Resolutions: Expand Your Comfort Zone It’s the time of year for resolutions, but yet when I sat down to make mine, I realized that so many resolutions are phrased in the negative. Resolutions that I might have made were things like “I will not cast on for new projects before finishing old ones” or “I will not buy sock yarn in 2010.” I came to the conclusion that resolutions of this sort only set me up for failure. (Note: I broached the idea that I would knit only from stash in 2010 to my coworkers and they looked at me and laughed and laughed hysterically like Snoopy and Woodstock in the Peanuts cartoons.) So this year, we are not making resolutions we can’t keep. We are focusing on the positive and stretching our skills, striving to learn and grow all the time. Our theme for this year is “Expand Your Fiber Comfort Zone.” Along those lines, I asked the staff what goals they’ve set for themselves for 2010. Anna: I am going to make some colorwork mittens, complete a toe-up sock (perhaps finish my Cat Bordhi Personal Footprints sock), and learn how to do a picot hem without handing it to Yvonne and crying “fix it!” I’m also going to finish my poor husband’s Cobblestone, which has been on the needles since 2008. Carla: I am going to knit the Elizabeth Zimmermann Green (or lost) Sweater. As this project involves steeks, that is how I am going to Expand my Comfort Zone!!!!!It is knit in worsted weight, in the round, with mitered hem, kangaroo pouch neckline, phony seams, and steeked. [Note: Please continue reading for information on how you can Knit A-Long with us on this ambitious project]. Kelli: I want to continue to enjoy what I do and keep on learning new skills. Martha: I resolve to knit at least two pair of socks for myself and at least START on a Christmas Stocking so I'm not scrambling on December 22nd to finish one in time. Monica: My plan for the New Year is to hopefully get more of my “ready-to-go projects” started and worked on before I buy more yarn and find new things to add to the queue. I have the yarn for at least half of my Ravelry queue already, so I need to remember to prioritize my paycheck for things other than going right back to the shop. Steven: I would like to learn Fair Isle and steeking. I also want to knit an entire garment in the Continental method. Yvonne: My New Year's resolution is going to be to finish some of those UFO's that I have hanging around the house for no good reason. Goddess Anniversary Shawl (almost 2 years old) needs to be DONE. Also I need to finish the monkey socks (going on 3 years here) that I need to finish. One is done, and I'm at the heel for the 2nd one! What is my problem!!?? [Ed Note: Um…] I would also like to learn colorwork – I’ve never done anything other than inserting a stripe, and even that wasn’t a jogless one. What’s your resolution? Let us know on our blog.

What’s New When I sat down to tell you all about new inventory, I thought I’d mention that we were in a lull before the spring yarns arrived. Then ever so many boxes showed up! Here’s some of the new loot: Abstact Fibers: Supersock Brand-new to us, from Abstract Fibers, Supersock and Roving in Superwash Merino and Blue-Faced Leicester A huge restock of Pagewood Denali and Alyeska, with some new colors of the laceweight Willow Creek New colors of Marble Chunky and Baby, with new sweater patterns to match. New colors of Malabrigo Twist New colors of Manos Wool Clasica We’re also thrilled that classes are back in session! Please see our website for a full list of classes and our class calendar.

Spotlight on New Yarn: Cascade Eco Duo By David A., Frequent Customer and Winner of the Lace Division, Summer of Socks and Lace Contest Eco Duo One day in early December, I was sitting in the Natural Stitches living room, happily knitting away and minding my own stitches when CarlaK placed a lovely basket of new yarn in front of me. CarlaK has come to know what yarns will truly tempt me into a trip to the cash register and what yarns I will simply admire. That day, I left the shoppe with 3 skeins of Eco Duo. . . Eco Duo is the newest eco-offering from Cascade Yarns. Featuring a blend of 70% Baby Alpaca and 30% Merino wool, Eco Duo is available in 8 natural, undyed colorways. Color combinations range from dark brown with black (Chicory) to white with cream (Vanilla). Eco Duo is a single-ply yarn consisting of a light and dark shade of fiber; the light and dark shades are not blended but merely spun around one another (think of the candy-cane effect). When knitted up, the yarn results in a rather surprising effect not evidenced in the skein – subtle stripes! (With its stark black on white, I suspect the Zebra colorway results in bolder stripes.) Eco Duo Cowl Instead of stashing away my Eco Duo (colorway: Koala), I immediately cast on for a neckwarmer. The alpaca and merino blend lends itself to next-to-skin wear. The yarn is unbelievably soft and lustrous -- many times, I had to remind myself that I was not working with a silk or cashmere yarn. The yarn flowed beautifully through my fingers, onto and off of my needles. A few accidental jabs through the yarn with my working needle did not result in any frays or disastrous splits. I experienced some minimal fiber shedding when knitting but that can be expected when the short fibers (mostly second cut alpaca fibers) work their way free in loosely spun, single ply yarns. After a soak in lukewarm water and Eucalan, any remaining loose fibers went out with the washwater. A fellow knitter brought up her concern about the pill-potential of the Eco Duo. If this was a 100% merino yarn, I would be concerned as well. However, the main fiber of Eco Duo is the alpaca and in my experience, alpaca yarns pill considerably less than their merino yarn counterparts. Alpaca yarns can also result in a dense, but very warm, fabric but the addition of merino in the Eco Duo creates a lighter, still warm, fabric that is less likely to lose its shape over time. At 197 yards (100 grams), one skein of Eco Duo is sufficient to make an indulgent (but inexpensive) accessory for yourself or as a gift. For my neckwarmer, I used all but about 5 yards of my Eco Duo (and I even altered the pattern to add more stitches and length). One skein would be sufficient to make a pair of gauntlets or even a hat. For me, I see a vest (or maybe a sweater) made out of Eco Duo in my future. . . (Editor's note: Eco Duo has been so popular, we are having a very hard time keeping it in stock. We have BAGS of it coming, when Cascade can get it! Please be patient)

Expand in 2010: The Elizabeth Zimmermann Green (Lost) Sweater KAL The Natural Stitches theme for this 2010 is ‘Expand Your Knitting or Crocheting Comfort Zone.’ Natural Stitches is here to help you do that! We recently received the “lost” Elizabeth Zimmerman Green Sweater pattern, and we were, to say the least, ecstatic. Most of the staff has already purchased a copy of the pattern. We have more copies of the pattern on order and they should be arriving soon. We thought this would be a perfect pattern for the above-mentioned expansion of new skills resolution, and decided to host a KAL, so that we have the support of, and can support, our fellow knitters. Be warned, fair readers: This pattern is neither for the faint of heart nor beginners. We do recommend that you be at the “intermediate” level in your knitting. (If you’re not sure if you’re “intermediate,” ask us and we will give you some guidance to help you out.) This sweater is knit from the bottom up, has a mitered hem, phony seams, a “kangaroo pouch” neckline, dolman sleeves, and (eek) steeks! It uses worsted weight yarn and size 6 or 8 needles (say it together now…”or size recommended to get gauge”). Want to read more about the sweater and the techniques used? Check out the Twist Collective here and here for how this sweater was re-discovered. Then read Jared Flood’s account of photographing the sweater on his blog. Finally, for some really excellent instructions on steeking, take a look at Eunny Jang’s tutorial. There are no rules for this KAL. You will be able to get help at the shop when you need it; just call ahead at 412-441-4410 to see if our KAL Hosts, Carla and Steven, will be available. We are also working on putting together a steeking demonstration – please watch for further details. Email shop@naturalstitches.com if you need more details or have questions about the knit along. Happy Knitting!

Fun Fact In 2009, we sold 3,372 skeins of Cascade 220, which totals 741,840 yards, or 421 miles! That’s enough yarn to stretch from here to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or Flint, Michigan!

From the entire staff of Natural Stitches, we wish you happy knits, creative crochets and splendid spinnings. And, as always, if there's anything we can do to help, just let us know!

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