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

I always go into vacations with the best of intentions.  Not only will I relax and rejuvenate and spend quality family time together, but I always plan on “catching up”.  I had blog posts planned, porjects to work on and even (dare I say it) knitting!  The week prior to heading to the Cape was a blur of interviews, missing Jackson while he was at his first sleepaway camp and tournament baseball with Jonathan. 

(Notice what Jonathan is holding?  That’s an MVP award.  Yes, I am bragging – can’t help myself.)  Plus the usual “things to get done before I leave so I can go on vacation, relax, rejuvenate, spend time w/family and catch up”.  That week feels like months ago now.

We had a great vacation – they keep getting better as the boys get bigger.  We enjoyed the beach, we golfed, hung out, ate lots of fried clams and ice cream.  For me, there is nothing better than having my toes in the sand, sun on my face, salt air sticking to my skin and the sound of the ocean.

I didn’t gain any ground and in all honesty lost some ground.  I know – it’s vacation, that’s how it’s suppose to be.  I always like to get a few nagging things that aren’t necessarily at the top of the to do list done and crossed off.  I’m a big list maker and crossing things off a list once completed is a BIG deal for me.  It’s like a mini celebration for me – my own little victory party.  Despite the lack of productivity, it was a great time and now, back to our regularly scheduled blogging, etc.

A few loose ends to tie up today.  First, even though we were away, we pre-recorded two podcasts. On our July 28th episode of Ready, Set, Knit I had the chance to catch up with Berroco Designer Cirilia Rose.  Many of you know Cirilia previously worked with us at WEBS and has been on the podcast at least a couple of times.  Talking with her was catching up with an old friend – all we were missing was nice glass of wine.  Cirilia talked about Sock Summit which is coming at us in a screaming fast sort of way.  She’ll be in Portland representing Berroco so be sure to stop by her booth and say “hi”.  We also talked about Berroco’s latest contest and this one is a keeper!  Berroco’s Sock Star Competition not only has a cash prize, but if your design is chosen it will be published in a Spring 2010 pattern book!  How cool would that be?  Check out all of the information on the Berroco website for complete details and be sure to listen to my interview with Cirilia!

This past Saturday’s Ready, Set, Knit episode feature a great conversation I had with the lovely Susan B. Anderson.  Susan is an author, blogger, designer AND is working with the fine folks at Blue Sky Alpacas on their new Spud & Chloe line.  I had a blast talking with Susan and getting the behind the scenes scoop on this line which is taking the knitting world by storm.  Be sure to check it out!

Before I left on vacation, I Twittered about the newest addition to our Valley Yarns collection – Northampton Bulky!  Isn’t it loverly?

Same gorgeous yarn as our wildly popular Northampton but this time we’ve bumped it up to knit at 3 stitches = 1″ on a #10 1/2 needle.  It has 109 yards, which isn’t bad for a bulky weight yarn.  At $4.99 – it’s (as we say in Boston) a true bah-gan.  It comes in 25 yummy colors.  This one of the yarns that came with me on vacation.  I am going to recreate the Heirloom Baby Hat I did for the One-Skein-Wonders Luxury book.  In addition to reknitting it in a different yarn, I want to size it up and introduce a second color.  I picked light grey and burgundy.  Light grey will be the main color and the burgundy will serve as the accent once I figure out how I want to incorporate the second color.  I’m going to work out the pattern for baby to adult – what size would you like me to see my sample knit in?  Should I do it for one of the boys or for Steve?  You vote – I’ll start knitting!

You know, going on vacation is simply the best, but coming home is also the best.  Missed you all – glad to be home.

Kathy

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Berroco contest.  I read all of your comments and appreciate the time you all took to post your thoughts on the new Fall ‘09 line.  I’ve just been informed that the pattern books have arrived at Berroco, so those will be shipping to us in the next couple of days and then right out to all of you that have pre-ordered!

But I digress, it is time to announce the winner of the contest.  This very lucky lady will receive enough Blackstone Tweed (in the color of her choice) and the pattern booklet to make Nuss:

I will be throwing in the necessary needles, etc., and even a $25 gift card from WEBS for a future purchase.  Pretty swanky prize if I do say so myself!

Using a random number generator and matching the comments on my blog to Berroco’s blog, I am thrilled to announce that MICHELLE of the blog FUN WITH KNITTING (and Quilting) is our winner!  Yay Michelle!

Please email me at Kathy DOT Elkins AT Yarn DOT  Com and you can tell me which color of Blackstone Tweed you want and we’ll figure out how much you need and we’ll get your prize out to you!  Also – do you have a preference for needles (wood v. metal, straight v. circs). 

I know many of you are sad that you didn’t win, but we have more contests in the works, so stay tuned to the blog (or better yet, subscribe to our RSS feed and we’ll just pop into your email or reader service every time I update).

Thanks again to everyone who played along and let’s all give Michelle some love in the comments!

Kathy

I am beginning to think that maybe Steve and I should create our own reality show with the above title.  Just back from 9 days on the road with two back-to-back tradeshows.  Driving down our street late yesterday afternoon, I swear the theme music from “Rocky” was playing.

We had a great trip to TNNA.  Meetings, yarn, meetings, more yarn, food, yarn, meeting yarn. . .. .Columbus was a whirlwind.  As always, I did a lousy job taking pictures.  I do not have one yarny picture to share.  I know, I know, I disappoint you once again.  *Sigh*.  I can tell you about yarn though! 

Now, I must preface this by saying that Steve & I do the majority of our buying before TNNA.  We see all of the major lines and many of the mid-tier companies as well.  So just because I don’t mention them here is not a sign that I didn’t like their yarn or that they don’t have super cool stuff coming.  These are show treasures only. 

I have to say one of my personal faves was the new Spud & Chloe line debuted by Blue Sky Alpacas.  A collection of three lovely yarns that are machine wash & try.  Fashion meets function with this collection.  There are three weights – fine, sweater and outer and a limited, but succinct palette for each.  Terrific pattern support for each is a delight as well.  I think what I like most about this line is that it’s complete – yarn, design, packaging – everything is put together, integrated and ready to go.  I love this as a marketer who can appreciate what it takes to make this happen, but also as a shop owner who has been provided with everything I need to be excited about the brand.  The Blue Sky folks have created a wonderful story in Spud & Chloe and were smart enough to give the voice of the brand to the super-talented Susan Anderson.  It all rocks and we’ll have it in the store and on-line shortly.

Steve & I also got to meet the lovely Ron of Buffalo Gold.  We’ve never carried his yarns, but I got to *know* him in the on-line world over the past few months.  I was looking forward to meeting in person at TNNA and we had a great talk.  I’ve admired his yarns from afar for awhile, but my buddy Guido gave me the nudge I needed to really give the yarns serious consideration.  I thought this was one I was going to have to drag Steve through kicking and screaming and was pleasantly surprised when he willingly and with no pressure, not wifely glares that said “I”m buying this yarn with or without your support”.  We even brought in a brand new yarn he debuted at the show which has been hand-dyed by the fine folks at Lornas Laces.  If you click through to her blog and scroll down, you’ll see the lurvely colors.

We bought some cool new bags & accessories from Namaste, Della Q and Lantern Moon.

We hung with some old friends and made new ones.

We stayed up past our bedtime, ate too much good food but a great time.

We left Columbus and headed to Beantown for a conference of another nature.  We went from TNNA where “everyone knows your name” to an intense business conference where people wonder if anyone can actually  make a living selling yarn.  Even one of the speakers, who also spoke at the Yarn Market News Conference in March, mentioned her experience at the conference and found it rather unnerving to see an audience knitting rather than typing on their Blackberrys.  As always, we learned a lot, had some fun along the way but boy oh boy, did Dorothy get it right.  “There’s no place like home”.

Remember – our Berroco giveaway wraps up tonight at midnight.  Go to the previous blog post for the details, read all about the Berroco Fall line and get yourself in on a great giveaway!

Kathy

Hey Everyone – as we’ve been promising fall yarns are starting to stream in!  We’ve just received our entire shipment of new yarns from Berroco!  Let me just say that Norah, Cirilia and the entire Berroco team have hit a major homerun with this collection.  I’m going to give you all a quick run through of the yarns.  Pattern books will be following shortly and I’ll do another post about them when they arrive.  You can certainly pre-order the pattern books.

Berroco’s Fall 2009 Collection features 4 brand new yarns, two line extensions to existing yarns and lots of great new colors in their continuing lines.

First up is Lustra.  Lustra is a 50% Peruvian Wool/50% Tencel blend. 

The Tencel provides a nice sheen to the finished yarn.  Lustra knits at 4.5 sts/in on a #7 needle and each 100gm hank has 197 yards.  That is not a typo – 197 yards per hank.  It’s available in 16 colors and a great value at $9.00/hank considering the amazing yardage.  Lustra will have a dedicated pattern book.

Sundae is a big, thick, loosely spun yarn with gorgeous colors.

It’s 50% Wool/50% Acrylic and the plies are different colors and spun together very loosely.  The fiber content and roving-like finish means this chunky yarn will be light and lofty.  Sundae knits at 2.5 sts/in on a #15 needle.  We’re talking fast projects – great for accessories but Norah and Cirilia have also designed some great garments as well.  Sundae comes in a 100gm hank which has 62 yards.  Hey – that’s the life of a chunky yarn – shorter yardage.  There are ten gorgeous colors and cost is $9.00/hank.

Next is Blackstone Tweed.  I know, I know, you’re thinking “great, another tweed”.  Just hang on a second.  This is a tweed you definitely want to check out.  First, the fiber content is very cool – 65% Wool/25% Super Kid Mohair/10% Angora.  It’s not shed-y nor will it’s fibers get up in your face and make you all sneeze-y.  The blend is soft – unlike many tweeds which are traditionally crunchy and rough.  You can wear Blackstone Tweed next to your skin. 

It knits at 4.5 stitches/in on a #7 and has 130 yards on a 50gm ball.  There are 12 colors, a dedicated book that you will want to own and it retails for $9.50.

The fourth new yarn is Vintage Wool.  Folks – just hang on while I tell you about this yarn.  Trust me when I say it is going to become your go-to, workhorse, worsted weight yarn.  Vintage Wool is 50% Acrylic/40% Wool and 10% Nylon.  I’m sure many of you just thought to yourself “yuck” or “ick”.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.  Remember Comfort?  Remember poo-pooing it because of it’s fiber content and now how much you love it?  Vintage Wool feels like a fancy Extra Fine Merino.  Vintage Wool is like scoring a great cashmere sweater at Marshall’s for a steal.

It knits at either 5 sts/in on a #7 or 4.5 sts/in on a #8.  It comes in 100gm hanks.  Are you ready for the yardage?  2-1-7.  Yup – 217 yards per hank.  Colors?  Thirty two beautiful colors.  Price?  Go ahead – guess.

Nope, not $9.00.

Not $8.00.

$7.00 – still too high.

Vintage Wool is $6.00 per hank.  SIX DOLLARS PER HANK.  SIX tiny little DOLLARS for 217 yards of gorgeous yarn.

Did I mention it’s machine washable???  AND there’s a dedicated book.

Last but not least – Pure Merino is now available in 8 lovely Chine colors (pronounced shin-ay).

The Comfort line now has 12 yummy heathers as well.

All of this and we haven’t even talked about NGV5 or NG Men’s.  You can check those out at berroco.com and pre-order any of the patterns here.  The pattern books will be available in about 2 weeks – so say the fine folks at Berroco.

As if all of this wasn’t faboo enough, there’s one more thing. We’re having a contest.  Here’s how it will work – very easy and straightforward.

1.  Leave a comment here on my WEBS blog, on this post, about which yarn or design you are loving from the Berroco Fall 2009 Collection.

2.  Go to the Berroco Design Studio Blog and leave a comment for Norah and Cirilia with the same info.

3.  Next Friday we will select a winner at random from everyone who comments on BOTH blogs. 

4.  The winner will receive the a complete kit to create Nuss:

Nuss is made with Blackstone Tweed and is one of my favorites of the collection.  The winner will get enough yarn to make their size, they can choose their color, the entire Blackstone Pattern booklet will be included and I’ll toss in the appropriate needles and any other tools the pattern calls for.  Heck – we get enough blog love I might even throw in a WEBS gift card to boot!

I hope you love the line as much as I do!

Kathy

P.S.  For those of you who follow me on Twitter, you know I’m here at TNNA and sporting a very special, yet to be seen by anyone else, bag.  I’ve been told I’ll be able to blog about this lovely bag very, very soon, so stayed tune!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day this past weekend.  Whether you created new memories or enjoyed ones already made, I hope everyone was able to spend the day as they wanted.

For me, I got my first breakfast in bed.  I picked the kids up on Friday afternoon and out came Jonathan with a potted plant and note. 

Jackson had nothing.  Not a big deal to me, but to him – BIG DEAL.  He sad “I guess we’re just too busy in 4th grade to make gifts anymore”.  He didn’t say it in a superior way, honestly, he was sad.  I think it was one of those “hmm, getting bigger might not be as cool as I thought it would be” moments.    I told him not to worry, etc.

I woke Sunday morning to rustling downstairs – unusual rustling.  I knew it was Jackson rustling and I thought maybe he was hungry and rolled over.  It then became apparent he was up to something.  About 15 minutes later he appeared with an English Muffin, grapes and OJ.  It was a lovely 6:30am breakfast.  I later asked him about getting the English Muffin out of the toaster (ours can be persnickety).  He told me he unplugged the toaster before using a knife to get it out.  I was relieved and asked how he knew to do that and said “Oh, I saw a safety video on tv once”.  Thank you safety video.

After a few errands Sunday morning, I spent a glorious afternoon cleaning out my closet and bureau.  It was 3 1/2 hours of heaven.  Three bags for donation and one bag of trash later and I was one organized and uncluttered Mom.  Perfect. Day.

Okay, so now that you’ve all skimmed as fast as you can about my day, I’m sure you are wanting to know about the Berroco Goodies I refer to in the title of this post.  For those of you who listen to the podcast each week, you are already in the know!  See, it pays to listen to our little podcast each week – you never know what nuggets we might share and in all honesty, I could never blog about all of the yarn Steve talks about each week and all the special deals.  Just sayin’. 

We are thrilled to offer you a handful of discontinued colors in a few of Berroco’s very beautiful yarns at tremendous savings.  I”m not going to go through all of the specs of each yarn, just give you a bit of a tasting with a picture and link – the rest my friends, is up to you.

First up is Ultra Alpaca.  Yes, that would be THE Ultra Alpaca.  Five faboo colors:

Original price is $8.75 and our closeout price on these five colors is $5.19.  Not bad colors either, may I point out.

Next, Berroco Cuzco.  I love Cuzco.   It’s a beautiful chunky weight yarn,  50% superfine alpaca/50% wool and knits at 3.75 sts = 1″ on a 10. 

There are only 3 colors (please use the site for better color accuracy – I did these shots pretty quickly).  Cuzco normally retails for $9.00 but these three colors are only $4.99. 

We also have five Pure Merino colors that have been discontinued.  Pure merino is Berroco’s Extra Fine Merino Superwash yarn – superwash meaning it’s machine washable.

Pure Merino knits at a worsted/heavy worsted weight of 4.5 sts = 1″ on #9 needles and normally costs $8.00/ball.  These five discontinued colors are only $4.99.

Last, but far from least is Peruvia Quick.  Just introduced last fall, Peruvia Quick is a chunky yarn that knits at 3 sts = 1″ on a #11 needle. 

Only two colors available, so let’s show them some love.  Peruvia Quick normally costs $8.00/hank but again we’re able to offer these discontinued colors at $4.99. 

I haven’t had too many guesses on our “m”agical “m” closeout.  Malabrigo is out, Mission Falls is out?  Any takers?  You all know how I operate – first one in gets a prize

You also want to stay tuned to the WEBS Blog this week – Tent Sale preview is coming! 

Kathy

For The Labor Day Weekend Show.  Okay – sorry – carried away.  We’re not quite going to San Fran and it’s nowhere near Labor Day but as we work our way through the final punishing weeks of winter here, I can’t help but channel some Jimmy Buffet.  Thanks for indulging me

Truthfully, we are heading close to San Francisco and we do have a weekend show – Stitches WEST in Santa Clara! I have to admit as I prep to leave tomorrow, I am still a bit in denial that it’s actually here.  I think I’m a bit out of sorts because I should already be there, but “Mommy Duties” trump everything else and as our kids wind down to their version of spring vacation, it’s a jam packed week of performances and such.  I’ll share today’s event at the end – I know you all just want the yarn!

Let’s start from the beginning, which is planning:

Then it’s pick, pack and ship – one gigantic order:

Hmm – what is in those boxes?  I am not being entirely untruthful when I ask the question.  I’m involved in most of the planning, but honestly, Steve & I debate so many of the closeouts back and forth I’m never quite clear what has made the list vs. what hasn’t until we get set-up!  What I do know is this:

Berroco Spring ‘09 - the best of the best – the yarns, the garments, NGV4. . . .there’s nothing else to say.  The amazing Miss Andra will be manning her section of the booth.

Noro – how could we leave the lovelies of Noro at home??  Just not possible.  Silk Garden, Kureyon, Silk Garden Chunky (breathe Noro-lovers, breathe)

Valley Yarns - there in full force, including all of the faboo designs from the Spring ‘09 catalog AND some early completions for the next catalog!  That’s right – the incredible Kirsten knocked out a couple of new things just for WEST including a crocheted scarf out of Rainbow that you will just love!  C’mon non-crocheters, give it a chance! 

The cream, sprinkles and cherry on the top of the best dessert ever:

Lorna’s Laces - Shephard Worsted & Sock, Helen’s Lace (we don’t even carry it in the shop!) and brand new to market the spectacular Pearl.  Oh.Yeah.

Madeline Tosh - Oh so yummy – worsted weight (just added in the store and on-line) and sock.  (The worsted just came in and has not made it’s way to the site.  Click on the link and refresh tomorrow – it should show up )

Dream.In.Color.Smooshy.Classy. 

Malabrigo including the elusive Sock.  We spent so much time picking colors with Tobias at TNNA based on his availability (not what we normally carry) and what showed up was – well – a ton of yarn in some colorways we carry, some we picked and some who obviously just wanted to come along for the ride.  Show them some love, okay?

Kauni - Many, many colors.

Plus, plus, plus. . . . . .I’m sure there will be some surprises.  That’s what is so great about these shows. 

We are so excited to see all of you – that’s the most fun!  What was interesting as we prepped for this show was the worry/wonder if people would come due to the economy – would you pick classes over marketplace, shopping over classes?  If you are coming or not, I’d love to hear why.  Not trying to pry, just trying to get a gauge (no pun intended) on things.

I will do my best to post from the show.  For the best updates, you all need to be following me on Twitter.  I know, I know, one more thing to check, but I *heart* Twitter and I can zip off an update in 5 seconds.  For those of you on Facebook, my Twitter feeds post there so you can avoid Twitter and find me on Facebook with the same info. 

For those of you not attending the show – have a great next few days and join in the fun via the above options,  here on the blog & our Ready, Set, Knit! Podcast!

Last, but far from least, here is Jonathan’s “Family Story” he presented today – the dedication says it all:

 Daniel is my nephew/Jonathan’s cousin who is all grown-up and pursuing a PhD.  He’s away at school and Jonathan doesn’t get to see him much – this tells us how much those times together mean.  The three page story about Daniel and what Jonathan thinks of him is awesome.

Kathy

Each week the team at Berroco publishes their free e-newsletter KnitBits.  It’s usually chock full of info about new yarns, designs, free patterns, tips, etc.

As I was scrolling through this week’s edition which focuses on Booklet #285, Linen Picnic (Norah & Cirilia do a great audio slideshow about the designs in the booklet btw), I came upon this:

This is Remember and it’s knit in Berroco Pure Merino Heathers.  Remember is a winterized version of the Moska tank from Booklet #285 Linen Picnic (see how it all ties together)  To winterize the garment, Pure Merino Heather was substituted for Linen Jeans, sleeves were added and the tank design was reinvented as a cardigan.  Smocking was incorporated into the stitch pattern on the front and back and is done as you knit.  Remember is offered in 6 sizes from XS-2X (finished chest measurement of 30″-48″)  which is awesome.

We stock 12 colors of Pure Merino Heathers including the Cinnabar Lacquer shown.  Keep in mind that with WEBS Yarn Discounts, you’ll save approximately $20.00 to $50.00 (depending on size & # balls of yarn) when you buy the yarn for this project from us.

Do you think this is a project you’ll be adding to your queue?

Kathy