4/25/08  "LINEN ISLE"  SALE  [great% off, we got a deal, you get a deal]
50% COTTON 30% RAYON, 20% LINEN, light worsted 5sts us#6 86 yards.
Wonderfully wearable, machine washable, great soft hand, linen provides a
heathery look.  Happy to make this available, it's one of my favorite summer
tops.  MAIN FLOOR.


3/26/08 - Spring will be soft, subtle, attractive for everyone and not just your usual
O-I-hate-to-knit-with-cotton yarns!

Winter market was all over organic, eco-fibers and more unbelievable sock yarns.
SO.  We have had organic cotton yarn for over 15 years from Henry's Attic.  It's
grown in 4 natural colors and is a thick and thin lightly twisted very soft yarn.
Now there are many lovely organic and eco offerings with different looks twists.
What about organic & eco?  
   to label a yarn organic, it has to be certified [fiber and dye, if any]
   for a yarn to be eco, the fiber is either undyed or raised and processed conscientiously
       (low environmental impact, no chemical feed/fertilizer)
It is easier to produce plant fiber organic yarns because the plants can't wander off 
and get into non-organic trouble, but there are companies now taking the time and trouble 
to certify their herds.  Our M&K Eco wool is described as "very nearly organic", but the
extra steps to certify the wool were not taken.  Eco wool is undyed, natural colors.
Further, we have
   organic dyed wool, O-Wool
   organic dyed wool/cotton, O-Balance
   organic wool with low impact dye, Lorna's Greenline
   organic cotton, Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton
   organic cotton, Oceanside Organic (also in the 4 natural colors)
   eco wool, organic dye,  Zealana
   organic cotton, Jeans (denim, indigo and ecru)
2nd Time Cotton from Knit One Crochet Too is new recycled cotton from the apparel industry.

One more thing:  SUSTAINABLE.  Sustainable is a very good thing, but it just means that the 
fiber grows back quickly, and is probably not organic nor necessarily eco.  For instance,
there are at least two ways to process bamboo.  Really toxic substance route (traditional)
and a heat treated route (the heat route is catching on).
We'd like to think that all ou our manufacturers are conscientious, and chances are there
are more of them now than there were before.

   
Happy to report that market was beautiful, inspirational as always.
We have Rowan Cashsoft, Felted Tweed, Cashcotton, most of the Kid Silk Haze 
and the accompanying excellent books [baby and the fall books, sorry not spring].
Filatura and Tahki spring books are here.  Silk/linen and new cottons.  
Berroco's Naturlin and SOX.
With Fiesta Yarns' acquisition of Ironstone, many of Ironstone's yarns will no
longer be available.  Consequently we will move the discontinued ones up to the 
loft at, shall we say, substantially reduced prices.


12/30/07
Norah Gaughn volume two is in
Brand new Berroco SOX 100gm balls
Opal 6 fach is on the shelf  150gm balls
Brand new Plymouth Happy Feet
... can't think ... there is so much sock yarn to choose from!
JoJoland Melody superwash (fingering) and Rhythm DK were the 
   runaway hits of the season wonderful colors, beautiful hand


more news after we (I) finish inventory
CB


no news ... your gauge depends entirely upon you.  don't be held hostage by yarn
labels.  labels are printed after someone else  knits with the yarn.  use labels 
as a guide for needle size and knit your samples on more than one size needle.  
choose the fabric that you like and best shows off the yarn!
[ALSO PLEASE NOTE:  IF YOU DO NOT GET THE STITCHES PER INCH CALLED FOR IN THE PATTERN, EXPECT 
YOUR FINISHED PRODUCT TO BE LARGER OR SMALLER THAN INTENDED!  ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE,
STITCH-number-WISE, BUT CHANGING NEEDLE SIZE IS THE BEST  PLACE TO START.]  
IT'S A CONTROL ISSUE  -  YOU BE IN CHARGE.


AIR TRAVEL?  Look up www.tsa.dot.gov website for most current USA information on airline security and knitting needles.  It may be handy to copy TSA's list and take it with you.  European and other international airports may have additional restrictions; you have to check with the specific airline for those destinations.
DON'T TAKE YOUR TURBOS THROUGH AMSTERDAM, for example.

CHECK OUT THE "SALE LOFT" PAGE FOR OUR EVERYDAYSALE.
DISCONTINUED YARNS/colors start at 15% off, plus special purchases at special prices.


Gift Certificates are always available, in any amount.