Teaching at Taos Wool Festival 2015

July 10, 2015 by ·

We’re Teaching at the Taos Wool Festival 2015

Taos Wool FestivalWe will be teaching 1 workshop and 2 make-and-take classes at the Taos Wool Festival the first weekend in October. Come join us! There are a lot of fun classes on crochet, knitting, felting, tatting, punch needle and more!

Check out the Workshops at the Taos Wool Festival.

What: Taos Wool Festival
When: October 2-4, 2015
Where: Kit Carson Park in Taos, New Mexico
Cost: Free to attend Festival (Classes and Workshops have a fee)

The 32nd annual festival includes: Wool market, Critter Corner, Demonstrations, Contests, Dog Sweater Show, Silent Auction and more. Check out all the fun activities planned for the Taos Wool Festival.

Take a Worshop and Make-and-Take Class with Us!

Surprisingly Simple Houndstooth Print Bag

A Houndstooth BagFriday, 8:30am-12:30pm, Tent 1, Kit Carson Park, $70, no materials fee, limit 30 students

Learn to crochet this cute bag, accented at top and bottom with the Crocodile Stitch and adorned with a rose. Perfectly sized for storing your tablet. Student to provide: two skeins of worsted weight yarn approx 170 yds ea, appropriate size crochet hook

Skills: Intermediate crocheter, must know how to ch, sl st, sc, hdc, dc, trc, crochet in rows & in the round, inc, dec, crochet in both, front & back loops

Sign up for the Workshop.

Owl Cup Cozy

Owl Cup CozySaturday, 9:00am-11:00am, Tent 1, Kit Carson Park, $35, no materials fee, limit 30 students

Woo loves coffee?! (or tea or coco?) Crochet your own cup cozy that will keep an eye on your drink. We’ll take a basic cozy and dress it up with large eyes, a petite beak and 3D wings made using the Crocodile Stitch.

Students to provide: 50 yds ea worsted weight yarn in 2 coordinating colors, 2 yds black yarn, 20 yds white yarn, 5 yds yellow (colors of choice may be substituted), appropriate size crochet hook

Skills: Intermediate crocheter, must know how to ch, sl st, sc, hdc, dc, trc, crochet in rows & in the round, inc, dec, crochet in both, front & back loops.

Sign up for the Make-and-Take.

Broomstick Lace Scarf

Broomstick Lace ScarfSaturday, 11:30am-1:30pm, Tent 1, Kit Carson Park, $35, no materials fee, limit 30 students

We’ll take you through combining traditional broomstick lace with “drop stitch”, or single stranded broomstick lace to create this light and airy scarf. Your friends will think you knit it.

Students to provide: 200 yds of Wool/Silk Blend or the like (light weight yarn with good drape), crochet hooks F, G, or H – just one, using a size slightly larger than yarn calls for, knitting needle – (1) #50 / 25 mm and (1) #17 / 12.75mm

Skills: Intermediate crocheter, must know how to ch, sl st, sc, crochet in rows, crochet in both and back loops, have at least tried Broomstick Lace (video link-please practice before class)

Sign up for the Make-and-Take.

 

 

 

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Twins Face Off: Shangri La by Bijou Basin Ranch

July 7, 2015 by ·

Twins Face Off Crochet Design Challenge and Giveaway with Shangri La by Bijou Basin Ranch

Bijou Basin Ranch is sponsoring this month’s challenge with their ubber soft and oh so fabulous Shangri La Lace yarn. We’re partnering once again with Ewe and Me to display our finished projects (when we get them done in a couple of weeks).

Shangri La yarn in Pearl

Next week we will announce what cateogry of item we will crochet using Shangri La lace weight yarn (400 yrds / 2 oz. hank). We’ll also share sneak peeks at what we’re working on. The week following that we will ask you to vote on the two designs and open up the giveaway!

  • 1st place to wins 1 skein of Shangri La and the 2 patterns;
  • 2nd place to win the two patterns.

A big thank you to Bijou Basin Ranch for sponsoring this Twins Face Off! We are trilled to be using this fabulous yarn in our challenge. Neither of us have used lace weight yarn, so it should be really fun.

Bijou Basin Ranch Yak

 

When I mentioned this challange to some friends, they asked what a Yak was. So I snagged the photo above from Bijou Basin Ranch’s website. Shangri La, the yarn we are using in the challenge is 50% Yak Down and 50% Mulberry Silk. It’s heavenly!

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Review: Yashi by Universal Yarn

July 5, 2015 by ·

Review: Yashi (raffia yarn) by Universal Yarn

We used Yashi (raffia yarn) by Universal Yarn in our Twins Face Off design challenge sponsored by Ewe and Me: A Yarn Boutique. Here are our thoughts about the yarn.

Yashi Yarn

It is unique! We haven’t worked with anything like this. We love products that are new and different. This is definitely one to try.

Yarn Features:

According to the Universal website: “Yashi is a soft, papery raffia yarn especially well-suited for crafts and accessories.”

Worsted Weight: 99 yards/40 grams
100% Raffia: Hand wash, Dry Flat

Yashi Pros:

  • Fun Colors
  • Can be unwrapped to make a wide ribbon like yarn
  • Surprisingly Durable – Didn’t tear even after frogging several times
  • Color Fast – doesn’t bleed in cold or hot water (we tried)
  • Strong (even if swatch is soaked in water)
  • Long Run Out – Most raffia is made of short strands. Love that this is 99 continuous yards!
  • Soft when compared to other raffia

Yashi Cons:

  • Stiff – Can see kinks in stitches
  • Frogged yarn will be thinner/crunched
  • No flux, difficult to create good stitch definition with stitches of various heights
  • Coarse when compared to traditional yarns.

Yashi raffia yarn is fun for a variety of projects. It’s awesome for crafting and creates a unique look for crochet. Here are some patterns using Yashi:

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Winners in the Raffia Twins Face Off

June 25, 2015 by ·

Winnners in the Twins Face Off Using Yashi (raffia) Yarn

Dana BincerCongrats to Dana Bincer for winning the Yashi (raffia) yarn Twins Face Off design challenge sponsored by Ewe and Me: a Yarn Boutique. The Utensil and Plate Holders won with 80% of the vote! That puts Dana firmly in the lead with 3 wins to Deborah’s 1 in the Twins Face Off design challenge.

People were really curious about the raffia yarn when we told them it was our challenge material for June.  It was really fun to use an untraditional material in our challenge.

Winners in the Giveaway

Congrats to the following two people who won in the Yashi (a raffia yarn by Universal Yarn) yarn giveaway.

Yashi Yarn1st Place:
The 1st Place winner is Darren S. He wins 7 skeins of Yashi yarn and the two crochet patterns.

2nd Place:
The 2nd Place winner is Cynthia J. She wins the two crochet patterns.

Another big thank you to everyone who participated in the challenge by voting and entering the giveaway. We really appreciate you.

Picnic Set

All of the items made in the June challange are available in the shop in one pattern: Crochet with Raffia.

Crochet with Raffia Pattern on Etsy.

Stay tuned for our review of Yashi coming in a couple of days.

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Vote on Crochet Raffia Challenge and Giveaway

June 18, 2015 by ·

Vote on the Summer Accessory using Yashi Raffia Design Challenge
Enter the Universal Yarn Yashi Raffia Giveaway

The challenge was given by Ewe and Me: A Yarn Boutique to us to crochet with Yashi raffia yarn (made by Universal Yarn). It’s up to you to choose which summer accessory you like better. After you vote, be sure to enter the giveaway to win the Yashi raffia yarn! If you’re in the Colorado Springs area, stop by Ewe and Me for a second chance to vote and win.

Giveaway here on the blog ends June 24, 2015 at midnight (Mountain Time).

Vote on Crochet Raffia Projects

Left: Picnic Set (Utensil & Plate Holders    Right: Rosey Handbag

Below are more photos of the summer accessories. Learn more about the Crochet with Raffia patterns and see more photos in the shop.

Picnic Set

Rosey Handbag Close Ups

The vote is annonymous, so vote with confidence.

Vote

[poll id=”8″]

Enter Yashi Raffia Yarn Giveaway

US & Canada Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crochet with Raffia Patterns on Etsy.

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Twins Face Off – Yashi Sneak Peek

June 11, 2015 by ·

Twins Face Off – Sneak Peek of Crochet with Raffia

Last week we announced that Ewe and Me is sponsoring the Twins Face Off crochet challenge using Yashi, a raffia yarn by Universal Yarn. We’re still working on our projects, but here’s a sneak peek at what we’ve got so far.Sneak Peek Crochet with Raffia

Summer Accessories (non clothing) – that’s the category Debbie, the owner of Ewe and Me, has challenged us with. Since it’s warm and sunny these days…we are loving all the possibilities.

Next week we’ll share photos and ask you to vote for the design you like better. We’ll also be giving away prizes.

  • 1 place: Yarn needed to make the winning design and both crochet patterns;
  • 2nd place: both crochet patterns.

Two Ways to Win!
Register to win (next week) here on our blog and in store at Ewe and Me.

 

See you next week!

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Twins Face Off – Ewe and Me Challenge with Yashi

June 4, 2015 by ·

Twins Face Off Crochet Design Challenge and Giveaway Sponsored by Ewe and Me Using Yashi Yarn by Universal Yarns

Ewe and Me: A Yarn Boutique in Colorado Springs is sponsoring this month’s Twins Face Off crochet design challenge and we are thrilled, excited and definitely challenged!

Yashi Challenge by Ewe and Me A Yarn Boutique to Yarn Twins

Debbie, Owner of Ewe and Me (pictured center) presents Yashi Yarn by Universal to Dana (left) and Deborah (right)…saying “Game On”

Debbie Golucke, Owner of Ewe and Me, presented us with a challenge to use Yashi. This is a fairly new yarn made from raffia sold by Universal Yarns. We were each given 8 skeins of this raffia yarn with Debbie tellling us, “Game On!”

Next week we will announce what cateogry of item we will crochet and we’ll share a sneak peek at what we’re working on. The week following that we will ask you to vote on the two designs.

Yashi YarnThere will also be 2 chances to win this yarn! Stop by Ewe and Me to enter the giveaway being held in store. Enter online here on Yarnovations.com. Giveaway starts June 19.

  • 1st place to wins the yarn needed to make the winning design and the 2 patterns;
  • 2nd place to win the two patterns.

A big thank you to Ewe and Me for sponsoring this challenge! Debbie also has some fun things planned in store…so be sure to stop by later this month.

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Behind the Scenes: Baby Pink – Shelly Baby Set

May 31, 2015 by ·

Behind the Scenes: Baby Pink – Shelly Baby Set

The Baby Pink Shelly Baby Set eeked out a win in the Twin Face Off design challenge using Bernat Softee Baby yarn in May 2015. I, Dana, thought I would share a bit about how the design came to be.

Pink Baby Blanket Set

The blanket was the first project I created. I was inspired by swatches I found in the Crochet Stitch Dictionary by Sarah Hazell. From there I created a sweater, hat and booties that incoporporated the elements from the center panel and edging of the blanket.

As you can see in the photo above, I used a brown ribbon as an accent in the set. I adore the contrast in color. Ultimately I swapped the brown for a pink because I couldn’t find a button that coordianted without being overpowering. Don’t get me wrong, I adore the daisies…but I think they are a bit bright for the set.

pink booties with daisy buttons

That being said, I absolutely adore how the daisies look with the booties. If the challenge had just been baby booties, I definitely would have kept them. Perhaps I should have looked a little harder for a ribbon to go with the buttons…maybe a white or yellow.

Pink Shell Baby Sweater Hat Booties

This is the first time I’ve created a baby sweater, so it was the last thing I designed…and I was nervous about it. Deborah went through a baby sweater craze recently and honestly, I was a little intimidated to make one. She shared her basic pattern with me and I was able to modify it to create a cute little sweater that I’m happy with.

Twins Face Off Baby Sets

This particular challenge was really fun for me. I don’t often make girly items and I found that it was a blast! Deborah was thrilled to make a “boy” set because she’s got two little ones at home. So she was very interested in creating projects that she would actually use.

Shelly Baby Blanket in Blue

Our mom saw a sneak peek of the pink baby blanket before the challenge went live and she loved it! She wanted to make a blanket for her great grand son and asked for the pattern. So, she was the first pattern tester for the baby blanket. The blanket turned out great and looks adorable in baby blue. Good job, Mom!

Pink Shelly Baby Pattern Set on Etsy.

Baby Blue Pattern Set on Etsy.

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Review: Softee Baby by Bernat

May 27, 2015 by ·

Review: Softee Baby by Bernat

We used Softee Baby in our Twins Face Off Baby Set crochet design challange this month. Here are our thoughts about the yarn.

Bernat Softee Baby

We love it! Not only is Softee Baby soft, as the name implies, it also has great drape. It is delightful to work with and makes beautiful finished pieces.

Yarn Features:

According to Yarnspirations website: “Bernat Softee Baby is a soft, premium acrylic yarn with a delightful range of shades. 100% acrylic”

Light Weight: 140g / 5 oz, 331 meters / 362 yards

Bernat Softee Baby Pros:

  • Soft to crochet
  • Soft finished projects
  • Beautiful drape
  • Glides smoothly over hook
  • Nice variety of pastel baby colors

Bernat Softee Baby Cons:

  • Colors limited to pastel baby colors

This yarn is perfect for a variety of projects including baby blankets, hats, sweaters and booties. We only wish it came in more colors!

Here are some patterns that use Softee Baby by Bernat:

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Winners in the Twins Face Off Baby Set Challenge

May 26, 2015 by ·

Winners in the Twins Face Off Baby Set Challenge using Bernat Softee Baby

Dana BincerCongrats to Dana Bincer for winning the Baby Set Challenge with the Baby Pink – Shelly Baby Set. It was a close race. The pink set received 56% of the votes. Dana has pulled ahead – winning 2 contests to Deborah’s 1.

We received lots of great feedback. People said they liked elements out of each set and that it was difficult to choose which set they liked better! It was fun to have such a close contest.

Winners in the Giveaway

A big round of applause for the two winners in the Bernat Softee Baby yarn giveaway.

Pink Shell Baby Blanket SetFirst Place: Vickie W. R.
Vickie wins 4 skeins of Bernat Softee Baby yarn (in color 0f choice) and the patterns for both baby sets.

Second Place: Elsa L.
Elsa wins both patterns for the baby sets.

A big thank you to everyone for participating in the Twins Face Off Design Challenge. It means a lot to us that you voted and entered the giveaway.

The patterns for both baby sets are available in the shop. Learn more about each pattern:

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