Best of Interweave Knits
Celebrating 10 years of innovative and appealing garment designs from Interweave Knits, this must-have pattern collection is comprised of 30 scarves, stoles, cardigans, pullovers, vests, jackets, tops, and totes that have stood the test of time.
Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting
Scotland's Fair Isle is celebrated the world over for its distinctive, stranded-color knitting, and Alice Starmore is famous for her expertise in designing and instructing knitters in this appealing regional tradition. This volume is profusely illustrated with color photographs, plus drawings and charts that illustrate the art's history, patterns, and techniques.
Knit a Fantasy Story
 Jan Messent shows how, using only oddments of wool, the minimum of materials and a little imagination, you can create an enchanted land and people it with fairy folk, a handsome prince and mythical creatures. This book will delight the young at heart and anyone with a sense of fantasy and fun.
Great American Aran Afghan
These linen colored squares in the Aran patterning technique can be made to match the afghan exactly as presented, but the author reminds us to be creative with these winning designs. Fewer squares make a baby blanket, more a bed spread, and one at a time make delicate pillows.
Classic Knits for Real Women
This book presents dozens of easy-to-wear designs with sophisticated flair - many featuring beading, fringe, or embellishments. The collection's versatile sweaters, outerwear, and accessories move effortlessly from casual to career to evening. Gorgeous photography features real women - not models! - who prove that these stylish knits look great in any size. Learn to modify patterns for the best fit, and for length and neckline variations. In wool and cotton, size 14 and upward. |
Beyond Wool
If you've ever knit with a new luxurious yarn and been unhappy with the results, a book like this would have saved you time and spared you disappointment. Nine yarns--mohair, alpaca, llama, cashmere, silk, angora, qiviut, cotton, linen and hemp--are each given their own chapter in which their source, history, particular proclivities and design potentials are carefully examined. In addition, smart, simple knit patterns are offered for each yarn which make use of their individual assets.
Double Knitting
The fascinating technique of Double-Knitting (which produces a two-faced, negative-image fabric) has been simplified by the author to enable you to work both sides in a single pass. M'Lou's stunning designs for coats, jackets, and shawls are all accessible
through detailed charts as well as written out instructions. An extensive technique section and a chapter of assorted practice items will help you to fall into the rhythm of this increasingly popular type of hand knitting. Knitting Around 
For those of you who know of Elizabeth Zimmerman and her no nonsense, yet simple and practical approach to knitting, you'll really enjoy this book. Part knitting instruction book, (it is the companion book to the Wool Gathering Video Series) and part autobiography, it provides you with directions for making a moccasin sock and other stockings, a Fair Isle yoke sweater, knitted dickeys and a very warm hat, the Pie Are Square Shawl, a Norwegian pullover, an Aran coat, and more. (Ask me how much I like EZ!) Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Vol. 3: Color Knitting  This inspiring third volume in the hit "Stitchionary" series features more than 200 gorgeous colorwork patterns culled from the pages of Vogue Knitting magazine. Inside you'll find five exhaustive chapters arranged thematically; Two-Color Knitting, Intarsia and Motifs, Fair Isle/Multicolor Knitting, Adding Texture, and Slip Stitches. Each pattern is accompanied by a detailed chart, clear photo of a sample swatch, and easy-to-follow instructions. No matter what your skill level, this essential reference book is all you'll need to add an eye-opening dimension of color to your knitted garments. | |
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Greetings!
My favorite time of the year is here. Apple trees are laden with their boughs brushing the ground, awaiting the picking. And I am fortunate to be living in an area with maple and beech forests. Over the next few weeks, the color change will begin with the colors becoming more intense. Because of that I am hoping for a long fall. I love going out and buying bushels of tart apples. We make them into apple pie filling and put them into the freezer. That way we can have fresh apple pie or cobbler all year long. This also seems to be the time of year to start getting serious about making Christmas and holiday gifts. In the next newsletter I will have some suggestions for you. In the meantime, have a great fall! Kathy  |
Taken from the Leland Report by Keith Burnham, our neighbor. 10-11-10. Go to The Leland Report for a daily photo and comments.
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TIPS AND TRICKS
- Having problems with a nipple effect in your knitting? I seem to do this when I knit hats. Go to TECHknitting for some help.
- When I have to cast on a bunch of stitches, I use markers to count off. For instance, I am knitting a scarf that has 400 stitches. As I cast on, I placed a marker every 50 stitches and that made it much easier to check my count. We carry coiless safety pins that would work well for this.
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NEW AND UPDATED
YARNClassic Elite's Vista and Vail yarn have come in. Vail is a light fingering designed to be used for garments and accessories, Vail is 70% baby alpaca and 30% bamboo viscose. The bamboo gives it the most delicate luster and drape, while the alpaca contributes an ethereal softness. 
| Handling | : | hand wash cold/dry flat | | Colorways | : | 6 | | Gauge | : | 6¾ sts/inch on a US3 (3.25 mm) | | Skeins/Garment | : | 2/Wrap | | Put up | : | hank | | Skein Weight | : | 50 grams | | Skein Yardage | : | approx 236 yards |
We have a lovely sample knitted for the shoppe.  | Glamour pattern for our sample
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Vista is a solid colored yarn in six natural shades. The blend of superfine alpaca and wool produces a durable yarn that is long-wearing while still maintaining a soft hand, perfect for all kinds of garments and accessories. 
| Description | : | 50% wool, 50% superfine alpaca | | Handling | : | hand wash cold/dry flat | | Colorways | : | 6 | | Gauge | : | 4¾ sts/inch on US 6-7 (4-4.5 mm) | | Skeins/Garment | : | 10/LS | | Put up | : | hank | | Skein Weight | : | 50 grams | | Skein Yardage | : | approx 100 yards |
Unisono by Zitron One of our customers brought this yarn in. She was knitting a shawl with it and it was delightful. I spoke to the yarn shop where she purchased it and they told me it was turning into one of their favorite yarns. We have started out with some of the variegated colors and have ordered several solids. · 100% Merino Extra Fine infused with Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil
· 328 yards per 100 gram hank
· 3-3.5 mm (approx. US 2-4) needles
· Approx. 6-6.5 sts per inch  Socks, shawls, sweaters, baby items - this is a versatile yarn. And it will soften up your hands while using it. BOOKS 365 Crochet Stitches a Year itty-bitty hats 
Knitted Lace Knitting 24/7 Wendy Knits Lace Knitting Socks from Around the World Toe-Up Patterns and Worksheets to Whip Your Sock Knitting into Shape 
contemporary irish knits Knitting Lace mastering color knitting Knit Doilies 
A Treasury of Knitting Patterns A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns Charted Knitting Designs A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns The Best of Lopi knit & wrap the knitter's guide to hand-dyed and variegated yarn Best of Knit It |
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CLASSES
Felted mittens:
Monday evenings, October 17, 24, and 31 from 6-8pm.
$40.
You need to know basic skills such as cast on, knit, purl, knitting in the round, and bind off. Betsy, your instructor, will guide you through the basic construction of a mitten and give you specific tips on felting.
Materials needed for felted mitten: Knit One, Felt Too book, 200 to 220 yds. of Lamb's Pride Worsted or Elegant Kaleidoscope, US 11 and US 13 needles in 16" with short tips and double points or one long circular needle for the Magic Loop.*Please note: you must pay the class fee in advance to register for the class, either in person or with a credit card over the phone. Classes are non-refundable and non-transferable.Materials are separate from the cost of the class. A 10% discount will be given for material purchase.
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FREE PATTERNS
This shawl was created for long color repeats, but it looks good with any yarn. Go to Raverly for the No-Fuss Shade Loving Shawl. Kauni, Ty Dy Socks, Fame Trend, and Zauberball would be great for this pattern. Use worsted weight yarn, such as Lamb's Pride or Nature Spun, to crochet the Vortex Afghan and Pillow. The crocheters can make a puffy quilt with this Ravelry pattern. Go to Apiary Puff. The pattern was written for any fingering weight, but you may also go up to a worsted weight yarn. Knit a cardigan for a new baby out of DK weight yarn. If you want it to be machine washable, Tonic and Loyal would be a perfect fit. Demne is located on Raverly. Crochet a scarf, using any of our lace or fingering weight yarns. Sweet Eleanor Scarf/WrapUse a DK weight yarn, such as Tonic or Loyal, to knit a tam for a baby. Bonnet Belle is on Raverly. Have lots of leftover sock yarn and want to make something fun? Try Blended Socks Heather has created a cute way to knit leftover pieces of yarn into a sock without a delineation. You can also go to Raverly to see what others have done with her idea.
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Thistledown Shoppe 419 N. St. Joseph St. PO Box 52 Suttons Bay, MI 49682
231-271-YARN (9276) thistledownshoppe@yahoo.com The Wee Shoppe with a Big Heart
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10-5
Monday and Wednesday 10 - 6
Sunday 12 -4
Yarn Lover's Night - every Wednesday from 6 - 8 pm
Want an up to date listing of what we carry and what we are doing? Check out the blog. Ravelry group - Thistledown Musers
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