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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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July 2012 |
At KnitTraders we're dedicated
to help every knitter succeed. | |
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  Knitting Olympics get the attention of the big guys!
Last July, Slate, on-line deliverer of world news and views, gave its reasons why Facebook was not able to deliver what our beloved Ravelry can as an example of an effective web based social community.
Zoom ahead a year, as the 2012 London Olympics approach and we see that Business Week gives us a story to show that knitters can rattle some cages. It appears that the US Olympic Committee feels that Ravelympics has been encroaching on their trade mark territory and is seeking to have it stopped.
Ravelympics began with the winter Olympics of 2006 in Turin, Italy when our beloved Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee mused on her blog about how fun it would be to challenge ourselves as knitters to cast on a carefully chosen project during the opening ceremonies and aim to complete said project by the extinguishing of the flame 17 days later. The first knitting Olympics were a roaring success by any standards and it's become a bit of a tradition for many knitters to start up a new project with the arrival of the teams to each of the subsequent Olympic Games.
The tradition and its naming and propogation on Ravelry have become too successful according to the USOC. Their effort can be seen whenyou look up the number of groups on Ravelry using the term Ravelympics, there are over 40 different groups covering the past 6 years, but only 4 of those pertain to the 2012 Olympics and by far the largest of the 4 is the Ravellenic Games 2012 group which seems to have dealt with the issue by choosing to harken to the Hellenic roots of the Olympics.
I guess the USOC has made their voice heard BUT they will never stop me and my customers from enjoying all the thrilling television time with our beloved knitting needles flying - however brand-protective they want to be. |
 A New Season
The inventory count is now behind us and we're awaiting the arrival of all the magnificent fall yarns that Alana and I have been shopping for over the past few months. First to arrive are 2 new fashion yarns from Estelle:
SEQUINS is the newest of the ever popular line of frilled yarns that adds a touch of glamour to its beautiful colour range. Come and see our sample scarf.
HUDSON is a gorgeous merino based fashion blend in 7 stunning colourways.
Visit us often over the next few weeks and be the first to see all the new products as they arrive.
For up to the minute news about recent arrivals be sure to:
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A Book to Share
A magic box with an unlimited supply of yarn and all the time in the world to knit it! Is that not a dream beyond our wildest imagining?
That is the essence of the story Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett charmingly illustrated by Jon Klassen. It's a perfect gift for you to share with the young people in your life who watch you knit, and wonder.
On sale now at KnitTraders. |
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Join our finishing class and get the job done.
Do you have projects that you've stashed away in favour of starting a fun new and perhaps more alluring garment? Do you wonder why your button bands sag or pucker? Is there any salvation when the sleeves are too long or the sweater is too small?
Every Tues. from 11-1pm and every 2nd Wed. from 6:30-8:30 we help you tackle those problems that require specialized solutions or give you the expertise and/or encouragement that you might need to finally accomplish that daunting finishing task that you've been avoiding. We're here to help. Link to our website to find out more about this terrific resource.
Make this the summer when you get those knitting jobs done! |
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WHAT WAS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE THIS MONTH.
IT'S ALL ABOUT COLOUR
Anything creative that we take on has some link to colour. Alana posted this great link to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary site where they list the top 10 words for unusual colours. Who knew that there was a colour called smalt, or cattleya? (I can't even pronounce that last one, and I used to teach language arts.) |
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Don't be shy about sharing your skill.
We are all ambassadors for our craft.
According to the Craft Yarn Council's recent research each crafter teaches on average, 8.5 people to knit or crochet. We can all have a hand in someone's blossoming.
The folks from Woolsack know all about sharing the beauty of a handmade gift. Woolsack, as part of the Cultural Olympiad, is a project that has collected cushions made from British wool to be given as a personal welcome gift from the people of Britain to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic athletes. 14 000 pillows was the goal. An amazing feat. |
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JOIN US IN ITALY - September 2012
The ITALIAN KNITTING TOUR - 2012
Time is running out to sign up for this trip of a lifetime.
11 days of exploring, including day tours of Florence, Pisa, and Rome as well as a traditional cooking class, wine and cheese tasting and an array of fibre and textile related activities and shopping opportunities. Full details are available on our website. or contact Pam Franklin at Service Guaranteed Travel.
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What would you like to see in
Coming Events?
This is the time of the year when we start to put together our list of classes for the coming season.
Is there a certain craft and/or technique that you'd like to see offered? Particular activities that you would like to take part in? Now is the time to speak up...we need your suggestions. Just email them to us and we'll see what we can do.
We're hoping to have the completed schedule available early in August.
Meanwhile, here are a few things to keep in mind over the coming weeks.
KnitTraders will be closed for the regular statutory holidays on Monday, July 2nd and Monday, Aug. 6th.
Our Wednesday evening Finishing Classes will be on July 11th and 25th from 6:30-8:30pm. Please feel free to join the class anytime if you need help with finishing your projects.
Our monthly Block Afghan Project get together will not take place in July but will resume on Tuesday, Aug. 21st from 6:30-8:30pm
We will be at the Kingston Sheep Dog Trials from Friday. Aug. 10th to Sunday the 12th at Grass Creek Park. If you haven't attended this amazing event, take this opportunity to see what real sheep lore is all about and drop by the vendors tent to say hello.
And in case you're driving through Maine at the end of the month, from July 29th- Aug 4th, the New England Fiber Arts Retreat will be taking place in Washington, Maine. www.medomakretreatcenter.com |
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What's on Anne's Needles? 
Many of you know that I have instituted a family tradition: as each member of my relatively immediate family reaches the big 5-0 I have committed to make them a sweater. The next 2 sweaters on the list are destined for Calgary, where my sister-in-law (who looks about 35) and my brother (who looks much older, at least 38) will be passing that milestone in 2012. They are both great outdoor fans (they work at Mountain Equipment Co-op) so I was committed to choosing something warm, natural and no nonsense so they could enjoy them without worry.
To the left is Patricia's bomber jacket which I began during the trip to Ireland last fall. I needed something that I could knit on the bus without thinking too much but which would still keep me entertained and be worthy of the recipient. It has cabled ribbing around the bottom, cuffs and doubled neckband, with a cable up each sleeve, on either side of the zipper and up the back. The sleeve cables continue right up and work into the neckband forming a saddle shoulder. I loved the design as it came together and although I haven't seen it on her yet, she says that it fits great.
My brother, Mike, is a BIG boy. He was 13 lbs at birth and has continued to grow up if not out too much. I wanted to concentrate on getting the size right with his sweater so I chose to follow someone else's pattern: Cabin Fever's Ridgeway Pullover (pictured above and right) which is knit in the round and of a very cool structural design with next to no sewing required. I made a similar sweater years ago for my husband and although it looks a bit strange on a hanger, it looks fabulous on a body, which is often the way it goes.
Following these rather imposing projects (for me anyway), I have one more to knit before Christmas for my poor long suffering husband who can't understand why he used to get a sweater each year before I was the owner of a knitting store, and since then he's lucky to get one every 5 years but only if he nags me enough. |
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 Get your wellies ready for the fallWho am I to point out to you (but I must) that it is as inevitable as the rising sun that autumn will bring weather for which you will want to have these great boot toppers. Ultra light and fast/easy to make - a perfect roadtrip or cottage knitting project. And the pattern is free!
We've made this pair in Noro's ever popular KUREYON, and we have a second set on display made of Manos del Uruguay's MAXIMA. Both are stunning. Any Aran/light chunky yarn will do. Come in and let your colour sense drag you around the store to find just the right touch(es) for your rainy day wardrobe.
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