Off the Beaten Path Yarnhouse

New Yarn from Norway

2010-05-14T12:35:00.006-05:00

Off the Beaten Path now carries Arnhild's line of Rauma Norwegian wool yarns:

Wool sock yarn.

We also have Arnhild's translations of traditional colorwork pattern books.

Superwash Baby-gran in stunning colors (not just your usual baby pastels).

Bring your knitting to a new level!

New Yarns!

2010-05-01T13:57:00.009-05:00

We have new colors of yarn in this week.

SWTC aMAIZing. 100% corn fiber. Machine washable and dryable. Several new varigated and solid colors. Great for summer wraps and tops.

New Terra colors. 50% Bamboo 50% cotton.

More SWTC Karaoke 50% Soysilk 50% wool. Beautiful long color repeats. We have picked out several patterns that would look great in this yarn. Stop by and check them out.

Silkworms are Coming!

2010-04-17T13:27:00.004-05:00

Have you ever wondered where silk comes from?

Rexie grows Bombyx Mori silkworms as one of her many hobbies & with the coming of spring, silkworms are on the way. She will be at the shop with her silky pets on the first & third Saturday each month for all to see & ask questions about. Stop in & watch em grow! Within one month they will be spinning cocoons of silk! At some date in the future Rexie will be demo-ing how the silk is turned into silk "hankies" that can be dyed & hand-spun or used in any number of craft projects. Stay tuned to da'blog for that date!

All she learned about raising the Caterpillar & rendering the silk can be found online at www.wormspit.com.

Closing Early 2.8.10

2010-02-09T11:34:00.000-06:00

Hey all! We will be closing early today, due to the winter weather, at 3:30. We will be open tomorrow our regular business hours.

Wet Felting Class with Gale Yaeger - Photos

2010-02-06T14:24:00.002-06:00

Wet Felting Class with Gale Yaeger - Photos

2010-02-06T14:21:00.002-06:00

Haiti Relief & Felting class

2010-01-26T12:25:00.004-06:00

Good news!

10% of Saturday sales will now be donated to the ELAC World Relief Fund for Haiti.

(http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action.aspx)

We are in the process of reordering all of our yarns. If we don't have something in stock that you would like, ask to be put onto our customer request list. We will call you when your wanted items come in.

There is a felting class by Gale Yaeger with open seats happening this Saturday, January 30th.

Session I; 1-4pm @ 215 Femrite Drive. Make your own flowers to embellish hats, scarves, purses, coats & more. Take home as many flowers as you can make in three hours! Cost: $36 Limit: 4 students (3 spots open). RSVP 221-0219

Needles are in & it's easy to be green!

2009-12-23T14:15:00.002-06:00

I know a lot of ya’ll have been waiting for our needles to come back in. Our needles are now fully restocked and ready to be adopted. We will try our darnedest to keep up with demand now that we have had a chance to settle into the new digs.

We now have a bag discount! Bring in your own bag, mention it when you check out (cause sometimes we forget to ask), & receive a $.10 bag discount for helping to make our home a greener & cleaner place by reducing & reusing. WOOT!!

Have a great holiday!

Tentitive Hours for Winter Weather

2009-12-23T14:10:00.003-06:00

We will be closing early this Wed, 12.23, at 7pm in anticipation of Winter Weather.

We will be closing early on the 24th at 2pm.

We will be OPEN our regular hours the day after Xmas, New Years Eve & day.

Please stay safe out there & have a great Holiday!!

New Location

2009-12-12T10:50:00.002-06:00

Hi Everyone. We are thrilled to be in our new location at 1216 Williamson Street, right across from the Firehouse & the Williamson Street Grocery Coop! Please remember, there is plenty of parking on Wilson Street behind the shop and a straight shot up the driveway puts you right at the front door.

In the time since the old shop closed on Oct 10, i have had not problem finding a spot near the shop, about as close as our old back parking lot used to be. There are also a number of spots in front of Jolly Bob's, right next door; and across the street. Two hour parking is pretty good for shopping & even knitting!

Also, thank you to all of you who have already been in and all the new folks & groups!

FABULOUS NEW YARN>>>

We have a new yarn called Dream Big (2st/inch) that is 130 yds of luscious washable 100% merino, with a free pattern for a vest on the band in 10 colors. Lots of new colors in Yin & Yang have arrived with old hat made new in it! Five new colors in Arnhildt's sock yarns! We will have a shipment of new books hot off the presses next week, in time for Christmas! Also coming: Chunky Alpaca in 8 luscious colors; y' all emptied my bins so i ordered some more...

There are some new surprises coming to; with just a little to start - to see how we like them... there will be left over skeins after the demos, so first come first serve until the new line arrives.

We Are FINALLY Open!

2009-11-27T12:26:00.004-06:00

We are open again for Black Friday at our new location at 1216 Willy Street! We are right across the street from the Willy St #3 Fire Dept & the Willy St Coop. Please be aware that the space in front of the shop is a loading zone. We don't want you to get a ticket. There is limited parking in the back of the shop, & street parking all around the block. There is two-hour, non-metered, parking on the street behind the shop.

Black Friday Discount!

15% off all regularly priced yarn BLACK FRIDAY ONLY!

Sale yarn buy one, get one half off the sale price INCLUDING KARAOKE!! Get em while we have em!

Our Hours, for now are:

Tues/Thurs 11-5pm

Wed 11-10pm

Fri/Sat 10-4pm

Sun/Mon CLOSED

See you soon!!!

Uh-oh

2009-11-12T13:41:00.003-06:00

Yes, we are delayed a week! Please watch the window now as you see the signage & interior emerge! As soon as we can; the doors will fly open. Looks like Nov 19-27th, can't miss Black Friday! It is one of the most fun days of the year; we usually have a demonstration of some kind where folks can have fun.

Also, looks like we still have some demand for knittin' in the kitchen; so, we are looking into the possibility of booking knitting groups, workshops & classes at ye old Femrite farmhouse... however; there will be no product there... will keep you posted. We have spoken to the Willy Street Coop & their community room can be available for classes! We can do both. We have choices! Can't wait for the fun to start; I have missed you all!

1216 Willy Street

2009-11-06T14:09:00.002-06:00

Hello folks, the move: it is happening! The flooring & walls are ready for product to arrive. Watch the window for our November display. We plan to open on Tuesday, Nov 17th. Watch this space for updates. We have received so many wonderful enthusiastic messages regarding our move. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Parking: While there is no parking directly in front of the store (loading zone); there is plenty of off-street parking not far away. Also, check out Wilson Street. It is parallel to Willy Street & directly behind us. There is an apartment complex with a wonderful parking lot you can zip right up, very close. Also, the two handicapped parking spaces in this building's lot are for our patrons who need them. No one in the complex requires them.

I have had no problems finding a spot close to the store while we have been moving; and, being able to pop into the Willy Street Coop has been wonderful. We will be holding some classes in their Community Room.

It's Moving Time...

2009-10-10T17:08:00.006-05:00

I write to you on this, our last official day of operation at 215 Femrite Drive. We will be open one more time on Friday Oct 16 for KnitCh Nite from 3-6:30 pm for one last knit & chain session with Karen & Kathy. All are welcome. Bring a dish to pass and a smile. Its all free.

Next time Friday Nite KnitCh will be happening in our new location: 1216 Williamson Street, Madison WI 53703. As usual, it will be the third Friday of the month (Nov 20th), after hours, from 4-6:30 pm. We always have a free knit or crochet pattern for you and some new stitches! You can bring a project of your own if you desire.

Also, signs will appear in the new windows as we progress. We hope to open between November 1 & the 15th, dependent on many factors (interiors, moving, new shipments, etc).

We will have a Grand Re-Opening for sure and hope all of you will stop in.

Also, we are discontinuing our Newsletter per se, because the Blog is such a popular place to check out what is happening & to catch up with current events past. We will be posting some long overdue photos & info on the blog here, so stay tuned. Instead of a newsletter, we will send reminders to check the blogspot, so let us know if you would like to be on the reminder list.

A heartfelt thank you to all who have generously supported our adventures at 215 Femrite Drive over the last four years; and, we hope you will all travel with us into our new chapter as:
Off The Beaten Path Yarnery
1216 Williamson Street

Happy Knitting,
See you soon!
Karen

We are Moving!!

2009-09-05T10:31:00.002-05:00

Guess what?!

Karen has decided to move the shop into the Art district of Atwood Ave! We don’t have an address yet (building details are still being wrapped up), but we are having a Moving Sale! All yarns (except sock & yarns already discounted) are 10% off!
Karen estimates the move will take place sometime in October, but we will certainly keep you informed as to where the location will be. She hasn’t even told me where the shop is going to move to & my curiosity is KILLING ME!!!! We do know that it will be near Zoomba Cafe…OOOH now that’s exciting!! COFFEEEEEeeeee!!!
This is certainly an exciting time for OTBP as this is also our 4th year Anniversary! Since we are moving, our store hours will remain Thurs 11-5, Fri-Sat 10-4, & Closed Sun - Wed.

Lots more news to come, I’m sure! Keep your eyes peeled to here &/or the blog (offthebeatenpathyarnhouse.blogspot.com).

2009-08-20T11:31:00.003-05:00

BBQ Knit Nite Morphs

First of all, a very special "Thank You" to all who supported BBQ Knit Nite during the last year! We had fun & learned a whole bunch of new stitches!

Two things will change about BBQ Knit Nite; its name and its price. With the passing of my brother Seth, we are a cook short and it just isn't the same; so, we have decided to move it to the Kitchen & change its name. (Hey! that rhymed...)

We welcome you to the all new Friday Nite Knitch! It will begin this very Friday and it will be FREE. There will two projects (one knit & one crochet) and a free pattern to go with them. Kathy will teach a crochet wrap & Karen will teach a knit wrap. It will happen after hours from 4-6:30; so bring a dish to pass, don't be hungry. Folks may show up anytime during these hours or early if you just wanna hang in the kitchen.

We will put a Friday Nite Knitch on once a month, so check the class calendar for dates. We are looking forward to a new chapter in knitting and the opportunity for more knitters & crocheters to meet each other & participate. Love you all very much!

Karen

Sock Alert!

2009-08-08T15:19:00.012-05:00

Hooray!!! 5 new colors in Poems; going fast! 3 New Cities in Marathon: 6 colors each city... & the North Pole too! WOW

Customer Corner FO's!

2009-08-01T10:58:00.004-05:00

Burnie came in to show off her beach bag knit up in Summer Linen. I love it!! Me wants one!

Not soon after, Ruth came in to show off her shoulder shawlette knit up in our newest Honey Pot Yarn of angora & lamb's wool. She also knit up a bracelet with the leftovers. Way to go Ruth! It's beautiful!

Carseat Blankie

2009-07-31T14:48:00.001-05:00

Crocheted by Mags in Cotton Joy Jr!

It's a blanket that lays over a carseat. The hole near the middle is for the seatbelt buckles. Neat, aye!?

Join our Knit Along!

2009-07-30T12:19:00.004-05:00

We are starting a knit-along with this wonderful doily blanket adapted from an antique doily pattern with our Ravelry group. You can find the free pattern here, & you can find our Ravelry group, Off the Beaten Path Yarnhouse Groupies, here.

Karen, Rachel & myself have been taken by this project. I'm knitting it up in some lucious Alpaca yarn from Forest Acadamy, Rachel is knitting it in Cotton Supreme, & Karen has decided to knit the smaller version out of several strands of the new crochet cotton.

Won't you join us in this knit-along?

BBQ Knit Nite CANCELED - Extended Vacation

2009-07-16T11:42:00.003-05:00

As some of you may already know, Karen's brother Seth -he was also one of the BBQ Knit Nite cooks- passed away recently. Due to the responsibilities of this personal tragedy, Karen has cancelled July's BBQ Knit Nite & extended the Summer Vacation hours until August 31st. The next BBQ Knit Nite will be August 21st & our store hours will remain Thurs 11-5, Fri-Sat 10-4, & closed Sun-Wed.

Won't you please drop Karen a line with your condolences or give her a call. She could use the extra support at this time & she thanks you for your understanding.

Poems & More

2009-07-03T15:42:00.006-05:00

We are now stocked again with all the Poem sock yarns, for the moment. Rainbow Jewels seems to leap from the shelves telling "Adopt me!!"

We have new crochet "thread", a lace weight, mercerize 100% cotton called Garden for your lace adventures. It is at a fantastic price of $3 for 306 yards. WOWZA's!

We have oodles more Bamboo in oddles more colorways from STWC for your Bamboo pleasure.

We also have more colors of Terra in; a 50% Bamboo/ 50% Cotton blend yarn.

Our free monthly patterns are all printed & ready for adoption at the checkout. This month we have a crocheted Karaoke cupcake & a knitted tank.

This month's BBQ Knit Nite projects are a crocheted lace scarf & a lace shawl. You can see the demos in store soon! BBQ Nite this month is on Friday, July 24th 4-6:30 pm.

That's all for now! Have a great 4th!!

Closed July 4th

2009-07-02T11:44:00.001-05:00

Hello all! We hope you have a safe & joyous 4th of July!

Just wanted to drop a post saying we will be closed in observance of the 4th Saturday. We will reopen next Thursday at 11am.

FIREWORKS! WOOT!

July's BBQ Knit Nite

2009-06-18T16:45:00.000-05:00

July's BBQ Knit Nite will be on the 24th.

Projects TBA.

BBQ Knit Night 6.18.09...But....

2009-06-18T12:21:00.001-05:00

The weather peeps are predicting storms for Friday evening so we are concidering canceling it BBQ Knit Nite for this month. Is anyone planning to attend, storms or no storms?

New Alpaca Rovings!

2009-06-11T16:33:00.002-05:00

We have new Alpaca rovings for them there spinners & felters from Forest Acadamy Alpacas right here in Wisconsin. You may have seen her at the Monona Farmers Market, that's were we did too!

Each bag is 100% Alpaca.

Poems Sock is in!!

2009-06-11T16:23:00.002-05:00

We have more Poems sock yarn in stock (For the moment as we sold 4 skeins right out of the shipping box this afternoon, WOOT!), 4 more colorways on the way that are backordered. It surely is the new craze when they go backordered!!

We also have every color of Sensational & Cotton Supreme.

We are now a member of Universal's One Skein Club & have one of each color available in Worsted Deluxe for you to see! Any of the Worsted Deluxe can be special ordered for your projects. WOOT!

New Newsletter Format

2009-06-11T11:59:00.002-05:00

We are attempting to find a better, more effecient way of putting up a newsletter other than adding it as a post here. The annoying matter with Blogger is, everytime someone adds a photo, blogger adds extra HTML coding & unecessary space between everything. It's very time consuming to remove it. So, I present to you a link to the NEW newsletter for the last newsletter (May).

Please feel free to let us know what you think about it, both da'good & da'bad or any other suggestions you may have for us. :)

http://sites.google.com/site/pathnotes/may2009

Check it out...Thank You Lynn!

2009-06-09T07:52:00.002-05:00

SWTC is a member! a-Maizing!
Know where your dollar goes & how it's helping!

Projects for 5/22 BBQ Safari

2009-05-21T12:43:00.016-05:00

We've picked out two quick & easy projects, one knit &one crochet, for this month's BBQ Knit Nite Safari. The knitting project is this beautiful dishcloth pattern from Creative Knitting (Mag included) using worsted wt yarn & US 6 dpns. The crochet project is the pretty, soft necklace designed & modeled by Kathy T (Co-chair/Crochet Guild) below. The pattern is included & uses worsted wt yarn, an F crochet hook & one button. A few knit & crochet kits will be available the day of the event & in-store afterwards.

It promises to be good fun & good weather @ Yeager's Acres! There are still 5 seats available (of 17). If you plan to RSVP (BTW this is a RSVP only event) it would be better to call or visit sooner rather than later. Just a reminder that this BBQ Knit Nite is $15.

See you there!!

May 2009 Pathnotes

2009-05-14T13:20:00.031-05:00

May is Magnificently Green!! Off the Beaten Path Yarnhouse is flowering both inside & out too. New yarns abound!

Find Off the Beaten Path Yarnhouse @ 215 Femrite Drive in Monona WI 53716; call us @ 608.221.0219 or visit us online @ knitmeone.com

NOTICE: There will be some VACATION DAYS! Your LYS will be CLOSED TUESDAY & WEDNESDAYS between MAY 18 - JULY 18, 2009. Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer... However, we will be knittin' & chillin' & BBQn' on Thursdays, Friday & Saturdays, as usual; so book us Dano! Come in & see the new Veriyarns & the beautiful demos we have been knitting for Summer display. Pics in June Newsletter...

In this Issue:

BBQ Knit Nite

Spiders

VeriYarns, Kariyarn!

Employee of the Month

Customer Corner

Terra Vest

Raggi Vest

Waves ala Karen

Let's get right to the point! BBQ Knit Nite is gonna be out-a-site this month. Literally, it will be in Rockdale & we will travel there by caravan. May 22nd is the day, so plan your calendar now. The store will close early at 3:00pm that Friday. Take the day/afternoon off & join us. Fun on the run & lambies to see! We have 15 seats available; seven are already taken! Fiber fun to the max! 3:00-6:30pm.

BBQ Knit Nite requires an RSVP. We will leave promply from the shop @ 3:15pm & return @ leave the farm @6:30pm. The shop will close @ three; so if you need to purchase or wander, come early. A small take-along project w/pattern will be included & introduced in the vehicles to make the 35 minute drive more fun. A picnic lunch will either be included or BBQ will happen; between 5-5:30 as usual. A rain date is part of the deal!

KnittyKitty reports April's BBQ Knit Nite produced some beautiful spiders.
Nanci (pink) & Kathy (green)

Veriyarn

Our newest color is Yellow/Golden!

We deeply appreciate your patience in waiting for the new colors; as they are selling pretty fast. As always, we welcome your contributions, tips, gripes & advice. We are featuring some new patterns as well as our new yar
n to go with them. Some of our tried & true oldies (but never moldies) look smashing too; we are having so much fun! These yarns are fun to make & help properly 'steward' the wonderful alternative products we have in a new & inspiring way, much of which we are happy to share. It has standardized a process already in use & given a predictability you can work with... Yes! Great yardage we might add... all for under $36 (regular suggested retail).

Janiyarn 260-290 yds<-- --> Raciyarn 277 yds

Employee of the Month

This month’s employee is Janelle! She came to us in September of '08. She adds a bit of spunk to our staff. She is a newer knitter & knit up the first Pscarf in our new line of yarns (Blue). She then added a red colorway for our customers to make up their own designs. Some of you may remember sitting in the Zen room as we pulled your red scarves together. We are still waiting for you to come in for pictures… We still have some yarn available for customers to create their own scarves.

Our first colorway in orange completely sold out & was created by Janelle. Above to the left, you see her second design, with only two (!) left & one is on hold. Janelle is part-time & you will find her here most Thursday afternoons for sure. She is currently working on a Lacy Waves Poncho in orange Saphira… Looking Good!

Customer Corner

If you missed her on the blog in April, here is Jeanne with her awesome "Crocheted Magnifique" afghan that she plans to give as a gift after she adds on a Scallop edging. We were able to convience her to bring it in after the edging was added for a "Snuggles" photo. :)

Lynn's Cobblestone socks are soft & comfy! Cobblestone is a great dk wt yarn for socks & comes in 8 or 9 yummy colors. Oh yeah, it makes great washable sweaters too!

Robin's Scarf - way beautiful!

Madison Crochet Guild

The Madison Crochet Guild met the 1st Saturday of May from 2-4 pm. Terry is a member & has been crocheting these very cool packaderms for 25 years. Check out the close up!

The Crochet Guild will meet Saturday, June 6th from 2-4 pm. All are welcome, no dues! FUN and good people!!

The following recipe is from Kathy T (Co-chair: Madison Crochet Guild). She made these and they are soooooo good!

Mint Meringues 2

egg whites

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

8 drops green food coloring (optional)

6 oz chocolate chips

Beat the egg whites until foamy. Slowly add sugar & beat until stiff peaks form. Add flavoring & food coloring. Beat well. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop teaspoon fulls onto a buttered cookie sheet bake at 200 degrees for 1 hour. They are done when they are dry & set. Store in an air-tight container.

Notes:

I double this and use a bag of mini chocolate chips. You can add the color & the peppermint to the egg whites before you beat to stiffpeaks, it just takes a little longer for stiff peaks to form. You can bake on parchment paper - the 'cookies' don't spread so they can be placed close together.

Alternate baking method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees - put in filled cookie sheets - turn OFF oven - let the cookies sit overnight (DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN) they will be dry and set by morning.

Demos

Big V vest knit up in Terra by Jolynn. The pattern is by Melissa Matthey;

available thru SWTC.

Summer Jacket knit in Raggi by Rexie. This pattern is a fast & easy knit, but the number of balls needed is incorrect. The small takes 6 & the XL takes 8. My guess is that the L takes 7?

Four new colors in Raggi

And, finally, this is Karen's new Wavey Poncho! The pattern will be in the store soon. It fits everybody and makes us all look divine! Several different ways to knit it up, with I-cord edging or crochet! In sizes 3 thru 2-3X. YES.

Mission: Service, Community, Stewardship & Serenity. Service is our heart; it brings us together with an awesome community of knitters, designers & growers who are caring, concerned, activist & commited to making this a better fiber world for all. Together we are learning more every day about how stewardship affects our markets, our yarns, our farms, our community & our minds. Its is our eco-responsibility. Each day we choose to support each other lovingly. The result is Serenity. As we co-create together, the endorphins help heal, sustain & encourage: we live co-mingled as knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, growers & other fiber artists; remembering, sharing & most importantly, enjoying. Our Mission knits the fabric of our lives together with you & our environment.

Words to Consider

It is said a smile is the best way to improve your appearance. It's also one of the necest things you can do for others. Pass it on!

-Daybreak with God

Have a Magnificent May!

KnittyKitty, Newsletter Editor

knittykitty dot news at gmail dot com

no spambots please

Needles are in; Addi's are out

2009-04-30T12:23:00.003-05:00

We are completely restocked on needles & they be ready to travel home!

Also the last of our Addi Turbo's are 20% off. We have a few lace Addi's left & larger sizes 11-17. We do not plan on restocking them.

See you soon!

Hot Stuff: Poems Sock Yarn

2009-04-28T11:20:00.002-05:00

Wow this stuff is selling out quicker than we can keep it in stock! We do plan on replinishing it soon!

Come on out here and enjoy the warm weather that has finally arrived!

See you soon!

Jeanne's Finished Afghan!

2009-04-23T11:08:00.005-05:00

Here is that promised photo of Jeanne all snuggled under her finished crocheted afghan. She added a crocheted picot edge & it looks fantastic! The recipient of this made-with-love afghan sure is one lucky person!!

Here is our residnet Sheepie checking it out too! Click the photos for larger versions. See you soon!

May BBQ Knit Nite Safari is set!

2009-04-22T12:42:00.005-05:00

BBQ Knit Nite is going to be at Gales farm; Yeagers Acres, in Rockdale on May 22nd from 3-6:30pm.

This is a Safari event & must be RSVP’d. You can do this by calling the shop @ 608.221.0219 or stopping by. Please be aware of our new VACATION HOURS. (see calendar)

This Safari event will be $15/person, transportation & meal are being provided. We have room for 15 peeps; seven are taken. We will also have a small project to share with you like any other BBQ Knit Nite.

I’m going, are you?

See you soon!

Knitted Cupcakes

2009-04-21T11:25:00.003-05:00

I thought this would be neat to share. This is impressive!

http://veganyumyum.com/2007/06/knit-night-cupcakes/

See you soon!

May BBQ Knit Night....

2009-04-18T12:03:00.001-05:00

May's BBQ Knit Night is going to be held at Yeagers Acres Farm in Rockdale. It's lambing time over there so what better time to see where her yarn comes from? She has some uber friendly sheepies that are just a joy to be around. I was at last years lambing & there is nothing like watching those lambs jumping around with seemingly boundless energy. Maybe I can convince them to loan me some, aye? LOL

Stayed tuned! More information & traveling directions to come as plans come together for our Safari to Gale's farm. There are some big plans in the works for a Spring Bash party as well. WOOT!

See you soon!

UPDATE 4.18.09:

The location has been confirmed and May's BBQ knit night will be either May 15 or 22nd. We are planning to carpool in three vehicle out to the farm.

Baby Lamb: allposters.com

Please take note...

2009-04-15T11:33:00.001-05:00

Our hours have changed...

Tues 11-6:00 pm
Wed & Thurs 11-5:00 pm
Fri & Sat 10-4:00 pm
Closed Sun & Mon

Se you soon!

Crochet Magnifique!

2009-04-14T12:30:00.003-05:00

Jeanne crocheted this wonderfully purple afghan out of our worsted superwash wools like Sensational & Mermaid! WOW!!! She plans to add scalloped trim & appear for her closeup when it is finished. WOOT!

April Pathnotes

2009-04-06T09:14:00.067-05:00

"Spagetti & meatballs? April Fool!"

HA!

"Wherever two or three are gathered, a pattern can be read"...(KnittyKitty)

Hello Everyone! Happy Spring! April is here @ Off The Beaten Path Yarnhouse. Find us @ 215 Femrite Drive in Monona WI 53716; call us @ 608.221.0219 or visit us online @ knitmeone.com

Do not adjust the screen... you are not imagining things: we skipped March! Bet you wish you could've too...lots of interesting new yarns are in the shop!

Newsletter Editor (KnittyKitty) reports March was full of new beginnings, starting with our very own line of yarn: VERIYARNS! We deeply appreciate your patience in waiting for the new colors; as they are selling as fast a we can produce them. As always, we welcome your contributions, tips, gripes & advice. KnittyKitty's mailbox is KnittyKitty dot news at gmail dot com (replace word dot & at with actual symbols...this method thwarts those annoying spam bots).

In the spirit of Spring, we are featuring some new patterns as well as our new yarn to go with them. Some of our tried & true oldies (but never moldies) look smashing too; we are having so much fun! Speaking of our Mission, these yarns help properly 'steward' the use of our wonderful alternative products in a new & interesting way, much of which we are happy to share. It has standardized a process already in use & given a predictability you can work with... Yes! Great yardage we might add... all for under $36 (reg retail)

Mission: Service, Community, Stewardship & Serenity. Service is our heart; it brings us together with an awesome community of knitters, designers & growers who are caring, concerned, activist & commited to making this a better fiber world for all. Together we are learning more every day about how stewardship affects our markets, our yarns, our farms, our community & our minds. Its is our eco-responsibility. Each day we choose to support each other lovingly. The result is Serenity. As we co-create together, the endorphins help heal, sustain & encourage: we live co-mingled as knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, growers & other fiber artists; remembering, sharing & most importantly, enjoying. Our Mission knits the fabric of our lives together with you & our environment.

Meet Rexie... Saturday, August 4 , 2007 was our lucky day; & Rexie's first day on the job. One day, Rexie came into the store & (very nicely) asked if she could please have some of our mulberry leaves for her silk worms. We have enjoyed her bubbly presence ever since. A spinner, tatter, crocheter & knitter, she brings a wealth of talent & an impressive "utube video" on spinning! (youtube.com/rexenne; she's famous) We can't believe it will be 2 years in August! Wow. OkelyDokely! If you know Rexie, then you will agree that her sunshiney disposition & willingness to help is probably one of her best assets. Always a smile waiting she will try to answer any question you have & if she can't, will research it or find someone who can. Rexie is our Web Manager (& Blog Mistress). This blog is the outgrowth of her imbeddedness in the community of knitters & other artisticly talented folks. Surely we are meeting our Mission of Community through many of her efforts. When you bring your projects into the store, it is Rex who jumps to photograph & forever record your efforts; especially if you have decided to give it away! Rexie doesn't miss a beat when it comes to Community projects, like "Red Scarf" or Premie Hats for Meriter or others you mention; eager to contribute even more to the community at large. Passion is the 'word' when it comes to Rexie's big heart. Rexie says, "If it ain't fun, it ain't worth doin'. "

Meet Janelle, Joylnn & Karen in upcoming issues...

Customer Corner
Elizabeth Zimmerman's Tompton Childs Jacket knit in Smartwash yarn by Anne.

What a beautiful spring sweater done up in Saphira pinks & greens. She designed it herself!

BBQ Knit Nite

'Come on Down' for Community on Friday, April 17. We will be knitting & crocheting with Karen & Kathy from 4-6:30pm. There will be two styles. Kathy will be teaching the beautiful 'Spider Web Shawl' with crocheters & Karen will teach the 'Lacy Waves Poncho' with the knitters. Crocheters will go home with a completed 'web' and probably have a good start on the shawl. If you haven't tried lacy crochet; Kathy is your gal! Bring size H/8 & K/10.5 hooks, darning needles, stitch markers and dk - heavy worsted wt yarn in cotton or mohairs. Pattern provided.

Want to try lace knitting? The lacy poncho will be perfect because it is on big needles with worsted wt yarn. Bring #11 16 & 32" circ needles, st markers, darning needles & worsted wt yarn in cotton or bamboo; or, better yet, buy what you need in-store with a your 10% student discount (omg, our cotton supreme is PERFECT for either project!) . Pattern provided.

Both patterns have lacy stitches; so, what better time to practice than BBQ Knit Nite - a little patch of summer in the new cool Spring! As usual, we will be enjoying potluck between 5-5:30pm. Gary, the cook, is ready to serve once again; isn't he the greatest?! A main dish of Gary's organic BBQ burgers (special recipe), brats, salad, coffee, tea & lemonade will be provided. Seth will be on hand to make it look easy! Bring a smile & a dish to pass. $10 for 2 hours instruction, fun included @ no charge. No need to bring dishes, we have our own black shiny dishes, cups & silverware. We continue to steward our resources even during BBQ Knit Nite. See you there! The cook would appreciate RSVPs so he knows how much to make. We are growing, so come, even if you don't have a dish to pass...

Freebies
Kenitta Tully's Twize Tweed Vest design is on tap for the month of April. Knit in a worsted weight yarn, it is perfect for our new worsted cottons & cotton/bamboo yarns. It knits up fast and uses a Rib St pattern on size US 9 needles. Our crocheters are already enjoying 'Amigurumi' by KJ Hay, the cutest spring frog around! Done in Karaoke, using a G hook. Both patterns are by Southwest Trading Company; an Off the Beaten Path staple yarn. Free to you this month only; just ask @ the checkout.

News We Can Use
It's Red Scarf time again & Janelle did knit one up... It is one of a kind & one of our special $10 Pscarves by Carol Anderson. What's that? A Pscarf is 110-150 sts on a US 10.5 needle. Knit back & forth. We have prepared basketloads of yarns & they coordinate in three colorways: blues; red/black/whites & oranges. Yes, for $10 you too can knit up a Pscarf on-site with house needles. When it's done you get to take it home; or, if it's red, you might choose to donate it! We understand you may be unable to part with it... that's ok. Choose a colorway or mix & match. It's up to you - come see what we've made already! Also, this is a great scarf done in our Veriyarns!

Yarn O'the Month

Vespera. We are pleased to announce the addition of Vespera to our line of yarns. A pretty sport wt merino wool from SWTC. It is reminiscent of the Wool in the Woods colorways and knits up quickly in this pattern; one of our all time favorites. It calls for worsted wt yarn, however; Kathy chose to knit it up in sport wt 3 years ago & it has stuck like glue, changing colors & yarns ever since. So good looking on everyone, it no longer comes down far enough to offend. On the contrary, it is the perfect shoulder shawl year round & lets you wear all those gorgeous shawl pins you've been collecting.

Master Knitter Class
...is still in progress for the calendar year of Feb 2009 - Feb 2010. Anyone interested in joining or attending, please RSVP at this point. Calendar dates for meetings will remain; however, the store is closed during the meeting times. Please contact us or leave us a message if you would like to begin coming or are interested in the program; otherwise we probably won't see you from the kitchen. Participants must be Members in the Knitting Guild of America (TKGA.com). It is required to participate in the Level I Master Hand Knitting Program. The cost is $90. Knitting Guild of America membership is an additional $29; with $20 going toward the cost of 'Cast On' magazine. The entire package is $119 & a worthy price for the instruction & judging. There are three levels. We are underway with Level I; however, anyone in any level program may join the group at anytime. Knitters have a year to complete Level I & this group hopes to be of service. Please join us as we work toward knitting perfection! There is no fee for the Masters Class on alternate Wednesdays (see Calendar). There is a $5 Drop-in fee for the First alternate Wednesday of each month when Kathy Digman, Master Knitter, will be there to help us do our best. Chin up, chest out, needles clicking!

Preemie Hat Project
The Preemie Hat Project has lots of tiny crocheted hats 4 Madison Meriter's Preemie Ward. Knitters are slaking lately... Thank you to the crocheters for your service to the small ones who will receive them. There are a couple of hats "in process," are they yours? They have been here a while; we will finish them unless you dash in quickly & knit 'em. A phone call would help... If they are unattended for too long we will feel you have given up or forgotten...

New Classes

Toe up on Magic Loop, with our very own Rexie! Market bags with Karen.

Yaeger's Acres Roving is ON SALE! Buy one; get one half off! That's $7.50 for two for as long as they last. Great for Wet felting!!!!! & spinning.
What's In & What's Out

a-Maizing in fantastic new colors; great free patterns. Rachel knit up a moebius shawl for her petite frame in just two balls! How cute is this?

Creative Knitting Magazine, March 2009. Buy the current issue & receive a back issue for 20% off; web special only. See the yummy sweater knit in alpaca by Joanne B! We bought extra copies because it is so pretty with a little lace on the bottom.

Lori Mosher of New Creation Art, (our Note Cards) is having a show at the SunPrint Cafe from May 11 - June 12th. Some of the original water colors she did for our card line will be on display in small collages of work done for individuals & business. We are so happy for her & looking forward to seeing it over lunch at the Sun Print Cafe on the Square. Don't miss it! Her cards are very popular here; as singles ($1.50) or five-packs ($7.50); mix & match.

Poems & Bamboo sock yarn from Universal are in! Get 'em while

they are hot... they're flyin'! Cotton Supreme from Universal & Fon from Swedish Yarns are in! Gorgeous in WORSTED wts.

Our buy-1; get-1 half-off Sale on mohair & baby loop has expanded to include some incredible yarns; but, they will not last... Because they are so low & we will not bring them back for a while; this is the time to stash them. Fiber Co & Farmhouse yarns will go on sale on the website as soon as Rexie can plug them & then they will be gone! Hope you can come in soon; or order them over the internet. Watch the numbers; we try to update them after every purchase.

The Madison Crochet Guild
...meets here the first Saturday of every month from 2-4pm. They are the greatest bunch of people & we have been learning, learning, learning. Saturday May 2, is coming soon enough! You don't want to miss it; everyone is welcome, especially newcomers! No Dues. They are helping us to expand even more with great new patterns & books.

'New' never ends, it seems: we now have ballet slipper patterns for knitters! Fiber Trends, cute, got a tie-up slipper too; nuf said...

And finally,Words to Consider
Do you notice the everyday grace in life? It comes at the oddest moments, in the words of children, a good idea when needed, a call from a friend when it's least expected. As you prepare for a new day, open your eyes to everyday grace. -Daybreak with God

Have an Amaizing April!

Knittykitty

knittykitty dot news at gmail dot com

Demo's for Sale

2009-03-26T12:42:00.000-05:00

Many of our hand-knit demo items will be for sale both in-store & online. If you see a demo in-store that you are interested in purchasing, don’t be afraid to ask. Some may not be for sale YET, but we can always take requests to purchase when it does become available. Just ask. :)

See you soon!

March BBQ Knit Nite: 3.13.09

2009-03-05T12:02:00.003-06:00

How about that? Two Friday the 13ths, two months in a row!

The next BBQ Knit-Nite we’ll be making a crocheted hat & a market bag. Both will come in handy when it’s time for the Farmer’s Market again.
BBQ Knit-Nite is $10 drop in for instruction, food, and fun. Feel free to bring-your-own dish, or non-alchoholic drink, to pass & share.
You can RSVP for BBQ nite on our website calendar.

See you soon!

Longprints are in!

2009-02-19T11:13:00.001-06:00

WOOT! The longprints finally made it to the shop & are ready for adoption!
We are also restocked on Ditto & Sensational.

See you soon!

Extended Hours Change

2009-02-19T11:10:00.005-06:00

March 1st will bring new evening hours. The yarnhouse will be open Tuesday evenings until 6PM. Many of you requested a late night to shop & Tuesday it is! Wednesday the yarnhouse will close at 5pm. Over the winter months Wednesday turned out to be a knit-nite for staff. We will continue to schedule evening classes until 7 pm Tues - Thurs when needed. Thank you for letting us know which nite worked best for you & for your patience as we all adjust. Happy Knitting!

See you Tuesday evenings in 2009!

Long Prints Delayed

2009-02-11T11:38:00.001-06:00

For those of you waiting on the Long Prints Deluxe yarn from Universal, the shipment has been delayed for unknown reasons. We are looking into the delay & will let you know when it does arrive. We appologize for the extremely long wait for this popular yarn.

Customer FO's!

2009-02-11T11:14:00.005-06:00

WOOT! Mary finished that felted hat (a-la-Karen) that she worked so hard on & here is her Hubby wearing it! What a sport they were to let me take their photo's together because they are such a cute couple!Here is a pair of finished mittens in Saphira!

Crochet Madness!

2009-02-11T10:54:00.009-06:00

The Crochet Guild had their meeting here at the shop, the first of many, that was a huge success! Lots of people showed up & lots of projects were shown & talked about. We even downloaded a few freebie crochet patterns for folks to take home.

Let's meet some of the folks behind the Crochet Guild.

Here, the Founder, Deb works on her project.

Meet the Co-Host Kathy!

Worsted Sock Yarn? You Bet!

2009-02-05T13:05:00.012-06:00

We have new Raggi worsted weight, 70% Superwash Wool 30% Nylon, sock yarn in! WOOT! They are $8.40 for 164 yards.

We have some extra special yarn that had been hiding in backstock for a while. It is Fur Real & Bamboo...the last of these special novelty yarns...FOREVER! Get em while they last because these are no longer being made! Fur Real is priced at the ultra low price of $4 a skein for 80 yards - 30% Rayon, 58% Nylon, 12% Acrylic. Fur Real is an eyelash like yarn only super-duper soft. It adds a subtle hint of fuzz & a whole lotta softness.

Bamboo Feather is another eyelash like yarn that is also super-duper soft. It is priced at an amazing $2 a ball!! You can find them both up front near the checkout, while supplies last.

Our Buy One-Get-One-Half-Off Sale is still happening; I hope all of you are able to come in & take advantage of this CRAZY sale while it lasts!

Spring is coming...can you feel it? The days are longer & the frigid chill is giving way to warmer days. Time to get started on those warmer weather items like cotton tank-tops, socks & beach items, like a crocheted sun-hat.

We hope to see you soon!!

February PathNotes

2009-01-29T13:22:00.070-06:00

February PathNotes
-where ever two or three are gathered, a pattern can be read...(KnittyKitty)

Hello Everyone! Happy Belated New Year! February is here @ Off The Beaten Path Yarnhouse. Find us @ 215 Femrite Drive in Monona WI 53716; call us @ 608.221.0219 or visit us online @ knitmeone.com

Do not adjust the screen... you are not imagining things: this is a different format & lots of changes are afoot! We have a new Newsletter Editor (KnittyKitty) beginning in February; hence, no Newsletter in January. We look forward to lots of hilarity & fun! We deeply appreciate your patience in waiting for this issue & welcome your contributions, tips, gripes & advice. KnittyKitty's mailbox is KnittyKitty dot news at gmail dot com (replace word dot & at with actual symbols...this method thwarts those annoying spam bots).

In the spirit of this New Year of hope, we will feature some new topics. We will always speak to our Mission & how it knits the fabric of our lives together with you & our environment.

Meet Rachel... Friday, October 13, 2006 was our lucky day; & Rachel's first day on the job. She has been knitting for 8 years now & is quite accomplished! Just take a gander at the beautiful blue vest she knit up in Yin (Garden Room). Wheat stitch cables adorn the entire piece and she painstakingly made sure it was perfect! Just try the wheat stitch cable yourself & you will see... or better yet; take a cable class with Rachel. Her smile and kind demeanor have been serving folks here for over 2 years now! Wow. She is one of a kind! Rachel says "I find knitting to be very helpful in other aspects of my life. It teaches me perseverance, patience & how to be less of a perfectionist & sometimes even more of a perfectionist...it's a two-sided sword. I am obsessed with color now & I love to find out which colors work & sometimes surprise myself with ones I didn't think would work. You can't just wear blue everyday!" Meet Janelle, Joylnn, Karen & Rexie in upcoming issues...

Mission: Service, Community, Stewardship & Serenity. Service is our heart; it has brought us together with an awesome community of knitters, designers & growers who are caring, concerned, activist & commited to making this a better fiber world for all. Together we are learning more every day about how stewardship affects our markets, our yarns, our farms, our community & our minds. Its is our eco-responsibility. Each day we choose to support each other lovingly. The result is Serenity. As we co-create together, the endorphins help heal, sustain & encourage: we live co-mingled as knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, growers & other fiber artists; remembering, sharing & most importantly, enjoying.

Customer Corner
Keep smiling... Janelle, Jolynn, Karen, Rachel & Rexie are always on hand to help. We have shared the gift of knitting with so many wonderful people over the last 4 winters & learned so much from you in turn; like, the 'cheater cast-on;' very cool for the tops of button-holes & better than a back-loop cast-on for collars! How's it going Anne? Meet Karen C with her first project, a Moebius shawl (see right). Karen & Freddie came in & brought the sunshine with them. Anyone can learn to knit for free; probably in just under ten minutes. Karen C has now moved on to fingerless mittens on double points! Yes! And, Freddie is a joy.

Most folks are on a mission when they come in & we love finding the perfect fiber for 'the' project. On a good day, we can usually find a comparable yarn in wt & yardage. Gauges are all important & can be knit in the kitchen from any yarn of choice. There are many leftovers from most of our demos & it is a fun way to try our new yarns as well. Sometimes two yarns might seem to go together; but, when you actually try them, it is a different story! Since KnittyKitty has much karma to live down (knitting in big box stores), it only seems right to share the experience.

BBQ Knit Nite
'Come on Down' for Community on Friday, February 20th. We will be knitting 'Legwarmers' from 4-6:30pm. There will be three styles, with a fourth called Legwarmer-a-la-Karen. As usual, we will be enjoying a potluck between 5-5:30pm. A main dish, salad, coffee, tea & lemonade will be provided. Bring a dish to pass & $10 for 2 hours of fun & instruction. One of our patterns has lacy stitches; so, what better time to practice than BBQ Knit Nite - a little patch of summer in the winter!

We now have gorgeous black shiny dishes to admire our food & eat our mostly organic dinner from, allowing us to steward (reassign) our resources even during BBQ Knit Nite. Gary, the hubby cook, hasn't breathed a word of the special Main Dish so far; so, stay tuned for mini-updates! See you there! RSVP greatly desired, but not necessary. Come, even if you don't have a dish to pass...

Freebies
Vicki Howell's Mesh Beanie is on tap for the month of February. It uses one ball of 'Craft,' a fine cotton/milk blend (which we just happen to have) & size US 6 16" circular & double point needles. It would also be beautiful knit up in 'Love,' another Vicki Howell yarn. Just the hat to bring Spring on! Free to you this month only; just ask @ the checkout.

Donations for Dinah

...introducing Dinah! She is our new pet dinosaur! Yes, she will be accepting donations for coffee, tea & condiments for those who wish to contribute. She is located on the front desk @ checkout. We are responding to, & really appreciate, all of you who have offered to help support & share the cost of our daily refreshments! A wonderful serenity & ambiance has wafted through the building almost daily as we become a part of your knitting stories, tips & tribulations. Your numbers keep growing; so, Thanks! for making Community & Stewardship mean something. Speaking of donations, see Preemie Hat Project below.

News We Can Use
It's Red Scarf time again & Janelle is knitting one up as we speak, or after we speak... It is one of a kind & one of our special $10 Pscarves by Carol Anderson. What's that? A Pscarf is 110-150 sts on a US 10.5 needle. Knit back & forth. We have prepared basketloads of yarns & they coordinate in three colorways: blues; red/black/whites & oranges. Yes, for $10 you too can knit up a Pscarf on-site with house needles. When it's done you get to take it home; or, if it's red, you might choose to donate it! We understand you may be unable to part with it... that's ok. Choose a colorway or mix & match. It's up to you - come see what we've made already!

Yarn O'the Month
We are pleased to announce the addition of Circle Studio's roving & yarns from Gwen's beautiful flock of angora goats. They are reportedly allowed to sleep indoors on below-zero nites (swampland in Arizona anyone?). Seriously, Gwen is the best mommy to all of them & her two daughters too (Katie & Mariana, an exchange student)! In fact, some of the yarns are spun by home-girl Katie, a must see. All the curly-haired goats have names, so you will know who you are knitting. Perhaps Gwen will bring in the photo album again someday for a week of viewing. How about it Gwen? Hats & a scarf are on display for you to feel. More items coming...

Master Knitter Class
Class met the first alternate Wednesday in January (01/14) with Kathy Digman. We found the Master Knitting Program has changed a bit over the years. The first three requirements are the same, but it diverges from there; 16 pages worth! Membership in the Knitting Guild of America (TKGA.com) is required to participate in the Level I Master Hand Knitting Program. Cost: $90. Knitting Guild of America membership is an additional $29; with $20 going toward the cost of 'Cast On' magazine. KnittyKitty just got hers yesterday and it has some cool stuff in it ! ! ! The entire package is $119 & I consider it a worthy price for instruction & judging. There are three levels. We are underway with Level I; however, anyone in any level program may join the class at anytime. Knitters have a year to complete Level I & this class hopes to be of service along these lines. Please join us as we work toward knitting perfection! There is no fee for the Masters Class on alternate Wednesdays (see Calendar). There is a $5 Drop-in fee for the First alternate Wednesday of each month, when Kathy Digman, Master Knitter, will be there to help us do our best. Chin up, chest out, needles clicking!

Preemie Hat Project

The Preemie Hat Project sent its first batch of hats to Madison Meriter's Preemie Ward. Thank you for your service to the small ones who will receive them. There are a couple of hats "in process," are they yours? They have been here a while; & if you would like, we can finish them up and send them in. Just let us know... If they are unattended for too long we will feel you have given up or forgotten... Just let KnittyKitty know. Thanks.

New Classes: Wet Felt, Applied Felt & Needle Felt

Wow, do we have a terrific selection of Wet, Applied & Needle Felting classes available with Gale. Roving is laid out & prepared to a specific size & then soap & water are used to make your base wet felt. Gale has perfected an assortment of fibers in packages ready to go for you. Her years of expertise will guide the fun. It is easy once you know the technique & what to expect from the fibers. New books on Wet Felting & Needle Felting will be arriving in time for February classes. There are two classes for learning Wet Felt; one class for Applied Felt; and, one class for Needle Felt each month thru March 31, 2009. Take them all progressively or the ones that suit your particular needs. Cost: $36 for three wonderful hours of fun. Gale was here in late November & entranced us all with the process. We all wanted to try it & were thrilled to see that we had the skill level to do it, even as novices. Gale took suggestions & put together samples with our input. They are all here for you to look at. Yummy!

Celia's Supported Spindle Class was a hit; so much so, OTBP staff will be taking the class at two special times. Celia's next class for new students will be on Saturday, February 28th; 10-4:00pm. Cost: $46 for class; $35 for supplies; Lunch included. 608-221-0219. One student is on the waiting list & five more spots are available. Keep an eye on the Calendar! Tentatively, we are looking at a couple of Mondays for staff (heads-up ya'll). Spindle Kits are available in-store now.

What's In & What's Out
Creative Knitting Magazine, March 2009. Buy the current issue & receive a back issue for 20% off; web special only. New 'Note Cards' from New Creation Art are here; some are hysterical & unmentionable. Very popular; as singles ($1.50) or five-packs ($7.50); mix & match.

Frabjous fair-traded notion bags & needle cases are here. Chiao Goo needles are in! Get 'em while they are hot... they're flyin'!

Tofutsies in bold Stripes! Brand New, hot off the mill... and guess what, Jolynn's knittin' up a Vicki Howell design with tofutsies as a scarf!! -Adapted from a pillow pattern, in red: a must see.

Hmmm, Tofutsies... Note to self: Yarn Market News says "A loosely-spun blend, it has rightfully gained a following for its glossy sheen, subtle stripes and alleged prevention of stinky feet." YES! EWE BET!

...from Soysilk.com (Tofutsies) website: 50% Superwash Wool; 25% SOYSILK brand fiber; 22.5% Cotton; 2.5% Chitin (made from shrimp & crab shells!) 8 sts = 1" on US 2 (2.75mm): 425m per 100g ball; machine wash & dry. YUP-YUP-YUP-YUP-YUP ...Get those muppets outta here, will ya...

A brand new batch of Parsons Precious Earth Bags have arrived, hand-made by Pam Parson in small/medium ($15) & large ($20). Check out the gorgeous new spring colors; completely washable. Some with knitting pockets!

We were out of a very soft yarn that was very popular a while back... we can't breath a word... some was found while doing inventory... a very special price...Aauugghhh, KnittyKitty has already said too much, fur real!

We are getting low on our buy-1; get-1 half-off Sale on mohair & baby loop; but we will bring in a new line of mohair soon. Also - a new worsted, stranded cotton is on its way; along with worsted wt sock yarn & sock books. Hey Hey!

We have historically been very low on crochet patterns but now have new patterns. Guess what? The Madison Crochet Guild meets here the first Saturday of every month from 2-4pm. Friday, February 7 is coming right up! You don't want to miss it; everyone is welcome, even newcomers! No Dues. They are going to help us expand even more with great new patterns & books.

New never ends, it seems: we now have new toy patterns! Fiber Trends, cute, nuf said...

And finally,

Words to Consider

Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers and quietly building new structures. -John F. Kennedy

Today let me do one thing to eliminate a conflict.

____________________________

Have a Fabulous February!!!

knittykitty dot news at gmail dot com

Red Scarf Project 2009

2009-01-21T10:32:00.007-06:00

It's that time again! It's time to think about creating that special scarf that will be loved by an Orphan. You can read all about this special knitting event here. Check out the photo's for last years send in's! Mine got photographed!! WOOT! I chose to do the "My so-called Scarf" pattern that is a freebie pattern they have linked on their site.

Mine is the last one on the right! WOOHOO!! It was a recycled sweater that I kettle dyed red. I tied sections of the yarn so that it would not take up dye so it left many variegated white spots. Makes it easy to spot.
You can see other scarves that knitters sent in to the Orphan Foundation of America here.

I'd very much like to send a large box filled with our knitted donations this coming September, so please think about starting that Red Scarf soon then bring it in when you are finished. The guidelines for the scarf & freebie patterns can be found at this here web page but I will post them here as well.

Scarf Size: Approximately 60" long and 5" to 8" wide. Scarves should be long enough to be wrapped around the neck, with tails long enough to be tied in the front.

Style: Think unisex collegiate. Ask yourself if your son, brother, and/or husband would enjoy receiving the scarf. Fringes are optional. Your scarf should drape and tie easily.

Yarn: Preferably DK, double fingering-weight, worsted weight, or light bully yarns. No lace weight, super-chunky, or mohair yarns as there are many people who find mohair too itchy. The yarn should be soft.

Color: Red! However, this could mean burgundy, cherry, russet, red stripes with other colors, or multicolor hues including red. Other unisex colors, including black, navy, teal, olive or gold are also welcome.

Finished and tagged: Yarn ends should be securely sewn in. For a personal touch, attach a tag saying "Handmade for You" with your first name, city, and group affiliation (Off the Beaten Path Yarnhouse, knitmeone.com), if any. Donors have also included washing instructions, messages of encouragement, gift cards, burger bucks, books of stamps, etc.

Patterns:
Irish Hiking Scarf
Twin Rib Scarf
My So-Called Scarf
Basketweave Scarf
Enjoyable Rib Scarf

Reversible Cable Red Scarf

Ribbed Red Scarf

$10 gets you a 110 St Scarf!

2009-01-21T10:20:00.005-06:00

This is an in-store offer only. For $10 you can knit yourself (or a gift for someone else) a Pscarf (pattern by Carol Anderson) from our pre-cut strands of various yarns. The scarf takes anywhere from 1 1/2 - 2 hours to make. If you cannot stay until it is finished we can hold your UFO behind the counter for next time you come in to knit. There is always hot water for tea & coffee available but feel free to BYO tea or beverage of choice.

If this sounds like fun to you, just mention this blog post about the $10, Pscarf by Carol Anderson when you visit. We have 10 & 10 1/2 needles in-stock (32" circulars & 13" Straights) to purchase, or BYO.

Supported Spindle Spinning

2009-01-20T13:03:00.005-06:00

Here is a peek into our supported spindle class with Celia! Are you interested in learning support spindle spinning? Call to schedule a class anytime during our open hours!

Yarn Sale Continues!

2009-01-20T12:56:00.005-06:00

Just a short note to let everyone know that our yarn sale continues into the New Year!
All sale yarns are buy one at the sale price, get the second one half off that sale price (applies to IN-STORE purchases only). It's crazy but TRUE! Stop by today & get a skien or two or more of this awesome sale!

Needles & Tofutsies & Angora, OH MY!!

2009-01-17T16:15:00.004-06:00

We've got our needles restock & they are ready to be adopted. YAY!

New this week: the next generation of Tofutsie sock yarns are in & are available in-store as well as online at knitmeone.com! Many of the older colors are now 15% off!

We now carry Angora Mohair yarn & roving from Oregon WI by Fine Mohair Products Circle Studio. They are super soft & ohhh so luxurious!

"The fiber of Circle Studio has evolved carefully since July of 2004. Serendipityplayed a large factor when 6 goats fell from the sky into our pasture that was justthere doing nothing. Since then, we have acquired 4 (2 rescue) goats from variousplaces and 7 goats from careful breeding. We lost a favorite goat Taylor (anoriginal) to a pre existing condition last winter. We are a small mother anddaughter operation that is growing slowly. We are spinning, dyeing, felting andknitting. But our favorite job is taking good care of our lovely goat friends. They have taught us much and for that we are always grateful. This year we had two sets of twins, which has brought our total to 16 goats. We, of course, know all their names and label all our product giving credit wherecredit is due. So the Circle Studio Goats from Tuck~A~Way~Farm are: Ben and Jerry(white), Badger and Big Boy(black) Treya (white), Freda (multi-brown) and Freya(multi-black), Bumblebee and Butterfly (both champagne), Lily and Lila (white), Raul(multi-light brown) and Julio(black), and finally, Ollie and Chloe (both black andgrey). We also have a buck named Orion's Cricket who lives quite happily withother bucks just outside of Janesville, WI.Tuck~A~Way~Farm is in Oregon, WI where five acres are devoted to the hay and 2 acresto goatee pasture. The last acre is for the home and Chris Maitzen, the dad's,photography studio, A True Likeness. Since 2004, we have built two barns, replacedthe 1000 ft fence and hope to add electricity and water to the barns. Gwen Maitzen, the mom, is a high school art teacher and mix media artist and KatieMaitzen is going off to college in the fall to study illustration and business. Katie is currently a 4-H member and is proud to say that Butterfly took grandchampion exotic at the Dane County Fair last summer. She is planning on continuingto help with Circle Studio during her college years and after. Give us a call if you want to stop by and visit: 608.835.8684 or contact us at phainto at charter dot net."

Snow Bunny Bucks

2008-12-17T14:08:00.004-06:00

Stop in the Yarnhouse anytime while it's snowing and you'll get a Snow Bunny Buck worth $1 on your next purchase (not counting your snow-purchase).

We're usually open even during really bad storms & frigid temperatures, but you might want to call before you come over -- 221-0219.

Spinning Saturday a blast!

2008-12-11T13:00:00.005-06:00

Our Spinning Saturday in December was a blast! We had several experienced spinners drop in to spin & several newbie spinners came in with questions. One even learned how to spin!! WOO-HOO!! Way to go!
You too can join us for Spinning Saturday, every 1st Saturday from Noon-2pm.

New!! Afghan Kits!

2008-12-11T12:04:00.004-06:00

All the yarn that you need to make 44" x 62" afghan in one bag. You can find these kits on our website for purchase.

December PathNotes

2008-11-28T14:59:00.000-06:00

In This Issue The holidays are upon us! Soon we'll be exchanging gifts and drinking egg nog -- some of us have already started! Just in time for gift-giving, December's BBQ Knit Nite offers lots of options for last-minute gifts: snowman & santa hats; earrings & stitch markers; fingerless gloves; felted coasters; and Christmas ornaments. Interested in becoming a Master Knitter? Read about our Master Knitter's Group. Meet Erin, a brand-new, second-generation knitter who may just knit faster than anyone we know. Need some relaxing knitting time for a good cause? Read about our preemie hat project. Happy Holidays!

Last Minute Holiday Gifts On BBQ Knit Nite -- Friday, Dec. 12th
Join us from 4-6:30pm on Friday, December 12th, to knit up some last-minute holiday gifts. For a $10 drop-in fee, you can choose to learn how to make a children's Snowman Hat, a Premie Santa Hat, Christmas ornaments, felted coasters and more! Or, bring your gifts-in-progress to finish. Bring a dish if you wish; Karen's husband Gary will make a main dish.

Beaded Lace Scarf Class on Wednesday, December 17th
Have you seen Kathy's Beaded Lace Scarf on display at the Yarnhouse? In this 2-hour class, you'll learn a beaded cast-on, and beaded lace knitting -- enough knowledge to complete the New's Year's Eve Hourglass Beaded Lace Scarf. Call 221-0219 to sign up. The class will cost $25 and will be held from 6-8pm, Wednesday, December 17th.

Preemie Hat Project
Come in and help us knit hats for premature babies! We'll donate the yarn! Drop in between 2-4pm any Saturday and choose a skein from our special preemie yarns (free if you stay and knit the hat in the yarnhouse), get comfortable in our farmhouse kitchen or "zen" room, and knit a hat (or two). We'll collect them and donate them to either Meriter, UW, or St. Mary's. Come in and bring a friend!

Erin's Story
One hot day in September our new friend Erin stopped in with her grandmother, whom she was visiting here in Monona. Erin's grandma, a long time knitter, had just taught Erin to knit a garter stitch. She took to it like a duck to water, and was back in the yarnhouse a couple of days later to pick out yarn for an afghan, and a couple of scarves. She flew back to Boston, and practically finished the afghan by the time she landed. She's become a super-knitter! She shared a photo with us. It's On-The-Go-Blanket from Plymouth's Family Knits in Saphira and Kitten.

Master Knitter's Group Starting in January
Starting January 14th, the Yarnhouse will host a Master Knitter's Group every other Wednesday from 6-7pm. This is for knitters who have enrolled in The Knitter's Guild of America's Master Hand-Knitter's Level I program. Find out more about the Master's program on the Guild's website. We'll work together on the required swatches. Master Knitter Kathy Digman will join the group every second or third meeting to review swatches and give advice. Please call us at 221-0219 or email Karen at karen@knitmeone.com

Coming in January: Knit Nite
January's Knit Nite will feature hats and a special Spin Nite choice. Learn how to spin with a handmade supported spindle!

Just a reminder....

2008-11-25T12:37:00.004-06:00

We will be closed Thanksgiving day & re-open Black Friday with deals for you. Don't miss out on our all-day Felting Demo taught by Gale from Yaegers Acres in Cambridge WI on Friday!!

Freebie Patterns

2008-11-25T12:34:00.002-06:00

You can request any of the Freebie patterns from us with any online order. Just ask!

3x3 "LongPrint" Scarf

2008-11-20T15:24:00.007-06:00

Today's scarf is easy to make and fun to watch as it develops from the skein. Two skeins of Universal Yarn's Deluxe LongPrint 100% wool, self-striping, makes a very long and warm scarf. Or make the scarf shorter and knit a hat or mittens. So pretty!! Pattern is available in-store or by request with any internet order.

Today's Scarf - Scrap Scarf

2008-11-19T13:13:00.005-06:00

Do you have lots of leftover yarn from other projects that you just don't know what to do with?

We have a solution for you!

Say hello to Scrappy, The Scrap Yarn Scarf.

Next BBQ Knit-Nite: 12.14.08

2008-11-18T11:37:00.002-06:00

The last BBQ knit-nite of 2008 will be on December 14th with a theme of Quick Knitted Gifts.

Novembers BBQ knit-nite was fantastic with plenty of food & fun to be had by all! WOO-HOO!

Today's Scarf - Nickle & Dime Scarf

2008-11-13T12:43:00.004-06:00

Nickle & Dime is a simple variation of the Basket Weave pattern. Knit up in Yeagers Acres yarn, slightly felted, with a crocheted scallop edge.

Today's Scarf - The Cork Screw

2008-11-12T12:35:00.004-06:00

Somthing different, something fun, something funk-ay...

That's a Cork Screw Scarf!

Seen here knit up in Smart Superwash wool yarn. The pattern is a freebe from SWTC.

Today's Scarf - Reversable Cables

2008-11-12T12:15:00.002-06:00

This is a freebe pattern available in store only with any purchase. A 3x3 cable that is knitted on both sides of this scarf. Super easy to knit, a great beginning cable scarf. Seen here knit up in Khroma DK.

Today's Scarf - Ivy Trellis by Gabi Bolland of Posh Knits

2008-11-11T11:48:00.003-06:00

Ivy scarf is a stylish but deceptively easy scarf that knits up quick. A perfect first cable project!

Seen here knit up in Organiks yarn.

Today's Scarf -- Frog Tree's Cape Cod Shell

2008-11-08T09:47:00.005-06:00

Frog Tree's Alpaca is so soft it almost begs to be a scarf. Warm and fluffy, it surrounds you with warmth -- kind of like a hug! Today's scarf is Frog Tree's "Cape Cod Shell." A 9" by 60" scarf requires 4 skeins of Frog Tree Alpaca sport weight. The four-row pattern makes a very pretty, lacy scarf. Seen here knit up in Kitten, a lace weight mohair yarn.

Off The Beaten Path Yarnhouse has both the yarn and the pattern in stock, because of course, November is Scarf Month!

Today's Scarf -- Amy Anderson's "Pardon Me, Your Slip is Showing

2008-11-07T11:42:00.011-06:00

November is Scarf Month at Off the Beaten Path. We are knitting up lots of demos and will try to showcase one scarf a day here on the blog throughout the month.

Today's scarf is Amy Anderson's "Pardon Me, Your Slip is Showing." This pattern uses a slip-stitch technique to create a two-color scarf without having to carry the second color. You knit with one color at a time, just slipping the stitches in the "other" color in pattern. It's really easy and fun, and creates a complicated-looking end product.

The $4 pattern includes instructions for three scarves, all using the two-color slip-stitch technique. I knit this one up using not-quite-one skein each of SWTC's Yin, in pink and brown. I think it would also be really pretty and soft in Frog Tree alpaca or Fibre Company Khroma.

November '08 PathNotes

2008-11-05T15:19:00.022-06:00

In This Issue
Hello there!! Brrrrr……What comes to mind during the cool days of November: Thanksgiving turkey & pie – probably; Holiday shopping – maybe; scarves? Of course! That’s because it’s Scarf Month here at Off The Beaten Path Yarnhouse; scarves & so much more. In fact, we can help you out with holiday shopping & pie, too! Pie?

Read about our Day After Thanksgiving (Black Friday) activities, including Gale’s Wet/Needle Felting Demonstrations, BBQ Knit Nite, new yarns & scarves, scarves, scarves!

New Yarn!

The latest shipment from Universal has arrived! Stop in and check out the new Fibranatura Cobblestone 100% superwash merino in nine fantastic colorways. The popular Deluxe Worsted Long Prints are re-stocked, too!

Day After Thanksgiving Fun and Specials

We’re open on Friday, Nov. 21st from 10 to 4 pm. See what’s on special & watch Gale’s Wet & Needle Felting Demonstrations at 11am, 1pm & 3pm. These are great techniques for making placemats, scarves, purses, pillows, and more. Let your imagination soar! Sign up for a felting class with your friends!

Scarves, Scarves and More Scarves
The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting even more snow than last year! We recommend that everyone in your family have at least one hand-knit scarf to help them keep the wind and cold out. It’s a lucky thing that November is Scarf Month at Off the Beaten Path Yarnhouse. Check out our blog at knitmeone.com for our Scarf-A-Day patterns and yarns.

We have lots of warm yarn in beautiful colors to help stave off the winter doldrums! Check out our re-stocked Long Prints, and Fibranatura’s new 100% superwash merino Cobblestone. Many, many patterns, too!

Scarf-Themed BBQ Knit Nite Friday, November 14th
Scarves for every skill level. Join us from 4:00 to 6:30 pm on Friday, November 14th for BBQ Knit Nite. Learn to knit with beads with Kathy’s Peacock Tail Scarf. It’s fun to do & jazzy to wear. OR, try Amy Anderson’s “Pardon Me, Your Slip is Showing” two-color slip-stitch scarf. As if that’s not enough, Karen and Janelle have been preparing yarn for the fantastic “110-Stitch Multi-Colored Stripe Scarf.” More later…

For a $10 drop-in fee, you’ll enjoy two hours of instruction & help on your choice of scarves (Regular price: $25/2-hr). We will break between 5 & 5:30 to enjoy a potluck dinner featuring BBQ Beef & Gary’s delicious grilled food. Bring a dish if you wish. Save room for Kathy and her mom’s pumpkin & apple pies. Oh Yeah! Yummm...

When Being A Knitting Goddess Is Just Not Enough
Lots of Knitting Goddesses come into the shop, but some knitters just want to be more. They want to be MASTER KNITTERS. Off The Beaten Path is starting a Master Knitters Group in January for knitters who are tackling the Knitter’s Guild of America Master Hand-Knitting Program.

According to the Guild, The TKGA Master Knitting Program© is a non-competitive and rewarding achievement program for advanced knitters. Program completion culminates in the presentation of the coveted TKGA Master Knitter title and pin. In addition to knitting samples and garments from written instructions, you will prepare a notebook of research and answers to questions. Written instructions from the Guild provide details (you must join the national Guild, and enroll in the program).

The group will meet every other week to work on swatches and help each other. Once a month Master Knitter Kathy Digman will be there to review swatches and give advice. Please call us at 608-221-0219 or email Karen at knitmeone.com if you are interested. Times and dates TBD.

Happy Thanksgiving!
At Off The Beaten Path Yarnhouse we are thankful for all of our wonderful customers who brighten our days, excite us with their enthusiasm for knitting, and share their lives with us.
We will be closed for Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from Karen, Rexie, Rachel, Gale, Kathy and Jesi!

Coming in December…
Last-minute Holiday gifts!

October 2008 PathNotes

2008-10-02T13:34:00.008-05:00

October 2008 PathNotes

In This Issue
Lots of exciting things are planned for our knitters this season, starting with Mitten Month! Read all about our mitten-themed activities & specials for October. Also in this issue: Don’t forget the longer hours on Tuesday & Wednesday nights; Drop in 4 a Lesson on BBQ Knit Night; Learn short-cuts for the Ode to Joy workshop; check out our adorable Halloween projects; and our half-off every second skein of sale yarn!

October is Mitten Month!
One hot day in September, a young woman came into the shop carrying her very heavy winter jacket. I asked if she was looking for anything in particular & she told me she was on the hunt for worsted weight wool for mittens to match her new winter jacket. Her grandmother, who lives out of town, is making hand-knit mittens for her grown-up granddaughter.

This lucky young woman has never had a pair of store-bought mittens! Grandma has been making them for her ever since she was a child.

What better inspiration for Mitten Month? Wouldn’t it be great if your children or grandchildren could say they’ve never worn store-bought mittens? Or how about you? Picture your hands clad in soft, warm alpaca, merino, or felted wool…mmmm. We’ve got it all: Frog Tree alpaca; Honeypot’s hand-painted washable merino; Southwest Trading’s Xie & Saphira; Fibre Company’s Organik & Khroma; Universal’s Deluxe Worsted; and much, much more.

Learn the 2 stitch per inch mitten during October’s BBQ Knit Nite. We’ll also have lots of mitten patterns and samples on our “mitten wall.” Come in and try some on!

RSVP for Ode to Joy Jacket Workshop on October 25th
Have you seen the gorgeous Candace Eisner Strick “Ode to Joy” jacket on display in the shop? It’s a show-stopper knit up by Kathy Digman in Candace’s “Autumn” colorway. Kathy will teach some of Candace’s techniques in this workshop, including crochet cast-on; short rows shaping; picking up stitches; creating a variegate look; and, three needle bind-off. This workshop is recommended for intermediate/experienced knitters.
Bonus: Workshop participants will receive 15% off the price of the “Ode to Joy” kit! The workshop will be held from 1-5pm on Saturday, October 25th.
Call us at 608-221-0219 to sign up!

Shorter Autumn Days Bring Longer Yarnhouse Hours
As the days get shorter, our hours have gotten longer! We are now open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays until 7pm. Stop in on your way home from work, relieve your stress with a little yarn, and miss the traffic. Hours remain the same for Thursday – Saturday: 5 pm on Thursday & 4 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Halloween Projects You Won’t Want to Miss
We’ve got some adorable quick-to-knit Halloween projects for you: Rexie’s Felted Jack O’ Lantern; Anne Cory’s Pumpkin Hat; a “2 st per Inch” Mitten & Simone’s Halloween Stripe Scarf. Create your own Halloween projects with orange (10% Off in October) & black yarns in worsted wool, alpaca, bamboo & more.

‘Meat Us 4 a Lesson’ on BBQ Knit Nite!
Knitters from as far away as Janesville and Milwaukee had a great time at our first BBQ Knit Nite. We talked, laughed, ate & yes, learned the ins and outs of slip-stitch knitting. We have more of the “Mosaic Triangles – A Slip-Stitch Hat” patterns in the shop. Some of our knitters asked for my rice salad recipes. See below and enjoy!

The next BBQ Knit Nite will be Friday, Oct. 17th, from 4-6:30pm. Karen’s husband, Gary, will grill for us again and we’re asking knitters to “bring a dish if you wish.” For a $10 drop-in fee, you’ll have dinner and a lesson on your choice of one of our featured Halloween projects shown above.

Toni’s Rice Salad (this is the salad that I brought to Knit Nite)
1 Pkg. Uncle Ben’s Long Grain and Wild Rice mix (either the regular or quick cook)
1 cucumber
1 small green pepper
½ carton grape tomatoes
Mayonnaise to taste
Lawry’s Seasoned Salt to taste
About ½ cup salted peanuts, chopped

Prepare the rice mix as directed on package, omitting butter. Dice cucumber and green pepper; add to rice. Cut tomatoes in half; add to rice. Mix in mayonnaise to taste. Sprinkle with seasoned salt. Chill. Top with peanuts just before serving.

Mel’s Rice Salad (this is the other salad I mentioned)
1 Pkg. Rice-a-Roni Fried Rice flavored rice mix
1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts, diced and SAVE THE MARINADE
1 small can sliced black olives, drained and diced
1 small green pepper, diced
2-3 green onions, sliced
1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained and diced
Mayonnaise to taste

Prepare the rice mix as directed on package. Add all of the other ingredients INCLUDING THE MARINADE. Chill, serve & ENJOY.

Have You Seen The Sale Room?
You’ll never see sale prices like these on such fantastic yarns. Until the yarn is gone, you can buy one skein (at the sale price) and get the next skein for half off! These are just some of the great yarns you’ll find here:

The Fibre Company Savannah Merino/Organic Cotton/Linen/Soy blend
Wool in the Woods Cherub 100% wool
Wool in the Woods Cyclone 100% wool
Wool in the Woods Sophie llama/wool blend
Kitten Mohair blend
Vero 100% wool
Dali mohair blend
Galway 100% pure wool
Farmhouse “Roxanne’s” hand-dyed mohair/lamb’s wool blend
Farmhouse “Andy’s Merino” hand-dyed
Hemp for Knitting 100% long fiber hemp
Hemp for Knitting Cashmere Canapa cotton/cashmere/hemp blend
Frog Tree 100% merino wool worsted weight (we only have a few balls left)
Dax Alpaca hand-dyed with natural vegetable dyes 100% baby alpaca
South West Trading Co. Twize 100% bamboo
South West Trading Craft organic cotton/milk fiber from the Vickie Howell Collection
South West Trading Amaizing 100% corn fiber
South West Trading TOFUtsies -- past sock of the month colors
Schulana Sojabama bamboo/soy blend
Universal Rebecca mohair blend
Skacel Giardino 100% cotton
Schoeller Stahl Popcorn wool blend
Needful Yarns Geranium linen blend
Needful Yarns Ceramic viscose/ceramic blend
Plymouth Yarn Patches wool blend
Universal Summer Linen linen/cotton blend
Blue Heron Yarns cotton woven ribbon
Layette Plus Plassard baby yarn
Louet Celebrity Flair linen/polyester blend
Louet Diana’s Sparkle mohair blend

Wait…, we have small quantities of many eyelash and other novelty yarns. Hurry – these won’t last long...

Coming in November
Winter is on the way & November is Scarf Month! Look for November’s PathNotes & ‘Nine Ways to Wear a Scarf.’ BBQ Knit Nite on Friday, Nov. 14th. The theme will be Scarves with Nine Lives!

Happy Halloween!

"Ode to Joy" Workshop Oct. 25th

2008-09-24T11:08:00.000-05:00

BBQ Knit Nights!

2008-09-20T12:42:00.005-05:00

Introducing BBQ Knit Nights!

Meat me 4 a Lesson

Knit a new item each month & enjoy a BBQ feast cooked by Gary, Karen's Hubby. Bring a dish if you wish. Meat & drinks provided. Vegans welcome! Look for this drop-in ($10) event once a month on a Friday night. Please RSVP so we have enough patterns & food for everyone. Student discount on supplies; or, BYO.

Here's what we have planned so far:

September - Slip Stitch Hats (Sept 26th; 4 - 6:30 pm)

October - Felted Jack -O- Lantern or Mittens (Oct 17th; 4 - 6:30 pm)

November - Beaded Scarf (Nov 14th; 4 - 6:30 pm)

December - Quick and Easy Knitted Gifts (Dec 5th; 4- 6:30 pm)

Mark your calenders!

New Hours and Grand Re-opening Specials!

2008-09-20T11:53:00.004-05:00

Yet again the rumor that we are closing for good is doing its' rounds....once again we are NOT closing. We were closed for nine days to remodel and prepare for our Celebratory 3rd Anniversary Grand Re-Opening. Speaking of, we have A LOT of new classes, events and sales to tell you about.

NOW OPEN LATE TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS TILL 7 PM!

Check out our new look!! Here the new look for the check-out room.

The wool room has been transformed into a spinning/knitting retreat room. Plenty of space to move, comfortable seating, & a relaxing atmosphere will invite you to stay & chill-out.

We are having yarn specials every day for the rest of the month. Some will be advertised here & some will be a surprise. You'll have to visit to find those specials.

On Tuesday, Sept 23rd, our advertised yarn specials will be buy one get one 50% off on Khroma DK . Wednesday, Spet. 24th, specials will be all Farmhouse yarns buy one get one 50% off.

All sock & mohair yarns will be buy one get one 50% for the rest of September.

Next month will be all new specials so keep your eyes peeled to this here blog!

Saturday Spinning Fun!

2008-09-06T13:54:00.002-05:00

Susie stopped in to learn how to spindle-spin her very own yarn for the first time. She is so proud and OOOH so excited about her very own yarn! Way-to-go Susie!!

Spinning Saturday is every month on the 1st Saturday from 12 - 2.

Shop closing for Grand Re-Opening!

2008-09-06T10:45:00.006-05:00

The shop will be getting an Aniversary make-over while we are closed from 9/9 - 9/18. Come on over when we open again on 9/19 to see it.

See you then!

New Merino Lace Yarns!

2008-07-31T15:29:00.004-05:00

Jezebel is a 100% soft merino lace weight yarn that is just perfect for any lace project. We now have Navy and many new fall colors on the way! You get 327 yards for the "Try me" price of $11.75!

Remember to knit, relax, repeat!

New Lace Yarns!!

2008-06-21T12:30:00.004-05:00

The new Xie Bamboo lace wieght yarn comes on cones of 980 yards!

The popular Hat a-la-Karen pattern is now available to purchase for $3.

We have new price tags on many of our yarns that show "War Time" (WT) prices and the new IPP (Inflation Proof Pricing).

IPP is just for you so come check out our fabulous low prices!

New Web Messenger!

2008-06-21T11:41:00.002-05:00

Check out our cool as ice web messenger on the right side bar, just below our store info. You don't have to download anything to ask us a question or to just say "Hi!". Bare in mind that we may be away from the computer when you leave a message, sso be patient for our replies.

Hope to see you in the shop soon!

New Yarns, New Flowers, New Motto

2008-05-24T13:18:00.009-05:00

One last photo of the Tulips before the heat of summer makes them fade for another year. MMmm serenity!

We have a new motto around here...and it goes something like this:

"The pump may go up, but you won't see our prices doing that. You can count on fair pricing on all our yarns; our promise to you in these times of economic uncertainy!"

"Inflation Proof Pricing....IPP for short!"

Universal Worsted Long Print has gone DOWN in price! Long Print is now $9.00!

Honeypot Yarns are 100% Superwash Merino & is a one person operation that is based here in Madison WI. Their yarns are all over the country but we are their only local outlet. This is just a small sampling of the yarns we have in stock and more colors and types are coming. YAY for supporting local businesses!!Seasong is a mix of wonderfully soft 80% Cotton and 20% SeaCell.

Tahiti is a 100% Cotton variegated yarn. MMMm tropical!

Cotton wood is 100% ORGANIC Cotton. Natural goodness ahead!

Here is a Baby Hat knit up in our new Alora yarn which is 56% Bamboo and 44% Wool. It has the look of ribbon but knits up as easily as any yarn.

We have corrections for the Baby Hat pattern by Sue Bakken for those of you who have purchased the pattern, you may come in anytime to pick those up, free-of-charge.

More wonderful flowers here around OTBP!

The Karaoke Feel It event is here until June 6th. Come on in to see wonderful hand-knit pieces made out of the outstanding variegated Karaoke before they leave.

We hope you all have a wonderful and safe Memorial weekend!

Spring Has Finally Sprung!

2008-04-23T12:50:00.002-05:00

And so have the new yarns!

Check out these "look so yummy you could eat them" Woolen Reworks Cupcakes! The double as a pin cushion!

Here we have some new 100% natural fiber Yarns from Wisdom Yarns. Fresco is our newest 100% cotton varigated yarn that is easy on the hands and a pleasure to knit with.
Exquisite Bamboo is 77% Bamboo & 23% Superwash Merino Wool and it is "to die for" soft!! You must come in to feel this one!
Our newest varigated Bamboo ribbon yarn is Bamboo Splash which is 100% bamboo fiber. This is very soft as well.
Cupcake?

New Yarns Debut

2008-03-15T15:25:00.005-05:00

Boy do we have some goodies for your eyes & hands this time around!

Is it spring yet because it sure does feel like it in here around all these beautiful new yarns sprouting up!

Mermaid is 42% cotton, 25% superwash Merino wool, 12% silk, & 11% seacell in 125 yard balls that we have in stock in the above colors.

MMMm Yum-may!

Sensational is 100% Superwash Merino Wool in 90 yarn balls in the above colors.

Shine is new to the market with a cotton and viscose blend that makes it shine like the sun is bright in 123 yard balls. Perfect for summer wear! We have a pattern book spacifically for Shine that has many new & exciting patterns that will just dazzle everyone in the Summer sun.

Aspen is a sturdy yarn of 75% Superwash Merino Wool & 25% cotton in 126 yard balls in the above colors.

Birch is standin' tall with 50% Superwash Merino Wool, 30% Alpaca, & 20% Silk in 120 yard balls in the above colors.
We have MANY-MANY-MANY new color-ways of Karaoke, a 50/50 Soysilk & Wool blend that has been wildly popular around these parts. We have plenty of patterns to go with this sensationally varigated yarn-most are free with an in-store purchase.

We have more rovings in stock for those spinning customers. YAY!

We have many new color-ways in Wool & Soysilk.

Keep your eyes peeled because many more new yarns are on thier way & will be sprouting up for you soon!!

May the Luck of the Irish be with you always!

See you at the MKG Knit-In

2008-03-06T11:55:00.003-06:00

We will be vending at the Madison Knitters Guild Knit-in at the Bishop O'Conner Center at 702 S Highpoint Rd in West Madison where Lily Chin will be the featured speaker. Come on by and shop us and the 19 other vendors who will be there from 8 am-4 pm. There is a general admission fee of $3 to shop up to $55 for a full day of classes (pre-registration is required. See madisonknittersguild.org for more info) and fun. Food is available for purchase at the center.

We are bringing our new, freshly delivered, spring yarns to the knit-in. You MUST see these as they are beyond yummy! The shop will be open in Monona so stop on by to shop our "We're Sick of the Snow Spring Sale" and save up to 75% on select yarns! They must go to make room for these new yarns!

It's Spring...and you know what that means....

2008-03-01T15:33:00.007-06:00

March Maddness

"We're sick of the snow"

SALE!

We have many-many-many yarns on sale, some for a very limited time through March 8th only! We have lots, TONS, of new yarns coming so we must make room!

ALL SOCK YARNS ARE 15% OFF (excludes Smart & Lanett)!! Whew! Look at that snow melt! This sale is HOT!
ALL FROG TREE COTTONS ARE 20% OFF!
ALL HEMP YARNS, CERAMIC, SUNDANCE SWIRL, SULTARA, CUCCIOLO & PUPPY ARE 20% OFF (LIMITED QUANTITITES).
ORGANIKS, KROMA, SAVANNAH, & BLUE HAREN YARNS ARE 15% OFF
Chunky wts are end of the season 15% off; but will disappear soon!

There are so many more that I could not possibly list them all. You must stop in to experience this sale! We even have some yarns at 75% off!! Stop in & see these beauties & grab 'em while they're priced below markup (& before they are gone forever)!! Stash to amass I tell yah!

New books, yarn and Hat pattern

2008-02-20T13:31:00.004-06:00

We have new yarn from Cestari in Dk, Sock, Worsted and Tweed worsted ranging from $7-9 for upwards of 250 yards a skein. Wonderfull soft stuff.

Rebecca Koscik designed this wonderfully sparkly hat out of Yin and Yang yarns. The seqins look like frost on the trees! How creative! The pattern is available in store for $4.50

We just received a selection of wonderfull fresh books over the last couple of days. Come on in and check them out. More like this are on the way!

We have 5 new colorways in Dali. Get 'em while they'er here because this wonderful mohair/nylon blend is bounding off the shelves and out the door!

We also have in Tofutsie #734, a wonderful turquoise and black colorway. Limited quantities available.

Mountain Air of Celtic

2008-02-07T13:17:00.001-06:00

Rexie knit Rebecca Koskic Mountain Air caplet that had an sir of Celtic in it. So she added a Celtic Knot button to the front to polish it off. The pattern is available in store or online from our website for $5.00 (plus shipping for online orders).

Magic Loops socks classes

2008-02-07T12:21:00.000-06:00

We have two Magic Loops Sock classes (toe-up or cuff-down) ready to go for Saturday Feb 9th and Saturday Feb 16 1-3 pm. Limit 4 per calss, two spots are left for each.
Call or visit today to sign up, $25 / 2 Hrs.

See you soon!

What lovely Hearts you have...

2008-02-02T10:47:00.000-06:00

Ever wondered how to tat? Learn the "Almost Lost Art" of Tatting & make these wonderful tatted heart earrings in a 2 hour class on Tuesday Feb 12th 6-8 pm, just in time for Valentines. All materials are included with class fee. Limit 4 to a class. POSSIBLY ONE SPOT LEFT!

Call or stop in today to sign up!

New Books, New Yarns, New Woolen Reworks!

2008-01-31T13:30:00.000-06:00

We have new books!

Kitty Knits

Sensational Knitted Socks

Saturday Sweaters

Blankets, Hats, & Booties

Beret, Beanies, & Booties

Too Cute! Cotten Knits for Toddlers

First Knits

Ocean Breezes Knitted Scarves

Stitch Style Socks

A to Z of Crochet

A to Z Knitting

New Color Baby is a super soft Aussie Merino yarn. Find in the Sock Central isle.
We have two of the most popular colors of the Aussie Merino sock yarn back in stock!
New yarn Modiliani is a corded, heavy worsted, Aussie Merino yarn. Find it next to our super soft baby yarns.
Mary of Woolen Reworks brough in more felted Rose (above) and Sunflower (below) broaches. They have become a very popular item in out store. Mary makes these beauties by recycling old knitted sweaters. How creative she is!! Find them next to the checkout.

Nothin' but Smiles

2008-01-19T12:06:00.001-06:00

Sunshine knit these cute-as-button sweaters for her children Lucy & Sofie out of our Smart DK yarn. They are just adorable (both the kids and the sweaters)! Way to go!

Carol Anderson 3/30/08

2008-01-16T12:34:00.000-06:00

Five wonderful, funny, skill-packed hours will keep you busy on Sunday, March 30, 2008. Pick any of her patterns you've always wanted to knit! Cost: $85: Noon - 5:00 pm. No need to worry about food as this class will be catered. We have a class limit of 12. Call or stop in to to learn more, sign up, & see this awesome workshop.

Bamboo DPN's are in!

2008-01-16T12:26:00.000-06:00

The long awaited bamboo DPN's from Chia-Goo are in!

We have sizes

#1-7, 9, 10, 10.5, & 13 - 6 inch DPN's.

We'll see you soon!

Wanna learn how to spin using a spindle?

2008-01-09T12:04:00.000-06:00

The next weekend for Spinning demos is 2.2.08 from Noon - 2. Ever wondered how to spin your own yarn from fleece or other spinnable materials? Come on in & we will show you how to spin wool using a spindle. Make an in-store purchase & receive a free hand-made spindle to take home! Call to RSVP today so we can make sure to have enough spindles for everyone who wants to take this valuable skill home with them. We have some picked, white, lambs fleece available to purchase from Gales' farm if you become so hooked you must have more wool to spin! Plan ahead, call ahead, & we will see you Feburary 2nd between Noon and 2pm!

Teaching the Teachers

2008-01-09T11:55:00.002-06:00

"Teaching the Teachers"...

How to knit.

The kitchen was "full-up" as the "School of Knitting" here (see the fishes swimming around their heads?) as a group of Madison Student Teachers are learning to knit. You can never learn too many skills! Way-to-go! Now go forth and spread that knittin' addiction! :)

Conquering Knitted Mitten Successes

2008-01-09T11:53:00.001-06:00

Way-to-go ladies!! You have conquered the 2-ST mittens! Now you can make some for the whole family! *Eep! Don't hurt me!*

Mitten Class & Fair Isle Sweater in the works

2008-01-05T14:33:00.001-06:00

We had a 2 stitch mitten class today with teacher Melissa Mathay (picture above helping a student). Below are a few of the other students we had today.
Below is Rebecca Koscik, modeling the first sleeve to her Fair Isle sweater made out of Smart Superwash wool yarn, the way her 6 year old son likes to model it. Cute!
Here we can see the detail and work involved. WOW!! We cannot wait till the rest of it gets knit up, but we figure that won't be for another couple of months yet. It'll be ready for next Fall!

New Year's Update

2008-01-05T11:14:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year!

Here is the first post of this brand new 2008 year!

Are you registered to vote? Register today!

We have some nice Corridale Lambs wool grown pesticide free by our staff member Gale. She has hand picked through this fleece to make sure there is little to no veggie matter (hay, grass, seeds, etc). Sold by the ounce. Stop in today for some of this wonderful, super soft spinning wool today while supplies last!

Gale is also a knitter and felter! This jacket, felted purse and scarf were also knit by her from her sheep's wool. These are available for sale.

Rebecca Koscik has brought in more goodies for you to knit! These two bags were knit and felted using 100% wool Louet Riverstone (green and black) and Magic (blue). The blue one is a backpack purse and the green is a shoulder bag. Becca is a local designer that we charish and love! Pattern is available for purchase.

Here is a side view of that backpack purse. Nice aye?!

Here are three of the new books we have recently received. The Ultimate Knitted Tee is a HOT seller and we only have one left out of the four we ordered!

Need help with a project? We will be more than happy to assist in moving you through the tough spots in any pattern. Class time starts at $15/hr after the first 10 minutes.

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-22T15:49:00.000-06:00

Happy Holidays from the staff of OTBP-Karen & Gary, Lynn, Rachel, Rexie and Gale! We will be closed Christmas Day and will reopen Wednesday, 11-5 . Stay safe and remember to take some time out for yourself to knit/Crochet/Weave/Spin!!

Feel good Charity Knittins

2007-12-22T15:42:00.002-06:00

WHEW! Look at all the knittin this one has been up to! Way to go Chris and thanks for contrinuting to the Warm Up Wisconsin afghan!

New Books!!

2007-12-22T13:01:00.000-06:00

We recently received:

Knitting Circles Around Socks
Knit One, Stripe Two
A to Z of Knitting & Crocheting
365 Knitting Stitches a Year & 365 Crochet Stitches a Year
200 Knitted Blocks
Ultimate Knitted Tee
Knitter's Book of finishing Techniques
Crochet Socks!
Blankets, Hats, & Booties