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Good friends and finish it February

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Read to the bottom for details.

What do good friends do for you? I have friends who pray for me, and with me, and who encourage me when i’m down. I’m thankful for each and every one of my friends. Right now though, I have to give a shout out to a special friend who recognizes when i’m feeling blocked and overloaded and takes steps to help. How?

First, she comes in and makes me pull out all the projects? It took two tables!
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Then she makes me make decisions! Scrap it? Okay, that’s a relatively small number of projects scrapped. Only seven.

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Then, return for others to enjoy until I can get to them on my list, then I can re-buy. That’s eleven projects! I take that back, I walked around to the other side and there are three more = 14!

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Which leaves us with “the list”. And this …

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Then … look at the list!. There are twenty-eight lines on “the list”, only three of which do not count. That means I have twenty-five wip projects! Eek!

I knew I had too many, but really? These are projects I need to finish or want to finish, and well, wow! [note to self, remember this count does not include the boxes in the kitchen area that we put away last time we did a sort through — she’s going to be merciless with those!]

Thanks so much, Lisa! And you know the best part? Last night before going home, we identified two things to work on.

1. Block the Miralda’s shawl — text at 7 this morning “put the book away and block the shawl”. Reading fluff is my escape. Yes, I got up and blocked the shawl sans blocking wires which are at MIA. We have six skeins of this yarn, Domy Heather, I’ll be putting on a private sale. It’s squishy, heathery and woolly and I love it! I don’t want to pass it along, but the good news is I found a source and can get more!!!!

 

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2. Socks – deadline Saturday for class. One inch per day. Pictures later since I left that project home while I do my paperwork on my day off.

So, there is a little insight into what it is like as the yarn store owner. Start the next project, put it down, start the next project, put it down, ad nauseum. What are your projects? Can you beat my number? What’s your plan of attack? I had the top ten list a while back. I have two organizers, ten bins and will use those to have everything at hand, as soon as I get over the shock of having 25 current wip! Oh my!

Comment here or on Facebook for a chance to win a hank of Domy Heather, the yarn I used on the shawl, choice of one of four colors. We’ll draw a random name next wednesday.

Tell me:

1. how many wip,

2. what is your top three,

3. and your plan…

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Spring Enews: discussion and yarn giveaway

Its time for some spring knitting (vs. cleaning!).  If you received the latest enews, we were talking about our favorite cotton, linen, lighter weight wools and projects for warmer weather knitting and wear (could be shawlettes, socks, tanks or tees).

GIVEAWAY: Post a link here telling us what you are interested in knitting and with what yarn. You’ll get one entry for posting, and another entry for any link to those project or materials on our website.  You can post on the KTNews blog, Knitting Today facebook page, or Knitting Today Ravelry group.  YOU COULD WIN: a skein of Stiletto, Florafil, Starbella AND Creative Focus Linen. Winner will be drawn on March 31.

P.S. Download the enews to get the coupon for purchase off any yarn mentioned in the enews (with the exception of the Blue Bag specials which are already 40% off!)

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Woolly Holiday Hunt Day 7 – Baby It’s Cold Outside!

Our inspiration, Baby It’s Cold Outside — so cold, your fingers turn a shade of blue, but what better to  warm that cold baby in than a blanket made of yarn Ull fall in love with.  Look at this flickr photo for inspiration!!

Use the bolded clues above to find the picture on our website at https://knittingtoday.com.  Send the URL to customerservice@knittingtoday. and you’ll be entered in the drawing for a Marie Mayhew three-pack of patterns or projects (value up to $30). Submissions will close at 9am on Monday, and the drawing for the winner will be at noon.

The featured Marie Mayhew pattern today is Woolly Snowbaby! They are all decked out to keep warm while singing Christmas carols, don’t you think?

Comment below and let us know if you’ve enjoyed this scavenger hunt through the website.  Did you get a chance to use the 40% off coupon we emailed those who entered? We have another coupon thank you gift coming, so check your email after noon on Monday!

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Woolly Holiday Hunt Day 6 – He licked all the candy canes, ’til he turned them all green.

 

The “Grinch Who Stole Christmas” returns every year for an encore presentation.  While looking at the pictured yarn, I was reminded of the lines:

When the Grinch discovered
There was no way,
To Keep Christmas from coming
On Christmas day,
He devised a new plan…

Though not quite as mean.
He licked all the candy canes,
‘Til he turned them all green. 

But, really, he couldn’t take away the taste.  

Use the bolded clues above to find the picture on our website at https://knittingtoday.com.  Send the URL to customerservice@knittingtoday.com and you’ll be entered in the drawing for a Marie Mayhew three-pack of patterns or projects (value up to $30). There is one more clue tomorrow at 9am and the drawing will be Monday at noon.

In the meantime, imagine this beautiful Woolly Nest and Eggs added to your tree decor.  While you’re at it, throw some scraps to the birds outside for their own nests.  If you want a slightly smaller nest, there is the Woolly Nest Ornament Kit which includes everything you need including the poem.  We just stocked the refill kits too, in case you want to make more than one. Our little pathetic tree is actually an ornament hanger display filled with greenery.  I’ll take better pictures later to show you how cute the display looks with the Woolly Ornaments.

 

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Holiday Hunt Day 3 — sweet treats in the ???? of our shoes

St. Nicholas’ day is on the 6th December, but in Holland, the major celebrations are held on the 5th December. The name Santa Claus comes from the name Sinterklaas. On December 5th, children leave clogs or shoes out to be filled with presents. They also believe that if they leave some hay and carrots in their shoes for Sinterklaas’s horse, they will be left some sweets.

Clue: We love sweet treats especially if they show up in the “soles” of our shoes!

Once you find the featured picture above on the product page at https://knittingtoday.com, you need to email that page URL to customerservice@knittingtoday.com.  You’ll receive a reply back that you’ve been entered or a try-again if you aren’t quite there.  While these clues seem fairly easy to us because we’re in the store day-in and day-out, I realize those who don’t know the products we carry might be having a little trouble.  Feel free to email us (customerservice@knittingtoday.com) for clarification.

The sweet treats shown in the photo above are made with Marie Mayhew’s Woolly Candy Corn pattern.

Happy hunting!  Come back tomorrow after 9am for the next clue!  All emails will be entered in the drawing for $30 worth of Marie Mayhew Woolly patterns or projects, drawing on the 19th.

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Woolly Holiday Hunt Day 2 – he is a jolly ????

Clue:

Frosty the snowman was a jolly ???? soul,
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal.

Here’s the scoop: the picture above is copied into one of the products on the page related to the ???? word missing from the clue.  If you search for that word, you’ll find a number of products you can click into to find the featured picture.  It seems like it should be easy, but we try and make you click around just a little bit so you get to know our offerings and how the website works. Once you find the featured picture on the product page, you need to email that page URL to customerservice@knittingtoday.com.  You’ll receive a reply back that you’ve been entered or a try-again if you aren’t quite there.  While these clues seem fairly easy to us because we’re in the store day-in and day-out, I realize those who don’t know the products we carry might be having a little trouble.  Feel free to email us (customerservice@knittingtoday.com) for clarification.

Come back again tomorrow after 9am est to get the next clue.  Every time you email the answer, you are entered into a drawing for three Marie Mayhew Woolly patterns or projects (up to a $30 value).

Here’s a glimpse at some of our favorite patterns, including the cute little snowbaby in the photo above: Woolly SnowbabiesWoolly Snowman, the Snowman Materials KitWoolly Accessories, and Woolly Hats. Note, the Woolly Accessories and Materials Kits are new this season to accent your Woolly Snowman. We found that Galway and Rejuvenation make good Natural Snowy colors for felting.

P.S. While you’re busy clicking around,  I (Lea-Ann) am working on installing a coupon module in the store and working on some of the design functionality, so don’t be surprised if things move around a little bit.

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Woolly Holiday Hunt Day 1 – enjoy your cookies with some ?

Clue: Pulling our treats out of the oven to cool! Waiting for our ????  to brew (to make it easier, Lea-Ann is editing this post to say “Steep”, sorry Tara)! You are looking for the page that has the pictures from this blog post on it and that page has to do with the ???? mentioned– send us the link to that page.

Today’s photo features the Woolly Gingerbread Cookie.  Shown here, Marie strung the gingerbread men on a satin ribbon with a doorknob jingle.

Gingerbread Men: Forget the fat and calories with these too sweet gingerbread men. Two sizes that are fun to make and decorate. What cute package tie-ons these guys would make with your favorite Gingerbread Cookie Mix in a Jar! This is a cute, easy project to knit out of 100% wool and felt.  Use up your odds and ends or choose from the many fun colors of Shepherd’s Wool fingering and worsted.  Buy some cute buttons and thread to add the icing! Such a cute design by Marie Mayhew!

Using the clue above, find the product image in our website at https://knittingtoday.com, and email customerservice@knittingtoday.com with the location you find.  (Note: the search feature will get you part way there, you have to dig into the projects to find the photos). Once we receive your email, you’ll be entered in the drawing to be held on December 19 for three Woolly Marie Mayhew patterns or projects (up to $30 value).  Come back tomorrow after 9am EST for the next clue and project idea.

And, I’ll close with a picture of some real cookies from my daughter-in-law and grandson.

Woolly Gingerbread and Christmas tea cozy

 

 

 

 

 

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Join Our Woolly Holiday Hunt!

 Once a day, starting December 12th and ending December 18th, we’ll post a photo along with a clue, on the blog at: https://knittingtoday.com/knews  of a felted holiday project from the Marie Mayhew Trunk Show.

The projects include snowmen, santa, gingerbread men, ornaments, a nest, candy corn, and a penguin.  The photo and the clue will give you a hint where these adorable projects will be hiding in our online store at https://knittingtoday.com 

Once you find the page on the online store with the photo, email us at customerservice@knittingtoday.com, tell us what page you found it, and be entered in a drawing to win 3 Marie Mayhew patterns or products (up to a value of $30)!

The blog picture will be posted at 9 AM Eastern Time daily which gives you 24 hours to find the projects! You will receive a return email confirming your entry (although it won’t be immediate since we don’t check email 24/7).

Only one entry per day, but you can enter every day for more chances to win! Winner will be announced on December 19. Happy Hunting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The perfect fit? Share to win ….

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Have you ever knit a sweater from a pattern and have it fit perfectly? If so, which pattern, which yarn (in order to knit directly from the pattern both your stitch and row gauge must match), and what size (no adjusting for sleeve length?).  And, this perfect-fitting sweater…please send me a picture (on the perfect body preferably) so I can share with the masses OR better yet, post here and include a link to the picture if its somewhere else, like Ravelry.

On the other hand if all of your sweater knitting requires adjusting, I’d like to know about that too. What changes do you make for the perfect fit? Gauge, size, shoulder width, sleeve style? Again, comment below and include a link to the picture or send it to me and I’ll share the inspiration.

I have a pink curvy tumbler with your name on it. I’d share the link to the website so you can see what the new curvy tumbler looks like, but the website page is a mess 🙁 . Trust me. You don’t? Here. This is why I am not getting anything else done.

Comments/Posts/pictures must be received by October 9 16 (just in case that perfect sweater is still on the needles). If you don’t have the image hosted somewhere else, my email is lea-ann at knittingtoday.com. You know to replace the “at” word with the sign”@”  right?

Can’t wait to see everyone’s creations!