Opal Sock Yarn Has Arrived

Opal Sock Yarns
The sock yarn with a built in design!

We have added three new Opal sock yarns to our collection (Zirkus, Uni-Color, Rendez-vous). For those who have never worked with Opal, you are missing out.

Opal is a high quality German sock yarn that has the color actually printed on the running yarn just before it is wound into balls. This printing method allows greater flexibility in the choice of color and design.

This yarn is great for socks, hats, scarves, baby sweaters and even a poncho. You can get free patterns using Opal on www.ptyarn.com/freepatterns.html.

75% Wool, 25% PolyamideMachine wash and dry18 wpi 7 sts/1"

US #1, one ball makes a pair of socks! 459 yds (425 m)

Lynn is All Ruffled Up

I remember Lynn when she was just making scarves and baby blankents. Now look at her!!! Lynn has moved on and completed her first garment. She did a wonderful job. She even learned how to pick up stitches.

Doesn't she look great in the "All Ruffled Up" pattern.

Way to go Lynn!!!

Corey's Three Button Wrap

One of our wonderful customers, Corey, finished the Three Button Wrap. I also made the wrap, but out of Noro Kochoran. However, Corey used the Fleece Artist Scotian Silk. My mouth dropped as soon as I saw it. Her wrap is GORGEOUS!!! I wanted to ask her if we could trade. Although I love my wrap, the Scotian Silk yarn made it look more elegant. The dark brown button that she used looked great with the browns and green tones of the yarn.

Corey said it took her a little more that 1 skein of the Scotian Silk.

Good Job Corey!!!

If you are not familar with the "Three Button Wrap," there is a shop sample hanging in the shop.

Gesta Gets Everyone!!!

The Gesta pattern is quickly becoming another favorite at Charlotte Yarn. It all began when Cristi made it. When I saw it, I had to get one for the shop. It only takes 2 skeins of the Noro Kochoran!!!

Anne is modeling the shop sample. Come by and see the Gesta in person. The pattern is in the Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton, Book 2 book. To view additional patterns in this book, click here.

Jane Adapts The Baby Alpaca Grande Vest

The Baby Alpaca Grande Shrug, has been a big hit at the shop. Ever since we put up a store sample, it seems almost everyone has been making it. The shrug is so cute and easy to make.

However, if you are very blessed in the chest area, the shrug doesn't fit quite right. Jane is one of the blessed ones, but that did not stop her from making it. Jane decided to adapt the pattern to fit her body. She also added a cabled braid in the back. The vest looks fantastic on her.

If you would like to read more about Jane's vest adaptation, please visit her blog by clicking here. If you would like to take a private lesson with Jane to learn the pattern adaption or how to tailor a pattern to fit your body, please email her at jprater@carolina.rr.com.

For more information about Jane and her classes at Charlotte Yarn, please visit her website at http://www.jpknits.com/.

Anne's Lattice Baby Blanket

Anne finished the Lattice Baby Blanket. The pattern is from Mac and Me. The blanket is made out of Blue Sky Alpaca's Hand Dyed Cotton. The blanket is so beautiful!!!

Anne loves this blanket so much, so is going to make another one using the Blue Sky Organic Cotton.

Great job Anne!

Longways Is The Way To Go!!!!

Many people think that I scarf can only be knitted by casting on 10-20 stitches. However, you can also knit a scarf longways using a circular needle. Natalie had a scarf at the shop where she casted on about 216 stitches. On every row she changed the yarn. Her whole scarf was in garter stitch (knit every row). She also left a 6" inch tail on each row, which made the scarf self fringing.

A customer loved Natalie's scarf so much that she made her own longways scarf. She used yarns that complemented each other and had various textures. Her scarf turned out fabulous!!! This just proves that you can take several yarns and mix them together to make a unique and wonderful creation.

Who said that a scarf has to be boring!

One of our newest knitters came in the shop last month and wanted to make a scarf for her mother. She selected this beautiful scarf pattern out of the book, KNIT PONCHOS WRAPS & SCARVES by Jane Davis. I just love the way the scarf is braided at the ends. Who said scarves are boring?

The yarn she used was Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran which gave it a very soft feel.

Great job!!!

The Charlotte Purls Were In The House!!!

We were very fortunate to have the "Charlotte Purls" hold their last meeting in '07 at Charlotte Yarn. They are such a great group of people.

The Charlotte Purls is a locale knitting group in Charlotte, NC who meet every other Saturday from 2-4PM at Bear Rock Cafe off of Mallard Creek in the University area. If you are looking for a knitting group to join, you definitely have to check them out. Everyone is so nice. They also have a wonderful mixture of knitting skills, from the beginner to the experienced.


For more information about the Charlotte Purls, please visit their website at http://www.charlottepurls.blogspot.com/ or email them at charlottepurls@gmail.com.

Linda's Lovely Skirt

Thanh Nguyen is a locale Charlotte pattern designer. We carry several of her patterns at the shop. One of her patterns is called the "Katherine." The skirt pattern is so cute!!! One of our customers, Linda P, finished knitting the skirt 2 weeks ago. She brought it in so we could see it. The skirt looked great on her. It fit her perfect!!! She is making another one in a cream color.

The pattern calls for 2 skeins of the Peruvian Tweed from Joesph Galler. If you have never touched this yarn, you have to. It is so soft and luxurious. The skirt is made with two strands of yarn held together. If you would like to see Thanh's other patterns, please click here.

Anne Makes a Grand Enterance

Anne S. made this cute shrug. She came in today wearing it. Anne and the shrug made a grand enterance. The shrug looked great on her!!!

The patttern (N026) is from Plymouth Yarn. The yarn is Plymouth's Baby Alpaca Grande. Talk about soft. If you never used or felt this yarn before, you are missing out. The yarn is so soft and nice to work with. The yarn is 100% Baby Alpaca and knits up 3 sts = 1"/US10.5 needle. Many customers are also using this yarn for scarves.

Crafty Girlz's Funky Circle Vest

Janet R. emailed me today to show me the Circle Vest that she made out of the Silk Knits book. The vest is so cool looking. She used the Scotia Silk by Fleece Artist. She used two skeins that had complimentary colorways and decided to knit two rows in each color. In the book, the yarn it called for was Noro Silk Garden. It is great that Janet was able to think outside the box and use another yarn than what the pattern called for. It was also nice to see that she took a chance using the two different colorways. The risk paid off. The vest looks fantastic!!!!!

To view additional pictures of Janet's vest, click here to access her blog.

Another Great Knitting Party!!!

One of great customers, Lynda M., hosted a beginner knitting party at her house last Sunday. It was so much fun!!! Sandy and I taught the class, while Jane P. came along for the fun. Jane was unable to teach due to her recent hand surgery. Jane taught a "Fix Your Issues" knitting party at Lynda's a couple of months ago and had such a good time, she was not about to miss a Lynda party. The food and drinks were GREAT!!! We all had a nice time talking, laughing, and teaching new knitters.

We had 3 new beginners at the party. Two were a mother and daughter. The daughter was 12 years old and was quickly knitting away.

If you would like information on how to host a knitting party, please click here.

Lisa's Lovely Sursa Shawl

Lisa was very excited to finish the Sursa shawl she was making from the Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton - Book # 2. The shawl is gorgeous and looks lovely on her too! Lisa has been knitting less than a year and is doing wonderfully.

This shawl is a triangle with a very simple reverse stockinette ruffle. It is made with Noro's Silk Garden with a ruffled edge out of Cash Iroha.

The pattern specifies that double yarn is used throughout the entire piece. It moves along rather fast when you are knitting it because it is on Size 15 needles and the yarn double strand.

New Beginner Has Taken Off

WOW is all I can say!!! Dianna learned to knit 3 weeks ago and she has done an amazing job. She started on this scarf and it looks great. My first scarf never looked this good. As I think about, my second, third, or fourth scarf didn't either.

Dianna used several novelty yarns, such as eyelash and ribbons to make this fun a festive scarf. Why buy the perfect accessory when you can knit your own.

Karen has a ball with the Lucy bag

Karen came in last week and showed us the Lucy bag that she made. She made it out of Noro, which self-stripes. A friend saw her bag, so she is now making her one.

The pattern has instructions for a handbag or a shoulder bag when using medium weight yarn, and for an evening bag using sport weight yarn. All versions have clever straps of differing lengths to hold the bag closed.

Finished sizes: Depending on wool choice, gauge and amount of felting: Small bag: 8.5" tall; 17.5" circumfrence. Large bag: 11.5" tall; 24" circumfrence

Sandy Brings Out Her Inner French Girl

Sandy saw the French Girl pattern "Lulu" and knew she had to have it. The bulky yarn made it very quick to make. Since it was very easy and quick, she decided to also make it for family and friends.

Sassy and fun to wear, Lulu takes you from relaxed to elegant with a quick change of accessories. A super project for the advanced beginner who wants to move beyond crocheted scarves. Done up with only 4 balls of Rowan Big Wool and fabricated in one piece. Come by and see Lulu in person.

Don't know how to crochet but want to learn how? Sandy is teaching a beginner crochet class on Tuesday, November 20th from 6pm-7:30pm. The cost is $25. Please call the shop at 704.373.7442 to register.

I Love This Cardigan Harriet Made

Harriet finished the Blue Sky Alpacas Eyelet Cardigan for her daughter Katie. It worked up picture perfect! It fits Katie great and looks fantastic! Harriet made the size small and used 4 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton. The yarn is very comfortable and soft!

Mystery Stole Revealed

This past summer, knitters around the world joined the "Mystery Stole 3" knit-a-long. The Mystery Stole was started by Melanie from Leesburg, VA. Melanie designed a lace stole and released the pattern through a series of clues. Every Friday, she sent out clues until the stole was complete.

The Mystery Stole 3 is now known as "The Swan Lake Stole." BJ stopped by the shop last week to show us her beautiful stole. It is outstanding!!!! She used about 2 1/2 skeins of the Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn. Needless to say, she got her clues right :)

"The Swan Lake Stole" pattern can be purchased on Melanie's blog at http://www.pinklemontwist.blogspot.com/ for $6.00.

Knitting For Friends

Susan came by yesterday to show us the beautiful wraps she was making for three of her best friends. These women have known each other since high school. Even though they all live in different places, they get together each year to reminisce and have tons of fun. Susan wanted to knit them all the "Loopy and Luscious" from Knitty.com. Susan selected the colors for each wrap based on each person's personality. One friend loves bright colors and is bold and cheery, so she used lime green, bright pinks and yellows. Another friend is very fiery and spunky, so she made hers with various shades of reds and dark plum. Another friend is very warm and nurturing, so she is making hers with tan, brown, and cream tones. What a nice idea to make these for friends. Everyone can always use a pretty wrap.

The yarns used are Berroco Hip Hop and a lace weight mohair. Click here for the pattern.