The Knitbot Trunkshow.

Yes, Maggie's gone, but the excitement continues!

trunk show samples (more designs on the table behind)

Hannah Fettig's trunk show arrived in the shop on Monday. She's the designer behind Knitbot and the Maine end of Coastal Knits. We've featured a few of her patterns in the shop for months now - great patterns like the Featherweight Cardigan, Contented Cardi and Wispy Cardi - and now that we have her trunk show, you can see the designs knit up and try them on!

I spent a bit of my time in the shop yesterday doing just that. Here are my hands down favorites - the ones I would cast on right away to knit for myself (if only my Christmas knitting were done!). All of these designs are knit seamlessly, and with the exception of the Sycamore Vest, they're top-down raglans, which means they're also easy to fit.

we're not sure about the bird applique!

 The Trail Jacket  features an A-line silhouette and 3/4 (how about changing these to bracelet?) length sleeves. Knit in a heavy worsted/aran yarn, we suggest Spud&Chloe Sweater, Rowan Felted Tweed Aran or Kathmandu. We would also add a button to the neckband.

the pattern offers two options for the placing the back cable detail - across the waist or across the shoulders

 The Contented Cardi features half-sleeves (which can be easily shortened or lengthened), the super-popular elongated and drape-y fronts, and a subtle cable across the back.  My favorite yarn for this pattern is AslanTrends Llama Mulberry Silk which has a lovely drape, but it would also work well in Berroco Ultra Alpaca, Cascade 220 or the Madelinetosh DK or Merino DK.

The Lightweight Pullover  I wasn't prepared to love this one but I do! It reminds me of those very-favorite pullovers I had when I was in college...they were easy to wear, went with everything, and kept me just-a-bit warm. Perfect for our southern winters! The sample is knit in Classic Elite Fresco, one of those under-appreciated yarns. It's a sport-weight wool/alpaca/angora blend...easy to knit with, blooms beautifully and comes in every color. Or of you're wanting to splurge, how about the Fibre Company's Road to China Light. or Madelinetosh Pashmina.

The Sycamore Vest. This came across my radar when it was first released, but a few of the comments on Ravelry made me pause about knitting it. Here's the great thing about trying on a sample! I LOVE the way it fits, especially the way it hangs open, ever so casually....  It takes a sport-weight yarn with a bit of heft to give it drape. I was thinking Mirasol Nuna, but then today remembered the Louet Linen. I'm going to use the Linen.

And last, but certainly not least, the incredibly popular (for good reasons!) Featherweight Cardigan. The sample is knit in Canopy Fingering and it's lovely. simply lovely. If Canopy Fingering doesn't appeal, we have many other options from which to choose. Spud&Chloe Fine, Marian Foale 3-ply, Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light... the list goes on.

The trunk show will be in the shop through December 31. We ordered all the patterns yesterday, so they should be in the shop shortly.  (And we have the Contented Cardi and Featherweight Cardigan and a few others already.)

Maggie Excitement. Continued.

Maggie herself has come and gone and we had a blast while she was here (you can see photos of the all the fun on Facebook)...but we still have the trunkshow and a great selection of kits available in the shop.

the trunkshow - one (of three!) racks

La Alhambra - available as a kit

the London Scarf - multiple kit options

Sadly, the trunkshow and extra kits are headed back to Maggie on Monday. But that still leaves a few days to come into the shop and see what you missed.

I dare you to try to resist!

The Ella Coat Knit-along.

Kathy posted on Facebook and Ravelry about doing a "big" knit-along in early 2012. By "big", we mean a coat!

Yes, we fell in love with The Ella Coat when we saw Nora Bellows modeling it so well back in November (she was in the shop for a weekend, teaching the Noni Bags workshop).

Now the pattern has arrived and we're gearing up to order yarn for all who are interested.

The pattern has options for a solid coat, a solid coat with contrasting ruffle (that's the option pictured) and a striped coat. Yarn requirements vary based on which option you choose. For the solid coat with contrasting ruffle (as pictured), the smallest size 32" takes 1,000 yards of the main color and 500 yarns for the ruffle; the largest size 54" takes 1,500 yards of the main color and 750 yards for the ruffle. Striped versions have 11 different colors (1 skein of each plus 500 yards for the ruffle).

The recommended yarn is Stonehedge Fiber Mill's Shepherd's Wool, a beautiful worsted wool with 250 yards per skein that comes in plenty of colors (check out the color cards here).

The pattern is very detailed (just like all the Noni Bag patterns, if you're familiar with them) and includes notes about modifications to ensure a beautiful fit. The coat body is constructed as one piece, the sleeves are knit separately and then sewn in. (and even given my bias toward seamless construction, I'm going to give this one a try!)


...the hardest part is going to be choosing the color(s)! I'm thinking about a brown body with an oatmeal ruffle. or maybe an oatmeal body with a brown ruffle. or maybe purple and green like the pattern shows. What colors would you choose?

Off to a Slow Start.

...but a good one!  Three of us started the Rustling Leaves Beret tonight. Yes, it's a slow start - 144 stitches in 1x1 rib on a small needle isn't quick!

not even an inch of ribbing to show for our time! (and how 'bout all those Starbucks cups??!!)

Project notes: we're all using a size 1 16" circular needle (and at least two of us used about a 60" tail to cast on those 144 stitches :-) Please note that the pattern suggests a size 2 needle; we went down one size to ensure a snug fit for the brim. We are planning to switch to size 3 needles (as the pattern suggests) for the body of the beret.

It's not too late to join in the fun! We'll be knitting at the shop tomorrow afternoon - please join us!

Rustling Leaves Beret KAL.

Can you believe it's November already? Can you believe Starbucks already has their Christmas cups? Yes, and if you're like a lot of knitters, you're thinking about knitting gifts.

So our next knit along is a cute beret that should knit up quickly. We're going to knit the Rustling Leaves Beret, designed by Alana Dakos, and included in the super-popular Coastal Knits book. We think this beret would make a lovely gift*.

It takes just 175 yards of fingering weight yarn and suggests Madelinetosh Sock (395 yards). That's right - a skein makes two! So find a friend and a skein you both love and make plans to join us!

close-up of the claudia handpaints fingering (top) and tosh merino light (bottom)

Of course any fingering weight yarn would work and we have plenty of other options in all kinds of colors.

tosh merino light, claudia handpaints (175 yds = a single skein project), madtosh sock

We're going to cast-on at Knit Night this week (Thursday, November 10) and we'll continue knitting Friday afternoons during our "normal" KAL time.

(*and of course we think it's fine if you knit this one for yourself!)

Knitters for Peace.

...apparently I haven't posted here before about our wonderful charity knitting/knitters. I searched the blog for "charity" and "tuesday" and came up empty. I did, however, find a wall photo on Facebook (and I hope that link works). I feel terrible about that...not only because the ladies who show up week in and week out are what make Tuesdays a great day to work in the shop, but mostly because they create such beautiful works of art. for charity.

They call themselves Knitters for Peace. Most would call them angels. Here's a sampling of the latest hundred or so hats they've created to donate to Christian City Children's Village and the Mt Bethel United Methodist Homeless Ministry.

this is the "pile" - there were two more bags full sitting off to the side when I took this photo

see what I mean about works of art? look at the lovingcare that went into the details on this hat!

I had to try this one on!

 Would you like to join in? the only thing required is your time and bit of knitting knowledge. Theresa donates the yarn - if you know how to cast-on, knit and purl, we'll make sure you learn the rest of what's required to knit a hat! We'd love to have you!!

Maggiknits Weekend.

...if you receive our newsletter, you're already in the know about this special event (and my apologies for a repeat!). but if you don't (oh, and you should! please visit our shop's homepage to subscribe - it's the "join our email list" link at the bottom),

we have an exciting announcement!

We will be hosting Maggie Jackson at the shop for three days of fun including a fashion show and workshops. Mark your calendars!! December 2, 3 & 4.

In Theresa's own words:

"If you have been to Stitches, you know it's often difficult to even get close to the booth hosting Maggie and Maggiknits. I have experienced it myself at Stitches and Market and I’ll tell you why it’s so hard... Her garments are different, eclectic, statement pieces – like the kind of special wardrobe pieces that you would find in wonderful boutiques that are now few and far between. They are high style but very wearable and hugely fun to create."

We're starting off Maggiknits Weekend with a fashion show on Friday night and then we'll host two days of workshops on Saturday and Sunday. See below for details. Reservations are required for all three events - call the shop (770) 998-3483 to reserve your space (or visit us in person - we always love to see our customers)!

Friday Night Fashion Show - December 2, 2011
Refreshments 6:00 pm
Fashion Show 6:45 pm
Tickets: $10

Please join us for an informal Fashion Show presented by Maggie. There will be approximately 40 designs for your review. Refreshments will be provided starting at 6:00 pm followed by the Fashion Show at 6:45 pm. Space is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance.

Saturday "Oh No...Not Another Scarf" Workshop - December 3, 2011
10:00 am to 4:30 pm
Cost: $125 includes lunch and materials fee (enough materials for a project)

By the end of this class, Maggie hopes the piece you make will NOT go towards a scarf but to one of the other design options she will show including a table-runner, a pillow, a purse, a shawl a wall hanging, etc. Maggie will have you thinking 'outside of the box' by making holes in your work, cutting yarn in the middle of a row, just to retie leaving knots to the front of the work, joining her re-known tubes and working a Ladder Stitch. She will also show some finishing techniques for the project. Maggie will offer her advice on what she has learned from being a Fashion Designer doing Ready-to-Wear for 25 years, selling to well-known high end department stores and having a staff of 45 knitters. Samples of these stitches will be shown on garments to stretch your creative thinking. (Bring Needles size 7 or 8 US, preferably wooden, bamboo or plastic to work with the linen and other yarns and scissors.)

Sunday "Wearable Art" Workshop - December 4, 2011
10:00 am to 4:30 pm
Cost: $125 includes lunch and materials fee (enough materials for a project)

This class is a combination of various small squares which can be put together after class to make a scarf or put towards a larger project. We will make knitted and fabric bows on a square, a ruffle stitch square with a tube and 2 colored picot tube, knotting yarns to make a loopy stitch, to name a few. Samples of these stitches will be shown on garments to stretch your creative thinking. (Bring Needles size 7 or 8 US, preferably wooden, bamboo or plastic to work with the linen and other yarn and scissors.)

Following on the "weekend" theme, we are offering a $25 discount if you attend both the Saturday and Sunday workshops. Total cost to attend both sessions will be $225.