|
 
725 Gardiners Rd, Kingston ON 613-384-3951 |
|
For further information about products or to place an order
|
|
|
January 2011 | The newsletter that knits us together. | |
|
Lace, Lace everywhere
at WOOL-TYME Kingston from Jan 5th -15th. 
I was once asked what I considered the "hardest" knitting.
I suggested that the most intense type of knitting
- "extreme knitting" if you will - knitting that demanded focus, commitment, but not always an extraordinary amount of skill; knitting that by virtue of what it required of the knitter was always a satisfying experience; that would WOW all who beheld the finished product had to be LACE KNITTING.
More and more knitters are coming to appreciate how a border of lace on socks or a full lace wedding shawl can add so much to our knitting repertoire.
And WOOL-TYME Kingston is absolutely thrilled to welcome the Queen Anne's Lace collection of sample shawls, scarves and patterns in the first weeks of January. Come and be inspired by the subtle textures that simple "yarn over" eyelets can produce with lovely Zephyr lace weight yarn hand dyed in a 50/50 blend of merino wool and tussah silk.
And one of the special advantages of lace patterns is that they can be used with so many other yarns that we also have in stock, including our newest: Baby Silk Lace from Estelle, spun of baby alpaca and silk it is exquisite. We have 6 laceweight yarns for you to choose from and another dozen in fingering weight, which also work with so many of these patterns.
Come and enjoy the dream quality of what you can learn to do with lace. |
|
Group Knitting- how fun!
The February KNIT-ALONG
at WOOL-TYME Kingston.
There's still time to sign up for the February KNIT-ALONG featuring the February Lady Sweater. This picture of our store sample shows the simple elegance and practicality of this terrific design.
Link to the Knit Along blog page to find out how to join the group of 20+ other knitters who have taken on the project.
But if you want to know WHY you should join us...
here are a few good reasons:
-It should be everyone's New Year's resolution to stretch a bit outside your comfort zone and learn new skills.
-you'll get to meet other knitters around the city and beyond who can help, encourage and commiserate with you through the process.
-After all the knitting that you do for others, it's about time you made yourself a special sweater.
-You will get a chance to knit on a circular needle; work on a sweater with a "no seams" construction from the neck down; introduce yourself to lace knitting with a simple and effective pattern; learn by hearing how others play with the original about adapting patterns as you go to suit your needs.
So check out the details on the blog or email Alana if you have any questions, and make 2011 a year of knitting colectively. |
|
|
And other new yarns.
 What a great way to start the new year with a bit of pizzazz in your knitted accessories: SHARI from Austerman is a fine tape ribbon yarn that has a filament of silver on one side, making it soft and glittery. A terrific accent yarn for any DK knitted garment. Ask for your FREE modified Baktus scarf pattern for the perfect accessory with a touch of class that goes with anything.
 And from the best selling yarn company in North America, we're proud to introduce our customers to Cascade HERITAGE and HERITAGE PAINTS, 2 glorious fingering weight sock yarns that serve double duty as exquisite lace yarns too. Link to the Cascade site for a series of FREE downloadable patterns for shawls, socks and other accessories.
And to get us all in the mood for a little  spring knitting we are pleased to offer you CAIRO from Diamond yarns. A new mercerised cotton in a worsted weight that will stun you with its beauty and versatility. |
|
My Favourite BOOKS
of 2010
Debbie Bliss
The Knitter's Year
I'm a big fan of Debbie Bliss and her creative way of viewing life. In this book she delivers 52 simple yet elegant designs that are within the reach of most knitters. But most of all, they are fun and real and give us new skills and ideas for using what surrounds us every day.
S'NB Superstar Knitting.
Except for the Godfather II movie and the entire collection of DUMMIES books, I tend to be a bit leary of sequels; can they really live up to our expectiations?
That being said...I love this book. - the 4th in the Stitch 'n Bitch series. It's the knitting book that I wish I had written myself.
Often in class when I'm fixing a problem for someone, they ask in exasperation: How do you do that?!
Well Debbie Stoller is here to tell you that anything that I can do is not rocket science. There are tricks to make your knitting easier, more fixable and consequently more enjoyable, if you want to take the time to learn these tactics.
She also backs up her info with an excellent selection of photos and coloured drawings that really do make it all very clear.
This is the book for the slightly past beginners who want to get the tools they need to go boldly into the world of independant knitting.
Oh yeah, and then there are all the great patterns too. |
|
Crafters for Critters
for the Kingston Humane Society.
 Are you a sucker for anything that moves and has 4 legs. Don't hide it, we know you pet freaks are out there among our customers.
If you'd like to help out the Kingston Humane Society with some of your crafting time, get in touch with Betty at Crafters for Critters, and her creative group of knitters and sewers who are putting their talents to good use to raise funds for special needs at the Humane Society. |
|
|
January's
classes and coming events.
Sat. January 15th, TRADITIONAL RUG HOOKING beginners class.
Tues. Jan 18th our ever popular FINISHING WORKSHOP for those of you who want to know how the pros get that beautiful finish to their knitted projects.
The Sock-in-a-Day class on Jan. 22nd is sold out but we will be running one on March 26th and another on April 30th so sign up early to save your place.
Sat. Feb 5th, Going Seamless: Alana will be offering a wonderful class on what you need to know to convert traditional patterns with "a front, back and 2 sleeves" to seamless construction in the round.
So check out the blog page and call the store at 613 384 3951 to register for these or any of the other classes that we're offering this season. |
|
The Finest interlocking circulars...Finally.
 The Addi Turbo lace interlocking set of circular needles has been anticipated all year and they have just arrived, not quite in time for Christmas giving, but perhaps for those who got WOOL-TYME Kingston Gift Certificates, it's better late than never...
For those who would like to order, it would appear that they should be in stock and easily available from our supplier from now on. |
|
mtfyed: Make time for yarn everyday
Do your recognize Cliff Huxtable's sweater?
Erinn Cosby, one of Bill Cosby's four daughters, has auctioned off three of her famous father's notorious sweaters from The Bill Cosby Show for charity. Bidding began at $5000.
And speaking of expensive sweaters...
"When someone asks you if knitting sweaters saves you money, look the questioner straight in the eye and say, "Absolutely." ...You enjoy an entertainment bargain - dozens of hours of pleasure and creativity. Also, consider the stress reduction your craft provides, Compare the cost of your sweater project to what you'd spend for as many hours in yoga classes, the gym or a spa. That sweater doesn't look so pricey now, does it?"
from Vogue Magazine Winter 2010/11 |
 BAGS FOR BUCKS- Our selected charity for this month's contributions for bags that you might require to bring home your purchases is THE GET WELL GANG, those hard working folks from Napanee who have put knitted and crocheted hats on the heads of thousands of cancer patients across North America. Your contribution will help them ship their hats wherever they are needed and purchase "dishcloth cotton" which they have found to be the most appropriate material for warmth and washability. THANKS. |
|
|
WHAT'S ON ALANA'S NEEDLES?  
Noro's SILK GARDEN is one of our most popular (and beautiful) yarns at WOOL-TYME Kingston and I'm always looking for projects that make the most of one or two balls of it. When I saw Jared Flood's Turn A Square hat I knew I had to make it for my friend Mark, an artist and sculptor who is very interested in line and form. The hat combines one skein of Silk Garden with a solid colour worsted-weight yarn and uses paired, raglan decreases to make the stripes go from circular to square. Cool! Quick knitting like this makes a nice relaxing end to the holidays and gets me thinking about the big projects I want to take on in the new year.
cheers!
alana |
 KNITTING ON THE NET  One of the first things that I like to do when beginning the newsletter is to go on line and Google an appropriate line for the month. I love the serendipity nature of what comes up, including this image from Albany NY's Times Union's website Friday, Dec. 31st, 2010. So tell me, did anyone actually ever read the Saturday Evening Post, or were they just so captivated by the covers that they never bothered to turn the front page?
 Behold the Knitting Clock.
This precision machine is programmed to knit 1 stitch every half hour, creating a full row every day, culminating in a 2 m long tube at the end of the year. Someone asked if it could be programmed to knit a Dr Who scarf, which would be wonderful as it appears to be a fun project but a most tiresome one. Link here to read more about it.
Lego WILD WOOL Not having access to Lego fans in my house, I enjoyed learning from Stacey, a young mom/customer, that the world of shepherding has made it into LegoLand with this great Wild Wool board game where you accumulate fleece on your squared off sheep and protect them from the plastic articulated wolf.
|
|
|
FREE PATTERN:
About a week before Christmas, my youngest daughter asked if Mrs Claus might be able to make her a cowl with big loose stitches that would drape around her neck twice but if wrapped 3 times would choke her. Estelle's WOOLY BULLY fit the bill perfectly and it was so fast and easy to knit that I -oops, I mean Mrs Claus made 3 of them before the day.
Here's your link to the WOOLY BULLY COWL.
And check out our website for other FREE patterns from WOOL-TYME Kingston.
|
|
|
|
|
