Bloomin Yarns

**AS OF 11-10-2012, BLOOMIN YARNS IS CLOSED**

As if I haven't bought enough yarn lately (if you follow me on Face Book, you know what I mean), I discovered a lovely little yarn shop today!!   It is Bloomin Yarns in McMurray PA.   Small but well organized and packed with lots and lots of gorgeous fiber to feed your addiction.  Of course I couldn't leave without buying anything, so I got 4 hanks of Jojoland Cashmere and 2 of Asland Trends Class.  I have no immediate plans for this gorgeous fiber yet, so it's just going to hang out in my stash for now. And of course I really should finish a few of my UFO's that are hanging around begging me to pick them up and finish them.  Like..... the sweater I have been working on for a few years now.
Now, I could swear the girl in the shop told me her name, but now I simply cannot remember.  I do have the link to her blog - Have Projects, Will Travel, so check it out.

I was also at Jo-Ann's today, where they cruelly made me buy some more yarn... and beads for that tutorial I am planning.  Anyhow, they had the Sensations Boucle on sale.  Not that I need any more, but I went ahead and got two skeins -- but with a purpose.  My very first YouTube video was me working on a double knit triangle shawl.  It wasn't really instructive, I just wanted to see what would happen if I put up a video on the WWW.  I have had a number of requests for the pattern for the shawl; unfortunately I don't have a pattern.  I was just doing it from my head.  Scary, huh?  Also, I got bored with the project and actually frogged the whole thing.  Looking back, I wish I had finished it.  So the purpose for purchasing more of the Sensations Boucle (which I was using for the ill fated shawl) was so that I could start over, write up the pattern, and share it with anyone interested.

 I hope to get the next podcast recorded tomorrow and posted by next weekend; I have a ton of new books and yarn to share!  I also need to get my needles in gear and work on the next stitch for The Weekly Stitch - that should be up by tomorrow evening.

Well, I think I have blabbered on enough for now.  Here is a picture of the yarn I got from Bloomin Yarns today, as well as a few shots of the shop.  Enjoy!

Zimmermania

Did you know there is a blog called Zimmermania?  This is a blog dedicated to all of the 'unventings' of Elizabeth Zimmermann, or EZ.

The latest post is regarding the new book, Knit One Knit All, which is full of Elizabeth's garter stitch designs.  I love the hat on the cover, the Chambered Nautilus Tam.  That is the first project from this book that I am going to be knitting!  There are lots of other great patterns; if you are an EZ fan, I recommend adding this book to your knitting library!

Knit Simple Fall 2011

Hot off the press!  The latest issue just came today!

Lots of stuff to win with this issue.  To name a couple, you can win a cover kit, which is some Shepherd Bulky from Lorna's Laces to knit the beanie designed by Faith Hale.

Win some Kool-Aid, a skein of yarn and some Eucalan wash along with a neck warmer pattern to dye your own yarn!  I absolutely love dying yarn with Kool-Aid!  I have done this a number of times; it's so much fun, and you don't have to worry about any hazardous chemicals while dying.

You can also win Tulip's Carry C interchangeable needle set. The set has eleven pairs of bamboo needle tips (US sizes 3-13) with the cables.

Q and A with Jil Eaton - Instructions on how to knit a stitch in the row below.  Her answer contains instructions for knitting the Bee Stitch, which is a very lovely stitch.

Lots of gorgeous patterns, including:

• Turtleneck Cowl designed by  Lori Steinberg and knit with Artyarns' Supermerino
• Hooded Cardigan for a college bound (or not!)  girl, designed by John Brinegar and knit with Montana by Tahki Yarns/Tahki Stacy Charles
• Men's Hoodie for the college bound (or not) guy, designed by Dorcas Sokolow and knit with Berroco's Vintage Chunky

There are also some patterns that combine crochet and knit, such as  a beret designed by Patty Nance and knit with Northampton by Valley Yarns  (I have some of this in my stash to make a cabled blanket designed by Melissa Leapman, and it's very nice yarn!)

If you are interested in dying yarn with Kool-Aid, here is a video demonstrating the process:

If you would like to learn the Bee Stitch, you can find the written pattern HERE, and below is a video demonstrating this stitch

Sapphires-N-Purls Podcast: Episode 11

Episode 11 is up and running.  You can find links to the magazines I talk about in the magazine tab at the top of the blog, with the exception of the Baby Knits Collection.  I couldn't find a link anywhere for this magazine, sorry.

The Books:
Power Cables by Lily Chin
The Gossamer Webs Design Collection: Three Orenburg Shawls to Knit by Galina Khmeleva
Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls by Martha Waterman
Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd

The Yarn:
Butterfly Super 10 Mercerized Cotton Yarn from Mouzakis
Sublime Bamboo Pearls DK Yarn
Araucania Azapa  (And I say that I don't know what the colors are of this yarn, because there is just a number on the tag... color names are given on Jimmy Bean's website.  Duh!)
Cascade Ultra Pima 

The Cool Knitting Tools:
Addi Turbo Circular Stitch Holders
Susan Bates Handi Tool