Tara’s been busy uploading new collections to our ebay store. Each collection is slightly different so the price changes, but its an easy way to get the products in the colors you love.
If you are interested in something we have listed there, please let us know and we’ll pull it (why pay ebay fees for something we can sell you direct, right???)
Here’s the link to our ebay store: bondknitter
Thursday starts the end of year sale at Knitting Today. We don’t make a habit of sales, except Superbowl Sunday, but I am anxious to start the year fresh with new yarn and project choices so there we go. If you are in the area, drop in and see what we have. The hours are noon to 6pm on Thursday and 10 to 4 on Friday. We’ll be closed then on Saturday and Sunday. I’d say I’ll be back with pictures before the end if the year but Tom and I are on our own for sale days, so we know that won’t happen.
Here’s my new project I started early. Its the Shawl Collared Cowl by Never Not Knitting (which is available in our store, btw, using the new Ravelry LYS Download service — one stop shopping, woohoo!). I’m using Jewel by Cascade, a hand dyed thick and thin. Lovely. Two starts though, cause the yarn was pooling and I didn’t like it
.
—–whoops, that’s not the picture! That’s my grandson and daughter on Christmas day.
– here’s the pooling part.
— here’s how it looks after switching yarns out every other row. I like it much better!
Have a safe and Happy New Year! Thank you everyone, for your patronage, your enthusiasm, and your friendship. Here’s to 2012.
We all have a stash. I have a stash. Lea-Ann has a stash. Our stash just happens to be yarn! We bring that yarn into the house, put it away, buy more yarn we like, choose to use it for a purpose other than originally intended, decide to put the project aside and start something new, or just throw it in the stash bin and leave it as an unfinished projects. Here is my stash story:
Back in August, I bought Shepherd’s Wool for the Hayley Hoodie. I’ve ogled this sweater pattern for a while in the store and decided to make it since my sister, Haley, would not. I bought the yarn and was vigorously knitting it during my lecture classes in college. It was a top-down, cable edge design, and I got the hood done. I was working on the ribbing inbetween the hood and the shoulders when I stopped. I got bored, or maybe I just wanted to get DONE with something!
So, I started to pick up one skein projects. I knitted two headbands (Calorimetry from Knitty.com) for friends Christmas gifts, a ribbed scarf with odds and ends of Shepherd’s Wool interspersed with one matching skein of Noro Kureyon which I didn’t use it for it’s original intentions, a hat for someone else, etc. It felt good to knit those items. I set a small goal for myself every time.For example, the ribbed scarf was being made for my trip to Chicago. I learned that setting dates and times for these projects helped me finish them.
Some of those projects were not one skein, some of them were two! I bought Rio and knitted a 2-skein hat with that. I rummaged through my stash and found yarn from a sale a long time ago. I had started something and got bored with it, so I stashed that. When I came across it again, I searched on Ravelry for a pattern with my weight of yarn and found something I liked. The color of the yarn was pink, and I knew my sister-in-law would love it, too. I made her a cowl in a couple of days with that yarn (it’s a bulky weight).
The point is, stashing is just fine. We buy yarns and don’t want to knit what we originally planned but eventually find a new purpose for them and renewed determination later to get that project done. It’s what I did. Many of us do that. If it’s taking way too long to make a sweater or your bored, do a couple quick one skein projects. My motto at the store lately is “if we get something accomplished, we need to push the ‘easy’ button.” Reward yourself for getting it done. It helps. Don’t be worried about putting something down and picking it up later, Lea-Ann can help you figure out where you left off or write yourself a note saying what row, repeat, etc. you stopped on. I know that the Hayley hoodie will be picked up again someday. Just not yet… 
What project have you started and stashed? What yarn are you stashing? Did you know we have a sale at the store on Thursday and Friday of this week? Its the ideal time to pick up some project yarn or enhance your stash!
Today is our “leftover” thanksgiving day sale in the store at knitting today. Huge savings are “left over” for you to gobble up.
Here’s the link to the latest enews.
http://www.knittingtoday.com/enews/2011_oct/2011_oct.htm
If you don’t receive it via email, go sign up here:
Eucool is currently 40% off and you’ll want to take advantage of it. Tom knit George (http://www.ravelry.com/project
Many knitters come into the store using many different types of needles. Personally, I try to stick with size 8 needles and not go too small. Some knitters are big needle gals and always look for chunky/bulky yarn. This book has the patterns featured in Plymouth Yarns such as Encore, Galway, etc. The patterns include afghans, sweaters, scarves, home decor, and accessories. All have different stitch patterns and look alluring. There’s a mans sweater that is absolutely gorgeous ( and no, I’m not looking at the guy). Since we do stock in Plymouth Yarns, we can special order any non-discontinued yarn. If you would like to special order, please call at 1-800-426-5098.
Knitting Outside the lines. Unfortunately, I like to stay inside the lines. But if you want to go beyond, check out Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines. The photography and stories are beautiful. It melts your heart. The patterns include some for ladies, babies, for the house, kids, and accessories. As I scanned the pages and read stories, I found out some of these yarns are great brands. Mom is yelling, “What is going on back there?” My reply: “I’m reading!!! I also need more yarn!” This is a must have.
Again, I’m a history junkie. Alice Starmore’s Book of Fair Isle Knitting includes the history of Fair Isle knitting. I adore the technique. If there was a museum of Fair Isle knitting, I would get lost on purpose and never make it out. Mom also loves this technique. Just look at this picture: *click here*.
I’ve done many projects in Fair Isle, but I don’t do it the correct way. I twist instead of actually creating Fair Isle. When I make a mistake, it’s hard to untangled. This may help me with the “correct” approach. Alice has done a great job of showing colors, techniques, pattern, and creating your own. During a quick break, I had to describe what made my life so exclamatory in the back room. I told the Tuesday Lace Group about these books and received some opinions. They highly suggest the Book of Fair Isle Knitting. ‘It’s a classic.’ It’s a great addition to your knitting book collection.
Remeber! We have the book coupon that ends Friday, September 2nd. Coupon Code: books – click Redeem Coupon!
It’s the season for learning! Ever wanted to go beyond with your knitting and try new techniques from books? Well, we have a special coupon for you. It’s 30% off all hand knitting books! This coupon lasts until September 2, 2011.
Books you might want to check out:
Sometimes saving for Christmas is year round to buy presents for family, friends, or people we just care about. This book can get you started early for Christmas that is four months away! I can’t believe it’s getting close either. I have college break in December. Anyways, people love handcrafted stockings. My mom made me one with my name embroidered, and I want it hanging up each year (sad thing, it’s usually in the store).
I love history and ancient cultures. When we learned about Incan Pyramids, Mayan culture, and Aztecs, I fell in love with how they lived. A lot of people knit Norweigan patterns which is great. I like their patterns as well. But this book captures beauty of another place. I wonder how they wear such warm sweaters in a hot climate? The equator is near!
Two (okay maybe three) books I really love are from the Elsebeth Lavold Collection. She has lovely designs to go with her titles.
My first book is Book Nineteen, The Wellington Collection. Not only because, Dad knit George from this book, but also the model for George is quite stunning 
. All the patterns are done out of Eucool, a lovely DK wool and eucalyptus blend.
My second favorite book of the Elsebeth Lavold Collection would be Book Eight, The Enchanted Garden Collection. Just the title itself makes everything seem magical. The sweaters are classy and intricate. Beauty just sprouts from the trees. My next favorite is Book Sixteen, The Touch of Romance Collection. It has sweaters to anyone who can fall in love– even the dog!
So check out our books, that was just a sneak peek ;)
Coupon Code: books – Remember to click Redeem Coupon!
Today’s project of the day is Tom’s Hoodie (click to be wait listed for the pattern — so popular, we sold out!). He made this out of Dream in Color Classy. It took him a month to knit it, about two hours a night in front of the TV. His original intentions was to find a sweater that he could wear out ice fishing — EWE (and that’s not the sheep)! I think he might just wear it to keep warm, and maybe we’ll let him wear it out hunting.
Another sweater we adore in Classy would be the Hayley Hoodie. It’s a great pullover with feminine touches. I have drooled over this pattern for the past year, and I want to knit something cute. Well, this is my favorite color option and I only need four of them for this beautiful garment. Add an extra, and I can change to long sleeves with the help of yours truly (Lea-Ann, my mom) at Knitting Today.
Another great group of patterns is Chic Knits. The sweaters and pullovers are great to work with Classy. In fact, mom wants to work the Mondo Cable Pulli.
We have a deal for you: buy four or more Classy and receive 20% off, and check out those patterns (since they are in the Classy category, you’ll get 20% off those too)! It’s a steal. This coupon expires August 19, 2011. Coupon Code: classy – Remember to click Redeem Coupon!
-- Tara
This is big. I mean HUGE. We’re putting our Jūl Silver Hardware on sale! Oh yes, I heard you have been drooling all over it but hesitant because of the price.
What makes Jūl Silver special? It is constructed by hand in the United States rather than overseas. Jūl designs involving precious metals and semi-precious stones can not be compared to mass-produced hardware but are true art and jewelry. Many of the hardware pieces are featured with explicit Noni bag patterns such as the Urban Explorer and Silk Road Explorer handles paired with theNomad bag in Three sizes pattern.
So, what’s the sale? Take 15% off in-stock hardware only by using coupon code: jul15 on the checkout screen at http://www.knittingtoday.com. If you buy at least four skeins of in-stock Shepherd’s Wool yarn and a Noni pattern, we’ll take another 10% off for a total of 25% off your new purse project!! (note, we’ll have to apply that extra discount on our end before charging your card).
Hurry because this offer is good on in-stock only and expires on Tuesday, August 9! And, if you want to know when the next sale is, go sign up for our enews: http://knittingtoday.com/enews.html