Two Fun Knit A Longs!

We have two really fun KAL's starting this week on Ravelry!  The first one is our Fall Into Color KAL. We are casting on this Saturday, October 5th and there are some really fantastic prizes from our lovely sponsors.

Shalimar Yarns is donating TWO skeins of Paulie to one lucky winner! One in Hen Party and one in Blue Raspberry.

KnitSpot is donating three fantastic patterns!

Sheltie Triangle Which would be perfect for this KAL!

Creel

Handsies

northumbe, who has just opened a very cool pottery shop Spinderella on Etsy, has donated this awesome yarn bowl! I have one of her bowls and absolutely LOVE it!

And we have the Monkey Mayhem KAL too!  

 

Since so many of us have purchased the Monkey Jacobus kit’s in our last Etsy update, we thought it would be fun to have an informal KAL for the cute little guys and girls!

It’s informal so we only have a few guidelines to follow:

Cast on anytime

Make your monkey from one of the Shalimar Kit’s, or if you didn’t get a chance to purchase the kit your monkey can be made out of any of the Shalimar yarn bases.

Let’s finish up by December 15th.

Post pictures of your Monkey in progress, and of course if your Monkey starts getting into Monkey Mayhem we want to see pictures of that too!

We had such a wonderful time at TNNA last weekend!  Here are Kristi and I just before opening on Saturday.

A panoramic view of the booth

 

 All of the Shalimar Colors

We had some great samples of knitted garments in our yarns

 Anjeli shawl in our brand new Homage DK Copper Pennies. Pattern by Angelika Luidl.  Sample knitted by Beth Doan.

Effortless Cardi in Breathless Ore, Slag, Mandarin, and Love Potion.  Pattern by Hannah Fettig.  Sample knitted by Laurie Jarbo.

Brennan Cardi in Breathless DK Wisteria.  Pattern by Julia Trice.  This is Julia's original that she kindly loaned us for the show!

 

 We had a wonderful time visiting with yarn shop owners, designers, and friends.  You can see more about some of our evening fun on the KnitSpot blog!

 

Knit Along

Over the past month we have been having a fun time over in the Knitspot group on Ravelry.  Anne, Erica, Kat, Kim, Kristi and myself have coordinated efforts for a joint knit along using Anne's slofock pattern and our new Breathless DK.  There are some great finished slofock pictures in the group.  Here are a few of our favorites:
GardenJess knitted this one for her Dad in Dirty Jeans

JulieHart made a pattern adaptation and shortened her Loden slofock for her very active son

And bratsche51 made an entire set in Crayfish

 

If you have a chance, stop by the slofock KAL and take a peek at all the projects.  Of course we would love to have you join in the KAL too!  There are a few knitters who are on their second and third slofocks for the KAL.  It's such a great pattern and really pairs perfectly with our new Breathless DK.

Test Base-Tight Twist DK Color Affection Kit-Blues Join our Slofock KAL done in Breathless DK Quick Links   Facebook Ravelry Group Website Next Etsy Update Breathless DK! Visit our Etsy Shop beginning: Friday, Jan. 11, 9am EST - Friday, Jan. 18, 7pm EST And we have some Suprises in this Update...New colors of Breathless DK, a variety of test bases from this past year, and one-of-a-kinds in Breathless, Honey Worsted and one-of-a-kind Color Affection Kits. Make sure to watch our Facebook page for weekly announcements of some really fun stuff we'll be adding! It's not too late to join the Slofock KAL! Hosted in Knitspot's Ravelry Group! We're using Breathless DK-two skeins for the hat and mitts! Breathless DK Content: 75% SW Merino/15% Cashmere/10% Silk Yardage: 270 *All yarn is available and will ship before or by Jan. 19th Shalimar Yarns' Etsy Shop Thanks for supporting small, independent fiber-arts businesses! Kristi Shalimar Yarns

Merry Christmas to All!

 

 

 

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Shalimar Dye Studio

not a Slofocker was stirring not Lara nor Andy.

 Kristi at her dyepot and Paul in his rocker arose from their work

when they heard a huge clatter!

From up above the dyepot a cloud of steam rose,

and out came the new Breathless DK to behold.

We all ran to the window just in time to hear Santa call:

 

On Honey Worsted, on Breathless and Breathless DK, on Haven and Homage and Zoe Sock too!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Knit!

 

 

 

Breathless DK

Join our Slofock KAL done in Breathless DK Haven in Adiri by Julia Trice A couple of Slofockers Quick Links Blog Facebook Ravelry Group Website Introducing New Breathless DK! Visit our Etsy Shop beginning: Tuesday, Dec. 18, 9am EST - Sun., Dec. 23, 7pm EST Breathless DK, our newest offering, is a luscious blend of 75% Superwash Merino/15% Cashmere/10% Silk that will blow your mind! We'll have 14 colors available, including 5 NEW colors! At a hefty 270 yards, Breathless DK is the ultimate luxury yarn for shawls, wraps, accessories, baby duds and sweaters. And join our Slofock KAL, hosted in Knitspot's Ravelry group, beginning Jan. 11th. We're using Breathless DK - two skeins for the hat and mitts makes a wonderful gift or keeper! Also on our Etsy Update, back by popular demand, we're offering a 10% discount on all preordered Haven. Julia Trice is offering a 10% discount on the three individual Adiri patterns: the Adiri slouchy hat, Adiri, and the Adiri Cowl. Enter the code “shalimarupdate” any time between now and the end of the update on December 23rd to receive the discount. You can use the code multiple times - ‘tis the season!  *All yarn will ship by Jan. 3rd Shalimar Yarns' Etsy Shop Thanks for supporting small, independent fiber-arts businesses!

Fall Haunting KAL

The kids are back in school, summer vacation is over and cooler weather is on it’s way. It’s time for fall knitting and what could be more fun than a Fall Haunting KAL?!
Now we know not everyone is a Walking Dead fan like Kristi, Paul, Andy and I are. We wanted to make this KAL open to any Halloween and fall inspired pattern. This includes zombies, vampires, the mummy and all other creepies. If your not a fan of the creepy then fall inspired patterns can be used. Falling leaves, pumpkins, apple picking are just a few ideas.

Guidelines
Our KAL will start this Saturday, September 8th and run through October 31.
Any Fall or Halloween inspired pattern is eligible.
Patterns can be knit in any of the Shalimar Yarns bases: Homage, Breathless, Haven, Honey Worsted, Zoe Sock, and Missy Bulky.
Please tag your project on Ravelry with: ShalimarFallHaunting2012

Prizes!
Prize winners will be chosen by the random number generator.
In order to be eligible for prizes a picture of your completed KAL project must be posted in this thread no later than midnight on Halloween.
1st place: a skein of Breathless
2nd place: a skein of Zoe Sock
3rd place: your choice of a Shalimar Yarns Pattern

We have some great fall colors for yarn too:

Bark

 

Sequoia

 

and Cayenne are a few.  Be sure to check with your LYS for more colors!

 



Upcoming Events and the Release of New Yarns

We have several exciting events coming in the next few weeks! 

 This Friday, April 20, Anne Hanson will be teaching a Sweater Fitness Workshop at our studio in New Market, MD.  It sold out very quickly but we do have a waiting list if you are interested.  To be added to the list please send your name and phone number to: Shalimaryarns@aol.com

Maryland Sheep and Wool is just a few weeks away - May 5 &6.  Kristi has been dying up a great variety of colors for Breathless, Zoe and our two new yarns! We will be in the All About Yarn tent, spot E3 on the festival map.  On Saturday at 1:00 we will be having a meet and greet.  Be sure to stop by and say hello.  We look forward to seeing you there. 

Our two new bases making their debut appearance are:

  Ardent which is a 100% silk lace.  Ardent produces a silky smooth and drapey fabric with a lovely sheen. It’s perfect for shawls, wraps, shells and other similar projects.  Ive just finished a summer wrap in Ardent and it has a wonderful hand and blocks beautifully.  It's really a joy to knit with. 

Ring of Lace Wrap in Ardent Conch Shell

Pattern by Jackie  Erickson-Schweitzer

Also debuting at MDSW will be our new DK weight, Haven.  A 5-ply Merino and Tussah Silk DK weight.  Haven is perfect for showing off cables and stitch patterns at their very best and has a soft, matte finish that is wonderful for sweaters, shawls, wraps, and baby projects.

We will be exhibiting at TNNA June 23 - 25 in Columbus, OH. 

 We hope that you will be able to stop by and meet us at one of these events.  We really enjoy getting to meet our customers in person and seeing what they have created with our yarns.  If you haven't had a chance to try our yarns yet, this is the perfect opportunity to see and feel them in person.

Sweater Fitness Workshop

Sweater Fitness Workshop We are delighted to be hosting the hugely talented and widely followed Anne Hanson of Knitspot fame! In Anne's popular Sweater Fitness Workshop, you will learn how to have the perfect sweater project every time! No more ill fitting sweaters, no guessing on what size to make or how to determine "ease". This 6-hour workshop will get you sweater ready and fit to knit the perfect sweater every time! Date: Friday, April 20 Time: 10am-5pm Location: Shalimar Yarns, 5917 Boyers Mill Road, New Market, MD Cost: $100, includes lunch and a skein of Shalimar Yarn Space is limited, so don't delay! For more information, including what you'll learn, materials needed, recommended skill level and directions, and a link to sign up please visit our website. About Anne and Knitspot: Anne is a lifelong knitter with a background in fashion and graphic design. In the early 70's, Anne began her love affair with knitwear design. She is the prolific design force behind Knitspot. Anne lives and works in Ohio with her husband and occasional knitwear model, David. Thanks for supporting small, independent fiber-arts businesses! Kristi Shalimar Yarns

It's Fall KAL Time!

It's time for our official Fall KAL! These two patterns would be perfect for Holiday gifting or to keep for yourself (shhhh we won't tell if you don't!).

Our paid pattern is Clarus by Laura Nelkin. Find Clarus here to purchase on Ravelry or buy directly from Laura's web site here

Our free patten is Fallberry Mitts by Anne Hanson. Find Fallberry as a free pattern on the new fall Knitty.com here.

Choose one of the many colors of Breathless or Zoe Sock and please tag your project with "ShalimarFall2011"

The KAL will run from October 19 thru November 20. Great prizes, fun and support await you now!
Join now on our Shalimar Yarns Group on Ravelry!

Knitspot's Fall in Full Color's Club

We are so honored to be a part of the Knitspot Fall in Full Color Club.  Anne Hanson designer extraordinaire and author of the Knitspot blog collaborated with Kristi to create this exclusive colorway in Breathless for the club called Hazel Leaf. 

Anne designed a fabulous shawl pattern that can be knitted in two sizes.  The pattern is reminiscent of the Hazelnut tree near her home. The the yarn colors reflect the color of the Hazelnut leaves in early fall.  The Hazeline pattern is exclusive to the Fall in Full Colors Club for one year.  If you aren't in the club, you may want to add it to your que.  It's fantastic and would be worth the wait.

teresat2t's Hazeline

Smaller version of Hazeline

photo courtesy of Knitspot

Merlin's Bearded Trevi

Last week, at the height of the Big Snow Dump, I started Trevi, by Knitspot. I fell in love with this little shawl as soon as Anne had it up for sale on her website. The geometric look of Trevi was a nice change from the more traditional lace patterns.

I'm following along in the Shalimar Yarns Winter KAL on Ravelry. We're doing any Knitspot pattern, so the fields wide open!



I'm loving the SSK's which give it a wonderful textured look, and I'm making the mini size, which is a sure bet with the yardage on Zoe Sock. The colorway, Merlin's Beard, was new this past fall. It is soft and even tempered in it's hue and will go with anything in my closet that is black, brown, gray or cream. Beautiful pattern!

Yer' Breakin' me Heart!

And all because no one has claimed the Namaste Zuma Bag from the Maryland Sheep & Wool Raffle.

The winning number is: 461253

Just email us, okay? So we can sleep at night, quit biting our hangnails and go off the anxiety meds we started post Sheep&Wool. Need I say more.

I promised some one-skein KAL ideas, and here they are. The KAL is running on the Shalimar Yarns Group on Ravelry. Just one skein is all it takes, whether Zoe Sock, Honey Worsted, or Missy Bulky. Join up today to play along. The info is all posted on the Spring 2009 KAL thread and the Prizes are pretty sweet!

Of course, anything by Anne Hanson of Knitspot is a winner. I am a big fan of her petite shawls and scarves. Some people don't believe you can knit her petite shawls with just one skein of sock yarn, but you really can. A testament to blocking to say the least. All her patterns are available at her pattern shop. I have been meaning to start Boxleaf Triangle (shown below), so this is my opportunity to KAL with the group. I have to decide on a colorway today though.


We love Anne's scarves also, such as the
Butternut Scarf, shown below. Her little cowls and fingerless gloves are worthy of attention also. Stay posted for more on my Boxleaf TriangLe colorway and some Shalimar patterns that are my favorites.

For Missy Bulky lovers, here is an adorable Classic Elite hat. It's cute and quick. And there's also the popular hat Thorpe, available on Ravelry, and several wonderful neckwarmers, like Chickadee Cowl and Krtek, both available for free on Ravelry.

Catalina's Calling...

So, we have been blessed with a few days of 65 degree days over the last few weeks. While it has been glorious, it is also a bit disconcerting since the nights are still going down into the 20's. I'm itching to shed the bulky socks, coats and mufflers. What this means, is that more and more my mind wanders to lighter and brighter yarns and projects.

Enter Zoe Sock in Catalina and Tudor Grace from Knitspot.com. What a delightful combination! I can't wait to finish and block this scarf. (I adore the pattern-it hasn't bored me yet). Pretty sure I'll be able to fit in the finishing later this week and then I'll be able to post photos.