Great gift ideas

Maybe you're looking for a special gift to give a knitter, or maybe you're a knitter looking for something special to put on your wish list.  Either way, we have some ideas for you!

Local potter Knox Steinbrecher's yarn bowls have been very popular gifts the past few holiday seasons, and we're pleased to be carrying them again this year.  Knox brought us a dozen of these beauties fresh out of the kiln yesterday.  They're available in three lovely glazes--dark blue, light blue, and pale green with a leaf pattern. Settle into your favorite chair with your knitting or crocheting, and keep the yarn bowl by your side.  The bowl keeps your yarn ball contained so it won't roll away, while the slot in the bowl prevents the yarn from tangling.  Even when not in use, these yarn bowls make a gorgeous addition to any home decor.  The yarn bowls are priced at $32 each.

As every knitter knows, even when we think we have needles in every size, eventually we discover we're missing the one we need for our next project.  It's frustrating, and the cost of buying more needles can quickly add up.  With the Addi Click system, you'll always have a wide range of sizes at your fingertips.  We currently have three sets in stock: one each of the Turbo, the Lace tips, and the Long Lace tips. 

Each set includes interchangeable needle tips and cords in a wide range of sizes and lengths, all contained in a compact case.  Click here for an in-depth comparison of what sizes and lengths come with each different version of set so you can choose the one that's right for you. 

All three of these versions of the Addi Clicks are priced the same, $170.  The Addi Click system is a great investment that will save you lots of money in the long run, and bring you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have the right needle for just about any project!

Kauni Effektgarn

No doubt many of you have seen Kauni yarn on Ravelry or elsewhere and have been stunned by what it can do.  Kauni Effecktgarn is a sportweight, Shetland-type wool with long color gradations.  And...(drum roll)...it's now available here at Sheepish!

This yarn is perfect for adventurous knitters who love watching yarn colors change as they knit.  Many people like to combine multi-colored Kauni with a solid for dramatic colorwork effects. With that in mind, we have the solid black Kauni so you can play around with working a multi over a solid background. 

Nordic Hats photo via Ruth Sørensen

Ruth Sørensen's Nordic Hats booklet is also now in stock. It includes many options for colorwork hats using Kauni, plus templates for creating your own colorwork designs. And if you need more inspiration, just check out some of these incredible colorwork projects Ravelers have made with this yarn.

For those of you who aren't into colorwork, Effektgarn's long color changes also work beautifully for other kinds of projects, especially shawls and wraps (*cough* Wingspan *cough*).  This yarn just has so many exciting possibilities!

Kauni yarns are sold by weight in balls ranging from 140 grams ($27.50 for about 600 yards) to 160 grams ($31.00 for about 700 yards).  We currently have 10 colorways of the Effektgarn in stock, plus the solid black ($25 for 150 grams/660 yards).

We can't wait to see what kinds of fantastic projects you'll will make with Kauni!

Ravelry in-store pattern service

One of the most challenging parts about running a LYS is deciding which patterns to carry.  It's difficult to predict what kinds of patterns customers will want in any given season.  We want to offer you a wide variety of things to choose from, but we don't want to end up having to put a lot of unsold patterns on clearance.

Well, today we're pleased to announce that we've teamed up with Ravelry to offer you a wider variety of pattern choices than ever!   That means thousands of patterns from participating designers are now available for purchase here at Sheepish, on demand.

Just a few of the patterns you can now buy at Sheepish.

Here's how it works: let's say you see the model of the Flyaway Vest that's hanging on our wall and decide you want the pattern.  We'll pull it up on our Ravelry shop page and with a couple of clicks, boom! Ravelry will send the pattern .pdf to your email and/or your Ravelry library.*

We'll ring up your pattern like any other merchandise, so you can buy your yarn, needles, pattern, and notions all at once.  So convenient!  If you're a member of our rewards program, these pattern purchases will count toward your rewards total.  And you can feel good about supporting your local yarn shop and independent designers.  EVERYBODY WINS.

We're really excited about being able to offer this service for our customers and hoping it will be very useful for you all.

*For a small fee, we can also print the pattern for you here in the shop.

Dream Club: December

Just look at this gorgeous color! Of all the Dream Club yarns we've received so far, this is probably our favorite.

The yarn is Perfectly Posh Fingering, a luxurious, lofty single ply of wool, cashmere, silk, and mohair.  It comes in a 360-yard skein and, being the exclusive yarn of the month, includes the exclusive pattern of the month.  This lacy wrap from designer Kay Dahlquist is called Seychelles. It's a basic rectangle shape that fastens with two buttons and can be worn a couple of different ways.

The pattern comes as a free PDF when you purchase the yarn ($36).  Remember, as always, quantities of this special Dream Club yarn are limited!  And don't feel limited by the pattern--this yarn would also make a fantastic cowl or scarf.  Just saying. :)