crochet – Ruth E. Hendricks Photography

McWalker Yarns Sweater Party NaKniSweMo 2019

Saturday afternoon the November sweater knitters gathered in Millvale Pennsylvania. McWalker Yarns was the place to celebrate participation in the National Knit a Sweater in a Month Challenge. 50,000 Stitches, cast on just after midnight on November first. The sweater was to be completed (ends woven in and blocked) by midnight November 30th.

If you follow me on IG you know my sweater was 24 hours and 15 minutes over the cut off.

Here is Clarissa, the Grand Prize Winner of NaKniSweMo 2019 holding her prizes- a generous gift card to McWalker Yarns to buy yarn for the NEXT sweater and a very cool magnet/bottle opener.

Trove by designer Emma Durcher. Yarn is BC Garn Semilla Melange Sport Weight

Detail below of Trove. PomPom Magazine Autumn 2019

Jes sporting her very fine knitting SC1 by Allison Brookbanks design Yarn Neighborhood Fiber Co Loft

Robin designed her sweater. The design name is Hauplande Yarn Loch Lomond by BC Garn worsted weight. I think she has 150,000 stitches in her design. WOW!

Sleeve Detail with Button

Jes photographed me wearing The Purl Code Sweater Designer Isabell Kraemer. Yarn- Baa Ram Ewe Winterburn DK weight in Rhubarb colorway, Using the Morse Code Alphabet provided in the pattern there are phrases, words, place names, favorite movies and books, song lyrics and people I love, knit right into the sweater.

Christine is holding a gift bag with the sweater she crocheted as a surprise gift.

Her sweater (which she translated into Crochet from Knitting) will be added after the holiday season. Christine brought cheese ball and crackers and spinach dip to round out the party fare. McWalker Yarns Shop owner Amy McCall baked a delicious and moist chocolate cake with sweater decoration.

Below see Shop Owner, Hostess, Sponsor and Chief of Inspiration for the NaKniSweMo 2019 Challenge, Amy McCall. Making the Local Yarn Store a welcoming community for all.

Spruce Point Pullover designer Amy Herzog Baa Ram Ewe Winterburn yarn

Feistywoman Knit Hanefjed Sweater click for details

BC Garn Loch Lomond Bio GOTS certified and Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool

https://www.ravelry.com/projects/feistywoman/hanefjed-womens-version

December 7, 2019December 7, 2019 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: celebration, crochet, design, fashion, hand knit, hand knit sweater, handcraft, knitting, LYS, McWalker Yarns, Millvale PA, NaKniSweMo, sweater challenge, sweater party, yarn 6 Comments

Arachne and NaKniSweMo2019- You Need Fifty Thousand Stitches

In Greek mythology (and later Roman mythology), Arachne (/əˈrækniː/; from Greek: ἀράχνη “spider”, cognate with Latin araneus) was a talented mortal weaver who challenged Athena, goddess of wisdom and crafts, to a weaving contest; this hubris resulted in her being transformed into a spider.” Wikipedia

Sunday afternoon you can get together and work on holiday (or other projects). The stitch circle is open to all. It’s a lively and creative group, talented, too. I dropped by to get some help on achieving gauge for a sweater project. I knew it was off. Proper gauge is important, (just ask my friend Deb in this Previous blog post illustrating the multiple factors that affect gauge)

After being advised by Jes and another master knitter, it was clear that even after the second opinion, I needed to rip out and start again. It was barely an inch of knitting I had on the needles. Perhaps an hour’s work. After reluctant deliberation and a bit of consternation I ripped out the one inch I’d started Saturday night. Jes had advised me to make the next size or it would be a form fitting tube on me which is never a good look on my body.

Here is Jes. If she is not teaching Choral Music or Band, you could find her working out at the gym or working at McWalker Yarns in Millvale. She is a prolific knitter of garments. Perhaps you saw the hat I knit with hearts last winter? Love Actually Hat. Jes taught that Knit Along (KAL)

Jes is wearing her recently completed Arachne Sweater by Untangling Knots.

Lauren knit an identical sweater and was on McWalker Yarns Facebook post here

The yarn Jes used is BC Garn Semilla.

See below Jes’ photo for information on NaKniSweMo

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SWEATER IN a MONTH FASHION SHOW FROM LAST YEAR’S BLOG POST

November is National Knit-a-Sweater-In-A-Month NaKniSweMo 2019

An Excerpt from McWalker Yarns Latest Newsletter by Amy –

Are you ready for NaKniSweMo?

As I mentioned in an earlier newsletter, we are going to do another NaKniSweMo challenge at the shop. We had so much fun last year, we’d love to have more of you join us. As a reminder, NaKniSweMo is a challenge to knit or crochet a sweater of at least 50,000 stitches in November. You can cast on no earlier than 12:01 a.m. on November 1, 2018 and must be completely done (including weaving in ends, sewing on buttons, etc.) by midnight, November 30, 2019. To be eligible for prizes here at the shop, you must be stitching using yarns from McWalker Yarns.

We are meeting here at the shop on Saturdays in November (except Small Business Saturday, 11/30) from 2-4 p.m. to work on our projects. Those who are participating and attend each Saturday will be eligible for weekly prizes drawn at random from those who attend. Those who complete their sweater within the parameters will be eligible for grand prizes, including a $50 gift certificate to McWalker Yarns, to be drawn at random from those who complete the challenge. Official national rules are here: https://www.ravelry.com/groups/nakniswemo-kal/pages/NaKniSweMo-Rules-FAQ. If you can come on November 2nd at 2 p.m., then you can sign up in person. If not, just shoot an e-mail to yarns@mcwalker.us with the subject “NaKniSweMo” letting me know you are participating

There’s still time to stop in the shop to purchase yarns, supplies or finalize your plans so you are ready to go on the 1st! #MYnakniswemo2019

And don’t forget to tune in and watch the 1990 film Arachnophobia

October 20, 2019 by Ruth Categories: knittingTags: Arachne, Arachnophobia, crochet, Greek Mythology, hand knit, knitting, knitting in Pittsburgh, Local Yarn Store, LYS, McWalker Yarns, Millvale PA, NaKniSweMo, photography, postaday, sweater, Sweater in a Month, yarn, yarn store 5 Comments

Philadelphia’s Primrose Yarn Arrives in Millvale PA

Monday afternoon, McWalker Yarns in Millvale unveiled the beautiful line of Primrose Yarn Co, an Indi-dyed yarn company featuring a variety of weights and fiber content. A huge box bursting with softness and luscious colors was just shipped from Philadelphia and is now displayed at McWalker Yarns.

Joanna had seen the yarn at Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival and has used Primrose Yarn Co for many sweaters, She’s an ardent fan of it. See her model one of her creations below.

It was a great Primrose Premier Party at the yarn store, with a spread of spanakopita, hummus, carrots, fruit flavored Italian sodas, cheese and crackers, topped off with chocolate covered marshmallows and Peanut Butter Cups. Mmmmmmmmm.

Each attendee received a gift of a colorful mini skein of Primrose Yarn. Christine got right to work on a crocheted octopus and was borrowing some fiber fill to stuff it, right as we partied.

I’m not sure why I didn’t photograph her eight legged creature but am kicking myself now.

Joanna in her Primrose Mohair Yarn Sunday Cardigan

Nicole checks out the pom poms

It was a nice party

Pattern is Storm Shawl by Joji Locatelli

One skein of colorway Forbidden Forest ( 100% Superwash Merino Single) makes this gorgeous Storm Shawl pattern by Joji Locatelli available at McWalker Yarns via Ravelry

More goodies to munch on

Joanna knit this cowl using 4 mini-skeins and has enough leftover for a hat

So many pretty colors to choose from

Spanakopita

Timbre Hat designed by Meghan Fernandes from current issue of Pom Pom Magazine knit by Amy using a skein of Classy DK with the addition of a strand of Primrose Plume Mohair yarn

Yanr

September 2, 2019 by Ruth Categories: knittingTags: crochet, indi-dyed yarn, knitting, Local Yarn Store, LYS, McWalker Yarns, Millvale PA, Primrose Yarn Co, Ravelry, Storm Shawl, Sunday Cardigan, yarn 7 Comments

Peach Cookies Practice Run

These fancy peach cookies, which are more like a full scale dessert item, were created by Rebecca. She’s going to be in her friend’s wedding and she’ll be baking six dozen peach cookies for the big day.

I met Rebecca while I was taking a Sunflower Granny Square Crochet Class, taught by Sarah at Yarns by Design in Oakmont. Rebecca brought a dozen of these peach cookies to share with the Knitters and crocheters. A trial baking run. The verdict was unanimous-excellent job, Rebecca! Delicious.

There are many steps to making these. Baking, hollowing out center to make room for cream. Peach Schnapps is involved. Big sparkly sugar, pastry cream, maraschino cherry for the center. She’ll add a tiny green stem and leaf to the ones she makes for the wedding.

August 15, 2019August 15, 2019 by Ruth Categories: Baking, CrochetTags: baking, bridesmaid, cookie table, crochet, dessert, granny square, knitting, Local Yarn Store, Oakmont PA, peach cookies, photography, sunflower, wedding cookies, yarn, Yarns by Design 6 Comments

Steel Valley Yarn Crawl 2019 is Complete

Saturday my friend Vincie and I got an early start and made our way to Harmony PA to

Darn Yarn Needles and Thread Shop.

Upstairs loft with fiber to spin and weave

Owner Lisa Krack introduced us to Naturally Nazareth yarn

_____________________________________________________________________________________RaggZ Fiber Art in the village of Forbes Road

We hit the turnpike and went about an hour’s drive to Forbes Road PA where we met Toni at RaggZ Fiber Art Vincie spotted these giant knitting needles and the welcoming archway.

Here is an article about RaggZ Fiber Art by Deborah Weisberg

Owner Toni Ritchey with her own RaggZ Yarn

Living Pelts

Friend Colleen knits at the table

Toni showed me Living Pelts Felted on the back The sheep (which she keeps) are ALIVE and the backs of the pelts are Felted.

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We called Dyed in the Wool in the North Hills from RaggZ because they were going to close at 4 PM and weren’t open on Sunday and in order to finish the Yarn Crawl and get their pin and stamp I needed to hightail it out of the village of Forbes Road and get to Babcock Boulevard. We skipped lunch and made it in plenty of time to meet “….Carol Briggs Dragos and Lynda Bowen. We love yarn in all its glorious phases, fleece, roving and yarn. We love to spin, weave, knit and crochet with it. Join us in our fiber journey. All we can promise is fiber, fun and friendship” from the website

Dyed in the Wool shop Owner Carol

A new knitter’s first project from taking a class at Dyed in the Wool

So three stores in a day and pins and stamps collected but ONE more pin and stamp needed to complete the crawl.

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SUNDAY at Noon Sewickley Yarns Opened and I got there close to their opening.

A beautiful summer day to drive down Ohio River Boulevard to the town of Sewickley.

Owner Robin welcomed me, assisted by her daughter Clair. Store hours are going to be changing soon -Tues Thurs and Sat- 10-4 with a late knit night open on Wednesday 10-8 PM. Friday 10-7 with Knitting Happy Hour 5-7

I asked Robin what Sewickley Yarns sells that is unique to the area and she showed me Koigu, Baa yarn and Shibui.

Raku Ceramic Buttons

Paper Patterns

Raffle Baskets

Baa Yarn

Sewickley Yarns carries Koigu Yarn

The Yarn Crawlers who complete the eleven store crawl are put into a random drawing to win a prize basket with yarn and accessories from all of the stores

The Grand Prize Baskets waiting for a random number to be drawn

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After I completed the crawl I went to knit a bit with a nice group at McWalker Yarns in Millvale and photographed Jennifer and Joanna in the Photo Spot.

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Support your independent local yarn stores so they don’t disappear. Take a class and learn something new. Click the shop links for more information.

*The first post of the Steel Valley Yarn Crawl featuring Kathy’s Kreations in Ligonier and McWalker Yarns in Millvale is here

*Pittsburgh Yarn Company and Yarns by Design in Oakmont are on this post

*If you missed a post of the Yarn Crawl you can click here for 3 Yarn Stores in a Day Oakdale, Bridgeville and Washington

August 12, 2019August 12, 2019 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: crochet, Darn Yarn, Darn Yarn Needles and Thread, Dyed in the Wool, fleece, Forbes Road, Harmony PA, Kathy's Kreations, Kid Ewe Knot, knitting, Local Yarn Store, LYS, McWalker Yarns, Millvale, oakmont, Pittsburgh Yarn Company, RaggZ Fiber Art, Ross Farm Mercantile, Sewickley PA, Sewickley Yarns, sheep, spinning, Steel Valley Yarn Crawl, Tonidale Yarn and Needle Craft, yarn, yarn stores in Pittsburgh, Yarns by Design 8 Comments

Oakdale, Bridgeville and Washington PA 3 Yarn Stores in a Day

My friend Donna and I had an adventure today.

Donna accompanied me on the Steel ValleyYarn Crawl. I picked her up and we went to the Dor-Stop (in Dormont) for a freshly grated potato pancake and eggs breakfast, downed some coffee and then put the address for Tonidale Yarn and Needlecraft store in Oakdale PA into the GPS and we were off!

Meet Ingeborg Saveikis She was incredibly knowledgable, patient and showed us around as we oohed and ahhhed at the wide variety of yarns in her shop. We received a couple of free patterns and collected the pin for the bag and had the passport stamped.

We felt inspired as we started the day.

This is Inge the shop’s owner

Triple Drop stitch, so pretty

Expertly Knit by Inge

Look at this gorgeous doily, I would frame it!

Special for the yarn crawl

All the sock yarn samples

Silky, shimmer, soft

Inge had some help from the official “stamper” who stamped my passport.

_____________________________________________________________________________________Our second stop was Kid Ewe Knot in Bridgeville PA hosted by shop owner Heather, surrounded by colorful yarn. She is preparing for a fall trip to Ireland with a group of avid knitters

Luccadot Yarn Trunk Show

Lots of texture and color in this yarn from Tennessee

Ellen and Craig Master Crocheters and teachers at Kid Ewe Knot How about that clock Craig made? and Ellen’s bag? A Dragon Glove? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________Donna and I got back into the car and headed south to Washington PA Ross Farm Mercantile

Meet the store manager of Ross Farm Mercantile– Anna- who does it all!

Cotswold Leicester Longwool, Shetland, Hog Island, Tunis, Gulf Coast Native, Cheviot, Jacob, Romney, Florida Cracker, CVM Eleven Breeds of Sheep on the Ross Farm

Here is the undyed natural yarn from all eleven breeds They have the sheep’s photo on the label see below

Handmade ceramic yarn bowls.

Seven yarn stores visited for the Steel Valley Yarn Crawl- Four to go by Sunday afternoon. I have a plan! Stay tuned

Ross Farm Mercantile is the red building on the right #80 Main Street Washington PA ____________________________________________________________________________________

Click to see Post Kathy’s Kreations in Ligonier and McWalker Yarns of Millvale

Click to see Post Pittsburgh Yarn Company in Wilkinsburg and Yarns by Design of Oakmont

August 9, 2019August 11, 2019 by Ruth Categories: knittingTags: #yarnstore, crochet, Kid Ewe Knot, Knit, knitting, Local Yarn Store, Ross Farm Mercantile, sheep, sheep breeds, Steel Valley Yarn Crawl, Tonidale Yarn and Needle Craft, yarn 8 Comments

The Steel Valley Yarn Crawl Continues

Two stops today for The Steel Valley Yarn Crawl.

The Pittsburgh Yarn Company

and Yarns by Design in Oakmont

Meet Kristi Howard – Pittsburgh Yarn Company,

established a year ago

The screen printed bags are by Danielle Clemons – two designs Yarnivore and Carpe Filum

SUPPLIES FOR SPINNERS

This holds the yarn when being spun

How fun are these cans of gourmet crochet?

Crochet Animal kits include a hook and are rated in different levels

Yarns by Design in Oakmont Pennsylvania Established in 2006

Meet owner Sandra Donatelli standing by the Woolfolk Yarn display.

Trunk Show Guest Christina Danaee knitting

Knitting Designer Christina Danaee of Ashville NC

Trunk Show guest Christina Danaee website

Her book “Modern Heritage Knits will be coming out September 24th. Check out her patterns available on Ravelry.

Steel Valley Yarn Crawl bag All eleven stores buttons on display at Yarns by Design in Oakmont

Soldotna Crop(Caitlin Hunter Design) expertly knit by Natalie Belmont

Natalie Belmont on left with her best friend

Knitters gather in Yarns by Design

Yarns by Design in Oakmont

*If you missed the first post of the Steel Valley Yarn Crawl see Kathy’s Kreations in Ligonier and McWalker Yarns of Millvale at this link

August 8, 2019August 9, 2019 by Ruth Categories: knittingTags: Christina Danaee, crochet, Kathy's Kreations, Knit, knitting, McWalker Yarns, Millvale PA, Oakmont PA, photography, Pittsburgh PA, Pittsburgh Yarn Company, postaday, Ravelry, Steel Valley Yarn Crawl, Toft, Trunk Show, Yarns by Design 5 Comments

McWalker Yarns in Millvale Celebrates First Anniversary

You might remember my post last April of McWalker Yarns opening in Millvale PA.

Click McWalker Yarns website for class schedules, hours and directions.

Today knitters and friends gathered in the LYS (Local Yarn Shop/Store) to celebrate the first anniversary.

Hospitable, knowledgeable and skilled staff on duty. Owner Amy Walker McCall second from left and Jess, Joanna and Lauren, Ready to welcome you to McWalker Yarns and assist you in choosing the perfect yarn for the projects you want to create, whether it be knitting, crochet or spinning.

Class schedules, Monthly Knit Alongs and Knitting Community gatherings and events are listed on the website. and on FB page here

It was a happy celebration with Chocolate cake and champagne. Congratulations McWalker Yarns and wishing you many more anniversaries to come.

April 28, 2019 by Ruth Categories: knittingTags: anniversary, anniversary celebration, champagne, chocolate cake, crochet, crocheters, knitters, knitting, knitting needles, knitting supplies, LYS, McWalker Yarns, Millvale PA, Pittsburgh, yarn 7 Comments

Who Remembers Bizarre Bazaar Items?

I have this old, approximately the 1960’s, PATONS 65 cents pamphlet with knitting patterns for Bazaar Items. Corn cob slippers, tea cozies, toilet roll covers and poodle bottle covers to name a few. I see that the same booklet can be purchased on Ebay for about four bucks now.

Not sure if anyone still has a dolly or poodle sitting on top of their toilet tank with a spare roll of toilet paper hidden underneath.

March 29, 2019March 29, 2019 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: beehive, church bazaar, corn, corn slippers, crafts, crochet, gift items, knitting, PATONS, photography, poodle, poodle bottle cover, postaday, retro, tea cozy, toilet roll cover, vintage, yarn 10 Comments

McWalker Yarns Hosted a Poetry Reading in Millvale

Thursday evening in Millvale, Amy McCall, owner of McWalker Yarns hosted poets Sheryl St. Germain and her former MFA student at Chatham U, Michael Bennett.

The yarn store was a wonderful backdrop for Sheryl St. Germain’s reading. Surrounded by skeins and skeins of colorful yarn, Sheryl read her powerful essay (from Stitching Resistance: Women, Creativity and Fiber Arts edited by Marjorie Agosin). She told of the role crochet has played in her life since childhood, but focusing on how crocheting with yarn helped her cope while parenting a son who was in trouble with alcohol, drugs and the law. She also read poems about her son’s dying of a heroin overdose from her book The Small Door of Your Death. Her words touched the audience as she described the helplessness and grief, her numbness, as she centered herself every evening after a long day- crocheting an afghan for her son. The repetition of hook into yarn loops as a meditation, an ease from depression and the stress of hopelessness. A healing.

Pittsburgh native Michael Bennett read his poetry first and opened for Ms. St. Germain. Michael has worked for three years with Words Without Walls program, teaching incarcerated Juvenile offenders, teenagers being tried as adults.

Cellist David Bennett and McWalker Yarns supporter introduces the poet and provided delicious desserts by Millvale Baker Jean-Marc Chatelier

New Orleans native Sheryl St. Germain has published six poetry books, two collections of essays, and co-edited two anthologies. The Small Door of Your Death, a collection of poems about the death of her son from a heroin overdose, appeared in 2018 with Autumn House Press. A forthcoming book, Fifty Miles, is a collection of essays about healing that include a couple of essays about working with yarn. Sheryl directs the MFA program in Creative Writing at Chatham University where she also teaches poetry and creative nonfiction, and is co-founder of the Words Without Walls Program . She was named Louisiana Writer of the year in 2018. Sheryl is an avid and accomplished crocheter, and a much less accomplished knitter. See: www.sheryl-stgermain.com/ for more information.

Desserts created by Jean-Marc Chatellier French Bakery