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Welcome to Thistledown Shoppe
Greetings!
What comes to your mind when winter changes to spring? I enjoy hearing the peepers, listening to the loons, seeing the robins, and smelling fresh mowed grass. My knitting takes a small turn to warm weather items. Cotton sweaters and scarves, linen tops and bags. And colors! Bright in your face lime, fushia, and yellow.
Just a reminder that the shoppe is once again open for seven days a week.
Knit on,
Kathy
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World Wide Knit in Public Day
Demarie has volunteered to put together an event for World Wide Knit in Public Day. And here is what she has developed for us.
Yarn Bombing- Wikipedia defines it "as a type of street art that employs colorful displays of KNITTED or CROCHETED yarn or fiber rather than paint or chalk. Started in 2004 in the Netherlands, yarn bombing has spread worldwide. This year, in celebration of World Wide Knit in Public Day, Suttons Bay area businesses, at the hands of Northern Michigan Fiber lovers will don knit, crochet, and felted colors and textures. Why yarn bomb? In their book Yarn Bombing, Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain list the following reasons: - It's fun and portable.
- It provides opportunity for self expression.
- It challenges preconceptions about what the craft can do.
- It is a great way to stash bust.
- And it is a fun way to experiment with new fibers, stitch patterns and techniques.
We are looking for those who needle, hook, or felt to meet with other like-minded fiber fanatics to join us as we prepare to share with Suttons Bay a new way to experience yarn! ************************************************************* We will yarn bomb Suttons Bay on Friday evening, the 14th. On Saturday, the 15th, fiber enthusiasts will be found throughout Suttons Bay working on their crafts. Mark your calendars and watch your email for more information.  
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Knitting by the Narrows
Set aside the weekend of September 20 - 22. Ingrid Zotter, a Master Knitter, will be teaching us fair isle, steeking, corrugated ribbing, and attached i-cord. The retreat will be held at the Leelanau Boat Club.
More details will be forthcoming.
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Ravelry In-Store pattern purchases
Since August 2011, Ravelry has had a program that allows yarn shops to sell patterns to our customers. In addition to our having the ability to print the pattern for you, it will also go into your library at Ravelry and to your email. Don't have a Ravelry account? Not a problem as you will still have it through your email. The price is the same for you whether you buy the pattern through us, or straight from Ravelry.
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Win a $25. gift certificate
This weekend I am going on a knitting retreat with nine other women. To get ready for it, I have been rooting through my knitting corner and am pulling out UFO's to take with me. Now, I am perfectly aware that I am not going to be able to finish all of them, much less to even get to all of them, but my hopes are high.
I am still deciding what to take, but while doing this, I thought this would be a great time to do a contest. (Is that the right term for this?) Anyway, email me at thistledownshoppe@yahoo.com with the header UFO's and in the body of the email, tell me how many UFO's you think I am taking. I will count them when I get to the retreat.
Whoever has the right amount wins a $25 gift certificate. So also make sure you include your mailing address.
Be aware that I will not limit how many folks can win. So if all of you guess correctly, all of you will get a gift certificate.
And if you are one of the folks on the retreat with me, you have to email your guess before Friday at 4 pm.
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Free Patterns
Selva Cowl - a lovely cowl knitted in DK or sport weight. I suggest Madelinetosh DK, Pashmina, Dragonfly Traveller, Nature Spun Sport, and Portland Tweed. If you think you want this pattern, get it now. After the end of May, you will have to purchase it.
Summer Rose Capelet - a cape with roses using DK yarn.
Rikke Hat - a quick and easy hat knitted with DK yarn. One skein of Madelinetosh DK or Traveller would make a nice hat.
Strips & Stripes - knit a shawl with stripes using worsted weight yarn.
Grrlfriend Market Bag - knit this with Euroflax, 2nd Time Cotton, or Ultra Pima.
Infinite Midnight Scarf - crochet an infinity scarf. We recommend Euroflax, Ultra Pima, 2nd Time Cotton, Polo, All Hemp6, and TyDy Cotton.
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Join Us
Monday Morning Knitters
Join us for several hours every 2nd and 4th Monday morning from 8:30 am until 10 am or later. Inspiration. Motivation. Coffee. Laughter. Conversation.
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Books
I don't know how they do it, but new books keep coming out that are worth buying. Below are some that I recommend for your library.
If you fancy yourself a sock knitter or are interested in knitting socks, this is the book for you.
Written by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott, this is the go to book for basics on sock knitting. Charlene is the author of Sensational Socks and More Sensational Socks, two basic books we keep in stock. From recommended cast ons to explanations of heels and toes, they break down the anatomy of a sock using understandable information.
Charts are included on suggested gauge and needle size and yardage
needed for a pair of socks
This is broken into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester knitting blankets, sweaters, hats, booties, pants, shorts, and toys. Sizes run from newborn to 12 months.
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Sixty designs using Classic Elite yarn - Easy Stripes, Jewel Tones, Pretty in Pink, Block Party, Power Cables, Daisy Chain, Shades of Gray, Lacy Leaves, Linen Stitch, Fun & Funky, Short Rows, Just Peachy, Red Alert, Wrap Stars, Rich Ruffles, Light & Lacy, Nordic Star, Bars & Stripes, Silk & Cotton, and Cream & Sugar. Each chapter takes a theme and produces three designs based on that theme.
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Sally Melville has written another wonderful book. She starts out by giving you a crash course in drafting sweaters. This includes shapes that work best on each body type. From there she goes into sleeves, shoulder shaping, hems, side shaping, cardigan styles, fabrics, finishes and fixes, and ends with patterns. If you are ready to go up a level and start thinking of how to knit a particular sweater, I highly recommend this book.  There are times when I want a book with sweaters for the male gender. This book fits the bill and you may also knit the sweaters for yourself. It is authored by Bruce Weinstein and photographed by Jared Flood. There are four chapters: Line and Drape, Texture, Reversibility, and Color. Patterns are included for each chapter and sizes range from 34" to 56".
 261 pages of one skein crochet projects that start with crochet thread and end with bulky weight yarn. Crochet coaster sets, belts, scarves, cowls, purses, gloves, jackets, bibs, mittens, pot holders, pillows, blankets, and scrunchies, among other goodies.
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