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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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June 2012 |
At KnitTraders we're dedicated to
helping every knitter succeed. | |
 ANNUAL INVENTORY SALE This is a picture of a wall of yarn that we must count, along with all the rest of the inventory in our store at the end of June. I, for one, would rather be on the beach on July 1st than counting yarn. I am therefore inviting you, my cherished customers, to help me to achieve that Canada Day dream by checking out our Annual Inventory Sale. Each week in the month of June we will be featuring a different set of in stock yarns at 20% OFF! WEEK 1- Mon. June 4th - Sat. June 9th. THE ANIMAL FIBRES: 20% off all of our pure wool, alpaca and silk yarns including ALL OUR WOOL and/or ALPACA SOCK YARNS. Other yarns included are all versions of Cascade 220, all our Manos del Uruguay yarns, All of our Noro Yarns, Aslan Trends Royal Alpaca, Lopi, Cascade Eco Wool, and so on. WEEK 2- Mon. June 11th - Sat. June 16th. THE VEGETABLE FIBRES: 20% off all our our cotton and bamboo blends including On Your Toes Bamboo sock yarn, Baby Bamboo from Sirdar, Luna and Cairo cottons, and all of our crochet cottons. WEEK 3- Mon. June 18th - Sat. June 23rd. THE HUMAN FIBRES: 20% off all of the fibres from "man-made" products including ALL THE FASHION FRILL YARNS, our wonderful selection of Cascade Pacific Worsted and Chunky weight yarns, Sirdar Snuggly, Riot DK and Chunky, Moods Duet, Paton's Shetland Chunky, Decor and Canadiana, and many more. WEEK 4- Mon. June 25th to Sat June 30th. BUY THE BAG WEEK: 20% off all of our in-stock yarns when you buy a bag (usually 5-10 balls of a single colour). Also great deals on yarns to which we must bid a fond farewell to make room for our fall stock. DON'T MISS OUT. This is our once a year clear out, and we'd rather sell it than count it. |
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 A TRIBUTE TO 5 YEARS OF
I'm always amazed when I hear that there are still some of our customers who are not familiar with the knitters on-line home of companionship and solace, information and commiseration to be found at Ravelry.com
If there was a single factor that I had to choose which has made the greatest impact on knitting since this store opened 16 years ago I wouldn't have to think for a second: it would be Ravelry. In 5 years this amazing team has welcomed 2 million on-line members.Think of 2 million knitters/crocheters/spinners/weavers etc, all sharing their knowledge, their inspiration and encouragement. As Ravelers, we get to practice a second language, learn about other countries and traditions, acquire new skills, find a long lost pattern or discover the newest trend in knitting.
CONGRATS just doesn't seem to cut it as payback for all that this site has done for our worldwide knitting community. But then again what would?
I've noticed that in all the spring/summer knitting mags there is a trend to knitted summer scarves: smaller versions of what we have come to see as a staple of our wardrobe for the other 3 seasons of the year, but knit in lovely soft summer colours in finer bamboo, cottons and wools.
 So it's no surprise then that on Ravelry you'll find 15 pages full of suggestions for a practical way to extend your knitting projects through the summer by including these versatile wardrobe enhancers. One of my favourites is pictured here: Diane Kostecki's version of The Summer Scarf designed to be knit in laceweight or fingering yarn in a simple garter & lace pattern on the bias. Come and see ours being knit in Dye Version's fingering weight bamboo yarn - the effect is stunning.
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Classes
You may have been in the store some time on a Tuesday afternoon or a Thursday evening when our Neverending Knitting Class is going on. What a lot of fun it is.
We also like to brag that it's the best knitting value deal around, offering up to 32 classes over 4 months for just $45. And what you get from these classes is whatever you want to learn! You choose your project and you set the pace and ask the questions We're here to help you achieve your knitting goals and learn some new skills along the way. 
Joanne's delightful doll and Janet's Copycat Shawl are just two of the many projects that have been completed in the class in recent months. Don't stagnate with what you've knitted for years. Pick up your needles and come in to be challenged to create something new and beautiful. |
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A touch (or two) of class in Books
I've always been a Jean Moss fan, and was thrilled to receive her newest book featuring 25 samples of the newest, classy yet pratical trend: the shoulder warming shawlette.
SWEET SHAWLETTES is a perfect example of Jean's love of variety featuring at least a dozen knitting techniques that I'd love to work with in a great little project: Entrelac, corrugated knitting, fairisle, twined knitting, large holes, and my favourite: an amazing tartan shawl that finishes into a shoulder draping circle. This is just the book for anyone who is interested in perfecting their knitting skills with projects that won't take a lifetime but can be beautiful and useful enough to last that long.
One of my customers introduced me to FRENCH GIRL KNITS by Kristen Griffin-Grimes, explaining that she was in the store to pick up yarn for the 4th project from this book that she wanted to knit.
Not only is this a very beautiful book, it offerns 18 inspired projects that are based on the designer's love of
seamless construction (read: in the round)
allowing for custom fitting along the way.
Beautiful, instructional and practical. What's not to love. See reviews by other knitters on Good Reads. |
As we mentioned above, there are over 2 million knitters/crafters worldwide who are Ravelry members. What would it be like if everyone one of those spent just a half hour knitting on a bus, in a park, at the doctor's office, in a town square? Why, it could provoke a global revolution of more happy and peaceful people showing the rest how nice things can be when you take out your needles and focus on something positive.
That is exactly what can be done during this year's World Wide Knit In Public WEEK. For 2012 the dates have been extended from the 9th to the 17th of June.
So put some thought into it and link here to the Facebook Site and the Ravelry list of groups working to make knitting more visible for the greater good of all humanity (or at least to have an excuse to spend some time knitting outside).
Then email us pictures and details of what you are doing and we'll be thrilled to share it on Facebook and in the next newsletter. |
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June Events
Our most important event in the month of June each year is of course our ANNUAL INVENTORY SALE. Four weeks of rotating specials that make it fun for you to join us each week to pick up specials all month long. Don't miss out.
This month's evening Finishing Classes with Anne and Alana will take place on Wed. June 13th and 27th. 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.
June's get together for the Block Afghan project will be on Tuesday, June 19th from 6:30-8:30. 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.
June 8th to 10th, has the Kingston Heirloom Quilters and the Limestone Quilters' Guild presenting Quilts Kingston 2012 at the Royal Kingston Curling Club, 120 Days Rd.
June 9th to 18th are the date's for this year's Worldwide Knit it Public Week. A great excuse to meet friends and share your love of knitting with the rest of the city. Please read the article below for more information.
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JOIN US IN ITALY - September 2012
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The ITALIAN KNITTING TOUR - 2012
The city of Florence's link to the wool tradition stretches back to the early 13th century with the instutition of the famed Arte della Lana (the wool guild).
While in Italy, our group will be touring this glorious city and visiting Campolmi Roberto Filati, an amazing yarn store that is considered to be the last heir to the ancient wool guild.
Below you will see a picture of Knit and Chat, roman style, with ladies gathering on the steps of St Peter's to get a little sun. Could this have been on the occasion of the first Worldwide Knit In Public day???
Please join us from September 29th to October 10th for a wonderful tour of many of the glorious sights of Italy from Rome to Florence then on to a stay in rural Tuscany where we will partake in a regional cooking class, a winery visit and cheese tasting, not to mention a glorious selection of fibre friendly locations to visit.
Link to our website for more information on the specifics of the itinerary, and email Pam Franklin, our tour organizer for more details.
Ciao. |
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HAVE YOU JOINED US ON THE NET YET?
What you might have missed if you aren't following us on-line:
Congratulations to Margaret Lamb who was the 100th person to "like" us on Facebook. Here she is with a KnitTraders gift certificate that she received to mark the occasion.
Get the first word on new samples and yarns that we receive at the store, fun observations in the world of knitting, and Free Patterns that we put up on our Pattern Site like these fast and beginner friendly Boot Toppers. All this and more when you ...
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What was on Jan's Needles? 
At KnitTraders we have been working very hard to spruce up our list of store samples and Jan has been a driving force in choosing patterns and getting them done. Here are 2 great little cardis in cozy and fast knit worsted weight in 2 of our most popular yarns. Both patterns are available Free on-line.
The first at right is the Easy Baby Cardigan which is truly Beginner-Friendly and also perfect for more experienced knitters who need a cute baby gift that fashion conscious moms will love. Jan used Cascade's beautiful PACIFIC, which we carry in over 30 colours.
 This other baby cardi shown at left is called the Ribbed Baby Jacket, an easy little knit, made particularly delightful in the Luna Paints cotton (very similar to our beloved Mission Falls cotton of old).Jan also added a great little sack hat whose pattern is available at the store. You can link on either of the pattern titles to access the patterns and Happy Knitting! |
 KNITTING ON THE NET  Here is your humour quota for the month:
Bill Oddie's "The Knitting Song"
Kind of makes you appreciate the more sensitive side of male knitters.
This is the Dress that Knits Itself from Knitting Project of the Day.
Look carefully. It's an amazing concept in fun art.
Knittng Project of the Day (KOPTD) is a wonderful find in itself (it's also where I found the picture of the ladies knitting in St Peter's Square). Since April 2011, Rebecca Brown has been posting a knitting related project or story on her blog every single day. She has discovered some real treats that she shares with us all.
"Knitting takes a lot of time, and I want to provide an opportunity for any type of knitter to get some recognition"
She makes her selections with a particular eye to good writing and photography, and no doubt with a great sense of respect for the artist in all knitters. Check out the blog. You might get hooked as I have been. |
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