uniqueyarnsblog

Let's clean it up!

Fiber people have a lot in common, and we're not just talking sticks and hooks here.  This time of year I often overhear conversations  start with fibery projects, and quickly jump to talk of green and growing things.  Many of us enjoy digging in the soil almost as much as we do our favorite needlework, but that needlework and grimy hands do NOT go well together.  No worries, we've got you covered.  Just in from Colorado is a wonderful selection of Sycamore Street Soap products.  Homemade soap, scrub, and cute little tins of lotion that fit perfectly in the knitting bag.  I have to admit that I'm partial to the scrub.  It removes all the garden residue from my cracked hands and leaves the most glorious, earthy fragrance.  These products would make wonderful Mother's Day gifts, especially  combined with a flower washcloth! Got you covered there, too.  The Flower Washcloth class is two sessions, May 5 & 12, 10:00 - noon.  You'll have a completed washcloth just in time for Mother's Day! 

  If you're on our mailing list, the new class schedule for May-August has arrived at your door.  If not, come in and pick one up!  Due to such high demand, we are offering more Beginning Knit classes than ever before and we're in the process of certifying more instructors with the Yarn Craft Council of America.  Classes beginning this week are the Summer Topper,  Felting 101, Beginning Knit I, and the above mentioned washcloth.

Spring and Summer are going to be exciting at Unique Yarns!  We're looking forward to you being a part of it!

 

It's never too soon to find the perfect gift.

We are very nearly to that special day of the year when card companies sell outrageous numbers of cards (more than Christmas!), your favorite dining establishment is full all day, and the long distance phone lines are buzzing..... Mother's Day!  This year Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13.  May we suggest a few gift ideas for your fiber loving mother, or to put on your Mother's Day wish list? 

Of course, there can never be enough fiber.  This beautiful combination of Tartelette, Bali, Pure Silk, and Lang Opal would make a lovely summer top, or fabulous shawl to throw over your shoulders on a cool summer evening.   We have a wonderful selection of luxury fibers like silk, linen, mixed novelties, and Artyarns Silk Rhapsody, a mohair and silk blend pictured at left. Absolutely yummy.

A ball winder and/or skein holder is always a great idea since so many of the finer yarns need to be wound into a ball before use.  Our accessory wall is full of useful gadgets that any knitter/crocheter can't have enough of.  We also have a large variety of knitting bags in many sizes and colors.  Everything from a small sack to carry a sock project to large, full of pockets designs to carry large or multiple projects.  One can never have too many bags. 

My very favorite gift idea, and the one I ask for at each and every gift giving holiday is a Unique Yarns gift certificate.  Available in any dollar amount, they are sure to make any fiber loving mother smile with gratitude.  They can be used for both retail purchases or to pay for classes, which reminds me that the summer class newsletter should be arriving at your door very soon!  If you aren't on our mailing list, stop in and sign up!!

Progress for Peace

Each first and third Monday of every month a group of kind and dedicated people meet at the shop to knit items for people in need.  They brainstorm together in choosing what part of the community has a need that they might be able to meet, and then begin the knitting process.  Knitted into each item is love and kindness and peace.  The first organization they chose to knit for was the homeless children attending school in the Rockford school district.  To date they have created 6 scarves, 12 hats, and 14 pairs of mittens that will help to keep the winter chill away from a child that has no home.  What lovelier way to contribute to peace on our planet than to cover it in knitted warmth?  Peace is not just the absence of war, but a daily choice of action and behavior.  What might seem a small thing to you can make a huge difference to someone else. 

  If you would like to be a part of this group, either by attending or contributing, contact that shop at 815-282-5481 for more details.  A huge hug of thanks to those that have already participated.  If you still have items that you would like to contribute to the homeless project we will accept them until April 30th. You may drop them off at the shop any time during business hours. 

Knit yourself a screen door.

Knitters, like all people, come in many flavors.  There are the conservative, yet classy knitters that prefer their projects more tailored and sophisticated. There is the brave and intrepid knitter that likes HUGE projects with multiple charts and colors and needle changes.  Scarf knitters, wash cloth knitters, afghan knitters, baby things knitters...and then there is me.  I am an out-of-the-box knitter.   The funky, oddball, stretch the rules kind of knitter.  Leigh Radford understands and wrote a book just for me.  OK, not just for me, but for all us that like to knit outside the lines.  AlterKNITS is the title and there really is a pattern for a knitted screen door. Practical?  Probably not, but cool?  Oh, to the max. 

Alterknits is everything a great knitting pattern book should be.  The pictures are clear, yet artsy, and each pattern itself is well written and easy to follow.  And diverse.  Really diverse.  There is a pattern to knit little square covers for outdoor light strings, an innovative scarf/shawl..... honestly my description can't do it justice.  We have several copies at the shop so come in and have a look for yourself.  Maybe you'll even want to knit a screen door of your very own.

New Arrivals!!

Our kind and helpful UPS person has been visiting us regularly and bringing with him boxes of new yarns just in time for all your spring fiber projects.  There is Cotton Classic in colors to brighten even the cloudiest (or coldest; what is up with this weather?) Spring day.  100% cotton and a joy to knit with.  Bali is an extremely soft bamboo ribbon yarn that will create a lovely drape with knitted.  (remember that you can click on any of the pictures to see it larger!)  For that luxury project, cause we all need a little luxury in our lives, we have many new colors of Debbie Bliss Pure Silk.  This stuff could not possibly be more beautiful, both to look at and work with.  If you have a little one to knit for we received a selection of new and adorable fibers to create something really special. Party is a fuzzy hug in a ball, Pom Pom has cute little tufts of color, and Bon Bon is a riot of color and texture.  Each one will add it's own unique personality to any project.  And, just in case you need something special to carry all those projects in, we just received four new bags from Three Dog Designs, and expect more in the next few weeks.

  Just as our knitting/crochet projects change with the seasons, so do the selection of wonderful fibers.  Come in, we'll be glad to help you pick something perfect for your fiber creation.

What's up with the ears?

Who are these women and why are they impersonating the Easter Bunny?  Why, it's some of the Unique Yarns staff during our Easter sale, held yesterday.  From the left, Roxanne, our amazing crochet teacher (who would like to go on record for just saying no to the ears.  Someone had to be the voice of reason. :-)), Laura, Becky, Nancy and Holly (that's me!).  We had a full day of sale fun and if you are on the email list, you were probably there too.  Our most recent sales have been advertised ONLY to our email list members, so be sure to come in and register your email address.  We send email with class schedule updates, sales, and other pertinent info that you won't want to miss out on.  If you are on the email list and aren't getting the email, be sure to check your spam filter to be sure mail from Unique Yarns isn't being filtered out. 

  Here's hoping that you and yours had a lovely Easter holiday filled with family and fun!