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Auntie Wooly Says:
Dahlings!
I keep hearing about people saying they were told they knit 'wrong' or 'it's too hard' and many other things that can discourage everyone from enjoying playing with fiber.
Well, I say Pish Posh!
This is supposed to be fun! Pick up that hook, grab those needles and have at it. Drop a stitch? Not to worry, we can you help fix it, or better yet pick a yarn that hides those issues. Gauge not perfect? Then choose a project where gauge isn't critical and enjoy yourself. Good Heavens Dear Friends, lighten up! Express yourself, have some fun, and just enjoy the experience.
Speaking of enjoying the experience, the trolley in Cambria is FREE all Summer! From 10 till 4, Friday thru Monday, hop on the trolley anywhere in town and enjoy a fun ride along Main street, down to Shamel Park, and along Moonstone Beach. Park once and ride all day. It's a perfect way to enjoy our little town. Until next time... Happy Stitching, My Dears! Auntie W.
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 Manos del Uruguay at TNNA
We're back from our Fall/Winter show in Columbus, Ohio! What an amazing experience. We have many many things to share with you about it, but we would like to start with our good friends at Manos del Uruguay. As you know, Manos is a Fair Trade Certified yarn from a Woman's Cooperative. We were so happy to have the opportunity to spend some time with these amazing women that run the Cooperative. Left to right - Kris Gregson, Oz Barron (Ball & Skein & More), Cecilia Lalanne, Lucia Benitez (Manos del Uruguay), and Jocelyn Tunney (Fairmount Fibers, U.S. Distributor)
As you may know, each skein of yarn from Manos has the village name as well as the name of the artisan that produced it. We love this aspect of the yarn, connecting us to the artisian. So to make this connection back to the artisian even stronger, we're encouraging everyone to take a picture of their project along with a picture of the label showing the artisians name and location and send it in to us! We'll send those images off to Manos. We presented this idea to the women from the cooperative and they were delighted! They said the women in Uruguay would be so happy to see what is being created using their yarns. So, start creating and send us some images! Need more yarn? Click here for our current supply of every Manos yarn in every color, including the brand new colors of Maxima, Clasica, and soon to come - Silk Blend!
Want to knit something fun? Click Here to download a FREE pattern for some cute Fingerless Mitts made from one skein of Maxima.
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 How do we choose?
With such an overwhelming array of yarns and other accessories to choose from, we get asked this all the time. As you know, we carry items from over 80 different vendors from around the world. It's a daunting task, but one we enjoy. We thought we'd share how we choose what to bring into the store.
Our first, and most important criteria is value. The newest and latest can certainly be fun but value, we feel, is the most important thing. We routinely pass up buying "the hottest thing" if we don't feel it would be a good value for you. Value doesn't necessarily mean the cheapest or lowest cost but rather the quality of the product overall for the money you spend.
Another important factor for us is uniqueness. Is this a yarn or a product that is different from what you might find everywhere else? Is there something special about where or how it's produced? If the answer is yes, we're more likely to bring it in for you.
Vendor ethics is also important to us. Do they support independent locally owned yarn stores? Are their prices and business practices fair and honest? Do they communicate clearly and accurately about availability? These are some of the key issues we think about.
We also tend to ask about the provenance of the items. In other words, where is it made? How is the yarn dyed? Are the workers treated fairly and paid a reasonable wage?
In the case of yarns, pattern support and availability is also important, unless, of course, we create a pattern for you. After all, the yarn may be beautiful, but if we don't know what to do with it, it becomes less valuable.
We also look at what need the item fills in our overall inventory. We carry many products from many fine companies but we can't carry everything. We do our best to give you a wide variety of choices in stitch gauge, fiber content, color, and texture. Everyone wants and needs something that is a little different, so we try our best to make sure we have a wide selection of choices to fill the needs of a wide variety fiber fans!
We hope this was interesting for you. A little view into what goes on "Behind the Scenes" at the Ball & Skein & More.
Happy Stitching!
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 Upcoming Events!
TNNA was so great for so many reasons. One of the best was setting up special events in the shop to share with you. The first event we're pleased to announce is a Trunk Show from the #1 knitting book in the country - Knit, Swirl by Sandra McIver! From July 27 to August 12 we'll have a selection of these amazing, beautiful, flattering jackets in the shop. We always have the book in stock as well as the Mountain Colors kits for the jacket featured on the cover. We spent some quality time with Sandra at TNNA and we're ready to help you launch your own Knit, Swirl Jacket! On Labor Day weekend in Cambria we celebrate Pinedorado Days, and once again we're pleased to have Robin Page of Pagewood farms join us on Saturday September 1, and perhaps longer! It's always a great time when Pagewood shows up, and they always bring fun new items! October brings the return of Auntie Wooly and Cambria's Scarecrow Festival! We're getting folks dropping off squares for Auntie's jacket, but there is plenty of room for more squares! If you missed the notice last month, we're creating a jacket with your help. Send us or drop off squares and we'll make Auntie's jacket out of them. As before click here for some simple and FREE Knit and Crochet patterns to get you started! Contact us if you have any questions about Auntie's jacket project. October also brings a Manos Trunk Show! These were some of the most exciting new designs we saw at the show, and they'll be here from October 4 through October 14! Beautiful new designs in the beautiful new Maxima, Clasica, and Silk Blend colors in both knit and crochet! November 1 - 4, we'll be in San Mateo for Interweave Knitting Lab, an intensive weekend of classes and a small vendor area. Yes, the shop will be open, but we'll also be at the show. Stop by and say hello if you're in the area! We'll be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even we get a day off now and then. No special events are planned right now for December but be sure and stop in and get those last-minute gift ideas while enjoying the lights and decorations in Cambria! February sends us off to another TNNA event, this time in Long Beach for our Spring/Summer show. Then Friday March 8 thru Sunday March 10 it's the return of Gwen Bortner for our Weekend Away, Spring 2013! We had such a great time hosting Gwen and a room full of knitters last year, that we're doing it again. We've already reserved rooms at the Cambria Pines Lodge. Save the dates and stay tuned for more details and your chance to reserve your spot at this fun-filled weekend! As if that wasn't enough, we're finalizing dates for the premier of Audrey Knight's new book "Reversible Scarves"! Many more special events are in the works so keep an eye on our web site, Facebook, Ravelry, or emails to learn the latest! Busy? You bet! We want you to have fun and be exposed to as many fun, new, and exciting things in the fiber world!
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 New Stuff?
Sure! Always new items! New yarns coming soon from Zealana - makers of Brush Tailed Possum yarn, which has nothing to do with American Possum. We'll tell you more about their amazing environmental and ecological successes in future emails!
Kollage, Shibui, Alp Exquisite, Lorna's Laces, hemps, organic cottons, so many new things coming for you all the time! Keep an eye on our web site for all the latest news!
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Ongoing Events
Stitching In Your Slippers - FREE OPEN KNITTING and CROCHET
Every Friday and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
4210 Bridge St
Cambria, California 93428
Learn To Knit or Crochet for FREE
No class, no schedule, just drop in and we'll get you started with the basics for FREE! Why do we do this for free? We want to share this craft with everyone we can. Of course we'd love it if you become regular guests in the shop, but it gives us so much pleasure to teach as many people as possible how to start their journey with our favorite craft.
Stay tuned to our Facebook Page (Feel free to 'Like' us!), our Ravelry Page, or this newsletter for all the latest news and upcoming special events! |
Thank You
Three years ago we had the great fortune of becoming part of a community that spans generations. From it's beginnings in the West Village so many years ago to it's much loved location on Burton Dr, and now to our new expanded location, the shop has seen so many changes and so many stories. The support we've experienced in our new location has been overwhelming and heartwarming. We are grateful for everyone that chooses to share their time with us.
Thank you so much, from all of us here at the Ball & Skein & More.
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Contact Info
Kris and Oz
805-927-3280
info@cambriayarn.com |
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