A Yarn Over Marblehead

Store closing update

2011-04-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

April 5, 2011

Dear knitter,

The closing sale of A Yarn Over Marblehead is well under way. We had an amazing turn out last week and a lot of yarn found it's way to a good home. It's a great time to stock up on yarn for this year's holiday knitting.

This week the savings is 20% off with a couple of incentives! Spend over $100 this week and get free needles and an extra bonus! Also, come browse the notebooks full of patterns and get 50% off the patterns if you choose 10 or more!

I also have many knitted samples for sale at AMAZING prices. Scarves, hats, sweaters and more that are perfect for you to keep or to give as gifts (I won't tell anyone you didn't knit it! :) All the store fixtures are also for sale, dress forms, table, desk, bookcases and more! Ask me for more info.

The store will most likely stay open until the end of April with the possibility of going into May but it will really depend on how quickly everything sells.

Thank you all for the amazing turn out last week! I really appreciated all of your wonderful comments!

Happy knitting!

Jean

Sad news from A Yarn Over Marblehead

2011-03-29T11:22:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends and Customers of A Yarn Over Marblehead

It is with profound sadness that I announce that A Yarn Over Marblehead will be closing. Having a store has been such a rewarding experience. I have enjoyed all the people I have met and the friendships I have been privileged to make. Working with customers is the part I will miss the most.

Fortunately, we are lucky to have so many other great yarn shops in the area. They all have wonderful selections of yarn and qualified people to help you continue on your knitting journey. I hope you all had the opportunity to visit the North Shore yarn shops during the yarn crawl. For more information on the shops in the area, please visit www.ayarncrawl.com

I will continue to hold knitting classes and will advertise them via email or on my website. After I close I will also hold a weekly help session for those of you with ongoing projects that you may need help with. These will be held at my home or at a local coffee shop.

I am planning to fill any special orders that are still outstanding before I close. If you have questions about a special order that you are waiting for please email me or call me during store hours for an update.

The sale will begin on Tuesday, March 29^th.

Store hours are

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 2:30-5:30

Friday 1:30-5:30

Saturday 10-5

Sunday 12-4

Thank you for your patronage throughout the years, it has meant so much to me.

Happy Knitting!

Jean

New hours at the store

2011-03-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's been WAY too long since I've posted! Lots of things are going on, just back from a fun ski vacation, getting back into the swing of things, and a big change in hours at the yarn shop. As many of you know by now, I've taken a morning babysitting job. I'm taking care of an adorable 8 month old boy. It's required a pretty extensive change in the store hours but I know that it will be for the best in the long run. My main goal is to keep the store open. I am just way too passionate about knitting to let it close. So, that said, my new hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 2:30-5:30pm, Friday 1:30-5:30, Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12-4pm. So far, this afternoon has been pretty busy!

I've got a few new classes coming up. Knitting with beads is on Thursday night, Learn What U Want starts on Monday the 7th (4 weeks and then a week knitting at the Barnacle!), Thrummed Mittens is on Tuesday the 8th (3 weeks), Finishing starts on Sunday the 20th (2 weeks) and hopefully we'll get a crochet class in there before the end of the month too. Additional details about classes are available on my website, http://www.yarnovermarblehead.com/

One of the most fun classes I've been having is Learn What U Want. It's mellow and fun and you can work and get help on anything you like. We all laugh and enjoy ourselves while we knit and the best part is the week at the Barnacle! We all get together for a last meeting in the bar to knit and have a drink. As you can imagine, we attract a good amount of attention since most people that go to the Barnacle aren't knitting! Most people come up to us and tell us that their Grandma used to knit which is kind of funny because none of us are Grandmas! We're all young, hip, knit chicks! There's still some space in this class and as it becomes full I will add a night for another Learn What U Want class. Won't you join us?

Happy knitting!!

Wayland Winter Farmers Market

2011-01-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

Hi Knitters!
Are you ready for another snowstorm? This one isn't going to be as big as the previous storms but still gives us a nice opportunity to stay inside and knit!
A friend on Ravelry forwarded me some information about the Wayland Winter Farmers Market and their annual "Wool Days". The first one is this weekend and it sounds awesome! Vendors from local fiber farms are there to sell their roving, wool and hand dyed yarn in addition to the farm vendors selling winter veggies. If you can't make it this weekend, the next Wool Day is Saturday February 12th. I'm thinking road trip!!!! They also have a wine weekend which sounds appealing too...
Here is the link to Ravelry
http://www.ravelry.com/events/wool-days--the-wayland-winter-farmers-market
And here is the link to Russell's Garden Center
http://www.russellsgardencenter.com/wayland_winter_mkt.html

Btw, I have finished my socks!!! YIPPEE! They fit great and I can't wait to wear them. Now I'm finishing up the green sweater in Vintage Chunky. Should be done by tomorrow! How are your projects going?

Happy knitting!

Accountability in my knitting

2011-01-18T12:55:00.000-08:00

What is it about knitting projects that are so easily cast aside in their various levels of completion and forgotten as we start a new and exciting project? It almost seems like a curse that most knitters endure. We find a new pattern or new yarn that excites us enough to drop the old for the new. They were all exciting when we first started them, what is it that happens at the end to make them boring?

I have so many projects that have been put in a basket to be finished later as I happily pick up something new and get started! But there they sit, still unfinished, and ignored for all eternity (well, maybe not that long). Right now I have 3 active projects that have all been started in the last few weeks. They are all things I really WANT to finish and I intend to use this blog as a way to keep myself accountable for saying that!

The first project is a pair of socks, the first pair I have knitted in a long, long time. I'm using Encore Worsted and a size 7 needle. One sock is already finished and its mate is 3/4 of the way done. In a perfect world, that project will be finished tonight.

The second project is the subject of a previous blog entry. It's a child's size 2 sweater using Vintage Chunky and a free pattern from Berroco's website. The front and back are done, shoulders put together and the neckband is in. All that remains is to pick up the stitches for the sleeves, knit them and put it together. I figure it's only about 2 hours or less of work remaining there.

The third project is a little bigger but so close to being finished! It's a beautiful vest that I'll be teaching a class on in February. You can check it out on Ravelry here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sexy-vesty
The class starts on February 1st so I'm running out of time, fast! It would also be great to wear it on Valentine's Day (mine is red).

So there it is, my intentions put out there in cyperspace. If you read this and happen to come by the store within the next couple of weeks, please ask me how my projects are going!!! Hopefully, I'll say, "They're all done!" with a big smile on my face.

If you're interested in taking the vest class, it starts on Tuesday, February 1st from 6:30-8:30 and runs for 3 weeks. The cost is $45.00 not including materials.
We'll also have a date out soon for a sock class. The ones I'm knitting are really quick!

Martha Stewart - Craft of the Day

2011-01-12T08:15:00.000-08:00

Snow days are the best! It's so nice to have a day at home to knit, cook and relax with my family. I think there will be some snow shovelling today too! Yesterday, customer Katy Elliot (http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/ ) posted a pattern for a cabled headband and matching mittens from Marthat Stewart.
Martha Stewart - Craft of the Day
They're so cute but unfortunately knitted on tiny needles with a gauge of 6 stitches to the inch! Knowing my fondness of quick knits and instant gratification knitting, I decided to rewrite the pattern for bulkier yarn. So I grabbed a skein of Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande and a pair of size 10.5 double points and got started! A few hours later, this is what I had!

Quick, easy and fun, perfect for a snowy day at home. Here is the pattern:

Cabled Headband

Materials: Approx 50 yards of bulky weight yarn
Size 10 or 10 ½ double pointed needles
Cast on 3 stitches. Work an I-cord for 8” (see instructions below). Working in garter stitch, begin increasing by knitting into the front and back of the first stitch of each row until you have 20 stitches on the needle. Knit one row without increases placing markers for cable pattern as follows: K7, place marker, K6, place marker, K to end.
Begin cable pattern:
Row 1: K7, P6, K7
Row 2: Knit.
Repeat these 2 rows placing your first cable on row #6 (see instructions for cable below).
Continue working cable pattern placing the cable every 10^th row.
After you work 7 cables, your cable should measure approximately 12”. Now repeat rows 1 and 2, 3 times to match the beginning of the cable. Your total cable section should measure approximately 13”. If it’s less by a bit don’t worry, the headband stretches out quite a bit.
Knit 1 row.
Working in garter stitch, begin decreasing by knitting 2 stitches together at the beginning of every row until you have 3 stitches left. Now work an I-cord for 8”. Bind off and weave in ends.
Keep warm!!
I-cord
6 stitch cable

Please keep in mind that this pattern hasn't been tested or knitted by anyone but me. If you have any problems or questions about it please let me know!

Happy knitting and happy snow day!

-Slip first 3 stitches to a cable needle and hold in back. K3, K3 stitches from cable needle.: Cast on 3 stitches. Knit one row. Instead of turning needles and knitting back, you slide the stitches to the other end of the double point, pull the yarn across the back and knit across the row. Continue to repeat this row to desired length.

Sick knitting

2010-12-30T11:41:00.000-08:00

There are certain times when I know I can count on my knitting to get me through. Waiting in line or at a doctors office, travelling by car or plane and when I'm sick and have some actual down time on my hands. My cold started on Sunday with a fever and chills, I thought I had the flu for sure! Luckily, that went away after the first day and it turned into a regular upper respiratory infection. So to me, that says quality knitting time!

Just before Christmas I started knitting a hat for my hubby. Believe it or not, I think it's the first thing I've knitted for him. I found this great pattern on Ravelry called the Jacques Cousteau Hat. It's a beautful, ribbed hat with this really cool decrease pattern on top.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jacques-cousteau-hat
I'm not sure if it was my cold or the boring knit 3, purl 2 rib, but I still haven't finished the hat! I've finally finished the 8" of ribbing and am about halfway through the decreasing. It seems like it will never end! But, I am determined to finish it today. I already have my next project's yarn sitting on the table staring at me, yarn wound, pattern printed and needles at the ready.
This is what's coming up next...

It's the Nantasket sweater from Berroco's website (free!!!) It's only in kid's sizes but maybe they'll add an adult version some point. It's knitted with Vintage Chunky and I'm going to use the same green color.
I'll post a picture of my Jacques Cousteau hat as soon as it's finished (tonight!!!!).

A few words not related to knitting. As you all know, we had a huge blizzard over the weekend. The sidewalks and parking in Marblehead are awful! A few minutes ago, a man that I had never seen before stopped his car, got out his shovel and cleared the sidewalk all the way down past my store to the corner of Washington and Essex Street. On his way back up the street he shovelled away the messy slush on the street just off the curb in front of my store (which all ends up inside). I opened the door and thanked him. We chatted for a minute and when I was about to go inside I said thank you again. He said "Thank you for coming out to say thank you to me". The power of those 2 little words really amazes me.

Happy New Year everyone and as always, Happy Knitting!!!

3 knitting days until Christmas!

2010-12-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

4 days to Christmas! What can we knit and have it ready in time? Many of you travel to visit family and a plane or car ride can result in some quick results! I always look forward to plane trips because of the uninterrupted knitting time I gain! 2 hours before the flight in the airport, however many hours in the air, layovers, knit, knit, knit! I love it!!! But, seeing as my family is local, I have to schedule my holiday knitting into my regular day. No worries! With all the fun, quick knits available, finishing projects in time is no problem.

This cowl is a 2-3 day project, tops!! I literally wear this every day, and I'm knitting one now in black. I intend to have one in every color! A cowl keeps you as warm as a scarf but there aren't any ends or fringe to snag on things. If you've ever seen me wind my scarf into the ball winder at the store you will know exactly what I'm talking about. It's not a pretty sight.

The cowl is wrapped around twice. When unwrapped it hangs to about my waist. Come on by the store to get some yarn and I'll give you the pattern for free!

I hope you all will take some time in the coming week to take a break and sit down with your knitting. It's a busy time of year and it's amazing what a little knitting time can do for our shopping crazed brains!

Happy Holidays and happy knitting!!!

Quick Knit #3

2010-12-18T20:50:00.000-08:00

One week until Christmas!!! This month passed so quickly it's a blur. But believe it or not, with projects like this one that I finished in less than 24 hours, there is still time to knit gifts for Christmas!

This hat is by far one of my favorites. I made one for my sister last year and she wears it all the time and absolutely loves it! She might get another one for Christmas (no definite answer on that in case she reads this!).

The top of the hat is a wonder to behold and the self striping Noro Kureyon yarn adds just enough color interest but not enough to take away from the pattern itself. You can find the free pattern here
http://filambulle.blogspot.com/2007/04/my-noro-hat-free-form-recipe.html
I think it has been translated from French so some of the wording is a bit funny, but ultimately the pattern works out great. Laurie and I have both made several of them so feel free to come into the store if you have any questions. I just got a shipment of Kureyon in last week so I have 6 new colors to choose from!

Just a few details if you make the hat. I used a size 16" size 9 circular needle and double points. It fits my somewhat large head perfectly. If you wanted to make it smaller I would recommend using a smaller needle rather than taking stitches off the pattern.

My next quick knit post will be for a cowl that I wrote the pattern for, knit and have been wearing every day this week! Now I'm making myself one in black. This one might take about 2 days.

Happy Knitting!

Quick Knit #2

2010-12-17T17:33:00.000-08:00

My goal when I started writing my blog yesterday was to knit one project per day until Christmas so knitters could see that there was still time to get gifts done. It turned out that my second quick knit took almost 2 days instead of 1. It turned out great though so I'm still happy with the project and definitely consider it a quick knit.

This knitted hat is perfect for the men in your life. Husband, boyfriend, brother, etc... I used less than one skein of Berroco Ultra Alpaca in a subdued blue/grey color. I followed the pattern exactly except that I did the ribbing for about 6" instead of 5 1/2". I don't think it would have fit if I had stopped at 5 1/2". You can find the free pattern here
http://stephanieknits.blogspot.com/2007/03/keeping-boyfriends-ears-warm-since-2006.html

Tonight I'm going to start on another hat that is one of my absolute favorites! Laurie found the pattern and added beads which is beautiful but definitely slows me down on the project. I find that the self striping yarn and the easy, repetitive lace pattern is enough to make it fabulous. Pictures tomorrow!!
Happy knitting!

My first blog entry!

2010-12-16T11:13:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about starting a blog for some time now. Even my son has a blog! I guess it seems like a great way to be in daily contact with people who want to stay updated with goings on in the store. I'll post regularly, especially when I have new classes, yarns or other events to share.

My entries over the next week will be all about quick knits. And when I say quick I mean 1 or 2 days of knitting and you're done!

I started yesterday with a chunky seed stitch scarf. I used 2 skeins of Comfort Chunky from Berroco and doubled it up on a size 15 needle. 15 stitches all in seed stitch and by the end of the day I was done! I'd say it took about 5-6 hours of interrupted knitting to complete it. With projects like this one, you could knit gifts for your whole family between now and Christmas!

This morning I cast on for a men's ribbed cap in Ultra Alpaca. So far it's looking great! I'll post pictures tomorrow and update you on tomorrow's project!