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725 Gardiners Rd, Kingston ON 613-384-3951 |
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February 2012 | The newsletter that knits us together. | |
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 DON'T MISS IT!
OUR ANNUAL
SWEETHEART SALE
Mon. Feb. 13th to Sat. Feb. 18th.
Buy any 4 balls of our fabulous selection of in-stock, regular priced yarns
and get the 5th ball for FREE
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All you knit is love.
February is of course the month of love, and in Eugene, Ore. the Downtown Association posted a great little 14 second tribute video featuring the work of some industrious knitter(s). Take a moment to link and discover what some people's love of knitting can produce.
Meanwhile, take a moment to hug someone that you knit for today.
And by the way, there is still time to make these sweet-hearts for your sweetheart's Valentine's gift. Link to the free pattern at
MochiMochi Land. |
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A NEW SAMPLE TO SHOW OFF
 Here is (a version) of our latest sample in the store: The Top Down Swing Coat from Cabin Fever.
We are constantly receiving requests for patterns "in-the-round" that require little or no sewing up. This is a beautiful example of what the folks at Cabin Fever have to meet those needs. We carry many of their books and patterns in stock, but let us know if there is a design from their website that you like and we can bring it in for you. They are a great Canadian company that we are proud to support.
(Ours is in a lovely cranberry red). |
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The new face of Leisure Arts.
There was a time when the Leisure Arts brand of books was, well, um, I guess you could say "trustworthy", but no one would ever have accused them of being overly stylish; many of their designs could have been considered downright tacky.
Welcome a whole new world of kitting and crochet books from Leisure Arts that are tapping in to what many of today's knitters are looking for. One foot reaching out to new designs and techniques, great colours, yet with another foot firmly planted in classic tradition.
The Knit Lace and Leaves book pictured below features one of the most popular baby set patterns in the history of Canadian knitting. Yet with new colours and photography and design adaptations, the patterns have taken on a newer and more inviting life, appealing to new moms and their grandmothers alike.
Knitted Comfort for the Sole is a terrific 125 pages of knitted (and some crocheted) footwear that truly is truly - as the subtitle suggests - innovative. Lace, fairisle, felting, with lots of interesting design features.
If you haven't bothered looking up Leisure Arts books as a source of inspiration for a while, give them a try. We are now stocking many of their titles.
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When I'm talking to non-knitters about why knitting has so exploded in popularity over the past decade, the main reason that I point to is the advent of the internet and in particular the coming of RAVELRY. Those of you who are "Ravellers" and enjoy the many communal and knitting benefits that come with membership to this on-line world, you can stop reading this because I'm aiming the following paragraphs at those of you who haven't had the opportunity to investigate the patterns, information, support and friendships that can be accessed through the site.
Comparitively speaking, Ravelry is easy to navigate but it is BIG, and therefore seems like a labyrinth of groups, patterns and activities. We at WOOL-TYME Kingston are here to help you with your voyage through the maze.
RAVELRY 101 is a workshop designed for those who are familiar with their laptop computer but need some help establishing themselves as comfortable Ravellers.
Bring your laptop and join Alana on Tuesday, April 11th, from 6:30-8:30pm as she guides you through sign up, page set-up, and finding your away around the most popular features of the site. Believe me, you won't regret the time or money that you invest in this support class.
Call the store to register,
613-384-3951 Just $25.
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The Fairies are Coming...
I love both of these books.
Fairy Tale Knits features among many others: a pair of knitted crowns, a Robin Hood tunic, a chain maille sweater, 2 patterns for magic carpets, elf slippers, a pirate outfit including a dress and "lass hat" (which my niece, the wanna be pirate, would love) and my very favourite: the Snow Queen coat and muff set as seen on the cover. Author Alison Stewart-Guinee is brilliant in her amazing kid-friendly designs.
Knitted Fairies to cherish and charm on the other hand is geared to the fibre artists among us and finds its equisite beauty in the details that make these mystical creatures true works of art.
I'm not sure if this is being sexist or what, but my favourite is the only guy in the bunch: Oberon, the Fairy King. |
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NATIONAL SWEATER DAY
Feb. 9th - 2012
The World Wildlife Federation wants Canadians to put on a sweater and lower their thermostats, to take action on climate change.
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Even Barbie puts on a sweater to help the cause. |
Show your support by wearing the brightest one you own.
to let them know that you'll be on board.
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COMING EVENTS IN FEBRUARY
There are still a few spaces in both of these popular classes:
SOCK-IN-A-DAY on with Anne
Sat. Feb. 11th
and
BUTTONS AND MORE
Working with polymer clay with
CAROLYN BARNETT on Sat. Feb. 18th
but sign up soon to avoid disappointment.
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BY POPULAR DEMAND...
Our on-going finishing class will now have a weekly daytime version
Tuesdays from 11am to 1pm
We offer the same care and attention to detail in teaching you how to finish your projects like a pro but in a new daytime slot.
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Don't forget the Annual Sweetheart Sale from Feb. 13th to 18th.
See above for details.
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This month's get-together for the BLOCK AFGHAN PROJECT is on Tuesday, Feb. 21st 6:30-8:30pm
ALL ARE WELCOME!
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KNITTING TRIP TO ITALY set for Sept. 2012.
Those of you who heard of WOOL-TYME Kingston's tour of Ireland last fall will remember that we promised to offer another trip this year.
While Pam, the travel angel behind all the organization, is still in the process of finalizing details, you might like to get in touch with her to let her know if you would like details on the trip.
These are the broad strokes:
- The group will be leaving from Toronto late in September 2012.
- The trip will be 10-11 days in length.
- We will be spending time in Florence, Tuscany and Rome.
- It is a perfectly suitable and a most enjoyable trip for your non-knitting friends, family and/or partners who might like to join you.
- There will be scheduled activities (and shopping opportunities) that will be of interest to all fibre friends, with a focus on knitting.
- I (Anne) will be going along with you so I can help you with any knitting project that you wish to tackle.
- We are working hard to keep the price relatively moderate.
If this wonderful trip is of interest to you, contact Pam at Service Guaranteed Travel and let her know that you would like to receive a notice when the information on this tour becomes available.
Ciao for now! |
KNITTING BEYOND OURSELVES.
These Kare-Bots are great little buddies and the products and friends of a wonderful group of High School students in Kingston who are working to make a difference.
The K-Botics team of KCVI work hard to build their actual robots each year for competition, but in addition to this
they have come up with these fellows as a way of connecting with the outside world. These Kare-Bots are to be used as packaging material for shipments to developing countries where aid workers will then be able to distribute them to children as playful comfort.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
The K-Botics team have approached us to enlist our customers to boost the numbers of Kare-Bots that they can offer. Please check out the pattern here (written for beginners) then return your Kare-Bots, stuffed or not, to the K-Botics team c/o KCVI, at 235 Frontenac St in Kingston. |
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WHAT'S ON MAUREEN'S NEEDLES?  
I love to feature projects that our staff are working on for a few reasons. First, it encourages us all to try some interesting projects and it allows our customers to get to know us a little better.
This is Maureen's beautiful shawl that she is making for her daughter-in-law who is expecting her 2nd child in July. I was quite taken myself with this pattern. It's from the Winter 2011 issue of KnitSimple. It's called the Textured Triangle Shawl designed by Linda Voss Plummer and it's working up beautifully in one of the new tone-on-tone colours of Cascade Pacific. |
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 KNITTING ON THE NET
 I recently received a group-message from Karen Loucks, founder of Project Linus back in 1997. WOOL-TYME Kingston has been involved almost since the beginning, delivering blankets that are made by our customers to children who are living through a distressing time in their life.
Karen sent us a link to a wonderful promotional video for her new book: Working for Peanuts which tells the story of the building of Project Linus. It's beautifully done and totally captures the spirit of the group and how wide ranging the interest is in its work.
Have a look and if you would like to help out, please come in to the store and find out about making your own Project Linus Blanket for the kids.
Some of you might not recognize this but it is called a "yarn swift" and is meant to hold a skein of yarn while it is being wound into a ball. It does the job that many of you might have had when you were younger, and your granny made you hold your hands out to keep the yarn taught while the two of you tried to synchronize your swaying motions to have the yarn smoothly come from the skein into the ball that her expert hands could fashion.
It would appear that yarn swifts were pretty important in some areas and that the precision and quality of their construction makes them prized posessions today. Check out this link from the Antiques Roadshow.
 All of you fibre enthusiasts, be sure to circle Nov. 2nd to the 25th, 2012 to make your way to Oakville and/or Toronto for 2 presentations of the World of Threads Festival.
Earlier festivals have featured works from all over the world and across the country. Media previously exhibited included sculpture, installation, earth works, paper work, quilting, weaving, conceptual work, performance (related to fibre), hooking, knitting, embroidery, lace making, crocheting, felting, mixed media, soft sculpture, wearable art, basketry, recycling materials, and plastic manipulation. How wonderful. Check out the website, it looks fantastic and a source of inspiration for all of us who work with fibre. |
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These Vineyard Mittens come to us via Vogue Knitting on-line and offer many modern conveniences, as the advertisers used to say. The open thumb allows for free texting, while the covered buttons are securing a flip down cover that can be turned for fingers to also work delicate operations on electronic devices when necessary.
This FREE PATTERN is easily available but you will have to register with Vogue Knitting, (a very easy process). Best of all, these mittens feature Aslan Trends ROYAL ALPACA, the most glorious yarn that we carry in the store. So soft, warm and wonderful to work with.
Download your pattern today, and come in to visit us for this end of the winter project that you'll have waiting for you in the fall. |
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  February's FREE Pattern from Patons
You might wonder why I'm pushing FREE patterns in this newsletter when we have a store full of gorgeous designs available...for sale. This isn't as weird as it seems. There are many well designed patterns that come from the companies that create the yarns. It is to their advantage to share these quality patterns with their customers so that those customers will use the company's yarn.
And now with the internet as such a simple tool to get these patterns out to the customers, those yarn producers are putting even more effort into providing good patterns and design ideas.
This month's newsletter from Patons has brought us not only this gorgeous leaf and cable hoodie design, but 4 other terrific cardigan styles as well. 5 great patterns in easily available worsted weight yarns, all for FREE. (The patterns are free, I mean - The easily available worsted weight yarn is not free. Oh, you know what I mean.) | | | Check out our entire site of WOOL-TYME Kingston patterns. |
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