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This week Kathy talks with Della Q about the origins of her company and the great products she makes for knitters and crocheters.

Learn all about how she sources her fabrics, and how hard she’s worked to make sure she’s making the best, most useful product. Browse the full line of bags and needle/hook organizers at WEBS and be sure to check out Della’s Ultimate Needle Tracker.

Steve’s Yarn Picks of the week:

We couldn’t have asked for a more amazing year of celebrations, and we’ve finished the year with some of our favorite products and projects!

Thank you to Dream in Color! When our Valley Yarns Charlemont in their hand dyed shades arrived we were stunned by how luminous the colors were and you must have been too because there are almost none left!

Our thanks to Edie Eckman for the College Park Shawl, and Gudrun Johnston for the Tirrick Shawl, two perfect seasonal layers! And the adorable Clivia hat and mitt set, one of the few unisex patterns we carry!

We were honored to have Sally Melville design the Long Collared Vest, and we couldn’t get enough of the project bags from Della Q or the exclusive, custom print bags from Stitched by Jessalu! Thank you!

Just when we thought there couldn’t be more to be thankful for our friends at Rowan surprised us with three wonderful designs in Fine Art, the Verdant Lace Shawl, the Cable and Lace Stole/Scarf and the Lace Panel Cowl.

And we couldn’t be more thankful for three beautiful weaving drafts to end a year of celebrating a company founded by a weaver and started with the intent of creating weavers. The Bouquet of Hearts Baby Blanket by our own Leslie Ann Bestor, the Celebration Overshot Runner woven by Ute Bargmann and the Optical Twill Rug designed by Jason Collingwood.

You can see all the wonderful projects and products we’ve had throughout the year here, here and more here.

As an added treat we have a short film about the history of our company for you to enjoy! Thanks for being a part of our first 40 years!

Every knitter, and crocheter, I know has multiple projects going at any one time and project bags are the perfect way to help corral the clutter that can result. Whether you’re looking for the perfect little last minute gift for a friend or contemplating your after-holiday gift card purchases here are a few of our favorite bags.

For your smaller projects the Hadaki Multitasker Pouch and the Blue Sky Alpacas Pretty Cheep project bags can handle anything from socks to large lace shawls, scarves and hats. For your larger sweaters and baby blankets the Atenti Caddy and our exclusive 40th Anniversary Della Q Large Eden Drawstring Bags have a surprising amount of room for yarn supplies and your growing project. The Lantern Moon Repurposed Plastic Tote would be perfect for large afghan projects and is one of the sturdiest bags we carry. And if you’re just looking for something stylish that can double as the perfect purse we highly recommend the Harlow Bag from Namaste. Not only does it have plenty of room inside for your wallet, keys, tablet(or laptop!), and gloves but you fit a couple small projects in there as well! How do you transport your projects?

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This week Kathy talks with WEBS Weaving Manager, Leslie Ann Bestor, about the perfect gifts for the fiber enthusiast in your life.

Kathy and Leslie Ann discuss the following products this week:

Yarns: Sweet Georgia Cashsilk Lace, Artyarns Beaded Silk and Sequins Light, Artyarns Ensemble 4

Bags: Hadaki Travel Essentials kit, Della Q Rosemary bag, Namaste Poppins bag

Needles/Hooks: Knitters Pride Symfonie Rose Crochet Hook set, Knitter’s Pride Marblz Interchangeable Needles set

For Spinners: The Spinners Book of Fleece, Three Feet of Sheep, Spinning Fibers, Spinning Wheels, Schacht Niddy-Noddy

For Weavers: Bluster Bay Shuttles will be available in 2015, Schacht Variable Dent Reed

Steve’s Yarn Picks :

• K1C2 Batiste
• Hikoo Kenzington
• Cascade Lana Grande Discontinued Colors – Closeout
• Cascade 220 Superwash Paints Discontinued Colors – Closeout
• Schachenmayr Egypto Cotton – Closeout
• Jade Sapphire yarns – great Gift!
• Yarn to Yards Balance – perfect for weavers!
• Gift cards and eGift cards!

Reminder:

Tomorrow is the 11th Annual Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage! Our team will be walking and running and we’re still taking donations through December 31st. You can donate to the team here. Or you can purchase a copy of the Hot Chocolate Run Polar Bear patten, the cost of each pattern is donated to Safe Passage.

Upcoming Events:

Winter/Spring 2015 Classes will be on the website next week!

Next week Steve and Kathy wrap up our 40th Year!

WEBS retail store will be open only two more Sundays – through December 14th!

Be sure to check out all of our upcoming Events here.

  

Another amazing quarter of our Anniversary year is almost complete and we have so many special people to thank!

To Linda Permann, Emma Welford, and Carol Sulcoski

Thank you for bringing our yarn to life with your detailed and classically wearable designs.

To Malabrigo,

Thanks you for taking one of our already favorite Valley Yarns and imbuing it with your incredible colors. There are still some skeins left, get them while you can!

To Debbi Stone, Debbie Bliss, and Fiona Ellis

Thank you for stunning designs that bring three more Valley Yarns into our celebrations.

To Sharon Alderman, Micala Sidore, and Chris Hammel 
Thank you for creating timeless woven textiles perfect for adorning our homes and expressing our love of the craft.

To Classic Elite Yarns
Thank you for a beautiful collection of revamped classics and a lovely new design just for us!

Next Tuesday, October 7th, our last round of Anniversary products will be revealed, don’t miss out!

Our Third Quarter of Specialty Anniversary products are available today! We’ve been eagerly anticipating telling you about our Valley Yarns Northfield hand dyed by Malabrigo!

There are 20 incredible colorways including an exclusive Ruby colorway for our Anniversary.

And we’re so excited about the designs for this quarter!

Our very own Emma Welford, who has modeled all of our Anniversary Garments this year, has designed the fantastic cabled and beaded Jazerant Set.

Carol Sulcoski designed the Maplewood Cardigan for us, an easy and comfortable layering piece with beautiful lace detailing at the hem.

And Linda Permann may have designed the perfect crochet t-shirt with the Cirro Tee, a flexible and lightweight garment with an easy 2 row pattern repeat!

Della-Q has done it again with a bright summery print for her latest WEBS exclusive project bag.

There will be three more weaving drafts from long-time friends of WEBS, as well as additional products and patterns. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, Instagram, or on Ravelry for all the latest.

The second quarter of our Anniversary year is coming to a close and we have more wonderful people and companies to thank.

To Tanis Gray, Kristin Omdahl, and Franklin Habit
Thank you for unique and beautiful designs that showcase our yarn!

To Lorna’s Laces,
Thank you for making our yarn shine with your incredible colorways. There are still some skeins left, get some while you can!

To Schacht Spindle Company, della Q, and Marcy Vandale,
Thank you for the adding your special products to our celebration.

To Dena Gartenstein Moses, Virginia West, and Scott Norris,
Thank you for weaving textiles that bring out the best in our fibers.

To The Fine Arts Center on the Campus of UMass Amherst,
Thank you for opening your doors and letting us shoot in some gorgeous spaces.

Next Monday, July 7th, we’ll have all new yarn and patterns to share, don’t miss out!

It’s time for the second round of specialty products to celebrate our Anniversary! We’re so excited to share our Valley Yarns Huntington hand dyed by Lorna’s Laces.

We’ve chosen 9 of Lorna’s Laces’ richest colors and they’ve dyed a special Ruby Slippers colorway for our Anniversary.

Three more designers have joined us to bring you stunning designs made with our specialty yarn.

Tanis Gray has designed The Nikiya Cowl, a swirling and delicate lace cowl, the ideal accessory for Spring.

Kristin Omdahl drew on her Viking heritage to bring us the Sermilik Shawl.

Franklin Habit has worked his magic again and found an historical counterpane pattern to translate into the modern Centuria Tam.

Della-Q has another limited edition bag for us with a print that is the perfect burst of color for Spring.

We’ll also have three more weaving drafts from long-time friends of WEBS, and don’t miss out on your chance to enter the Weaving Contest! Full details and contest rules are available on our website.

And we’ve still got so much more for you this year. Be sure to check out our 40th Anniversary Sale, going on now, and if you’re in the area join us for our Annual Tent Sale and Fleece Market in May. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, Instagram, or on Ravelry for all the latest.

With the first quarter of 2014 is coming to a close we wanted to take a moment to thank some of the people that have made it such a success.

To Amy Herzog, Melissa LaBarre and Doris Chan,
Thank you for your creative vision, and for turning our yarns into works of wearable art.

To Madelinetosh,
Thank you for sharing your gorgeous colors with us.

(If you haven’t yet gotten any, there are just a few skeins left of our 40th Anniversary Valley Superwash DK hand dyed by Madelinetosh. When they’re gone, they’re gone!)

To Della Q,
Thank you for the perfect project bag.

(There are just a few of these limited edition bags left. Get one while you can!)

To Barbara Elkins, Judie Yamamoto, and Carol Birtwistle,
Thank you for creating amazing textiles with our yarns.

To Norah Gaughan and the Berroco team,
Thank you for breathing new life into some classic Berroco designs, just for us.

To Stamell Stringed Instruments,
Thank you for letting us come home one more time, and for being a beautiful location for photography.

(The house that Stamell’s occupies is the former home of WEBS)

And thanks to You, our customers,
You have made the start of our 40th Anniversary year just amazing. Thanks for being here with us.

We’ve got so much more to share with you! Our second round of celebrations launch next Monday, April 7th. More yarn, more designs, and more specialty products!

We’re so excited to officially launch our 40^th Anniversary celebrations and to share with you our first round of spectacular specialty products.

WEBS has teamed up with Madelinetosh to bring you our own Valley Yarns Superwash DK dyed in 19 of your favorite Madelinetosh colors and an exclusive Ruby colorway for our 40^th year. This yarn is only available at WEBS and in limited quantities so get it while you can!

We’ve also partnered with 3 amazing designers who have worked their magic with this yarn.

Doris Chan designed the Cousteau Shawl that shows off the drape and movement of the Superwash DK beautifully and just seems to shimmer in the Cousteau colorway.

Melissa LaBarre’s  Windchill Cardigan, designed using the Baroque Violet colorway, is an easy, open front cardigan with great hem and neckline details.

And Amy Herzog worked with the Magnolia Leaf colorway to design a classic wardrobe staple with a few simple, yet  modern twists in the Thornes Pullover.

And this is just the start. We’ll have new and exclusive designs from some of your favorite designers throughout the year in some of our favorite Valley Yarns and each quarter we’ll bring you a new and exclusive hand dyed yarn.

As if all this amazing yarn and patterns weren’t enough, you can tote your new project around in a brand new, exclusive to WEBS, della Q bag! There will be a new bag from della Q each quarter.

We’ll also be unveiling new weaving drafts from long-time friends of WEBS, and some of our favorite weaving instructors throughout the year. Additionally, as part of our year-long celebration, we’re sponsoring a Weaving Contest with 4 different categories and 3 prizes per category! Full details and contest rules are available on our website.

We’ve got so much more for you this year. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, Instagram, and on Ravelry for all the latest.

Thank you for 40 years and thank you for making us America’s Yarn Store!