Lovin' on Lopi
I appreciate your patience last week while I created an enormous mess that few people saw, but which included at least half a day when *I* could barely walk from point A to point B--and I was the one who'd put things where they were and left paths for myself!
From talking with a few people, I know that some of you were expecting a full re-set of the shop, which was never my objective. While there will be some changes on the sales floor (especially at the beginning of the fall season), the space is configured to allow for wheelchair/walker/stroller access (which is still tight) and access to both sides of the shelves increases the amount and variety of yarns I can offer. What *did* change was the amount of available storage in my stock room, and I'm prepared for better systems to maintain back stock. It's still my intent to keep as much yarn as possible available to see on the shelves, but there will be some creative changes here and there. Thanks for playing along!
(Photo: wild flowers at Port Gamble, June 12, 2021.)
Current open hours are Monday - Friday, 7am-3:30pm, and Saturdays, 9am-3pm. In-store shopping: mask covering nose and mouth required for the duration of your visit. We continue to be mindful about making it possible to maintain social distancing in the shop.
…to learn (and do)
CURRENT CLASSES & EVENTS
Social Stitching via Zoom
Thursday, June 17th, 4:00-6:00pm
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/981942707?pwd=TExyQlRPWnB3OW40QkFZRCs5aVRtQT09 OR open Zoom and enter 981-942-707 for the meeting ID
PASSWORD IS 330044.
Reminder: we've consolidated to just one Zoom event for now, but if you'd like to share project photos, chat, or share KAL progress, we'd love for you to create an account at yarnfolk.com and participate in the community we're building there. No intent to be yet another social network, but it's an option for sharing that doesn't depend on any outside platform. You can find it here.
Berroco Cardi Party
Friday, May 15th to Wednesday, June 23rd
Details below and here, hosted in the Berroco Makers Facebook Group.
...to anticipate
Remember all the boxes from last week?
Inside were:
- Two 48 x 24 x 72 shelving units
- Nine bags of Berroco Lanas, including new colors
- Four bags of Berroco Mercado, including new colors
- Seven bags of Berroco Ultra Wool
- Twenty of the 45 colors of Léttlopi!!!
I love it all, but I'm very excited to begin bringing in Léttlopi. It's a bit of a dance--due to production issues (which basically boil down to the fact that knitters worldwide knit up a LOT of it during the pandemic), not all of the colors are currently available. The factory is currently exclusively working on Léttlopi, and since I placed an order for all the colors, the rest will be shipped to me as soon as they arrive in the US. In general, the palette is very earthy--lots of naturals, blues, browns, and greens, but we will also have the shades that POP soon!
Lopi is milled from Icelandic wool, which is very lightweight, warm, and water-repellent. It is wonderful for outer-layer sweaters and toasty accessories. It's a favorite for colorwork, and also a great value.
It is not, for most people, next-to-skin soft, which is why we're thrilled to have found a solution that allows us to offer all of the colors (again, as they return to stock) while using our space efficiently. For Léttlopi, we will be displaying a ball of each color that is in stock, while maintaining the full inventory in the stock room. We'll be learning as we go, but we're trying this method to bring you a well-loved yarn that deserves every bit of the enthusiasm its fans (and I am one) have for it, but which isn't leading with its need to be petted.
This is the (first of many) Pattern Ideas page for Léttlopi on Ravelry. I've pictured the yarn with the Tundra sweater I knit last year, and the Lopi issue of Modern Daily Knitting. I'm also slowly working on a pair of Arctic Starflower Slippers using my leftovers. So many possibilities, and it's lovely for felting, too!
For a gorgeous view into the production of these special yarns, this short video shows the yarn from sheep to packaged skein!
…to inspire
Joji Locatelli's Boxy sweaters are designed with a comfortable, modern silhouette that combines a fluid, oversized body with more fitted sleeves, and they are available in a number of yarn weights. I just started Understated (below), but also consider Boxy (the original), Worsted Boxy, V Neck Boxy, or Boxy & Buttony! There are nice simple details in all of the designs, but there is also a lot of relaxing stockinette knitting.
...to stitch
Felix Cardi
On Saturday, I had a LOT of knitting time while providing crew support to my favorite ultra runner at the Lumberjack Endurance Runs in Port Gamble. The course was set up as 12.5 mile loops, so I had to spring into action every few hours, but otherwise, little was required of me. I finished the knitting on the Felix Cardi; once it's dry, I'll weave in the ends, and choose the perfect buttons!
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