What's New: 6.1.08

Just a Reminder that all in-stock cotton & cotton blend yarns are 20% OFF through Tuesday, June 4, 2008 when you purchase 5 or more skeins. The list includes cotton yarns from Plymouth, Berroco, Tahki, Great Adirondack, Scheafer Yarns, Ella Rae, Noro, Sirdar, Katia, Misti Alpaca, Cascade, Lana Grossa & More.

This is the time to pick up your summer knitting project. For those of you that shy away from 100% cotton yarns, try one of the blends for increased elasticity while knitting. The way cottons are spun today, they are no longer heavy and hard to knit.

World Wide Knit in Public Day is organized for the Northwestern Suburbs courtesy of Yvonne Eyer and the Ravelry Northwest Burbs knitting group. Meet at the Pedestrian Mall at the Shoppes of Arbor Lake, Saturday June 14 between 10:00 am and 4:00 PM.

BRING your knitting, lawn chair and beverage. Rain location is Borders Coffee Shop. Amazing Threads will distribute discount coupons. Support Your Craft!

Visit this site for more information.

June Pattern of the Month

3 Button Shawl made in either Monaco Cotton OR Laseta (wool/silk). Pattern is free to Knit Club Members and they receive 15% off either yarn to make the project. Monaco is 20% off through Tuesday. Pattern available free with purchase of yarn to make shawl.

This simple wrap will become your go-to shawl. You can wear it dressy or casual. The three buttons allow you to change the look to suit your mood. It securely hugs your shoulders without slipping and is knit in simple stockinette stitch. Add I-cord to the edging if you don’t like a rolled edge.

What's New: 5.28.08

Ok, so mother nature continues to tease us with a snapshot of spring and the calendar is telling us that summer will soon be here..but reality keeps giving out different signals. I turned on my heat last night because I was so cold.

I spent the weekend finishing a few projects to free my needles up for new knits! I have a project game I play with myself. I devote one week per month to finishing a project or two. That means that I go to my tiered wicker shelf unit (5 levels from Lantern Moon) and grab something I haven’t worked on for a bit and devote my knitting time to a project in progress.

This method frees me from the guilt for starting something new! I am glad to report that I finished the cute ¾ sleeved jacket knit with very little finishing AND two samples for the June Project of the Month (1 cotton, 1 wool/silk) I think you are all going to love this simply knit shawl (all stockinette stitch) that can be worn all year long (jacket pictured below). I will post a picture of both shawls early next week. Both samples are up in the shop and the Tuesday knitting groups loved them both!

GUILTLESS KNITTING Keeps me sane!

Project completion means I also got out my favorite blocking board and wires. I open my board and lay it right across the dining room table. It is great to be able to block a project or a single piece on this huge board, cold water spray the project and know that it will be ready to wear the next day. For years I blocked projects on the floor of a spare bedroom and irritated my back as I painstakingly measured and pinned. There is nothing better than having the right tools for the job whether it’s needles, pins or boards. It makes life so much easier.

Tina and I leave for market a week from Thursday. We just can’t wait to see all the sample garments and source a few surprises for our customers. Tina is a bit worried about the depth of cotton and cotton/blend yarns I purchased for spring and suggested that we may need to make room for NEW! So, instead of a focus yarn for THIS week, we are going to name a FOCUS FIBER. COTTON!

Purchase 5 or more skeins of cotton or cotton blend yarns and receive 20% off your in-stock cotton or cotton blend purchase.

Offer Valid Wednesday, May 27 through Sunday, June 1, 2008.

(Offer cannot be combined with any other coupon or discount offer).

We stock a wide array of cottons and cotton blends in multiple stitch gauges. Cotton blends lend themselves nicely to doubling as the resulting fabric is not too heavy to wear during a normal Minnesota summer. Check out my latest easy to knit jacket made with Tahki Dusk and Classic Elite Summer Set.

What’s New?

Tina and I have met with all but one of the major yarn representatives PRIOR to our market trip next week. We have lots of appointments with lines that are not available until market as well. We are excited about what we are seeing. More INFO AFTER MARKET!

And true to form, neither Tina or I could wait until fall for all the yarn we have fallen in love with. Boxes are beginning to arrive.

Last week we priced and shelved 352 pounds of yarn from Plymouth, needles from HiYa HiYa (9” circulars for easy sock knitting), Biggy Tweed & Print from Rowan, new sock yarn from Oasis and more. The Cotton Kisses baby sweater kits arrived from Plymouth today. The kit includes, yarn, pattern and buttons to create a cute baby sweater for boys or girls and is priced at less that $13.00. WOW. These kits are flying out the door.

Upcoming Classes with Openings:

Baby Surprise: June 1- 2-4 PM
Knit with an Expert: Sunday June 1- 2-4 PM
Argyle Socks: June 2 - 6-8 PM