Anzula pattern booklets from Stitch Sprouts!

If you follow us on Facebook, we shared a special announcement over the weekend about a collaboration with Stitch Sprouts. The fabulous people at Stitch Sprouts have released three pattern booklets that focus on three of our most popular lines. Click the photo collages below (that I totally swiped from Heather's blog post about the project) to head directly to the Ravelry page for each booklet. 

For Better or Worsted patterns by Angela Tong, Ruth Garcia-Alcantud, Katherine Vaughan, and Corrina Ferguson.

For Better or Worsted patterns by Angela Tong, Ruth Garcia-Alcantud, Katherine Vaughan, and Corrina Ferguson.

Cricket patterns by Mindy Wilkes, Sivia Harding, Ruth Garcia-Alcantud, Faina Goberstein, and Barbara Benson.

Cricket patterns by Mindy Wilkes, Sivia Harding, Ruth Garcia-Alcantud, Faina Goberstein, and Barbara Benson.

Squishy patterns by Angela Tong, Heather Zoppetti, Katherine Vaughan, Corrina Ferguson, and Barbara Benson.

Squishy patterns by Angela Tong, Heather Zoppetti, Katherine Vaughan, Corrina Ferguson, and Barbara Benson.

Later in the month, we'll share interviews with some of the designers who worked on the project, many of whom already have amazing patterns available in our yarns! Today we want to share a little about the founder of Stitch Sprouts, Heather Zoppetti! I'll let her tell you a little more about Stitch Sprouts and about this project.

What inspired you to start Stitch Sprouts?

From the beginning Stitch Sprouts was about helping the industry grow. First we started helping designers with things related to designing. We offered services such as technical editing, charting, and schematics. From there, pattern distribution was a natural step. We help designers sell their work to yarn shops around the country, and even internationally. Our goal is to help yarn store owners sell yarn by providing excellent pattern support.

What characteristics are shared by the designers you work with?

We only accept those designers who demonstrate the highest quality work and professionalism. To that end, all the designers we distribute are making beautiful patterns. We feel that each person we carry has a style or look that will appeal to the yarn shop owners and customers.

Tell us about the Anzula booklet project, in a nutshell!

Everyone knows, patterns sell yarn. Many of our designers have worked or are working with Anzula to make fantastic patterns. So, we thought why not start a collaborative project and make some pamphlets. Anzula keeps a busy schedule of trunk shows across the country, many in shops that don’t yet carry our patterns. By publishing these pattern booklets we help both Anzula and the yarn shop sell yarn while getting more exposure for us and our designers.


The For Better or Worsted, Cricket, and Squishy booklets are available right now on Ravelry, and will be in your LYS soon! 

You can find out more about Stitch Sprouts on their websiteblogTwitter, and Facebook. Read more about Heather in part two of our interview, which will be posted soon. She talks about the most overlooked aspect of knitwear design and how to encourage new knitters!

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Weaving: The Crickets Meet

We spend a lot of time knitting and crocheting at Anzula, but we love to take little breaks to mix in a bit of spinning and weaving for good measure. The wonderful people at Schacht Spindle Co. are always on board when we decide to stretch our fibery wings. 

Today, we are going to share a little company history and a link to a beautiful weaving pattern by Stephanie Flynn-Sokolov:

A Brief History of Schacht Spindle Co.

Schacht Spindle Company, maker of the award-winning Cricket Loom, started in the late 60’s during the craft resurgence when Barry Schacht and his brother Dan, along with girlfriends, sought out a spinning teacher who then asked them to make some hand spindles. After they delivered the spindles which they’d fashioned from doorknobs, it was suggested they make a loom. “What’s a loom?” they asked. With borrowed tools, they made a simple loom and bit-by-bit realized that they were passionate about the crafts of weaving and spinning, as well as making great tools from wood. Soon, they were in business.

Schacht Cricket Loom with stand.

Schacht Cricket Loom with stand.

Meanwhile in Iceland, Jane Patrick was an exchange student where she first saw a loom and knew she’d be a weaver. She and Barry met at the weaving shop in Boulder, married, and after a stint as a weaving magazine editor, Jane joined Barry at Schacht. Together they work towards excellence in the belief that there is always room for improvement.

Jane Patrick and Barry Schacht make a great team!

Jane Patrick and Barry Schacht make a great team!

Schacht is known for its unique, well-made products that are a joy to use. With weavers and spinners firmly in mind, they start with an idea, develop it with an interdisciplinary team to create, package, and market products that embody their vision—all under one roof. To learn more about Schacht’s full line of weaving and spinning equipment, visit their website www.schachtspindle.com  Sign up for a monthly newsletter that features a project, Schacht news, and spinning and weaving tips; follow their blog, and like them on Facebook.

If you don’t know how to weave, but would like to learn, The Weaver’s Idea Book by Jane Patrick is a great resource. Better yet, ask about weaving classes at your local yarn shop. Check the Schacht Spindle website for a list of dealers.

The Multiplication Pillow

When we found out about Anzula Cricket yarn, we knew we had to do a project with it on the Cricket loom.

Cricket Loom working the Multiplication pattern in Anzula Cricket

Cricket Loom working the Multiplication pattern in Anzula Cricket

The Crickets teamed up and at long last, the Multiplication Pillow was created; a mathmagical project that is sure to pique the interest of your favorite math nerd! Look for it at a trunk show in your area. Check out our newsletter for the pattern and more. 

Multiplication Pillow woven in Anzula Cricket on a Cricket Loom

What fibery arts are you interested in? Is there something new you'd like to try? Tell us in the comments below. 

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Featured Project: Spring Garden Tee in Cricket

As a new-ish member of Team Anzula, this past February was my first experience at Stitches West. Because we only work directly with our yarn shops, Stitches West is our opportunity every year to meet directly with you, the knitter/crocheter/spinner/weaver. It energizes us to see the projects you make and to talk about the craft with you.

​© grandmastatus 2013

​© grandmastatus 2013

After meeting so many wonderful people and seeing all the Anzula they took home, I found myself wondering what amazing items everyone worked from their skeins. Thanks to Ravelry I was able to meet Cecilia, a Stitches West shopper who created a beautiful Spring Garden Tee from Cricket.

Cecilia was originally shopping for Oasis, but when we didn't have a sweater's worth of the colorway she wanted she shifted her focus to Cricket. Unable to choose between 1 Red Shoe and Madam, she says she chose Madam because it is “more of a rich subtle color” rather than “bright and outstanding.”

​© grandmastatus 2013

​© grandmastatus 2013

With Cricket in hand, she had to find a new pattern. She chose the Spring Garden Tee from Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting. It's a lovely delicate tee with lacy cap sleeves and a lacy detail around the bottom. It's elegant alone, or also fabulous styled with a simple ribbon or other thin belt.

Visit our website to find a local or online Anzula retailer. ​If Cricket is not available at your LYS, you can place a special order through any store that carries Anzula. 

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