Penguin Power

Thanks to Charlie - a Skeinz regular for knitting up this jumper & supplying the picture.

As you may be aware the oil spill & potential disastrous effects to wildlife & environment off the coast of Tauranga is frightening.  A small number of little blue penguins have already been caught in the oil spilled to date with growing fears that more will be effected. Skeinz has been asked to help with the penguin relief by knitting small Penguin PJ’s to help protect the birds & prevent them from preening their feather & ingesting the toxic oil. 

If you can help out by knitting a penguin jumper – send them to Skeinz at 5 Husheer Place, PO Box 3123, Onekawa, Napier 4142

These have come into the shop today

Penguin Jumper in 8ply  - Must be 100% Wool Yarn1 pair 3.25mm , 1 pair of 3.75mm needles , 1 set of 3.25mm dpn’s or circular

Cast on 36 stitches using 3.25 needles.K1, P1 to end of row. Repeat this row 7 times.  Change to 3.75mm needles and K2, P2 rib. Work 4 rows increasing at each end of every row. (44 sts)

Continue until work measures 15 cms.

Decrease 1 st at each end of every row until 28 sts remain.

Decrease 1 st. in middle of next row (27 sts.)

Leave on needle.

Make second side the same.

Transfer the 54 sts from both pieces to 3 of the set of 4 3.25mm needles.(18 sts on each.) and work a round neck in K1 P1 rib for 10 rows.

Cast off.

Stitch up sides to decreasing to 27sts (opening for flipper). Add elastic to the top and bottom to prevent the penguins getting out of them. Top: 15cm of elastic; bottom 17 cm (knots allowed). Flat elastic OK.

Too much yarn - too little time!

Knitting has had great publicity in HB this Winter

I can't believe it's been since the beginning of July since I last posted - naughty Maree!
The Winter at Skeinz has been crazy busy.  Yarn has been flying everywhere.  We were heavily involved with Knit August Nights (It's compulsory as I organise it!) & at the forefront of the Creative Napier & Napier Inner City Marketing Tree Cosy installation. 

Suzanne & Mary doing a final check before the Knitters Market in August

I am pleased to say all went very well & were a tremendous amount of fun.  So now that the nation is gripped by rugby fever we though instead of taking a breath we would make ourselves even busier & launch our first GrabOne Promotion.  This has been epic!  728 lucky people snapped up GrabOne coupons to redeem with us here at Skeinz.  So you can imagine that for the last two weeks we have all been frantic picking & packing orders to get out to you for your Spring time knitting.

Ian Kelly in his element doing a mill tour during KAN:2

I am hoping over the next few weeks we can catch our breath & start looking forward to the new goodies planned for later this year & the new year.  There is a new Summer yarn in the pipeline & a new machine washable yarn which as been dyed (the yarn is just waiting to be 'caked' out the back - the colours are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G) plus a few other Skeinz Original yarn that didn't quite make it through balling for the Spring Sale.

To much fibre, too little time!

We are also supporting alongside with the Hawkes Bay Ravelry Knitters a Spring Knitting 'Drop-In' knitting clinic.  So if you are in Napier on the 29th of October at East Pier Brasserie on Hardinge Road Ahuriri & are wanting to drop in for a knit or want help sharpening up a skill or even picking up the needles for the first time, contact Jennie & she'll get you registered.  There's a small fee ($10) to help cover venue costs & morning tea.  In the meantime - knit on & Go the All Blacks!!

Magical Moondance

The first four colour moods from Moondance

Skeinz is please to launch, just in time for the clutches of a NZ Winter, Moondance.  It's our first traditional style tweed effect.  A lush blend of wool, wool effect & acrylic, Moondance is spun to the classic Aran weight, or 10ply, making it ideal for those traditional cabled patterns or a fast knit for children & adults alike. 

Moondance being balled.

The colours are inspired by the moods of the Irish coast, deep, rich, broody yet warm. Moondance knits up comfortably on a 4.5 - 5mm needle & is machine washable for easy care.  Available now from Skeinz - & with any luck I will find time to knit up a little Moondance magic for myself.

Getting Worked Up!

Persian Poppies colour workshop from KAN 2010

Skeinz is proud to be support Knit August Nights again this year.  Held in our home town of Napier, KAN:2 is a knitters retreat weekend & a series of fibre workshops.  If you think you wish to escape the Winter blues you can register to attend the retreat in its entirety, however this year you are also able to attend individual workshops.

Getting to grips with socks

There are 10 workshops covering a variety of topics:  Design, pattern interpretation, colour, spindle spinning, project troubleshooting & even steeking.  We are accepting workshop registrations at Skeinz in Husheer Place or you can visit the website & register there.

The Knitters Market on Sunday 9 til noon.

Also as part of KAN:2 is the Sunday Knitters Market.  Last year we were swamped with knitters & yarn lovers, all coming to soak up the delicious yarns on offer.  Many of the traders are online retailers, so the market is a rare chance to touch, fondle & meet the people behind these beautiful yarns.  Skeinz too is there in force & we always save some extra end of season specials to tempt you.

August Adoption

Christine from Creative Napier with our 'Tree Anenome'

At Skeinz we are very proud to be supporting a special Napier Community fibre art installation.  Along with Creative Napier & Napier Inner City Marketing we are endeavouring to have the 99 trees that line Emerson Street (the heart of the Napier CBD) adopted by knitters, crocheters & other fibre artists.  Once adopted, we need the new tree parents to create a unique 'Tree Cosy' for their new tree child.

Christine (from Creative Napier) & I have already made our 'Tree Anenome' & I have also made another 'Autumnal Cosy' which is on display at the Skeinz shop.

If you think you'd  like to adopt a tree, contact Skeinz, we have adoption papers available.  The installation will be up from August 13th - 28th - so if you are attending Knit August Nights for out of town you will be able to see your tree child & cosy.

Autumn Harvest

As the weather has cooled here in Hawkes Bay & New Zealand in general, yarn sales have certainly spiked.  So too has our stock.  I am finally able to announce the full compliment of Harvest yarn is now available.  The first handful of colours we have had have been selling furiously & I have no doubt that the final five colours will be equally as popular.

Harvest - a multi fibre DK

Harvest is a deliciously soft yarn, with a lovely drapey handle.  The colours all reflect the warmth & richness of Harvest time & are designed to also compliment each other, making them ideal for Fair Aisle projects & bold colour work. Luscious throws & cushions would look amazing in Harvest!

The first four colours have sold so well that the powers that be have decided to add Harvest to the core range - fibre permitting.  proof that you can't have too much of a good thing!

Seeing Red

We have had some beautiful yarn come in this past week & many of them have been a red of one shade & another.  I couldn't help myself & had to make a small display of this versatile & variable colour.  With everything from Alexander Roase Mohair from $2.50 a ball through to the new Red Rocket at $3.50 a ball, there is something for red lovers anywhere.

My Personal favourite is the new Harvest colour, Geranium - a soft red marl, just delicious!