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.
Nicole checks out the pom poms
Joanna in her Primrose Mohair Yarn Sunday Cardigan
Pattern is Storm Shawl by Joji Locatelli
It was a nice party
One skein of colorway Forbidden Forest ( 100% Superwash Merino Single) makes this gorgeous Storm Shawlpattern 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
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.
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.
We called Dyed in the Woolin 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
SUNDAY at Noon Sewickley YarnsOpened 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
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.
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 Knotin 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
Ross Farm Mercantile is the red building on the right #80 Main Street Washington PA ____________________________________________________________________________________
There are 11 yarn stores on the “passport” where the yarn crawlers get a stamp and a cute pin to put on the specially printed bag, finishing the center of each of the flowers in the design. Every store has different types of yarns, accessories and supplies for sale.
The bags were/are for sale at each store (if they haven’t already sold out). My friend Vincie and I started the crawl this morning, wending out way out to Ligonier and visiting Kathy’s Kreations on East Main Street. Thirty nine years in business! See photos below.
Three Knitters from Altoona were going to ALL eleven yarn stores in a single day!
Kathy’s Kreations in Ligonier Pennsylvania
Faerie Garden Theme Tinkerbell is all around the store
One of the prize baskets
Yarn to knit up Black and Gold sports team items
Tink is Knit backwards. Tinkerbell and the Faerie Garden Theme at Kathy’s Kreations
Owner Kathy Zimmerman and Karen on the right
Gorgeous samples all around the store
Every Friday morning as many as twenty knitters gather around this table to knit.
How about the detail of this gorgeous dragonfly?
Stop #2__________________________________________
McWalker yarns in Millvale PA
Amy McCall Owner of McWalker Yarns sporting her beautiful Soldotna Crop Sweater designed by Caitlin Hunter
Good Night Steel Valley Yarn Crawl. Extended hours- opening at 8AM in Saturday morning.
This Yarn Crawler visited FIVE yarn stores the first day! See her pins on her bag.
At the end of the day, Friday evening, my daughter Laura drove me (and my grandkids Charlie and Maura) over to Millvale to get in on the extended hours at McWalker Yarns. I wanted to get a few more photos for the blog to generate some more excitement for the crawl.
Although this is the sixth year for the Steel Valley Yarn Crawl, it’s my first time to join in on the fun.
My grandkids Maura and Charlie pose for a photo at McWalker Yarns in Millvale
Christine and Amy pose in their Steel Valley Yarn Crawl Photo Spot at McWalker Yarns.
Exclusive COLORWAYS at McWalker yarns
Millvale Marigolds by Stitch Party of Millvale
Neighborhood Fiber Company dyes Fireworks Over Pittsburgh for McWalker Yarns
Fibernymph Dye Works in the Laurel Mountains PA
Jes is always ready to help you select yarn and figure out what you need to create your design. She is a great teacher and a prolific knitter.
Fun Tshirts for Knitters
Knitted Wit Yarn is luscious
Come get your photo taken to remember the Steel Valley Yarn Crawl
Traveling with him and on display were some his famous landmark sweaters. You may have seen him on the internet, posing in front of famous landmarks, sporting the sweater he designed and knit of that very landmark. He showed one sweater he knit with Ellis Island on one side and the Statue of Liberty on the other side.
He’s even knit a sweater for himself and a matching dress for his wife, too. Click his name in the beginning of the above paragraph for link to see a photo.
The attentive audience got to ask Mr. Barsky questions after his presentation, showing his artistic hand knit sweaters which on average take him a month to complete. He said knitting has really helped him in his life and health.
After the photos were taken, he was teaching a two hour workshop on his technique.
Here are some photos of the event.
Natalie and Michelle of Yarns by Design with artistic knitter Sam Barsky and his sweaters
Posing with Sam (in his Pittsburgh sweater) and Deborah (his wife seated on left), with the audience modeling his colorful knitted sweaters
The famous HOLLYWOOD sign on the left and the Eclipse of the Sun on the right.
Thanks for inviting me, Natalie. Got home just in time to have fun capturing Mr. Barsky and his colorful knitted sweaters.
Here’s Natalie Belmont with her latest knitting Work in Progress in hand.
This afternoon at Die_Wollnerin, (That’s the name to follow on Instagram)local yarn store in Berlin, a cool duo were filming a live Instagram video. I was able to send the video to some knitting friends in the states while it was happening. It’s up for another 19 hours. Yes it’s in German but look at the gorgeous yarn.
Meet Sabine Bornemann, owner of the Yarn Store Die Wollnerin and fabulous hand dyer of lovely colorful yarn. Every time I visit Berlin, I stop by to visit and buy yarn souvenirs.
Here are the Instagram Live Video creators Diana and Stefanie so much fun to meet them and watch the action https://feierabendfrickeleien.com/
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.
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.
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.
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
