New Yarn, New year, New ideas

Hello friends,
I know it's been a while. We post a lot on social media and not here as much. I'd like to change that for those not on Facebook or Instagram.
 We hope you had a good 2018 and look forward to new exciting adventures in 2019!
Mindy and I thank our past and present customers for supporting our business. It has been so fun serving you all. We hope this year brings in some brand new knitters and some experienced knitters looking to learn new techniques. 
 Our hope is to keep you all knitting, crocheting and weaving by purchasing yarns and fibers you all will love. If there is a particular company or yarn that you would like to see in the shop, please let us know.
Mindy and I have been busy with the reps choosing warm weather yarns, yes, it will come someday. I promise.
We have started an email list and plan on using that as a way to connect with you all as well. If you have not received an email from us and wish to be on our list, call or email me at Woolworksltd@gmail.com. and we will add you.

Join us for the annual Black Friday and Small business Saturday Sales event!

      We will be having our after Thanksgiving sale this year too! Join us for some fun on Friday November 24 and Saturday November 25 for 20% off all regular priced items in the store.
      All books with orange label will be 60% off!
There will be yarns priced at super low prices, some hit or miss items, discontinued colors or just moving out older stock.
      Noro yarns are still 50% off and will continue until they are gone.
Kraemer yarns Perfection Chunky is 25% off now and will continue for the sale, also until gone.
There will be much more added as I go through and pull stock! Come see what deals are to be had!

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!

It's that time of year again! Our Super Sale is Here! We are open 10-5 Sunday February 2 for the sale. Come on in and Save 20-50%!

Semi-Annual Sale!

• Don't Miss the Semi-Annual Sale! June 22nd and 23rd from 10am-5pm.

Semi Annual Sale AKA the Super Bowl Sale

We had to change the dates for the sale this year so we will be having it this weekend! Sorry for the for the delay in posting, we put it everywhere else but here I guess. If you are on Facebook find us there under Woolworks ltd yarn shop and join our group Woolworks group.There we post often. Hopefully we will see you all this weekend! We will have the usual pick your discount at the register 20-50% off eveything!
  See you on the 26th  and 27th! We will also be open on Sunday this week only.

Good morning, my favorite knitters and crocheters!  As promised, here is a list of the classes Woolworks will be running in the month of February. In the spirit of the new year, we have geared most of our classes those of you who are new to the exciting world of fiber!  We can't tell you how pleased we are to see all the new faces coming into our shop.  We can't wait to help you through this wonderful journey of knitting and crocheting.

STYLISH SLOUCH HAT

Hats are a fantastic way to learn how to knit. They are a fun accessory that jazz up any outfit as well as keeping you warm.  This pattern will teach you how to knit, purl, and decrease, all important skills that will open up the doors to a long knitting career.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 13th and 20th
TIME: 12:30 pm - 2:00pm
FEE: 5 dollars a class
INSTRUCTOR: Tasha

THE SEAFARER'S CROCHETED RIB HAT

This extremely versatile, stretch hat is very popular with our crocheters who do a lot for charity.  Because they work up so quickly, this hat is a great way for the community to get together to make cherished pieces for babies, children and adults alike.  Woolworks has a strong affiliation with Day Kimball Hospital.  Together, we try to collect as many hats, mittens and scarves to help people in need during the cold winter months.  If you want to learn to crochet, this is the perfect class to sign up for.

WHEN: Thursday, February 21st and 28th
TIME: 12:30 pm - 2:00pm
FEE: 5 dollars per class
INSTRUCTOR: Tasha

MOSAIC HAT

Even though this hat looks complicated to new knitters, it's actually a very easy hat to make!  This is a great way for beginner knitters to move into colorwork without having to worry about twisting the yarn.  The great thing about Mosaic knitting is that you are only working with one color at a time, so you don't ever have to concern yourself with your yarn getting tangled up as you work.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 12th and 19th
TIME: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
FEE: 5 dollars a class
INSTRUCTOR: Jen

BROOMSTICK LACE BUTTON-UP COWL

I always loved the look of broomstick lace and I love buttons, so I started designing this little cowl just so I could teach the class!  Broomstick lace is an art form that  is over a century old.  Women used to sit by the fire after a long day of work and caring for their families and crochet gorgeous heirlooms.  The open look came from looping stitches on a broom handle and crocheting them off. Come and learn this whimsical form of crochet with me.

WHEN: Sunday, February 17th and 24th
TIME: 2:00pm - 4:00 pm
FEE: 5 dollars a class
INSTRUCTOR: Tasha

That's what's in store for you for the month of February! We hope to see you all soon!

In the meantime, happy knitting and crocheting to all of you!

STARTING THE NEW YEAR WITH A NEW GENERATION OF CROCHETERS!

Happy New Year to all of our Woolworks friends! The year 2012 has come and gone and 2013 is a year that we hope will be filled with joy, prosperity, and of course, lots and lots of YARN! I want to take this time to say thank you to all of our patrons.  We would not be here without you and we really do appreciate each and every one of you.

We are still in the process of finishing up our class schedules for the months of February and March.  Again, we are doing our best to incorporate both knitting and crochet classes because we believe that many incredibly beautiful things come from both art forms.  We hope that the classes we have to offer inspire you and give you something to look forward to.

Speaking of things to look forward to, we are absolutely thrilled with our current project with the students at Marianopolis Prepatory School. Thanks to Rebecca Patenaude  last year, I had the pleasure of giving a workshop about fiber.  The students were introduced to yarn and where yarn comes from.  Sitting in the midst of spinning wheels, roving, drop spindles and looms, I was definitely pleased to see that spark of interest come alive.  I knew that I would have to go back and see if we could turn that spark into a passion for creating things with yarn.

Well, today was the day, and what a day it was!  In a span of two hours, ten students went from not know how to make a stitch, to nimble little crocheters zipping along on hats.  What was the motivation?

The giving tree.

I made a deal with the students.  I would offer my time, donate needles, and Woolworks would provide yarn IF they promised  that they would dedicate time during the year to make hats and scarves to donate to the Day Kimball Giving Tree, a tree that provides hundreds of hats, mittens, socks and scarves to children in need.  To sweeten the deal, I offered an addition prize:  the two students who hand made and donated the most hats by the end of November gets taken out with their teacher for a fancy dinner.

Boy, did those hooks fly!!  I was impressed with how willing these students were to donate their time and skills to helping those in need, and I assure you, they were willing to learn way before the promise of the dinner.  I'm so proud of them and I can't wait to see what the new year brings for these bright, young people.

Happy Knitting and Crocheting to you all!  Hope to see all of you soon.

Columbus Day the shop will be open

Hi everybody, just in case you were wondering if we would be open today, we are. I will be here with my little mascot until 5. If no one comes in I will close early so call first. I know it's unexpected so people make other plans but it was a spur of the moment decision. I will have some sale items today only!

MONDAY NIGHT WITH KNITTING WITH BRENDA RETURNS!!

Sheeeeeeee's baaaaack! After spending the last several months getting healthy, losing weight and looking fabulous, Brenda is ready to get her beloved Monday Night Knitting Club back to knitting! She got a lot of requests for a felted project, so that's what she's got in store for you!

SERIAL KNITTER'S YARN TOTE

This awesome bag got the shop's approval the minute we all laid eyes on it!!  It's the perfect bag to carry your latest knitted or crocheted projects in AND look fantastically stylish while you do it!  The added appeal to making a bag like the Serial Knitter's Yarn Tote is that you're done in three classes!  Yup!  Knit, Knit, Felt.....FINITO!!  (See, I'm so excited, I threw a little Italian in there!)

Here is what you need to know:

GUIDELINES FOR SERIAL KNITTER'S YARN TOTE CLASS

1) Class starts on October 1st, which a Monday, of course!

2) Classes are from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.  

3)  You must go to www.ravelry.com to purchase the pattern.  The pattern is five dollars.  Please be fair to the designer and purchase each of your patterns.

4) PLEASE BRING YOUR PATTERN TO CLASS.

5)  The suggested yarn for this pattern is Cascade Ecological Wool or Eco+.  This project takes only one skein.  It might be a good idea to come in ahead of time and purchase your yarn. 

6)  Suggested needles:

                    US Size 11/32 inch circular needle

                    US Size 13/32 inch circlar needle

                    Cable needle

                    Eight (8) stitch markers

7) There is a five dollar fee per class.

That's all there is to it!  There is a sign up sheet on the front counter here at the shop.  If for some reason you can't make it into the shop to sign up, just give us a call, or leave a comment on our facebook page and we will reserve a spot for you!  Remember, seats are limited, so do not dawdle!!

CALLING ALL DESIGNERS!

All right, knitters and crocheters; the fall has cometh and we at Woolworks are presenting you with a challege and we really hope you choose to accept it!

We are calling it the Outstanding Hat Challenge and this is why:
    
We want you to design an outstanding hat that will knock our knitted socks off!  Adult hats, baby hats, fitted hats, floppy hats, fair isled hats, traditional hats, funky hats.......get the idea?  We want hats!!  Let your imagination soar and see what you come up with!  Here's an example of what Jen's nimble fingers created when she put her creativity to the test!

THE BABY CORN HAT

 

Cutest little hat, ever, isn't it?  Have we spiked your interest yet?  Good!  Here are the rules!

 

OFFICIAL RULES FOR THE OUTSTANDING HAT CHALLENGE

 

1) The yarn used for the challenge must be purchased at Woolworks.  You will receive a 10% discount on the yarn purchased for the challenge.

 

2) There are two (2) categories in which you can enter your hat(s): Adult and Children

You are allowed to enter in both categories and you are also encouraged to submit more than one entry.

 

3)  Designs MUST BE ORIGINAL! 

 

4) Pattern must be written out in standard pattern form.  Please include what yarn was used, how much was used, recommended needle size, gauge requirement, and please include detailed explanations for special stitches.  It is important that the pattern is easily understood so that the hat can be recreated.

 

5)  Hats will be judged by your peers- meaning the other lovely people who come into Woolworks because they too are addicted to yarny goodness!

 

6) There will be two (2) winners, one in each category.  Winners will be judged on technical ability, appearance, finish work, fiber choice, and the more original the concept is, the better!

 

7)  Winners will each recieve a $50.00 gift certificate to Woolworks.  Also, the winning design will be featured at Woolworks for the month of November and the pattern will be available for purchase by our customers.  All profits from the pattern for the month of November will go to the designer.  After that, the pattern becomes the property of Woolworks, to distribute as we choose.

 

8) The winners will have the opportunity to teach a class using their hat pattern.  They will recieve 15% of sales for their class.

 

9)  Hats are due in our shop by October 1st, 2012. 

 

10) All votes are due by October 15th, 2012 by 5:00pm.  The winners will be announced here on our blog by midnight.

 

 

OK!  That's it!  Designers.........on your mark............get set.............GO!







Our knitting family

So I've been thinking...I have noticed we have a wonderful group of people that frequent the shop. Anyone who has spent any time the can attest to that. Of late we have had many of our friends starting to be more active, take more control of their health and make better choices. It's so exciting to see everyone supporting each other in so many ways! For instance, our lovely Natasha has become one of the "models for heart health" when she joined the NDDH's Follow The Fifty. There are over 175 women in our area that have taken on the challenge to be more healthy and will be sharing their results in a big red dress gala at the end of the year. We are so proud of what Natasha has accomplished so far, taking on a not so gentle yoga,Zumba,personal trainer, couch to 5k routines and new changes in her diet.It is amazing to see all the wonderful positive and encouraging words and offers of walking and work out partners that she gets. I won't reveal her but there will be a before and after picture later. We also have our good friends Brenda and Don, they have together taken on better health and wellness. Don is a great support for Brenda, being her constant companion,cheerleader and chef. All this support and hard work on her part has paid off, we are so proud of her accomplishments, she looks fabulous! Congratulations on loosing 100 pounds, Brenda! We are so inspired by you! Then we have Kim, also a Follow the Fifty model. She has become mostly pain free from changing her diet. Fibromyalgia is very debilitating and affects every aspect of your life. It's hard to get out of bed never mind exercise. She has worked hard and feels great wearing a few sizes smaller and looking great in her new body! Nice work Kim! Our whole Thursday KnitNite group has transformed in some way. Michelle and Adrienne have been training. Michelle plans on doing the DKH triathalon! You look great Michelle! Lauren has been also doing some 5k's and hanging out with Brenda and Don. I don't want to forget anyone, sorry if I have. I want to thank Dr. Sherry Kroll for her unrelenting efforts to keep us motivated and moving. Not an easy task for a bunch of sit down in the comfy chair knitters. We no longer order cheeseburgers on Thursday nights. The Court House is going to miss us but the ARC will be getting some nice clothes! Keep up the good work ladies. You inspire me.

ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY!

The Woolworks Anniversary Sale is finally here!!  The event you have all been waiting for begins on Friday, June 8th and runs all week, ending on Friday, June 15th!!  Everything in the shop is on sale so now is definiely the time to buy, buy, buy!!

Do you have some summer projects in mind and need some yummy cottons to work with? Buy it now!

Have you noticed that your winter stash has diminished and you need to build it back up again?  Buy it now!

Did Hurricane Irene bing a new bundle of joy to your family or your circle of friends and you need to make some cute baby goodies?  Buy it now!!

OK, you get the picture!!  Get here bright and early while the gettin' is really good and make your yarn dreams come true.

If the sale isn't enough of a perk, we will be raffling off one of our very stylish Amy Butler bags, stuffed with fabulous fiber goodness and other little surprises!  Now if that doesn't intice you, we don't know what will!

REMINDER

Don't forget that we are now closed on Sundays for the summer.  This includes Sunday, June 10th.  Also, starting on July 2nd, we will also be closed on Mondays.  We finally decided that we could use some respite time to take in the sun and enjoy our families this summer!  Hope to see you soon!

Happy Knitting and Crocheting to you all!