Three Black Sheep, A Yarn Shoppe

We have ordered so many yarns for the spring that we MUST make more room on our shelves for them…hence another closeout sale!  Since dear readers I am certain you want to know whats going to be on sale…I will give you a little sneak peak!  Here we go…

Art Yarns Regal Silk and Hand Beaded Silk 20% off

Karabella Boise 20% off

Looped Back Silk 20% off

Blue Sky Alpaca 20% off

not to mention lots of felting yarn, discounted boxes of Tahki Cotton Classic,  Sox Appeal, Some Dale ofNorway yarns and well too much to mention! Prices have been slashed on some closouts up to 75%…this is the sale to be at!  When you may ask?  Well such a super sale can only be held on a super day…Super Bowl Sunday!!!  The sale day is February 3rd from 10 am to 4 pm…one day only!  We promise to have you out in time to see the NY Giants win…well I only follow football slightly so honestly I dont know if they will win but I have to give the hometown team some love!

Lately something has been brought to my attention regarding knitting styles which I find curious.  As we all know there are many style of knitting…English, Continental, Combination…knitting through the front…knitting through the back…  But is there truly a right way to knit?

I teach all my beginners different ways to knit and let them decide which way is most comfortable for them but not every one teaches this way.  More than once this week customers have told me that they were told by other shops that they knit “wrong” and one has said they were told by shop personnel not to go back to this shop until they learn to knit the “right way” …huh?  I dont get it.

OK I will confess…I can knit basically any way possible.  I change my way of knitting to accommodate my students…whatever is easiest is my motto.  If I can show how to preform a certain technique or stitch in the method the student uses…well I think that is optimal.  That being said I prefer to knit through the front loop in the continental method.  Now Diana who learned to knit in Europe knits continental but through the back loop.  Does our knitting look any different…no not really.  The finished product is the same.  I think her tension is a bit better than mine but thats pretty much it.

Honestly I think that however you knit as long as you get the results you want then thats the right way.  There just isnt a wrong way to do it!  I feel very fortunate that I can knit in so many ways that I can help basically anyone with any problem.   I also am happy to work in a shop that welcomes any knitter no matter how they knit.  Diversity…its a pretty cool thing!

I didnt realize how long its been since I updated!  Sorry for the lapse in time management!  So whats going on in the world of TBS?  Lots and I am here to tell you all about…be prepared for a LONG post today!

So our Mystery Afghan Knit Along is coming along smoothly!  Over 20 people have joined up, are knitting away at the first set of squares and are eagerly awaiting February’s pattern.  A woman from Upstate NY actually joined up too and is knitting via email!  Its really so exciting.  We also had an impromptu blocking lesson (and enlightened many to the joys of a blocking board and wires!) at the January meeting so you can really see the beauty of each square.   Using a blocking board and wires really makes a huge difference in the appearance of you knitwear…truly an worthy investment.  Anyway there is still room for anyone who missed the January pattern…catching up with the rest of the crowd will be a piece of cake!  Give us a call and join us…and by the way we are already planning out our next Mystery Afghan that will start in June.  Wanna hint?  Lets just say it will be a  perfect gift for a special baby in your life…

Onto other news…Diana is just about finished with the Florian sweater from the new Louisa Harding book, Venezia.  See?

Here is a lovely picture of the back…since this picture was taken she has completed the front and a sleeve…half a sleeve to go and it will be done.  She was working diligently on it last night at our SnB and Wine night (big thanks to the Liquor Cabinet in Nesconset as always for helping us out with the spirits!).  The interesting thing about this sweater is that it is knit out of Louisa Hardings Thalia which is a ribbon yarn.  I honestly was surprised (pleasantly of course!) that it knit up this way!  It doesnt look like a ribbon yarn at all when knit up…it knits up so smoothly.  Just lovely!

Also on the needles is the ever popular Central Park Hoodie originally published in KnitSimple and now can be found at Interweave Press!  The great thing about this pattern is that it is sized from a small (or extra small) up to a 3 plus so it is perfect for just about anyone!  Do you love it?   Of course you do!  Here is the back!

This is knit up out of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and it is soooo soft.  I love this yarn!  It handles beautifully with no pilling whatsoever…perfect yarn for this project.  Anyone interested in a knitalong for this beauty?  Come on…let us know what you think!

Some new yarns that have popped up on our shelves for all you sock knitters…Berroco Sox a wool/nylon blend which is self patterning…

Also gracing our shelves are more new sock yarns from Great Adirondack Yarns and Schaeffer.  You have to see the colors to believe them…so vibrant and perfect for socks. One hank will make a pair for all of these…the yardage is perfect.  And more Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino  has come in …pink and blue for a sweet, little snuggly baby.

After meeting with more yarn reps…our job is so hard… we are awaiting shipments of more Malabrigo (the colors are fabby!)but this time its the Malabrigo worsted, chunky and dk silk merino!!!  Woohoo!  Hopefully it will be here soon along with all the other luscious yarns we couldnt resist having!

Ok I think I have gone on and on enough…stop on in and say hi to us and check out the new temptations gracing our shelves…you wont be sorry!  Until next time and I promise it wont be long…KNIT ON!

The other day someone came into the store that reminded me of a dear friend who I have lost touch with.  Some back story here…I guess about 2-2 and 1/2 years ago I was involved in an online exchange…Secret Pal.  This exchange if you dont know is for knitters.  You basically get set up with a pal who sends you knitterly goodness for 3 months.  Well that round I was gifting Gary…a male knitter…gasp!  I was beside myself…I wanted to send him fun things but not girly stitch markers and fluffy yarns.  So I gifted to him the best I could.  Well Gary lived in Manhattan and as you know I live on LI so when I reveled myself to him…(remember my identity was a secret for 3 months..kinda spy like) and we saw how close we were to each other geographically we had to meet.

We set up a day where I went into NYC and we met at Penn Station.  Gary had planned a whole yarn crawl for us.  We went everywhere…we talked and laughed!  It was like we were old friends.  Then we went to eat Sushi…first time for me.  Thankfully Gary did the ordering.  Afterwards Gary took me to his LYS and his weekly SnB which is called Boys Night knitting.  Well I was the honorary boy that night.  I met so many wonderful and talented men who knit like fiends!!!  It was awesome.  I left that night feeling like I had been a part of something wonderful and I was!  Gary and I kept in touch until just after I had my last baby I guess about a year ago.  We would read each others blogs and promise we were going to do another yarn crawl…but life and such got in the way.  I lost touch with Gary when his blog one day disappeared.

So the other day a gentleman comes into the shop and he wants yarn to make a sweater…Gary and all the men from Boys Night Knitting popped right into my head!  I was so excited but mostly I was so happy to see this man…he knit up a gauge swatch right there in the shop and had a fine knowledge of fibers…a wonderful knitter.  He made me long for more men to stop by and knit a while with us not that we dont love our ladies…you know we do!!  They just have a different take on things…a different way of looking at things and it is refreshing.

So if you are a man who knits please stop by and say hi…maybe we can have our own Boys Night Knitting group one day!

WOW!  The response for the Mystery Afghan Along has been great!  Everyone is so excited about our little knitalong…this is really exciting!  Today Diana and I (well mostly Diana who, even though she has a foot injury, had to go out and get a new set of colored pencils just for this!) were making charts so our knitters will get to see the whole color play that will take place.  Of course we LOVE the colors we have chosen…6 in all!  They are warm and inviting just asking to be made into a snuggly afghan that will keep you warm on those cold winter nights.  Plus they will go with just about any decor!

I think the thing I like best about this whole project is the socialization factor!  I know for myself sometimes in winter I tend to hibernate and not go out of my house.  This knitalong is the perfect way to get people out during the colder months here in NY and knitting along together….LOVE IT!

Also each square takes only 1 ball or less of the Karabella Superwash Merino…6 balls in all for each set of squares or each month so to speak.  So its easy to just pick up those 6 skeins of that months color without having to have all the yarn at home all at once.

You know you want to join us and solve this mystery yourselves so what are you waiting for???  Sign up!  The actual knitalong is the first friday of every month starting in January and there is no charge…!!!

What else is going on at TBS?   Well this friday we will be having our very first holiday party!  Spreading a little holiday cheer with all of our customers is just the antidote to all the hustle and bustle the holiday season brings.  I am really looking forward to sitting down with some good food (courtesy of moi…yes people I am cookin!!), good wine and good friends and of course some knitting!  If you want to join us just give us a call so we can save you a seat!

On another note we have started meeting with our yarn pushers…uh I mean yarn reps to plan our spring lines…everyone is going to be so excited about what we have chosen for the shop…some additions to our Mirasol lines, new yarns from Rowan and much much more… Most of which wont be available for a few months (sob…snif) so we will have to wait to get our eager needles knitting on those new yarns…SIGH!

On the needles now for Diana are 2 hats for her girls out of the Malabrigo worsted and chunky.   Once she is done with J’s hat I will be embroidering a large colorful “J” on it and we will add some bells so she will make a memorable entrance wherever she goes!  And for me are the never ending pairs of Fetching and Dashing for teachers and bus drivers…I will get them done in time!!!!  Well maybe….

Well I am off to knit…Until next time KNIT ON PEOPLE!

So whats this about you may ask?  Well here’s the scoop!  We at TBS have devised a rather challenging and fun knitalong to coincide with the new year!  We are knitting a Mystery Afghan!  Whats the mystery you may ask?  Well its the pattern!  Each month we will meet at the shop on the first friday evening of the month.  Dont forget to sign up so we have enough patterns for everyone!!!  At that time you will receive written directions for one square of the afghan but you wont know what you are knitting!  Its a surprise so you will see the patterns emerging as you knit…We promise each square will only take one ball of yarn (we are recommending the Karabella Superwash Merino!) and the squares will start out simple but will become more challenging as the knitalong progresses.

This knitalong is perfect for those long winter evenings to come and at the end you will have a beautiful afghan to show off!   SO what are you waiting for?  Give us a call for more info and to sign up!  We will be posting everyones progress here on our blog as the squares are knit up so you can see what all the excitement is about!  Join us…and solve the Mystery for yourselves!!  KNIT ON!!!!

Its here! The class list and newsletter are up and running on the website! Go on over and take a gander at the offerings for this winter. Like I said something for everyone. I also pestered dear husband to put some pictures of the new knitting handbags on the home page. If you click on it you get a bigger picture. I have to admit…the man does good work.

By the way…those bags have been calling my name…so pretty. I am not a bag person and I am still falling in love. One of my friends who LOVES handbags (lets say she was shocked when I didnt know who Kate Spade was) has no idea how I can walk around with my sorry looking knitting bag as my pocketbook. My bag is well loved but it is showing signs of wear. So everyday I see these beautiful bags and I think well maybe I should get my grubby little hands on one…SIGH!

Onto knitting news…Diana has finished Neaty out of Rowan Cocoon…I sewed the buttons on today…just lovely. She is blocking it tonight so it should be in the shop by Monday…stop in and take a peek. I am loving this yarn. I have to make something out if it…but what?

Also we are putting a cutomer gallery page on the website…want your finished items showcased??? Send us a picture and description and we will post it up!

Until next time…knit on!

Diana and I have been working non stop (or at least it seems) on our winter class lists and new newsletter!  Well lets give some applause to Diana (clap clap woohoo!!!) who has mastered the newsletter computer program…it looks awesome!

The class schedule/newsletter has been emailed off to the web guy (aka my dear husband) and he has promised it will be up on the website today or the latest tonight.  Normally I would have bugged him last night until he posted it up but alas he is in Texas on a business trip…its hard to nag from afar I have found.

I am very excited about our new class schedule…there is really something for everyone!  I think what I love most about teaching classes is seeing the camaraderie form between the students.  Once one student has mastered the technique then they start showing others and its like the snowball effect!  I just love it! Not to mention it so much more fun to knit with others than alone…

So keep your eyes peeled for our next email which will announce our winter classes as well as links to our newest newsletter and other fun stuff going on!  Dont get our emails?  Well sign up then!  Click on the link on the side bar and it will bring you to our website…then sign up!  Have you signed up but still dont get our emails?  Dont forget to put our email address as one you will accept emails from so it doesnt get blocked by your spam filter.

The only words I have to describe our newest yarn Rowan Cocoon.  This bulky weight yarn is a dream…feels so soft (its a mohair/merino blend) and knits up beautifully.  The colors remind me of snuggling by the fireplace with someone special…so cozy.  Diana is knitting up a beautiful cardigan out of it that just has to be seen.  Everyday I just have to pick it up and pet it…you know us knitters are a tactile bunch!

Yesterday the UPS man graced our presence with a few packages of goodies for the holidays…new tape measures, scissors, needles…even a lamp!  Some really nice things for the fiber artist on your Holiday list.

Speaking if holidays…it sure felt like one when our Namaste knitting bags arrived!  They are gorgeous!  Perfect for any project and with plenty of room for your wallet and in my case some diapers!  Seriously though these bags are just devine…stop in for a look!  We have three styles in stock in an array of colors…

And lastly we are working diligently on our new class list…there is something for everyone this winter to keep you busy while the snow flies…that is if we are going to get any!  Keep an eye out for it!