p.y. knits

Robbie the Love-bot

2012-02-01T13:31:00.005-05:00

Happy February. I wanted to do something happy for the shop window and this is what I came up with.

He is Robbie the Love-bot for Valentines Day. I love his big eyes and warm heart... he can blow kisses...

And he ponders the idea of what Valentines Day is about... or is he signaling for you to call him?

Not too sure but either way he certainly has made many people smile as they walk past today. Come in for the pattern & yarn and make your own Robbie, what kind of 'bot' will he (or she) be for you?

The pattern is Robbie the Radiant Robot designed by Rebecca Danger & I used Spud & Chloe Sweater yarn. We also have safety eyes available at the shop behind the counter. Just ask.

Welcome 2012

2012-01-18T17:00:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! So far 2012 has been very promising with new yarns, patterns and exciting knit inspiration!

To kick it off we received new colors in Spud & Chloe Sweater which are gorgeous:

Chocolate Milk

Lilac

Manatee

They are great heathered yarns which are perfect for adults and children alike. As always, Spud & Chloe is machine washable & dry in a lovely cotton/wool blend.

We also received a bunch of new patterns from Churchmouse like Annabelles Cowl,

which is a gorgeous cowl that can be made using Manos del Uruguays Silk Blend & Kidsilk Haze. The simplistic beauty of this cowl has inspired a few color combinations like

The options of silky Manos multi's with soft cloudy kidsilk haze are almost endless. I look forward to casting on soon and seeing what combination inspires you! Happy 2012!

Holiday Knits: A Last Minute Guide

2011-12-13T17:50:00.018-05:00

The holidays are just around the corner and suddenly I feel the need to knit for people and have so little time left. If you get that feeling too, here are some great last-minute knitting ideas that can be done in a few hours to a few days.

When you think Christmas, you think "toys"! Patricia's Yarns has many great toy patterns for that special little one (or husband) in your life. We have animals, monsters, dinosaurs, and puppets. And yes, we even have the classic teddy bear. These knit up quickly and will put a smile on any kid' s face - no matter the age.

Our own scarf, knit up in Rowan Alpaca Chunky, is a super-quick knit that can be done in just a few hours. Two skeins on size 17 needles makes a beautiful holiday gift in no time - & the button makes it look really cute!

Another quick knit are mittens in Toboggan yarn from Classic Elite. Our customer, Karen, was in the shop on Sunday & finished a mitten in less than 4 hours!

From the runways to the red carpets, infinity scarves and chunky cowls are everywhere! And the best reason to love them? They can be knit up really quickly! Pick a chunky yarn, use some big needles and you're almost there...

Margaux (a.k.a. tentenknits) designed the Luxe Cowl using 2 skeins of big wool on size 13 needles and it knits up in no time. This is a great option for a friend, co-worker, or sister.

Margaux is great for knit inspiration and she does have a few other cowl patterns that are very worth mentioning:

The Felicity Cowl is a gorgeous design that uses Road to China Light from the Fibre Co. (a shop fave) and is a relatively quick knit using just 2 hanks.

And if that isn't enough, the Fifth Avenue Infinity Scarf is a true classic! Knit out of Canopy Worsted yarn (also from the Fibre Co.), this is a wonderful knit. When complete, you might want to keep this for yourself or give to someone very special.

Finally, our book, "Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater", makes a great gift! Read more about it at www.curseoftheboyfriendsweater.com

And, we are, once again, selling sheep in the shop - paper sheep, that is, for Heifer International. Each sheep is $1 and will make a world of difference for a family in need this holiday season.

If you are still unsure, we have plenty of pattern suggestions in the shop. So drop by because all you need is a few hours over a few days to start - & finish - all of your gift knitting! Looking forward to seeing you! Happy Holidays!

Holiday Update

2011-12-08T21:32:00.008-05:00

In addition to Twelve (weekend) Days of Christmas (see below) Patricia's Yarns has many other exciting things happening this holiday season.

For starters, we are once again selling sheep. No, not the kind that makes all of our delightfully warm wool, instead the kind made of paper. That's right, paper. Buy a sheep for a dollar, write your name on it, and we will hang it in the shop for all to see. And the best part? All proceeds benefit Heifer International. They will use the money to help families purchase real live sheep to help keep them clothed and warm.

If you are in the neighborhood, stop by to see the Classic Elite Toboggan Trunk Show. It is currently on display at the shop and full of vibrant colors, perfect to keep you smiling on dark, cold winter days. Toboggan is a chunky yarn that is great for quick holiday knits of scarves, hats, and sweaters. Come to Patricia's, get inspired this holiday season.

Finally, if you are looking for gifts, look no further than our new book, Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater! Makes a great holiday gift. Click here to purchase.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everyone!

Join Us

2011-11-11T21:05:00.004-05:00

...for the Twelve (weekend) Days of Christmas! From now until the day Saint Nick dons his red scarf, Patricia's Yarns will be celebrating! Every Saturday and Sunday will be like receiving a new gift in your hand-knit stocking. One Saturday might bring a sale on your favorite yarn and the next might be that perfect class you've been hoping to take. Some days we might offer sweet treats and others offer a glass of bubbly. So join us for some holiday cheer!

To kick off the fun, we are having our favorite girls, Kate and Courtney, owners of Kelbourne Woolens, distributors of the gorgeous Fibre Co. Yarns, visit us tomorrow. We are always excited to have them visit!

To sign up for our Twelve (weekend) Days of Christmas, simply "like" us on Facebook and/or follow us on twitter. We will make announcements each weekend day. We can't promise you a Partridge in a pear tree, but we can promise you purls.

Happy Holidays!

Love,

Patricia

Alpaca Chunky Softness

2011-10-25T21:49:00.009-04:00

Since the fall shipment from Rowan has arrived their new yarn Alpaca Chunky has called out to me to be knit. The book Winter Warmers has a lot of inspiration but I wanted to make something super easy and quick. I thought of the Feroche Brioche that Margaux of tentenknits designed in 2008 and thought what if we did garter stitch, longer & added buttonholes but only 1 button. Viola, the Alpaca Chunky scarf/infinity was born.

Above it is worn tight to the neck with the button holding it together. You can double it over & pull the ends through, or make it a longer infinity scarf thanks to the button & buttonholes. You can make it with a bunch of different chunky yarns like Rowan Big Wool or Toboggan from Classic Elite.

Come by and try it on!

Patricia's Yarns goes to Rhinebeck!

2011-10-18T11:53:00.005-04:00

There's so much I want to say about this trip but I will sum it up in one way: Knitters, our community, what we do, who we are, how we create - is flat out AMAZING. I am so lucky to be amongst so many wonderful people. - Margaux (a.k.a. Tentenknits)

Fall Update

2011-10-12T14:05:00.011-04:00

This poor blog has been neglected, but only because so much yarn has come in there has been too little time to post.

New from Rowan this fall, Alpaca Chunky

Think Lima meet Big Wool: chunky & soft as can be

New colors for Big Wool:

Rowan Cocoon - a shop favorite in naturals & saturated colors.

From the Fibre Co, Acadia... it is just gorgeous.

Road to China Light, also from the Fibre Co.

And finally, an explosion of Chunky Baby Alpaca from Misty Alpaca,

Stop by the shop to see and feel for yourself!

Just in from Classic Elite

2011-09-11T11:58:00.007-04:00

Fall is an exciting time at the shop as deliveries come frequently bringing wonderful new yarns. This week we received a 46 lb box from Classic Elite - my heart did flutter a little as the yarns are so soft and the colors so beautiful.

This is Toboggan, a chunky alpaca & merino blend that is super soft - above are half of the colors we received. It has a pattern book which has adorable sweaters & a beautiful cowl pattern in it.

The cowl takes just two skeins and is a great fast knit for yourself or to give away... early holiday knitting anyone?

We also received a sampling of Silky Alpaca Lace in neutral colors which are so soft and beautiful.

The soft colors work really well to make the Lowell Cowl, a free pattern from Classic Elite which is currently on display in our front window on the mannequin. Come by & see it for yourself.

Finally we brought back Kumara from last fall as it is a gorgeous camel & mohair yarn. It is soft and has great stitch definition, perfect for cables.

Come by and feel the softness!

Summer Vacation 2011

2011-09-08T14:00:00.017-04:00

This summer we took a trip to a rather remote part of France, Le Vernet.

It was a very relaxing and peaceful place to visit. The village we stayed in was over 300 years old and gorgeous. Our daily drives would give us views like this...

and this...

as we drove on roads like this...

It was nothing less than amazing. Below is the village of Le Vernet at night.

Here is the view from our bedroom...

I didn't get in as much knitting as I had hoped- but that is what happens when you take a 13 month old on vacation.

We went wine tasting and Grace took to helping with the bottle carrier.

Below are just a few more of our favorite photos from the trip.

We are very grateful to our friends Ash, Brittany, and Andy for a wonderful vacation. We are also excited to be home, well rested, and ready for a great 2011 fall season!

A Celebration of 7 Years!

2011-08-07T19:49:00.007-04:00

Patricia's Yarns celebrated 7 years in business on Thursday August 4th, 2011. Thank you to all of our wonderful customers who came by to help us celebrate - as well as all of you who have been with us since 2004!

In honor of our seventh anniversary, we had a sale as well as a few raffle prizes. The prizes were donated by Patricia, Spud and Chloe, Blue Sky Alpacas, and the Fibre Company.

Our daughter, Grace, was very excited to choose the winners...

Once again, thank you to all of our loyal and wonderful customers. We look forward to many more great years in Hoboken, NJ!

A special thank you to Jason and Jeff for bringing the champagne on Sunday- as well as Margaux for her long distance celebration.

Also, please note that Fall shipments will be arriving soon and we will have a new class schedule for September. We will be resuming our Yarn of the Month for September as well. Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer, and, of course, happy knitting!

wheee.....

2011-07-15T14:48:00.008-04:00

Shop deliveries in the summer are not as frequent as in fall however, they are really good right now.

30 colors of Madelinetosh Merino Light are in...

Ysolda Teagues long awaited book Little Red in the City has arrived...

The book is amazing as it is part pattern book and part reference with tutorials as to how to make the sweater patterns fit you and your body type. It also has so many tips and tricks for improving your knitting everyone can learn something from this wonderful book. It is absolutely worth adding to your knit library. Oh, and in the back there is a scratch off to your unique code to download your e-book. It is amazing. We love Ysolda!

TNNA 2011

2011-06-14T08:08:00.004-04:00

This years TNNA was fantastic. The show floor was full of so many beautiful new products it was hard to decide what to say "yes" to!

It is always a great time to reconnect with so many people like Beth & Michael at Lorna's Laces, Rhichard & Taiu at Koigu, Stacy Charles and the Fibre Company ladies, Kate Gagnon Osbourne & Courtney Kelley.

It was also exciting to meet designers. Hannah Fettig of Knitbot was at the Fibre Co booth and she is putting out a new book with Alana Dakos (and it looks amazing). Meylinda Bernardi, of French Press Knits was there with her adorable little girl. I was thirlled to meet Jill Zielinski of Knitterella whose gift tags we stock. It is so nice to meet the people behind the product and then to have great conversation makes supporting their business even better.

The unexpected meeting was Barbara Walker. She was sat in a little booth away from the mayhem promoting her new DVD and was there to talk to whomever came by. Well Margaux and I pulled up chairs and chatted her ear for just a few amazing minutes. She is sweet and everything I expected.

There will be more than a handful of new yarns coming into the shop, Honour from Lorna's Laces, Swans Island and a few surprises - you'll just have to wait and see!

Katydid Retro Redux Shrug

2011-05-14T17:23:00.006-04:00

Love this, love this, love this! This is an amazing four season garment, a shrug you can wear in summer, fall, even winter. It is in the beautiful book, Lace Style, and is knit with a lovely new yarn at Patricia's, Katydid. Katydid is a tape yarn made of 100% organic cotton - though you could use many yarns for this project. Matched with a skirt for work, or jeans for the weekend, this a gorgeous pattern with unlimited possibilities!

Stop by the shop to see for yourself.

Happy Knitting!

Knitspiration 2011

2011-05-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

Here are a few of the many finished objects from 2011... so far. Hope this adds some knitspiration to your day.

Blue Sky's Poly Pullover
Chris's first sweater. That's right, his first. Well done, Chris!
Jeff's Koigu baby blanket.
With Love from Norway hat, free online.
And, of course, our favorite little monster, knit in Lorna's Laces Unicorn Parade. Thank you to all of our wonderful knitters! Of course, there are many more to come. Happy Knitting!

Spring Knits

2011-04-23T12:20:00.007-04:00

Looking for spring knitting ideas? Here are a few of our shop favorites...
Above is the February Sweater from Elizabeth Zimmerman, perfect for that little one in your life. Another great baby knit is the Mac & Me Outer Baby Blanket, below, knit in Spud and Chloe. This is possibly the most requested pattern in the shop.

"Kermit", as Patricia calls him, below, is the perfect project for those looking for something different. If knitting makes you happy, knitting toys makes you especially happy - or should we say "hoppy"?
Scarves, shawls and cowls are always in style and Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend, below, in all of its gorgeous colors, is perfect for your next spring cowl.
Speaking of "neckware" Patricias pick is called Springtime Bandit, a pattern by Kate Osborne of the Fibre Co. This project is knit up in Alpaca with a Twist, doubled. No surprise that this pattern has also become a shop favorite.New to Patricia's Yarns is Schulana Sierra from Skacel. This cotton and silk blend is wonderful for baby booties.

Of course, if you still can't decide what to make, you can always choose a beautiful yarn for any warm weather project. May we suggest Blue Sky Cotton Worsted. It comes in an array of colors that even the Easter Bunny would be jealous of and did we mention it is also 15% off for the month of April? - It is the Yarn of the Month!Happy Knitting!

Springtime at Patricia's

2011-04-10T13:10:00.009-04:00

At Patricia's Yarns, we love spring! We love the outdoor seating at Hoboken restaurants, the small flower boxes in shop windows, and, of course, spring knits!

Featured in the picture above is Grace modeling the Louise Cardigan, knit in solid koigu kpm. The pattern is from the book Vintage Baby Knits, a shop favorite.

Patricia knit up her favorite new spring shawl called Springtime Bandit, a pattern by Kate Gagnion Osborne of the Fibre Co. We love all things Fibre Company, especially their new book, Vintage Modern Knits, which contains two more beautiful shawl patterns.

Below are a few more warm weather inspired photos...

Happy Knitting!

Sprout in Spring

2011-04-02T14:40:00.004-04:00

Spring is in the air. Hoboken restaurants have opened their outdoor seating, flowers are growing along 11th street, and luxuriously soft cotton yarns are taking their rightful place in the cubbies at Patricia's.

The quick, fun-to-make, and simple baby blanket, above, was made with Classic Elite's Sprout Yarn. It is the perfect pattern for that new little one in your life. It was knit on 10 & 1/2's and used two skeins, one of each color. Made of 100% soft organic cotton.

The pattern was made by Patricia and is free for our customers. Stop by today.

April's Yarn of the Month

2011-04-01T18:55:00.004-04:00

April's Yarn of the Month is the feather soft and beautiful Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton yarns. We carry them in a color pallet Monet would envy. So drop by the shop and pick up a skein, perfect for baby sweaters, baby blankets, or spring scarves. Take 15% off all of Patricia's Yarn's Yarns of the Month.

Also, don't forget to vote for May's Yarn of the Month. Happy Knitting!

Yarns of Cakes and Other Sweet Hoboken Treats

2011-03-06T16:32:00.013-05:00

Do you know the Cake Boss?

It seems you can't live in Hoboken without answering this question.

Having lived in Hoboken for eleven years, we met Buddy Valastro before he was "The Cake Boss". We remember when Carlo's Bakery was a great place to grab a wonderful cup of coffee on the way to the PATH train. Now Hobokenites must make their way through the throngs of people in line to meet Hoboken's latest celebrity in an effort to make our trains on time. And more power to Buddy. After all, he has taken his family-owned bakery and turned it into a multi-million dollar media empire. He has also helped to put Hoboken on the map for the millions of viewers of his Cake Boss television show.

We talked to Buddy this Saturday at Hoboken's Annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade and found him pleasant, genuine, and still very down-to-earth. He is, and always has been, a great asset to our quaint Hudson River-front city.

But if it is sweets you are interested in, and you don't want to wait in the two block-long line for Carlo's, we offer a few suggestions. First, if you want chocolates, our next door neighbor Lepore's (105 Fourth Street), is a must! They have been making handmade deliciousness for over thirty years. Mario Lepore, the shop's owner, will be happy to serve you the same sweet treats he used to offer Ol' Blue Eyes himself.

If you want fresh baked goods, we LOVE Georgio's bakery (1112 Washington Street). This family-owned gem of an Italian bakery makes the greatest pine nut cookies on the planet. Are we exaggerating? No.

And finally, if it is delectable and beautiful cakes you are after, check out our friend Jennifer Roberts at Sweet Element (www.sweetelement.com) She is both a baker and a knitter extraordinaire. Her cakes are simply amazing. Check out the beautiful cake she made to help us celebrate our 5th year in business.

New Yarn For Spring is In!

2011-03-02T17:10:00.008-05:00

As mother nature teased us with warmer temperatures, we patiently waited for our new spring yarns to arrive... and they did! We have two new lines from Classic Elite that we are very excited about.

First, we have eleven colors of Sprout which is a 100% organic cotton in a bulky weight making it perfect for fast knits.

Next, Katydid is a pretty 100% organic cotton tape yarn that gets 4.5 sts per inch. It is a wonderfully luxurious yarn for a soft scarf or shawl for a cool summer evening.

Finally, a spring order of Madelinetosh Sock has arrived. The colors are wonderful and were picked out by our wonderful Antonia.

Stop in for some spring knit-inspiration!

Mia's Polly Pullover

2011-02-20T12:47:00.002-05:00

Mia completed this adorable knit from Spud and Chloe. This quick and satisfying knit is made from Spud and Chloe's Outer yarn. Layer it with long sleeves, or on its own, this is the perfect three season garment. Knit one in green - perfect for Hoboken's St. Patty's Day celebrations!

Baby Beanie in Kersti

2011-02-09T14:32:00.005-05:00

Mary Claire is expecting a baby in March and her first project after finishing Beginners Knitting is a hat for the baby. She did a great job.

She knit it quickly out of Koigus' Kersti. The pattern is called Baby Beanie & Mitts and it is from Blue Sky Alpacas. It is a fantastic first hat for baby and is sized in three sizes up to 12 months.

Great job Mary Claire! A wonderful hat to bring baby home in. What a lucky little one.

A Boy and His Toys

2011-02-05T16:28:00.002-05:00

Jason, a “whale” of a good friend, and Patricia’s Yarns customer, has been very busy lately! Somehow, between mixing cocktails and playing video games, he found the spare time to introduce us to a favorite new book, Amigurumi Knits, and to knit the wonderful Black Devil Anglerfish. Despite its scary looks, this anglerfish is soft, lovable, and cuddly! Next up for Jason: a large bright red Kraken, a giant squid!

Amigurumi Knits is available at Patricia's Yarns and is chock full of cute mini knits. You too can knit sea stars, hermit crabs, cucumbers, carrots, jellyfish, and, yes, anglerfish!

If you are tired of baby hats, baby sweaters, and booties, these cute creatures will make the perfect "little person" gift. Or, like Jason, you can knit them for yourself. After all, everyone needs a Kraken!

7th Annual Superbowl Sale

2011-02-02T17:28:00.004-05:00

Celebrate 2011 by attending our 7th annual Superbowl Sale, Sat 2/5 & Sun 2/6! Pick up the perfect project for the big game!

Yarns will be discounted 15% - 50% off regular price!
Special sale on select patterns
Superbowl pool & giveaway with purchase!

February is now Fibruary!

2011-01-31T12:42:00.002-05:00

Our savvy customers must have known something! How else can you explain the fact they voted for Fibre Company Yarns for this month’s Yarn of the Month? They must have known that this is the same month that The Fibre Co.’s Kate and Courtney would release their fabulous new book, Vintage Modern Knits! What a perfect combination!

Stop in today and pick up gorgeous, soft, luxurious yarns from the Fibre Company and check out the 20 beautiful patterns in their new book.

Did we mention our Yarn of the Month is 15% off?

Just curious, what will be March’s Yarn of the Month? Stop back and vote soon!

Vintage Modern Knits

2011-01-29T18:59:00.007-05:00

Courtney Kelley and Kate Gagnon Osbourne, owners of the beautiful Fibre Company Yarns, came to visit us in November and told us they were working on a book of new patterns. Were they ever!

We are thrilled to have copies of the book, Vintage Modern Knits, in stock and are inspired to cast on. Deciding on what to make, however, is not easy as there are many patterns that peak our interests. Where to start? The new Bramble Beret or, possibly, the beautiful and intricate Adelaide Yoke Pullover? There are twenty exquisite patterns to choose from.

Stop in Patricia's Yarns and get your copy today.

P.S. Another visit by our favorite Fibre Co. designers is in the works - so stay tuned for details.

Mia's Polly Pullover

2011-01-22T13:50:00.002-05:00

One of our fave customer's, Mia, is knitting for spring despite the winter cold. She has picked up this great new pattern from Spud and Chloe. This quick knit, done in Spud and Chloe's Bulky Outer Yarn, will be perfect for those "Goldilocks Days" in March - not too hot, not too cold. Swing by and pick up the materials to make one for yourself - or someone you love. Guaranteed, they'll love you back!

Visit Hoboken

2011-01-12T12:24:00.003-05:00

We were delighted to see one of our favorite blogs, Design Sponge, put together a great guide to visiting our quaint Hudson River-front city. Click here to check it out.

Got Sheep?

2011-01-04T18:03:00.005-05:00

We do! We bought Sheep through Heifer International! In a perfect world, everyone would have a pasture of sheep, alpaca and every other beautiful yarn-bearing friend. In reality, many of us need sheep solely for knitting - while others need them to sustain their lives. So we are very proud to say that, with your help, we were able to raise enough money to buy two sheep through our "Buy a sheep" program! We had beautiful paper sheep adorn our walls for the Holidays and, even better, we know we (yes, that includes you) did something to help make the world a better place - sheep and all.

Happy Holidays from Patricia's Yarns

2010-12-21T17:56:00.003-05:00

We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. Please remember Patricia's Yarns will be closed Christmas Day until January 4th. We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2011.

All the best,
Patricia, Adam, Grace... and Riley

after 324 votes the winner is...

2010-12-01T12:27:00.006-05:00

Felted Tweed by Rowan!!

It was a tight race between Lima & Felted Tweed but our Yarn of the Month for December is officially Felted Tweed.

Stay tuned to vote for January's YOM...

Superior Cowl Part Two

2010-11-17T15:54:00.003-05:00

This cowl has quickly become a shop favorite as it is so soft and luxurious to knit and wear!! So... without further ado, here is the pattern

Superior Cowl
by, Patricia Scribner

Yarn: Superior by Filatura Di Crosa Golden Line
Needles: US 6 - 16" or 24" circular

Loosely cast on 100 stitches. Place marker & join for working in the round being careful not to twist stitches.

Work 6 rounds in garter stitch (knit 1 round & purl 1 round).
Knit in Stockinette Stitch for about 21" & finish off with 6 rounds garter stitch.

Bind off very loosely - consider using a larger needle in your right hand to make the bind off as flexible as possible.

Sew in your ends & put it on - now you know why this yarn is named "superior".

Enjoy!!

Surprise Package

2010-11-14T14:00:00.000-05:00

We were treated to a wonderful surprise! A good friend, Kirsten, living in Norway, sent us a beautiful gift for our daughter.

We met Kirsten a few years ago when she moved here temporarily to participate in a program at Stevens University. While in Hoboken, she would visit us at the shop and knit regularly.

This sweater is beautiful! Grace will be able to wear it all winter long.

I love owning the shop for many reasons, but it is the people I meet that matter the most. I have been very fortunate to meet wonderful friends and customers like Kirsten.

Thank you Kirsten! We miss you!

Thank You Fibre Company!

2010-11-07T13:42:00.007-05:00

Kate and Courtney, the incredibly talented and wonderful owners of Kelbourne Woolens, the ladies who bring us Fibre Company, came to Patricia's Yarns yesterday. Fibre Company makes the gorgeous Canopy, Terra, and Road to China yarns, and Kelbourne Woolens produces some of our favorite new designs and patterns for those yarns. Among them is the Maritursas hat. Kate and Courtney led an adventurous group of Patricia's Yarns knitters through the fair-isle pattern to produce these beautiful hats - just in time for the cold winter weather.

We want to personally thank Kate and Courtney for their visit. We all had a wonderful time!

Finished Projects

2010-11-07T13:13:00.004-05:00

Jeff, above, knit up this beautiful shawl by Stephen West out of Madeleine Tosh sock and Koigu KPPPM (he calls it his "Made-gu Koi Tosh"). The pattern is titled Daybreak. Although he made it for a friend, we think he looks great in it!
David, knit up this incredible hat, his own design, out of the work-horse yarn, Shepherd's Wool (a shop favorite worsted weight that comes in hanks of 250 yards for $9.95). Unfortunately for David, he knit it too small, but fortunately for Adam (pictured) it fits perfectly!

Knit Night Wine Tasting

2010-11-05T12:53:00.002-04:00

We have had such a busy and wonderful fall here at Patricia's Yarns. From our bus trip to the Sheep and Wool festival in Rhinebeck, NY to tomorrow's visit from Kate and Courtney, owners of the Fibre Company, we are having such a great time! Last night was no exception. Clark, owner of Hoboken Vine (the best wine and spirit store in Hoboken, 400 Newark Street) , came by with some absolutely fabulous wines to taste. Our personal fave was an inexpensive Saladini Pilastri, Falerio - a nicely balanced white (whites are perfect for knitting as spills won't destroy projects). Thanks again, Clark, for hosting a wonderful evening!

Sheep for Sale

2010-11-05T12:45:00.002-04:00

Stop in Patricia's Yarns between now and Christmas and help families in developing countries. For $1, you can purchase a paper sheep, write your name on it, and we will hang it up. All proceeds will benefit Heifer International, a non-profit that helps impoverished families by purchasing livestock and agricultural goods. For every $120 we raise, we will be able to purchase a sheep for a needy family. The gift of a sheep is a wonderful way to share the warmth of the season!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T16:05:00.005-04:00

There is nothing like Halloween in Hoboken! We were thrilled to see some of our favorite kids looking festive.

Fibre Company Event

2010-10-26T13:06:00.010-04:00

We are so excited to announce that the lovely ladies from The Fibre Company will be here on Saturday November 6th. They will be showcasing their patterns and owners Kate and Courtney will talk about their yarns and knitting.

And for those looking to learn something new they are teaching a wonderful hat class. The class will feature Kate's original design Meritursas.

This is a great opportunity to learn fair isle or fine tune your fair isle skills with two fantastic knitwear designers. The course will also utilize gorgeous Fibre Company Yarns.

Call the shop for details - 201.213.1432. We hope to see you soon!

Fallen for Cowls

2010-10-21T17:37:00.006-04:00

This fall cowls are everywhere and I have definitely been bit by the bug.

It all started with the "Burberry Inspired Cowl" by Julianne Smith. This is a gorgeous knit that is wonderfully designed and so fun to do. Rowan Lima was begging to be knit into a cowl and finally it had found its perfect match.

Next, is a shop original. When Taos from Thaki Stacy Charles came in I was itching to make a cowl with it. The beauty of Taos is that it shines with the simplest stitch pattern. We reached for our copy of our favorite Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker and this is what was created.
Finally, when simplicity is what you want but desire something luxurious then the superior cowl is what you want to make. Just cast on and knit in the round to the end of the ball. Pure. Simple. Luxe.
If you also caught the cowl fever this fall, pop on in - we got your medicine.

Classic Elite Kumara Trunk Show

2010-09-29T13:57:00.006-04:00

We are very excited about a new yarn that we picked up for fall from Classic Elite, Kumara. It is a gorgeous blend of extra fine merino & baby camel and is so soft to touch - it is lovely to knit with.

We have all the garments from the Bistro collection on display for a limited time. Come by and try them on to see how the yarn knits up. It is a fantastic yarn that knits to about 4.5 stitches per inch and the color palette is perfect for a new fall project.

New Fall Yarns at Patricia's

2010-09-11T13:47:00.008-04:00

The new fall yarns are arriving daily! See you soon!

Lorna's, Lorna's, Lorna's!

2010-09-08T17:16:00.008-04:00

Lorna's Laces has arrived!

We have so much fun ordering Lorna's yarn with Beth and Michael (owners of Lorna's Laces) at TNNA! We wait all summer for the boxes of scrumptious yarn to arrive. Today, we are giddy!

This gorgeous yarn is the perfect weight - shepard worsted - for sweaters, scarves, hats, mittens... you name it! The hand-dyed colors will brighten up any dreary fall or winter day. They are the perfect colors to keep you smiling after labor day!

Drop by the shop to see and feel this beautiful artisan yarn.

Mac is Back!

2010-08-25T14:46:00.010-04:00

Our Mac & Me patterns have arrived just in time for these fall temperatures to tempt us with cool weather knitting. Leslie has done it again with great new patterns we are thrilled to have and can't wait to knit!

We love the cabled leg warmers or socks:

They are very cute for yourself or a gift for a friend. Hello, holiday knitting!

Speaking of cute, check out Natalie's Slippers!! They are adorable - a fantastic gift for a baby shower or favorite niece or nephew. A quick knit on large needles with Blue Sky Alpaca's Bulky yarn.

A final favorite is the Outer Throw - a large version of the Outer Baby Blanket which is a shop favorite.
This is such a great pattern and its no wonder that that Leslie expanded the pattern for a full size throw that would be a great addition to any living room.

Deliveries from TNNA begin to roll in...

2010-06-30T15:47:00.006-04:00

The annual trip to Ohio for TNNA is something I look forward to with great anticipation. It is so fun seeing all the friends like Beth & Michael from Lorna's Laces or Rhichard & Taiu from Koigu. Our friends at the Blue Sky Alpacas booth, Ria & Val, Stacy from Thaki Stacy Charles and Jacques from Soak. It is a great time to catch up with everyone and see what new things they have brought to market for the upcoming season.

The fun continues as packages begin to roll in with the orders from the show. Newcomer, Alpaca with a Twist arrived first. This dk weight baby alpaca comes in 16 gorgeous colors and has been received with overwhelming approval.

Yesterday, Madeline Tosh Sock arrived. We now have over 20 colors in stock for your sock, shawl, scarf knitting pleasure. It is a shop favorite & skeins are being snatched up quickly!!

Lastly, we are happy to share with you another new yarn, Shepherd's Wool. There's so much we love about this yarn. It's soft, comes in great colors and is 250 yards a skein. It also comes from a mom & pop mill in Michigan! Margaux & I love this 100% wool worsted weight yarn - we hope you will too!

Today we received a shipment of Soak Wool-wash which is a shop favorite as well - it makes hand washing super easy as you do not have to rinse it out!! We are fully stocked now with Soak including Unleash - a ravelry inspired soak scent.

These are just the beginning of new things that will be adorning the shelves of Patricia's Yarns - keep checking to see what else we have in store for the fall!!

Summer with Spud & Chloe

2010-06-26T13:57:00.009-04:00

Spud & Chloe has brought us new patterns and great new colors for fun summer knitting!

The Buga Baby Bunting will make for a great gift for a baby on the way. Knit in Spud & Chloe Outer this is a super quick knit just in time for a new baby! Spud & Chloe Outer has had a color explosion - the original palette was comprised of 5 colors has expanded to 12 wonderful colors so there is something for everyone!

Pack-o-Puppies Mitts is an adorable crochet puppet pattern using Spud & Chloe Sweater yarns which come in 17 colors so the possibilities are endless!! What a great quick summer project!

The Spud & Chloe Sweater is a shop favorite as we've mentioned and they have added two new beautiful colors, Grape Jelly & Cider, giving us more options than ever!

All colors of the Sweater & Outer weight are in stock so if something sparks your knitterly interest stop on in & pick some up!

New Baby Alpaca is Here!

2010-06-23T13:31:00.004-04:00

One of our new yarn lines has arrived and we are thrilled to have it. It is called baby twist - a baby alpaca yarn in a dk weight with 17 colors to choose from. It is so soft and pleasant to have running through your fingers as you work with it.

This yarn is fantastic for cozy winter accessories like scarves, hats or mittens and alpaca is the perfect fiber to keep you warm when the frigid winter returns. Stop by to check it out soon!!

Greetings from TNNA

2010-06-13T14:55:00.007-04:00

If I tell Margaux one more time how happy I am about this June's TNNA she might smack me. But to be honest it's been a fabulous show and I am so excited for the Fall!

We visited old friends and met new ones and we're all excited about what's in store for you all this Fall!

First we visited Michael & Beth at Lorna's Laces. We will once again be stocking their Shepherd's Worsted and Helen's Lace in more colors than we've ever had before!

Next was Koigu.

It was fun picking out colors again this year and that is only half of what we are bringing to you! We love Koigu for so many reasons and we love them even more now that Rhichard bestowed lil
Scribner with their first toy!
Thank you again Rhichard for being so thoughful and generous. We know our lil' Scribner is going to love it!

Next up, Blue Sky and Spud & Chloe. There's so much we love about this company. The yarns are delicious, the patterns lovely and their brand - genius! Margaux showed them her latest sweater creation to their delight! I think they got the idea of how much she loves their skinny cotton! Now get cracking on that pattern, Miss Margaux. We ordered all their new colors in Brushed Suri, S&C Outer and Sweater and a little limited edition surprise.

Even though we're still in the midst of the summer warmth we do have our sights set on the fall and all it's pattern offerings! Margaux enjoyed this great hat from Mac & Me. Made with 4 balls of the Blue Sky Bulky, we think its going to be a hit.

We had great expectations going into this year's trade show and we left with so much more than we could have expected. Our "to-do" list was long and we managed to check every item off in what feels like a whirlwind visit. As for the new yarn 'friends', we hope you pop in to the shop to meet them - we will be sure to let you know when they arrive.

Looking forward to cast on and seeing you all of you soon!

New Amy Butler Yarn!

2010-06-09T17:46:00.005-04:00

A new shipment from Rowan has arrived bringing us yarn from Amy Butler! Her name may sound familiar if you look at fabric as she has beautiful designs. Fortunately for us knitters she has expanded her repertoire to include a gorgeous palette of yarn in a dk weight.

The yarn is a beautiful blend of organic wool & organic cotton that is fantastic to the touch and is a dream to knit with. Come by and check it out!

Que Sera knit by Mia

2010-05-26T13:30:00.001-04:00

Knitty is a favorite online magazine at Patricia's Yarns as it always provides great knit-spiration. This edition has a particular pattern that has become a shop favorite, Que Sera designed by Kirsten Kapur that was immediately knit up by one of our fastest knitters, Mia. It is a beautiful sweater for upcoming spring and summer nights.

Mia used Spud & Chloe sweater in color 7512 Watermelon, a great happy color that shows off the stitch detail very well.

What a beautiful sweater! Great Job Mia!

Sweet Knits from Spud & Chloe

2010-05-04T17:30:00.007-04:00

Spud & Chloe was introduced at Patricia's about a year ago and we were thrilled at the news. Although the 'newness' may have subsided, the love isn't going anywhere! Spud & Chloe generously offer a bunch of free patterns on their blog, two of which have been made & currently reside on the table.

First, the watermelon hat which is an adorable fast knit.

Second, ribbit.

The watermelon hat is a great hat pattern for beginners who know how to knit in the round. Ribbit also is a great pattern, however not necessarily for beginners. Both are undeniably cute. Knit out of Spud & Chloe sweater they are machine washable making for easy care. Stop by to check them out!

Earth Day is for Knitters

2010-04-21T16:31:00.007-04:00

Knitting is a great hobby for the eco-conscious. Patricia's Yarns customers knit re-usable shopping bags, make projects using environmentally friendly yarns, and often request environmentally sustainable fibers. Here is a list of great projects for Earth Day.

Stow away shopping bag is an Oat Couture pattern that will carry plenty of groceries and eliminate the need for a plastic bag!

If you are thinking of making an earth day gift for a friend you could knit up a quick coffee cup sleeve - a simple stockinette or experiment with cables for more fun!

Almost any sleeve can easily be knit up in an afternoon! A great use for leftover scraps from your stash!

There are many options for environmentally friendly knit projects available to us so lets keep the positive motion towards doing our part for the Earth. Happy Earth Day.

Rowan Miniatures Floyd

2010-04-13T17:37:00.006-04:00

A newly finished project for the shop is Floyd from Rowan Minature Classics knit out of a shop favorite Kersti, a beautiful yarn from Koigu.
This is a fantastic design for children from birth to age 3 and is so soft when knit in Kersti. The pocket detail is fun & makes a great hiding place for toys.

This was a very fast knit made of 2 skeins. The pattern is from the book Rowan Miniature Classics.

"Hoppy" Spring

2010-04-03T15:12:00.005-04:00

Spring officially started a few weeks ago. We are now graced with sunny afternoons perfect for knitting at a park or cafe. This sweet little bunny is a cute, portable project great as a gift for the child in your life.

The pattern is called "Hop" and is designed by Susan B. Anderson for Blue Sky Alpacas. It was very fun to knit up & is well designed to hold up as a take-along toy.

The yarn used is the Hand Spun Organic Cotton from Blue Sky for the bunny & skinny dyed cotton for the sweater. "Hop" on by the shop to check him out! Have a happy spring!

In like a Lion...

2010-03-15T11:57:00.005-04:00

I think we can all agree that March has roared onto the scene! While we can't wait for warmer weather, we also couldn't let go of the hit of the season - the infinity scarf!

Margaux grabbed a few bright color skeins of Spud & Chloe, a pair of size 15 needles and worked this little charmer in a day.

The broken rib is a simple stitch pattern is easy and can be adaptable to any weight of yarn!

There's only a few more days until March will make it's change to a lamb, so if you're in need of that last minute scarf, the "Lion" scarf is a great one to whip out - and fast!

Happy Knitting!
P & R

Hoboken Parade Day!

2010-03-07T14:22:00.017-05:00

Saturday March 6th was the annual Hoboken St. Patrick's Day Parade. I was honored as the Community Service Award recipient. My husband Adam and I were invited to march in the parade.

We were humbled to march directly behind the Irish Woman of the Year, Carol Ann Wilson. The parade also honored prominent Hobokenites including the Grand Marshal, Bernadette Cunning Perhson, and state dignitaries including Senators Menendez, Lautenberg, and former Senator Kenny.

As we approached 4th Street, we could see the Patricia's Yarns group cheering us on in matching t-shirts! Thank you everyone! This made our day!

I would especially like to thank all of the people who help to make Patricia's Yarn's charity events special - you are the reason I was awarded this year. Thank you also to the Hoboken Saint Patrick's Day Parade Committee! We had a wonderful time this year and look forward to a great celebration again next year! We'll be the ones in the parade behind the Patricia's Yarns banner. Below are a few more pics from yesterday. As you can see, the Irish eyes were smiling. It was a beautiful day in Hoboken!

Rowan Brings Hints of Spring

2010-03-04T15:40:00.010-05:00

Mother nature continues to tease with sporadic nice days when I start to believe spring may be around the corner and then bam - another snowy nor'easter. Well that was February - March is underway so lets see what it brings.

UPS has delivered hints of spring with new Calmer and Handknit Cotton in happy colors!! Look for yourself!

Two new books have arrived as well from Rowan, Magazine 47

and Rowan Miniature Classics which is an adorable book with 16 fantastic designs for children from birth to age 3.
This much knit-spiration makes for happiness regardless of what mother nature throws our way. Happy Knitting.

Winter Blooms

2010-02-11T12:14:00.006-05:00

Kim Hargreaves seventh book has arrived, Winter Blooms.

The book has 21 beautiful designs for women with a color palette inspired from a winter garden, coppers, deep browns & beautiful berry reds.

Stop by to check it out - it is a wonderful book to add to a knitters library.

Fresh Catch of the Day!

2010-01-30T15:12:00.000-05:00

We're excited to introduce Lobster Pot Yarns!

These gorgeous yarns are hand dyed by Susan Macurdy in her Cape Cod home. She dyes them in lobster pots on her stove, hangs them to dry & then ships them off to us to knit with!

With 11 new bright and cheerful colors we know they're going to be a sure hit.

Winter Cold Delivers New Yarns

2010-01-29T14:05:00.005-05:00

New packages are fun to receive from our favorite UPS delivery person Danny. Blue Sky Alpacas has extended their cotton line to include multi-colored skeins lending themselves to a hand-dye look.
They are very fun colors and make for a great baby blanket or childs sweater. I am making the Baby Hoodie by in the blue multi color named "slushie".

It is not yet complete as the hood still needs to be knit as well as the rib trim but so far I am very pleased with the results. The yarn is very easy to work with and makes for a soft cozy childs garment.

Oh how we love Spud & Chloe

2010-01-09T12:19:00.005-05:00

Spud & Chloe was an instant shop favorite when it arrived in fall 2009 and continues to be as we progress in the new year. They have great patterns for adults & children and the yarn is fantastic for family knits as it is machine washable. Mac & Me have a few patterns written for the yarns as well - a very popular one is #106 outer baby blanket.

This blanket has been knit by customers in every shade Spud & Chloe outer that we have! Here it is cabon #7203. It is a great blanket & cuddly and warm for any special little one in your life.

2009 Holiday Gift Guide

2009-11-11T11:08:00.015-05:00

It's that time of year to whip out the needles and get cracking on holiday knits! To help your efforts, we have put together a list of our favorite quick knitted projects - so you can get started & finish before the man in the red suit visits.

Project 1: February Baby Sweater - an Elizabeth Zimmerman classic can be knit with the lace pattern or without for a more gender neutral sweater

Project 2: Lychee Mittens by Kate Gagnon Osborn. Knit out of cozy Terra (a luxurious blend of baby alpaca, wool & silk). Makes a very nice, soft gift to keep hands warm as temperatures drop.

Project 3: Star Crossed Slouchy Beret by Natalie Larson. This is a great quick knit that can be made with one or two skeins. It's a great gift for your sister or friend.
Project 4: 5th Avenue Infinity Scarf by our own Margaux Pena! This is a fantastic and trendy knit. From the runways to the covers of Vogue, Infinity scarves are everywhere & this pattern, in particular, looks beautiful knit up & worn on any chilly day! Be the first to knit this pattern from one of the best up-and-coming knitwear designers!

Project 5: Grande Cabled hat. Knit this cute hat as the perfect stocking stuffer or gift to yourself. The perfect project to keep you warm through the cold winter months.

Margaux's 5th Avenue Infinity Scarf

2009-11-11T10:23:00.008-05:00

They're everywhere - on Oprah, at Bloomingdales and at now at your Local Yarn Shop!

Margaux has posted a fantastic pattern and we're sharing it with you too!

What you need:
2 or 3 skeins of a worsted weight yarn (Madeline Tosh, Manos Classica, Malabrigo)
Size US 8 or US 9 40 inch circular needles.

The Pattern:
5th Avenue Infinity Scarf

CO 241
Making sure you're not twisting stitches place marker and join in round

1st Row: Knit all stitches
2nd Row: K2tog, YO, repeat to end of round to last stitch, K1
3rd Row: Knit all stitches
4th Row: K1, *YO, Slip 1, K1, Pass Slipped Stitch Over (PSSO)*, repeat * * to end.

Repeat these 4 rows until desired width.
Cast off all stitches.

Our shop notes:
Margaux made hers about 10 inches in width and approx 60 inches around. It easily wraps around 3x or twice for a long drape.

You can make this scarf shorter just changing how many stitches you cast on. We think this is going to be a real hit this winter and a perfect go-to for holiday knits!

Thanks for sharing the fantastic pattern, Margaux!

Manos Blanket

2009-11-01T12:24:00.001-05:00

Wouldn't you love to cuddle up under this blanket on a rainy day? Well if you buy a raffle ticket you could win this gorgeous blanket! Stop by the shop with $5 per ticket to put your name in the drawing knowing all proceeds of the raffle go to the Hoboken Homeless Shelter.

Thank You Teva!

2009-10-24T15:56:00.004-04:00

Thank you to Teva Durham, knitwear designer, writer of numerous knitting books, and Jersey City resident, for spending the day at Patricia's Yarns! Her beautiful new lines of yarn are for sale at the shop and many of our customers have been drawn to her gorgeous new designs - especially the Seed n Lace Pullover Sweater made of "Granite" yarn.

Meet the Designer: Teva Durham

2009-10-20T09:58:00.009-04:00

We are thrilled to announce a meet and greet this Saturday, October 24th from Noon to 3om for knitwear designer, Teva Durham!

Teva is the author of several knit and crochet books and is the creative force behind her patterns and yarn line Loop-d-Loop for Tahki Stacey Charles, Inc. Her designs are always eye catching and dramatic and often use large yarns and needles.

Teva's designs have been featured in Vogue Knitting, Interweave Knits as well as shop favorites Scarf Style and Weekend Knitting books.

We hope that you will join us this Saturday to welcome Teva to Hoboken! See you then!

PY goes to Rheinbeck

2009-10-18T14:25:00.015-04:00

For the first time (and what we hope will be of many), we took the trip to Rheinbeck, NY for the Sheep and Wool Festival!

We saw sheep...

and Alpacas...
and a TON of yarn!

What a fantastic time!

We left Hoboken at 9am and took a bus up to Rheinbeck enjoyed the sights and of course the wool and left full, happy, and tired.

Thank you to everyone who joined us: Leila, Chris, Jess, Pearl, Ashling, Karen, Michelle, Jamison, Devon, Stephanie, Jillian, Rita, Kevin, Mia and Margaux.

We look forward to doing this again next year!

Happy Fall

2009-10-02T13:18:00.011-04:00

October has brought in crisp autumn temperatures while our fall shipments roll in with the leaves. We are very excited about new yarns this season.

Rowan has brought out a gorgeous new yarn called Lima which comes in 10 fabulous colors & is soft to the touch being made of baby alpaca & merino.

We have 2 new yarns from the Fibre Co., Terra & Canopy. They are blends of luxurious fibers in mouth watering colors.

First is Terra is a blend of baby alpaca, wool & silk which we have in 5 beautiful colors below:

The blend of fibers gives this yarn a very unique texture and the softness makes it perfect for any special handknit.

We got in 7 beautiful fall colors of Canopy in the worsted weight which is a soft blend of baby alpaca, merino & bamboo.

We are so excited to introduce Madeline Tosh to the shop! This luxurious yarn is a pleasure to knit with and we have an array of colors in the worsted weight line. We wish you could feel the softness through the photo, but we think it speaks for itself.

Last for this blogpost, but certainly not least we have brought back a customer favorite, Nimbus, which is an organic merino yarn. The new fall colors are great!

Come on in and touch these beautiful yarns which are only a few of what's in the shop! Hope to see you soon!

Patricia's Welcomes Stacy Charles!

2009-09-13T18:00:00.003-04:00

We were thrilled to welcome Stacy Charles, owner of Takhi Stacy Charles, to our shop today! He came bearing gifts of great patterns and samples of our two new yarns Zara and Superior. Lots of our wonderful customers came by to give him a warm Hoboken welcome.

Welcome to Hoboken, Stacy! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit us across the Hudson. We loved having you and we hope you come back to visit us again soon!

Stacy Charles at Patricia's!

2009-09-12T13:28:00.003-04:00

Meet Stacy Charles! Sunday September 13th will be our "Zara" & "Superior" Yarn Launch Party with Stacy Charles!

Come by and see (and feel!) the beautiful new lines of Tahki Stacy Charles yarns and be inspired by his gorgeous samples and trunk show. We will be celebrating all day with Stacy, nibbles & beverages. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Late afternoon Delight!

2009-09-09T19:58:00.006-04:00

Zara Has Arrived.

We're ready for the party, are you?

Remember, if you leave us a comment about what you're most excited to knit this fall you could win a few balls of this fabulous yarn!

Introducing: Takhi Stacy Charles

2009-09-02T21:30:00.007-04:00

Every year I have the chance to bring something new to my customers. While I wish I could fill the shop to the brim of new yarns (which I'm sure Margaux would love), I am limited and therefore try to bring you the best quality and luxurious yarns out there! With that said, we couldn't be happier and more excited with new brands we are bringing to you this fall.

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Tahki Stacy Charles!

We will be hosting a Zara/Superior Launch Party here at the shop on Sunday, September 13 from Noon to 3pm. Come and join us for refreshments and meet our special guest, Mr. Stacy Charles himself!

Leading up to the party we are going to be posting our reasons why we love Zara (and Fall knitting) and of course there's something in it for you our wonderful customers! Leave a comment with why you want to knit with Zara or what you're most excited about this fall for a chance to win a few balls of this fabulous yarn!

New Zealand Part Two

2009-08-15T08:04:00.014-04:00

New Zealand is a beautiful country.

We have spent many hours driving around the North Island sightseeing from the very north, Cape Reinga. In Maori culture it is known as the jumping off place for spirits to the underworld. The photo below is of the Tasman Sea meeting the Pacific Ocean. It was a very beautiful place to visit.

Our skiing was fantastic at Mt Ruapehu where we skiied Whakapapa Ski Area - it was absolutely amazing. Never before have I skied an active volcano which according to our Mountain Host, is due to erupt anytime. Fortunately for us it did not while we were on it but the skiing was so much fun.

The mountain was enormous with its highest point being 2300m. We skied most of it Thursday & Friday taking T-Bar lifts up to the most beautiful trails I have ever been on. We stayed at the Grand Chateau at the base of the mountain where we enjoyed sitting by a fireplace knitting & relaxing in the evenings.

Of course any trip would be incomplete if I didn't find a few yarn shops to visit... I am very excited about what I have found & cannot wait to start knitting a new sweater out of my new yarn just in time for fall.

New Zealand

2009-08-10T01:03:00.009-04:00

Adam and I have made it to Auckland, New Zealand to visit with our friends Rob & Anna (you remember Anna, she was often in the shop knitting when she lived in Hoboken). Their place will be our home base and we will have a few excursions out to other parts of the North Island of New Zealand to Rotorua, Taupo, and down to Tongariro National Park where we will ski Ruapehu Mountain.

We have gone for a few walks today around Auckland and during the last one wound up in a very nice wine bar called Dida where we had a lovely Pinot Noir while enjoying each others company.

We look forward to dinner tonight at Chez Penney which was a common occurrence when they lived in Hoboken. I am sure we will do some knitting over nice New Zealand wine tonight.

More to come...

Celebrating 5 Years!

2009-08-01T15:13:00.005-04:00

Patricia's Yarns is celebrating five years in business. I especially want to thank all of my customers and friends for their encouragement and support.

To help celebrate, Jennifer Roberts, the incredible pastry chef and owner of Sweet Element (oh yes, she is also a knitter) made us this amazing cake fashioned into a messenger bag of yarn. Yes, it is edible! No detail was left behind - note the number 5 in the top of the photo.

Below is a pic of Jennifer and me with the cake. I can't wait to taste it!

Did I mention you can celebrate too! We are having a sale! Save up to 40% off yarn! Stop by today, tomorrow, or Tuesday!

Dream Toys & BeepBeep

2009-07-24T15:12:00.005-04:00

Anne is finishing up her horse from Dream Toys which is a favorite toy book of Patricia's Yarns.

Anne knitted her horse using Manos del Uruguay's silk blend in natural for the main part & coffee for the nose & feet and Kidsilk spray for the mane. She is really enjo9ying it & is currently workiing on the blanket for under the saddle.

The Beep Beep blanket is finished & is super cute.

It is knit out of Blue Sky Alpacas worsted hand dye yarn and is fantastic to work with. The pattern is relatively simple making a relatively quick knit cute for a boy or a girl!

Knit Road Trip: Philadelphia

2009-07-21T17:52:00.009-04:00

Philadelphia: best known for cheesesteaks, Ben Franklin, Boys II Men and now... knitting!

Margaux, Riley & I took a day trip to Philly to visit our friend Craig, owner of the LYS Loop and the great fabric store, Spool, run by the fabulous Laura.

After lunch together, we explored Loop. While I have visited Craig before, Margaux was visiting this beautiful LYS for the first time.

As you can see Craig has a great eye for yarn, one reason why we love him (of many reasons, of course!) He had a Spud & Chloe trunk show which we loved seeing too. Patricia's Yarns also carries the Sweater and Outer weight of this great new line of yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas.

We stopped next door to visit Spool where Laura runs a fantastic fabric and sewing shop!

Seeing this adorable fabric and sewing shop got Margaux's creative juices flowing. Laura was wearing a cute handmade dress and there were so many beautiful samples as well.

Overall, we had a wonderful trip!

Oh and of course we brought home more Koigu! Patricia's Yarns LOVES Koigu!

Thank you Craig and Laura for being such gracious hosts. We hope to see you in Hoboken soon!

Twitter!

2009-07-19T20:21:00.004-04:00

We have joined the twitter craze! Now we too will be tweeting about shop events & happenings. Check out the new twitter widget to your right as well as on the shop website.

New Arrivals

2009-07-19T12:23:00.009-04:00

This week we were happy to receive new patterns from Mac & Me as well as new clutches from Persnickity Knits!

Leslie at Mac & Me has worked overtime creating new patterns that are beautiful in design and offer something for everyone.

The skirt pattern would fit tweens to adults!

She truly has outdone herself with this collection.

Persnickity Knits clutches are really great little knitting bags. We have two sizes available, Lulu which is the small brown one in front & Fifi which is a mid size clutch, the green one to the back.

They are well constructed with a soft green lining sure to hold up to years of use, great to toss into a bag to take your knitting everywhere with you!

Grimaldi's Knit Night = Huge Success

2009-07-14T16:36:00.004-04:00

Last night we had a fantastic time at Grimaldi's knitting & enjoying the delicious pizza. Eighteen blocks were cast on & today one has been bound off so we are on our way to creating a beautiful blanket for the auction November 19th. Stay tuned as more details unfold about this exciting event!

Charity Knit Night is FULL!

2009-07-11T17:49:00.006-04:00

We are looking forward to Monday July 13th with great anticipation as 20 knitters will take over Grimaldi's Pizza to begin knitting blocks for what will be a beautiful blanket.

The yarn is balled & ready to be knit into a Four Seasons Throw which will be auctioned off to benefit the Hoboken Homeless Shelter at the shop on Thursday November 19th. Knitters get your needles ready for a great event that will benefit our community!

Lovey Dovey Spud & Chloe Sweater

2009-07-09T16:37:00.001-04:00

Spud & Chloe sweater weight is a dream to work with. I quickly knit this Lovey Dovey top over a quiet Fourth of July weekend and look forward to my next project with this yarn!

I am very pleased with this yarn. Spud & Chloe sweater comes in a great array of colors:

It is a 3 ply blend of wool and organic cotton which is a dream to work with. This is a work horse yarn - any finished project made with this yarn will be great to wear and will last a long time.

Bumble Up Scarf

2009-06-26T17:28:00.003-04:00

Wow that was fast.

Pattern: Bumble Up Scarf (Ravelry Link)
Yarn: Spud & Chloe Outer in Soapstone & Flannel
Size 11 circs
1 fabu button!

I cannot tell you how much I wanted to make this scarf since I first saw the cute tease cards that Spud & Chloe sent to Patricia's. I love just the look of the honeycomb stitch, and its unbelievably SUPER easy. (I really mean it this time! Really!)

On top of it all it was superfast to knit up. I started this scarf yesterday afternoon at around 3pm, took it with me to happy hour and finished it this afternoon. The yarn is soft and shed only a little bit. I would so use this again for another scarf and maybe a matching hat.

Time to pump the AC in my apartment so I can wear this around for a while before I have to store it for the winter.

This weekend is a Spud & Chloe celebration at Patricia's Yarns! Come on by to test the yarn, view this gorgeous scarf and maybe take some yarn home for your own.

Happy Knitting!
Margaux

All good things must come to an end...

2009-06-14T18:54:00.005-04:00

But this one doesn't really end because the fun is just beginning! We are so excited about this 2009 TNNA show. We are coming home to 'Jersey' shortly very excited about some new purchases. We have ordered more Koigu than ever, acquired 2 new yarn lines, spent a great time with friends while making new ones & are enjoying a pre-flight vino ready to return to Hoboken.

We look forward to showing you all our 'shwag' as well as sharing stories from the trip. Hope you have enjoyed reading our updates as much as we enjoyed doing them! See you Tuesday!

Sweet dreams,
Patricia & Margaux

Day Three

2009-06-13T18:16:00.007-04:00

We are sitting in the Drury with our favorite sales rep (Rowan, Manos, Misti, Fibre Company), Antonia, thinking about the great day we had at the show. We are pooped from all the knit excitement!

Above isone of our signed books, Vintage Baby Knits, a note pad from Blue Sky, a skein of superior & our ring for ordering Mac & Me. It is so fun seeing friends!

It all started at Lorna's Laces. We beelined right over to our favorite yarn line to put in an order for the fall. A few color choices later and we were feeling mission accomplished and it was only 10:30am!

Our next stop was at the Fibre Company and we got to meet Kate and Courtney the distributors. You know them best as the distributors for our "crack" yarn, Road to China. Kate has some great designs that are showcased on their website and a popular pattern coming out in the Fall Knitscene. (Margaux's pretty excited about that one!)

We got to see so many great knit designers and industry influencers including Veronik Avery, Norah Gaughn, Kate Gilbert(Twist Collective), Teva Durham and Stacey Charles (Takhi Stacey Charles).

From our book distributor we got a few great books to show you including one that we believe was made with us in mind called Pints and Purls. How can you not love a pattern book that has drunken knits!? We also were particularly excited about the Vintage Baby knits book which Margaux can't stop looking at.

We also got to stop at the Mac & Me booth and see the great new designs by Leslie Scanlon. Patricia enjoyed the new Mac&Me patterns as well as Margaux modeling some of the garments - especially the bling we got for our new fall order!!

Another new yarn that we are excited to bring to you is Aslan Fibers. This great wool is soft and has a beautiful palette of colors.

Our last stop was at Blue Sky and their new line, Spud & Chloe! The new line is fantastic and we cannot wait to get it in for you to enjoy. It's such a great line that even Margaux forgot her inner monologue and exclaimed for joy as our order was being made. It caught the Blue Sky rep a little off guard but she said it was understandable ;).

We snapped a few photos from the Rowan booth,
The actual new magazine, number 46, which we will have to wait to receive along with the ball of Lima & an image from the Lima Collection.

The cover image from their new book the Lima Collection with a ball of it which we are very excited about.

Getting ready to head out for dinner with Beth & Michael from Lorna's, Antonia, Craig & Mark from Loop & the two of us! All in all a great knitting day! We cannot believe we have to leave tomorrow.

The Friday re-cap!

2009-06-12T23:02:00.007-04:00

Margaux made it in after a few delays out of Newark & we enjoyed a delicious lunch & coffee at North Market.
It might not look like much but inside that building is every type of food we could ever desire that we can always find in our fantastic home base of Hoboken. Although, they do have one thing we don't... Jennis....

Classes went well in the afternoon and then it was on to the fashion show. The show was full of interesting finished garments as well as accessories that were very fun to see. We were very pleased by some of the new garments from Blue Sky Alpacas & Spud + Chloe.

This image from the screen of the fashion show is one of the new 'sweater' weight designs from Spud & Chloe.

Due to the nature of the show photography was difficult... but there were new designs that were very inspiring & we hope to have a better look tomorrow during the actual market.

After the show we had dinner with Craig, Mark, Antonia & Carol which was very fun as expected.

Currently, no surprise, Margaux & I are sharing some vino at Bar 23 where we have some free wireless as well as free entertainment before the nights end.

Hope to bring you more fun tomorrow!
Sweet dreams!
mwah

Welcome to Ohio

2009-06-11T19:55:00.009-04:00

Early this overcast morning Riley went to the sitters & I took a cab to Newark for a direct flight to Ohio.It was a fine quick flight through the clouds.

And then I wasn't in Newark anymore.... welcome to Ohio!!

Heather, Adams cousin, picked me up from the airport and we went for a bite to eat, then headed to the hotel. I got a little settled in & then it was time to head to registration. On our way we passed the "Great Wall of Yarn" which has some favorites and some yarns we just have never seen the likes of before.
This was a traditional wool, about a worsted weight but it had these faux gold strands of chain attached to it so they dangled off the knitting - I have never before seen anything like it but that is why I come to this show! To see new things ;)

Then we noticed a new yarn from Rowan called Lima which I have ordered & look forward to receiving in the fall. I thought they put together a cute display.

Tomorrow I will be taking a new class from Cat Bordhi, Margaux arrives (YAY) and then we have a few events in the early evening including the fashion show which is always fun. Looking forward to updating you tomorrow! Have a great day!

Yarn-palooza Eve

2009-06-10T21:00:00.001-04:00

Thursday morning I will be leaving New Jersey & flying to Columbus, Ohio for what some are calling yarn-palooza.

Imagine if you will a huge place much like the Javits Center with row after row of booths, filled with different kinds of yarns as far as your knit eyes can see! Knitting inspiration everywhere. It doesn't look like much but it will be full of fun this weekend!!!

One of my goals this weekend is to check out our old favorites and see what new things I can bring to you and hopefully find something new for the both of us!

Another goal will to be to taste as many Jeni's flavors as possible! I'm sure Margaux will help!

While there I will also be taking a few classes, viewing all the vendors yarn, and updating the blog daily to let you know how the show is going! So check back & see what we've been up to!

Malabrigo....

2009-06-03T22:00:00.001-04:00

Malabrigo has arrived!! This new shipment is full of a gorgeous array of colors sure to satisfy any knitter.

It is the softest handspun, hand dye merino that is perfect for your new sweater for fall or to work up the first on your list of... holiday gifts! (Yes, really!)

What a great winter yarn to work with in the summer. Stop by & check it out!

Mother Bear Project Update

2009-05-25T14:16:00.010-04:00

Delivery of completed mother bears has begun which is a really fun part of the charity knitting event. It is so exciting to see how the finished bears all have unique features reflective of the knitter. Each bear is unique & will bring such happiness to a child.

Mother Bear Project appreciates our efforts towards helping to bring comfort to children. Below is a map of where many of the bears go:

Keep up the knitting energy to get through the last stitches & seams! If you need inspiration come by the shop to see some of the finished bears in person!

Pizza, Wine and Mother Bear - a winning Trifecta!

2009-05-12T13:13:00.003-04:00

Fourteen knitters represented on Monday May 4th for an evening of knitting, pizza & drinks at Grimaldi's Pizza. We were so excited that this event was once again sold out and we soon would be sending another great shipment of bears!

After a long cold winter it was nice to get out of the shop and meet friends and customers for the event.

Doing a charity knit night is so much fun and is a way for us to really connect with our customers.

We look forward to having more wonderful nights like this one! Thank you to Grimaldi's for once again helping us host such an excellent night!

Something borrowed...

2009-05-08T17:55:00.006-04:00

In the fall, a new semester began at Stevens University which brought us a new friend to the shop, Kirsten from Norway. A voracious knitter & engineer, she found herself in Hoboken to study for the year and quickly found her LYS, us. We are so lucky she did.

We always loved when Kirsten would stop in and knit a bit with us, each time with a handmade knit being adorned. Above, wearing the beautiful Whisper Cardigan in Koigu, she is a beautiful and great knitter. She is friendly, likeable and soon became a shop favorite. She has made some really wonderful knits and we were always in awe of her pattern/yarn combinations.

Sadly for us, but happy for her, her semester came to an end & she has flown home to Norway. We loved how she inspired us with her knitting and became such a great a great friend.

Kirsten, know you always have a home here at Patricia's Yarns. We'll miss you and know we will always think of you and keep track of your knit adventures via Ravelry.

We know you'll always keep on knitting and hope you visit us again soon!

Happy Earth Day

2009-04-21T16:41:00.006-04:00

The timing of this new arrival couldn't be more perfect for Earth Day. Rachel, a resident of Hoboken & a knitter, has designed this bag under her own label, bloom.

Patricia's Yarns is proud to carry these beautiful and original bags. Bloom bags are made in the USA out of 80% recycled cotton & 20% soda bottles - just in time for Earth Day - come by and check them out!

New Notions for Spring

2009-04-15T15:29:00.010-04:00

Recently two packages arrived, one from Della Q bringing us some needle cases in new colors for spring as well as a breast cancer awareness case to help raise funds towards awareness and treatment.
Della Q introduced a new line of heavy cotton drawstring project bags which we have in all 3 available patterns! What a great accessory to carry your project around in - check them out below:
We are thrilled to have received buttons from One World Buttons. These are beautiful buttons from found wood which are then hand crafted by artisans into unique & beautiful one of a kind treasures.
The photo gives you an idea as to the beauty these natural buttons possess, sure to enhance any knit or crochet project. Stop in to see these and other new items arriving daily!

Mother Bear Project

2009-04-09T17:03:00.004-04:00

The Mother Bear Project is a charity that melted my heart a few years ago & I hope that it warms yours as well. It is an organization that collects & distributes hand knit bears to children affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations. To date over 38,000 bears have been donated towards this loving cause.

To help this effort Patricia's Yarns will be hosting their 2nd Bear Knit In at Grimaldi's Pizza on Monday May 4th from 6-9 PM. If you would like to participate, please sign up at the shop to register & save your seat as space is limited!

Cost: $20
Date: Monday May 4th
Time: 6-9
Location: Grimaldi's Pizza, 133 Clinton St. @ 2nd

Spring has Sprung

2009-04-01T13:59:00.009-04:00

Mother nature keeps tempting us with the sporatic nice weather it feels like spring is right around the corner. Perfect timing as all the spring & summer yarns have arrived! The shelves are full of lovely summer yarns made from organic cotton, linen & silk perfect for a great shrug, shawl or summer cardigan.

The new Rowan Magazine #45 is here and full of gorgeous projects for the seasons ahead.

Rowan has brought out a new yarn for the season, Lenpur Linen which is complete with a pattern book the Lenpur Linen Collection by Sarah Hatton.

This collection is full 13 fantastic patterns for summer including shrugs, cardigans, a tunic dress & more! It is a beautiful book for an attractive yarn with a very vibrant color palette.

The Rowan Classic Collection has brought us a summer Rowan Classic Family featuring a very family friendly cotton yarn Cotton Jeans that is machine washable. The yarn colors are marled & heathered creating a very great look for knits.

Come in and see all the other new yarns in their luscious colors for some inspiration for a new project!

Jordana Paige Trunk Show

2009-03-11T12:24:00.005-04:00

Jordana Paige is a fantastic knitter & bag designer! She started designing bags 7 years ago as a freshman in college because she wanted a stylish bag for her knitting. We are pleased to be showcasing the full line during this trunk show.

Her newest bag, Rio is a gorgeous addition to the line:
It is a beautiful bag perfect for holding all your knitting essentials as well as wallet, phone, etc. Come by soon to see the entire Jordana Paige line for yourself! We have the entire line for you to check out from the Knitters Messenger Bag to Rio.

Heidi's First Project

2009-02-24T14:09:00.007-05:00

Heidi began beginners knitting on Feb 3rd. Two weeks later she was ready to take on a project & wanted to do some knitting for the babies her friends & family are having in the coming weeks. Tuesday night she left knitting away on her first project & Wednesday she came in to do the finishing touches.

This past week her sister had a little girl & Heidi came in to show off her second finished baby hat!

What a good Aunt! Monogrammed even! The hats were knit out of Baby Night, a fantastic 100% merino wool yarn that is machine washable. Well done Heidi!

... nothing but blue skies....

2009-02-20T13:27:00.009-05:00

We interrupt this winter for something everyone needs more of... blue skies! Blue Sky Alpacas sent us eight beautiful knits for the first Patricia's Yarns trunk show of 2009. Baby sweaters to adult sweaters and accessories in between they are all made from soft yarns in great colors to provide the perfect inspiration for spring!

The Girls Sundress is a fantastic dress to grow with knit in the softest Blue Sky Cotton. It has a wide range of sizes as well, from 6 months to 3T.

For the new baby coming this spring we have the Baby Cardigan which is adorable & unisex when knit in the Organic Handspun Cotton - perfect for the family that doesn't know if their baby on the way is a boy or girl!

However, if they do know the gender or it would be a perfect knit for a little one in your life a gender specific version would be great in the Skinny Cotton which we have in many beautiful colors:

Finally, a shop favorite that is a very pure pattern and truly is an heirloom, the Eyelet Baby Blanket knit out of the Hand Dye Worsted from Blue Sky. It is so soft & luxurious it begs to be cuddled.

Come by and see what else we have to show! Be inspired for knitting something soft for yourself or someone you love.