Game of Thrones inspired mitts kits
I am a big fan of Game of Thrones and pleased that series Three of the hit HBO series is now being aired . I asked Anna Richardson (OneHandKnits) whether she would be able to design a series of fingerless mittens for me inspired by Game of Thrones Houses. The mitts have been designed with custom dyed yarn (Beautiful DK) from Karen Literally Yarn.
Anna has come up with a series of ten designs and yarn combinations that can be bought for £15 a kit. The kits are exclusive to The Yarn Cafe and able to be purchased at the website . The mitts can be knitted in 4 different sizes from child to large adult and the kits contain 50g of main colour yarn and 20g of contrast colour yarn. The yarn is part of the Beautiful DK range and consists of 100% Blue Faced Leicester giving excellent stitch definition. Which is your favourite?
House Arryn – As High as Honor
The motif is a white falcon volant and a crescent moon on a blue field.
House Baratheon – Ours is the Fury
The motif is a crowned black stag rampant on a gold field.
House Greyjoy – We do not Sow
The motif is a golden kraken on a black field.
House Lannister – Hear me Roar!
The motif is a golden lion rampant on a crimson field.
House Mormont – Here we Stand
The motif is a black bear in a green wood.
Night’s Watch – Sword in the Darkness
The motif is a black falcon.
House Stark – Winter is Coming
The motif is a grey dire wolf on a dark grey background.
House Targaryen – Fire and Blood
The motif is a red, three-headed dragon on a black field.
House Tully – Family, Duty, Honor
The motif is a silver trout naiant on a red and blue background.
House Tyrrel – Growing Strong
The motif is a golden rose on a green field.
Review of Sirio Yarn from Filitaly-Lab
The April 2012 edition of “Knitting” magazine (page 18) contains a review of Sirio yarn from Filitaly-Lab, with a lovely knitted up sample. Details of the review are given below.
Pegasus Lace yarn features in Let’s Knit magazine
Eden Cottage Yarns (formerly Wild Fire Fibre) have produced some gorgeous Pegasus Lace yarn (consisting of 70% alpaca and 30% silk) in a range of 8 colours for us at The Yarn Cafe. These are featured in the April 2012 edition of “Let’s Knit” magazine (page 31).
A little bit of sparkle
We are proud to be the sole provider of Filitaly-Lab yarns in the UK and Sirio, consisting of Alpaca, nylon, polyester and extra fine merino.
It appears in the February 2012 (Issue 69) edition of Knit Today (page 25). It really adds a touch of luxury to your knitting .
Mini Mitten Blockers feature in two magazines
Our mini mitten blockers have been created by Sunflower Swifts and combined with a pattern from Literally Yarn. Like the sock blockers, they are produced in Coventry, UK from reclaimed wood and the key rings make lovely gifts. They are also a good way of learning to knit in the round and produce something on a small scale.
The blocker can be bought with or without a ball of Opal mini sock yarn (10g) to create your mitten.
The mitten blockers appeared in the February 2012 (Issue 51) edition of Let’s Knit magazine on page 81. There is also a nice write up of the mitten and sock blockers in the February 2012 (Issue 69) edition of Knit Today, on page 24.
Stocks are in limited supplies, so order your mini blockers soon!
Sirio Yarn from Filitaly-Lab features in two magazines
The Yarn Cafe are proud to be the sole UK suppliers of yarns from Filitaly-Lab. There yarns are alpaca based and beautiful and luxurious. Sirio, which has a sparkly gold or silver thread is attacting attention and has features in two magazines. The yarn consists of 50% alpaca, 22% nylon, 21% polyester and 7% ultrafine alpaca. It comes in a large 50g ball and you get 150 metres!
Sirio features in the January 2012 editions of Let’s Knit magazine (page 10) and Popular Crafts magazine who are doing a give away of 2 balls – one is mid grey and silver and the other is brown and gold. Details of the give away are on page 42 of the magazine (along with many other goodies!) and the competition ends on 19 January 2012.
Are you hexapuffing?
Well I resisted for a while, but have finally decided to join the 
hexapuffing craze. Hexapuffs are knitted hexagons which can be stuffed (or not) and pieced together to form a seat cover, cushion cover or to make The Beekeeper’s Quilt. Each hexapuff is created using three double pointed needles and knitting both sides of the hexagon at once. The cast on is the one that you use for doing toe-up socks (ensuring that the two hexagons are joined together) and the method of cast off is optional, but I have used a three needle cast off.
Many people are using sock yarn to create their hexapuffs and The Yarn Cafe stock 10g mini skeins from Dye Spin Knit (as featured in the December edition of Let’s Knit). 
You can create your hexapuffs in a kaleidoscope of colours or choose to make them in harmonious tones. One of the best things about creating hexapuffs is the portability of your knitting and the fact that they do not take long to make – create them on the train or tube! I decided to invest in a hand-crafted bag to carry them around, from Marianne at Fluff-n-Stuff. The bag is large enough to carry your yarn (or leave it in the bag whilst you knit), needles and notions, completed hexapuffs and stuffing. It has a front and inner pocket and a metal clip to attach to a belt or handbag. Marianne created mine in custom purple and turquoise colours and I carry it to work and back!
If you would like to create The Beekeeper’s Quilt, the pattern is available from the very talented Tiny Owl Knits and there are many knit-a-longs on Facebook and Ravelry.
To celebrate UK Handmade’s third birthday, they are asking knitters to make and donate 2 hexapuffs to be able to create a Beekeeper’s Quilt. You can also enter a competition to win the quilt! There is a £1 entry fee with the proceeds going to NACRO (the crime reduction charity).
Enjoy your knitting!
Wool Week
Today marks the start of Wool Week (5 – 11 September 2011) in the UK and The Yarn Cafe are proud to support the Campaign for Wool.
The Campaign for Wool was initiated in October 2008 by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. The price of wool had dropped with the price of a fleece being less than the cost of shearing a sheep. In addition, new man made fibres were being used rather than wool. The Prince of Wales met with various stakeholders in the wool industry and those with a connection to wool – such as fashion designers and carpet makers. As a result, stakeholders are promoting and championing wool with further details on The Campaign for Wool Website.
Wool Week is taking place across the UK with a number of wool related events, such as an exhibition at La Galleria in London, an exclusive wool handbag auction and Shaun the Sheep activities. The Yarn Cafe are celebrating the week by offering a 10% discount on all items at The Yarn Cafe. Please use code LAIFHIZV16Q on checkout.
Guests on The Bothered Owl Blog
We have recently been interviewed by one of our suppliers – The Bothered Owl. Further details are given on their website here.