Charley Harper Fabric!

Charley Harper was a great American Modernist artist.  During his career, he illustrated many books, prints, and posters. The artist called his style "minimal realism."  He rendered his subjects, usually wildlife, with the fewest possible visual elements.  He was often quoted as saying, "When I look at a bird, I don't see the feathers in the wings, I just count the wings."   If you are a fan of Harper AND a quilter/seamstress, you will be delighted to know Birch Fabrics has a line of "Charley Harper Fabric - Western Birds."

   

 

Whether or not you remember the artist from the late 20th century, you may be intrigued by seeing his art in fabric.  The Stitchin' Den recently added these delightful designs to our fabric collection in the quilt shop.  Pictured are a few of the Charley Harper fabrics we carry:

Magpies

Burrowing Owls

Perch-In

Western Birds

    

Western Tanger

Cactus Wren

Mountain Bluebirds

Come check out these beautiful fabrics at The Stitchin' Den.  This fabric line will make beautiful quilts and clothing!  (P.S.: We also have in stock a canvas version of Western Birds AND 108-inch-wide backing fabric!)

Happy New Year!

Families have gathered, the carols are sung, and the gifts are unwrapped.  Now it is time to ring in the new year!  In anticipation of 2018, many are thinking about New Year Resolutions.  Perhaps you've made some of your resolutions....exercise more, eat healthier and lose those extra pounds.  You know...those promises we make to ourselves every year. 


But....have you made your really important resolutions?  Your fiber arts resolutions?  Many of us let our fiber arts interests take a back seat in our life, and they end up being neglected.  If you often wish you had more time to quilt, needlepoint, knit or pursue another fiber art interest, do yourself a favor. Make a resolution to make this happen in 2018. 


Do you want to learn something new this year?  Our class schedule has recently been published and includes a knitted and felted bag, hats, sweaters, afghans and mosaic knitting.  The Stitchin' Den has recently added punch needle rug hooking supplies to our collection.  Such beautiful results!  Stop in and see our sample and supplies.  This might be the new needlework you would like to learn this year. Check out our website for a complete listing of classes.  If you don't see a class for what you want to learn, call us and we will create a class for you.

Your 2018 resolution doesn't have to involve taking a class and learning a new skill, but perhaps you want to pursue a personal goal...Is this the year you're going to do major stash busting?  Knit or crochet your first sweater?  Finish the needlepoint you started 3 years ago?  Crochet one scarf a month?  Quilt a table runner for your dining room?  Gift your son and new daughter-in-law with a needlepoint commemorating their wedding day?  Knit, crochet, or sew a blanket for your first (or second or third!) grandchild?  

At the beginning of 2017, I resolved to knit one hat a month.  I made my goal!  If I hadn't made that resolution, I would not have used so much stash yarn.  I would not have been so diligent in spending time knitting.  I would not have learned several new knitting techniques.  Most important, I not have gained that great feeling of accomplishment.   

Do yourself a favor and make your own fiber arts resolution.  I guarantee it will increase your productivity and grant you a great deal of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.

Susan and the Stitchin' Den staff hope you had a good year in 2017 and wish you a great 2018!

Happy Thanksgiving!  The Stitchin' Den staff wishes you a very special day with family and friends.  Take time to relax today, because we all know what comes next...holiday madness, filled with shopping, stitching, decorating, stitching and entertaining.

Come to Estes Park and avoid the crazy crowds of department and discount stores.  As you stroll the streets of town, you will hear Christmas music, meet Santa Claus and other holiday characters, and visit many unique stores.  The annual Christmas parade is Friday night on the main street of town. 

Visit The Stitchin' Den while you're in town.  We want to make your holiday shopping easy...and save you money!  

Visit us on "Black Friday" and save 20% on our local yarns...

                Mountain Meadow yarn from Wyoming is on sale!
                MJ yarn from Lafayette, Colorado is on sale!
                Chimera yarn from Bennett, Colorado is on sale!
                Willow Creek yarn from Estes Park is on sale!
                Storyteller yarn from Estes Park is on sale!
                Have you noticed we have a lot on SALE!!
  
Susan has NEVER put these yarns on sale.  Don't miss this one day opportunity to save money and support local yarn companies.

Join us on November 25, Small Business Saturday, for a special promotion from Plymouth Yarn Company.  The first 10 customers who make an in-store purchase of $50 on Plymouth yarn will receive a coupon for $20 off their next $50 purchase of Plymouth yarn products.

Monday, November 27th is Cyber Monday, when you can put your feet up and do some online shopping.  Make at least a $100.00 purchase from our online store (www.thestitchinden.com) and receive free shipping by using the code: CYBER100.  

We hope to see you soon!

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins...

If you were/are a fan of Dr. Suess, you recognize the title of his much loved children's book, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.   Do you suppose Bartholomew's mother was a knitter or crocheter?

Take a look at hats on Ravelry and you will discover Bartholomew had nothing on Ravelry.  If one were to write a book about Ravelry's hats, it would be titled "The 104,000 Hats of Ravelry."  I do not exaggerate.  There are about 67,000 knitted hat patterns on Ravelry and 37,000 crocheted hat patterns.  Here is another interesting fact:  31,230 of those hat patterns are free.  Stitchers will never run out of hat patterns!  And better yet, with all those free patterns, you can spend more money on yarn!

I have spent a great deal of time looking at hat patterns on Ravelry this year. My knitting resolution for 2017 was to knit knit 52 hats in a year, 52 weeks.  This has been a challenge which I will meet.  I am right on target to have my 52nd hat done by January 1, 2018.  Ravelry is a great resource for hat projects, but also, a distraction.  I can spend hours looking at all those hat projects!   Take a look....you'll see what I mean.

I embarked on this challenge for several reasons:
   1.  To overcome my extreme "Startitis".  You see, I so love starting new projects, I rarely finish knitting items.  There is always a new, exciting project waiting for me!  Working toward this knitting goal has really given me a taste of the satisfaction one gets when a project is finished.
   2.  To use up stash yarn.  This goal has met with mixed results.  When I go to work at The Stitchin' Den, the temptation of buying new yarn is ever present.  But I have made a dent in my stash, clearing space for new yarn!
    3.  To knit Christmas gifts before the middle of November.  This has been accomplished!
If you're on my Christmas list, count on receiving a hat!
This was a fun New Year's Resolution for me.  You may want to try it in 2018!

Visit The Stitchin' Den this month to get inspired to knit/crochet a hat for that special someone on your Christmas list.  Our project of the month for November is hats, which means you can shop online or in the store and receive 25% off patterns and yarn to knit or crochet a hat.  What a deal...your chance to gift a unique handmade gift AND save money.  There are only a few weeks until Christmas, but you still have time to make a hat for someone special.  Hats are a quick, useful and much appreciated gift.  You do not have to craft as many hats as Bartholomew Cubbins wore, Ravelry has, or I made, but you have time for a couple head warmers.

Happy Hat Stitching!

Write Haiku to win HiKoo

Journey back in your mind to your school days.  Next, zero in on English class.  Do you remember learning how to write Haiku, the ancient Japanese poetry form?  If not, let me refresh your memory...

A Haiku poem has 17 syllables and 3 lines.  The first and third lines contain 5 syllables each, and the second line has 7 syllables.  Haiku poems generally do not rhyme.  Nature is often, but not always, the subject of Haiku.  Perhaps seeing an example will refresh your memory.  This is a Haiku written by Basho Matsuo in the 1600's: 

An old silent pond

a frog jumps into the pond,

Splash! Silence again.

You are probably wondering why a crafting blog is presenting a lesson on poetry.  There is a good reason!  Skacel yarn company, producer of HiKoo® yarns, is sponsoring a Haiku contest.  I'm writing about the contest because we at the Stitchin' Den want one of our customers to win the prize...$500 worth of HiKoo® yarn.  Imagine the exciting projects you could knit or crochet with $500 worth of yarn! All you need to do is write the winning Haiku, submit it by December 15th, 2017, and redeem your prize at the Stitchin' Den. 

Here is a modern example of a Haiku poem, written by Skacel yarn company:
                                
                                       HiKoo® yarn is great.
                                   My needles are addicted. 
                                 Must feed them more yarn.

Some of our favorite HiKoo® yarns are Simplinatural, Kenzie, CoBaSi, Sueno, Rylie, and Luma.  Stop in, check out these yarns, write 17 syllables, and win!

For more information and an entry form, stop in at the shop or go to www.HikooHaiku2017.com.

Good Luck! 

You still have time...

to save 25% on our October Specials.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, you can save 25% on anything pink!  This special includes yarns, fabric, stitching threads, buttons, and notions.   Choose any pink item, and save 25% through October 31st.  Here is a sampling of  Stitchin' Den pink:  

Our other October special is Christmas ornaments and stockings...all for 25% off!  Christmas will be here before you know it, so it's time to start crafting that special something for your loved ones.  

For me, decorating the Christmas tree is a heart-warming time, an occasion to remember people associated with a special ornament.....Grandma crocheted those snowflake ornaments; Dad carved those wooden ornaments; Child #1 made that angel out of a toilet paper roll in Kindergarten.  Oh, I could go on and on!  (My children will vouch for that!)  But, you know what?  Those children have started telling their own "ornament stories."  That's the magic of Christmas decorating.  

So what will you add to your family's Christmas memories this year?  The Stitchin' Den is here to help you find just the right thing for 25% off this month!

My sister gifted my children with a new handmade ornament each year, so as they go  out on their own, they have the ornaments and the stories.  A new ornament is always a welcome hostess gift.  We have a selection of kits from Mill Hill and Val's Stuff for you to stitch up for some lucky recipient.  Here are just 2 examples of ornament kits:

          

Did a new baby join your family this past year?  Or did you gain a daughter-in-law?  If so, you need a new Christmas stocking.   We have many patterns and kits  to knit, crochet, cross stitch or needlepoint a stocking for a new member of your family.  

It's all about the stitch!

Have you admired placemats, scarves or other items knit with the Linen Stitch?  The Linen Stitch is easy to master and quick to impress!  It creates a very pretty, dense texture that looks like woven fabric.

               

The Linen Stitch is always worked on an even number of stitches.  It consists of 2 rows:
               Row 1:  *K1, slip1 with yarn in front.  Repeat from *to last stitch, K1.
               Row 1:  *P1, slip 1 with yarn in back.  Repeat from *to last stitch, P1.
              
              Repeat these 2 rows for pattern.  When slipping stitches, always slip as if to purl.
              

Yes,  that's all there is to it!  Now you see how easily  this stitch could be mastered!   If you worry you might get bored with these two rows, add some fun to the stitch by adding color. You can use as many colors as you wish.  Have fun changing the look of a project by changing the color scheme.

If you choose to work in a single color, you will create a solid fabric with texture.  The wrong side looks like Seed Stitch, creating a reversible fabric, great for scarves.  Knit with two colors and alternate colors every two rows.  Two colors really enhance the woven effect. Choose three or more colors, and you will make a speckled fabric, an option that might be great for stashbusting.   Using colors allows you to see how colors work together...don't be shy about making your own combinations!   Linen Stitch allows you to use as few or as many colors as you wish.  Do you have some variegated yarn you would like to use?   It will look nice in Linen stitch.
  
Linen Stitch is lovely in fine yarns;  more graphic in bulky yarns.   Available patterns include home projects and projects for both men and women.  Following are some free Linen Stitch patterns available on Ravelry:

       The Mini Mania Scarf
                                                       by Sara Core requires Fingering Yarn.   

                                                         



  


Linen Stitch Wristwarmers
     by Pepii require Sport Weight Yarn.




Next time you visit the shop, don't miss our "Linen Stitch Scarf" model by Fiberlicious. This beautiful scarf is knit in 5 colors of  "Colors by Kristin."  Choose one of these patterns and give the Linen Stitch a try.  You'll be glad you did.