HRYC

A couple of months ago Jimad from Zealana sent me an exciting email. It bascially went along the lines of 'We're bringing the Vogue Knittng Editor-in-Chief to NZ, can we bring her to visit the shop?'

um, YES!

So on Monday I had the great and wonderful honour of meeting Trisha Malcolm, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Knitting. With her was Sanae Gunji, who won Zealana's design competition held at Vogue Knitting Live in November last year. 

Being in New Zealand it's tricky being so far from the major knitting events and yarn producers in the States. Jumping on a plane to visit a trade show isn't something we can do without a big financial commitment. The chance to meet Trisha in person, have her in the shop and talk yarn business was such an amazing opportunity. 

I don't have any pictures yet, but the story of how much American knitters love Zealana yarn, and Trisha's visit, has been all over the news this week. Here's the story on Scoop.co.nz and a great interview from TVNZ. 

So why has it taken me so long to post about Trisha's visit?

This week has been all about preparing for Knit August Nights in Napier next weekend, 22 - 24 August. I've been dyeing yarn like crazy and am super excited for this, our biggest event all year. If you're in or near Napier, the market is open to the public on Sunday 24 August from 9.30am - 12pm. 

A corner of our stall last year, photo by Maree Buscke

Also this week we had Lights Up Knitting Session the third. The Way Way Back was our movie, and a fantastic one at that. Not too heavy, but some interesting themes in a coming of age film. Also: Sam Rockwell. Swoon. And Alison Janney, one of my all time favourite actors. 

Just two of the three Dear Colleen 'Purl Problems' tote bags that turned up on Monday night.

I have about million zillion other things to talk about, such as our Unwind Shawl knit along, and brand new Knitsch Sock colours, and the One Small Piece knit in at the Dowse this coming Sunday. Promise to be more chatty and post a bit more again soon. Once the mayhem subsides :)

All too often on the blog i'm exclaiming about the yarns we stock from all around the world. One local yarn may be a humble price in comparison to the others, but we are having a love affair with it. Who better to talk about this adoration than you, our lovely customers? 

Vintage DK is entirely processed right here in NZ, and we're lucky to be one of very few stores to have it on the shelves. This yarn is so popular in-store that we don't sell it online, however we are most happy to take email orders.

In the second of a series this week, here's Lisa very appropriately referencing vintage culture alongside Vintage DK.

TV ads, magazine spreads, Miuccia Prada ... These days everything and everyone is referencing vintage.

It's shorthand for cute, quirky, and cool. And now Skeinz has made it even more so, with its oh so covetable Vintage Premium NZ DK.

Instagram has taught us to delight in the art of the lo-fi  transformation. We take photos on our phones of our 21st century lives,  saturate them with a mid-century vibe, and revisit our childhoods.  It's a little like time travel.

Maybe that's why I'm so besotted with Vintage yarn.

It's partly the weight. The stitch definition is outstanding, and it's so springy to knit with.

But mainly it's the colours. They are DELICIOUS. Like Hipstamatic gelato. Only you don't need a filter.

Picture, if you will, sugared almonds, Nigella's sweaters, the original Tupperware your nana packed for picnics, and the faded covers of 1950's schoolgirl annuals.

I so badly wanted to be one of those girls in their red blazers. Sassy, intelligent, most probably uncovering a secret spy ring.

Now I can be, in my jaunty carmine beret.

Now, what to make with it next...?

All too often on the blog i'm exclaiming about the yarns we stock from all around the world. One local yarn may be a humble price in comparison to the others, but we are having a love affair with it. Who better to talk about this adoration than you, our lovely customers? 

Vintage DK is entirely processed right here in NZ, and we're lucky to be one of very few stores to have it on the shelves. This yarn is so popular in-store that we don't sell it online, however we are most happy to take email orders.

In the first of a series this week, here's Bridget talking about her introduction to this most beautiful of yarns.

A new knitter with instructions in hand visited HRYC to pick up some yarn to learn with. As she got distracted by all the yarn, Tash steered her towards a yarn called Vintage, cute colours, good price, this beginner knitter was sold! 

A couple of scarves later this not-so-beginner knitter graduated to a baby cardigan, with the added pressure of gifting the cardi. For this the knitter turned again to Vintage.  A great unisex suitable colour, not splitty, blocks great, feels nice in the hand and isn't slippy. And the end result is a gift-able cardigan! A knitter rejoices! 

The knitter then revisited her first yarn hobby and took Sofia's amigurumi class, with more Vintage. With a nice full look, great colours and a good feeling on my crochet hook, mint slice ninja bunny was born.

But all of these are small projects, and this knitter/crocheter needed something a bit more... Epic. And so the ripple blanket was planned.  In vintage of course, and the crochet blankets group provided the committee decision on colours and I was away! 

With the progress on this crocheters blanket moving along, I'm even more in love with vintage! 

So is there anything vintage can't do? A times it can be difficult to get some colours, which is frustrating but not the end of the world.  

All in all, this knitter sees a lot more vintage in her future.

Indigo Dragonfly are the most fantastic indie dyers. Not only do they come up with amazing colours, they throw in the BEST yarn names. Honestly. Prefer Buffy over Twilight? 'And then Buffy staked Edward. The End.' is a colour for you (and me!). If you're a movie or Dr Who or any other kind of fan, there's a yarn name just for you.

I think our next order will have to include some of their other yarn bases - any special requests?

I would like to swim in a pool of Lana Grande. Like a ball pool, but with yarn. Wouldn't that be amazing? 

(I seem to have lost my photography mojo. I've you've seen it, send it back this way!)

It'll probably do better to be knit up into something incredible, though. 

Umaro by Brooklyn Tweed(image copyright Jared Flood)

Rapunzel Cowl by Tanis Grayfor Cascade

Marian by Jane Richmond 

Ovate by Tori Gurbisz

or, our favourite:

The Big Snowy Owlby the Purl Bee. 

We'll also be ordering in Spud & Chloe Outer, another great super bulky yarn, which should be here in a couple of weeks. Hooray! Have a great Friday!