Noe Knit Blog

Iron Craft & Craft Room

2011-01-29T17:57:00.000-08:00

If you are visiting this site, and you have been missing Noe Knit, please come and visit me at Craft Room

If you are ready to take on some new challenges,
come visit us at Iron Craft. We are doing 52 different craft challenges.
Stop by and see what we are up to!

First Finished Object of 2009

2009-02-04T15:07:00.000-08:00

Here is the first finished project of 2009. I worked on this for 9 months. But I dreamed about this one for many years.

We are so pleased to welcome Amelia to the world. She was born January 7, and weighed 7 12 oz.
Everyone is healthy and happy, and a little sleep deprived.

Ribbon Twist Abounds

2008-12-11T20:05:00.000-08:00

Our love affair with Ribbon Twist is long standing. It is certainly not new.
Last Sunday, we had two fine finished projects displayed.

Marizel made this fantastic cabled bag!

Completed, lined, and sporting leather handles.

And Amy shows off her sweater.

We adore them BOTH. Yummy.
Come on in and have a look. We have sweater quantities of lots of colors. And at this gauge, you have plenty of time to finish well before the holiday.

Dana's Beautiful Sweater

2008-12-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

Dana is a Sweater Graduate of Noe Knit.
And WOW. She went on to do this beautiful Noro sweater!

Circular Wash Cloth Class

2008-11-24T22:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a new class that Risa is offering on Sundays.
Join us to learn a provisional cast-on, how to work short rows and the elusive kitchener stitch and you'll end up with a lovely round dishcloth. Make it in smooth cotton for a reusable dishcloth, or try it in cotton chenille for a wonderful spa cloth!

Beautiful Sweater

2008-07-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

Chiaki's been knitting up a storm!

This is the sweater "Essential" from Jo Sharp's book Village.

The shaping in it is fantastic. There are beautiful darts in the side.

There is a lovely stitch pattern detail on the bottom, and on the sleeves.

Just for another view: here is how Jo photographed it for the book.

This Cardigan is fitted to perfection. It has the well done details and well thought out pattern features that raises above other patterns.
In fairness, I will say there is an issue with sleeves. The come out a little too long when the detailing is included. But if you are considering putting this sweater into your que, we will find time for you to sit with Chiaki and work out the correct sleeve length for you.
Happy Knitting!

a model

2008-06-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

Jordana is modeling her hat.
Both are beautiful!

Maker Faire

2008-05-03T22:31:00.000-07:00

We are at the Maker Faire this weekend.
Wow. There are "cup cake cars",

Diet Coke and mentos fountains,

and of course, the Noe Knit booth. We are having fun!

Fair Isle Class

2008-03-30T12:42:00.001-07:00

Chiaki is teaching the Fair Isle Felted bag class.

Lot's of fun

And the results have been fabulous!

A Nutty Little Story from the Land Of Retail

2008-03-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

There was a surprise at the store this week. It's time for a nutty story from the land of retail. Hold on to your hats for this one.
Are you sitting down? Someone wrote on the bathroom wall.

I’ll give you all a moment to ponder that. Our bathroom wall, at lovely Noe Knit, was ‘tagged’ with some graffiti. We have talked here before about theft. Shop lifting from a knitting store seems to be a pairing that most knitters cannot get their minds around. And that assumption (“knitters are good people” “Knitters don’t steal”) is one that makes the shop such a pleasant place to be. Most customers are in the upper 10% of ‘good people’ in life. And all of these ‘good people’ are coming in to visit us and make beautiful things gather inspiration in their time off. The atmosphere is one of pleasant and creative sharing. It’s a safe place to ask for help.

And then, enter our bathroom and there on the wall is a ‘tag’ done in a big silver paint marker. What was this person thinking? We revel in sharing in your delight in customers’ creations. By all means, if you have a knitting or craft project we want to see it! Don’t hide in the bathroom, and then not take credit for it.

I know I am preaching to the choir here. I know that you are as shocked as I am. So now I am done passing on this little tale. Simply understand that if you ever come in and for some strange reason you are not greeted with the most friendly and enthusiastic welcome, perhaps we were off counting missing balls of yarn, or scrubbing paint off the bathroom walls. And YOU coming in the front split green door is probably just what the doctor ordered!

A bootie

2008-02-23T10:35:00.000-08:00

This charming little bootie is made with Rabbit Ridge yarn, from Alaska.
It is an adaptation of Sartjee's Bootee pattern.
Her blog is fabulous. Enjoy.

Hat class success

2008-02-16T13:52:00.003-08:00

Here is the gallery of some of our recent hat success.

Third Anniversary

2008-02-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

Our Third Anniversary Celebration is Wednesday night.
We'll have a party at 6:30, and the fashion show will begin at 7:00pm.
We are so excited to see you, and what you have been working on.

My First Sweater Class success

2008-02-07T21:12:00.000-08:00

Thim has finished his first sweater. A pull over from silk road ultra. His million dollar smile tell the whole story. And now, he has started the second sweater! Stay tuned for more!

New Mohair

2008-02-03T21:31:00.000-08:00

Let's turn the spotlight on a new mohair we have just brought in. This is a high brush, wonderfully soft yarn. We have it in 13 colors. Yum. Come in and see it.

Finished Sock

2008-01-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

A finished sock!

Karen has just finished her first sock in our Introduction to Socks class.
This one is self striping sock yarn, so you just knit, and the color changes come right up out of the ball. The next class is on Sundays in February. Come on in to pick out you yarn and sign up.

The Scarf

2008-01-23T22:03:00.000-08:00

In Last Minute Knitted Gifts, there is a beatiful scarf pictured. There are no fancy stitches, it's just a K1, P1 rib. The real joy in this project comes from the stranding. (Stranding is simply knitting with more than one yarn held together at the same time. )

We are always drawn to do projects in the colors that are shown in the pictures. And why not? The pictures are beautiful. But it is always exciting when someone takes the 'risk' to do something in a different color.
Jennifer fell in love with this scarf, and decided to make her own. And the results are one of the most luxurious things to ever hit the back table. This scarf is just RICH.

Jennifer's is made from a strand of Manos wool, a strand of Kid silk Night (for a tiny bit of sparkle), and one strand of Kid Silk Aura (for a little more mohair) The color is so rich and wonderful. But what the picture doesn't show you is how delciously soft this thing is. It is so warm and yummy, you could just sleep with it on.
So if you are cold in this snap we are having, come on in and we'll work up some strands for your scarf!

Stash Reduction Project Update

2008-01-22T20:55:00.000-08:00

Boy have we got yarn. People have dug deep and cleaned out for a good cause. If you want a piece of the action: clean out, bring in your stash, and get a discount on your purchase for that day. The program will go until Friday (January 25th)

playing with food

2008-01-17T12:45:00.000-08:00

Just a little fun for you today.

New Sock Yarn and Foreign Policy

2008-01-12T00:37:00.000-08:00

Here is some new yarn that Crystal Palace introduced, called Panda Cotton. 55% bamboo, 24% cotton and 21% elastic. It has a tendency to split a little bit when it is being knit up. But once it's off the needle, it really has a beautiful soft finish. And it's a wool free alternative for people.

Soho came to visit us from Japan. What a pleasure to meet her. She found us on-line, and made her way from downtown on public transportation! Bravo! We had a nice time doing private mini sock-skills-lessons. She found lots of lovely yarn that she doesn't see in Japan. Then I asked, almost rhetorically "you must have lots of Noro." And funny enough, she had not heard of Noro before. Go figure.
It was such a pleasure to meet her. What a fun day.

A little post holiday wrap up

2008-01-07T21:58:00.000-08:00

We've talked about theft before. Here is a variation of Lucious and Loopy Scarf, a free pattern on the internet. The one pictured here I knit to replace the one that was stolen from the ladder display over the holidays. And, yes, it was tied down! Does that mean that someone came in with fingernail clippers, and did a 'clip and grab'? Or a "slash and run"?
I am trying not to be bitter, knitting such a beautiful thing.

A Day with Kaffe Fasset

2008-01-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

Bunnie was here visiting for Christmas. One of her presents was a surprise trip to a one day color lecture with Kaffe Fasset. (!!! )
Here is Kaffe chatting with me about my work, and with Bunnie about color.

Kaffe, for those of you who are not familiar, has a really interesting story. He is a painter and artist who fell in love with the colors of yarn, and learned to knit if only as a vehicle to express himself in yarn. He was shocked and somewhat horrified by people knitting garments in one color. His signature work features yarn changes even several times in one row. He tends to do patterns in color families, and tones rather than with a strict color in a specific place. He has written several books on quilting, knitting, and color. He has a studio in London, but travels more than an airline pilot.

He is a wonderful speaker. He uses the most elegant language to describe color. The workshop was amazing!

I have a real fondness for one of his books in particular. My paternal Grandmother is a knitter, quilter and embroiderer. (Crafty bloodline) On a visit to see my grandmother MANY years ago, she bought me "Glorious Color", and that has been a star in my knitting library ever since.

(So really, who was that a Christmas present for? Hmmmm. )
If you have a chance, Kaffe will be at a book signing on Jan 3rd in Pacific Grove. So if you're not headed straight back to work, and you are looking for an excuse to get on the road, I highly recommend a visit.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

On behalf of all of us at Noe Knit, we wish you a bright and wonderful Christmas! May it be filled with classic hand knits, and wonderful loved ones to share them with.

There is still time:

2007-12-13T12:42:00.000-08:00

Are you on a mission for a few more quality presents?
A hat is the answer. There is always time for a hat.
This is an exclusive pattern, designed by Chiaki, shown in Andean Prime Alpaca.
We have the pattern, the yarn and the needles available.

Or you could knit up a scarf. This is the great last minuted knitted gift; luxurious and rich. This pattern is in Pam Allen's book Scarf Style. We have the velvety yarn "Touch Me" in a wide range of colors.

Come on in, and infuse some peace into an insaine rushed schedule.

Lessons

2007-12-09T20:09:00.001-08:00

Sue had a lesson with two girls. (Here, they are doing the long tail cast-on, of course.) They made the most wonderful noises. There were squeals of excitement, and jokes shared. They all had a lot of fun.

Then, in came a hat with one missing twist in a cable. We did a lesson in pulling cables out.
I started to take lots of pictures, and make a tutorial. But, others have gone before me, and done WONDERFUL ones. I'll point you to Yarn Harlot's example.
So, I focused on the lesson rather than on the photography. And I never took an "after" (sorry)We had a good time, and the hat left fixed, and the repair was imperceptible.

So, if you are working on a project, and you hit a road block, bring it in before your rip the whole thing back. There just may be a solution.

Young or young-at-heart, problems or just new skills, call us and book a private lesson. We'll take your knitting to the next level.

Peppermint Twist

2007-12-07T23:36:00.000-08:00

These are a limited addition tape measure. They are so sweet!
Perfect stocking stuffer!

Fashion Show Thursday

2007-11-27T22:35:00.000-08:00

We are having a fashion show Thursday. Bring your sweaters that you've done. Bring the sweaters that you've started. Or just come and see and soak up inspriation for what is possible.
6:30 is the social hour, and 7:00 pm is the actual "show".

Give us a call and let us know if you can make it.

piles of Manos

2007-11-20T22:46:00.000-08:00

Look at what came in. Loads of Manos! Beautiful.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-17T15:25:00.000-08:00

The Turkey is in place.
The veggies are ready.
And some nice purses/knitting bags, waiting to go home.
As you get ready to get your food collected, and gather your family around - we wish you a wonderful start to the holiday season.

Knit Smarter Not Harder: part II

2007-11-14T09:33:00.000-08:00

Knit Smarter: Part II

With November being NaKniSweMo (national knit a sweater month) we have seen a lot of work on some pretty exciting projects. Many knitters have stepped up to the challenge of doing something “bigger”.

And in all of this sweater knitting, there are some tried and true lessons that keep rearing their ugly heads. Let’s review those.

Gauge: (How many stitches per inch are you getting?).
This is different than “did you do a gauge swatch?” The answer, of course, is “yes”. You did a gauge swatch. And then you cast on and started knitting like crazy. And while it was so gratifying to watch you project grow – how is your gauge now? Have you started knitting tighter? Or have you gotten looser as you go faster? Check and check and check.

Measure your work:
Many knitters come in and smile broadly as they pull their work out, and proudly show it to us. We are always so delighted to see everything. Then every once in a while, the work comes out, and my stomach drops into my shoes. One sweater this week measured an impressive 67 inches in diameter, and another was a scant 36 inches. So we had both sides of the same problem demonstrated. And in each case, the owners had followed the pattern to the letter, and had not added or dropped stitches.
67 inches of sweater will gather and ruffle on the circulars, so if you see quite a lot of ruffling, stop and measure. Are you getting what the pattern called for? Are you getting the finished measurement you had hoped for? And the inverse is true as well. If you lay your sweater out, and it “looks small” then it may be. Are you getting what the pattern called for?
There were two very distinct reasons for the problems above. In the sweater that was too large, the knitter had done some yarn conversions that were set to work out perfectly, but then followed the pattern for the finished size she wanted, not the yarn she was using. Sadly, we pulled it out, and started over. And for the smaller sweater, there were two issues, one was that the knitter was in a hurry to finish in time for the November deadline, and her gauge got a little bit off. And the other was that there were errors in the pattern that we did not know about before we started! (!!)

Use the Internet:
If you are thinking about doing a sweater, do a little research before hand. Look around for people who have knit the project before you. Is there a picture of them in the garment? How does it look on them? How did their color choices play out?
And most importantly, did they have any trouble with the pattern?
You are looking for errata; the name for errors in a pattern. If you google the name of the sweater and errors or errata, you can see if other problems have been spotted. This five minutes of research can save hours of heartache.

And speaking of research have you checked out Ravelry? It’s a new knitting site. It’s kind of face-book-meets-flickr-meets-a-knitting-blog. You can post photos of your stash, join a local group, and ask questions. The best part of all is you can see everyone else’s finished projects – by name, or knitter, or by yarn! How fantastic to see the color choices, yarn substitutions, and different figures in the different sweaters. It is really a win. I tell you all this, because you have to “join” Ravelry before you can look at it. All that involves is signing up, and waiting in the que. Don’t worry if there are 12000 names ahead of you. The folks at Ravelry knew they had a good thing, but they didn’t know it was THAT good. They were overwhelmed by the number of sign-ups. I think they have now hired about 40 extra people, and have been staying up late at night just to get everybody on the site without technical issues.

As always, if you are having problems, bring your project in. (bring it in before you rip it back. If you come in and say to us “I had a problem with the sweater, and I need help to figure out what I did wrong” And then you show us piles of yarn that used to be your project, we are going to be at a loss. )

Finally, how about a fashion show? We’ll have a sweater celebration fashion show on November 29 at 7:00 pm. If you started or finished your sweater bring it in, and see all the wonderful projects for yourself.

KidSilk Aura

2007-11-11T10:10:00.000-08:00

Rowan has come out with a new yarn this fall called KidSilk Aura.

For fans of kidsilk haze, it is just as yummy, but three times as thick. So projects that you work up will come along in reasonable time.
When ever a new yarn comes out, we hold our breath to see how the pattern book will be. Rowan has been going through some wild streak lately.
Rowan fans remember things like this happening.
So when we opened the new book and saw the beautiful classic sweaters, we were delighted! There are at least 4 projects in there that I want to cast on immediately!
Come on in and see it.

Fun Fur, and a bolero

2007-11-08T21:38:00.000-08:00

We do love our little people. On Halloween, we had some special visitors.

First of all, Amy brought in Teddy to show us what is certainly the best thing we have ever seen fun fur EVER do. She dressed the whole troupe in Gryffindor gear. And little Teddy is Hedwig, the white owl. FANTASTIC!

And our own little princess came in for a visit. She has taken to carrying a purse. (albeit one that holds a stuffed puppy dog.) She has on a pink fairy skirt, a hand knit bolero, and a purse on the crook of her arm. Could anything be better? And our friend Maisy dreamed this up on her own. She is not imitating behavior she is seeing in her house. I can assure you that neither her mother nor her father prances around with a hand bag on the crook of their arm.
(Thanks for showing us your FANTASTIC creative costumes!)

Nano Cozy

2007-11-07T07:32:00.001-08:00

Here is one of my favorite 9 year olds, Mina, with her finished Nano Cozy.
We knit after school together, and I am learning about things that "kids these days" are into. (Peek-a-pooh)
We just started a pair of leg warmers for the American Girl Doll.
We'll be sure to share our progress.

Felted bag

2007-11-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

This purse has taken over the project lists!
It's fun, it's colorful, there is a pattern, but it is not too challenging.
Chiaki wrote the pattern, and is even offering it as a class. So many students have brought their bags in to show us! (Here is Amy's. Beautiful.) It has been very exciting. I don't want to ruin any surprises, but there will be a whole lot of these wrapped up this holiday season. Come on in and have a look at the sample.

New Yarn, new yarn, and new new yarn

2007-10-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

The fall is so fun at the store. Everyday, loads of new yarn comes in. Today it was the mother lode.
We got lots of bunny hop. That is a bright, spongy, cable plied yarn that has an element of Angora. AND it's machine washable. It was premiered last fall. And has been a best seller ever since.

Also in the box was a brand new yarn called Merino 5. The name is the content of the yarn (Merino) and the stitches per inch (5). It is really beautiful, and, yep, it's machine washable.

And finally, we'll continue SOCTOBER with a brand new sock yarn. Here it is, cotton, Bamboo, and a little bit of elastic. WOW. It's called "Panda Cotton"

Harry is BACK

2007-10-20T05:07:00.001-07:00

Socktober continues to bring us wonderful treats!
A new shipment came in from Lorna's Laces yesterday. And in among the treasures is a new batch of "Perry Hotter" yarn!
It is flying off the sock shelf faster than a Nimbus 2000. Call and we'll hold a pair aside for you.

Another Red Light Special Hat!

2007-10-17T06:24:00.001-07:00

Haydee worked on the final decreases in class last night.

And then she finished her hat!
What a GREAT accomplishment!

Socktober - new sock yarn

2007-10-14T21:30:00.000-07:00

We continue to get exquisite new sock yarn. Each new load is more beautiful than the last. This batch is from Lana Grossa.

And this is seta Cashmere:
65 % Merino,
15 % Silk
16 % Polyamide
4 % Cashmere
Machine Washable
The merino and cashmere together make this yarn wonderfully soft. The polyamide makes it long wearing, and the silk gives it a touch of luxury and a hint of sheen. It is a beautiful yarn.

Clapotis

2007-10-11T22:13:00.000-07:00

Lauren Finished her Clapotis.
It is fantastic.

She chose Nicole, an Adrienne Vittadini yarn. This yarn is a departure from the yarn that Kate originally picked. That is a brave thing for a knitter to do. And that gamble is rewarded with an exquisite textured garment with an amazing drape.

Hat for Halloween

2007-10-08T22:31:00.000-07:00

Rebecca was commissioned by friends to knit a tinkerbell hat for their daughter. It will top the costume off perfectly!
DARLING.

Hemlock Ring Blanket

2007-10-01T23:34:00.000-07:00

Recently our friend Brooklyn Tweed showed us a ring knit blanket. (August 18th)
It is a 1942 knit doily pattern. Jared took the pattern, and charted the repetition to make it bigger than a doily. Our friend Kay saw this post, and was intrigued.

So she did not one, not two, but three of them.

!!!!
Here is one before it is blocked. While it is still beautiful, in an architectural way, this still illustrates the beauty of blocking.

Thanks for sharing your lessons and your results with us Kay! You are one busy knitter.

More Hats!

2007-09-27T09:25:00.001-07:00

Kalona finished a hat (and used double points on the top!)

And Hunter is wearing Rebecca's handywork!
She modified the Fruit Cap pattern to make a pumpkin! Excellent job!

Knitty

2007-09-21T00:09:00.000-07:00

There's a new Knitty up.
Among the patterns is a pretty lace blanket pattern, Totally Autumn.
Have a look.

A First Hat

2007-09-16T21:39:00.000-07:00

Kelly finished her first hat today.
If you would like to learn to do a hat, check the schedule for the next class! You could have a project like this finished in only 2 sessions.
Congratulations Kelly! We can't wait to see what you do next.

Cup Cake Anyone?

2007-09-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

Can you BELIEVE these?

This artist/chef is illustrating one of my main tenets in life: "If you can't eat it or wear it, don't waste your time on it."
Have a sweet weekend!

Addi Turbo

2007-09-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

You've been asking for them. It seems these gleaming beauties are in a class by themselves. Call, or come by to get the size you are looking for!

Absolutely Fabulous Throw Kit: Ivory

2007-09-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

Our LOVE of Colinette's Absolutely Fabulous Throw Kit continues. Here is one I finished in Ivory.

A Beautiful Sweater

2007-09-08T12:37:00.001-07:00

Susan Conrad is one of Noe Knit's first customers. And a favorite with all of us.
She is a PROLIFIC knitter. I mean, seriously, if there were a world speed championship, she would certainly win, because the woman is producing some very serious garments, ALL the time.

Here she is showing us the Nantucket from the cover of Interweave Knits, Winter of 2006. It is done in Taos, color 8. The color changes do not obscure the amazing cable work and texture of this sweater. Stunning!

MAKE magazine

2007-09-05T21:32:00.000-07:00

MAKE liked the BBQ window as much as we do!
Wow! Excellent job Kathy!

The BBQ window

2007-08-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

Here is our latest window, by our friend Kathy!
Complete with ants, corn on the cob, and of course
of course... beer.

A Sock!

2007-08-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

Sam got busy, and made a Horcrux Sock with our Perry Hotter sock yarn. How FABULOUS!

Harry Potter Sock Yarn is HERE

2007-08-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

We ordered some very special yarn from our friends at Lorna's Laces. It is Harry Potter Sock Yarn. (because our friend JK did not actually sanction it, we have called it Parry Hotter Sock yarn instead. But I know this will not confuse you!)

It is beautiful. And it can only be had at Noe Knit! We got the insider rights to this colorway. We could not be more pleased with our grand wizard obsession!

Knitting With Kids

2007-08-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

We had another session of Kids Camp.
Holy smokes these kids are so wonderful. They are silly, and fun, and excited, and bouncing.

beautiful needles

2007-08-04T20:42:00.000-07:00

We've got some amazing needles to show you. They are ebony Sox Stix, by Lantern Moon. 5" double point for easier maneuvering around tight corners, like the race car of knitting needles.

News Stand

2007-08-02T22:50:00.000-07:00

In the last two days, two magazines have come into the store, and both are note-worthy.
First, the 25th Anniversary of Vogue Knitting. They really pulled out all the stops. Advertisers splashed out with some very big very silver spreads that are beautiful. And the patterns are just a little bit more 'wearable' and less haute couture. It's sure to be a collectors item.

The magazine that arrived today is Interweave Press Knits. It is the editorial debut of Eunny Jang. It will be interesting to see how and if the magazine transitions under her creative direction.
Also, there is a sweater written by our favorite Brooklyn Tweed in there. Oh Jared, you clever man. Congratulations! We are SUPER pleased to see your efforts published!

The Fashion Show

2007-08-02T00:36:00.000-07:00

Boy the projects were beautiful. We had an inspiring afternoon.

Knit Smarter Not Harder

2007-07-27T16:36:00.000-07:00

Let me share a few secrets to knitting that will make things 'go faster and smoother'.

Get your fingers out of the way.
I see so many people either cover the stitches they are making with their fingers, or hold their hands in such a way that they have to wrap the yarn around their own finger. (!) It is an amazing thing to watch. Look down. Can you see what you are doing? Pull your fingers out of the way so that you can see the stitches. You will make less mistakes. And when you do make a mistake, you'll see it sooner.
Use smaller motions
I swear to you I have seen people with less bodily motion in a golf swing.
Get your hands comfortable, whether you pick or throw, and just make little motions. There is no reason for someone to confuse knitting with stirring a pot of stew on the stove.
Adjust the yarn and needles in smaller motions.
Really, you don't need to go "organize" and "untangle" after every other stitch. If you move less, so will the balls of yarn. Get yourself set up and comfortable. Then when you are knitting, without really letting go of the knitting yarn, just pull a few stitches up, and slide the last few down. You can knit precariously close to the tip of the left hand needle. But be sure to knit all the way onto the right hand needle. Remember, if you knit onto the 'tip' where the needle is still tapered, it will not be the right gauge. It will be tight, and you will not have fun on the next row.
Don't knit tight
That is a really easy one. The tighter you knit, the harder the next row will be. This will lead to stress, and premature aging. As you clench your jaw, and grind your teeth, and stick out your tongue, you will develop wrinkles faster. You will age prematurely, and not be the sexy knitter we know that you are. Loosen up. If you like a tighter stitch, go to a smaller needle. Don't make the stitch tighter ON the needle. In the perfect situation, the stitches should slide easily along your needle, but not fall completely off without help.
I see a lot of beginners who knit super tight. It is a rookie mistake. They are confusing "tight" and consistent. You do not have to knit tight to be consistent. You'll find your tension. I have faith. If you think knitting is hard, or you think it should go faster, you may be knitting too tight.
Get your yarn organized.
The time we have spent untangling at the store is obscene. No really. The big messed up piles of yarn are heart breaking. Why, oh, why would you buy beautiful yarn, and then let it fall into a heap? There are lots of strateegeries to help with this issue. You can use a zip lock bag, you can use a tupperware, you can buy a 'yarn bra' or a 'clam'. All of these will work. Just don't let your yarn get into a knot. You may also try talking nicely to it, like you would to a plant, or even a small child. I find this very effective. Your yarn will respond to your tone of voice.
Don’t pull mohair from the center of the ball. (It will just stick to the strands near by and create a knot), so while I know that a 'center pull' is fun, and all-the-rage, some yarns do not respond as well to that treatment. Silk too, is very hard to keep in the 'ball winder' ball. This is better if it is just hand-wound. It seems a little less apt to knot on itself.
And here is a no-brainer: keep your projects in a cat-proof, dog-proof, toddler-proof container.

If you have any questions about your knitting style, and you'd like a consultation, just come on in for a visit.
I'll be happy to have a look.

I am, your knitting stylist.

Fashion Show

2007-07-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

Saturday is the Fashion Show. It's really the ultimate show-and-tell. Bring what you've knit, and come and see what others have been working on. You're sure to leave with inspiration!!
The show itself will run from 2-4 pm Saturday, July 28. (There is no charge for this event. Just good clean (free) fun.)

A visit from Adele

2007-07-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

Adele is a local artist, and knitter, and occasionally (when we are very lucky) even teaches at Noe Knit! She came by to show us her latest work. She is an encaustic painter/artist. Her work is amazing.
She also decorated one of the San Francisco hearts. And since then, has adorned one of her hearts for the last few years.

She came in to show us a pair of wings that will be installed soon. We discussed the pros and cons of the different materials: plastic tape vs. wool, vs. acrylic. One wing here is plastic.

And one is wool, or a blend.

Notice the wonderful increases and decreases and purling that make this wing actually look like feathers. Fantastic! Thanks for showing us!

Red Light Special Hat

2007-07-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

We had another series of the Red Light Special Hat class.
I am so pleased to share the results with you!

This one has a light background.

This one has one extra repeat. If it's "down" it's longer OR it can be worn turned up.

Here is a shot of the top "in progress". In this class we are learning the pattern, and how to knit with 2 colors. Some of the knitters even went to knitting two-handed two-colors.

This one is on a dark chocolate background. Yummy.

We offer our thanks to Brooklyn Tweed for sharing the pattern. We had a lot of fun doing it.

Waiting for Potter

2007-07-11T22:20:00.000-07:00

We are now set to welcome the Potter-poloosa that is about to unfold.
We have the golden Snitch
We have manageable Ron and Harry sweaters.

We have a Calderon and a spider.

We have school hats and scarves.
And we have copies of Charmed Knits (for sale).

Bring on your inner "Harry"!

Knit Tagging

2007-07-02T22:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a little piece of art I added to the tree outside the shop. A "tree cozy".
There is a movement in different cities to add knit pieces to public spaces; parking meters, lamp posts, even car antenna. It's called "knit tagging". See the Gallery for a peek at some great urban creativity.

A Visit from a Friend

2007-06-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

Our friend Liana visited us from NYC.
She works at Stewart Tabori and Chang now, editing some of the finest books in our genre that are ever likely to be published.

She is doing great, and loves New York.
It was fun to see her again.

man sweaters, and zippers

2007-06-26T23:16:00.000-07:00

Here is the finished sweater, modeled by Jaci's Dad. This is the sweater we saw the zipper going into.
How cute is Dad? Huh?
Bravo Jaci. This is a beautiful piece of knitting, and it fits him perfectly!

Kids Camp

2007-06-25T22:57:00.000-07:00

All last week we had kids camp. We did some knitting, and then some crafting, and then some more knitting. We all had a BALL!

Cambridge Sweater

2007-06-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

Here is Devon's husband Tim wearing her latest. What a GREAT job!
The Cambridge Sweater is from Interweave Press KNITS magazine (Summer 2006 Issue) It's a fantastic sweater with a rib pattern that adds shaping, but does not travel all the way down the sweater. We LOVE the show-and-tell.

Needle Felting

2007-06-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

We have had so much fun needle felting lately.
Here is one of the ornaments Barbara made. She combined roving (for the pink middle part) and Manos (for the trim and the handle.)

There are more classes being offered, if you want some help getting started.

A Good Yarn

2007-06-12T23:58:00.000-07:00

This is called the Magic Ball.

There are several different yarns tied together into one ball. Besides the beauty of the yarn, there is the story of it's creation.

This yarn is a product of these women in South Africa. An American woman who lived in South Africa for a period of time started this company as part of a jobs creation program. This yarn now helps to empower women in an area that is plagued by 75% unemployment.

Come on in and see this stuff for yourself. We'll give you the pattern for the scarf, and you can make them up as gifts this year.

A big Thank You

2007-06-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

This year we ran the 'stash reduction program' in January. (You brought in your unused yarn, and we gave you a discount on new yarn.) It was fabulous. You all cleaned to the rafters! Yay! And we collected all manner of yarn, some beautiful, and some "craft" yarn.
We sorted and stored all the yarn here at the store, and have had the pleasure and the privilege to give it away to charities and worthy causes.

A woman came in one day, and explained that she was teaching kids to knit in an after school program. How WONDERFUL. We offered her a selection of yarn from the Stash Reduction Program. She just lit up. She was so gracious and happy for the gift. Fast forward a few weeks, and the same woman came back in to share a Thank You from her students. She gushed on and on in gratitude for what we had done for these kids.

And in turn, I am passing the giant "Thank You" on to you, our customers, who donated the yarn in the first place. You got yourselves cleaned out - AND - you made some kids and a teacher VERY happy. And, you started a whole new crop of knitters.

setting in a zipper

2007-06-05T22:53:00.000-07:00

Jacqui made this exquisite sweater for her her father. It is a magnificent fisherman knit. She had a zipper set in, and was very dissapointed with the result. She took a huge step and decided to try to set in the zipper herself.
For extra courage, she came in to do it at the store. Zippers are not as scary as they may initially seem. And putting them in by hand is the way to go.
First, you line the two sides up with eachother. Then baste it in. Then sew it down more closely to the edge of the teeth. Then, if you have left a bit of a turn down, you can hem stitch it down, or run the edge on a sewing machine.
Jacqui did most of those steps in one evening. (so, it is nothing in comparison to the time you spent carefully knitting.)

Give it a shot! Pull up that sweater that you have been putting off.
If it's still daunting, come in and take a lesson. We'll take you through step by step.

2007-06-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

This little beauty is a Rayon Metalic by Blue Heron yarns. Their colorways are stunning. This has a beautiful drape to it, and is dying to become a shawl or a Clapotis. Some of the metalic yarns tend to be over the top, or too 'novelty' in nature. This one is subtle and elegant.
If the Clapotis has been on your to-do list, but it seems to daunting, come on in and take a class. We're hosting a Clap-o-tea party in June.

Beautiful Yarn

2007-05-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

Today's beautiful yarn shot is brought to you by Colinette. These are the folks that make the "Absolutely Fabulous Throw Kit". This shot is one cubby full of Point Five. Thick-thin yarn, it comes in skeins, and knits up quickly at 2 stitches per inch.
It is decidedly different. It is dramatic, and colorful, and wonderful. Come and see it in person. You will have dreams about it afterwards.

Gauge Talk

2007-05-25T07:36:00.000-07:00

The single thing we talk about the most in the store is gauge. How something will fit or look, or how big something will be is critical to the success of the project. There is such a wide variety of terminology that has been used to describe weights of yarn that it can be daunting. What is "baby" yarn?
The Craft Yarn Council of America has set out a standard chart to try to remove some confusion. Some designers have adopted this chart for their patterns, notably, Sally Melville, for one. And some yarn companies have started using these symbols on their label.
The existence of a chart just highlights the fact that there is some discrepancy. European yarns are discussed using words like DK and Aran. And while "DK" yarn is pretty consistantly 22 stitches over 4 inches, I have heard "bulky" used to describe about half the store.
As always, if you have any questions about gauge or needle size, we would be happy to discuss them with you, and help you to pair up yarns that would be successful with patterns. That is our pleasure. After all, yarn shopping vicariously is the single greatest thing about working at a knitting store!

Maker Faire recap

2007-05-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the Maker Faire last weekend. Bunnie was in town helping. And Kathy demoed for HOURS on end! We had a lot of fun! The Makers and Crafters that we saw there presenting have definitely taken things to new levels. There was some amazing silk screening, some great needle felting, and of course, robot wars and power tool races. It was an amazing weekend on the whole.

Maker Faire

2007-05-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

This weekend is the Maker Faire! It is a mix a wonderful mix of robots, electronics, and the almighty "craft". Noe Knit will be there with a booth and some fun stuff. It's at the San Mateo fairgrounds and sounds like it will be the high school science fair meets the state fair. We'll be in the building called the "Craft Pavillion". That sounds like a slice of heaven to me!

Mr. & Mrs. Cornish!

2007-05-06T16:13:00.000-07:00

Congrats Susi & Rob!

Knit 2 Together Show

2007-04-30T00:13:00.000-07:00

The Knit 2 Together trunk show is here. There are 19 projects here, and displayed all around the store. Come in and have a look.

2007-04-19T23:14:00.000-07:00

Rebecca came in to see us. She had a great show and tell for us.

The sweater is the cover project from Fall 2006 Interweave KNITS.
The gloves are from Eunny Jang's site. The Anemoi Mitts.

New Yarn

2007-04-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

The latest yarn from Debbie Bliss is in for the Spring!
Rialto. It is a beautiful Merino, 22 stitches over 4 inches, and completely machine washable. There is a pattern book that was written for the yarn as well.

Knit Flicks

2007-03-27T18:55:00.000-07:00

The next Knit Flicks is this Thursday, March 29th. The movie starts promptly at 7:00! This month we are getting gear up for Susi's wedding!

Book Signing

2007-03-26T00:28:00.000-07:00

We had Maggie Pace in the shop on Saturday. It was loads of fun to see the samples she brought in with her. "A good time was had by all". Thanks for coming Maggie!

Lantern Moon Basket

2007-03-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Do you recognize this lovely basket?

In the London suburbs, I spotted the Lantern Moon basket. But instead of being filed with yarn, it was filled with toy cars. Here is my STBN (soon to be nephew) struck silent by the joy of exploration. Note, the level of rapture;very similar to what it would be if you found a basket full of yarn to play while visiting someone's house.

And then, after it was safe, the other 'children' stepped in and took their turn. Look at them, practically bumping their heads together to get a look at the cars.

Debbie Bliss in London

2007-03-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

I met with Debbie Bliss for a coffee and a crossant in London!
She is so nice and so down-to-earth... it was just fantastic. We talked about all manner of the business, and then, of course, other non-knitting stuff. What a huge treat.

A trip to London

2007-03-10T00:07:00.000-08:00

I'm off to London, to meet my soon-to-be-mother-in-law. (STBMIL) Hurrah!
Maybe I'll have lunch with Debbie Bliss? Who knows. I'll report back.

Amazing "show and tell"

2007-03-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

The very best part of my job is knitting vicariously through all of YOU.
Here is a stunning example.

Ann came in with this!

I am in awe of the bravery, and dazzled by the result.
Bravo!

This "capecho" is on the cover of Vogue

2nd Anniversary Party

2007-02-20T20:15:00.000-08:00

It was a great party thanks to all of you who came. Once again the fashion show was inspirational, can't wait to see what the next 6 months bring.

Red Light Special hats!

see the rest of the photos here.

Interweave Press KNITS

2007-02-18T20:54:00.000-08:00

Interweave Press has done a makeover on Knits Magazine. In the new version, the pictures are in the front, and patterns are in the back. Have you seen it?
Do you like it better the old way? Or do you prefer the new layout?

Bryant Park

2007-02-17T09:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a top from Benjamin Cho that was shown at Bryant Park. Don't you miss Project Runway?

Finished Red Light Special

2007-02-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to be in the store today doing the new windows when Marezol came in to show off her finished Red Light Special hat. It turned out lovely & will be a great present for her brother.

A finished hat

2007-02-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

Here is the top of my finished "Red Light Special" hat.
What a great pattern.
Come by and see it in person.
We all had a really good time with the class. We'll have to run it again. Start dreaming of colors!

Fair Isle Class

2007-02-02T08:58:00.000-08:00

We have been working on our Fair Isle Hats

These are all inspired by Brooklyn Tweed.

He wrote the pattern for the Red Light Special Hat.

We worked on stranding, and even two handed two color knitting.

It is safe to say that we all pushed the boundries on this assignment.

Every hat is amazing and unique. The color choices were a beautiful reflection of the proud owners.

And with a gauge of 24/4, this is some SERIOUS knitting!

Needle Felted Art

2007-01-31T22:03:00.000-08:00

Amy got some gray roving. And she brought back her finished project: the Mouse King. Cullen is showing his new favorite possession.

Yummy Buttons!

2007-01-30T22:03:00.000-08:00

We ordered some new buttons, and they have arrived!
Here are some of my favorites.

Knit Flicks

2007-01-27T06:16:00.000-08:00

Wednesday Night we are having our movie night: Knit Flicks.
We'll be watching "About a Boy" with Hugh Grant and Toni Colette. Bring what ever you are working on, and join us!

Stash Reduction Project Update

2007-01-19T12:11:00.000-08:00

The response to the Stash Reduction Project has been amazing. Bins and bins of yarn have been brought in. Bravo! There is still time. We will officially run the program through Sunday. And thank you all for your participation!

A day of Education

2007-01-17T08:29:00.000-08:00

At the show, there is a whole list of classes offered. Some of which sound so wonderful they take your breath away, and some of which would not even inspire me out of bed in the morning. I signed up for two classes, which were both inspiring.

In the morning I took a class with Sally Melville about designing sweaters that fit properly. Sally is a mathmetician, and works out the fit of a sweater according to ratios, and proportions on someone's body. It was a great class. And it was such a pleasure to meet Sally. She is an amazing teacher. She has such warmth in the classroom.

And in the afternoon, I took a color class with Brandon Mably.

The assignment was to take a postcard of an image in art, and translate the image into knitting. Almost like painting with yarn. The way that the pieces looked in our hands, and the way they looked on a board, or farther away was amazingly different.

Brandon himself was charming. He used different language when he talked about color; a combination was "cheeky", or "juicey". By describing the palate and the composition with rich words, it brought things into a different light. I will strive to use color more bravely, and talk about it with words that are more specific.
Now THAT is a new year's resolution.

San Diego

2007-01-14T22:05:00.000-08:00

The National NeedleArts Association had thier conference this weekend in San Diego. It's a chance for the yarn and needle shops to collect and see the new offerings. There is a top notch class schedule hosted. And there are book signings throughout the day. I can't wait to share all the stories and pictures.
It was an amazing, inspiring weekend. Unbelievable. Bone tiring. On the run. A blur of color. And a cavalcade of new products and ideas.
First of all we'll start with the main speaker at the luncheon: Kaffe Fasset. He spoke about his travels and his inspiration and his love of knitting. He admitted that while he quilts and paints and needlepoints, his real favorite is knitting. (Do you think he was just saying that? Buttering us up? It worked.)

Noe Knit is turning 2!

2007-01-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

Noe Knit will be turning 2 in February & we'd love you help with our celebration window.

We need knit cupcakes...lots of them, to represent each of our great customers & friends.

You can find a pattern for a cupcake in the book One Skien or there is a wonderful free pattern we've been given permission to use here. (The cupcakes above were make from the free pattern).

So knit up one or knit up a dozen and bring them to the store by Friday, February 9th. Please attach your name to the bottom of your cupcakes if you would like them back. Also if you know what yarns you use & can let us know that as well it really helps when other knitters ask.

new yarn

2006-12-30T00:12:00.000-08:00

The wrapping paper is in the blue bin. The gifts are finding thier places. The new books are being enjoyed! And.. there is new yarn in the store!
Jo Sharp came and visited us last summer.
She showed us some of her new designs, and her new yarns.
The requests were sifted, and the winner is the Alpaca Kid Luster. This is a stunning 40% Kid Mohair, 30% Superfine Alpaca, 30% Merino Wool combo.
Wow.
And Jo has departed from her usual deep jewel and earth tones. She is featuring a few super intense colors in the palate this time.

This is one of the sweaters that we saw in this yarn.

Come on in and feel how soft this is. Amazing.
Time to knit something for yourself.

Knitting Math

2006-12-27T21:41:00.000-08:00

While knitting is, of course, creative. But it is mathematical at it's root. It is binary... there are two stitches, knits and purls. Here are some serious math minds who are taking it to the next level.