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725 Gardiners Rd, Kingston ON 613-384-3951 |
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October 2011 | The newsletter that knits us together. | |
 ALTU SONA DAOIBH Before you think that I had my fingers on the wrong keys of the laptop, the above greeting means "Happy Thanksgiving To All of You" in Irish Gaelic. As you read this we will be halfway through the 2011 WOOL-TYME Kingston Irish Knitting Tour. Link here to follow on the blog, what has been happening to our not so little group as we make our way from Dublin, to Waterford, through the ring of Kerry, on to Donegal where we are hoping to meet up for dinner and Knit and Chat with a local knitting group, over the Aran Islands then back to Dublin for a workshop in authentic Irish knitting.
However, I do have more than a few tasks to take care of before I go so you will excuse me if this newsletter, prepared a few weeks early, is a little shorter and more streamlined than usual. I'll be back on track next month with lots of wonderful online knitting tidbits and probably some Irish knitting lore to share too.
By the way, if you click on the pumpkin, you will be brought to a whole list of pumpkin patterns just in time for Thanksgiving. Have fun!
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New Samples from Cabin Fever.
 In mid September I got to meet the  wonderful ladies from Cabin Fever Knits at a trade show, and was able to bring home this cute as a button cardigan from their brand new collection, "NEED A BABY CARDIGAN", and the stunning blue afghan to the left. It's the easy, it's cabled AND it's reversible!
The entire baby cardigan book is designed to be virtually seamless, knitted in the round with options to use the patterns with any yarn you could choose. Just what everyone is looking for! 
And while you're contemplating these seamless patterns, be sure to check out our pattern binder of "in the round" and "top down" patterns that focus on making finishing a breeze.
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 FALL 2011 is THE SEASON OF CROCHET at
For too many seasons crocheters have left our store disappointed in the availability of patterns and leaflets. This fall I made it a priority to seek out, from new sources, some of the best crochet books available. We are proud to offer our customers, crocheters and wanna be-s alike, everything that the NEW world of crochet has to offer...way beyond the simple granny square, doily and dishcloth.
Even if you're not a crocheter, have a browse through some of these books. You may be tempted to learn a skill to add to your needlecraft repertoire. It's a surprisingly intuitive to pick up, especially with a knitting background. |
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What's new in Scarves?
Just about every week we get a taste of a new trend in scarves: Frills with and without a lacy effect, chenilles, Shag, and this absolutely stunning DRAKE from Estelle yarns.
This early in the fall season is absolutely the time to come in and see what everyone will be clamouring for as the last minute knitting gifts press.
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3 NEW CLASSIC BOOKS from Interweave Press.
we have them here at
This has to be one of the loveliest "trends" going, revisiting the beauty of fine knitting with attention to style, process and details.
Each of these exquisite books introduces you to the fine techniques of the past applied to fashion current styles. We are proud to carry this fine collection.
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NEW in the YARN World
I'm not fooling or showing off when I tell you that there are simply too many new yarns in the store to mention here. But this one, SOFTSPUN from Sirdar is worth noting as it's the first of a new breed stranding: the c hain yarn.
A luxuriously soft blend of wool and acrylic are encased within a light mesh or chain of nylon fibre. The result is an exceptionally light weight yarn with beautiful loft. Come and see it for yourself. Our lovely sample gives you an idea of how it drapes. |
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WOOL-TYME Kingston October EVENTS
Monday, Oct. 12th. Thanksgiving The store is closed but do drop in and visit us on Friday and Saturday of the Holiday Weekend. We are open both days from 9:30am-5:30pm.
Wed. Oct. 12th 6:30-8:30pm
Have Alana help you learn the best ways to put your finished garment together. Pack up those pieces and bring them to the expert.
Sat. Oct 15th 1-4pm
THRUM MITTS AND MORE
Join Anne to learn the technique of thrumming - this ever popular Canadian design that incorporates bits of pure wool to create a cozy layer of fleece to protect you. Great for mitts, slippers, hats, etc.
Tues. Oct. 18th from 6:30-8:30pm
Meeting of participants of the BLOCK AFGHAN PROJECT. Come and get some help with your blocks and with assembling them.
Sat. Oct. 22nd from 1-4pm
Rhonda Kellett, certified rug hooking teacher, will share the basic techniques of beautiful traditional rug hooking, using yarn, fleece and cut strips of fabric to make this wonderful piece.
Wed. Oct. 26th 6:30-8:30pm
Learn the techniques used to block knitted pieces and the best way to achieve a beautiful polished look.
Every Thurs. from 6:30-8:30 join the WOOL-TYME Kingston Knit and Chat at the store. FREE. |
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Have you ever been frustrated in looking for a pattern that you once saw in a magazine that is no longer current?
Disappointed when your Local Yarn Store has sold out of the exact pattern you are looking for? (I can't imagine that ever happening...LOL)
It may seam very odd that a yarn store owner is steering you to an online pattern store but PATTERNFISH.COM is a great idea who's time has come.
With the pdf rights to sell over 9000 knitting patterns, both current and out of print, from local and international knitting stars, PATTERNFISH can be your one stop shop to browse and drool. Check it out, find and download a pattern that you love, then come and see us for just the right yarn to make your knitting dream a reality. |
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 Alana has been a busy girl this fall...
In addition to staffing the store during her regular shifts, she's managed to find time to make up these 2 great sample projects.
To the left we have a picture of the cutest little beanie going, her very own design: LITTLE LEAVES BABY HAT. Knit in fingering weight yarn with a spritely little stem from which sprouts a couple of perky green leaves. Link on the title above to get your free pattern from the WOOL-TYME Kingston free pattern site.
And to the left is her latest shawl work, the MISS WOODHOUSE SHAWLETTE from Wendy Knits. It is absolutely stunning, knit in Misti Alpaca Sock yarn. It's so wonderful to have such great samples to share with our customers. |
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PROJECT LINUS HAS A BUMPER CROP OF BLANKETS. 
You may noticed a large basket at the back of the store with bags of different coloured donated yarns. These were sorted to allow customers to choose a bag and make a blanket, which they then returned for us to deliver them to some of the shelters and agencies around town that deal with children who are going through a difficult time in their lives.
Well the reason that we've been able to offer these kits is due to the generous donation of yarn from the estate of one of our customers who passed away a couple of years ago. She was an avid collector of yarns and loved anything that was on special, and although she was a very prolific knitter, there was still more than she was able to knit her way through before she passed away. I'm sure that she would be thrilled to know that so many kids in the Kingston area have benefitted to the tune of several hundred blankets from her yarn, not to mention at least 5 other charities to whom we distributed a great amount.
That being said, it's hard for us to believe that we have come nearly to the end of the proverbial barrel. If you know of anyone who is looking for a good home for unwanted yarn (preferably washable, medium weight yarns) we will be glad to find good homes for it among people who will cherish the medium and the blanket that it will provide.
RECIPE TO REMOVE THE SMELL OF SMOKE FROM YARN
(or any other fabric I guess.)
On occasion we receive a blanket that has been knit or crocheted in the home of a smoker and needs some TLC before we pass it on to the kids. I've been washing these blankets at home but here's a tip that I'm sure going to try the next time that the situation occurs.
I found it on Ravelry, the social network where you can literally find ANYTHING you ever wanted to know that pertains to the knitting world.
Take 2 parts water to 1 part vodka (cheap vodka works wonderfully) mix and put into spray bottle, spray that yarn down and let it dry. You may need repeated applications of this. The best part is that it doesn't cover up the smell - it actually gets rid of it. (And don't worry, the yarn doesn't smell all boozy afterwards! It appears that this isn't an issue either.) |
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