Plymouth Yarn Blog » Plymouth

Bazinga Bel et Bon Mitts

Allison — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:23:35 +0000

For those folks who don’t already know, I LOVE BAZINGA! This super bulky, wool/acrylic blend has colorways that are to dye for. It knits up quickly and can be used for so many different projects.

Our friends at Double Ewe Yarn Shop in Circle Pines, MN love Bazinga too. The owner of the shop, Kelly Judson, has created a darling set of mittens that can be knit in your choice of fingerless or full cover.

Kelly is offering a free download of the Bel et Bon Mitts pattern through Ravelry and on the Double Ewe Yarn Shop website. You can also check out Kelly’s blog. But if you are in the Circle Pines area, be sure to stop by. The gang at Double Ewe would love for you to visit. Check out their website for shop hours, classes and more. You can also check them out on their facebook page.

Is there a Bazinga project you would like to share? What else are you working on? We love project pictures! Please visit Plymouth Yarn’s facebook page and share your photos and stories.

August at Plymouth(free pattern link too!)

Allison — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:35:38 +0000

August is always an exciting time here at Plymouth Yarn. New yarns are arriving and fall orders are leaving. I love when customers call and thank us for all the boxes of beautiful yarns. We use this next week or two to get ready for the upcoming season. We kicked it off yesterday with our employee breakfast. After breakfast, we took advantage of the beautiful weather to snap an employee photo or two.

The Plymouth Gang

Dick Jr, Butch and Betty

Some of those new Plymouth yarns you might see in your favorite local yarn shop include

Bazinga

You can find the Bazinga color card here

Stiletto

You can find the Stiletto color card here

DeAire

You can find the DeAire color card here

Holiday Lights

You can find the Holiday Lights color card here

I love this time of year also because I get to chat about Christmas knitting projects with everyone. Usually, there is a lot of Encore colors 1386 and 54 heading out the door and I’m excited to use Holiday Lights in some of my projects this year. It has the same gauge and about the same yardage as Encore Worsted. Log into Ravelry today and download this free Encore Christmas Stocking pattern (hint- you can also use Holiday Lights).

Encore Worsted Christmas Stocking Pattern F167

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, Happy knitting & crocheting!

Ciao from Italy! Pitti Filati Tour

Allison — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:40:11 +0000

This week, our Marketing Director, Christine had the opportunity to visit the Pitti Filati show in Florence, Italy.

Beautiful views in Florence

another beautiful sight

Christine with our agent, Peri

This event demonstrates the latest innovations in yarns, yarn technology and stitch design. You can see all of the newest fiber trends on the horizon in some of the pictures below.

Gorgeous!

Exquisite detail

Lots of great hats to be seen

We also wanted to share the color trend chart.

I'll take one in every color!

With over 100 yarn brand representatives in attendance, it proves to be one of the most diverse and exciting events we attend.
The show’s focus this year is in ethical quality. Fiber prices are higher than we have ever seen. This directly influences all of our choices. Plymouth Yarn Company strives to keep the quality you deserve and the affordability you crave. These decisions are difficult ones and we have discovered some fabulous fibers!

The yarn I love, the pants...not so much!

Knit & Crochet unite!

You won't catch me in this one but the colors are fabulous!

Keep any eye out for new colors in some of your favorite yarns. We are also considering two new beautiful yarns from Peru and just wait until you can feast your eyes (and needles) on Mushishi Black. We would like to announce that coming soon…Plymouth Yarn will be the exclusive distributor for Grignasco Knits in the United States!

For more photos of Christine’s adventure, please visit our facebook page.

Stitch N Pitch 2011

Allison — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:53:17 +0000

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!

Chemo Clothes, Hope you can wear.

Visit Chemo Clothes facebook page to find out how to donate.

Cowl pattern as promised

obi_admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:51:22 +0000

2 weeks ago I promised to post a cowl pattern and finally- here it is. These things are definitely “This Year’s Scarf”. They can be fast to knit, using simple repetative stitch patterns and use very little yarn so they are a perfect way to try that luxury fiber you have been drooling over.

The one posted here has been an absolute favorite at my local yarn shop. Even newbie knitters are quick to pick up the easy stitch repeat and are on their way to instant gratification with this weekend project.

Baby Alpaca Grande is a perfect yarn for this cowl- soft and warm around your neck, with beautiful drape. Please try this pattern- it requires only 1 hank of this Plymouth Classic. I will have another pattern for you soon too.

JoAnne

EASY ONE ROW COWL

Materials: 1- 100g hank- Baby Alpaca Grande.
Size: About 22” around, about 10” long.
Gauge: 12 sts = 4” using size US 11 needles over st st.
Needles: US 11- 16″ circular; 1 stitch marker.

Cowl:
With the 16” circular needle, loosely cast on 60 sts. Place marker and join in the round, taking care not to twist the sts.
Round 1: Knit 1 round.
Round 2: *(YO, k2tog); repeat from * around.
Repeat ROUND 2 until almost out of yarn, ending at the marker. Bind off loosely. Weave in all ends.

DIY

Christine — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:08:26 +0000

Do It Yourself

An era of DIY’ers has emerged, not just as a popular cable network, but as a way for people to express themselves. It will make you feel as you have accomplished something. You feel proud for trying something. Try a new yarn or a new pattern. Take a class – learn something new. Experiment with color.

Our Hand Dyed – Trabajos Del Peru, 100 % Fine Merino Wool, is a perfect yarn! I just love the subtle texture and the color – OMG – just beautiful. Try this 2 skein cabled scarf!

Trabajos Del Peru - F260

Materials:
2-100g Hanks of Trabajos Del Peru.
Size:
Approx 7 x 62”
Knitting Needles:
US 10 needles, cable needle.
Gauge:
14 sts = 4” measured over st st.

RC Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to back, k2, k2 from cn.

Cast on 30 sts
Knit 4 rows.
Then begin pattern:
Row 1: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 2: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 3: K2, *(p1, RC, p1, k4); repeat from * once more, end p1, RC, p1, k2.
Row 4: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 5: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 6: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 7: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 8: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 9: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 10: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 11: K2, *(p1, k4, p1, RC); repeat from * once more, end p1, k4, p1, k2.
Row 12: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 13: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 14: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 15: K2, *(p1, k4, p1, RC); repeat from * once more, end p1, k4, p1, k2.
Row 16: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 17: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 18: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 19: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 20: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 21: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 22: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 23: K2, *(p1, RC, p1, k4); repeat from * once more, end p1, RC, p1, k2.
Row 24: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.

Repeat rows 1-24 until total length is about 60”, or until almost out of yarn, ending with a row 23. Knit 4 rows. Bind off loosely knitwise. Weave in all ends.

Note: When working with hand-dyed yarns, for best results, alternate skeins every few rows (work 2 rows with 1 hank, 2 rows with another). Do not cut yarn, just carry up side of work.
©2008 Plymouth Yarn Company.