Class Spotlight: Top Down Baby Sweater

These adorable sweaters are a sampling of the results from out recent Top Down Baby Sweater class. Some finished as shown in the top row, some are just a sleeve away from completion, and some even started a second or third sweater in the course of the class, but all were very, very cute. There were many things to learn: striping, top down construction, different methods for working in the round, etc. Everyone was quite thoughtful and made their sweaters from washable yarns. If you are falling in love, know that the pattern, Baby D Split Neck: A Top Down Baby Sweater, is available at the store. From top left around clockwise: Becky's sweater, Liseanne's sweater, Susan's sweater, Katherine's sweater, and Kim's sweater.

Fall Sweaters

I thought I'd do a post today about samples here in the store (both new ones and not-so-new ones) that would be good to knit for the upcoming seasons! It should be getting cold soon (hopefully!), and I know I'm wishing that it would start feeling like Fall already, I want to be wearing a wool sweater in front of a fire place while sipping hot cocoa!

This cute pullover is knitted in Rowan Silk Twist, and the pattern is in "Silk Twist Classics". I love the neckline and the fold-over collar. It reminds me of something a ballerina would wear over her tutu, but it's also a good, simple sweater to throw on over a t-shirt and jeans as an everyday kind of sweater!

This cardigan is knitted in a new yarn from Nashua called Isabella, a wool/silk blend, and the pattern is in the pattern book for this yarn. I loved this sweater right when it came in, I especially like that cable panel! It has no closure so you could wear it open and easy, or you could pin it closed, maybe with a cute shawl pin? It's a great transitional garment, because the wool makes it warm, but the silk keeps it light and drapey!

I think this tunic is so cute, and it would be fun to knit to! Its knitted in Rowan Cocoon, a wool/mohair blend, and the pattern is in the Cocoon Collection book.

This adorable vest is knitted in a new yarn from Berroco, called Borealis, an acrylic/wool blend in a beautiful array of colors! The pattern is in the pattern book written for this yarn, along with a number of other cool projects! My favorites are Dors, Boyd, and Outre.

This cute sweater is knit from Berroco Lustra, a Wool and Tencel blend, which makes it warm, but with a great sheen! I love that flattering Deep V-neck, and the cute ruffles! The pattern is the cover sweater from the pattern book for this yarn.

This little layer is knitted in a favorite yarn, Plymouth Encore! It would be a fast, affordable project, and great for days when you just need a little something to take the chill away!

Come on in and check out these cute knits for yourself, and try them on, too! Keep an eye open for new samples, we should be getting some new ones in soon.

Yarn Highlight: The Fibre Company!

This just in: The Fibre Company! This yarn brand makes the most geogeous and wonderfully luxuriously soft yarns you can imagine, in lots of beautiful colors! We have Canopy Fingering Weight, Road to China Light, and Terra!

Canopy Fingering is a lovely blend of Baby Alpaca, Merino Wool, and Bamboo. I think it would be great for some heirloom baby garments, or a big lacy shawl!

Road to China Light is a DK weight yarn made of Baby Alpaca, Cashmere, Camel, and Silk. It's unbelievably soft, I wish I could make a giant blanket out of it and hibernate all winter!

Terra is a worsted weight blend of Baby Alpaca, Wool, and Silk, and just like the other two yarns, it is so soft! It's a single ply yarn that looks a little more rustic, but it certainly doesn't feel rustic!

In addition to these beautiful yarns, Fibre Company has a number of great free patterns, which are available here at the shop! You could make an adorable baby sweater with Canopy Fingering, like Lucille or the Fiddlehead Pullover! You could knit a luxurious cowl, like the Alice Cowl, out of Road To China Light, and Terra would knit up nice and warm into The Hiker's Waistcoat, or a cute pair of Lychee Mittens!

Yarn Highlight: Malibrigo!

The Malibrigo is HERE! The Malibrigo is HERE! The Malibrigo is HERE!

We now have an excellent selection of Malibrigo yarn types and colorways (building on our already delicious stock):
Lace (made Whisper yet?)
Sock
Worsted
and...
TWIST.
Twist is a plied merino with 150yds/100g. It is very plush and should showcase your stitch quality beautifully.

There are new colors and new yarns. Have you touched them yet?

Yarn Highlight: Silk Twist and Andes

Popping in to show you a highlight of two of the yummier yarns that came in The Great Shipment this month.

The top left image is a basket of new jewels from Rowan, Silk Twist. Rowan has put out a beautifully styled book full of great garments. We happen to have a version of the cover piece in the store for you to handle, try on, and generally fall in love with.
Features -
Needle Size: US 8/5mm

Gauge :

17 sts to 22 rows over 4"

Yardage :

93 yds/50g
Content: 53% silk 30% wool 12% superkid mohair 5% polyamide

The next featured item is the new Debbie Bliss Andes. She also has published a new book loaded with classically designed pieces that will ring true in your wardrobe for ages after you bind off and block them.
Features -
Needle Size: US 6/4mm

Gauge :

22 sts over 4"

Yardage :

110 yds/50g
Content: 65%Alpaca, 35% silk

Sadie's Angels

Last Wednesday, Lois and I had the privilege of sharing knitting with a fantastic set of ladies. Led by Lara Carrigan, this group is the advance force for a charity called Sadie's Angels. Sadie is Lara's youngest daughter; she has had quite a start to life having been born with a congenital heart defect. Now 2 and1/2 yrs old, Sadie has had her final surgery and is doing well. During this trying time, her mother was inspired to share the comfort of a special blanket with other children and familes going down the same difficult path. Sadie's Angels has a goal of collecting 600 blankets (knitted, crocheted, or quilted) annually. Here are 10 women who perfected CO, Knit, and BO and are on their way to making a dent in that goal. Would you like to join them? There are many ways to participate.

Yarn!

Look what just arrived at Anacapa - 21 huge boxes of yarn and books - 2 UPS trucks worth - were delivered Friday. There was yarn everywhere! Lois and company were unboxing and tagging as fast as they could. Can't wait for Tuesday to see what new goodies are in the store!

Fall Classes

The new class schedule for fall is out, and there are a bunch of fun and inspiring classes we hope will interest you! Here's some, to name a few! Go to AnacapaFineYarns.com for the full list of classes and their detailed descriptions!

Keep an eye out for all of Anne Lecrivain-Cozolli's awesome classes, like her cute Top-down baby sweater, Wednesdays, September 8, 15 and 29, at 6 to 8 pm:

Leo Stripes, Fridays, September 17, October 1 and 15, 6 to 8 pm, AND October 29, 6-9pm:

The Log Cabin Tomten Jacket will take place Mondays, September 20, October 4, 18 and November 1, 6 to 8 pm:

Intro to Intarsia Fingerless Mitts, Friday, September 24, 6 to 9 pm:

Pi Shawl Workshop, Mondays, Sep. 27, October 11 and 25, 6 pm to 8 pm:

Scarf-to-Sweater, Fridays, October 22, November 5, 19 and December 3, 6 to 8 pm:

Super Simple Felted Tote, Tuesday, October 26, 6 to 9 pm:

Felted Clogs, Mondays, November 8, 15, 22, 6 to 8 pm:

and Reversible Cables, Tuesday, November 9, 6 to 9 pm:

Karin Wilmoth will be teaching some great classes, like the EZ Entrelac Tam, Tuesdays, October 5 and October 12, 6:30 to 8:30 pm:

and Paint with Fiber-Exploring Needlefelting, Tuesdays, Nov. 30, 6 to 9 pm:

Terry Hagerman will be back with her popular Moebius Cowl class, Wednesday, September 22, 6 to 9 pm, as well as her Cowl of Many Colors, Wednesday, November 3, 6 to 9 pm:

Elisa Purnell will be teaching more of her great crochet classes, including a few like her Freewheeling Scarf, Saturday, September 18, 12:30 to 3:30 pm:

South Beach Shawl, Tuesday, September 28, 6 to 9 pm:

Flower Brooch, Tuesday, October 19, 6 to 9 pm:

And Malabrigo Mittens, Saturday, December 18, 12:30 to 3:30 pm:

In addition to these great teachers, Kaity Von Rader (a.k.a. Myself!) will be teaching two classes; Intro to Short-row shaping- The Urchin Beret, Sunday, September 19, 12:30 to 3:30 pm:

and the Easy Striped Felted Slippers, Sunday, October 10, 12:30 to 3:30 pm:

Like I said before, this is just a small sampling of the classes we have to offer this fall, so go check out the full schedule Here.

Free Pattern: Last-Minute Handwarmers

I'm excited to share with you our first free pattern!

Last-Minute Handwarmers

Designed by Kaity Von Rader

These little fingerless gloves are super quick to knit, you'll want to make a pair for everyone you know! They make great gifts, or keep a pair for yourself to keep your hands warm.


These cute handwarmers are knitted sideways, and they look like they are buttoned on, but a faux-button band makes them easier to slip onto your wrists! You start off with a provisional cast-on and finish with a little kitchener stitch to make them seamless, then sew some cute buttons on and you're good to go!


The yarn is great too. It's a wool/cashmere blend, making it soft, squishy, and warm!

Yarn: Debbie Bliss "Como" [90% wool, 10% cashmere; 46yd/42m per 50g ball]; color: #20 Eggplant, ​2 balls.
Needles: US Size 13 (or size needle to obtain the correct gauge!)
Extras: Waste yarn, a crochet hook, and 6 buttons.
Gauge: 11 stitches/4 inches in Stockinette Stitch
Size: Customizable!

Directions:

First, determine the size. Measure around your hand, and subtract 1/2 inch. This will be your total length, you'll use this number later on.

RIGHT GLOVE:
Using a provisional cast on (I like this one), cast on 20 stitches.

Row 1: Knit all stitches
Row 2: Knit 3, purl to last 3, knit 3.
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures 1/2 your total length, ending with row 2.

Thumbhole: Knit 4, bind-off next 4 stitches, and knit to the end.
Next row: Knit 3, purl to gap, cast on 4 stitches, purl to last 3 stitches, knit 3.

Continue as before the thumbhole, working rows 1 and 2, until piece measures approx. 1 inch less than your total length, ending with row 1. Knit 3 rows plain (no purling!).

Un-do your provisional cast-on from the beginning, and kitchener stitch ends together (this is a good tutorial for kitchener stitch). ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

LEFT GLOVE: Work just as for right glove. The only difference is the thumbhole placement.

Work thumbhole as follows:
Thumbhole: Knit 12, bind-off next 4 stitches, and knit to the end.
Next row: Knit 3, purl to gap, cast on 4 stitches, purl to last 3 stitches, knit 3.

Weave in ends, and sew buttons into place.

This pattern is for your personal use only. Please do not distribute the pattern or sell items knit from it. Pattern and photos are property of the designer, Kaity Von Rader.