Show Us Your Shawl Our Summer of Socks and Lace contest is right around the corner! We were so inspired by the amazing shawls that were brought in and we hope that you were, too. If you missed it, visit our blog here, here, here and here for pictures, including yarn and pattern details. DEFINITELY click to see the big version of this picture, it's stunning!

What’s New We have new colors of Cascade Eco Plus! Now you can have the great value of Cascade’s Ecological Wool in a wide variety of colors. We’re thrilled to carry the latest in Lorna’s Laces Color Commentary Series: Grand Street Ink by Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed. Too many projects, not enough needles? We just received a new shipment of cords for Addi Clicks in 24- and 32-inch lengths, plus we have Click tips. Just in time for Summer of Socks and Lace, we have new colors of Brown Sheep Company’s Legacy Lace, including a stunning red and a rich purple. Have you seen our newest cotton yarn from Universal Yarns, Cotton Supreme Batik? It’s perfect for summer knitting! And if that’s not enough, we just received Malabrigo’s new book, “Malabrigo 3,” featuring eighteen patterns from Stephen West, Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark and more! Congratulations to April’s winner of our “Bring Your Own Bag” contest, Martina P.! Finally, we’re excited to introduce our new crochet teacher, Amy! Amy has dabbled in every craft that can be accomplished with yarn, thread, needles and hooks, but crochet is her craft of choice. Motifs, lace and interesting stitch patterns are her current passions, as well as trying to figure out which tasks are best suited to crochet vs. knitting. Amy continues to learn new techniques and looks forward to sharing her favorite things about crochet with the crocheters (and hopefully some knitters, too) that frequent Natural Stitches!

What are you knitting? Anna's Hat Anna: I just finished a Sweet Baby Cap out of some leftover sock yarn because I'm bedridden and worried that the new baby won't have anything special to wear home from the hospital. I'm also knitting a soaker from Maggie Broderick's “Knitting Wool Diapers Covers from Start to Finish.” Nora: I went a little nuts since hearing early this year that Mission Falls (MF) yarn company is closing. BTW, did you know 1824 (MF cotton or wool) stands for the gauge? It knit to 18 stitches by 24 rows on US #7 for a 4" swatch! Clever, isn't it? As a result, a large stash of MF followed me home from the shop recently. I just cast on for Posy from MF Illustrator (a vest, although I will probably wear it as a summer tank top) as I am using the MF 1824 Cotton. The original was a sage green which does not work with my skin, so my background color is a sky blue and the "posy" is black & white. It is one big flower placed on the bottom at the hem & side seam with embroidery detail. I have a really nice stash of MF now...enough for two more vests, a bolero and a cardi and, with a little creativity, some accessories. The twinset (tank and shrug) I knit years ago has held up beautifully and is still very chic. So be warned! If you want MF, get it while it lasts (currently on the sale rack at Natural Stitches along with most of the patterns). Yvonne: Do you really want to know? Oh, wait...ONE project...the Lauriel pattern from Little Red in the City by Ysolda Teague, using Mountain Colors' Weavers Wool. I've recently bound off the body and am ready to start the sleeves! I'm looking forward to some mindless stockinette and not knitting in the back loop for a while. Martha: I'm knitting a sample for the shop out of Pagewood Farm's Verano called "Growing Leaves Scarf.” It's a lovely variegated cotton that I hope to have a review for the next newsletter. I have a zillion other things on the needle as well, all clamoring for attention. Jenn: I’m still knitting away on my Simple Trekking Socks, plus I’m knitting Multnomah as a gift. Jack: I'm working on Haruni using a black and teal fingering weight Zauberball.

Class Spotlight by Carla With summer coming up, that can only mean one thing: our annual Summer of Socks and Lace contest! If you would like to participate but aren’t sure if your skills are up to the challenge, we have some suggestions for you. For crocheters who would love to learn to do lace, check out Amy’s Lace Scarf class. If reading patterns and charts isn’t something that you are confident of, then try out her Pattern and Chart Reading class. For knitters, there is Carla’s Foaming Waves Shawl class that will get you started on your first lace project for the summer. If you’re feeling more apprehensive, check out her Beginning Lace or her Lace Above and Beyond classes. Carla also has a Pattern and Chart Reading class if that’s the help you need. Knitters: Don't forget David's Lace workshop on June 19th! We also have classes for the sock knitters! Carla offers several sock classes that will get you on your way to toasty toes next winter. There’s the Socks Part 1 & 2, All in One Sock class, Socks Every Which Way and Power Knitting Socks. If scheduled times for the class you want to take don’t work with your schedule, remember that any two-hour class can be taken in the Student’s Choice class times. Be sure to check out our class calendar and the list of all our classes on our web site. See you in the winner's circle!

Shetland Trader Summer Knit-along! By Monica It's amazing how quickly 2011 has gone by so far - many new and exciting things have come to Natural Stitches already this year. We've seen lovely yarns made of soft, beautiful fibers with breath-taking dyes, and trendy patterns that are sure to catch anyone's eye. This time, I was given the opportunity to pick our next knit-along. I knew the one as soon as the pattern booklet came in - the Laar cardigan from Gudrun Johnston's Shetland Trader Book 1. Laar, knit by Ravelry user kristinev Laar, which translates to "light breeze of wind" in the old Shetland language, is an airy, light-weight cardigan with feminine details knit with lace yarn. To me, this seemed perfect for summertime knitting. It is knit from the bottom-up in one piece, with size 6 needles, with a simple lace-detailed yoke. Before you think, "wait a minute, there's no way that I'd ever do a garment with lace-weight!"... remember this: One, you'd be working with needles quite a bit bigger than the yarn; two, you'd have a gorgeous addition to your wardrobe when you're done. Remember also that typically, lace-weight yarn comes in high-yardage skeins, so you’re not making a huge investment to get what you need for this top. The yarn originally called for in the pattern is the Jaggerspun Zephyr (wool and silk blend), which we carry in a stunning array of colors for a great price. Or imagine this knit up in the rich hues of the tosh lace. Come see what tickles your fancy – Abstract Fibers, Natural Dye Studio, to name a few others – we have something that you’re sure to fall in love with. We also currently have a good supply of the Shetland Trader booklets, so come in and get your copy! (The pattern is also available for individual purchase via Ravelry.com. The knit-along “officially” starts June 1st and since Laar contains a lace panel, it will be eligible for the Summer of Socks and Lace contest. This will be a great intermediate-level project to have in your knitting bag for the warmer months! We hope you will join us and keep your needles clicking all summer long.

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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