When we introduced our new Bamboo Interchangeable Needle Set we were also excited about being able to offer the parts individually. 

Like any new product launch, the parts & pieces sometimes take a bit longer.    Fortunately, the wait is over!  Cables, needle tips, jumpers and knobs are now all available individually!

What is most exciting is the “surprise” we received from our mill.  We had requested #3 tips to add to our set and prioritized those over larger size additions.  Well, our mill partners are just the best and they were able to produce not only the #3 tips but also #13 and #15 tips!  We figured we wouldn’t have those until early 2010.

Here is the pricing for the individual parts & pieces:

• Pair of tips in sizes #3 – #15  are $6.99/pr
• Pair of cables in lengths 16″, 24″ and 32″ are $3.99/pr
• Adaptors (or jumpers as I call them) are $1.00 each
• Pair of knobs/stoppers are $2.00/pr

Timing couldn’t be better for holiday for those of you who already own a set.  Now you can add the extra parts & pieces you need to your wishlist!

For those of you who have wanted to try our needles, but the whole set is a bit intimidating, now you can order cables and tips and give them a test drive!

Enjoy!

Kathy

P.S.  If you become sick with the flu, get a prescription of Tamiflu asap.  It really works.  I came down with the flu yesterday and took my first dose of Tamiflu within 4-5 hours.  Although I am not fully recovered, I feel MUCH better now than I did 24 hours ago.  (note:  I am not a medical professional so please consult your doctor)

This week on Ready, Set, Knit Steve reviews new yarns and closeouts.  I give a few suggestions for kids holiday gifts.  Pixie & I begin our review of cast-ons.  We’ll continue next week and then move onto bind-offs!

New Closeouts

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino - 7 closeout colors
Classic Elite Desert
Classic Elite Renaissance

New Yarn

 Opal Sock Yarn – Cathy Kruse
 
Gift Ideas for Kids
 
Potholder Looms  - Regular  & Deluxe
Easy Weaver A & B
Jill Eaton Learn to Knit Kit
Learn to Knit by Guy & Hall  (kids book)
Learn to Crochet by Guy & Hall (kids book)

You can listen to Ready, Set, Knit! via our website or you can download the podcast on iTunes.

Enjoy!

Kathy

Well, despite my best efforts involving avoidance and denial, the holidays are nearly upon us.  I love the holiday season, but this year everything is moving so fast I’m worried I’m just going to miss it all as it flies by in a blur.  I’ve been feeling somewhat overwhelmed with all that needs to be done and I’m not even talking about knitting projects.

This morning, our Store Manager Karen came in with a new project that lifted my spirits:

Isn’t he adorable?  Karen made him from one of the Woolpets kits that we stock.  These needle felting kits come with everything you need to make the Woolpet shown on the package.  Karen simply added a loop of Plymouth Goldrush to Sock Monkey’s head and voila – a tree ornament!

I think these would make a great gift either as a completed project or just the kit itself!   Here are a couple of other options to consider (we have 27 different Woolpets to choose from):

The holiday inspiration did not end with Sock Monkey.  When Steve & I returned from recording this week’s episode of Ready, Set, Knit, Karen came back into my office to show me this:

Isn’t it beautiful?  The pattern is Nancy Lindberg’s  “Christmas Socks” and the yarn is Valley Yarns Amherst.   It only took 5 balls which works out to just under $25 for a stocking that will last a life time.

Ready or not the holidays are coming.  I hope these projects awaken your holiday spirit!

Kathy

This week’s featured FREE pattern is just lovely.  I give to you, the Valley Yarns pattern #293 Herringbone Scarf:

This scarf is knit using Valley Yarns 2/10 Merino/Tencel.  Since this yarn is used by both knitters and weavers, it comes on cones.  One cone is $22.50 and you can get 4 scarves!  That makes the cost of each scarf a ridiculously low $5.62!!

2/10 Merino  Tencel is warm but the Tencel also provides a nice sheen to the finished scarf as well as nice drape.  Designed by Dori, one of our long-time store associates and probably one of the greatest knitters ever, the pattern is beautiful and feminine.

I hope you enjoy this week’s free pattern!

Kathy

I am so excited to announce the winner of our “Color by Kristin” giveaway!

Carol O. – you are the winner!  Please email me at kathy.elkins@yarn.com with your address, etc.  Please also let me know which project you would like to make and what size so that I can send you the right amount of yarn!  You can view all of the projects in the book on our website!

As soon as I hear from Carol, I will let everyone know which project she chose!

Thanks to everyone for commenting here on the WEB’s blog and Kristin’s!  We have both really enjoyed reading all of the comments and I know Kristin appreciates all of the love and support of her work

Kathy

Our local PBS station, WGBY offers some great programming as most PBS stations do.  One of their original shows is called Making It Here and it focuses on folks here in Western Mass, Southern Vermont and Northern Connecticut who own and operate their own business. 

The show airs locally on Monday evenings at 7:30pm and tonight WEBS – America’s Yarn Store is the featured story!  The segement will be about 11 minutes in all and will be interdispersed with a couple of other stories.

Steve & I had a lot of fun taping the show.  I hope those of you in the local area will tune in tonight.   If you are not local or don’t get home in time, the episode will be posted on the WGBY website as both a podcast and streaming video.  You can click here to access that.  Just a note – the podcast & video will not be posted until after the show airs, so be sure to check back.

Kathy

This week on Ready, Set, Knit I talked with Shannon Okey.  How we’ve recorded 152 episodes without having her on the show boggles my brain.  Shannon is another one of those amazing women in our industry who has A LOT going on.  Be sure to listen in and find out what she’s been up too!  Also – if you are in the Boston area, Shannon will be making two appearances in Beantown over the coming month. 

Next Friday she’ll be at the Common Cod Fiber Guild’s first Fiber Fashion Show and then in December she’ll be back for Bazaar Bizarre Boston.

Steve had a few new gems to talk about this week too!

Nazca Wind from Plymouth
Boucle Merino Superwash from Plymouth
Knitosophy from Dream in Color

CLOSEOUTS

Seduce from Berroco (discontinued colors)
Bonsai from Berroco (discontinued colors)

Pixie and I chat about a variety of borders and embellishments .

You can listen to Ready, Set, Knit! via our website or you can download the podcast on iTunes.

Enjoy!

Kathy

Our contest with Kristin Nicholas ends tonight at midnight!  If you haven’t already done so, leave a comment here on the WEBS blog and one over at Kristin’s blog.  We’ll randomly select a winner over the weekend and make the announcement next week!

The prize?  Well, the winner will receive and autographed copy of her latest book, Color By Kristin, the yarn for any project in the book – remember – it’s her lovely Julia Yarn too!  Plus we’ll toss in the needles and some other goodies as well!

We’ve had a tremendous response to this contest and I can’t wait to pick a winner!

Kathy

As many of you know who have attended a Stitches show, we always bring along Berroco yarns and our faboo rep Andra.  Because Stitches East was in her home territory, it would have been a conflict for her to work for us when many of her other accounts were at the show as well.  Instead, we imported Jan from the NY territory to help us out.  Jan did a great job and was a huge help to us.  Working these shows is not easy or glamorous so we are grateful for all Jan did!

The hit of Stitches East from the Berroco line was Nimbus and it is this week’s featured FREE pattern.

Nimbusis  a darling cropped cardigan with a stylish shawl collar and exaggerated garter stitch detailing.   The yarn used is Berroco’s Peruvia Quick which knits at a brisk 3 sts/inch on a #11 so Nimbus is a definite contender for a holiday gift.  You could easily make Nimbus longer if the cropped look is not for you.  You would need to do just a bit of measuring and note taking so that you increase the length of the stockinette sections appropriately.

Nimbus is shown in color #9117 Gris Merengo.  Now, I’m pretty much a black & white girl with a strong affection for grey.  I was shocked that the shoppers at East were not gobbling up the grey!  Instead I saw #9143 Aquamarina, #9147 Blue Nile and #9114 Chipotle flying past my register.  There’s never a right or wrong choice when it comes to color – go with what you like.

The simplest way to download the FREE pattern for Nimbus and purchase the yarn is as follows:

1.  Click HERE to go Yarn.Com to the kit page for Nimbus.  Gris Merengo is the default color and 5 skeins are listed which is for the smallest size.  You can increase the number of skeins you want and/or click through and change your color.

2.  We’ve also pre-selected a set of #11 straight needles.  You may leave these as is, select a different set of needles or de-select them if you already have a pair of #11 straights (I’d use circs myself – do what works for you!).

3.  Remember, discounts will not be applied until check out where applicable.

4.  Complete your purchase on our site then zip over to Berroco’s website to download the FREE Nimbus Pattern here.

That’s it!  Let me know what you think of this week’s free pattern!

Cheers!

Kathy

Yesterday I gave you some of the background on the cover of this year’s Holiday Catalog.  What I didn’t include was a shot from the photoshoot:

I think it’s just magical how shots like this come to life.

Okay – enough about the cover.  Time to talk about some of the great things happening INSIDE the catalog.  Remember, the printed catalogs are working their way across the country.  My graphic designer based here has yet to receive hers, but her Mom in Wisconsin received her last week. I’ll never understand the postal service.  If you can’t wait or aren’t currently on our mailing list, you can check the catalog out ONLINE.

There are 46 projects in the holiday catalog – 9 of which are FREE!  Consider them our gift to you.   I think they are a nice mix of quick knits and more involved projects.  I love being able to offer our own Valley Yarns designs to you for free, but I love the relationships we have with our vendors which gives us the ability to showcase their yarns and offer a free pattern as well.  Let me highlight a few for you:

First up is the Lavendar Ribbed Hat knit in Valley Yarns Northfield.

The allure of this hat is the attention to the details and the fact that it’s knit on smaller needles than usual for Northfield.  This means the fabric is dense and cozy and will keep you warm no matter how cold it gets this winter.

Our Spotted Christmas Stocking knit in Berkshire Bulky will not only be fun to knit, but fast!

Berkshire Bulky is available in 40 colors so don’t feel compelled to stick to the traditionall red/green combo.

The Herringbone Scarf is a showstopper.  Designed and knit by Dori – the absolute best, smartest, most amazing-est knitter around and long-time WEBS Store Associate, this scarf is spectacular:

The picture really doesn’t do it justice.  Dori used our 2/10 Merino Tencel blend which means the finished fabric is warm, drapes beautiful, has a lovely sheen and can easily be dressed up or down.

From Knitty.com we are featuring Thermal:

We reknit this dynamite top in our Huntington.  The waffle stitch is designed to be stretchy and close fitting.  Thermal makes a great layering piece.  Remember ALL KNITTY.COM PATTERNS MUST BE DOWNLOADED FROM KNITTY.COM!

From our friends at Tahki/Stacy Charles comes this gorgeous shawl pattern knit in Gioiello:

We’ve had this shawl in the shop for several seasons and it continues to be a favorite.  Gioiello is a yummy blend of merino and kid mohair (plus some cotton, acrylic and nylon) and features a multi-color palette with just a slight hint of glitz.  This shawl only takes 2 balls!  Again, the Gioiello Shawl Pattern can be downloaded at www.tahkistacycharles.com.

Last, but not least is Drift from Berroco and knit in their new fall yarn Vintage:

Love Drift.  Love, love, love.  The style is beautiful and Vintage is an easy care yarn so you can machine wash this sweater!  Pattern can be found at here.

Remember, these are only a few of the 40+ projects we are featuring so be sure to check them all out!

What are you adding to your project queue?

Kathy