Plymouth Yarn Blog » summer

A Labor Day Message….

Allison — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:10:22 +0000

Courtesy of Zingerbug

It is officially the unofficial end of summer. Labor day is one of my favorite holidays as it celebrates the American worker, which is me! A big thank you to Matthew Maguire and Peter J. McGuire, labor union officials who first proposed the holiday back in 1882 as a day of rest and celebration for workers and their families. I’ll gladly take a 3 day weekend, I have one UFO that needs tending to, a grill that is begging for some steaks and a blender just waiting to make some margaritas. We always stay close to home, trying to visit our swim club as much as possible before they lock the gate for the final time on Monday 8pm.

For the first time, my son is dreading this weekend, or at least the end of it. Now he’s a second grader, aware that back to school means homework, early bedtimes and tucked in uniform shirts. No more weeknight outings to the movies or miniature golf. I’m excited to meet his teacher and wondering if she’s a knitter.

Early bedtimes for the kid means uninterrupted knitting time for mommy. My goal over the next few weeks is to master crochet. I am a novice and I am ready to change that. There is way too much fantastic crochet out there that I am missing out on. I would like to replace my holiday knitting with crochet this year. Click here for one of the many videos I will be using as guide this weekend.

Make sure you call your local yarn store this weekend too. Many of them have received their fall orders and are having some amazing sales. If you get to your shop, check out some of our new yarns like Gina, Sakkie and Pasea, the hottest sellers right now.

Sakkie Crochet Pattern 2364, call your yarn shop for details

Give 1, Get 1 Giveaway!

Allison — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:28:57 +0000

Are you looking for a great summer sweater? Do your friends & family always try to steal your knitted garments? This may just be the giveaway for you.

Covington

Up for grabs, we have a Covington Jacket. It’s short sleeved, 100% mercerized cotton and perfect for summer. Not only will you get the garment, already made, but you’ll also receive the pattern and enough yarn to make another.

Pattern 1974 This is the garment you will receive.

Pattern also includes instructions for longer length

Visit and follow us on one or all of our hot spots, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. When you come by, say hi, post a project photo, follow, retweet, repin us or subscribe to our blog. Just let me know your out there, as I love to hear from you!

We will contact the winner on or about July 6th via direct/inbox message.

Free Pattern & Kids’ Camps

Allison — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:58:05 +0000

I only have 7 more days until my sweet, darling, little boy is on summer vacation. I am not looking forward to the extra dishes in the sink or my house looking like a toy store exploded when I get home. He’ll be going to camp 3 days a week. I chose a mainly academic camp, with sporting activities in the afternoons. When doing my research, I found so many cool camps! Sports, acting, farming, and knitting! Unfortunately, I don’t meet the age requirements for any of them. Yes, I know I can take a class but there’s something about these camps that just sounds so fun.

I wanted to share some of the links I found about kids knitting camps all over the country. I’m trying to talk the boss into letting me review each one in person, individually. I don’t think he’s going for it! After the links, check out a free pattern for a one ball purse in Boku. A popular pattern for workshops and classes.

The Whole Nine Yarns, Woodstock, GA

Baskets of Yarn, Charlotte, NC

Kids Knitwork, CA

Stitch House, Dorchester, MA

Knit Picky, Winston-Salem, NC

Pattern F184 PDF Download

Pattern F184 Boku 1 Ball Purse

BOKU
Small 1-Ball Felted Purse

Size: Approx. Finished Measurements (after felting): 6” wide x 7” tall
Materials: Boku (shown in color 2): 1 – 50g ball
Gauge: 14 sts = 4” on a US 10 needle over stockinette st before felting.
Needles: US 10, or size necessary to obtain given gauge. Small amount of Galway for sewing needed.
Note: Use a flat wool yarn such as Galway to sew purse together.

With size 10 needles, cast on 30 sts.
Rows 1-8: Knit 8 rows.
Row 9: K7, bind off 16 sts, K7.
Row 10: K7, turn and using cable cast on technique, cast on 16 sts, turn back and finish knitting the row: 30 sts.
Row 11-16: Knit 6 rows.

Begin working in stockinette st: work 15½-16” in st st, leaving enough yarn to finish the handle at the other end. End st st section with a purl row.

Second handle:
Rows 1-6: Knit 6 rows.
Row 7: K7, bind off 16 sts, K7.
Row 8: K7, turn and using cable cast on technique, cast on 16 sts, turn back and finish knitting the row: 30 sts.
Row 9-16: Knit 8 rows.

Bind off.

Fold in half & sew up side seams using a flat wool yarn. (Use the Galway Worsted). Felt.

Felting:
Set the washer to hot wash, cold rinse, and lowest water level. Add a small bit of soap. Place purse flat in mesh lingerie bag. Do not put anything else in the machine. Check on the purse every 5 minutes. Felting could take 20-25 minutes or so. Keep setting back the timer to make the wash cycle longer. When desired felting is achieved, rinse and lightly spin. Excessive spinning can set in creases. Remove purse, lay flat and block out to a nice finished shape. Straighten handle section. Let dry. With scissors or a razor remove any excess fuzz.

Interest in Pinterest? Win a prize!

Allison — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:18:59 +0000

In honor of Memorial Day, the unofficial start of the summer, we would like to give you a chance to win a patriotic prize! All you have to do to enter is check out Plymouth Yarn on Pinterest . Follow your favorite board while you’re there. Then, come back to our blog or facebook page and tell us what you like the best or what content you would like to see.

I have two prizes available. You will receive a copy of pattern P417

Encore Worsted Sock Pattern P417

and two balls of Encore Worsted in color 1009, Old Glory.

Old Glory, #1009

Your tootsies will love these socks, and think how great it will be to slip these on after a long day at the pool or beach! We know so many of you take part in charity knitting. How about making these for your local veterans’ association?

Winners will be picked at random on Tuesday, May 29th. Winners will be notified via email for blog submissions and inbox message on facebook. Tweeters will be notified by direct message. So be sure to keep your eye out on Tuesday! Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

A little something for Mom

Dawn — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:23:44 +0000

Mother’s day is just around the corner, and what wonderful day it is to celebrate your Mother, Grandmother and any mother figure that may be in your life. My husband has been asking me for over a week what do I want for mother’s day? So for days I wondered what gift could you give to that special woman in your life to show her how much she is loved? Hugs and kisses form our little ones are truly the best gift ever! Then it dawned on me, a hand knitted hand bag. I love handbags and have a great assortment at home. But the one thing I am missing is a hand knitted handbag for myself. I always get caught up knitting for everyone else that I never finish any projects for myself. So I decided that I was going to finally pick a pattern and knit myself a knitted handbag. I sent my husband out to the store to pick up all the items I was going to need and told him that was what I wanted. Along with a few hours of quiet time, so I may finish my handbag. I am choosing to do pattern P593. I love the summer look of this pattern. If you are interested in finding out how to get this pattern, please click the link to find a yarn shop in your area.

What was your favorite hand knitting project? Whether it was for yourself, your friend, mother or grandmother. I would love to know what projects are being made for the special people in your lives

From all of us at Plymouth Yarn Company, Inc., to every Grandmother, Mother, Aunt and Daughter. We want to wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day!!