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HERITAGE CLUB
Are you a member? Ask about joining the next time you are in the shop. Or click the logo for more information. |
| Events |
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These are social knitting times - no charge, but no help is provided.
Tues. evening 7 to 9
Wed. morning 10 to 12
Sun. afternoons 2 to 4
2008 Heritage Fiber Art Show
Special thanks to these vendors for the prizes they donated:
Arnhild's Knitting Studio
Berroco
Brown Sheep
Bryson Distributing
Chiao Goo
FiberSphere
Henry's Attic
Himalaya Yarn
Interweave
JaggerSpun
Knit One, Crochet Two
Louet
Mountain Colors
Muench
Nancy's Knit Knacks
River's Edge Jewelry
Russi Sales
Schacht Spindle Co.
Schaefer Yarn
Skacel
Some Knit Required
Supreme
Swedish Yarns
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Greetings!
What a week it has been in the shop. We were busy, busy, busy putting out new yarn and finishing up our new shop arrangement. The shop looks so nice with all the fall yarns in, shelves full of color and the bins labeled in an orderly, consistent manner. Feels good.
The new shelf labels tell you at a glance if the yarn is machine or hand washable, what the weight is according to Craft Yarn Council of America guidelines, the name of the yarn and the fiber content. The CYCA uses the little yarn ball icons that have numbers in them with "0" being lace weight and "6" being super bulky.
The yarns are now arranged in order around the shop from 0 to 6 in most instances. The yarns in the "back room" are our machine washable yarns, the "front room" yarns are mostly hand wash, but some are machine washable. The sock room remains the sock room - except more yarns have been added. We hope you like this new arrangement - I am happy with it because it is easier for us to help you find exactly the yarn you need for your project.
Another new addition to the shop is Ryan, he'll be helping out skeining yarn and assisting Suzanne on Thursday late afternoons. Ryan is a high school Junior, a skilled potter and a new spinner. |
| Introducing: More American Yarn from Brown Sheep Company |
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 A while back I decided that I wanted to support more American yarn companies. Those that really make their yarn here. We've almost always had Lamb's Pride worsted and bulky and Cotton Fleece, but Brown Sheep makes other yarns that we didn't carry. In the past year we brought in their sock yarn and this past week we replaced our Cascade 220 worsted weight yarn with Brown Sheep Nature Spun. We now have all the colors they make - 72, if I remember correctly, and as an added bonus, they are already in a ball and don't have to be processed from a hank. Nature Spun has 245 yards per skein and retails for $7.10 so you not only get an American made yarn, but you pay less and get more. The quality is at least as good and maybe even better. 
Cascade 220 Superwash has been replaced with Lambs Pride Superwash. I really like the way this yarn feels and I think it will pill less than the Cascade. Cost is $10.65 for 200 yards. I've been told by customers that they like the color selection in the Lambs Pride SW better specifically because of the heathers.
A word about Brown Sheep Co. They are located in the bluffs of Nebraska out in the country near Scottsbluff. Each year they process 400,000 pounds of raw fibers into worsted spun yarns. They use all natural fibers: cotton, wool and silk and dye on-site. The company was founded in 1980 by Harland and Janet Brown and remains family-owned. They understand the needs of the hand knitter, machine knitter, crocheter and weaver. Many of their yarns are available on cones and all can be ordered by single skeins (most companies require a minimum purchase of 10 skeins). Special orders don't upset us (if you remember that TV advertisement from the 70s you are getting old!) - ask to see our sample book and we'll order exactly what you need for your next project of ANY of their yarns.
Other made-in-America yarns that we stock include Shepherds Wool; Schaefer's Anne, Heather and Laurel; and Mountain Colors Bearfoot (and River Twist will be in soon). |
| Annie's Book Review: The Knitter's Book of Yarn |
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 I've been putting off writing this review for awhile now. Not because I don't like the book, it's great. It's because Joan loaned me her personal copy to use while writing the review and once I'm done, I have to give it back!
The Knitter's Book of Yarn: the Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using & Enjoying Yarn by Clara Parkes has something for all fiber lovers: knitters, spinners, felters, weavers or those of us who just collect piles of yarn.
Parkes covers a wide range of topics such as yarn composition (protein, cellulose, synthetic), structure (plys, textures, etc), color, care and much more. There are many projects arranged by number of plys and textures. An explanation is included as to why each project is best suited to a particular type of yarn. There are many color illustrations and an excellent glossary. Even if you don't make any of the projects, the book is fun to read. Now I have to buy my own copy!
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| Classes |
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Today is the last chance to register for this class:
Spinning Boot Camp II (Everything but Wool) starts 10/18 (tomorrow). We're going to have fun playing with all kinds of non-wool fibers! We'll start with a fiber that was once worth its weight in gold: silk!
Sampler Afghan, meets on the first Sunday afternoon of each month. This is from a Leisure Arts book - a sample is on display in our sitting room.
Undulating Waves Scarf 10/18 with Cindy.
Geometric Beaded Scarf 10/19 with Annelise.
Toe up, Two at a Time Socks starts 10/24. This class is always popular - Deb is a great instructor and breaks this complex technique down into manageable, bite-sized parts.
Introduction to Magical Socks. Take a peak inside Cat Bordhi's brain and learn how to approach sock knitting from a different perspective. You'll also learn a really-cool cast-on. 11/1 with Joan.
4-Ruffle Scarf. Turn a ball or two of sock yarn into this great scarf that makes a lovely "ruff" for a teen-aged daughter or granddaughter. 11/2 with Joy.
Stuffed Mittens. Knit with roving as your second color and make a pair of mittens that defy the wind. 11/9 with Gina.
Our Next Learn to . . . classes:
Learn to Knit: starts 10/30 (or learn anytime at Drop In Knitting)
Learn to Tat: next session in the new year
Learn to Spin: starts 10/12
Learn to Weave on the Rigid Heddle: 10/25
Learn to Weave: starts 2/5/09
Details on all of these classes on our website. |
| New Samples In Store |
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Tress found this hat in the Holiday 2008 Vogue Knitting that just arrived. She whipped it up in the yarn specified in the pattern, Wave. Big berets are big this year! Here you see the hat in a back and a front view. Tress knit it in a week and said it was fun to do.
And Elizabeth-the-Knitter brought these in . . .
From Knitting Matters (some of you may remember that owner Kim Smith worked here before launching Knitting Matters), the Rose Baby Cardigan (KM-05). We knit it up in Berroco Comfort: 
And, from Debbie Lake, the Wedding Wrap. We fell in love with it when we visited ImagiKnit in Gaylord, ordered the pattern and here it is for you to see. This version is in fingering weight alpaca. 
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Have you registered yet?
 Knit Michigan Presents . . . An Evening with Shay Pendray at Michigan Design CenterMark your calendars now for Tuesday evening, October 28. Get the details at www.knitmichigan.com. Do come. Whether you are interested in being a marathoner or attending Knit Michigan in February or just want to meet fellow knitters - this is an event you will want to be part of.
There is one final local fiber festival this fall that you won't want to miss:
Finally, if you are still working on an afghan square for the Knit Michigan afghan volunteer knitting project, could you please check in? We would like to have the afghan assembled to display at the Evening with Shay Pendray. Thank you!
Happy Fibering,
Joan Sheridan
Heritage Spinning & Weaving |
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