Why we heart Boutique Knits

Posted by Shannon in the shop, yarn, books, knitting

Boutique Knits, by Portlander Laura Irwin, is so insanely gorgeously wonderful, that we cannot seem to keep it in stock. I finally snagged one of the copies the day before Thanksgiving, and my sister, who surprised us with a visit, and I each made a hat out of the book in the last few days. Can you say, wowza? This book rocks tha’ casbah, folks! The instructions are very clear, the patterns are vintage-saucy, and the photography makes you want to crawl into the pages and live that life. Jessica and I both used Malabrigo for our hats because, frankly, what else is there? (heehee)

Jessica made the Sideways Grande Hat out of Malabrigo Worsted in Vetiver.

I made the Side Slip Cloche out of Malabrigo Worsted in Glazed Carrot.

Get this book while it’s here, folks! Every project in it is just dying to be made.

On Slim Shady

Posted by Emily in the shop

So, some of you have been noting that we’re not posting to the blog as much lately. And it’s true. We’re veeerrry sorry!

The reasons are several, from the personal (my kitchen sink literally exploded) to the ridiculous (just mention mini CDs and I swear you’ll see a new hair turn gray), but the main one is computer problems… and I’m sure many of you can comiserate.

Our computer, (named Slim Shady - also a good story there, but I digress), has been rebelling lately. Long story short, things are back on track, but we’re having to set up a new sales program and it is hugely time consuming. So a few things, like blogging, have fallen off a bit. Please take pity on us - we’re only human and computers are only computers!

When we get it up and running, you’ll be able to check out much faster than before and we’ll have easier and more accurate access to information like stock levels and pending orders. We even have a barcode scanner, but we haven’t named that yet.

Thank you so much for your understanding while we work through this to make your Twisted experience better than ever.

PS - We have a limited supply of Painted Skeins Silver Sock yarn back in stock!

Single Skein Club

Posted by Emily in the shop, yarn, knitting

Introducing the perfect gift for the knitter on your holiday gift list! (Note: this could be yourself…)

Every other month you’ll receive a skein of fantastic yarn, and a pattern to use that one skein to make something equally fantastic. The patterns will all be written by local Portland knitting designers - again a different one each time. Plus, each package will include a little gifty from us here at Twisted.

The cost is $120 for the year for in-store pickup and $160 if you want it shipped. (A great bonus for all of you Portlanders who can save some money by just stopping by the shop.) The first package will ship February 1, 2009.

Enrollment is limited, so if you’re interested, just give us a call today to join!

In time for the Holidays, BMFA Kits

Posted by Shannon in the shop, yarn, socks, knitting

As you all know, our BIG HUGE fall order of all things Blue Moon arrived a few weeks ago. We talked about all of the yarns themselves, and how much we love them, and how we wish we had time to create very beautiful and special items, using each and every yarn we received. We may not have talked about how we wish, so very very much, that we could keep every single skein for ourselves, because it is all such lovely and wonderful stuff. That may seem a bit…selfish. We even talked a bit about the kits we have, the funky, fabulous and wonderful kits. But you may not realize how easy they really make holiday knitting.

Kit Numero Uno: The Funky Sock Monkey Kit
This little tube-o-fun has two contrasting half-skeins of Socks that Rock Heavyweight, enough to make a large and a small Funky Monkey, with opposite colorings. Our most excellent sample knitter, Lacy, knitted up a kit for us (the handsome little guys are pictured at left). These two are Marcel and Marceau, named after, you guessed it, Marcel Marceau!

Kit Numero Dos: The Baby Surprise Jacket
This kit is so fricking adorable! We have actual samples of all of the little jackets here in the shop, and the elicit more “ooooohs” and “aaaaahs” than anything else we have. The pattern is deceptively simple, if you just let yourself trust in the genius of EZ, and the way the kits are put together, color-wise, makes it easy to trust in the color-genius of Tina, so it’s really a match made in knitterly heaven.

Kit Numero Tres: The Grinchy-Grouchy Sock Kit
At first glance, this kit may appear to be a bit…pricey. But, when you really get into the heart of the kit, you see that it contains two full skeins of STR and a skein of the furry stuff, Whisper. The STR, at least, is enough to make TWO, not one, pairs of Grinchy Grouchy’s. Not yet sure if the Whisper is enough for two pairs. But, this makes me think of Christmas, and S and I having matching Christmas sockies. Would that just be the cutest thing in the world, or what? Hee, hee.

Pick Up Sticks Patterns

Posted by Shannon in the shop, patterns, felting

Wanna felt, but sick of the old felting standby’s? We’ve got some fabulous patterns for you - fresh, funky, and fabulous. Pick Up Sticks has everything from booties:

to hats:

to bags:

All in time for that frantic holiday knitting that may just have you gasping for air every time you realize what the date is!

Malabrigo Sock. Up close and personal.

Posted by Shannon in the shop, yarn, socks

Due to popular demand (aHEM, Melissa!), here are some photos of the newest of the new, Malabrigo-wise, the much-anticipated Malabrigo Sock Yarn!!!

This is wonderful stuff, if a bit ornery on the swift. It’s a plied superwash Malabrigo, 440 yards, soft as anything Malabrigo puts out, with a sheen that would make a fabulous pair of socks, or a very gorgeous and special shawl or scarf.

Isn’t it lovely?
Isn’t it wonderful?
Isn’t it precious?

Do you know what that’s from?

Holiday Wish Lists

Posted by Shannon in the shop

It’s that time of year again, the time when we knitters and crocheters think, “Golly gee, whillickers, why the HECK didn’t I start my holiday crafting last January?!?!?!” It’s also the time of year when our dearly beloveds wonder what in the heck they can give to the crafty gal or guy that seems to have everything. Wanna help those friends and family get YOU the perfect gift? Come on in to Twisted and fill in a Wish List. It’s like registering for a wedding, or a baby (although, we are admittedly much lower-tech than Crate and Barrel or Babies ‘R’ Us). Just come in, tell us you’d like to start a wish list, grab a piece of paper, write your name on the top of it, and start “shopping!” Go big, go small - do it all.

We also have Gift Certificates, which are kind of a one-size-fits-all cure to the holiday shopping blues. We can also create a custom gift “basket”-type of thing - if you let us know what your loved one is interested in, and give us an amount to shoot for, we can come up with something divine.

Happy Holidays, everyone - now, get to craftin’!

Malabrigo Sock.

Posted by Shannon in the shop, yarn, socks

Malabrigo Sock yarn’s long journey has ended, and we couldn’t be happier or more excited. The rumors first began to surface in Spring 2007 that the venerable Malabrigo Yarn company would soon be unveiling a sock yarn, and folks started getting antsy. Fast forward to the two Stitches, where a lucky few were gifted with test skeins to play with. Those knitters shared the love, showing everyone what was in store. Then, disaster struck. This spring, a fire ravaged the Malabrigo mill, striking terror into the hearts of knitters everywhere, causing a short-term (thank the knitting goddess for that!) drought of all things Malabrigo. Inevitably, the production of Malabrigo Sock was postponed, and knitters everywhere sobbed silently. But never fear, sock knitters, because today, your dreams have been answered.

24 colors. Soft and sproingy. Machine-washable. High yardage.

Come and get it.

Taos - not just a city in New Mexico

Posted by Emily in yarn

Come check out Crystal Palace Yarn’s Taos. It is 100% wool in 16 striated colors. Taos is spun from very soft wool with a wonderful feel. It makes luxuriously soft garments and felts beautifully!

128 yds - 118 m/50 gram ball gauge: 4.5 - 5.5 sts/inch on US size 8-9 needles

We have a store sample of the free Pinwheel sweater. The pattern really shows off the self-striping of the yarn. I’ve been wearing it around frequently, so if you don’t see it on the mannequin, that’s why!

Baby Ull

Posted by Emily in yarn

Twisted is now carrying Dale of Norway Baby Ull! This is an incredibly soft 100% merino wool yarn that’s perfect next to a baby’s delicate skin.

This fingering weight yarn is available in a range of exciting colors ranging from delicate pastels to sunny brights to rich deep shades. Each 50 gram (1 3/4 oz) ball contains approximately 180 yds (165 m).

Recommended gauge for Dale Baby Ull is 32 stitches per 4″ (10 cm) using U.S. size 2 (2 1/2 mm) needles. Baby Ull is machine washable in cool water using a mild/neutral detergent. Lay flat to dry.

Baby Ull is also known for adorable pattern books. We have the little penguin sweater knit up - it is insanely cute.

2310 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232     *     503-922-1150     *     info@twistedpdx.com