Baby Wyatt

Baby Wyatt came to visit last week! We all took turns holding him and enjoying him. It was a cold day and he was all warm and snuggly in his little wool sweater and striped hat. He is so sweet and Hannah is such a good mama. We all miss her but she is doing the most important job in the world right now. We will look forward to seeing you again soon!

Prolific Knitter

We have some very prolific knitters at Great Yarns and Yarns etc...

It is so much fun to help someone pick projects and help decipher the patterns. The best part is when they come back and show us their finished projects.

Rebekah is a great knitter. She picks really beautiful projects in beautiful yarns. She is always willing to try a new stitch or shaping technique. I really enjoy helping her pick out her next project. Rebekah is also a pretty quick knitter -so she completes a lot of projects. I have taken pictures over the past year of most of her finished projects.

This is the February Ladies Sweater made in luxurious Manos Wool/Silk.

This cotton Cardigan has an interesting lace pattern that Rebekah had no problem mastering.

This is the first random color/texture afghan Rebekah has done. It is an easy project and really fun but it takes a long time to knit and uses a LOT of yarn. You change yarn every 2 rows so you are constantly getting to work with a new color or texture. You can go with a particular color sequence or be a little more random about your choices.

Here is a one color afghan with an all over stitch pattern. I bet no one gets chilly at Rebekah's house with all these beautiful afghans to keep them warm!

Another fabulous lace patterned cardigan. Perfect for this Spring!

A beautiful blue raglan cardigan.

Another cotton cardigan with interesting stitch details in the front bands.

I love this short sleeve v-neck cardigan. The one button closure is a flattering style and if you look at the button closely you can see it is a turtle. So Cute!

This all over lace patterned cardigan is also made from Manos wool/Silk. It is a great weight for our climate.

Thank you Rebekah, for letting me show off some of your beautiful work and for being such a great knitter that I get to help find the next great project for you!

This is a close-up of the lace pattern from the purple sweater from above.

Knitting for the Troops

Here is a great volunteer knitting opportunity! Knitting helmetliners for our troops overseas.
When I first heard of this project I wasn't so sure that this was an item that a soldier really needed or wanted. Well, I was very pleased to find out that helmetliners are really needed and appreciated! It is cold in the desert at night and sand is blowing - the helmetliner keeps them warm and keeps some dust out. It also provides a soft layer of protection between the head and the helmet. My nephew Taylor is an officer in the 82nd Airborne and you can bet he will have at least one helmetliner in his duffel when he goes to Iraq or Afghanistan.

If you are interested in learning more about making Helmetliners, scarves or neck gators you can go here

All the information including patterns, yarn requirements and colors can be found on the web site. Cascade 220 is one of he suitable yarns and we have many great "desert "colors in stock.

You can leave your finished helmetliners at Yarns Etc... or Great Yarns and I will send them to the organization that distributes them to our soldiers.

NEW CLASSES!

It's a new year, which means new classes!

Learn to Knit
* Monday Jan 11: 10-12am
* Monday Jan 11: 7-9pm
* Saturday Jan 16: 9-11
$20

Magic Loop Socks
* Monday Jan 11, Jan 18, Jan 24: 5.30-7pm
$50

Fingerless Mitts
* Thursday Jan 21: 9-11
$20

Simple Hat
* Monday Jan 18: 7-9pm
$20

Tuesday Night Knitting
* Tuesday Jan 12, Jan 19, Feb 2, Feb 9, Feb 16, Feb 23: 7-9pm
$60

Knitting 201
* Monday Jan 25: 10am-12pm OR 7-9pm
$20

Finishing Help & Techniques
Thursday Jan 21: 7-9pm
$20

15 Years in Business

Happy Birthday to Yarns etc...

15 years ago on January 2nd 1995 Yarns etc... opened its doors in downtown Greensboro. My father and husband and I worked at night after our day jobs to get space  ready to open in the new year. We stripped 3 layers of flooring, laid new carpet, painted, built shelves and more. My son, Evan, was barely crawling and my mother looked after him while we worked. When she wasn't available we put him in a big box with some toys while we worked.

We had a lot of fun watching downtown Greensboro grow and change. It was a fun time and we made lots of great fiber friends. 

Evan is now 15 and is 6'3". He is learning to drive and still coming to the yarn store to see all the ladies.

We have all had a lot of fun during this yarn odyssey. Every day has been an adventure! I have learned so much from all of you and enjoyed myself more than I ever imagined. I never dreamed when I started 15 years ago that this is where I would be today. I am so grateful and feel truly blessed that I get to do what I love and I get to do it with all you fine people.

I can't wait to see what will happen in the next 15 years!!!!

( If you read this in time- we are having a one day sale in both stores on Saturday January 2nd.

15% off everything to celebrate 15 years in business)

Knit Christmas Bell

Knit Christmas Bell
Any size yarn and appropriate needle size. Smaller yarn and needles will give you a smaller bell- larger needle and yarn gives you a larger bell. This is a great project to use up leftover yarns.
Cast on 13 sts. Work the following 2 rows for 44 rows (there will be 22 garter ridges)
1-knit
2-purl 3, knit the rest of the sts.
Bind off. Fold piece in half with knit edge on bottom-flaring out like a bell. Sew up side and gather top.
Make a crochet chain stitch hanger. Attach a jingle bell to the inside.



This is the pattern for the knit Christmas Bell that was sent out in our last e news-
Thanks!

Best Christmas Present Ever!

This is one of my favorite Christmas presents ever! It is a shadowbox with 4 pairs of antique knitting needles in it. It is special in so many ways. We just recently rearranged some pictures in our family room and I wanted to share how special this is.

I am really hard to shop for. I am also really hard to surprise. I make a lot of things myself so people rarely give me anything that they have made. My husband, Chris, is pretty handy around the house and can build things and figure out how to make things work. He  is not terribly creative but he does appreciate creativity in others. About 12 years ago,when SAFF was still in Winston Salem, I said I was going on a Sunday. He said lets take all the kids and go. I tried to talk him out of it because I was really looking forward to looking at everything on my own- not with 4 kids in tow. We went and had a lovely day. I couldn't figure out why he wanted to go so badly but he was working on an idea for this present for me. He found a vendor or 2 selling antique needles and bought them without me knowing!! I am usually paying attention to what he is doing but I must have been distracted by some pretty yarn or something. He then enlisted our friends at a frame shop in Greensboro to help him frame them. They suggested a shadowbox and helped him wire the needles in place and hot glue something and mat it with a nice green mat. He then kept it hidden from me until Christmas morning. 

I couldn't believe it when I opened it. I had no idea that he made it and how much effort it took for him to find the needles then put it altogether without me knowing. And, it really looks great!

 It really is one of my favorite gifts of all time.