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This week Kathy talks with the co-owner of Knit New Haven, Linda Ries, about the upcoming I-91 Shop Hop.

Linda and her co-owners used to work together at another yarn shop and knew that they needed to keep knitting in New Haven, so they opened Knit New haven downtown. They carry a fantastic array of yarns from indie dyers, small dyelot yarns that you can’t find at bigger stores, as well as lots of classes and events! The I-91 Shop Hop will take place June 23–26th. Get your passport now and plan your weekend!

Steve’s Yarn Picks of the week:

Don’t miss  your chance to visit twelve amazing yarn stores, along the I-91 corridor, with tons of chances to win some incredible prizes!

Here’s why you should join us and make a weekend out of it! We’ve designed a calendar just for you. Each store has designed a pattern for their month, and collecting all 12 gives you a year full of fantastic new knitting. You have to visit each store to collect the whole calendar, and kits for each design are available at that month’s store. If you can’t make it to all the shops, no worries you will have a chance to purchase the calendar after the Shop Hop. You will also be entered in the daily gift basket drawing, with each basket including a certificate  from each of the participating shops, wonderful yarns, patterns, kits, needles, and more! On Sunday, each shop will have two drawings, one for the daily basket as well as a chance to win a wooden swift and ball winder set. All customers who entered in the previous raffles during the weekend will be entered for a chance to win the ball winder and swift set. There is also a chance to win the grand prize! When your entire passport is stamped, simply leave the stamped passport at the last store you visit and it will be entered in the grand prize drawing.

Here’s your chance to explore new yarn shops and win some great prizes. You can complete the Shop Hop all in one day, or make it a weekend event.

I-91 Shop Hop begins June 23, and runs through Sunday June 26th. Get your passport now at any participating store for only $5!

Passports are available at all of these fine shops:

Green Mountain Spinnery (Putney, VT)
Handknits (Brattleboro, VT)
Sheep & Shawl (Deerfield, MA)
Northampton Wools (Northampton, MA)
WEBS (Northampton, MA)
Marji’s Yarncrafts (Granby, CT)
Creative Fibers LLC (Windsor, CT)
Village Wool (Glastonbury, CT)
Country Yarns (Wallingford, CT)
Knit New Haven (New Haven, CT)
The Yarn Barn LLC (Woodbridge, CT)
The Yarn Basket (Branford, CT)

See you at the Shop Hop!

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This week Kathy talks with WEBS Education Manager, Amy Greeman, about upcoming Summer Classes.

Check out Knitting 1 for all the friends and family that keep asking YOU to teach them! Advanced Lace Knitting with Todd Gocken, Spinning Camp for adults and Fiber Camp for the kiddos. And Jason Collingwood is back this summer! Check out all the class listings on our site and sign up early, summer classes fill quickly!

The amazing Amy Hendrix of Madelinetosh is here for a meet and greet later today!

Valley Yarns Summer 2016 Catalog will be online on Monday and in mailboxes mid month. Make sure you’re on the mailing list now to get a copy of our Fall catalog in September. And join our e-mail list to see the e-catalog first!

Steve’s Yarn Picks of the week:

If you haven’t participated in the Shop Hop in the past years joining in is super easy, all you need is $5 to purchase your passport and a sense of adventure! The I-91 Shop Hop runs Thursday, June 25th through Sunday, June 28th and you can purchase a passport at one of the 12 shops participating this year, and you still have time to purchase your 2015 passport! We are looking forward to welcoming more than 300 Shop-Hoppers to our store over the weekend.

Why participate in the Shop Hop? At each store you visit your name will be entered in the daily prize drawing. Each of the daily prizes contains a variety of wonderful yarns, patterns, needles and accessories. Once you’ve visited all 12 shops and have your passport stamped just turn it in at the last shop on your trip and you will be entered into a grand prize drawing! On Sunday, there are two drawings: the daily basket and a chance to win a wooden swift and ball winder.  As an added bonus, each shop will have a special knit kit for sale just for Shop Hop! So be sure to hit all the shops during the long weekend and keep your fingers crossed for the daily prize and grand prize on Sunday. Hope to see you then!

Participating Shops:
Green Mountain Spinnery- Putney, VT
Handknits- Brattleboro, VT
Sheep & Shawl-South Deerfield, MA
Northampton Wools, Northampton, MA
WEBS America’s Yarn Store-Northampton, MA
Marji’s Yarncrafts-Granby, CT
Creative Fibers-Windsor, CT
Village Wool-Glastonbury, CT
Country Yarns-Wallingford, CT
The Yarn Barn,LLC-Woodbridge, CT
Knit New Haven-New Haven, CT
The Yarn Basket-Branford, CT

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This week Kathy talks with Beth Leggiere, owner of HandKnits in Brattleboro, VT. about the upcoming I-91 Shop Hop.

Beth relocated from Wilmington Vt and rebuilt after the devastation of Hurricane Irene. You’ll find lots of great, small and local fiber sources as well as your favorite brands. There are great raffle prizes at each store, each day, as well as a Grand Prize that you can enter to win.

Steve’s Yarn Picks of the week :

• Yarn Hollow Squish
• Yarn Hollow Chime
• Bijou Basin Lhasa Wilderness
• Bijou Basin Tibetan Dream
• Mondial Merino Special – Closeout
• Juniper Moon Farm Gabriela – Closeout
• Filatura Di Crosa Charly – Closeout

Upcoming Events:

Summer Classes are online – sign up now before all the seats are filled!

I-91 Shop Hop is coming June 25th through June 28th – get your passport now!

Classic Elite Yarns Trunk shows are ongoing and there’s always something new to see! Stop by the store to see what’s on display.

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

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This week Kathy talks with first time guest Liz Sorenson, owner of Sheep & Shawl in South Deerfield, about the 5th annual I-91 Shop Hop coming up in June.

At her store Liz focuses on locally sourced yarns and rovings, as well as classes and consignment pieces. The Shop Hop runs June 25th -28th, get all the details here and get your Passport now, 12 shops on the I-91 corridor are waiting to see you! Like our Facebook page or join the All Things WEBS Ravelry group to see all the latest news.

Steve’s Yarn Picks of the week:

• Madeline Tosh Twist Light
• SweetGeorgia Cashluxe Fine
• Lana Grossa 365 Cotone
• Araucania Cana Ruca
• Sublime Lustrous Extrafine Merino DK – Closeout
• Sirdar Summer Stripes – Closeout
• Sirdar Raffaella – Closeout
• Sirdar Folksong – Closeout

Reminder:

Next Saturday is the Meltdown! Family book and music festival! Bring the family for a great day at Smith Voc. High School.

You can join in the WEBS Mystery Blanket Knit-A-Long or Crochet-A-Long at anytime, grab the patterns that have already been released and join in the conversation on Ravelry.

Upcoming Events:

Classic Elite Yarns Trunk shows are ongoing and there’s always something new to see! Stop by the store to see what’s on display.

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

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This week Kathy talks with Andra about the new Fall yarns and designs from Berroco.

Try Mojo, if you’re a Brio fan this is a tamer version of the yarn you love. Ultra Alpaca Chunky and Inca Tweed are great new chunky yarns. And there are 2 new sport weight yarns as well, Cosma and Andean Mist. Be sure to check out all the new patterns for the season and don’t miss Norah Gaughan Vol.15!.

Steve’s Yarn Picks :

• Reywa Fibers Bloom
• Viking of Norway Nordlys
• Fyberspates Vivacious DK
• Fyberspates Vivacious 4ply
• K1C2 Sebago
• Cascade 220 Paints – Closeout
• Grignasco Kid Seta – Closeout

Reminder: The 4th Annual I-91 Shop Hop is happening THIS WEEKEND! – Get your Passport and stop by today until 6pm and tomorrow from 12pm–5pm

Upcoming Events:

Join us for the Shibui Mix Yarn Party on July 29th from 6-7:30 pm – There is a $10 fee for this event, and space is limited so be sure to register today!

July 30th from 10am – 3pm we’re hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive at the store. Please sign up in advance, there is limited space available, but walk-ins will also be welcomed!Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS today to schedule an appointment.

Stop by and check out current the Classic Elite Yarns Trunk Show.

The I-91 Shop Hop begins Thursday, June 26, 2014 and runs through Sunday, June 29, 2014. Eleven shops are participating in the Shop Hop this year! The store has been busy getting ready with goodie bags and arranging the raffle prizes for the 300 or more hoppers that will come through our doors during the weekend. We can’t wait!

How do you take part? All you need is your I-91 Shop Hop passport and a sense of adventure! It’s not too late to purchase your passport. Visit one of the participating stores to purchase your $5 passport.

Why should you join in the Shop Hop fun? At each store, you have a chance to be entered in the daily gift basket prize drawing. Each basket has wonderful yarns, patterns, needles, and more. On Sunday, each shop will have two drawings, one for the daily basket as well as a chance to win a wooden swift and ball winder set. All customers who entered in the previous raffles during the weekend will be entered in for a chance to win the swift and ball winder. There is also a chance to win a spectacular grand prize! As you visit each shop, get a stamp on your passport. When your entire passport is stamped, simply leave the stamped page at the last store you visit and it will be entered in the grand prize drawing.

What about this Mystery Tour portion? Each time you receive a stamp in your passport, you will be handed a clue. This clue is a piece of the puzzle for a mystery knit along. After visiting all of the shops, you will have collected all 12 pieces to the mystery pattern! To solve…start knitting!

For more information, check out the I-91 Shop Hop Mystery Tour Facebook page, or visit the I-91 Shop Hop group on Ravelry.

Participating Shops
Green Mountain Spinnery – Putney, VT
Northampton Wools – Northampton, MA
WEBS America’s Yarn Store – Northampton, MA
Marji’s Yarncrafts – Granby, CT
Creative Fibers – Windsor, CT
Yarnover – Avon, CT
Village Wool– Glastonbury, CT
Country Yarns – Wallingford, CT
Knit New Haven – New Haven, CT
The Yarn Barn – Woodbridge, CT
The Yarn Basket – Branford, CT
Note: Metaphor Yarns appears on the map and passport, but will not be participating in the Shop Hop. Northampton Wools will be handing out 2 clues so you can finish you Mystery KAL.

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Guest: Kathy talks with Margaret from Green Mountain Spinnery about the upcoming, 3rd annual I-91 Shop-Hop.

The Spinnery specializes in yarns sourced from fibers grown in the US with some yarns, like Mountain Mohair, in continuous production for over 25 years. They are primarily a yarn manufacturer but they do have a small retail shop open to the public and they will be offering factory tours as well as daily prizes and raffles during the Shop-Hop. Get your passport now!

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Fibre Company Meadow
• Trendsetter Grace
• Baah Yarns La Jolla
• Noro Silk Garden – New Colors!
• Noro Kureyon – New Colors!
• Fibre Company Canopy – 50g hanks – Closeout

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Guest: Kathy talks with Meta about the 3rd Annual I-91 Shop-Hop happening June 27th – 30th, Thursday through Sunday.

Meta owns and runs Metaphor Yarns in Shellburne, MA., set just across the road from a beautiful New England dairy farm with lots of space for classes and knitting groups as well as a great selection of small local yarns.

Meta will have demonstrations happening all weekend in knitting, weaving, tatting and more, hoppers will also get a goody bag. Each store will have a daily raffle. Get your passports stamped at each shop, once you’ve gotten a stamp from each shop you can enter into the drawing for the grand prize. Buy your passports now!

Our Thanks to everyone who came out for the Tent Sale and to the Vendors who participated in our Fleece Market. Thanks to our phenomenal team! You did an awesome job!

Steve’s Yarn Picks

39th Anniversary Sale:  May sale highlights

This is the last week of the Sale! Our 39th Anniversary sale ends Friday May 31st at 11pm EDT

• Knitter’s Pride Dreamz Interchangeable Circular Chunky Set
• Knitter’s Pride Nova Special Interchangeable Circular Set
• Knitter’s Pride Symfonie Rose Interchangeable Circular Deluxe Set

Cascade 220, Cascade 220 Superwash, and Plymouth Encore

• Valley Yarns 2/14 Alpaca Silk
• Lang Jawoll Magic Degrade
• Valley Yarns Southwick

• Loop-d-Loop by Teva Durham Quartz
• Loop-d-Loop by Teva Durham Moss
• Loop-d-Loop by Teva Durham Birch
• Filatura di Crosa Gioiello – Discontinued Colors
• Ella Rea Lace Merino – Discontinued Colors
• Ella Rae Lace Merino Worsted – Closeout
• Schoppel Woll Zauberball Starke 6