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SWTC heads South!
Late April 2009


This week,we are in ATLANTA!! Its the first and much anticipated Stitches South Event. If you are going to be at the show - please drop by and say hello! Kat and I will be autographing copies of Socks a la Carte and I will have the only copy of FREEFORM STYLE with me. I got an advance copy from F&W and it is gorgeous! We'll have some of the actual garments to show too. Freeform Style fuses SWTC yarns with the exquisite talent of Prudence Mapstone.

By the way, did you see my picture in this months MORE MAGAZINE?  (The magazine for women over 40!) I know none of YOU are over 40... but check it out. Its quite a thrill to be included in a story about women in business.

Ok friends... this month, I am late again with my SWTC news, but I've got some really nice stuff to share. Keep an eye on us ... we'll be showing off some new summer patterns over the next few months and debuting a new yarn, DREAM BIG.


Read on, my friends.

  Featured projects
The Peacock's Best Vest
 
peacock vest kits

  This vest is one of those rare gems that stops you in your tracks!  It is designed in SWTC Vespera, our 100% hand dyed wool from Uruguay.   We'll debut this beauty on the runway at Stitches South this week in Atlanta.  Last weekend , I spent an afternoon dreaming up 5 kits in Vespera. We invite you to choose a kit from one of these beauties or visit your LYS  and let them help you create a color combination in Vespera that is uniquely you. Send it to us and we may be able to show it off here!

All kits are made up as sizes S/M or L/XL

The S/M Size takes a total of 19 skeins and the L/XL requires 25 skeins.

The pattern is available separately from your LYS or here.  We encourage you to visit your LYS to purchase this project. If thats not possible, you can BUY HERE.

Consider getting a group together to knit as a KAL ( or host one for us on Ravlery!). Imagine how fun it would be to see all of the wonderful combinations and have some comeraderie as you go?



toe jam closeup

Tranquility is showcased in our spectacular new Retro wrap by Joan Somerville. We debuted this gorgeous piece at Stitches West in Ca and had a list of knitters waiting for me to finish the pattern. Its ready finally!  You will need 7 balls of your favorite color of Tranquility and have fun going Retro! Please visit your LYS to purchase a kit or if its just not that easy... get one here.


Terra big  v vest lifestyle

The other big star right now continues to be The Big V Vest by a landslide. That's me wearing one we just finished for Stitches Atlanta. I just put 4 extraordinary hand blown glass buttons on this one today.   I am racing to put the finishing touches on a deep green and black version for myself. After a 14 mile bike ride in the Arizona sun today, I am too lazy to do much else .. so I think I have a shot at finishing!

Big V is a great, fast knit for summer and looks good on all of us. The pattern is written in a wide range of sizes so we can all knit this beauty.  Check out the gorgeous colors of Terra at your LYS. I am extremely confident that there is a combination you will love in this super soft bamboo and cotton blend. Send me pictures - I want to show off more color combinations and appreciate sharing yours!

You can purchase Terra here if your LYS doesn't have it. Please remember, that most of the wonderful yarn merchants will special order for you too. Just tell them you want SWTC Terra!




 
          NEW THINGS TO LOVE

sock war  Did you know there will be TEAM COMPETITIONS?

Drop into your LYS and make sure you get on a team for SOCK WARS 4!

Enlist other sock knitters to play in the game and get others to cheer all of you on. Lets have some fun with Sock Wars. 

Sign ups are in progress   Helen Waittes is leading the games with finesse and fantastic creativity! We are honored to be the Sponsor again this year. The 2009 game will feature the new SWTC POWERSTRIPE TOFUTSIES.

If you have any questions or want to target or challenge a specific store or team in the game, contact Helen. As always, this game promises to be alot of fun. We know last year had a few hiccups but we are confident that Helen will make it all worthwhile in the new and improved games.

Grab your Tofutsies Powerstripes and join us!

power stripe pixfandango
citrinepernacious

To sign up for the games sign in to Ravelry and join this group. 



 
Focus on Yin and Yang

toe jam closeup

This shiny summer shawl was designed by Eco Yarns of Australia for Yin and Yang. Blending Bamboo, Wool , and Silk makes for a yarn that is soft and elegant. Chooose YIN with a matching color of YANG.. which has a bit of bling. Its the same as YIN but has a strand of silk and sparkly sequins wrapped around it.


find an LYS that stocks SWTC near you here!
( and if your LYS doesnt carry this awesome yarn.. talk to them about it! We appeciate it!)

Skill Level: Easy               Finished Size: approx 52"
Materials:
SWTC YIN, 3 skeins #815 Vitality
SWTC YANG, 3 skeins #831 Health
US size 10.5 (6.5mm) needles or size required for gauge
Yarn needle
Gauge: 14 sts = 4"

Begin:
With Yin, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: K1, YO, k1, YO, k1.
Row 2 and all even rows: Knit.
Row 3: K1, YO, k1, * YO, k1, YO, * k1, YO, k1.
Row 5: K1, YO, k3, * YO, k1, YO, * k3, YO, k1.
Row 7: K1, YO, k5, * YO, k1, YO, * k5, YO, k1.
Row 9: K1, YO, k7, * YO, k1, YO, * k7, YO, k1.
Row 11: K1, YO, k9, * YO, k1, YO, * k9, YO, k1.
Continue as established, working 2 more sts at either side of center * YO k1 YO * until wrap is desired size. Wrap shown finished at 182 sts.
Last row: K1, YO, [k2tog, YO] to last st, k1.
(Leave a length of yarn at least 3 times the width of the garment for binding off.)
Bind off loosely. If adding lace edging, do not bind off.


Lace Edging (optional):
With Yang, cast on 8 sts.
Prep row: Knit.
Row 1: Sl 1, k1, [YO, k2tog] twice, YO, k1, k2tog (1 st from lace edging and 1 st from shawl edge).
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8: Sl 1, knit to end.
Row 3: Sl 1, k2 [YO, k2tog] twice, YO, k1, k2tog (1 st from lace edging and 1 st from shawl edge).
Row 5: Sl 1, k3 [YO, k2tog] twice, YO, k1, k2tog (1 st from lace edging and 1 st from shawl edge).
Row 7: Sl 1, k4, [YO, k2tog] twice, YO, k1, k2tog (1 st from lace edging and 1 st from shawl edge).
Row 9: Sl 1, k10, k2tog (1 st from lace edging and 1 st from shawl edge).
Row 10: Bind off 4 sts. k7.
Repeat rows 1 to 10 until all sts of shawl edge have been used. Bind off.
Cut yarn. Weave in ends. Block.

Thank you very much for reading the SWTC  Newsletter. We invite you to visit  our website, www.soysilk.com and look around. Tell your friends about www.soysilk.com and make sure they sign up to get our newsletter too!

From the SWTC Team, we thank you for your continued support of and enthusiasm for our yarns and fibers. I hope you enjoy our great pattern this month and keep checking back for more fun news.

Great things are ahead.

Jonelle Raffino




In This Issue
The Peacocks Best Vest
Sock Wars 4
FREE PATTERN
Freeform Style
Where's Joe
Want to sell yarn?
Loving llamas
 
OUR NEW BOOK

freeform style new cover

 I finally got a glimpse of Freeform Style and its gorgeous. In this book, we took simple knit garments and jazzed them up with Knit and Crochet elements. Each idea is presented in 3 levels so no matter what your experience, you will find create ideas to inspire you.

The talent of Freeform Artist Prudence Mapstone and the exquisite yarns of SWTC make this book a real exciting piece for your collection.. and even if you never do more than look at the pictures... it will be worth it!

FREE FORM STYLE
F & W
Freeform Knit and Crochet
Jonelle Raffino & Prudence Mapstone


Freeform style hat

BEGINS SHIPPING IN JUNE!

wheres joe badge

WHERE's JOE?
 
NEXT:
Joe is on the east coast right now working his way thru New Hampshire and heading to Vermont. He'll wrap up his tour at the NENA show. He's been doing events all over the place. In fact, typical of Joe, he met a knitter at a store and by the end of the evening was holding an improptu WHERE's JOE event in the lobby of a hotel with over 40 knitters.

Have you been to a WHERE's JOE event?

Just in case your LYS doesn't know about this fun event...tell them about it. Ask if they know where Joe is!

Your enthusiasm might just get Joe (and all of his swag) to your LYS or even to a guild or group meeting.

To keep up with Joe and to see pictures from all of his fabulous yarn store visits, read along with the WHERE's JOE ravelry group!

He's planning more trips this summer including Utah, NY and NJ. He'll also be in the midwest in the weeks around TNNA. If you want Joe to visit your store , group , or guild , please contact Joe or Joan.

pssst... Joe loves Chocolate chip cookies and is easily bribed!

st tiches south



sock summit logo
Kat and Jonelle  will return to Portland  in August for Sock Summit. Details as we know them!
 
Upcoming Events:
Stitches in GA (April)
TNNA in OH (June)
SOCK SUMMIT in OR (August)
Stitches Midwest IL (Sept)
Stitches East CT (October)
 
 
Join Our Mailing List
SWTC IS LOOKING FOR REPS!

We are on the lookout for new reps in key areas. If you know someone in your area that is a great sales rep or who may be looking for a solid line to represent, please tell us about them and tell them about SWTC yarn. We value your referrals and suggestions.

 Email Joe@soysilk.com

FOR THE LOVE OF  LLAMAS

As many of you know, I have 6 llamas. Some were rescued from an abusive situation, others had to be given up by loving owners. These beautiful animals are being abandoned in record numbers as their owners lives change or homes are lost.

I am creating a fundraiser for the Arizona Llama Rescue Foundation and invite your help and support.  I am asking my favorite knitters and designers to donate a pattern that AZLR can sell on Ravelry with all of the proceeds going directly to the rescue of llamas and to the support of llamas  currently in their care. I had tears in my eyes when Cat Bordi and Candace Eisner Strick were among the first to enthusiastically offer patterns... and the collection is growing fast.

If you would like to donate a pattern , however small or complex, it would be greatly appreciated.

Look for the LOVE OF LLAMA pattern collection in Ravelry.

Please know this IS NOT an SWTC project. Donated patterns can be from or for ANY yarn and are most graciously appreciated.