E-Newsletter: September 4, 2008

Dear Reader,

We are back from our vacation Up North, relaxed and ready for Fall. (You get a gold star if you can identify the creature palling around with my husband and his brother in this picture.) Thank you all for the lovely notes you sent about the picture of my mother and her friends. Many of you shared stories about your mothers, some wistful, some hilarious. All I know is that I have a wonderful role model, and some mighty big shoes to fill.

This is my favorite time of year, when the weather starts to cool down, football games dominate Saturday afternoons and our thoughts turn once again to knitting.

I’m particularly excited about my knitting this season, because we’re expecting our first grandchild in January. Our son called this morning to tell us it’s a boy. It has taken some getting used to, this idea that I’m going to be a grandmother. Hearing the awe and wonder in my son’s voice as he describes hearing the baby’s heartbeat for the first time and feeling him kick has made it become real for me. I guess now I can start choosing projects and colors and get going.

What’s New in the Store

Perfect Projects for Autumn Afternoons
Shipments are starting to slow down a bit, but this past week saw boxes from K1C2 that included their new Spiral Sock Dye Kits. Take two skeins of Soxx Appeal and three bottles of Culinary Colors dye, mix, paint, steam, and dry and you have a very cool pair of socks-in-the-making, uniquely yours. There are five different shades to choose from, and they’ll sell for $36.00 complete.

Also from K1C2 is their new wool/acrylic blend called Linus. Aimed at men, but destined to appeal to women too, this rustic single ply yarn comes in muted colors with a subtle contrasting color showing up every once in a while.

Yesterday brought reinforcements of Dream In Color Classy, the superwash worsted weight wool everyone loves to knit with. We’ll get busy making Tulip and Rocketry kits right away.

If you’re a spinner and you haven’t been by in a while, you might want to stop in. We had a new shipment of Abby’s Batts from Franquemont Fibers last week, and they’re going fast. These luxury fiber batts are a superb indulgence for anyone who loves to spin. Abby’s sense of color and style is unequaled. We’re one of only four retailers selected to carry Abby’s work, and her craftsmanship makes these batts highly prized by spinners around the globe.

What We’re Working On

Square, Square, Everywhere a Square
A few months ago we received a huge order of Cascade 220 and copies of the Great American Afghan booklet published by XRX. Although neither is a new product, we hadn’t previously had as large a range of colors as we do now, and the wall of 220 has captured everyone’s imagination. Donna, Jill and Val all are working on squares for this blanket, and classes begin this Saturday. We’ll be offering them every other week through November and beginning again in January. Two squares will be covered in each class, so by this time next year, you could have a whole afghan done. There’s still room in Saturday’s class if you’re interested.

What You’re Working On

Busy Fingers
Deanna sent pictures of the legwarmers she made. She writes:

I have been meaning to share pictures of the legwarmers I made for my daughter, Sierra, finished August 3rd. The pattern is Traveling Stitch Legwarmers by Lisa R. Myers from Interweave Knits, Spring 2008. I used 3 skeins of Dreambaby DK by Plymouth Yarn in new blue (a better choice than wool for a young girl in AL). I used the Magic loop method on size 3 needles not double points. I am very pleased with how they turned out. They wash and dry beautifully.

They are lovely indeed!

What’s Going On Around Here

Morning Sit ‘n’ Knit Starts This Week
Today is the day for the first morning Sit ‘n’ Knit at Yarn Expressions. We’ll be set up by the time we open at 11:00. Bring your knitting, heck, bring a lunch and stay a while. We’ve got plenty of space, and the more the merrier.

What’s In the Works

Keep and Eye Out for Late Fall Orders
Although the store may seem jam packed with yarn and fiber, we actually still have a few things left to arrive. Conversations with suppliers this past week tell me to expect a shipment of Baby Twist from Alpaca With A Twist, a luscious DK weight alpaca that comes in 250 gram hanks. One hank will make either of these scarves.

We’re also on the lookout for the new entry-level spinning wheel from Majacraft — the Pioneer. Made of pine with a white washed finish, this wheel has all the fine engineering we love about Majacraft wheels, with a price under $500. They’ve promised delivery for early September, so the two wheels I’ve ordered should show up any day now.

I had a conversation with Taiu Landra of Koigu Wool Designs yesterday, and she promised that the mill ends we crave will be shipped this week. As with our other mill ends, we’ll be selling these in 8 oz. bags, and though I’ve ordered quite a bit, I have a feeling they won’t last long! Mill ends are great for modular knitting, striped socks, log cabin blankets… The list is endless!

Sometime later this year, I’m not exactly sure when, we’ll be receiving 48 bags of Malabrigo’s new sock yarn. I had ordered this before the mill fire at the beginning of the summer. When I talked to my sales rep yesterday, he said the number of colors has now increased to 24, and they’re all gorgeous. When I quizzed him about the construction, he said it’s a tightly spun three-ply yarn, reminiscent of Colinette’s Jitterbug. Having loved Malabrigo’s other products, I ordered every color sight unseen. I’m sure we won’t be disappointed.

 

That’s it from me for now. Until next week, enjoy your knitting!

Sincerely,

and all the crew at Yarn Expressions