How exciting to open up the April 2010 issue of Knit 'n Style magazine and see not one but TWO patterns featuring Classic Alpaca. Our friend Melissa Leapman has outdone herself with the 'Everyday Cardigan' pattern, a cute and springy pattern featuring a bit of openwork in the skirt. I love the crochet version, personally. It's always nice to see designers incorporating both styles into similar designs. Let us know if you cast on -- we would love to see your version!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Knit & Crochet 'n Style
How exciting to open up the April 2010 issue of Knit 'n Style magazine and see not one but TWO patterns featuring Classic Alpaca. Our friend Melissa Leapman has outdone herself with the 'Everyday Cardigan' pattern, a cute and springy pattern featuring a bit of openwork in the skirt. I love the crochet version, personally. It's always nice to see designers incorporating both styles into similar designs. Let us know if you cast on -- we would love to see your version!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Knitting Daily TV
I have DirecTV and generally, I adore all things about it, most specifically my DVR. One of the only sad things is that I can't watch Knitting Daily TV. So when the fine folks over at KDTV offered up the opportunity to download ALL of the patterns they have featured I squealed a little, opened up a fresh pack of paper for the laser printer and I was off to the races.
When I got to Season 3 I saw a familiar name. Lo and behold, our very own superstar, Beth and her fantastic Felted Mitt pattern was hot off the presses of my printer! A little digging and I was able to find this photo from Episode 304, All About Alpaca!
If you haven't had a chance yet, be sure to check out Beth's Felted Alpaca Mitts made from our Classic Alpaca and all the other free patterns available at the Knitting Daily TV site.
When I got to Season 3 I saw a familiar name. Lo and behold, our very own superstar, Beth and her fantastic Felted Mitt pattern was hot off the presses of my printer! A little digging and I was able to find this photo from Episode 304, All About Alpaca!If you haven't had a chance yet, be sure to check out Beth's Felted Alpaca Mitts made from our Classic Alpaca and all the other free patterns available at the Knitting Daily TV site.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
FREE: Downloads of our newest patterns
We are thrilled to announce for a very limited time you can get FREE downloads of some of our newest patterns!
As a way to introduce you to our new downloadable .pdfs for patterns, for the next few weeks we will be offering a select few patterns absolutely free! As our pattern catalog continues to expand we will be making new patterns available either in the traditional paper format we have always offered or via instant gratification method. Try it out today!
Here are a few samples to whet your appetit
e:
Bobble Beret
Patterns are free through March 31, 2010. You can also find lots more patterns on our Ravelry page or on our website. Enjoy!
As a way to introduce you to our new downloadable .pdfs for patterns, for the next few weeks we will be offering a select few patterns absolutely free! As our pattern catalog continues to expand we will be making new patterns available either in the traditional paper format we have always offered or via instant gratification method. Try it out today!
Here are a few samples to whet your appetit
e:
Bobble Beret
Patterns are free through March 31, 2010. You can also find lots more patterns on our Ravelry page or on our website. Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
CONTEST: Where do you do what you do?
Beth & Tasha & I were discussing our favorite places to knit & crochet. For me it is in the car. I really don't like driving at all, actually, I find the whole car thing a colossal waste of time. If it were up to me we would all have transporters and I could just whisk from place to place. But, since I can't do that, I use my car time to get seriously busy with the needles or hook. My favorite car project is socks. I mean really, they are completely portable, easy to pick up & put down & I usually have at least one (or two) on the needles at any given moment.
Tasha's current obsession is shawls. Have you seen that girl's ravelry page lately? I convinced her to join the 10 shawls in 2010 group and she has been putting me to shame with her productivity. Tasha is one of those lucky crafters who has a studio & that is her favorite place to sit & knit. That is of course if she isn't weaving, which is her newest hobby. She might be just a little bit dangerous!
Beth is a bona fide sweater knitter. She gets all giddy with the idea of a good set in sleeve or a colorful bit of fair isle. You can find her most evenings curled up on the sofa, near the fireplace with the knitting basket next to her and the needles clicking away.
Three different crafters, three different favorite projects and three different ideal spots to do the knitting. That got us thinking, what are your favorite places to knit or crochet and what do you like create? Hit up the comments below and tell us what you like to craft and where you like to do it. We will read all the submissions and one lucky entrant will get a fantastic kit of Alpaca Yarn Company pattern and coordinating yarn custom created for them based on their preferences.
Hurry, contest ends March 31st!
Tasha's current obsession is shawls. Have you seen that girl's ravelry page lately? I convinced her to join the 10 shawls in 2010 group and she has been putting me to shame with her productivity. Tasha is one of those lucky crafters who has a studio & that is her favorite place to sit & knit. That is of course if she isn't weaving, which is her newest hobby. She might be just a little bit dangerous!
Beth is a bona fide sweater knitter. She gets all giddy with the idea of a good set in sleeve or a colorful bit of fair isle. You can find her most evenings curled up on the sofa, near the fireplace with the knitting basket next to her and the needles clicking away.
Three different crafters, three different favorite projects and three different ideal spots to do the knitting. That got us thinking, what are your favorite places to knit or crochet and what do you like create? Hit up the comments below and tell us what you like to craft and where you like to do it. We will read all the submissions and one lucky entrant will get a fantastic kit of Alpaca Yarn Company pattern and coordinating yarn custom created for them based on their preferences.
Hurry, contest ends March 31st!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Panicked Purling, Frantic Finishing & Crazy Cast-ons
The countdown clock to Christmas is ticking louder & louder with every passing hour. If you are like us, you are now carrying your knitting or crocheting with you everywhere you go, forgoing family meals for pizza delivery and making last minute trips to the LYS and crossing your fingers that there is another ball in your dye lot available because you are afraid that you might run out and Aunt Gwen will get a beautiful Aran sweater with 3/4 length sleeves.
Ahhhh yes, the joys of the holiday giving season. We do this to ourselves every year. We make big ambitious lists in September, or even earlier, of all the knitted items we will be wrapping lovingly, with plenty of time to spare, of course. And we do in earnest begin working on the list. But we get distracted by new magazines, new issues of Twist Collective, new yarns coming into our LYS, new patterns on Ravelry and all of our good intentions vanish quicker then the drumsticks on our Thanksgiving turkey.
Fear not, panicked crafters. There are loads of last minute quick gift patterns out there. Here are a few of our favorites:
The Knitted Interlace Scarf creates a mesh for our ribbon yarn Paca Cinta to be woven through. Using only 3 balls of Classic Alpaca and 1 hank of Paca Cinta, the scarf is a quick project that is suitable for an advanced beginner.
Bonus! This is also available in a crochet version.
The Intertwined Ballerina Top looks challenging but is deceptively simple to create. Using 550 -1100 yards of fingering weight such as Glimmer or Classic Light the easy rhythm of stockinette stitch will have this one flying off the needles in no time.
Using size 5 needles and just one skein of Swizzle, the Ridged Handwarmers and Beanie are the perfect last minute knitted gift. Best of all the pattern is available free!
Ahhhh yes, the joys of the holiday giving season. We do this to ourselves every year. We make big ambitious lists in September, or even earlier, of all the knitted items we will be wrapping lovingly, with plenty of time to spare, of course. And we do in earnest begin working on the list. But we get distracted by new magazines, new issues of Twist Collective, new yarns coming into our LYS, new patterns on Ravelry and all of our good intentions vanish quicker then the drumsticks on our Thanksgiving turkey.
Fear not, panicked crafters. There are loads of last minute quick gift patterns out there. Here are a few of our favorites:
The Knitted Interlace Scarf creates a mesh for our ribbon yarn Paca Cinta to be woven through. Using only 3 balls of Classic Alpaca and 1 hank of Paca Cinta, the scarf is a quick project that is suitable for an advanced beginner. Bonus! This is also available in a crochet version.The Snuggle Shortie Vest knits up fast in Snuggle or Snuggle Hand Dyed. The cropped length vest has a cabled rib that graduates higher and higher in the front. The pattern is written for chest sizes 36 to 48. Yarn requirements: 36" 4 - skeins, 39" 5 - skeins , 43"- 5 skeins, 48"- 6 skeins.
Simple stitch patterns make the Glimmer Evening Bag a great beginner project. Create a drawstring top with I-cord and you have a perfect little evening purse adorned with beaded strands. Only 2 skeins of Glimmer are required to complete this cute purse.
The Intertwined Ballerina Top looks challenging but is deceptively simple to create. Using 550 -1100 yards of fingering weight such as Glimmer or Classic Light the easy rhythm of stockinette stitch will have this one flying off the needles in no time.
Using size 5 needles and just one skein of Swizzle, the Ridged Handwarmers and Beanie are the perfect last minute knitted gift. Best of all the pattern is available free!Now I know what you are thinking, "What if my LYS doesn't have the pattern in stock? There is no way I can order it and have it in time for Christmas!" Well, we have more exciting news to share here at AYC. Coming very soon, our patterns will be available for purchase as downloadable .pdf files! That's right, you will be able to buy our fantastic patterns from the comfort of your home and have them delivered direct to your pc for your personal use. As new patterns are released they will be immediately available and we will begin making the entire catalog available soon, starting with your favorites like the Forest Path Stole, Firefly Shawl and the adorable Rose Cardigan. Check back often for updates of what patterns are available.
Hope you all have a very Happy Hanukkah and a wonderful, warm and most of all productive weekend!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Sock Tease
We are just about to burst with excitement here at AYC. It's almost time to open those holiday gifts and we can't wait any longer to show you what we've made!
Introducing our new Paca Peds Semi Solid Sock
Available in five delicious colors, look for both PPSS and the pattern you see above, Cabled Rosebud Socks, coming soon to a retailer near you!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Full of Thanks...
Those of you in the US know today is Thanksgiving here, so we wanted to take a moment to think about the things for which we are grateful.
Obviously, we are all thankful for our health. We had a few scares lately, either among ourselves or the people we love and we have been lucky that everyone has come out on the other side okay. Some a little more tender then others, but ultimately, everyone will be fine.
We are thankful for our alpacas and our other fur-babies. They bring us mostly joy and an endless supply of squishy love.
We are grateful for the amazing designers who are out there who help us breathe life into our yarns. As pretty as they are to sit in a ball and pet, we like to see them alive, out in the wild, being worn and enjoyed.
We are thrilled to have some of the best yarn shops and farms as our retailers. You guys make it easy to pick up the phone with a smile.
We are grateful for the professional associations that help promote our arts.
One word. Ravelry.
And don't forget the publications! We love our magazines! There are so many good ones out there and we are glad to be a part of their families.
Of course, our families, who put up with us when we are tired or cranky, when we need to go out of town, when we come home covered in purple dye, when we are awake until 1am working on a new pattern or frogging a test knit for the tenth time. They love us regardless and we are indeed very, very lucky.
We are grateful for each other. Although there are just three of us, we know and appreciate how rare it is to work with people with whom you truly connect with and love. People who will hug you when you are down and make you laugh when you need to smile. When your co-workers make it a true joy to come to work, you know you have found something special.
And last but not least, we appreciate YOU, our customers. We wouldn't be here without you. We enjoy hearing your feedback, seeing your FOs and even helping you work out your problems. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU and we wish you a joyful Thanksgiving holiday.
Obviously, we are all thankful for our health. We had a few scares lately, either among ourselves or the people we love and we have been lucky that everyone has come out on the other side okay. Some a little more tender then others, but ultimately, everyone will be fine.
We are thankful for our alpacas and our other fur-babies. They bring us mostly joy and an endless supply of squishy love.
We are grateful for the amazing designers who are out there who help us breathe life into our yarns. As pretty as they are to sit in a ball and pet, we like to see them alive, out in the wild, being worn and enjoyed.
We are thrilled to have some of the best yarn shops and farms as our retailers. You guys make it easy to pick up the phone with a smile.
We are grateful for the professional associations that help promote our arts.
One word. Ravelry.
And don't forget the publications! We love our magazines! There are so many good ones out there and we are glad to be a part of their families.
Of course, our families, who put up with us when we are tired or cranky, when we need to go out of town, when we come home covered in purple dye, when we are awake until 1am working on a new pattern or frogging a test knit for the tenth time. They love us regardless and we are indeed very, very lucky.
We are grateful for each other. Although there are just three of us, we know and appreciate how rare it is to work with people with whom you truly connect with and love. People who will hug you when you are down and make you laugh when you need to smile. When your co-workers make it a true joy to come to work, you know you have found something special.
And last but not least, we appreciate YOU, our customers. We wouldn't be here without you. We enjoy hearing your feedback, seeing your FOs and even helping you work out your problems. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU and we wish you a joyful Thanksgiving holiday.
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