Pride Month is a celebration for everyone within the community. For people who don't think their identity is valid enough, for those who have known since birth who they were, and for those who are questioning their attraction/identity or simply not in a proper headspace or physical space to "come out" yet. This year feels a little different, with COVID-19 cases on the decline, we are starting to see more and more small celebrations and get-togethers and have heard murmurings about larger, outdoor parades and parties that will follow restrictions while still proudly showing the world who the LGBTQ+ community is!

We also want to take this time to show our love and gratitude for our siblings within the community. Your courage, knowledge, strength, and support for one another are uplifting and feel like a bright light whenever times get dark. The history and struggles of this marginalized community shine vividly with the progress we have all made in recent years. Coming together to fight for what's rightfully ours feels like a much-needed breath of fresh air.

We acknowledge that we still have a long way to go, both as a community and as allies, but we want you to know that wherever you are in your journey or transition, we're thinking of you especially hard this month and we love you and wish you the very best.

To pay homage to our LGBTQ+ siblings, we're celebrating Pride again this year with new projects in vibrant colorways resembling some iconic flags used within the community. Think of today as a Flashback Friday of sorts - we're celebrating this year's Pride with a blast from the past by featuring the very first rainbow flag in our crochet and knit shawls this year! The original Eight-Stripe Pride Flag was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978, flying its colors that very same year on June 25th. Showcasing the (now retired) shades of hot pink and turquoise, these shawls are meant to pay respect to the first-ever iteration of the Pride flag - one that many people grew up with and one that replaced the original pink triangle which has, well, less-than-savory historical contexts to it. This flag was the dawn of a new chapter for the community!

Lovingly named the 1978, Gilbert Baker Shawl, both the knit and crochet versions of this project come with over 600 yards of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light and a limited-edition Pride Pin!

Using the vibrant shades Madelinetosh is known for, our Bean, Amy Gunderson, designed something from the heart, bringing the origins of pride back into the picture with something fun, funky, and above all, fabulous.

Last year, we shone a light on our transgender siblings through the Inner Strength Slouch. This year, we want to extend that same love to our bisexual friends! Designed by our own Bean, Adrienne Anila, we're so excited to announce the Both is Good Shawl! Signifying bisexual advancements within the community and the right to be attracted to both the same or different genders, we've put together a shawl fit for royalty, highlighting that being bisexual doesn't mean you're broken, greedy, or indecisive! Using deep shades of Madelinetosh Tosh Sock to best match the bi flag's colors, this kit also comes with a limited-edition Pride Pin!

You didn't think that was all, did you?! Designed by Adrienne Anila, the Rainbow Warrior Socks are a love letter to the brave warriors of the LGBTQ+ community! The amount of confidence and bravery it takes to come out and be your true, authentic self is inspiring, which made designing these socks a no-brainer! Each kit comes with a skein of White Birch Fiber self-striping sock yarn, a limited-edition Pride Pin, and a download code for the pattern.

Just like the LGBTQ+ community is more than what it appears on the outside, so too are our books - namely Laine Magazine. They say you can't judge a book by its cover, and man, do they mean it! Not only are you selling the other person or, well, book short, but you're passing judgment on it before even getting to know it!

We're so lucky to have gotten the newest edition of Laine Magazine, which flaunts beautiful summertime creations like socks, shawls, and lightweight pullovers. Though, did you know Laine Magazine has a lot more to offer than just some patterns?

Alongside the stunning designs and gorgeous photography are things like book reviews, interviews with fellow creators within the fiber arts community, seasonal recipes, and so much more!

148 pages filled with everything to get you in the know for the community? Sign us up! Also, how could we forget the best part? New book smell!

HiKoo Goes There?!

HiKoo Sueno and HiKoo Sueno Tweed are like two sides of the same coin, able to be used for the same projects, meaning twice the fun, twice the fiber, and all of the squish!

This blend of Superwash Merino and bamboo viscose comes together to make something truly memorable, made with strength and wearability in mind! HiKoo Sueno is available in a luscious shade range filled with bright neons, deep jewel tones, and pleasant neutrals, while HiKoo Sueno Tweed shows up to the party with a modest palette of pastels!

SomeWHERE Over the Rain-Bag!

Adorable, functional, and oh, so cute, the new Madelinetosh Mini Tote is the ideal way to store your yarn, project, accessories, and more! The structured design takes a note from our LGBTQ+ siblings with an embroidered detail of "Madelinetosh'' written across the front in an arc - just like a rainbow! Each letter features a shade found within the 2018 Progress Pride flag, proudly showing off the original colors of the rainbow with the added brown, black, baby blue, baby pink, and white of the triangular motif shown in the newest iteration of the pride flag.

Can We Get a ShiBOOYAH?

Inspiration is found all around us. In nature, in art, in history, and yarn! Today we're finding our inspiration in the sumptuous strings of Shibui Knits! By now, we've learned that Shibui's lines of yarn are meant to be mixed and matched to create fabrics that are unique to you and feature a wonderful amount of drape and breeziness.

Though, we understand mixing and matching can be a little bit overwhelming at times! That's why we're excited to announce an exclusive Shibui Knits Zoom event! In this event, you'll be encouraged to ask questions while representatives from Shibui discuss the endless opportunities you have to create the perfect fabric for your next favorite project!

Sign-ups for this event are officially open, and to RSVP, all you gotta do is sign up on this Google Doc with your email and address. Come the week of the 17th we'll be sending out sample cards with all of the yarns you'll need to make your own swatches and get a feel for the different weights and textures - think of this as your own personal yarn tasting! There will also be two drawings for prizes during the Zoom call as well as a show and tell section!

RSVPs close after May 14th, and the event will take place on May 25th at 11 AM. We will email you to remind you the day before, so you don't miss out!

Celebrating Pride doesn't JUST mean celebrating people who are "out" to their friends, families, and themselves. Pride is also about those who are not yet comfortable in their identity or are flat out not in a welcoming and accepting environment yet.

Pride is to celebrate the advances of the community, whether those steps are huge like the events of Stonewall or "small" like the personal achievements of those who first cut their hair to alleviate dysphoria. Pride is an all-encompassing experience for all members of the community.

Check out our blog post to learn about the history of the 2017 Philadelphia Pride Flag and take a walk down memory lane with last year's Pride Month projects!

Shibui's Wolfie Beanie

Beautiful, graphic, and above all, cozy, this hat was a delight to model! Designed by Natasja Hornby, the rhythmic colorwork instantly got us in a great mood watching the lines and motifs appear right before our eyes! Perfect for stash-busting or for making a matching pair out of new skeins, this hat works up well for anyone who wants to show off a high-contrast statement piece or tone it back with a softer option. Using one skein each of Shibui Knits Echo in the shades Dusk and Ivory, our friends at Shibui Knits have opted for a cozy high-contrast look!