Yarnplaycafe's Blog

Fresh Knits, New Bag

yarnplaycafe — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 21:28:20 +0000

By far, the most exciting thing at Yarn Play Café store is that I’ve added a new accessories pouch. It’s so cute, if I do say so myself. And very handy. It’s made of 10-ounce cotton canvas and resists pokey scissors, needles and is a great size for still being able to find your stitch markers at the bottom. Get one of these in stock or have one customized for you!

And in the midst of the Great Blizzard, I finished a wonderful knit that I’ve been wearing ’round to keep me toasty: Cassis

Made with cozy Berroco Ultra Alpaca in the “Candy Floss” colorway.

My one word of advice for struggling through winter: Enjoy it because soon enough people will be complaining that it’s too hot to knit!

Free Shipping Day

yarnplaycafe — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:21:31 +0000

Happy December! Things have been busy in the shop and with knitting, too. Later in November, I busted out a scarf for my younger sister’s birthday. I just adore feather and fan (this is Tiennie‘s Old Shale pattern with no modifications) and this scarf went very quickly.

The biggest current news, I think, is that I’m participating in Free Shipping Day tomorrow! You can see all the Etsy stores that are participating, and find yourself or your loved ones a one-of-a-kind bargain for the holiday season. Visit Yarn Play Café any time tomorrow and get free shipping in the United States. No coupon necessary.

Fabulous Year

yarnplaycafe — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:39:51 +0000

What an amazing year.
Use the code HOWBOUT15 to take 15% off any in stock items at Yarn Play Café until 12/1/10.
Thank you for making it such a memorable year.

I know, right?

yarnplaycafe — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:40:05 +0000

Going a little crazy here with blog posts this week! Hold on to your hats–here’s another one.

Today, my third day home with a sick daughter, we were photographing bags for a shop update, and she was cold, so I put her Helena sweater on her. I knit this two years ago and it fits so well now. So we took some updated, sassified photos for the Ravelry project entry.

Then:

NOW:

Real sick, isn’t she?

Long & cozy

yarnplaycafe — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:26:09 +0000

I suppose because I had quickly posted it on Facebook, I forgot to update the blog with my most recent knitting accomplishment: a long Central Park Hoodie. And big thanks to friend Heidi for cheering me on; there were a few points at which I was sure this sweater was going to look like a housecoat.

Thankfully, it doesn’t (much.) I love it a lot, although I haven’t been able to wear it much yet, surprisingly enough. We’ve had a fabulous, warm fall and are very appreciative of it. Although when it snows, I am ready. You can visit my project on Ravelry here.

Veterans’ Day

yarnplaycafe — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:54:22 +0000

Today is almost over, but I had to acknowledge Veterans’ Day. My father is a veteran of the Vietnam War. Three years ago I wrote this post, and I’m happy to report that earlier this week I did find Veterans’ Day cards at Walgreens. So maybe things are improving? I sure hope so. Because no matter how you feel about war, there are people who deserve to have their sacrifice honored.

Happy Birthday to Me.

yarnplaycafe — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:37:55 +0000

Well, it’s not my birthday, it’s my store’s birthday. And it was yesterday. However, events from the weekend spilled over into yesterday, making it impossible to get on with the business of picking a random person for the giveaway! Thankfully, although my husband’s successful business trip to Singapore culminated in a trip to the ER the day he got home, he’s much better today.

So on with it already.

The Giveaway Winner is Thea! She blogs at BabyCocktails. Thank you so much for all of your kind comments. I was overwhelmed by them and so happy to be among such a supportive fiber arts community.

iKnit Messenger

Turning One

yarnplaycafe — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:11:48 +0000

Good news all around! Working with a customer, I found a messenger bag to sell in the store. I’m excited about it because it comes in a few different colors and gives us more options for carrying our projects and stuff around.

When stuffed with 20 skeins of Jo Sharp Classic DK (as shown) it measures 14.5 inches long by 10.5 inches wide. The adjustable strap drops 20 inches at its longest. Not an ounce of velcro on this puppy either. There’s an internal, zippered pocket that measures about 6.5 inches wide by 8 inches long and it’s perfect for your measuring tape, darning needles, stitch markers and the like.

ALSO. Yarn Play Café TURNS ONE on Monday, November 8! In the style of Zigzagstitch, I’m going to run a giveaway that includes one skein of local Blackberry Ridge Mer-made Plus Fingering in Blackberry (photo below) and any in-stock YPC bag of your choice! Just leave a comment on this blog post to be eligible. If you tweet about it or post on Facebook about it, that also earns you another chance to win (just please let me know that you did that by emailing me). The blog comments will close at 10pm, Sunday November 7, and I’ll announce the random, lucky person in a blog post on Monday, November 8. Thanks so much for the past year. I’ve learned a lot and met so many great, supportive people.

Blackberry Ridge Mer-Made Fingering in Blackberry

Luxury Knitting

yarnplaycafe — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:48:17 +0000

My husband and I were fortunate to receive tickets to see last weekend’s football game here (Badgers vs. Sun Devils), and the tickets were in a luxury box. My husband thought knitting was probably not a good idea, so I didn’t bring any. But hark, what’s that…the next box over?
That’s the last time I listen to him when it comes to knitting.

Tales of wool and sheep.

yarnplaycafe — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:00:47 +0000

It has been about two years since I’ve been to a fiber festival. I had forgotten how intoxicating it can be. Thankfully, I was by myself today when I ventured 45 minutes away to the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival in Jefferson, Wis, because I took a lot of funny photos and sniffed a lot of yarn. Apologies for the photo-laden post!

The Country Store Barns filled with a *lot* of yarn, roving and fiber-related stuff.

The Briar Rose Fibers booth, where I bought this:

“Grandma’s Blessing” – 600+ yards of sportweight wool

Sun Valley Fibers booth, owned & operated by my knitting friend Jeanette, where I bought this:

MCN Lace (although it’s like a fingering) in Glacier Blue

I also dropped off two Yarn Play Café bags for the Silent Auction to benefit the Midwest Shetland Sheep Breeders Association. A fiber festival day is a great day for sure.