Hey there theorists! We have sped through another year and find ourselves a week shy of Thanksgiving. We don’t know how it happened, but regardless we’re here with all of the important info you need to get ready for this year’s Fibertastic Friday Frenzy.

We will be marking down nearly all of the items in the shop to help you make the perfect gift for your loved ones (keep an eye on Facebook for some great gift ideas), or just to stock up your stash. Exceptions will be clearly marked. Here’s how Friday and Saturday will work:

Friday, November 29th

• 8am through 10am – All purchases 40% off
• 10am through 12pm – All purchases 30% off
• 12pm to close at 3pm – All purchases 20% off

Saturday, November 30th – All purchases 20% off

The earlier you come, the more you’ll save! Plus we’ll be happy to have you help us make room for some much-needed restocks of yarns, and maybe some other goodies too!

We also have some super cute bags leftover from our Rhinebeck trip. Anyone spending $100 or more will receive a free bag. Spend $50 or more and get a bag for just $5. Otherwise, if you’d just like the bag, you can snag one for $10.

We look forward to seeing you next week, and we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!

This Saturday, June 8th is Worldwide Knit in Public Day! Weather permitting, we will set up a seating area outside the shop so others can see us at our crafty best. We’ll also have light refreshments available. Everyone is welcome, and though they call it a knitting day, you can come to crochet, spin, weave, whatever! We hope to see you there!

This week I opened my email and the first one I had was from Half Moon Handwerks (If you don’t know about them, they are located in New Cumberland and have lots of goodies for quilters and stitchers!). The thing that caught my eye was towards the end. It was in big, bold letters: GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE A BEGINNER.

This is a concept that a lot of us struggle with, including myself, and it doesn’t only apply to beginners. No matter how knowledgeable we are about knitting or crocheting, there’s always something out there we’ve yet to learn. What we tend to forget is to allow ourselves to make mistakes. None of us are perfect, but society has programmed us that we should excel at everything immediately. We almost expect to be perfect, so when we make mistakes they make us feel awful and inferior, like we’ll never be good enough. We forget to give ourselves permission to be a beginner!

So what can we do to work past this? Here are a few tips that can help:

Practice Makes Perfect – If you’re trying something new, dig out some scraps of smooth, light-colored worsted weight yarn, a US 8 needle/H hook, and give it a whirl. It’s much less stressful to make mistakes on something that is not your final project, and it can give you the confidence boost you need to get going.

We Learn by Making Mistakes – This one is HUGE. Our brains are programmed to learn through repetitiveness and by making mistakes. The important thing is that we realize we made a mistake, learn from it, then work towards correcting it. Once we feel we have something down pat, we can still make mistakes. Even professional hockey players fall down. The important thing is that they get back up and keep going. So don’t worry about those weird stitches, just brush yourself off and keep going!

Don’t Panic! – Yes, this is a partially lame reference to Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I am a nerd, after all! If you made a mistake, don’t freak out about it. Many times panic leads to even more mistakes, so take a deep breath before trying to figure out what went wrong. Sometimes this means putting a project in time-out so we can look at it again later with fresh eyes.

YouTube Is Your Best Friend – What a time to be alive! If you’re stuck with a technique or stitch, I guarantee there are loads and loads of YouTube videos of the exact thing you’re struggling with. Not all videos are created equal, so if one doesn’t make sense, try another. The best part? Videos pause and rewind, so if you don’t catch something the first time or simply need a moment to figure it out, use those buttons!

Get Thee to the Yarn Shop – We are here to help you. Really! If you’re stuck and need another set of eyes, bring in your project. We’ll help get you unstuck or demystify that one part of the technique you were stuck on. This always has been and always will be free, so you have no excuses!

I can’t believe it, but 2019 is here. It seems like just yesterday we were kicking off 2018 and excited for all it had to offer. Now, 2018 is over and gone, and we have the chance to start anew.

This year we will be holding our 3rd annual Selfish Knit-along & Crochet-along! This KAL/CAL is designed to encourage you to make something just for you. Many of us have spent a good amount of time over the last couple of months whipping up gifts for friends and loved ones, but have placed our own project desires on the back burner. Now it’s time to focus on ourselves and get those selfish stitches flowing!

Wondering what to make? No problem! We’ve got some great ideas for you. Just click the pattern title with the description to check out its Ravelry page.

Knitting Patterns

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Grayson 

Right now, I am OBSESSED with oversized, bundle-up shawls and scarves. Sure, they take a bit longer to make, but they are so worth the effort! Grayson is one of the latest free patterns from Knitty, and you can whip one up with about 750 yards of sport weight yarn and size 5 or 6 needles. We’ve got Universal Bella Cash, an amazing merino/cashmere/nylon blend yarn that’s perfect for this project, in a variety of gorgeous colors.

Foxy 

Wanna look foxy all winter long? Check out this stunning sweater from this.bird.knits! This textured sweater will be sure to keep you warm while flaunting sneaky foxes in the Fair Isle pattern. This sweater uses anywhere from 1110-1735 yards of DK weight yarn, size 6 and 8 needles, and is available in sizes XS-3XL. We’ve got lots of lovely yarns to choose from to help you become the foxy lady you already know you are!

Light Festival Scarf 

This latest gem from Stephen West is full of color and sure to brighten up even the dullest of winter days. Stop in a grab a couple of skeins of Sesia Imperial, then dig through your fingering weight leftovers for all of the contrast colors or grab a few here. Dig out your size 8 needles and you’ll be set to go!

Crochet Patterns

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Cowl Neck Poncho 

This beautiful poncho is perfect for staving off the chill of winter. The pattern makes use of crocheting into only the back of the stitch for a stunning yet simple visual effect. You’ll need 1000-1100 yards of worsted weight yarn, and we have plenty of lovely colors in lovely bases for you to choose from. To increase the poncho size, they recommend using a larger K hook and more yarn. The original pattern uses a J hook.

Unicorn Farts Bag 

Who doesn’t love pulling yarn out of a unicorn’s nostrils or bum while working on your next project? This bag is perfect not just for hilarious project making, but for toting around goodies while strangers give you the hairy eye as well. The bag takes about 450 yards total, most of the yardage in white. You can grab new yarn or dig up scraps from home for the bottom, handles, horn, and tail. You’ll need a G & H hook and just a few other goodies you can grab at the nearest craft store.

Anastasie 

This gigantic shawl is perfect for snuggling up in on cold winter nights. You’ll need around 2000 yards total of fingering weight yarn for this beauty and a C hook. You’ll need around 1000 yards of the main color, and 550 yards each of two contrast colors. We’ve got tons of fingering weight yarn, and you can always mix in some fun colors already in your stash.

Well theorists, it’s that time of year again. Thanksgiving is just over one week away, and that means our 3rd annual Fibertastic Friday Frenzy is kicking off in just over a week as well!

This year we are pleased be featuring local artist Rita Mae Yarns from Dillsburg with a trunk show! You may have seen them recently at Knitter’s Day Out, and we’re thrilled to be bringing them in to our local artist fold. They will be bringing all sorts of beautiful yarns, and some kits made just for the shop. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet the owner-artists Wes and Cortni!

In addition to this trunk show, we will also be marking down nearly all of the items in the shop to help you make the perfect gift for your loved ones, or just to stock up your stash. Exceptions will be clearly marked. Here’s how Friday and Saturday will work:

Friday, November 23rd

• 8am through 10am – All purchases 40% off
• 10am through 12pm – All purchases 30% off
• 12pm to close at 3pm – All purchases 15% off

Saturday, November 24th – All purchases 15% off

The earlier you come, the more you’ll save! Plus we’ll be happy to have you help us make room for some much-needed restocks of yarns, and maybe some other goodies too!

We look forward to seeing you next week, and we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!

String Theory Yarn Shop is TWO! Can you believe it? Neither can we!

This past year has been even more fun than the first. We’ve met even more new theorists, added even more new yarns, and even actually finished some awesome shop samples (it can be done!).

With another year of business under our belts, we’re ready to kick off the third year in style with our annual Birthday Bash sale. Here are all of the details:

• Sale runs Thursday, August 9th through Saturday, August 11th
• Almost everything will be 30% off – Fiberrarium Yarns and all other consignment items are excluded and will be clearly marked in the shop
• Shop Mom’s Choice – Our featured yarns this year are
  • Berroco Inca Tweed – a lovely, soft chunky yarn with tweedy bits
  • The Fibre Co. Road to China Light – a super soft sport weight yarn
  • Manos del Uruguay Alegria – a fingering weight yarn perfect for everything from socks to sweaters

We hope you’ll be able to squeeze out some time in the next few days to join us for our celebration. We look forward to seeing you!

Though the weather may not be convinced, spring is here! With spring comes the return of color in the blooming flowers, and the sweet sound of birds chirping throughout the day, and when the weather cooperates, we can feel a delightful breeze on a perfectly warm and sunny day.

Spring is all about renewal. Out with the old and in with the new. In the world of fiber crafts, we can’t help but get caught up in the spirit of spring. We love finding new yarns and accessories for you to love, but sometimes we need help finding space. What does that mean for you? A spring cleaning sale, of course!

Help us create some empty space on our shelves for new goodies by joining us for our second annual Spring Cleaning Sale! The sale will run starting this Tuesday, March 20th, through Saturday, March 24th. As the week progresses, the sale will get bigger. Waiting may pay off, but you never know if someone will nab what you want before you do! Here’s the breakdown:

• 20% off all day Tuesday & Wednesday
• 30% off all day Thursday & Friday
• 40% off all day Saturday

So start looking through all of those patterns you’ve been meaning to turn into finished projects. Start dreaming about taking home that “one true skein” that’s been calling your name. Most importantly, don’t forget to mark your calendar so you don’t miss this opportunity to score big!

The Fine Print:

Sale includes all items physically for sale in the shop, with the exception of items on consignment (Fiberrarium, L Wilt Creations, M Parish Crochet, MK Lower Pottery, Moon Fairy Fibers, Rock Solid Designs, and Sweet Little Knits). In-store Ravelry pattern sales, class fees, and previously marked down items are not included. Items are available on a first come, first served basis, meaning holds will not be allowed during this time. All discounted sales are final.

It’s the moment many of you have been looking forward to: our class list for this spring has officially been posted! We have a whole host of fun classes with wonderful instructors ready to help you expand your craft knowledge. We’ve got everything from Learn to Knit and/or Crochet, to beautiful projects like Sonnentau and Tunisian crocheted Honeymeade. Hop on over to our Classes page for more info. We look forward to seeing you in class!

January has arrived which, for most of us, means we are all done with our holiday knitting and crocheting. That means that it’s time for you to make something for, well, YOU!

Through the end of January, we’ll be helping you plot your perfect project by offering 20% off almost everything you’ll need for one awesome project. Either purchase a pattern here in the shop, or bring a free one you’ve found on Ravelry from home, pick out the perfect yarn, and get to stitching.

Looking for some ideas? Check out these patterns we’re currently in love with:

Here are pattern links in order from top to bottom, left to right:

• Cypress Falls by Christy Becker (FREE!)
• Zigzag Hat by Nadia Elgawarsha
• Whackalong Shawl by Dominique Trad
• Winterlaced Cowl by Yuliya Tkacheva (I’m crocheted!)
• Alinta Wrap by Ambah O’Brien
• Luffe by Lone Kjeldsen
• Folded Squares Cardigan by Purl Soho (FREE!)
• Joulukalenterisukat 2016 by Niina Laitinen (FREE! Pattern only in Finnish, but has charts)
• Alleunmer by Ysolda Teague

All consignment items are excluded from the sale including Fiberrarium Yarns, Rock Solid Designs bags, L. Wilt bags, and MK Lower Pottery.

It’s that time of year again! It may have snuck up on us thanks to the warm weather we recently had, but Thanksgiving is just a week away. That means that the Fibertastic Friday Frenzy is just a week away as well!

This year we are pleased to have two local artists offering trunk shows! We’ll have beautiful yarns, roving, and more from The Fiberrarium, owned by fellow theorist Jenna. She will be joined by her Millworks partner, Lyes and Lathers owner Jena, who will be bringing a lovely assortment of handmade soaps, scrubs, balms, and more.

In addition to these trunk shows, we will also be marking down nearly all of the items in the shop to help you make the perfect gift for your loved ones, or just to stock up your stash. Exceptions, including both of our trunk show participants, will be clearly marked. Here’s how Friday and Saturday will work:

Friday, November 24th

• 8am through 10am – All purchases 40% off
• 10am through 12pm – All purchases 30% off
• 12pm to close at 5pm – All purchases 15% off

Saturday, November 25th – All purchases 15% off

The earlier you come, the more you’ll save! Plus we’ll be happy to have you help us make room for some needed restocks of Manos del Uruguay and SweetGeorgia yarns, and maybe some other goodies too!

We look forward to seeing you next week, and we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!