Reminder: Friday 24 February is the Artyarns and Interlacements Kit Event, from 6 to 8 PM. There will be kits from Artyarns for two types of shawls in an assortment of colorways. From Interlacements there will be kits for beaded scarves and for a beaded cape (shawl) in two types of yarn and lots of wonderful colorways, including some new colors for this spring. Refreshments will be served, and door prizes will be awarded every hour on the hour beginning at 4.
Due to insufficient enrollment to meet the minimum needed, the Melissa Leapman retreat has been cancelled. If you have paid for the retreat you have your choice of a full refund or shop credit.
New at the shop and also from Interlacements - Lotus, a 100% silk lace weight yarn in all the fantastic Interlacements colors. At 500 yards each skein is enough to make a small to medium-sized shawl.
Purls of wisdom: The road to success is always under construction.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Awesome mittens!
Congratulations to Ruth Neiboer for knitting these amazing mittens, pictured at right. She made the mittens for her husband who is going to Antarctica tomorrow! (I am SO jealous!) These mittens are based on traditional Norwegian designs; the pattern was designed by Ruth's daughter specifically for the occasion (she could make a living doing work like this). The compass rose with the "N" for north also has the latitude of the northern-most point he has been; the "South" mitten indicates the latitude of where he will be in Antarctica. On the South mitten is the year in Roman numerals, and on the North mitten are his initials.
Ruth made these after taking our class on Norwegian mittens. These mittens are completely one-of-a-kind, and will likely become an heirloom. Way to go, Ruth!
Purls of wisdom: you can do anything if you believe you can do it.
Ruth made these after taking our class on Norwegian mittens. These mittens are completely one-of-a-kind, and will likely become an heirloom. Way to go, Ruth!
Purls of wisdom: you can do anything if you believe you can do it.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
new stuff at the shop - yarn & wheels
Greetings and defenestrations! In the last week at the shop I have gotten in a new yarn from Feza - Festival. Festival is a fingering to sport weight yarn with a lovely haze and a twist of glitz. It would be perfect for a slightly dressy scarf, but the white would be especially nice for a bridal shawl or elbow-length mitts. At $6.50 and 280 yards per ball, this is an inexpensive way to get some dressy yarn into your life.
Also new - two Schacht Sidekicks have arrived. It is absolutely amazing how cleverly engineered this wheel is - everything serves a dual purpose for the wheel's folded position and working position. And it spins like a dream, almost as well as the Matchless. The bobbins for the Sidekick are interchangeable with all other Schacht wheels, so you can spin on your Matchless at home and then take the same project on the road with your Sidekick.
New from Circular solution - Port-a-Pockets and Knitters' Nest. The Port-a-Pockets are small pouches with an elastic strap that can be hung over your arm, or detached (velcro is wonderful stuff) and put through a belt loop. Then you can wander around and knit on a small project, such as socks. It has three outer pockets, too, so you can carry a few extra tools.
The Knitters' Nest is a bag with four compartments so you can place a ball or skein of yarn in each. For instance, if you are making a school colors anything, you can have multiple balls of each color in the Nest. Let's say you are demented enough to be knitting with four colors at once - this would be an excellent aid to that end. Even if you are only knitting with one color, this bag will keep your yarn in one neat, clean spot.
Another new thing at the shop - the newest Interweave Knits has arrived.
Photos at right are of a woven color study my friend Karlyn did for me years ago. I had seen one at her home and was so enamored of it that she made one for me that Christmas. The warp is done in the color spectrum, and the weft is done identically. The photos do not do the colors justice (cheap camera) but this is not only lovely to look at, it is also a great tool for weavers who wonder what two colors will look like woven together - with either as warp or weft. (Alas, the website won't let me turn this photo 90 degrees to upright....)
Purls of wisdom: illegitimati non carborundum (come to the shop for a translation)
Also new - two Schacht Sidekicks have arrived. It is absolutely amazing how cleverly engineered this wheel is - everything serves a dual purpose for the wheel's folded position and working position. And it spins like a dream, almost as well as the Matchless. The bobbins for the Sidekick are interchangeable with all other Schacht wheels, so you can spin on your Matchless at home and then take the same project on the road with your Sidekick.
New from Circular solution - Port-a-Pockets and Knitters' Nest. The Port-a-Pockets are small pouches with an elastic strap that can be hung over your arm, or detached (velcro is wonderful stuff) and put through a belt loop. Then you can wander around and knit on a small project, such as socks. It has three outer pockets, too, so you can carry a few extra tools.
The Knitters' Nest is a bag with four compartments so you can place a ball or skein of yarn in each. For instance, if you are making a school colors anything, you can have multiple balls of each color in the Nest. Let's say you are demented enough to be knitting with four colors at once - this would be an excellent aid to that end. Even if you are only knitting with one color, this bag will keep your yarn in one neat, clean spot.
Another new thing at the shop - the newest Interweave Knits has arrived.
Photos at right are of a woven color study my friend Karlyn did for me years ago. I had seen one at her home and was so enamored of it that she made one for me that Christmas. The warp is done in the color spectrum, and the weft is done identically. The photos do not do the colors justice (cheap camera) but this is not only lovely to look at, it is also a great tool for weavers who wonder what two colors will look like woven together - with either as warp or weft. (Alas, the website won't let me turn this photo 90 degrees to upright....)
Purls of wisdom: illegitimati non carborundum (come to the shop for a translation)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Please read
Apparently we cannot have champagne at the Champagne and Hotdog event on 24 Feb - someone "complained" to the local authorities that I am serving liquor without a license. I could apply for a temporary permit for the day - even tho I am NOT selling alcohol - but I would need a Board of Health inspection. So screw it. I'll serve cider instead.
Purls of wisdom: when life hands you lemons, make apple cider
Purls of wisdom: when life hands you lemons, make apple cider
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Super Scarves in the New York Times
Dee just forwarded this link to me http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/31/scarves-attract-attention-at-super-bowl/. The New York Times has a great article about the Super Scarves. As usual, their facts aren't quite on the money (specifically regarding the reason for the color choice), but the important part is that these scarves are the most sought after souvenir of Super Bowl XLVI. Those of you who contributed scarves to this effort can enjoy the knowledge that your scarf may be around the neck of a Super Bowl-winning player. Who knows - you might even see your scarf on TV during an interview....
Happy Groundhog Day!
Happy Groundhog Day!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
CHANGES TO MELISSA LEAPMAN RETREAT and upcoming events
Due to the economy, enrollment for the luxury retreat has been low. As a result, I have decided to have Melissa give her classes at the shop on Saturday and Sunday 24 & 25 March, which will significantly reduce the cost. There will still be a minimum requirement of 20 registrants and a maximum of 35. Registration minimum must be met by 21 February 2012 or the weekend will be cancelled (I must give Melissa 30 days notice of go or no go). The cost for the weekend at the shop will include two lunches and is $275 for all four classes. If you wish to take classes "a la carte" they are $75 each, no lunches included. The class schedule remains the same.
Retreat Details:
- Refund policy: A 25% refund will be given after 01 Feb 2012. If, for any reason, The Yarn Gourmet must cancel the event, a full refund will be given.
- Classes only policy: A single class may be purchased for $75, no meal included.
- Spouses or partners are welcome, but may not sit in on classes unless appropriate registration is paid. If they do not participate in classes but wish to share lunch with us there will be a $10 meal fee.
- No children, please.
MORE GOOD NEWS:
I am having a ONE DAY SALE on Friday 03 February! Select books will be 40% off, clearance yarns will be reduced 50% or more. I need to move out the old so I can bring in the new, and my customers will receive the benefits of both. Hours will be the usual 10 to 8; no coupons may be used for discounted items, and all discounted items are non-returnable.
But wait - that's not all! (No, I'm not selling ShamWOW.) I will be having a Artyarns and Interlacements Champagne and Hotdogs Event on Friday 24 February, from 3 to 8 PM. This event will feature kits from Artyarns and Interlacements. The Artyarns kits will include 2 mini skeins of Beaded Silk Light and 1 mini skein of Cashmere 1 Ply (Every Which Way Shawl Kit), or one 200-yard skein of Rhapsody glitter Light and 4 mini skeins of Beaded Silk & Sequins Light, approximately 80 yards total (Shawl for All Seasons Kits). Best of all, some of these kits have a crochet option!
But wait - that's not all! (No, I'm not selling ShamWOW.) I will be having a Artyarns and Interlacements Champagne and Hotdogs Event on Friday 24 February, from 3 to 8 PM. This event will feature kits from Artyarns and Interlacements. The Artyarns kits will include 2 mini skeins of Beaded Silk Light and 1 mini skein of Cashmere 1 Ply (Every Which Way Shawl Kit), or one 200-yard skein of Rhapsody glitter Light and 4 mini skeins of Beaded Silk & Sequins Light, approximately 80 yards total (Shawl for All Seasons Kits). Best of all, some of these kits have a crochet option!
Purls of wisdom: if you don't have confidence, you'll always find a way not to win.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Stitches!
The dates have been set: Stitches Midwest is August 9 - 12, 2012 at Schaumberg, Illinois! I WILL be booking a bus again this year, but I cannot say what the tickets will cost until I speak to Cardinal bus lines. I can tell you that I will be asking for a wheelchair-friendly bus, that it will depart from South Bend at 8 AM, and will depart from Chicago at 4 PM Central time.
After last year's trip I received a lot of tremendously helpful feedback on what was great, what was good, and what was not-so-good. I am still working on some of the things I intend to improve for this year's trip, but the first thing I have changed is the return trip departure time. Most people said they would have been just as happy to leave an hour earlier last year - so be it. I am also going to try to do something about the food situation, since that was the biggest complaint most people had. So stay tuned!
Oh by the way - today I got 3 new yarns in - K1C2's Linus and Geologie, and Pagewood's Yukon. Yesterday I got Berroco's Circus - come in and see!
Purls of wisdom: persistence is one of the keys to the kingdom.
After last year's trip I received a lot of tremendously helpful feedback on what was great, what was good, and what was not-so-good. I am still working on some of the things I intend to improve for this year's trip, but the first thing I have changed is the return trip departure time. Most people said they would have been just as happy to leave an hour earlier last year - so be it. I am also going to try to do something about the food situation, since that was the biggest complaint most people had. So stay tuned!
Oh by the way - today I got 3 new yarns in - K1C2's Linus and Geologie, and Pagewood's Yukon. Yesterday I got Berroco's Circus - come in and see!
Purls of wisdom: persistence is one of the keys to the kingdom.
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