Dear Friends of The Blue Purl,
Do you like to put things together? Or take them apart?
Our guess is if you are reading this, you like to build, and you recoil at the thought of unraveling.
We are, after all, dedicated to knitting (and crochet), which is so much more than just a hobby.
Knitting, is a metaphor for all forms of creation, indeed for life.
“This is what knitting tells me,’ wrote Bernadette Murphy in Zen and the Art of Knitting, “That we are all joined together. That each stitch is vital to hold the garment together, just as each person is vital to the world.”
Knitting, like gardening, requires vision and faith. Gardeners plant seeds or saplings. Knitters cast on. Gardeners wait, patiently hoping in time their plants will grow. Knitters also wait, to see how their creations emerge, one line at a time.
Knitting, like writing, requires imagination, even dreaming. Writers spin tales weaving ideas together. Knitters also create with their hands, building garments one stitch at a time until, like the writer, it all comes together and makes sense.
All three seem magical, gardening, writing, knitting.
And all three are about creation.
There are so many, too many, people in this world who see a loose thread and want to pull on it, or to extend the metaphor, who sense weakness and pounce. There is too much of that, tearing down. Sometimes it feels like we are surrounded by it.
But then we raise our heads and look around and see you, a community of builders, people like us who see possibility in something as simple as a skein of yarn. Even in these challenging times, you make us optimistic. With each project, you show the world that there are people – and there are many of us – who understand what it is to have a dream and turn it into something real with our very hands.
So, we want to say thank you for your creative vision, for the positive force you bring to us and to the world.
The Spring is right around the corner, it’s time to plant some starter seeds, metaphorically speaking. Tell us how we can help.
connect + create
Patty, Wendy & TBP Team
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SEE WHAT WE'RE UP TO! FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
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Winter hours: Tue. - Fri. 11-4
Saturday 11-3
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6 customers at a time are allowed in the shop for half hour shopping.
- Face masks MUST be worn.
- Phone/facetime/email sales and curbside pickup will continue
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Please limit your in-person visit to 30 minutes when we have others waiting.
- We have 30 min scheduled appointments for shopping. Call us at 973-377-5648 for a scheduled appointment.
- We can NOT offer knitting help/fixing mistakes in the shop at this time due to social distancing guidelines. Thank you for understanding. Call us and we'll try to arrange for help.
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Tin Can Knits Pattern Sale |
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One of our favorite designing groups, Tin Can Knits, is having a pattern sale. All their patterns & ebooks are buy 1, get 1 free until the end of February. Besides the good deal, why are we telling you this? We love Tin Can Knits' modern take on traditional knitwear such as their color work sweaters and accessories. We love that their patterns are often sized from baby to adult 4XL & we always love a well written pattern! We decided to highlight a few that caught our eye. |
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Ombre color work, is that a thing? We just love the gradual teals and blues of Mountain Mist. The beautiful ombre effect gives the deceptively easy color work pattern so much depth and interest. We immediately thought of Woolfolk Far's subtle palette of blues, grays & teals. Find the pattern on Ravelry and the yarn in the shop or online. |
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Strange Brew, more of a recipe than an exact pattern. So many people have used this recipe/pattern to create their own unique color work yoke. Tin Can Knits did the math for you. The pattern includes almost 100 stitch patterns in 25 sizes to choose from. The sweater can be knit top down or bottom up, your choice!
We pulled some of favorite color combos in Blue Sky Woolstok to get your creative juices flowing. The pattern is available on Ravelry and the yarn can be found online or in our shop. |
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Love Note- a fan favorite since it was released. The pattern originally calls for a fingering yarn held with mohair. We love it in Fibre Co's Cirro, held on its own. In fact, Fibre Co. & Tin Can Knits will relaunch this combo later this year. Find the pattern on Ravelry & Cirro yarn online or in the store. |
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Berroco Vintage Chunky Re-Stock |
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We just received a huge re-stock of our Berroco Vntage Chunky and received 5 NEW COLORS. We can practically feel the warmth from these spring-like shades, ready for your baby or adult knitting. You can find these colors online or in the shop. |
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The Meander Hat by Lori Versaci, everything you want for warmth without sacrificing style. The thick hefty cables are balanced with a unique textured ribbing. Her pattern even includes instructions & a video tutorial for the Italian Tubular Cast On. (It's always nice to add a tool to our knitting arsenal!)
We created kits for this wonderful pattern with Woolfolk Tov, a luxury yarn with phenomenal stitch definition. Cables especially stand out in this yarn. The pattern only requires 1 skein of Tov. Find the kits here and the pattern for purchase on Ravelry
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Botanique kits are now available online or in the shop. Casapinka's latest knit-along for the spring, Botanique is sure to keep you interested with all its fun stitches. Pattern includes pictures of these stitches for knitters to follow along with instructions. The pattern is now available for purchase Ravelry.
From Casapinka:
"This is for intermediate knitters! It is a bit more complex than most of my patterns and requires some special stitches. There are 15 sections plus borders on either end. Each section is inspired by something related to spring, from blooming trees, to spring rain. There are also dot stitches, lace, flowers, butterflies, thistle, lettuce and catnip, and tea. You will have so much fun with this! You can, however, replace some of those sections with garter, stockinette, or the mesh pattern that is used if you wish to make it similar."
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Another ready-for-Spring kit is the Duality Scarf by Jane Vanselous. Knit in Shibui Pebble, this scarf uses 2 colors of Pebble in simple seed and garter stitches to create a 3D illusion in a lightweight scarf. The pattern has sizing for a much larger wrap. Our kit has 1 skein of each color for the scarf and includes the pattern. For the wrap size, additional skeins of each color should be purchased.
Find the kit online or in the shop. |
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designer: Boyland Knitworks (Caitlin Hunter)
Dates & Zoom Time: 4 Mondays - March 1,8,15, 22 - 9:00-10:30 AM
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Skill Level: Intermediate
Cost: $50+ supplies from the Blue Purl
The design for these pretty fingerless mitts is based on a stitch pattern found on one of the oldest pieces of nalbinding (an early predecessor of knitting) ever found. The pattern is written for 3 women’s sizes. Techniques used include knitting in the round making a tube with a small circumference, increasing and decreasing, making the “deceptively easy” contrast Kihnu Vits Braid and completing an afterthought thumb.
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Dates & Zoom Time: 4 Wednesdays, March 3, 17, 24, 31 - 9:30-11 AM
Teacher: Liz Braverman
Pattern provided with Yarn Purchase
Skill Level: Intermediate
Cost: $50 + supplies from the Blue Purl
Description:
Learn: Picking up stitches in the round, I-Cord, Applied I-Cord, Felting
Create your one of a kind felted project bag. Choose a color scheme that brings you happiness!
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Dates & Zoom Time: 3 Fridays - March 5, 12, 19 - 9:30 - 11AM
Teacher: Liz Braverman
Skill Level: Intermediate
Cost: $35 + supplies from the Blue Purl
Learn: Garter Tab Cast On, Increases, Textured stitches, Tassels
Turn a special skein of fingering weight yarn into a beautiful Spring/Summer accessory.
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Dates & Zoom Time: 3 Thursdays: March 18, 25, April 1 - 6:30-8 PM
Teacher: Carolyn Hanson
Pattern provided
Skill Level:Beginner 2 - Good second project
Cost: $35 + supplies from the Blue Purl
This is a cute, fun-to-knit blanket that will be perfect for any lucky baby! The pattern is based on a traditional quilt pattern and is created by making garter stitch rectangles and then picking up stitches along one edge and continuing to add to the blanket seamlessly. The finished blanket is approximately 22’ x 24” but could be made larger by adding “layers” or using thicker yarn.
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designer: Elizabeth Smith
Date & Zoom Time: 4- Wednesdays, April 7, 21, 28 May 5 - 9:30-11 AM
Teacher: Liz Bank-Braverman
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner on up
Cost: $50 + supplies from the Blue Purl
Learn: Simple lace, short rows, three needle bind off, picking up stitches
Usher in the Spring with this easily customizable tee. It is worked bottom up with simple lace and flattering shoulder shaping. Add a pop of color to your wardrobe or an easy going neutral.
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designer: Black Crow Knits
Date & Zoom Time: 4 Wednesdays. March 24, 31, April 7, 14 - 7-8:30 PM
Teacher: Carolyn Hanson
Skill Level: Intermediate
Cost: $50 + supplies from the Blue Purl
You’ve been asking and we heard you. Brioche is here! This is an introduction to brioche knitting. Brioche is a squishy fabric that uses yo and sl sts to make simple and complicated designs in 1 and 2 colors. We will explore brioche in rows in both a single color and 2 colors using 2 different projects: a simple ear warmer headband (Lissie or Headband with a Twist) and the Brioche Untangled Scarf. All available on Ravelry. You will learn the technique, and how to read a pattern to start you off on your brioche adventure. Intermediate knitters. click on our website for more info on patterns...
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designer: Jenstarknits
Date & Zoom Time: 3 Fridays April 9, 16, 30 - 9- 10:30 AM
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Skill Level: Intermediate
Cost: $35 + supplies from the Blue Purl
This pillow is pretty on both sides and features 2 cables – a simple cable up the sides and a larger diamond cable with bobbles in the center. Techniques include cables, chart reading, making a one-row buttonhole and sewing a simple seam. From the pattern: “This is an envelope style cushion cover inspired by vintage gansey patterns and fields of sheep, which are represented by the flowing diamonds and small bobbles in the design.”
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Talk about a time suck! This section was too much fun to put together. One pattern was cuter than the next! Click into our Ravelry Bundle of Spring Critters A collection of fun little things to crochet while the days are getting just a bit longer and the snow is melting. |
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Look at this wonderful colorwork sweater by Kathie. The Tenderheart sweater by Tin Can Knits is worked up in our work horse DK, Kelbourne Scout. Don't forget, Tin Can Knits patterns are buy 1 get 1 free until the end of February, on Ravelry. Beautiful work, Kathie! |
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Susan made a wonderful Baby Surprise by Elizabeth Zimmerman. This 1968 pattern is a classic and a classic piece of knitted engineering!...
"The jacket is knitted back and forth in Garter stitch, then cleverly folded and completed by weaving the shoulder seams."
Susan knitted her BSJ with another classic, Cascade 220 Superwash. Beautiful Susan!
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Bobbles and Cables, and Honeycombs, 0h My! Gabriele made the beautiful Daydreamer by Andrea Mowry in Woolfolk Tynd held with Shibui Silk Cloud. This sweater has a v-neck that you can flip to the back when wearing - a great layering piece. Love it Gabriele! |
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Who are the fortunate ones receiving these beauties! Karen's Building Blocks Blankets are made with Vintage Chunky.from the Michelle Hunter Classic Building Blocks Book (available in the shop :). Gorgeous Karen! |
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Anne made up her own colorblock sweater with Woolfolk's Flette Bulky. We especially love when knitters go for their own designs. Stylin' Anne! |
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Ellen knitted up the Weekender Light by designer Andrea Mowry. The Weekender was her most famous design (really ? not The Shift!? ) Ellen made it with Brooklyn Tweed Loft from our pop up shop. The collar border running down to the sleeve is lovely - hence the side shot:) Beautiful Ellen! |
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Sandnes Garn Alpakka Ull makes such a nice sweater! Here, Sharon made Forestland - a top down beauty is good for a beginner in stranded colorwork since it calls for only two colors! Designed by Jennifer Steingass. It's killer Sharon! |
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Laurie made The Easy Peasy Scarf from one of our kits! This kit with 4 colors of Acadia from the Fibre Co. Easy a lovely and simple sequence pattern designed by Tam!! Looks awesome Laurie! |
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A nice warm bundle of love! |
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Nancy made this little beauty with Berroco Vintage. It's from the Encore 8-Hour Baby Blanket....Revisited Pamphlet. We have it in the shop. Elegant little blanket Nancy! |
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Poor Baarack was found wandering in the forest in Australia. He wandered away and missed a few shearings. He was carrying on him 75 pounds of wool! See his transformation after his rescue! His story went viral on TicToc & Twitter... |
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