Archives for January 2016

Vendor Spotlight: San Juan Alpacas, Hearthside Fibers, Kitchen Counter Crafter

We’ve been working through all the vendor applications, and are just about done notifying everyone who’s applied. If you applied and haven’t heard, we promise you will very soon! (It was a long list.) Before we start mixing in the newbies, let’s meet a few more of our veteran vendors, shall we?

We missed Kim of San Juan Alpacas last year, and are thrilled to have her back in 2016! She’s always got tons of luscious alpaca goods, including finished pieces with no assembly required. Hearthside Fibers is a mainstay on our vendor floor; but Lael and Larry always bring something new and fun! Jennie of Kitchen Counter Crafter joined us for the first time in 2015, and we’re excited to see what new bags and accessories she’s cooking up for us this year. Pictures, please!


San Juan AlpacasSan Juan Alpacas
http://www.sanjuanalpacas.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
My grandmother taught me to knit at age 6. I’ve been knitting ever since! I started San Juan Alpacas in 2001. Now, I have 7 alpacas and enjoy selling all sorts of soft, lovely alpaca goods: yarn, hand knits, knitting kits, blankets and socks.

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Hand-knits and kits:

sanjuancape

Alpaca blankets! Selection and design changes year-round; some items use fiber from our alpaca co-op in Telluride, others are made by artisans in Peru, where they know their alpaca.

sanjuanblanket


Hearthside FibersHearthside Fibers
http://www.hearthsidefibers.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
Since we were there last year, several designers have used our yarns to design gorgeous patterns. Stop by our booth to check them out!

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Lael has started designing. Currently, we have kits for both a slouch hat and an infinity scarf, designed “in house” using our BaaBoo fingering weight yarn. Available in four color palettes.

hearthsideinfinity

“New Directions” Infinity Scarf Kit – Aqua/yellow version


Kitchen Counter CrafterKitchen Counter Crafter
http://www.kitchencountercrafter.com

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
I create fun and functional fabric accessories for the fiber lover.

Any special or featured products you want to share?
I’m debuting a zippered pouch, circular needle organizer and interchangeable needle holder to the product line in 2016!

KCCcortado.png

Inside peek at Cortado, my new circular needle organizer. This has 8 pockets for needles with small vinyl pockets to identify needle size.

 

Vendor Spotlight: Knitter’s Journey and Essential Fibers

Happy Monday! Time for another preview of the vendors we’re lining up for April.

Bev at Knitter’s Journey is well-known for her awesome knit-with-wire kits — beads and stones give them tons of extra sparkle — but she’s got plenty of other goodies in store, too. Essential Fiber joined us for the first time last year, but Michelle is coming back (all the way from Virginia!) with her vast semisolid color range. Check out a few of the things they’ve got on tap for April.


Knitter's JourneyKnitters’ Journey
http://knittersjourney.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
We have handcrafted shawl pins!

 

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Exclusive artisan-made enameled shawl pins:

knittersjourneypin

Great selection and great prices on Blue Heron Rayon Metallic:

kjblueheron


Essential Fiber

Essential Fiber
https://www.essentialfiber.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
We offer over 375 colors on any of our over 3 dozen yarn and fiber bases. You choose the combo so you know you’ll have exactly what you want.

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Gradient Sets are offered in many of our bases. You get to pick the colors of these too! If you don’t need a whole set, you can also order single mini skeins in any color you want.

essentialfibergrad

essentialfibsamp

Essential Fiber fiber sampler pack


More vendor previews coming on Thursday!

Vendor Spotlight: cjkoho Designs and Yarn Geek Fibers

We’ve been poring over the vendor applications, and oh boy, you guys are in for a treat. We’re really having to make some tough choices this year!

In the meantime, let’s start meeting the vendors already lined up for April. We asked some returning vendors to share featured products along with what they MOST want you to know about them, so let the drooling commence! We’re starting off with the first two vendors that signed up to come back, both longtime friends of YarnCon, and two dyers who know a LOT about color: Carla of cjkoho Designs, and Sarah of Yarn Geek Fibers.


cjkoho Designscjkoho Designs
http://www.cjkoho.etsy.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
For me, dyeing is alchemy. I am constantly surprised by what I can do with a little water and some powder. There’s no such thing as an ugly color!

Any special or featured products you want to share?
My Two-Hearted yarn is a single sock skein and the colors are meant to be mixed and matched.

cjkoho Designs: Two-Hearted in Tanya


yarngeeklogo16

Yarn Geek Fibers
http://yarngeekfibers.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
I love to demonstrate new skills and and answer questions, so please ask me!

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Rocketeer 5-Packs: Superwash wool with a delightful touch of Cashmere and bit of nylon for longevity. Each skein contains approximately 120 yards for a total of 600 yards per 5-Pack.

Yarn Geek Fibers: Rocketeer 5-Pack in Leaf on the Wind

Yarn Geek Fibers: Rocketeer 5-Pack in Leaf on the Wind

 

Blue Faced Leicester Wool Spinning Fiber: 70% Blue Faced Leicester wool combed top and 30% Firestar sparkle.

Yarn Geek Fibers: Blue Faced Leicester Wool Spinning Fiber in Peacocks Can Fly

Yarn Geek Fibers: Blue Faced Leicester Wool Spinning Fiber in Peacocks Can Fly


Some kickoff, eh? The blog’s about to get a LOT more colorful as we continue our sneak peeks right up until YarnCon. What will you be shopping for? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Gearing up!

Are you as thrilled as I am that holiday knitting is over? As much as I love making things for my family and friends (no really, I do), I usually reach my crafting-for-others limit by Christmas Eve, when I’m glued to the couch, furiously working last rows and weaving in ends.

So the arrival of January means I’m getting back to knitting for myself, and while I’m not one for resolutions, my first task is to tame my UFO pile. I always have multiple projects going for variety, but the “put-aside” queue has become, um, a bit unwieldy. I’m tackling my languishing sweaters first; they DO take up the most space in the pile, after all.

UFO 1: Rosamund’s Cardigan

I’m actually looking forward to wearing this, and even have buttons already made for it. But I found a glaring mistake three inches back, put it aside, and just can’t seem to get around to fixing the error. And so it sits.

UFO 2: Bonnie Cabled Pullover

Love the yarn (Malabrigo FTW!), love the color, love the pattern. So why has this been in hibernation for *cough cough* more than three years? Short answer: the needles. I’m a small-needle knitter and rarely venture larger than a 6 – so doing the whole front and 2/3 the back on size 7 was about my quota — apparently three years’ worth.

So that’s my plan for the start of 2016. I make no guarantees how far I’ll get, as just the words “new beginnings” makes my fingers itch with start-itis… so much pretty yarn I could be using to cast on new projects instead!

What fibery projects are you tackling this month?

January also means shifting YarnCon planning into high gear! As we make our lists (and check them not only twice, but six or seven times), what are YOU most looking forward to seeing at YarnCon this year? A particular vendor or teacher? A special item you’ll be shopping for? A pattern you’ve been saving for *just the right yarn*? Leave us a comment below!