Hot days at Hank of Yarn
Hello everyone! Kathy and I are back from COOL Columbus, Ohio and The National Needlework Association meeting/market…back to HOT Mississippi! We learned some great new projects and ideas, and saw the fall yarn and accessory lines. We had classes with well-known teachers such as Lily Chin, Melissa Leapman, Lorna Miser (Lorna’s Laces) and Cat Bordhi. There were way over 1000 vendor booths to visit, a fashion show of the new patterns and yarns, the ever popular Sample It! hour where we could purchase goodies, the retailer luncheon with a dynamic speaker who led us into the future economy, and much more, with lots of walking and talking! We both “helped out” at the Kraemer Yarn booth, and got better acquainted with them. They took us to dinner one night…ask us about Mongolian barbecue! Mike called our trip a ‘vacation!’ If he says it again, we’re going to bonk him on the head. We ordered a ‘few’ things, including some WOW new knitting and accessory bags, new needle sets, and Silk n Ewe yarn from Mountain Colors: 50% merino, 50% silk!Now that we are rested and got our feet back on the ground, we have some news for you.The new Interweave Crochet Summer 09 magazine is in, and has some beautiful lace crocheting. Books new to the shop are Knitting More Circles Around Socks and Amigurumi Two!OUR NEXT THURSDAY KNITALONG Join our next Knitalong which will begin Thursday, July 2. Make a “Cozy” for your favorite beverage. You might want a wine cozy, or a shorter version to fit your drink cans. Knit flat or in the round, embellished, felted – be creative! There are several patterns online. Find one by searching on Ravelry, print it out and come in to pick out your yarn. Some possibilities are: http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/PATTwinecozy.htmlhttp://mkcarroll.typepad.com/mk_carroll/2006/04/knit_oddball_pr.htmlhttp://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/?p=462http://droppedastitch.blogspot.com/2006/12/keep-your-wine-cozy.htmlhttp://taras-knits.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=11We have a sample cozy on display, and sample patterns. NEW CLASS:All About CablesLearn to knit a variety of cables, starting with the most basic and building to more complex designs. You will gain a wealth of other skills as well, while you complete a wonderfully textured bag that is lightly felted. Learn how to create cables with a cable needles, create single stitch twists, use a pattern chart, make a wide buttonhole and join panels as you work.The class is 7 hours in total length, held in 3 sessions. Registrations are now open. You will need to sign up and pick out your yarn choice by Friday, July 10. The class sessions are July 17, July 24 and August 7. See the red purse sample in the shop.KEEP THE FLEECEOK, this is way cool! In order to celebrate the U.N. International Year of Natural Fibres, Keep the Fleece (www.keepthefleece.org) and Heifer International (www.heifer.org) are joining to collect $250,000 for Heifer International to build the world’s largest fiber flock. Heifer International is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization that provides livestock and training in sustainable agriculture to families in need around the world. What can we do? We will join with teams from all over who are knitting, crocheting, felting and weaving in an effort to create the world’s longest scarf. Scarves must be 9 inches wide, made from natural fibers, and each row represents a $1 donation to heifer. A 5 foot scarf represents 5 sheep given to needy families. The final scarves will be sent to Keep the Fleece by October 1. The scarves will then be tied together and displayed “in a place of national prominence.” After that, the scarves will be untied and donated to people who need them. We will start a scarf here at Hank of Yarn, and anyone who wants to knit or crochet on it can donate to the Heifer Jar. YOUTH FIBER CAMPThe first session of the camp was great fun with four young ladies making their own needles and dyeing yarn. Remember that it isn’t too late to sign a child up for the remaining sessions: learning to knit, spin and weave. The next three sessions are 2-4 PM June 26, July 10 and 17.
Cowl, Darkside Cowl and Chickadee Cowl (to be found on