This is the web site for Mind's Eye Yarns

Your local retailer of spinning and knitting supplies.

The Boston Globe’s Hit of the Week March 15-21, 2001

Now open seven days a week.

Fibers Ashford Wheels & Accessories Schacht Wheels & Accessories Classes Knitting Patterns Links How to Get to the Store

In the Shop

Spring Yarns Arriving

The rest of the spring yarn has arrived. We have three new yarns and new colors in a couple of your favorites.

Cotton Candy is a 100% cotton sport/double-knit weight yarn in soft, sweet baby colors. Those of you who have been asking for baby-colored cottons, this one’s for you!50g/120yds.

Pima Fresca is something that can be hard to find: a chunky weight in 100% cotton. It is a cabled yarn with some slubs and has a surprisingly light weight feel. 100g/145yds.

Merletto is 46% viscose/34% polyamide (nylon)/20% linen. It has beautiful shine, offset nicely by the texture of the linen. It is perfect if you want to knit something a little bit fancy. 50g/98yds.

I have new colors in Bebe Cotsoy and Bambool.


Events

Red Line Yarn Crawl
Saturday, March 20
10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Mind’s Eye Yarns has gotten together with Windsor Button Shop and Stitch House to bring you the first — and soon-to-be annual — Red Line Yarn Crawl!

Each shop will be having special events all day. There will be refreshments, prizes, giveaways and a special coupon with any purchase. Suzanne Ress, a local yarn rep, will be on hand for a “yarn tasting” at the shop. Suzanne carries yarns you might not have seen. This is a great chance to have a look at them and see if they are something you’d like me to carry.

Photo: Wren Ross

NEW!

We’re excited that Wren Ross, an actor, singer, teacher, writer, and truly devoted knitwear designer, will perform at Mind’s Eye Yarn during the Yarn Crawl at 3:00 p.m.

Wren combines her passions for singing and knitting by writing songs about fiber; her performances are both lively and humorous. She is one of us and knows all about the things that happen when people and yarn interact. Expect to laugh at the foibles of fiber that we all experience and learn how to triumph over your creative obstacles.

Learn more about Wren at www.wrenross.com and read her blog at www.storiesoffiber.com.

If you are interested in what is going on outside the shops (lunches, meet-ups, etc) check the Red Line Yarn Crawl thread on the Boston Yarn Party group on Ravelry.

Dye Workshops
Sunday, March 14 or
Sunday, April 18

1:00 p.m. (workshop length is approximately three to four hours)
Cost: $50 per workshop

This is a great chance to learn how to use commercial acid dyes for protein fibers, that's wool, silk, mohair, alpaca or anything else that came from an animal. These dyes don't work for cotton, linen or other vegetable fibers. We will be talking about safe handling and use of the dyes as well as dye technique and process. You can bring up to a pound of your own yarn or fiber to dye as well. The cost includes use of dyes and samples of a number of different fibers and yarns to dye.

Please note that these dyes are toxic, so this is not a workshop for children. You also may want to think twice about it if you are nursing.

Fair Isle
Saturday, March 27
1:00 p.m.
Taught by Kimberly O’Keeffe
Cost: $40

This has been a very popular workshop over the years. In it, you will learn to do two-color work carrying one color in each hand. You will also learn the trick of wrapping the yarns on the back to avoid long carries and puckering. You work will look as beautiful on the inside as it does on the outside.

EPS Explained: Learn to knit a sweater to measure
Saturday, April 3
1:00 p.m.
Taught by Patience Boyd
Cost: $30

Have you ever wanted to knit a circular sweater to your own measurements, with your choice of yarn and no assembly hassle at the end? Elizabeth’s Percentage System (EPS) lets you do that. The system was developed by well-known knitter Elizabeth Zimmermann. We'll explore the classic EPS system, and also discuss modifications to the classic numbers to accommodate varying body shapes.

Basic Magic Loop
Saturday, April 10
1:00 p.m.
Taught by Sean Riley
Cost: $30

Learn to knit using one long circular needle instead of double-pointed needles. In this class you will learn to knit in the round using a 40" circular needle. Sean will teach you how to cast on, how to arrange the stitches and how to make anything knitted in the round (hats, sleeves, etc.) without having to use double points. If people are interested, we will schedule a follow-up class on Magic Loop socks. A basic knowledge of knitting is probably best.

Double-Knitting Level 1: Introduction to Motifs
Saturday, April 17
1:00 p.m. (lasts approximately two to three hours)
Cost: $40

Two sides of the same double-knitted square.

Double knitting is a method of making a fabric with no “wrong” side and a built-in reversible colorwork pattern. In this class, you’ll learn a new two-color cast-on for double knitting, get comfortable with the techniques involved, then move into colorwork. At the end of the workshop, you should have a motif swatch and be confident that you can take this technique and incorporate it into other garments.

This is an advanced technique, but you need only be comfortable with the long- tail cast-on and basic knit and purl; previous experience with colorwork is helpful, but not necessary.

 


Photo: Minds Eye Yarns merino sock yarns in colorways Acid Washed and Denim

Get our washable merino sock yarn from our Etsy store. Colors shown here are Acid Washed and Denim. Color and fiber availability varies.

Etsy Store

Our hand-dyed yarns are available online!
As seen on the Yarn Harlot’s blog.

Due to popular demand, we offer a selection of gorgeous hand-dyed yarns at mindseyeyarns.etsy.com.

The selection of fibers and colors changes often as we dye new yarns and other dye lots are sold. To give you an idea of our offerings.


Free Patterns!

Latest Pattern

Annie’s Shawl
This is a great little shawl pattern that Annie and Regina came up with. Many of you have seen Annie wearing the shawl in the shop and have asked for the pattern.

Also:


10% Discount for Bookstore Knitting Group

Porter Square Books, located right across the street from our shop, in the Porter Square Shopping Center, has a knitting/craft group that meets one Sunday a month. We offer group attendees 10% off anything they buy on days the group meets.


Calling All Ravelers!

There is now a Mind’s Eye Yarns Ravelry group. Search for Minds Eye Yarns on Ravelry’s groups page. (Notice there’s no apostrophe in the group name.) I’ll be using the group to let people know about dye days and shop events and to answer people’s questions. You can use it to ask me questions, make colorway suggestions (I always love suggestions!) or just to talk amongst yourselves.


My Blog

You can follow my adventures in the shop and in the rest of my life at www.fullserviceyarnshop.com.


The Doctor Is Always In…

…the Knitting and Spinning Doctor, That Is!
I am always available during store hours to help out with any problems you are having with your projects.

Quick help is always free. If your problem is likely to take more than 10 minutes or so to fix, please call ahead and schedule a lesson. A 45-minute lesson costs $12. Lessons where we are designing a pattern from scratch or significantly altering an existing pattern are $20 for 45 minutes. (Please note that prices are subject to change without notice.)


Photo: People with yarn on their headsGot yarn on the brain?

Sign up for our free e-mail newsletter,
From the Mind’s Eye.

We'll send you:

  • tips on knitting and spinning
  • news about our knitting, spinning, and dyeing workshops,
  • updates on new merchandise
  • notification about sheep and wool fairs and other fiber events.

Join the Mind’s Eye Yarns Google group to get our email newsletter.

We won’t send you more than one e-mail a week, and we promise we will NOT share your address with any other company or organization.


Image: Mind's Eye Yarns button Link to us!
Put this button on your site. Here’s how.


Image: Boston Area Spinners & Dyers logoBe sure to visit the Boston Area Spinners & Dyers web site!


Shop Hours:
Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday – Friday: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Groups:
Knitting Group:
Wednesday 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Spinning Group: Thursday 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
All Abilities Welcome!



Mind's Eye Yarns
22 White Street • Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 354-7253
lucy@mindseyeyarns.com

Site designed by Martha Spizziri