One More Thing you can do with a Rectangle

In the continuing litany of "one more thing you can do with a rectangle", here is another testament to "less is more"...

OK, so you can knit a scarf right? Then try this, a scarf with one buttonhole and three buttons. Voila! 3 different looks depending upon which button you choose. The key to this simple piece is to combine really beautiful yarns with really distinctive buttons. I ended up using 4 different yarns and handmade raku buttons. (Actually, I found these incredible buttons first and combined yarns to go with them. Kind of like decorating a room around that perfect pillow!)

If you are looking for specifics, the pattern available at the store 402-393-5648 or 1-866-393-5648.

The Ultimate "Carpet Bag"

Nancy has outdone herself this time. Take a look at this incredible bag made by holding 12 yarns together and knit into a tight cable pattern. The denseness of the knit makes for a bag that is both heavy duty, and elegant. Then Nancy topped it off with a leather flower embellishment and handles from Muench Yarns.

Nancy's pattern design is available at the store as well as the embellishments. If you are interested just give us a call at 402-393-5648 or 1-866-393-5648. We love to play with different color combinations and textures, so let us know if we can help put a kit together for you.

Chunky Alpaca Vest --I'll take one in EVERY Color!

We simply love the quality, colors and texture of Misti Alpaca yarn. I got so excited about it, I decided to design a cropped vest out of the chunky weight. This yarn is heaven to work with, puts up on a #9 needle and is as soft, if not softer, than cashmere. Our customers have been knitting this up in different colors and it has been fun to see the effects.

The Cropped Alpaca Vest is made in one piece from the bottom up. Once you've completed several inches of ribbing (a little boring, but hang in there...), the work is divided in two and you begin the back with a mirrored cable pattern. Then the work is divided again at the neck edge and the front is worked in separate panels over the shoulder down to the waist. The front panels are grafted to the front ribbing. I used a twisted stockinette to give the open areas some texture and the really works well in the alpaca.

Though the pattern is sized, I wanted it to be easily adjustable for various body types. So, if you wanted to, you could shorten the ribbing and extend the body for a more classic look with longer lines.

Chris Bylsma Workshops Inspire Creativity

During the course of three workshops, Chris Bylsma has us thinking about yarn in a whole new way. Suddenly our stashes are new found treasures from which to create a new Crayon Box Jacket, a garment or bag. We had more fun playing with color and texture and discovered creative ways to incorporate old yarns with new.

In the Stashology class, Chris asked us take 10 different yarns pulling them together into one large strand. We cut the strand into 24" pieces and draped them around our neck. Then, without looking, we randomly pulled individual pieces and knit one after the other. The result was stunning! So much for planning--this new technique lets "the yarn do all the work," as Chris says.

We spent one day learning the construction of the Crayon Box Jacket and plan a reunion fashion show on September 16. Meanwhile we are all playing with color and texture variations on mitered squares. The jacket flows easily. By picking up stitches and casting on edges, there are almost no seams. Stay tuned for photos of the fashion show in September!

We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Chris for making the journey to Omaha. Her graciousness and expertise will have a lasting impact on us and String of Purls customers.

Debbie Macomber Delights Knitters

The crowd stretched beyond the front door as avid fans of Debbie Macomber awaited the mistress of the finely woven tale. String of Purls was delighted to welcome Debbie for her return visit to Omaha. Who knows where she finds the time to write, knit and support many worthy causes such as Warm Up America and The Omaha Hearing School. Wherever it comes from, her energy is contagious and her stories hilarious.

Debbie manages to appease her reader's appetites with a bevy of new books including the recently released Back on Blossom Street. Just one more winner on a long list of knitting books and novels.

Though Debbie needed to move on, we held a slumber party to knit squares for Warm Up America. Were we ever surprised when Debbie reappeared and joined us later that evening!

Chris Bylsma coming for Workshops June 27th & 28th

Chris Blysma, designer and teacher will conduct 3 workshops at String of Purls. Chris is widely recognized for her innovative designs, most notorious is the Crayon Box Jacket.

The three workshops include:
The Crayon Box Jacket - June 27th
Everything you need to select yarns and create this remarkable mitered square jacket
9-4 (1 hour break for lunch)
$75.00 (includes pattern)

Deliberate Drops - June 28th \
Learn how to use drop stitches for beautiful effects.
9-12
$60

Stashology - June 28th
Discover how to make your "old" stash yarns exciting and new!
1-4
$60
Come join us!
Space is limited and filing up so call us at 402-393-5648 and reserve your spot today.

Blue Moons Don't Come that Often

We got wind of a Blue Moon this month. Could there be a better reason for having a clearance sale under the stars? We put up a big tent and enjoyed the great 'coming of spring' with our customers. The funniest moment came when one of the resident squirrels decided to cozy up with our mascot sheep!

By the way, there are still some good deals remaining from the sale 30-65% off.

Look at what Cathy made!

One of our avid knitters, Cathy Magee recently finished this adorable baby cardigan. The pattern is found in Vogue Knitting, Toddler Knits and the sweater is knit from Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. We love this yarn for baby items. It knits up like cashmere, but has the 'oh so essential' quality of washability.

Great going Cathy. We love your work!

Omaha's Biggest Baby Shower

Robyn and Louise recently participated in Omaha's Biggest Baby Shower, an event hosted by the Children's Museum. There were plenty of exhibits featuring everything a mother could imagine needing. We brought several yarns, kits and samples showing how to pamper any baby with hand knitted treasures.

Take a Look at these Circles!

We wonder if Annie Modesitt has any idea how much fun we are all having with her Twisted Garter Float Shrug featured in the Vogue Knitting Fall 2005. It's an ingenious idea...Annie took a basic circle shape and placed provisional openings for sleeves. The twisted garter pattern creates visual momentum especially when knit with Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted colorways. Just look at some of the great combinations our customers have come up with.

Nancy Edzards used 403 Tuscany and 16 Charcoal, trimmed in 38 Brick.

Kristen Maddox tried 38 Mixed Berries and 16 Charcoal, trimmed in 45 Cranberry

I made mine as it appears in Vogue with 18 Watercolor and 16 Charcoal, trimmed in 4 Blackberry.

The Ultimate Summer Top with Prism Yarns

Looking for the perfect dressy summer top? Take a look at this "Cleopatra" design by Debra Roth and knit from Prism Yarns, Pearls, Wild Stuff and Silk Charmeuse. In her design, Debra took a simple short sleeve shell and attached a dramatic collar knit from Prism Stuff. The collar is attached by picking up stitches at the neckline with progressive increases. It is truly a showstopper!

Call us if you are looking for the pattern and want suggestions for stunning combinations. We'd love to play with your color ideas.

Exciting New Yarns for Spring and Summer

Though our gardens are calling, we're still pretty nutty about knitting...so as the temperatures warm we somehow manage to keep the needles clicking. Everybody at SOP is playing with several recent arrivals of new spring and summer yarns.

Here are just a few of our new spring and yarns:
Manas Cotton Stria, a 100% Peruvian cotton that is extremely soft and well saturated in color. Each wonderful color has its own "washed" look with slight variations. Becky just finished making this simple summer top, currently being offered as a class.

Just in from Nashua are Cilantro and Creative Focus. Cilantro is a medium weight cotton great for summer tops or summer bags. Creative Focus, also medium weight, has a twill which offers texture. The colors ranges are bright to muted. You'll love the versatility of these cottons.

Sock Contest rallies creative footwear at String of Purls

We are always astounded by the imagination of our knitters whenever we hold a contest. The recent sock contest was no exception. In my view they were all winners. We even had an entry from Germany making it a truely "international competition"!

Jay Rich's Shibori Workshop - All Sizes, Shapes and Colors

String of Purls recently hosted a Shibori Knitting workshop conducted by Jay Rich, a gifted local knitter/spinner/weaver. Jay walked us through the essentials of this ancient Japanese knitting and dye technique. By banding a "resistance" object, such as a marble, rock or fish bobber into a piece of feltable knitting, you can create the most appealing shapes and formations during the felting process. He also showed us how to create "gathered" lines by running thread through the fabric. This produced an accordion like crease. We experimented with different weights of yarn from fine sport weight wools to heavier felters like Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride.

We appreciate Jay's expertise and inspiration and are already at work dreaming up ways to incorporate Shibori into felted bags, clogs and scarves.

The Mobius Bowl Never Looked So Good!

Recently, one of our little customers showed us a new use for the Mobius Bowl. Cat Bordhi's, A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting could have used this photo to demonstrate the many practical uses for the bowl. When Louise used her Manos del Uraguay to whip up this bowl, I'll bet she never imagined it could look this adorable!

Mason Dixon's Kay Gardiner's Log Cabin Workshop

Amid the merriment of the holidays String of Purls hosted a Log Cabin Workshop conducted by Kay Gardiner, co author of the Mason Dixon Knitting. We're so lucky that Kay hails from Omaha so we get to see her when she is in town.

A full house of knitters leapt into the Log Cabin technique making cushions from Lamb's Pride Cotton Fleece yarn. Kay selected an array of colors and demonstrated how to choose complimentary hues. It was enlightening to see the differences between cushions composed of many colors versus those with only a few.

Thanks Kay--come back to Omaha soon!