3 Kittens Mews

Love

2012-01-13T19:10:00.001-06:00

I'm in love... again...

Another yarn has grabbed me, dragged me into it's lair, and had it's way with me! Swoon!

This time it's The Fibre Company's Road to China Light. What's not to love about a blend of 65% Alpaca, 10% Cashmere, 10% Camel and 15% Silk in fabulous colors like these:

It's so soft and lovely and a dream to touch and handle. So, it deserves a fabulous pattern as well. Here's what I'm making:

It's the Hosta scarf by Nancy Marchant, published in the e-zine Twist Collective.

Hosta is a brioche stitch pattern. Nancy Marchant is the author of the definitive book on brioche stitch, Knitting Brioche, and she has a really great website briochestitch.com. Brioche stitch is not for the faint of heart. I won't try to explain it here, but suffice to say that it's a little bit addictive, a little bit difficult, and a lot amazing to look at. Check out Nancy's website for lots of information and instructions.

In the meantime, bask in the loveliness that is Road to China Light.

Basic Hemmed Hat Pattern

2011-12-17T17:08:00.001-06:00

This past summer I was lucky enough to spend a little time in Brugge, Belgium - a wonderful city if you ever get a chance to go. I was introduced to a man who was starting a surfing company, and he asked me to make up a prototype of a knitted hat for him - apparently surfers, like snowboarders like knitted hats. Three months later when I finally got around to whipping up a couple of hats for him, the end product was such a simple pattern that I thought I'd let our readers have it too. Here goes:

Sizes:        Child S (Child L, Adult M, Adult L) - approx. 17" (18.75", 20.75", 22.5")

Materials: Approx. 200 yards of worsted weight yarn
                US 7 and US 8 - 16" circular needles (or size
                      needed to obtain gauge)
                US 8 double pointed needles
                Scrap yarn for provisional cast on
One stitch marker
                Tapestry needle

Gauge: 4.25 sts/inch with size 8 needle

Directions:

Inner Hem
Using scrap yarn, size 7 needles, and a provisional cast-on,** cast on 72 (80, 88, 96) sts.
Change to main yarn and knit one row.
Join work into round, being careful not to twist. Place marker at beginning of round.
Knit every round until piece measures 3.5" (3.5", 4", 4").

Outside of Hat
Purl one round.
Change to larger needles.
Knit every round until hat after purl row is the same length as hem before purl row.

Closing the Hem
Unzip your provisional cast-on, and transfer live stitches onto the size 7 needles.
Fold the material at the purl row, so that the wrong side is on the inside of the hem, and the two needles are held with the size 7 on the inside of the hat and the size 8 on the outside.

Knit one stitch from the size 8 (front needle) together with one stitch from the size 7 (back needle) - repeat around hat. This is similar to the way you would do a 3-needle bind off.
When round is complete, continue knitting the rest of the hat with the size 8 needle.
Top of Hat
Knit each round for 1" (or longer if desired).
Begin decreases:

Row 1 - *K7 (8, 9, 10), K2tog,* repeat from * to * to end.
Row 2 - K

Repeat these two rows, decreasing one K st before K2tog on every Row 1 (for instance, the next decrease row will be K6 (7, 8, 9) sts before the K2tog), until 16 sts remain.
Next Row - K2tog around.
Break yarn leaving a 6" tail. Thread tail through the remaining live stitches with your tapestry needle and pull tightly. Thread through the same sts once more to secure and weave in the end on the inside of your hat.

Here are some of the hats I've completed using this technique. In the red, green and navy hats, I used Artyarns Ultramerino 8. In the light blue hat, I used Cascade 220. This pattern is easy to adapt - try adding stripes or do your hem a different color than the main body of the hat. Finish off the top with a pompom or an i-cord for a fun effect.

** There are several ways to do a Provisional Cast-On. Theone I like the best and used for this project is the Crocheted Provisional Cast-On. Click here for a good video tutorial on how to do this technique. If you prefer a knitted Provisional Cast-On, try this video tutorial.

Desperate Gifters VI: Four-In-One Gaiter

2011-12-09T12:47:00.001-06:00

Project: 4-in-1 Gaiter

Designed by: Nancy Lindberg

Book: 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders

This is a fast, easy, fun project that is sure to please everyone on your Christmas list! Choose a fine washable merino or a camel hair blend that will not only warm your loved one but glide through your hands. I used Karabella Aurora Bulky - a 100% extrafine merino wool.

Purchase the book, a skein of yarn and needles to give lessons to the teen in your life. This turtleneck gaiter is done in ribbing so it will be great to knit on while watching those holiday movies!

~Janine

Desperate Gifters V: Tea Cozy Wrap

2011-11-30T12:47:00.001-06:00

Tea Cozy Wrap
from Knits to Give by Debbie Bliss

I started this tea cozy on September 23^rd andfinished it on September 25^th. It’s a very quick knit and now that I’m more familiar with the pattern,the two additional cozies that I have knit were finished in a day. I did run into a mistake in the cabledirections, and the corrections have been added to the Debbie Blisswebsite. I did catch one remaining mistake: the finalbuttonhole row is missing the yarn over after the knit 2 together. I used a pair of antique looking buttons fromthe shop, but this would be a great way to use up any stray buttons in yourstash. I think a mis-matched pair wouldadd a touch of whimsy, especially if it was paired with a bright coloredyarn.

For the version pictured here, I used Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran, and verylittle of the 50 gr ball was left when I was done. Other good yarns would include: Encore (the worsted weightdoes increase the size so it does not fit as nicely on the tea pot, but Ibelieve going down a needle size to US 5 and US 6 would solve this). I’m always a fan of using yarn that can bemachine washed (especially if the item is intended to be a gift) so I wouldrecommend a washable DK or worsted weight for this project.

~ Liz

Desperate Gifters IV: Reclaimed Cashmere Lacy Scarf

2011-11-25T14:05:00.001-06:00

Reclaimed Cashmere Lacy Scarf

Thename of the pattern is a bit of a misnomer in this case,because I knit it out of Misti Alpaca Tonos Worsted. I lovedknitting this scarf – and I didn't pick the yarn or pattern. Firstof all, I have never met an alpaca I didn't love. It's soft, smoothand feels great on your hands when you knit it. My first project outof an alpaca yarn ruined me for cheap acrylic yarn for life!

But, more about the pattern, which comes from Luxury Yarn One Skein-Wonders. This isone of those bonus patterns that looks complicated but is actuallyfairly simple. In fact, I would recommend this pattern to someonewho hasn't done much lace. There are only 3 different rows ofinstructions, and 2 of them are all knits and purls. The end resultis a pretty lace and the way the decreases are spaced, they give a“mock-cable” look. It was very satisfying and knit quickly. Thepattern said to knit for 40” which is “long enough” but I keptgoing until I ran out of yarn so mine is slightly longer (44").

An added bonus to this pattern is that it looks good on both the "right" side (the left photo below) and the "wrong" side (right photo).

~ Alison

Desperate Gifters III: Petal Shawlette

2011-11-21T08:10:00.001-06:00

I am a bit of a sock yarn addict. Ienjoy making socks, especially in the summer because they aretransportable and small enough that you aren't buried under pounds ofwool in the summer. Plus when you buy enough yarn for a pair ofsocks can also make “something else”. Which is one of thereasons Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders is a fun book – it helps you with the “somethingelse” part.

I picked this pattern because I thoughtthe lace was pretty, and I wanted to see what it would look like in aless busy yarn. I chose the Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere inthe tonal black. With the cashmere it was really a pleasure toknit. The lace is fairly challenging, so it isn't conducive to a lotof multi-tasking, and I recommend putting in life lines just in caseyou need to back up. Even with the complicated lace, it knitted upfairly quickly because of the small size – and the prize at the endis the lacy border which was really fun.

I enjoyed knitting this, and am reallypleased with the end result.

~ Alison

Desperate Gifters II: Doll's Summer Party Frock

2011-11-14T11:44:00.001-06:00

This dress is designed for an 18” doll. I have no personalexperience with the American Girl dolls, but I am pretty sure this dress wouldfit one. I knit it out of Regia Flusi. It took one skein. It was great yarn to use and the color is somuch fun. I think any doll would be proud to wear it to any summer picnic towhich they were invited.

I knit it on US 2 needles; I think I would use US 3 needlesnext time because I am a very tight knitter. The pattern is very quick andeasy. I did the sleeve holes slightlydifferently because I did one in the round and the other flat so I had tochange the pattern so they would match (the pattern was unclear about how to dothem and I prefer to knit in the round when I can).

This pattern is out of Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders. I loveall the One Skein books and this one has a ton of great patterns in it. Thereis a large list of ones I plan to do when I get time.

~ Cecilia

Desperate Gifters I: Swing Set Cardigan

2011-11-11T12:00:00.001-06:00

This is the first blog post about some of the project samples we have completed for Desperate Gifters (our holiday promotion).

The Swing Set Cardigan from Little Crochet was one of the easiest and quickest projects I've made in recent times. It actually took me only one day to make from the first chain to the last stitch!

I made the 18-30 month size and used the fabulous hand-dyed yarn Tosh DK from Madelinetosh. The yarn is 100% superwash merino and is scrumptious! I needed 2 skeins to complete the project. Other yarns that I think would have been lovely for this pattern are Berroco Comfort DK, Cleckheaton Country 8-Ply, or Sirdar Baby Bamboo.

I wish I had a lucky little niece to make this for - but alas, they are all too old now.

The Trouble with Gauge

2011-10-28T14:29:00.005-05:00

I am a big proponent of doing gauge swatches for knitting and crochet projects. I know sometimes that's not what people want to hear, but when it's a question of getting the right size or something that's too large or, worse, too small, gauge swatches are extremely important.

But, what happens when you're going out of town, and you pack a project that you want to start, but you only pack one needle or hook? You wing it! That's what I did when I went to DisneyWorld this past weekend with my son and his friend. I took a crochet project, the crocheted Maid Marian hat by Grace Akhrem. I want to make this as a Chemo Hat (check out my previous blog post on that), so I chose a worsted weight yarn that had no wool or other scratchy fibers in it - Classic Elite's Classic Silk. It's a lovely yarn, and it would be perfect for a chemo hat. I took the hook size recommended in the pattern - a #7 (4.5mm) which is between a G and an H hook. And, away I went.

{Sigh}

Well, I knew pretty soon that my gauge must be off. You start this hat by doing to the bottom portion from side to side. The pattern said I should complete 32 repeats of the 2 rows that make up the stitch pattern. I stopped at 28 repeats, because that's what fit around my head (and I have a big head). So I went ahead & started the top part of the hat, making a few adjustments to the pattern to accommodate the fewer repeats. After the first decrease round for the top, I decided to try it on:I have several rounds to go before the end of the hat - and I already look like a cone-head! I can only image what the hat would have looked like if I had done 32 repeats!

So what does it all mean? I'm back to the drawing board. I've decided that the yarn probably would be too thick and stiff if I went down one or two hook sizes; so I've abandoned the Classic Silk. (Don't worry, it will get used for something else!) Next, I'm going to try a lighter weight yarn - a DK weight instead of the called for worsted weight. I'll try it with the same hook size. And, guess what? I plan on doing a gauge swatch first!

Lesson learned! For the umpteenth time!

And, just in case you didn't see this on FB, here's a photo of me knitting in line at DisneyWorld. Aren't we knitters and crocheters lucky that we have something to occupy us while we have to wait?

Out to Knit KAL

2011-10-27T08:35:00.004-05:00

On the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month, I host "Out to Knit" at Mendoberri from 11:30am-1:30pm. Anyone can come - so please join us! Plus, Mendoberri offers us a 10% discount on our food for "Out to Knit." Sweet, huh?

The Out to Knit group recently decided to do a Knit-A-Long (KAL) as a group. Because it's hard to decide on a specific pattern - particularly because we are actually a group of knitters and crocheters, we've made it fairly generic by just saying that everyone is going to be making a shawl.

I have chosen and started my shawl: Sothia by Robin Ulrich. This is not a pattern that we carry in the store - although I will be looking into the possibility of that. But I couldn't resist it.

I'm doing it out of a fabulous slowly self-striping new yarn from Crystal Palace called Sausalito for the main color and Dream in Color's Everlasting Sock for the contrasting color. (Wish I had the in progress piece here to take a photo; maybe next time...)

I'm not sure what everyone else is making yet, but I will take my camera to next week's Out to Knit so I can make sure and show off our work!

Chemo Hats

2011-10-13T11:48:00.006-05:00

Several years ago a group of women from the Woman's Club of Minneapolis, many of them cancer survivors, started knitting chemo caps for patients at the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). Two years ago, they donated over 300 hats. By donation time in April, HCMC had just one hat left. Last year over 400 hats were donated! HCMC was happy about the increased donation, because in addition to chemo patients, they would like to make sure that any child that visits the hospital during the winter is given a hat if he/she doesn't have one. In order to accommodate these needs, more people are needed to participate.

Hats don't require a lot of yardage, so many avid knitters and crocheters may have leftovers from projects that can be used to knit a hat or two. The only issue in regard to the chemo hats is that they need to be made with soft yarns that won't itch. When people lose their hair, the scalp is extremely sensitive. We recommend using cotton or microfiber yarns.

The Grace Akhrem patterns pictured in this post would make great chemo caps. They will be available at the store within the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, if you are antsy to get started, Head Huggers, has a number of free patterns for hats that would be suitable for chemo patients.

Feel free to drop off your completed hats at the store. Label them HCMC, and Alison will deliver them to the Woman's Club of Minneapolis.

Preemie Hats - A Template

2011-10-08T11:36:00.009-05:00

Yesterday, Claudia Speak, who works in the NICU at Children's Hospital in St. Paul, came into the store and talked with me about the preemie hats that they receive from knitters and crocheters. They love the fact that people are making the hats for the babies! Claudia said that the look on the mother's faces when they see their little ones wearing one of the handmade hats is priceless!

Unfortunately, they've had some issues with the knitted hats, in particular, not fitting properly. Often if the hat is made with a ribbed brim, the cast on for the brim is too tight. Here is a photo of one that the nurse had to cut at the cast on in four places in order for the hat to be used.

In addition, some of the hats are a little too short for a preemie.

So, Claudia has come up with a basic template to use for knitted preemie caps. She has used a rolled brim for her cap (if you want to use a ribbed brim, try using a cable cast on, which is much more elastic than the more typical long-tail cast on). Here is a photo of a finished preemie cap using Claudia's template.

Use DK weight yarn for all sizes:

Hope this helps all of you who are interested in knitting preemie hats. I'll try to come up with a similar template for crochet preemie hats soon.

If you have preemie hats you would like to donate to Children's Hospital in St. Paul, feel free to drop them off at the store. I will make sure that Claudia gets them!

A Knitted Dalek - A Lesson

2011-07-19T21:48:00.000-05:00

Around the shop, I get a little guff because I like to knit toys. I find them enjoyable. They usually go quickly and you have something fun to have around or to give away. So, I knit a Dalek for my brother in law for his 40th birthday. Now many of you may not know of the Dalek race. That is okay. They look like this.

There is a British TV show called Doctor Who. It has been on the air in Britain since the 1960s. One of the oldest and most dangerous enemies of the Doctor is the Daleks. They used to be human but were put into machines and lost all of their humanity. Now they just go around the universe destroying stuff and saying “Exterminate!”

Anyway, I offered to knit something for my brother in law and my husband asked if I would knit him a Dalek. The pattern is called Extermaknit and I have known of it for a long time, but have not knit it for one very good reason: Bobbles. I hate bobbles. They are fiddly and they always sort of look like warts to me. Now this pattern has 58 bobbles – 58! That is an outrageous amount of bobbles to knit. The pattern does give you the option of using buttons, but I had to admit I liked the look of the bobbles better, plus finding 58 buttons to use and then sewing them did not seem any better. So I bit the bullet and knit a Dalek in two colors (like the old fashion Daleks) and I personally think it turned out pretty good.

I suppose you are wondering why I am writing about this project. I have 2 reasons.

1. ) I had several choices in this project. I could knit the bobbles or I could put on buttons or pompoms or something else. Once I chose to do bobbles, I had to decide if I wanted to do them in one color (which would have been a lot quicker and easier or if I wanted to do two colors. I also had to choose which yarn to use. I decided to use Nature Spun Sport doubled because I had the right colors. Now I could have used it single and just had a much smaller Dalek, the one I did measures over 9”. Or I could have looked through my extensive stash and found some worsted or dk or bulky and used that and again had a different size Dalek. I will say one of the advantages to knitting toys is that you can make them out of any yarn, just go down one or two needles sizes from what is on the ball band.

Now in reality we get to make choices in everything we knit. Just because a sweater pattern has ¾ length sleeves, doesn’t mean you have to knit them that way. Or if you are like me, you will make long sleeves into ¾ lengths because it is what I like to wear. If a pattern has bobbles, maybe you can replace them with something else. If you like a long vest pattern but would never wear a vest that long, stop knitting whenever you like. One of the best parts of knitting is that you can make any pattern yours. Experiment with your knitting and see what happens.

2.) This pattern was written by someone who had knit one hat and one scarf before tackling the formation of a Dalek pattern. She learned to do a lot of stuff while creating it, including bobbles. I think sometimes as knitters we get worried about being perfect and that scares us into not trying new things. As a knitter, I am always making mistakes. Sometimes I fix them and sometimes I don’t. I have had to rip out huge swathes of knitting because some dumb mistake I made. I have also ripped out things that I have almost finished because I just did not like how the end project was going to be. This is how it goes. Mistakes are a part of life and we always learn something from them. Do not be afraid to make them.

Every year, I make a New Year’s resolution to learn a new knitting technique. This is a good way to keep learning and it is not too much pressure to know everything all at once. But I do think it is important to keep learning and to keep pushing my skills. Just think of this Dalek pattern when you are thinking something is too advanced or you could never do it. It is just knitting. The world will not end if you mess it up and who knows, maybe you will discover some new stitch or technique or a cool new pattern.

New Yarn

2011-07-10T11:13:00.000-05:00

We just received in some awesome yarn at the shop. It is from Misti Alpaca and it is called Best of Nature. It is a worsted weight alpaca yarn and all of the colors are from natural dyes. Natural dyes are subtle and beautiful and they always go together. Come in and check out the lovely colors in person.

Also, don’t forget we are having a sidewalk sale next weekend (15^th – 18^th).

Report From Janine

2011-04-20T07:32:00.000-05:00

Waiting for the 1st customers to arrive

I got to be a guest at Friday night, April 15ths Needlepoint event – what a way to spend your tax return!

Staff welcoming customers

As a fly on the wall I got to witness all the excitement as the first customer, Ann Girard walked, no, waltzed in the shop. Ann and all the customers that came were able to partake not only in a bit of wine and nibbles but, also all the “unveiled” canvases.

Everyone having fun looking at canvases

The oohs and ahhs were not unlike that on the 4^th of July as the guests gazed at the plunder that Julie, Laura, Pat and the needlepoint staff had on display.

Laura, Julie & Pat

From the Stricktly Christmas, Ruth Schmuff and Once in a Blue Moon canvases to the stockings, ornaments and pillows there was something for everyone, O.K., perhaps 2 for everyone!

So Many Choices

Susan Anderson-Freed Hat

2011-04-14T08:05:00.000-05:00

I just finished this hat for the shop.

It is from Susan Anderson-Freed's book Colorwork Creations: Knit Woodland Inspired Hats, Mittens and Gloves. It was a lot of fun to knit. Except for the tassels... I am not a great tassel maker, but I think they turned out okay. I it made from Nature Spun Fingering and Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn.
3 Kittens is going to be selling kits at Yarnover so you could knit your own chullo and mitten set. Or ski hat and mitten set.

Don't forget that Susan Anderson-Freed is coming to teach her mitten technique on May 1st at the 3 Kittens. She starts her mittens from the thumb and the tip of the mitten and works her way down. She will be teaching Turkish cast-on and Latvian braid. The class is worth the price of admission just for that alone, but knowing how to make mittens in a different way could open up a whole new world for you.

Help Us Help Others

2011-03-19T08:47:00.000-05:00

This weekend, Saturday, March 19 & Sunday, March 20, we are partnering with one of our yarn vendors to raise disaster relief funds by donating a percent of our total weekend sales to help the citizens of Japan.

Make a purchase at 3 Kittens Needle Arts this weekend, and we will donate 5% of all sales to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to benefit victims of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan.

Our vendor, Knitting Fever, Inc distributor of Noro, Debbie Bliss, Mirasol, Sublime and Sirdar yarns, will match any donation we make at the end of the weekend.

Please come in and help us raise money to help others. We appreciate all of your support.

There Are Strange Things Afoot At The 3 Kittens

2011-03-03T07:25:00.001-06:00

NEW YARN

We have received in new yarns from Habu Textiles. They are known for using unusual materials and creating beautiful yarns. The yarns come from Japan and are very interesting.

We have a book (Ori Ami), which is full of patterns, as well as several Coco Knits patterns.

Come in and see what we have.

Here are some arty photos of the Habu:

Here is the silk & stainless steel

Here is the viscose paper

NEEDLEPOINT NEWS

We currently have a Tapestry Tent Trunk Show in the house. These canvases are true works of art. They range in size from small ornaments and belts to large Christmas stockings and pillows.

Here are a few photos:

Small Christmas canvases (aren't they pretty?)

Small Halloween canvas (doesn't this look like a ghost from Scooby Doo?)

Bear Christmas stocking (please come in and buy this so I am no longer tempted by it)

New employee: Olivia Gerber has joined us in the needlepoint dept. She is a long time needle pointer and we are all glad she has climbed aboard the good ship 3 Kittens. If you have not had a chance to stop in and say hi, please do so. She is very friendly.

Olivia hamming it up for the camera.

Welcome Olivia.

What's on Laura's Needles Now?

2011-03-01T11:06:00.004-06:00

I'm currently working furiously on several projects, but the one that seems to be commanding the most attention right now is this one:

This is the Bayarri cardigan from Berroco Booklet #307 for their new yarn Linsey, a linen/cotton blend. Here's a photo of what it should look like when it's done (in a different colorway):

If you come to "Out to Knit" today (Tuesday) at mendoberri cafe from 11:30am-3:30pm, you can even see me working on it.

Madelintosh Sock Is Here

2011-02-22T17:10:00.000-06:00

I don’t know if you have heard the word, but Madelintosh sock yarn is in the house. The colors are fantastic and it is super soft and wonderful. The color names describe the deep beautiful tones; Tart has gorgeous tones of red, Forestry has tones of dark green and subtle blues.

Madelintosh has some wonderful free patterns on their website, but any sock pattern would work. Also, Stephen West has several neckerchief patterns that work great with this yarn. Akimbo would be fantastic in two different colors.

We received 4 of each color so if you want to make a big project, hurry in for best selection. An average pair of woman’s socks would take just one skein.

Come in and see what you think.

Needlepoint News

2011-02-16T09:03:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone. I have a brief needlepoint update. We just received in a new thread called High Cotton. It is a 5-strand cotton with a matte finish. It comes in about a million colors (okay, 141) but they are all really beautiful. Here is review of the thread on Nuts about Needlepoint. I can't wait to use it.

I also want to give a shout out to Diane Berg (aka Big D). She stitched up this DJ Designs canvas. It is just too cute.

Good job Diane!

Books

2011-02-04T23:15:00.000-06:00

I love books. I always have. All kinds of books: fiction, science fiction, history, biographies, memoirs, etc.

When I started knitting, I of course discovered the plethora of knitting books available. I now have a LOT of knitting books, some are brand new and some are very old. I thought I would share some of my favorites with you.

I love Barbara Walker’s books. I have her Treasury of Knitting Patterns Vol 1 & 2 and her Mosaic Knitting book. These books are great source books to have in your library. They are great for trying new stitches or designing your own garments. Practice a new stitch by making a dishcloth or other small item.

If you like to make toys, I would recommend Debbie Bliss’ Toy Knits. The toys are cute and the patterns straightforward. I also love Anna Hrachovec’s Knitting Mochimochi. Her patterns are fun and silly and any one can follow her instructions. Check out her fun website.

I also recommend any of the One Skein Wonder books. I have 3 of them and I find them great for gifts and for small projects. I find myself going back to them over and over again.

If you have any knitting books you cannot live without, leave a message and let us all know.

Happy New Year

2011-01-13T09:15:00.000-06:00

Hello again. I hope you all had a wonderful and peaceful holiday season. Well, now that we are well into the New Year, I thought I would discuss resolutions.

Every year people make New Year’s resolutions. Sometimes these are big serious ones, like losing weight; other times they are small, like getting to the end of Destroy All Humans on the PS2 (I did not accomplish that one by the way). A few years ago, I decided to make knitting resolutions. They are the only ones I make now. Usually I have on the list to finish some of my projects that have been hanging around for a long time. This year I have already accomplished this one! I finished a pair of sock I started in July 2007.

I also resolve to learn a new knitting technique every year. Last year I taught myself to do double knitting, which I did with the help of Lucy Neatby’s video. It was very cool and I look forward to actually doing a project using it. This year, I intend to learn how to do entrelac. Do you have something you want to learn?

Last year I also wanted to knit a 10K (the year before I had knit a 5K). Sadly, I did not make my goal of 10K, but I did knit another 5K, so I guess that is something. Part of the reason for less knitting was because I started doing needlepoint, so I did do some nice projects I had not planned to do. Plus, it means that this year I can have needlepoint resolutions as well as knitting ones!

Here is the 1^st needlepoint I did this year. It is a cute little box.

Here is my granddaughter with her Iris monster (we sell this kit in the shop). She loves Iris and has to sleep with her and eat breakfast with her. It was the best thing I think I knit all year!

In shop news, we have the COOLEST needlepoint trunk show in house. It is from JL Canvas Co., for one price, you get a glass ornament and a needlepoint canvas that matches it for you to stitch. You can keep both, give one to a friend or family member and keep the other to remind you of your loved one, or give them both away. It is up to you. Either way, they are all really cute. I have my eye set on the cupcake!

TNNA (aka Market) - Day 1

2011-01-07T15:14:00.007-06:00

Julie, Pat and I are in sunny Long Beach, California for one of the two national markets put on each year by The National Needlearts Association. Yes, I know you're all jealous that we're in CA, but take heart - most of our time is being spent indoors in windowless rooms.

Yesterday afternoon, we each took a class from one of the fabulous national instructors here at the show. I took a Broomstick Lace (crochet) class with Mary Beth Temple because I was curious - do you work with a real broomstick? What can you do with broomstick lace? Is it only for certain types of yarn? Will I become a 70s era hippy if I learn this technique? Here's a photo of my finished class sample (please excuse the quality - it's taken with the camera on my phone):

The answers to my questions were no (you use a super large straight knitting needle - size 50 for worsted weight yarn and a crochet hook); anything open & airy; you can use any type of yarn although variegated yarns often just look muddy; and no - thank goodness.

Julie took a needlepoint class from Adrienne Spencer needlepointing a beautiful canvas with 2 koi fish. Adrienne was teaching how to work a canvas that is not stitch painted, but is a real work of art in and of itself. She uses a lot of open stitches where the canvas shows through. It's a wonderful way to showcase the artistry of the painting, while still making a beautiful finished needlepoint piece.

Pat took a stitch guide design class from Suzy Murphy of SuZy's Portable Stitches fame. I wondered why such a skilled stitch guide designer needed a class on that, but Pat said it was great because all the participants brought in a canvas they wanted help with, and the whole class got involved with coming up with ideas. Suzy is a great and enthusiastic teacher, and Pat came out with seveal ideas of things to incorporate in her stitch guides in the future.

More tomorrow.

Men's Night

2010-12-22T14:30:00.000-06:00

We are all geared up for Men's Night tonight in the shop. It is an opportunity for men to come in a shop without any pressure. We are having "Man Snacks" and grab and go gifts. It is going to be a fun time for all.

Look, we were written up in the Mendota Patch, regarding where to find last minute gifts. Pretty cool, huh?

Remember that we will be closed on Friday 12/24 & Saturday 12/25. See you soon!

Classes, Yarn and More

2010-12-18T20:46:00.000-06:00

Sorry about the lack of blog posts, but we have been very busy at the shop this month. We have our class listing up on our website, we are offering a lot of new classes. We are also offering 3 new year long clubs: our sock club will feature exclusive yarns and patterns and a little surprise every shipment there will be 6 shipments through the year; 2 needlepoint clubs, Shelly Tribbey ornaments and the Petei nativity. The clubs are open to anyone, as we will be shipping them on a regular basis. This is the first time we have ever tried doing a club like this and we are really excited to see how it goes.

This week we received in Rowan Kidsilk Haze. We are all very pleased to see it because it is just a beautiful yarn. If you want to try it out, pick up a ball and knit a little something special. Perhaps the Ice Queen from Knitty.com

Add the beads or don’t, it is lovely either way.

Remember that the store is going to be closed on December 24^th and 25^th and 31^st and January 1^st so the staff can spend time with their families.

The holiday season brings a lot of excitement and stress. During this time, please think about taking time to relax and enjoy your life. Go have a cup of coffee, visit with friends, knit or stitch something for yourself, sit at the mall and watch people rush by; whatever will make you feel calm.

Happy Holidays.

Think Outside Of The Clog

2010-11-12T14:01:00.000-06:00

One of the gift ideas on our top 10 list is the felted clog pattern from Fiber Trends. It comes in both adult and child sizes. However, one of the great things about felting is that you can easily customize it. You can needle felt a design on them, use special colors… who wouldn’t love clogs striped with school colors?

A great example of customization, Millard embroidered his pair of felted clogs. They are so awesome.

He gives directions on how to do it on Ravelry. Thanks Millard for letting us use your photo. Great job on being so creative.

If you are not on Ravelry yet, what are you waiting for? It is free and fantastic. You can get such great ideas and inspirations.

Shop Update

2010-11-02T17:33:00.001-05:00

Things have been hopping here at 3 Kittens. We just received in some Dream In Color Groovy. It is chunky weight wool in fantastic colors. We have a Mountain Colors sock trunk show in until November 14th. Come in and check out the great colors and patterns, not all of them are made with sock weight yarn, so if you have been leery about knitting socks, maybe this is the time to try a heavy weight pattern.

We have some new Tahki Charles yarns in: Tivoli (worsted weight – 52% silk, 48% mohair), Ritratto (DK weight – 28% mohair, 53% rayon, 10% Nylon, 9% polyester) and Stella (worsted weight – 74% silk, 26% Lurex). We have two garments in house that you can come and see.
The first is Alicia done in Tivoli.

The second is Koko in Ritratto.

Both patterns are in Tahki Stacy Charles’ Round Midnight.

Don’t forget to check the main website for information about November’s perk. It is very cool and will help you with your holiday gift list.

Donna’s Bunny Sweater

40 years ago our customer Donna Johnson made a bunny sweater for her baby girl. Just recently, she finished making a sweater for her son's granddaughter out of the same pattern. Here are some pictures of the darling bunny sweater.

This just goes to show that classic knitting patterns never go out of style!

Needlepoint News

The Susan Treglown trunk show should be here next week sometime. The latest Needlepoint News has a stitch guide for a new purse strap. We will have the canvas for this strap, along with purse canvases. Plus, there will be some Charlie Harper canvases coming.

Free Pattern links

2010-10-27T05:02:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple of great free patterns from Classic Elite.

The 1^st pattern is the Pt Reyes Mitts in Wool Bam Boo.

They are pretty and warm enough for cool fall evenings or for texting young ladies. Wool Bam Boo is a great DK weight yarn made from, as the name implies, 50% merino wool & 50% bamboo. It is soft, has nice drape and feels great next to the skin.

The 2^nd pattern is Lush Sampler Cowl.

Cowls are huge this year and why not knit one that will keep you intrigued. This sampler cowl uses several different stitches to create a beautiful and warm finished piece. It is made from Lush, which is 50% Angora and 50% wool worsted weight yarn. It is soft and cuddly.

We carry both of these yarns. So download these great FREE patterns and come in to the shop and find your favorite color.

The Shop is Buzzing

2010-10-15T13:21:00.000-05:00

Yarns on Stage arrives in the shop tomorrow (10/16). It is a big darn deal for all you sock knitters out there. 10 different yarn companies have come up with an exclusive colorway for this event. You can look at the colors here. When it is gone, it is gone. So if you see a color you like, snatch it up. We will not have the Shibui yarn in at this time, however, because it is all stuck in customs. If you want one of them, please let us know and we will let you buy it and call you when it comes in.

New Yarn ALERT

We just got some great colors of Misti Alpaca Chunky. There are 4 bright new colors. Here is a picture of a cabled cowl made out of one of the new colors. It is a free pattern on Misti’s website. Thanks Missy for lending us the cowl to display the yarn.

We also received new colors of Fresco including 5326 – Magenta, 5349 – Blue Teal, 5356 – Pansy. They are bright and fun.

We now have some incredibly soft yarn. It is Quivit and Silk and it is out of this world. It comes from Qiviuk Boutique in Alaska. It is a little more expensive, but it is so divine. Don’t you think you are worth it?

Finally, I thought you guys might like to see a couple of fabulous projects done by our customers.

Brenda Selly crocheted this turtle blanket. Isn’t just the cutest thing?

Judy Crockett knit and felted this Weekender Sachel. It is just spectacular.

Great job, Brenda and Judy, keep up the magnificent work.

Lots going on in the Shop

2010-10-08T21:38:00.000-05:00

It has been a crazy week at the 3 Kittens… We have our anniversary sale going on through Sunday. There is still a lot of great yarn left. We have Lopi and Galway on sale at 25% off and Fiddlesticks Lace Sensation and Alpaca with a Twist’s Punch on sale at 40% off. Plus all Jo Sharp is 50% off. These are just a few of the numerous yarns we have on sale.

There are 2 Needlepoint Trunk shows going on in the shop. We have the Once in a Blue Moon show and the Edie and Ginger show. Both are great shows and will be here for a couple more weeks.

Bandits by Once in Blue Moon

Seashell Frog by Edie and Ginger

Carol has been working on planning the next session of 3K U. The students currently in the 3K U get first dibs on the class, but if you are interested in the next session, make sure you call or come in on 10/15. The last session filled up before the end of the 1^st day of registration.

It Is Our 4th Anniversary

2010-10-03T11:26:00.002-05:00

We are having a sale to celebrate our anniversary. Selected yarns will be 25% – 50% off retail price. We are taking 25% off needlepoint self-finishing items: wooden boxes, checkbook covers, etc. and 40% off canvases form our online trunk show.

PLUS: register to win one of the 4 - $40 gift cards we are giving away.

This sale is from one week only from 10/3 – 10/10. Come in early for the best selection since the sale is for in-stock merchandise only. It is going to be humdinger of a time.

Meet & Greet with Sandra Gilmore

2010-09-22T13:44:00.000-05:00

The artist behind the beautifully stitch-painted canvases of Once In A Blue Moon, Sandra Gilmore, will be in the shop on Friday, September 24 from 6-8:00 pm. Come in and meet this amazing artist. There will be light refreshments and lots of gorgeous canvases to see.

The “Once In A Blue Moon” Trunk Show will be on display thru October 22, however, this will be your big chance to meet Sandra Gilmore.

All canvases purchased from the trunk show will receive a 15% discount; 3K Club Members will receive a 20% discount (includes special orders from the catalog).

SPECIAL EVENT BONUS:

Purchase a trunk show canvas during this Meet & Greet and receive a coupon for 20% off threads for that canvas (expires 10/31/10; 1 time use only).

State Fair Winners

2010-09-18T07:19:00.000-05:00

We have 2 customers who won ribbons at the 2010 Minnesota State Fair.

Judy Kishel won the First Premium ribbon for her fantastic needlepoint pillow she made her sister (it is full of symbols of her sister’s life).

It is stunning. Julie Mast (one of the owners here at 3 Kittens) helped with the design.

Deb Erhart won a Third Premium ribbon for her wonderful winter tree pillow.

It is so beautiful.

Congratulations Judy and Deb!

There is also an employee here at the shop that won a ribbon at the 2010 Minnesota State Fair.

Cecilia Wright won a Second Premium ribbon for her colorwork child sweater. She designed it herself.

It is on display here in the shop right now so you can stop by and check it out.

Congratulations Cecilia.

Knitting a better world

2010-09-15T12:54:00.000-05:00

We just received in a really cool yarn, LOL from Marks & Kattens. It is made out of recycled plastic bottles. It is a bulky weight yarn and we have several bright cheery colors. It has a great price point and would be good for kid sized sweaters and hoodies.

Recycling Facts:

Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour. That is 60 million a day or 21900 million a year!
According to the Beverage Marketing Corp, the average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water in 1976. In 2006, that number jumped to 28.3 gallons.
Plastic is easy to recycle - although few people do it.
Today, 80 percent of Americans have access to a plastics recycling program.
More than 2.4 billion pounds of plastic bottles were recycled in 2008. Although the amount of plastic bottles recycled in the U.S. has grown every year since 1990, the actual recycling rate remains steady at around 27 percent.
Some studies show that only 10% of plastic bottles created are recycled, leaving that extra 90% to take up space in landfills and killing ocean life.
Plastic bottles take up space in landfills. Many coastal cities use the ocean as a dumping ground, resulting in depleted fish stock, polluted beaches, and other health issues for the inhabitants. Plastic bottles make up approximately 11% of the contents of landfills.
Recycling 1 ton of plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space.

If you want to get some more information about recycling and living a greener life, please check out http://livegreentwincities.com. It is a great site with lots of helpful hints and events here in the Twin Cities area.

End of Summer Event

It is indeed the end of summer… to mourn (or celebrate depending on who you are) we are having a sale on cotton and linen yarns (includes blends) and threads. Just come in and buy any yarn or thread (excluding sale items) and get 25% off the purchase. It applies to in stock items only. The sale will go through the end of September. Stock up for next spring!

Exciting new yarn

2010-09-03T17:01:00.000-05:00

We have just received in some great sock yarn (Steffi) from Land O Lace. It is so pretty and soft, plus it is hand dyed right here in MN. The company likes to dye yarn so there is not a lot of pooling and she names them all after towns in Minnesota. Wouldn’t it be fun to knit a sock on your way to Little Falls with the Little Falls colorway?

We are the only store in the Twin Cities that carries this yarn.

She has also dyed up a color just for 3 Kittens: it is Calico. Is it not just too cute?

Come in and touch and see this yarn because it is fabulous!

The Rowan is Coming!

2010-08-23T17:53:00.000-05:00

We have been very busy at the shop the last few weeks. There have been new yarns coming in every few days. I will write more about those on another day…

The big news is the store is going to begin carrying Rowan in the store. I know there are a lot of people who have been waiting for this day to come (I know I have!) and in order to celebrate this big day; we are going to have a big event. This weekend (August 28 – 30) we are asking everyone to come in and check out the Rowan. We will be getting in the following items.

Cocoon – Bulky weight, solid (80% merino wool & 20% mohair)
Drift – Bulky weight, multi-color (100% merino wool)
Felted Tweed – DK weight, tweed (50% merino wool, 25% alpaca, 25% viscose)
Rowan Magazine – Fall 2010 and Fall 2009
Pattern Books – for “Drift”, and several Kim Hargreaves books

There will be the following Rowan Weekend Specials!

Receive a FREE Rowan pattern book with the purchase of 10 skeins of Rowan yarn:

Select titles, while supplies last
Any combination of Rowan Yarns, in-stock or special order

Special Order any color or any amount of Kid Silk Haze (70% kid mohair, 30% silk) – delivery in December
Special Order any current Rowan Yarn – full bags only

Enter our Rowan Weekend Door Prize Drawing for a fabulous Kid Silk Haze Kit.

Let’s Play Ball

2010-08-04T13:01:00.003-05:00

Bring your knitting, crocheting or needlepoint and join us outside in the new Target Field at this year’s Stitch N’ Pitch. This year it is taking place on Sunday, September 19th at 1:10 pm. The Twins will be taking on the Oakland A’s.

Tickets cost $17 each; the seats will be in the Right Field Bleacher section. We have ~~25 19~~ 16 tickets left so hurry in and reserve your spot.

We would also like to know if you are interested in taking a shuttle with other 3K people. If there is enough interest, we will hire one. Last year it cost $15 per person and it would probably be close to that again.

Inventory is done!!

2010-08-03T15:23:00.000-05:00

We have finally completed inventory. It was a long haul, but well worth the effort.

We finished just in time to welcome new yarn into the shop.

Here are two new yarns that came in this week.

Schulana’s Mosco it is 67% Rayon, 20% Mohair, 13% Nylon and it has 137 yards per 25 gram ball. It is shiny and fluffy at the same time, plus the colors are scrumptious. It would be great for fall garments or dressy accessories.

Gedifra’s Aneja is 50 % Polyamide, 30 % Mohair, 20 % Merino Wool and it has 120 yds per 50 gram ball. It is a worsted weight yarn. It is lovely and has some fantastic colors. It would make a great sweater.

We have some wonderful patterns for both of these yarns.

We also have received new colors of Noro Silk Garden, Kureyon and Silk Garden Sock and a new Noro pattern book.

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In the Needlepoint world, there is a new trunk show in the house. We just received in many great canvases by Danji. Come in and check it out before it is gone.

They will only be here until 8/20.

Bacon … Bacon … Bacon… I love BACON

2010-07-21T18:39:00.000-05:00

Check it out!

We just received in the Holiday Yarns FlockSock™ Sock Yarn in Bacon. This will actually knit up to look like uncooked bacon! Yum!

This yarn is delicious. It is 75% Superwash Merino and 25% Nylon and the colors are beautifully hand-dyed. If you don’t want some bacon, perhaps you could try a slice of Key Lime or Chocolate Cherries. Or maybe you could get a little Bruised Ego! You have to see the colors to really appreciate how their loveliness.

News Flash

2010-07-18T10:41:00.000-05:00

The store will be closed on July 26th & 27th for inventory. Please mark your calendar and plan your visit accordingly.
Thanks.

Getting to Know You

2010-07-12T21:36:00.000-05:00

We have decided that it would be fun to do a little profile on everyone who works in the shop. We are going to start with Laura… since she is one of the owners.
Enjoy.

Name: Laura

Where did you grow up? I was born in Houston, TX and lived there for most of my childhood – except for 4 years spent in CO

What is a favorite childhood memory? When I turned 8, I came home from school on the buss and my mom was waiting by the bus stop holding the halter of my new horse, Paint that was so exciting!!

What needlecraft(s) do you do? Knitting, Crochet, Needlepoint, & Punch needle

How long have you been doing needlecraft(s)? & How did you get started? My mom taught me to knit around age 10, but it didn’t take. Then when I was in college, studying in England, I ran into a young woman who was knitting all the time and I thought, “I can do that.” So I bought some yarn and a how to book… that was 27 years ago.

How long have you worked at the 3 Kittens? Julie and I bought the store with Cis in 2006 and I’ve been working at it ever since.

What is your favorite project you have ever done? The one that gave me the most satisfaction is the Shetland lace “wedding ring” shawl.

What is your favorite color? Blue and Green (duh!)

Do you have a favorite designer? I’m partial to Norah Gaughan, but I also really like Kristin Omdahl.

What needlecraft skill would you like to learn? Rug Hooking – does that count?

What project(s) are you working on right now?
Knit: A tunic from Interweave Knits out of Baby Alpaka. A scarf out of Habu Textiles wool stainless steel. A ¾ sleeve empire waist cardigan out of Noro Silk Garden Lite. A Be Sweet Shawl on the diagonal. A pair of Flutterby socks out of Knit One Crochet Too Crock-O-Dye.
Crochet: A babette blanket out of a mix of DK weight washable yarns. A short sleeve top in Superior. A skirt by Annie Modesitt out of Silky Wool.
Needlepoint: A large canvas of “I’m in shape, Round is a shape” stick figure. A Christmas card holder: “Merry Christmas, Ya’ll!” A brick cover – relaxing fox and hounds. A little funky reindeer ornament (Reingel).
Punch Needle: A floral design.

What project would you like to tackle someday? Whatever strikes my fancy next. I don’t have anything particular in mind

If you are on Ravelry, what is your name? K5TOG

Merry Christmas!! And Happy 4th of July!!

2010-07-01T12:17:00.000-05:00

We are celebrating Christmas in July. Through all of July we are taking 20% off all in-stock on the shelf canvases and 25% website Trunk show canvases (in the back sale area). We are also taking 30% off the following yarns (valid only for what is in stock):
Alpaca with a Twist Baby Twist
Reynolds Caviar
K1C2 Douceur et Soie
K1C2 Fleece
Tahki Jeans
Artful Heavenly
Madil Kid Seta
Lana Grossa Laseta 100
Artful Marine
K1C2 PJ’s
GGH Samoa
Kraemer Summit Hill
Gedifra Tabea
GGH Tara
GGH Toscano
Trendsetter Valentina

To celebrate the 4th of July, we are going to give double points for our 3K club members from July 1st – July 3rd (does not include finishing, special orders or classes).

Remember, we will be closed on Sunday July 4th.
Have a safe and happy 4th weekend.

Stormy Weather

2010-06-25T14:54:00.006-05:00

Greetings on this cloudy summer day. Today in the shop we are working on many tasks. We are moving yarns around in an effort to get the shop back in order by gauge after moving of the shelves. We are almost there. Thank you for all of your patience. Please make sure to ask one of us if you cannot find something.

Here is Liz, one of our needlepoint specialists, ripping out stitches for a customer, and Carole taking stock of the new Louet Gems Fingering we just received.

Today we received in some new colors of Jojoland Harmony, Melody and Rhythm. Including this gorgeous color of Harmony… isn’t it yummy!

This weekend, Laura and Janine are going to announce what they saw at market and what we are going to start carrying in the shop. So look for an update next Monday. I am sure that everyone is going to be very excited when they reveal their finds.

Don’t forget that the CBK Needlepoint trunk show is here only until July 2nd. Come in and check it out. There is something for everyone.

When The Cat’s Away…

2010-06-14T16:12:00.000-05:00

Since Janine and Laura were at market, the rest of us in the shop decided to rearrange the layout of the store. All the yarn is not yet in its final home, but please come in and let us know what you think of the new layout. We were hoping to provide a little more privacy for people when classes are in session.

No photos because it is a surprise!

This week we also got in new issues of Wild Fibers, Spin Off and Verenda. Stop in and pick up your copy today.

We also have all of our Jo Sharp wool on clearance: single skeins are 40% off and bag quanities are 50% off. Some of it is up front in the white cabinet (next to the needles) and the rest in the back clearance area. Once it is gone it is gone, so hurry in and stock up.

Good Glorious Saturday Morning!!!

2010-05-29T10:45:00.007-05:00

What a beautiful day. I call this a Goldilocks day- not too hot, just right, not too bright, just right!
Thanks again to all that have encouraged us to get back to this blog thing. Those of you that know me, know how much I resist this technology thing but I missed putting down my ideas and thoughts, so here we are again!

Cecilia and I want to mention just a few things that are new. First, the new Knitter’s magazine looks like a winner. Great new spring and summer, short and long sleeve offerings for all tastes, shapes and sizes.

New sock books are in. We have one for beginners or an intermediate sock knitter’s reference book. It’s called “The Sock Knitter’s Workshop” by Ewa Jostes and Stephanie van der Linden. The other new sock book is “Toe-up 2-at-a-Time Socks” by Melissa Morgan Oakes. This one has great pictures for this technique plus some patterns using this intriguing method.
The summer yarn of choice this season seems to be anything basic and 100% cotton or cotton blend. The shop has everything to knit the summer pattern you’ve been dying to try. Come in the shop and see the Berocco summer short sleeved top Jane will be teaching – it’s perfect for an evening out or just worn with jeans.
I cast on for a new scarf and I thought it would be fun to share its progress with you. It’s called the Challah Infinity Scarf. Below is a photo of the materials used, plus color and yarn options. The second photo is the scarf in progress.

I cast on invisibly so that I can Kitchener it together. The pattern says you need 3 needles, 16” long – 1 for each braid but, you only need 1 needle and some stitch holders – otherwise, it’s been a treat to knit and I am finding the braiding part fun to do.
Is there a small, portable project that you have been dying to try? Perhaps we can do it together. Just drop the shop an e-mail and we’ll see what you all are interested in.

Everyone here at 3K wants to wish you all a happy and safe Memorial Day. We hope you spend it with your family and friends, eating good grilled fare and get those summer tans started. (Although, I do have to tell you to wear sunscreen!. The Shop will be closed on Monday.
Happy Birthday to Tiffany – love and miss you!!! Happy Birthday to me – I think I am getting an i-pad – gotta get into this technology thing sometime – somehow!!!

P.S.
There is a really GREAT new needlepoint trunk show from CBK. They are a collection of designers ranging in theme, size and price. It’s here until July 2!

We’re Back

2010-05-20T15:24:00.001-05:00

Greetings and Salutations, the 3 Kittens blog is back due to popular demand… okay, it was mainly Missy Ridley’s idea, but we think it is a grand idea! Janine and Cecilia will be taking it over. We will be both writing alone and together. I am Cecilia (Janine’s witty and sassy sidekick). I am sure you all know Janine the Great and Powerful. If not, come by any day but Friday and she is here, slaving away over hot yarn!

So to kick off the re-launch, I am going to discuss some new yarns we have in house.

We just received in some new colors of Schaefer Susan (100% mercerized pima cotton): Beatrix Potter, Wilma Rudolf, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Shari Lewis, Frieda Kahlo, and Ruth St. Denis. They are all fabulous and great for summer knitting!

We also received in a bunch of Schaffer Anne (a lovely merino sock yarn).

We have decided to start carrying Knitscene again. The latest edition (the special Easy edition) is in the store. There are several fantastic patterns that would be great for gifts. Is it ever to early to think about Holiday knitting? I don’t think so!

Also, come in and check out all of our new summer yarns. I am just going to mention a few here: Punta’s Montoya (this is the same linen that Eileen Fisher uses!), Berroco Weekend (an acrylic/cotton blend) and K1C2 Ty-Dy Dots (a cotton yarn that coordinates with Ty-Dy). There are many more, much too many to mention here. Please stop by and get ready for all of your summer knitting.

***We Interrupt This Blog For An Important Announcement***

3 Kittens is having a HUGE Sidewalk Sale this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (May 21^st – 23^rd). Hurry in for the best deals!! ***

TNNA (our retail market) is just around the corner. Janine and Laura will be heading down to Columbus, OH in just a few weeks. They will be checking out all the fall yarns, patterns, gadgets and canvases and much more. We will have a full report in mid-June. If there is something you would like them to look at while they are out there, please leave a comment.

On the Needlepoint side, we currently have a Petei trunk show in house. It is only here until Sunday May 23^rd. Hurry in and give them a look-see…Also, watch for details on a CBK Featured Artist trunk show.

There are a variety of new canvases from a beautiful Geisha, to a Fire God Kabuki mask and an angry cardinal.

Also new from Leigh Designs are spooky adorned witches. They are amazing!

We also got in some new ornaments, choose from presents or shoes.

Don’t forget to check us out on Ravelry and Twitter (put us on your list).

Please check back here often.

In-Store Discount with Twitter

2009-04-10T11:37:00.002-05:00

If you follow us on Twitter, you can get a special deal at the store today (4/10) and tomorrow (4/11). You must show proof of our latest Twitter tweet in order to receive this deal. Restrictions:

In store merchandise only
Cannot be combined with other discounts
Cannot be used for classes, finishing, custom painting or other services.

To follow us on Twitter, just go to www.twitter.com, sign up and start following 3KittensNeedle.

TWEET, TWEET, TWEET

Customer Appreciation #1

2009-03-24T12:56:00.004-05:00

When you bring your finished items into 3 Kittens to show us, remind us to take a photo of you so we can put you on our blog. I want to make this a regular feature of our blog - so take note.

Here's our first customer photo of Diane Berg with her wonderful sock monkey that she knit, stuffed and embellished.

The sock monkey is almost as big as Diane, whom we affectionately call Big D. Diane is not only a knitter; she also crochets and needlepoints. Thanks Diane for sharing your sock monkey with us!

The Power of Knitting (And Other Needle Crafts)

2009-03-17T12:33:00.003-05:00

My mother-in-law recently sent me an article that she had torn out from a magazine. I can't tell what magazine it is, but it's from a column called Mindwise. The article said:

According to research at the Harvard-affiliated Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, the repetitive motion and focus of needlework can elicit what's known as the relaxation response - a calming meditation-like state that slows heart rate and causes blood pressure to drop. In addition, a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that knitting is associated with a lower risk of dementia for those 65 and older.

Food for thought, eh? It reminds me of a talk I heard at The National Needlearts Association market last year given by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee of Yarn Harlot fame. She talked about the science behind repetitive motions like knitting and crocheting, and how people are smarter and more creative when they do things like this. I wish I could remember all the details - but instead of taking notes, I was knitting (what a surprise, eh?).

Finally, I received a postcard in the mail a couple of days ago advertising a Contemplative Knitting Workshop on Friday, May 15, 2009 from 9am-5pm at the Shambhala Meditation Center of Minneapolis. For more information check out the Shambhala Center's website.

More Yarn for Your Buck

2009-03-11T11:15:00.003-05:00

We've moved several yarns into our clearance area:

Mirasol Cotanani $3.90 (originally $6.50)
Berroco Glace $4.80 (originally $8.00)
Berroco Softwist $3.60 (originally $6.00)
Plymouth Baby Alpaca Brush $4.80 (originally $8.00)
Classic Elite Four Seasons $3.15 (originally $5.25)
Berroco Chinchilla Bulky $4.35 (originally $7.25)
Sandnesgarn Mandarin Fiesta Solids/Prints $3.90/$4.50 (originally $6.50/$7.50)

Plus we have all of our Serendipity knitting needles at 40% off while supplies last, and we have a few patterns and books available in the clearance area as well.

Skacel Spring Arrivals

2009-03-10T20:41:00.003-05:00

We received two new yarns today from Skacel! The first is a wonderful blend of merino and cotton from Schulana aptly named Merino Cotton 90.

The next one is Urban Silk by Skacel.

This is a beautiful blend of silk and cotton, but we only received 4 skeins of 6 different colors, so it's sure to go quickly.

Knit & Crochet Out 2009

2009-02-16T13:52:00.003-06:00

Cis, Janine and Laura spent a busy weekend at the Mall of America entertaining scores of knitters and crocheters who stopped by our booth. While we weren't the biggest draw - that would have to be Steven of the Yarn Garage who organized the fashion shows and show and tell events - we did take a couple of new products that seemed to intrigue everyone who stopped by. Here's one of them:

Cotton Kisses from Plymouth

This baby yarn gives you a whole project in a very compact package - one skein of yarn, two buttons and two patterns (one is the henley pictured above and the other is a v-neck cardigan) - all for just $14.50. We're carrying all available colors of this product at 3 Kittens.

A Knitting Comic Book

2009-01-28T12:04:00.005-06:00

We received a shipment of ten copies of a new comic book, Handknit Hereos, earlier this week. It's about three superheroes with bullet-proof knitted fabric. The issue we have is Issue 1, and it introduces all the characters in prep for more super-heroics in the quarterly issues to follow. Each issue also contains a knitting pattern. This issue's pattern is pictured above.

As of this morning, there were only 2 copies left in the store. We may have to order more!

Eucalan Gallons

2009-01-21T10:53:00.003-06:00

We recently purchased just a few gallon bottles of Eucalan at a reduced rate, and we're passing that special rate onto you! They're just $38.50. If you bought the same bottle from Eucalan directly, the price would be $60. It's a great deal, but there are only 7 bottles left.

Vineyard Silk Search

2009-01-05T13:12:00.002-06:00

Help! I've run out of an old dye-lot of Vineyard Silk that I'm hoping one of you dear customers might have on hand. The color is Cumulus (C-154) which is a light blue and the dye lot is 30. The newer dye lots of this color are very different. I only need a small amount - maybe 1/4 skein.

Thanks for your help!

Last Minute Christmas Gifts

2008-12-15T16:37:00.005-06:00

O.K., so I haven't been very good about giving everyone more gift ideas to make before the holidays... I am sorry... No excuses, just busy.

However, I do have a couple of pretty quick little projects that you can still do. The first is one of Mary Mayhew's fun winter/holiday knitted and felted items. I am currently making her Woolly Gnome: Or how about her Woolly Gingerbread Man:

Another well-loved gift (at least among my relatives) are cozy knitted and felted Clog Slippers by Fiber Trends:

Fiber Trends also has patterns for crocheted and felted slippers.

And, finally, if you just don't have time to make something by Christmas, we have lots of fun stocking stuffers and gifts for all of the crafters in your life. Come into the store and check out our Stockings for Sock Knitters, Stitchers, Crocheters and Beginning Knitters.

Ask about our 12 Days of Christmas specials going on between now and Christmas Eve. 25% off the following:

1st Day - Patterns, books, booklets

2nd Day - Totes and other 'vessels'

3rd Day - Lopi

For info on what's happening on the remaining Days of Christmas, sign up for our newsletter on our website!

Update on Iowa Flood Relief

2008-12-03T14:23:00.004-06:00

We received a very nice note from Carol Anderson at Cottage Creations about the donations of handmade items that were sent to her for Flood & Tornado Relief in Iowa. Carol wrote:

What a response! I write this the afternoon before Thanksgiving, and I'm so thankful that I, on behalf of many Iowans, can thank each and every knitter who gave so generously of their time and talent, plus dollars for shipping. Over 300 parcels from 260 individuals or shops arrived at our doorstep... The Salvation Army in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Mason City and Emergency Services in Butler County have received everything, just in time for winter. Butler County has a population of 15,000 and 3/4 of the people were affected by either the devastating tornado or flooding. The other cities suffered severe flooding, resulting in so many left homeless.

Carol reports that the following items were donated:

58 Shawls/Prayer Shawls
137 Afghans
869 Scarves
509 Mittens
1827 Caps
985 Infant Items
1161 Dishcloths
85 Slippers
185 Socks
121 Adult Sweaters
133 Kids Sweaters
61 Other Items

That's a total of 6,131 items! Thank you to all who brought items to 3 Kittens to send to Iowa. And, a special thanks to Carol and her husband, Paul, who organized this drive!

3K Club Perk for December

2008-12-02T11:23:00.003-06:00

The 3K Club Perk for December is the "Would You Like Wine With That?" Cozy pattern. The store's sample cozy was knit out of 2 skeins of Reynold's Lopi, then felted and embellished with needle-felting. This is a quick and easy pattern on size 13 needles, and would make a great hostess gift with a bottle of wine this holiday season!

Remember, to receive this free pattern, you must be a member of the 3K Club. For more information on this loyalty program, please see our website.

Looking for Gifts for a Hunter?

2008-11-29T16:02:00.006-06:00

As we head towards the Holidays, we're going to try to come up with some great, quick ideas for you for gifts. Here's our first one.

Julie had a brilliant idea in the store for a knitted item for the hunters in your life. A bright orange PolarKnit hat. Picture this hat in orange and you get the idea:

This pattern is a free download pattern from http://www.polarknit.com/. It calls for 3 skeins of PolarKnit ($8.50 per skein).

And, while you're at it, how about a pair of "pop-up paws"?

These are basically fingerless gloves with a section that pulls over the top of the fingers to form a mitten. These are great for hunters (and others) who need their fingers free occasionally, but want their fingers warm for the rest of the time. This is a Nancy Lindberg Pattern called "Fits Like ... a Glove" and uses a DK weight yarn. The pattern is available in the store for $4.50.

Style Hounds Sweaters

2008-11-24T13:45:00.005-06:00

I thought you all might like to see a cute little dog sweater I knit up using a Style Hounds kit:

This is the Country Checks kit from Style Hounds. It took less than four days to work up completely (which was probably about 5 hours of actual time - maybe less). It's a little big for this toy dog, but at least you get the idea! Here are some other sweaters by Style Hounds:The kits come with yarn, pattern, and buttons (including an extra button, just in case...). In addition, there are owner's scarf kits so you and your canine friend can match! How cute is that?

Malabrigo Sock Yarn has Arrived

2008-11-21T13:26:00.003-06:00

We received a beautiful shipment of the new Malabrigo Sock Yarn last week from Uruguay. If you're not familiar with Malabrigo, all of their yarns are made in Uruguay and they are known for their rich, kettle-dyed colors. Felters have been fans of their 100% wool yarn for years, and now sock knitters have the chance to dive into the colors as well. Here are just a few of the colors we have:

An interesting tidbit about this yarn: Malabrigo has purposely put a knot in each skein at the half-way point. That way, you can wind two separate balls of yarn and know that you can only use one ball per sock. Then you won't run out of yarn at the end of the 2nd sock! Ingenious!

12 Days of Christmas Class

2008-11-12T10:33:00.006-06:00

The needlepoint department is in the planning stages for a monthly class that will begin in January to complete the 12 Days of Christmas ornaments from Shelly Tribbey. We have EXCLUSIVE stitch guides for this class, so it should be a fun and informative group of lessons. If you are interested in the class, please call us to get your name on our list. In the meantime, if you would like to pre-order your canvases during the Shelly Tribbey trunk show, you will receive 20% off your canvas purchase. The trunk show is only in the store through November 25, so make sure to let us know before then if you would like to pre-order them.

Shelly Tribbey Trunk Show Arrives

2008-11-07T16:11:00.000-06:00

The Shelly Tribbey needlepoint canvas trunk show arrived in the store today. In addition to lots of canvases, there are some fun finished pieces to help you envision what you want to do. Come in and check it out! Don't forget, all trunk show canvases are 15% off retail price -- and if you're a 3K Club member you get an additional 5% off!

PolarKnit

2008-10-17T10:23:00.000-05:00

Our order of PolarKnit yarn, 100% polar fleece, is finally in the store. This is a bulky weight yarn that knits up very quickly on US 10 1/2 needles or crochets on a D hook. Price per ball is $8.50. I made this devil hat in about 4 hours.

This pattern and many other patterns are available for free at www.polarknit.com. Check them out!

3 K Classic Elite Cruise Update

2008-10-06T15:07:00.000-05:00

This blog posting is especially for all of those who cruised

with us this past Saturday on the grand 'ol Mississippi!!.....

First, thank you to each of you for the great feedback.

The overwhelming feedback is 'great event, looking forward to next year'!

This year's goodie bags included the yarn to knit the fingerless mitts.

Today I learned that the number of 'butterflies' is not adequate to complete the pair of mitts. Please come by the store for additional 'butterflies' if you want to complete the project.

It would be great if you called ahead of time and gave us your color info so we could strive to have the 'butterflies' ready for you to pick up at your convenience.

Second, approximately $200 was raised for the Lymphoma Leukemia Society

~ Thank you ~

Harry Potter Sock Yarn is Here!

2008-10-01T13:21:00.001-05:00

We've been waiting and waiting, but finally our shipment of Harry Potter sock yarn has arrived! If you haven't heard, the Opal facility where the yarn was processed/held had a flood earlier in the year, and much of the Harry Potter yarns were damaged. That not only delayed shipment of all orders of the yarn, but it also meant that each store which had ordered the full line was only able to get 4 skeins of each colorway.

We received our order on Monday. I would have let you know earlier that the yarn was here - but I was communing with Mickey Mouse and my son at Disney World. So, now that I'm back, here's what we have left:

3 skeins of Lupin

3 skeins of Ron

1 skein of Harry

1 skein of Hedwig

3 skeins of Draco

2 skeins of Tonks

3 skeins of Harry & Ron

Unfortunately we are completely sold out of the Dumbledore colorway. To view a slide show of all the Harry Potter sock yarn colorways, go to this Opal link. The cost per skeins is $25.00. We will not be getting another shipment of any of these colors, so if you're a Harry Potter fan like me, you'd better call soon!

Deadline for 3 K Kruise Extended & Announcing Candace Eisner Strick at 3 K!

2008-09-22T16:18:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to announce that we can still sell Boarding Passes for the Kruise through next Tuesday, September 30th. You don't want to miss out on this fun-filled afternoon. The colors on the River should be beautiful! Come to the store to purchase your Boarding Pass, get your yarn & homework directions (cost of yarn is included in the fee).

And on Friday, October 17th, from 10a-4p, we have another national instructor coming to 3 K! Candace Eisner Strick will be teaching '25 Slick Tricks of the Trade'.
Some things in knitting can seem like a drudgery, but if you know some basic techniques and tips, it's a breeze. Learn a slick trick every few minutes and you will be well on your way to making your knitting more enjoyable and professional looking. There's something for everyone, including knitting backwards, cabling without a needle, working short rows, a few cool cast-ons, and 20 others.

The following 25 techniques will be learned: knitting backwards, purling backwards, fixing a dropped stitch, 1 row buttonhole, spacing buttonholes evenly, increasing, decreasing, working short rows, cabling without a needle, binding off over cables, 2 needle bindoff, cutting your work, working twists, 2 color cast-on and bind-off, Latvian braids, knitting in ends, invisible cast-on crochet chain method, invisible cast-on for K1, P1 ribbing, grafting a knit stitch, crochet hook cast-on, chained edging, mattress stitch, I-Cord, and making twisted cords.

Cost of class(includes box lunch): $45 for 3 K Club members and $55 for non-members

Proficiency level: Intermediate

Supplies to bring to class: 4 swatches (from homework), yarn and appropriately sized needles, cable needle, yarn needle, crochet hook

Homework: Knit 4 swatches in stockinette stitch at least 4 inches by 4 inches, 2 of them should be bound off, the other 2 left on stitch holders.

Visit Candace's web site to learn more about her: www.strickwear.com

Classic Elite Knits

2008-09-17T22:03:00.000-05:00

I was so thrilled to open one of the multitude of boxes we've been getting since we moved into our new location and find the new book, Classic Elite Knits!!

It has 100 patterns for everything from accessories to adult sweaters to kids clothing and more. There are lots of "old" classics that are no longer available in Classic Elite pattern booklets as well as some newbies.

Every day, I'm opening more new boxes of yarn and books (such as Mission Falls new 136 Merino Superwash and the new Berroco yarns), plus we have two needlepoint trunk shows in the store right now - HP Designs (some gorgeous florals among other things) and Maggie Co's Cats and Dogs. Come in and look around - you're bound to see something new and exciting!

NEW YARN!!! (and other news)

2008-08-09T10:15:00.000-05:00

Thats right ladies and gentlemen, the new Mountain Colors has arrived!
Their new lace weight is fantastic! 50% Wool 50% Silk and dyed in true Mountain Colors fashion in colors to die for! There is 1200 yards per skein so you have plenty to make just about any shawl you could possibly imagine.
We also received 4 new fall colors in their mohair, twizzle and moguls. All of which are stunning!

Don't forget this month at 3 Kittens we are having a food drive for 2nd Harvest. We often think of donating during the holiday season but most of us tend to forget about it for the rest of the year. But Food shelves need our donations during the summer months just as much, if not more, than they do during the holiday season. We tend to forget that some families are used to having their children receive subsidized breakfasts and lunches at school and are now scrambling to provide the extra meals at home. So Bring in a non perishable food item or a monetary donation the next time you visit us here in the shop. (Speaking of here in the shop... we will be here at the old address until the end of the month.)

Once In a Blue Moon Trunk Show!

2008-08-01T16:20:00.000-05:00

Thats right Ladies (and gentlemen) the Once in a Blue Moon trunk show has arrived! If you are not familiar with these designs now is perfect time to come check them out! During the show all trunk show canvases are 15% off and if you are a club member take an extra 5% off!

These canvasses are all stitch-painted which makes working them truly a joy! Sandra Gilmore's designs are stunning, her use of color is phenomenal and they come in a variety of themes. We have plenty of Halloween canvasses to get you ready for fall as well as lovely Christmas designs and some stunning canvasses that are suitable for year round as well.

Hurry in, we will be mailing these off at the end of the month before the big move!

August at 3 Kittens !!

2008-07-31T17:11:00.000-05:00

I can't believe that tomorrow is the first day of August and that our move is just 4 weeks away!!

Here's what we have planned for August, our last month at this very old address!!

We kicked off our food drive for 2nd Harvest last night at our 3K Club event. Please bring non-perishable food items to the store during the month of August. We will be collecting food items thru August 31st.

We are also kicking off our new drive for charitable knitting & crochet. Our new project is to support Cottage Creations (pattern designers in Iowa) in their effort to collect items for the Iowa flood victims.

We will be collecting the donations starting now up though October 26th. The drive is for the following hand knit or crocheted washable items: afghans, dishclothes, mittens, scarves, hats, and sweaters for adults & children. After the overwhelming interest in Project Little Lambs, we are excited to see how many items we receive for this project! We exceeded our goal of 50 blankets - you donated 61 blankets to the project - Thank You!!!

The deals on yarns & canvasses continues throughout the month of August. Buy 3 bags of yarn or canvasses & receive the 4th bag or canvas free (The discount will be taken on the product of lesser value). We also have some Louet & ArtFelt kits at 50% off, while supplies last. Hope to see you in the store this month. Have a fabulous August!!

Wednesday, July 30th - Come to the 3K Buffet!

2008-07-28T10:32:00.000-05:00

Come to our 3 K Buffet - We will be 'dishing up the deals' throughout the store and serving a full course meal of yarns, canvasses & fabrics at prices unheard of....and we are also kicking off our food drive for 2nd Harvest Food Shelves. For every non-perishable food item you bring to the store Wednesday, July 30th, 6p - 8p, for the 3 K Buffet, you will receive a '3 cent meal ticket' coupon to apply to your 3K Buffet purchases that evening! At the 3 K Buffet, there will be lots of fun, door prizes and yummy yarns ~ apertif yarns, entree yarns, dessert yarns....and other special deals being offered only this night for our 3 K Club members.

The food drive for 2nd Harvest will continue throughout the month of August. Summertime is typically a time of greater need for the food shelves. We have so much to be thankful for and we think it is important to never forget there are always people in greater need than ourselves.
We will also be kicking off a hand knit &/or crocheted items for the flood victims in Iowa. Donations will be due by October 31st. The blankets for Project Little Lambs has been overwhelming. The volunteers at Cornerstone are so thrilled by everything all of you have done to make this project successful. More to come on the charity knitting later this week...keep in touch. I promise to blog more now that we are getting closer to the move, the fall season, our Riverboat Cruise on October 4th, class with Candace Eisner Strick on October 17th....alot to come (like new fall yarns too)!

Scrambling to keep up

2008-07-24T14:50:00.000-05:00

First of all, let me appologize for the long gaps in our blogging. We have been busy as little bees here at the shop! In preparation for the move we are shuffling things around a bit, not just yarn, but whole shelving units!

If you haven't seen our newest set up you should come check it out and while you are here, you can take advantage of the deals this week. Our 'Red Wall' of hand painted yarn is 35% off this week; and of course there is all of the bagged yarn still waiting to be taken home, too. When you buy 4 bags of sale yarn the cheapest bag is free, what a deal! In the needlepoint department you will find your fourth sale canvass free, as well as some deals on some of the needlepoint kits. As though this weren't enough we also have selected books and patterns half off.

Whew! It's a lot to keep up with, we thank you for your patience as we make this transition.

Noni Trunk Show!

2008-07-16T09:47:00.000-05:00

The new installment of the Noni Trunk show has arrived!

Come see the Harlequin Pillbox, srping basket, Lattice bag, the large adventure bag (the biggest bag I've ever seen!) and a few other fabulous Noni surprises.

Just in time for this installment of the trunk show we also received our Lacis purse handles. These are the handles Noni uses in some of her designs. These silver, bronze and gold metal handles are both elegant and functional. They add a bit of finesse and class to felted purses. One of the best features of these already fabulous handles is the removable rod, which means you only need one purse handle for several bags of the same style! Brilliant!

Tunisian crochet workshop

2008-07-10T17:23:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone - we are all fast and furiously selling our bags of 'deal-yarns' to make room for new yarns coming to the new store - have you been in and checked it out? - you don't want to be left without a good deal....and the deals just keep getting better!

Anyhow... Next Monday, July 14th from 6-8 pm we are doing a Tunisian crochet workshop. We have a few spots left and we'd love to have you join us. Class is going to focus on learning this stitch (some may know it as afghan stitch), learning what to do with it and embellishing it. Class fee is $25.00 and it includes an afghan hook, a skein of Karabella's Terrain in a pretty "peachy pink", a pattern, stash buster ideas and handouts. If you sign up and you know you have an afghan stitch afghan - bring it so we can see!!! And remember, you don't need to know how to crochet to take this class!!!!

Create Your Own Fireworks Sale

2008-07-01T20:18:00.000-05:00

Create Your Own Fireworks Sale

July 1 - 6

All Hand-Painted Yarns on the Red Wall

50% Off!

3 Kittens will be closed July 4th in observance of Independence Day

More Yarns in the Kiddie Pool

2008-06-21T13:14:00.001-05:00

If you've been in the store the last two weeks, you've probably noticed our kiddie pool full of bags of yarn that we're selling at big discounts before our move ("dive in for savings!"). It seemed like it was getting a little low, but apparently Cis and Rachael moved more yarns into the pool yesterday, because Friday evening it was overflowing again! I noticed that there were some of the Bristol Yarn Gallery yarns in the pile. I've been using Somerset (pima/silk) from that line to make the Flutter Sleeve Cardigan from the Spring Issue of Interweave Knits. The yarn is fantastic - and if it's on sale in the kiddie pool, you should definitely look at it. There are also bags of Tove & Fritidsgarn from Norwegian Spirit. And, I would imagine that there are lots more yarns that I don't even know about yet!

In the needlepoint side of the store, Julie's put more canvases on the sale rack to move them out before our big relocation as well. They're hanging on a rack near the classroom table. There are some really nice pieces on there!

Don't forget to bring your coupons in from our newsletter for even better deals. If you didn't receive a newsletter, go to our website where you can print off a coupon! And, while you're there, sign up to receive our e-newsletter (at the top of the newsletter page or the bottom of the homepage).

Sticth n Pitch July 20th!!

2008-06-17T16:24:00.000-05:00

Hey... want to have a great time with a bunch of folks that love having a great time?

Then email or call us and reserve your seat to sit with your friends from 3 Kittens for the 3rd Annual Stitch n Pitch game!

Logistics for Minnesota Twins vs. Texas Rangers MLB Game:

Date ~ Sunday, July 20th

Game Start Time ~ 110pm

Bus from 3 Kittens departs 1130am

Cost for this fun filled afternoon with fiber enthusiasts and baseball lovers (or not):

Upper Deck Seat Ticket Cost ~ $21

Dome Dollars Cost ~ $8 for $10 value good for food and beverage purchases

Round Trip Bus Ticket from 3 Kittens ~ $15

Stitch n Pitch ticket holders will each receive a very cool sun visor embroidered with the Twins and Stitch n Pitch logos - should make for a great visual in the Dome all of us sitting there in our visors - knitting, crocheting, and stitching!

The Dome Dollars are a good value.
Cost of Dome Dogs & Beer can add up fast and the $2 savings is sweet!

Last year the bus was fabulous - dropped us off right at the curb in front of the ticket gates and there was our driver & bus waiting for us at the end of the game curbside to take us back to the store - no parking hassles, no traffic - just smooth cruisin'!

Sign up now - join the fun!! Nothing like Apple Pie, Baseball & Knitting!!

P.S. Thanks to all that came and knit in public with Janine & I last Saturday.
What a great afternoon!!

World Knitting in Public Day, June 14, 2008

2008-06-13T12:41:00.000-05:00

Come join the fun with 3 Kittens from 11am until 1pm, tomorrow, June 14th, for our World Knit in Public Day event at our soon to be new address....The Village at Mendota Heights!! Bring your lawn chair & knitting (crochet is ok too!)...look for us in the court yard....balloons attached to our needles. I'll have special store coupons for each attendee and a couple fun door prizes too! Check the link above for the Village. It is a great spot to meet with friends for coffee, lunch or ice cream!

OOPS!

2008-06-11T13:20:00.000-05:00

In the Little Lamb Update post I used the wrong link. Sorry!

Here is the correct link for Cornerstone Minnesota and the link for the Little Lamb page on the Cornerstone webpage.

Thank you to Jennifer C. for catching the mistake and sending us the correct links!

Again sorry for the confusion!

Orphan Works Act

2008-06-08T20:17:00.000-05:00

Hi, everyone, from sunny, hot Columbus, Ohio where Cis and I are attending The National Needlearts Association market. Yes, we get to fondle all the new yarn, gaze in amazement at the beautiful canvases, shake hands with the rock stars of the industry, and walk miles upon miles throughout the market. We're having a great (albeit exhausting) time, but you will have an even better time when the new products start arriving!

Today, though, I want to talk about a very important problem for our industry (as well as for artists, authors, photographers, etc.). It's the Orphan Acts Bill that is currently in discussion in the United States Legislature. The Orphan Acts Bill, in a very condensed version, will require that anyone who produces a copyrighted item must register the copyright with the US government for a fee (currently, all you have to do on a knitting pattern, for instance, is write on the pattern that it is copyrighted to you). In addition, copyrighted material will have to be included in a database. which will also probably require a fee for inclusion. Then if someone wants to use your material, they must search the database(s) to see if there is a copyright and if they can't find the material on the database(s), they can then call it an "orphan work" and use your item in any way they see fit -- even to the point of stealing the whole work! This can be disastrous in our industry for pattern designers, canvas designers, etc., because of the cost of registering and then including the patterns on the databases. Some designers simply won't do it at the risk of losing their designs to unethical people. Others might give up on designing because the cost and time is too prohibitive.

What can you do to help? Please go to the Orphan Works Opposition Headquarters and use their links to contact your Senators and Congress people now!

Thank you!

Little Lamb Project Update

2008-06-07T15:59:00.000-05:00

For those of you that don't know about the little lamb project that we are participating in, here is a quick refresher (there is also a blog post here about it):

Project Little Lamb is the afghan drive for Cornerstone, which is a Minnesota based non-profit dedicated to the prevention of domestic violence. Their work is a national model for breaking the intergenerational cycle of abuse, and fostering self-sufficiency and hope.

These afghans will be given to babies and children who have experienced domestic violence. They will also be displayed at sponsorship events later this year, to raise needed funds for Cornerstone.

Our goal as a shop is to have 50 Afghans donated by August 1st. We now have 20 little lamb blankets donated! Only 30 more to go!

If you are interested in making (either by knitting or crocheting) an afghan for Project Little Lamb here are a few guide lines:

Minimum size is 28x32
Must be Machine Washable

Must be dropped off to the shop before August 1st.

Don't forget we also have patterns and yarn suggestions (some even on sale!) at the shop

Thank you to all of you who have already donated, and to all of you who are still working!

New Sock Yarn!

2008-06-06T16:30:00.000-05:00

Just Arrived! New sock yarn that is 100% wool free!

On Your Toes from SR Kertzer is 75% bamboo and 25% nylon. It comes in a variety of colors, some solids and some variegated, all of them are fantastic! The bamboo gives this yarn a nice shine while the nylon gives it some durability. Each 100 gram ball will give you a pair of socks, so come on in and check it out.

Also, just in time for 4th of July, we have red, white and blue sock yarn! (A perfect project to bring to the Stitch and Pitch on July 20th!)

We also received some nice cotton perfect for those dish rags we all love to knit during the hot months. (Now all we need is some of that hot weather!)

Are you into "Retro Knits"?

2008-06-04T14:03:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! Come on into the shop on Thursday June 12th at 7:00 for a presentation by the editor of this new book "Retro Knits". Kari Cornell will be here in-store for a presentation and discussion. This no-charge event is sure to bring smiles to all - would you like to knit the wool bathing suit from the 30's - or do you remember the sweaters that Mr. Rogers wore on every show? You can own one just like it because the Men's Jacket in the book would make even Mrs. Rogers itching to stitch! Please call the shop to make a reservation - space is limited.

See you all then!!!!

Limited Edition Tofutsies Sock Yarn

2008-06-01T00:29:00.000-05:00

The lastest Limited Edition (June 2008) Tofutsies sock yarn arrived in the store this week. The limited editions don't last long in the store, so make sure you come in soon if you want this colorway in this very interesting yarn made with wool, soysilk, cotton and chitin (made from shrimp and crab shells).

The New Kid on the Block (Sort of)

2008-05-27T13:11:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!

My name is Rachael, some of you may know me as Dr. Knit, I am the newest full time member of the staff here at 3 kittens. I am taking over for Ms. Tiffany who, as you probably know is moving far far away. We will all miss her!

That being said I am really excited about being here and taking over her classes! I sat in on a few classes with her last month in preparation for her departure. She taught the 2 socks on 2 circulars technique, which I adore! I am so excited to have a complete pair when I am done, no more second sock symdrome for me!

I also sat in on the Scarf Style class in May. I finished the capelet in time to wear to a wedding this weekend. I got lots of compliments all night long! Its on display in the shop now.

I am very excited about the scarf we chose for the next class (June 11th, 6-8pm). It is the Midwest Moonlight scarf by Ivy Begelow. Some simple lace with some garter stitch in between give this scarf a gentle wave. Look for the sample swatch in the shop soon.

3 Marys at 3 Kittens -& Memorial Day, too!

2008-05-25T13:11:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, a day to honor all of our service men and women. It's a day to spend with family and friends. For many, it's a day to knit, crochet, stitch, or to watch the Indy 500. For the 3 Kittens staff, it's a day off - the shop is closed. Treasure the time with your loved ones doing what ever it is you love to do! Happy Memorial Day to all!

And now, I am excited for you all to meet the last of our 3 Marys - Mary Drummer. If you haven't been in the shop to see the exhibit these special women have shared with us - don't miss out - this is the last week!

I’m proud to introduce you all to Mary Drummer, a mother, a family law attorney, and a needle fiber artist. Mary was introduced to the needle arts by her Grandmother one summer when she was just a little girl. She learned to cross stitch. Her 1st piece was red & yellow in colors and states: “East, West, Home is Best”. Mary still has this piece. Mary continued to cross stitch through out her life until about 4 ½ years ago. After many years of walking to the back of the store “past all those yarn balls” to get her cross stitching supplies, Mary saw Zandy’s advertisement for a Beginning Knitting class and she decided she had to solve the whole yarn ball mystery. She took the class and after knitting 2 scarves, she was ready for anything. Mary needs projects that demand attention to detail. Plain old stockinette won’t cut it for Mary. One of her first projects is a Norwegian knit, and admittedly still on the size 2 needles to be finished another day. Her next project was the beautiful slip stitch sweater on display. Her favorite designs feature interesting shaping and color. Mary is prolific in her knitting and like most knitters, she is also a generous knitter. Her husband has no less than 3 sweaters, 2 of those are Aran knits. And Mary says knitting 1 sweater for Craig is like knitting 2 or 3 sweaters for her self – he’s 6’2” – long torso & long arms! After watching his Mom knitting, Mary’s son, Alex, gave knitting a try when he was about 10 years old. He completed a scarf! Mary has learned to be creative with storing her yarn stash. Alex’s top bunk bed is a favorite place to stash new projects, as is the basement, since 2 closets are fully stocked! She’ll admit to at least 30 projects on needles. Her favorite yarn fibers are wool and silk blends and linen blends,
and her favorite weight yarn is lace weight.

3K Club Perk - Attention 3 K Club Members:

This is the last week to get 20% off artyarns Silk Pearl, Silk Ribbon or Karabella's Terrain and receive the "All Tied Up!" pattern free. You still have time to knit this unique gift up for the special man in your life for Father's Day!

Last Week of May Event - And Bags of Deals!!

2008-05-24T15:41:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe that this is the last week of May, that Tiffany has worked her last day before she starts on her new life adventure, and we celebrate Memorial Day on Monday!! Time really does fly when I am having fun - and I have been having lots of fun looking at the new fall yarns. And that is another reason to have even more super deals this last week of May - I need shelf room for the new fall yarns! So - this week I have addeds bags of deals!! If you loved the 3KO days, then you are sure to love the added deals by the bags as well as 20% off and double points on many yarns !
MAY 25 THRU MAY 31 ONLY
Double Points & 20% off yarns listed below & books & patterns specific to the yarns:
SWTC
• AMAIZING
• CRAFT
• KARAOKE
• LOVE
• PURE
• ROCK
• YANG
• YIN
ALL 22 NEEDFUL YARNS
QUEENSLAND
• ANDES
• ANTUCE
• HIMALAYA
• KATHMANDU DK & ARAN

so long, farewell, auf weidersehen, adieu!

2008-05-24T08:49:00.000-05:00

Sadly, this is my last blog entry for 3 Kittens Mews. Today is my last day at the shop, as I am moving to Winston-Salem, North Carolina next weekend. I'm moving to be with my girlfriend, and I am excited for this new chapter of my life, but also sad to be moving away from such a great area, and so many knitting friends. However, I did manage to find myself a job at a yarn shop down there! If you are in the area, please come see me at Knit Picky!

It has been fantastic to be able to be part of such a great team at 3K. My unending thanks to Cis, Laura and Julie, for taking me on in the first place, and giving me this great opportunity - I've learned SO MUCH and enjoyed it all.

To the entire 3K staff - I thank you so much for the laughs and learning that we've had together. It's been wonderful to see and make these great changes to the store over the last 18+ months. I'm sure it will only continue to get better!! (And I can't wait to come back and visit, and see what else changes!)

Now when I have a knitting or shop question, I have to think - WWJD? (What Would JANINE Do?)

I have enjoyed meeting all of you, and make so many great knitting friends! I hope I've been helpful and that you have learned from me, as I have learned from you. Please keep in touch - my personal blog is listed at the right of this blog, and I'm committed to keeping it more updated, once I get settled.

Thanks especially to these 3 ladies, who were in my very first knitting class I ever taught, and have stuck with me through all of my "Scarf Style" classes - it has been so much fun, and I will miss you!

L-R: me, Sue, Lora & Ann

Happy knitting, crocheting, needlepointing, and all other creative things,

Tiffany

Dream in Color - dreaming of shawls, lace in general...

2008-05-22T15:42:00.000-05:00

O.K. - I know I've said it before but it's worth blogging about again - we got in more wonderful lace, hand-dyed yarn! This time from Dream in Color. This super great collection has wonderful names like Pansy-go-lightly, Lunar Zazzle and Punky Fushia. To get those juices flowing - (Yes, I know I sound yet again like broken record) check out the new pattern line from Sivia Harding. I know that some of you don't like to knit with wool in the summer but this stuff is so light and airy that you can have it in your hot laps at the beach and you'll LOVE working on it. Really, I mean it. Really, I mean it.

Meet Mary!

2008-05-19T17:36:00.000-05:00

This week I am excited to introduce to you the second of our 3 Marys....Mary Heller!

Mary Heller is a mother, a NICU Nurse Anesthetist, famous water gardener, and a needle fiber artist. Mary was all of 8 years old when Mrs.Doylen taught her 4H group how to knit. Her first project was a pair of slipper bootees knit with yellow worsted wool. Latch rugs were favorite projects but her interest in the fiber arts waned until she was in college where she met a sorority sister who enjoyed knitting. So she started dabbling in the needle arts again. While living in Ann Arbor attending nursing school, Mary found a needlepoint store close to campus and she found that stitching was a great outlet from studying and it was an affordable way for her to make gifts for her friends and family. She tells me that wool was the only fiber available for stitching until the metallics were introduced and then the WOW factor was introduced to her needlepoint world. Mary also enjoyed sewing in the past. She remembers Faber’s was a favorite fabric store back in the 70’s. Mary has two sons (now 21 & 24 years of age), married to a doctor, and has always had a career in the medical world – busy lady! Then about 15 years ago, Mary was stricken with Whooping Cough and found solace in her knitting needles. She started knitting afghans while she was in recovery and hasn’t stopped knitting since. Five nieces and nephews have received afghans in their college colors upon high school graduation. She’s always knitting a baby garment for someone special in her life and she is wildly creative & prolific in her sweater knitting. Mary loves life & it is evident in her knitting & yarn selections. She uses color to accent designs – loves Colinette & Prism yarns. I remember shopping with Mary at the first Stitches convention in Saint Paul several years ago – we both fell in love with Maggie Jackson’s couture designs! She tells me she has an entire room dedicated to storing her knitting & needlepoint stash...a girl after my heart!

May Event Week 3 - Check Out These Special Perks!!

2008-05-18T11:52:00.000-05:00

MAY 18 THRU MAY 24 ONLY
Double Points & 20% off yarns listed below & books & patterns specific to the yarns:
LOUISA HARDING
• CINNABAR
• COQUETTE
• FAUVE
• FLOTSAM
• GLISTEN
• GRACE
• KASHMIR DK & ARAN
• KIMONO ANGORSA
• KIMONO RIBBON
• MARIPOSA
• NAUTICAL COTTON
• SARI RIBBON
• THALIA
NORWEGIAN SPIRIT
• FRITIDSGARN
• KITTEN
• TOVE
NORO
• AURORA
• BLOSSOM
• IRO
• KOCHORAN
• NIJI
• SILK MOUNTAIN
• SILVER THAW
• TRANSITIONS

Crocheted Baby Blanket Pattern

2008-05-16T13:10:00.000-05:00

For all of you who would like to crochet a child-size afghan for Project Little Lambs, here's a quick and easy blanket pattern. It's basically a granny square super-sized:

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc into ring, join with slip st into 3rd of ch 3 (or you can use the magic ring method with 12 dc in the ring) 12 dc
Round 2: Ch 3, *[2 dc, 1 tr] into next dc, [1 tr, 2 dc] into next dc, ** 1 dc into next dc; rep from * twice and from * to ** once, sl st into 3rd of ch 3
Round 3: Ch 3, 2 dc, *[2 dc, 1tr] into next tr, [1 tr, 2 dc] into next tr, ** 5 dc; rep from * twice and from * to ** once, 2 dc, sl st into 3rd of ch 3
Round 4: Ch 3, 4 dc, *[2dc, 1tr] into next tr [1 tr, dc] into next tr, ** 9 dc; rep from * twice and from * to ** once, 4 dc, sl st into 3rd of ch 3
Continue in pattern: At the corners, in the previous row's 2 tr, you will always do [2 dc, 1 tr] into 1st tr, then [1 tr, 2 dc] into the 2nd tr.

As for the color sequence, I used the Fibonacci Sequence, which is technically 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,... (each number is the sum of the previous two numbers). I decided to stop at 5 and reverse the process, so my color sequence was as follows 1 row pink, 1 row purple, 2 rows blue, 3 rows green, 5 rows yellow, 3 rows pink, 2 rows purple, 1 row blue, 1 row green, 2 rows yellow, 3 rows pink, 5 rows purple, then I trimmed the whole blanket in a row of sc in blue (at the corners, do [2 sc, 1 dc], then [1 dc, 2 sc]).

Pretty simple and really fast. I have some more basic granny square patterns that I'm thinking of supersizing for more blankets - you can easily do the same!

The Month of the 3 Marys at 3 Kittens

2008-05-12T13:34:00.000-05:00

We have 3 customers that have so much in common and are at the same time so unique that we decided to have an exhibit featuring these special women. They all share the same first name of Mary, they are each Moms, and they are all long time clients of 3 Kittens.
So May, the month for Moms, is the month of the 3 Marys at 3 Kittens!
You will be impressed by the breadth of their skills and hopefully you will understand why we thought it was important for us to share their stories with you so,

you too could appreciate their accomplishments!

Over the next 3 weeks, I will post each of the Marys stories.

Here is our first Mary!

Mary Dennis is that striking woman with a bright smile, short, sassy white hair,
wearing one of her hand knit garments often seen weekday afternoons stitching in the needlepoint room or knitting a Colinette sweater with me. Mary is one of the most charming women I have ever met. She’s most definitely an artist – but she would probably blush at hearing that. Mary has a full life keeping up with 2 grown children, Kathy & Greg, 3 grandchildren, her Westie, Molly, gardening, and travel.
Mary tells me when she was in grade school she had poor health. Because she was home
so much, to keep Mary busy, her Mother taught her how to knit and cross stitch,
do feather stitching and embroidery and cut work as well!
She has always loved knitting the most! Mary lived in New York for a time and she tells me she & her girl friend got the most incredible deals on yarns at the Reynolds warehouse on Long Island and that there was a lace mill in Port Jefferson that was also a great shopping haven. Mary has some memorable projects – a table cloth she cross stitched to match her wedding china, a skirt knit out of La Gran mohair in the 70’s (on display in exhibit), a fair isle pansy pattern sweater knit for her daughter, post World War II argyle socks! These days Mary is always knitting garments for Kathy & Emily, her grand daughter, and occasionally for her self.
She loves classic styling with a flair for color!

Happy Mother's Day & Week Two May Event 20% Off & Double Points

2008-05-10T16:18:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of our Moms!!

The May Double Points event continues…..before I announce next week’s featured yarns, I want to thank all of our customers for your continued patronage. In the first 4 days of Week 1 of the May Double Points event, over 2000 points were awarded! We know you have many other yarn store choices, so we work hard to make 3 Kittens your first choice by extending outstanding customer service and by offering broad inventory choices throughout the store. The monthly Perks we extend to our 3 K Club members are one of the ways we say thank you.
And so we have some great perks for you this week. Check out the list below!
MAY 11 THRU MAY 17 ONLY
Double Points & 20% off yarns listed below & books & patterns specific to the yarns:
Yarns & Kits by LOUET:
• ALL KITS
• DIANA’S DREAMS
• KIDLIN
• MOHAIR
Yarns by ELLA RAE:
• AMITY
• CLASSIC
• KASBAH
• MADISON
• MOSAIC
• SHIBU
Yarns by ELSEBETH LAVOLD:
• CHUNKY AL
• COTTON FRAPPE
• COTTON PATINE
• HEMPATHY
• SILKY CASHMERE
• SILKY TWEED
PLYMOUTH Yarns’ OUTBACK MOHAIR
And not to be missed - 3 great yarns that are perfect for fun colorful felted projects…..CRYSTAL PALACE’s ICELAND, CLASSIC ELITE’s DESERT, and K1C2’s PAINTBOX.

ATTENTION ALL HAND-DYED YARN LOVERS!

2008-05-10T10:59:00.001-05:00

3 Kittens is excited to have received three yarns from the J. Knits collection. Lace-a-licious is an extra superfine alpaca, 1200 yards a skein. It would be great for any of those lace patterns you have been dying to try! We have pattern suggestons in the store for all of them. Next we have the new sock yarn called Superwash Me. It's 100% superwash merino, 550 yards per skein so you have plenty for a pair of socks or a fingering weight project. Last but certainly NOT least we have Charming. Wonderful worsted weight 80% lambswool, 10% Cashmereand 10% angora. Not only is it wonderfully soft but each skein comes with a charm to embellish your project or use as you wish. Tiffany, Cis and I are all about the names of the color ways - they are all States and Cities in the US. I have dibs on Boston.....Cis is checking out the Florida and Tiffany is trying to figure out how to have them all!

New Yarn Arrival!!

2008-05-08T17:19:00.000-05:00

A beautiful new yarn has arrived at 3 Kittens that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Sublime Yarns is a new luxury fiber line created by Sirdar that offers 8 different yarns. We selected the newest release, Organic Cotton, to be the first of the Sublime yarns to add to our inventory selection.

Sublime Organic Cotton is entirely natural and untreated - it has been grown organically without the use of pesticides and gently dyed using environmentally friendly products. The subtle shades create a calm and tranquil mood. Feel safe in the knowledge that this is the most reassuringly gentle and soft yarn against your babies' (or yours) delicate skin. The gauge is 5.5 stitches to the inch on a size 6 needle and 1 skein yields 120 yards at a great price point of $8.50. There are 8 shades to choose from and a great pattern booklet that has patterns for everyone in the family!

Advanced Studio set to start!

2008-05-05T13:59:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to tell you all that advanced studio class is set to begin this Tuesday, May 6th. The time is from 6-8 pm. Bring your projects that you have questions on and your enthusiasm ladies! The fee is $10.00 for one session and $35.00 for 4 sessions. Please call the shop to register so we can be prepared for you! See you Tuesday night!

Change Your Socks Purse

2008-05-01T11:52:00.000-05:00

Cid Hanscom is at it again! - designing really wonderfully creative things. This time she has designed a coin purse that is in the shape of a sock! The kit includes the metal finding for the top of the coin purse, pattern, and a tool to assist in getting the sock into the finding. You provide the yarn and embelishings to create this neat-o cool new use for your socks!