On Saturday August 31, and likely Sunday as well, we're delighted to welcome back to the shop Robin Page of Pagewood Farm!

Every year they make the trek up from Southern California to show off their latest creations, demonstrate some spinning, needle felting and create a fun, creative feel to the shop.

Saturday is the Pinedorado Parade so the town is brimming with excitement, so come on in and meet some of the most fun, creative people in the fiber world. The parade starts near the front of the store, so after the last float, stop in to see Robin Page! Sunday is the big Car Show in the West Village so there's lots to do in town all weekend.

Many of us love Alpaca, much of which comes from Peru. Many of us have admired the amazing colors and patterns of traditional Peruvian textiles, both knitted and woven. Want to learn more about this amazing land and the people that live there?

Join us Saturday August 31 at 5:30 PM for an FREE, informative, exciting evening with Jim Petkiewicz of Frog Tree Yarns and Community Links International as he shows us the wonders of this beautiful land.

We'll also have many more details about our group trip to Peru with Jim, currently planned for 10 days beginning on Tuesday March 13, 2014. This will be the most intensive opportunity to learn about the trip, the area, and what you can expect when traveling to one of the centers of fiber culture in the world.

As if 10 days in Peru led by someone that knows the area and people so well wasn't enough, we'll be joined by the one and only Cat Bordhi! If you'd like to be among the first to know all the details, you can register on-line here.

"The Broken Circle" Part 1 of the Potluck Yarn Trilogy, will be in the shop with designs and kits from the book. If you liked Harry Potter, you'll love Cheryl Potter and the magical world she's created.

Cheryl is a lot of fun and the book has been a fun success spreading the goodness of yarn beyond the knitting world.

Click here to learn a little more!

On Saturday September 21 and Sunday September 22, fiber fans from all over will get to sample all 5 yarn shops in SLO county! Visit all 5 shops, get your passport stamped, and you'll be entered to win fabulous prizes from some of the leading companies in the business!
Keep an eye on our site for the latest news!

All weekend we'll have special surprises, unique items, as well as trunk shows from Alchemy and Manos del Uruguay, and an exhibition of Needle Felt sculptures from Jana Seely. Put on your Crawling shoes and plan of a full weekend of fun and fiber!

 

Color. We all love it. Some of us struggle with color while others seem to swim in it effortlessly. One thing we all agree on is we love beautiful color in our knitting. And using color can be much easier than you think.
 
This new class from Gwen is for knitters of all levels. Gwen freely admits, much to other's surprise, to struggling with color most of her life. But her love of learning and knitting brought her to learn about color as well as how to use it in her knitting. Her motto is, "If I can do it, so can you!" And with the things you'll learn in this class, you will!
 
In this class, we'll explore color and talk about color theory in simple accessible terms. We'll experiment using colors in a variety of yarns. We'll see how some fibers take the dye differently and how different colors of different yarns behave in sometimes unexpected ways.  We'll also address various techniques for using color that will allow knitters of all abilities to take advantage of color work in their knitting. As always, the class will be filled with tips and techniques from one of the most entertaining and gifted teachers in the business.
 
So, whether you're a knitter that has only knit simple scarves or cowls, or you just finished your first Kaffe Fassett sweater, there will be plenty in this class for you!
 
Prerequisites: You'll need to be able to knit, purl, cast-on and bind-off without assistance. You should also be able to read simple knitting patterns. Must be willing to learn something new that might change your perception of the world around you!

You probably know we stock every yarn Manos del Uruguay makes in every color. Did you also know they have some of the most knittable, interesting patterns as well? From Monday September 16 till Monday September 30, come see the latest designs from Manos, a certified Fair Trade yarn from a Woman's Cooperative in Uruguay that has been changing lives for over 40 years.

Click here for all the beautiful yarns and colors

 

We'll have a range of these jackets across a variety of shapes and yarn types so you can pick the style that appeals to you. We've helped many people through these jackets. Believe us when we say - you can do it!

 

We have so many patterns for our knitters. That's because there are more knitters than crocheters. Here at the Ball & Skein we LOVE our crocheters. Many of us in the shop started with crochet. Sometimes we love to pick up that hook and create something that is uniquely 'crochet'.

This month, we'd like to share a fun scarf we know you'll love. Crocheted with two skeins of Manos Serena, a beautiful Baby Alpaca/Cotton blend, you'll love the feel of this soft, subtle yarn that is so gentle on even the most sensitive of skin. The scarf will measure approx 70" x 6". It has a lovely drape and is perfect for those times when you want a scarf but don't need something overly warm or bulky. Imagine, such a beautiful, kettle-dyed certified fair trade scarf for under $30! Hard to believe, especially knowing it's a certified Fair Trade yarn from a Woman's Cooperative in Uruguay. And when you get your yarn, notice how each label has the name of the village and the name of the artisan that produced the yarn. A wonderful connection across the miles and cultures.

 

As you may know we have a secure on-line store Our shipping rates are: $7 flat rate in the US, FREE SHIPPING for all orders over $150!