Anything bugging you?

Snooter-doots are invading our house. Woke up this morning to find these bugs trying to make a break for it. They are cute, but I'm not sure if I want them everywhere.

A Tale of Two Stockings

It was the biggest of stockings, it was the smallest of stockings. It was Seattle Yarn.
All our people have lots of talent--yesterday Ruth and Lia demonstrated that we are not all alike--but we are all gifted. Lia just came back from a vacation in Tucson--she now knows how cold she is. Ruth had a dream about the Knitting Caper and decided that we need little wish stockings. Both created masterpieces.
Come in and enjoy the finished pieces.

The 24-Hour Sweater Vest

Ruth just finished this darling 24-hour vest. Made out of Tahki's "Montana" and size 15 needles. This would be a great football game project!

Day of the Dead Celebration

Please join us on Saturday, October 31st, as we once again celebrate the Day of the Dead.

This picture is from last year’s celebration, which was a wonderfully uplifting event as we celebrated and remembered our loved ones who have passed. Bring pictures and your stories to share. We’ll have refreshments and you are welcome to work on your projects throughout the day. The morning project class will be held as usual from 9:00 to 11:00, and we’ll start our party after they finish, or early if they join the celebration.

Also, our new schedule is up for November and December with news about Hats for the Homeless, crocheted baskets, Warm Up America and more--pick one up when you visit, or download it from our website here:

http://seattleyarn.com/classes/seattleyarn_novdec_2009.pdf

Hope to see you soon!
The Yarn Lady

Under the Big Top

Mark your calendars!

The once-a-year-only, sales-so-big-we-have-to-take-them-outside event will be here in just a few weeks!

Join us for Seattle Yarn's

ANNUAL TENT SALE
July 16, 17, 18, 19
Thursday-Sunday
starting at 10 am each day

Get Your Peanuts Ready!

The Stitch 'N Pitch is coming to Seattle August 27. We've got tickets to sell and are ready for a wonderful evening.
To add to the excitement, this year we are sponsoring a food contest. Here are the rules: Make some baseball food using fiber and submit your entry for a contest to be judged by your fellow baseball fans the night of Stitch 'n Pitch. We need your entries a week ahead of the game so that we can set up the voting boxes and display cases, etc. All entries must be the original design of the maker. First prize will be a $100 gift certificate from Seattle Yarn, Second prize is a $70 gift certificate and Third will be a $30 gift certificate.
Start your knitting needles, crochet hooks or felting needles and may the tastiest looking food win.

Washcloth Joy--Who Knew?

I'm not usually given to obsession, but this year I redid the wash cloth pattern for the Lystour about ten times. As I kept redoing it I kept asking myself, why? Now I think that it was the foreshadowing of a great adventure. My husband and I are going to spend a week at a spa in Poland next week. This happened rather suddenly because we wanted to see my Uncle Joe who lives in Karlsruhe, Germany. But he was going to the spa for two weeks, so we graciously decided to join him and his lovely wife. It is so delicious to think that we will have to have massages and hydrotherapy and curative baths for a whole week. Plus the food is supposed to be fabulous and there are great walking trails all around. The name of the town is Kudowa Zdroj right next to the Czech border town of Nachod.
The spa is part of their health care--imagine such health care in America. I'll sacrifice myself and my dear husband and let you know if this is the magic formula for the rest of America.

Meanwhile on the home front, Ruth looks like she needs a bit of care, but she's just excited about manning the store for three weeks with a lot of overtime. Lia and Sue will help, but Marguerite will be in Italy and France for about two weeks.
To keep their spirits up, we promise to send lots of updates on our progress through vacation land.

Power to the People

Hello there folks. I first heard about this from the mother of my granddaughters' class mate. She heard about it and passed it on. Then a yarn magazine came out with the information and Tuesday the Lystour discussed it. It has now entered my brain.
This is a great way to keep our local stores alive. Basically you pick three stores you want to have in your neighborhood and spend $50 between them each month. The economic effect is exponential. And you are in total control. Why not try it.
For more information visit: the350project.net

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

Mike and Bernice Koelzer in the only dry barn in the festival

Yamo kissing Bernice while I hold Pepper as Lulu eats my shirt through the fence

Yamo the llama and Pepper the cashmere goat down on the farm.

Yamo looks interested, but he loves all the ladies

What does a yarn lady do when she travels?  She looks for yarn, of course.

My sister lives on a cashmere goat farm in Virginia.  It's very different from my life in Seattle.  I come and learn about biocontainment and current offerings on television and what to do with an amorous llama. 

  She also took me to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival.  It's billed as the biggest in the nation.  I can also tell you that it was the wettest this year.  The rain fell, the red water flowed down the paths between the tents and it was too wet to take pictures outside.  There were signs all over the parking lot warning that children and dogs would be removed from cars which I would have photographed.  I got soaked looking for the Mongolian yurt with the Felting Turk in it.  The demonstration was great, but he said the felting was going slowly because it was so cold. There was also a small tent full of wet singing Jewish boys stuffed into it but I was too wet and the camera would have drowned.  You really should have been there.

Crafts Build Community

The response for the free classes has been great. Unfortunately we put the notice out too late for some of you to participate so we’re doing it again.
Plus we’ve added a craft night which will be lead by Marguerite. Knowing that Marguerite raises bees, a friend made this just for her. She's given Marguerite all the instructions and there will be extra pendants you can purchase on craft night. I think this would be a great place to put a little needlework, or beading, etc. So bring your beads, scrapbook things, even knitting or crochet and enjoy a nice evening of diversion while you share your knowledge with your friends. Thursday, May 21 from 6-8.
Check out the newsletter for all the dates.

Buiding Community with Scrabble and Classes

The economy is sitting on my mind. Every day we have more people coming in who tell us they are unemployed. So far they are a positive group, but I worry since this time of uncertainty cannot be easy on anyone.
So what's to be done? We're committed to building community so we've added three stash busting classes with a no fee structure. Our teachers are in store anyway, so we want you to come and enjoy our knowledge, make some new friends and cheer each other up when you complete your great projects.

Our first offering is Ruth's wonderful stash busting sweater. Bring about three bags full of yarn and your size 10 or 11 needles and she'll lead you in making this beauty that will fit you and keep you amused too.
Next comes the famous button bracelet. I've been working on perfecting such a bracelet for ten years and it has finally arrived. It's a simple knitted or crocheted cuff to which you attach buttons in my unique way. Bring your buttons, a needle, some soft yarn and come have a few hours of fun. This is also wonderful for kids because they are infamous button collectors.

Our final offering is the crocheted basket. Make it as big or as small as you want or need. It's great for a hostess gift filled with fruit. Bring a bag of yarn and a size J hook. This is a very basic crochet pattern so very few skills are needed.
If you are crochet adverse, we can also do this in knitting, but I do prefer the crochet version. The knitted version is better for purses and shopping bags. Your bag of yarn and circular or straight needles in size 15 are needed.
The final offering is our Sunday Scrabble. Come about noon and let's play. If we have more than one board full we can play teams or do the competitive thing and play for the ultimate victory. Bring your handwork or some great yarn (as in story) to share.
Hopefully our coming together will cheer us and help us through this tough season.

Andy Enters Our Life

At the beginning of the month we adopted a lovely nine year old Bichon/Poodle lady. Andrea Josephine (Andy) is delicate but very opinionated. She prefers interesting food, keeping warm next to us and walking when she feels like it. She does not like to be alone and trembles when she has to go too far from home. She also can pull you home at great speed when she's ready for a return trip.
In the photo she is wearing a warm sweater with buttons next to newspapers she and her daddy LeRoy just finished reading on their favorite couch.

Open Letter to $6.8 Million Winner

Dear Winner:
With great wealth come great problems.
I just heard that someone in West Seattle bought the winning lottery ticket for $6.8 million. In your time of great emotion and transition, please be assured that Seattle Yarn is here for you. If you knit or crochet or needlepoint, think of us as your store. If you don't, we think this would be a great time to learn. Needlearts are the perfect way to bring down your blood pressure, make something lovely and help you adjust to this new found fortune.
Needlearts are not just for those looking for low cost presents, we can out fit your feet with $72 socks, make a $300 baby sweater or help you create a $2,000 afghan. Come in and let us help you.
Please feel free to think of us as your store.
Yours in yarn,
The Yarn Lady

P.S. This is a picture of Marguerite--our Wednesday and Saturday teacher--who can help you make a bag for your booty.

A Bit of Fun Viewing for the Weekend

We are a crochet-friendly shop, and we're a knit-friendly shop, too.

These are two great videos that gave me a good laugh. Enjoy!

(Click on the pictures to watch.)