It’s been a decade of collaboration with the amazing hand dyer the Periwinkle Sheep! Come join us as we celebrate one of our favs with an exciting pop up shop of yarns and samples to inspire. Karin Maag-Tanchak has been one of our favorite dyers for years, and from her studio in Albany, New York she has been bringing us her beautiful Watercolors, Wolke, Sport Wolle, Merino DK, Merino Flax and Fine Merino Boucle.
We’ll be hosting Periwinkle Sheep this week, so stop by to enjoy an expansive collection of yarns in all the colors we love.
From Karin of the Periwinkle Sheep
I was born in Northern Bavaria, Germany in 1963 and came to the US for the first time as an exchange student in 1983; after 10 years back and forth between the two countries, my husband and I settled in Albany, NY.
I learned how to knit, crochet, hand sew, and embroider in elementary school. Knitting is what stuck! I come from a long line of hand crafters. My great-grandmother was a village shepherdess. My maternal grandmother was a prolific knitter, rug hooker, and crocheter. I still have a complete wardrobe for my Barbie doll that she made. My mother used to sew our clothes, and knit sweaters by self-drafting her patterns. Besides knitting, I dabble in spinning as well, and am getting ready to learn how to weave on a rigid heddle loom this summer.
A proud knitter since age 8, I was knitting all through school, college, and post-graduate studies. I have taught German and English classes to adult learners in Germany; earned a Master’s Degree in English with a concentration on feminist critical theory from the University at Albany (NY); worked at a small local theatre, an indie movie theatre, a local food co-op, raised two children, owned a yarn shop – and finally became a hand dyer of fine yarns in 2007.
As a hand dyer I’ve always had one goal: to help you make your work look the best it can, with vibrant, deep colorways and yarns with great stitch definition. Periwinkle Sheep yarns jump onto your needles and hooks and are a pleasure to work with.
I’ve used many dye techniques over the years, including layering of colors, speckling, variegation – and have always developed more and more semisolid colorways. Fibre Space has carried 64 of them!
What you see here at The Fibre Space Trunk Show is a celebration of 10 years of working with Danielle and her team. I could not be more excited to be given a chance to showcase Periwinkle Sheep yarns in this beloved, amazing, gorgeous yarn shop. We are showing a curated selection of 25 colorways in 6 bases!
Thank you so much for being here, and thank you to Danielle for taking a chance with me a decade ago. I could not have done any of this without her. Danielle’s business acumen and leadership in the Local Yarn Shop world is second to none.
I hope you have as much fun working with these yarns as I enjoyed dyeing them for you! Please do not hesitate be in touch on Instagram @periwinklesheep.
-Karin Maag-Tanchak
We are so delighted by all of the beautiful garments that are here to inspire. Come visit this Periwinkle capsule collection and see why we love this yarn so much.
Guide to our trunk show of designs:
Rust Never Sleeps
Sizes and Finished Measurements
- 68” wide along top edge by 24” long at center spine
Yarn
- Merino DK: 100% Wool
- 670 yards
Needles and Notions
- US 7 circular needle, 32”cm or longer
Gauge
- 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4” square in Diagonal moss stitch, lightly blocked
All Season Vest
Sizes and Finished Measurements
- 1 (2, 3, 4) 5, 6, 7 (8, 9, 10)
- Bust circumference: 37 (38½, 41½, 44½) 47½, 51¼, 55 (59½, 62½, 66 ¼)”
Yarn
- Merino DK: 100% Wool
- 640 (673, 706, 755) 821, 886, 968 (1034, 1083, 1149) yds
Needles and Notions
- US 6 32” or longer.
- US 4 32” or longer AND needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round for rib borders.
Gauge
- 21 sts and 29 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch with US 6 needle, after blocking.
Chiral Shawl
Sizes and Finished Measurements
- 54″ across top edge, 15″ deep
Yarn
- Sportwolle: 100% Wool
- 290 yards
Needles and Notions
-
US 6
Gauge
- 22 stitches and 32 rows = 4” in moss stitch, relaxed after blocking
Traveler’s Sweater
Sizes and Finished Measurements
- Size 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) {6, 7, 8, 9, 10}
- Finished bust circumference: 33.25 (37.25, 41.5, 44.75, 49) {53, 57.25, 61.25, 65.5, 69.5} inches
Yarn
- Sportwolle: 100% Wool
- 1055 (1200, 1365, 1525, 1650) {1720, 1805, 1925, 2080, 2250} yds
Needles and Notions
- US 4 circular needle of length 24-40 inches
- US 4 needles in your preferred style for small circumference knitting in the round, for the sleeves.
- US 3 circular needle of length 24-40 inches
Gauge
- 23 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch on US 4
Dappled Moonlight
Sizes and Finished Measurements
- Wingspan: 72”
- Depth: 30”
Yarn
- Fine Merino Boucle: 100% Wool
- 765 yds
Needles and Notions
- US 6 circular needle, preferably at least 24” long
Gauge
- 18 stitches and 27 rows = 4” in garter stitch using US 6needle.
Vacation
Sizes and Finished Measurements
- SIZES: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)
- Finished bust: 35 1⁄4 (39 1⁄4, 43 1⁄2, 47 3⁄4, 52) (55 1⁄4, 59 1⁄4, 63 1⁄2, 67 3⁄4)”
- Suggested ease: 2 3⁄4-5” of positive ease
Yarn
- Fine Merino Boucle: 100% Wool
- 720 (765, 880, 955, 1050) (1145, 1225, 1335, 1405) yards
Needles and Notions
- US 5 for body and sleeves 24” or longer circular needles
Gauge
- 15 sts and 26 rows/rnds = 4” in Stockinette stitch, with US 5 needle
Journey Cardigan
Sizes and Finished Measurements
- SIZES: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENTS:
Approx 38.75 (41.75, 45.75, 49.75, 53.75, 57.75, 61.75, 66.75, 70.75, 74.75)” - Suggested ease range: 8–12”
Yarn
- Fine Merino Boucle: 100% Wool +
- Watercolors: 75% Wool – Merino, 25% Manufactured Fibers – Nylon / Polyamide
- 821 (887, 996, 1107, 1221, 1319, 1418, 1556, 1676, 1773) yd
Needles and Notions
- Gauge Needle: Size US 8 (5mm) 16”, 32”, 40” and 60” circular needles—
or size necessary to obtain gauge - Smaller Needle: Size US 7 (4.5mm) 16”, 32”, 40” and 60” circular needles—or one size smaller than Gauge Needle
Gauge
- 16 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch worked in the round and worked flat, blocked
Princess’ Hunting Socks
Sizes and Finished Measurements
- One Size
Yarn
- Watercolors: 75% Wool – Merino, 25% Manufactured Fibers – Nylon / Polyamide
- 400 – 500 yards
Needles and Notions
- US 2
Gauge
- 8 stitches and 10 rows = 1 inch
in stockinette
Islet Raglan
Sizes and Finished Measurements
- 33 (37.25, 41.75, 46.25, 50.75, 55, 59.5, 64, 68.5, 73)“
- Intended 3-6” positive ease
Yarn
- Periwinkle Merino Flax: 90% Merino, 10% Linen / Flax
- 640 (700, 815, 910, 1005, 1160, 1220, 1390, 1560, 1710) yds
- Periwinkle Wolke: 72% mohair, 28% silk
- 95 (105, 125, 140, 155, 175, 185, 210, 235, 260) yds
Needles and Notions
- Circular needle in size US 6 for main body
Circular needle and/or DPNs in size US 3 for ribbing
Gauge
- 18 sts x 28 rnds = 4” in stitch pattern, after blocking
Salty Air Tee
Sizes and Finished Measurements
- 1 (2, 3, 4) 5, 6, 7 {8, 9}
- 31.2 (35.7, 40.5, 43.7) 48.2, 52.7, 56.3 {60.2, 64.3}”
Yarn
- Periwinkle Merino Flax: 90% Merino, 10% Linen / Flax
- 640 (690, 780, 850) 950, 1100, 1190 {1240, 1330} yds
Needles and Notions
- Needle A (Main Fabric): 24” circular needle, US 4
- Needle B (Sleeves): 40” circular needle for magic loop or DPN’s, US 4
- Needle C (Main Fabric: Beginning of Yoke): 16” circular needle, US 4
- Needle D (Hem Ribbing): 24” circular needle, US 3
- Needle E (Sleeve Ribbing): 40” circular needle for magic loop or DPN’s, US 3
- Needle F (Neckband Ribbing): 16” circular needle, US 3
Gauge
- 24 stitches and 38 rows = 4 inches
in Stockinette stitch, knit in the round, after blocking
Jakers
Sizes and Finished Measurements
- 1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9)
- finished bust circumference: 35 (38.25, 41.75, 45.75, 49.75)(52.25, 55.75, 59.75, 63)”
- Suggested ease: 3 – 5” (7.5 – 13 cm)
Yarn
- Periwinkle Merino Flax: 90% Merino, 10% Linen / Flax
- 1039 (1149, 1236, 1334, 1443)(1589, 1675, 1783, 1942) yds
Needles and Notions
- US 3 16” and 32” circular needle and DPNs (or longer circular needle for magic loop) for neck, body and sleeve edging.
US 4 16” and 32” circular needle and DPNs (or longer circular needle for magic loop) for body and sleeves.
Gauge
- 24 sts x 36 rows = 4” square in Stockinette stitch on larger needle after blocking
