E-Newsletter: June 18, 2008

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the new and improved version of the Yarn Expressions e-newsletter. You’ve received this because you are an existing customer or have expressed an interest in hearing from us about the comings and goings-on at Yarn Expressions. If at any time you wish to opt out of our mailing program, there’s information at the top of this newsletter to help you do that. We hope you’ll stick around, though, to find out…

What’s New In The Store

Fall Yarns are Beginning to Roll In
I’ve just returned from TNNA, the fall buyers market for yarn shop owners. The place was buzzing with excitement over the new yarns and fibers being readied for us, and I came away with orders for lots of goodies to excite you during the coming months. Boxes will start arriving any day now, and pictures will be posted on the Yarn Expressions website.

We’ve already received our shipment of Acquerello sock yarn, a beautiful hand-dyed sock yarn from Aurora Yarns. Frederikka Payne, owner and dyer has a unique sense of color which translates to skeins of yarn that are singular in their beauty. These are limited editions that you won’t find just anywhere. When I left the store last night we had six skeins left, and we won’t have more until next January, so get ‘em while you can.

We also have on hand a few skeins of our own line of hand-dyed sock yarn. I’ve been dyeing as Hoobody Yarns and Fibers for a few years now, clarifying and refining my style as I go along. I thoroughly enjoy this aspect of yarn production and hope to share my love of color with you for many years to come.

Yesterday I received notice that five boxes of spinning fiber are on their way to us from Louet. Merino/silk both dyed and undyed, Corriedale, two shades of Shetland wool, everybody’s favorite BFL, undyed seacell fiber and five pounds of a new, organic merino that is a dream to spin are all in transit from Ontario as we speak. Also in this order are more bags of their delightful pencil roving called Northern Lights, and several pounds of undyed pencil roving for those who’d like to color their own.

Also on the spinning front, we are checking the post office every day for our first shipment of custom blended batts from Abby Franquemont. I saw Abby at TNNA and she assured me that it was on its way. I gave her free rein (or is it reign — she is the queen of blended batts) to choose colors and fiber composition, so I haven’t a clue as to what’s in the box, but I can tell you that whatever she’s sent will be gorgeous and won’t last long.

Back to yarn for a minute — I just talked to Eileen at Mountain Colors, who tells me that they sent us a box of their new River Twist yarn on Friday, which means it could arrive as early as today! Talk about thinking outside the box! This new yarn from one of our favorite hand-dye companies is going to take the industry by storm. They’ve had the mill ply together strands of two different colorways, to create seven entirely new colors, that look like handspun! Five of those new colors are in the box chugging across the country to us, with the last two showing up in a couple of weeks. I have an idea for a project for this yarn. I’m going to swatch it tonight, and if it works I’ll share it with you next week.

NEWS FLASH!
This yarn arrived while I was doing the final proof of the newsletter. It’s still in boxes at the front of the store. The colors are even more beautiful than I imagined. Come on by and take a look.

What We’re Working On

Staff Projects to Inspire You
I am the queen of swatchiness right now. I brought back so many samples and ideas from TNNA that my fingers can hardly keep up with my brain. In between swatches, I’m working on designing a sock out of Pagewood Farm’s new Alyeska sock yarn. 80% merino, 10% nylon and 10% cashmere makes for one snuggly sock. We’ll have this yarn at the store some time in August.

Jill, whose middle name is “ooh, pretty, let’s start a new project” is being surprisingly monogamous, working on the floor-length bathrobe from the Romantic Knits book, for her daughter. She’s using Berroco’s Comfort in a wonderful shade of teal. I don’t know that I’d have the endurance to knit a full length bathrobe, but I sure would like to cuddle up to it!

Donna is working on a gorgeous wrap using the Fiber Trends pattern AC86, the Estonian Medallion Scarf and four skeins of Hoobody 100% merino fingering weight in a color called “peace rose”. That’s it at the top of this article. It’s a relatively easy lace piece, enhanced by the subtle variegation in color.

Janet is our mistress of small things. She walks the halls of Grissom High School, where she teaches English during the school year, with a pair of socks in a Go Knit Pouch, or a doll dress, or, this week, a bunny in production. I was so enchanted with this cutie-pie that I’ve ordered the pattern to sell in the shop. Here she is with Jill arranging a play date for their bunny buddies. I hear Jeanne’s working on one of these bunnies too.

What You’re Working On

Customer Projects are Equally Inspiring
This is the space that we’d like to fill with pictures and stories from you about your current projects. E-mail us a photo (no larger than 200 x 200 pixels) with your name, details of the pattern and yarn and a brief description of the project, and we’ll put it up here for all to see. We’ll need to receive your e-mail by midnight on Monday for inclusion that week. Go ahead! Brag a little! We all love show and share.

I got lucky this afternoon, when Barbara walked in the store with her mitered square blanket, to match some yarn. This is a project class we featured last June, using Mountain Colors Bearfoot mill ends. Barbara says she’s not done with it yet, but it looks like she’s getting close. Isn’t this a gorgeous blanket?

What’s Going On Around Here

Classes and Swatches and Swaps, Oh My!
Jill and I will be working on a class list for fall in the next couple of weeks, so if you have suggestions or ideas for us, give us a call or drop us a line. We’re also looking for folks who are willing to teach, during the day and especially during the evening. Send me an e-mail if you’re interested.

On the agenda for the next couple of weeks we have:

• Dye Workshop on Sunday June 22 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
  Learn the art of hand painting yarn with kitchen safe dyes from K1C2. Class fee includes instructions, use of our dyes and equipment and two skeins of sock yarn for you to paint. Be sure to get the materials list when you sign up, and plan to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
• Crochetville Swatch Party on Sunday July 13 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
  Amy S. is a customer and co-owner of Crochetville, the very popular message board for all things crochet. She and I got to talking about how to interest crocheters in yarns they’re not used to using and branching out into making fashion garments. We came up with a plan to have a party at Yarn Expressions to share our love of quality yarn and innovative uses for crochet. Kim is busy working on swatches to share, along with a presentation on the variety of resources available to crocheters today. We’ll provide goody bags of yarn samples for all participants, along with light refreshments. Be sure to bring your hooks along so you can try out the temptations we’ve put together for you.
• Customer Stash Swap Meet on Sunday July 20 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
  We designed this event to give you a chance to swap or sell your unwanted yarn, needles, roving, needlecraft items. Bring your own table (and chair if you like) and set up shop in our parking lot, along with all the other yarn mavens in town who are trying to weed out their stash. Who knows what you’ll find - one person’s trash is another’s treasure! We’re charging a small entry fee which will all be donated to a local charity at the end of the day. All yarn sales and swaps at this event are private transactions and WILL NOT involve Yarn Expressions. The store will be open during these hours.

What’s In the Works

Join Our Friend to Friend Campaign
You love shopping at Yarn Expressions, right? Would you like to share your love with a friend who’s never been here, offer them a discount for their first purchase and get a discount for yourself as well? Sign up for our new Friend to Friend campaign.

Here’s how it works — we’ll have cards that say something like “I love shopping at Yarn Expressions. I hope you will too. Turn this card in with your FIRST purchase and get a 10% discount.” On the back there’ll be a place for you to put your name and address, so we can send you a thank you discount card. You’ll earn a 10% discount for every card we receive, and you can bank them (up to 50%) for that special purchase if you like.

The only rule is that you have to give the card to someone who has never shopped with us before.

The cards are at the printer right now, so there’s a sign-up sheet at the store for interested parties. Just give us a call or send an e-mail to get your name on the list of people who’d like cards when they arrive.

Spinning Group
I would like to begin an evening spinning group at the store, and would like to hear from you if you’re interested.

Beginners, curious non-spinners and old pros are all welcome. I’m thinking either Monday or Wednesday evenings would work.

Once a month, twice a month, weekly? I’m open to suggestions. Let me hear from you if you’d like to participate.

 

Thanks so much for your patronage. You are the most important part of Yarn Expressions. You’ve kept us in business for more than 13 years now, and I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.

Sincerely,

and all the crew at Yarn Expressions