24
Jul
This Summer’s Hottest Fashion Accessory
Posted by Shannon in the shop, contestsWe couldn’t be more excited to have received the hottest thing since sliced bread, folks, the…(wait for it)…
TWISTED T-SHIRTS!!!!
Look at these puppies - these are American Apparel Organic Cotton T-Shirts, oh, so, soft, and fair trade.
I love mine - may just wear it ’round the clock, every day.
And, coming soon, more Twisted Swag: bumper stickers, baby onesies, cute cotton canvas bags…with more to come in the fall.
22
Jul
Cotton Chenille
Posted by Emily in yarn, booksIntroducing Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille! It’s 98 yds/50 gram ball - 100% combed cotton 3.5 - 4 sts/inch.
The perfect little one skein project in this yarn is the flower washcloth from Melanie Falick’s book Weekend Knitting.
Quick to knit up, soft and brightly colored, it’s adorable as a gift or just to use yourself. Other projects that jump to mind are baby sweaters, amigurumi, scarves… anything that you want to be soft soft soft!
19
Jul
Belated contest winner
Posted by Emily in contestsWell, what with the sale and all June and July just got away from us. Better late than never, though.
The June contest was, in brief, to figure out something creative to do with all our rubber bands. Congratulations to our friend (and new mom) Lorajean!
She suggests that, “You can tie rubber bands together, hook it to a breast pump, hook it to your bra and pump hands free. Pretty nifty huh?” We’ll take your word on that! This was by far the most creative entry, although we’re not sure if it would really work and for legal reasons don’t want to encourage the beta testing. For her idea, LJ gets a lifetime supply of rubber bands (the perfect toy for a baby who puts everything in its mouth, right?) and The Little Box of Knitted Gifts by Sandy Scoville, published by Martingale.
Obviously, we’re a bit far through July for a contest, so we’ll get back to you in August for a new one. Thanks to all who entered!
17
Jul
Silk Garden Sock Yarn
Posted by Shannon in the shop, yarn, socks, knittingHow stoked are we? An entire box of the newest of the new in Noro-land, Silk Garden Sock Yarn, is now living happily at Twisted. Don’t you worry, we’ll definitely share, and there’s enough to go around.
It’s stunningly beautiful. Not just for socks, either - this stuff would make a wonderful shawl, or sweater, or hat, or cowl, or…the possibilities are endless, knitters and crocheters. I can just see a Pi Shawl in this (you do know that we have a Pi Shawl here, knitted by the talented and humble Michelle, out of the Noro Kureyon Sock, right?) We have a half-finished Silk Garden Sock in the shop, so if you want to fondle this stuff knitted up, you are more than welcome to.
We have all eight colors, and lots of each.
The photos don’t do this stuff justice, everyone. It’s insanely gorgeous, much like all of Eisaku Noro’s creations. Love that man!
16
Jul
New hours
Posted by Emily in the shopStarting this weekend, we’re slightly revising our hours of operation here at Twisted. The new hours are:
Tuesday - Friday 11am - 8pm (unchanged)
Saturday & Sunday 11am - 6pm (closing two hours earlier)
Thanks!
15
Jul
Flower Pie Needlecases
Posted by Emily in bagsWe have a new local designer to add to our team - Flower Pie. Ms. Flower Pie makes the most gorgeous, funky, functional needle cases you’ve ever imagined. They. Are. So. Cool.!!!
There are large cases to accomodate all your straight and DP needles and notions ($30), as well as smaller cases for DPNs or crochet hooks ($20). AND, coming soon will be her new much-lusted-after circular needle cases!
Each case is handmade and fully lined with several coordinating cotton fabrics. There’s a fleece interlining to give it just a little body, plus a top flap to keep everything in its place. Then you fold it up and tie it and voila - everything is uber organized and portable. The cases even come protected with Scotchguard for us clumsy types!
It’s surprisingly hard to find a needle case that is attractive and functional and reasonably priced… but no more! We are incredibly excited to have Flower Pie in the shop, and can’t wait to have you come check them out.
12
Jul
Representing, Portland-Style
Posted by Shannon in the shop, crafting, socks, patterns, knitting
All of you Portlanders know that we live in the best city in the world, right? The craftiest, sassiest city, at least in the US. We are surrounded by folks who have found ways to make their living off of the DIY and crafy-lifestyle ethos. A fact that was really made evident to us yesterday, when the newest issue of Knitscene arrived on Twisted’s doorstep.
We had been given a head’s-up that new Portland transplant Star Athena had a pattern in the mag, and Tweeted about it yesterday. Some very sweet, very different, and very attractive little socks, made out of one of our favorite sock yarn stalwarts, Gems (sportweight).
We were all talking about how fabulously crafty our fair city is last night, when who should walk in but Cher with a huge grin on her face (and her gorgeous little baby on her hip), because she has a pattern set in the magazine, too! The Twisted Bridges Hat and Scarf, which are lovely, bulky, yummy, cable-y goodness.
Then there’s the newest issue of Knitty. Carrie’s got an article on dyeing. And Larissa’s got a sassy little necklace in the issue.
Our favorite Toe-Up on Two Circs sock teacher Chrissy Gardiner has a sock pattern in the Summer Issue of Interweave Knits. True to form, they are an amazingly gorgeous and fun pattern, and would work with any combination of a hand-dyed sock yarn (we have a few here at Twisted - heehee!), and the versatile Gems Fingering.
And last, but certainly not least, we made national knitting magazine news in the Fall issue of Knit Simple with the Bear Mitten project Emily and Jennie at the Oregon Zoo spearheaded. There’s even a photo of Emily and my dear sister Jessica sportin’ bear mittens, a copy of which I will leave you with today.
You go, Portland - HIGH FIVES ALL AROUND!!!
10
Jul
The Classiest Stuff in Town
Posted by Shannon in the shop, yarn, knittingThe other day, our handy-dandy UPS guy, Jeff, brought 3 big ole boxes, stuffed to the gills, with Dream in Color’s worsted-weight yarn, Classy. This stuff is an assault on the senses, in the best possible way. It’s a light worsted, superwash merino wool. It’s sister to the amazing Smooshy, the lofty Fatty, and the light and fluffy Baby. It smells like heaven when we open the boxes. But the best part? The very bestest, most wonderful part of the whole thing? The colors.
Look at those subtle variations. And with names like “Butter Peeps,” “Lipstick Lava,” and “Spring Tickle,” you can’t go wrong. We’ve been fairly addicted to it lately - Emily, Shannon, and Kate are all doing the February Lady Sweater in Classy, (along with tons of others - can’t wait to get casted on!!!), Shannon got obsessed (which, you all know, she NEVER does) with the Rocketry Baby Cardi (by the way, we have this pattern, and the Tulips Sweater pattern, here in the shop) in the last few days and accidentally finished the body last night:
And we’ve got the ever-popular Dream in Color Shrug hanging out in the shop, waiting to be tried on. Come on by and snag some while there’s still some to be snagged!
5
Jul
Leethal hat class
Posted by Emily in yarn, classes, knittingLocal blogger, indy zine author and all around crafty chica Lee Meredith is teaching a two-part class on her very own hat pattern called Leethal’s Short-Rows Wavy Hat.
If you thought hats were boring think again! Lee’s hat is knit flat from side to side (not bottom to top) using short rows for shaping and increasing and decreasing to create spiraling stripes. We have it listed at the intermediate level, but it would be appropriate for an adventurous advanced beginner, too.
The next class is scheduled for Saturdays, July 12 and 19 from 12noon - 2pm, and there are still spaces available. This hat is not just for wintertime, although it would be a great start to holiday knitting. We’ve been dreaming of it in the new summery-blend Noro Taiyo yarn. Give us a call at 503.922.1150, or stop by to register.
And remember, the Anniversary Sale is still going strong - come by this weekend to snag some great deals!
4
Jul
Closed for July 4th
Posted by Emily in the shopToday, we are doing are patriotic duty and celebrating the Fourth of July with fireworks, beer, bbq, and more fireworks. Of course, this being Oregon, the beer will be local microbrew and the bbq will include vegan bean burgers… but the fireworks will be… well, just fireworks. But I’m sure someone out there is working on creating a fair trade fireworks company and we salute them. In addition, this is the 16th anniversary of the day I broke the bajezus out of my elbow when I was a kid. (It’s all better now.)
We’ll be back, all rested-up and sun-burned, to continue our anniversary sale tomorrow.
And because there won’t be an opportunity to share this for another year, here’s a link we found to knitted American flag socks:
