Holiday Hours
In order for us to spend some time with our families, Quintessential Knits will be closed starting Friday, December 24th. We will reopen on Monday, January 3rd, 2022!
Until then, we're here to help with all your Christmas needs even if they happen to be self-indulgent ones like needing a new project to knit on during the festivities. We also have gift cards, notions, stocking stuffer ideas and tons of colorful, squishy yarn. Drop by and see us!
Additions to the Fam
... the family of yarns at the shop, that is. We've had quite a few new additions and we're going to highlight those in the next few emails/posts to go out.
Goodbye Intrepid Otter
Intrepid Otter is a colorful yarn line in both fingering and DK weight which has featured in our shop for some time. Cathy's color combos are 'uniquely playful' and we will miss them. She will no longer by dyeing yarns.
The good news, though, is we have purchased the last of Intrepid Otter's stock and it is priced and on the shelves in our store. We have some DK weight and quite a bit of Fingering weight in Shine!, Toes!, Twist! & Stripes! We have a colorful line-up of these playful yarns. The bad news - when they're gone, they're GONE!
A spattering of yarns shown here, tons more choices in the shop. Come see for yourself!
Hello Marie Wallin!
Marie Wallin is a stranded colorwork extraordinaire. If you aren't familiar with her designs do check out her website.
We have started carrying the full line of her British Breeds yarn. This fingering weight yarn is 100% British Wool made in the UK and comes in 20 beautiful soft muted colors. Marie Wallin's yarn page gives some really interesting information about the yarn content and how it is dyed. Fascinating read which you can find here.
Maybe a little scared of attempting an entire adult stranded colorwork sweater in fingering weight yarn? Marie has some beautiful hats, mitts and sock designs which would be good projects to start with. You get a feel for this gorgeous yarn and the amazing color palette and you get some immediate gratification... or some soon-ish gratification.
Welcome Primrose Homestead!
Primrose is a 100% superwash merino wool yarn that mimics handspun yarn but is milled and dyed in York, PA. This sport-weight yarn comes in 75g skeins of 250 yards total and we are carrying 12 colorways.
This yarn is beautiful in colorwork and can be paired nicely with our in-house Studio Q sport weight yarn. We have 21 colors now stocked ready for your next project.
Whipping up our WIPs
And now a WIP update. If you read our Horror Story in the Oct newsletter, you know how many works-in-progress we each had. Judy has her list whittled down to 17 WIPs now.
Yes, she is a speed-knitting demon but she also keeps re-evaluating her WIPs and frogging those which no longer interest her. She has finished an amazing amount of her knits however and we have included some here.
The Yume sweater designed by Isabell Kraemer was one - knit in our newly extended colors of Queensland United - it's a light-weight, crop sweater perfect for layering. It would add a little warmth and texture to your wardrobe and knits up quickly.
Queensland United is a 55% Lambswool 45% Cotton sport weight yarn and we carry the colors shown below. If you are enamored with the yarn but can't find a color you like, Judy is always happy to special order a color for you.
Another finished object in her line-up was the Ursa designed by Jacqueline Cieslak knit with our in-house yarn line Studio Q Keira Collection in the Carnation Colorway. Judy shortened the sleeves and reiterated the pattern from the body on to the sleeves.
The Studio Q Keira collection is a light worsted weight yarn in 100% Superwash Merino hand-dyed here in Washington. It comes in 9 bright and cheery colors.
My WIP count? Well, I am having un-successes. I finished a pair of socks and the second one was too long.... gotta rip back. Then I finished a t-shirt sweater which looks fabulous and fits great, but, alas, it's also too long. So, it got added back to the WIP pile. Sometimes that's the life of a knitter... one step forward, one step back... little progress to speak of.
Here's hoping you are moving forward on yours like Judy and not backwards like Megan!!
Book Additions
The latest Pom Pom Quarterly Magazine Issue No. 39 is in - we still have a couple left. Check out all the patterns in the Rhythm Issue here.
We also have in the latest Interpretations Volume 8, a collaboration by Joji Locatelli and Veera Valimaki based on six (6) inspirational words. View the pattern designs here.
Cherish by Marie Wallin is in. This book showcases 12 of her designs updated in the British Breeds color palette and includes 3 cardigans, 1 tunic/dress and 8 pullovers. 3 of the garments are all-over texture in a solid color. View the collection here.
Whoville Socks
We had so much success with the Whoville Sock box. Thanks to all who purchased the sock box and are enjoying the knitting. The classes on the Afterthought Heel and the Duplicate Stitch were a lot of fun and we had so many comments about the poem we published. Thanks for your responses. We are so grateful for each of our customers.
The Whoville Sock box is now on sale for 20% off if you were hoping for one but didn't grab it, or if you know a sock knitter that would love one. We still have a few boxes left.
We hope your holidays are bright and fun this year. Whatever your celebration looks like we hope you will find yourself surrounded by good family and friends and yummy food. Our wish for you this year is that amidst the fun and festivities, there will be time for you and your yarn.
Happy knitting!
Judy & Megan
