Twisted Yarns Newsletter
July-August-September 2010
Wow! Summer is already in full swing, but there still is plenty of time to knit up a cute little summer sweater or tank, or a light weight shawl to keep you warm in the movie theater or a restaurant! We are just back from Market and have been shopping and shopping, so there are a lot of new yarns, kits, and other goodies on the way! Look for our new clothesline display in the shop in late July…..we’ve chosen some of our favorite yarns for fall, and have knit and crocheted some great items to inspire you. We are re-designing our website and blog, so look for those changes coming soon! Please let us know if you can receive our newsletter via e-mail instead of snail mail. We would really like to reduce the amount of paper we use, and would like to spend that postage money on yarn instead!! You can let us know either the next time you are here or send us an e-mail.
We are introducing a Twisted Holiday Knit/Crochet Club! It will begin in July and run for 6 months. Each month we’ll have a different theme, and each month the projects will require less time. By December you’ll have a stash of holiday gifts ready to give and one last really quick project to complete when you have very little time! Here’s how it works: The 2nd Thursday of each month, we’ll have a sit & knit evening where you can come pick up your project. You are welcome to join the club at any time, but if you come that evening you’ll also receive 10% off the yarn for your project. We’ll have knitting and crochet projects of varying difficulty levels chosen each month so you can decide which pattern you like the most. We’ll have yarn suggestions of course, but you can choose whatever yarn you would like to use! It’s only $5.00 for each month and that includes your choice of one of the club patterns. We’ll also have some great snacks each time, so come join us, meet other knitters/crocheters and get a head start on your holiday gifts (of course, you can make a project for yourself!). Please call to sign up each time so we know how many people to expect.
Our annual Beat the Heat Sale will be the last weekend of July, the 29th through the 31st. If you’ve never joined us for this event before, here’s how it works…….as the temperature outside goes up, the yarn prices go down! Simple as that. We check the temperature every hour on the hour, and you decide the best time to make your purchase. It’s great fun, don’t miss it!
Where do we begin? Berroco’s Origami is in stock (at least at press time!) and the pattern book is awesome! We are expecting a huge shipment of their Ultra Alpaca any day! This alpaca/wool blend has great pattern support with booklets and online with Berroco. It’s super soft and a gem to use. We’ll also receive Ultra Alpaca Fine, Sundae, and the new Vintage Chunky! Also on the way is Remix, a totally recycled yarn made from numerous “summer” fibers that is perfect for our climate.
Cascade has some great new yarns we couldn’t resist as well! Our favorite is the new Epiphany, a luscious blend of royal alpaca, cashmere and silk, in a light DK weight with great yardage. Also new to us is their ultra chunky Magnum wool and Covington, a chunky, multi-color wool/acrylic blend. More great Jade Sapphire Cashmere Scarf kits are on the way in solids and multi-colors!
Noro’s newest yarns are due in soon: King is a DK weight acrylic/mohair/silk/wool blend, Kogarashi is a silk/wool combo that’s worsted weight and super soft, and Kirameki is their new lace weight rayon/wool/cashmere blend with amazing softness.
Araucania has a new alpaca/wool blend called Liwen that you will love. Also coming are new colors of Panguipulli….we can’t pronounce it, but we love this merino! Another great self-striping yarn we are excited to be carrying is Kauni Effektgarn. You are going to love the possibilities with this very gradual change in color. Knit One Crochet Too’s Ty-Dy Cotton is on the way, and the Ty-Dy wool will be coming in August.
We ordered some great fibers from Habu Textiles. New colors of Cotton Gima, Silk and Wool
Stainless Steel, Merino Wool and Tsumugi Silk.
We have already received the new Encore Mega from
We have more of Blue Sky Alpaca’s Alpaca Silk on the way,
along with new colors of Spud and Chloe yarns.
Also coming soon is Baby Alpaca from Alpaca with a Twist. We think you’ll love the colors! We’ve been carrying the large 540 yd skeins
of this yarn, and we now have the smaller 110 yard skeins as well. We will be
receiving
Some of our new books include Knitting Green, Power Cables, Poetry in Stitches, Toe Up Two at a Time,
Think Outside the Sox, Selbuvotter, Knitting Brioche, Knitting the Perfect
Pair, Crochet in Color, and Crochet Adorned.
Lots of new project bags of all kinds are on the way! Great accessories from Annie Adams are in, and stitch markers from Knitifacts too! Also, Lo-Lo Body Bars from Bar-Maids, Laurel Hill crochet hooks, cute mugs by Thomas Joseph and Herdy. We are now carrying Schacht weaving looms! Come see and try the popular Cricket loom at the shop. We are also carrying Ashford drop spindles, and Interweave’s Handwoven magazine. We have ordered a lot more roving from Frabjous Fiber, Mountain Colors and Frog Tree.
We are offering several new classes in addition to our classics! We are re-introducing the Fix It Class designed to help should you, by chance, hit an error in your knitting! We love Susan Anderson’s Dream Catcher Baby Blanket and have received permission to offer a class. This is a great class for the beginner knitter who wants to learn how to read stitch patterns. We are seeing a big increase in crocheters and are offering two more advanced crochet classes: one to make a great shawl and another for a beautiful scarf. For a quick project, we are offering a class in adorable ballet slippers. The cute Nonsuch Knits French Press Foulard pattern inspired us to offer the Cable Cozy class. The several different cables make this a comprehensive cable class.
Over the last 6 years we have donated hundreds of hats to hospitals, the troops, the homeless, and many other charities. Thank you so much for your participation in this project. You have given of your time and talent, and have made a difference in many people’s lives. We will still gladly accept your hats and hand-knitted/crocheted items, and we’ll get them to the appropriate charity. However, we will no longer be giving coupons for your hat donations. We decided we were ready for a change!
We hope you'll join us in our efforts to reduce waste and help others at the same time! We now have Twisted Yarns Chico Bags with our cute sheep on them!! Bags are $6.50 and each time you use it for your purchase, we’ll give you 10¢, and you can choose one of the four charities below for the donation. The four charities are:
Reuse your bag, and give some of our cash to charity! Thank you for continuing to help us support worthy charities!
Each class includes
experience level information to assist you in determining if a class is right
for you. Please support your
Learn a new way to crochet a foundation row and construct a triangular shawl. A lacy crocheted edge finishes off this beautiful shawl by Doris Chan. Materials: 600 – 800 yards DK weight yarn (depending on size) and size K crochet hook. This is a two session class. Fee: $25 and includes the pattern. Level: proficient Advanced Beginner
This lovely, lacy scarf by designer MK Carroll is a great project for the advanced beginner crocheter who is comfortable with simple crochet motifs such as ripples and granny squares and is ready to move to intermediate level work. You will learn to crochet a more complicated motif pattern using stitch diagrams and written instructions. Materials: 150 yards worsted weight yarn (Blue Sky cotton or Spud & Chloe Sweater recommended) and size G (4mm) crochet hook. Fee: $25 and includes the pattern. Level: proficient Advanced Beginner
This is a quick project and a great gift idea. The slippers can be left plain or you can use your creativity to add cute embellishments. In this class you will learn how to pick up stitches and perform a wrap and turn. Materials: 120 yards of heavy worsted or bulky yarn, 2 - 24” or longer size 7 needles and DPNs in size 7 or smaller. There is homework before the class. Fee: $30 and includes the pattern. Level: Advanced Beginner
In this class you will be introduced to this great art and will learn how to cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease and bind off. By the end of the two-session class you will have completed a felted bowl and have the skills to knit scarves, hats, shawls and many other projects. Materials: you will need about 100 yards of 100% wool (not a washable wool) in a worsted weight and size 11-16” circular needles. Fee: $50 and includes the bowl pattern.
If you want to learn cables, this is the class for you! In this 2 session class, you will learn several different cable stitches as well as how to knit an attached I-cord. This “cozy” for your French Press or wine bottle makes a great gift. Materials: 197 yards worsted weight yarn (4 sts/inch) in a light color, 24” size 9 needles, 2 size 8 DPNs, cable needle and other accessories. There is homework for this class. Fee: $35 and includes the pattern. Level: Advanced Beginner – you should be comfortable with increases, decreases, and knitting/purling.
If you are a new knitter and would like to learn several stitch patterns as well as seaming, this is a great class for you! This adorable, colorful baby blanket uses 5 colors of yarn and 5 stitch patterns. You can also use the same pattern for an adult afghan (just add more squares!). This class is 2 sessions, with 3 weeks of knit alongs in between. The first session is getting started and learning a couple of the stitch patterns, and the last session is seaming and picking up edge stitches for the border. Materials: 5 colors of worsted weight yarn, 320 yards each color, 24” size 7 needles (or size to get gauge). Fee: $45 and includes the pattern. Level: Advanced Beginner
Learn the entrelac knitting technique as you start knitting this beautiful scarf. This is another one of those addicting knitting techniques! The color-coded tutorial from Leslye Solomon will help you keep your place in the pattern. Materials: 440 yards of self striping yarn (Noro Kureyon, Silk Garden, Ty-Dy Cotton or Kudo are good choices), size 8 needles and Watercolor Dreams Entrelac scarf pattern (50% off with class). Fee: $30 Level: Intermediate
Learn how to fix common problems in knitting including correcting twisted stitches, un-knitting and un-purling, picking up dropped stitches, using a lifeline to rip back multiple rows, and using duplicate stitch. This is a good class for the advanced beginner who wants to start identifying and fixing mistakes. Materials: 100 yds of worsted weight yarn in a light color, knitting needles in US size 7 or 8, and a crochet hook size G or H. There is homework for this class. Fee: $25. Level: Advanced Beginner
What is yarn? And how do we make it? Join us for this basic class using a drop spindle and wool roving to make your first chunky worsted yarn. Drop spindles are available for purchase at the shop. Fee: $25 (includes the fiber). Level: Beginner
This is a good class for beginners who want to learn shaping. As long as you know how to cast on, knit & purl you are ready! In this two session class, you will learn to knit in the round on double pointed needles, make ribbing, decrease, and finish your hat. This is a great class to take before learning to make socks. Materials: Yarn and appropriate needles in 16” circular and DPNs (or just DPNs if you are taking this before taking Socks 101). Fee: $25 and includes the pattern. Level: Advanced Beginner
Learn the basics of crochet, including single and double crochet and chain stitch. You will have a pretty stitch sampler to take home. This is a one-session class. Materials: approx 100 yards worsted weight yarn in a light color and a size H crochet hook. Fee: $25 Level: Beginner
You will complete a small sock and learn all the techniques needed to make socks for you and your family. We have revised this class to teach you how to knit in the round during the class. Materials: size 6 or 7 DPN’s and 1 skein of worsted weight yarn in a light shade. Fee: $35 Level: Advanced Beginner
This is a great short sleeve cardigan to take you through the summer and into fall! This Knitting Pure & Simple pattern is knit from the neck down, and is a great first garment project. This is a 4 session class. Materials: 900-1400 yds. heavy dk or light worsted weight yarn, 24” circulars in size 5 and 7, 16” circular size 7, or size needed to get gauge of 4.5 sts/in, stitch markers, 4 to 6 buttons. There is homework for this class. Fee: $65 includes the pattern. Level: Adv. Beginner to Intermediate
In this class you will knit a small sample sock from the toe to the cuff! You’ll learn the Turkish cast on, the short row wrap & turn heel, and EZ’s sewn bind off. We’ll also teach you how to adjust this basic pattern to other yarn weights and to fit a full size foot. Materials: ~100 yds. worsted weight yarn, Size 6 or 7 DPN’s or two 24” circulars. Fee: $35 Level: Intermediate – you must know how to knit in the round on DPN’s or circulars.
The reversible pattern in this scarf is achieved using double increase and double decrease stitches. Materials: Approximately 300 yards of DK or light worsted weight yarn and appropriate needles, stitch markers, and Summer 2010 issue of Spin Off magazine. There is homework for this class. Fee: $25 Level: Advanced beginner (should be comfortable with 1x1 ribbing).
Return Policy: Returns must be accompanied by a receipt; no exceptions! We encourage you to buy plenty of yarn for a project so you don’t run out, which is why we are happy to take back any extra within 1 year of purchase. Returns on yarn will only be accepted for 1 year from date of purchase and must be in the original condition. We cannot accept yarn that has been wound or yarn that has been kept in a smoke-filled environment. Additionally, we will only accept returns on needles and/or accessories in their original, undamaged packaging for 2 weeks from date of purchase with your receipt. No returns on books, patterns or clearance merchandise.
Special Orders: When you are placing a special order we require a 50% non-refundable deposit. Special Orders are not returnable.
Holds & Clearance Items: We are happy to hold regular priced yarn/needles for 30 days after which they will be placed back in stock. Please call us as soon as you know you won’t need the yarn. Clearance yarn is not returnable and cannot be placed on hold.
Classes: All class fees are non-refundable! Please understand we are securing an instructor’s time and holding a place just for you. You will receive a 10% discount on any yarn purchased for a class. Please support your local yarn shop by using our yarns for your class project.
We are happy to help with any project at any time, but hope you will understand that if the store is busy, we may not be able to give you 100% of our attention! If you have a project that requires a lot of help, or you will need more than 15 minutes of our time, please call the shop and book a private lesson with one of our instructors. That way we can give you our undivided attention, and we won’t keep other customers waiting for help. The fee is $15 per hour.
We really enjoy having you as our guests. If you have any questions, concerns or ideas as to how we can better serve you, please feel free to call us or e-mail us!
Closed Sunday & Monday
We are open the 4th Thursday of the month ‘til 6:15 before the KANG KNOT meeting.
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Phone: 281-528-8664 |
Website: www.twistedyarnstexas.com |
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E-mail: twistedyarns@earthlink.net |
Twitter: www.twitter.com/twistedyarns |