Yarn Tasting Signup, Wounded Warriors Shawl project and more!!

Lots of Yarn Tasting NEWS!! Read on.... Another new Classic Elite trunk show is enroute and should be in by Friday. Click here to preview the books or come into the shop to check out all the details.    Click here for your flyer on the Needle and Yarn Tasting; then come into the shop and sign up. If you've been before, you know how much fun they are, and if you haven't, well, this is a great first time, since we actually have enough room in the shop to do this properly since the expansion.   August 17th or August 18th - both dates are currently available, and your $10 registration fee goes to animal rescue. And did we mention that there will be lots of doorprizes and samples to take home?   If you're not familiar with FrogTree yarns, their yarns are ridiculously reasonably priced wonderfully soft Fair Trade yarns from Peru and Bolivia. FrogTree, the company, is actually T&C Imports, a non-profit, so all the profits from the wholesale sales of their yarns goes to the artisans who create them and to support education and environmental projects in their communities. So, great yarns and great causes all wrapped up together. To read more about them, click on this link: http://www.frogtreeyarns.com/.   We only carry a few of the yarns that Muench yarns offers, so Kirsten Muench is sending us a whole bunch of stuff for you to try out.  You can help me to decide whether to expand our offerings of their yarns based on what you like at the tasting.

Semper Fi CommunityTask Force Knitting/Crocheting Project We are finally getting this organized and the first shawls have been started. If you'd like to join in but haven't had a chance yet, just hit the reply button and do so today. If you've already volunteered, you'll be getting a separate email from me in a little while about the project.   For those of you who have said you want to contribute the yarn as well as the labor, you can basically get started. What we're going to do for you is this: you buy the yarn, and make the shawl - when you turn the shawl back in to us, we will give you a 30% credit of the purchase price of the yarn - so you'll get the yarn at 30% off, once you've completed the shawl. Please hold onto your ball bands and bring them back in when you bring in the shawl. We'll need them to correct the bookkeeping, and also to provide care instructions to the recipient.   So, if you're want to buy the yarn for your project, just come in anytime that suits you - any of the shop staff can help you decide what to make.    There are lots of wonderful free knitted and crocheted shawls, wraps and stoles patterns on Ravelry. You can work with any weight of yarn you choose, any color, any fiber - since there is no way of knowing what gowns will be donated, the Task Force just needs whatever we can give them.   We have a relatively long lead time so we should be good. The Marine Corps Ball is in November, around Veteran's Day, we want to deliver the shawls in October so they can pair them with the gowns and get them ready for their recipients.   Again if you're willing to participate in this project and haven't signed on yet, please send me an email (you can reply to this newsletter) and let me know. Please include your phone number, what kind of project you would like to make, and if you're not a frequent visitor to the shop, some information on your skill level.

Three Classes Currently Available! Kirsten is going to be teaching part 2 of our Introductory knitting series - Knitting Essentials 102. This class will be held on Wednesday afternoons, July 24th, 31st and August 14th, from 530 to 730pm. The registration fee is $65.00. Read more here.  There are only a few spots left in this class, so sign up today.     AND ONE MORE Class: SHEEP! Felted SHEEP! Yes, we are doing a single session Needle Felting Class  on Saturday August 24th from 430 to 630pm - this little fellow pictured here is now sitting on the shop counter looking adorable. We also have other felted creature kits in transit, in addition to some we already have in stock but we'll be doing sheep in the class. Click  here for the details. The registration fee for this one session class is $45. but that includes your kit and tools to create your first sheep. Then, if you're ambitious, you can try the bear, the birds, the pigs, the buffalo and hopefully ponies are coming as well. Or you can buy fiber and a book and create your own critters.....   Another crochet class is on the books for Sunday, July 21st from 330 to 6pm - students should have their Crocheted Broomstick Lace Scarf wellunderway by the end of the class. We've done the knitted version, now it's time to try the crocheted version. A draft version of the flyer is attached. It's all good but the picture isn't of our shop sample..... The flyer is here.  And more classes are coming - Crocheted Baby Surprise Jacket is still projected for for early September (is there any interest in taking the Knitted Surprise Jacket class? - we haven't offered it in awhile...)  and Kirsten is working on a sock class (just a little different from the one taught by Diane) and also we're working on Crochet Essentials   102.   Let us know what you want and we'll see what we can come up with.