boucle yarn studio

2011-08-08T13:35:00.000-07:00

Fiber Arts Festival 2011

What a fun time we had at this year's Fiber Arts Festival and Sheep to Shawl competition! This year's event was held in Fargo, at Rheault Farm (a wonderful farmstead property, within the Fargo city limits operated by our fabulous park system). There were many demonstrations to promote the fiber arts, classes, sheep shearing and vendors. Pictured is our sheep to shawl team with their finished product. From raw fiber to a beautiful woven shawl in under 5 hours. Isn't it gorgeous? We are so proud of them.

Another big happening at our shop is our webstore. It is being launched, even as we speak! This has been quite a process- I tell everyone it is like herding cats, trying to get all the elements moving in the same direction. But we are very happy with the results and hope you will visit the website soon and do some shopping.

2010-09-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

OK I admit it: I am in a knitting funk. The sideways picture says it all. I just finished this sweet little hoodie for my granddaughter for Christmas (Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted) and now I have 2 to make for the boys. Maybe it's because these projects are pretty straightforward knitting- but I keep making mistakes! Like miles of knitting I have to frog. Really annoying. It could be that I am totally distracted by my daughter's wedding next Saturday...that can make a person crazy. Or here is the real problem. I want to make myself something fabulous and I can't find ANYTHING that really grabs me. How can that be??? Last night was the kick-off for our regional Yarn Harvest Shop Hop. It was great fun- everyone loved the Dream in Color trunk show with to-die-for sweaters out of Classy Worsted. Have a great week and if you are in town, come on down for the Shop Hop and check out these beautiful sweaters. Sue

2010-08-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

Today is the start of my week long vacation and I am SO ready! Last week had it's ups and downs. My dear mother-in-law passed away; not unexpected but still sad. We had such a nice celebration for her. All nine children were there as well as 25 of 27 grandchildren and 24 of 27 great-grand children. What a legacy! On the up side I finished the Zephyr Shawl (at left) for my daughter's wedding. The color is "sage" and it is a beautiful combination of violet, lavender, sage green and (of course!) sequins. The yarn is a cotton, linen & rayon blend called SEA BREEZE from Great Adirondack; so it is a very light-weight. I have a couple of projects to start on my time off that I am excited about. Both are new yarns from Tahki Stacy Charles. The first is a lovely ruffled shawl using SUPERIOR (cashmere & silk) with a fun ruffled yarn called OPERADARTE. The second is a great furry neckwarmer made from COCCO a fun pom-pom on a string. The finished product is so elegant (and need I say it: warm???). I will chat with you in a week or so, if the grandkids haven't turned me into butter.

2010-07-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

Whew! What a fun couple of weeks....first the Fargo Street Fair. If you have never attended make a note for next year. It is always during our shop anniversary so we really pulled out the stops and had 4 great days (thank you everyone). Then we went directly to Bonanzaville for the 3rd Fiber Arts Festival. How fun was that! Here is a picture of boucle's Sheep to Shawl team. Left to right: Thuy, Cheryl, Ruth, Caitlin & Barb. We were the first ones finished (from raw fiber to woven shawl in 5 hours) and we produced a lovely shawl that is displayed in our shop. Come in and check it out. Also, we have some really great new knitting stuff. Really cute mugs and notebooks from Thomas Joseph (all the way from Ireland, and of course they have cute little sheep on them- great gifts for your baaaad girlfriends). Debra's garden has a really nice row counter necklace that is new this year along with beautiful glass stitch markers. We girls like to decorate our projects, don't we? I couldn't help myself I matched a new project to a striped tote bag that I got for free (I can hear my girls now "mother, you are so matchy, matchy!"). And then there is the YARN- we are new with Tahki Stacy Charles this year and are getting in some really great yarn. There is the Donegal Tweed (again from Ireland, is there a theme here?) and coming soon Operadarte, Superior & Cocco. Also, the great fashion yarns (eyelets, ladders, etc.) that you have been requesting for your projects are in with a nice little pattern booklet. Have a great weekend and don't get "tornadoed" as my little grandson said so sweetly.

2010-07-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is the end of the first day of our anniversary sale- what a great day!! (especially if you don't count the computer issues....) Hurry on in if you get a chance and help us celebrate. We have a great sale: buy 2 similar items at the regular price and get a 3rd for free (for example: 3 yarns, 3 notions, 3 patterns, 3 books- you get the idea- sorry needles are excluded) And of course there are other great deals to be had! The sale goes through Sat., July 17th. I am also so happy to have finished my daughter's wedding accessories. They are being modeled by Lexi, one of our faithful new knitters. The "Little Silk Shrug" is from the book Lace Style. This is such a great series of books from Interweave Press. I just kind of made up the gloves to match- not at all difficult to do. And of course what really makes this set is the beautiful silk/bamboo yarn by Lorna's Laces- "Pearl" in the color cedar. I heard from the bride and she thinks they are gorgeous and of course that makes a mother's heart beat a little faster. The wedding isn't until September, so now I have to finish MY outfit (or should I say my second outfit??). That's the trouble with shopping to0 early! I made one lovely shawl but then I was seduced by the Zephyr Shawl by Great Adirondack. More on that at another time...

Boucle's 3rd Anniversary

2010-07-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe that boucle yarn studio is getting ready to celebrate our 3rd Anniversary. I guess that means it's time I actually blogged on our blog! (I promised myself 3(?) years ago that I would do this; and then after my last birthday I vowed to do this before I die!!). So, my name is Sue & I am happy to report that I am still very excited about our yarn shop and am grateful for the wonderful customers and friendships that have developed over the years. I plan to update this blog regularly so stay tuned to hear about our fabulous new yarn (can anyone say madelinetosh?), annviersary sale and see pictures of the knitting projects I am making for my daughter's wedding in September.

August/September pattern of the month

2009-09-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

Our August/September pattern of the month is a simple little shawlette perfect to wear through the fall.

It takes 1 skein of the Schaefer Heather. The yarn comes in many different colors that are all equally stunning. Stop in & see which one calls your name!

Baseball cozy

2009-06-25T08:07:00.000-07:00

A fun project to cheer on your favcorite baseball team:

It could easily be changed into basketball or football colors too. Or add your favorite players name to personalize it. To celebrate summer we are giving this pattern away, just stop by the store & pick up a copy.

Stitch & Pitch

2009-06-11T07:59:00.001-07:00

It is almost time for our annual Stitch & Pitch at the Redhawks game. We will be going next Wednesday, June 17th to watch them play Winnepeg. If you don't have your tickets reserved yet, stop by the store. What a better way to spend a summer evening than knitting with friends & supporting our local team!

June pattern

2009-06-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

Our June pattern of the month:

A fun crochet pattern. Perfect for those cool summer evenings.

Summer knitting

2009-05-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of the warm weather that will soon be here, we've got some fun summer knits:

Here's our corn yarn knit into a spiral scarf that will have all your friends thinking you are quite amaizing!

Swing Shawl

2009-05-12T11:32:00.001-07:00

Sue knit the cutest shawl this spring:

She used Berroco Seduce & Lumina, making it quite the stunning piece. In fact we have so fallen in love with it that we will be teaching a class on how to knit this great summer shawl. Come in & see the amazing colors you can use!

May/June sock club kit

2009-05-07T09:01:00.000-07:00

To remind us of the good that came from the flood this year, we had sock yarn dyed to match some flood colors:

Unique Sheep did an amazing job & the colors are simply divine. Here is the link to the picture we took inspiration from:

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-03/45851671.jpg

Spa Night

2009-05-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

Spa night turned out to be a success, thanks to the wonderful people who came in & spoiled us with amazing treatments:

A New pattern for May

2009-04-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

A fun purse for Mom is our new pattern of the month. Stop in & see all the fun colors this delightful yarn comes in. We've got purse handles to match most of the colors too.

Fun quick knit for spring

2009-02-28T11:50:00.000-08:00

Here is a fun, quick knit that would be perfect for spring. Knit with Cascade Nikki yarn & some fun novelty yarn, it can keep you warm while we wait for summer to arrive.

February pattern of the month

2009-02-26T12:38:00.000-08:00

Here is our February pattern of the month. The scarf uses Lorna's Laces green line (just 1 skein), some fun eyelash yarn, & beads. Stop in & pick up a copy of the pattern.

Class: Entrelac Basket

2008-09-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

Entrelac means to interlace or intertwine. It's an unusual knitting technique that produces a basket weave look. It looks complicated but you will be amazed at how easy and fascinating it is to knit. The basket is worked in the round, avoiding all seams and then felted for a professional look. It knits up quickly and makes a great gift.

Skill level: easy intermediate

Instructor: Annie

Dates: Thursday 79pm: Sep. 18, 25, Oct. 2

Class: Cardigan sweater

2008-09-16T07:21:00.001-07:00

This is a beginning sweater class. We will make a top-down sweater that you can try on as you knit it. Learn how to make a sweater that fits, how to read your gauge and other sweater "tricks."

Instructor: Michelle

Dates: Saturday 1-3pm: Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 8

Class: Noni Felt Garden Party Bag

2008-09-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

This bag is worked in the round from the top down. You will use basic knitting skills such as increase, decrease and picking up stitches to shape this lovely bag and ruffle. The flowers are knitted and felted before sewing to the bag. Think of all the beautiful color combinations!

Instructor: Annie

Dates: Thursday 7-9pm: October 9, 16, 23

Class: Fix It

2008-09-16T07:16:00.001-07:00

Are you getting stuck when you think you made a mistake in your knitting but aren't sure? Do you see a mistake but don't know how to fix it? In this class we will help you identify your mistakes and learn how to fix them.

Instructor: Michelle
Dates: Saturday 1-3pm: November 22

Class: Beginning Lace

2008-09-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

Learn how to knit a simple, yet beautiful shawl in yummy Malabrigo yarn. This class will teach you the basics of lace knitting, as well as how to block & care for your lace when your project is completed.

Instructor: Michelle

Dates: Tuesday 6:30-8:30pm: Sept. 23, Oct. 7, 21

Class: Beginning Crochet

2008-09-16T07:10:00.000-07:00

This class will teach you the basics of crochet and more. We will be creating a cute capelet using a variety of crochet stitches.

Instructor: Michelle

Dates: Tuesday 6:30-8:30pm: Oct. 28, Nov. 4, 11

Class: Socks on 1 circular needle

2008-09-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

Learn a technique that makes socks fly off the needles! No more needles slipping out of the stitches and getting lost. More elegant and less prickly than 4 or 5 needle techniques. Intermediate or confident beginner.

Instructor: Judith

Dates: Thursday 7-9pm: October 16, 23, 30

Class: Fair Isle Knitting

2008-09-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

Explore this colorful world! No matter how many colors you choose there are no more than 2 colors in any given row. You'll find that working with a strand of yarn in each hand soon settles into a soothing rhythm.

Finished project: Hat & Companion Bag

Skill level: Intermediate knitters who can "read" their knitting

Instructor: Judith

Dates: Tues 7-9pm: Oct. 14, 21, 28, & Nov. 4

Class: Knit 201

2008-09-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

Finishing Techniques - Go beyond the basics. Learn to seam 2 pieces together; the Kitchener stitch, mattress stitch, 3-needle bind-off, buttonholes and more.

Finished project: A "Wondrous Thing" (a cute little bag)

Instructor: Judith

Dates: Thursday 7-9pm: Sep, 25, Oct. 2, 9

Class: Knit 101

2008-09-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

Learn basic techniques fundamental to all knitting projects: knit, purl, cast-on, bind-off; simple increases and decreases, simple abbreviations and pattern reading.

Finished project: Lace-edged Face Cloth

Instructor: Judith

Dates: Sat 10am-12, September 27, October 4, 11

Welcome

2008-09-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

To better show what is new here at boucle yarn studio, we decided to start a blog. Here we will share our class info, things we are working on, & fun happenings. We are always excited about new yarn, new patterns, samples we are working, club meetings, & other fun activities in the store & this way we can share more of it with you.