Blue Heron Trunk Show and more that's NEW!

** Let me start off with a quick note of oops... I'm trying really hard to put pictures on the blog, but today the techno-gremlins are busy at work. The pictures are the correct orientation on in my picture file, but on here, they are a little wacky... sorry. Can I get points for at least trying??

A great Spring event is in the works. We have a trunk show of Blue Heron yarns April 3-14. Demian is putting together a bunch of new fibers for the fine folks at Knitting Addiction. Some of the new stuff includes Egyptian Cotton, an amazing fingering weight, Bulky Rayon Chenille and lots of other wonderful things. These yarns will be available for a limited time, so plan to get in early for the best selection.





Other NEW and notable this week. We are really excited about Panda Cotton! It is a lovely new fingering weight yarn from Crystal Palace. 59% Bamboo, 25% Cotton, 16% Elastic Nylon, it is machine washable and has a beautiful hand. It is great for socks or shawls and I have an adorable baby sweater in progress in it. There are 15 great colors. A ball is $7.50 and has 182 yards. We love it and hope you will too.




Happy news that Offhand Designs Circular Needle Clutches are back in stock. After a spell of not having them in stock I am thrilled to offer this great circular needle solution. I use one, have had it for almost 10 years and love it. It's my favorite compact circular case. Beautiful fabric colors in this shipment, but they will go fast, so don't delay!


We also have more pretties (and usefuls) from Della Q. The Travel Clutch and Combo Needle cases are a great way to organize a variety of tools. The Travel Clutch is perfect for packing the needles needed for a single project and the Combo Case really makes a great option for storing straight, circular and even double point needles. Great fabric colors, nice workmanship and your purchase helps support women's cooperatives in Vietnam.


Hope to see you soon.

Yeah!! New Yarn!!

On a completely beautiful Wednesday, I needed to share some equally beautiful yarn! In the last post I noted there would be more new stuff, and here it it is! Nichole Sock yarn from Schaefer Yarn is a really wonderful fingering weight sock yarn. It is 80% Extrafine Merino Superwash and 20% Nylon. A skein is 405 yards, plenty for a pair of adult socks for $32.00. Nichole has a great twist that reminds me of some other favorite sock yarns and is just dreamy to knit. The first batch arrived about 10 days ago and sold so fast I couldn't get a picture. Today's shipment had 12 skeins and some all ready have happy new homes! If you are in love with any of the colors give me a call at the shop and I can get some out to you.




The next great Schaefer Yarn is Susan, a 100% Mercerized Pima Cotton in a fine weight. It knits up beautifully for summer shawls or wraps and would make a lovely summer top or tank. The skein has 470 yards (Wow! That's a lot of yardage!) for $33.00. I plan on bringing in more colors as the summer rolls in, but I wanted to show of the new stuff before it is all gone!


Happy Knitting,
jeanne

Great Sale! Great New Stuff!

Greetings on Ground Hog Day! Great stuff going on around here at Knitting Addiction. I am thrilled about some new yarns and really getting excited about upcoming events.



First the new stuff: As most know I'm not a coffee drinker (want to be, love it... but it makes my heart jittery) so just the thought of a yarn called "CoffeeBeenz" made my heart flutter. Little did I know it was in a GOOD way!! CoffeeBeenz is from Plymouth, it is an Encore Family yarn. Same great blend as Encore, same great washability, slightly lighter in weight (about 5 stitches per inch on 7's or 8's). REALLY COOL FABRIC! I love it! The yarn has a really neat runner around the good solid Encore-esque core. The runner changes color slightly and has a mild thick and thin component. The end result is a really good looking knitted fabric. The color palette is a great mix of what I would call "guy" colors, navy blue, a couple great browns (yep- you heard it here), burgandy, wedgewood blue, black, forest green and even a really nice olive green. I'm taking some home to start a cute kid's vest from Knitting Pure and Simple pattern # 256. Even the biggest size, a finished 30 inch, only needs 2 balls of this great stuff. Super washable, super fabric, super price, 210 yards for $8.25, Super excited to be knitting this yarn.

Next new yarn! I just talked with Demien at Blue Heron Yarns and ordered his Cotton & Rayon Seed in several colors that compliment the Rayon Metallic that is already in stock. I am excited to see how these two fibers can play nicely in a beautiful shawl or wrap. The Cotton and Rayon Seed is a beautiful drapey DK. It has a really neat texture and would be beautiful worked into a Skinny Triangle Scarf or Waves and Sunsets Shawl. The yardage is great, 450 yards for $40. One skein will do a bunch of cool stuff. The box should arrive early next week, so come check out the new stuff. Demien also offered to send skeins of new fibers (the new stuff???) and I graciously accepted. I can't wait to see what else will be in the box!

Which leads to .... cool events to look forward to: Knitting Addiction will be hosting a Blue Heron Trunk Show the first 2 weeks in April. We did this in the past and it was a hit. Once I have a chance to look at the new and fab fibers (can't wait) Demien and I will brainstorm what we think will do well and then it's all over but the knitting, and a little waiting.... Blue Heron does so many lovely colors and fibers I know it will be an event to plan for. First 2 weeks of April, be here.

Other cool events- closer on the calendar: YARN SWAP! Feel the need to rid yourself of some pent up yarn guilt? Want to clear the decks for other cool stuff? Join us at Yarn Swap, Saturday, March 3 at 3:30. Everyone is welcome, bring your unloved, leftover, half knitted yarns, books or needles and claim a spot in the shop. Set out your stuff, check out other people's stuff and see what magic happens when you start negotiating. Light snacks and goodies will be served. This is a great chance to clear the closet of the yarns you have grown tired of and see what other "treasures" lurk in someone else's closet. Even I have a big bin that will be available for swapping. The only rules are you have to bring something to swap and you have to have an open mind. In the past this has been tons of fun. I'm really looking forward to another great afternoon.

But wait... there's more! Sale! Sale! Sale! I hate to see it go, but Mission Falls 136 has been discontinued by the manufacturer and it is time for me to clear some shelf space for something new and wonderful. All Mission Falls 136 (a lovely DK Superwash Wool) is on sale %25 off while supplies last. I still have sweater quantities of lots and sock and small quanties of even more. If you are in the market for a wonderfully soft, washable wool in a three season weight, now is the time to get it. While supplies last.

That's the news from here. Thanks for your loyal support. 2012 is going to be an awesome year!

me

Happy New Year! Happy Knitting!

Ahh... the crush of the holidays is over. Whether you knitted for family and friends or if you just weathered the hectic pace of the holidays with a little knitting on the side for sanity, that is behind and now it is finally time to knit something fabulous for yourself!

The New Year brings all kinds of resolutions: eat less, move more, quit smoking, go on a diet, the list goes on and on. I'm not sure what your resolutions include, but here are a couple that are good for all of us.

1. Make time for yourself: In the constant contact, constant crush world we live in it is hard to turn off the ringer and just be unavailable for a while. It seems impossible to remember the days when people called the house phone and left a message and we returned it when we had a chance. Why not make a plan to give yourself a few minutes a day with something you love and just not be at the beck and call of the phone or text or computer. Turn off the ringer, settle in with a knitting project you are excited about and just "be" where you are at the moment. Enjoy every stitch and the rhythm of your knitting, enjoy the sound of the needles and the feel of the yarn. The person who can't figure out what to eat for dinner will be ok if they have to decide that on their own.

2. Get organized: As we zoom from place to place dragging all of our worldly possessions around with us we get scattered and collect clutter. Take a few minutes in the following weeks and pick a place in your life that needs a little organization. Your knitting bag might be a good place to start. Go through your bag and really look at what has been riding around in it. If you have bits and pieces of projects from last year's Christmas giving, clear them out. Collect yarn labels (with a small piece of yarn attached) and put them in a safe spot. If you find that you need more Spud and Chloe Sweater for your project you can call the shop and ask for the correct color and dye lot with out saying, "I bought this yarn, and it was blue...." The shop owner will love you.

Take a minute and find a system that works for your needles and notions. I love the Knitting Addiction Stash Pouches, the clear sides and handy zipper keep everything contained and easy to find. I keep all of my notions in one spot, a small KA zipper pouch: scissors, stitch markers in a little tin, yarn needle, tape measure, hand cream. I know that if I have my stash pouch I have just about everything I need for knitting. I move the stash pouch from project bag to project bag and don't have to worry about needing a tape measure when I am on the road.

3. Get inspired: Find a yarn or a project that makes you swoon and put your heart and soul into bringing it into fruition. If you are inspired by cables and haven't mastered the skill, come in to Knitting Addiction and let us show you how easy cables are. Has a particular yarn been calling your name all year? Now is the time to come in and find out what that yarn is yearning to be. A clever cowl or fingerless mitts for yourself in a really lovely yarn are the perfect way to start the year with some inspired style. The staff at Knitting Addiction is ready to help you with this final resolution.

Other news of note. Knitting Addiction will be open M. L. King Monday from 10-4. Please stop by while you are on the beach, we'd love to see you. Other shop hour notes: We will be closed January 24-28. Please plan your yarn needs and emergencies accordingly. We'd love to see you before or after those days to help you keep your New Year's Resolutions.

Holiday Ideas....

I know, I know... It doesn't seem like there could be time for anything else in our hectic lives, but if you still have gifts to knit I have a couple of great ideas. A nice warm hat or fingerless mitts done in Malabrigo Chunky or Baby Alpaca Grande would knit up in almost no time. A clever felted wine bottle cozy is a great holiday gift with a bottle of something bubbly tucked inside. Another great gift is the Sturdy String Bag recently updated cheery red and white stripes.

I also have some great gift ideas for your favorite knitter. Yarn bowls are flying off the shelves. Carolyn from Studio 12 is bringing another batch up Wednesday, December 7th. If you haven't tried knitting with a yarn bowl, I highly recommend it. Just after Irene I snagged one of Gary's bowls. The glaze made me swoon and I was knitting some really fine alpaca, so I thought I'd give it a try. Boy do I love it! It sits on the floor by my favorite chair, the yarn pulls out happily without snagging or getting tangled, and the bowl keeps the Abbie and Orville fur off my yarn. My new favorite knitting trick is to take my knitting, in the yarn bowl and knit on the porch. No worries about the ball of yarn rolling around or jumping off the deck. If your sweetie is asking for gift ideas this is a great one to consider.

Other great gift ideas for yourself or your favorite knitter could include a set of Harmony Interchangable Knitting Needles. The set includes size 4-11 needles, two sets of cables that make 24 inch needles and two sets of cables that make 32 inch needles. The Harmony Needles are beautiful to work with and the set solves the problem of "Dang, I thought I had those needles!"

We just got in a great selection of beautiful Shawl Pins. There are fun tape measures, cute bags and other great treats for your knitter. Come take a look!

Trunk Show!! and another Trunk Show!!

The Ellyn Cooper Trunk Show is off and running. Box after box after box has arrived and we have most of everything out and available. Ellyn's samples include a beautiful jacket knitted out of kid mohair and a dk weight organic merino. A shop favorite of the samples in Ellyn's magic boxes is a simple vest knitted out of Peru cotton. It is a cute asymetrical design that only needs 3 or 4 skeins of Peru. Great colors and a great project. We also have several amazing fingering and lace weight yarns in this trunk show. All those who have asked for lace weight should come and find a treasure or two. Ellyn sent "Daybreak" a beautiful Stephen West shawl knitted in a skein of kid mohair and a skein of sock yarn. It is a feast for the eyes!

We have also had a good time knitting a couple of new samples out of the treasures in the trunk show boxes. One skein of "Tinkerbell" makes and amazing "infinity" type cowl. Kristy (the other new face at KA) had a great time knitting the Ann Norling multi-gauge cowl. It can be worn a bunch of ways and is a great addition to any fall wardrobe.

What is that about another new face? I'd like to welcome Kristy Lucas. She joins us with a pretty impressive knitting history (she knits samples for people like Nicky Epstein) and a great knack for people and yarn. Kristy is not "local" but is driving to the OBX for 2 days of work at KA from way up in Hampton, VA! Please welcome her smiling face when you are in the shop next.

And another Trunk Show?? What the ... We are really excited that Carolyn from Studio 12 in Hatteras is going to join us at Knitting Addiction again December 3rd for the day. Carolyn came up in October to show and sell her beautiful works. We had so much fun with all of her amazing jewelry and ceramics and Gary's beautiful pottery that I had to invite them back for another day. If you missed the Trunk Show in October (or if you fell head over heels in love with their work!!), please make plans to join us on Saturday, December 3rd.

Carolyn and Gary will be returning from Washington D.C. where one of their Christmas ornaments was chosen for the National Christmas Tree. Pretty big stuff! I anticipate the same amazing welcome that Carolyn enjoyed in October. Save some holiday shopping for the Studio 12 Trunk Show and know that you have done your part to think globally and shop locally. Local art may be one of the best possible gift ideas... right after a hand-knitted gift:)

Hope to see you soon!

Ellyn Cooper TRUNK SHOW & other news

Yeah! Hurray! The annual Ellyn Cooper Trunk Show is almost here. November 8-30 we will have a great array of Ellyn's beautiful hand-dyed yarns. The Trunk Show has become a much anticipated event at Knitting Addiction and I think this year is going to be new levels of wonderful.

I've talked with Ellyn several times about the show and she has new colors and a host of neat new fibers to add some real fun to this year's event. If you are an Ellyn junkie as so many of us are this is the time to road trip to the beach and spend some time finding a new project in Ellyn's beautiful yarns.

We hope to see you here!

Other news around ths shop of note is a new but familiar face. Karen Arbaugh who many of you know has joined me at Knitting Addiction as a great part-time person. If you have not met Karen she has wonderful skills and is an awesome addition to the KA staff. In her "real" job she's a paramedic for Dare County, so she thinks that KA is the "fun" job. Karen will be around a couple of days a week. Stay tuned for another new face in tne near future.

Saturday, October 22

Just a little advanced notice for those who do read the blog. Knitting Addiction will be uncharacteristically closed on Saturday, October 22. A dear friend, Susan Kowalski, passed away from the evils of cancer last week and the memorial service is on Saturday. Dave and I will be attending the service and the events following. Please keep the Kowalski Family in your thoughts and prayers. Susan and her husband George have been huge assets to the Southern Shores VFD and she will be greatly missed. God bless and Godspeed Susan, please keep watching over all your folks from a higher vantage point.

Wow!! What a great day!

What a great day!! Saturday, October 8 was a loads of fun at Knitting Addiction. We were lucky to have Carolyn Schena from Studio 12, Avon join us for the day for an Art Show. Studio 12 had some damage from Irene and we hoped to have a good day for some great art and shopping.

Carolyn brought tons of beautiful art for the fine folks at KA to admire and purchase. She creates beautiful ceramic buttons and tiles, amazing fused glass jewelry, and lovely original paintings. Gary, her sweet guy, is an amazing potter and Carolyn brought a wonderful array of his pottery, platters and YARN BOWLS!!

It was a feast for the eyes. Blue, green and earthy glazes on neat pottery. Sparkly fused glass pendants and earrings, sterling silver clay molded into fanciful jewelry. There was something neat for nearly everyone. Loads of shoppers found treasures on the Studion12 tables and it was fun day all the way around. There is also a fresh supply of yarn bowls at the shop if you having been waiting for the next delivery!

Thanks to all who came out to support Studio 12 and the Schenas. They are great people and longtime Knitting Addiction friends. If you missed the fun this weekend, we are hoping to have Carolyn back up for another show in the near future. I'll keep you posted.

Studio 12 is coming!!

Yeah me! FINALLY something to blog about! Carolyn Schena from Studio 12 in Avon is going to be a the shop on Saturday, October 8 all day. She's packing the truck with all sorts of Studio 12 art, pottery and jewelry and heading north on the ferry to bring a slice of Hatteras to the northern beaches. We are really excited to see the beautiful things she will have for sale. Please come in and shop 'til you drop! Christmas is right around the corner, so this is a great opportunity to support local artists and find the perfect gift for a friend or even yourself!

Check out the Studio 12 website at Studio 12