It's that fabulous time of the year - the time that yarn store owners, employees and customers look forward to. It is the time when all the new product from TNNA begins to flood the store!
First and fabulous, we've gotten the Spud & Chloe line in from Blue Sky Alpaca. If you haven't seen these yarns or their adorable patterns, you're missing a treat. The yarn comes in three weights: Fine, Sweater (worsted) and Outdoor (bulky). The Fine is a wool/silk blend, while the Sweater and Outdoor are wool/cotton blends. Fabulous for this area of the country, but that's not the best part. All three of these yarns are machine washable! That's right, even the wool-silk. Clever yarn with the most adorable patterns. I've been saying that the Spud & Chloe line is like Gar-animals for knitters - each yarn type has a different color tag and each pattern has this color on the packaging. No wondering which yarn is right for which pattern. Just match the colors and you're set! How clever is that?
Also, the Spud & Chloe blog offers free patterns. Be sure to keep an eye out for the adorable frog pattern that's coming soon. There's already a precious cupcake that would make for a non-fattening birthday present.
Now, I don't want you to think that this is all we've gotten in. Apart from getting in all the new colors in Noro Kureyon and Silk Garden, we've gotten a great book in from Noro: Mini Knits. It's full of patterns that would make fast projects and great gifts. It's a great time of year to be thinking of all the Christmas knitting you want to do - or simply to remember that it is going to get cold again and you'll want a nice warm something when it is!
We've gotten in some wonderful buttons. While I was at TNNA, I ordered some wooden buttons from Frog Tree. We also have new buttons and buckles in horn from Durango; in fact, we got amazing metal, mother of pearl, and inlaid buttons from them, too. I really think that a fabulous button, or buttons, can change your piece from a "nice" to a "WOW", whether we're talking about a whole sweater or a purse.
Speaking of wow, I'mreally excited about the newly expanded fiber section of the store. We've added natural and hand dyed mohair, Cotswold, Blue Faced Leicester and Cormo-Mohair to the store. All of that color and texture makes me long to spin. Or maybe just to dive headfirst into the fiber! (Is it wrong to want to cuddle fiber?)
We've also added some new roving from Frog Tree; it's a Merino-Bamboo blend that shimmerswith color and just wants to glide through your hands. I want to try some out on one of the wheels in the shop, but should I choose the Schacht Lady Bug or the Majacraft Rose? Or just use a trindle? What a great problem to have!
And then we have great Mango Moon yarns. The Batik is actually strips of fabric which workup into a great knitted fabric. There's a brand new free pattern for a vest in this yarn - just ask us for it. We've also gotten the Charka yarn, made from viscose and cotton with beads and stones already on it. So fun. There's Ragg Silk, strips of 100% recycled silk, and Elements, a yarn spun from sari silk. All of these make great whole projects or add fun accents to others. It has to be felt to be believed. What's keeping you?
I think I hear the UPS truck coming. I'll get back on the blog soon and let you know what he's brought!
