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This week Kathy talks with Yonca Ozbelli, co-owner of Universal Yarns.

Yonca talks about founding the company with her husband Hal, relocating to the US and the different yarn lines they carry. They also discuss how they choose and produce yarns.

Steve’s Yarn Picks from our Year End Blowout Sale :

• 40th Anniversary Huntington – hand dyed by Lorna’s Laces
• Valley Yarns Charlemont Kettle Dye
• Noro Taiyo Lace
• Valley Yarns Longmeadow
• Valley Yarns Prescott
• Frog Tree Pima Silk
• Valley Yarns Berkshire
• Cascade Pure Alpaca Paints

Reminder:

Drop-ins are on hold for the rest of the holiday season and will pick up again the first full week of January.

Winter/Spring 2015 Classes are on the website now, register before they fill up!

WEBS will be open on both Christmas and New Year’s eves until 4pm and will be closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Check all our holiday hours here.

Upcoming Events:

The Year End Blowout Sale is currently running online and begins in store on December 26th, both run through Jan. 3rd.

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

  

My last post, which ran a few weeks ago, had a glaring error, and it is this: I took it for granted that I am famous enough for the entire world to know who I am.  I am indeed the new Education Manager, and my name is Amy Greeman. This is what I look like:

Amy Greeman, Education Manager

Ok, on to my pick this week. I lovelovelove Fall and Winter, which makes me an outcast in most groups. Knitters, however also love these seasons, because crisp air and cool temperatures mean lots of knitting. As I wander around the store, a few new yarns caught my eye and I thought I’d share them with you for your Fall knitting pleasure.

Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino is the Queen of the fingering-weight set. We haven’t had this particular yarn in the store for a VERY long time and I am thrilled it’s here now. There are loads of beautiful colors and it’s just begging to be knit into socks or hats, or a gorgeous shawl.

Shibui Pebble reached it’s sporty-weight hand out and grabbed me as I walked by our showcase for it. I’m a sucker for a sport-weight, and this blend of silk/wool/cashmere is balanced just right–not too stiff and not too drapey. I would make any sweater that incorporated a lacy or knit/purl pattern stitch with this.

Clockwise: Infusion Handpaint, Koigu, Eco Highland Duo, and Pebble

Universal Yarn Infusion Handpaint was a surprise to me. I’m not that thrilled with a lot of variegation, because I like to do very textured knitting, but this wool/acrylic blend feels beautifully soft and the colors are really blended nicely. I could see a nice, thick winter scarf or shrug to keep in a chilly office in this superwash yarn.

Finally, my new favorite yarn, I must confess, isn’t new at all. It’s a luscious Cascade standby I recently discovered, Eco Highland Duo. I’ve knit a cabled cowl in it, and am using it for a much more technical knit now, this Kira K design that will be a gift for my mom.

What is your new Fall discovery? What will you be knitting while you watch football (or the new season of Homeland) on TV?