Did I tell you that several months ago, when a craft store in my town was going out of business, they put the expensive Alchemy Temple on sale?  I ended up buying them out, at least 50 plus skeins for $1 each!  There are all different colors with different dyelots, and some weren't even labeled, but they are perfect for a project like this.  Temple is super soft, 100 % machine washable wool and lovely to knit.   This little sweater is for a baby who lives in  Upcountry Maui, Hawaii, where the temperatures can get quite cold, yes, even Hawaii can get cold in certain parts of the state!  They yarn is so lovely and soft and I'm quite thrilled with stripes all the time--what's not to like?

Here's the links:

my project page on Ravelry
free pattern from Keya Kuhn

totally free/totally adorable blog post
with hints and tips for making FREE baby sweaters from your stash!

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Thank you!  Kristen

I have an early release copy of Martin Storey's new book, Little Rowan Explorers, a collection of 11 knitted unisex designs for children age 3-8 years.  I saw the darling garments displayed at the TNNA show last week and I couldn't wait to get my hands on my own copy.  You know I love knitting for babies and children and with me loving stripes the way I do--and after hunting through my stash, decided that Deacon below, would be my first.  I chose orange and black, white and gray, the San Francisco Giants colors, and will have it finished in time for baseball season. Go Giants!

The garments are knit in either Softyak DK, Summerlite DK, Summerlite 4-ply, or Handknit Cotton, all yarns I've used before and can recommend for their easy, machine-washable care and next-to-skin softness, plus they are all easy on the hands.  So many knitters have told me that cotton hurts or tires out their hands when knitting, and I've experienced that too.  But not with these, I don't know why, or what is different about these cottons, but they are very easy to knit and won't result in achy fingers.

The book is being sent to retailers now and you should be seeing it in your local yarn store soon.  All the yarns are readily available at your Rowan stockist now.

 Kaptain, the striped cardigan below, has a skull and crossbones option, above.

 Outlaw has a plain version above, and striped, below.

 Love the tiger pullover below, knit in Softyak DK.

Below is a corner of the Rowan booth at TNNA.

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You can view the collection on Ravelry
where some can be purchased as an individual download.

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Thank you!  Kristen

The prettiest booth was Rowan's, made dramatic with dozens of sweater samples from the new Rowan 61 Magazine, Rowan Loves Home, and Little Rowan Explorers--all displayed beautifully as only Rowan can do.  Rowan Magazine 61 and the other books are just new and should be at your yarn store very soon.  

More than a few of us were swooning over the artsy dress knitted in leaves of Fria Handpaints.

Above, Blue Sky Fibers had gigantic, yard-long plumes of yarn tassels displaying their silky, touchable yarns.

Below, Mrs. Crosby displayed her yarns spilling out of hatboxes, steamer trunks and traveling cases--adorable.

You've probably been to yarn fairs and Stitches and you wonder where the crowds are?  This was taken right before it opened, however, trade shows, mercifully, are never as crowded as the shows open for public--it's all business.

 There was masses of needlepoint too.  I was charmed by an entire wall of Kate Dickerson's Herend-style animals.



I love Shelridge Yarns above, and did manage to get into a little trouble in their booth!

Below is Appalachian Baby and their beautifully soft USA organic cotton and darling baby patterns.



I loved meeting West Yorkshire Spinners for the first time, and I imagine I'll be trying out their British grown yarn soon.  Read their great story here.




Below, and also from Yorkshire, Baa Ram Ewe brought their simply stunning Titus.  Must try.

Charming Jonathan Berner of MJ Yarns dyes the most scrumptiously soft yarns.

I often rave about the Gleener, the greatest sweater de-piller invented, and now they have a new travel size.  I'll have a giveaway soon, so stay tuned!

Della Q, above, will keep you super organized, see below!


It was a fun day!

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Thank you!  Kristen