The Village Sheep

New Year, New Knits?

2012-01-04T21:47:00.004-05:00

Let me begin by saying, Happy New Year!!

Each new year always seems to start with such hope and promise, its hard not to feel a little excited about all the possibilities that lay ahead. I try not to go crazy making unreasonable resolutions, but its hard not to get caught up in the excitement!
Of course I'm trying really hard not to read too much into the fact that I'm starting off the new year with a sinus infection. bah, humbug. But being home sick does have its rare advantages. Advantage number one? Warm puppy heaters.
Advantage number two? I've managed to get sick on what is turning out to be the coldest day this winter season, so far... So while everyone else is bundling up and heading back to work, I'm tucked in on the couch by the wood stove with a couple of very warm and cozy dogs :)

I've also had a little time to hunker down with some knitting and finally managed to find an inspiring pattern to knit for my friends expecting their first baby. The Yarn Harlot blogged about the Puerperium Cardigan and I couldn't resist casting on. Apparently everyone has been having the same thought, the designer (Kelly Brooker) has been kind enough to run a sale! You can get her pattern, Beyond Puerperium (a comprehensive version of the pattern with multiple gauges) for 25% off through January 8th!

So, I cast on. I decided to use Sweater, a worsted weight superwash wool and organic cotton blend from Spud and Chloe. Its machine washable which is always a plus when knitting for a little one and soft enough for that delicate baby skin. I love the vibrant colors too, perfect for brightening things up in this drab season. I have a big delivery of MORE sweater coming soon so I'll be offering a discount through January 8th for those who want to join me! Puppy heater not included...

Happy Knitting!
Maggie

Long days

2011-08-03T23:22:00.001-04:00

We are enjoying a rare moment at my house, SILENCE.

The TV is off, no music, there is almost nothing but the odd little creak from the ceiling fan. Both dogs are passed out on various pieces of furniture in a manner that would imply they actually did some kind of work today, HA. And me? I'm listening to the orchestra in my yard of passing raindrops and a chorus of happy frogs. Or are they toads? I even, dare I say it, picked up the knitting and knit a few rows!

Closing the physical yarn shop has involved quite the roller-coaster of events and emotions. The shop has been filled with a steady stream of shoppers and well-wishers, and a few pouts too! It does make me feel loved when I see those pouts, people playfully expressing their unhappiness in my closing. But I tell them, it was a difficult decision that was not made lightly, and one that has a bright side - Maggie gets a little time!!

Of course I can see that I won't have any time for the next few weeks, there are just too many people to see and talk to, much yarn to find homes for, and never enough hours in the day for any of it!

And so I take this moment, brief as it may be, and I'm soaking it up as best I can!

Sigh. And there it goes...

The next few weeks will be filled with incredible amounts of chaos, but I am looking forward to the next chapter. I hope that the end of summer and fall will bring lots of great things to this blog and our website (which we are already working on improvements for). Up next? In depth reviews and discussions of the shop's yarns, knit-alongs, tutorials, patterns and original designs, and who knows!!

Happy Knitting,

Maggie

almost done...

2011-06-26T12:36:00.006-04:00

I took a few minutes this morning to take stock of the items lurking in my various knitting bags. First of all, please don't tell my husband how many knitting bags I have or he will keep calling me the bag lady. And second of all, oh dear me the UFOs are threatening to take over!!

It was just over ten years ago on an email chat list about knitting that I first heard the term UFO (which if you don't know, means Un-Finished Object). The term was coined by knitters who found themselves with multiple Works-In-Progress (WIPs) in addition to several projects that had been set aside for lengthy periods of time (presumably to focus on the more current WIPs). UFO really refers to a project that is not in the active knitting rotation.

Upon learning what UFO meant I remember thinking two things: One, what a brilliant knitting term. And two, these are my people.

Knitters come in many forms with various knitting styles, technical preferences, and general philosophies of knitting. I've always admired those knitters able to limit themselves to one project at a time, but I freely admit that I will never be one.

I started out so innocently with one simple project and one complicated project at all times. This allowed me something interesting to knit when I wanted to pay attention, and something mindless for watching TV or reading. But, my best intentions quickly went awry. It seemed that no matter how hard I tried I was always setting my current projects aside to whip up something for Suzy-Q's birthday or Jane Doe's baby shower. And once a project has been set aside, how quickly it can be forgotten when a new yummy yarn or tempting pattern appears.

Of course now that I own a yarn shop, this is further complicated by customer requests for fixes and finishing work or the need to knit shop samples. Now it is actually my job to give into the temptation of a new yarn!! What is a girl to do?

For several years after college I was also able to use moving as an excuse - the constant packing and unpacking of boxes resulted in multiple projects being misplaced. Unfortunately my husband and I have lived in our house for 5 years now so that excuse is wearing a bit thin. Not too long ago, I was looking for some yarn in my home stash when I happened upon a half-knit baby sweater, I'm guessing a size one. Sadly, I cannot even pretend to tell you who the intended recipient was. My first guess was my youngest nephew, but I've decided that would just be embarrassing since he will be turning eight this year. Of course you'll notice I *still* haven't finished it since I found it...

So after this morning's review of the knitting bag I have decided to set some finishing goals for this week. The goal: to finish at least three almost done projects. This is the saddest aspect of my UFOs - they are all inches away from being done, or just need something simple like the neckline ribbing.

First up: My Lucia Tee knit in Ty-Dy Cotton.
I need to knit about 2 more inches in the established pattern, purl one row and bind off. The simple lace pattern around the yoke knits up quickly and easily, I could even be wearing this top later this week!! Well, that implies that I'll actually block it the moment I'm done. Now that's a whole different story!!

Happy Knitting!
Maggie

Love For Summer Yarns

2011-04-15T14:57:00.007-04:00

As the owner of a yarn shop, I always have a lot of things on my to-do list. There are many things to get done around the shop, some fun and some not so fun. One of the more fun tasks? Playing with the new yarns!!
I try and tell my husband that it is really my duty to 'test' the yarns for my customers, but he doesn't seem to believe me. I guess it would be more believable if I didn't knit things in my size...

There are some new yarns that I've brought in the shop recently so I've been knitting up a storm. One of the new yarns is multi-color cotton called Ty-Dy from a company called Knit One, Crochet Too. Ty-Dy isn't a brand new yarn, but it is new to our shop this year so I couldn't wait to try it out! Especially when I saw this free pattern for an adorable summer top on Knit One, Crochet Too's website!

I cast on as soon as Ty-Dy arrived at the shop and so far I'm pleased with the progress. The yarn itself is knitting up really nicely. It is soft and the finished fabric doesn't feel too stiff. I love the way the colors are coming out too - it creates stripes as you work. And personally, I like the fact that the stripes are a bit random and less structured. I think it creates a more unique piece. Overall, I'm giving this yarn a thumbs up!! Let's just hope it fits right when I'm done!!

A New Knit-Along?

2010-11-05T14:00:00.001-04:00

Now that moving is finished and the shop is all unpacked (again), I think it is time to get back to the good stuff... Knitting!! It was really nice to see everyone's finished sweaters from our spring knit-along, so I thought it was time for another one!!
The weather in Connecticut today is cold and rainy and all I can think about it a cozy cardigan to wrap myself in, I'm thinking a shawl collar for extra cozy-ness. Take a look at these three sweaters:

The first is a pattern called Iced. This cozy sweater is knit in a bulky yarn from the top down. Cast on at the neck edge and increase for the sleeves (a similar concept to our last knit-along). It is plain sweater with a relaxed, casual feel from the garter stitch collar and raw rolled-edge cuffs. This pattern is the easiest of the sweaters I've selected.

Next up is the Victoria Cardigan. Victoria is slightly less casual, but with an easy all-over texture pattern called moss stitch. The moss stitch isn't complicated, just a combination of knits and purls, but it does require that you pay a little attention. This sweater is knit in pieces and then sewn together, great practice for our finishing skills.

And lastly, take a look at the Girl Friday cardigan. This is the most complicated of the three cardigans we're looking at, but let me assure you it really isn't all THAT difficult. This sweater is knit in pieces and features a simple lace pattern. For those that participated in our last knit-along, this pattern will be a piece of cake! The "lace" pattern is a very simple combination of yarn overs and decreases and is repeated through the whole sweater - and easy to memorize!!

Please take a look at these patterns and comment on this post or our facebook page to place your vote! Once we've settled on a pattern I'll select some appropriate yarns and will make a coupon available again to those participating.

I can't wait to get started!!

Happy Knitting!!
Maggie

A new home for The Sheep

2010-11-04T13:10:00.006-04:00

As some of you may or may not have heard, The Village Sheep has moved, AGAIN. It was rather last minute and I have to apologize to all of you for not giving you some warning, but I had little myself. Its a long story so I spare you the details, but I'll just say there is at least a happy ending!!

We've moved down the street to a new cozy spot on River Road. The shop is all set and open for business and Nate is curled up in bed waiting to greet visitors! Its been a little hectic the past few weeks, but everything is just about unpacked and the shop is finally looking like a shop again! I'll have to take some new pictures so everyone can see, or better yet... drop in and see for yourself!
We can't wait to see everyone! Stop in and say hi, Nate is anxious to see all his friends :) PLUS, there are some great deals on clearance items so I can make room for all the new goodies. Fall and Winter yarns are here, plus great new kits and accessories.

See you at The Sheep!
Happy Knitting!
Maggie

2010-07-01T12:03:00.011-04:00

BAD Maggie, BAD girl.

When I start a new pattern I sometimes get a little too excited and a little carried away. So when we started the Tappan Zee Cardigan Knit-Along, I couldn't wait to cast on and get knitting! And I apparently got a little carried away, oops! I found I had surged too far ahead and forced myself to put my cardi down until people had a chance to catch up. But, being the crazy knitter that I am I had to work on three other projects in the meantime. Of course then I noticed how far people had progressed on their cardis and realized I had forgotten all about mine!! So, I guess better late then never... After surging ahead in the beginning, I'm now caught back up with everyone else.

Now where did we leave off? Ah yes, we were going to talk about lace. Now, I'm not going to deny that lace can get complicated. There are some very intricate and complicated patterns for lace, but the basic concepts of lace are very straightforward. To knit a basic lace pattern, you need to know how to increase and decrease and make a yarn-over. In the last post I talked a bit about increases, so let's turn our focus to decreases.
Basic lace is achieved through a series of yarn-overs (creating eyelet holes) that are placed in a certain way to make a pattern. Now, as you know from our earlier discussions about gauge, the number of stitches you have is what determines the size. And since a yarn over creates an extra stitch, we need to make sure that we decrease too in order to maintain the correct number of stitches for our size. So when you look at a lace pattern, you will notice that for every yarn over or increase, there is a corresponding decrease. This is one of the things I love about lace! There is symmetry and balance, it speaks to my math brain.
The decreases in the lace serve a practical purpose in keeping the stitch count correct, but their placement is also decorative. By knitting two stitches together or knitting what's called an SSK (slip, slip, knit) you can make your decrease appear to slant left or right. These are known as leaning or slanting decreases.
This is when we start getting decorative by choosing which direction we want our decreases to slant. Take a look at the picture on the right and look at how the decreases help to create the diamond shape.
On the bottom half of the diamond, the decreases are on the outside of the diamond and lean away. On the top half of the diamond, the decreases are in the center of the diamond and lean inward. By positioning the decreases in this way, it helps accentuate the shape of the diamond.
Another common shape in lace knitting is a leaf, created in a similar manner by using leaning decreases to create the outside edge of the leaf.
The only other technique used in this lace pattern is a double decrease, in this case a sk2p. Translation? Slip one stitch, knit two stitches together, pass the slipped stitch over. The effect? Your knit two stitches together will lean in from one side and your slipped stitch will lean in from the other side. Your middle stitch will be nice and centered with the other stitches leaning inwards and forming the point of the diamond.
So how do we all feel about lace now? I know this is a rather quick introduction, but it is a nice basic way to start. The individual techniques used in this sweater are all relatively simple and I'm guessing most of you have encountered them in other project.
That's the thing with knitting though, few of the individual techniques are really all that complicated. It is how you combine everything that makes a project more intricate and sophisticated. But knitting itself should not be hard/scary/stressful/etc... so take it one step at a time!
After you survive the lace around the yoke of this sweater, you're home free!! The pattern will walk you through casting off the armhole stitches and joining up the body stitches. And then? There is a lot of stockinette. Just make sure you keep some stitch markers in place to remind yourself to always knit the first and last five stitches to make the garter stitch border. The body of this sweater makes great TV or movie knitting!
If you are interested in adding sleeves to your sweater, just slip your live stitches onto a stitch holder or piece of scrap yarn instead of casting them off. You can go back later and pick them up to knit your sleeves top down in the round. Take a look at people's project pages on Ravelry to get some tips on shaping and sleeve length.
And hopefully, next time we see each other we'll be wearing our FOs!!

Happy Knitting!
Maggie

Shall We Begin?

2010-05-16T12:38:00.005-04:00

I was all gung-ho to get going earlier on my cardi and boy did time get away from me! I'm guessing everyone out there has already cast on and started knitting away. I've made my way through the first section and I'm in the second section, ready to start the first lace chart. But before I start on the lace, I wanted to talk about some of the techniques used in the first section. I know we have a variety of knitters joining us on this knit along, and I don't want to assume that everyone is familiar with every technique. With that in mind, I may be covering some topics that may seem rather basic, but I believe are very important. I hope to encourage all of you to really think about your knitting and learn from it, it will help you become not only a good knitter, but help you turn out FOs (Finished Objects) that you like and can wear.
This cardi starts out simply with a garter stitch border. The first thing we come to is a simple button hole made with a knit-two-together and a yarn-over. Personally, I am the kind of person who picks my buttons when my knitting is done. This means I can just pick whatever works with my FO so I don't worry too much about the size if the button hole. But, bear in mind that size of your button hole is the size of your yarn over, which will vary with each yarn and needle you work with. This means, that if you have chosen a particular button before you start knitting, you'll want to be sure your button hole will be the right size. There are many ways to make a button hole, which is probably another topic for another day, but I did want to mention it for those who might be new to knitting a garment like this.
The rest of the first section and beginning of the second section are pretty straightforward (garter stitch, stockinette stitch, eyelets formed with Knit-two-togethers and yarn-overs), with one exception - increases!! Within the first section you start increasing your number of stitches; this is how you will shape the cardi going from the neck to the body and the arms. I should probably warn all of you now, I'm one of those crazy people when it comes to increasing and decreasing. I can't help it, I love me some good decorative shaping!! But I'll try and stick to just some basic increasing today...
I won't try and explain every type of increase, because there are way too many to cover in one little blog post. But, it is important to understand them a little bit to get the most out of your knitting. Increasing the number of stitches will shape your project, and the way you increase can effect the final look of your project. For example, you can increase one stitch by making a yarn over, but you also get a hole in your work. That can be a decorative part of the pattern though, with the hole appropriately placed to give a lace look perhaps. Or you can use what are called a leaning or slanting increase along the edge to mimic the way the way your piece will be shaped or to accentuate a line of shaping in the center. If a pattern intends the shaping to be decorative, it should be specific as to what type of increase it wants you to use to get the desired effect. The shaping in project our isn't meant to be decorative, just a practical increase. In these cases of practical increases it will usually just say m1 (make one). Now, Knitty.com is kind enough to offer The Knitty Standards to help us decipher their patterns. All books, magazines, and well written single patterns should offer you a list of abbreviations like this to help you read the pattern. There are instructions in The Knitty Standards on how to Make 1, or you may use your preferred method. I always recommend every knitter have a general knitting reference book or stitch dictionary in their library. It helps to be able to look at the descriptions and instructions to help determine when you should use which kind of shaping. Through my years of knitting, I've become partial to knitting through the back loop for my increases. I've tried to zoom in on my photo here so you can see what they look like, but photography is not my strong point! You will often see this increase abbreviated as 'K1, K1tbl' or even 'kfb' (knit through front and back loop). Essentially, you are going to knit the stitch normally (this is knitting through the front) and before you take your old stitch off the left hand needle, you insert your needle a second time through the back of the stitch and knit a second stitch. I'm better at demonstrating this than explaining this (clearly I'll never write a book), but you can find videos at www.KnittingHelp.com. Bear in mind that all Make 1 stitches are going to be slightly visible in some way. Knitty's make one can leave a tiny hole or gap and my make one makes a little bar across the increase, but they all accomplish the same thing.
Hopefully this has provided a *little* insight for everyone. I don't want to suggest that you question every detail of a pattern, but I think it is important to understand why the designer is using a certain technique in a certain situation. The more you understand a pattern in the way, the more freedom you have to customize it or write one yourself!

Happy Knitting!!
Maggie

What Needle Shall I Pick??

2010-05-11T20:12:00.000-04:00

It is always exciting starting a new project, the thrill of trying new patterns and playing with new yarn. We've all experienced that moment of anticipation, fingers twitching to cast on, but there is one thing standing in your way; the gauge swatch. DA NA!!!! (that doesn't sound as dramatic when I type it out instead of singing it)
I thought before we can really start with the fun part of our knit-along, it is best to start with the practical stuff, a gauge swatch. One of the most difficult things to explain to new knitters is the importance of gauge. The size needle to use for a given yarn or pattern depends on the person knitting it, which is a strange concept. I get a lot of 'oh but the pattern says' and 'the label on the yarn said' at my shop when people ask about needle size. To really explain the importance of gauge, I think I should introduce you to Jasper and Lizzie.
Jasper (gray bear on the right) and Lizzie (brown bear on the left) are two of our friends from the bear knitting class. These days they like to hang out around the shop to teach people about gauge. The interesting thing about Jasper and Lizzie is they are identical; same number of stitches, same number of rows, same same same. BUT... Jasper was knit out of a bulky yarn on a size 10US needle, while Miss Lizzie was knit out of a sport weight yarn on a size 3US needle. So imagine, you are supposed to be knitting a sweater with a yarn and needle like Lizzie, but you use a yarn and needle like Jasper. Suddenly, that cute little summer top will now be a perfect fit for the Jolly Green Giant! This is of course an extreme case of a gauge problem, but the same concept it true even on a different scale. So let's talk about this in terms of our pattern, Tappan Zee Cardigan.
The gauge listed on the pattern is 5 stitches to the inch, meaning that the width of five stitches should measure one inch. Let's use my sweater as an example, I'll be knitting the third size with a finished measurement of 40". After shaping the top of the sweater, the main body of the sweater is knit over 201 stitches. And, utilizing our division skills, 201 stitches divided by 5 stitches to the inch, equals 40"!!! So as long as my gauge is correct, my sweater will fit correctly. But say I knit very tightly and my gauge is coming out to 6 stitches to the inch. That same 201 stitches divided by six stitches means my sweater will only be 33.5" and way too small for me.
This is all the REALLY long way of saying, you have to make sure that the needle and yarn you are using give the same gauge that is listed in the pattern to make sure your finished item will fit! So let's take a look at my gauge swatch in the photo here (luckily I was at a wedding this weekend and have a lovely manicure!). You pattern will tell you what stitch to use when checking gauge. Most of the time it will be over stockinette stitch, but be careful if gauge is listed over pattern stitch - this may happen in patterns involving lace or cables. For my swatch, I cast on 25 stitches and knit sections with three different size needles, placing a purl ridge between each section. I did this so I could accurately see which needle gave the closest match to the gauge listed in the pattern. In this particular case, my gauge was closest on the middle section, using a size six needle. Which means... I'm ready to cast on!!
One other random thought on gauge before we move on... When looking at gauge, also consider the quality of the knitted fabric. If my gauge is correct, but the fabric is too tight it may be too stiff and uncomfortable when it is finished. Or, if it is too loose you may loose the structure and shaping from a textured pattern. This is why you have to consider an appropriate yarn AND needle for your pattern.
So now that I've successfully completed my gauge swatch, I get to cast on!! Of course after all that work, knitting seven rows of garter stitch seems rather anti-climactic. But we're just getting started...
So everyone knit your gauge swatch, check your needle, and cast on!! Next, we'll jump right into working the increases to form the yoke of the sweater!!

Spring Knit-Along!!

2010-04-30T12:16:00.000-04:00

I've been getting ready to start a new knitting project and thought, why not invite everyone to join me and make it a knit-along?? I will be posting here on our shop's Blog as we go with pictures of my progress and discussions of the techniques used in the pattern. Our Facebook page will have links when there is a new post, or you can join us on our Ravelry discussion board.

The pattern I've chosen is from the online knitting magazine Knitty. If you are not familiar with Knitty please take a moment to check it out. This is a wonderful FREE website. They have beautiful patterns that are all reliable and professionally done. They also have wonderful, informative articles and technical information. Please support this wonderful publication by supporting their advertisers or leave a tip in their tip jar!

And now, the pattern!! I've chosen a short-sleeved cardigan called the Tappan Zee Cardigan. I've been resisting the urge to cast on for this pattern since it was published, trying to be a good girl and finish a few other things first. But I can't wait any longer!! It is knit in one piece from the top down and features a diamond lace pattern around the yoke. The skill level is listed as 'tangy' which translates to medium difficulty or an intermediate knitter. Beyond knitting and purling, this pattern uses yarn overs and several different kind of decreases. As the knit-along progresses, I'll be posting pictures of my WIP (work-in-progress) and discussing the techniques as much as I can. This pattern is a good introduction to lace so if you haven't tried lace before, don't worry, IT ISN'T SCARY. I promise. We'll all take this one step at a time together!!

As for the yarn, the pattern is written using the designer's own handspun yarn, but suggests Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool as the commercial alternative. This is the yarn I plan on using for my cardigan, but there are many others that would also be suitable. The Silky Wool is (if the name didn't give it away) a silk and wool blend. The wool offers some warmth while the silk adds drape. But this is a lighter yarn overall, making it an ideal choice for covering up the shoulders in the Spring and Summer. Feel free to e-mail or post on Facebook or Ravelry if you'd like to discuss alternatives.

For those participating in the knit-along, I would like to offer a coupon for the purchase of your yarn. Please e-mail Questions@TheVillageSheep.com with Knit-Along in the subject line and I will send you a coupon code for our website. I am asking everyone to please use the honor system and use this coupon ONLY for your knit-along supplies.

I'll wait a week or so to get started, let everyone have a chance to get their yarn and get organized. I'll start my casting on and blog posting around May 11th, but people are welcome to join us after that.

SO excited, my fingers are twitching to cast on already!!

Happy Knitting!
Maggie

A Little Bit of History

2010-04-25T20:52:00.000-04:00

Moving The Village Sheep to Washington Depot was quite an adventure. But, it was well worth the effort because we are SO happy to be in our new location! Not only is our new space incredibly beautiful, but it is so wonderful to be in the center of town and part of a community. I was so excited when I found the space last year, it was so perfect! Looking around town, it felt like a page out of Blossom Street. But, it was missing a yarn shop...
And it turns out, that was EXACTLY what was missing. You see, our new home has always had a yarn shop! Our good friends Diana and Barbara made Washington Depot the home of their shop Nimble Fingers. And eventually, their shop teamed up with Eileen and Feather Ridge Designs to have yarn AND needlepoint!
And before that, there was Bea. A good friend of mine who has lived in town all her life told me stories about buying yarn from a woman name Bea Davenport who ran a little shop called Bea's Country Store & Yarn Shop. From what I've been told Bea carried not only a selection of yarn, but EVERYTHING a woman might want from miscellaneous sewing notions to hosiery. And it was only after we moved in to our new space that I learned that Bea's shop occupied the EXACT space we do!!
Not too long ago, someone brought in some yarn from her stash that she wanted to give away. We sorted through it all to find it good homes and we found an old pattern booklet with a copyright date of 1978. And guess what was stamped on the front??

Country Store & Yarn Shop
Washington Depot
CONN. 06794

So, 30 years later, this little pattern book has found its way back to where it came from!!

Time To Start Anew!!

2010-04-14T21:50:00.000-04:00

Dear Knitters (and Blog readers)-

Please don't look at the date of the last post on this blog, just don't do it. Why? Because I'm rather embarrassed by just how long it has been. Let us just say that the past year has been, long. Yes, long is a good word.

I became the official owner of The Village Sheep on December 1, 2008. Since that historic day, I have spent a lot of time at the store. I have re-arranged the store, brought in new yarns, moved the store, hosted classes and book signings, and sat in on more knitting groups than I could count if I tried. The past year (and 4.5 months) have been a myriad of adjectives: fun, educational, exhausting, terrifying, exciting, challenging, satisfying, and more words that I can't think of right now.

The best things I have been able to take away from my time so far, is all the wonderful people. From chatting with the ladies at knitting group, to helping a new knitter pick out their next project, I love being at the store. I feel so lucky to have had the chance to meet so many people, and even more so that I can call so many of you friends. I can honestly say, I would not have survived this long without you.

It may have something to do with the fact that Spring is in the air, but I'm feeling inspired. The sunshine and delightfully warm afternoons always seem to lift my spirits and give me a mental boost. I feel like I can tell all of you this, my knitting family, this winter was not my best. After working too many hours and days in a row, I was tired. I think we all suffer a little bit of the winter blues sometimes, and all you want to do is just get through the day. But NO MORE!! I'm going to take advantage of my Spring Fever and start anew!!

A friend of mine who owns a yarn shop in Massachusetts warned me once that owning a yarn shop is a labor of love. And my wise friend is right. I know I'll never become a millionaire, but the chance to say that I love my job is worth so much more. I have so many goals for this year and so many ideas that I hardly know where to begin. But I wanted to take this moment, proclaim to all my knitting family, that I hope to work this year and make The Village Sheep better for everyone. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my little shop filled with my knitting family and sharing in their fiber triumphs!

So please keep checking back for updates on my continuing journey at The Village Sheep, as I plan on posting here FAR more often!!

Take our Poll

2010-02-02T17:27:00.000-05:00

We're always trying to figure out what we can do to make our shop better for all of our knitters, so we'd love to know what kind of classes people would like to take. Please take a moment to answer our little poll and let us know!

Click HERE for Poll

Nate's Yarn Picks

2010-01-14T16:39:00.000-05:00

Hi, my name is Nate! I go to work with my mom every day at The Village Sheep yarn shop.

I like going to work at the yarn shop, its a really fun place! I get to meet so many new people and hang out with all my friends. My mom seems to think that I'm only here for belly rubs and the all you can eat cookies, but she's wrong. This is hard work!

I have to make sure that I say hello to everyone that walks in, and believe me this tail doesn't wag itself! Sometimes I don't think humans really understand how much effort goes into being this cute.

My mom has been ordering some new yarns lately and I thought I might share some of my notes with everyone. It may LOOK like I just nap all day, but I pay attention.

My mom recently ordered a new sock yarn called Ranco. She said its a sport weight sock yarn, whatever that means, and that it would make a slightly heavier sock. But I don't wear socks! I was looking at some patterns with her and I think there are a lot of other things you could make with this yarn. I liked some of the scarves and shawls she found on Knitty (a free online knitting magazine), maybe I can get her to make one for me! Take a look at these patterns:

Ella - A V-Shaped shawl with lace
Lace Ribbon Scarf - An easy to memorize lace scarf (great for wrapping)
Argosy - An angular scarf, its hip to be square
Bitterroot - A stunning lace pattern to make either a cute shawlette or full sized triangular shawl

The nice thing about Ranco is that it is a hand dyed yarn and comes in a lot of beautiful colors! I think she should make me a nice scarf to wear to work because the colors would look really nice against my fur. Don't you think?

As a thank you to everyone who is reading my post, you can save $3.00 a skein when you order Ranco on my mom's website, www.TheVillageSheep.com, when you use the code ScarfPup at checkout. The code will work until my next post.

Thanks to everyone for the cookies and belly rubs and I can't wait to see you all again soon!

Wag wag wag
Nate

What to knit first??

2009-09-01T12:50:00.000-04:00

There are so many reasons to love fall! The return of sweater season, warm apple cider donuts, my wedding anniversary, and... NEW FALL YARNS!! Alissa and I have been unpacking and unpacking and re-arranging the store constantly the last few weeks. Fun times! I thought everyone out there in cyberland might like to have a peek...

This first photo isn't actually a new yarn, but it was just so pretty I had to share. Eileen is working on a vest for herself using Mushishi which is a wool silk blend from Plymouth yarns. It is rather impressive to look at because it is a HUGE hank, but look how much prettier it gets when you wind it:

Delish!!

And now, some new yarns!! Let's start with our two new yarns from J. Knits

First there is Superwash Me DK which is a beautiful hand dyed superwash merino. It is soft enough to be next to the skin, I have visions of some really cute baby sweaters like Helena from Knitty. How cute is that? And look at these colors...

And while I haven't decided yet what to make with the next yarn, I know I have to have it! Every time I walk by my hand just automatically reaches out to feel the softness of the Wash Me Superchunk, it is amazing!! Just look at this:

There are just too many pretty colors! I'm plugging away at getting more new yarns up on our website so there is definitely more to come!!

Happy Knitting

Sunday Sale August 16th

2009-08-16T07:36:00.000-04:00

Check out today's Sunday Sale!!

Mulberry Merino for $7.00

Rowan Scottish Tweed DK for $7.95

Ultra Alpaca Light for $4.50

Happy Knitting!!
Maggie

REALLY BIG Sale

2009-07-05T11:44:00.000-04:00

I've dubbed today's Sunday Sale as the "REALLY BIG Sale" because frankly, there was too much for me to list! If you're shopping online you can find the online sale yarns at:

Sale Yarns!!

Or... if you are in the neighborhood, stop in!! We have a REALLY BIG In-Store Sale today as well! Oh, and Nate says if you're coming, please bring him cookies. Silly Boy...

Happy Sunday!
Happy Knitting!
and Happy Fourth!!
Maggie

Sunday Sale June 28th

2009-06-28T13:11:00.001-04:00

Today's Sunday Sale is called A Tweed For All Seasons
Enjoy 15% off Cotton Classic Tweedy, Rowan Summer Tweed, and Tahki Donegal Tweed online at www.thevillagesheep.com
And for those of you in the area, we have in-store daily specials too!!

Happy Sunday and Happy Knitting!!

Uh oh...

2009-06-25T17:12:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder what happens when you give a knitter with an odd sense of humor an iPhone? Well, we were taking pictures of people's projects for the Show Us Your FOs blog and someone pointed out that our model needed a face, or at least a head. There was talk of what we could make and I realized... There's an app for that!! Behold our darling manequin (who remains unnamed!) crossed with our beloved mascot Nate!!

I'm not sure that color really does anything for him, I think a brighter tone would suit him better.
So what are YOU making?

Happy Knitting!!

Exciting Times!!

2009-06-21T08:42:00.001-04:00

Whew. I'm pleased to say that after more late nights than I care to think about, our new website is ready!! There were some challenges along the way, but what is life without them? Of course our website will be an ever evolving creature since we're always getting new stuff!! But at least the first stage is complete. I'm excited to start putting new stuff up on our site, just waiting for the photos.
How about a little peak?
There's new colors from Brown Sheep:

And new yarns altogether like Plymouth:

And Jojoland:

But I'm getting ahead of myself... So many things to look forward to!!
Until then, enjoy our new site and as always... Happy Knitting!!
-- Post From My iPhone

We're in the big time now!

2009-04-24T20:48:00.000-04:00

Well, its official. The Village Sheep has achieved fame and recognition beyond our wildest dreams! The Litchfield County Times has done a piece featuring our little shop! Check it out...

Knit It or Sew It: Two County Spots

Fortunately for our cyber knitters, the photos are only published in the paper and not online. You will be spared looking at my mug :) But I will say, it's great to know that our local community is supporting us! So, Thanks!

Spring has been teasing us for weeks, and now that it has officially arrived we can finally celebrate! Sun! Fresh air! And the change in season means time for new goodies! Alissa and I have been busy busy busy trying to find homes for our arrivals!

Meet Olivia Rose...

Is it me or do you just LOVE her! and to join her:
Hellllooooo Ladies! These girls don't come with names, but they are so cute I feel like I should name them so they don't feel left out. We're so happy to welcome the ladies of Lantern Moon and Namaste to our shop! Because who wouldn't look FABULOUS with THIS:
I don't dare name her because I'll cry if she goes home with someone else ;) She speaks to two of my obsessions, bags and anything pink!
The girls aren't listed on our website yet, but I'm hoping to get them on our NEW site!! Yes, you read me right, NEW! We're currently working on giving our website a facelift to go with with the shop's facelift! Its been exciting to work on our website finally, though I'll admit it has not been without some stress here and there. It will still be a few more weeks before we'll be ready to reveal it to the world, but I'm sure those weeks will fly right by! At least for me, as I sit until the weeeeeee hours of the night on my computer going click click! Maybe then I'll get back to the click click of my needles....
With the facelift of our website, I hope to bring back the sorely missed Sunday Sale and start some new traditions for our loyal online patrons! Until then, I'll leave you with some images of our other yummies!
the tempting textures of the wool and silk blend of Mushishi by Plymouth:

and the delightful aray of colors of Silky Alpaca Lace from Classic Elite:

Delish!

Happy Knitting Cyberland!

Knitting comes in all shapes and sizes

2009-03-16T21:16:00.000-04:00

REALLY.

We have gotten a really wonderful response to our new window displays! I had a sudden moment of inspiration and Voila! Thanks to the hubby and the neighbor, we now have our own giant needles. What would I do without my little dynamic duo? Of course, when it came to the knitting they were no help at all. As I struggled to knit my swatch *SOMEONE* sat back and laughed at me. Humph.
Though I must admit, it was rather amusing.

Spring Has Almost Sprung

2009-03-08T11:28:00.000-04:00

My dear flock... The sun is shining brightly as I type this and www.Weather.com claims the current temperature is a lovely 58!! One can almost forget that a mere six days ago we were buried under a large amount of snow. I submit for evidence, my patio last Monday afternoon:

The cake of snow was so perfect I wanted to coat it in chocolate frosting and dig in! But I digress...
The snow has melted, my patio table has reappeared, and thoughts turn to spring. The season of new beginnings and rediscovery! It won't be long now until the flowers start peaking through in our yard and I am overcome with the urge to clean out the spare bedroom. And with thoughts of cleaning up and starting over in mind, I want to share a few things with you.
First, I'd like to share the photos of the shop's recent face lift (which took slightly longer to finish that I had thought). Let us take a little tour! We'll start by walking in the front door...

This is probably the most dramatic change we made. The sales counter was here in the center of the room, but now resides off to the left when you walk in. I know that Alissa and I are charming people, but I always assumed everyone was here to see the yarn! So now it is front and center where everyone can maximize their yarn enjoyment.

Now don't go too far, turn around and look behind you...

I decided the our buttons deserved a new home and some new shelves! I also ordered some new styles and colors to add to our collection. There are about twice as many buttons and we had before, but it looks like we still have room for more... Oh darn it, looks like I will just have to order MORE.

If you walk to the right and into the side room, you will find the new home of our baby yarns!

Further down the wall to the left you will also find some sport weight and DK yarns, I've been trying to group yarns together more by weight. The glass fixtures that were in this room are now in the main room, so the side room has been given these new white fixtures you see to the right...
On that note, I would like to take a moment and thank my husband and our friend Rich for all of their help and hard work to make these changes happen. They built the new fixtures and did all of the heavy lifting. And I must say, they took their assignments very seriously. They didn't stop working even once to try on all of the hats in the store and take silly pictures on their cell phones. No, they are too mature for that. (haha, love you dear!)

Let us now move to back to the main room and to the left side of the store! The back corner was previously home to the baby yarns, but it has magically been transformed into our work area!

This table was in the main part of the room, next to the sales counter. I moved all of the books and patterns in the store over here as well. I am hoping to start building our book and pattern collections now that they have such a nice little corner all to themselves. I also thought it would be nice to have the table for those times when you need some space to spread out to play with colors or measure your project or relax and look through the books.
Next to the table we have expanded on what I like to call our living room. Since our knitting gatherings have been growing lately, I wanted to add some additional seating.

And, in case you weren't relaxed enough....

Check out our new beverage station! My vision of The Village Sheep is a relaxing and welcoming place for all crafters. I would like to encourage all of you to think of The Village Sheep as your home away from home. A place that you can come and relax anytime! Grab a seat on the couch, a cup of coffee or tea and knit. Meet your friends here for a Saturday afternoon getaway!

And finally, I decided it was time to rethink our window treatments. I do love the sheep, I really do, but I thought perhaps it was time to give them a little break. So once again, my husband and Rich came to my rescue and created the giant needles needed to make these:

(and if you look really closely under the ball of yarn, you can see our newest employee, Nate)

"Don't worry, I'll watch the traffic for you."

Nate is our greeter offficial greeter and joins us four days a week. He also our only union employee which is why he gets to take frequent breaks to do this:

Don't be fooled, he works REALLY hard.

And that concludes our face lift tour! I hope have enjoyed it!!

Don't miss the chance to come and see it for yourself at our Spring Open House/Grand Re-Opening!! When I bought the store this winter, I came in and went straight to work. It dawned on me that I never took a chance to celebrate! So with that in mind, let's celebrate spring and all of that hard work!!

Come join us Saturday March 21st for our Spring Open House!

We will be here all day with chances to win door prizes and some special sales!!

I'll post more details here on our blog as we get closer...

Also, check back here in the coming weeks for pictures and info on our new yarns!

Happy Knitting all!!

New Beginnings

2008-12-20T21:42:00.001-05:00

For our inaugural post, I decided to give all of you out there in cyperspace a little tour of our humble sheep. However, I must add a small disclaimer before we proceed... The Sheep has received a small makeover, so let's consider this series our 'before' tour, with an 'after' tour to follow shortly.

We'll start, at the front door!
Our humble counter....

To the left, some cotton.

To the right, some needles and sock yarn.

This is our charming sitting area, usually home to our knitting groups or whoever sits down and can't be bothered get back up - Those chairs are just a little too comfy. I try not to sit in them too often since they just make me want to take a nap! The light is wonderful though, the big picture window allows a lot of natural light to show off our lovely yarns!

This is at the back of the store to left. This is our collection of baby yarns. I realized that I didn't take a picture of the bench by the window with the adorable sample sweaters. We have a nice collection of baby sweater samples and a few baby blankets as well for a some inspiration.

Now, had you gone right when you walked in the door, or looked around the back of the counter, you would have seen THIS:

YUMMY YUMMY wall of color!! Along the outside walls you will see mostly worsted weights in a variety of solid colors and veriagated - some hand dyed. There is Cascade, Lamb's Pride, Manos, Noro, all kinds of fun things for your knitting pleasure. We also have our little work table, and our resident sweater model. I have been trying out names for her, but haven't found one that suits her just right. Please feel free to share your suggestions...

The final stop on our tour is the little side room off to the right. Now, just because this room is off to the side doesn't mean that it is the land of the forgotten yarn. No my friend, there are treasures in this room! Here you will find silks, tweeds, cashmere blends, chunkys, and luciuous alpacas. I apologize that the picture doesn't show it off better, but I had some trouble getting the angle right! Let's just say, this little room is packed full of goodies.

And that my friends, is The Village Sheep. Once we have finished our little face lift and all of the yarns have settled into their new homes, we'll take some new pictures. This little shop is like home away from home, so I want to thank you for coming to visit!
Check in here from time to time where we'll be posting info on our new yarns and general happenings around the store from time to time. I know many of you in cyperspace can't make it in person to our little sheep, so grab a cup of tea and some knitting, and think of us!