Summer at the shop

We have been very busy around here getting our new website up and preparing for our fall retreat so I haven't updated the blog in quite a while, I apologize for that and will try to do better in the future, now that the site is up.

We had a nice couple in the shop today from Switzerland, they had their motorhome shipped from Switzerland and are on a year long adventure here in the US, actually
they visited Mexico as well. What is really fun is that they have a website where
you can follow their adventures and see how they are doing periodically. They are
now on their way north up to Alaska. Here is the link to their site: www.gatho.ch

They purchased some of our Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blend to make a scarf and they said they would get it up on the site soon so check it out, it is a great site!

Other shop happenings, well besides the new lovely website. I have been working on Bruegel in the Fall Rowan Magazine 44. I am knitting it with Rowan Kid Classic in
Crushed Velvet color 825. This cardigan has been so fun to knit I am just loving it.
The picture shows the back, I am now finished with the left front and almost halfway done with the right front. I will post again when it is completed, and hopefully Tara will be updating you soon on her progress on the Lenpur Linen Vest, it is turning out just lovely!

Spring Knitting Beach Retreat!

It's within sight! There are only 18 days left before we gather for our second knitting retreat, aka "Not Just One of the Flock" Knitting Beach Retreat. Jerri & Cheryl have had fun dreaming up useful and fun ideas for the content of the welcome "goodies" bag and a door prize. I don't think anyone will be disappointed :)

We are so honored to have J.C. Briar and Joan Schrouder as the instructors and look forward to seeing each of you at Friday night's welcome reception. As a reminder, the shop is open until 6pm on Friday and Saturday. We will also be open on Sunday, May 31 from 12pm to around 4pm for anyone who wants to stop in after the retreat!



Moving along on "Felisa" from Rowan's
"The Lenpur Linen Collection"

Safe travels and happy knitting!

Tara
Nestucca Bay Yarns

A shop sample in Rowan Lenpur Linen

During our last staff meeting, we talked a bit about knitting more shop samples. We all know how nice it is to touch and love the yarns and how having a knitted sample makes it even more appealing for many customers. With that in mind, I give you "Felisa" from Rowan's "The Lenpur Linen Collection" book.


Okay, it's not much more than the swatch right now, but it's a start! I am using Addi Turbo Lace needles US3 & US6, and the yarn is color #564 (Zest) in the Rowan: Lenpur Linen. There are 13 beautiful designs in the book and we currently stock 11 colors of the yarn. The book states that the Lenpur fiber "...is made purely from plant cellulose and is produced using an Eco-Friendly method." It goes on to say "Not only is the fibre made from a renewable resource, it is also biodegradable."

I am enjoying the process and look forward to sharing a few more updates in the weeks to come!

Happy Knitting,

Tara

The sun is out, the sun is out!

Oh what a wonderful day it has turned out to be here on the coast. It is so lovely to have the windows and back door open throughout the day. I don't know the actual temperature, but all I really need to know is that it's not raining, there's no fog and THE SUN IS SHINING!

We have had a smaller than usual gathering at our Friday Night Knitting group (we meet from 5pm to 7pm at the shop, and everyone is welcome!), but no less fun. Jerri baked, we ate. It's always good when Jerri brings something from her kitchen :) And last week, Erica brought in the sweetest knitted toy animal. Cheryl has promised to leave her camera at the shop, so we'll start taking more photos for the blog.

I have never given much thought to knitting toys or animals, but there was a bit of talk about Easter toys that night and it got me thinking it could be fun. I found several cute Easter egg patterns on Ravelry this weekend, including "Easter Egg Ornaments": http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easter-egg-ornaments. Great stash-burner!!

I hope you had a restful weekend. Ours was busy with school functions, a birthday party and playing outdoors! Tonight my husband will be grilling - yay! First of the year.

Take care -

Tara
Nestucca Bay Yarns

Sheltand Shawls Class at our Spring Knitting Retreat

These are a couple of pictures of one of Joan's Shetland Shawls she made. This is one of the classes she will be teaching at our Spring Knitting Retreat in Lincoln City, May 29-31st. We are so excited to have her teach us these beautiful lace knitting techniques. She will also teach Shawl Shaping - Triangles and Trapeziods.

As anyone who has ever taken a class from Joan you undoubtedly know that she is truly a great teacher and yet so personal and approachable. We were all truly impressed with her ability to show us all some really great techniques for fair isle knitting in such an easy to understand manner. And are so looking forward to another fantastic retreat!

JC. Briar is also teaching some helpful techniques for mittens and cable knitting basics for those knitters who aren't quite ready for lace yet.

I hope you will all be able to join us for this great event that we are sponsoring. I believe you will come away inspired and a better knitter, ready to tread new ground in your knitting journey.

Irene

We had an interesting visitor over the weekend. Irene from Norway. She was looking around when she noticed on the wall a few pattern books we carry 'Selbustrikk', 'Raumagarn' and 'Selbuvotter'. She could not believe her eyes, books from her country were sitting in a yarn shop in the US! She had to have a picture, she said " No one at home will believe me!".

I hope where ever she is today that she is having a lovely time here in the US. The picture didn't turn out as nice as I would have liked, but here she is.

Other good news this week is that our Blue Sky Alpaca is here. Dyed Cotton and Alpaca Sport. I will try to get pictures up tomorrow.

This yarn is even nicer than I imagined. The alpaca is the softest alpaca I have ever touched and the colors are just exquiste. The dyed cotton has tons of beautiful colors and is so soft as well, I love the twist of this yarn it is so nice, not your average cotton. I can't wait to show you all.

New Yarns in the shop this week

This week has been fun. We have just received our newest shipment from Cascade. We now have Cascade 220 Superwash and Greenland in the shop.

Cascade Superwash is exactly like regular 220 but it is washable and comes in balls not hanks. Acutally I think it is softer than regular 220. It is a worsted weight 18-20 sts. = 4", the cost is $10.00 per ball and yes it has 220 yards per ball just like regular Cascade You can see the picture to the left here. It is so lovely!

The other new yarn that has arrived is Cascades Greenland. Greenland is 100% Merino spun nicely for little pilling. The gauge is 16 sts. =4" or 4 sts per inch. A heavy worsted washable yarn that boasts 137 yards per 100g ball at a cost of $12.00 per ball, not bad for pure merino. You can see this yarn on the left. I will get these up on the web site hopefully this weekend or early next week.

Next week we are planning to receive in Blue Sky Alpacas, dyed cotton and Alpaca Sport. I am so excited to get this yarn in, we have never carried Blue Sky in the past, so this is a whole new brand for us. I just love their cotton yarn, it is really the best cotton on the market, that I have seen anyway.

Other news in the shop is that Tara/oregonknitter on Ravelry is down with phnemonia, please send her well wishes and prayers as she recovers.

Elizabeth/harpbardknits on Ravelry is now working part time at the shop. Be sure and welcome her.

One last thing is that we are having a contest at Nestucca Bay Yarns group on Ravelry, post your finished projects and once a month we will vote for our favorite FO. The winner will receive a prize compliments of Nestucca Bay.

Now off to join the knitting group!