Pluff Will Keep Us Together by The Captain and Chenille

Flutterby Animal Print, regular Flutterby and Dolphin

Bella Chenille and Pluff

 Please tell me you groaned at the title. That would mean you are old enough to understand it and I won't feel so bad about using it. Besides its not the worst earworm you will have ever had to deal with. 😉

It dawned on me last week that most of the markets end around Thanksgiving weekend. That means from now on, every yarn on display will be the last time you get to pet it before it goes back into the warehouse for the winter. Then its online ordering only for the next six months!

I am working on setting up classes at LPAC (Lacombe Performing Arts Centre) this fall/winter and will post details as soon as they are confirmed so there will be some yarn petting/purchasing available at the classes. In the meantime, have fun playing with the yarns of the week with some fun patterns from Ravelry.

Pluff is a great alternative to Bernat Blanket and will make these slippers or adorable Yipyips for storage.

Flutterby (regular) can make a squishy receiving blanket with just two balls. Bella and Dolphin would require three. This cute sweater will fit up to a size 10 child using the same amount of yarn. 😊

The Animal Print Flutterby is super chunky and one ball will make a super quick cowl if you need a last minute gift for someone.

One thing to note about all chenille yarns: put a knot in the yarn at the end of the tails (beginning and end). You can't feel the knots once they are woven in but without the knots, the yarn will unravel and there will be no saving your project.

written by Lori, TCL owner, who is looking forward to seeing how many more people take advantage of free shipping before the markets are over.

There's Acrylic and Then There's Acrylic!

 This week in the pop up store we are featuring James C. Brett yarns from the UK.

On the left when you walk into the store, you will find all the Flutterby, a 100% polyester chenille yarn that works to the same gauge as Bernat Blanket but is so much softer and drapey. It is the best yarn (in my humble opinion) for baby blankets, and I have also used it in a simple kid's T-shirt pattern. 

To round out the colour choices, I have included Universal Bella Chenille which is basically the same yarn but comes in a smaller ball (120m vs 176m). Also on that side is the chunkier Flutterby Animal Prints which will appeal to those with a wilder side. 😉

On the right side you will find the acrylic yarn known as 'the wool lover's acrylic'. As a person who works with yarn, you know that it is difficult to buy yarn without touching it first. The 'hand' of a yarn can make all the difference to whether or not the finished product is loved to death or thrown in the corner or pushed to the back of a closet never to be seen again.

For those, like me, who have trouble working with non-Merino wool and only had the scratchy wool to choose from as a beginner knitter, acrylic was the go to yarn. To be fair, things have changed but, in the '70's, a lot of that yarn felt like plastic. Some still does. James C. Brett's line of Marble yarns, on the other hand, does not feel like plastic. It feels like a quality, non-itchy wool to those who prefer the natural fibres. Hence, it's nickname. 

That side has also been rounded out with some Marble wannabe's from other manufacturers and, while the colours are on par with the quality one would expect from JCB, you will notice, upon handling, that some of them are slightly more plastic-y than the Marble yarns.

You will also notice that a number of my patterns make use of these JCB yarns so check those out too while you're in the store this week.

written by Lori, tardy TCL owner, who neglected to realize it was Monday until after supper, so I apologize for the late blog entry. I'll try to not let it happen again.

Lori's Patterns: Summer Dress and Corner to Corner Blanket

Summer Dress

Isn't this the cutest thing ever? Okay, maybe not as cute as the actual baby girl, but if you've got one of those, then this would be adorable on her.

18 inch chest (6 month)

This particular one was made with Red Heart Boutique Sassy Fabric (the skirt) and Diamond Luxury Milky Way. You can substitute a DK weight yarn for the Milky Way.

 Corner to Corner Blanket

Nope, that's not a real baby sitting on the blanket (we get asked that all the time).

This one (the blanket not the baby) is made out of James C. Brett Flutterby and Berroco Circus. Chenille and boucle together! It's nice and soft and perfect for cuddling.

Lori's patterns are available only at the store. So come in or give us a call - we do mail order. All of her patterns are only $5.00.

You can also find some of Lori's other patterns on ravelry.