We rarely do trunk shows at WoolWinders—quite frankly we would rather knit up the models ourselves, but we couldn’t resist the offer from our new favorite vendor TWISTED SISTERS. Check out the samples they have sent us! They are dramatic, flattering, and best of all a lot of fun to make. We will have the trunk show through September 18 and the pattern books and yarn will arrive at the shop TUESDAY (we have already cleared some “prime real estate” display space for it). So come whet your appetite this weekend and return next week to see the yarns and patterns. We fell in love with this line at TNNA and think you will feel the same:

We have spent the past two days sorting, pricing, rearranging and shelving a huge order from ROWAN. Lots of beautiful yarns, including new colors of TAPESTRY (a store favorite) and their wonderful new yarn KIDSILK AURA (perfect for people who love KIDSILK HAZE but don’t like the thinness of the strand). Beautiful pattern books from NASHUA and RYC. New sock yarn from REGIA. A gorgeous new book ROWAN STORY OF LITTLE KNITS that has already been scooped up by a staff member who shall remain anonymous!

Stay tuned for info about a TRUNK SHOW from TWISTED SISTERS (hint: the yarns and books will be here by early next week). We are just confirming that we actually ordered the stuff to make all the models they sent!

We apologize for the crossed messages about our upcoming LACE SHAWL program this SUNDAY from 2-4. The class is filled, (we will take names and phone numbers for a wait list) but there was some confusion about which shawl we would be teaching. We will be working on MICHELLE’S SHAWL from our new favorite shawl book WRAPPED IN COMFORT. It is a wonderful design and both fun and challenging to knit. We wouldn’t recommend this as a first lace project as the repeat shifts on the last row of the cycle so markers can’t be used. But if you have done lace and love the feeling of getting into the “lace counting” zone, you will LOVE this.

Participants should be prepared to purchase about 600-800 yards of fingering weight yarn—we have lots of beautiful offerings. All of our fingering weight yarn does need to be wound, so please purchase this ahead of time. Bring or buy size 8 32” circular needles.

We will see you SUNDAY from 2-4.

FLO sent us this lovely picture of her finished BOBBLE BAG made during the Noni Bag workshop this summer. Needless to say, we are looking forward to having Nora back here next year. And as an aside, we are also looking forward to welcoming FLO as an employee at the shop in two weeks!!! Stay tuned for other staff news!

We received two HUGE boxes from COLINETTE today containing yarn, patterns and kits that are new. How new? So new that their American distributor doesn’t even have them up on the website. So you will just have to come in and check out IONA, their heavy worsted offering that is an unbelievably soft blend of luxury silk, kid mohair, and wool. And of course the yarn is dyed in the vibrant colorways that mark COLINETTE. We are drooling over the pattern book for the yarn, again so new and precious that we only received ONE copy.

And to show that we love our crocheters (even though we can’t seem to master the technique), we have brand new PILLOW KITS from Colinette as well. As soon as we can reach MARIETTA, we will get one made up, but we saw these at the TNNA show and fell in love with them!

We returned from our vacation to all sorts of new yarns and patterns. And we know that before we get to those goodies, we have to answer the two questions on everyone’s minds about our trip:

1. What did you knit while you were away?
2. Did you find a yarn store?

1. We made a short sleeved cardigan out of PATRICIA ROBERTS DK COTTON. The pattern is one of our favorites from KIRSTEN COWAN and was a fun, easy, mock cable knit. Look for it to be hanging in the shop next week.

2. Yes, although we weren’t looking. We were on our way from Cape Town to the Cape of Good Hope when we spotted a small yarn shop called, interestingly enough, YARN SHOP, in Fish Hoek. Of course we had to stop in. For anyone going to South Africa in the near future, we can report that the shop was adorable, the staff kind and helpful, and we did not leave without purchasing a lovely hand-dyed bamboo yarn produced by a woman in Cape Town. We have her name and contact information.

And one more item before listing our new arrivals. We knew before we left for three weeks that we are blessed with a fabulous staff. How fabulous? We had not a moment of worry while we were halfway around the world. The store thrived, the classes and programs went on without a hitch, and even the blog was maintained. So thanks to KARINA, GAIL, RAISA, MARIETTA, JESSICA, ALISON, KATHY, and HEATHER. We hope we let you know often just how fabulous we think you are.

And now onto the goodies. Check out the new colors of SUBLIME DK and ARAN--this yarn flies off the shelves when it is in stock. We have a new color of NORO IRO along with a wonderful new book from JANE ELLISON, restocks of ADDI NATURA NEEDLES, new patterns from BLUE SKY ALPACA (including a wonderful ribbed sweater for men), the Fall issue of KNITTERS, and some new offerings from COLINETTE: tone on tone colors of JITTERBUG and CADENZA

We are in our “back to school” mode as evidenced by the more than 30 classes scheduled this fall at WoolWinders. Check them out by following the link on the left. Whether you are an absolute beginner, an advanced beginner ready to tackle pattern reading, a knitter ready for the challenge and fun of a SAFARI, or an advanced knitter eager to learn design, Fair Isle, or other more challenging techniques, we have the class for you! Classes are held weekday and weekend mornings and Monday-Wednesday evenings. Lots of times, lots of choices!

You can register by phone, email, or in person; we do ask for payment at time of registration. See you soon!