Yarn Over Coffee is the official blog of Yarn Over.  We sell a range of American-branded knitting yarns, needles, pattern books, crochet supplies, spinning wheels, weaving looms and equipment.  We have a store based in Brisbane – 1/265 Blaker Road, Grovely, 4054.

Come on in and see us for all your yarn and fibre needs!  We are open – Tuesday to Friday – 10am to 4pm and Saturday – 9am to 1pm.  EFTPOS available and plenty of free parking.

So I FINALLY got around to uploading both of Chiao Goo’s NEW ‘Twist’ and ‘Spin’ Interchangeable Circular Needle Sets.

Here’s the low-down…

ChiaoGoo Interchangeable Sets The Red Lace Tips TWIST sets come in a pretty blue floral case with a red ribbon Small – Tip sizes 2 (2.75mm) – 8 (5 mm) Twist Red Lace Sets, and Large – Tip sizes 9 (5.5 mm) – 15 (10 mm) Twist Red Lace Sets Complete – Tip sizes 2 (2.75 mm) – 15 (10 mm) Twist Red Lace Sets Pricing for TWIST Sets: $100 small; $100 large; $165 complete

The SPIN bamboo sets come in a pretty blue floral case with a black ribbon. Small – Tip sizes 2 (2.75mm) – 8 (5 mm) Large – Tip sizes 9 (5.5 mm) – 15 (10 mm) Complete – Tip sizes 2 (2.75 mm) – 15 (10 mm) Pricing for SPIN Sets: $79.95 small; $79.95 large; $145 complete

The cases are cute, compact (only 6 inch x 8″) and great quality. They zip around the outside and open up like a book. They have 29 pockets inside for tips and have a zippered outside pocket.

All sets come with 5″ (13 cm) tips and cables to make 24″ (60 cm), 32″ (80 cm) & 40″ (100 cm) circulars, cable connectors, end stoppers, stitch markers, 5″ (13 cm) needle gauge/ruler and keys. The case will also be available separately with a white ribbon (no needles).

Items that will be sold separately include: • 4″ (10 cm) tips sizes US2/2.75mm – US15/10mm (including sizes US2.5/3mm, US10.75/7mm and US10.875/7.5mm) • Cable to use with the 4″ (10 cm) tips to make a 16″ circular

• 5″ (13 cm) tips sizes US2/2.75mm – US15/10mm (including sizes US2.5/3mm, US10.75/7mm and US10.875/7.5mm)

• 14″ (35 cm) cable to make a 24″ (60 cm) circular with the 5″ (13 cm) tips • 22″ cable to make a 32″ (80 cm) circular with the 5″ (13 cm) tips

• 30″ cable to make a 40″ (100 cm) circular with the 5″ (13 cm) tips • Cable Connectors • End Stoppers • Stitch Markers • 5″ Needle Gauge • Keys • Needle Case (with white ribbon as mentioned above)Both the SPIN (bamboo) and TWIST (Red Lace) interchangeables are the screw in style. The SPIN sets come with the nylon cable that swivels freely (like our current bamboo circulars).Cables, tips and accessories for the SPIN and TWIST are interchangeable!

Both sets have lifeline holes and are coded for easy use. The coding is necessary because there are two different diameter cables.

The small cable [S] is for sizes 2 (2.75mm) – 8 (5mm) and the larger [L] is for sizes 9 (5.5mm) – 15 (10mm). Connectors and end stoppers are coded as well.

Here’s a good review of them, courtesy of Knitter’s Review website

My house is full of knitting needles, yet I never seem to find the exact size and configuration I need. It’s been a lifelong challenge, and I know I’m not alone.

For those who enjoy working with circular knitting needles, interchangeable sets offer hope—the illusion of hope, that is. Imagine being able to carry all the needles you need in one small case, cords and tips alike. What’s that? You’ve fallen in love with a new yarn and want to cast on before you get home? No problem, just unzip your trusty kit, pull out your needles, and cast on. Gauge too tight? Swap one tip for another until you reach the gauge that’s just right.

That’s the promise. Of course what usually happens (and what happened to me last week) is that you pull out your kit and prepare to cast on, only to discover that the slot that should hold the needle you need is, alas, empty. Those tips are currently engaged elsewhere.

Of course none of this happens if you’re one of those disciplined knitters who only has one project going at a time. For the rest of us, interchangeable kits are still a delight for many other reasons—just as long as you don’t bet everything on those needles alone.

ChiaoGoo is a needle manufacturer based in China. For years, the company has offered fixed circular needles, but recently they expanded to interchangeables. Supply is still iffy, so don’t be surprised if you see these needles on backorder.

ChiaoGoo offers two kinds of needle sets: those with bamboo tips and clear cords (called “Spin”) and those with stainless steel tips and red cords (called “Twist”). Within each set, you can either go with the “Complete” and get 13 tips or the “Small” with just 7 tips.

the Spin needle case has a red ribbon the Twist needle case has a black ribbon

Color-Coded Cases All of the cases, whether they contain 13 tips or just 7, and whether those tips are stainless steel or bamboo, come in an attractive, slender black floral fabric case. Inside, it has 29 inner pockets for tips. An outer zipped pocket is perfect for slender accessories like cord joins, ends, keys, and stitch markers—all of which are conveniently tucked inside for you.

There is one small difference: If you’re getting the set with the stainless steel needles, your case will have a red ribbon sewn across the front. Bamboo needles? You get a black ribbon.

Tips Both the bamboo and stainless steel needles have well-defined tips, the stainless steel ones with a slightly more elongated taper than the bamboo. Neither is pointy enough to irritate your finger if you’re one of those knitters who pushes the tip with your index finger. Still, there is enough of a tip definition to allow easy stitch manipulation, whether you’re working cables or the elusive P3tog.

the screw-and-key mechanism All of the needles use a screw-and-key mechanism that will be familiar to you if you’ve used the Knitter’s Pride Symfonie Dreamz or Knit Picks Options needles. You screw the tip into the cord and then insert a fine metal rod through a hole in the join to tighten.

The key hole serves a second function for those knitters who love to work intricate lace. Every few dozen rows, or perhaps every pattern repeat depending on what you’re doing, simply run a thin strand of yarn through that keyhole and then proceed as normal. As you go, you’ll be quietly stranding a lifeline into that row so that you can unravel any future mistakes back to that point. In technology terms, you’re making a backup of your project—any changes made after the backup will be lost, but it’s a whole lot better than having to erase and start from scratch.

the two different sizes of screws and connectors Something’s Screwy If you look closely at your needles, you’ll notice that the smaller ones have tiny screws and the bigger needles have larger screws. The small needles require an “S” cord connector, the larger ones an “L” cord connector.

Switching to a smaller screw allows ChiaoGoo to go down to a US 2, but it does mean you’ll probably want to double up on cords. Which brings us to the cords. The red cords in the Twist kit are made from a strong, slightly firm nylon-coated multi-strand steel cable. The Spin cords, on the other hand, are made from a slender, flexible clear cord.

The clear cords are ideal for things like lace or other lightweight knitting projects where you don’t want a heavy cord kinking up on you. But as your project gets heavier and bulkier, the flexibility of the clear cord becomes a drawback. It doesn’t hold up when you try to slide your stitches from the cable onto your needle. Instead, the cord goes right along with the stitches, its end popping out and forming a giant loop. The heavier your yarn and the more stitches on your cable, the more troublesome this becomes. Soon my cord was permanently bent at a 90-degree angle to my needle, at which point I gave up and swapped out the clear cord for a red one. I had the luxury of both kits at my disposal, not everyone will.

Package Deals ChiaoGoo currently offers both its Twist and Spin interchangeables in three kinds of sets: You can get all the needles in the Complete kit, which is shown and reviewed here. Or you can get the Small or Large sets, each essentially the small or large-sized half of the Complete kit.

The Complete set retails for $150 (in the USA) and contains 13 needle tips in US 2 (2.75mm), US 3 (3.25mm), US 4 (3.5mm), US 5 (3.75mm), US 6 (4mm), US 7 (4.5mm), US 8 (5mm), US 9 (5.5mm), US 10 (6mm), US 10 1/2 (6.5mm), US 11 (8mm), US 13 (9mm), and US 15 (10mm). Each needle tip measures 5″ (13cm).

The Complete kit also comes with two sets of cords, one set for the needles with S screws, and one set for those with the L screws. Each set has three cords, one each measuring 24″ (60cm), 32″ (80cm), and 40″ (100cm). In addition, you also get two S and L end caps, one S and L cord connector for making even longer cords, two cord keys, a ruler/needle sizer, and a collection of charming, colorful stitch markers.

The Small set retails for $80 (in the USA) and contains 7 needle tips in US 2 (2.75mm), US 3 (3.25mm), US 4 (3.5mm), US 5 (3.75mm), US 6 (4mm), US 7 (4.5mm), US 8 (5mm). Ditto the Large set, which contains 7 tips in US 9 (5.5mm), US 10 (6mm), US 10 1/2 (6.5mm), US 11 (8mm), US 13 (9mm), and US 15 (10mm). In either set you also get three cords, one each measuring 24″ (60cm), 32″ (80cm), and 40″ (100cm), in addition to two S end caps, one cord connector, two cord keys, a ruler/needle sizer, and that same collection of charming, colorful stitch markers. It comes in the same case as the Complete, just half full (and loudly beckoning you to fill the empty slots).

Bottom line? I like the slender and convenient carrying case. The tips are good, the needle materials solid. There’s nothing here to make you swoon, it’s all about efficiency and functionality. I just wish the clear cords had a little more heft to them.

Here’s a knitted tea-cozy I made for my sister-in-law – it is the one on the front cover of ‘Really Wild Tea Cozies” by Loani Prior:

I used some Cascade 220 Superwash and Nature Spun Sport – Brown Sheep Company

I whipped two of these up from one 16 feet length of paracord. Here’s my son modelling one – he’s going to camp tomorrow so he is taking it to look stylish – maybe he’ll get some orders from his friends?

We sell all the gear for you to make your own paracord bracelet if you like?

Just arrived in-store – new box tote styles from “Aunty Bubbo-Pants”:

These cute, yet versatile tote bags are hand-made with quality quilting-weight cottons. They are fully lined and stabilised so they will stay looking good for longer! Each tote is approximately 12 x 8 inches – big enough for a pair of short needles or DPN’s or circulars and a small project such as hat, scarf or socks.

Watch This Space! – more styles on the way!

Crystal Palace has just released its range of new spring 2013 colours in their popular Mini Mochi and Mochi Plus.

In Mini Mochi, the colours are:

Citron Mist

Cherries Jubilee

Georgia Peach

and the same colours are available in the Mochi Plus.

these new colours are due out in Spring – usually February/March

I thought you might like to see some pics of Patricia’s dolls, wearing adorable crocheted outfits. they are cute 5 inch Berenguer dolls. You can order them through us. Patricia used Aunt Lydia’s #10 Classic Crochet Thread for the dolls’ outfits.

Thanks Patricia for sending the pics – beautiful work – well done!

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New Year – New Projects!

It’s time to clear out our old knitted and crocheted shop samples to make way for new and exciting projects in 2013!

All of our samples are ONE-OFF and have been lovingly hand-knitted or crocheted for shop display only. They have never been worn and so may be a little dusty – be sure to give your purchase a wool-wash when it arrives!

We cannot accept returns on samples – all sales are final. We will do our best to provide accurate measurements in the item description.

To purchase – simply e-mail us: info@yarnover.com.au – to reserve your chosen item. You can then call the shop – 07 3851 2608 – to pay over the phone by credit card or you can send us money with your PayPal account. Be sure to send us your address and phone number in your email.

Okay, well here is what we have!:

1. Child’s pure wool Puppy sweater – Size 1 – roll neck and hem, intarsia, knitted in Patons Classic Wool in ‘chartreuse’, ‘chocolate’ and ‘aran’. Chest measures – 60cm circumference, sleeves are 26cm from shoulder to wrist and length is 30cm from shoulder to hem

$28.00

2. Girl’s pink variegated cotton hooded sweater – Size 2 – knitted in Bernat Cottontots yarn. Chest measures – 66cm, sleeves are 28cm from shoulder to wrist and length is 30cm from shoulder to hem

$32.00

3. Baby’s ‘Milo Vest’ – size Newborn. Knitted in pale apricot llama/cotton yarn. Very soft with tweedy look. Cable detail on chest. Chest measures – 42cm. Length from shoulder to hem is 24cm

$17.00

4. Boy’s vest – Size 18mths – knitted in linen/cotton ‘Mirasol Lachiwa’ yarn – lovely drop-stitch design using four colours – lime, stone grey, sky blue, and pale mint. Chest measures – 50cm, length from shoulder to hem is 31.5cm

$24.00

5. Ladies’ Intarsia Wool Hat – knitted in Kollage Yarns ‘Fantastic’ – 100% merino wool – colours are fuschia, magenta and teal. Brim circumference is 53cm. Length from top of crown to brim is 23.5cm

$17

6. SOLD — Machine-Knitted Asymmetrical Shawl – knitted in Noro Kureyon – 100% Japanese variegated wool. Measurements – length – 130cm and width at widest point is 90cm. This shawl is an asymmetrical ‘pencil shape’ – wide at one end, tapering down to a point at the other

A bargain at $40!!

7. SOLD —— Crocheted Lap Blanket in Red Heart Super Saver acrylic yarn – hardwearing yet soft – fabulous modern colours and design. ‘Celery green’ and ‘chocolate’. Features bobbles, v-stitches and moss stitches – this blanket took many hours of crocheting! Dimensions: 140 cm long x 98cm wide

A bargain at $80!

8. Machine-Knitted Cotton Girl’s Skirt – Size 2-3. This lovely, soft variegated skirt was knitted in an 8 ply cotton on my standard gauge knitting machine. It is a simple A-line style with folded hem and elasticated waist. Waist measures 50cm and length from waist to hem is 30.5cm

$22.00

9. Ladies’ Alpaca/Silk beanie with Estilina (soft silver threads). This handknitted beanie features an all-over cable design in a raspberry colour. Circumference (unstretched) measures 54cm. Crown to brim measures 20cm.

$19.00

(NOTE: Only the beanie in the picture is included in the sale)

10. Girl’s Cotton Variegated hand-knitted, short-sleeve cardigan. This gorgeous cardigan was knitted in Araucania Pomaire – a pima cotton from Peru. Size 2-4 years. Measurements: Chest circumference is 68cm. Length from front neckline down to hem is 38cm.

$29.00

11. SOLD —— Pure Wool Lace Scarf – this raspberry scarf was knitted in Araucania pure wool and is approximately 186cm (6 foot) long and 17cm wide.

$15.00

12. Crochet Nobori handbag – cute tote crocheted in Noro Nobori cotton variegated yarn. Measures 52cm circumference and 27cm tall from handles to base.

$15.00

13. Child’s Slouchy Beanie – handknitted by me in Bernat Jacquards – self-patterning acrylic yarn. Brim circumference is 43cm – unstretched – (it does stretch to fit me!) and hat measures 23cm from top to brim – unstretched (it is a very stretchy style hat). A perfect hat for a little boy!

$12.00

14. SOLD — Newborn Baby Crochet Top in Noro ‘Aya’ cotton/silk, self-striping yarn – chest circumference is 34cm. Length from neckline to hem is 17cm

$15.00

15. Crochet Noro Ripple Scarf with tassles in ‘Silk Garden Lite’ – pinks, chocs, greys, mauves. Measures 180cm, not including tassles

$15.00

16. SOLD — Noro Crochet Ripple Scarf in blues, mauves, greens and peach – wool/silk yarn. Measures 188cm long

$15.00

17. Hand-knitted, cabled ladies’ scarf – in Kollage Yarns ‘Milky Whey’ very soft milk fibre/cotton yarn in a dusky pink colour. Measures 186cm long

$22.00

18. SOLD — Hand-knitted Ladies’ Scarf – raspberry pink – knitted in milk fibre/wool yarn. Lovely, soft and drapey. Measures 168cm long.

$22.00

19. Machine-knit ‘Clapotis’ scarf in hand-dyed Madelinetosh yarn – soft, slightly variegated, pale leaf green – pure wool. Measures 152cm long and 15cm wide.

$24.00

20. Ladies slouchy beanie – bamboo/wool – lace – teal colour. Brim measures 54cm around – it is a loose-fitting, slouchy style. Hat measures 20cm from crown to brim. there is one mistake in the knitting, hence the reduced price:

$15.00 (usually $22.00)

21. Girl’s A-Line knitted tunic dress, knitted in japanese Noro ‘Aya’ yarn – cotton/silk – Size 5 years:

$35.00

Measures – 76cm across the chest and 46cm tall from neckline down to hem

22. SOLD ——- Sock Loom – resin plastic – usually $90, now save 50! – $45.00

This 60 peg, adjustable sock loom means you can knit socks from baby size right up to large men’s size. The company that made these looms has now gone out of business, so these are the last ones I have available:

$45.00

23. Large Infinity Afghan Loom – 266 pegs – creates a double-side afghan using 10 ply or 12 ply yarn. originally $90 – now half-price!! Wooden board, heavy-duty plastic/nylon pegs

The company that made these looms has now gone out of business, so these are the last ones I have available:

originally $90 – now $45!!

Look what arrived on our doorstep this morning – 6 new magazines!

1. Homemaker – Issue 2

2. Inside Crochet – Issue 36

3. Inside Crochet – Issue 37

4. Inside Crochet – Special Issue – The Complete Guide to Crochet

5. The Simple Things – Issue 4 – Christmas 2012 – save 10%!!

6. Mollie Makes – with free notecards – Issue 22

I have been wanting to make a scraps blanket for a while and the other day I saw this lovely ripple blanket on Ravelry:

It’s called a Hobo Blanket and it is crocheted using various colours and textures of yarn which is the same weight.

I have some beautiful variegated and plain chunky cottons in recently from Mirasol and Araucania. So I decided to go with a blues, greens, purples colour scheme:

I also had some old Cotton Hill from Noro in similar colourways so I have thrown those in too!

Here are the yarns I am using, top row, L to R: Mirasol Hap’i – 1102 teal, 1107 navy, 1128 sky, 1106 royal purple, 1105 forest green, 1120 emerald, 1121 aqua

middle row, L to R:

Patagonia, #208 Tolhuaca, #1642 Patagonia, #249 and 235 Tolhuaca, #1303 Patagonia, #205

bottom row: Noro Cotton Hill, 4, 6 , 4

The pattern is a free one from Ravelry, but is not clearly written in rows one and 2. I made the following changes…

Instructions…

“…Pattern is worked over a multiple of 8 sts. When calculating your number of chains, please add 2 for your turning chain”

So, for my blanket, I chained 194 (24 x 8 + 2). It is a good size – at least a single bed size when I am done.

And in Row 1, omit the ‘ch 2′ at the beginning, skip the first two chains and HDC twice in the third chain from the hook.

And in row 2, it makes more sense written like this – “ch 2, HDC twice in the same stitch as the turning chain…”

I have started the first few rows. This is my pattern sequence…

Rows…

Navy – 3 Teal – 4 Blue-mauve Patagonia – 1 Sky Blue – 3 Blue/mauve Tolhuaca – 4 Blue/taupe Patagonia – 1 Purple – 6 Noro purple – 1 Forest – 2 Green Tolhuaca – 1 green/Blue Patagonia – 1 Noro green/yellow – 4 Emerald – 6 Green/aqua/purple Patagonia – 6 Noro purple – 1 Aqua – 1

I am sure I will end up with more variegated, rather than plain. If I am happy with the size, I will make a small cushion cover with the leftovers.

Progress Photo 1…

I have moved away from the original row sequence, only because I would end up with small balls of certain colours and none of others, so to even it out and ensure I used all of each skein, I decided to do 3 rows of one colour, 1 row of new colour and one row of first colour. This is repeated throughout as below…

Progress Update 2:

Here is a selection of colours chosen for a customer of mine:

A nice selection of pinks, purples, greens and blues.

Colours are:

Top Row, L to R:

Patagonia 1108 – Fuschia ” 240 – mauve/purple multi ” 59 – dark rose ” 243 – rose/tan multi ” 23 – pink Tolhuaca – 1641 – pinks multi Patagonia – 70 – Lavender Pink ” 251 – pinks and purples Hapi – 1112 – pale Rose ” 1130 – dusty pink ” 1123 – cream

Bottom Row, L to R:

hapi – 1102 – teal Patagonia – 208 – blues hapi – 1121 – aqua Tolhuaca – 1642 – aqua and purple Hapi – 1128 – sky ” – 1105 – Forest Tolhuaca – 1303 – greens hapi – 1120 – emerald Patagonia – 65 – greens ” – 64 – Dusty Teal ” – 235 – Aqua, lime and purples ” – 6 – Chartreuse

Well, the painters have finished and I think they’ve done a lovely job on our old building! She is now looking a lot happier!

So, if you’re driving past our shop – look out for us!

Yarn Over – 265 Blaker Road, Keperra, Brisbane