Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Startup Library Knitting on Craftsy & ZK Retreat 2017


Hi, Knitters,
I am so proud and excited to announce my newest Craftsy class today called Startup Library Knitting! Craftsy has started a new class series that are truly for the beginner. There are Startup Library classes in sewing, baking, watercolors, weaving, cake decorating, embroidery, and now knitting. Last May I spent a week at the Craftsy studio filming this new class.

I am offering a 50% off affiliate link to anyone interested in giving the class a try. 


I know that many of you already know how to knit or you probably wouldn't be reading this blog. But many of you, I'm sure, get asked to teach or teach others how to knit. If you are looking for a resource to recommend to new knitters or you want to get ideas for teaching new knitters this class will be a great resource. I really start from scratch and it is divided up so you can click on specific techniques for a quick view or refresher. 


Click on play to see the preview trailer for the Startup Library Knitting class!

It's like a dictionary for new knitters. You can quickly and easily look up any technique at a glance. I also have included three easy starter projects and patterns in the class, a pair of fingerless mitts, a textured cowl and a stripey hat. All of these are packed with important techniques for a new knitter to learn. 


After taking this class the new knitter will truly be ready to move on to other and more advanced projects. After viewing the class yesterday I can truly say that it is really well done and well organized. 



For another topic today, last weekend Barrett Wool Co. traveled to Rochester, Minnesota to vend for the first time. Megan and Amy, of the Stockinette Zombies podcast, were hosting their 5th annual Zombie Knitpocalypse Retreat. There were 200 attendees. It's a well-run and fun retreat that I can highly recommend. I started the weekend on Friday night as the guest speaker which was really fun.  

Then early Saturday morning we set up our Barrett Wool Co. booth for the first time. We had such a good time and we learned so much from this experience. It was a great place to start because the market was open for two hours in the morning just for retreat attendees and then there was a closed lunch break and then the market re-opened and included free admission for the public for two hours in the afternoon. 

It was fast and furious! Our booth was absolutely swamped the entire time. People were incredibly enthusiastic about Barrett Wool Co. yarns and seeing them in person for the first time. We had all 16 colors of our Home Collection yarns and a lot of our Wisconsin Woolen Spun yarns. It all flew off the shelves. 


My business partner and son, Evan, and his wife, Molly (formerly known as Miss Molly) were there checking people out and packaging up purchases in our signature printed bags. They did a great job and were so happy with the event. It was fun to have them with me. It was really a whirlwind of the best kind!


We brought along some Branches & Buds sweater kits in our Wisconsin Woolen Spun yarns and a few of them didn't sell so they are back up and available in the shop. These go really quickly so if you are interested hop on over and snag one for yourself. 



Here Molly is modeling the gorgeous Branches & Buds sweater! It is a winner, both fun to knit and even better to wear.

I'll be back soon with more, Knitters. I hope you are all doing well.
xo, susan

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

New Strata Hat + Winner!

photo courtesy of Vogue Knitting Magazine

Hi, Knitters,
I selected a winner for the skein of Wollmeise yarn! The winner is.....

Laurie Taylor or pgngrl (rav name)! 

Congratulations! I've contacted Laurie and I will get her skein right out in the mail. I will have another giveaway soon so check back. Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter to win. 

Now, today Vogue Knitting Magazine Early Fall 2017 is being sent out to subscribers today. The magazine will be available in retail stores on July 11, 2017. I am so excited that I have a design, Strata Hat, and an interview in this issue. The photography of my hat design is so beautiful. It is such a thrill for me to be included in this issue. I have read and loved this magazine for decades now. I remember way back when some of my first sweaters were knit from the Very Easy, Very Vogue magazine patterns. 



Click here to find out more about upcoming Vogue Knitting Live events!  I won't be in Seattle this fall as I'm teaching in Edmonton, Canada that same weekend. But I will be at Vogue Knitting Live in NYC in January, 2018. 


The Strata Hat is knit in one skein of Barrett Wool Co. Home Fingering Weight in the Wishing Well colorway. The yarn provides crisp stitch definition to play up all of the textured stitch patterns on the two side panels of the hat. The hat is worked from the bottom-up with a 1 by 1 twisted rib brim. The two textured stitch panels are separated by stockinette stitch sections.

The mitered earflaps are optional as they are picked up and added on after the hat is complete. I love the earflaps as they add so much texture and interest to the look of the hat. The entire hat is a fun and simple knit using only the knit and purl stitch. 

The Strata Hat is definitely unisex, too. 



There are so many great designs and designers in Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2017 including Kaffe Fassett, Norah Gaughan, Yoko Hatta, Kristen Tendyke, Sarah Hatton, Louisa Harding and many more. It's quite an impressive collection. 

Anyway, have a fantastic week ahead. I am teaching at KnitCircus on this coming Saturday, June 17. I think there are still a few spots left so if you are in the area come join in the fun. Then we move on to Father's Day, right after that it is my daughter's birthday, then I am speaking and vending at the Stockinette Zombie's retreat in Rochester, Minnesota! The busy-ness continues.

There is so much to look forward to for the rest of June. I know you are all busy, too, but let's remember to find the time to knit!

I'll be back soon with more.
xo ~ susan 

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Butterfly & Cocoon Kits!


Hi, Knitters,
Happy Sunday to you all! I am still taking entries to win the skein of Wollmeise yarn. 
Click here to enter. I will pick a winner in a couple of days!

I want to quickly let you know that I have a new kit available on Barrett Wool Co. They went up on Friday in the shop and they sold out really fast. We have just added a few more in the shop so if you want one act fast because there aren't that many left.



This pattern of mine originally appeared in Making Magazine No. 2 / Fauna, which is such a beautiful magazine. We sell all three issues of Making Magazine in the Mercantile on BWC. So if you purchase the kit you have options for the pattern: no pattern (if you already own it) included, or a Ravelry download code included, or the Making Magazine included.  


A little about the toys. Both the cocoon and butterfly is knit seamlessly from the bottom up. The original samples were knit in a sport weight yarn. The new samples are worked up in Home Fingering Weight, which is a heavier fingering weight yarn. I went down one needle size from what is recommended in the pattern. I knit the cocoons on a US 4 and the butterflies on a US 2. 


This worked out beautifully and the toys look and feel just wonderful. 


  • 25-gram skeins in the following colors of Home Fingering Weight: Ellie Gray, Wood Violet, Grassland, Priscilla, Field, Marmalade, Bluff and Picket Fence. Enough yarn is included to knit at least 3 butterflies and cocoons.
  • Three pairs of 6mm black safety eyes with plastic washers.
  • Black Pearl cotton for mouth and optional eye embroidery.
  • Tin of 20 colorful stitch markers.
  • Packaged in a hand-stamped cotton bag.
Okay, knitters, have a beautiful Sunday. I'll be back with much more soon....
xo, susan

Friday, June 09, 2017

Wollmeise, anyone?


Hi, Knitters,
First, I am teaching two classes at KnitCircus right here in good old Madison, Wisconsin, next weekend, Saturday, June 17, 2017. There are a few spots left and I would love to see you in class! Click here for more information!

As promised last week, I have a quick and fun giveaway for you today! I'm giving away a skein of one of the most sought after yarns in the history of yarns. I'm serious about that. Wollmeise is and insanely popular yarn. It is often hard to get unless you are sitting and waiting for an update and then you have to act fast. The yarn is from Germany and is known for its intense color and super tight and crisp stitch definition. It is so beautiful. 

I have had this oversized skein of Wollmeise (it's 150 grams/510 yards!) for few years and although I love it I've decided to share it with a lucky winner. It would make a fantastic shawl, or socks, lace, or even babywear due to the superwash element, etc. And although I can't remember how much I paid for it I think it was right around $40.  

Here is the yarn information:
Rohrspatz & Wollmeise, Twin (80% Merino Superwash/ 20% PA handgefarbt (nylon), 510 yards/150 grams. Colorway - Petite Poison Medium. Fingering weight. Suggested needle size 2.5 - 3mm or US 1-2.

To enter to win please leave one comment on this blog post. Be sure to leave your Ravelry username or an email address so I am able to contact you if you should win. I will be back in a few days to randomly select a winner! 

Good luck! You will LOVE this special and huge skein of yarn. It is a treat. 

Happy weekend.
xo ~ susan

Friday, June 02, 2017

Mittens in June & more kits!


Hi, Knitters,
I hope you are all doing well. We have lots of action going on at our house this week and upcoming weekend. So much so that I haven't had a lot of time to knit. I have some new designs in the works though, so that is fun.

I want to let you all know that we have lots of some of our most popular kits in the shop over on Barrett Wool Co. right now. Just last night we posted more of our Three Color Bulky Twist Mitten Kits in the shop! This is one of our favorites.



The Three French Hens Kit has also just been listed again! You can purchase the kit with or without the Taproot magazine where the pattern appears. The pattern is only available in the magazine right now. 



Our super popular Owen Hat Kit comes with the yarn, the pattern, and a beautiful polka-dot handmade pom-pom to top off your hat. The pom-poms are made by yours truly! 

There are three different color choices for this hat kit.

Two color version of the Owen Hat Kit in blue!

Two color version of the Owen Hat Kit in red!


We have Mary Jane Mucklestone's gorgeous Wildflowers Cap Kit from Making Magazine No. 1 / Flora in stock, too! The kit can be purchased with or without the magazine, or with a Ravelry download code for the pattern or without any pattern included and just the yarn.


There are several color choices for this kit, as well. 



The hat and photo of the hat above is by @kellythecarelesscat


Lastly, we have some of the Flower Fairy & Leaf Sprite Kits available! This might be my favorite kit. It's just so sweet.


Enjoy your weekend ahead everyone! I'm planning on a fun giveaway next week here on the blog so be sure to check back if you are interested. The weather is beautiful here so I plan to get outside and I hope you can get some fresh air, too.

xo ~ susan