In a little over two weeks the world will be watching as the Olympic torch makes its way into the arena in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Athletes from all corners of the globe will come together to celebrate and compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics! I’m not sure about you, but I love the Olympics. I love seeing each country’s opening ceremony uniform, hearing stories of overcoming obstacles and following dreams, and learning about the individuals representing each country. Plus, I get to watch all the snowy competition from the comfort of my couch, preferably with a knitting project in my hands. T ..read more

Wow, we’re still in the middle of the Peace Project KAL, so it’s hard to realize that the New Year will be here in a flash. I’m thrilled to say that this year will bring another round of the Kindess KAL! It was so heartwarming to see how many people participated last year and to appreciate all of their different Kindness KAL projects with creative color and yarn combinations. The new KAL will feature a new Kindness KAL shawl pattern (not published yet) and will run from February 1-April 1 2018. I’m really happy with the new Kindness colorway this year (there was a pile on Liz’s desk this morn ..read more

The podcast in which Amy and Jaala rattle on about not much of anything. Listen on Libsyn or iTunes Topics of note: Events: Vogue Knitting Live in Chicago – March of 2018 Book: Arne & Carlos Christmas Balls Book: Sequence Knitting Knitcircus Colorway: Wild Rumpus Pattern: Elizabeth Zimmermann Baby Blanket Comedian: Michael McIntyre Comedian: Jim Gaffigan App: 36 Questions Apple IOS Android Recipe Book: Tassajara Picnics Recipe Book Podcast: Driftless Knitting ..read more

The Christmas season is my favorite time of year, but it never fails to sneak up on me. I always start making lists and thinking about what gifts to buy and which to make well in advance, but time inevitably flies by. Here it is, the beginning of December and Christmas is only a couple weeks away. If you’re like me and you have a few items left on the “To Make” list, never fear. We have some great ideas for projects that are knit in our squishy superwash merino worsted weight yarn called Ringmaster. They’re quick and easy, so you should have no trouble finishing before the holidays! The Pickfo ..read more

Our newest color, Love is Love, is a thank-you to all of the brave individuals in the knitting community and in our families and friend circles who have the courage to be who they are and love the person who makes them happy. We believe that rights of LGBT individuals are human rights and that, when they are able to perform their best at school, work and home, without restriction, discrimination or threat, we all benefit. So in perpetuity, we’ll be donating 10% of the purchase price of this colorway to the Human Rights Campaign. This colorway was tricky to create; the more colors in a gradie ..read more

On a busy Saturday morning here at the KnitCircus yarn shop, I look around and realize how lucky I am to work in a place like this. Every day I am surrounded by beautiful yarn, helping people pick out something special, and gathering skeins to be sent to their new homes. My name is Jennifer and I have recently joined the KnitCircus Yarns family. For the past nine years I have lived in Winona, MN going to school and then working at the local yarn shop there called Yarnology. It was a dream come true to combine my career with my passion for fiber arts, something I am thrilled to be continuing he ..read more

In which Amy and Jaala race from pillar to post, looking for a quitet place to record a podcast. Listen on Libsyn or iTunes Topics in this episode… TV Show: The Flash Silly Shopping Reference: Ikea Event: Knitcircus Holiday Kickoff Party TV Show: The Great British Bake-Off Cook Books: Tassa Jara Recipes Kitchen Appliance: Instant Pot Cooking Site: This Old Gal Pattern: Rye Socks, by Tin Can Knits Amazing Resources: Minnesota Textile Center Event: Small Business Saturday Event: Ravellenics   ..read more

In which Amy and Jaala tell of their new space and discuss important things. Listen on Libsyn or iTunes Topics in this episode… Event: Vogue Knitting Live, Seattle Famous Knitter: Andrea Mowry Free Your Fade The Weekender Famous Knitter: Stephen West Famous Knitter: Gudrun Johnston Pattern: Chilliwack Mitts, by Cable and Strings Designs Pattern: Badlands Mitts, by Kathryn Folkerth Pattern: Mostly Harmless Hat, by Jaala Spiro Event: Knitcircus Holiday Kick-off Party Event: Vogue Knitting Live, New York Famous Knitter: Meg Swansen Famous Knitter: Alice Starmore Pattern: Gradient ..read more

Hello, friends, Customers in the shop have been wondering how to choose beautiful combinations for their Fade projects. Since putting complementary colors together is pretty much my job, I’d like to share a few strategies I use when thinking about creating gradients. There are three approaches I’d like to show you: gradient, balanced complements and color value. Let’s start with gradients today. As you might imagine, the easiest way to think about a gradient is one basic color (say, blue) with one end very light, moving to a much darker shade of the same color. Check out the Tangled Up in Blue ..read more

In which Amy and Jaala speak excitedly about almost nothing. Listen on Libsyn or iTunes Topics in this episode… Knitting Book: This Thing of Paper, pattern Rubrication TV Stuff: Supergirl Macguyver George Eads, Actor Scorpion The Flash Marvel: Agents of Shield This is Us Legends of Tomorrow Event: Knitcircus Holiday Kick-off Party Pattern: Rye Socks, by Tin Can Knits Pattern: Kalari Shawl, by Ambah O’Brian ..read more