Theresa Gaffey is a bit of a Renaissance woman, though she is more likely to describe herself, lightheartedly, as “a simple Irish peasant.” The author of knitting patterns available at Ingebretsen’s, Theresa is currently at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, where she writes, edits, and creates web content. Before that, she was the editor of … More Designer Profile: Theresa Gaffey
When knitters who want dependable, well-written patterns come to the needlework store, they know to go to the big binder marked “Nancy Lindberg Patterns.” For 32 years, Nancy Lindberg carefully tested, knit, and wrote directions that knitters trust. While Nancy is not writing any new patterns, she continues to sell her existing ones and Ingebretsen’s … More Designer Profile: Nancy Lindberg “I knew that I had to make this my job.”
It’s a fiber 8 times warmer than wool. It doesn’t shrink when washed and it doesn’t stretch. And if you own a long-haired dog, the raw material is free. Yarn made from dog hair is toasty warm, has a lovely halo, and is growing in popularity as a niche yarn. While it has never been … More A Shaggy Dog Story
There is a basket on a table in Ingebretsen’s Needlework Store, piled high with colorful, stitched balls in a variety of patterns, all made by Kate Sterner. “I didn’t even have a word for them until I started to do research. I wrote to Hemslӧjden (The National Association of Swedish Handcraft Societies),” says Kate. “They … More Teacher Profile: Kate Sterner with Singlade bollar
When you visit Ingebretsen’s and see the SKHR knitting patterns in our needlework store or read the posters for upcoming classes, you see Kate Running’s signature design style: crisp, bright, high contrast, and with a contemporary Nordic touch. Her knitting classes at Ingebretsen’s are popular because her teaching style parallels her visual art – Kate … More Ingebretsen’s teacher profile: Kate Running
Settle in with your spindle this evening to mark St. Distaff Day. Yes, a distaff is an object, not a person, but the English name for today is, indeed, St. Distaff. Less poetically minded people may refer to this as Roc Day, “roc” being a synonym used mainly in northern Europe for a distaff. This … More At the close of St. Distaff Day
The Atlantic had a great article about the star that has become a symbol of Norway. Today the selburose is an emblem of winter, and Christmas, and most of all Norway. But Norwegians didn’t invent it so much as they popularized the pattern. Precursors arose in the ancient Fertile Crescent and evolved over centuries throughout … More Star of Norwegian Knitting
