PHILLY
EVENTSStyle: Knit Wit
Stop hounding Granny and let these Philly shops show you how to work your own needle magic.
Loop
The Look: Craig Rosenfeld, owner of Loop, a Graduate Hospital-area yarn shop, insists that guys can pull off knitwear. Just start small: Top a coat with a ribbed scarf and matching hat (below and top right) in super-cozy Blue Sky Alpaca yarn (from $8 a skein).
DIY: Use a snug vertical stitch, and combine earthy shades like chartreuse, eggplant and paprika. Beginners can enroll in Loop’s workshop series ($95 for four two-hour classes, including materials).
Sophie’s Yarns
THE LOOK: Shrugs make a versatile fall-to-winter layer, and the delicate one below by Jennifer Carpenter, owner of Sophie’s Yarns on Antiques Row, is adorable with a camisole and jeans or under a blazer.
DIY: Carpenter used Jade Sapphire Exotic Fibres’ pure Mongolian cashmere ($32 a skein). Try a version in cashmere, angora and organic cotton by premium yarn-makers like Manos del Uruguay or the Schaefer Yarn Company. Sophie’s private lessons are $25 an hour. 918 Pine Street; 215-925-KNIT.
Vagabond
The Look: Mary Clark, co-owner of Vagabond, Old City’s ever-hip boutique and “knitting lounge,” has updated the classic cardigan with kimono-inspired sleeves, an oversized fit, and a bright shade of lambswool. Hint: Pair it with a chunky belt.
DIY: Head to Vagabond’s well-stocked bins of yarn to find your favorite, from Lamb’s Pride worsted wool ($7 a skein) to Jaeger’s cashmere-merino blend ($24 a skein); then flip through Vagabond’s stash of pattern books and magazines for inspiration.
