Closed Thursday, March 1st.

Due to a lack of heat and a head cold, DYNT will be closed tomorrow, Thursday March 1st.

Organic Cotton Embroidery Thread now in stock.

This just in!  Organic Cotton Embroidery Thread!  DYNT now carries Fiberactive Organics Organic Cotton Embroidery Floss.  It comes in 20 hand-dyed and hand-plied colors.  They are 3ply, 8 yards and sell for $6.99 each.  So spread the word.  Not only does DYNT have a ton of fun yarn, but we've got supplies to embellish your finished projects and create even more fiber arts projects - embroidery thread, regular thread, buttons, ribbon, roving, wool felt pieces and quilt batting.  So try and think outside the knitting bag next time you're starting a project!

Also, Brown Sheep makes a wool needlepoint thread that I'd like to carry too.  But to do that I've got to make room for it...so the Silk & Ivory (wool/silk) needlepoint thread is now on sale.  

Up-cycled needle and hook cases now available.

Up-cycled antique silverware  wraps.

 Last week was a busy week at DYNT.  Our brains were still spinning from all the fiber at the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet festival, the Center of Harmony (CoH) was undergoing more renovations, and we had many new customers stop in and discover the shop.  What a great week.  It was one that made me happy to have made the move, and glad to have such great support from so many new (and old) customers.

Close up of 3 up-cycled silverware holders turned needle cases.

This week I've been working on a few personal projects, gotta  finish that skirt!  But I did find time to embellish a few antique silverware holders my Grandmom T gave to me a few weeks ago.  She used them to wrap and protect a few glasses and dishes that she was giving me.  I took one look at them and saw needle or hook cases!  So I've embellished a few - 5 so far.  These smaller ones could hold crochet hooks, smaller DPNs or maybe some interchangeable pieces and parts.  These smaller ones are $7.50 each.  Please be aware, they are antique and previously well used - which means they are worn too.  But some of us like that.

I'm pretty excited about them - not sure why.  But I think it might have something to do with my love of old things, being able to up-cycle something creatively and using my creativity to decorate them.  I'm still working on some larger ones.  And by larger, I mean they have more slots.  I'm trying to decide how much to do to them to adapt them for needles.  They work well for hooks as is, but I'm debating making them more adaptable so that someone like me can use it for both my needles and my hooks.  Stay posted.

First Beginners Knit-A-Long starts this Saturday.

Seedling & Sprout - Organic Cotton Yarns

Katydid - Organic Cotton Ribbon Yarn

Yes, Spring will get here!  And just to get you into the mood, DYNT recently picked up some yarns from the the Classic Elite Verde line - Verde means green!  The Seedling, Sprout and Katydid lines are organic cotton yarns!  The perfect stuff to make some lighter accessories.  One of the patterns in the Katydid book is even for crocheters.

Also, we did attend the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival this past weekend.  What a great chance to catch up with old friends, make new ones and get all sorts of ideas.  Did you notice the two crochet specific booths?  I did!  Nothing against knitting, I prefer the knitted fabric for most things, but I still love the look and feel of crochet for other things - like bags.

Mark your calendars!  This Saturday, from 10am - noon, is the first Beginners Knit-A-Long (KAL)!  If you have learned to knit, but don't know much more than the knit and purl stitch.  This is your chance to join a group and learn new stuff!  We'll be knitting a hat, fingerless mitts and boot covers (all the rage right now!).  The pattern is for beginners, and will be a good chance to learn how to read a pattern and put the knit and purl together and get a new patterned stitch.  The KAL is free, but the pattern will be $2 and any supplies purchased for use during the KAL will be 10% off.  The pattern calls for bulky yarn and size 9 needles.  We'll meet the following week too.  If you want to keep going after that, we could probably do that too - I'm leaving it up to the beginners.

While the pattern we'll  be working on is pretty easy, if you are an advanced beginner or intermediate knitter and have been hesitant about joining a knitting group or a KAL because of your inexperience, this may be a good opportunity for you too!  It'll be a good way to ease into meeting with other knitters in the area.

Just another weekly update

My dad says I don't have any photos of the shop on line.  I'm not sure where he's looking.  So, just for him, here's another photo of the shop.  This is just the "new" needle felting, spinning and silk yarn corner.  The needle felting and spinning supplies are on the left, the silk is on the right.

I'm not sure how I feel about this arrangement.  We'll see as time goes on.  I was going to put a sofa in this corner, but didn't want everyone to bump their heads on the hooks.  So who knows, in a few weeks, this could be where the sofa is.  I do it just to keep all of you on your toes.  Not really.  I do it 'cause every time I get new inventory or things like sofas, I need to find a place to put them.

Which reminds me - new inventory is on it's way.  Spring is too, so there should be some new cottons arriving soon.  Stay posted.

Don't forget, this weekend is the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival.  For all you fiber junkies out there - words can not describe this event!  You have to see it to believe it.  I won't have a booth there, but I will be attending on Sunday.  If you are there on Saturday, I'll be open.  Stop by on your way to or from.  If you see me there on Sunday, say hello.

Brown Sheep wools in stock

Recently, I got a shipment of Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride Superwash Bulky yarns.  It reminded me how much I love this company and all of their products.  But I'll admit, I love wool.  I know there are many out there who don't like it, or find it itchy.  I ask you to give it another try.  Stop in at your local yarn store (LYS) and feel some of the new wools out there.  The itch comes from the size of the fiber.  That's about all I know, and about as technical as I'll get.  Breeding, careful selection and processing has brought wool along way from the itchy clothes I remember wearing as a child.  (I'll admit, I liked it even then, itchy or not.)

Wool absorbs perspiration while resisting water and is odor resistant.  And of course, it's warm.  But did you know it "breathes" too - making it perfect for climates like ours where it's below freezing in the morning but warm during the day.  If you want more information about the Brown Sheep Company and their yarns, check out their web site.  www.brownsheep.com  It's a great American company.  When you're done, stop in and see the yarns for your self.

I also carry Brown Sheep's two childrens' books:  "Freddie's Blanket" and "Phoebe's Sweater".  At the end of both books are knitting patterns for items described and pictured in the books!  Including Freddie and Phoebe.