Ravelry - and other stuff!

And a happy new year .... that was sung in a trilling alto, if you didn't know!
The new year has begun - and we're going gangbusters. I'm going to take this weekend to set up some classes - if you have a request - let me know!

I wanted to tell you all about Ravelry - it's a fab spot to connect with other knitters and crocheters. You can keep track of your stash (i personally don't have that kind of time... stash is too big!), your projects, find new projects, new FREE patterns and just generally chat with a group of knitters that shares your interests. For example, two groups i belong to are "knitters with Pugs" and "LYSO" (which are Local Yarn Store Owners). I have received tons of info about how to run a shop, or not. And how to diagnose that really strange noise Purl makes in the middle of the night that scares the crap out of me! I'm also a member in "Knitters who Ski", "Durham Knitters", "Canadian Knitters", GTA Knitters - you get the idea. I'm sure there are groups for people who love horses and want to knit them sweaters (really, i have a Lopi pattern for one - too funny!)

Here's the really great part - i have a group on Ravelry called - wait for it - On The Lamb! It's a place where customers and friends of the shop can meet and chat and share patterns and all that stuff. Each month, i'm going to put a secret word within my chat room on the group. If you know the word - you get 10% off. How fun is that?

And just to give you a giggle - here are the men in my life - i bought them the 'team' shirts for Christmas! Aren't they handsome? That's the "heir-t0-the-throne" on the left (Christopher), Taryn's beau Peter, Christopher's beau Ryan and hubby Warren. I know! I can hardly stand it!

Wishing you and yours the very best of life, health and happiness in the New Year!

I'm In!

Okay - i'm going to bite the bullet! I'm going to enter into the fray! I'm going to see what all the commotion is about!
What, you ask?
I'm going to dye my own wool! I know - it's crazy! Don't these dye people know that you can buy coloured yarn? In some very lovely colours i might add.
I've ordered the blanks. I've ordered the dye. I've picked up the Koolaid (not just for tweens hair anymore!)
I'll let you know how it goes. You never know - this may turn into a class!
And i'll take pictures so you can see what kind of a mess i can make.
Any takers that want to jump into the dye bath with me????

How far will you Crawl for Yarn?

Hey! i heard a Robin. No, really. I did. I thought i would never hear birds chirping again after this past winter, but i did! So i threw off my scarf and winter sweater and ran with abandon ... no, i didn't really.

A new thing: we're trying something new with other yarn shops in the area. Gonna have a Yarn Crawl. 5 shops are joining forces to offer you 15% discount during one day of shopping. What day? May 10th. Saturday. 10 - 5p.m. All you need is a passport - available at the first yarn shop you hit for a cost of $2. If you show your passport at Tin Mill Restaurant in Uxbridge, home of, yeah, you guessed it, On the Lamb - you will receive a 5% discount on your lunch on the Saturday of the Yarn Crawl (kind of a creepy name, isn't it - Yarn Crawl - hey, maybe it represents how far we will go to get our yarn!!!!!)

And of course, At On The Lamb - we will have much, much more for you! Additional discounts, Surprise Grab bags ($5.00 - whoooo!) and who knows what else?

Okay - here are the shops that are involved.
On The Lamb - 905-852-1944, 53 Toronto St. N, lower level
Tin Mill Restaurant - 905-862-0553, 53 Toronto St. N
Needles and Knits - 15040 Yonge St, Aurora
Unwind - 234 Main St., Newmarket
('Scrumptious Sandwiches' is in the back with special tasty treats for all you 'Crawlers')
Serenity - 525 Brooker Ridge, Newmarket
Pick up Sticks - 67 Holland St. W., Bradford

Please try them all, but always, always return to On The Lamb! Hope to see you there!

Lots of interesting people drop into the shop - today, Judy Findlay (that's her in the blue) almost-master-spinner-extraordinaire, came in to show the KnitWits (our wonderful weekly knitting family) the yarn she has been creating and spinning to pass her Master Spinning course. The colours were breathtaking and she's spinning a blend of merino and bamboo - very trendy, very green. Just take a look.

What was shipped to me last week? Regia sock yarn - designed by Kaffe Fasset! Wonderful little beauties! Only $8.99 per 50g, 2 balls required to knit a pair. Okay, a question. How many socks do you have to have on the go to be labelled compulsive? It's not 3 pairs is it? We also have Cilantro from Nashua - wonderful alternative to cotton for summer garments and lots of patterns to tempt you! Lovely fresh colours of Cotton 8 have arrived, blends of cotton and cashmere, cotton and merino, cotton and bamboo, cotton and just about anything! And of course, Eco Cotton. Come and see!

Okay - enough wool and cotton talk. Go stand outside and breathe in the fresh air. It's spring. I promise. (But take your knitting; you can put a ball of wool in your pocket and knit while you walk!)