Shop Hop shawl

The 8th annual Shop Hop is underway! Big thanks to everyone who helped kick it off yesterday. For those of you who haven't started Hopping yet, don't worry--you still have a whole week to participate.

This year's Shop Hop pattern is a shawl pattern written in seven parts. Jenna from The Whole Nine Yarns designed this beauty especially for Shop Hop.

Our sample was knit using three solid colors of Manos del Uruguay's Serena and one multi colorway of Misti Alpaca's Hand Paint Sock (with LOTS of yarn left over).

Here's a more detailed view. Each participating shop has one part of the pattern, which will be emailed to you as a PDF when you get your passport stamped. If you don't make it to all the shops, don't worry--you'll be able to use a code to purchase the missing pieces of the pattern via Ravelry at a reduced price. (Folks who haven't participated in Shop Hop will be able to purchase the whole pattern later at full price.)

Special shout-out and huge thanks to Sarah Miller for knitting our sample. We're excited for you all to see it when you stop by. And we can't wait to see what color combinations everyone will create for their own shawls!

Stripes for small folks

We know many of you have been busy cleaning out your closets to get ready for our Stash Sale. You're finding plenty of yarn you want to get rid of, which is great! We look forward to seeing it all.

But occasionally you come across a little something in your stash...there's not much of it, and you don't know what to do with it, but you're just not ready to part with it, either. (You know what we're talking about.) Here are a few solutions to help you use up those small quantities. These patterns are all available here at the shop via our Ravelry sales program.

Flagstaff by Taiga Hilliard Designs is a pretty little unisex baby sweater that calls for just 250-360 yards of fingering weight (hello, random skein of sock yarn). The "color work" is actually a very simple slip stitch pattern, so you only work with one color per row. This sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down--we love that!

Fond of You by Jenny Wiebe uses double moss stitch to liven up a basic sweater shape. With sizes ranging from 6 months to 12 years, you can make countless versions in various sizes and color combinations. Perfection Worsted would be ideal for this project--it's machine washable and we currently have 55 colors to choose from. Or use some oddballs from your stash--even the biggest size only calls for 400 yards of each color. (And nothing says you couldn't do it in more than two colors!)

Oxford by Chelsea Berkompas is an adorable garter stitch vest "designed especially for little men with big style!" Only 330-440 yards of worsted weight (Perfection again, anyone?) is all you need to make this in sizes up to 24 months. Finding cute patterns for boys can be a challenge, but this one definitely fits the bill.

Do you have a favorite pattern for using up small amounts of yarn? Let us know about it!

NEW: Pea Pods

Here's a lovely new yarn that arrived just in time for your summer knitting. This is Pea Pods, a 100% cotton yarn from Knit One Crochet Too. It has a thick-and-thin texture that resembles peas in a pod.

Pea Pods can be worked up at a variety of gauges to achieve different effects. K1C2 describes it as having "open texture at looser gauge, cobblestone texture at tighter gauge." The label recommends a size US 5-7 needle for 18-20 sts/4".

This yarn has great yardage--262 yds./100g ball for $14.50.

Need pattern inspiration? Check out this clever jacket Carrie made with Pea Pods.

It's the Warren 2-Way Jacket, which can be worn as a short jacket with a wide shawl collar (as shown), or turned upside-down to be worn as a longer garment with a fishtail hemline and a rolled lapel. Very cool!

Let us download this pattern for you, and you'll receive credit toward your Sheepish reward points.

Lighten up with Silky Alpaca Lace

This weather is crazy. Hard to believe, but this time last week we were closed because of ice and snow. Today it's 73 degrees and we're thinking about SPRING!

If you're ready to shed your winter layers and start planning some lighter projects, we have some suggestions. Check out these beautiful colors of Silky Alpaca Lace from Classic Elite Yarns.

This 70% alpaca/30% silk yarn is wonderfully soft and airy, making it a great choice for the change of seasons. Here are some patterns designed specifically with Silky Alpaca Lace in mind.

Honeybun by Tonia Barry, a scarf that twists into spirals with a picot edging detail. Its stockinette fabric would make a lovely blank canvas for a variegated colorway.

 

Moonraker shawl by Lakshmi Juneja, the perfect thing to wrap around your shoulders on a chilly spring day.

Dune by Jennifer Dassau, a fitted sleeveless tunic. The smallest sizes only take two balls of Silky Alpaca Lace.

All of these patterns are available at Sheepish through our Ravelry pattern sales program, so you can buy them from us and receive credit toward your Reward Points.

Treat yourself to some Silky Alpaca Lace and you'll be ready to greet spring in style!

Misti Alpaca Chunky is a hit!

When we decided to stock Misti Alpaca Chunky, we knew you'd love it, but we had no idea how much you'd love it. We won't name names, but we have a few customers who are downright obsessed with this stuff. Why not? It's super soft and, well--just look at it.

Pretty much irresistible, right?

In case you haven't jumped on the Alpaca Chunky bandwagon yet (or if you've stashed a ton of it and haven't quite decided what to make with it), here are a few project ideas. All of these patterns are available for purchase from us through our Ravelry in-store pattern sales program.

 Salt by Andi Satterlund

 Arctic Circle by Antonia Shankland

Early Morning by Taiga Hilliard Designs

Grown-Up Cozy by Justyna Lorkowska

These are just a few ideas. Stop by the shop to see the latest shipment of Misti Alpaca Chunky, and we can help you add more projects to your queue. :)

Dream Club: January 2014

Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a great holiday season and that you all have been keeping warm during the recent Polar Vortex (which, by the way, would be a great name for a big, wooly yarn--or a band).

After the frantic pace of the holidays, are you ready to kick back and relax with a new project? Take a look at the latest Dream Club offering from Dream In Color.

This month's yarn is really a set of two yarns. They're both Perfectly Posh Sport, but one is a 70g variegated skein, and one is a 30g semi-solid skein. Perfectly Posh Sport is a wonderfully soft blend of 70% domestic fine merino wool, 10% mohair, 10% silk, 10% cashmere. Price for the two-skein set (about 320 yards total) is $32.00.

 

The pattern included with purchase of this month's yarn is the Zumi Cowl by Kay Dahlquist. The construction of this cowl looks like it would be a fun knitting challenge!

Reminders: As always, Dream Club yarns are limited edition, so get yours while you can. And if you haven't yet, check out the Dream Club Ravelry group for knit-alongs, giveaways, and other fun stuff.

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!

Free pattern for Shop Hoppers

One of the most fun aspects of Shop Hop is that each participating shop gives away their own free, exclusive pattern to Shop Hoppers. It's always cool to see what everybody comes up with.

Here at Sheepish, we're very proud to carry a number of yarns that have been certified Fair Trade. Our free Shop Hop pattern for 2013 spotlights some of them.

The Fair Trade Cowl makes use of a simple slip stitch pattern to create a wonderful texture that's surprisingly easy to knit. The version shown here uses two colors of Manos del Uruguay Maxima, a super-soft worsted weight merino. The pattern also includes instructions for a bulky-weight version in a single color. Our shop sample of the bulky version (which you can try on for yourself when you stop by during Shop Hop) was knit in luxurious Misti Alpaca Chunky.

Shop Hop starts Saturday, Sept. 28, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 6. We look forward to seeing all of you!

Patterns, patterns, patterns!

Feeling creatively blocked? Need some inspiration? All of these patterns arrived today--maybe one of them is your next project! Click the collages to enlarge.

These are the eight patterns featured in Westknits Book One. Top, L-R: Flagstone, Meadowbrook, Pogona, Chadwick. Bottom, L-R: Urbana, Skinny Skid, Piece Out, Westward.

We also have Westknits Book 4: Made for Movement, featuring these ten designs. Top, L-R: Barndom, Diamondback Mitts, Stringband, Dustland Legwarmers, Featheron. Bottom, L-R: Ithaca, Mudmilk, Shrowl, Vetritwist, Bolting.

For you Stephen West fans who aren't inclined to buy a whole pattern book, these four designs are available individually. Clockwise from top left: Botanic Hat, Rockefeller, Herbivore, Daybreak.

These three fun patterns from leethalknits are also available individually. L-R: Maurice, Barry, and Robin.

More individual patterns! Clockwise from top left: Ecuador (J O J I), Knotted Slippers (cocoknits), Weekend Wrap (cocoknits), and Aranami Shawl (olgajazzy).

See anything you just can't live without?

Ravelry patterns for you

Since enrolling in Ravelry's in-store pattern sales program a few months ago, we've been very excited about how many of you have been taking advantage of this service. For those of you who aren't aware of it, or just haven't tried it yet, here's a little recap about how the program works.

 

Here's the Cowl Shell that Stacy recently made for our shop mannequin, Epiphany. If you'd like to make this top yourself, here's what we do:

1. You tell us you want it.

2. We buy the PDF via Ravelry.

3. A copy of the PDF goes automatically to your email account and, if you wish, to your Ravelry library.

4. When you check out at the register, we ring up the pattern like any other purchase. 

Ta-da! 

There are several advantages to buying Ravelry patterns from us this way. Designers earn a higher percentage from in-store sales than from normal Ravelry sales, and the shop also earns a percentage. And, unlike when you download patterns yourself at home, when you buy them from us, those purchases count toward your Sheepish reward points.

Of course we still stock hard copies of patterns in the shop, but being able to sell Ravelry patterns is HUGE for us, because this means our customers have almost 30,000 patterns to choose from--way more than we could ever physically stock in the shop. Settle in with your favorite beverage, browse the Ravelry selection, and next time you come in to Sheepish, bring your list!

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.