinner we hung out and knit until late in the evening.

After another delicious breakfast on Sunday we sat down to knit  and Xandy helped everyone with their projects.

What a wonderful weekend. Everyone came away with new skills and some of us even made great headway on our new projects.

Thank you Xandy and Beth -- we can't wait for the next retreat.

Insouciant designed by Julie Hoover

Habu Tsumugi Silk

     Feels  like I get more knitting done during the summer.  At least, I get some projects finished, which is a good thing, since new Fall yarns are beginning to arrive.
One of the gals in my Tuesday afternoon class and I decided to knit the Insouciant pattern together.  The pattern calls for Habu Tsumugi Silk doubled, which has  an incredible drape. Of course, Barb finished hers first but I did get mine done and actually wore it before I put it on display.

Barb's Insouciant

Myra's Inscouciant

Anne Marie finished her Pour Moi sweater designed by Lori Versaci using Juniper Moon Findley DK,  After she put it together and tried it on she was not happy with it.  Then, she washed and blocked it and Magic -- she is in love.  It is really beautiful.

Myrtle did her sweater from a Custom fit  pattern and the results are a perfect fit!  Sweater was knit in Berroco Vintage DK.

We recently got the book Curls in and I had to start knitting one of the projects. It is called Chlorochrous and I am almost finished.  Am using Shibuiknits Staccato and Silk Cloud.  Interesting knit - the pattern calls for the Silk Cloud to be used only every 4th tow.

Fran finished her scarf from Curls, called Caesious and used 1 skein of Woolbearers  Sport Merino --- so soft and squishy

Now in the almost finished category is Paulina, designed by Cocoknits, made out of Ito Gima, a laceweight cotton.  I just need to seam it and it will be done!

Jersey Shore Knits

Foxpaws, designed by Xandy Peters  is a very popular pattern on Ravelry. I love the inventive design and Xandy's use of stacked increases.   Very clever.  I just had to start one out of my hand dyed fingering yarn -- lots of color choices.

I was curious when Xandy posted that she was looking for Indie dyers who reside in New Jersey for a new project. I contacted her and we met in NYC at a coffee bar in Noho.  I schlepped every color of fingering yarn I had and some finished projects too.  Xandy loved the subtle colors I used in my first Vivid blanket project - the colors reminded her of the old Victorian homes in Ocean City and thought it would be a good match for one of her projects.

Xandy's e-book, Jersey Shore Knits was published this week  and has been a huge hit on Ravelry.  The pattern my yarn was used for is called "Seashells" and uses 2 skeins of 3 different colorways of Woolbearers Fingering Weight. 

I've already downloaded all the patterns and will start this real soon.

I thought Spring was finally here and now we are right into Summer.  There's lots of wonderful  summer knitting on hand. I'm not a big fan of cottons, but I have a great selection of cotton and cotton blends and I've been knitting up a storm with all of these yarns.

If you just want simple this summer -- here's a scarf that is 3 skeins of Debbie Bliss Delphi done in  a drop stitch pattern that I got from the Barbara Walker Learn to Knit Afghan book.  

DELPHI DROP STITCH SCARF

Materials: 3 skeins of Debbie Bliss Delphi

Needles:  Size 11

Cast on 16 stitches.  Knit one row.

Pattern:

Row 1: Knit 6, yo  twice, k1, yo 3 times, k1, yo 4 times, k1, yo 3 times, k1, yo twice,   knit 6,

Row 2: Knit dropping all the extra yarn-overs off needle

Row 3 and Row 4: Knit all stitches

Row 5: Knit 1, yo  twice, k1, yo  3 times, k1, yo 4 times, k1, yo 3 times, k1, yo twice k6, k1 yo twice, k1, yo  3 times, k1, yo  4 times, k1, yo  3 times, k1, yo, k1

Row 6: Knit dropping all the extra yarn-overs off needle

Row 7 and Row 8: Knit stitches.

Repeat rows 1-8 until approximately 55 inches.

Cut remaining yarn into fringe.  I cut pieces 18 inches long and then attached the pieces folded in half, so the fringe is approximately 9 inches long.

Here are the colors I have in the shop

or you can buy online at www.woolbearers.net

  It's been a very busy beginning of the year. It's already February and I am finally able to catch my breath.  
    In mid-January we did the Vogue Live Show in NYC.  It was lots of fun.  Saturday was super crowded and I got to see lots of old customers. It's really neat to see the same customers coming back to my booth year after year. Sunday was more subdued because of the weather, but we were still busy, selling lots of Zealana, Three Irish Girls, Isager yarns and Woolbearers hand dyed.  As I was leaving, I ran into StevenBe and told him that we would be seeing him in a few weeks.  He said that we would have  lots of fun -- and he was right.

Last weekend was the Fire & Ice Festival on Saturday.  The weather was perfect for the festival and our sheep didn't melt until Wednesday!










Sunday, of course, was our annual Superbowl Sunday sale and the beginning of the Stephen and Steven Tour.  We had a luncheon while StevenBe and Stephen West showed us their trunk show.  It was really fun.

Monday we had 2 classes - Modular Magic and Shawl Extravaganza and Tuesday night was New Perspectives on Knitting with S-Squared.  These guys were so inspiring! Thank you so much --- Can't wait for your next visit.

      THE FIBRE COMPANY YARN TASTING

  FEBRUARY 20TH @ 7 PM

CALL THE SHOP OR COME IN TO MAKE RESERVATIONS SOON -- SPACE IS LIMITED

Our Knitters have been working hard on their CustomFit Knits Sweaters.
Janet finished her first one.  Perfect fit!  She used the Cushing Isle pattern and Juniper Moon Moonshine yarn in light grey.

  Meg knit an Aislinn, while she did not use the Custom Fit program to knit this sweater,  the pattern is available in the program.  She did, however, use Woolbearers' Sport Merino.

The next class is scheduled for February 28th & March 7th.


Another finished afghan.  Wendy did a fabulous job with this --- she has now completed a sweater and is well on her way to finishing another one!

Happy New Year. 

Here's an easy hat pattern.  

You can knit this in one night.  Enjoy

     

                               GARTER STITCH POM POM HAT

Materials: 1 skein of Woolbearers Superwash Chunky (approx 120 yards)
Needles: Size 13
Gauge: 3 stitches = 1 inch

Cast on 22 stitches leaving a long tail for use later.

Knit all rows for 20 inches.
Bind off
Sew bind off row to cast on row using the mattress stitch

At the end where tail is, using a running stitch, sew through all rows and cinch  tight.  This will form the top of the hat.

Make Pom Pom with rest of yarn and sew to top of hat..