Last weekend, we were finally able to enjoy weather that didn't make us sweat or break out in goosebumps. It was perfect - the clouds overhead lazily rolled by while the birds built a nest in a nearby tree. We even got a good chunk of our latest project finished! All was quiet, calm, and still. We wish days like that could last forever, but alas, we know they cannot!

That's why we're going to take advantage of the nice, breezy weather with a yarny picknit! What's a picknit, you may ask? That's when you make an outing to have a picnic, but with your projects! We've set out on a journey to find the best location to sit and knit or crochet (and for a lot of us, just being outside is enough). With the sun on our skin and the breeze in our hair, we've settled down underneath a large tree to get started!

And what better way to get started than to pack our bags? New from the della Q Maker's Canvas line (AKA the Lotus Collection), we've picked up the Maker's Saddlebag!

Roomy enough to store all of your loose ends, bits, bobbles, and basically anything else you can think of, these Maker's Bags are a smart addition to the Lotus Collection, using the same genuine leather accents and marbled, waxed canvas material. This rustic sister to the original Maker's bag line can withstand the test of time and stress, keeping your materials safe and sound in a beautiful, chic way, which will patina and scar over time, growing with you!

The della Q Maker's Canvas Saddlebag is a rugged, yet refined twist on the classic saddlebag. Fitting perfectly into the Lotus Collection's already impressive line of Maker's bags, this roomy addition will complement any project, utilizing its maker-specific features such as a pattern holder sleeve, yarn feeder, and a yarn cutter while still having enough compartments and space for your everyday items like your phone and important documents!

Part of the appeal of a picknit is that we can invite our friends for a socially-distant outing. Sitting far enough apart to be safe but still be socializing is a great way to fill up that social meter we've all been neglecting for the past, well, year. Even if it's a digital experience, seeing our friends' smiling faces instantly boosts our mood, which boosts productivity - we're gonna get that WIP done in no twine!

One of our bestest friends, Shibui Knits, actually helped us attain that goal of productivity and happiness already this year with a stellar launch of the new collaborative colorways based on the desert. The rich tones of earthy reds and oranges mixed with a dusty blue make us long for the days of wandering through the desert just after sunset while the purple hues of the sky fade over us, giving way to the unfiltered, starry night, free from all light distractions....What? Is that just an "us thing"?!

From Shibui Knits and Madelinetosh comes a beautiful, muted rainbow, perfect for all projects ranging from the silly to the sophisticated! Perfect for moody knits and eye-catching crocheted pieces, holding Shibui Knits and Madelinetosh together in your projects feels like it was truly meant to be!

When we first announced this exciting collab, we showed you three gorgeous, exclusive designs, The Florence Shawl, the Wildbird Shawl, and the Rapport Shawl, but did you know that we've actually added more to our already satisfying repertoire?

We'd like you to say hello to our newest addition: The Cedar Hill Cowl! Using Shibui Knits Silk Cloud and Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, you create a scrumptious fabric that will be quite the challenge to leave at home!

Using a combination of garter stitch and simple lacework, you will create an offset chevron motif, reminiscent of the needles on the branches of the evergreen trees that give Cedar Hill its name.

And the best part? This project is large enough to wear as a single loop for a relaxed look or double looped around your neck for extra comfort and warmth - talk about smart!

Snack on Summer Sesame!

As we gear up for this trip to have a little picknit, we can't forget our food, right? Knitting and crocheting are brain food, and we need the main course of yarn so our project bags can survive this journey! Not only are we feeding our needles and hooks, but we're feeding our stash as well, hehe!

We're packing our bags with the newest, neatest yarn we've just picked up - Berroco Summer Sesame! C'mon, summer is in the name, we gotta bring it! Berroco Summer Sesame is a delicious blend of cotton, acrylic, and nylon, making for a breathable, worsted weight yarn that's perfect for all sorts of spring and summer crafting! The beautiful blends of color effortlessly melt together, making a self-striping yarn that does all of the heavy lifting for you! Each cake comes with 293 yards of glorious gradients that leave us drooling, wanting more! We may just have to take a second serving of these stripes!

We've noticed that 2021 is becoming the year of fringe, and we're so excited to be able to participate in this trend! Being able to sway into a room with fringe swinging around us just feels right, you know? Spread the joy with some of these funky kits utilizing this resurgence of fringe to their benefit (bene-knit?) and let the self-striping Summer Sesame shine (try saying that five times fast)!

Need a Project? Sno Problem!

Usually, when it comes to weather for a picknit, we want it to be sunny with a gentle breeze to cool us down. The mild weather always feels nice to bask in, getting some much-needed sun without baking? Sign. Us. Up. What we wouldn't expect people to say is that their favorite weather during a picknit is snow. Like, seriously, who wants to be outside knitting a shawl in a blizzard?

Maybe snow isn't for us, but Sno is, hehe!

Woolfolk Sno is a supple, soft, and squishy yarn with a marbled appearance. The two-toned nature of each skein provides a chic twist to any garment you make with it, effortlessly elevating the design! This fingering-weight yarn is made out of 100% Merino wool, holding in warmth with ease - use it alone or in tandem with other yarns to bridge two colors together (perhaps with Woolfolk Tynd [which, by the way, are totally interchangeable])!

Bundle Up with Blanket Club!

While, yes, food and drinks may be a huge part of picknits, we can't forget a piece that's arguably just as important - the blanket! When you imagine picnics, you think of a picnic basket, some fruit, a drink or two, and the iconic blanket, right?! That can't just be us. Our blanket just so happens to be one we're making right now - does that count as cheating?

The Jimmy Beans Wool 2021 Blanket Club is a year-long progressive project using Malabrigo Rios yarn. Each month, you receive a full skein of squishy strings, two printed postcards with pattern instructions (one for knitters and one for crocheters), and one exclusive, coordinating stitch marker! We couldn't have made this possible without our stellar designers, Jenise Hope (AKA Feminine by Design), who designed our knit blanket version, and Shelley Husband (AKA spincushions), who designed our crochet blanket version!

We're especially fond of the scrumptious blue shades throughout Shelley's design, which remind us of that horizon where the sea meets the sky, fading through the darkest of blues to the lightest of hues! We're shipping out this month's portion soon, so be sure to sign up and get yours in time to receive the next part! Choose between a Monthly Auto-Renew Subscription, or pay the twelve months upfront with our 12-Month Gift Subscription!

Hey you! Yeah, you! What are you doing on April 17th? Why not come visit your friend's over at Jimmy Beans? April 17th is officially Local Yarn Store Day! We briefly mentioned it in passing with our last newsletter, but we're finally here to spread the joy that is YARN and some other things to look forward to the Saturday of April 17th from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Probably most excitingly, we're going to have the MadToshMobile here in town!

The MadToshMobile is the official hot rod that Madelinetosh uses to speed (not literally!) across the country! It'll be here chock-full of Madelinetosh Onesies, which is kinda like Santa making an extra trip to Reno for us makers! Accompanying their arrival, we will celebrate with some light refreshments and (cup)cakes (both the edible kind and the yarn kind, of course, hehe!) served in our outdoor set up.

We'll also be allowing up to 10 people in the store at a time to peruse our plush selections of yarn (some lucky findings are going to be priced at a steal)! Come try your hand at the Jimmy Beans claw machine or Plinko game and win prizes. By stopping by, you can also participate in a raffle for a della Q Maker's Weekender chock-full of yarnie goodies and treats!

Are you interested in taking selfies or snapshots of the MadToshMobile when you see it? Tag us with #madtoshmobile so we can see all of your smiling faces and armfuls of yummy yarn!

We do recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, and, as such, have put your health and safety above all else. We ask that you please wear a mask and social distance, we have hand sanitizer at the ready for your arrival and can't wait to see you!

Winni's Julie Wrap

We shared this beauty with you guys on social and y'all loved it! Knit and designed by our wonderful Winni, she blew us away yet again with the beauty of this project but also just how quickly she did it (she's basically a professional speed-knitter)!

This wrap is knit from one end to the other, beginning and ending with a deep ribbing. The lacy leaf pattern adds a bit of interest, running along one edge while twist-stitch honeycomb cables adorn the other.

And to make this pattern even better? It's available as a free pattern on our site with a coordinating kit to give you everything you need to make your very own Julie Wrap!