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Thursday, April 24, 2008
I promised I’d post when the new sock stuff came in…and it’s here! Trouble is, it’s flying outta here at breakneck speed. Grundl Sock Kits feature four 50g skeins German sock yarn (75% superwash wool and 25% nylon)…2 in a self-striping yarn and 2 in a coordinating solid shade…, a set of 2.5 mm d.p. needles (8” long…they look like they’re coated aluminum), and the pattern…ALL FOR $23.50!!!! Amazing deal, and pretty much a one-time offer, as I brought in an assortment on a special, which I’m passing on to you. The kit will knit a couple of pairs of large men’s socks (or more of smaller sizes)…use the yarns on their own, or mix ‘em up, knitting cuffs and feet in self-striping and heels and toes in the solid, or whatever strikes your fancy! This is a wonderful opportunity to stock up on your gift giving supplies or the kits make fabulous gifts for your favorite knitter! Perfect, too, for the burgeoning sock knitter that may not have a stash of sock yarn, needles, and accompanying patterns. There are 8 shade combos available, but as I say, they are disappearing quickly. Please email me if you’d like the note I sent to my mailing list with all the shades shown. Below is the greens one that I just couldn’t resist (and started knitting almost as soon as the yarn arrived). 
Talk to you soon! |
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Saturday, April 19, 2008 Let me first dazzle you with a photo of a Finished Object: 
Felted Ballet Slippers done, embellished with requested needle felted butterflies “Molly” and “Polly”. These are a tad big, made to allow for growing room. Used 2 skeins of Lett Lopi in Coral and knit the Ladies Small (the largest kids’ size wouldn’t have given any extra room). Nice, quick knit…ask me if you’re interested in the pattern or a needle felting kit, as they’re currently in stock. The sweater leaflet is all done except a final proofing and a suitable photo. It won’t be long, now…and all the really hard work is done. It’s not a complicated knit, it’s just that it hasn’t been my ultimate priority to get it done, knowing full well that the weather just doesn’t cooperate for a good photo until late April or early May. On to other things until I can snag a photo op. Now I need to work up a project that has to be at Infiknit/Fiddlesticks Knitting’s booth at TNNA, so I’ll be swatching today. I’m really looking forward to this project, which will be using a DK 100% silk in “Robin’s Egg” colorway. Loooooovely. I want to mention that I have some fabulous sock stuff on its way…I’ll post more details once it has all arrived! Off to knit to stay warm…why, oh, why does it have to be -10 Celcius with a coooooooold Arctic wind blowing in April, for cryin’ out loud?? Friday, April 11, 2008 Honestly, I can’t figure out how the weeks keep flying by. Here’s a little sneak peek of my newest sweater leaflet (and proof that I really do work on it): 
Not sure when I’ll be able to take a decent photo (it’s snowing like a banshee out there as we speak), but all the other technical work should be done on it by end of next week. Felting another pair of Felted Ballet Slippers (Fiber Trends), blocking either one or both of an angora jacket or a cotton summer sweater, embroidering a tea towel and doing some heavy duty cleaning (out) of the house is in order for the weekend. I do want to mention another great product now available for special order from Rocky Brook Woodcraft, the same great New Brunswick, family-owned business that is making the great birch (and cherry, and walnut) needles for us: a unique wooden swift that can sit on the floor or a tabletop. Here are a couple of photos: 
I say these are available by special order, as it’s probably best to give him some notice to make them for us. So if you’re interested, please give me a call (toll-free 1-866-690-WOOL) or send me a note to info AT thewoollenearth DOT com . The price is comparable to the wooden umbrella swifts currently on the market, but the Rocky Brook swifts will work even if you don’t have a great place on which to clamp your swift (like me), and won’t accidentally “collapse the umbrella” in the middle of yarn winding (like mine can). These will make wonderful gifts, either for you or for Mother’s Day, birthdays, or even Christmas! I am trying to figure out a logical way to list the Rocky Brook needles (and now swifts) on the regular “shop” part of my website, but I haven’t quite gotten there, yet. Please just ask if you need more info! Off to deal with snow…without a flask. Saturday, April 05, 2008 Crochet is definitely the hot topic this week. The new Interweave Crochet magazine is in stock (just email or call if you’d like a copy), and although it’s not one of my favorite issues, it does have a wide variety of projects…small, large, simple, and one or two more challenging ones. I’ve also had TONS of people emailing me about the crocheted sandals I designed for the Spring 2006 issue of Interweave Crochet. This has been a favorite pattern for lots of folks…quick, quirky, and fun…and I’ve been meaning to add a crocheted sandal pattern to my Woollen Earth collection for ages, but one thing or another (usually just plain busy-ness and other design commitments) has kept me from doing so. But with a new surge of emails clamoring for a pattern, it’s definitely next on my list. I hope to have a leaflet for new crocheted sandals ready in about a month or so…keep your fingers crossed and I’ll keep you posted! There will be 2 or 3 varieties and several sizes…and maybe even the option to purchase a kit, as many folks have had difficulty finding the right width of jute. Crack that whip!! The new sweater leaflet is coming along nicely, and customers in the shop who’ve seen the sweater in progress are urging me to get in gear and get it done so that the pattern will be available. (And I sure wish this sweater were in my size and not the mannequin’s size, because I love it…any bets on me knitting another one in my size in the next century??) To tell you the truth, I haven’t exactly been in a big hurry to finish it, mainly because it’s the absolute worst time of the year to take good photos here. But it is almost all seamed (the plan is to finish that part today), and then other than sizing and writing the pattern, the biggest obstacle remains a photo that does justice to the design. Sigh. I’ll really have to be creative, I guess. So on that note, I’ll head over to the “seaming centre” and get going. Photos next time, I promise…hopefully of more than one “summer sweater”! |
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THE WOOLLEN EARTH, PO Box 2530, Vanderhoof BC V0J 3A0 Canada Phone: (250) 690-7777 1-866-690-9665(WOOL) Email: |