I recently found some photos I’d intended to put on our website. They never made it to the website so I thought I’d post them here.

Back in June, we attended the TNNA convention in Columbus, Ohio. One evening we were at a cocktail party with lots of store owners, suppliers, designers and other industry folk. Debbie Bliss came over to say hello. (As some of you know, we hosted Debbie for two days last November while she was here on a promotional tour. We had a fabulous time and have stayed in touch.) Anyways, Debbie introduced us to her friend: “I’d like you to meet Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton”. Okay. “Hi Cornelia, very nice to meet you.” We chatted for awhile, then two other women joined us. “And this is Jane Ellison and Louisa Harding”. Seriously. “Hi Jane, Hi Louisa, lovely to meet you, may we have a photo?”

There we are with the Designer Royalty, from left to right: Debbie, Jane, Cornelia, Anina, Leslie and Louisa. Sadly, we look like we just came from the beach. Due to a teensy scheduling error, our party clothes were left at the hotel.

The next day we saw Debbie at the convention. There’s Debbie trying to help with Jenny’s problematic sweater project. Jane Ellison is assisting:

It’s a Debbie Bliss pattern and Debbie Bliss yarn, why not ask Debbie for help? Unfortunately they didn’t solve the problem. Oh well, we tried.

Now for some late breaking news about our “Crochet Me” event on October 23, Point Grey store, 6-9 p.m. Julie Holetz, crochet designer extraordinaire, will be up from Seattle for the event. Julie designed the beautiful plaid scarves and felted messenger bag in Kim’s book. She also designed the Fat Bottom Bag pattern in Stitch ‘n Bitch Crochet, The Happy Hooker. We almost have a full house registered for this event so if you’d like to attend, please sign up right away.

Our customers are a constant source of inspiration. We see countless amazing projects in our stores every day. We’re looking forward to sharing with you some of these knit and crochet masterpieces. Please send us your photos by email, we’d love to post them.

Linda T. is a regular. She’s a beautiful knitter who often arrives with a bag of lovely knitted items to show us. It’s so much fun to see all of her beautiful creations.

Linda loves her Blue Sky Alpacas. This cardigan was knit with the luscious BSA Royal. It’s a pattern from the Debbie Bliss book, Pure Silk.

Isn’t it stunning? All together now, ooooh, aaaah…

This beautiful shrug was knit with the popular BSA Alpaca Silk yarn. It’s a pattern from the same Debbie Bliss book.

Thanks for sharing, Linda. We can’t wait to see your latest treasures. Please drop by again sometime soon…

Today’s featured yarn is Rowan Big Wool, a pure merino, super chunky wool. We have eight colours of this beautiful yarn on sale, at 30% off. It knits up quickly on 12 – 15mm needles.

We have some great books with Big Wool patterns. New for Fall, 2007, is Newshapes:

This is a fantastic book with 15 designs featuring Big Wool and Little Big Wool, by Sarah Hatton. We love the “pea coat inspired jacket” on the cover.

We have many other books with Big Wool patterns, including Big It Up, Big Just Got Bigger, Bigger Picture and The Next Big Thing, with lots of great patterns for cozy scarves, hats, bags, vests and sweaters. You’re sure to be inspired to pick up your needles and knit some lovely things…

Take a knitting lesson and learn a new skill this Fall! We have lots of classes starting this month:

Mondays
Edgemont Village: Sock Boot Camp
October 15; 6-9 p.m.; $25.

Tuesdays
Point Grey: Beyond Beginner Knitting
October 16, 30, November 6, 13; 7-9 p.m.; $95.

Wednesdays
Point Grey: Lace Knitting for Adventurous Beginners
October 17, 24 & November 7; 7-9 p.m.; $85.
Instructor: Sivia Harding

Thursdays:
Edgemont Village: Aran Block of the Month
October 18, November 22, December 13, January 24, February 21, March 20, April 24;
6-8 p.m.; $140.

Point Grey: Sock Boot Camp
October 11; 6-9 p.m.; $25.

Sundays:
Point Grey: Knitting Q & A
Every Sunday; 11 a.m. – 12 noon; $20.
Instructor: Astor Tsang

Point Grey: Aran Block of the Month
October 14, November 18, December 9, January 20, February 17, March 16, April 20
2:30-4:30 p.m.; $140.

For more details and a complete list of lessons, check out our class schedule.

Check out our collection of earth friendly fibres from the Southwest Trading Company. Both UY stores currently have displays of earth-friendly SWTC yarns, sample garments and free informative handouts.

We recently received the SWTC “Amaizing” yarn, made of 100% corn fibre. Corn fibre is a completely natural, renewable resource and is wholly biodegradable. The yarn is very soft, the colours won’t fade and it is machine washable and dryable. This is a perfect yarn to use for children’s garments, baby blankets and baby clothes. Just wash those spills away in the machine. Come to think of it, I should knit myself a sweater with this one…

We also have the SWTC “Pure” yarn, made of 100% soysilk and dyed in gorgeous, rich jewel colours. Soysilk fibre is made from the soybean residue remaining after tofu is produced. Soy is another natural, renewable resource that is wholly biodegradable. Soysilk fibre feels as soft as real silk and has a shiny pearl-like lustre.

One of our most popular new sock yarns is SWTC “Tofutsies“, a yarn containing the chitin fibre. Chitin is made from the shells of shrimp and crab! It’s extracted from the shells discarded by the commercial seafood industry. This yarn has natural deodorizing and anti-bacterial properties. Shouldn’t all socks contain this fibre? If you love to knit socks with Tofutsies, check out the Tofutsies Sock Club.

You should also have a look at the SWTC yarn, “Love“, made of 70% bamboo and 30% silk. Bamboo is another natural and renewable resource that is processed free of any petrochemicals. It’s cool to the skin and comfortable to wear, with a beautiful drape and softness.

For your next project, choose one of these beautiful, earth-friendly fibres and Go Green with your knitting!

How would you like to help out some of Vancouver’s homeless men and women this winter? You can help a homeless person stay warm by knitting a hat, mittens, scarf, sweater, socks or blanket and donating it to the Sheltering Stitch. Or you can donate those bits of your stash that may never make it onto your needles. The donated yarn will be knit by volunteers.

The Sheltering Stitch was founded and is coordinated by Vancouver author and avid knitter, Nancy Lee. A very sweet lady with a generous heart.

We’ve discovered that there are many benevolent knitters in Vancouver. Between September and December, 2006, the Lookout Emergency Aid Society was the appreciative recipient of 75 hand knit hats, 57 scarves, 10 sweaters, 5 blankets and 1 pair of gloves. Kudos to champion volunteer knitter, Nancy Chen, who donated 40 hats and 34 scarves!

Terri recently donated this box full of treasures:

Thank you Terri! And thanks to all of the generous donors and volunteer knitters. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Our Tuesday specials are back!

The featured yarn this week is Rowan Ribbon Twist at 30% off. Ribbon Twist is a beautiful yarn with a spray dyed ribbon wrapped around loosely twisted wool. It knits up quickly on big 12mm needles.

Take this opportunity to knit a sweater from the “Ribbon Twist Collection” with 15 designs featuring Ribbon Twist. The book includes patterns for cozy sweaters, jackets, capelets, hats, scarves and bags, by popular designer, Kim Hargreaves.

We put a few other tidbits on sale today. Look in the specials section in Point Grey for 30% off select colours of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and 35% off select colours of Rowan 4 ply soft. They won’t last long…

We’ve had a lot of fun with our Sock Boot Camps. Troops learn to knit a mini-training sock in a 3 hour session, then take their new techniques home and knit a real pair of socks. Does it work? Just ask Heidi:

“I attended your Sock Boot Camp in West 10th on August 21st and have now completed my first sock. Just one so far but the other has been started. I just wanted to say that the “boot camp” really seemed to work as I did not need any help during the time it took to knit this one. I did seem to remember the steps as I went along even though I was skeptical going in to class that I could pull this off. I wanted to make one right away before the training left my head…. I am confident now and want to thank you for offering the class and for Jackie for being a good teacher. (I’ve only been knitting since May of this year and am still very much a beginner.)”

This is Heidi’s first sock:

Not only is it gorgeous, it’s a perfect fit. And the second sock is almost completed. Congrats Heidi!

Sock Boot Camps are scheduled in Point Grey on Thursdays, October 11 & November 1 and in Edgemont Village on Monday, October 15. All classes run from 6 – 9 p.m. To register, send an email or phone us at 604-228-1122. Have a look at our class schedule for more information on all of our upcoming classes.