Saturday, January 30, 2016

Rowan Loves....

We received more new magazines from Rowan yesterday including Rowan Loves....cotton lustre and all seasons cotton.
Here at Rowan we are really proud of our beautiful yarns and in this brochure series we aim to show these yarns some love.
The forth in this series supports Cotton Lustre & All Seasons Cotton.
Featuring 9 designs, which can be knit in either yarn, giving you plenty of options for these transeasonal classics.
Several designs offer design options making the design your own.
We hope this brochure makes you fall in love with these two great yarns too.






Cotton Lustre is an interesting blend of cotton, linen and modal which gives it a wonderful drape with a soft handle. This yarn incorporates the essential summer shades and knits on 6mm needles making it perfect for a quick summer knits. The colour palette incorporates the essential summer shades.
I'm dragging a bit today. My dad arrived home from Honduras last night. Late last night. We arrived at the airport at midnight but by the time they got out of the terminal it was after 1 - unfortunately the airline misplaced someones bag and it is still in Atlanta. We got him home safely and I'm here today but there will definitely be a nap when the store closes. 

Friday, January 29, 2016

Self-Striping

There will be new colours of Santorini coming from Classic Elite next week. We used 2 balls to make this easy to knit, easy to wear cowl. And the pattern is free in a Classic Elite Web-Letter.
The vibrant colors of Classic Elite's Santorini, a cotton-viscose blend featuring a combination of matte and shiny texture, are sure to catch the eye this summer season, and its lightweight, chainette construction will produce garments and accessories that are cool and comfortable next to the skin.
This shawl is called Naushon and takes 9 balls of Santorini. You can use 3 balls to make a scarf.

I'm excited. I get to knit another cowl and a new scarf next week. There is justification for starting something new - I need to have the new colours knit up in the store. :)


There will be two new colours of Liberty in the same box.

I might need to start knitting with these as well. This spring, Classic Elite is introducing afghan patterns for Liberty. I love mitred squares.
There will be 12 new colours, 2 coming every month. A perfect project. Kind of like the Log Cabin Afghan. You are finished with a colour before you are tired of it. And there is no pressure to knit quickly. You can only go so far until the next colours come out. Don't worry, if you aren't a patient person, we have many colours of Liberty on the shelf and you can put together your own colour combination.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Linen

I started my morning at home doing the dreaded A word. Accounting. All was going well until I couldn't find some very important pieces of paper. I rummaged and rummaged and finally found them in a very safe place. That was a huge relief. Gave me a headache but all is good now.

Now for some happier thoughts. This stole from Rowan Magazine #59 has been catching customer's eyes.

Niigata
Knit this elegant stole by Lisa Richardson from Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 59. Worked in Pure Linen is features an unusual pleated diamond effect and beading making it suitable for the knitter with some experience.
Made with 100% natural linen, our Pure Linen has a soft sheen and a relaxed drape. This yarn is ideal for light weight and elegant summer knits, that are easy and cooling to wear.
This cute top is also knit in Pure Linen.
 Heacham
Knit this light, airy summer top from Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 59. Designed by Cirilia Rose it is worked in Pure Linen and features an unusual construction, lace panel and open shoulder seams. Suitable for the knitter with some experience.
 There are two new colours of Pure Linen for summer. I love them both.
401
402

These are the colours that we have in stock. 391 should be in the store on Friday afternoon. Want to knit the shawl or sweater in a different colour? Let us know, we can special order colours.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

My Favourite Sweater

It's been put away for awhile because the yarn was discontinued. I'd wear the sweater to work and customers kept asking for the yarn. I couldn't help them so the sweater has been resting. Well, that favourite sweater can come out again. It's my 'it's cold out and I want a sweater to snuggle up in' sweater. I love it so much that I have another one started. It wasn't finished because I couldn't wear it to work. Now I can.
The yarn is Noro Transitions and we have it in stock.

7% Kid Mohair, 7% Cashmere, 7% Angora, 7% Camel, 7% Alpaca, 55% Wool, 10% Silk
#21
#22
#24
#29

The sweater is called Holly and it's from the book Naturally Noro by Jane Ellison.

If you have little ones to knit for, we received some great buttons today.






I need to hit Publish and get on to today's other chores. I've been emailing with Sally Melville about her classes for Knitting Camp. I'm excited about the classes that I've chosen.

Fiona's classes should be finalized early next week which means the Camp brochure is just over a week away from being ready.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Food Drive

It's rearranging day in the store. We needed to find somewhere for the Technicolor Cowl kits. This snowballed into moving this and moving that. That lead me to marking down some kits.
These awesome scarf kits are easy to make. You knit the scarf and attach the already knit arms, legs, tails and faces. And they are so cute.

We are marking the kits down to $20 while supplies last.
 You can knit them up and put them away for next year's Christmas presents.


It's also time to start thinking about the Ancaster Community Food Drive. The food drive serves all of the major Food Serving Agencies in the city such as: Neighbour to Neighbour; Greater Hamilton Food Share, Mission Services of Hamilton, Good Shepherd Centre, The Salvation Army, St. Matthew’s House, Wesley Urban Ministries and Ancaster Community Services.

We will be collecting food and cash. These need to be in the store by Wednesday, February 17. One food item will give you one entry. What will that entry get you? The first name drawn will win a wonderful gift basket of yarn and accessories donated by our suppliers. The next three names drawn will win $50 gift certificates to the store. Cash is also welcome. We will give you 10 tickets for a $10 donation and 25 tickets for a $20 donation.

The most needed food items are
  • hot cereals of any kind
  • canned meats and fish
  • peanut butter
  • meat soups
  • canned or powder milk
  • baby food and formula (needs to have at least 8 weeks until expiry left on it)
  • canned fruits and vegetables
  • canned pasta
  • dry pasta
  • pasta sauce
  • toiletries
Thanks to all who have donated in the past and I hope that you can help us out again.

You can read more about the day on the Ancaster Community Food Drive Facebook Page.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Dreaming Colour

Ms. UPS just brought in a big box from Dream in Color. The new Jilly with Cashmere is awesome. There were also many mini-skeins of Classy. That means new colourways for the Technicolor Cowl. I don't know if there will be kits made tonight but definitely tomorrow night.


I just got home from work. Okay. I just got home. After work Beth and I had dinner out with our mom, Aunt Clyde and our friend Nick. My dad is in Honduras right now with Uncle Dick (so Aunt Clyde moved in to keep mom company-we refer to them as Thelma and Louise), Nick's wife Alice and ten others. We had a good dinner and then Aunt Clyde came to see our house. After the tour it was time to start making kits. I couldn't wait.

I ordered many different shades of brown this time. The new kits are totally different than others we have done in the past.


It's time to sign off and make the rest of tonight's kits. I'll make more tomorrow night because a different day gives inspiration to different colour combinations.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Bristol Ivy

The instructors for the Knitters Frolic have been announced. Bristol Ivy is the guest instructor this year. How exciting. Unfortunately I won't be able to take a class but I suggest that you do. See her awesome designs on Ravelry...

We have her shawl, Gyre, knit up in the store.

The workshop list isn't on the Frolic website yet - it will be there Monday morning.



Don't wait too long to register, the classes will fill quickly.

Today has been about football and knitting. Well not a lot of knitting because the first game was so exciting. And now it's time to get back to the game. Arizona needs my help.