Who are you stitching for this season? Part 1 of 4!

November 07, 2023

I don't mind when regular folks start decorating for Christmas and listening to holiday jams on November 1st, but holy smokes, if my fellow retailers could slow down with BLACK FRIDAY ALL MONTH, I would be MOST appreciative! ✌🏻

HERE, we're doing things a little differently. We are makers, and lots of us like to show affection in the form of cozy knit or crochet gifts for our loved ones. Over the next four weeks, in our "to inspire" section, we'll be featuring gift-worthy patterns, and we'll be presenting those that require the most time first...and smaller, quicker projects later on. Now *is* the time to be thinking about holiday gift giving, but we can help you do it mindfully, with the opportunity to enjoy the season built in. However you feel about it, this is the time of dark evenings, wetter weather, and chillier temps--let us help you accomplish your gift giving goals while you embrace the coziness for yourself, too.

…mark your calendars

Social Stitching

Every Saturday, 2-4pm

A reminder--if you're feeling poorly, please join us again as soon as you're feeling better!

Plaid Friday Shopping & Small Business Saturday

November 24-25th

Kick off your holiday shopping at participating Downtown Ellensburg businesses, and enjoy the Moments to Remember events. Shop local this season!

Elfin Madness

Now through December 13th

We're hosting an elf and gnome swap to celebrate the winter holidays with our fiber friends. Sign up here. The event operates on a make one / take one principle, and submissions must be received in person or by mail at Yarn Folk no later than December 13th. We will assemble mystery packages and you can pick up your new pal in person at our Holiday Swap Party on the 16th. If you're unable to attend, we'll hold your mystery package for you, or mail it if needed.

This is an idea I've had bouncing around for a couple of years--I hope you'll participate! Sign up form is here.

Holiday Girls Night Out

Thursday, December 7th, 5-9p

Holiday Swap Party

Saturday, December 16th, any time between 9a-1p.

We'll have holiday refreshments, and if you participated in the elf and gnome swap, you'll be able to pick up your secret package! (But stop by for some holiday cheer even if you aren't participating in the exchange.)

Coming in January

Sweater Knitalong / Crochetalong

…new in the shop

Several new arrivals last week!

First up, we're pleased to add Polka Dot Sheep Rime Fingering and Polka Dot Sheep Unspun roving. Dyed in Whitefish, Montana, these colorways embody many of the things we embrace about the Pacific Northwest. Choosing a yarn base was tough, but I decided that in the darkest part of the year, introducing a little ✨sparkle✨ was the way to go. Rime is a blend of 78% superwash Merino wool, 20% nylon, and 2% Stellina. Unspun is sold in 100g braids, and is 100% Merino wool.

We're also delighted to announce that Yarn Folk is a new stockist for Tukuwool Fingering! This has been in the works since April, but we held off while Tukuwool updated their branding and production flow for a fall re-launch of Tukuwool Fingering. Previously, it was sold in 50g hanks; the new hank size is 100g, and has 404 yards. They also added some new colors, and the handfeel of the yarn is a bit softer than before. Tukuwool is thoroughly Finnish yarn: it is spun, dyed and packed in Finland using 100% Finnish wool. The color range is solid, but there's a heathery undertone throughout the line. You may have seen it featured in The Petite Knitter's Saskie sweater, and Tukuwool offers a fantastic basic raglan pullover as a free pattern. Find the Juntu Light Sweater here.

…to inspire

Scarves: a traditional, classic gift--for a reason. They are the accessory you can wear for flair OR warmth. Or both. In this Ravelry bundle, I've selected some options (both knit and crochet) that are fairly straightforward, made with DK to bulky weight yarn, and have pretty broad appeal. Scarves at these yarn weights usually take between 400-700 yards of yarn (two to four 100g skeins). Because they use a bit more yardage, we're sharing these ideas in the first week of our gift idea series--to give you just a bit more time.

...currently stitching

Mabel in Ultra Alpaca Chunky Natural has more torso, and partial arms, but she's shy this week. (I'm knitting the sleeves at the same time, and don't want to fuss with the set up on my long circular.)

Another project I've been working on is the Summit Cowl from Berroco in Dash. Dash is a super squishy Merino wool chainette, and the Summit Cowl plays with its widely spaced bursts of color to make bobbles that float on top of a solid background. The cowl takes two balls, but I'm nearly positive there is enough yarn left to make a simple beanie.

I also started a sample for the Polka Dot Sheep Rime--the Frieze Shawl by Lisa Hannes. I'm using the Cabin colorway, and combining it with Natural Malabrigo Ultimate Sock. It took me a few rows to get going, but we're having fun now! Cabin doesn't have as many color changes as the yarn in the pattern photos--but it does have sparkles. If you did want to go with a long color shift, I'll be adding some new stock of Schoppel Zauberball Crazy as early as this afternoon, UPS willing.