Just a note to tell you about the specials we're running during the Portland Yarn Crawl, if you're a crawl registrant. To read all about the crawl, visit the crawl's website; www.portlandyarncrawl.com. I've provided a link for you.

The crawl dates are March 5th, 6th and 7th. There is a scavenger hunt, and raffle baskets put together by major yarn companies and needle companies. StitchCraft has three separate raffles going on that weekend, one for each day. Here are more details of what we're providing people that register at our door during the crawl.

• 10% ONE TIME ONLY discount on your purchase of yarn.
• Free ice cream to the first 40 yarn crawl registrants at Ice Cream Renaissance.
• Three raffles, one each day of the crawl, for Blue Sky Alpacas fingerless gloves (pattern, yarn, project bag); Spud and Chloe socks (pattern, yarn); and StitchJones Child's Sock Kit.
• Trunk shows on display by Blue Sky Alpacas and Spud and Chloe.
• Cross Stitch Demos.

Click here for a link to the map of participating shops.

Our Hours during the crawl are:
Friday 10am - 5:30pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

StitchCraft
2110 Main St.
Vancouver, WA 98660
www.stitchcraft.us

This stunning hat is the creation of Maya J. She designed the hat based on the colors she sees on her morning walks with her dog. I especially love the tassels representing lichen, pine cones and pine needles. Fair Isle is beautiful isn't it?

Next, a couple of hats by Kathy B. She calls them "hats for the family". They're done in Spud and Chloe sweater. I love the color combination.

And, there is a lot of new colors, patterns and new yarns from Blue Sky Alpaca and Spud and Chloe.

Above left, we're restocked with Blue Sky Bulky. Above left, new to the shop, Blue Sky Melange. Below left are new colors in Blue Sky Dyed Cotton and below right is Blue Sky Multi Cotton - a new yarn.

New colors came in Spud and Chloe Fine - how about a bright pair of socks for spring? And, new colors in Blue Sky Skinny Dyed Cotton.

These are the latest, special edition travel patterns from Blue Sky Alpacas. We received all the latest patterns for spring by Blue Sky and Spud and Chloe. So come on in and check them out.

Lastly, a new yarn by Knit One Crochet Too. It's Ty Dy Dots. It's just begging to become a baby sweater. It's 100% cotton and in ice cream colors.

Starting this Friday, February 12th through Sunday, February 14th, you'll receive 10% off on:

• All solid color yarns or embroidery threads of pink, white or red.
• Any Valentine's Day knitting and crochet patterns.
• Any Valentine's Day cross-stitch patterns or kits. Happy Valentine's Day!

This blog will be neglected for a few days. I'm at Madrona on a wee vacation....peace out!

Candy P. Made this beautiful chapeau from Louisa Harding's new book Little Cake. The hat uses Thistle; a luscious blend of merino wool and baby suri alpaca.

And, Leah has more spaces available for her Lace Fingerless Glove class. You'll learn how to knit lace in the round and make these lovely gloves for spring.

Details:

Tuesdays 2/9, 2/16
6:30pm - 8:30pm
$45
Prerequisites: Know how to knit, purl, cast on, bind off.

Punxatawney Phil is THE weather prediction animal. Will he see his shadow? If he does, you will receive 15% off your entire purchase on Groundhog Day, Tuesday, February 2nd. If he does not see his shadow you get 10% off your entire purchase for the day. Why this reasoning? Well, if he sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter, which then means we'll be inside knitting, crocheting and stitching more. If he doesn't see his shadow, it's a prediction of early spring and we'll be out gardening and hiking, enjoying the weather. When he's made his prediction, we'll post the result here on the blog along with your discount for the day.

Click here for a link to the most Frequently Asked Questions about Phil.

Woo hoo! The wait was REALLY worth it. We opened the box on Thursday and our eyes instantly popped out of our skulls. Jilian and Melony were here and we just wanted to dive in the box and roll around like cats - but we didn't because that just wouldn't be appropriate. The pictures don't do it justice.

The semi solid colors are the BFL made especially for us to coordinate with the SeaSock and Wexford.

There are three yarn qualities. From left to right we have:

Westerly SeaSock
70% superwash merino, 30% seacell (natural seaweed fiber)
4.5 oz, 415 yards

Carys Blue Faced Leicester
100% Blue Faced Leicester (a lovely wool with a very soft touch and light halo)
3.5 oz, 230 yards

Wexford Merino Silk
60% silk, 40% merino
4oz, 240 yards

And...the following yarns are 20% off right now:

Nashua Ivy
Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille
TyDy Cotton
Cotton Blossom by Farmhouse Yarns
Pima Tencel
Rowan Tapestry

We just got Louisa Harding's new lines - Willow Tweed and Thistle. We carry the patterns and every color of both yarns. Here are the stats:

Thistle
Fiber: 60% Merino Wool, 40% Suri Alpaca
Yardage: 98
Stitches: 4.5
Needle size: 8
Ball weight: 50g

Willow Tweed
Fiber: 40% Alpaca, 40% Merino Wool, 20% Silk
Yardage: 128
Stitches: 5.5
Needle size: 6
Ball weight: 50g

The Pattern Book for the Louisa Harding yarns is called Little Cake. Here are a few selections from the book:

And...new patterns in the house by Knitspot! We have a large selection. Here's a sampling.

Ann Hanson is the designer and the patterns are very clear, well written, which is something we love at StitchCraft.

So, we're so sad to hear, but The Fibre Company's Savannah DK is discontinued. This is one of my favorite yarns in the shop. We had a little Rowan sweater done up in it in red. It's now 30% off. Whip out your patterns and see if anything fits the gauge because this is a beautiful yarn for all seasons. We have 18 colors.

50% Merino
20% Organic Cotton
15% Linen
15% Soya Fiber

US 5 or 6 needles
24 - 26 sts/inch

Made in USA!!!

Many of you have asked about the ever-popular earflap hats. We have a variety of patterns, and here are some for your perusal.

Above left is Lisa Ellis' Sampler Earflap Hat and right is Lisa Ellis' Twined Earflap Hat.

Above left is Sheep  Shop Yarn Co.'s Ear Flap Hat and right is Blue Sky's Fair Isle Ear Flap Hat and Mittens Set.

And one for children - Knitting Pure and Simple's Hat and Mitten set (ear flaps are optional).

And lastly...

A new pattern from Fiber Trends; Natural Comfort Felt Slippers.

Just in! Sheep Feet and Sheep Spin from Sheep Shop Yarn Company. Here are some pictures of the beautiful hand painted roving and sport weight sock yarns that correspond to the roving.  How nice to see what your roving will look like when it "grows up".

Sheep Spin Details:
4 oz 100% merino wool

Sheep Feet Details:
5-6 stitches per inch on US #4 needles
100g - approximately 218 yards
100% merino wool
Free sock pattern

Here are some new patterns by Heather Bailey. Her fabrics are shipping as we speak! I absolutely love the pear pin cushion and the children's stacker - wish I had that pattern when the kids were little instead of the crummy store bought one I had. I think the lens is scratched on my camera, thus the light spot in the middle.

This is a great new book for sewing sweet things for the family. A lot of gift ideas in here.

And finally, a picture of our double-sided napkins!