Thistledown Shoppe
October 4, 2009
Thistledown Shoppe Newsletter
FALLING INTO MY FAVORITE SEASON
In This Issue
New and Updated
Free Patterns
Knitting Workshop

This past month has been spent fighting the fruit flies.  Thanks to whatever, it looks like they are finally gone and we are ready to have the yarn shoppe back to just us and the yarn.  Thanks for your understanding.

And the great news is that we have expanded by adding another room to the shoppe, giving us a total of four rooms!  It has allowed us the opportunity to introduce new yarns and add more seating in the front room.  Stop by and see the changes.

I have to say that fall is my favorite time of the year.  I love the changing colors and the crispness of the air.  And on top of that I get to see my favorite bird again -watching and listening to the chickadees outside of my window, as I type this.  It just doesn't get much better.
 
New and Updated


Misti Alpaca: This yarn is part of Misti Alpaca's luxury yarns.  And when you come in and touch it, you will see why.  Here is their description:

100% Baby Alpaca Yarn Misti Alpaca Chunky is exquisitely soft and heavenly to knit. A favorite yarn of both the beginner & experienced knitter.

I am presently knitting a sample scarf, the pattern is listed below under our free pattern section.  At this time we only have two colors in stock, but more are arriving within the next several weeks.


Portland Tweed: We have added more colors and pattern books to this line.  It is a wonderful yarn.  Here is a project I would love to knit.

portland tweed cardigan


TY-DY WOOL: If you like TY-DY cotton, you will LOVE the 100% wool version.  It is machine washable on delicate cycle, plus it's very soft to the touch. All Ty-Dy cotton patterns work with the Ty-Dy Wool.

Fiber Content: 100% wool
Put-Up: 100-gr ball
Yardage: 218 yards
Texture: smooth
Sts per 4": 20 sts
Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm)



CROCK-O-DYE: Two dye colors are added to a kettle and then are hand dyed to create this wonderful, silky, sock-weight yarn.  We carry all nine colors.

crock o dye

Fiber Content: 65% superwash wool/20% nylon/15% silk
Put-Up: 100-gr hanks
Yardage: 416 yards
Texture: smooth
Sts per 4": 28 to 32 sts
Needles: US size 1 to 3 (2.25mm to 3.25mm)


Bernat Camouflage

Northern Worsted: 
more colors in the solids, tweeds, and varigated.


Ann Norling patterns


a n fruit caps

Fruit Caps


a n perfect tee

Perfect Tee



a n flower hat

Flower Hats


a n patchwork vest

Patchwork Vest -
 This one is great for using up your worsted weight scraps.



 
 
Free Patterns

Okay, folks.  Save your corks from the wine bottles.  And  if you do not want to knit these wee folks, bring the corks in to us.


korknisse

Korknisse    Ravelry has some cute examples.


Toads for you crocheters.

Pumpkins from Knitty.  Our Lamb's Pride worsted would work great with this pattern.

Batsy Mittens  sportweight yarn

Candy Corn fingerless gloves     worsted weight

Ribs and Ruffles Scarf    Misti Alpaca Chunky

ribs and ruffles scarf
KNITTING WORKSHOP



Glen Arbor workshop

Knitting Workshop at the Glen Arbor Art Association  
 
Do you need some snuggly mittens and scarves for the coming cold weather?  The Glen Arbor Art Association will be offering three days of knitting workshops October 15-17 with Kalamazoo artist, Susan Ramsey. She describes the three days as,

 "Thursday: Elegant Economy - Joseph's Thrum-Scarf of Many Colors - Even the most inexperienced knitter can learn to produce an elegant multicolored scarf, while experienced knitters can also explore the different effects of seed, line and garter stitch on color.

Friday: Happy Hands - Thrummed Mittens - Maine understands cold weather. Not only have these fleece-stuffed mittens been test-driven by generations of Down-Easters, but they are also fun to knit.

Saturday (1/2 day): It's a Cast-on, It's a Bind-off, It's a Buttonhole, It's a Trim! - I-Cord workshop. Guru Elizabeth Zimmerman's beloved I-Cord is a simple technique which lends itself to so many uses: trim, cast-on, buttonhole, belt, frog, and bind-off. Learn the basics in four hours and spend the rest of your life exploring  the possibilities."
 
Susan Ramsey says she, "has been knitting since the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan". She has taught hand spinning and knitting at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts for over ten years.  A hand knit, hand painted stole of hers won the Kalamazoo Knitter's Guild award at the KIA's 2008 Area Show and a Japanese-fold artist's book alternating pages of handmade paper and hand knit lace was a prizewinner in 2009.  She believes, "the great thing about knitting is how it allows beginners to produce beautiful, usable objects while never permitting experienced knitters to exhaust its possibilities".
 
9:00 -4:00, Thursday, October 15 & Friday, October 16
$75/day members - $85/day non-members
9:00-1:00, Saturday, October 17
$50/members/$60 non-members
All 3 days: $175 members/$205 non-members
 
To register or for more information on these workshops call the Glen Arbor Art Association at 334-6112.


 Felted Pumpkin bowl

This cooler weather has me thinking about holiday themes.  We have Susan's pattern for a felted pumpkin bowl with a handle.  What a great item for Halloween!  Knit it in wintery colors and it is perfect for Christmas.

Thistledown Shoppe
Suttons Bay, MI  49682
231-271-YARN (9276)

The Wee Shoppe with a Big Heart

Mon through Sat 10-6  Sun 12 -4

Yarn Lover's Night: every Monday 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

http://thistledownshoppe.blogspot.com/ Kathy Dawkins, Betsy Eike, Ruth Ziter, Diane Cavagnini, Doreen Tyrell, and Susan Curtis

Save 25%
Bernat's Camouflage and Northern Worsted's Camouflage yarn.

Knit up some items in our new camouflage yarn.  Bernat has it in a girly color and the Northern worsted is the darker colorway. 
 
Offer Expires:  October 31 or until supplies last

Printed coupon must be presented.