Sigh…as usual life got int the way of me updating but I am here now!  I was in the shoppe today and my friendly UPS man stopped by with 2 HUGE boxes of what else???  YARN!  Some lovely yarn for the Fall…Beautiful Noro Silk Garden and Iro!  YUM!  Also a good amount of our Fall books arrived as well.  I must say it can be so difficult to work in a LYS…I WANT EVERYTHING!!!!!

The big news is we received some lovely Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere on closeout!  Only $12.95 a skein!  I really had to hold back from buying the whole lot of it.  The Pure Cashmere Book is just lovely as well and it has so many smaller projects in it..scarves and hats which would be just lovely in cashmere.

Another bit of news is that we are offering preorders on the new Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn.  It is not in the stores yet…I have a skein from our wonderful rep though and I must say it is LOVELY!!!  SIGH…silk garden for my feet.  Can you imagine?  But since Noro himself (yes there is a man named Noro) and a select few dye the beautiful colorways of their yarn, there can sometimes be a wait for it.  But its on its way to us for this fall so if you want it jump on the train now before it pulls outta Dodge!

Other than that things are pretty much status quo around here…our Mystery Afghan is wrapping up and if you are curious what the final afghan looks like just pop on over to our website and see the little photoshoot I had with the afghan.  Missed out on the knitalong and want to knit it?  No problem!  This original pattern will now be for sale in our shop…a TBS original!

So thats it for now but until next time when I have more to say about our fabby fall yarns…KNIT ON!

Well it was actually last month but we are celebrating this month….Happy 1st Anniversary Three Black Sheep!  It was 1 year ago that the shop was sold and moved to St James.  This past year has been a whirlwind of activity…meeting new people…trying new yarns!  Some things are different and some are the same but the overall goal of the shoppe is still the same…to be a source of fine fiber and education for the fiber arts community here on LI.  And I think we are succeeding!

Well to celebrate this momentous occasion we are having a SALE!  Take 20% off all in stock yarn, books, and patterns this Friday and Saturday…we will even be open a little late to accommodate everyones schedules.

So stop on by and see whats going on in the shoppe….from our fabulous lace afghan knitalong this summer to our NEW lace shell sample that is gracing our mannequin since yesterday, I am sure you will find something inspiring!  Or just stop by and say hi!

I missed the last CPH knitalong meeting…SIGH!  Well my DH was in CA all week so he asked me to stay home so we could spend some “family time” together.  Unfortunately for me that didnt happen since we had to take the 15 year old to a Sweet 16 and all that comes with that…so we spent the night staring at each other  trying to figure out if we should watch a movie or what.  Anyway Diana graciously stepped in for me and said everyone had a fabby time…and our knitalongers (is that a word?) are speeding through this hoodie!  Several have both fronts and the back done and are working on the sleeves!  I am a lamo since I am still working on the back but we wont speak about that.

SO if you are still looking for a project that is speedy and enjoyable…come on down and knit with us…any worsted weight yarn will do…Cascade 220, Malabrigo, Debbie Bliss, the list is endless!  We are happy to help you pick out your yarn and determine your size…you can try on our sample!

Also we are soon to be in possession of some yummy Misti Alpaca Sock Yarn in different colorways!  The first time we ordered we could only choose bags of 1 colorway but the powers that be now said we can have several!  WOOOHOOOO!  So they should be here this week!

We received some yummy colors of Reynolds Smile in on friday too!  I LOVE this yarn!  It is perfect for a quick bulky knit afghan…I am loving the lime colors!

And I just sent out another sale email for our email customers only so if you are not on our email list….what are you waiting for?  There are great bargins to be had but only for those who get our emails!

Goodness! I didnt realize how much time had passed since I updated! I guess its that little thing called life that gets in the way!

Anyway, we are chugging along at the shoppe! Lots of knitting goin on! Our Sweater Design Workshop yesterday was a HUGE success! Diana gave a comprehensive and informative talk on all things yarn and design and everyone learned a bunch! Hopefully we have armed knitters with the knowledge of how to choose the right pattern and yarn to insure a successful project!

Our Central Park Hoodie Knitalong is coming along as well! I will say though I am woefully behind in mine! 2 people have stopped in and are already on the sleeves after completing both fronts and the back…while I am still on the back….SIGH! But I am going to get this done with the encouragement of our knitalong knitters!

We are preparing for our new knitalong…A Lace Afghan sampler! I am knitting it up and it is just beautiful!! Join us wont you during the lovely summer evenings as we knit this afghan together! You will have a gorgeous afghan at the end and will have mastered lace knitting all the while.

Next up is our new workshop…FreeForm Knitting with Sharon Barnes. Looking for something new, exciting and creative to do with you knitting and crochet? Well this is it! Seriously…its like creating your own piece of artwork. And I can personally vouch for Sharon’s talents! She is a giffted teacher as well as a fabby knitter and crocheter…a welcome addition to our teaching staff at TBS. Come in and see her freeform slippers on display…just a small example of what you can do with this creative technique!

And dont forget April is sock month here at TBS!  All in stock sock yarn is 20% off for the month of April!  We just got in some lucious Misti Alpaca sock yarn…so soft and just begging to be knit up into a pair of socks for someone special!

And a tip for my blog reading friends…if you havent already then sign up for our emails!  I just sent out an email today with a fabulous sale only for our email customers…you wont regret it!  There is going to be a new sale starting next monday so what are you waiting for???  Join up now at our website www.threeblacksheep.com.

Oh and 1 last thing…our close out table is overflowing!!!!  Deep discounts have been taken on everything and we just added Karabella Aurora 8 and Puffy to the table!  You are bound to find something there!  Well until next time…knit on!

Yes dear readers we are in the midst of a snow shower here on LI.  It really looks pretty coming down but I dread shoveling it all later…oh well!

On that note we will not be opening the shop today so we can take the flock out to frolic in the white winter goodness before the rains come tonight.  There has been hardly any snow here this winter so we have to get it while we can!

Weather pending we will reopen on saturday!  Check here for updates as I will post if we are closed or closing early!  Meanwhile KNIT ON!

Tonight was our monthly knit night.  I had a fun time sitting and chatting with some of our wonderful customers.  I wish I got more knitting done but I have to get over having gauge problems with the Tahki Cotton Classic I am working with.  Believe it or not I have had to switch to metal needles over bamboo for this yarn.  I would have thought the bamboo would have done the trick but alas my tension is all over the place these days.

Regardless I found out some pretty upsetting news is on the medical front for one of my favorite customers.  I was really disturbed and upset by it.  It made me think about how we all worry about each other at the shoppe.  The customers who have become like family worry about the people who work at the shop…are we taking care of ourselves, maybe letting the stress of retail get to us sometimes?  They always ask about our families, our children…all the little things that could easily be overlooked because really we are just the people who work at the LYS…but maybe something more?  Maybe a real human connection is going on here?

I often think about the customers who always greet me with a hug and kiss, who ask for my children and notice if I have lost a few pounds.  They tell me of the little things that are going on in their lives like I am a close friend…a condfidant…someone special.  And it makes me feel special…the amount of trust that one extends to another.  They are genuinely concerned for us all and it shows every time we see them.

I think thats a big part of being in a LYS…its not about the yarn sometimes…its about the people.  The human connection.  Knowing you are needed and wanted…someone needs you and respects you and wants you to be there…to listen or to hold a hand.  And its about the support we give each other…whether its the phone call during the day to reassure someone they made the right choice or its the sometimes untidy way we say, “Hey I am worried about you…please dont be so stressed.  It will all work out and be terrific”.

I am rambling now but I think in the end it is about the human connection…being there for one another…whether it be customer or coworker, friend or student.  Being able to support each other at this gathering place called the yarn store.

Well the tables are set up and the yarns have been bagged! Everything is ready for the big sale tomorrow! So dont forget to stop by and take a gander…there really will be something for everyone…Lots of Tahki Cotton Classic and New Tweed, Karabella Boise and Marble, Cascade Pastaza and more…way too much to list here.

And after the big sale we are revamping the shop for a easier and better fiber experience for all! We are rearranging and redecorating…moving stuff around and showcasing our new spring yarns in a brand new way!

On another note it was part 2 of our Mystery Afghan last night and boy did we have fun. Plans are already underway for our next Mystery Afghan hopefully to start in June. There is still time to join up if you havent already!

Hopefully we will see lots of happy faces tomorrow rooting for our hometown boys….NY Giants! Go Eli!!!!

I know I have dropped the ball on the whole sale notification thing…but I have a good reason…MALABRIGO!!!!  New colors are here and boy are they lucious!  Not to mention Mountain Colors yarn in Mountain Goat and Twizzle has graced our doors and I am just overwhelmed sensorywise!  Can I tell you about Bearfoot from Mountain Colors???  OH MY GOD!!!  I love this yarn!  I am salivating at the thought of casting on a pair of socks with this yarn!!!   I am seriously rethinking my present vocation…ok not really but still.

Also Rowan Handknit Cotton is here and the newest Rowan Magazine #43 too.  Plus new colors in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran…too much to list!  So we really need a sale to kickstart our decent into fiber madness!

Dont forget its this Sunday from 10-4 …we promise to have you home in time for the big game…GO GIANTS!!!!

Karabella Aurora 4!!!  Perfect for all your baby knits!  100% Extrafine Merino Wool.  A light-weight extrafine merino wool. Very soft and springy, with excellent stitch definition.  6.5 st/in with 197 yard per skein!

This yarn is 20% off until Sunday…come on in and pick up a few skeins!

BTW on another note…be on the look out for a new look to the shop after our sale…we are moving stuff around and redecorating to make it a better experience for all!

20% off Karabella Boise and 50% off all accompanying patterns!!! This yarn is so soft! It is 50% Cashmere, 50% Merino Wool. Very delicate blend of cashmere and extrafine merino. Extremely soft, has great stitch definition and long yardage…163 yards!! Its 5.5 st per inch and it would be perfect for a lovely scarf or mittens.

So lets see now we have Boise in addition to the Art Yarns Beaded Silk and Regal Silk…also patterns for this yarn are 50% off! Check in tomorrow to see what is coming up for tuesday’s sale! Remember each day we will add another closeout yarn to the table as we count down to our huge Super Bowl sale on February 3rd!  Go Giants!!!