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::Some Fun(ny) Links and New Stuff::
Blue Heron Yarns are in - they are going fast! 
In fact, did the employees actually leave anything for customers to buy? There are four different yarns, dyed in incredible colors. I can see that we are going to have to order lots more!
Rowan Studio Book One and Two are in. 
 These are collections of up-to-the-minute patterns - they're just like most Rowan books - a few designs that would work for anyone, a few designs for runways models only and a few that are just bizarre by any standards. Come and see!
Our spring newsletter is up, including a list of the great classes we're offering through June. We didn't set too many up for February because we weren't sure when the newsletter would go out (the paper version is at the printers), so call the shop for information on the February classes we're offering now.
Here's something you don't see everyday: a working Lego knitting machine!
And if you missed it, didn't hear about it, or just wanna know about it, Ann(a Nashville local) and Kay from Mason-Dixon Knitting had a wonderful interview with well-known journalist John Siegenthaler. You can download the mp3 file here.
Pam's Baby Update: I'm at 35 weeks and 2 days with Baby Girl #2. Estimated due date: 2/28/07. We'll see...
::Sunday, January 28, 2007::
Pam
|1/28/2007 04:31:00 PM|
::A Contest and More!::
Don't forget - you can bring in entries for the first contest of 2007 any time! The theme is "Felted Anything". It doesn't have to be something new - as long as it's yarn we currently carry and the pattern is available. Make clogs (the Yarn Harlot thinks these are great!), hats, purses, flowers, whatever! You've got until 2/15, then we'll vote from 2/16 - 2/28. The earlier you bring it in, the longer people have to decide it's their favorite to vote for! And you'll get a nice $25 gift certificate to AHYC for your trouble!
Details of further contests can be found in our newsletter on Page 3. The Spring '07 newsletter is nearly finished - we're just putting the final touches on our spring schedule. We have a great lineup of classes, including plenty of opportunities to learn felting and sock-making, which are very hot topics right now. If we have your email (on the shop computer), you'll get notification that it's posted first; if we only have your regular address, you'll get a paper copy a bit later this month. If your email changed in the past year or so, make sure we have the updated one...
New in the shop this week: a boatload of books - some are new and some are ones we have been out of stock on. A few have already sold out AGAIN! We also received Crystal Palace's new Star white bamboo needles. If you love Clover straights and dpn's, you'd better get them now, because we are moving them out to make room for the new guys! We think you'll like the points and prices on the Stars. Classic Elite sent some LaGran mohair, which we have been so low in stock on recently - maybe we'll have another cold snap so we can finish our winter projects and maybe wear them once this season! HA!
Needful Yarns sent us some great kits - the generously-sized felted Kat Duffle bag 
and the "Rowena" sweater from the awesome Knit 2 Together book by Tracey Ullman.
We have lots of models made from this book already, including the Red Riding Hood Hat/Scarf that Robin made. Patty is working on some things from the book too, so watch for more live models!
Coming soon - Blue Heron hand-dyed cottons (4 different yarns), Himalaya Recycled Silk Sari yarn, and Blue Sky Cotton. There are new colors of the Blue Sky, but they will probably be in our next order....
Heard 'round the AHYC table:
...on ripping..."It sucks and then you cry" - M. Hinson
...during checkout...."With a name like Susan Bates, you HAVE to be a knitter!" - Charisse (and yes, we have a customer named Susan Bates - cool, huh?!)
::Monday, January 15, 2007::
Pam
|1/15/2007 06:05:00 PM|
::We're Baaa....aaack!::
Didja miss us while we were closed? Maybe it gave you time to catch up on your other knitting projects...or heaven forbid...maybe you spent time doing something else besides knitting! Yipes!
Anyway, we're open again and over the next few months, we'll be getting wonderful new yarns, needles and goodies from great vendors everywhere! Did I mention needles? Suffice it to say that if you're a Lover of Straight Clover Needles (10", 14" and DPN) you may want to stock up....White Bamboo Star needles from Crystal Palace are on their way! We have a sample set to try out on the table...
Beaded yarns are hot this spring, and Tilli Thomas has added new colors to their Cleopatra line (beaded dupioni silk). It's pricey, but one skein done on #35 needles in a )K2tog, YO) pattern makes a great scarf. Maybe we can get Robin to bring in her sample again (or make another one)? Artyarns has a gorgeous Beaded Silk coming in too - it's their classic Regal Silk (have you seen the modular Starburst Shawl I made?) with beads added. You'll love it! Hold it with a strand of Rowan Kidsilk Haze and voila! A gorgeous one-of-a-kind spring scarf or shawl!
What? You are "scarfed" out? Well, try taking a break and knitting for yourself! You've probably spent the past few months making lots of gifts for others, why not treat yourself a project or two? Here's a shawl suggestion - in fact, it would be interesting to knit several varieties of this shawl in different Angel Hair yarns and post them on the website. Wanna give it a try? It's a quickie and it would be cool to see it in all kinds of yarns! We had this pattern as a poncho a few springs ago when the poncho craze hit, but it would be just as easy to make it a shawl now. "When/where would I use a shawl?" you ask? Well, try early mornings, when it's just a little chilly in your home/work/car or at a shop, and you don't want the bulk of a jacket. Or try later in the spring, at the theater, restaurant or an evening outdoor concert and you've been wearing short sleeves and just need some cover? Stun the people around you as you walk around stylishly wearing that little bit of gorgeousness you whipped up yourself. Come on. You KNOW you want to...
Ask for the "Mary's Drop Stitch Shawl/Poncho" pattern at the shop - it's free with the purchase of yarn for this project. Suggestions for yarn: FDC Malva, Colinette Tagliatelli or Giotto, Rowan Cotton Tape (on sale now!), Classic Elite Fame, the new Plymouth Ms. Jones, Jo Sharp Soho Summer Cotton, and Muench Soft Kid (or Soft Kid held with Safari!), hmmm...I'm sure I'll think up other combos....Send a picture to the shop's email or bring it in for a photo shoot and I'll get it posted and you'll have your 5 minutes of fame and glory!
Another shawl we have on display (I'll take a picture tomorrow) is a great one-skeiner by local girl Elizabeth Kelly. Buy one skein of Schaefer Laurel and we'll give you the pattern! It's boomerang-shaped and has a ruffle - the hand-dyed Laurel does the rest! It can be as jazzy or subdued as the colorway you choose...
Just a note - we're working on the newsletter, which of course contains our wonderful lineup of classes for the February - June portion of the year. It should be out by the end of the month - you'll get notified faster if you provide us your email at the shop next time you're in (or send it to our shop's email). We'll have most of the usual suspects - including Continental Knitting, Knitting 101, Xmas in June/July, Baby Booties, and My First Sweater, as well as Five Easy Fixes, and some technical classes in color and/or lace knitting, reading charts and more. There are new contests too - these are great chance to have your work shown off and make $25 FREE money in the form of a gift certificate to AHYC. Check here for more details and the current contest.
More soon!
::Wednesday, January 03, 2007::
Pam
|1/03/2007 10:16:00 PM|
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Friends of AHYC 
Elletrain Knits
