|
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 |
|
For further information about products or to place an order
|
|
|
May 2012 |
The newsletter that knits us together. | |
|
The SOCIAL MEDIA LEARNING CURVE
  One of the changes that has come along with our new name has been an increased presence on social media sites. We've been avid members of Ravelry from its earliest days, but recently have taken our place on Facebook and Twitter too.
You might ask the value of spending time noting tidbits of interest to us in the knitting world around us, as we do on Twitter, or of taking the time to set up yet another venue to let customers and those who "Like" us know about the arrival of new products and upgraded services on Facebook. In a busy life as we all share you may well ask. Yet I must say that I am  an enthusiastic convert.
In this speedy world where we find ourselves, it's all about building community with like minded "friends" from across the city and all over the world. For a few minutes invested in browsing we can learn and share so much of what matters to us knitters and those whose interests cover other areas of our lives.
At KnitTraders, we are thrilled to be able to share with you that which excites us in new arrivals at the store, projects that we come across, threads of conversation that allow you to share in our Thursday night Knit and Chat, through Catherine's thread on Ravelry, without having to leave the comfort of your knitting chair. To me, it has been an extremely efficient and enjoyable way of connecting with real people like you.
Oh, by the way, just for fans of KnitTraders on Facebook...be sure to click on the Welcome link at the top of our page to find your very special coupon for the month of May. It's our way of saying - Thanks for Liking us. |
 
BEAUTIFUL BOOKS
between FRIENDS
10 SECRETS OF THE LAIDBACK KNITTERS by Vicki Stiefel and Lisa Souza is an experience like finding a kindred spirit between each of the pages of this book. Wisdom, information, history, confidence, connections to others AND a great selection of patterns await you. It doesn't surprise me that a description for this book comes with great difficulty, it's exactly what the authors are aiming to achieve...take it slow and easy, and enjoy the journey.
Plan to come in to the store and have a good browse through the pages to let yourself discover that this is a book that you want to keep by your bedside table for a long time. Also a particularly great Mothers Day present to give or receive.
Leafing through the pages of COASTAL KNITS by Alana Dakos and Hannah Fettig makes me want to run to the nearest ocean shore and throw off my sandals, never mind that the water would be much less that welcoming. A collaboration of 2 friends - one living in Portland, Maine and the other on California's Central Coast - who have joined forces to produce a stunning collection of sweaters and accessories. In styles that appeal to women of all ages, these patterns are respectfully written with the knitter in mind. A real treasure of a book, perhaps one that you could offer to your own knitting BFF (Best Friend, Forever). |
|
Mothers Day
One of my favourite holidays of the year is Mothers Day. The one thing you can say that unites us as humans is that we've all had a mother, and usually a few other mother figures in our lives as well. As knitters, Mothers Day provides us with a wonderful excuse to honour our mother, the mother within us, or those who mother us and anyone else who might fall into that nurturing aspect of our lives.
So think of someone who has taken care of you at some point and make them something lovely. At right is a picture of the exquisite batch of Silky Jewel fingering weight yarn received last week. 100% pure mulberry silk with tiny beads already imbedded for your knitting ease and pleasure. This yarn is handpainted with such glorious colours that it makes everyone stop in their tracks as they pass by. Check out the beautiful Feather and Fan scarf that we have made up in it and treat your "mom" (or whomever) to a luscious skein of sheer colour and silk.
 I also see Mothers Day as a time to think of other mothers around the world, which gives me a perfect opportunity to let you know about Canadians for Women in Afghanistan's awareness and fundraising evening: Imagining Afghanistan - Canadian and Afghan Hopes and Perspectives on May 17th at St Lawrence College. A truly worthy venture for a country so full of hope and possibilities. Email for tickets.
|
|
|
The Block Afghan Project has been one of our most succesfull activities at KnitTraders. It began in the fall of 2011 and continues on with many of you enjoying all the benefits that this quasi-Knit-Along project has to offer. The exquisite kit, designed by us especially for you, our customers, combines a series of textured stitches to help you develop your confidence and pattern reading skills.
And to help you along, participants are invited to join in our FREE monthly get-togethers for tips on knitting, border finishing and sewing your pieces together. These get-togethers have been so fun and helpful that we've decided to continue meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of each month to welcome new knitters who continue to purchase a Block Afghan Kit.
Available in 3 sizes: 9 squares, 20 squares and the magnificent 25 square version, it's a project meant to fulfill so many of your knitting needs.
Askour staff for help in choosing from among the wonderful yarns in a rainbow of colours. Definitely a project for all knitters who want to embrace a challenge with a great payback. |
|
Classics and New in Sock Books
3 new sock books have just arrived, each with their own unique view of the world populated by dedicated sock knitters and those who have yet to discover this aspect of their creative personalities.
FOLK SOCKS by Nancy Bush is the masterfully updated version of her classic sock book, first published in 1994 and credited with kicking off the present sock-knitting phenomenon. History and patterns from sock knitting traditions around the world.
The SOCK KNITTER'S HANDBOOK by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott offers advice, tips and tricks to new and experienced sock knitters. Not so much a pattern book as a style design guide, this book allows you to create your own socks adding touches of personal style by choosing from the many techniques for heels, toes, size adjustments and more. I love what these ladies offer: confidence and freedom from enslavement to a specific pattern.
SOCKTOPUS by Alice Yu takes a whole different view of sock production: she offers 17 patterns for socks that you can knit and Show Off. Nothing boring about any of these delicious patterns. Confirmed British sock addict, Alice begins by giving you 10 reasons to join her in her addiction, citing reasons why socks are the best projects around. She then follows it up with a yarnaholics version of the best fibres around, then jumps right in to the patterns. This is a book for the pleasure knitter who is adventurous without needing to be particularly skilled, as the motivation of creating such beautiful projects is all you will need, along with the SOCKTOPUS book of course. |
|
A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD
Many of our customers are more than just knitters. So many consider themselves crafty, that is to say, loving to dabble in many different types of handiwork usually involving texture, colour and fibre.
For that reason we are so pleased to be carrying the premier Canadian crafting magazine: A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD, where so many patterns and designs for all of our favourite crafts are explored.
In addition to knitting and crochet they also offer rug hooking, needlepoint, fibre arts and felting (all crafts for which KnitTraders carries a wide variety of products) and others.
Even if you aren't presently involved in any of these other skills, check out the magazine - you never know when you might be beckoned by some other fibre muse, and KnitTraders will be here to help you.
p.s. Back issues of this timeless magazine are usually available too. |
|
|
JOIN US IN ITALY - September 2012
The ITALIAN KNITTING TOUR - 2012
Above is an exquisite example of Sansepolcro Lace, a tradition from the region near Florence, which will be one of our first showcase stops on theKnitTraders fall trip to Italy. Every 2 years, Sansepolcro hosts a world class lace festival and competition, and we will be fortunate enough to be passing through that very region at that time. (Link Here to read more about the history and details of this tradition.)
Add to this the many yarn and fibre stores for which Florence is known, day tours of Florence, Pisa, and Rome as well as a traditional cooking class, wine and cheese tasting. Who could ask for more?
Full details are available on our website.
Don't delay. I hear that the tour is 1/3 sold already. Save your spot with a small deposit and join us for the trip of your dreams. |
|
May Events
Don't forget Mothers Day on Sun. May 13th and please NOTE that we will be closed on Mon. May 21st for the Victoria Day holiday.
This month there will be 3 evening finishing classes with Anne and Alana. They will take place on Wed. May 2nd, 16th and 30th. This is the perfect forum to learn how to put your knitted garments together with the help of the pros. Link here to the website for more information.
May's get together for the Block Afghan project will be on Tuesday, May 15th. 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.
The next intro to Ravelry class will take place on Tues. May 29th. Don't delay, these classes always sell out.
Although this event is not directly connected with the store, I wanted to let you know that
Frankie LeMonde Meunier, one of Kingston's great band of professional fibre artists, will be having a show at Cornerstone Gallery, 255 Ontario St, running until June 3rd. Frankie's connection with KnitTraders is that she has used yarns from our store in about 95% of her dolls. It's so fun to recognize their funky hair as yarn that usually goes to make kids' mitts. I love them and own one of her Christmas angels. |
|
KNIT AND SMILE
So, do you want to be amazed and have a good laugh while you're at it?
Check out how creative shepherds, who have an electrician for a friend and a buddy with a video camera, amuse themselves. It's quite remarkable.
(Thanks, Lynne)
For those of you who are fans of actual Sheep Dog Trials where Border Collies compete to embarass us humans by proving their skills and agility, check out how St Patrick's Day Sheep Dog Trials went this year in Ireland. And have a Guinness while you're at it.
Alana found this one, it's a hoot! |
|
The YARN HARLOT to summer in Perth.
Well, part of the summer anyway. I just heard from Janie H. Knits that Stephanie Pearl McPhee (aka the Yarn Harlot) will be spending 3 days in August(27th-29th) offering classes on working with "silk hankies" (a delightful treat), sock construction, and knitting for speed and efficiency. Each of the classes offers seperate registration so you can make a glorious retreat of it, or just work on a particular skill. And of course, Stephanie's presence is a gift in itself.
|
|
|
What was on Nancy's Needles? 
The entire staff at the KnitTraders store has come to the conclusion that not only does Nancy, our newest staff person, knit beautiful sweaters, she knows how to pick 'em too.
Here she is showing her latest creation, the Suzie Hoodie from that wonderful book: MORE BIG GIRL KNITS from Mandy Moore - available through KnitTraders.
The cabling detail around the entire border and cuffs is absolutely stunning and is made particularly so with the yarn that Nancy chose: Elsbeth Lavold's SILKY WOOL XL. It is absolutely one of my favourite yarns combining the warmth of wool with the definition of a rich silk blend. (In fact, my next project is in the gold colour from this picture at right.)
 It's always a pleasure to share with you what we at the store are working on. I can tell you with pride, that my staff have come up with some of the most wonderful projects that I've seen and I hope that these segments will help to inspire you as well. |
 KNITTING ON THE NET  KNITTY.COM's spring/summer issue is on-line now and full of amazing patterns like these Carousel Socks from Louise Robert that intrigue me to no end, a very classy Dr Who themed shawl from Toronto's own Kate Atherly, and a vintage Pineapple Bag pattern from Franklin Habit among many others. All of these wonderfully creative people have their excellent patterns delivered to our computers - for FREE! What a gift to the knitting community!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and we will give you a nudge when each issue comes around.
Speed Knitting on YouTube: Too many projects and not enough time? Check out this video on YouTube that features Miriam Tegels, the world's fastest knitter, as she demonstrates ways to save time and effort in your knitting. Right...
Bono and friend:I love this picture of U2's Bono at the Freedom of Dublin award in 2000. No doubt someone felt that it was important for him to get back to his rural Irish roots. They actually look quite happy together.
|
|
 How to overcome your fear of Crochet.This spring and summer just might be the time to take on the challenge of learning basic crochet.
HERE ARE A FEW STEPS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED.
1. Meet Drew Emborsky aka The Crochet Dude. He'll show you how to make crochet cool and fun.
2. Leaf through some of our great "Learn to Crochet" books available at KnitTraders. There really is something for everyone, from the compredhensive Crochet for Dummies to stitch dictionaries, and intriguing patterns for all sorts of projects.
3. Go to a trusted friend: Ravelry. You already know the community of friends on Ravelry. Browse through the more than 33 000 FREE crochet patterns available there, knowing that you'll also have access to so many other people's experiences.
4. Come to see us at Knit Traders, and know that our Never Ending Knitting Class is also available to help you work your way to a whole different world of crafting in CROCHET.
And while we're at it, here are a few tips from Drew, the wise Crochet Dude from the latest issue of KNIT SIMPLE magazine:
-"Love the yarn you're with." You should love working with the yarn in every project that you take on, no matter how basic and/or utilitarian.
-Mix it up: you can play with your crochet projects more than you can in knitting. Use a big hook with fine or furry yarns. And remember, with only one live stitch at a time, you never have to worry about ripping back or picking up lost stitches.
-Give it away. Crocheting for charity is quick, rewarding and helps you develop your skills without worrying about whether you need yet another practice dishcloth or baby blanket. |
|
|
|
|
