Winter Retreat - March 28 - 30, 2008

We have returned from a wonderful week-end retreat to Burnesville, NC. The folks at the NuWray Inn could not have been more accomodating. We filled the Inn with retreat participants, so we pretty much had the run of the place.

Saturday was a day filled with workshops beginning with the sock dyeing in the morning.

Sheila, Karen, Roella and Marla begin the sock dyeing process. While some dyed, others view a spinning workshop.

Here Donna tries her hand at spinning.

Peggy spins as Tracey looks on.

Anita demonstrates using a drop spindle.

Denise gives it a try while Libba and Jennifer watch.

Toview all photos from the retreat, go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25249701@N07/

Oddball Blanket for Charity is Visiting the Cottage!

Several members of the Knitting Help Forum have been working on full-size blankets for charity. We each knit for 3 inches, then send the blanket to the next knitter on the list.

Our first blanket was started in February of 2007, by Sandy Davis ("Shandeh" in the Knitting Help Forum.) The blanket travelled all over the country, and was worked on by 24 other knitters. You can read all about it here: http://oddball-blanket.blogspot.com/

Right now, the blanket is almost complete, and ready to go to charity. We are considering a few different options, including a battered women's shelter and an orphanage.

But, we need a bit more knitting before it is complete. It's too expensive to mail now, so we have asked Sara if we could leave the blanket at the shop, so that visitors to the shop could knit a row or two while they are there.

You can read the journal, which has entries from all the knitters all over the country. You can even write a few words yourself! :D

I have chosen a few skeins of yarn at the Cottage to be used for the knitting. All you have to do is pick up the blanket and start knitting. The needles are already attached.

So, have fun adding your knitting to our special charity project!



If you'd like to see ALL the Oddball Blankets in progress, you can read about it here:
http://blanketfinder.blogspot.com/

Malabrigo Yarn

It's a delight to knit with Malabrigo Yarn. The word in Spanish means bad coat. Wonder why the creators of this beautiful fiber chose that name. There is nothing bad about this merino wool yarn. The price is not too bad either considering how much you get per skein. Everyone I talk to loves this yarn and no wonder, it comes in the most beautiful colors.






I also chose this beautiful yarn to knit a shrug for my daughter. I found the pattern in the 2007 Knitting Calendar.

The Malabrigo website offers links to patterns.

A Cottage Yarn Photoset

Last summer, I visited Cottage Yarn, and had my camera with me. So, I asked Sara if I could take a few photos of the shop.



Here they are!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59646927@N00/sets/72157601379027321/


If you want to watch them as a slideshow on your computer, click here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59646927@N00/sets/72157601379027321/show/

Hey everybody! LOVE reading about your favorite projects! We all can benefit from your comments regarding challenges and triumphs! I'm totally in love with the entrelac technique right now. Lots of babies are due in our family so I'm having fun making an entrelac blanket.

Shandeh's Projects with Cottage Yarn

OK, I'll just have to post every single thing I've ever made with yarn from the shop. (tee-hee!)

Here is the felted Bubble Bag I made with Cascade 220 (the blue section of the purse). I also added some other yarns from my stash to complete this little bag for one of my piano students.


I also made a pretty, lacy purse for another of my piano students, using Berroco Cotton Twist yarn. (Here's the free pattern: http://www.anniesattic.com/stitches/knitting/patterns/pdfs/kn_lacy_summer_purse.pdf)


Here is the Christmas stocking I completed in 2006 for Sara:


This is a 12 inch afghan square I designed, using Plymouth Encore. (Here's the free pattern: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59646927@N00/568077339)


One of my favorite knitting projects is socks. And Cottage Yarn carries one of my favorite sock yarns - Wildfoote Luxury. Yum!!! I made this pair of socks with a free online pattern called "River Rapids Socks" by Sockbug. (Here's the pattern: http://files.blog-city.com/files/aa/3830/b/river_rapids.pdf)


Here are some more socks I made, using Lang Jawoll yarn. That yarn is so cool, because there is a tiny bobbin of reinforcement thread (dyed to match) included inside each skein. Neat!


Right now, I'm working on a pair of dark red ankle socks for my son, using more Lang Jawoll yarn. That yarn is so easy to work with. :D


Next time you go to the shop, be sure to get a closer look at the Christening Gown I made! I'm very proud of that project. I used Berroco Cotton Twist (8 skeins).


And here is another baby dress I made with Berroco Cotton Twist. I just love that yarn! The pattern for this dress was in a book called "Cozy Knits for Cuddly Babies" by Elanor Lynn. So quick and easy!


Another yarn I really love is Malabrigo, and I'm SO glad that Cottage Yarn carries it! Malabrigo feels like butter when you're working with it, and it makes such a beautiful fabric.


Soon, I hope to finish working on a baby sweater I'm making with Universal Yarns Deluxe Chunky 100% Wool yarn. I'm using a free pattern from the Cascade Yarns website, called "Child's Alternative Cable Pullover". Here's the pattern: http://www.cascadeyarns.com/patternsFree/C170_109Childs.pdf

This beautiful cardigan was knit by Barbara R. using Cascade 220 and Encore worsted yarns.

Barbara used both the intarsia and fair isle techniques while knitting her garment.