Thursday, January 13, 2011

13 January 2011

We have been working hard to inventory the shop. It helps to know what you really have in stock so I don't say yes to you on the phone and then find out that there is none.

I have just gotten in more Addi Click Lace needles. Did you know that they're nickel plated now? Yep, no more brass. They have also changed the "wallet" that they come in. Wouldn't you know that the regular Addi Clicks are on backorder!

I told you that we would be getting in new yarns. Well, Eco Wool and Eco+ has arrived. There are free patterns on the Cascade website and Jered Flood knitted a lap blanked using an old doily pattern. The pattern is free and you can follow the link on Ravelry to down load the pattern.

Eco wool can be knit in two gages 3.5sts/inch and 4sts/inch. It comes in 478 yarn skeins so many sweaters only require two skeins. It has a small range of color (it's not 220 with over 200 colors) but the colors are great for any project. The color card gives you an idea of what is offered.

Here's a hint for all of you that use safety lines in your knitting. If you have a Boye Needle Master set you can pull a safety line through as you knit. Just put the thread into the tightening hole on the cable and knit away. As you knit the safety line is put into the knitting without any trouble. When you get to the end of the row, just release the thread, stretch out the knitting to pull the safety line along the width of the knitting and tie off the safety line! Voila!

I can't take credit for this idea. It came from a customer. Thank you Ms. Lyon!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

8 January 2011

Happy New Year!

We have been busy making sure that Santa brought all of the right things for a great knitter's Christmas – especially gift certificates.

We are getting in new items all of the time. I have more Skacel Lace Clicks coming. Now I can't get the standard Clicks. Go figure! I got in Hiya-Hiya interchangeable needles. So if you are interested, come by and see how they do their needles.

We are considering carrying interchangeable bamboo, ebony and rosewood needles. Tell us what you think about this. Would you purchase wooden interchangeable needles?

I thought you might want to know about the Vogue knitting patterns in the back of each issue. To quote:

"Some patterns in this issue require large charts of lengthy instructions. Space considerations have made it necessary for us to move parts of the instructions to our website. Please read the NOTES before beginning a project to check if any part of the instructions is on our website.

To find these items, visit our website and click on 'CHARTS.'"

To be fair they will send you the charts if you send them a SASE. I just thought you might want to know. You might want to check your issues to make sure you have the information you need for the issues you have.

We've posted a pattern on Ravelry that seems to be a quick like. It was designed by Lyn's mom and we thank her for the pattern. It's a quick knit and only takes one skein of Berroco Boralis. You can use any yarn you wish but that is what we used for the model. If you go to my Ravelry page it will link you through to the websites page and you can down load the .pdf.

We are inventorying the shop so the drudgery work is at hand but we are still open and willing to help you and serve you needs. Stop by and break us away from the counting, please.