Archive for December, 2014

Knitter’s Advent, Day 24

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

It is Christmas Eve!!!

Yikes where has the time gone, does anyone else feel like it was just summer? It is the last day for shopping and yes you probably already guessed my gift idea for today. The last but not least, can’t go wrong, quick, easy and always a winner……..GIFT CARD.

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You can purchase a gift card for any denomination you choose. Either pick one up from the store or purchase over the phone from the comforts of your own home and we can mail it out to the lucky recipient (but obviously not in time for Christmas day ;)

We are open 10am-3pm, so don’t leave it too late!

Have a wonderful, relaxing, joyous holiday filled with lots of laughter and of course plenty of knitting time.

Knitter’s Advent, Day 23

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2014

If you’re still looking for holiday gifts for a knitter (or a non-knitter), well I hate to say it but, you’re cutting it a bit close. Unless you enjoy hitting the malls in the last two days before Christmas (speak for yourself, but I plan to avoid all shopping spaces until at least mid-January at this point).

So what would make a great last-minute gift? Well, while the tides certainly wait for no man, you can give your knitter the gift of time. Personally, I always prefer to gift experiences rather than things, so I have become quite adept at drawing up gift certificates and other cute redeemables (see an in-process one below).

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Some ideas for giving the gift of time:

  • Take the children/pets somewhere for a few hours for quiet knitting time
  • Do dinner/dishes/cleanup one evening (and maybe make a nice cocktail while you’re at it)
  • Take your knitter out for a coffee/drink – bring yourself a book or crossword puzzle while they knit
  • Let your knitter pick the TV show/movie for a few nights (we all have media that we prefer knitting to)

Get creative – I’m sure you can think of chores that your giftee hates, or other ways to give them a bit of breathing room and time to just… knit (and hey, more knitting time, means more knitted gifts for you next year!)

Julia will close out our advent ideas tomorrow, but this is it for me this year. I’ll be back with you all in 2015. Happy and safe holidays!

Knitter’s Advent, Day 22

Monday, December 22nd, 2014

More last minute gift ideas for you:

Another felting kit option.

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We received a large order of these adorable Lantern Moon tape measures…who couldn’t find a use for one of these. We have a nice variety of animals to choose from- sock monkey, turtle, owl, penguin, kitty, bunny and of course sheep. Also cute animal stitch markers.

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Our notions wall is a great place to look for stocking stuffers and last minute gifts.

Knitter’s Advent, Day 21

Sunday, December 21st, 2014

Scraping the bottom of the gift-giving barrel here, and I bet you are all just so sick of hearing from me all month ;)

Luxury yarns. Because why the heck not? There are so many more options to fit every budget and style – really best to ask in person for tips on this one.

Possum

Possum

Mink

Mink

Cashmere

Cashmere

Silk

Silk

Knitter’s Advent, Day 20

Saturday, December 20th, 2014

The countdown is on for sure now, the last weekend available to squeeze in anymore shopping. The malls will be a mess, traffic and road rage galore as well as stock and sizes depleted and picked over. If you are a lucky one that lives in the city, why not bypass all that and take a lovely stroll down W10th. There are a variety of unique boutiques and shops that will for sure cover all your bases. Come visit us and we can help you find many different gifts options- for knitters to non-knitters, child to adult….we have lots of ideas.

This one is very popular (I own two pairs), the Lothlorian gloves are made of 40% possum fibre, 50% merino wool, 10% nylon. New Zealand possum fibre is one of the finest and softest fibres with amazing wearing characteristics, it is hollow, so this garment is very light but extremely warm for its weight….very true the gloves I have are extremely lightweight but the warmest pair of gloves I own!!

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I like the fingerless option that allows you to be able to use your phone without having to take off you gloves.

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We also have hats and socks available

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You can find all of these cozy accessories online-http://www.urbanyarns.com/search.php?search_query=lothlorian&x=15&y=7 and in the shop. You must come and feel them, they are so soft and even washable!! I bet you will want something to help with your walk home ;)

Knitter’s Advent, Day 19

Friday, December 19th, 2014

Little things. We knitters have lots of little things. Stitch markers, crochet hooks, darning needles, measuring tapes… the list goes on. These are the kinds of things that you can never have too many of.

Julia wrote a great piece about her tool kit, here.
And I wrote a pretty OK piece about my bug out bag, here.

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Bring these lists in to the store, ask our killer staff to put together a kit for your budding knitting, or have them pick out some really nice tools to replace old worn ones (why yes, I will take that handmade rosewood crochet hook over my old, bent, flaking steel one, thank you very much). This will be more appreciated than you can imagine – it’s the little things.

And for today’s pattern suggestion: Lumberjack, from Tin Can Knits (they always have such lovely patterns, don’t you think?) I don’t know why, but I am suuuuuper into the idea of a whole family’s worth of these! And for yarn… well, any DK or light worsted, so… uh, go nuts.

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Knitter’s Advent, Day 18

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

Ok, one more knitted pattern gift idea before I jump into purchasable last minute gifts. I just can’t help it, you have a few more days and I love this yarn;)

The Sweet Sixteen Hat by Blue Sky Alpacas is a lovely design and made up with BSA Extra yarn that is so unbelieveably soft and cozy, it is a dream to work with.
http://www.urbanyarns.com/blue-sky-alpacas-extra-18st/

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We have other BSA patterns using this yarn in the shop, so come check them out and have a feel of the Extra yarn to see what I am talking about….SO SOFT!

Knitter’s Advent, Day 17

Wednesday, December 17th, 2014

Ok, I’m going to be a bit out of left field with this one, so bear with me.

If you or your knitter are anything like me (or you know, most normal humans), you/they probably like coffee and/or tea. Personally, I’m a coffee guy, but there are many avid tea drinkers out there.

Now, I also like to shop local, so here’s a list of some of my top picks. Buy them a bag of beans, a box of tea, a gift card, or maybe even just take them out for a cuppa!

Bean Around the World has some very nice roasted beans that you can buy by weight (get a half-pound to start if you’re not sure). Bonus, they’ve got shops all over town.

If you’re out near UBC, The Boulevard Coffee Co roasts on-site. Great Dane has fantastic food and pastries (and coffee from a great Victoria roaster).

In the middle of the city, Elysian make some of the best lattes and cappuccinos I’ve ever had. Aperture has a funky vibe (and a wall of books to swap and borrow), and brings in Intelligentsia – one of my favourite roasters. Kafka’s does some lovely specialty drinks, and some very lovely pastries.

Another local roaster is Milano, with a few locations around town. Hands down the best locally-roasted beans in town.

The Bayswater Tea Company is a cute shop, and does one of the best cream teas I’ve found.

Murchies, of course is a classic option for teas.

While not just selling tea, East End Chai does some incredibly lovely chai. Perfect for cold grey days.

There are many more, but hopefully this is enough to get you started! The options might seem intimidating, but I find you can get some great recommendations if you ask!

Knitter’s Advent, Day 16

Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

Now we are starting to get down to the wire, but I think that you can pull of making these last few knitted projects in time. They are super quick….and I have faith in you;)

This all in one package by Sirdar includes the pattern and even a pom pom to attach to the top of the hat. It is a super easy pattern that is knitted flat and seamed up the back- no knitting in the round, so suitable for a beginner and even a child…..SUPER FAST KNIT.

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Another quick hat pattern uses one ball of Lumio- http://www.urbanyarns.com/search.php?search_query=lumio&x=0&y=0 that is spun with a reflector thread throughout. Perfect for our rainy, dark Vancouver weather or ripping down a mountain, you will always been seen. You can find several free hat patterns using this and other SMC yarn here: http://us.schachenmayr.com/mymountain

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Last but not least the ever-useful tea pot cozy. This is a classic and easy to follow pattern brought to you by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas uses any Aran weight yarn. We have copies in store or you can find the pattern on ravelry here:http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ribbed–ruffled-tea-cozies

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So that should hopefully keep you busy for the next couple of days, Happy knitting!!

Knitter’s Advent, Day 15

Monday, December 15th, 2014

Today I am recommending yet another tool, or rather a set of tools: a Ball Winder and Swift.

Now these two things really go together, as one is not much good without the other. While we are happy to help you wind your yarn in store, we are all familiar with the late-night need to wind a skein of yarn into a ball to continue or start a project. Well, there’s no reason you can’t have these toys at home!

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swift

And for today’s pattern is Purl Sohos Big Herringbone Cowl. Because it is soooooo nice knit up in the dreamy Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted.

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