Urban Yarns  wants to do their part.  So, our fearless leader, Anina, suggested we start an Urban Yarns team to join  the Ride to Conquer Cancer.  And, within no time, we had ten committed individuals sign up!  We will all ride from Vancouver to Seattle on June 19 and 20, 2010, to raise money for the BC Cancer Foundation.  You don’t have to be a strong athlete for this event, just someone who wants to make a difference. 

And, if you’re worried about getting prepared,  Stephen Kim from the Bike Gallery has joined forces with us and will be offering his support and guidance throughout the training period. 

We would like to extend this invitation to anyone who wants to take the challenge with us.  If you are interested, we will be holding a 1 – 2 hour orientation session at Urban Yarns, 4421 West 10th Ave., on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 10:00 am.  We know this is a very busy time of year but it’s also the time when we should be thinking about the spirit of giving and what a better way than this!  If you’re interested please contact Anina, at anina2@telus.net. 

For more information check out the Ride to Conquer Cancer at http://va10.conquercancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=va10_homepage

You asked for them – now we’ve got them!

In our Edgemont Village Store – Join Alexa on Monday nights as she teaches three of her most popular designs.

Birdsnest Mittens: Jan 11, 18, & 25

Mock Cable Scarf: Feb 1

Stag Scarf: Feb 8

Also in Edgemont:

Beginner and Beyond Beginner Knitting with Sandra on Wednesday evenings and an interesting introduction to Crochet on Friday evenings! Erica will be teaching you basic crochet skills while you make adorable amigurumi creatures from Amigurumi: Super Happy Crochet Cute

In our Point Grey store, we have lots of choices as well. Socks on two circular needles will be taught by Deanna on Monday nights in January followed by a four week Beginner Crochet course in February. Alexa will be teaching the ever popular Fiddlehead mittens class through January and February on Tuesday evenings. This is such a fun project, especially if you’re new to fair-isle knitting.

From her newly published book: Introduction to Knitting: a Simple-to-use Guide to creating Hip Knits, Astor will be teaching her Making Knitting Possible class on Thursday afternoons in January.

Who doesn’t have trouble with their knitting from time to time? Our Question and Answer sessions are perfect for all types of questions and queries. Astor will be here on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 – 11:30am and Alexa from 6:00 – 7:00pm on Friday evenings.

As always, Sandra will be teaching her Beginner and Beyond Beginner classes on Thursday nights throughout January and February. Sandra will take you through the basics and get you ready to start your first project.

And for the kids out there… Alexa will be having learn to knit lessons from 3:30 – 4:30 on Tuesdays. This is a great class to do with a couple of friends or school mates!

We will continue our Knit Nights and late night shopping on Friday evenings in Point Grey only from 7:00 – 9:00pm right after the Question and Answer session. Please feel free to come to a social evening of knitting, talking, and shopping! This week’s theme will be stockings! Alexa will be working on the stockings below from Alterknits Felt, but she has lots of other options as well. Bring your stocking patterns to knit along with every one else. Please note that this is not a lesson, but private lessons are available through us.

Many more classes are on our website, right here. To sign up, please call the stores.

Point Grey: 604-228-1122

Edgemont Village: 604-984-2214

***Congratulations to Valerie from Point Grey, and Inara from Edgemont who are the winners of our Monthly draw for a $50.00 Gift Certificate!***

This exquisite new book, The Alchemy of Color Knitting, by Gina Wilde provides the building blocks of colour theory as well as a colour lesson with each pattern.   The book is divided into three sections:  “Monochromatic Colour,” “Working the Colour Wheel,” and “Hue, Value and Intensity.”  There are 25 projects in all, including patterns for wraps, pullovers, shawls, hats and an exquisite Peacock Cardigan.

You’ll find sweaters galore in the Araucania Collection Book 3 by Jenny Watson.  Long, short, pull-overs, cardigans, you name it, it’s here.  Great patterns that will keep you warm on even the coldest winter day.

If you’re looking for great gift ideas…
The Mirasol  Accessories Collection by Jane Ellison contains 19 accessory patterns for men, women and children.   Some great patterns include ……

This Kinglet Hat is a fast knit on 6 mm needles using four skeins of Sulka in contrasting colours.  Great gift for the man in your life. 

The Arrowhawk socks will keep anyone’s tootsies warm and cozy.  They have llamas dancing around the ankles and can be worn over other socks or just on their own.  Grab four skeins of K’acha and your feet will kiss you every time you put them on. 

Another favourite is the Love Hearts Blanket.  Using a basic square shape, this blanket can take on any look you wish, just by changing the yarn or colours.  This one is knit using a variety of colours of Qina. 

Plus, we just received a shipment of the new Interweave Magazine, Knits Accessories.  This special issue has lots of small project gift ideas, from hats, socks, mitts and gloves that would make anyone happy. 

This kit will bring anyone joy for years to come.  You can choose to make this poinsettia wreath for someone who doesn’t knit, or give the kit to someone who loves to create an heirloom piece of art.

                                                    
And, who wouldn’t love to spend wintery days wrapping their tired tootsies in these cozy, comfy, snugs.  These kits include suede sole pads for traction, exterior wool, and interior lining of alpaca.  Plus, they keep their shape.  Hint to anyone listening, I would love to have a pair of these for Christmas. 

Or, for purse lovers, this tote has great texture with ridges formed using short rows and tucks.  The handles are rings encased in i-cord and felted.  Another great gift idea!

We also carry a great assortment of other kits by Pick Up Sticks including the Sushi Wallet, Coin Purse, Blooms Bracelet, and another one of my favourites, Flora Doll. 

We now carry a large selection of magazines, including VOGUEknitting.  The holiday issue has just arrived, featuring numerous projects and ideas.  Are you a “cowl girl”, because, if you are, this issue has a great selection of cowls: the latest projects for necks.  We particularly love the collared cowl, stitched in  a circular knit/purl pattern and crowned with a ribbed turtleneck.   Misti Alpaca’s Chunky makes this a perfect winter knit to keep warm through the winter months.  But, that’s not all, this magazine has loads of other great ideas…stop by and see for  yourself. 

We also carry knitsimple.  This edition has great ideas for holiday gifts including quick and simple stocking and ornament ideas.  And, last but not least, we also have a great selection of Interweave Magazines, including Holiday Gifts, Cozy Knits, and weekend. 

If you weren’t here last night for the Book Launch of Introduction to Knitting: A Simple-to-use Guide to Creating Hip Knits … here’s a few photos of what you missed:

Thank you to everyone who came to the event last night – it was a lovely evening! For those of you who want the book or kit, we sell both at the store, and will soon have the kit’s online.

Congratulations Astor!

Urban Yarns Hosts Book Launch:

“Introduction to Knitting: A Simple-to-use Guide to Creating Hip Knits”

Book Launch will be held at Urban Yarns on Thursday November 19th at 7pm: 4421 West 10th Ave. Vancouver, BC. Space is limited, so please call ahead at  604-228-1122 to reserve your spot.

This 64 page, full – colour instructional knitting book appeals to all knitters; from “know nothing” beginners to those who want sophisticated hip designs.

A Simple-to-use Guide to Creating Hip Knits provides both written and illustrated step-by-step instructions. The book goes beyond the basics; from “good to know” information to “must know” information. There are four original knitting patterns at the end of the book. Projects include: “gain confidence, skill progressive” scarf, unisex slouch hat, Mr. Ugly Doll, and tube top + shrug = sweater pattern.

Introduction to Knitting: A Simple-to-use Guide to Creating Hip Knits is available at Urban Yarns for $19.95.

Astor has been teaching beginners how to knit for almost a decade. With the experience of teaching hundreds of beginners – as in “know nothing” to “my grandmother gave up on me” beginners – she developed a nothing is obvious philosophy. Both in class and her designs, Astor is well known for her knitting humour. Her unconventional style of teaching has made her a popular knitting teacher in Vancouver.

For more information  about the book launch for Introduction to Knitting – A Simple-to-use Guide to Creating Hip Knits, please call Urban Yarns at 604-228-1122.

On this day of Remembrance, I would like to share with you a project that I think is very touching and inspiring.  I met Susan at our Edgemont store where she was looking for yarn to finish a border for a collaborative afghan quilt to send to Afghanistan.  She is a lovely, caring person who touched my heart with her efforts and is an inspiration for all.  Below is a description of her project that was recently exhibited in a gallery on Bowen Island.

“CamoSweaters” is an ongoing project dedicated to the (131) Canadian soldiers (1 diplomat and 2 aides) killed in Afghanistan between 2002 – now.  The symbolic sweaters are knitted by hand as a reminder of the socks, scarves and mittens lovingly knitted by women for the troops of WWI and WWII.  In July, 2006, I knitted a red sweater and sent it to “The Red Sweater Deployment Project”, an open participatory project out of San Francisco dedicated to over 4,000 US soldiers lost to the war in Iraq c/o Nina Rosenberg and The Curiosity Guild, San Francisco, California. www.redsweaters.org.  That small contribution inspired me to recognize the Canadian casualties in Afghanistan, which I, myself, could honour by knitting a sweater for each soldier lost.

Just a reminder that we are open today at both stores but only from 12-5. 

Our newest in sock yarn.  Zauberball has been kicked up a notch, as two strands of the main ply have been dyed individually and then twisted together for a crazy combination!  The end result is a self-striping multi-colored pattern, with a bold variegated design.  Zauberball Crazy is 75% Merino Wool and 25% Nylon.  We have a great selection of colours, so go crazy!