Big News

Something new is on the horizon for Stash. We are going internet. I know that its something that we weren't interested in at the beginning, but we have had so many requests, that it had to be done. I have been spending much of my free time photographing yarn, and making sure that it looks as close on screen to the originals. I have had a little bit of help as well..




I know this is not something to complain about, but my house is full of yarn!!








It is hard to resist at times. I was working on the Koigu today, and every skein I picked up, it was as if I had never seen it before. I kept thinking, "this is so beautiful, what can I make with it?". I have to resist temptation at the moment, and get the site up and running.

Even Fluffy is excited!






I'll keep you posted.

Bagels

I love to cook. Not sure if I mentioned this before or not. I also love gadgets. Put those two together, and I love kitchen gadgets as well! I always wanted a bread maker, and got my first one 5 years ago with points earned in Sainsburys Nectar scheme. It was great, and my machine had a great life, but it had to go to the great garbage dump in the sky last week as it stopped working. We had some good times together, and my younger daughter will only eat bread that I make in the bread machine. I have now upgraded to a lovely Panasonic bread machine, which my husband has even learned to love, making pizza dough by the ton the past couple of weeks. Being a New Yorker at heart (I grew up in Connecticut, parents from Da Bronx), I have been homesick for bagels for the past 6 years. I only get good ones when I go back over the summer, and despite what they say here, the Brick Lane Bagel bake is not good at all. They don't even know how to spell bagel, I think they say something like baegel or something. Anyway, I looked for some recipes online, and made these yesterday...







Ta Dah!! They taste mostly like the real thing. Could be a little chewier, but way better than anything I have had this side of the pond. H&H bagels, they are not, but a good substitute. I got the recipe here. The only change I made was to half the sugar, and add 1 tablespoon malt syrup instead. You can get it in the healthfood shop.

On to knitting. I have put aside some other projects, and started the Aleita Shell. Thought it would be nice with the warmer weather coming (hopefully!). The Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny cotton is lovely, and great stitch definition as well.









Also working on the Leafling socks from the Rockin Sock Club






At the shop we got some great new yarns in this week. First of all Shibuiknits sock yarn. Yummy! I bought a couple of skeins a while back to test, and beside the fact that it is super soft, the colors are juicy to say the least.

We had another surprise when we got a big ole box of Koigu!!! As usual, the colors are great, but the big excitement is that we got some of their newest yarn, Mori. It is a mix of Mulberry silk and Merino. The skeins are the same size, and as you would expect with silk, it has a lovely sheen that only silk can provide.

Come in and check it out!

Natural Dye Studio

Last night we kicked off our Yarn of the Month, The Natural Dye Studio with our monthly Yarn Tasting evening. I think I speak for everyone that attended by saying that a great time was had by all. First of all, the yarns are simply lovely. 

You can see for yourself by the display, we have been sent quite a variety of colors and yarns. Second of all, and maybe one of the reasons to have attended last evening was the sample's that were provided. I have to say that they have gone above and beyond what we expected. What a presentation! Everyone received one of these beauties. I didn't want to open mine up!

Each of these skeins contained something like 10 mini skeins, each with a tag describing the yarn. Our only problem was how to wind them, but no one seemed too bothered. I copied Nathalie and put it around my neck and wound by hand.

Here is what it looked like opened up.

And here is everyone enjoying the evening!

Yarn Tasting

I was just reminded today by Nathalie the Stash is going to be having a new Yarn of the Month as of next week. We have been closed this week for Easter holidays, so my mind has not been on yarn as much as how to entertain my two daughters. Lets just say that we have done quite a bit of shopping, as girls like to do. Anyway, we are due a bunch of yarn from The Natural Dye Studio next week. I am really excited about this one. The yarn tasting will be on Monday, April 7 from 7:00-9:00. We will be open on Tuesday, so call if you want to book a place.  

Silkwood

I'm pretty sure that I mentioned this, but the Yarn of the Month is Silkwood. I was admiring the colors the other day, and just had to take some photos. Nic did most of the dying, and they are just yummy.

Hope you can make it in to see it in person.

Silkwood

The new yarn of the month at Stash will be Silkwood starting next week. If anyone is interested, there will be a tasting evening at the shop from 7-9 pm on Monday, 10 March. Nic will be there to answer any questions as she often helps out with the dying. I can't wait to take a look at all of the lovely textures and colors! See you there.

New Stuff

I haven't been knitting as much as I want to lately, but I did finish a quick project last week that turned out great.
It is a baby kimono, you can find the pattern here. I used Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino, about 1.5 skeins. For some reason, Ravelry lists this yarn as bulky, but it is really a DK. It isn't machine washable, but it is a gift for some friends who are having their first baby, and I thought it would be special. I love how it turned out. My only recommendation is to go up a needle size on the sleeves once you start working in the round. I had to rip mine out the first time and re-knit them.



I also have yet to sew a button in, or block it. It is now a sample in the shop, so I will wash it and block before I give it to our friends.

There are lots of new things in the shop. We have quite a bit of new cotton in. Our favorite at the moment is the Blue Sky Skinny Cotton. The colors are beautiful, and I can't wait to start something with it. We got a great new yarn in yesterday that we have been stoking quite a bit. Dream in Color has a new one, Baby Laceweight. It is very similar to their other yarns, which means that it is incredibly soft. It is 100% Merino Superwash, and has something like 750 yards on the skein. As always, the colors are great. Take a look.



We also have recieved some new Mission Falls cotton in multi colors, which use colorways from their existing palette. They are quite interesting, I think you will agree.



I believe that Nathalie is going to make a childs dress with the pinky one, and I am looking forward to seeing how the colors work up.

I was hoping that spring was here, but it seems to be getting cold again. Not sure whether to start another warm project, or move onto all the lovely warm weather stuff! Decisions Decisions!