WINTER KNITTING -It is time for you...

This is the time of the year when you have our permission to be indulgent and spend the time knitting yourself something fabulous. If you are like us, your Ravelry feed is overflowing with ideas of sweaters that you can't wait to get on your needles. We have an extraordinary supply of exquisite yarns and fibers from which to choose. The knitting world is your oyster.

You might be a seasoned knitter or a beginner, we love it all. We have a group of first time sweater knitters working on their first garments and it is really fun to see their successes. We also have some sock knitters who are learning all of the different parts of sock construction.

You can sign up for a class or reserve some one-on-one time for yourself and an instructor and learn the basics of knitting or crochet.

# Grateful for friends

We all know that my business partner extraordinaire, Susan Bashline, her team, and her furry sidekick, Wade, are the foundation of our shop. I try to be a good partner and do what I can, but this week she has been handling everything. I have been home recouperating from a total knee replacement.

(Thank you Dr. John Hall @ Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital for such a great experience and for sending me an amazing home PT, Valeria Niehaus @UVA Home Health Care who checked on me on her days off and wants to learn to knit! The world works in mysterious ways!)

Susan has been taking care of me, getting ready for our retreat with Bristol Ivy that starts today at the Boars Head Inn. Eager to meet everyone.

I brought home enough knitting for a couple of years even though I only have a couple of weeks and I keep nodding off and barely knitting a stitch!

Whichever project you choose to tackle or mindless knitting you have in your bag, I hope you take the time to enjoy the process. Be back soon!

Best, Blair

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In my absence from the shop we have lots to tempt you including a

CRAVE YARNS TRUNKSHOW

and a ridiculous amount of new la Bién Aimee yarns that have just landed from Paris, France.

Crave Yarns Trunkshow

These beautiful yarns are the mastermind of a friend, Patti Odinak of Yarn Culture in upstate NY. We met Patti when we went on one of her knitting trips last year to Denmark. If you are all about knitting and travel, you should follow her as she and her friend, Monica, can organize a very fun European adventure.

We currently carry her Caravan Sport yarn which is a delicious sport weight made of Superwash Merino, Silk, Camel and Cashmere. This yarn has an amazing depth of color and an unbelievable hand. I plan to use it in class tomorrow when I learn more about Brioche!

She has sent us some of Caravan DK as well as an Aran weight yarn called Wayfare that I think would be perfect for accessories. Wayfare is a plump super wash merino.

These yarns will be in the shop for about two weeks. So hurry down to get first pick!

CRAVE YARNS Caravan Sport

WISHLIST KNITTING

There are so many projects in my queue! I thought I would share some with you in case you need some inspiration.

Robinia and the Robinia Light

This fabulous sweater by Anne Ventzel is designed in two yarn weights, Bulky or DK. I have the yarn in DK and cannot wait to start. It looks to be a very simple construction and the easy colorwork will make it fun to knit.

Polina pullover

This fun sweater by Teri Lusaka looks fun and fresh. I am envisioning a navy background with a bright blue or green flower using Crave Sport.

This would also be great in Primrose Roan Sport!

There are three necklines to choose from and again the simple two color color work will keep my interest up!

PRIMROSE YARN Roan Sport

Air Tee by Hailey Smedley

A customer wore this great garment into the store and we all fell in love. Super simple but notice the direction shift of the stitches on the upper back.

This is called the Air Tee by Hailey Smedley.

This is a fingering weight tee and would be perfect knit in an Ito Kinu and Sensei held together.....Oooh Lala!

Ito Sensai

Ito KInu

Gem Sweater by Irene Lin

Light and Airy

This Gem sweater caught my eye. It is a worsted weight sweater that is knit in US 8's but it uses a sport weight and a mohair held together.

Again, another opportunity for Crave Caravan with Ito Sensai or Illimani Amelie (need to gauge it),

ILLIMANI Amelie

Knit Night at Crush Pad -Leap Day -February 29th

Join us for knit night at Crush Pad Wines (right across the mall from Magpie). We will be drinking and knitting starting at 5pm on February 29th.

Magpie Knits Store Hours

Monday -Saturday 10am-5pm

Sunday 10am -2pm

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