May is Magnificently Green!!

Off the Beaten Path Yarnhouse is flowering both inside & out too. New yarns abound!

Find Off the Beaten Path Yarnhouse @ 215 Femrite Drive in Monona WI 53716; call us @ 608.221.0219 or visit us online @ knitmeone.com


NOTICE: There will be some VACATION DAYS! Your LYS will be CLOSED TUESDAY & WEDNESDAYS between MAY 18 - JULY 18, 2009. Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer... However, we will be knittin' & chillin' & BBQn' on Thursdays, Friday & Saturdays, as usual; so book us Dano! Come in & see the new Veriyarns & the beautiful demos we have been knitting for Summer display. Pics in June Newsletter...

• BBQ Knit Nite
  
• Spiders
  
• VeriYarns, Kariyarn!
  
• Employee of the Month
  
• Customer Corner
  
• Terra Vest
  
• Raggi Vest
  
• Waves ala Karen

Let's get right to the point! BBQ Knit Nite is gonna be out-a-site this month. Literally, it will be in Rockdale & we will travel there by caravan. May 22nd is the day, so plan your calendar now. The store will close early at 3:00pm that Friday. Take the day/afternoon off & join us. Fun on the run & lambies to see! We have 15 seats available; seven are already taken! Fiber fun to the max! 3:00-6:30pm.

BBQ Knit Nite requires an RSVP. We will leave promply from the shop @ 3:15pm & return @ leave the farm @6:30pm. The shop will close @ three; so if you need to purchase or wander, come early. A small take-along project w/pattern will be included & introduced in the vehicles to make the 35 minute drive more fun. A picnic lunch will either be included or BBQ will happen; between 5-5:30 as usual. A rain date is part of the deal!

KnittyKitty reports April's BBQ Knit Nite produced some beautiful spiders.
Nanci (pink) & Kathy (green)






Veriyarns

Our newest color is Yellow/Golden!

We deeply appreciate your patience in waiting for the new colors; as they are selling pretty fast. As always, we welcome your contributions, tips, gripes & advice. We are featuring some new patterns as well as our new yar
n to go with them. Some of our tried & true oldies (but never moldies) look smashing too; we are having so much fun! These yarns are fun to make & help properly 'steward' the wonderful alternative products we have in a new & inspiring way, much of which we are happy to share. It has standardized a process already in use & given a predictability you can work with... Yes! Great yardage we might add... all for under $36 (regular suggested retail).

 Janiyarn 260-290 yds                                                                                                                                       Raciyarn 277 yds

Employee of the Month

This month’s employee is Janelle! She came to us in September of '08. She adds a bit of spunk to our staff. She is a newer knitter & knit up the first Pscarf in our new line of yarns (Blue). She then added a red colorway for our customers to make up their own designs. Some of you may remember sitting in the Zen room as we pulled your red scarves together. We are still waiting for you to come in for pictures… We still have some yarn available for customers to create their own scarves.

Our first colorway in orange completely sold out & was created by Janelle. Above to the left, you see her second design, with only two (!) left & one is on hold. Janelle is part-time & you will find her here most Thursday afternoons for sure. She is currently working on a Lacy Waves Poncho in orange Saphira… Looking Good!

Customer Corner

If you missed her on the blog in April, here is Jeanne with her awesome "Crocheted Magnifique" afghan that she plans to give as a gift after she adds on a Scallop edging. We were able to convience her to bring it in after the edging was added for a "Snuggles" photo. :) 

 

Lynn's Cobblestone socks are soft & comfy! Cobblestone is a great dk wt yarn for socks & comes in 8 or 9 yummy colors. Oh yeah, it makes great washable sweaters too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robin's Scarf - way beautiful!

 

 

Madison Crochet Guild

 

 

The Madison Crochet Guild met the 1st Saturday of May from 2-4 pm. Terry is a member & has been crocheting these very cool packaderms for 25 years. Check out the close up!

 

 

The Crochet Guild will meet Saturday, June 6th from 2-4 pm. All are welcome, no dues! FUN and good people!!

 

 

 

 

 

The following recipe is from Kathy T (Co-chair: Madison Crochet Guild). She made these and they are soooooo good!

 

Mint Meringues 2

 

• egg whites
•  
• 1/2 cup sugar
•  
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
•  
• 8 drops green food coloring (optional)
•  
• 6 oz chocolate chips

 

 

Beat the egg whites until foamy. Slowly add sugar & beat until stiff peaks form. Add flavoring & food coloring. Beat well. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop teaspoon fulls onto a buttered cookie sheet bake at 200 degrees for 1 hour. They are done when they are dry & set. Store in an air-tight container.

 

 

Notes:

 

I double this and use a bag of mini chocolate chips. You can add the color & the peppermint to the egg whites before you beat to stiffpeaks, it just takes a little longer for stiff peaks to form. You can bake on parchment paper - the 'cookies' don't spread so they can be placed close together.

 

 

Alternate baking method:

 

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees - put in filled cookie sheets - turn OFF oven - let the cookies sit overnight (DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN) they will be dry and set by morning.

 

 Demo's

 

 

Big V vest knit up in Terra by Jolynn. The pattern is by Melissa Matthey;

 

available thru SWTC.

 

  

 

Summer Jacket knit in Raggi by Rexie. This pattern is a fast & easy knit, but the number of balls needed is incorrect. The small takes 6 & the XL takes 8. My guess is that the L takes 7?

 

 

Four new colors in Raggi

And, finally, this is Karen's new Wavey Poncho! The pattern will be in the store soon. It fits everybody and makes us all look divine! Several different ways to knit it up, with I-cord edging or crochet! In sizes 3 thru 2-3X. YES.

 

 

Mission: Service, Community, Stewardship & Serenity. Service is our heart; it brings us together with an awesome community of knitters, designers & growers who are caring, concerned, activist & commited to making this a better fiber world for all. Together we are learning more every day about how stewardship affects our markets, our yarns, our farms, our community & our minds. Its is our eco-responsibility. Each day we choose to support each other lovingly. The result is Serenity. As we co-create together, the endorphins help heal, sustain & encourage: we live co-mingled as knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, growers & other fiber artists; remembering, sharing & most importantly, enjoying. Our Mission knits the fabric of our lives together with you & our environment.

Words to Consider

It is said a smile is the best way to improve your appearance. It's also one of the necest things you can do for others. Pass it on!

-Daybreak with God

Have a Magnificent May!

KnittyKitty, Newsletter Editor

knittykitty dot news at gmail dot com
(no spambots please)