Dream Club: December 2013

Here's the latest offering from Dream in Color's Dream Club. Yes, it's another gorgeous one! (We know we say that every month--but it's always true.)

This month's yarn is a special base created just for the Dream Club. It's 100% domestic fine merino wool, which knits up at about 4.5 sts/in on a US 7 needle (210 yds/100g for $30). It's wonderfully squishy and, of course, the hand-dyed colors make these skeins really special.

The pattern that comes free with purchase of this month's yarn is actually two patterns. This set is called Poinsettia, designed by Jessica Correa. There is enough yardage in one skein to make both the headband and the fingerless mitts. As always, we only have ten skeins of this month's yarn, so be sure to get one soon!

Did you know that Dream in Color has a monthly contest in their Dream Club Ravelry group? They host a knit-along each month, and at the end of the month they award a high-end skein of yarn (retail value $30+) to two randomly chosen participants. They also award a bag of Smooshy to the LYS where the winners purchased the yarn. Visit the group for full details.

Sew an evening clutch with us

We had a great time at our first-ever Evening Sew last week. Big thanks to instructor Chrissy Weeks and everyone who participated in the workshop! In case you missed it, here are some photos.

This was such a success that we'll be doing it again! Chrissy will be back for another Evening Sew on December 10. This time, the project will be an elegant clutch purse.

Pretty, huh? Wouldn't that be a nice little something to carry to a party this holiday season?

The cost for this workshop will be $20. That includes pre-cut fabric, interfacing, and embellishments. You'll need to bring your own machine, scissors, pins, and thread. If you have your own fabric that would like to use, please feel free to bring it. To sign up, call us at 404-377-6875 or email Chrissy at c@chrissyweeks.com. Class size is limited to eight people, so be sure to reserve your spot ASAP.

Like last time, this workshop is happening on a Tuesday at 6:00 pm. Our usual Knit Night festivities won't be happening that night. Instead, please join us on Thursday, Dec. 12, for our holiday party/potluck/gift exchange!

We look forward to seeing you all on Dec. 10.

Couldn't help ourselves

The day after our previous post about Smudgy, guess what--HE GOT ADOPTED! He went to live with some friends of Stacy's, and will have two other cats and two dogs to play with. Lucky boy!

Smudgy (now known as Jasper) and his new mom.

So, we were without foster kittens for only two days and then Dekalb County Animal Services asked us if we could help two more homeless cuties in need. Well, how could we possibly say no?

Turn down these faces? No way!

Meet Bernie and Betty. They're brother and sister, about three months old. They've already been "fixed," microchipped, and are up-to-date on their shots.

Just look at that profile.

Bernie has just a tiny bit of a tuxedo--he's almost all black except for a little patch of white on his chest and a few white toes. He's a funny little guy, playful and frisky.

Pretty girl!

Betty was a bit more timid at first, but now that she's getting to know us better, she's a real purr machine. Her tabby markings are so lovely--both stripey and swirly.

To apply to adopt Bernie or Betty (or both!), contact DCAS at adoption@dekalbanimalservices.com or 404-294-2165, or stop by their office at 845 Camp Rd. The adoption fee for these babies is $75 per kitten.

New: Hand Paint Sock

Ooooh, it's so exciting when a new-to-us yarn arrives. We're very happy to introduce you to our latest addition, Hand Paint Sock from Misti Alpaca.

Colors currently in stock, clockwise from far left: Tilt-A-Whirl, Reggaeton, Northern Lights, Manu, Eiffel.

We're crazy about this yarn. The colors are great, obviously, and it's also wonderfully soft. The fiber blend is 50% alpaca, 30% merino wool, 10% silk, and 10% nylon. Hand Paint Sock comes in a 437-yard skein for $23.00. The label recommends hand-washing.

While Misti Alpaca calls this a sock yarn, don't limit yourself by thinking of it only in terms of socks. A quick browse through its Ravelry project pages will give you plenty of inspiration for scarves, shawls, mitts, and other great items to make with this wonderful yarn. Let your imagination run wild, and have fun!

And then there was one

For those of you who haven't been in to the shop for a while, we wanted to give you an update about our latest batch of foster kittens, who joined us on September 27.

Saboo (formerly Isaac): ADOPTED 10/10/13!

Twilight (formerly Rachel): ADOPTED 10/17/13!

Lucy (formerly Stella): ADOPTED 11/15/13!

Which just leaves Smudgy. We can't believe no one has adopted this little guy yet. He's obviously adorable, and he has such a great personality--the perfect mix of playful and cuddly. He was purring up a storm while this photo was taken.

It looked like he was going to get adopted today. Someone came in with her paperwork all done, kitty carrier in hand, but...she wanted a girl. When she found out our boy Smudgy was the only one left, she went away kitten-less. So disappointing for everyone. :(

The good news is that because Smudgy has been in foster care for a while now, he's eligible for Dekalb County Animal Services' "shelter classics" program. That means you can adopt this sweetie pie for only $20. You read that right! And remember, he's up-to-date on shots, and has already been neutered, microchipped, and de-wormed. So you don't have to pay for any of that.

To apply to adopt Smudgy, contact DCAS at adoption@dekalbanimalservices.com or 404-294-2165, or stop by their office at 845 Camp Rd. to fill out the application in person.

Come sew with us

If you're like us, your interest in crafts isn't limited to just knitting or crocheting. With that in mind, we're excited to be teaming up with Decatur sewing instructor Chrissy Weeks to add a fun little twist to an upcoming Tuesday night.

On November 19, 6 - 9 pm, please join us for our first Evening Sew! The project will be a shopping tote. Cost for the workshop is $18.00, which includes materials.

There will be various options for fabrics, strap lengths, and pockets.

• Chrissy will provide the pattern, fabric and as much help as you need.
• Sheepish will provide the space.
• You bring your sewing machine, scissors & thread.
• You help us decide which project to do next.
• Please feel free to bring snacks and drinks.

Maybe you've bought or inherited a sewing machine but haven't had the confidence to try your first project yet. Maybe you've sewn in the past but would like a refresher so you can get back into it. Maybe you're already fairly competent at sewing but would like to do it in a social setting instead of at home by yourself. If any of that sounds familiar, this workshop is for you!

To register for this workshop, give us a call at 404-377-6875. Class size is limited to eight students, so be sure to reserve your spot soon.

Please note that this Evening Sew takes place on a Tuesday night during our usual Knit Night festivities. If you're not participating in the sewing workshop, of course you can still bring your knitting/crocheting and hang out!

Magazines galore!

For some reason, we've had a really hard time getting some of our distributors to understand that we've moved. Despite giving them our new address repeatedly, some of our stuff has continued to get lost in the mail, even nine months after our move. So frustrating.

ANYWAY. Yesterday we finally received a backlog of magazines and now we're having tons of fun catching up on looking through them. If you need pattern inspiration, you're sure to find some here. Whether you're in the mood to make a modern update for your own wardrobe, or you just looked at the calendar and realized you need to knit a dozen gifts in the next seven weeks (!), these issues have something for everyone.

So...much...knitting!

Stop by and spend some time looking through these, and you'll have plenty of new project ideas in no time!

Dream Club: November 2013

Wow, Dream in Color has been really outdoing themselves with this season of their Dream Club. Just feast your eyes on their November installment:

Oh my....

That's Alpaca Silk Wool Lace (50% domestic wool, 25% silk, 25% alpaca). Each big, beautiful skein has a generous 640 yards and retails for $30.

Ornata shawl designed by Susanna IC

The pattern of the month (included with purchase of the yarn) is the lovely Ornata shawl. This project knits up with just one skein of the Alpaca Silk Wool Lace.

The colors on this yarn are just spectacular. They're kind of like a rainbow, but deeper and richer. Pinks, oranges, greens, blues, browns...this colorway will go with so many items in anyone's wardrobe!

As always with Dream Club yarns, this is an extremely limited edition colorway, and we only receive ten skeins. So if you like it, come and grab it while you can!

Happy Halloween!

For those of you who weren't able to join us for our Halloween festivities last Saturday, well, you missed a great party. Here are some of the highlights.

 

 

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM ALL OF US AT SHEEPISH!

One down, three to go

It's been an eventful week for our current batch of foster kittens. On Tuesday, they got spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. And yesterday, the sweet little tuxedo boy went to his forever home.

Here he is with his new mom, Heidi. His name is Saboo now, and his new family includes Heidi, her husband, and their adult boy cat.  We couldn't be happier for all of them. Bon voyage, cutie pie!

Now we just need to find homes for Saboo's adorable littermates. We like to call them "cow kitties" because of their Holstein-ish markings.

This little beauty is Stella. As you can see, she realllly likes lounging in the kitty hammock. But don't let these laid-back photos fool you--this fun-loving girl plays HARD.

Rachel is such a sweet fuzzball. She enjoys wrestling with her siblings, but also loves snuggling with humans. She has such a loud purr!

Dekalb County Animal Services had named this handsome guy Josiah, but we call him Smudgy. He's playful, affectionate, and as Carrie says, "he just might have the sweetest face I've ever seen."

As we mentioned, these babies are fully vetted and ready to go. The adoption fee is $75 per kitty, or if you're over 55, you can bring one of these cuties home for only $40!  Contact us for the adoption application, or stop by DCAS at 845 Camp Rd., Decatur, to fill out the paperwork in person.

We look forward to seeing all of our foster kittens get adopted into loving forever homes, just like Saboo and Heidi.

Shop Hop winners

First of all, we need to say a great big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in Shop Hop this year. Our sales were up 22% over last year's Hop! That's huge. As always, it was so much fun for us to meet yarn lovers from other parts of the metro area who'd never been here before, not to mention our regulars who were also Shop Hopping. Thanks again to all of you. We really appreciate your support.

Now, let's talk about prizes. Each participating shop gives away three prizes. And Sheepish's winners are...[drumroll]

Kris Niedringhaus wins three skeins of  Mongolian Cashmere Handspun.

Laura Baltes is the winner of our accessory package, featuring assorted gadgets, Regina DeMita's felted wool soap, Stacybeads stitch markers, and more.

Karen Rees wins our scarf kit, which includes the Challah Infinity Scarf pattern and three skeins of Maxima yarn.

Last but not least, the Grand Prize winner of Shop Hop 2013, who will receive a $100 gift certificate to each of the nine participating shops is...Erendira Brumley!

Congratulations to all the winners!

Trendspotting: laceweight neckwear

Lately we've noticed many more people getting interested in knitting with laceweight yarn. For years, we had a few customers who would knit shawls in elaborate lacy patterns. Everybody else seemed too intimated to try such complicated projects, or just hated the idea of knitting with anything so fine.

But things are shifting now, thanks to some great patterns that have been popping up calling for laceweight yarns. These designs look sleek and modern, and because many of them are knit at a (relatively) bigger gauge, they knit up faster than you might expect.

If you fall in love with a skein of luscious laceweight while you're shopping (or if you have one in your stash), but don't know what to do with it, take a look at some of these projects for inspiration.

Gradiente by Jocelyn Tunney is a stunning scarf that uses a US 8 needle and three strands of laceweight held together. It subtly blends three different colors, 440 yards each. We have a sample of this in the shop, and everyone who sees it goes crazy for it!

Citron Grand by Hilary Smith Callis features a simple ruching technique to create textural interest. Knitting the laceweight yarn on a size US 8 makes a wonderful drapey fabric. You can knit this wrap in a variety of sizes, using anywhere from 435 to 1445 yards.

Arnhem Loop by Silke K. is a bit more of a time commitment because it's knit on a US 2 needle, but the result is so chic, it's worth it! This cowl is knit flat on the bias and then joined at the ends to create a long, luxurious loop. It calls for about 880 yards of the main color and 440 yards of the contrast.

Melanie Berg has designed a trio of fabulous striped wraps using laceweight yarn and a size US 4 needle. Left to right: Assante (650 yds MC, 325 yds CC); Aviendha (450 yds MC, 300 yds CC); and Miara (650 yds MC, 325 yds CC). The patterns are available individually or you can get all three as an eBook called It's All About Stripes. Really.

You can buy all the patterns mentioned in this post through Ravelry. Better yet, let us download the PDF for you at the shop, so you can receive credit toward your next Sheepish Reward coupon!

Sheepish exclusives

It's day 5 of Shop Hop! We know you savvy Shop Hoppers are always on the lookout for unique items that aren't available anywhere else. So here's a little tour of some goodies you can find only here at Sheepish.

Hand-dyed yarns from Decatur Dye Studio. These are dyed in very small batches, so if you see one you like, grab it while you can. It might never be back again!

 

Handmade jewelry by Stacybeads. Necklaces, bracelets, and earrings created by our very own Stacy. We also have Stacybeads stitch markers to add some bling to your knitting.

Felted soaps ($8) from local artisan Regina DeMita. We started carrying these in May and they are very popular! We have lots of new scents for fall.

More wonderful bath & body products ($6) from Regina.

She also makes lip balm ($3)...

...and potpourri ($12). This stuff smells soooo good!

And last but certainly not least, we're the only Shop Hop shop partnering with Dekalb County Animal Services to host foster kittens. While you're here to get your passport stamped, be sure to stop and say hello to these cutie pies. We will be more than happy to give you an adoption application so you can start the process of making one (or more) of these babies part of your family.

Happy Shop Hopping!

Dream Club: October 2013

The latest installment from Dream In Color's Dream Club is another gorgeous autumnal gem. With Everlasting Sock ($26) as the base yarn, the warm colors of falling leaves really pop out in this smoothly-twisted 100% superwash merino.

Everlasting Sock

Accompanying this beautiful yarn, the Dream Club pattern of the month is Sand People Always Ride Single File (S.P.A.R.S.F.) by Claire Ellen. Dream In Color calls these cabled socks, "A perfect match between our wonderfully hard-wearing Everlasting Sock and an entertaining intermediate level pattern."

S.P.A.R.S.F. socks

This pattern might look intimidating at first, but if you have basic knowledge of sock knitting and cable construction, you can make these.

Remember, as a Dream Club shop, we only receive ten skeins of each month's yarn from Dream In Color. It's first-come, first-served, so be sure to stop by and get a skein for yourself before they're all gone!

Shop Hop kittens

The 7th annual Shop Hop is underway! And as if that weren't exciting enough, a new litter of foster kittens joined us yesterday.

!!!

 

 

 

This little mostly-black boy has already been claimed!

Smudgy-nosed sweetie boy.

Big-eyed, loud-purring girl.

Pretty, sassy girl.

We're so happy to be able to foster these babies on behalf of Dekalb County Animal Services. And through September 30, you can take advantage of DCAS's Tail End Of Summer special, when the adoption fee for cats is only $10, and for dogs only $20. That includes spay/neuter, vaccines, and microchip!

Please stop by and meet these sweet kitties. And spread the word to anyone else you know who might need a new furry friend!