Equal Rights for All, Y’all

On a steamy July day in 1923, Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman unveiled a brand-new proposal to the women activists gathered in Seneca Falls, N.Y. A simple idea that the American government could not discriminate against women simply because they are women. That proposal later became the Equal Rights Amendment. 

Twenty-four words:

“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

A full century later, the ERA is not yet in the U.S. Constitution, despite its passage by Congress and ratification by the necessary 38 states. Women remain legal second-class citizens; our sole constitutional guarantee is the right to vote.

Here at The Fibre Studio, we are commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ERA with our newest colorway, “Equal Rights for All, Y’all”  and it is available in time to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 8.

The Fibre Studio has chosen Studio Sox as the base for their brand new colorway.  Each skein has approximately 440 yarns and the fiber content is 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon.  Perfect for a knitted pair of socks, a scarf or shawl.  We chose to use the colors of blue and green to coordinate with the colors of the  ERA North Carolina Alliance.  If you purchase a skein of “Equal Rights for All, Y’all” during the month of March, you’ll receive an ERA Yes button to wear with pride.

If you’d like to know how you can make equal rights a reality for women, check out the websites of our friends at the ERA-NC Alliance and the national ERA Coalition. Show off your projects and ERA pride usinghashtags

#ERA100, #KnittersForERA and #I<3ERA #fibrestudio and #equalrightsforallyall.

Queen City Designer Trunk Show

The Fibre Studio is getting ready to kick of the first Queen City Designer Trunk Show. The trunk show features four local knitting and crochet pattern designers. Each designer will have several samples of their designs on display for the event. The trunk show will travel to each of the Charlotte area Local Yarn Shops, where it will remain for ten days.

I have included the flyer below which outlines the schedule and introduces the four, up and coming, designers. The Queen City Designer Trunk Show will begin June 4th at The Fibre Studio and run through September 5, 2021. The event is free to attend and the designers will make guest appearances at the yarn shops.

To get the latest information, please follow the designers and your LYS on social media. You may also follow the event on Instagram using #queencitydesignertrunkshow

We look forward to seeing you.

Peaceful Stitching, Debbie

To see the most current list of our events and classes, visit the Events page on our website or check out our Facebook page.

Bubble Tea and Noncho!

The Noncho in honor of National Bubble Tea Day – April 30, 2021

Have you heard about the upcoming project by Casapinka. It is called Noncho (because we know she would NEVER design a poncho). This project may be made using either a DK weight yarn on a US #6 needle, or a Fingering weight on a US #4 needle. The Fibre Studio has put together kits using our Studio DK and our Studio Sox. Our Studio DK yarn is 100% Super Wash Merino with approximately 280 yards on a 4.0 ounce | 113g skein. Our Studio Sox is 75% Super Wash Merino, 25% Nylon with approximately 440 yards on a 3.5 ounce | 100g skein. We have dyed up a special color on our Studio Sox that we are calling Bubble Tea.

As in years past, Casapinka will be offering the pattern for “Free” with yarn purchase. As a thank you to Casapinka (and to you, our wonderful customers) The Fibre Studio will offer all of our Noncho kits at a 15% Discount, no code needed.

WHAT IS BUBBLE TEA (BOBA)?

This got Glenda and I wondering what exactly is Bubble Tea? So we soon went on a reconnaissance mission. We googled Bubble Tea near you and found that there was a Bubble Tea shop less than 2 miles away. Shortly, we were at Kung Fu Bubble Tea shop. It was a colorful little shop with a great sign. This is how Kung Fu Tea describes Bubble Tea.

Bubble Tea (also known as pearl milk tea, boba milk tea, or simply boba) is a Taiwanese drink that was invented in Taichung in the 1980s. The tea is mixed with milk or fruits and topped off with chewy tapioca pearls. 

By the early ‘90s, bubble tea became prevalent in Japan and Hong Kong. From there, international traders brought the product to Chinatowns across North America. By the late ‘90s, the prominence of bubble tea grew among non-Asian shopping areas and nightlife districts.

Today, bubble tea is consumed almost as frequently as coffee, soda, and smoothies and celebrated heavily by kids, parents, chefs, and celebrities. To spread the bubble tea culture even further, Kung Fu Tea founded National Bubble Tea Day on April 30th, 2018.

Along with the growing popularity of bubble tea and how the beverage has evolved since its creation, it’s also important to mention that not every recipe maintains the same original flavor first discovered in Taiwan and that’s where we come in!

My choice of Bubble Tea was Black Tea mixed with milk and honey . . . and of course I had to have the tapioca pearls. I loved it andI think it will become a regular afternoon pick me up.

April News!

Local Yarn Shop Day – Saturday, April 17, 2021

I am excited to announce, once again, The Fibre Studio will participate in Local Yarn Shop Day. We will be open from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM on Saturday, April 17, 2021 to celebrate the fourth annual LYS appreciation day. Weather permitting, we will be able to gather outside in the parking lot for a bit of special time together. As a way of saying thank you to our wonderful customers, The Fibre Studio will offer a 15% discount on all online and in person orders on April 17. Just use coupon code LYS21 at checkout. I hope you can stop by to join in the fun.

LYS Day will be the perfect time to pick out yarn for a few upcoming projects, see below.

The Birdwatcher by Casapinka

One of our favorite designers, Casapinka, has created a very cute spring sweater called The Birdwatcher. You know how I am always looking for summer tee projects, well this one checks all the boxes for me. It is made using fingering weight yarn, perfect for our Walkabout, Studio Sox or Smitten. However, I have already started mine. I am using our Silk’n Linen Fingering. So far, I love it. The sweater is knit from the bottom up with four easy lace sections, then you are off to the races knitting in the round for the body.

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The Knights Who say Knit MKAL by LyricalKnits

Have you heard about the Mystery Knit A Long with Mary Annarella of Lyrical Knits? At the moment, it is being referred to as The Knights Who Say Knit in the quest for the Grail with many references to Monty Python. The pattern is available for pre-order April 1 and the MKAL will begin April 19. It uses two skeins of fingering weight yarn and a six color mini skein kit. The Fibre Studio has put together a few kits. It promises to be a lot of fun.
Click here to see our kits.

Socks Of Green Gables KAL

As a reminder, it is not too late to order your Socks Of Green Gables yarn bundle from us. Also, The Socks Of Green Gables pattern collection is a KAL that consists of four beautiful sock designs by Lisa K Ross of Paper Daisy Creations. Patterns are still available for pre-order on Ravelry for ONLY $5 with code GREENGABLES throughout the month of April! Click here to join the KAL!

I hope this has given you a few things to ponder and hope you can join us on LYS Day.

Peaceful Stitching, Debbie

It’s Our Anniversary!

I am so excited, and I can hardly believe, our 12 year anniversary is on September 1, 2020. I wanted to have a major event to celebrate, but at this time, I just don’t feel we should gather as a group.

As a way to celebrate with you, I have decided to feature a different Fibre Studio products each day with a 15% discount. The special begins now and continues until midnight September 1, EST (no code needed). Check our IG and FB page each day to find out which product we will feature. You can also see a list on our Events page.

Also, I would love to see projects you have made using our yarns. Please post to IG, using #12yearsofthefibrestudio and/or post to our FB page.

We continue to be open by appointment only. Click here if you would like to schedule a time to come in.

Peaceful Stitching, Debbie

To see the most current list of our events and classes, visit the Events page on our website or check out our Facebook page.

 

12/1 Mini Skein Kits

We are proud to offer our 12/1 Mini Skein Kits to you today at a 15% discount to celebrate our anniversary.  No code needed, just make your purchase by 11:59 PMEST.  Click here to view all colors in this collection.

Garden Variety MKAL

Lisa Ross has a new design called Garden Variety MKAL.  It will begin September 1.  The pattern is available on Ravelry.  Lisa is offering her pattern for 25% off now until the pattern is released.  JUST use code GARDENPARTY  Thank you Lisa, it promised to be a fun knit for all skill levels.

The Fibre Studio has put together a few kits using our Studio Fingering which is 100% Superwash Merino.  Each kit has two 4.0 ounce skeins of the Main Color with approximately 560 yards each and seven, 1.0 ounce skeins with approximately 140 yards in each.  Click here to view our collection of kits.

emPower People

 

 

If you haven’t ordered your’s skein of emPower Purple Studio DK yet, it is not too late to make you emPower People Cowl and wear it proudly when you vote. The patterns are free; Knit and Crochet versions available on Ravelry. 

 

Remember to VOTE!

 

For more information about the emPower People 2020 movement, please click here.

 

 

 

Spark Cardigan by Andrea Mowry

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Andrea Mowry, of Drea Renee Knits, recently released not one, but two colorwork sweaters, called Spark (shown) and Spice.  Spark has a bit of colorwork at the hem and sleeves, while both have slipped stitches or mosaic stitches on the body. We are suggesting our Studio DK in a solid or tonal, for the Main Color, plus using a multi as the Contrasting Color on Spice.

We have developed a new product, we are calling Fifty Shades of Gradient, Studio DK (pictured below).  We used our Studio DK and dyed it as a quick color changing gradient.  We suggest using a 113g | 4.0 ounce, skein (280 yards) for the body and two 56g | 2.0 ounce, skeins (140 yards) for the sleeves.

For Spark, you will need the following:
  Size 1    | 4 skeins MC, 2 CC
  Size 2-4 | 5 skeins MC, 2 CC
  Size 5-6 | 6 skeins MC, 3 CC
  Size 7-8 | 7 skeins MC, 3 CC 
  Size 9    | 8 skeins MC, 3 CC

Spark is knit in the round, from the bottom up. After the body is completed, the front is steeked. In knitting, especially when knitting color work, it is easier to knit in the round. Steeking allows you to knit a garment such as a sweater in the round without interruption. Once the body is complete, the “tube” may be cut. However, prior to this, the area on either side of the stitches to be cut must be reinforced – either with crochet stitches or sewn stitches. Click here to see an excellent tutorial by Very Pink.

The pattern begins with knitting the sleeves. I am knitting my sleeves, two at a time, using the Magic Loop method. Click here to see a tutorial by Vickie Howell on knitting two at a time using the magic loop.

I could not wait to get this project on my needles. It uses a size #5 for the rib and #7 for the body.

Studio DK shown in There’s A Storm Brewin and Fifty Shades of Gradient, Studio DK shown in Fall Is In The Air.

I have about another inch to knit in the 2×2 rib before I start the colorwork. So excited!

Follow my progress on Instagram and FaceBook or come knit Spark with us via Zoom on Friday morning from 10:00 – Noon. Meeting ID: 894 1575 5935, Password 931409.

What’s On Tap For August!

I want to take a moment to let you know about a few upcoming projects in August at The Fibre Studio. We continue to be open by appointment only. Click here if you would like to schedule a time to come in. If you are not ready to venture out just yet, I totally understand and would like to remind you we will continue to offer curbside pick-up on all online and phone orders.
I hope you are well and continue to stay strong!
Peaceful Stitching, Debbie
To see the most current list of our events and classes, visit the Events page on our website or check out our Facebook page.

Spark and Spice by Andrea Mowry

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• 

Andrea Mowry recently released not one, but two color work cardigans, called Spark (above left) and Spice (at right). Spark has a bit of color work at the hem and sleeves, while both have slipped stitch or mosaic stitches on the body.

We are suggesting our Studio DK in a solid or tonal, for the Main Color, plus using a multi as the Contrasting Color on Shine. We have something in the works to use with Spark and will let you know soon.

emPower People 2020

emPower Purple

The Sharon Show by Casapinka

We are so excited to participate in the emPower People initiative. Join us, make an emPower People Cowl and wear it proudly. The patterns are free; Knit and Crochet versions available on Ravelry. 

We are using our Studio DK and are dyeing up a bunch of emPower Purple.We want to see a sea of purple out there so for our part, we will offer a 15% discount on this color. No code needed.

For more information about this important movement, please click here.

Casapinka has a new Mystery Knit-A-Long that begins August 7. It uses four skeins of yarn, in contrasting colors. It is very important that your colors contrast, not blend! There are two version of the shawl; a beginner shawl knitter version and an advanced beginner. It is rectangular in shape and is knit mostly on a US #6 needle.
The pattern will be available soon on Ravelry.We have put together some kits you may like. Please note if the kit has a multi-color skein on top, we have pulled four contrasting colors from it for the kit.Click here to view kits.

Navigating Rainbows

Hi Everyone,
This week we rejoin Dorothy as she continues her journey towards Oz, update you on Gemstones, and prove that knitting “for good” can be “wicked” fun.

February Gemstone
No matter if you’re an Aquarius or a Pisces, we say Happy Birthday to the February babies out there! As a continuation of our 2019 gemstones whimsy, we offer Amethyst, the February birthstone.

We offer this lovely purple in our Bo Peep format. Our Bo Peeps are new color ways, for which we will take pre-order sales only. While we offer them on multiple bases (including yarn weights perfect for sweaters), this color way will be on sale only through February 20, 2019.

The Wizard of Oz Yarn Club
In celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the movie The Wizard of Oz, we continue to tell the story, delve into the cast and characters as well as other trivia, which gave this movie such color and magic.

We last left Dorothy in a quandry. After a nasty incident, the horrid  Miss Almira Gulch is seeking an order for Toto to be euthanized. Dorothy tries to tell Auntie Em, Uncle Henry, and the farm hands what happened, but no one will listen. Dorothy pesters Auntie Em so much that Auntie Em tells Dorothy to “go find a place where you won’t get into any trouble.”

This prompts Dorothy to walk off by herself, musing to Toto, “Some place where there isn’t any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It’s not a place you can get to by a boat, or a train. It’s far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain…”, at which point she begins singing, “Over the Rainbow,” the pivotal award-winning song and mainstay of the movie.

Yes…award-winning…and it was almost cut from the movie, can you believe it? MGM chief executive Louis B. Mayer and producer Mervyn LeRoy thought it “slowed down the picture” and sounded “like something for Jeanette MacDonald, not for a little girl singing in a barnyard.” Other producers, Judy Garlands’ voice coaches, and most of the cast talked the big wigs into keeping the song…thankfully, and thereafter, history was made.

Our second (February) yarn club  offering is Over the Rainbow, a brilliantly-hued gradient and our dedication to the famous song. While actually sung during a period in the movie, which was black and white and sienna, the colorful descriptions in the song hint at the potential for color in the movie and in life…if we only seek it.

Other bits of Over the Rainbow trivia include: (1) There was to be an additional verse sung while Dorothy was imprisoned in the castle as the hourglass ran out. The scene was cut from the movie, but the actual recording of the additional verse was saved and can be found on celebratory releases of the movie’s soundtrack. (2) The American Film Institute voted  “Over the Rainbow” the best movie song on their 100 Years…100 Songs list. (3) After The Wizard of Oz appeared in 1939, “Over the Rainbow” became Garland’s signature song. She performed it for thirty years, singing it just as she had for the film. She said she wanted to remain true to the character of Dorothy and to the message of being somewhere over the rainbow.

Knitting for Good
We want to remind our readership that our C-KAL (charity knit-along) is in full swing, and we even have a new group on our Facebook Page called Knitting and Giving. Participants are knitting booties, small doll clothing, and other fun bits that, when placed in welcome baskets and given to families arriving at Ronald McDonald House, provide a welcome distraction from illness and worry.

Debbie will provide yarn for anyone who may want to participate but does not have stash from which to pull. Pauline Philip (our visionary) will be available on most Wednesday mornings at Open Knit/Crochet, and Sheri Balke will be available on most Thursdays (after 11:30am) to offer guidance and support. Knitters of all skill levels, with hearts of gold, are welcome to participate.

Want to know what we’re deweing? Pop in to see our studio wörks on Ravelry, Facebook (we post changes to our business hours here), and Instagram as well as on our website at thefibrestudio.com (we post changes to our business hours here).

Happy stitching, y’all!
The Ewe Crew

Replacement Post: February Newes Knitting for Good

Hi Everyone,
Sorry for the duplicate post. The first was mistakenly sent without all the active links.

This week we are announcing a new Charity KAL (C-KAL), a new gem, a series of photos that provide wiki-nspiration, and are continuing our jaunt along the yellow brick road.

February Gemstone
As a continuation of our 2019 gemstones whimsy, we offer Amethyst, the February birthstone.

We offer this lovely purple in our Bo Peep format. Our Bo Peeps are new color ways, for which we will take pre-order sales only. While we offer them on multiple bases (including yarn weights perfect for sweaters). This color way will be on sale through February 20, 2019.

Wiki-nspiration
Each year Wikipedia calls for beautiful and diverse photos of our planet for their Wiki Loves Earth blog. Click here to see some of the most beautiful photography depicting the varied topography of the far reaches of our planet. My….aren’t we just the lucky Earthlings?

Totally Gaga for Toto
There are still a few skeins of our color Toto available from the first month of our Wizard of Oz Club. This color way is amazeballs in person; the photos just don’t do it justice.

While there will be twelve color ways developed to tell the story of how Dorothy made her way to the wonderful land of Oz, each color way is dyed in limited quantities and will not be repeated. Get yours before they….melt away.

Ronald McDonald House Knits
The Fibre Studio is happy to announce a new 2019 Charity Knit-a-long, which will begin in February. Our dear friend and yarnie, Pauline Philip, recently shared a box of knitted magic that she planned to donate to the Charlotte Ronald McDonald House.  Pauline knit multiple booties, Mary Janes, and little slippers. There were also adorable outfits, hats and clothing, for little wood peg dolls (both safe, cheerful and engaging for small children). These items provide a much-needed, safe distraction at the Ronald McDonald House, when placed in welcome baskets and given to arriving families. There are so many free patterns, which fit our Mission and which we will soon share (some Pauline created and some free on Ravelry).

In this Charity knitting endeavor, we hope to create top-quality items that will be used and loved, all while meeting the standards of this wonderful institution, which gives so much to so many battling cancer. Debbie will provide yarn for anyone who may want to participate and who does not have stash from which to pull.  Again, we will strive to provide only top-quality items for these battling families.  Pauline will be available on most Wednesday mornings at Open Knit/Crochet, and Sheri Balke will be available on most Thursdays (after 11:30am) to offer guidance and support. More information and pattern details to come.

Want to know what we’re deweing? Pop in to see our studio wörks on Ravelry, Facebook (we post changes to our business hours here), and Instagram as well as on our website at thefibrestudio.com (we post changes to our business hours here).

Happy stitching, y’all!
The Ewe Crew

Let’s Start at the Very Beginning

Hi Everyone,
We’re beginning our year with two new color series–one based on birthstones and the other based on one of the most colorful stories of all times.

Gemstones
Happy birthday, January babies!  Garnet, the January birthstone, is our first offering for our new 2019 Gemstones line. We are offering these birthstones as Bo Peeps. Our Bo Peeps are new color ways, for which we will take pre-order sales only. While we offer them on multiple bases (including yarn weights perfect for sweaters) for a limited time, these color ways will not be reproduced or replicated so please order enough yardage in the desired fiber base for the entire project. We will take these pre-orders through the 20th of each month.

The Wizard of Oz
The year was 1939, and to many a movie buff, it was considered one of the best years of cinema since the medium was developed.

That was 80 years ago, and one of the major hits to land on the big screen during this exalted year was the musical The Wizard of Oz. Produced by mega studio MGM and based on an original story (printed in 1900) by L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz is the most-viewed movie in cinematic history. As part of the 80th Anniversary Celebration, movie fans can see the movie this month by purchasing tickets here.

This year we are going to tell the story, delve into the cast and characters as well as other trivia, which gave this movie such color and magic.

The story begins in Kansas with our protagonist Dorothy Gale who lives, along with her beloved dog Toto, on the farm of her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. Toto bites witchy neighbor Miss Almira Gulch, who then obtains an order for Toto to be euthanized. The very cross Miss Gulch takes Toto away on her bicycle, but he escapes and returns to Dorothy, who decides to run away from home to save her dog.

In the 1939 MGM movie, Toto (whose name is actually a homophone pronounced toetoe or / tō tō /) was played by a female brindle Cairn Terrier named Terry. Terry was paid a $125 salary each week, an amount higher than some of the human actors were paid.

During production, Terry’s foot was broken when one of the Winkie guards accidentally stepped on it. A second dog had to be used while she healed. Due to the popularity of the movie, and because that role was the one she was most remembered for, her owner and trainer changed her official name to Toto. She actually appeared in 13 films and passed away at age 11.

There is a memorial to her with a small statue of a terrier standing next to a ruby red slipper at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and the band Toto admitted they named the band after the dog, in part because toto means “all-encompassing” in Latin.

Like the story, The Fibre Studio believes beginning our color journey with Toto, woman’s best friend, is a great idea. This variegated color way is perfectly paired with Noir, Charcoal, Silver Lining, Fawn, Chestnut, Autumn Gold, or Tobacco Road.

You can even buy the full Annual Membership (at our 2018 prices and at 33% off shipping) to ensure you get all The Oz colors. Your options, just like Dorothy’s, are numerous and can take you on many a different and colorful adventure.

Want to know what we’re deweing? Pop in to see our studio wörks on Ravelry, Facebook (we post changes to our business hours here), and Instagram as well as on our website at thefibrestudio.com (we post changes to our business hours here).

Happy stitching, y’all!
The Ewe Crew