Woolworks Ltd.

Spinning!

2012-01-18T12:03:00.000-08:00

Spinning, spinning, spinning, just keep spinning spinning spinning! Like little Nemo and his friends we just keep going. We love spinning. We have a new group meeting at the Belding Mill on Providence St. in Putnam, Ct. home of the Fibers 4 Eve Mill. Liz Conway, owner of Fibers 4 Ewe has graciously invited anyone who wants to spin, to the conference room in the mill every other Sunday. We meet around 5:30 til 7 ish. Anyone is welcome, no level of experience neccessary as long as you have your own wheel or drop spindle. We can assist with some teaching though we mostly like to enjoy the time to spin ourselves since it's usually the only time we can do it.We talk about fiber, spinning techniques, plying techniques, laugh, and sometimes we have a snack. Baked goods are always welcome! We do go on field trips down the hall to the mill to pick out our next fiber to feed to our trusty wheels. We would love to welcome anyone else who is interested. We are meeting next on Sunday the 28 of January. Hope to see you there!

I guess it's really winter...sort of.

2012-01-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

Well 50 degree days and no snow are not quite what we think of here in New England as normal for January. I guess we should be happy but there is something about snow that makes me want to knit. I have seen a little decline, after Christmas, in my urges to create. I have a feeling it might be more common than just with me. I am in a funk. Are you? Don't get me wrong, I love 50 degree days, I love not spending my entire paycheck on oil or snow removal but hey, my season is 'cold season'. We need cold to keep knitters and crocheters inspired to create those toasty warm items for their loved ones. We need to have those lovely warm socks and cowls and even big cozy sweaters! We here at Woolworks we will continue to inspire your creativity with the wonderful selection of fibers and patterns even if mother nature in not cooperating. Though I feel as though I am not producing anything, I have a few things to show you...
Here on the right is the lovely 'Cedar Leaf Shawlette by Alana Dakos.
I found the pattern in a booth at the Vermont Sheep
and wool. The yarn is from Dirty Water Dye
works, a very nice silk and wool blend. The pattern is available from www.nevernotknitting.com.
Loved it so much I made two. The second in 100% silk from Blue Ridge Yarns. It was so nice to work with.
If you want to try something new like the leaf edging on this shawl, I would encourage you. It is great fun. I get many compliments on this, I wear it as a scarf.

WHAT WOULD JANE KNIT IF SHE JOINED OUR KNIT ALONG?

2011-10-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

We have been waiting for this month's special issue from Interweave Knits with great anticipation, and it is finally here!! The editor for this awesome magazine says it best- " Jane Austen captures the essence of humanity: quietly, succinctly, and with great humor". We couldn't agree more!!

Make a nice pot of tea and snuggle into your favorite chair as you flip through the stunning pages of this magazine. Spoil yourself with a pair of Pemberley Slippers, or knit your very own Mr. Knightly a dapper vest. Keep your hands warm with charming cameo mittens, and make a bright statement with a Scarlet Capelet.

There are so many finds in this issue, it will surely become one of your loveliest treasures. Because we are so taken with the charm and romance that Jane Austen inspires, we are organizing a Knit Along (KAL). We will gather on Wednesday evenings, choose whichever one of the patterns from the Jane Austen issue, and knit together as we listen to one of her fabulous novels on CD.

Now, here's the question: Which book? Sense and Sensibility? Pride and Prejudice? Emma? You tell us! We will be taking a vote and will announce the winner on November 11th. Stay tuned! Our official kick off for the Jane Austen KAL is Wednesday, November 16th at 6:30 pm. Call and sign up to secure a seat for this fun event!

Enjoy the rest of the day, my fiber friends! Happy Knitting and Crocheting!

REVELING IN THE NOVELTY OF NOVELTY YARNS

2011-10-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

One thing I've noticed now that I'm rummaging through my sweaters is that I have a lot of simple, run of the mill sweaters. I could be nice and say they are "classic" sweaters, but in reality, they are just plain boring. But remember, scarves and cowls often times replace the need for jewelry.

Thankfully, we have some really fun and interesting novelty yarns at the shop. In about two hours, you can have a brand new scarf to liven up any sweater! Cast on eight to ten stitches, and you are well on your way! Let me show you what I mean!

Jen designed this quick little scarf using one skein of Riviera. She kicks it up a notch with some chunky buttons.

Tul gives an air of pomp and circumstance.

Triana is perfect for those days when you feel a little sassy!

The ruffles of Rizos screams fun, fun,

FUN!

We have shelves stocked full with frilly and ribbony yarn!

And if those aren't enough for you, we have a wall covered with lovely novelty yarns to choose from! See, there's really no excuse to have a boring wardrobe!

JESS' PICK OF THE DAY

One of our customers came in the other day wearing a cowl s

he made using Malabrigo Rasta. One look was all it took for Jess to make it her pick of the day! To make things even better, we have both the yarn and the pattern book! Come and check them out!

The beautiful Malabrigo Book 3, a nice addition to y

our personal library.

Here's the Rasta Neckwarmer that made our little blondie smile.

We encourage you to sit at our table and look through this and many other of the beautiful books we have here at Woolworks!

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AND JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

Just as a reminder, our website is getting better every day! Make sure you check in and see what's new! Also, join us on Facebook! Keep in touch with members of the Woolworks family, and see what Jen has to say! She's been known to ambush us with a surprise sale, so definitely keep your eyes open!

FIRST NIGHT OF SPINNING FUN AND SUCCESSFUL!

Last but not least, our first official Spinning Group met on Sunday, and it was awesome! Thank you so much to Liz Conway from Fibers 4 Ewe! Because of her we have a lovely space to play. As expected, we had a small group, but we are certain that we will increase in size as time goes on. It was just so nice to spend a few hours talking and spinning scrumptious fiber into beautiful yarn! Our next meeting is on Sunday, October 23rd. Join us!

Happy Knitting and Crocheting, my friends!

A HINT OF YARN THROUGHOUT THE TOWN

2011-10-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

As knitters and crocheters, weavers and spinners, we know how wonderful yarn can be. It is for that reason that we put our own special touch of color throughout Putnam. Already it's been fun to see the look of surprise on the faces of passersby as they see........

a tree hugged in yarn.......

invitingly, colorful benches......

a more discreet goddess..........

and some smiling faces clad in knitted sweaters and hats!

We want to thank all the ladies who worked hard on Thursday night to enhance the town of Putnam with some yarn fabulosity, and thank you to Sharon A. for taking pictures as the fun unfolded!

WOOLWORKS TAG SALE!!

On Saturday, October 29th, and Sunday, October 30th, Woolworks is having a tag sale in the back parking lot! We have an assortment of

treasures that need to find a good home! If needlepoint is one of your passions, you can't miss this sale! We have a large variety of needlepoint wool and several beautiful printed needlepoint canvases that must go! Of

course we have yarn to sell too! Mark this day on your calendars!

BOOK OF THE DAY!

Two of the best selling books here at the shop have been 60 Quick Baby Knits and 60 Quick Knits.

These books feature Cascade 220 worsted weight yarn, so they all work up beautifully.

If you're ever in a bind and need a quick hat or pair of mittens to make as gifts, these two books are always there to save the day. Because we love these two books so much, it only made sense to order the sequel, 60 More Quick Knits.

Come on down and check it out! It's a beauty!

That's all for now, my fiber friends. Enjoy the crisp fall weather and happy knitting and crocheting to you all!

TIME TO STOCK UP YOUR KNITTING LIBRARY!

2011-10-05T07:00:00.001-07:00

Whether you are a brandy new knitter or you've been knitting since the beginning of time, having one or two really good reference books in your personal library is ALWAYS a good idea. We work with knitters and crocheters everyday, and quite frequently we find ourselves perusing our reference collection to help people along the way to a fabulous finished project. Here are some of the books we think are worthy enough to sit amongst your treasured yarn stash.

This expanded and updated edition of the Knitter's Companion is one of our favorites. With full color drawings and photographs, and very detailed instructions, this book empowers all knitters, regardless of their skill level.

It's all about the lingo! SSK, PSSO, P2togtbl, w&t, are just examples of the types of things that can make a knitter go hmmmmm........?? Well, arm yourself with KnitSpeak and you're well on your way to understanding and eventually speaking like a knitter!

This book is also a great addition to your collection. Just like the others, it is chock full of useful tips, and it goes that extra little step to entice future designers by providing you with tips about finishing and edgings, embroidery essentials, creating textures and managing color.

I love these books. I am biased, they're my favorite, but I love them and I think you all should have one, ESPECIALLY if you want to design your own special items. (Did I mention I love these books?) Both of these reference books provide you with the basic designs you need to make just about ANYTHING!

If you're interested in just making sweaters, you need a copy of The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns.

You really want a good foundation to make mittens, gloves, hats, tams, sweaters, vests, and socks? Get your hands on The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns! You won't regret it.

And the best part is that it ranges in multiple sizes and gauges. Just pick a yarn, pick your needles, choose your gauge, and go, go, GO!

Of course there are many other books, but these are a great start! And if you already have one of these gems, share the wealth! These make really awesome gifts!

Enjoy the day, my yarn-y friends! Happy Knitting and Crocheting!

CLASS LINEUP AND OTHER FUN STUFF

2011-10-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

Fall is here again, and yes, it means that cooler weather is on the way; but cooler weather is sweater weather, and sweater weather means knitting and crocheting time! Because we know the holiday season rapidly approaches, we've purposely constructed a class list that lends itself to making beautiful items quickly! Each project has a little something to make it interesting, and sometimes even a bit spicy, but they are all manageable, and they all make wonderful gifts.

BASIC SOCK CLASS

For some reason, socks seem to be the most intimidating endeavor to a knitter, with all of those fan-dangled needles and that bothersome heel! That is why it is one of our favorite classes to teach! Join us and learn why most knitters always have a sock in the works, and why you'll never want to wear a store-bought sock again! I just thought I'd mention that the socks that are pictured above were knitted and DESIGNED by our very own Jess Reed, who has only knitted scarves and a BSJ up until now! We are super proud of you, Blondie-Blonde!

Jess (aka Blondie-Blonde)

WHEN: Tuesday , October 18th, 25th, and November 1st

TIME: 12:00pm - 2:00 pm

SKILL LEVEL: Enthusiastic Beginner

INSTRUCTOR: Tasha

TAM OF MANY COLORS

Entrelac knitting is glorious thing. The interesting woven look created with this method of knitting surely turns heads! We have come across several hat patterns that showcase the art of entrelac, but this one really appealed to me because it incorporates goodies like cables and lace and it's quite versatile! It looks stunning as a dignified beret, a distinguished snood, or a bold slouchy hat! You don't want to miss this class!

WHEN: Wednesday, October 19th and 26th

TIME: 6:00pm - 8:00pm OR

WHEN: Sunday, October 23rd, and November 6th TIME: 12:oopm - 2:00pm

SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate

INSTRUCTOR: Tasha

THE INTWISTING CROCHETED MOBEOUS COWL

With every passing day, we become a little more enamored with crochet. With hopes to encourage our knitters to try crocheting, I made up this fun little twisted cowl. Using two different colors of a fingering weight yarn (I used Sausalito), I quickly worked up this snazzy, visually "intwisting" accessory just in time for the cooler weather.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 2nd, 9th, 16th and Friday, November 4th.

TIME: 12:00pm - 2:00pm

SKILL LEVEL: Enthusiastic Beginner

INSTRUCTOR: Tasha

TWO SOCKS AT A TIME

That's right, we're sockin' it to ya two at a time! Do you hate measuring to make sure your socks are the same length? Do you tend to lose your needles? Do you get a recurring case of SSS (also known to us knitters as "Second Sock Syndrome"? Then sign up for this class pronto! Learn how to make a pair of socks at the same time! That's right! When you're done, you're DONE! It really is quite exciting!

WHEN: Wednesday, November 9th and 16th TIME: 12:00pm - 2:00pm OR

WHEN: Sunday, November 13th and 20th TIME: 12:OOPM - 2:00pm

SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate

INSTRUCTOR: Tasha

CALLING ALL SPINNERS!!

We are happy to say that we have officially created our spinning club! We've been talking about this for a very long time, and we are so excited that the time is here! In conjunction with our very talented and fiber-licious friend Liz Conway from Fibers 4 Ewe, we will be gathering at her fiber mill starting Sunday, October 9th, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm, and every other Sunday after that! Bring your spinning wheels, drop spindles, your favorite bump of roving, and spin your cares away!

There's more to come, my friends! We are still working on our website, Jess is frantically trying to find room for the new yarn that just keeps on coming! We encourage you to come in, sign up for classes and embrace autumn! Happy Knitting and Crocheting!

IF IT LOOKS FUNNY TO YOU.....

2011-09-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

It's me again. Just a quick update. If for some reason you go to the Woolworks site and it looks a little odd (ie, the main content is on the bottom of the page) you might be using an older browser. Never fear. Our computer guy is going to tweak it, allowing it to be viewed as it should be from any browser and on your mobile devices as well. Have a great day!

EXCITING NEWS!

2011-09-26T22:39:00.000-07:00

After five-hundred, twenty-five thousand, six-hundred minutes, Woolworks FINALLY has it's website up and running!!! Woooohooooo! Just in case you haven't noticed, I'm a bit excited. Maybe a little tired, but excited nonetheless! I encourage you to go and take a peek at it. Of course, it is still under construction, but we are really proud of the way it is coming along so far. We have a lot of information to plug in, so please be patient, but I am certain that we will have an amazing website in no time! Go check it out and let me know what you think! If you look in the sidebar, you will see a nifty little link that will transport you to the land of "Ooooooooooh!" (Well, maybe the land of the "Timid Wow", but you get what I mean!)

Before I sign off, I have to thank Jeff Buchbinder for actually getting the site operational, and for taking all of the beautiful pictures that have found their home on said site. The fact that he was able to tolerate me through the design process is a miracle, so, thank you Jeff! You're awesome!

ANNIVERSARY SALE!!

2011-06-08T04:57:00.000-07:00

It's unbelievable how quickly time goes by! Another year, another anniversary sale! For those of you who are hard-core Woolworks shoppers, you know that our anniversary is on Memorial day. However, Jen was in Toronto enjoying her nephew's wedding, so we postponed the sale until she was able to be here to enjoy seeing all of your happy, smiling faces! So, she's back! Bring on those happy, smiling faces!

Our sale is from Friday, June 11th to Monday, June 20th. We are closed on Sundays, so we extended the event till Monday.

What's on sale, you ask? Our ENTIRE inventory is on sale: Bags, needles, notions, buttons, books, magazines, and of course YARN! Save up to fifty percent! What a great way to start preparing for the Christmas season. Did you promise your family they would all get socks this year? Take advantage of the sale! Get all your sock yarn now! Have you always wanted to try making something with cashmere? What could be better than cashmere on SALE??! Seriously!

So get your shopping fingers ready! There's a lot of shopping to do! We can't wait to see you! Until then, happy knitting and crocheting!

KNITTING THROUGH THE SUMMER

2011-05-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

With the sun finally coming out to play for more than a few hours at a time, we know it's hard for people to even fathom knitting ANYTHING when there are gardens to be weeded, long walks to be had, and yummy ice-creams cones waiting to be eaten. But believe me, yarn still has its place, even in the spring and summer!

Here is a preview of some of the classes coming to you soon! Exact times and dates will be posted very shortly in the sidebar.

RUCHED YOKE TEE

Great beginner/intermediate project!

This classic and very sexy little "tee" is made with Debbie Bliss Prima, a wonderful blend of bamboo and merino wool. It was a joy to work up and the best part about this must have spring sweater is that it starts from a size two and goes all the way up to a 55 1/4 bust circumference!

BAZAAR BAG

Fun and Sassy!

Calling all crocheters! Are you planning a weekend getaway? A fun ladies' night on the town? This flower inspired bag is the perfect accessory! And don't be fooled. This bag is extremely roomy on the inside. You could even use it as a market bag! Let us get you started, and you'll have a new bag in no time!

CROCHETED SHAWL

Seeing double!

I had no idea that this crocheted shawl would be such a hit! But it was, so I was asked to run this class again. Both Kim and Christine learned how to crochet by making their shawls and surprise, surprise, they have already started their second ones!

Worked from the bottom up, you can custom size and personalize your shawl to suit your needs. Our shop sample is a little capelet. Kim and Christine added two skeins to make their shawls a little longer. They both did an amazing job! You would never believe this was their first attempt at crochet!

HARRY POTTER BAG

Fantastic gift for Harry Potter fans!

With the final Harry Potter movie coming out in June, we thought it was only fitting to have this bag in our midst. The original pattern is a small charm bag. Since I already had a special Harry Potter fanatic in mind, I decided to alter the pattern and make it an actual BAG! Worked in two colors, this is a really fun way to try your hand at Fair Isle. Patterns are available for all four houses of Hogwarts, but obviously, Gryffandor is my favorite!

MYSTERY BOOK CLUBBERS!

Brenda has heard our pleas and has taken mercy on our souls! I know, I'm a bit dramatic, but mystery book club is back! Our wonderful Brenda Frechette has lined up yet another fantastic mystery pattern for us to knit as we read a great book. What book, you ask? I can't tell you yet. All I can say is it's by Stephanie McPhee, so you know it's a good one! More details to come.

We are busy knitting and crocheting away, preparing for our fall classes as well. We have big plans for you! Happy knitting and crocheting to you all!

SHAWLS, SHAWLS EVERYWHERE!

2011-05-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

Last night was the grand finale for the Mystery Book Club Knit Along, and was it ever a success! Our wonderful Brenda lead an enthusiastic group of knitters through a stunning shawl as we all read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. We would all meet every Monday night, anxiously awaiting the sweet little cards that were hand delivered to us. The counter was always filled with lovely homemade British goodies and freshly brewed tea that Brenda served to us in her very special tea set from England. What a treat!

Being the last night of our first Mystery Book Club Knit Along, all the girls had to show and tell, of course! Here's what we got to feast our eyes on:

Wendy, Betty, Cindy and Gail, proudly wear their shawls!

Sharon, Brenda, Kim and Nancy strike a pose as well!
Looking good, ladies! Here's to a job well done!
Even prettier up close!
We are all looking forward to the next Mystery Book Knit Along! Hurry up, Brenda! We can hardly wait! Until then, happy knitting and crocheting to you all!

Spring Sale!

2011-04-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

Come on down Saturday, April 30th and enjoy 20% off your purchases of over $50.00. We have lots of new spring colors in a variety of fibers from cotton to corn, and linen, in fingering to chunky weights. The latest Noro books are in and there are some gorgeous patterns if you are into lots of color! In the popular ruffle yarns,the hot pinks came in. Perfect for bright spring accents or getting ready for Christmas gifts. Quick and easy!
For those of you who are looking for a workhorse acrylic in lots of colors we now carry Patons Canadiana! Free tear off afghan pattern and a free tote with purchase of any Patons yarn. The Kroy sock yarn is new for us as well, that came in today.
Looking for a little shimmer? We have a new 'lace' yarn from Patons as well. It's acrylic, mohair, wool and polyester with a very nice hand. There are sweet little sequins in it that catch the light just right. Super for dressing up that little black dress! With four colors to choose from and 344yds its a steal.
As many of you know we lost a sample to theivery. We have a new summer replacement! A lovely lacey tunic great for everyday or over a bathing suit. The yarn used is Tahki Cotton Classic and we have at least 25 colors!
Come on down, we'd love to see you. Mention this blog post and get your discount!

The Jana Mystery Knit along is filling up fast!

2011-03-12T13:05:00.000-08:00

Here's the deal....if you buy the book locally at Wonderland Books for this project you will get 10% off the book. We do encourage local shopping to keep the economy going. Call us by 4/21 so we can reserve your copy at the discounted price. We are going to be reading ' The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer adn Annie Barrows

Don't Forget Kulli's wonderful Estonian mitten classes start tonight!

2011-03-11T07:21:00.000-08:00

Kulli Jacobson, Estonian mitten knitter extraorinaire is starting her fabulous mitten class tonight here at Woolworks. She is leaving to move back to Estonia in April so this is a one time only oppurtunity to learn from a master. Her mittens are wonderful works of art and you too can produce beautiful knitted items that your family and friends will love. Class is at 6pm and the cost is $15 for 2 classes. You will have option to attend up to 6 classes with the day offerings. There are 3 in each day and evening offering. Call Woolworks to sign up. We don't want Kulli's mittens to go away when she does! Check out her page on facebook.com. or google estonian mittens and you will get the idea. Hope to see you.

MARCHING TOWARDS SPRING

2011-03-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

The consensus seems to be that Old Man Winter has most definitely outstayed his welcome! After a record-breaking year for snowfall, I think it's safe to say that we are ready for the warmer weather.

Jen's computer went on "vacation", so we had to do things old school for about a week or so. We appreciate the patience and loyal patronage that you all continue to show, even when it takes a few extra minutes to get you out the door to start knitting with your new goodies. But things are back to normal, and we're up and running at full speed.

For those of you who have been to the shop in the last few weeks, you may have noticed some new faces behind the checkout counter. We are very happy to welcome Jessica Reed, Nancy Shay and Shelby Colwell to our staff. Make sure to come in and say hello!

We have several classes and workshops lined up for the upcoming months. Our goal for the month of March is to give our hands a little break from knitting big, bulky winter things. Instead, we are offering classes on smaller items that add a bit of whimsy to your wardrobe, but work up very quickly, which is perfect for those of us who need instant gratification.

MERET BERET

When: Thursday, March 17 and 24
Time: 12:00 to 2:00

We love Wooly Wormhead! The patterns are always classically stunning and visually interesting! I whipped up this little beret in just a couple of days, and we thought it would be the perfect little class to bring in the spring!

Jess looking all cute in her Meret Beret!

CROCHETED SHAWL

When: March 22nd
Time: 12:00 - 2:00

This is the perfect beginner class for those of you who want to learn how to crochet. For the most part, knitters tend to learn just enough crochet to put edgings on their finished knitted projects. This elegant shawl will convince you to give crochet another chance. Pick a yarn that speaks to you and let the crocheting begin!

BEADED SCARF

When: March 18th and April 1st
Time: 12:00 to 2:00

This gorgeous scarf will turn heads wherever you go. Worked in two pieces, this beaded beauty is quick and easy to work up. But I must warn you...be prepared to make more than one! Do not be surprised if your mother, sister, daughter, neighbor, or coworker asks you to make one for them.

KULLI'S ESTONIAN MITTENS

When: Friday, March 11th and 25th
Time: 6:00 to 7:30 pm OR

Tuesday, March 15th and 29th
Time: 11:30 - 1:00

Our very talented friend Kulli has started a mitten craze here in Putnam! Many of you have come in to see her knitting her beautiful Estonian mittens while sitting at our table. Her color combinations are spectacular and the speed at which she knits these pairs of mittens, one after the other, after the other, throws us for a loop.

Here are a few examples:

She has happily agreed to share her knowledge of color work with all of you. Make sure to sign up as soon as possible! This class will fill up quickly, so do not dilly dally!

LACE SHAWLETTE

When: Wednesday, March 16th, 23rd, and 30th
Time: 9:00 - 11:00

Nancy has inspired us to put a little lace in our hearts! She is going to share her joy of lace with the rest of us with a lace shawlette class, which introduces the wonders of lace, one stitch at a time! Pictures of the shawl will be posted here shortly! Come join the fun!

Brenda has fantastic plans for our near future! Keep checking the blog so you don't miss out on the fun!

Can't wait to see you!

Happy knitting and crocheting!

It's that time again! Join us for the SuperBowl Sale!

2011-02-05T19:02:00.000-08:00

This is the event of the season for us. This is the biggest sale of the year! There is so much to choose from in the shop and we have rearranged for ease of finding the yarn perfect for your new project. The shop opens early on Sun February 6th. We will see you all at 10 and we will extend the hours to 6pm so you can come in and get a great deal and still be home in time for the big game. The sale is like our others where you pick a ticket at check out and the chance to get up to 50% off your total purchase! The least you will save is 25%! Come join the fun! ONE DAY ONLY!

End of the Year Sale!

2010-12-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

We have many items discounted up to 50%. All regular priced yarn and merchandise is 15% off.
We are closing out Mission Falls and it's now 30% off both the cotton and the wool.
Also being closed out is Riverstone by Louet. Really nice workhorse wool, felts nicely, just too much duplication of other yarns we have. Now priced at 30% off.
All Cotton is 30% off
Frog Tree Alpaca 50% off. limited stock
Rustic Tweed dk 25% off
Llama Silk 30% off
Inca Gold merino/silk 30% off
Arucania kettle dyed wool 50% off
All Sock yarn 25% off
Caesar cashmere blend boucle now 30% off
King George cashmere blend 30% off
All Mohair 25% off
Thick and Quick merino thick and thin 25% off
Lei chunky wool now 25% off
Plymouth Select merino superwash 25% off
Elsbeth Lavold Silky wool 25% off

Everything else 15% off regular price.

The Ellyn Cooper Trunk show was a success and if you hurry it will still be here today!
Don't forget Gift Cards are available for holiday giving.

By the way...Looking for 'flounce' or other ruffling yarn? We have been going crazy with our new yarns Triana and Rizos! It's fun to knit and has become very popular. Flounce itself is not available until at least February.

Ok....so..we have been a little delinquent in blogging

2010-11-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

Here's the thing. We have been very busy stocking new yarn and making Christmas gifts. The table seems to be full with knitters most every day. We are having a ball. You should join us. Lot's of ideas float around the table and the friendships are growing stronger. I was away for a week in October and Brenda and the girls held the fort very well. My email is not working so if I don't answer you..that's why, call me instead.
We have new Sunday hours. We toyed with the idea of closing but there are some that would rebel. (we don't want that). Now we OPEN AT 12 NOON.
New yarns have arrived. Gorgeous KIDLIN from Louet, with a fabulous sweater we will be doing as a class. Easy sweater with a lace border, come see and sign up for the class. It will be probably an after Christmas project. Watch for the dates.

KNITTING FOR A CAUSE

2010-09-17T05:47:00.000-07:00

Good morning, my fiber friends! I hope all is well on this fairly rainy, dreary day! I want to complain about it, but we definitely need the rain! So we are going to grin and bear it here at Woolworks, which is oh so easy when we have Don's splendorous Gaia shawl on display!

He used Noro Sock yarn. Everytime the color changed, he changed the pattern!

Yup......so yummy!

It's so yummy in fact, we have decided to replace the spa set class with a Gaia Shawl class! The people at Woolworks spoke, and we listened! Sign up now because the the spots are going quickly!

CALLING ALL KNITTERS AND CROCHETERS!!

Our very good friend and truly valued custumer, Dr. Sheri Kroll is counting on all of us to make this winter and holiday season a warm one for kids. Her organization, Knitting For A Cause is dedicated to collecting hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, headbands, and socks to place under the Christmas Giving Tree in the Pediatric Center at Day Kimball Hospital.

Christmas is not that far away, so please start knitting and crocheting for this fantastic cause! Bring them to Woolworks and Dr. Kroll will come pick them up.
Here are a couple ideas for cute baby hats...

Thank you in advance for your contribution!

The new Spinoff is here! Come and flip through this great magazine!

Ok, my friends! My day has officially begun! I'm going to grab a cup of coffee and try out the Channel Island Cast On that I just read about. It looks interesting! Happy Day, my friends, HAPPY DAY!

TEACHING YOUNG FINGERS TO KNIT

2010-09-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

It's always exciting to us when a customer comes in with the desire to learn how to knit or crochet. Today, three very ambitious girls came in with that exact agenda. They wanted to knit! In a matter of minutes, they were all sitting at the table with Tasha, and before they knew it, they were knitting away!

Makenna carefully wraps her yarn around a stitch. This is a lot of dedication from a seven year old!

Her big sister, 12 year old Hayley is well on her way to mastering her new hobby!

Jennifer intently looks at the beginnings of her new scarf.

They spent a few hours with us laughing and knitting. Tasha sent each of them home with an assignment to complete over the next week. Finally, homework they WANT to actually do! We are proud of your accomplishments, girls! Keep up the good work!

Our store is now fully stocked with Kertzer's Northern Worsted Yarn, a very nice and very affordable yarn which is perfect for our new knitters and anyone else who loves to knit for babies and children.

Knit with this and your masterpieces can be thrown in the washer and dryer without any worries! Come in and check out the wonderful colors that are available to you!

Speaking of colors, you must come in and feast your eyes on the Nashua Handknits Sitar! This yarn is saturated with rich, bold colors!

Another new addition is the Spice Berry! It is as yummy as it sounds!

Last night was the first night for our Bella's Mittens! The Twilight Saga inspired mittens were such a hit, we might have to offer another class! It was a full house! I started another pair while I taught some very enthusiastic knitters. This time I am using Ironstone for a slightly larger mitten.

And last but not least, Tasha wanted to post a better picture of the shawl I wove now that it's blocked and displayed in the shop. It really is quite lovely and I can't wait to make another one.

Here's to new adventures and new projects! Have a fantastic day!

THINKING OF COOLER DAYS AND NIGHTS

2010-09-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

Are you ready to knit, but you're not ready to commit to a large, elaborate project? Well take a peek at some of the cute, quick- to- make knitting treasures!

I whipped up this great Fair Isle baby hat in just one night! If you use the two handed Fair Isle method, this works up in a flash!

What do you think about this festive baby elf hat? It's fab, isn't it? By taking a Jester's Hat Pattern, changing a few minor details, and adding a jingle bell to the tippity top, your precious baby will be more than ready for the holiday season!

People tend to groan when they think of making a scarf. Well, this Ruffly Potato Chip Scarf is anything but boring and it is so incredibly easy!! Why not pick out your favorite yarn and make a couple! They make great gifts!

Come on down to the shop and rifle through our huge library of patterns.

I finished my first shawl using the triangle loom that Shelby was nice enough to let me set up at the shop! It is the warmest, coziest thing ever and the drape is absolutely beautiful!

What will go on the loom next, I wonder?? Hmmmm...

I'm off to sip a cup of tea, knit a few stitches and daydream about oodles and oodles of yarn! Have a great day!

BRING ON THE FALL!

2010-09-12T17:35:00.000-07:00

It's here! You can feel it! The telltale chill of fall is in the air, and it has definitely put us all in the mood to dive into our yarn stashes and knit and crochet the days away!

Here at Woolworks, we are still spinning to our hearts content and its now almost impossible to know what to knit with....the glorious yarns we have stocking our many shelves, or the beautiful yarn that we have made with our own hands, using the local roving!

Here I am hiding my face behind the mittens I knit using my own hand spun yarn.

And here are "Bella's Mittens" which I knit using Silky Flamme.

They are fantabulously warm and luscious! It's why I had to teach a class!

The Brooklyn Fair was in full swing a couple of weeks ago and Tasha was asked to participate in the Sheep To Scarf Competition! Although we all consider ourselves to be novices, she met the challenge head on and had a blast!

The two teams that spun that day.

They all did great!

A nice picture of Tasha spinning on her beloved Ashford wheel!

In the last hour she picked up her knitting needles and helped out her teammates by knitting a second piece.

And her team took FIRST PLACE!! YAY!

While the spinning was taking place, Myra was warping her floor loom.

Erin is triumphantly showing off her very first woven scarf! She wove it while the rest of the ladies competed. And because of everything she learned at the fair, Tasha is one week away from getting her very own floor loom and I am almost done with a triangle shawl that I am making on the loom our friend Shelby let me borrow! The madness never ends!

Back at the shop, one of our newest knitters nimbly wove in her ends so that she could pose in her newest creation!

The first thing she knit was a hat....the second thing she knit was a lace hat.....the third thing she knit was this cardigan! She is amazing!

The image of a very happy thirteen year old! We're proud of you Tessy!

We love inspiring people, we love teaching people, and we love seeing what you all do! The looks of accomplishment and pride makes our day here at the shop! Not only do we love to see what you've made, we love to see your happy faces even more!

If you don't believe us, take a look at this face! Doesn't it make you happy??!! Isadora shyly shows off the little beret that she snagged from one of our displays. Of course I let her keep it! She is adorable and undoubtedly one of Woolwork's future knitters! We can't wait!

Happy Knitting, Crocheting, Spinning, Weaving......okay, the list just keeps getting longer and longer! Just be happy, my friends! BE HAPPY!

A FANTASTICAL FIBERFUL FEAST FOR THE EYES!

2010-08-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

Did you guys check out our class list? If you haven't, make sure you do! It's in our sidebar, and we think we have a great variety of classes! Up next on our Twelve Gifts of Christmas is the Cabled Cowl.

This is the perfect winter accessory....and a perfect gift! Sign up, sign up!!

Brenda completed her Snowflake Hat and it's breathtaking! The bright colors of Noro are striking against the white of the Cascade 220! We're impressed, Brenda!
Tasha, traditionally a knitter, couldn't resist crocheting the blazer which was featured on the cover of Crochet Today.
Our friend Jess looks lovely in this 3/4 sleeve jacket. It's looks great with her denim skirt.
The girl's got attitude! She shows the versatility of this blazer by wearing the shawl pin by the collar. A new look with very little effort! You look superb, Jess!
Judy Ahart crocheted this absolutely stunning shawl! We are all scrambling to get our hands on the pattern!

This is truly a work of art!

The closeup.
Sister Pat, DHS definitely has a love of lace! We do too, especially after seeing her beautiful handwork!

The two beautiful scarves above were made with Ultra Alpaca.

Sister Pat let the rainbow colors of Zino and the lace chevron pattern sing in perfect harmony in this gorgeous scarf! Bravo, bravo, Sister Pat!

Putnam is going to be bustling all weekend! And as I stated before, we ARE OPEN this Sunday, so come on in and hang out for a bit! Enjoy your weekend! Happy knitting, spinning and crocheting to you all!

Annual Car Cruise in Putnam this Weekend

2010-08-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

This Car Cruise is Awesome, usually over 2000 cars. The streets are lined with cars and people, food from the restaurants and vendors, music and more! We will be open Sunday for this event, stop by and say HI.

A NEW LOOK!

2010-08-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

We have been moving our store around so much to accommodate all of the new yummy goodness, I figured I would give our blog a little face lift as well!! We needed something bright and cheerful to reflect the environment here at Woolworks!

Take a peek at our sidebar! Our new classes are posted!! YAY!! We are going to have a lot of fun! I know you're all waiting for pictures...and they're coming! I promise! We have just been swamped here, but it's all coming together! Come and see what all the excitement's about!!

To be continued......

BARELY KEEPING UP!

2010-08-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

If I told you that we have received so many boxes of new merchandise, we can hardly get into our back room, that would be a complete understatement! Seriously, it's unbelievable! But we are totally excited with all of the new things we have to offer our creative knitting and crocheting family! All of the new fibers and colors have our creative juices flowing and I think it's safe to say that we all have a new project going on our needles and hooks.

Here is one of our favorites!

THE HALO

Jojoland has always impressed all fiber artists because of the artistic variations and stunning richness of the colors in the entire collection. This jacket greets our customers at the front door, and has proven to be a show stopper!

For shopping ease, we have kitted up a few colorways. But if you want to experiment and come up with your own form of fabulosity, we have an amazing selection of Jojoland Rhythm for you to choose from.

KAUNI
We have admired this yarn for such a long time, and I finally decided to bite the bullet and further fuel our addiction!The colors are so vibrant!And because of its long striping effect, when two different colors of Kauni are worked together, you end up with a beautiful Fair Isle. Please check out Ravelry to see some of the masterpieces people have come up with!

More new goodies posted tomorrow! I want to let you see what some of us have been up to!

Lovely Char is donning her exquisite lace shawl!Her handwork is so perfect! Her meticulousness definitely shows! Wonderful job, Char!
Brenda knit up this gorgeous sock.....

using yarn she spun...on her DROP SPINDLE!! It's amazing! She's good, our Brenda!
After diligently altering a seriously flawed pattern, Sharon now has this fabulous lace top to add to her wardrobe! See what great things can happen when you don't give up? It looks great on you, Sharon!! Good job!

Now back to finding a new home for all our new stuff! Happy knitting, spinning and crocheting too all of you!

A LITTLE SHOW AND TELL

2010-07-17T07:56:00.001-07:00

Thursday nights is probably my favorite night of the week! There's nothing better than friends gathering around the table with their knitting needles, crochet hooks, and yes, our spinning wheels! We always have so much fun and this week was no different!

Emily came to show us her new fiance's invention:

An electric spinning wheel!! Liz, a wonderful spinner and fabulous owner of Fibers For Ewe, is checking it out!

This is what happens when a fiber artist partners up with a computer wiz!

Just turn the baby on......

And watch it go! Emily says that she can actually lounge as she spins!

Here's Em modeling the elegant shrug I knit up from the pattern book Chinoisie.

It looks stunning on her!
The flowing cable cuff.

And after a busy week I was actually able to sit and spin a bit!
Spinning...Spinning....
Drafting....
Spinning, spinning.....
DONE!!! Now what to do with it???

Enjoy your weekend, my friends! Happy Knitting, Spinning, and Crocheting!

TWELVE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS

2010-07-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

By now we have all heard of Christmas in July. Granted, we have had to sludge our way through some pretty sticky, humid days, we know that if we want to have most of our Christmas knitting and crocheting done, the time to start making them is NOW!

So to facilitate our desire to give handmade beauties to our loved ones this year, we have set up our Twelve Gifts of Christmas Class Schedule. Our goal is to have twelve finished projects by December 25th. And by finished, we mean, all ends woven in, all blockable objects blocked, wrapped and under the tree!!

The full class list will be shown in the side bar, and a picture and full description of each class will be posted here on the blog a couple of weeks before they commence. Our classes are always fun, but we also want all of you to try and learn new things! Keeping that in mind, we have developed a class syllabus that focuses on mastering the technical side of knitting.

First up in our Twelve Gifts of Christmas is the Snowflake Hat I designed. It has been a huge hit here at the shop and it is a wonderful way to learn two handed Fair Isle!

Once you learn to do color work in this way, you'll never go back to the tedious method of twisting your yarn as you go.

Class will begin on July 20th at 6:30pm and will run for three weeks. Classes are $5.00 a week and all students are given a 10% discount on all class materials. Sign up now!

If you've been in the shop in the past few weeks, you already know about our newest addiction. I impulsively made a purchase about two months ago, and have started a frenzy in the store.

Yes.....these are my spinning wheels! All three of them!I now have a Lendrum, an Ashford and a LeClerc.
The Ashford...Some practice roving on my LeClerc...

We all have a favorite wheel. I love the soothing whir of the LeClerc, Don and Brenda's feet happily dance on the Lendrum, and Tasha has begun a love affair with the Ashford. We have made it a habit to sit in the store front window and spin as we wave to the people of Putnam!

Here are some of the beautiful things these wheels have inspired:My first hat using my own spun yarn!
Tasha spun some beautiful roving from Liz at Fibers for Ewe and knit up this very cute off the shoulder capelet using my Ashford wheel.
Using the lovely natural colors from Sally at Brown Farms, Tash spun and plied this yarn. She is planning on making her husband a hooded vest.
Tasha also spun some lace weight that stripes as you knit. This is her lace snood in progress. She really loves that Ashford!!

Look out for pictures of Don and Brenda's handy work! Don spun up some gorgeous sock yarn and Brenda not only spins on a wheel.....she is an amazing drop spindler as well!

Here she is checking out the softest alpaca from a local farm...
I wonder what they would spin up to be??

There are a lot of great things going on here at Woolworks and we are very excited about it! We can't wait to see you! Happy knitting, spinning and crocheting!

KNITTING IN STYLE

2010-07-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

If you love yarn and fiber, whether you're knitting with it, crocheting with it, needle felting it, spinning it, or tearing it all out to start all over again, the right accessory always makes it even more lovable. Well, prepare to fall in love, my friends!

Our Namaste bags are in the shop! We have a lovely selection of styles and colors! Feast your eyes!Stunning, aren't they?!!

We also have very attractive silk project bags!

This bag is just the right size for a pair of socks, a hat, a baby sweater........

Here it is in another luscious color palate.And this project bag accommodates those days when we have something a little larger to work on! I love it!

If you don't want another bag....
Check out The Fibersphere!
This nifty contraption allows your yarn to flow smoothly and tangle free while being protected from the elements...like dust, frosting covered fingers, or cats!
It even comes with it's own bag!

And we have new beautiful Lana Grossa Double Pointed Needles and Circulars available!
Isn't time you stopped in? Yup, yup!

Enjoy this refreshing, humid free day! Find a nice spot under a tree and happily knit or crochet!

HERE WE ARE!

2010-06-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all of you! We hope all of you are doing magnificently this fine morning! I am just going to take the next few minutes to fill you all in on what is going on within our shop. It's been quite a month, let me tell you!

For all of you who have been frantically asking about Tasha, she is doing GREAT! The surgery couldn't have gone better and she is feeling better everyday! In her opinion she couldn't have made it through this ordeal without such a strong family unit and the love and support of her amazing friends and she thanks every last one of you for being there for her every step of the way! Actually, it's easier if I just quote her! Here's what she had to say to her knitting family:

"I am overwhelmed by how amazing all of you are! I do NOT exaggerate when I say that you have been my rock this entire time! I appreciate all of you for your prayers, your time, your warmth and affection, your conversations, your advice, your hugs and your kisses, the cards, the flowers, the food, the phone calls.....what can I say? I LOVE all of you and I made it through this and I am recovering well because I am lucky enough to have the best family in the world and you are a part of my family! Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart and I hope to see you soon!"

-Tasha

Speaking of family, we want to formally welcome Brenda Frechette to our Woolworks staff! She is my Quickbooks Diva extraordinaire! She is a wonderful knitter as well as a wonderful friend! And my daughter Naomi will be helping us out at the shop over the summer before she starts her junior year at UConn this fall! We are so glad they are part of the our great team! So make sure to come in and say hi to Paula, Dottie, Sue, Tasha, Brenda and Naomi!

Woolworks is now on Facebook! You now have the chance to truly be interactive with what goes on at our shop! Check in regularly to see what we're talking about. Sales, classes, events.....all will be posted on Facebook! And if that doesn't float your felted boat, it links you to our Twitter account as well! Life if good!

Well, my friends, I'm off! Lots to do, so very little time! But we'll be back tomorrow! Enjoy your day and happy knitting and crocheting to all of you!

FIVE YEARS AND GOING STRONG!

2010-05-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

Five years ago I embarked on the exciting adventure of being a yarn shop owner and it has been one of the best decisions of my life! This week we are celebrating our FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY and we are having a huge store-wide sale. Wait.........hold on.....let me say that again.

We are having a HUGE STORE-WIDE SALE!!!!!
MAY 28th- JUNE 5th!!!
20 - 50% OFF OF EVERYTHING IN THE SHOP!!

OK, that's better! Woolworks has been thriving because of YOU, and this is my way of saying thank you for being a part of our growing knitting and crocheting family! Come and reap your rewards build your stash in our fabulous, colorful fiber wonderland!!

ON SALE!

ON SALE!!

You get the picture!! Come on in and join the fun!

Oh, and by the way....

We now sell Coats And Clark thread.....and that's on sale too!!

From all of us here at Woolworks, thank you so much for you patronage! Hope to see you soon!
Happy Knitting and Crocheting, everyone!

HELLOS, FAREWELLS, AND ROSES

2010-05-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

Saying goodbye is always hard, especially when you have developed a strong love and friendship with someone. Our dear friend Mary Doran is off to her condo is Seattle for the next six months. Granted she and her husband are going to have a fabulous time with their two daughters, but we are going to miss her tremendously.

We love you, Mary!

Before she left, she finished this beautiful jacket using Mission Falls. She refused to let us take a picture of her, but we couldn't let her leave without taking a picture of her masterpiece.

This button adds the right touch of panache to this lovely garment.

WE HAVE SOME NEW BOOKS!

The Jenny Watson Collection that is featured in the Queensland 12 Pattern book has amazing children patters from ages 2 to 13! This a great way to make matching things for siblings. Think of the cute family pictures in your future!

And for adults, she presents beautiful sweaters and cardigans in the Ester Bitran Hand Dyes Pattern Book.

WE HAVE NEW YARN TOO!

This is called HAZE and we just oohed and ahhed for about an hour......then we had lunch....then we went back to oohing and ahhing. This yummy stuff is 60% Corn Viscose, and 40% Cotton. Come and check it out!

And we are ecstatic to have Linares sitting on our shelves!

This cotton/viscose blend has our imaginations whirring! It is definitely in the realm of fabulosity!

Leslie Schumann brought this stunning bouquet of roses for Tasha. Its exquisite beauty has all of us smiling every time we see it so Tasha left it at the shop to share this wonderful gift.

Leslie has impeccable taste!
How could they be any more beautiful?

Just like this! Magical perfection!

Happy Knitting and Crocheting, my friends!

THE TALENT KEEPS ON ROLLING

2010-05-18T07:47:00.000-07:00

I know, I know! It's been a little while since we've posted! But never fear! We are still here so throw that panic right out the window!

I bet you all want to see what our family has been up to! Well, why don't I get to the point and just show you, right?

Carol Greene sits pretty in her EZ Adult Surprise Jacket. She's too modest to say it herself, but we have to mention......this is absolutely GORGEOUS!

The Rustic DK yarn that she used drapes so beautifully! Just in case you didn't hear us the first time, this is so gorgeous, Carol! Fantastic job!

Sharon Coleman designed this absolutely spectacular baby afghan for her newest little one who is about to say hello to to the world any day now! (For all we know, he or she might be here as we speak!)

The words "BABY", "BLESSED", INCREDIBLE", "PURE", "CHERISHED", "DELIGHT", "CUTE", and "WONDER" are inscribed in this precious heirloom. We fell in love with it, so Sharon is going to give us the pattern to sell here at Woolworks!
Congratulations to you and your family, Sharon!
Joan Dash proudly shows off her first completed hat and scarf!
We are proud of you, Joan! They are beautiful!
And the Two at a Time, Toe Up sock saga continues! Phyllis is diligently working on the second heel! You always know that Phyllis is doing some serious work when her glasses are perched on top of her head! Keep it up, Phyllis! You're on the home stretch!

So, there it is! You guys always seem to impress us and we love it! We want to see more! Enjoy the day and Happy Knitting and Crocheting to all of you!

SIZZLING NEEDLES

2010-05-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

The weatherman is saying a high of 58 degrees. Well, our knitting family says "phooey" to that and their needles have been on fire! Take a look at some of their great accomplishments!

Cindy Gauthier knit up this beautiful vest using Somerset. A perfect addition to her springtime wardrobe.

Look at how beautifully it drapes!

The back is as lovely as the front!

She used Ellyn Cooper's Luna to make this spectacular scarf!

Look at the luscious texture!

Great job, Cindy!

Barb Gosselin knit and felted these awesome slippers and she is currently working on another pair! You should feel how THICK these are! You could probably stand in the snow and think nothing of it! I am pretty sure a pair of these are in my future, Barb!

Even Officer Andy Reed take a break from his busy schedule to knit a stitch or two! Definitely one of Putnam's finest!

Inspired yet? Well, come on in and show us what you've got! We'd love to see it! Happy Knitting and Crocheting, my friends!

MOTHER'S DAY SALE CONTINUES!!

2010-05-10T09:31:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've heard "Everyday should be Mother's Day". Well, we can't have a sale EVERYDAY, but we decided that we can definitely extend it for one more day! So, if you come into Woolworks today, you will get the chance to get up to 50% off of your purchase! All you have to do is pick a flower and the stem says it all!

Check out the vase cover I designed on a train ride! I love the stained glass effect.

We also make handmade stitch markers at Woolworks.......in our spare time .
(wink, wink)

Shouldn't you have a set of these on your needles?

We think you do!

So don't miss out! Take advantage of the great sales we're offering! We look forward to seeing you! Happy Knitting and Crocheting to all of you!

Happy Mother's Day Sale Early!!!

2010-05-06T15:43:00.000-07:00

We are having a Mother's Day Sale on Friday May 7th and Saturday May 8th! Pick your discount at the registar. All Plymouth Encore is already 20% off and Galway is 30% off. Everything else can be subject to a 25-50% off depending on what you pull out of the vase. We are going to be CLOSED on MOTHER'S DAY so we can all enjoy a day off. Come see us and get a great deal!

SENDING OUT AN S.O.S.!!

2010-05-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

Help!!!!! Before I even explain why I'm screaming for help, take a look at the picture below and see for yourself!Do you see anything wrong with this picture??

Ummm....YEAH!! That's my HAND emerging from this mountain of Encore! I mean, I've heard of the creature from the Black Lagoon, but an Encore Lagoon?! Seriously??

Here I am!

So help me already!! To make it even easier for you to save me from my superfluous ordering, ALL Plymouth yarn is on sale!! I mean it.....ALL PLYMOUTH YARN!! (of course this will also clear my shelves a little to make room for the stuff I just ordered.....but we won't talk about that right now. Shhhhhhh!)

Just to give you an example, we have Galway, Galway Heather and Galway Paint on sale at 30% off. Here are just a few colors.

All of it is 100% wool and it works up beautifully and it felts like a dream!! Felted knitting bags, anyone??

We have a lot more! You know that afghan you've been thinking about making?? Well, now's the perfect time to get all of your supplies and get to knitting or crocheting! Mother's Day is around the corner......why not whip something up for that special someone you call Mom?!! We have a lot of great projects here at Woolworks, and knittingdaily.com has fantastic ideas for Mother's Day. Definitely check it out!

Well, as you can see, I really, really am looking forward to seeing you here at Woolworks! Our table is always open and we are always up for good company and lots of laughter!

Happy Knitting and Crocheting to all of you! Enjoy this magnificent day!

A NEW WEEK, SOME NEW SOCK YARN...

2010-05-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! Sue, Tasha and I went to Sturbridge to check out some new yarn! Talk about yarn overload! But it was great to see all of our old friends and meet new ones as perused through all of the wares. Paula and Dottie are off today to have some fun and hopefully add to their already mountainous stash!Meanwhile, back at the shop, Brenda and Paula helped customers as they let their fingers play with all the different fibers. Brenda even took a little walk and captured some pictures of the 2nd Annual Shuck Off, which was sponsored by 85 Main Restaurant.Even if we couldn't be a part of the festivities, we were able to hear the music and the cheering all day long! Main Street, Putnam was the happening place to be!

We have a new sock yarn at Woolworks!It's called Zino and we love all the beautiful colors it comes in!

Aren't they fabulous?

Here is one sock made up.....it makes me think of a sunset!

And don't forget to check out our Soxx Appeal!

I would come up with something witty to say about it, but why???? Brenda says it all with her flier! Don't mess with perfection!

And here are the start of Phyllis' socks! She is much further now, since she sent a quick email stating that she would be coming in shortly to learn how to do the heel! Good going, Phyllis!

I leave you with a thought:

LIVE LIFE WITH JOY

On that note, my friends, happy Knitting and Crocheting!

Oyster shucking contest Sunday May 2nd

2010-05-01T11:35:00.001-07:00

Come to Putnam Sunday, May 2nd for an all day funfest of eating and.... There will be tons of food not limited to seafood. The Main Street will be closed to traffic so everyone can enjoy the vendors, music and activities. All the merchants will be open so come and see what the Main St has to offer. Brenda will be here in the shop to assist you. Come in and say Hi. The rest of us will be at the New England Needle Arts show in Sturbridge looking at new yarns for fall. There are still good buys on some lovely yarns at 50% off. We have lots of summer weight yarns for us die-hard all season knitters! Are you one too?

ALL SORTS OF CUTENESS!

2010-04-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon, my knitting and crocheting family! We'd like to introduce you to our newest addition! (Actually, she's Kim's new addition, but we have all kind of adopted her)

This is Pebbles the Schichon! She is the most adorable, laid back puppy EVER! Whether she likes it or not, she is now our mascot! So cute!

Here are some pictures from Connecticut Sheep and Wool Festival that Kim took for us. It was a shame that we weren't all able to go, but at least she was able to go and enjoy herself for all of us!

Cute alpaca......

Even cuter sheep........

And holy moly! How adorable is this angora bunny rabbit? By the way, don't forget that we now carry angora at Woolworks!

Here's Nancy festively spinning away.......at the Festival! (I had to!)

Our book of the week is Wee Knits 3. For all of you who are busy knitting up baby yumminess, this book has wonderful patterns for every baby.

Make sure you check out our spring magazines for new ideas for the warmer days ahead!

Now, let's show off some of our knitters and crocheters!

This scarf is Suzanne's FIRST knitted project! She's been knitting for three weeks and we are so proud of her accomplishments!

Tom taught himself how to crochet one week ago......and here is his first project!

Good job, Tom! We are always impressed by how quickly you pick things up!

Take a look at Deborah's handsome little baby sweater, perfect- right down to the buttons!

We hope you take the chance to go outside and enjoy the beautiful day! Go for a walk, work in your garden.....and put a little time aside to knit and crochet!

Happy Day, my friends!

A LITTLE COHERSION WORKS WONDERS

2010-04-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we all need a little nudge from our friends to get through our projects. Between work, and spouses and children and friends and, well, you know... LIFE, it makes sense that the knitting and crocheting we have nestled in our baskets and bags fall to the wayside.

Well, Phyllis was in essence bribed by Tasha to finish the two gorgeous pieces that she had been working on. The deal went as follows: "You finish the two projects you're working on and I'll teach you how to make two socks at a time from the toe up....."

That's pretty much all it took! Here are the results!

Featuring Phyllis and her stunning interpretation of the Sunset Ruana which is found in the Winter 2009 issue of the Interweave Crochet magazine.

The smile says it all! And even in front of the rainbow wall behind her, the tunisian wonder still stands out!

And check this baby out! You might be familiar with the ripple afghan, but these colors are absolutely beautiful together!

She made this yummy afghan to present to her niece on her wedding day. It's perfect, Phyllis!

And as promised, the day Phyllis bought the completed items into the shop, Tasha dropped what she was doing and taught her how to knit the socks she was dying to do! It's a win-win situation, don't you think? We can't wait to see her completed socks!

Here's today's thought:

Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will inevitably bring about right results.

-James Allen

Happy knitting and crocheting, my friends!

LOVING LACE

2010-04-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

We all have a love of lace here at Woolworks. Sue is usually the lace queen, but Paula has been right on her heels lately! She had used one skein of Jojoland Cashmere to make The Stork's Nest, the lovely pattern which can be found in Knitting Traditions.

Remember this beauty? It worked up to 70 inches with just one skein!

Paula enjoyed the pattern so much, she made another one! This time she used Lana Grossa Silkhair.

We have wonderful colors to choose from.

Here is a close up of Paula's fancy knitting! It's light and airy and simply gorgeous!

If's Paula's lacy knitting happens to inspire you, here are some of the other wonderful yarns we have at the shop that will work up just as beautifully. Let the enticement begin!

Feel like royalty? Try working with Mohair Royal........

La Boheme......subtle bling with a lot of sophistication.

Louet's KidLin and Mohair.......use one of these vivid colors for a scarf, or even a shawl....

It really doesn't get much softer than Plymouth Yarns Baby Alpaca Lace....

Classic Elite's Silky Alpaca Lace works up feathery light, perfect for any weather....

It's the perfect day to sit and knit and crochet (although we believe that everyday is the perfect day to knit and crochet)

A short and sweet thought:

LIVE FULLY!

Happy Knitting and Crocheting to all of you!

WELCOMING WEE ONES TO THE WORLD!

2010-04-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

We have great news to share! Charlene (or Char, as we know her) has just been blessed with the arrival of her newest granddaughter! Lauren, the new auntie, shared the exciting news to everyone at our Thursday night gathering! We are so happy for the both of you! Congratulations!

Char was nice enough to share some of the pictures her daughter took of the items she has made for her bundle of joy. We want to show some of her gorgeous work.

A beautiful baby kimono.........

Char is known for her impeccable attention to detail!

She is also known for incredible lace work, and you can see why by just looking at her amazing lace baby blanket!

Theresa Mancini put a lot of love into this sailboat baby afghan while waiting for her new grandson to arrive.

The blue and white are the perfect combination for a baby boy. How sweet it is!

Paula quickly made up these super cute baby booties using our new angora. As expected, it was luscious to work with!

Heather Cavali was very happy with her finished mitered baby sweater I designed! She used Ellyn Cooper's yarn and we are not surprised that it worked out beautifully!

The little wooden heart buttons are just the right touch!

Beautiful work, ladies! Again, congratulations to Char and her entire family! We are very happy for you. We see big smiles and a lot of laughter in your future!

I leave you with this thought:

Laughter is life's best medicine. LAUGH!!!

Happy knitting and crocheting to all of you! Enjoy the rest of your evening!

NEW TREATS FOR YOU!

2010-04-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

New yarn always make us happy, and since you probably have the same addiction we have, we're pretty certain that new yarn makes you happy too!

New on our shelves is this luscious Plymouth Angora! Yes, finally, 100% angora! We have it in white, ecru, black, pink, and the baby blue is on back order, but it will be here shortly! You should come and let your creative fingers see how soft yarn can really be!

Sockatta has come out with the Limited Edition of their sock yarn! Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

They have changed their look as well. These nicely wound skeins stay nice and neat as you knit with them!

I think this colorway would make an amazing pair of socks for that special man in your life.

Make sure you pick up the needles of your choice so that starting your project brings you nothing but pure joy!

We also have lovely bags, big and small for you to tote your wonderful treasures in.

Smaller totes for socks! Nice bright colors for the spring and upcoming summer days!

We also carry Lantern Moon Handcrafted double pointed needle carriers.

We hear over and over again how visually stunning these folded needle "bags" are.

The triangular bag stays firmly shut with a magnetized tab.....

Unfold once.........

Unfold a second time and safely store your needles! Maybe you should add this to your wish list??

We can't wait to see you! Join us tonight at our weekly knitting/crocheting circle and let the stress of the week just fade away! Great friends, great yarn.......it doesn't get any better than that!

A quote from one of our favorite knitters........

"The number one reason knitters knit is because they are so smart that they need knitting to make boring things interesting. Knitters are so compellingly clever that they simply cannot tolerate boredom."

-Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Ain't that the truth!!

Happy Knitting and Crocheting, my friends!

ALL ABOUT THE BABIES!

2010-04-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

Many of our knitting and crocheting family seems to be on a baby kick lately! And if you're one of those people, you know how important it is to keep baby looking snazzy all year round! One of the most adorable ways to keep your bundle of cuteness even cuter is to make up some ensembles! If you're looking for "ooohs" and "ahhhhs", make a baby hat and sweater combo.

Do you want some ideas? Funny..........by George! I think we've got some!! (Sorry..........that was a Paula moment. That's one of her favorite sayings.......moving on!)

Do you remember the Fish Hat? Well, this is his sister and these patterns have been flying off the shelves! The original pattern has a bow. I chose to make a flower. I am putting in an order to replenish our stock! It's cute now.......Now picture it with this gorgeous little number......

This lacy tunic is perfect for your little girly girl! Oh, yeah, I have to reorder this one too! Please be patient with us!

Beret, anyone? This beret is sooooo adorable, and this picture really doesn't do it justice.

Look at how beautiful the lacy cabled brim is! Don't you know just the right little someone for this beret?

Paired up with this Tunisian baby cardigan, look out world!

This linen beret is another great accessory for your wee one!

And coupled with a matching sweater, it goes from being the perfect accessory to the perfect ensemble!

We encourage you to come in and create your own perfect ensemble! It's fun! We promise!!

Now I leave you with a thought:

HAPPINESS IS SPENDING THE DAY WITH FRIENDS

Join us! Happy Knitting and Crocheting to you all!

TRAGIC NO MORE

2010-04-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days when you think you have heard and seen it all? No matter how bizarre, how preposterous, or how absolutely kookookachoo a story is, you just aren't surprised? Well, yeah.......we actually had a customer come in and literally had each and everyone one of our jaws hit the ground........and they stayed on the ground for at least five minutes. Let me share that story with you.

Suzanne came in with a dilemma. When her father went to Ireland several years ago, he purchased a beautiful aran sweater to remind him of his trip. When he passed, Suzanne's sister kept the sweater, taking solace in the fact that she could always wear it whenever she wanted to reminisce about the wonderful times she had with her father.

With time, the sweater started to show a little bit of wear and tear and after a while she had to stop wearing the sweater because it had one large hole and several little holes. Because she doesn't knit, she put an ad in the paper, desperately searching for someone to repair the sweater. To try to make a long story a bit shorter, a woman responded, offered to fix the hole for fifty dollars, and returned the sweater to Suzanne's sister.

Here is the "repaired" sweater.

Hmmmmmm............even now, all I can say is hmmmmmmmmmmmm.........

When you manage to pick your jaw up, take a look at the close up shot. I'm sorry.....is that a GREY garter stitch patch on this GREEN sweater????? Seriously?!!

Needless to say, there were many, many tears and Suzanne couldn't bear to see her sister so distraught. So she promised her that she would find someone to fix the sweater, no matter what. Thankfully, Suzanne works with our good friend Karen Chartier and Karen knew exactly what to do! She took her to Woolworks, ensuring her that if it was something that could be fixed, we would fix it!

Paula and I carefully looked over the sweater and did what we could to rescue the beloved family heirloom. After the "surgery" and a good soak, we called Suzanne.

This time there were tears of joy!

THIS is what a repaired sweater looks like!!

We are elated that we were able to step in and right this terrible, terrible wrong! We are appalled that this even happened, but at least Suzanne's father's treasured sweater is good as new! We don't promise miracles, but we most definitely give it our best!

On that happy note, I bid you all a fabulous day of knitting and crocheting!

AIMING TO INSPIRE

2010-04-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

Having to think of the right way to showcase all of the beautiful yarn we have to offer at Woolworks prompted us to give the shop a bit of a face lift! It's amazing what three determined women are able to do when we put our minds to it! I've been debating whether or not to post pictures of the new layout of the store.....and I've decided that you should all come in and see for yourselves! All I will say is that the atmosphere of our shop is even more inviting, you are even MORE welcome to sit with us at our table, and your Woolworks experience will be even MORE enjoyable! That makes us incredibly happy!

One of the words that keeps us going here is "Inspiration". In fact this is so important to us, we have a constant reminder on hand:

Our goal here is not only to provide you, our knitting and crocheting family, exquisite, top of the line yarn to work with. We are here to inspire you and encourage you to make the glorious things that you and your family and friends deserve. And once you feel inspired, we encourage you to.........

Not only does it make us happy to see the fruits of your labor; you now become the INSPIRATION to the rest of your knitting and crocheting community!

Let me share a few ideas with you now!

Don can't spoil his little granddaughter enough! He knit this wonderful hoodie using Socos!

Look at how vibrant the colors are! Sophia is well prepared for slightly chilly evenings! It's a good thing her family thinks ahead!

I couldn't wait to use the Cotton Supreme so I quickly made this extremely sweet hat! It has been an instant hit here at the shop!

You can't really have a hat that cute without a matching sweater, can you? So, I made the sweater too! This really has to be one of the softest cottons I have ever used!

Tasha got her needles going on the Cotton Supreme Batik and zipped through the BSJ just in time for her friend's baby shower this weekend! Her friend is going to be thrilled!

And don't forget how much fun themes can be! I went to our local bookstore and special ordered "The Rainbow Fish", which was the inspiration for my Block Party Baby Afghan and it certainly proves to be the perfect accoutrement!

I hope you are all inspired to create, design, and enjoy the entire process! Come in a see the great changes and sit with us at our table and enjoy the company and the atmosphere! As I bid you good day and happy knitting and crocheting, I leave you with this thought:

MAY YOU KNOW THE PEACE THAT DWELLS WITHIN......

TOTALLY TERRIFIC TUESDAY

2010-04-13T07:31:00.001-07:00

Although we had gotten used to abnormally warm weather for a bit, a seasonal 50 to 60 degree day is quite lovely! We are so proud of our Monday night ladies. They have been patiently and steadily knitting on their Great American Aran Afghan squares. With every skill that they learn, we can't help but jump on their success wagon and celebrate with them! Here are some more of their wonderful accomplishments!Janet calls her squares "practice" squares. With every block she does, she learns how to read a chart and figure out how everything comes together. We are thrilled with her block and her determination!! Great job, Janet!!

Shelby is just on a roll with her afghan! She is knitting full speed ahead, steadily chipping away at thirty or so blocks she will need to complete a queen sized afghan! Go, Shelby, go!!

She modified this block from a church to a little cottage and turn the sun into a moon. This only proves that even when the block is charted out for you, you still have the choice to knit what you WANT!!

This square was fun for her because it was worked in sections. You knit, picked up some, knit some more, picked up some........variety for the easily bored knitter!

One of my favorite squares!

Keep up the good work, ladies! So many talented people in our knitting family! It's a pleasure to see how far you have all come! Enjoy this beautiful day happy knitting and crocheting to all of you!!

MORE SPRING CLEANING

2010-04-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

If I had just waited one more day, all this rain would have taken care of all the dirt I was sweeping off the sidewalk yesterday! Oh well! When I start spring cleaning, there's no stopping me! And to prove it, I have put some more things out in our sale baskets!

Here are the Somerset and Bradford, which I mentioned yesterday. All of these colors are perfect for spring, whether you choose a smooth or more textured look!Both the Talinay and the Sockos are 30% off!
They make those awesome Ear Flap Hats that were so popular here at Woolworks! Start making them and stock piling them for gifts.
Linie 226 Outland is now on sale at 50% off! What is so great about this yarn is that the colors gently merge from one to the other, creating a gorgeous fabric.
Brenda put a lot of love making this hooded sweater for her cutie patootie granddaughter.
As always, I have to show you the back of this little number! The bright colors will look perfect on her little one!
Since she finished pampering her grand baby, she had time to finish up her own pair of socks! They're lovely, Brenda!
Kim put these cute little guys in her granddaughters' Easter Baskets! Look at how holy moly cute they are!!!!And they love each other! Awwwww.......aren't they sweet?!

The weather is supposed to clear up in a few hours. In the meantime, I hope that we were able to put a smile on your faces for the day! Happy Knitting and Crocheting to all of you!

SALES SWEEP!!

2010-04-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

After the record breaking heat yesterday, I knew it was time to get my store front all spiffed up!

After all, we can't have you walking on dirty sidewalks to get to Woolworks, can we?

Paula has no problems getting her hands a little dirty to help beautify the place.

The pansies have reclaimed their spot by our open front door! We're glad to see them back!

If you have a few free moments today, make sure to stop by the shop and see some of the great yarns we have on sale for this week! They won't last long, so make sure you get in while the getting is good!

Easter inspired 50% off of the always fun colors of Jellybeans! This yarn collection makes incredibly vibrant baby sweaters that are cherished by both Mom and Baby for years to come!

The Riverstone Hand Dyed Natural Fibers is buy one, get one free! Now it doesn't get much better than that.....and if you have ever worked with this stuff, you know I'm not lying!

Royal Llama Linen is 30% off this week. This is a great way to make stylish spring and summer wear that will last, and last, and last!

We also have Bradford and Somerset from the Bristol Yarn Gallery on sale for 30% off and don't forget our Ironstone Super Alpaca, which is now 50% off! You don't want to miss it!

Again, if you want to add to your yarn stash, this is the perfect opportunity to do just that! But they will fly out of here in no time, so hurry, hurry, hurry!

Happy Knitting and Crocheting! Hope to see you soon!

BLOGGING FOR MICHELLE

2010-04-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

There are some days when things get super busy and time just slips away before you know it. We all know what that's like, right? Well, this afternoon I got a phone call from Michelle who just wanted to let me know that I needed to get my butt in gear because I was slacking off on the blog.....so, I put down what I was working on IMMEDIATELY and decided to do just as demanded! This is me with my rear in gear!

Check out this beautiful sweater Carla Sheldon whipped up! It's called Myra's Little Sweetheart Sweater and it really is a sweetheart of a sweater!! Great job, Carla!!

Don Frechette is at it again with his phenomenal knitting! These convoluted beauties are called the "Idaho Socks" and they are from the "50 Socks for 50 States CD". I like to say he's showing off........but seriously, wouldn't you show off too if these came off your needles??

Oh, and in his spare time, he just knit up this little dog to put in our window. Seriously!!

And I suppose I can put the spotlight on Michelle too! She completed this fantastic Great American Aran Afghan block! I love the color and it looks even prettier in person! We are so proud of you, Michelle!

All joking aside, I have to say thank you to all of the compliments that people give about the blog. We are very glad that it has become a part of your daily routine, and we will continue to do our best to put a smile on your face......every day if possible! Have a wonderful, wonderful day, and happy Knitting and Crocheting to all of you!

BLISS IN A KNITTING BASKET

2010-04-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

Everything seems to come alive in the spring! The colors seem more vibrant, the blooming flowers seem eager to embrace the sun.....and I get the urge to buy more yarn! Somehow I don't think any of you are surprised!

We now have Debbie Bliss Ecobaby, which is from her Fair Trade Collection. This yummy stuff is 100% organic cotton, and my fingers are itching to make something out of it.

The baby patterns in the corresponding book are cute as cute can be, as usual!

The lovely Fleuris graces our shelves here at Woolworks. Just the name "Fleuris" inspires springtime thoughts! This yarn is comprised of 70% Bamboo/Viscose, 30% Wool.

Chinoisie is the pattern book that shows off how beautiful this yarn really works.

As you know, Debbie Bliss creates wonderful yarns and patterns for adults as well! Amalfi is also from her new line.........

With magnificent pattern support as well!! Come get your hands on this lovely cotton/linen/silk blend!

So, if you happen to be strolling down Main Street, stop in and see what else we have! We'd love to see you! Happy Knitting and Crocheting, my friends!

THE EVERLASTING APPEAL OF NORO

2010-04-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

I have seen a lot of yarns come in and out of style. Just like most things, what our hands want to knit with changes with the seasons. All I can hear in my head is Heidi Klum's beautifully accented phrase "One minute you're in, and the next you're OUT"

That statement does not apply to Noro. No matter what time of year, what size needles you like working on, or whether you're making an adult sized cardigan or a baby afghan, Noro always seems to have a skein of yarn that will do the trick. For that reason, I make sure that the shop is always well stocked with this amazing yarn. For that matter, we just got a huge order in to satiate your Noro cravings.Don't worry!! I won't take pictures of every cubby full of Noro!
But I will show you a few examples of the various things we've made with Noro at the shop!
Fun and simple baby hat.My mitered Baby JacketI love using Noro for Fair Isle work!Look how beautiful the colors work up!
My Fair Isle SocksThe Famous Entrelac Scarf
And my newest design......The Block Party Baby Blanket!
We love it!

And don't forget to check out some of their great books!!
Hope you're inspired to knit up some beautiful, colorful, yummy things! Happy Knitting and Crocheting, and have a very Happy Easter!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MRS. PAULA NELSON!!!

2010-04-01T07:23:00.000-07:00

We are so lucky to be surrounded by very special people. One of those special people is Paula Nelson. If you have been to Woolworks on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturdays, you have surely seen Paula busily working on one of her gorgeous knitted projects, or happily telling you stories of Putnam as she helps you pick out the perfect yarn for the perfect project.

Well, our beloved Paula turned 75 years old yesterday (or three quarters of a century, as she likes to say), and we just wanted to wish her not only a wonderful year, but many, many, many more wonderful years!Paula's sweet tooth started the day with a delectable treat from Victoria's Station and a funny rendition of "Happy Birthday" by Tasha.

A Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake just for her!

Later on in the afternoon, Paula received my specially delivered fruit bouquet from Edible Arrangements!!
She had to open it immediately to share with the shop!
Believe it or not, Paula is sweeter than the cake AND the fruit bouquet combined!!

So even though her birthday has passed, why don't you stop by and wish our beautiful Paula a happy birthday!!

WE LOVE YOU, PAULA!!!!

TO RUSSIA, WITH LOVE

2010-03-30T07:33:00.000-07:00

When you spend your days in a yarn shop, you are bound to be approached with strange requests. Here is an example:

Last week a customer came into the shop with something quite specific in mind. She and her husband were preparing themselves for their long trip to Russia. They are in the process of adopting a baby boy and they were going to meet him for the first time on Saturday.

Her friend had gone to Amsterdam and had fallen in love and purchased this adorable crocheted stuffed Dachshund.

Our mission, if we chose to accept it, was to duplicate this dog, adding our own creative, artistic variations, of course. She wanted her new son to have a specially made gift from his new parents.

Well, Tasha, in her kookiness decided that this was surely something that she and Dottie could recreate, with NO pattern.......and a Friday, 4:30pm deadline!! Notice the word kookiness because it definitely applies! After putting their heads and their bustling hands together, here is what Tash and Dottie came up with:

Our version.

The original.....

The impostor!!!

Here are the Dachshund buddies! (Actually, they look like they're snubbing each other!)

Needless to say, she came in on Friday and practically jumped out of her sneakers! She loved the end result and we were so happy that we were able to help her make this really exciting moment in her life a little bit more exciting! We wish her new family great fortune!

And we wish happy knitting and crocheting days to you all!

SHOW AND TELL SUNDAY

2010-03-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

Sunday is here and hopefully all of you are relaxing and getting yourselves mentally prepared for another week. We believe that if there is a day to be lazy, Sunday is probably the best day!

We have a few finished projects that we want to show off to you. After all, being lazy on a Sunday doesn't mean we can't show and tell!!

Paula, who never lets me take pictures of her allowed me to drape her beautiful seventy inch lace scarf around her talented neck......and snap this picture.....very quickly!

She used Jojoland Cashmere and it works up beautifully!!BFeast your eyes on the detail work!Sheri Kroll's daughter is a HUGE Harry Potter fan. To add to the frenzy, her Sheri's mother made up these very authentic looking Harry Potter socks for her granddaughter's upcoming birthday! There is no doubt in our minds that there will be a happy, smiley birthday girl once she opens up this package!

Christine came in to show us her newly finished sweater! This gorgeous top was in Chris' UFO pile for quite some time, and she finally decided it was time to finish it up!

We are very glad she did! Awesome job, Christine!

We're proud of all of your accomplishments, everyone! Keep up the good work! Happy knitting and crocheting, my friends, and enjoy your Sunday!

REASONS TO SMILE

2010-03-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

The wonderful thing about being able to create with your own hands is that when you have completed the work, you most surely put a smile on someone's face.

Don Frechette loves to knit intricate projects. What he loves even more is his granddaughter Sophia and this is only one of the ways that he shows her how much a Pepere can love his little one.

This is Shirley, Sophia's pet dragon!

We love the fact that she is so girly and has a sassy attitude! Look at those hands.

She's kind of perfect, isn't she? Sophia loves her Shirley.

Looks like she's ready to fly, fly, away!Paula made these beautiful, delicate baby socks from Knitting Traditions. She made them up on size 0 needles. I wanted to say "Better you than me, Paula".......but they are so awesome, I might have to bite the bullet and cast on some stitches!Here is a closeup.

Another gem from Knitting Traditions......whipped up again by Paula, of course.It's a great accent to any woman's sock drawer.

It's inspiring to see these great finished projects. Hopefully they inspire you as well. If it's just one of those days and you want to put a smile on your face, come and spend some time at Woolworks. It's a candy store for fiber artist.......only we're calorie free! (just ignore the bowl of assorted chocolates we have on the front counter!!

Happy Knitting and Crocheting, my friends!

STILL RAINING.....STILL KNITTING

2010-03-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

Today is a great day to do a quick rendition of Gene Kelly's "Singing in the Rain".....happily skipping and frolicking through huge puddles on Main Street (although Gene Kelly was actually tap dancing through puddles of milk because it showed up better on camera.......a little movie trivia for you).

But it's cold, so we've decided to sit in the shop where it's warm and work on our projects.

The Great American Aran Afghan crew is still busily working on their squares and Dottie is still cranking out her squares so that she is well prepared to help anyone who needs it. Here are a few more of her squares.

This poor fish is caught in a cabled net! Oh well! He'll be immortalized in a fabulous afghan!

Beautiful cabled hearts.....

A yummy cluster of cherries!

These blocks are lovely. We can't wait to see them all put together.

And here's a funny little story that hopefully makes you chuckle this dreary day. The Congregational Church across the street from us holds blood drives for the Red Cross. As a thank you for the generous life saving donations that people make, they were handing these out.

Red Cross Red Nail Polish. A lovely color.......

We're still trying to figure out how Sister Judith is going to work that into her daily wardrobe!!! She remedied the problem by giving the nail polish to Tasha!!

I hope that made you laugh as much as it made us laugh! On that silly note, Happy Knitting and Crocheting!!

A NIGHT OUT WITH THE HOMEGROWN STRINGS

2010-03-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

Saturday night knitters united through music. We were invited to join the Homegrown String Band at the Vanilla Bean to knit and chat and listen to their music. This great band is comprised of Georgianne and Rick Jackofsky and their two daughters, Erica and Annalee and they have been playing music infused with blues, bluegrass, country and folk for the last thirteen years. They are refer to themselves as the "1oo% Natural Organically Grown" Band and they most definitely are a family that know how to play together! You can learn more about them and listen to some of their tunes if you visit www.homegrownstringband.com

Their banner

We gathered around six to secure the comfiest section of the Bean! By the time the music started there were around fifteen of us knitting and tapping our feet to the upbeat rhythms.Here are just two of their beautiful instruments. Between the four of them they play guitar, fiddle, dulcimer, mandolin, banjo-ukulele (or the "banjolele as we call it), harmonica, jawharp and doumbek, just to name a few. They also knit and crochet, which is why they made the special invite to local knitters to join them before the show! Annalee is crocheting an afghan (above).Her sister Erica is a prolific knitter. In fact she will be published in the newest issue of Yarn Forward and was asked by Shanon Okey to become a regular designer!Rick handcrafts Navajo drop spindles to help facilitate his daughters' fascination with yarn and other yummy fibers......when he has time between playing shows, that is!Here is Georgianne filling the room with sweet dulcimer sounds...The joy that they obviously have playing together was infectious!They even enhanced their performance with dancing! The sharp sounds of their dancing feet had the room clapping in time!If only I could hope around like that!

Between the fabulous food, the great music and the camaraderie between knitters and new found friends, Saturday night turned out to be quite a treat!! I wish you all a fabulous, fabulous day! Happy knitting and crocheting!

FUN CLASSES FOR APRIL

2010-03-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

As promised we have a fun class list lined up for anyone who's ready for the lighter side of knitting! All of these projects are the perfect size to fit in a downsized version of your knitting bag, so you can tote it to baseball games, upcoming camping trips.....you know, anywhere you feel like knitting!

Tunisian Crochet is making a strong comeback and Tasha designed a very springy collar (reminiscent of the Flower Scarf which was featured a few weeks ago) to give everyone a quick way to get started. You can make it wider or thinner, depending on your personal preference.

A graceful butterfly button perches on the crocheted flower.

Tunisian Crochet, which is also known as the Afghan Stitch creates a very tight, grid-like motif and proves to be versatile, as we will demonstrate in the upcoming months.

The Hat Heel sock is in the house!! This sock takes the self striping yarn to a whole new level because it's worked from the heel OUT!!

Here's the blinged out version of the Hat Heel sock.

The heel.......looks like a little hat, doesn't it?The right side gusset.

The Knitting Traditions Magazine was a huge hit. We were all drawn to the wonderful articles and the historical patterns that jumped from every page. These beaded cuffs are very popular with our knitting family.......so popular in fact, we're running two classes.

This is an example of what the traditional cuff looks like using Ellyn Coopers fab colors.

And don't forget Sue's Two at a Time Socks........from the top down, this time!! We will never let you get bored with making socks EVER!

Here is our friend Christian with his new Tamoshanter! He came in the other night and asked me to make one for him. He was very specific......he wanted a black tamoshanter with a white Pompon! And that's what he got!

He looks really handsome with his new hat

So, my friends, we can't wait to see you at our table! Happy Knitting and Crocheting!

WITH THE WEEKEND COMES MORE FINISHED GOODIES

2010-03-18T08:24:00.000-07:00

The challenge to turn our UFO's into Finished Objects has been taken pretty seriously by many of our knitting family. We have had the pleasure of seeing many wonderful creations come to fruition in the last few weeks. And as we put the finishing touches on our upcoming class list (which will be posted tomorrow), we couldn't think of a better time to get those occupied knitting needles and crochet hooks free so that they can be busily working on something new!

Take a peek at some of the lovely things our friends have shared.

Lauren LeBlanc had attempted a felted bag some time ago and she hated the process. Because she's persistent, she tried again and came up with this beautiful bag! Now she wants to make another one, although she insists that a size 12 needle would be better! If only they made a size 12 needle!

Jeannette Bibek has a special baby in mind to give her fabulous double sided crocheted afghan to. The colors bring thoughts of spring and Easter and joy! Her granddaughter is a lucky baby to have such a talented Memere!

Beauty up close

Jeannette also whipped up this cutie patootie hat for her friend's grandson. See!! Knitters and crocheters give thoughtful gifts to EVERYBODY!!

Splendid job, Lauren and Jeannette!! What's next, I wonder??

So, make sure to check in tomorrow for the upcoming classes for April! Have a wonderful day! We're supposed to have record breaking temperatures today and I think we deserve it! Enjoy! Happy knitting and crocheting to you all!

THE EASTER EGG FIELD TRIP

2010-03-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

If you were to drive by Woolworks at around 6:15 last night, you probably would have caught a glimpse of a happy group of knitters heading out the door to embark on their pysanka adventure. It was a perfect day for the ten minute drive to Nancy Shay's beautiful studio, and she greeted us with her usual smile and exuberance.

After the ten of us settled in, Nancy treated our eyes with a basket of her own hand designed pysanka.Basically the room exploded with oohs and ahs, which was quickly followed by an underlying worry that maybe we were completely out of league!! Nancy ensured us that she would walk us through every step of the way and that we had to trust our inner creativity.Nancy showing us our canvas.......the egg.

Heating up the kistka to load it up with beeswax.

Drawing the initial lines

And we're off!!

Applying last few layers of wax.

This is pretty much the look we all had......

Once we started melting the wax off our pysanka! You bet we were careful!!

Very delicate work.

A finished pysanka!!! Beautiful!

Thank you so much, Nancy for inviting us into your studio and teaching us this amazing art form! It was a wonderful way to spend the evening and we look forward to doing more of this! Thank you again!! We will be posting more pictures of finished pysanka as the week progresses!

Happy knitting and crocheting and egg dying to all of you!

MALABRIGO AND GREAT THINGS TO SHOW

2010-03-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

Good morning, my fellow knitters and crocheters! Look out your windows! It's a beautiful, sunshiny day! We have unloaded another box of goodies and they are now on display at the shop.

Malabrigo has wonderful pattern books to support their scrumptious yarn!
Malabrigo Chunky
More Malabrigo Chunky

Malabrigo Sock

Just putting them into inventory got our brains churning......what to make, what to make??

Last night our girls got together again to work on their Great American Aran Afghan. Every week that goes by, the confidence levels keep rising and our group is really building on their knitting skills! I look forward to seeing more completed blocks.

Shelby is on a roll with these lovely cables!!Tasha fell in love with the Tree of Life block......so she made it!

Also, we are off to the Treetop Studios tonight to make our Ukrainian Easter Eggs! We have been looking forward to this excursion for the last two weeks and we can't wait to get started! I hope everyone has a wonderfully inspiring day! Happy knitting and crocheting!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

2010-03-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

The word we all use for a day like today is "Blech!" It's cold, it' s rainy, it windy......it's just blech!

Cargill Falls in Putnam is practically overflowing. You should hear the roar of the water!

Fortunately, this kind of day encourages us to give in to the urge to brew up a pot of tea and knit our beloved projects. Even better, why not pull out those unfinished objects (or UFO's as they are known by knitters) and focus on promoting them to the rank of "Finished Objects" (which we refer to as "finished objects" because "FO" sounds antagonistic!)

Here are some of the beautiful things our knitting family has created. Enjoy!

This hat was made by Thomas, one of our newest knitters. He learned how to knit around Christmas time and he finds knitting to be extremely therapeutic, especially after a long day of being a high school math teacher.The top of his lovely hat! Isn't is great?

He made this cute entrelac purse for his wife. Many customers were jealous when they saw this bag!!

Chris made this gorgeous cowl for a knitting friend she met through Ravelry. She almost felt guilty taking the picture wearing it!Here is a felted hot plate that she designed. She based her Celtic Knot pattern from the necklace her mother in law had given to her, which makes this project extra special.

This vest is Judy Holke's interpretation of a pattern she found in Interweave Crochet. Judy always impresses us with her beautiful garments. It's always very classic and classy!

Stellar work, everyone! Now that these UFO's are out of the way, you can start a new project and today is the perfect day to do just that! Happy Knitting and Crocheting to you all!

GETTING A HANDLE ON THINGS

2010-03-13T08:10:00.000-08:00

As the weather gets warmer, more and more of us are reaching in our closets and dressers and pulling out our spring garments. With the garments come the shoes and of course, we need our fun spring time bags to match our less bulky ensembles.

Many knitted and crocheted bags look great with I-cord handles, but there comes a time when you have that really special project that can only be finished off with a quality, handcrafted handle. It's amazing how something like a purse handle can make all the difference in the world.

Here at Woolworks we have a great assortment of handles to choose from. Here are a few:

Now that we're on the topic of getting a handle on things, our poet Ida Berris has written a poem for Sue, who is known for her no nonsense, "you can do it" attitude which has gotten many a knitter through some harrowing times!

ODE TO SUE

Sue, I have a problem requiring your skill
Ida, do it yourself! You have the will.

But Sue, you're so smart and wise and able.
I can't do this fancy-schmancy cable.

Cable, schmable, take a look at your stitch.
Oh please, Sue, I don't know which stitch is which.

Cables are fun if you know what to do.
So true Sue. That's why I brought it to you!

Ida Berris

Thank you Ida! Your words always put a smile on our faces! Happy Knitting and Crocheting to all!!

THE SURPRISE MARCHED THROUGH THE DOOR!

2010-03-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness for Thursday nights! I always look forward to leaving the work day behind, gathering my knitting bags and settling in for a great evening with friends. By seven o clock the knitting crew arrived and I was happy as a clam.

A few days ago, my good friend Deb's husband called. He had this great idea to surprise his wife for her birthday with her favorite ice cream cake. He and his daughter were going to wait till she got to the shop and it was my job to distract her while they sneaked in and set everything up.

Here they are smiling for the camera after a well executed covert birthday operation!The happy birthday girl!The yummy Carvel Ice Cream Chocolate CakeThere weren't too many candles for Deb to blow out. They didn't stand a chance!The frosting didn't stand a chance either!

If that wasn't enough, three of her friends walked in half an hour later with ANOTHER cake!!
By that time we were all caked out and they decided to take it home and have an extended birthday party later on in the evening.

We felt very special that Deb's family went out of their to make it possible for us to share this day with her! It was a lot of fun!

So to our good friend Deb..........HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR

2010-03-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

Productive, productive, productive!! That's the first thing I have to say about our knitting family! When it comes to buckling down and finishing what they've started, our customers are top notch!

Marjorie proudly shows off her absolutely stunning fair isle vest.

Here is a close up of this gorgeous piece. What a great color combination!Barbara beamed as she talked to us about her splendid cardigan. She used Rhythm and she is very happy with the results. We don't blame her!What a glorious tapestry of color!Lucy curls up with her beautiful autumn themed crocheted afghan.She used Encore Tweed to construct this beauty. Once her hands started going, she hardly stopped! She whipped up this cascade of leaves in record time!Her husband sneaks in a quick smooch as they prove that they have plenty of room to cuddle!

Kudos to all of you! You should all be proud of your accomplishments because we are! We hope that seeing these finished projects encourages you to keep working on your unfinished works, or entices you to start a new one! Both options are great!! Happy knitting and crocheting, my friends!

A DAY WELL SPENT

2010-03-10T07:20:00.000-08:00

What a lovely day we had yesterday! We had a steady ebb and flow of customers come through our doors and each one of them walked out with a package of goodies. It's a very satisfying feeling to know that everyday we put a smile on someone's face.

Our table provided a place for rest and relaxation for our knitting family.

Here's Kim holding up her successful pair of toe up socks.....being worked two at a time, of course!

Yup, she's a tad bit particular. They even match!

Jess is looking fine as she knits her Rhythm scarf. With her pigtails and the shirt she confiscated from her father's vintage portion of his closet, she shows that it's hip to knit!

Our table is not only open to knitters and crocheters! We accept everybody! Jean comes and sits with us while she works on her cross stitching.

She is making this for a dear friend's baby. She is so meticulous with her work and she is doing a beautiful job!

If you needed yet another option for a springtime yarn, come and take a look at our Gedifra Barina collection! The colors are scrumptious and perfect for the upcoming season.

We have a skein already in progress at the front counter. We have been encouraging people to knit a few rows to get a feel of this yummy stuff. We love it!

Just so everyone is up to date, the last day to sign up for the Easter Egg workshop with Nancy Shay is this Friday, March 12th. We want to make sure that poor Nancy has enough time to accommodate the boisterous group of knitters that she invited into her studio! So if you want to join us on our dyeing escapade, make sure you reserve a spot!

I hear we're in for rain for the rest of the week. I suggest you take advantage of the great weather and go out for a walk, take a few good gulps of the fresh air......and of course stop in for a bit and visit your fiber family! We love seeing you! (But you already knew that, didn't you?)
Happy knitting and crocheting!

DELIGHTFUL FRIENDS THROUGH THE DAY AND THROUGH THE NIGHT

2010-03-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

The shop was buzzing with happy vibes all day yesterday. All of our customers just seemed to be in an extra good mood and many were ready to start new projects. Our friend Monica came in with her very talkative daughter to show us that she was now the right size to wear the dress that I had made for her.That face always makes us melt!!Even when she's scowling at me!Here I am trying to find her tickle spot....I FOUND it!!Here she is kissing her mommy through our window! It looks like I made this dress for the right baby! It looks great on her! Too cute!!

The ladies met last night to continue their quest to create their own great afghan. For an afghan that requires a considerable amount of concentration, they always look like they're having fun!

Our lively bunch settled in for a great night of knitting.

Bronwen is most definitely in her happy place! A close up of another one of Dottie's squares. She's flying through these......which is what makes her such a phenomenal teacher! (well, you know, other things make her phenomenal, but that's a much longer blog entry!)

Here's a close up of Shelby's gorgeous DNA square. Love, love, love this color!

Everyone is doing such a great job and that has a lot to do with their tenacity and determination! They refuse to let these blocks beat them! We're so proud of them. Keep up the good work!

So, I'm off to finish my taxes and enjoy the sunniness of the day. It's not as warm out as yesterday, but we'll take it! Happy knitting and crocheting!!

QUICK KNITS, BIG HITS!!

2010-03-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

So, remember when I said that I couldn't wait to sit in the cozy knitting nook in the window? Well, I finally got my chance to do so. Unfortunately, it was to do my taxes, but I'll take the opportunity to sit in the sunshine whenever I can! OK......enough about my taxes!

The newest hot seller at Woolworks is "60 Quick Knits" by Cascade. This awesome book has 20 hats, 20 mittens, and 20 scarves that can be made up lickety split!

These projects are small and portable, and even if you can't use them right away, they are a super way to get a jump on your holiday knitting! Knit it now, store it for later.

Unfortunately, we don't have a huge quantity of Cascade 220.........

Ok, so I lied! We have a HUGE selection of Cascade 220, and if per chance we don't have it, guess what? We can get it for you!

Our Great American Aran Afghan crew is meeting again tonight. The class begins at 6:30 with Dottie. Also, we have the Two Sided Crocheted Baby Afghan beginning tonight with Tasha and we are looking forward to seeing our new students! Both classes are fun, and as you know, we are here to help you!

Enjoy the beautiful day. It's bright and sunny and my front door is actually propped open right now to let some of the lovely fresh air in! It seems like we've finally turned the corner, my friends!

Happy knitting and crocheting!

WOOLWORKS WINDOW SHOPPING

2010-03-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

As people bustle down our busy Main Street here in Putnam, they look through the windows for the first indication that the seasons are turning. It seems like it's been a long drawn out winter and we have been anxiously waiting for the sun to come out.......today, not tomorrow!!

We have noticed a HUGE influx of new customers and we are so happy you've found us! We appreciate the positive feedback from all of you! It's makes us feel good to know that we are your home away from home, as Kim always says.

With the news of a fifty degree weekend in our future, I was motivated to bring spring to my store front.It's an interesting endeavor to mount the backdrop by oneself.....especially when the person who COULD be helping me is busy taking pictures of my struggle!!!

It's a work in progress, but the bright colors make everyone happy, so that's a step in the right direction!
This color just screams "SPRING IS HERE!"
This sweet dress has inspired many a knitter!
I designed this cute baby bathrobe because I figured even babies deserve to lounge around in comfort after a nice bath!!
A perfect adornment for a spring night.
A handsome little vest for a handsome little boy!

So, that's what one window looks like. The other side has become the cozy corner of the shop, especially on a day like today.

It's a fabulous place to knit, peruse through our magazines and books, and on occasion be a tad bit nosy and do some people watching (once you've made yourself a cup of coffee or tea from our back room, of course!)

I look forward to being able to nestle into the nook.
This is one of the favorite chairs. Once you sit in it, good luck getting back out! Knitting bliss.

We look forward to seeing all of your smiling faces this weekend. There is so much to smile about!! Happy knitting and crocheting, my friends!!

TO THE OLD WE BID ADIEU AS WE HAPPILY WELCOME THE NEW!

2010-03-05T08:38:00.000-08:00

We might have to start making lunch for our delivery guy! We have seen him everyday this week, shaking our heads in amazement as he totes in box after box after box. Because we love keeping things fresh and exciting here at Woolworks, I am constantly culling through the inventory to make room for the new goodies.

This week Rialto from Debbie Bliss and Somerset from Bristol Yarn are 30% off.

The colors are vibrant and they work up like a dream.

Here are just a few of the new yarns that are making their debut at Woolworks. I decided to list the new cottons, since yesterday we talked about market bags, and these would work up beautifully if you were so inclined to used them for that purpose.

Covington by Plymouth Yarn. 100% Cotton

Kertzer Down To Earth Cotton. 100% Certified Cotton

Tahki Cotton Classic Lite. 100% Mercerized Cotton.

Of course we have several other wonderful cottons for you to choose from!

Don't forget the Easter Egg seminar. We already have quite a few signed up and we don't want you to miss out on what will surely be a very fun, very memorable evening! I'm off to stock some more shelves. The delivery guy just left......again! See what I do for you guys!! Happy knitting and crocheting!!

PUTTING OUR EGGS IN A........BAG??

2010-03-04T08:43:00.000-08:00

Market bag, that is! We don't care that it was bone chilling cold yesterday! Daylights saving is in effect next weekend which means we are springing ahead with style!! We have a wonderful series of market bag patterns which are waiting to be made by you so that when the weather finally warms up and the Farmer's Markets are full swing, you will be READY!!

Paula knit up this great market bag using Takhi Cotton Classic.
Here it is hung up so you can see exactly how long it is. Think of all the fresh fruits and veggies you can stuff in there!!
Dottie crocheted this fab mesh market bag!
As if it weren't special enough, it rolls up inside itself! Looks like a little clam, doesn't it?
It's no wonder it is one of our favorite bags here at Woolworks!
Tasha designed this yummy market basket using Mission Falls 1824 Cotton.Again, these market bags have so much room!!Here is another crocheted market bag! The varieties never cease!

All of these patterns are available here at the shop. We will be running a series of classes in April so we are certain many of you will join the fun!

Sooooooo.........about those eggs fore mentioned in the title. What's that about, you ask? Well, I'll tell you! (wouldn't it be rude if I just left all of you hanging and wondering? Would I actually do something like that to you?? Hmmmmm.....ahhhhh......nah nah!)

Nancy Shay is one of our favorites here at Woolworks. She is a local artist and instructor who works out of Tree Top Studios, which she calls her "attic studio" I have been there on a couple of occasions and just walking through her house to get to the stairs that lead to her studio is like taking a trip to an exclusive museum. Her work is amazing!

One of her specialties is designing Pysanky, or Ukrainian Easter Eggs. For those of you who have never seen one of these lovely traditional works of art, here are a few images to gawk at.

These aren't your normal Easter Eggs, are they? Well, Nancy, in her infinite state of kindness has scheduled a special workshop for the Woolworks crew.....that means all of you!! YAY!!

The class is on Tuesday, March 16th, beginning at 6:30 and ending at 9:00. Sign up begins immediately so please do not dilly dally because we need to tell her how many beaming faces she can expect! You can leave a comment here on the blog, call the shop, or come in and physically sign in. Any of those methods work! The fee is 30 dollars, which is a steal, since we are supplied with everything we need and we get to learn from the best!! We are very excited.

So, there. I've explained the eggs! Now have a great day! Happy knitting and crocheting to all of you!

GIVING THAT OLD SWEATER A NEW LOVING FEELING!

2010-03-03T12:18:00.000-08:00

Knitting and crocheting are a wonderful art form so it is no surprise that our local artists are expanding their horizons and incorporating yarn and other gorgeous fibers into their artistic expressions.

Jess Dudek-Viens has been an artist all her life. One fateful night, over sushi and a glass of wine, Tasha taught her how to knit and surprise, surprise.......she's hooked!

By immersing herself in this new world, Jess discovered the magic of felting. Going on a "shopping spree", Jess found several wool sweaters and decided that she was going to bond with her sewing machine and her imagination. Here are some of the pictures showing the steps involved in her creative design....

Here she is pinning together the pieces she cut without a template......

One side of her hat.....

The crown.....

Some felted ribbing from another sweater....

Here it is with a ribbed edging....She decided to stretch the ribbing and turn it up on itself and sew it down to give it that fabulous tiered look.

What a cute hat, right?? Her friend Emmett is so lucky that Jess loves him the way she does!! And because she loved the process so much, she is already making another one!! We're proud of you, Jess!!

We can't say we're surprised by what our knitting family comes up with because they are all brilliant people. But we can say we are thoroughly impressed by their beautiful visions and their ability to bring those visions to fruition. Keep it up!!

Happy Knitting and Crocheting everyone!!