At Urban Yarns there’s always something new!  We find it hard to resist buying all the lovely new things we find here and there.  Like the new Dream in Colour Starry that arrived this week:

We waited almost five months for this one and it was definitely worth the wait.  Starry is a sockweight superwash merino that’s spun through with 2% silver fibers for a subtle bit of glam sparkle.  Very lovely…

But I digress.  In order to keep buying all this new stuff we have to clear out the old stuff to make some room.  As you can imagine, after five years of buying yarn for our stores, we’ve accumulated tons of balls and skeins that are at the ‘end of the line’.  Twenty balls of this, thirty balls of that – you get the idea.  We have loads of tidbits that we’d like to send away to a happy new home.  It’s all great yarn.  We loved it when we bought it and we’re still very fond of it all.  But it’s seriously time to make some room…

So this week’s special is ‘Hundreds of Last Balls’ at grab-it-and-go prices.  We’ve made it very easy for you.  Prices are $3.99, $2.99 or $1.99 per ball or skein.  These are great yarns that you’ll likely never see again, discounted from 40% – 85% off the regular price!

Check out Elsebeth Lavold Classic Al and Silky Tweed, the glittery Dazzle and New Smoking, Online Tessa, Tessa Colour and Tessa Tweed, all at $3.99 per ball.  We have several Rowan yarns at $3.99 like All Seasons Cotton, Big Wool Fusion, Handknit Cotton, Plaid, Ribbon Twist and Soft Baby.   Even better, Diamond Luxury Alpaca Cashmere and Naturgarn are just $2.99 per ball.  And last but not least is R2 Fuzzi Felt at $1.99 – that’s 85% off the original price!

The entire list is right here.  There are many hundreds of balls in both stores but quantities are limited.  We suggest you move quickly if there’s something you can’t live without!

Be sure to check out the Summer 2009 issue of the Twist Collective, with loads of fabulous designs.

If you’re liking lace these days, have a look at local designer Sivia Harding’s latest, Aphrodite, knit in Malabrigo Lace.  And don’t miss Artichaut by Anne Hanson.  Both are gorgeous designs.  We have lots more of Sivia’s leaflet patterns in our stores.

Local designer Holli Yeoh also has a cute design in this issue.  It’s Dizzy, a great kid’s sweater. 

Mr. Boy is a perfect top-down sweater for men or boys.  We have several DK weight yarns that would be great for this one. 

Uhura is a lovely little summertime top to wear on it’s own or slip over a T. 

And be sure to have a look at Niles and Cleo for a chuckle.  A pair of acid green crocodiles wearing little hoodies, they’re too funny!  We have loads of Cascade 220 if you want to give these a try….

An eclectic assortment of knitterly news today.

First up, meet the ladies who’ve spent years stitching their entire Kent Village.  They painstakingly knit reproductions of every single building in the village, raising more than 10,000 pounds for the Village Hall fund.  What an incredible project!

Next up is a brand new book by the latest member of the designer Royal Family, Jenny Watson.  She’s the creative genius behind  the fabulous bestsellers Noro Flowers and Noro Mini-Knits.  This is her latest:

With eighteen fantastic designs for women and girls.  Be sure to have a look…

Remember the scrumptuous Alchemy Juniper yarn we recently raved about?  Clara Parkes is also a fan.  Read her review right here.  Emily, one of our Point Grey staffers, knit an absolutely stunning lace scarf with some fuschia Juniper.  Wish I had a photo.  Trust me, it’s jawdroppingly beautiful. 

Julie in Victoria ordered a bunch of yarn last week and she’s already knit three hats with some Mission Falls 136 that’s part of her new stash:

On the left is “Lise”, by Kate Gilbert, in the middle is “Berry Hat” , a Ravelry pattern adaptation and on the right is “Emma”, from Louisa Harding’s ‘Knitting Little Luxuries’ book.  (For “Emma”, Julie changed the needle size to make a child’s toque.)  They’re all very cute, nice work Julie!

And we simply have to share the latest email from Melody in Ontario.  She’s become one of our many new best friends across the country.  When she received our recent news flash she wrote:

“An extra 10% off – you guys are killing me…  Please tell me that most of your Fleece Artist is sold out…..otherwise i may have to sell the husband’s boat to place another order. He is away after all, he wouldn’t know about it for another month. I may have to risk it. And no, it never really occurred to me that i am attempting to replace my husband with yarn, why do you ask?”

LOL.

Some of you have been waiting for this…

Yes, we’ve extended our Happy Anniversary Sale for one more week.  With an extra 10% off all current sale prices.  All items that were 40% off are now 50% off. Like Rowan Kid Silk Haze, Debbie Bliss Cathay and Fleece Artist Nyoni.  And yes, items that were 60% off are now remarkably 70% off.  Like Rowan Soft Baby, Ribbon Twist and Chunky Print.  Here’s the entire list. 

Of course we’ve sold out of some things but there’s still loads of yarn bursting out of bins, boxes and cubbies all over the place.  We simply have to make room for all the incredible new things we’ve ordered for Fall. 

If you like fantastic bargains, this week is definitely the time to drop by for a visit…

Remember the Mr. Greenjeans Knit-Along at the Edgemont Knit Nights?  Six ladies are knitting this great cardi and Teresa recently sent us a photo showing the progress to date:

That’s Teresa, Lita, Karen and Jess, proudly displaying their partially finished cardigans.  Nice work ladies! The other two knitters are also well on their way but were absent that night.  Teresa went on to write:

“This is the best knitting group I have belonged to over the years! Jessica is the most patient person, and very encouraging. The other knitters are interesting people as well.  Thanks for supporting these meetings – they are just great!”

We’re glad you’re enjoying our Knit Nights, Teresa, thanks for dropping by!  Sadly next Tuesday, May 26, will be the last Edgemont Knit Night for awhile, we’re going to take a summer holiday break.  We plan to resume Edgemont Knit Nights in September.  Wednesday evening Knit Nights in Point Grey will continue indefinitely.

We’ve received several more great emails lately, we love receiving your feedback.  We feel compelled to share the following email from Melody in Ontario as it so aptly describes the fiber addiction fondness so many of us share:

“I just thought I would let you know that my Fleece Artist bundle of joy arrived on the weekend, and I’m absolutely delighted with all of it! Thanks so much for going to the extra trouble of getting me your list of colours, and then packing up such a lovely parcel. I really have no idea what I’m going to do with all of it (right now I’m just displaying it on my coffee table and doing a lot of fondling), and even though I may have bought more yarn than should be legal in one year, I’m tempted to return to your sale list for a few more skeins…”

Thanks Melody, we had fun packing up your parcel and we’re glad you’re enjoying your yarn.

We also send thanks to “the other Leslie” in Ontario, for several happy emails.   Leslie recently wrote:

“Thank-you so much for all your excellent service.  I’ll be sure to tell all my knitty friends… I have been beyond delighted with Urban Yarns – so nice to find such a great shop that offers some amazing prices and is Canadian to boot.  You’ve been getting more of my $$ than Elan – now that’s saying something.  Like it or not, you guys have got me for life.”

Thanks for the kind words Leslie.

We also love to find great bargains.  Whenever possible, we buy quality yarns at great prices and pass the discounts on to our customers.  Have a look at all of our current specials right here.  And be sure to have a look at our Happy Anniversary Sale list for bargains galore…

If you’re knitting for babies these days, you’ll want to have a look at these lovely  new books:

Bizoo Bizu is Louisa Harding’s latest, with a whopping 28 designs for newborn babies and children to the age of three.

Queensland 8 is Jane Ellison’s latest collection of designs for beautiful babes:

The babies are adorable and the designs are fantastic.

There are adorable models in this book as well:

Equally as yummy as the babes!  Another fantastic collection by Jane Ellison.  If you’re looking for a great design to knit for your favourite guy, this would be a good place to start.

Speaking of yummy, we’ve just opened a big box crammed full of delicious Malabrigo Chunky.  This yarn is just crying out to be knit up into something fabulous.  Grab a skein and knit the Foliage Hat by Emilee Mooney.

And our Happy Anniversary Sale continues through this weekend.  Sale yarns are being scooped up by the basketful.  If you haven’t yet seen the list, you should check it out.  It’s our biggest sale ever and the bargains are unbelievable!

It’s been 5 years since the Rowan lady was first in the door of our brand new Point Grey store. 

Our girls were just 8 years old:

They’re teenagers now.  Remember their store opening announcement?

 “Anina Hansen and Leslie Jones have started a new stor that has brot the new fashion. This new stor is called Urban yarns, but the real famus ones hoobrot the fashion and hoo is the reason that Urban yarns is invented is Kaitlyn and Nicole. Because if it worint for Kaitlyn and Nicole liking each other Anina and Leslie woudent have becaume best friends and that is wy Urban yarns is ther. The adress of this fashion macking Urban Yarns stor is 4421 West 10the Ave. tel. 604-228-1122. Fax. 228-1133. Ther e-mail adress is: urbanyarns@telus.net.
So go today and get somme wool and start niting!”

Their spelling is much better these days and they still take credit for the creation of Urban Yarns. 

Our boys are a bit oblivious to the whole yarn store thing.  They know their mothers knit and they enjoy having an endless supply of hats to lose wear on cold winter days:

They’re a couple of years older now, tween dudes not little boys anymore.  Unbelievable how time flies.

We lost our good friend Niki along the way:

Niki was the inspiration for our store.  She told us in no uncertain terms to “quit talking about it and just do it.”  Something we should all do more often.  We miss you Niki!

A lot of things have happened over the past 5 years, some good, some bad.  But much more often than not the warmth and enthusiasm of the Urban Yarns community put big smiles on our faces. 

To celebrate the 5th anniversary of Urban Yarns, we’re having our biggest sale ever, starting tomorrow at 10 a.m..  Check out the list.  It’s our way of saying thanks for your continued encouragement, support and inspiration over the last five years.  We’ll be open late tomorrow evening in Point Grey and hope you’ll join us for a glass of wine and some nibbles.  Five years is definitely cause for celebration!!!

We’ve recently been bustling around with buckets and brooms doing some serious cleaning.  This morning we’re clearing out the Filatura di Crosa cubbies and bins.  Filatura is a long-time Italian manufacturer of fine yarns which has sadly fallen on hard times and is currently in receivership.  We recently picked up several Filatura yarns at clearout prices and we’re passing the savings on to you as our weekly special.  Filatura’s loss is your gain!

We’ve discounted the entire Zara family of yarns.  Zara is 25% off the regular price and Zara Plus and Zarina are 40% off.  The beautiful Baby Kid Extra and glittery New Smoking are also 40% off the regular prices.  Classic superwash wool, fuzzy kid mohair and metallic glitz equals endless possibilities…

For the past few days we’ve been cleaning out the Rowan cubbies.  More jam-packed shelves and bins, in both stores.  So this week’s special is a collection of discontinued Rowan yarns and colours, all at 40% off the regular price.

First up are four colours of Calmer, a lovely soft cotton yarn with excellent stitch definition.  There are a generous 160 metres per ball so a couple of balls will go a long way.  Have a look at the Calmer Collection, with fifteen designs by Designer Diva Kim Hargreaves, all using Rowan Calmer.

Next we have a single discontinued colour of each of two of Rowan’s popular winter yarns, Cocoon and British Sheep Breeds Undyed.  Have a look at the Cocoon Collection and British Sheep Breeds Collection, both with some nice designs for these yarns.

We’ve added two discontinued colours of Kidsilk Aura, the beautiful aran-weight cousin of Kidsilk Haze.  And the Kidsilk Aura book has twelve beautiful designs by Marie Wallin, all using Kidsilk Aura.

Finally there are several discontinued colours of three different Rowan cottons.  Two of the classic Wool Cotton, two of the lofty All Seasons Cotton and one lonely discontinued colour of Handknit Cotton.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with any of these colours if you ask me.  And we have good quantites of most of these but they won’t last long.  Get ‘em while they’re hot…

For a few weeks we’ve been welcoming Spring and the lightweight yarns and designs that come with the season.  But this weekend, Anina and I are flying to Toronto and abruptly changing course to view samples of winter woolly yarns and design sketches for cold weather wear.  It’s always fun to see what’s new.  And we’ve booked tix for Jersey Boys, the must-see show in town.  Definitely looking forward to that.  When we return next week we’ll give  you a full report on the hot new yarns and designs for Fall…

Top pick from the new boxes this week was the Handmaiden Bias Shawl kits:

Kathleen’s a big fan of these shawls, in fact she just finished knitting one.

We also have some stunning new skeins of Fleece Artist Peter Rabbit.  This sumptuous angora just calls out to be fondled, more than any other yarn we’ve seen.  It’s like having a row of soft, fluffy clouds hanging on the wall.  If you’re an angora fan, you should drop by for a look and a touch.

See you next week…