Dear Friends of The Blue Purl,
There are times, we admit, that this may sound more like a newsletter from Dr. Phil than your local yarn shop.
But there is reason for that.
At its core, knitting and crocheting are actually good for you. Your practice may start out as a hobby and a challenge to learn something new. It may give you a genuine sense of accomplishment after completing a project, especially a tough one with short rows and complicated lace.
But then one day you realize it’s also good for your head.
There is aphorism associated with making something by hand, like knitting, that equates the practice with therapy. We all smile and laugh at that when we hear it, but we know it’s actually true. There is a meditative and healing quality to the practice. There is no mantra, but instead there is the focus that takes us out of the moment and lets our troubles drift away.
These handcrafts have always been an antidote to the rush of modern life. But they are more important than ever now. We have all been touched by the pandemic, some more than others.
Each of us has found our routines upended. Each of us has lived with the awareness – if not fear – that we were vulnerable to infection.
And now that we see some light at the end of the tunnel, now that vaccines are rolling out and our world is beginning to ease up, we will have to switch again.
Yes, we all want to come out of our cocoons, but we need to be kind to ourselves and to each other, to recognize that this too won’t be easy.
For some of us, living many months with simmering stress, like the embers of a smoldering fire, has left us with what’s being called Pandemic Brain Fog. There are clinical components to it, like feeling fuzzy, feeling detached, and forgetfulness. But we believe it manifests differently for each of us.
What we share, though, is the way in which our craft has helped us to this point – and will, we are sure, help us find our way back.
We hope we have been some support. You have been for us. We hope our shop, classes and small community have been an anchor for all of you during these disruptive days.
Working with your hands is like therapy. It’s not just some saying in needlepoint on the wall. It’s real.
Let’s keep at it, together.
connect + create
Patty, Wendy & TBP Team
|
|
SEE WHAT WE'RE UP TO! FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
|
|
Spring hours: Tue. - Fri. 11-4
Saturday 11-3
-
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
-
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.
|
|
Spring Knit Along- Misurina Sweater |
|
We had such a good time in our Winter Knit Along with Tam, she had to start a Spring KAL too.
The Blue Purl Spring KAL will be the Misurina sweater by Caitlin Hunter. It is a short sleeve, light weight pullover, worked best in a hand-dyed fingering weight yarn. This pattern has everything- stranded colorwork, cables, lace, and texture. The sweater is worked top-down, with short row shaping before the colorwork and cables start. The pattern can be modified for a longer body length and you have a choice of 2 textures for the body, purl bumps or eyelet lace.
Now for the yarn- we narrowed down some options for you from the Blue Purl. Most of these can be ordered in sweater quantities, if we don't already have it.
Tam will be in the shop on Fridays to help with color selection if you'd like.
Please note: This is a Knit Along, NOT a class. We are not offering instruction for this intermediate/advance pattern, rather, as a group, we'll meet up weekly to talk about the pattern & offer advice as a group, if needed.
Skills Required for this pattern:
- Cast on, knit, purl, be able to join in the round & bind off
- Experience knitting sweaters, increases, decreases & picking up stitches
- Familiarity & experience with short rows
- Experience with knitting stranded colorwork, cables & lace
- Experience with reading cable, colorwork & lace charts
- Comfort with knitting in the round, small (sleeves) & large (body)
- Be able to fix your own mistakes
When: Tuesdays, 7-8pm, April 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, via Zoom
Cost: FREE, all yarn must be purchased from the Blue Purl
How: Call or email us to sign up for this Knit Along. We'll send an email out with the zoom link once sign up closes. |
|
Look what happened to our table! It's been a whirlwind of unboxing but we've received a total of 6 major shipments of lightweight yarn in the last 2 weeks, all ready for your warm weather projects. |
|
Our newest fingering weight yarn, Ansel, launched in 2020 by Jill Draper, during a pandemic year, no less! Ansel is a 2-ply, woolen spun yarn with a soft, nubby, squishy texture, weighing in at 440 yards/113 grams per skein. As with all Jill Draper yarns, Ansel is produced in the US from sheep to skein. We love the beautiful stitch definition this yarn gives, especially in patterns like Isabell Kraemer's Laia pullover or the Ooh La La top. Both have lovely design details that really show off a beautiful yarn. We also added Ansel to the list of yarns for our Spring Knit-Along, mentioned above. There are 8 shades of Ansel in stock from neutrals to jewel tones. Find the yarn online or in the shop. Both patterns can be purchased on Ravelry. |
|
Our latest sport weight yarn is Andorra from Kelbourne Woolens. This colorful, soft yarn is a blend of 60% merino & 20% highland wools and 20% mohair. This blend gives the yarn softness, definition and strength at the same time. We are carrying 12 colors of these beautiful 185 yard/50g skeins.
All these colors brought Andrea Mowry's Stripes! sweater to our mind and we immediately started to play with color combos. Of course, we created a Ravelry bundle of other ideas for this lovely yarn. Click on the picture above to get to our bundle.
We think Andorra works well for your colorwork or textured projects. In fact, we added it to the list of yarns for our Spring Knit-Along (above) for those loose knitters out there. The yarn is available online or in the shop. |
|
Pure Wool Superwash Worsted |
|
We've also beefed up our stock of Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted. Check out these fabulous colors, along with the existing neutrals in our inventory. We were inspired by the Greenhouse Cushion by Chloe Thurlow in Rowan's Daydreamer eBook. The fun pop of color & design just reminds us of warm evenings lounging outdoors.
Each ball of yarn is 219 yards/100g of pure superwash wool. Find the yarn online or in the shop. The pattern is available on Ravelry. |
|
|
|
|
Laine's latest book, 52 Weeks of Shawls, will be an immediate classic. The book features a pattern for evey week of the year, including 2 crochet patterns. Designs range from color work, lace or simple textures in a variety of shawl shapes. The book is expected to be released on April 30th. We are taking preorders now online or in the shop. |
|
These are adorable and practical. Our newest interchangeable set is the Lykke short set, meant for knitting in smaller circumferences. The shorter tips are sized from US 3 to US 10.5, that's nine pairs of needles. The set includes 2 16" cords, 1 20" cord and 1 24" cord, all stored neatly in a cute sturdy pink clutch. Find them online or in the store. |
|
|
Casapinka's latest knit along- the Ann of Green Gables KAL, in the Raspberry Cordial Shawlette just started and runs 3/14-3/28.
This crescent shaped shawlette just screams spring and is perfect for those cool days in April. We have kits set up online and in the shop. The pattern (along with a drink recipe) is available in Ravelry. |
|
Classes - 2 New Classes!!! |
|
Beginner Class - A Simple Washcloth
LEARN TO KNIT!!!
Date & Zoom Time: April 12, 19, 26,May 3 9:00-10:30 am
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Class fee: $50 + supplies from The Blue Purl
This class will cover the basics of learning to knit. We’ll learn how to cast-on, knit, purl, read a pattern and bind off while making these cotton washcloths. If time permits, we’ll make 2 or 3 different cloths – we’ll see how it goes! Class size is small so we can provide lots of support.
|
|
NEW!! Speed Knitting- Continental Combination |
|
Level: Advanced Beginner - Must be comfortable knitting, purling & casting on
Teacher: Carolyn Hanson
Dates: Tuesday April 13
Zoom Time: 6:30-8 PM
Class fee: $25 + supplies from The Blue Purl
Back by popular demand...Calling all throwers! Have you always wanted to learn how to knit continental? Have you ever wanted to increase your knitting speed? Continental Combination is the fastest means of knitting. Your hands never leave the needles.
This technique “picks” the stitches instead of wrapping the yarn around the needle. Believe it or not, purling is easier than knitting. The key to knitting Continental Combination is knitting off of the “leading edge” no matter where it’s presented, either off the front or back of the needle. Never untwist a stitch again! This technique will change how you knit forever! The resulting fabric presents even tension, and with less wear and tear on joints. You will be amazed.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.”
|
|
Crochet Flower Face Pad - super fast + super cute |
|
The pattern has a great video tutorial to get you started on the loop.
|
|
Check out the Svenson on this gal!!! |
|
Sharon's Svenson is to die for! Part of our Brooklyn Tweed classes from the pop-up shop we hosted :) Made in Arbor, this cabled extravaganza is a work of art by designer Jared Flood. Bravo Sharon! |
|
Janet made Andrea Mowry's Nightshift (not to be confused with the smaller "The Shift" -this is a shawl) with two skeins of Noro Ito. This sideways, mosaic knitted, slip-stitch with an i-cord wrap keeps the knitter interested with the changing colors! Beautiful Janet! |
|
Cyndee had leftovers so she made the Leftie shawl by Martina Behm - For the base she used the lovely neutral, Champagne, a Baah LaJolla yarn. This asymmetrical shawlette has tiny leaves that are made with a couple short rows. This is coming along beautifully Cyndee - can't wait to see you rockin it! |
|
We just love the 3 Color Cashmere Cowl by Joji Locatelli (just taught a class in it :) Sandra's is gorgeous. It's not that difficult and uses stripes and textures to keep you interested. Sandra's is super soft with great drape, she used Road to China Light + Lorna's Laces. So pretty Sandra! |
|
Sharon's Hard Cider is beautiful. She used Arranmore Light and for some extra zhuzh she carried the lace pattern down the arm. This was part of Tam's fun KAL. (in picture wearing hers made with JDMS Kingston) Sign-up for the next KAL -see above!) Lovely Sharon! |
|
Kathie's Button Front Pullover's are so yummy is pale blue & cream. Like butta... She used our ever expanding color range of Berroco Ultra Wool DK. Great in the wash - great for the kids. Awesome Kathie! |
|
Keri's 2 little Spring Bunnies by Susan B. Anderson have so much personality! This was one of her classes - so you'll see more coming :) This little ones are also super soft becuase they are made with Lang Cashmerino for Babies. Thanks Keri! We know little Benjamin will love his as much as we love having our little gal at the register :) |
|
Secret Beach - Sand & Sea :) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
