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725 Gardiners Rd, Kingston ON                     613-384-3951 

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July 2011

The newsletter that knits us together.

 

WOOL-TYME Kingston LogoBlock Afghan Project 2011 

 

Block Afghan Project

This is one of the most exciting activities taken on at WOOL-TYME Kingston.

Join us this fall and continuing throughout the year for the

BLOCK AFGHAN PROJECT.

This is not a Knit-Along in the usual sense: you can choose to do whatever squares you wish, in whatever order you wish to complete them. We are here to offer you guidance, support and encouragement.

 

block afghan squareThe kit to make this beautiful sampler afghan of different knit stitches

 is available in 3 sizes:

9-square for a baby blanket or shawl,

20 - square for an accent throw,

the full 25 - square shown here which fits on a double bed and features the centre log cabin block designed by our own Alana Baig.

 

To create it you can choose from our 2 most popular worsted weight yarns (Cascade 220 - 100% handwash wool, or Patons DECOR - 25% wool, 75% acrylic)  or a brand new smash hit in the yarn world: Cascade PACIFIC 40% superwash wool and 60% acrylic in a proven, non-pill composition, due to arrive early July. (see article below).

Come in and see the beautiful sample of the full 25 - square afghan, on display now. Then select your colour(s) to order your kit beginning July 15th for delivery by Sept. 1st.

And remember: all kits ordered and paid for by AUG. 10th  

will receive a 15% discount.

 

 IT'S TIME TO BID ADIEU to some beautiful friends. 

Mission Falls Yarn

These 3 wonderful yarns have been stable additions to our line up over the years but, alas, we must say goodbye. BUT  as of July 4th until they're all gone, you get to welcome them into your home at

25% off. 

 

ON SALE ARE:

-the entire line of MISSION FALLS 1824: wool and cotton, and MISSION FALLS 136 sport weight wool.

 

Pillar

Rimu

 

-RIMU from Zealana, a glorious blend of 60% NZ merino wool and 40% possum for a most glorious feel.

 

-PILLAR from Luxury Diamond Collection: a lovely blend of wool and silk, subtle in its colouring, delightful in its feel.

 

SO HURRY IN WHILE SELECTION IS GOOD.

You won't regret these additions to the stash collection.

We don't normally have a new yarn to introduce you to in JULY, but this one is worth turning the air conditioning up so you can work with it, even during the summer heat.

 

Cascade PACIFIC

Cascade PACIFIC 

is the latest yarn to come to Canada from this fabulous company. At WOOL-TYME Kingston, we've been anxiously awaiting its arrival since I first saw a sample ball a few months ago. A proven winner in the US, they confidently claim that it is a truly non-pilling yarn that is completely machine washable.

A great selection of colours in the traditional worsted weight with a beautiful composition of 40% soft superwash wool and 60 % acrylic. I really believe that it's the most exciting news in standard yarns to come to us in a long time. 

ARRIVING EARLY JULY 

MAGS AND PATTERNS

Sockupied 2SOCKUPIED 

Is the latest edition of Interweave Press's fantastic e-magazine dedicated to sock knitting. Available exclusively on-line, it allows you to follow patterns and directions with the added bonus of video support, not to mention some very fancy, fabulous sock techniques.   

(I love the title by the way.)

 

 KNITS Weekend Special 

 Also from Interweave KNITS is their fabulous WEEKEND edition. We have learned to get a good supply of this yearly issue as it is always full of fabulous ideas for fun and relaxed knitting projects. Included in this edition is an excerpt by Meg Swanson  from Ann Budd's Sock Knitting Master Class book. This is fine knitting at its best.

 

Briggs & LIttle Varsity Flap Hat.

Then for some great FREE Canadian content, we want to let you know about Briggs & Little Varsity Flap Hat pattern available in time for you to knit one of these popular head warmers for all the young folks in your life who want to show they school colours while staying warm. Get your copy of this free pattern on line then come in to choose the perfect colours.

 

Our Customers' Contributions to Ravelry:

KOBO slipcover

 

Hey all you Kobo readers out there. Want to keep your device safe and clean? Link here to Christie Thompson's Kobo cover design. What a great way to try out a new yarn or use up a favourite from your stash. Thanks Christie!

 

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Irish Knitting Tour

 
WOOL-TYME Kingston's Irish Knitting TourPreparations for the Sept/Oct. trip to Ireland organized by WOOL-TYME Kingston and Pam Franklin at Service Guaranteed Travel are going fabulously well.
We were thrilled to sign up enough participants in the first month to assure that the trip would take place, and now we're adding more folks each week. If you're considering joining us for this wonderful 10 day excursion, don't delay as it's bound to sell out they way things are going. We'd love to have you join us.
Anne

The Power of Sample Garments 

 The reason for samples in any knitting store is to inspire you to imagine what you too can do with your needles and yarn.

But when the sample is not in the store, but on Martha Stewart for instance, as she emerges from her prison term sporting a crochet poncho, or is seen on the lovely Duchess of Cambridge while doing the weekly grocery shopping, well, the inspiration takes on a life of its own.  

 

Kate's ShawlHere is Kate Middleton's Shawl and you can link to a similar pattern knit your own version: CopyKat shawls from Rose Beck available through Ravelry

 

 But rather than leading the charge to popularize shawls, Kate is just another fashion conscious young woman who has joined the brigade of shaISHBEL by Ysoldewl fans. Our newest shawl sample on display at WOOL-TYME Kingston  was knit by Alana. It's the very popular ISHBEL by Ysolda, a relatively simple lace pattern below a simple stocking stitch body, worked up in Cascade's HERITAGE sock yarn. It's beautifully enticing.

Basic Black Cardigan 

Finally, Kathy, one of our knitters, has displayed her own version of this classic cardi called BASIC BLACK by Glenna C.

  Kathy's version is done in Elspeth Lavold's fantastic SILKY WOOL, a true standard that survives year after year with an ever increasing colour range.

 

If you haven't been in lately, treat yourself to a walk through a world of these knitting possibilities.  

 KNITTING NOW AND THEN...

Kandahar Knitting Combat Knitters

 "The Combat Knitters tote their yarn and needles in nondescript pouches, sneaking a few stitches here and there, under their desks, between shifts, after saving or losing a patient, waiting for a rocket attack to end, watching F-16s taking off from the airfield. Wrists piston and needles click as the knitters watch a Friday-night movie projected on a barracks wall under the black sky of southern Afghanistan."

 

excerpt from Washington Post on-line article, Mar 9 2011. Link here to read the entire article.Thanks to Nancy for sending this to us.  

 

 

 

Lady Zoe LaurierThis is a picture of Lady Zoe Laurier, wife of Sir Wilfred Laurier, Canadian Prime MInister from 1896-1911. Lady Laurier was known to be a dedicated knitter. On their 50th wedding anniversary, Sir Wilfrid gave his wife a pair of solid gold knitting needles. I wonder what size they were?

 

EVERGREEN FARM NEEDS KNITTERS.

 Shannon Cowan from Evergreen Farm in Glenburnie is looking for knitters to work up projects made from their alpaca yarn to sell in their store. You can email Shannon or contact her at the farm:

Shannon Cowan
c/o Evergreen Farm
2157 Cole Hill Road
RR#1 Glenburnie ON

 

STITCH N' PITCH returns

Stitch N' Pitch

Wed. July 20th, Stitch N' Pitch fever hits the Blue Jays fans at Rogers Stadium.

Grab a few knitting friends and make your way to Toronto for the game.

Tickets are available by contacting

Paul Rabeau or by calling him at 416-341-1670.

  WHAT was ON Jan's NEEDLES? Jan
 Lady Kina sweater
Jan has been working at WOOL-TYME Kingston for a long time, and one of the best things that I've learned about her is that she has an amazing eye for what knitting patterns will work for our customers. She has recently completed a version of  the Lady Kina sweater, knit in Luxury Diamond's fabulous CAIRO worsted cotton.
This Top-Down, In-the-round cardigan is a truly versatile garment: Sleeveless, it can be worn over a t shirt or a turtle neck. Sized to fit real women of all shapes and the drape is flattering to so many body types. And the pattern is FREE - from Kids Tricot. Come and check out Jan's version on display at the store.
Knitting on the  NetKNITTING ON THE NET Simon Baker - "The Mentalist"

(& on TV)

So last week I was watching a re-run (first time for me) of an episode of The Mentalist on TV where Simon Baker, pictured here, plays a VERY perceptive consultant to the California Bureau of Investigation. During this particular episode his character noticed a link between the 2 seemingly unrelated female murder victims: both were wearing knitted accessories that in his opinion  "were obviously made by the same hand."

Finally he discovered that the 2 women rode the same bus every day and had purchased respectively the beautiful ladder yarn scarf and knitted wollen flower from a woman who sold her knitted wares on the bus. I truly was thrilled  to have Simon Baker recognize anything that is of the least importance to me, and even more so to have knitting plugged in such a positive way on a highly rated primetime show. But really, how psychically perceptive would anyone, never mind a non knitter, have to be to be able to identify the same knitting hand at work in 2 such different projects. But then again, I'm not complaining...any publicity is good publicity for all of us in the knitting world.

 KD Sandi

 This is KD Sandi from Interweave's Knitting Daily on-line magazine. Recently she posted that she had completed a cardigan that had been dragging, and celebrates by sharing  6 Tips for your Crafting Life. which helped her get to the end of the task at hand. For instance, she schedules knitting time into her busy day and adds it to her electronic calendar, complete with reminders that are periodically sent to her inbox. Sounds like a plan to me.  

 

 Robin Hunter

  For anyone who is interested in knitting from a career point of view, you may have already discovered Robin Hunter's blogHow to Become a Professional Knitter. Every week Robin posts an interview with someone working in the field, and a couple of months ago she posted the interview that she did with me. It may be fun for you to gain a bit more insight as to what goes into making the store run.

 

 KnitMeter

And if you really do want to keep track of your knitting or crochet progress, and share that progress with your on-line friends, then  KnitMeter is just what you need.

 

KnitMeter is a widget that you can put on your blog or web page to show others how much you have knit. Its completely free and easy to use. Then again, it may be a bit too much information to put out there for the whole world to realize just how obsessed we can be  as the meters turn into kilometers and so on.