WHAT WOULD JANE KNIT IF SHE JOINED OUR KNIT ALONG?

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

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

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!

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

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.....

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!

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!!

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!