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The store formerly known as:
NEW NAME - SAME GREAT KNITTING (AND MORE) STORE.
725 Gardiners Rd, Kingston ON 613-384-3951
www.knittraders.com shop@knittraders.com |
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For further information about products or to place an order
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April 2012 |
The newsletter that knits us together. | |
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 THIS IS NOT AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE
I purposely didn't send out the newsletter on April 1st as it seemed likely that people would assume that our new name was a joke. But as of today WOOL-TYME Kingston is now
How much fun it has been choosing the new name and logo, revamping all of our printed materials and designing our brand new website. And indeed, the website was the main reason for the change.
As many of you know, we have enjoyed a wonderful, warm, cooperative but distinct relationship with the WOOL-TYME store in Nepean for the past 15 years. But as our internet presence has been growing many customers were getting frustrated and confused about why the information from the WOOL-TYME website did not reflect the products or services offered at our store. Both of the stores had grown to the point where we needed to have our own space in cyberspace. So here we are.
The change has also afforded us a great excuse to spruce up the store and give it a whole new look and focus. Please come in sometime in the next few weeks to see our many spring offerings and our snazzy new look. |
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Spring Knitting
If I had to guess, I would say that there has to be a major baby boom happening these days - based on all the wonderful baby knitting that we are seeing at the store. And here, just in time for spring is the sweetest little Spring Baby Headband by Amy Andersen. What I like about this project is that it's simple enough for a beginner yet it's as cute as can be. It also offers a knitted or crocheted flower option, so that you can follow your favourite craft, or stretch your skills a bit by taking on the method that is least familiar to you. It's such a tiny project that it will take you no time no matter what you decide. And imagine the oohs and ahs. Isn't this the sweetest picture?
And our Cascade PACIFIC worsted weight is so soft and washable and comes in glorious colours. Just perfect for this little floral topper. Link here for the pattern and get started. |
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A riot of colour in new CASCADE YARNS
I'm not exagerating when I say that the arrival of these yarns is something that we have been waiting months for.
 Cascade PACIFIC Chunky
is the newest member of the Cascade family of yarns that is easily the most popular line that we sell.
With the exciting success of the orginal worsted weight PACIFIC we just knew that the Chunky wouldn't disappoint. We carry the full range of 42 colours including 8 gorgeous multis. This opens a whole new world of Chunky knitting for kids and adults alike.
Cascade 220 Superwash Paints
Then to add another touch of colour to our lives, we have just received the glorious PAINTS version of Cascade's ever popular Superwash. Come and see the luscious colours. They can't be beat. And in the ever popular worsted weight, it's sure to be a winner for all you Superwash wool fans.
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BACK TO BASICS with Patons
Anyone recognize this oldies treasure on the left?
Up until a few years ago when the Patons Back to Basics I, II and III were discontinued, they were our go-to books for judging yarn requirements and sizes for all 3 of the most popular weights of yarn.
Well, bless their little hearts, the team at Patons have heard our double pleas: Give us back a classic reference book that has a selection of basic knitted garments in a wide range of sizes AND
MODERNIZE THE DARN THING! (We used to give customers directions to adapt the cardigan pattern so that it didn't look like Charlie Farquharson's cardi.)
If you can imagine, in a cute little $4.95 book, they have packed in Worsted Weight patterns for cardigans, pullovers, vests and jackets from sizes 2 to 5XL. We will be sure to keep a copy handy at all times to help our customers adapt their own design ideas to these versatile patterns.
Patons BACK TO BASICS book 1001
We can only hope that the sport weight and chunky weight versions are in the works. |
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KNIT AND SMILE
When one of my customers sent me this great little cartoon below, I laughed out loud considering that the message that we have been using on our road signs for the past month has been: Anyone can Knit! I stand corrected.
But laughing out loud is wonderful. According to laugh yoga practitioners, the body does not recognize the difference between a fake belly laugh and a real one. So the wonderful health benefits that come from responding to hilarity or just pretending are within anyone's grasp.
If you link here you will find a whole Google search of images for "Funny Knitting". Most of them are well worth a look, but be careful! It is the type of endeavour that may absorb a few hours of your computer time before
you know what hit your funny bone. 
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TAIYO SOCK (etc) YARN
from Noro
 I must sheepishly admit that I'm not exactly a fan of Noro's other sock yarns BUT, I believe that this time they got it right! 
TAIYO is a single ply fingering weight blend of cotton, wool, nylon and silk that is resillient yet very gentle on hands when knitting, and feet when wearing, but would also be sooo nice to wear as a scarf or shawl such as the Boneyard Shawl, pictured above, as featured at Kaleidoscope Yarns of Vermont.
And of course, who can ever fault Noro for their colour work. They were the pioneers of magnificent colour striping that we enjoy in so many yarns today, and they're still the best. |
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JOIN US IN ITALY
Sept. 29th - Oct. 10th, 2012 are the dates for our next, highly anticipated
The Italian Knitting Tour 2012
sponsored by
in conjunction with
11 days of Italian delights.
We will arrive in Rome then make our way to Florence via Sansepolcro for the International Lace Biennial.
A few days in Florence with some time in Pisa, visits to textile and wool museums and hours of leisurely yarn store hopping.
On to Tuscany with wine and cheese tasting activities, and an authentic Italian cooking class.
We will return for 2 days in Rome with a full day of touring the Eternal City.
Lots to do for non-knitting friends and family who wish to come along. Flight, transportation, activities, accomodations, activities and most meals - all this for under $3500.
Link here for the full itinerary.
Don't be disappointed!
Contact Pam Franklin at Service Guaranteed Travel soon to book your space as soon as possible. |
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April Events
We will be closed on Good Friday, April 6th, but open for your spring shopping on Easter Monday, April 9th.
This month's evening finishing classes with Anne and Alana will take place on Wednesday, April 4th and April 18th. This is the perfect forum to learn how to put your knitted garments together with the help of the pros. Wed. evening classes and Tuesday morning classes (from 11am-1pm) are $15ea or 4 x2hour classes for $45.
The introduction to Ravelry class on April 11th is sold out BUT, do let us know if you'd be interested in being contacted for the next one. RAVELRY's community is the internet's most valuable tool for knitters all over the world.
There are still a few spots open for the SOCK IN A DAY class on Sat. April 28th. If you are comfortable with the knit and purl stitches, then this 5 hour class can help you can learn the skills to knit any sock.
April's get together for the Block Afghan project will be on Tuesday, April 17th. Join us to knit and chat together, to get help with stitches that are stumping you or to learn the basic crochet edge that will make your blanket a breeze to assemble. |
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CAT BORDHI is coming to Ottawa
Anyone who takes their sock knitting very seriously will know of Cat Bordhi. She is the lady who came to the conclusion that the extra stitches that are required to go over your heel so that you can put your sock on comfortably, do not have to be at any specific place at the ankle. They can be added to the instep, to the bottom, to the sides, anywhere around the foot, which allows for a whole range of fabulous design possibilities.
The Ottawa Knitting Guild has been fortunate enough to have Cat visiting them from May 11th to 14th, offering classes on her brilliant book: New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Moebius knitting and more. Link here. to the website for more information and to download a registration form.
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Janette will have more on her needles at home .
Anyone who has been in to the store on a Monday to Wednesday morning in the past 11 years will recognize Janette and her lovely smile.
Retirement, as of March 21st, will be a welcome time to pursue some of her many other crafting and internet interests at home. She will still be pitching in to do some fundraising work for Project Linus so we'll have an opportunity to see her in the store from time to time. But for the time being, we wish her a spring and summer filled with all the beauty of her wonderful backyard, and beyond that, time to enjoy and pursue all her other wonderful interests. |
i KNITTING ON THE NET
Paton's Springtime Knits
I love the internet. Maybe I shouldn't be so excited about an avenue that allows my customers to access all kinds of patterns that I don't sell to them, but to my way of thinking, that's really short sighted. Even if I was able to carry every possible pattern that we get asked for in any given year, I'd probably forget where it was kept, or not remember that we had it in stock.
The internet offers a whole range of patterns, free and for sale, that would answer all of these requests.
In Patons spring newsletter to their members, they offer 4 designs - 2 in knit and 2 in crochet, that are truly lovely. It is so worth signing up to be a member just to hear from them now and then about the exciting places that they are taking knitting. Download this lovely lace patterned shawl then come and see us for the full range of glorious yarns to make it that are available to you at KnitTraders.
KNITTING IN THE NEWS.
 
So, how cool is this picture? It shows a whole group of knitters, spinners and other fibre enthusiasts who are sitting out in front of Toronto City Hall, protesting possible cuts to the city libraries. Crafters are indeed a wholesome lot, making the effort to support literary pursuits in addition to their creative activities.
And then we have Margaret Atwood, seen here holding up her knitted representation of the extinct great awk. She has been in the news over the past few months, voicing her own disapproval of mayor Ford's plans for the city libraries. And interestingly enough, when I got this picture about the City Hall Knit-In, I had just finished reading the back page interview with Margaret Atwood in Yarn Market News, the best and very American yarn trade magazine. They usually reserve this back page interview spot for hot or very established knitting designers and insiders. I was quite impressed that our own Peggy got recognized for her knitting exploits in such an industry standard setting magazine. |
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A Word of Thanks to WOOL-TYME in Nepean
As my team and I start on this new leg of our LYS adventure as KnitTrader of Kingston, I can't help but think of how strange it will seem not to answer the phone: "Good morning, WOOL-TYME". I wonder how long it will be until it becomes second nature to say that I work at KnitTraders on Gardiners Rd.
It was 15 1/2 years last month since we opened at 751 Gardiners Rd, and as you can see from the logo below, the head office in Nepean began 10 years before that. It all seems so long ago, with amazing memories, some hard learned lessons and examples of tremendous kindness and community that have built up, first with Theresa and her wonderful staff in Ottawa who were so supportive in the early years, and then as we got on our feet here, with our own wonderful customers who come from near and far.
I just wanted to take a moment to thank Theresa, her staff and each of you, our customers for all of the support and affirmation which has so enriched this experience. It's a privilege to be of service to you all.
Thanks!
Anne |
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