Pumkin Patch

During Saturdays in October, stop in an purchase "Pumpkin Patch Approved" yarns from Farmhouse Yarns and you will recieve a pattern to knit your own pumpkins! The pattern is $4.99 and is available for purchase too - should you have orange, brown and green yarns at home in your stash. These cute vegetables make great centerpieces. I suppose, should it fit your decor, that a large one would make a fun pillow too!

Thier size is determined by the yarn and the size of the needles you choose. If you look closely, in the lower lefthand corner of the photo is a small pumpkin I knit in a few hours during the Fall Festival. I made it using orange and browns scrap yarn. Basic DPN ablity is needed as they are knit in the round and can be a bit awkward or too small for circulars.

DYNT is open on Saturdays from 10am -4pm. Stop in, pick out your pumpkin (yarn), pull up a chair and start working!

If you don't know how to knit, sign up for the beginers knitting class that starts in October too. It's just 2 Tuesday nights, costs $25 and includes materials.

I am not a lace knitter.

I keep forgetting to take photos of the Pumpkin Patch yarns! They are an amazing assortment of orange, brown, green and yellow. During October, Saturdays are "Knit your own Pumpkin Patch" days! What does that mean? That means that if you stop in on Saturdays (10am - 4pm) and purchase one of the "pumpkin approved" yarns from Farmhouse Yarns, you'll recieve the pumpkin pattern free! It's an easy pattern and can be used on any weight yarn, w/ any size needles. Changing these 2 variables gives you different sized pumpkins! How fun and easy is that? Basic DPN (Double Point Needle) knowledge is needed.

I've been working on a wrap from O'wool's pattern collection, "Aethercopter", it's pictured to the left (Thank's O-Wool! And for those of you who know my sis, no this isn't her!) The pattern is available at Darn Yarn Needles and Thread for $5.99. While I don't think it would be difficult for most knitters, it's my first try at anything lace-like, and I'm having a hard time with the YO's. Not the fault of the pattern or the yarn, I just can't seem to keep them all. The pattern is actually very well written, that's why I thought I'd try it for my first shot at something lacey. The pattern calls for 5 skiens of O-Wool's Balance Yarn - also available at DYNT (and if I don't have a color you'd like, I can order it for you). The pattern is free w/ the purchase of 5 skiens.

If you can't knit..sign up for the class! October 11 & 18!

Hoodie's done!

I finished the hoodie I made for my hubby. I used Brown Sheep's Lanaloft. I love this yarn! There's something about single ply wool that I just love! The pattern is from the book "Son of Stitch & Bitch 45 patterns to knit and crochet for men." Both the book and the yarn are available at DYNT.

I admit that while the pattern is easy, and I've made a sweater using this pattern before...I goofed up on this one...big time! I some how managed to put the hood and the pocket on opposite sides?! Wierd, since I checked my progress as I went and didn't notice until I was completely done?! Sooo, I frogged the piece from the hood down. The pattern directions start at the hood and work down in 1 piece on circulars, which is why it's such an easy and great pattern. But this means that I was frogging "backwards". Not an easy task. The end result is that the hood/neck area is a bit off, but it still fits, and works, so I'm happy with the end results. And I learned that I am capable of somewhat reading a pattern backwards and in reverse.


Regardless, I would still recomend this pattern to those who want to make that jump to sweater knitting. 1. It uses Knit & Purl stitches only (there are a few increase/ decreases but they aren't hard). 2. Hoodie's are popular right now. 3. It calls for worsted weight yarn, so there are lots of options. 4. Being knit in the round in 1 piece, it's easy and quick to see your progress.


The finished piece will be at the shop until the dog walking mornings get bitter... and it will return when the dog walking mornings return to pleasantly brisk. DYNT is open Wednesday 10-4; Thursday 10-6; Friday 10-2; and Saturday 10-4.

September Sales

September is here. Wow. It came fast, and the weather cooled down quickly. Has that gotten you in the indoors mood? Or are you a leaf watcher, waiting for the cool crisp Autumn days to watch the multi-colored leaves slowly drift downward? Me, I'm some where in the middle.


Anyway, with this cooler weather, have you given any thought to your Fall projects? I know I have. There's a great wrap pattern using O'wool's Balance that I can't wait to try. Choosing my color is the hardest part. I really like the green, but I'm not sure it would go well w/ much of my personal clothing. Hmm.


This month, Mary Maxim's Starlette, Peaches & Creme and Honeysuckle (chenille) yarns are all on sale - 15% off. Stock up now on the remaining colors.


The manufacturer of Peaches & Creme and Honeysuckle has shut down it's US plant and moved to Canada. I've yet to decide what to do about that. Unfortunatley, sticking w/ my US made, Fair-trade or eco-friendly mantra for my yarns, I may just need to replace them. I've nothing against Canada, but the new manufacturer is also the maker of Cream & Sugar. So it seems a bit silly to me to offer the same product you can purchase at any of the big box stores. Yes, you may have been able to purchase Peaches & Creme there too, but they were made State-side... so I comprimised a bit there. In the mean time, Kraemer's Tatamy and Tatamy Tweed are a cotton/acrylic blend that can also be used to make dishclothes and hand towels, and it is still made right here in PA! So try a skein and see what you think.