This installment of the holiday knitting guide brings us to a casual, quick knit scarf yarn, Passion Nette. I like to think of this one as your everyday scarf yarn. This cotton/acrylic blend has a relaxed drape and a soft, natural feel against your skin. It’s available in 8 versatile colors that will coordinate with anything in your wardrobe.
Don’t tell the boss but I am spilling the beans today. I just happened to be stretching my legs(OK, I was snooping, but let’s keep that between us) and found myself in our design/sample room. This is the place where all the magic happens. After all the trips have been taken and all the trade shows have been attended, this is the spot where the best of the best end up to be test knitted and designed into something beautiful.
I was excited to see a few things but what really caught my eye was the vivid and fun colors in the Grignasco line. NEON! I managed to get a shot of the fluorescent fabulousness in the Kid Seta line and wanted to share. Ask your yarn shop today about these great colors. Yarn shops-call your reps! You have to see these!
What a wonderful reason to knit! Julie shared some pictures of the hats she creates, check them out below.
If you are a charity knitter, send us an email and tell us your story. You can share your pictures with us on facebook and twitter too! You can also find us on Pinterest.
Stitching for America is an event for all to participate. It’s a collaboration of thoughts from Tarie Williams, www.yarnheaven.com, a person near and dear to Charity Knitting and The Plymouth Yarn Company. It is to help our neighbors who have been affected by the recent devastation of the floods, tornadoes, etc. If we all unite together, we can help.
The following Local Yarn Shops have been generous to offer their services for receiving donations and distributing to those affect by the recent tragedies.
Yarn Heaven, www.yarnheaven.com W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington, TX, 76013, Tel # 817-226-9276
Of course, there are many other areas in the USA that have been affected. This list is not limited to the above. All are welcome to participate. This is an event to help those in need.
Graphics donated by:www.Heatherink.com
The following patterns have been donated from Plymouth Yarn:
Most people will make a New Year’s Resolution for 2012. We want to lose a few pounds, save more money, drink less coffee and be more organized. But what are your New Year’s Knitting Resolutions? I’d like to share a few of ours with you, along with the resources to help you accomplish them!
1. Knit for yourself! Now that you have the feeling back in your fingers from the last-minute-holiday-crunch knits, sit down and find a pattern that you want for you. Even if it’s as simple as a new scarf. Think of the time you will have to fit in knitting for yourself. If you only have an hour or two a week, think of a spring or summer shawl so when you are done your project, it will be the right season to use it. Here are a few to consider….
2. Make a gauge swatch. I am notorious for not following my own advice on this one. I often go blindly into a project. I learned my lesson just a few weeks ago while making a Christmas gift for my niece. I switched a yarn in a pattern for a slouchy hat. There were very few differences between the two yarns, fiber content and put-up were the only things that jumped out at me. My slouchy hat ended not fitting my niece but fitting my husband and I can’t talk him into wearing a purple hat with a touch of glitz. Check out this article from knitty.com on the importance of and how to knit a gauge swatch.
3. Use your stash! I tried to use my stash this year for all of my holiday knitting and will try to continue to do so. I ran out of masculine colors and only had to purchase a few balls! I am left with mostly baby yarns so I am hoping for a very long, cold winter so I will get news in the spring that I have some babies to knit for. I am going to use some for charity but I will get to that later in this post. There are some wonderful things you can do with those one or two skeins you picked up. If you have 100% wool, felt, felt, felt! Small coin purses, small bags, small bowls and headbands. Have a baby or wedding shower to attend? If you have cotton, consider washcloths. I have one that a friend made me almost 10 years ago. It was in my wishing well at my bridal shower and it may be the only linen that hasn’t needed to be replaced! Hats are a great way to use up the stash too. Here are some pattern ideas you can try.
4. Finish the projects you start. I’ll admit it, I have 3 wips in my inventory for about a year now BUT I also started and finished at least 20 others this year. Will I ever finish those other 3? Hopefully, maybe, well, I can’t answer that question. There are some great reasons why this should be a resolution you keep. First is if you get to the end and realize you need just 20 more yards, it may be impossible to track down the dye lot. Second is while I always try to have a couple pairs of needles in each size, they do me no good if they are tied up in a project I’ve been procrastinating on, then I am off to buy another set or borrow from one of my many knitting buddies. Which isn’t so bad I guess as I get to see all the new arrivals at my LYS. Third is the most obvious, that baby will grow right out of that sweater you started. I am going to choose my projects more carefully and think ahead to make sure I have the time and supplies I need to complete them. Try looking up your patterns on Ravelry and get real world tips, advice, materials lists and pictures of finished products.
5. Knit for Charity. I know so many of you are already doing this and it’s such a wonderful opportunity to use your talents. I send scarves to a local homeless shelter. I can get them done in one or two nights while I’m watching t.v. and it’s a great way to use your stash. Check with your local yarn shop, they will likely have a program set up for donations of all sorts. Here is a list of just a few organizations we have had contact with….
6. Use your technology! Did you know there’s an app for that? Use your smartphone for more than Angry Birds! I use my iPhone for everything. There is a free app (called Needles) for cataloging your needles so you know what you’ve got on hand. It can also direct you to the nearest yarn shop when you are on the go! Vogue Knitting and Knitting Daily are available too. YouTube is a great resource for how to videos on just about everything. I’ve used it to learn a new stitch and how to knit with the new ruffle yarns. You can also find yarn reviews there. I can’t talk about technology without mentioning Ravelry. If you haven’t joined yet, get on it! It’s a fantastic resource for everything yarn, patterns and the people who love them.
I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday and the gang here at Plymouth Yarn wish you a very Happy New Year.
There are so many amazing charities out there doing wonderful things for those who truly need it. There are thousands of busy hands that are right now knitting a chemo cap, gloves, blankets for babies in the hospital, prayers shawls and the list goes on. I am proud to say that I get to work in an industry where so many people are willing to give up their time and their stash to help others.
I recently got an email regarding an organization, Hair Flair For Hope. I loved their site and what they do is a bit different than some of the other charities. Here’s what they have to say “HairFlair for Hope is a creative non-profit project which utilizes the community to craft colorful, one-of-a-kind wigs (wearable art) for women and children who have experienced hair-loss due to medical illness or treatments.” Here is just one of their many creations….
Kate Pierson of the B-52's
To learn more about HairFlair for hope check out their website
They also host “make a wig” workshops, accept wig applications and you can donate at their website.
Check out their facebook page for tons of great wig photos.
Stitch N’ Pitch brings together two traditions — Baseball and needle arts. Whether you knit, crochet, embroider, or cross-stitch, everyone is welcome from the beginners to the experts. On Wednesday, June 15th, the Plymouth Yarn family attended the major league event at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia to cheer on our Phightin’ Phils! The weather was ideal and the moon was full. It was perfect knitting weather for me. With 16 Major League and 19 Minor League Stitch N Pitch events this baseball season, I hope you get the chance to attend a game. It’s sew much fun!
Stitching the night away!
Knit one, Pitch two
Play ball (or skein)!
If you know the Plymouth gang then you know we love our local sports. We have had several company outings to Phillies games, Lakewood Blue Claws minor league games and quite a few “friendly” company softball games. We listen to the Phillies on the radio in the afternoon and sometimes our customers will hear some cheers in the background when they are speaking to our customer service team on the phone. We even try to attend a game when we go to trade shows.
Sales Rep Jennifer Phillips and Design Director JoAnne Turcotte catching a game in Ohio.
Christine, our Marketing Guru and her husband enjoying a night out
But we get the most excited about Stitch N Pitch. It’s a time when we get to meet some of our shop owners, colleagues, and fiber fans!
Some Stitch N Pitch swag
More swag
We were lucky enough that the Phillies won the game. They filleted the Marlins in the 10th inning which gave me just enough time to almost finish the Baby Alpaca Grande cowl project I brought and learn to knit with our new yarn, Joie de Vie!
Thanks so much to all who attended, the Phillies, and The National NeedleArts Association for taking part in such a great night. Check out www.stitchnpitch.com for a game near you. See you next year!
I just received an email about a local knitting and crochet group from, Gods Love of Newton. This wonderful group of woman knit garments to help those who are less fortunate than they are. Plymouth Yarn Company donated Encore Worsted to help these ladies help others.
My name is Sarah Punderson and I design for Plymouth Yarn. I initiated a group with the teacher Margi Wright to teach the students how to knit or crochet and make hats for babies in the Dominican Republic. It’s a great way to broaden the number of knitters/crocheters and gain awareness for the Village Mountain Mission Project.
A former Spanish teacher from Monsignor Donovan High School runs the mission programming for the Village Mountain Mission Project. (it is not a religious mission) Groups of students, usually, go down for 9 days and build houses. Thank you Plymouth for donating yarn to this project.
A former Spanish teacher from 
