The Tangled Web

2008-05-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

We're kicking off Sock Wars III this evening at our weekly Knit-In. We will have delicious doom-related refreshments (not absinthe - think more like Death By Chocolate Cake!) and general jolly goings-on.

Stop by (even if you're not doing Sock Wars we still want you to come and hang out!) and join the fun. Friday, May 9 from 5-8 pm.

2008-04-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

Our weekend warrior Stacey has been busy! She recently finished two projects with two of our favorite yarns. Here is her Squash Hat from "101 Designer One-Skein Wonders". She knit it out of Rowan Cashsoft DK in what she called a particularly "squashy" shade:

Squashy!

Now brace yourself for these two fabulous ladies!! These are Stacey's daughters, decked out in their Wonderful Wallabies, knit out of Lana Grossa Bingo.

Nice job, Stacey! And the sweaters are adorable too!

Tangled Path to Tangled Yoke

2008-04-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

Like many of you, I signed up for the January Knit-along -- the Tangled Yoke Cardigan from the Fall 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. It's always fun to see what yarns in what colors people choose. I felt the need for some companionship in my knitting right about then. I was suffering from post-holiday malaise and knitting someone didn't seem high on my agenda. That happens sometimes; knitting just doesn't seem to hold my interest and I put the needles aside for awhile.

But this cardigan looked interesting, especially the cabled yoke. So I signed up, picked a Rowan Felted Tweed in a forest green and went to the first meeting.

It was a tangled path to the completed sweater. I had go down a needle size. I had to blow up the cable chart to poster girth and then color code the cable key. Actually that was kind of fun and certainly was pretty.

The interesting thing is that while the sweater required a lot of plain knitting, a smidgen of difficult knitting (the 18 rows of cable required absolute quiet, solitude and no interruptions by man nor beast) and a willingness to commit to hours of knittings on row count that numbered in the hundreds of stitches, this project was one of the most involved yet best I've ever tackled. I enjoyed having to read the pattern closely. I enjoyed the small needle. I enjoyed the challenge of the cable. I enjoyed everything about it, even the hours of endless stockinette.

Indeed this project brought me as close to the joy of knitting I felt when I first began some 13 years ago. The sense of challenge and accomplishment. The joy of figuring out that five-into-one decrease. The pride in changing the pattern when I thought I had a better method. This was a knitting pleasure on all counts. I put the sweater on and rarely take it off. My husband asked if I plan to sleep in it. (Hmmm, not a bad idea.)

The best thing is that it ended my knitting drought. I was back, full of pep and ready for new challenges. And for the first time in quite a while, I was actually knitting for myself.

And now the warm weather is upon us and lots of people are putting down their needles. I encourage you all to find a project that will keep you interested even as the temperature rises.

My summer project is a cotton top made in an overall lace pattern (it's only a four-row repeat and two of the rows are purl). It's simple compared to the Tangled Yoke. But it is so much fun and should be done in a week. I am using yellow cotton -- my declared new favorite color for the season.

And with the prospect of a new location (see the website for more information) -- more space, more options, more cozy knitting chairs -- now is the best time to get those needles and crochet hooks flying.

On another knitting note: there still are seats available on the Maryland Sheep and Wood Festival bus on Saturday, May 3. The bus pickup is at 6:45 a.m. at the ACME parking lot at Sedgwick and Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy, and at 7:45 a.m. at the Welsh Road Library, Welsh Road and Roosevelt Boulevard. It should be a great day with lots of yarn, yarn and yarn. You'll also receive a coupon good for 20 percent off at the Tangled Web on Friday, May 2. Stop in the shop today and purchase a ticket. It'll be the best $40 you can spend!

Lucia Herndon

2008-04-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

We like to think of ourselves as hardened knitting veterans, immune to extremes of adorableness. But sometimes we see some finished projects and just melt. Witness this fellow:

This bunny, knit by customer Jill and assembled by Lucia, knocked our socks off. At each stage as he came together we got more and more invested in him, until he was finally put together and we all squealed like little girls in delight!

2008-04-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

Update! We got another photo from Virginia:

"Hello again! Here is another pic of all the wigs. Of course my friend's mom is wearing the hot pink wig, since she is fighting breast cancer. Thought you might enjoy! Peace, Virginia"

Check Out Our New Digs!!

2008-03-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not have heard, later this spring we're moving down the street to a bigger and better space! More room, more parking, two dedicated spaces for indoor and outdoor lounges where you can relax forEVER and hang out and knit as long as you like. We thought you'd like to follow our progress as construction moves forward. Here are some "before" photos:

Look at all that glorious space! Now imagine it stuffed with glorious yarn!

The Kitchen (where delicious treats to keep up your knitting energy will be whipped up?? Or maybe just a place to store all that Knit-Along and Knit-In wine!)

The Al Fresco Knitting Lounge!

The Upstairs Lounge!

We'll keep you posted as construction progresses. We're thrilled about our new space and can't wait to move in. By the way, rest assured that all of our classes, Knit-Alongs, and Knit-Ins will continue without interruption.

Bus Trip and Wool and Fun! Oh My!

2008-03-25T04:36:00.000-07:00

Get on the bus! That’s my charge to you. What bus, you ask? The bus that will take you to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival on Saturday, May 3.

Now I have never been to this festival (it’s held the first weekend in May every year -- this year May 3-4); but I certainly have met knitters who have. It’s located west of Baltimore on a fairgrounds and features a variety of events and vendors all related to sheep and wool.

Not that I’ve ever been one for dealing with yarn while still on the hoof. I mean I like sheep because I know that’s where a lot of my yarn comes from. But I don’t have to be up close and personal with them.

However, this event also features vendors who have taken the next few steps and have processed the fleece into gorgeous yarns, many of them hand-dyed.

So when members of my knitting guild, many of them veterans of the festival, asked if the guild was sponsoring a bus, I figured why not. And being president of the Liberty Bell Knitters Guild, it was up to me to make the bus rental arrangements.

And so, I have a bus. I am looking forward to visiting the vendors, but if past experiences are any indication, I’m also looking forward to the bus trip.

I’ve taken a couple of bus trips with my fellow knitters. In the past a few of us have taken regular bus tours and turned them into knitting trips. We find an interesting-sounding tour -- like three days in the Hudson River Valley -- and bring enough yarn and patterns to occupy our bus time and hotel time. We have been known to take over a hotel lobby, rearrange furniture into cozy knitting groups and spend hours knitting and yakking.

But the ride to and from the event or venue is fun in itself. Lots of talking, laughing, knitting with people doing the same thing. On the way back more comparing purchases and laughing in that boy-am-I-tired-but-did-I-have-fun sort of way.
This year the Tangled Web is co-sponsoring the bus so we’ve added a couple of raffles to liven up the bus trip. And owner Mary is offering discount coupons good in the store on Friday May 2 for festival goers who buy bus tickets.

They’re on sale now at the shop $40 each. We’ll be making two pickups before heading for Maryland -- one at 6:45 a.m. at the Acme parking lot at Germantown and Sedgwick in Mount Airy; and another at 7:45 a.m. at the Welsh Road Library, Welsh Road and Roosevelt Blvd. in the Northeast. We’ll have several hours of shopping time before returning to Philadelphia around 7 p.m.

Seating is limited -- there are only 54 seats on the bus. Come in soon for your ticket. Make checks payable to the Liberty Bell Knitters Guild.

And get on the bus.

Lucia Herndon

Inspirational Knitting

2008-03-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a truly inspiration story emailed to us recently.

Thanks Virginia

Hello,

Here is a picture of a wig I knit for a friend. And here's the story behind it:

A friend's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer last fall. Around Christmas she had the great idea to knit wigs in bright colors and have her family wear them for a day to show support for their mother. Since it was so close to the holiday's, I told her I would help her. She got several people from across the country to help her too. Five wigs were made in total. This is a picture of myself wearing the wig I knit and sent by over night mail on Dec. 22 ( so it would be at their house in Wyoming by Christmas Day). Her mother really enjoyed the wigs and loves the creativity that went into making them.

Thanks for all the help from the wonderful ladies at The Tangled Web who helped me to complete this!

Peace-

Virginia Lee McLean

Baby Sweater Success!

2008-03-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

An unprecedented six out of six students from our most recent Baby Sweater Class finished their sweaters by the end of class.
Congrats to Kathy, Martha, Susan, Rose, Karen (and Suzanne, not pictured) - look at those beaming faces and beautiful sweaters!

Glovely!

2008-03-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

Our lovely customer Susan knit these gorgeous gloves from one of our favorite books, "Handknit Holidays".

Sock Class Success

2008-03-05T06:46:00.000-08:00

Way to go, Laura!

Laura was able to knit not one, but two socks during our recent "Let's Knit Socks" class. A new world record!

March Yarn of the Month

2008-02-29T11:33:00.000-08:00

Our customer Abby knit this adorable baby bonnet out of our new favorite yarn, Cotton Bamboo from Classic Elite. We're dreaming of how great summer knits are going to feel with this nice blend of the softness and durability of cotton with the shimmer of bamboo. Check out the lovely colors!

Happy Leap Year, everyone!!

Bird in Hand Mittens

2008-02-22T09:26:00.000-08:00

Diana found this great pattern on Ravelry and knit them with Claudia's Handpainted fingering weight. They are so so soft and warm. Don't you think Diana should knit up a pair for each us? Say for our birthdays? Diana didn't think so either. Here's the link to the pattern if you would like to knit up a pair.

http://www.kategilbert.com/ms_birdinhand.html

Mission Accomplished

2008-02-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

Denise is all smiles after finishing this work of art that she started in our "Sampler Throw" class.

Mohair Mitten Class

2008-01-30T09:38:00.000-08:00

Check out these happy folks with their finished mohair mitten knit during the January 19th Mohair Mitten class.

This was a great group of ladies and I loved seeing each one of them finish. I have a sneaky suspicion that it won't be long until they're back for pair number two.

Time to scratch the knitting itch

2008-01-28T06:43:00.000-08:00

The holidays are over and so is the rush to get those heart-felt, hand-made gifts finished. January is over and hopefully everyone took a deep breath and relaxed.
I know I did. I didn’t knit for awhile; happy for the break from “required” knitting.
But with the cold winds of January, I began to feel that welcome “itch.” I have no projects. I have empty hands and a lap with no yarn in it. Have to remedy that. It truly is a favorite time of year. The time to search for new patterns.
My annual search for a sweater for my husband is underway. I have several new books and leafing through them is like reading a mystery story. Who knows what will be revealed on the next page. An intricate cable? A mind-spinning Fair Isle? I know his birthday isn’t until November but half the fun is the selection.
Right now at the top of my list of possibilities is an argyle vest in new Knitting Classic Style book by Veronik Avery. I like it because it is a vest (no sleeves) and because it’s some color work but not make-me-crazy color work.Of course making this sweater depends on finding an appropriate yarn in appropriate colors. My middle-aged husband is not a fan of wild color combos. I’ll update you on my search
Meanwhile, I’ve decided it is time to make something for myself. Like so many of you, I’m often knitting for the world and have little on my project list that says “Me.”
But that has changed with our new year’s Knit Along. The appropriately named Tangled Yoke Cardigan from Fall 2007 Interweave Knit magazine.
I am not intimidated by the fact that I have to use #4 needles (the pattern suggests #5, but I am a well-known loose woman) and casting on 298 stitches (it’s worked in one piece to the armholes). Indeed I am quite taken with the challenge and look forward to the payoff -- an intricate cable across the yoke of the sweater. That I won’t reach it for another 8,000 rows (give or take a thousand) doesn’t really bother me. I look forward to the garter rib, the mindless stockinette. By the time I’m ready for the yoke, I’ll be ready for the somewhat hard work. And I love the Rowan Felted Tweed I’m using.
And so begins the new year, full of hope and expectations for yarns and patterns that will thrill and delight and make my fingers fly, my head think, my eye seek color combinations and my heart happy.
Lucia Herndon

Felted Tweed Now In!

2008-01-21T09:44:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the "Tangled Yoke" knit along.

Come in and stock up while supplies last or give us a call to check on color availability.

An Email From Lauren A.

2008-01-21T09:16:00.000-08:00

Greetings. Attached is a photo of the log cabin blanket (lap size) I completed
after attending the Knit-In. Also, thanks again to Lucia for the great sock
workshop today! I have conquered my fear of double-pointed needles....

Lauren

Lauren, Thanks so much for sharing.

Inspired Cables

2008-01-17T08:17:00.000-08:00

Hats off To Diana R. for knitting this truly inspirational sweater for her son's girlfriend. That is one lucky girl. Diana knit this beauty with Country 8 Ply using a pattern from "Inspired Cables"

2008-01-14T09:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! We hope you had a beautiful holiday season and are ready to get some great quality knitting time in now that all the fuss is behind us.

Here's our first beautiful customer finished project of the year. This is the Pea Pod sweater set from MinnowKnits, knit out of Classic Elite Provence, by our lovely customer Lin for her handsome new grandson, Jackson:

I can vouch for how cute he looked in this in person! Great work, Lin!

2007-12-22T06:48:00.000-08:00

I usually post pictures of fabulous projects that our wonderful customers have finished, but today I cannot resist posting a picture of a project that I just finished for my son.

This is "Theodore Bear", knit out of Berroco Peruvia (one of my new most favorite yarns of all time) and felted. I used Fiber Trends' Marigold Bears pattern, which was great - the bear is knit all in one piece, so no crazy sewing of ears and arms and legs. And of course, a holiday bear needs a holiday sweater, so I made up a pattern in my head and knit a little snowflake sweater out of the beautiful red Peruvia.

I highly recommend this pattern and the dreamy yarn. I love this bear so much now it will be hard to give him up to my son!!

Happy Holidays to you all! We can't wait to see what you all come up with in the new year!

My Best Resolution Yet

2007-12-14T21:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to all you in blog land. My end of the year blog is a little late as I try to finish up my Christmas knitting. Somehow all my great plans in September seem like too much in the bleak midwinter of December.
Socks, scarves, sweaters. In the golden autumn visions danced in my head like sugar plums in that old Christmas poem.
You know I never really liked sugar plums.
This is also the time when I take stock of my knitting projects of 2007. At the beginning of the year I make a list of the things I want to create. At the end of the year I find few of the things on my list were actually accomplished -- let’s face it, they never got on the needles.
Still, I did make a mohair cardigan for myself. I don’t even like mohair. But it looks really great when paired with my stylish black pants, black boots and crisp white, button down shirt. When I add a strand of pearls I look quite fashionable. But I digress.
I did manage to make my husband’s annual birthday sweater. I taught several knitting classes and led workshops on beaded, knitted Christmas ornaments for my knitting guild.
Truthfully, I don’t have a lot to show for this year. Which has led me to a new resolution for 2008.
Don’t make a list of things I want to make; then come December there will be nothing to haunt me. I will make the things that really matter and admire all the other things that strike my fancy but nothing more.
Still, there are my son’s socks that need finishing in time for Christmas. And I have to get the box for my Iowa family together -- including my mom’s scarf and my niece’s hooded cardigan -- yes, I did manage to finish those.
So with one sock yet to go, I’ll settle into my comfy knitting chair with my birch double points. I know I’ll eventually finish so I won’t stress myself with my pace.
I wish you all a happy holiday, a cozy chair, plenty of knitting time and lots of loved ones to knit for -- at your own speed.

Lucia

More Mohair Mittens

2007-12-10T05:39:00.000-08:00

Here are the mittens thay I made for my girls. Lauren is my pink princess girl. Liv is a little more sophisticated. I photographed them on the little bit of snow that we had last Thursday. It really made it feel like Christmas. Anyway, keep this to yourself cause these mittens are going in their stockings.

See you at the shop.

Mary's Favorite Gift to Give

2007-12-04T15:16:00.000-08:00

My friend, Laura, knit these mittens for me about 14 years ago give or take a few years. I Love These Mittens. I've only left them behind once and my husband and I combed the entire lobby of a hotel until we found them. And we did find them. I've made many pairs of mohair mittens since then for friends, family, and teachers and last year I made these red mittens for my friend, Laura.

2007-12-04T15:13:00.001-08:00