The Yarn Shop and Fiber Place

Stoked on Habu

Wait a minute, did I just say "stoked"?  Okay, I have been hanging with my 12 year old son quite a bit lately.  But the point is, the yarns from Habu Textiles are amazing!   A couple of weeks ago, we had a brainstorming session on what to do with these incredible yarns and just got so excited.  Though these unique yarns can do just about anything, I tend to go for "simple." 

Check out our inspiration board, compiled from a simple search of "Habu" on Ravelry:

 

1. BlackBkrnd3, 2. black2, 3. Behold, The Felted Shawl, 4. Rules, 5. falling leaves scarf, 6. strangebed2, 7. Guinevere Finished!, 8. habu tunic, 9. Starry Starry Laminaria, 10. Wild Grasses Side, 11. Knitted Paper Lanterns, 12. PICT1777, 13. Kusha Kusha scarf, 14. IMG_5870, 15. bracelet from Elements of Style, 16. Back View of the Bloom Shawl

And if this isn't enough to get you going, let me mention the world of weaving.  I've been dying to weave with these yarns and have some curtain panels in my mind that I hope will see the light of day soon.  I'll keep you posted!  

Oh, and may I remind you that our Habu Textiles are on sale at 20% off for the month of March?  Seize the day to try this wonderful yarn collection!

Barbie Pink

The Intruiging World of Habu

This month at The Yarn Shop, we are pleased to share Habu Textiles as our featured yarn of the month.

This unusual series of yarns (some of which include components such as stainless steel or paper) provides a fresh perspective on your fiber endeavors, whether they be knitting, crochet, weaving, or spinning.  During the month of March, we are offering a 20% discount on any yarns in the Habu collection.

 

What can you make with these fascinating yarns?  Good question.  We would like to hear your thoughts on the matter! 

Please join us on Saturday, March 6, from 10-12 as we discuss and brainstorm ideas over coffee.  We will look at samples of knit and woven pieces aimed at stimulating all of our imaginations!

This is in honor of our Habu Textiles Contest, the winners of which will be announced on April 3rd.  We will also be posting the entries here on the blog and on our flickr group. 

Come join us for coffee, community, and creativity this Saturday at 10am.  There's still time to participate, and we look forward to seeing you and hearing your ideas!

Special Anniversary Colorway

Wow!  Thank you, Kim!

This is our custom-dyed-just-for-us anniversary colorway courtesy of Kim from Western Sky Knits.   Barb and I sat mesmerized by the transition of periwinkle, pink, and chocolate brown in this expertly dyed sportweight.  We also fawned over the variations that occurred as the yarn worked up into the very girly sock pattern that is the focus of the free workshop on Saturday, January 23rd (that's tomorrow by the way).

Of course it needs a name.  It was created in honor of The Twelfth Anniversary! 

Bridger Twilight?

Yarn Shop Sundae?

Sweet Pea Surprise?

A reference to our lovely state flower?

This particular yarn colorway feels important.  It's the symbol of twelve years of serving the fiber community here in Bozeman after all!  And what better way to share the celebration than to hold a contest to name the colorway?

So here's the deal ~ if the name you suggest is chosen, you win a skein of this beautiful custom-dyed yarn!  Come on down to the shop or leave a comment with your suggestion to enter for a chance to win!

Entries must be received by January 31, 2010.  Void where prohibited.

~ Jules

Can You Habu?

We're getting very excited about the Yarn Shop's 12th anniversary in January.  Almost to the point of having idea overload.  We might have to drag the celebration out for a while because there are just too many fun things to do in one month!  I'll keep you posted on the plans, but for now I want to just mention one idea that I hope you'll find intriguing:  a Habu Textiles contest. 

 

There has been a lot of interest in the unusual Habu yarns that we are now carrying, but folks inevitably ask, "What can you make with this?"  The answer to this question would most certainly be, "Anything you want!"  The caveat with the Habu Textiles is that they are a thinking knitter's yarn.  It takes a bit of imagination and an adventurous spirit!

I was privileged to meet the owner of Habu Textiles, Takako Ueki, at a trade show last summer.  I did my fair share of holding up various unique yarns and saying "What can you make with this?"  She very gently and sweetly explained to me that she really doesn't like to give people suggestions about what to do with the yarns.  She feels that it is more freeing and allows more individual creativity if a person is not told what can and can't be done with the yarn.  I certainly see her point and now you know what I mean about a thinking knitter's yarn! 

I do agree that there is something to be said for working with a yarn for awhile, learning its particular characteristics, before expecting it to grab your imagination and furl you into unimagined heights of creativity!  But fear not:  we do have Habu patterns and kits available to help you along during those times that imagination falters. 

Let the furling begin!  Perhaps as you contemplate these amazing yarns, a most unexpected project idea will occur to you!.  You may design it yourself, use a commercial pattern, or even use a Habu pattern (one designed specifically for Habu yarns).    You may knit, crochet, weave, or something else.  But please start thinking about entering this contest!  More on this later, including categories and prizes.  Wahoo!

Stay warm,

Barbie Pink