Knit, Blog & Be Happy! — knitandbehappy

Let's take a deep dive into the shelves at Monarch and feature some of our favorite plant-based and wool-free alternatives.  Isager Trio 2 - 50% linen/flax; 30% cotton, 20% tencel With the softness of your favorite t-shirt, Isager Trio 2 is a great all-season yarn—perfect for garments and accessories alike. Linen and cotton are blended with a touch of Lycocell (tencel) into a yarn that holds a nice heft, drapes softly, and provides beautiful stitch definitions. Great on its own, it works well held together as well as paired with other Isager yarns for endless combinations. Saltkrakan Tee by Sari Nordlund - Fabulous sweater;...

In my blog post, Knit Your First Sweater, I mention that many people do not like to knit sweaters because they have trouble with fit. Knitting a sweater from top down, as most patterns are designed these days, gives the you the opportunity to ensure the pattern will fit because it can be tried it on as you knit.   My Cargill Sweater is the perfect example of how important it is to stop and try on a sweater.  I knew that trying the sweater on was going to be part of the knitting process for this project because I was in between sizes. I knit the smaller...

I cannot begin to tell you how long I have been looking to bring Woolstok to the shelves at Monarch. I just never made the commitment and I do not know why.  Blue Sky Fibers had a booth at this summer's H+H and as I made my list of vendors to visit, they were on the top. I brought a bit home with me and knit a few swatches and, I can honestly say, I adore this yarn. We will be hosting a Woolstok trunk show from September 15th to October 14th It will feature cowls hats and sweaters.  If...

Many of us will be traveling this summer, whether by car, train or plane.  As we move into the “travel” season, it is a good time to cover some travel tips for taking our knitting or crochet projects with us. Select a project that is easy for you to work on while traveling. You might be chatting with friends or need to pick the project up and put it down numerous times. This is not the time for intricate charts or involved stitch patterns. Take a project that is light in color. The lighting on planes and in hotel rooms tends...