Thistledown Shoppe

Thistledown Shoppe Newsletter

In This Issue
Vote
Henry's Attic
Knitting by the Bay 2009
Shawl or Lace Knit Along
Knit, Crochet, or Quilt at the Leelanau Jail
Free Patterns
"Hats on to You" update
Join Our Mailing List
I started this newsletter last Saturday and this was my opening
It really is sounding a tad bit like spring is working its way into the weather.  As I am working on this, I can hear some birds chirping away.  The temperatures are coming back out of the zeros and the snow is melting away.  Now we can rediscover what was left on our lawns and navigate around the potholes.

But then Sunday occurred and that paragraph was moot.

So, here we are a week later and the snow is starting to melt, except now there is a lot more of it to melt.  I haven't heard the birds that I was hearing last week. 
But the temperatures have been more in the 30's this week, so that has been good.

March has shown us that it can still come in like a lion.  Do you think it will go out like a lamb?
 Vote for Us

Not sure how this happened, but somehow I was nominated as one of the Traverse City area's best businesses in the 2009 Best of the A-List @ UpNorthLive.com contest.  If you want to enter a vote in this contest, go to their website.  You will have to go to the shopping, then arts and crafts category.

Hmmm, this should be interesting.

Oh, the voting started on Monday, March 9, but darn if I can figure out when it stops.

 
Henry's Attic


Just received a box from Henry's Attic.  On top of their yarns being some of the most lovely yarns around, they

tan Aztex Boucle

are also all naturally colored.  No dyes are used.  We now have Aloha, Aztec Boucle, Inca Cotton, Irish Lace, Monte Cristo, Peruvian Tweed, Prime Alpaca, Shahrazade, and Texas Bighorn.  Ravelry has a great description of all of the yarns, along with projects. 

I will admit to loving the Peruvian Tweed.  We restocked the brown and bluey charcoal combination.  It is sooooo soft and I have never seen this color combination before in a yarn. 

I am presently knitting a shawl out of the Shahrazade, Susan made a lovely toddler tunic from Cottage Creations out of the Inca Cotton, and other customers have knitted baby blankets and throws out of the Monte Cristo.

Knitting by the Bay 2009, Lace Workshop

April 17, 18, and 19
Bayshore Resort

If you think you would like to learn how to knit lace, or you have already been knitting lace, but would like to learn more , then this is the workshop for you.

Amy Detjen is an amazing instructor and you will love her!  She is funny and knowledgeable.  We had her last year for a class and sweaters and the Rib Warmer and she was asked to come back again this year to teach us about knitting lace.

Give us a call and sign up.

Thursday 5 pm on (social time)
Friday  9 am until 4:30 pm
Saturday 9 am until 4:30 pm
Sunday  9 am until noon


Pansy shawl




Skill level is beyond beginner.

Tuition is $195.  The cost includes lunch and dinner on Friday, lunch on Saturday, and snacks for all three days.
The motel rooms are $90 per night.  Each room may have up to 4 people, for that price, per room.

Class size is limited to 25.

Registration closes on Friday, April 3.


 
 
Shawl or Lace Knit Along


Saturdays, 3 pm  to 5 pm
Starting March 7
$5.00 per session

Want to knit a shawl or something lacy, but not sure how to do it?  Starting Saturday, March 7, we will have a KAL.  You pick your project and your yarn and then join us to work on it.  We will provide help and support. 

This will be ongoing.  No deadlines.  No need to sign up, just show up.



Knit, Crochet, or Quilt at the Leelanau Jail

I am working with Chery King, the Leelanau County Jail Administrator in setting up programs using quilting, crocheting, and knitting.  She and several other folks there are already using those crafts with the inmates, but they need some help.  If you have any supplies that they could use with these crafts, please bring them in to the shoppe.   We are looking for things like thread, fabric, yarn, wooden needles - anything that would be used in knitting, crocheting or quilting.  No metal needles.   They could also use a decent sewing machine. 

We are looking for volunteers to teach the inmates the crafts of knitting, quilting, and crocheting.   You would have to be flexible as the times spent with the inmates would be dictated by the correctional guards' schedules.  A guard will be required to be in the room with you and they do not have always have enough guards on shift to cover activities like this.

As we already know, quilting, crocheting, and knitting helps to relieve stress and gives us a sense of accomplishment.   The inmates will be creating items that will then be given back to our community.  They are presently making quilts for a fund raiser for cancer research.   I hope to have some pictures in the next newsletter of some their works in progress.
Free Patterns

Striped Hoody for toddler.  Try one of our worsted weight yarns -  Lamb's Pride, Northern Worsted, Eco Wool, Unspun Icelandic, or Mission Falls.

Either of these patterns would be great with our Prime Alpaca or Peruvian Tweed.
Clapotis  A scarf that has been made over and over again since it hit Knitty in 2004.
Francis Revisted  This is a raglan sleeve pullover with a cowl neck.  Very simple and classic.   You do have to be a Ravelry member for this pattern.
 
Hats on to You
Watch Caps for the Leelanau Plow Drivers

Last Friday we dropped off the watch caps to the Leelanau County Road Commission.

Thanks to you, ladies, we had 37 hats to give to the folks as a Thank You.

If you go to the blog and look at the entry for March 14, you can see pictures, along with the whole story.

 
Thistledown Shoppe
Fine Yarns and Notions
PO Box 52
419 N St. Joseph St.
Suttons Bay, MI  49682
231-271-YARN (9276)

The Wee Shoppe with a Big Heart

Monday through Saturday 10-6 
Sunday 12 -4

Yarn Lover's Night (join us and work on your project): every Monday 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm


Kathy Dawkins, Melody Jakubiak, Betsy Eike, Jillian MacLellan, Cheryl VanZee, and Susan Curtis
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