Tutu is a relatively new yarn from Crystal Palace Yarn Company. It is a combination ‘ladder yarn’ and ribbon ruffle yarn. The ladder is at the top edge of the yarn an takes all the guess work out determining the gauge. The yarn is milled from super soft  acrylic and polyester. Great for sensitive skins and it does come in a nice shade of pink for a chemo scarf.

The sample scarf was knit by casting 7 stitches on size 10 needles in garter stitch (knitting every row). It took two skeins for a boa type scarf measuring approximately 4″ wide by 83″ long. It may be a little slower than regular knitting, but well worth the effort. There are two colors presently in stock: the peacock teal on the needle and the purple, pink, orange bougainvillae. Crystal Palace just added more colors as well. (check it out at http://straw.com/cpy/yarns/TuTu_card.html and tell me what colors you want.)

At around $15.50 to knit an adorable boa scarf ?!?! What a perfect gift. Knit one for you and one for a friend.

A HUGE shipment of paper beads has just arrived from ALARM. 

I am totally amazed every time a new order comes in because they are so different. This order has lots of multi strand necklaces in brilliant pinks, red, greens, purples and blues. Some of the necklaces can be grouped by artists with several being the same. However, there are quite a few one-of-a-kind necklaces. They will slowly be listed in the store over the next week or so. If you see something you like, purchase it quickly. The pinks, limes and purples always go quickly.

If you want to pick them up from the studio or have them delivered to First Baptist Church, Marble Falls, the shipping fee will be waived unless you want to donate that to our sisters in Africa as well. Go to the store listings to see pictures and prices.

Announcing the grand opening of Three Stitchers web store! Even though Three Stitchers recently celebrated its 13^th anniversary on eBay and has long been selling on Etsy and Artfire, a direct shopping site has been added to the web page. This means savings to longstanding customers on hand dyed roving, alpaca and mohair batting. It also displays some finished product that has not been displayed on any of our other sites, like shawls, scarves and hats. There are currently items made from dog hair, alpaca and handspun wool as well as bamboo, milk yarn and other unique fibers.

Three Stitchers also carries Crystal Palace Yarns. Find Mini Mochi, Kid Merino, Merino5, Panda Silk sock and DK weight yarns, Bamboozle and even hand dyed Crystal Palace Yarns. Special orders are welcome from Crystal Palace. Color cards can be seen at www.straw.com.

Shepherds’s Pearls jewelry is also displayed in the store. Shepherd’s pearls are needle felted wool beads in unique shapes, sizes and colors. Each bead is hand dyed and felted. Each necklace, bracelet or pair of earrings is unique. Profits from the jewelry are donated to foreign and domestic missions through First Baptist Church, Marble Falls, TX.

African Paper Bead Jewelry through ALARM also has its own listing on the site. A small shipping and handling fee is added to the purchase price.  The rest of the monies will go directly to ALARM and be distributed to working mothers and daughters in Uganda, etc. The product line is ever changing and updated. Check it often.

Last but not least, Three Stitchers signature handspun Sunwest Yarn. TS is working closely with several fiber ranches in Oklahoma and Texas. If you see dog hair, purchase it quickly as this doesn’t last long on the shelves. Also For Sale are yarns made of mohair, alpaca, natural colored sheep, wool spun in-the-grease, silk and pre dyed wool.

I am offering Virtual cookies, a cheese ball and crackers at Three Stitchers web site store for the Grand Opening only. Virtual coffee and visiting is always served. So come and shop. Just click the “Shop” button on the right hand side of the tool bar and choose your category: Hand dyed roving and batting, Knit Items, Paper Beads, Felt Jewelry, Crystal Palace Yarns, Hand Spun Yarns …

So much yarn ... so little time.

Knitted flowers are an easy way to use  up those odds and ends of the textured or variegated yarn. They are a fast knit and make great gifts, package decorations, sweater or hat embellishments etc. This pattern is super easy. Experiment with garter stitch, contrasting yarns, extra beads …

Materials

10 – 15 yards of yarn any weight

Circular needles a little larger than the suggested size

Finishing needle, pin back, sewing or tapestry needle and matching thread

Contrasting beads or yarn for center (optional)

Note: Increases may be made by pulling up and knitting the stitch from below (m1) or by a yarn over (yo). The flower on the left was made by m1. The flower on the left used the yo method.

Cast on 7 stitches. Knit one row.

Row 2: Knit and increase in every stitch. (14 st)

All odd rows: Purl

Row 4: Knit and increase in every stitch. (28 st)

Row 6: Knit and increase in every stitch. (56 st)

Row 8: Bind off loosely. Break off yarn leaving a tail long enough to finish.

Finishing: Curl the flower around in a spiral. Using the finishing needle and the bind off tail, tack the flower together. No exact stitch is needed. Hide any ends. A contrasting yarn and French knots or seed beads may be used for the center stamens.

Using the sewing thread and needle, sew the pin back on to the flower.

Throwing fibers into a dye pot and then

processing them on a spinning wheel is always

surprising. One is never sure how it will turn out.

Mohair takes dye differently than wool. It is

shiny and brighter than wool. This yarn is one

strand of mohair spun with extra texture …

some of the loops and fuzz have been left in the

yarn. The wool portion was also spun with a

little extra texture. The resulting yarn is very

three dimensional.

It has been knitted up on size 8 needles with a

3.5 stitch per inch gauge over stockinette stitch.

It will work well as an accent yarn, scarf yarn or

felting yarn. If felted, it will get thick and

compact very quickly.

It can be found on the store listing of the web

site. More mohair/wool hand spun yarn will

follow shortly.