OUR NEW BFFs...MALABRIGO AND BLUE-SKY ALPACA

We could put this stuff in the backroom, under the sink, behind the pipes, in the proverbial "plain brown wrapper"....and you'd still find it. Malabrigo comes to you from Uruguay in 100% wool, kettle-dyed in worsted, lace or sock weights. Blue Sky Alpaca flies out of here in both alpaca/silk blends or a 100% alpaca in sport weight. And little sib Spud and Chloe..beautiful superwash cotton/wool blends..comes with its own patterns in sock or sweater(worsted) weights.

ECO wool from Cascade

How much 100% wool is enough? We know, we know...it's never enough, but would 437 yards almost do it? For $15 a skein? The ECO is in natural shades of sheep and the ECO+ comes in all different colors, bright and brazen to organic shades straight from the forest floor. We're happy to wind it for you!

SUNDAY HOURS

Stay home and KNIT these cozy fall Sunday afternoons! Come November 22nd (the Sunday before Thanksgiving), though, we're back open noon-5 until after Christmas. For future reference, we'll be open 'til 2pm on Christmas Eve and closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

OFFHAND, we'd say...

that we've got the prettiest cases and totes you ever saw. Your yarn work will never ride around happier than in these vintage fabric bags handmade in San Francisco. If your tastes run retro, you'll also enjoy the smaller ones as a pocketbook.

There's a very large "clamshell" style that carries everything and several styles of needle cases. They've been selling right out of the box, so if there's a particular pattern or style you want, check back often or we'll be glad to include your prepaid order with our next shipment.

YARN CAMP WAS A HOOT!!

October is a busy time, but none prettier to gather at the 4-H Center for a weekend of spinning, knitting, chatting and generally catching up and finishing all those UFOs. New friends from Orange, pals from NC and lots of locals had a big time and we're looking forward to the next one. Mark your calendars for the weekend of February 19, 20, 21, 2010 and we'll begin taking registrations when we reopen in January.

LIVING HISTORY TOOLS AND FIBERS

With a bow to historical interpretations, re-enactments, and presentations to area schools, we've gathered together a collection appropriate for either 18th or 19th century portrayals.

Tools include handmade birch needles (single and double points) from NC, dropspindles and nostepindes from TN and wools from our own Washington County Grandview Farm. You'll find scissors, chatelaines, thimbles of horn or cloisonne, tapestry needles and there's more on the way. Flags range from Betsy Ross to the National Flags of the Confederacy, Ft. Moultrie, Battle of Cowpens and area states.

If there's a particular tool or accessory you've been looking for, please let us know.

GOT A ROVING EYE??

We'd never ever encourage such a thing, but "an eye for roving"? Ahh, that's another story! We've got bold and beautiful from Miss Babs or wool in natural colors from our own Washington County Grandview Farm. As at home beside a 19th c. fireplace as it is now, the Grandview roving has just enough lanolin to be well-behaved as well as being kind to your hands.

We carry Miss Babs in several yarn weights as well as roving to spin for special effects. Check her website (missbabs.com) or on Ravelry and, with prepayment, we'll be glad to order you any color she has in stock. Her eye-popping colors come in 100% merino or a merino/Tussah silk blend or in a Blue Faced Leicester roving. While you're in the shop, don't miss our own Blue Fleeced Lester, a cutie-pie lamb, knitted by Helen Morgan.