Knitters Mercantile Blog

This week’s free pattern is an oldie but a goody.

Saartje’s Bootees are the sweetest booties that I have come across. Simple garter stitch and mary jane styling - does it get any better? I think not.

The pattern calls for a fingering weight yarn, so something like Cascade Heritage would work very well. Janet made a pair in Mirasol Hacho (which is DK weight) and they are THE sweetest things you ever did see. Stop by the shop and take a look at the Hacho shelf to see one of the booties in person.

Get the Saartje’s Bootees pattern here.

Happy Friday and happy knitting!

Despite grey skies above, Spring is on its way. And to brighten us up even further, Pantone’s Spring 2012 colors are here!

Pretty vibrant palatte, dont’ you think? Pastels are IN. There are some alluring neutrals but the color of the year (as designated by Pantone) is Tangerine Tango.

Tangerine Tango is described on the Pantone website as “an enticing, juicy orange, a vivacious and appealing refresher to enliven anyone’s outlook this Spring.”

I don’t know about you but when I read that description all I can think of is Diana Rigg’s voice moderating the fashion show in The Great Muppet Caper. (Holy wow! I didn’t realize it until I found the clip - I think Diana Rigg is actually wearing Tangerine Tango in that scene!)

I think my favorite color of the season is Driftwood. What’s yours?

Now that we are back and fully recovered from the trip, it is time to share some more pictures with you.

Day 2

There are not a lot of pictures from Day 2.  The reason is that for much of the day our booth looked like this.

As a result, at the end of the day I felt like this.

Day 3

Both Saturday and Sunday had great fashion shows taking place at the runway next to our booth. Here is one of the garments featured in the Vogue Knitting show.

There were also some really great other events on the stage, including a fabulous panel discussion on Sunday afternoon about turning knitting into a career featuring among others Norah Gaughan, Melanie Falick, and my personal hero Debbie Stoller. I learned to knit from Debbie’s Stitch ‘N Bitch books so to get to hear her speak about turning knitting into a career was an amazing treat for me.

We had some great people hanging out in our booth with us on Sunday. Iris from ArtYarns stopped by to sign her new book One + One: Scarves, Shawls, & Shrugs.

Pam from Louet hung out in our both so that she could share two of her beautiful yarns, Euroflax and KidLin, with our customers. Pam also had on this amazing skirt, Ashley, made with Euroflax. I am SO making this. Who is in with me?

And sadly, at the end of Sunday we had to pack everything up again so we could head home.

Thanks New York and Vogue Knitting Live for an amazing time!

Whew! We are having quite a time of it in New York. Here are some pictures from day 1.

I would like to begin by saying that I am by no means a decent photographer. I’m getting better all the time but a lot of what you’ll see here is me going “hey I should take a picture of that!” while hastily pulling out whatever photographic type device is most handy (sometimes its the camera and sometimes its my phone).

So, here is day 1 from start to finish.

The first picture is actually from last night but I found it odd enough to include here. Really? A “Fresh Remote?” Heavens forbid we get a stale one.

Here is a very blurry picture of the city skyline from our van before we got in the Lincoln Tunnel.

Yay a horse!

This is how our booth looked when we first got there.

Look how close we are to the stage!

Awesome Vogue Knitting Live sign.

Booth set up in progress.

Booth is done!

The marketplace was open from 5 - 8 p.m. I didn’t take any pictures, which is why you don’t see any pictures of that there.

After market, we went to dinner.

We ate at Bill’s Restaurant and Piano Bar and Janet’s awesome friend Carol joined us. We ate upstairs which wasn’t the piano bar area but it did have an extended Frank Sinatra playlist. We were pleased.

They had all kinds of really rad original turn of the 20th century boxer pictures. I joined in with fisticuffs.

After dinner it was absolutely required that we go get the best cupcakes in the world. We went to Magnolia Bakery. I believe we succeeded in our quest.

More tomorrow!

It is a little chaotic around here. Ok, I am full of it. It is a LOT chaotic around here. We are packing for New York!

Bins are being piled.

Kits are being assembled. Oh, bonus shot! Check out Janet’s finished Knit Swirl Jacket out of Noro Silk Garden Lite.

If you just happen to be in New York this weekend and just happen to be at Vogue Knitting Live stop by and see us! We are in booths 2814 & 2816.

Hey there! We just extended the deadline to sign up for Sock Club 2012. It is now January 31st.

 Be sure to sign up for this awesome club! Get The Knitters Book of Socks, 6 awesome sock yarns, and be a part of the Members Only Sock Club knit along. Check out this blog post for more info. Give us a call or stop by the shop to sign up!

Edit 1/11: Want to sign up but haven’t been able to make it down to the shop yet? But a membership on our website!

Clicky here to see Sock Club 2012 on our website.

This week’s free pattern is entirely silly. I have made two of these and they always get a great response so I figured sharing was in order.

Here is the Bearded Toque.

This hat and beard combo has a series of interchangeable mustaches. That’s right! I said interchangeable mustaches.

It’s all knit in one piece, top down. It is a great way to stop face freeze on those super cold and windy days. It’s always a great way to get your male friends or nephews really interested in your knitting. Wait until you see their eyes light up when you tell them that you will makes one of these amazing hats for them.

Plymouth Encore is the perfect yarn for this. Just make sure you hold it doubled to get gauge.

Get the Bearded Toque pattern here.

Happy Friday and happy knitting!

Have you signed up for our Sock Club yet?

 The deadline for signing up is January 15th.  Don’t miss out! It’s going to be way cool.

It’s raining and dreary out. Perfect time to curl up with a book or a movie and your knitting. But it’s damp and there’s a definite chill in the air. How can you be all nice and toasty and warm?

 Do not fear as I have the answer. It’s a hot water bottle wrapped in a cozy. And it’s a magical thing.

Rachel’s ISBN Cabled Hot Water Bottle Cozy has two versions included in the pattern. There is a super cute striped version or a classic cabled version.

Lamb’s Pride Worsted is the perfect yarn for this. And so many colors to choose from too!

Get the pattern here.

Happy Friday, happy knitting, and happy New Year!

I’m not going to comment on the holidays being, um, here. I’m not going to comment on procrastination. I’m not going to comment on time crunches.

I am just going to present you with this - the Wink Scarf.

This scarf uses gigantic yarn (Berroco Link) and needles. It is ridiculously quick to make. Super bulky knits are so in this year.

You have time to make this. Really. Deep breath. You got this.

Get Link here.

Get the free pattern here.

 Happy Friday, happy knitting, and happy holidays!