Sale! Sale! Sale!

Today is the second and last day of the Woolworks Anniversary Sale!  Everything is on Sale from 20-50% off. We had so much fun yesterday and hope you're planning on joining us today. There's still LOTS of wonderful things to choose from and great projects to be excited about! Come on down! We'll be here 10-5.

IT'S SOME KIND OF "ONE"DERFUL

Last time we spoke, and by spoke, I mean the last time I posted, I was doing my very best to convince you that summer knitting should be on your list of things to do. And not just on your list. Like at the top of your list...well, close to the top. See? I can be reasonable. 

Well, to help get you in the swing of things, we have designed a challenge. A challenge that needs only one skein of yarn. A challenge that will get your needles flying during those hot summer days. A challenge to eclipse all other challenges. Ok, now I'm being a bit dramatic. No, really. There was a triumphant soundtrack playing through my head as I wrote those words. My brain. It's a crazy place. 

Anyhoo...back to the challenge. We're calling it the One Skein "One"derful Summer Challenge.  We want to see what you're inspired to make using only one skein of yarn. Any fiber, any pattern. You can knit it, crochet it, hook it, embroider with it. It's all good! Sounds fun, right? Keep reading. We've got rules and regulations and stuff. Oooh, and prizes. We've got those too. 

ONE SKEIN "ONE"DERFUL SUMMER CHALLENGE GUIDELINES:

Begins Tuesday, June 2nd. Ends Tuesday, June 30th.

!) Skein must be purchased at Woolworks Ltd. We will give you a ten percent discount on the yarn purchased for the challenge. The yarn can be any way weight and fiber.

2) You must register the yarn you plan on using with us upon purchase. 

3) You can use any pattern. The finished product does not have to be your original design.

Prizes:

1st Place: $35 gift certificate and a feature on our blog.

2nd Place: $25 gift certificate and a feature on our blog.

3rd Place: $15 gift certificate and.....wait for it....a feature on our blog. 

The entries will be judged on:

1) Technique

2)  Aesthetics

3) Yarn choice (does the choice of yarn suit the project, etc.)

4) Gauge/Accuracy

5) Finishing

 

Simple enough, right? We're excited to see the beautiful things you come up with. So, that's it! Up and at em! Get to the shop! Pick out your gorgeous skein! Sign up for this "one"derful challenge!

Hey! You're still here? Stop reading and start knitting! See you soon, my fiber friends!

KNITTING THROUGH THE SUMMER

Putnam is having a heatwave and we're definitely feeling it here at Woolworks. We hear many of our customers say, "I don't knit in the summer. It's too hot!". And yes, it gets really hot and humid. Yes, we know that the most commonly used adjectives for our summers are "ugh", "blech" and "ewwww". We get it. But I assure you, summer doesn't have to put a damper on your knitting adventures. Summer is the perfect time to knit small items. Do you have a lot of people begging for socks, mittens or scarves for the winter months, or for the holidays? Don't wait until the last minute! Start them now! 

We're not going to try to convince you to make a queen sized afghan made from chunky baby alpaca yarn in the month of July. In fact, we'll probably give you the look that usually implies you have two heads, (one which has a unicorn horn protruding from its forehead) if you even consider doing such a thing.  

However, we will encourage you to tackle a new scarf pattern with a lovely cotton; or learn how to make socks with one of the many gorgeous fibers we have available here at the shop. Not into socks? Knit a hat! 

Look! I just finished knitting this lacy, bobbly little number...and yes, it was eighty five degrees outside when I knit it. The pattern is called Cloudy Day and I used Covet. It's 100% superbaby alpaca and what a dream it is to work with!! For the first time in my life, I was sad to see a project end. It was like a bit of heaven at my fingertips.

I was lucky to have some great models today. We had the pleasure of meeting Mindy's daughter, Carly...or is it Carlee...or Carleigh? Let's just go with Gorgeous Lady.

And Nancy, after knitting a beautiful pair of socks, rocked the same  hat, proving that whether you have flowing locks or a sassy short cut, this slouchy accessory is very versatile.

 

Even from the back, she's a hot mama!

 

So, the moral of the story is: YOU CAN KNIT IN THE SUMMER!! And you should. To try to entice you further, we have a little something up our sleeves. The word "prizes" may have come up in conversation once or twice. Just maybe. But I'm not one to gossip. If you'd like to know more, just stay tuned. A little, wooly lamb told me that there's a fun announcement coming your way this Friday. Until then, have a great day, my fiber friends!

ZICKZACK, PATTYWACK, GET YOURSELF SOME YARN!

We tell our customers that it's nice to always have a go-to project on hand. You know, for those times when you find yourself stuck at the dentist...or your car's getting its oil changed and you've got no place to go...or you're too frazzled to work on your current project, which has eighteen different cables, five sections of lacework, worked on a size two needle. Yeah. It's times like that you need a nice and easy side project.

 

Enter the ZickZack Scarf. This pretty chevron scarf, designed by Christy Kamm, can be found on Ravelry. Did we mention it's a free pattern? The delightful thing about this scarf is that you use two different colorways of sock yarn and alternate working two rows in each.You find yourself eagerly awaiting the next color combination, which keeps you from getting bored. 

The best part of this project is that it's super easy, so no matter how many times you put it down or for how long, it's simple enough to pick up where you left off with no hassle.

Jen started her ZickZack at the end of February when we went to Spa in Freeport, Maine. It was the perfect project to work on while we gathered by the fire and spoke of foreign policy, Shakespearean literature, and carbon footprints - which of course means we gathered by the fire and had yummy cocktails and lots of cheese.  But what happens at Spa, stays at Spa, so shhhhh. 

Picking it up when she could, she worked the beautiful colors together and now has a stunning scarf to add to her wardrobe. Look at that pretty thing! The scarf's pretty too, isn't it? Maybe you'd like one for yourself? We've got lots and lots of yarn.....hint, hint. Have a great day, my friends!

GREAT THINGS HAPPENING AT WOOLWORKS!

There's a lot of hustle and bustle here at Woolworks as we settle into spring. The shelves are stocked with beautiful new yarn and we've given the store a facelift to provide you with an even nicer place to knit and relax. We are excited with our new look! I'd tell you more, but honestly seeing is believing, so come on in and visit and stay a while. 

If that isn't enough excitement, Mindy is starting her new class on Tuesday nights! For the next several weeks she will be teaching how to make a beautiful lace sweater (I will upload a picture soon, but there's a close up picture at the end of this post). Made with any of our gorgeous DK weight cotton yarns, this is a great way to look stylish through the spring. 

We have a fantastic variety of colors and our cotton is very affordable. Don't believe me? Come check out "Anne"- mercerized cotton, 371 yards per hank, and wait for it....only five ninety-nine a hank. No, that's not a typo! FIVE NINETY-NINE! You can't beat that! 

If you're looking for a little shimmer and sparkle, make sure to take a peek at "Sunseeker". It'll definitely add a pop to your wardrobe. 

So, don't dilly dally. Come see all the great things happening at the shop, sign up for this fantastic sweater class, and sit with us and let those needles and hooks fly!  See you soon!

I have to show you all this!

This yarn is scrumptious.  It has an  amazing hand and it is a trully local yarn from fiber to processing. The blend is German long hair Angora with merino. It had a soft handspun quality to it with little bits of thick and thin. The bloom is lovely but it really doesn't shed like a short staple angora fiber. It's from Handall House Farm in Dayville, Ct. and processed in Eastford, Ct. at the Still River Mill. Carolee is going to add more colors to her line. I'm sure if we ask her she might do some custom colors. It's really yummy yarn!  The pattern pictured is called Maluka and can be found on Ravelry.

Soooo....where's spring?

It's here in the shop! New spring yarns are arriving daily and it's awesome!