Urban Yarns

We've Moved!

2009-01-22T10:07:00.000-08:00

You'll now find us over at urbanyarnsblog.com.

Not being techies, we don't fully understand why this move is advantageous but we're obediently following our tech guy's advice...

Inspiring

2009-01-20T13:41:00.000-08:00

A very hopeful and inspiring day, don't you think?

Rowan Magazine 45

2009-01-19T14:21:00.000-08:00

They arrived in Point Grey today and will be in Edgemont by Friday. As usual there are many beautiful designs.

Despite the frost and fog, Spring must be on it's way....

California Bound

2009-01-15T01:23:00.000-08:00

We're off to San Diego today for the TNNA show, in search of new treasures for Spring and Summer. The weather forecast is for highs of 24 degrees through the weekend so we have big smiles on our faces. The pool awaits us... We'll post photos next week.

Don't forget about our Kate Jacobs event next Thursday evening, January 22 from 7 - 9 p.m. Kate will give a talk and read from her new book, Knit Two.

Kate's books have just arrived in Point Grey and will soon be in Edgemont so you can pick up a copy any time. Or phone and reserve a book if you plan on attending the event. Space is limited so if you'd like to join us, be sure to register sometime soon!

Rowan Spring Collection

2009-01-14T16:05:00.000-08:00

Can't wait to see what Rowan has conjured up for Spring? Then drop by our Point Grey store and have a look at the Design Collection brochure and yarn shade cards. The brochure has photos of every design from Magazine 45 and the new Rowan and Rowan Classic books. Feel free to pre-order any books or yarn you can't live without.

Sadly this info is not yet in Edgemont but we hope it will arrive sometime soon. Trust me, we've asked for it many times...

We have a new Rowan book on our shelves, Knitting Goes Large:

With a great selection of twenty different knits for all occasions and all seasons for larger women with varying figure types. Designers include Kim Hargreaves, Martin Storey, Wendy Baker and Jennie Atkinson. There are warm winter jackets, comfortable sweaters, cool summer cardigans and pretty evening cover-ups. The patterns come in six sizes, starting from size 16, so you'll be sure to find something to suit your figure and your taste, all in classic Rowan yarns.

And our special this week is one of Rowan's most popular yarns, the lovely Kidsilk Haze at 30% off. There are six beautiful colours on sale:

From the pale shades of ice cream (637) and fondant (630) to the deeper shades of elegance (577), jacob (631), nightly (585) and violetta (633). There are 23 pages of KSH patterns on Ravelry, definitely something for everyone.

Knock yourself out!

New Classes

2009-01-13T00:28:00.000-08:00

We have some great new classes starting over the next few weeks.

Monday evenings in Point Grey, choose either Beginner Knitting, starting January 19 or Beginner Crochet, starting February 2. Both classes will be taught by Deanna Kruchensky and will run from 7 - 9 p.m. In Edgemont, get help with a current project at our Fix It nights. These single class sessions will be taught by Nicholas Jacques and will run on January 26, February 9 or 23 from 7 - 9 p.m.

We have several options on upcoming Tuesday evenings in Point Grey. A Fingerless Glove class starts tonight from 7 - 9 p.m. Or learn to knit a sock in just one day at Sock Boot Camp. The next SBC is scheduled on January 20 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Or if you'd prefer, learn to knit a pair of Fair Isle Mittens with Alexa Ludeman on February 10 and 17 from 7 - 9 p.m. Tuesday evenings are Knit Nights in Edgemont.

Wednesday nights are also busy lesson nights. Sivia Harding will start a Moebius Madness class tomorrow night in Point Grey from 7 - 9 p.m. In Edgemont we've scheduled Sock Boot Camps with Jackie on February 4 or February 25 from 6 - 9 p.m. And Donna LeClair will run a Finishing Class on February 11 and 18 from 7 - 9 p.m.

Sandra Dunkin will start a new Beyond Beginner Knitting class in Point Grey on Thursday, February 12 from 7 - 9 p.m. And if you or someone you know would like to learn to knit, Nicholas Jacques will start a Beginner Knitting class in Edgemont on January 29 from 7 - 9 p.m. After that, progress to the Beyond Beginner Knitting class that will start on March 5.

Get help with your projects on Friday afternoons in Point Grey at Christa's Painless Projects, from 1 - 2:30 p.m. or Astor Tsang's Knitting Q & A on Sunday mornings from 11 - 12 noon. Or learn all about yarn substitutions with Astor on the first Sunday of each month from, 10 - 11 a.m.

Check out our entire class schedule for further information about our lessons. Or contact our lesson goddess, Kathleen, by email or phone at 604-228-1122.

And try to drop by for our Knit Nights that run Tuesday evenings in Edgemont, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. and Wednesday evenings in Point Grey, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Escape your busy life and have fun knitting (or crocheting) with other local knitters (and crocheters). Hope to see you there!

Fleece Artist

2009-01-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

We opened several more boxes of Fleece Artist loveliness yesterday:

We're absolutely overrun with hundreds of skeins of luscious hand-dyed wool:

First out of the box was Leba, a beautiful mix of 65% kid, 20% wool and 15% nylon. It's a light dk weight with 425m to each 250g skein.

Next was Nyoni, a stunning combo of 65% wool, 20% kid, 10% nylon and 5% silk. This one's a sock-weight yarn with a generous 750m to each 250g skein.

Then came Tara, a gorgeous and soft medley of 51% kid, 19% wool and 30% nylon. It's lace-weight with a whopping 2000m per 250g skein.

We counted twenty-five different colourways, a beautiful collection of rich and vibrant shades.

Becky got it all organized with her energizer bunny-like efficiency. And today it will be hung up on our walls in stunning splendour. Yum.

Yummy Noro

2009-01-08T20:29:00.000-08:00

We have tons of Noro in both stores, lots of new colours and loads of options like Silk Garden, Kureyon, Kochoron, Iro, Blossom, Transitions, Yuzen and more.

There were some gorgeous photos of Silk Garden scarves and Calorimetries over at the Mason Dixon blog a couple of days ago. Definitely worth taking a look. We have loads of Silk Garden on our shelves (and bursting out of bins in the back). It's fun to play with the many colour options.

If you haven't done so already, check out our latest fave, Silk Garden Chunky, a quick knit on 6.5mm needles. And be sure to have a look at Noro Mini Knits by Jenny Watson:

A fantastic book with thirty designs for mini projects like hats, mitts and scarves. There's a cute and cozy Kochoron cardi that's high on my list:

After completing fourteen hats before Christmas and working on six that are still due (I resorted to wrapping yarn with a promise of a hat), I'm ready for something more substantial.

We also love the Iro Shrug:

And these cute gloves, knit with Silk Garden Lite:

One skein of SGL and a pair of 4mm needles is all you'll need for these.

Just one little book and so many possibilities...

Weekly Special

2009-01-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

This week it's Pasha, from the Stacey Charles collection, at 40% off the regular price. It's a soft, bulky yarn that's 95% extra fine merino and 5% cashmere, a quick knit at 12 stitches and 16 rows to 10cm on 6mm needles. There are 90 metres to a 50 gram ball and it's only $8.97.

There are lots of other bargains in our stores right now. We recently dropped the prices on some of our specials like Rowan Soft Baby, Ribbon Twist and Chunky Print, now 60% off the regular price. Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan, SWTC Amaizing and Rowan Classic Cashcotton DK are now 50% off the regular price. And Sirdar Denim Tweed Dk, Denim Aran and Denim Chunky are now 40% off the regular price.

We put a bunch of books on our sale shelves today. There are some great titles by Nicky Epstein, Debbie Bliss, Louisa Harding, Ella Rae, Rowan Classic, Sublime, Vogue and many more. All at 40% off. Sad to see them go but we have to make room for all the new books that we've ordered for Spring.

We have loads of great deals on books and yarn right now, drop by and check 'em out...

Amber

2009-01-06T11:48:00.000-08:00

We finally received Kim Hargreaves' latest:

A stunning collection of twenty-one fabulous designs featuring Rowan and Rowan Classic yarns like Felted Tweed, Kidsilk Haze, Kid Classic, Colourscape Chunky, Big Wool and Cocoon. We have all of these on our shelves.

Kim Hargreaves describes the collection best in her foreword: "Good friends gather for a fun country house weekend. As winter envelops they are found wearing the season's rich shades to dramatic effect, the inspiration for these magical colours is taken from mythical potions of luscious berries, herbs and spices. The garments have an air of self assured style -- from cosy and snug to sleek and elegant -- carrying with them a wealth of texture, from delicate lace to glorious cables. The grand hall and secret gardens provide the perfect setting for such an enchanting collection..."

Check out the entire Amber collection right here. The book's only in Point Grey right now but will be in Edgemont very soon. If you absolutely have to have it, please phone and reserve a copy as the first bunch may not last long. We've already ordered more....

Happy New Year

2009-01-05T13:16:00.000-08:00

We started the New Year off with a bang by unloading a bunch of splendicious Fleece Artist yarn and kits. It's such fun to slice open a big box of hand-dyed yarn, happily anticipating the splendour that awaits, then soaking up the gorgeous colours that burst out of the box while fingering the softness of the yarn within. There's always much oohing and aahing as the gorgeous shades are digested, one by one.

We have some beautiful new colourways hanging on our walls, like Earth, Ireland, Sugarplum, Victoria and Twilight. And we've re-stocked many of the popular kits like Lady of the Lake:

Also Hans, Sabine, Imogen and many more...

We hope you all had a joyous holiday season. And we wish you the happiest of New Years, full of good health, love, peace and many wonderful new knitting and crocheting projects!

Boxing Week Bargains

2008-12-24T09:22:00.000-08:00

We have some great bargains in both stores this week. Here's our sale list. There's an excellent selection of yarn, books and magazines at 40 - 60% off the regular price.

A great time to pick up a new project to knit or crochet on cold winter days...

Holiday Hours

2008-12-23T11:12:00.000-08:00

We'll close at 3:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and we'll be closed on Christmas Day. We'll reopen on Boxing Day, with regular hours for the rest of the week until New Years Eve when we'll close at 3:00 p.m. And we'll be closed New Years Day. Same hours in both stores. Don't forget, we'll be open in Edgemont on Monday, December 29. And we'll have some Boxing Day bargains for you, stay tuned for details...

We unpacked a bunch more new stuff last week. Several big boxes of Louet, we have loads of Gems Fingering and Sportweight, Euroflax and a bit of the luscious Mooi. We have more of the sumptuous Handmaiden Samira Silk on hand, as well as the delicious Great Big Sea, Mini Maiden and Stormwater Scarves. We received several more Addi Click sets, there are now a couple in Edgemont. We have the Cascade Eco Wool Chunky, tons of yardage for a great price. And we have a bunch of Offhand Designs bags and clutches, these are fabulous:

We also unpacked the latest Debbie Bliss books, Essential Baby and Essential Knits for Kids. Cute as ever....

Have fun with your last minute shopping, knitting, baking and wrapping. Somehow I have seven toques and three scarves left on my list, hope springs eternal...

Merry Christmas

2008-12-20T12:50:00.000-08:00

From a few of the Urban Yarns gals:

Check out the Elf Disco Dance right here. Too funny....

Felting Queen

2008-12-18T12:33:00.000-08:00

Anina's caught the felting bug. Look at the fantastic projects she's recently completed:

The Woolly Gnome and Mushrooms:

A Marie Mayhew design. We have the pattern and a little kit with all the finishing tidbits.

And the cutest little family of snowbabies:

Another Marie Mayhew design.

Then she moved on from little creatures to little purses:

This one's the Pick Up Sticks Coin Purse kit. With enough yarn for three little purses. Still time to grab one and knit three little stocking stuffers...

Blue Sky Trunk Show

2008-12-17T18:42:00.000-08:00

Drop by our Point Grey store and fondle the beautiful garments we received this week from Blue Sky Alpacas. The best of the bunch just might be the Girls Smocked Coat:

So cute and cozy, wish I had a little girl to knit for. This would be a very quick knit with the BSA Bulky on 10mm needles. Sized for girls from 18 months to 7 years of age.

Check out the lovely Rectangle Shawl:

It's even nicer up close and personal, BSA Alpaca Silk gives this one a lovely drape and sheen. No trick to knitting this, if you've learned to knit and purl you can tackle this project.

When you drop by, be sure to say hello to Baby Bobbi Bear. Bobbi's cute and cuddly and knit with Organic Cotton. He'd be the perfect gift for any young child on your list.

We have lots more BSA samples, like the Skinny Cardigan, the Kid's Pullover and the Fingerless Gloves. We adore the BSA yarn, it's one of our favourite lines. We have all the yarns and most of the patterns.

We also have some of the Blue Sky accessories that would make perfect stocking stuffers like the Pretty Cheep Project Bags, the 5 inch dp's in tins and the Knitters Little Helper hand balm.

Weekly Special

2008-12-16T16:32:00.000-08:00

This week it's Diamond 100% Camel at 40% off, only $5.37 per ball. This is a wonderful yarn with a whopping 230 metres per 50g ball. It's a 28st gauge on 3mm needles and machine washable. There are four lovely neutral shades including ecru, two shades of taupe and milk chocolate. Perfect for many different projects...

Please take note of this schedule change if you live on the North Shore - we'll be opening again on Mondays in Edgemont, starting December 29. Now you can visit us every day of the week!

And you should also take note of a special event we've scheduled for Thursday, January 22, in Point Grey. We'll be hosting Kate Jacobs, author of the Friday Night Knitting Club and the recently published sequel, Knit Two:

Knit Two continues the tale of friendship and community centred around the fictional Walker and Daughter Yarn Shop in Manhattan. Sadly we don't yet have the book in our stores but it will be here very soon.

There's no charge for this event but space is limited. To reserve a spot, please send an email or telephone us at 604-228-1122. Should be a fun evening, hope you can join us!

New Knitty

2008-12-12T14:45:00.000-08:00

Issue Twenty-Six, Winter 2008. Check it out right here.

What Fun!

2008-12-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

I was amazed to see twenty-three names on our new staff list. Unbelievable! Almost everyone showed up for our staff Christmas party and we all had a wonderful time.

Anina took some great photos. From one end of the table:

To the other:

Kathleen kept the margheritas flowing:

Our computer guy dropped by and joined the Secret Santa game:

His present was the best, good thing we had a two steal limit or it would have been passed around all night. That's Nancy (far left) who's been helping out in Point Grey on Sundays. An avid knitter and famous author, quite the combo.

It was nice to see some of our talented new staff having a giggle together:

Kalin (far right) is one of four members of a very cool craft collective, Bare Maked. Alexa (2nd right) and Venus (2nd left) are master craftsters with their own blogs. Astor (far left) isn't new but she's definitely talented. If you need help with your knitting, Astor's happy to help at Knitting Q & A most Sunday mornings.

Last but not least is Ellen (center) who definitely looks her best in the BSA Kitty Hat:

And talk about talented, Jessica keeps our Edgemont store hopping by day then creates beautiful art at night...

Valerie's an excellent knitter and all-round interesting gal who works in Edgemont a couple of days a week:

Ask about her bees sometime. Yes, bees. If you're really nice to her you might receive some delicious home-made honey.

Christa was on a tight deadline with a pair of socks:

Hope you finished them in time...

And check out these gorgeous gals:

We're super fortunate to have such a talented, fun, inspirational and energetic bunch of people working with us every day. Thanks to all of you for helping to make Urban Yarns such a special place!

Cashmere Caps

2008-12-10T11:12:00.000-08:00

We have some luxurious Handmaiden hat kits just waiting to be knit up for holiday gifts. This one arrived yesterday:

A classic Cashmere Beret, ooh la la. This is 8 ply cashmere, knit with 5mm needles. It's available only in black and will arrive in Edgemont tomorrow.

We also have the Devin's Toque kit:

A great unisex toque, knit with 4 ply cashmere on 3.5mm needles. Anina and I have both knit many of these, it's a perfect present for almost anyone.

And here's a third option, the Cashmere Cloche:

This one has a simple repeat pattern for added knitting interest. It's also 4 ply cashmere and knit on 3.5mm needles.

Three luxurious gift ideas and still time to knit one (or more?) before Christmas...

New Lessons

2008-12-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

We've added a couple of new lessons to our Point Grey schedule.

Tomorrow night, Wednesday December 10, Alexa Ludeman will teach you how to knit a toque from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Hats are always very popular gifts, they're quick to knit and pretty much everyone needs one.

I'm on a hat knitting binge right now, I've just started my ninth! I'm using Nick's hat pattern:

With the addictive Mirasol Sulka yarn. It's silky soft with a beautiful sheen and the colours are awesome.

If you've always wanted to knit someone a pair of socks for Christmas, it's not too late. Jackie Blackmore will run a Sock Boot Camp on Wednesday, December 17 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. You'll learn everything you need to know about knitting socks, then you'll have a week to knit them. Easy peasy.

We've just finalized our new Winter Class Schedule. Drop by to pick up a schedule or check for updates on our website in a few days.

And our special yarn this week is Filatura di Crosa Love at 40% off, only $5.98 per ball. It's a soft, fluffy yarn with wool and mohair in the mix.

We've also dropped the price on several current specials. Rowan Kidsilk Spray, Diamond Luxury Alpaca Cashmere and Sirdar Denim Tweed DK and Sport Aran have dropped to 40% off. RYC Cashcotton DK and SWTC Amaizing are now 50% off.

And we've culled our bookshelves to make room for all the new books that have been arriving lately. This morning we added more than twenty titles to our sale section at 40% off. It's a great time to add to your home library....

Lantern Moon and More

2008-12-05T10:31:00.000-08:00

We've unpacked tons of Lantern Moon bags and baskets over the last couple of weeks. Lovely Round Drawstring baskets:

Brand new Jane and Ibiza baskets:

And a perennial favourite, Twisted Seagrass baskets from the Boca collection:

Stuff one of these baskets with a bunch of gorgeous yarn and admire your collection every time you walk by....

We've re-stocked the coveted Rosewood needles:

Both straights and DP's. Spoil yourself with a set of these and you'll never look back.

Silk needle cases make great holiday gifts:

And there are some great stocking stuffers. Peppermint Swirl tape measures:

Sheep tape measures:

There's one black sheep in every bunch. We know who you are...

Or throw in a notepad holder, knit or crochet design, take your pick:

We were hard at work yesterday unpacking loads of new Malabrigo Worsted and Lace. Stunning new colours. We also put out tons of Manos Del Uruguay kettle-dyed wool and the new Manos Silk Blend. Gorgeous....

There's a fantastic new book on our shelves, Earthworks, by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton:

With several terrific new designs for the Earth Collections yarns, cashmere, silk and alpaca. All so scrumptious and soft...

We've never had so much yarn on hand before, we know we've gone a bit overboard when the boxes start piling up in our garages. Park the car on the street, we need more space for our yarn!

Bits and Bobs

2008-12-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

This week's special is Sirdar Denim Chunky at 40% off. This yarn knits up quickly at a gauge of 14 stitches/19 rows on 6.5m's. These are big 100g balls with 156 metres of yarn at only $7.17 per ball.

Use Denim Chunky to knit this sweater coat for women or girls:

There are two options: long-sleeved or 3/4 length sleeved. Pick up some feature buttons for the front and you'll have a beautiful cozy cardigan to keep you warn through the chilly winter months ahead.

Or knit this Denim Chunky pattern for boys aged 1 - 12 years of age:

It's sometimes hard to find a nice boys sweater pattern and we've always liked this one. Anina finally knit it up this past summer and it's now on display in Point Grey. We have permission to distribute this pattern without charge when you buy the yarn.

We have tons more new stuff. There are luscious skeins of Handmaiden's Mini Maiden that's equal parts silk and wool, with 500 metres of yarn on a 100g skein. It's super stunning knit up, have a look:

Drool.

We have Nicky Epstein's great new book, Knitting on Top of the World: The Global Guide to Traditions, Techniques and Design:

And we've recently unpacked stacks of boxes loaded with Blue Sky Alpacas, Koigu, Lantern Moon, Louet and many more. Our shelves are bursting with fabulous yarns, perfect for holiday gifts or other terrific new projects

Don't forget about our Knit Nights on Tuesday evenings in Edgemont and Wednesday evenings in Point Grey. Combine some after work shopping with a bit of knitting or crocheting, a perfect combo!

Christmas Cheer

2008-12-02T10:12:00.000-08:00

Be sure to have a look at the Drops Christmas Calendar, with a new design for each day up to December 24. But you can't open the box before the day arrives...

We've uncovered two wonderful designs so far. December 1 is a great felted stocking:

And today's pattern is felted needle cases:

Both straights and circulars. What a great gift idea for another knitter! I'm tempted by this one...

Be sure to check out Garnstudio's Christmas Workshop 2008 with a selection of the most popular gift ideas from the extensive Drops database. Love the felted slippers:

These three designs are all knit with the Drops Eskimo pure wool yarn that comes in a beautiful colour palette. We have tons of colours, as well as a bunch of Eskimo Print in multi-colours. Eskimo is a fabulous instant gratification type yarn that knits up very quickly on 8 - 9mm needles. You still have time to complete multiple holiday projects with this one...

Addi Clicks

2008-11-28T13:16:00.000-08:00

The Good News:

Addi's new interchangeable needle sets have arrived in Point Grey:

These are fantastic sets, with 10 different sizes of addi tips, 3 different lengths of cord and one connector piece. Simply insert the cord into the tip, then twist. The tip will remain secure until you change it.

The Bad News:

You guessed it, we didn't receive many sets. The quantity ordered means nothing with a hot product like this. What can I say, we're in Canada, eh?

So it's first come, first served and we're pretty sure they'll be sold out today. The first customers to arrive in Point Grey or phone with $179.95 plus tax will be among the first in Canada to own one of these coveted needle sets.

If you miss out and are terribly disappointed, please accept our apologies - we're disappointed too! Just put your name on your list and we promise to call when the next shipment arrives.

Holiday Inspiration

2008-11-27T09:31:00.000-08:00

Looking for some great gift ideas? We've picked out a few books that are loaded with inspiration.

Melanie Falick's 'Handknit Holidays' has some great designs for Christmas, Hanukkah and the Winter Solstice:

Rowan Classic 'Winter Gifts' has 24 contemporary classic gift ideas including hats, scarves, socks, gloves, mitts, legwarmers, a tea cosy and a hot water bottle, all knit with sumptuous yarns:

Louisa Harding's 'Knitting Little Luxuries' is loaded with stylish and luxurious projects that would make gorgeous gifts:

Leigh Radford's 'One Skein' has become a classic source of last minute gift ideas. All 30 projects are knit or crocheted with just one skein of yarn so they're bound to be quick:

And if you need a gift for Rover:

We have lots more fantastic ideas for every creature on your list! Just ask us, we'd be happy to help.

PS
This afternoon Becky unpacked a stack of 'Last Minute Knitted Gifts':

A veritable treasure trove of gift ideas and the projects are helpfully grouped into sections according to estimated knitting time. There are gift ideas for kids, women and men. It's not only a great book for gift inspiration but also a great gift for fellow knitters. This one's only in Point Grey right now but it will make it across the bridge to Edgemont in a few days...

New Noro

2008-11-26T16:40:00.000-08:00

Boxes and boxes of it...

There's loads more Silk Garden Chunky in many beautiful colourways. Julia knit this beautiful capelet with three balls of SGC:

The pattern is right here. Knit in less than 24 hours, finished with a Perl Grey leaf brooch et voila, tres jolie! Thanks Julia!

Alexa used Silk Garden Chunky to knit this great scarf:

Another quick knit on 8mm needles with three balls of SGC. Just cast on 22 stitches and work a K1, P1 rib until you're done.

The Yarn Harlot is currently addicted to the Silk Garden striped scarf, she's on her third. I found this project very addicting last year:

It's Jared's pattern. I've been thinking this scarf would be a perfect Christmas gift for a friend so yesterday I came home with several skeins of Silk Garden tucked in my bag. A girl just can't have too many projects on the go, especially this time of year... We have many Silk Garden colour options, the combo possibilities are endless.

We've just unpacked several new colours of the beautiful Blossom in both stores. Try using this one for a gorgeous Bloom Shawl. There are also several fantastic Blossom projects in the many Noro books we have on our shelves.

And we have buckets of most of the other stunning Noro yarns including Kureyon, Iro, Kochoron and Transitions.

If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out Noro Mini Knits, by Jenny Watson:

Our most popular Noro book right now. It's bursting with marvellous little Noro projects, there are lots of great quick-knit gift ideas in this one. Knock yourself out!

Odds and Sods

2008-11-25T18:21:00.000-08:00

This week's special is Pure Angora:

There are three beautiful colourways that aren't quite as bright as shown in this photo. The yarn is soft as a feather and there's 114 metres per ball. It's 40% off the regular price, only $7.77.

Don't forget our Knit Nights this week on Tuesday in Edgemont, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m and Wednesday in Point Grey, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. As a special bonus this week, you'll receive 10% off your purchases at any Knit Night. First put a dent in your holiday gift shopping, then buy a little something for yourself. Or perhaps the other way around...

If you were disappointed we sold out of the Debbie Bliss magazine, you're in luck. We've managed to find ten more copies so call us if you want one, first come first served. We can't get more - our supplier is sold out and this issue won't be re-printed. But we've ordered lots of Issue 2, watch for it this Spring. If you don't want to miss out, put your name on our list and we'll call you when Issue 2 arrives.

Fab New Book

2008-11-23T21:59:00.000-08:00

A superb new book just arrived on our doorstep:

It's another great production by Leigh Radford who previously published 'One Skein' and 'Alterknits'.

This book provides great explanations and instructions on the basics of felting. There are also descriptions of special techniques, abbreviations and diagrams to help round out your felting knowledge.

And check out the 30 edgy designs including bags, accessories, household items and gift ideas like felted rings, bracelets and Christmas tree ornaments. These projects really push the design envelope.

The book is bursting with colour, imagination and inspiration. Kick-start some great new felting projects with Alterknits Felt...

Gnarly Gnome

2008-11-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

Anina knit and felted this cute Gnome and Mushroom set. It's a Marie Mayhew design - we have the patterns as well as a kit with extras like roving for the nose and beard, beads for the eyes, cork for the pipe and plastic pellets and fibrefill for stuffing. If you prefer, make a few simple changes and turn your gnome into Santa Claus. Have a look at photos of Anina's gnome on her ravelry site.

Apparently this felting of little creatures is a bit addictive, Anina's now working on a set of Snowbabies:

The pattern includes directions for three hat designs and a scarf. These babes will be about 4 1/2" tall after felting.

We have several other fabulous Marie Mayhew designs, including Woolly Holiday Ornaments:

The pattern includes three ornament designs: a classic ball, teardrop and beaded ball.

Love the Crazy Quilt Holiday Stocking:

Use your imagination for embroidery and embellishments to make your own unique stocking. The finished size is about 8" wide and 22" high.

These are all great gift ideas. And they're manageable projects that could easily be started and finished in a weekend. Drop by and check out our collection of Marie Mayhew designs and all the other new stuff we have on our shelves...

New Lessons

2008-11-20T08:05:00.000-08:00

We have some great new lessons starting soon in Point Grey.

We've scheduled two sessions of Sock Boot Camp on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Choose either November 25 or December 9. Learn to knit a sock in just one day!

Sivia Harding will run another Jewelry Knitting workshop on Wednesday, November 26 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. You'll learn how to create a fabulous necklace that would be a great Christmas present. Check out the beautiful sample that's currently on display in Point Grey.

Alexa Ludeman will teach a Christmas Gift Ideas workshop on Wednesday, December 3 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Learn to knit a beautiful buttoned scarf with just one skein of luscious yarn. If you've always drooled over the sumptuous cashmere, alpaca and silk blends hanging on our walls, this would be a good time to give one a try.

And if you or someone you know would like to learn to knit, Sandra Dunkin will get you going in her Beginner Knitting class on Thursday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., starting this evening, November 20.

If you've reached an impasse with a current project or would like to learn a new technique, consider registering for Christa's Classroom on Friday afternoons from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Christa's classes are currently scheduled for Nov. 21, Dec. 5, 12 and 19.

If you'd like some assistance with pattern reading, complicated stitches or finishing, sign up for Astor Tsang's Knitting Q & A class that runs most Sunday mornings from 11:00 - noon. On Sunday, Dec. 5, Astor will switch to Yarn 101 where you'll learn to make yarn substitutions. She'll show you what to do if you love a pattern but can't find the right yarn.

Phew, that's a lot of classes. Hopefully you'll find the perfect class on our list. But if none of these classes fit into your schedule, consider scheduling a private lesson, by yourself or with a friend. Just send an email to Kathleen or phone her at 604-228-1122 and she'll get you going.

Have a look at our entire class schedule right here. This schedule is regularly updated as new classes are organized. Have fun learning a new skill this winter!

Point Grey Knit Night

2008-11-19T13:59:00.000-08:00

We hope you'll join us for Wednesday evening Knit Nights in Point Grey. Drop by and knit or crochet with Alexa Ludeman from 7 - 9 p.m. on Wednesday evenings, starting today! No need to register, just drop in whenever you can make it. And you'll receive 10% off your purchases at any November Knit Night - perhaps some early Christmas shopping is in order...

Our special yarn this week is Filatura di Crosa Folly at 40% off. It's a fun novelty yarn that would be great for scarves, shawls and trims - use your imagination with this one.

And we have lots more Filatura di Crosa yarns on our shelves. There are the staple superwash yarns, Zara and Zara Plus with a beautiful colour range. If you've picked up the Interweave Knits Holiday '08 issue, try knitting the Aran Isle Slippers with Zara Plus.

127 Print is a great felting yarn, we've see some fab felted slippers knit with this one. Or try the Calorimetry head scarf from Knitty. Advance warning: we have only two colours left and we can't get more.

Maxime and Maxime Print are great for socks. We also have Allegro, Love, New Malizioso, Puff and Venezia, most of which are in both stores.

We've received tons of new stuff lately, we're opening boxes faster than I can write about it all... If you'd like to check out all our new items, just look for the 'new product' signs on the shelves.

Hand-dyed Splendour

2008-11-13T20:45:00.000-08:00

We have a luscious new yarn, Maiden Hair:

Lovingly hand-dyed by the maidens at Handmaiden. It's a sumptuous mix of 67% silk, 23% kid mohair and 10% nylon with a stunning sheen and texture. There's a generous 250 metres to each 100g skein and we have four gorgeous colourways. These won't last long...

We also have the cutest new MinKim kits from Perl Grey:

A kimono-style sweater that's knit in one piece. The yarn is the beautiful Fleece Artist Lanica that's 100% organic merino.

The Perl Grey designs are always kitted with Fleece Artist yarns because the owners are sisters. Kathryn started Fleece Artist many years ago. Her sister, Adrienne, runs Perl Grey and her daughter, Jana, is the main maiden at Handmaiden Yarns. Three very cool and creative family businesses.

And our weekly special? Not hand-dyed but splendid nonetheless. Online Tessa, Tessa Tweed and Tessa Colour are 40% off the regular price, just $3.89 for Tessa and $4.49 for Tessa Tweed and Colour. They're 100% superwash wools with 85 metres per 50g ball, knitting to a 20 stitch gauge on 4.5m needles. These yarns would be perfect for a multitude of different projects.

And the boxes just keep coming, love this time of year...

Drops Designs

2008-11-11T22:57:00.000-08:00

Have a look at the new Drops baby design collection. There's a great selection of patterns for little guys and gals, like this cute sweater coat knit with Garnstudios Eskimo:

You should also check out the Drops Autumn/Winter 08/09 women's design collection. There are loads of fantastic sweaters and cardigans as well as tons of great gift knitting ideas like hats, mitts, bags, scarves and more.

We have scads of the quick-knit Garnstudios Eskimo in both stores, it's a fabulous felting yarn. We also have Alpaca, Fabel, Glitter and Lin on our shelves in both Edgemont and Point Grey. And if you have your heart set on another Garnstudio yarn, let us know and we might be able to special order it for you.

Weekly Special

2008-11-05T15:55:00.000-08:00

This week it's Rowan Biggy Print at 50% off the regular price. Biggy Print is a super-chunky 100% merino wool yarn with a variegated thickness:

It's the penultimate quick-knit yarn, you won't find many others that will knit up faster than this one. It comes in striking colour combinations and would be perfect for a cozy scarf or hat for winter. Try these Super Bulky Mittens for Women. Or Kim Hargreave's Shrug with Garter Stitch Trim:

It's from her recent book, Heartfelt. We're smitten with all of Kim's recent books. We've just put Thrown Together and Nectar back on our shelves. And we'll soon have Kim's latest collection, Amber. Looks like another winner...

Blue Sky Designs

2008-11-04T22:26:00.000-08:00

Blue Sky Alpacas has some of the nicest patterns around and there are some fantastic new designs for Fall. We love the Audrey Coat:

Knit in Alpaca Sportweight, it's a fantastic contemporary classic design.

The Cabled Cowl is another wonderful new design. This one's on display in our Edgemont store, knit by Valerie with the sumptuously soft Suri Merino and finished off with a couple of Perl Grey pewter leaf buttons. It's truly one of the nicest cowls I've seen. We're a little low on copies of this pattern right now but it will soon be re-stocked.

The Kitty Hat pattern is uber-cute:

This one's knit in the gorgeous Suri Merino. Alexa knit a sweet Momma and Baby Kitty Hat set, they're currently on display in Point Grey.

And if you're knitting for a little girl these days, you should have a look at the Smocked Coat:

It would be wonderfully cozy for the cold winter months ahead. This coat is designed for the BSA Bulky yarn and will knit up quickly on 10 mm needles.

There are a bunch more new BSA designs for Fall including the Kids Pullover, the Knit Quilt and the Ribbon Trim Cardigan. We have them all.

There's also a free Skinny Striped Hat pattern that was recently added to the BSA pattern collection. You can download the pattern right here. Choose three colours of Skinny Cotton to knit this hat, we have lots of options.

And we have the entire line of luxurious Blue Sky Alpacas yarn, have a look at the entire collection right here. You have to feel them to believe their softness so drop by sometime for a touch test. Yummy....

Cheep Cheep

2008-11-03T17:05:00.000-08:00

Check out the new Pretty Cheep Project Bags from Blue Sky Alpacas:

They're 100% cotton and 12" square with a drawstring closure - perfect for individual projects. There are three bright silkscreened bird designs and best of all, they're only $7.95.

We also have the BSA 5" double-pointed needles that come in cute little tins:

These needles are made from reclaimed wood and polished to a brilliant luster. They come in sizes 2mm to 4mm, with a different coloured tin for each size.

And we love the BSA Knitters Little Helper Cream:

I use it every day for my dry, cracked cuticles. No greasy residue with this one. It's packaged in a great retro-chic tin, "Zen in a Jar".

All of these BSA accessories would make great gifts for yourself or a friend. And we have loads of new BSA leaflets and yarn, stay tuned for more details...

Edgemont Knit Nights

2008-11-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

Join us for Tuesday evening Knit Nights in Edgemont!

Drop by and knit or crochet with Jessica from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 11, 25 and December 9, 16 and 23. Take a break from your busy life and share some inspiration with other local knitters and crocheters. No need to register for Knit Night, just drop in whenever you can make it.

As a special bonus you'll receive 10% off your purchases at any November Knit Night. Hope to see you there...

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T07:50:00.000-07:00

Have a good one!

Louet Mooi

2008-10-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

For a luxurious little treat, pick up a skein or two of Louet Mooi:

It's a sumptuous lace weight blend of bamboo, bison and cashmere with stunning colour combos. The bamboo will add a lovely drape and sheen to your finished project. There are 320 metres per 100g skein, enough for a beautiful lacy scarf that would make a very special gift.

Clara Parkes loves this yarn, read her review right here.

And if you're a lace knitter, you'll also want to have a look at the Diamond Luxury Collection Baby Alpaca Lace that we recently put out on our shelves. This one's 100% Baby Alpaca, with 400 metres on a 50g skein for only $7.95.

Use Mooi or Baby Alpaca Lace to knit some of the stunning designs from this new book:

It's a must-have book for lace-knitters with stunning photography, interesting historical tidbits and loads of gorgeous lace patterns.

If you prefer knitting socks to lace, you'll want to know that we recently re-stocked Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn in ten beautiful new colourways.

And our special yarn this week is Online Punta at 40% off. It's a wonderful novelty yarn that combines a strand of soft fluffy yarn with a strand of shimmery boucle in a contrasting colour. Jazz up a scarf or shawl with the great colours and texture of this yarn.

Happy Knitting!

Designer Divas

2008-10-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the positive feedback on the Cheryl/Jane event last weekend. We're glad you enjoyed yourselves, we had tons of fun.

These are just a few of the stacks of beautiful samples we fondled and admired:

All of Jane's samples from Mirasol Books 3 and 4 are now on display in our stores.

This is Julia modelling a beautful cardigan from Book 4:

And here are some of the UY Girls posing with the Mirasol Ambassador:

Thanks again Cheryl and Jane!

Mirasol Samples

2008-10-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

We have a trunkful of Mirasol samples in Point Grey this week, including all the garments from Mirasol Book 3:

And the new Book 4:

We left one beautiful sweater sample in Edgemont on Sunday and we'll send over a few more later this week.

The Mirasol yarns are extraordinarily luscious, just touch these garments and you'll want to knit them!

Jane Ellison in Edgemont Today

2008-10-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

If you missed our Jane Ellison event yesterday, you have a second chance to meet her today. She'll drop by our Edgemont store this afternoon from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. She'll sign some books, show some samples and chat about her experiences as a designer. Hope to see you there!

Araucania

2008-10-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

We have a fabulous new sock yarn from Araucania called Ranco Multi:

It's 75% wool, 25% nylon and a great price at $15.95 per 100g, 344 metre skein. This one's going to be popular with all you sock knitters...

We also have Araucania Azapa:

A beautiful new yarn that's a mix of merino wool, alpaca and silk, with a touch of donegal tweed.

And we love the Araucania Nature Wools, Aran and Chunky, both 100% hand-dyed wool . There's a great colour range with some beautiful rich hues that are perfect for this time of year.

NW Aran would be great for the February Lady Sweater. Or if you're knitting hats these days, try Foliage, Thorpe or Stella's Hat with NW Chunky.

There are two new Araucania books for Fall. The Araucania Collection, Book 1:

And In the Mood, by Jean Moss:

This one has some fantastic designs using Ranco Multi and Nature Wool Aran and Chunky.

And we have a special bonus today for all you loyal UY blog readers. We're giving away 5 free tickets to the Cheryl Niamath/Jane Ellison event this Saturday, noon to 3:00 p.m., UBC Golf Club. The first 5 people to phone us at 604-228-1122 or send an email will receive a ticket gratis. If you've already bought a ticket, grab another and bring a friend with you. See you on Saturday!

365 Patterns

2008-10-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

We have the 2009 Knitting Calendars:

A pattern a day for a whole year! It's an excellent bargain at only $16.95. A great gift for yourself or a knitterly friend...

We're getting excited about the Cheryl Niamath/Jane Ellison event this Saturday. Still a few tix left if you'd like to join us...

And in keeping with the Mirasol theme, our special this week is Mirasol Cotanani at 40% off. This is a beautiful mix of 60% pima cotton and 40% merino wool. A classic DK weight, it knits up to 22 stitches on 4mm needles. And there are some great designs for this yarn in Mirasol Books 2 and 3.

Hope to see you on Saturday!

More New Stuff

2008-10-20T16:55:00.000-07:00

There's another great new Noro book, Collection 3, by Jenny Watson:

With some fabulous designs for Kureyon and Silk Garden.

We also have a scrumptious new Noro yarn, Yuzen:

Just wouldn't feel like Fall without a new Noro. This one's 50% wool, 34% silk and 10% mohair with the trademark Noro striping.

Love this sweater coat knit in Yuzen:

The pattern's in Jane Ellison's new book, Noro Family:

We've also put out on our shelves several delicious new colours of Silk Garden and Iro. Yum.

And we just received a cute new Louisa Harding book, Kindred Spirits:

With some great designs for kids and their moms.

And there's lots, lots more. Details to follow...

Elsebeth Lavold

2008-10-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

We have some gorgeous yarns and books by Elsebeth Lavold.

Baby Llama is new this season:

It's 100% baby llama, super-soft and cozy.

Silky Flamme has been walking out the door faster than we can bring it in:

It's another uber-soft yarn with a stunning colour palette. A luscious mix of 50% wool, 30% alpaca and 20% silk. Endless possibilities...

We have several more EL yarns, including the classic Silky Tweed and Silky Wool. Also Chunky Al and Classic Al, both a sumptuous mix of merino wool and alpaca....

Try knitting Branching Out with Silky Wool. Always wanted to knit this one but haven't yet gotten around to it. There are almost 3,000 of these beautiful scarves shown on Ravelry.

We also have a few fabulous books by Elsebeth Lavold, including the most recent editions, Book 15 and 16.

Book 15 features a bunch of beautiful designs for Baby Llama and Silky Flamme:

And Book 16 has some fantastic designs for aran weight yarns, with a touch of romance:

There's even romance for Rover:

And our special this week is the lovely soft and fluffy Elsebeth Lavold Angora, a beautiful mix of 60% angora, 20% wool and 20% nylon:

It's 30% off the regular price, only $7.66 per skein. Use it to knit these beautifully soft Christmas Eve Cabled Mitts. Or try Elinor Brown's Ridged Lace Cowl. Two very tempting projects...

Becky and Jess have been bustling around this week, unpacking boxes at warp speed. We have soooooo much fabulous new stuff, there's too much to write about. Drop by and have a look sometime soon...

And one more thing, we've added a couple of new classes due to popular demand. There's a Beginner Knitting class in Edgemont and a Beginner Crochet class in Point Grey, both starting on Monday, November 10. And watch for a Christmas Gift Ideas class, coming soon. For more information on these and other classes, phone Kathleen at 604-228-1122, send her an email or check out our class schedule.

Late Breaking News

2008-10-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

We're pleased to announce that Cheryl Niamath will join Jane Ellison for our special event on Saturday, October 25, noon to 3:00 p.m. at the UBC Golf Club.

Remember Cheryl? She's the amazing Vancouver woman who learned to knit about four years ago, then very quickly moved on to publishing her own designs. This is Fetching, Cheryl's first published pattern:

The truly amazing part of Cheryl's story is that Fetching has rapidly become the second most popular pattern on Ravelry, with a remarkable 7511 knitters who have either finished or are working on their own fetching fingerless gloves. 7511!!! Imagine learning a new craft one day, then calmly progressing to publishing a stratospherically popular design in just a couple of years!

Cheryl went on to publish a bunch of terrific designs like Dashing, Wisp, False Modesty and Glowbal Warming. You can see them all on Cheryl's site. We think her Sprout baby hat is one of the cutest ever:

Becky and Anina couldn't resist knitting a Sprout. Just one ball of Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran and you're done. Betcha can't knit just one.

Cheryl will kick off the event at noon so don't be late. She'll give a short talk and show some of her hats, mitts and other samples.

Then Jane Ellison will take the stage at around 12:30 p.m. Talk about hot new designers, Jane has published thirty design books in the last five years! She started with Simply Noro:

One of our all-time favourites. Alison recently knit the cover shawl:

Love it. We'll be showing the shawl at our event. Thanks for sharing, Alison!

Following Simply Noro, Jane produced another six Noro books in rapid succession, including Noro Knits, Naturally Noro, Noro Unlimited, Pure Noro, Noro Joy and Noro Family. If you have any of these books on your shelves, feel free to bring them along for the author's signature.

Jane's gone on to publish three fantastic books for the Mirasol line of yarns. Mirasol Book 3 was released this Fall:

And Mirasol Book 4 will be launched at our event. It's a brand new book with designs for children and babies, using the wonderful Mirasol line of yarns.

Jane has become a dedicated Ambassador for the Mirasol Project. She's passionate about the work being done to help the shepherds' children in the Puno region of Peru, where the Mirasol Centre is located. She's seen firsthand what's been accomplished in a short period of time and she's excited about the project's potential. A portion of all sales of Mirasol books and yarns is contributed to the Mirasol Project.

Jane will talk about the design process and her experiences as a designer, then she'll show off a bunch of samples from the Mirasol books. We've had a sneak peek and they're fabulous! She'll also talk about the progress of the Mirasol Project.

After their talks, Jane and Cheryl will sign patterns and books and chat with guests. The designers' books, patterns and Mirasol yarns will be 10% off the regular price at this event and we'll take special orders for any books or yarn colours that we don't have in stock.

Then we'll head down the street to Urban Yarns for some casual chitchat with wine and nibbles on hand. Should be fun!

We've sold a lot of tickets for this event and space is limited so if you'd like to attend, don't delay! To purchase a ticket, either send an email or phone us at 604-228-1122. And if we're sold out when you call sometime next week, don't say we didn't warn you...

Rowan Books Part 2

2008-10-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

As promised, here's the trio of gorgeous Rowan Classic books for Fall, all designs by Martin Storey.

Winter Gifts has a delightful collection of gift ideas:

It's a fantastic collection of fresh takes on typical gift items like hats, scarves, socks, gloves and mitts. There's also a cute cardi, a vest, a shrug, legwarmers, as well as a tea cosy and hot water bottle cover. Our friend Jen's knitting the hot water bottle cover for someone special - it's going to be a very snuggly and treasured gift. Get inspired ideas for your Christmas gift knitting with this book. Yup, it's that time of year again...

Vintage has a tempting collection of cardis and pullovers in beautiful contemporary classic styles:

All knit in luxurious RYC DK weight yarns.

And the third book is Alpine, with a cozy collection of cardis, coats and pullovers that will keep you warm in the chilly winter weather that's around the corner:

These designs are knit in beautiful RYC aran and chunky weight yarns.

They're coffee table quality books, with stunning photographs and designs that are second to none. Definitely worth a look...

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-10-11T10:39:00.001-07:00

We'll be open in both stores this weekend on Saturday and Sunday but closed on Thanksgiving Monday.

If you're looking for some Thanksgiving knitting inspiration, check out the November 22, 2007 post at Habetrot Knitting. LOL.

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving weekend!

Remarkable Rowan

2008-10-10T16:32:00.000-07:00

Every season Rowan publishes stacks of design books that are incredibly inspiring. When the new books arrive, we gather around, flip through the pages and drool over the fantastic new designs. There are always way too many choices...

This season is no exception. Rowan kicked off the Fall knitting season in July with Magazine 44, a special anniversary issue. Fabulous as ever.

The Cocoon Collection is another new Rowan book for Fall:

With sixteen enticing designs using the luscious Cocoon yarn, an uber-soft merino and kid mohair mix with a 14 stitch gauge for quick results. There are many tempting projects in this one.

And check out The Colourscape Chunky Collection:

This collection has fourteen terrific new designs by Sarah Hatton using the fantastic new Colourscape Chunky yarn by Kaffe Fassett. This 100% lambswool yarn is created by a unique process - only 300 kils per machine can be produced in a week. The colours of this yarn are absolutely amazing, from deep mysterious tones of purples, maroons and turquoise to the softness of dusty pastels. Drop by sometime and have a look at this beautiful new yarn.

The British Sheep Breeds Collection is another great new Rowan book for Fall. Classic designs, classic yarn, Rowan's gone back to its roots with this one.

Next up are the Rowan Studio books featuring up to the minute contemporary designs published every two months. The cutting edge of fashion... This is Issue Seven, Twists and Turns:

Featuring seven elegant classics with a twist. The designs feature a sampling of Rowan's yarns including Wool Cotton, Kid Classic, Scottish Tweed DK, Big Wool and Kid Silk Haze. We have 'em all...

And to top it all off, there's Kim Hargreaves' fabulous series of books for Rowan yarns. Her latest, Thrown Together, has sixteen terrific designs:

We adore this book and the luscious yarns that go with it. Big Wool, Calmer, Felted Tweed, Kid Classic, Kid Silk Haze, Kid Silk Aura, all on our shelves.

We also have Kim Hargreaves' popular books Nectar and Heartfelt. This is Heartfelt, The Dark House Collection:

With another twenty-one fantastic designs for a variety of Rowan yarns including Big Wool, Biggy Print, Calmer, Cocoon, Felted Tweed, Handknit Cotton, Kid Classic, Kid Silk Haze, Kid Silk Aura and Summer Tweed, they're all out on our shelves.

Check out the Cherish Cardigan, a fabulous fitted cropped cardi with garter stitch edging, slightly flared sleeves and single button fastening. A quick knit with just 4 - 5 balls of Big Wool on 12mm needles. If you're a Big Wool fan, you'll be happy to know that we've just added three colours to our Big Wool special at 40% off:

They're a great bargain at only $9.57 per ball. These colours aren't yet in Edgemont but they'll arrive sometime next week.

Remarkably, there are even more Rowan books this season. We haven't yet shown the three fabulous Rowan Classic books that were recently published. Stay tuned for more details...

Beautiful Babies

2008-10-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

Have a look at these adorable babes:

This is Baby Bamboo Too, the new pattern book for Sirdar's popular Baby Bamboo yarn. Made from 100% natural bamboo and wool, it's gorgeously soft for wearing next to a baby's skin. This book features sixteen wonderful designs for babies and children to age 7 years.

We also have some sweet new leaflet patterns for Baby Bamboo, like this little cardigan:

So cute. Knit it with a collar or add a snuggly hood.

And check out the fantastic new book for Snuggly DK, Little Speckled Chicks:

With 12 cozy, speckled knits for babies and children to age 7 years. Snuggly DK is a great easy-care machine washable yarn and we have lots of it.

There's also the charming Little Sweet Peas book for Snuggly DK:

It's crammed full of twenty-two beautiful designs for little ones up to 7 years of age. And the Sirdar books are great value at only $14.95.

Last but not least, it's a Sirdar special this week: Snowflake Chunky at 40% off. We have two colours on sale, a sparkly white and a pastel rainbow shade. These are big fluffy 50g balls with 125 metres of yarn. Perfect for knitting some cozy garments or blankets for your own beautiful babies...

Heavenly Handmaiden

2008-10-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

We have loads of lovely new Handmaiden in both stores. These colours give us an almost irresistible urge to grab a skein and start knitting:

More hand-dyed splendour:

Stunning Samira Silk:

There are scrumptious new colours of 2 and 4 ply cashmere, heaps of kits like Devin's toques, Casbah Socks, Bias Shawls, Storm Water Scarves and Shawls and more. We have several skeins of the luscious new Maiden Hair in Point Grey with lots more to arrive in both stores sometime soon.

Want more details? Check out the Handmaiden site or come in for a visit and see for yourself...

New Lessons

2008-10-01T23:48:00.000-07:00

Take a knitting or crochet lesson and learn a new skill this Fall!

These ladies had fun learning how to crochet the beautiful Babette Blanket this summer:

We've just added two new lessons to our Point Grey Class Schedule. Sivia Harding will teach a Toe Up Sock Class starting Wednesday, October 22, from 7 - 9 p.m. Get a perfect fit for your socks with the toe-up technique. And Sandra Dunkin will teach another Beginner Knitting Class starting Thursday, November 13, from 7 - 9 p.m.

There are several other lessons starting in Point Grey over the next few weeks. Deanna will teach a Beginners Crochet class, starting next Monday, October 6, from 7 - 9 p.m. Sock Boot Camps are scheduled for Tuesday, October 14 or 28, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. You'll learn to knit a sock in just one day! And Sivia Harding will give a Jewelry Knitting Clinic on Wednesday, October 15, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Take one look at Sivia's stunning sample necklace that's on display in Point Grey and you'll want to take this class.

We also have some excellent lessons starting soon in Edgemont. Donna will teach a Felted Bag class starting next Tuesday, October 7, from 7 - 9 p.m. She'll also teach a Beginners Knitting class, starting on Tuesday, October 14, from 7 - 9 p.m. Nick will take you beyond the basics in Intermediate Knitting, starting this Thursday, October 2, from 7 - 9 p.m. Or learn to knit Fingerless Gloves starting on Thursday October 6, from 7 - 9 p.m.

For more information, check out our entire class schedule.

Drop by Point Grey this Sunday, October 6 to learn the hairpin lace technique. Astor Tsang will demonstrate the technique all afternoon, there's no charge and no need to register. You'll quickly learn to easily create some unique hairpin lace pieces, like this elegant shawl or a fabulous scarf.

Astor will also teach a Yarn 101 Class on the second Sunday of each month in Point Grey, starting October 12, from 11 a.m. - noon. She'll give a tour of the yarn in the shop, discussing materials, gauge and yarn substitutions. Bring a pattern you love and challenge Astor to find the perfect yarn for the pattern! You must pre-register by the preceding Thursday for this class. There's a $5. charge which you may apply towards any yarn purchased that day.

And don't forget about our Jane Ellison event at UBC on Saturday, October 25, from 12 noon - 3:00 p.m. Tickets are selling fast and seating is limited so register early to avoid disappointment. Should be tons of fun!

Weekly Specials

2008-09-30T23:49:00.000-07:00

This week it's Teva Durham's Moss, a gorgeous extra fine merino with 15% nylon for extra strength. Love the colour palette, we have all eight colours in stock. The yardage is a generous 147 metres per 50g ball. It's a versatile DK yarn with a 22 stitch gauge on 4mm needles so there are endless pattern possibilities. It's 40% off at $7.77 per ball.

We didn't blog about last week's special but it was mentioned in our September newsletter. It's Rowan Soft Baby:

We have loads of the cream colour in both stores and little bits of the other three colours in Point Grey only. This is a supersoft and fuzzy yarn that's perfect for baby garments and blankets. It's a mix of wool, polyamide and cotton with 150 metres per 50g ball and a 20 stitch gauge on 4.5mm needles. 50% off at $5.48 per ball.

I recently knit a baby blanket with Soft Baby:

The finished size is 32 x 33 inches and it knits up quickly holding two strands of yarn together on 6.5mm needles. One of those great mindless knitting projects, perfect for knitting when helping with homework or while watching Roger Federer win the US Open. You'll need eight balls of Soft Baby to knit the blanket and the pattern's free when you buy the yarn.

Shop Talk

2008-09-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

We enjoy hanging out in our stores, helping fellow knitters find the perfect yarn for the perfect project. It's the best job we've ever had.

And so inspiring! Every day we see beautiful and amazing knitted pieces that ooze creativity and a passion for the craft. This is one of the most stunning pieces we've seen lately:

Natalie creates her own Kaffe Fasset inspired masterpieces, chock a block full of colours, shapes and textures. This amazing piece of art was knit with Fleece Artist Goldilocks yarn that has sadly been discontinued. Incredibly gorgeous. Thanks for sharing, Natalie.

We also love hearing the appreciative comments that flow freely in our stores. It's so rewarding to hear all the oohs and aahs as yarn is fondled and books are reviewed. That's what keeps us going on days when there are too many cheques to be signed, mixed up shipments, squirrels in the storage cupboad (seriously!) and the multitude of other not-quite-so-nice parts of this business.

Not to brag or anything but we've heard some pretty nice comments lately. The lovely lady who writes the Under the Influence blog had this to say about us after a recent visit from Toronto:

"It's a very well-kept store with substantial selection: comprehensive Fleece Artist and Noro selections, and Mission Falls & Cascade, Mirasol, Indigo Moon, Rowan, Blue Sky Alpacas, Alchemy, a little bit of just about everything else, and a sale section where you could do serious damage... I found Urban Yarns a memorable store not just because of their inventory but because of their comfortable store atmosphere and enthusiastic and professional staff. When I mentioned I was visiting from Toronto the owner gave me a very friendly tour of their store, showed me sale items and new additions to the inventory and showed off sample knits they'd just received in. They know where every piece of their stock is, and could tell me just how many skeins remained of any yarn I'd had my eye on... These ladies know their business and know their customers."

And Valerie from New Jersey sent us this happy email after her visit this summer:

"Thanks for a great visit in your two yarn stores while I was there on vacation in Vancouver from New Jersey! You are truly my favourite yarn store now! Thanks for being so kind and welcoming to your store and your city. I really enjoyed myself."

Well, I guess we are bragging a bit but you have to pat yourself on the back once in a while, don't you?

Today we overheard one of the more quirky comments ever in Point Grey:

Customer to Nick: "Do you have any 3 ply acrylic?"

Nick to customer: "What are you planning to knit?"

Customer to Nick: "Oh no, it's for flossing my teeth."

True story.

Thanks to all of our loyal UY customers for your constant inspiration and appreciation. We couldn't do it without you....

Cathy was Killed Today

2008-09-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

Have you met Cathy?

She's an occasional UY staffer who's always up for anything fun. When she heard about Hat Attack, she signed up right away. Sadly she's been too busy to knit much of her hat this week and today she met her demise.

Helen of Liverpool has confessed to the crime. She sent a card to her victim:

This is the note inside the card:

In case you have trouble reading the note, it says: "Hello Cathy, I'm sorry to say that you are dead. Slain with a blue and green horror. May it keep you warm in the afterlife." And yes, in the photo above Cathy's wearing the 'blue and green horror' that killed her. Too funny...

Are the rest of you Hat Attackers still alive? Let us know how you're doing in the competition...

Pure Bliss

2008-09-24T22:40:00.000-07:00

Had a cup of tea this afternoon while flipping through the pages of the fabulous new Debbie Bliss magazine:

It's awesome! There are more than 30 designs including a collection of fashion knits, contemporary home designs and adorable baby blankets.

The magazine has a wonderful personal flavour with Debbie's style, wit and charm evident throughout. After reading her Editor's letter and checking out an eclectic assortment of Debbie's favourite things in "the Blissful Life" section, I almost felt as if I'd had my cup of tea at her kitchen table. The only thing missing was the enticing plate of scones with strawberry jam and cream featured on page 11. I'll try that recipe sometime soon...

Debbie also has a wonderful new collection of yarn and books. There's Rialto 4 ply:

A lovely lightweight addition to the popular Rialto range. And there's a great new book, Rialto Classics:

With a fantastic collection of knits for men, women and children in the Rialto line.

Como is a another fantastic new Debbie Bliss yarn:

This one's a superchunky roving that's mainly wool with her trademark touch of cashmere. Quick to knit and light to wear. And there's an accompanying book, Como:

It's a collection of sixteen designs for some quick and simple knits.

Finally there's Winter Essentials, with twelve designs using the Cashmerino, Donegal Tweed and Alpaca Silk lines:

From relaxed cardigan coats to a cozy cabled wrap, it's all incredibly inspiring!

Debbie Bliss has outdone herself with this latest collection of books and yarns, there's something for everyone. Drop by and have a look sometime soon...

So Cute

2008-09-22T15:50:00.000-07:00

This adorable little tot fell asleep on our tangerine couch while mom shopped. Lucky mom!

The snuggly cover is the Big Bad Baby Blanket from Stitch 'n Bitch, knit with Koigu PPP Merino.

Thanks for the photo, Alexa...

New Noro

2008-09-20T11:15:00.001-07:00

If you're a Noro fan (and really, who isn't?) you're going to love the new Fall books.

There's Noro Family by Jane Ellison:

This one features eighteen designs for men, women and children using several Noro yarns including the new Silk Garden Chunky and Silk Garden Sock.

Noro 24 is another great new Noro book:

What a stunning creation on the cover. This is another fantastic collection of designs using a number of different Noro yarns.

Last but not least is Catwalk:

With sixteen designs by Jenny Watson, taking inspiration from the fashion runways of the world. These designs utilize a great selection of Noro yarns including Kureyon, Silk Garden, Silk Garden Lite and more.

Wondering about our special this week? Better late than never... We've picked a book special for a change, it's a fantastic resource book if you're knitting for kids these days:

"Style Your Own Kids Knits" is full of inspiration for creating your own unique knits for kids. It begins with several basic patterns for different sweater styles including jackets, pullovers and vests. There are instructions for customizing your garment with collars, hoods, pockets and other options. Then flip through the pages of choices for borders and embellishments to further customize your project. And finally, check out the fabulous collection of cute motif patterns to truly personalize your kid's sweater. There are animals, fish, pirates, ghosts, soccer balls and many, many more. I rate this book a ten out of ten and best of all, it's 40% off the regular price!

And here's some late-breaking news: Becky and Jess spent yesterday unpacking boxes and boxes of Fleece Artist that arrived this week. Most of it's now hanging on our walls in both stores in splendid hand-dyed beauty. There are loads of great new colours and kits, stay tuned for more details....

British Sheep Breeds Collection

2008-09-17T22:08:00.002-07:00

Rowan has joined up with British farmers and Yorkshire mills to produce a new yarn for Fall 08. This yarn is shorn and blended from British sheep and spun into beautifully undyed yarn at mills in Yorkshire. The wool is hard wearing, with its natural lanolin intact, providing superb protection against our chilly Canadian winters.

The collection includes five undyed colours that come from different breeds of sheep, including Bluefaced Leicester, Jacob, Black Welsh and Suffolk.

There's a fabulous accompanying book:

With twelve excellent designs by Marie Wallin.

Knitters Review published a glowing review of this yarn which you can read right here.

We join Clara Parkes in applauding Rowan... "for rediscovering its British roots and bringing public attention to the unique sheep breeds that still roam the British countryside... With each skein purchased, we're not just getting a good yarn but we're also helping support sheep farmers in the British hills and millworkers in Yorkshire. Their trades are built upon knowledge and skills that we can't afford to lose."

Jane Ellison

2008-09-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

We're excited to announce that Jane Ellison will be joining us for an event on Saturday, October 25, from 12 noon - 3 pm. Mark your calendars...

Jane is a fabulous knitwear designer and a very sweet person, with tons of experience in the knitting industry. She first completed a degree in fashion with a knitwear specialty, then worked with both Rowan Yarns and Debbie Bliss and subsequently published a multitude of knitting designs.

Her first book was Simply Noro, published in 2003:

It was a smash success and in the last five years Jane has amazingly published another thirty books!

She's produced some of our favourite Noro books like Noro Knits, Naturally Noro, Pure Noro, Joy, and the latest, Noro Family.

And in the past year she's published three books for the Mirasol line of yarns. Sales of these yarns help to support the Mirasol Project, a cause that is very dear to Jane's heart.

Jane will bring loads of sample garments. She'll talk about her experiences as a knitting designer and the design process. And she'll share some of her experiences with the Mirasol Project in Peru as she's seen firsthand the remarkable accomplishments of this program.

We've booked space at the UBC Golf Club for this event and the admission fee will be $10. Participants will receive a 10% discount on any purchases of Mirasol yarn or Jane's books on the day of the event. Phone us at 604-228-1122 or send an email to reserve your spot. Should be tons of fun!

Mirasol

2008-09-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

Check out Jane Ellison's fabulous Mirasol Book III:

There are loads of fantastic designs as well as some wonderful photos shot in Yorkshire, UK.

And we have two stunning new Mirasol yarns. Tupa is a gorgeous combo of merino and silk:

Love the lustrous sheen...

We also have the lovely Qina, a beautifully soft blend of baby alpaca and bamboo. The Mirasol yarns are all so tempting, with beautiful, rich colour palettes.

And we've re-stocked our shelves with several other luscious Mirasol yarns like Hacho, Miski, Sulka and T'ika.

We feel good buying these yarns because a portion of all the Mirasol sales benefit the disadvantaged Peruvian community where the yarn originates. The Mirasol Project is named after a young girl named Mirasol who, with her younger brother, tends 350 alpacas. The Project funds a boarding house for the local alpaca shepherds' families in Mallkimi, Peru, where impoverished children like Mirasol now benefit from an education and other important resources that Canadian children take for granted. In less than one year, over $160,000. Cdn. was contributed to the Mirasol Project from the sale of Mirasol yarn. Read more about the Mirasol Project right here. What a wonderful story...

Mission Falls

2008-09-09T13:05:00.000-07:00

Go Canadian with Mission Falls, one of our most popular lines. There's a terrific range of contemporary colours. And all MF yarns are machine washable which is very appealing for those of us who can't seem to keep food and drink off our hand-knit garments.

The Mission Falls line of yarns has recently been expanded with a new DK weight 136 Merino superwash wool yarn. It's available in all the fabulous colours of Mission Falls 1824 cotton and wool:

And there are two new pattern books. Dreamer 136 is a great collection of ten women's designs in the new 136 Merino:

Mission Falls Goes Crochet includes twelve fantastic crocheted designs that use either 1824 wool or 1824 cotton:

1824 wool and 1824 cotton are conveniently interchangeable, both with the same gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows to a 10 centimetre square.

We have several Mission Falls pattern books in our stores with designs for both adults and kids. The new yarn and books are currently on the shelves in Point Grey and ~~they should arrive~~ arrived in Edgemont today. If you haven't yet had this yarn on your needles or hooks, you should really check it out....

Back to School

2008-09-07T23:55:00.000-07:00

Summer's almost over and the air is crisp. It's time to pick up the needles and knit some cozy things for the chilly days ahead... Why not learn a new skill while you're at it? You can go back to school this Fall - we have some great classes scheduled for you.

Monday night it's all about crochet in Point Grey. First up is the Crocheted Amigurumi Class starting on September 15, 7 - 9 pm. You'll learn to make a cute little crocheted amigurumi doll in just two nights. Basic crochet skills are required for this class. If you can't crochet but would like to learn how, register for Beginner Crochet, starting on October 6, 7 - 9 pm, for four consecutive Mondays.

Tuesday evenings in Edgemont will see Beginner Knitting starting on September 30, 7 - 9 pm for four sessions, and a Felted Bags class starting on October 7, 7 - 9 pm, also for four sessions. In Point Grey we'll run the popular Sock Boot Camp where you'll learn to knit a sock in just one night. There are six SBC's scheduled with the first camp running on Tuesday, September 16 from 6 - 9 pm.

Sandra Dunkin will teach her popular Aran Block of the Month class in Edgemont on Wednesday evenings, 6 - 8 pm., starting on October 1. This class runs over 7 months, starting with simple twist patterns and progressing each month to more advanced cable work. You'll complete a new block every month and by the last class you'll be ready to finish your gorgous afghan! In Point Grey, the talented Sivia Harding will teach a Beginner Lace Knitting class, starting on September 17, 7 - 9 pm for four sessions. You'll learn to knit Sivia's beautiful Moonshadow Stole. Sivia will also teach a Jewelry Knitting class later this Fall, stay tuned for further details.

There are some great options on Thursday evenings in Edgemont with an Intermediate Knitting Class starting on October 2, a Hat Class starting on October 9 and a Fingerless Glove class starting on November 6. These classes will all run from 7 - 9 pm. Take your pick! And in Point Grey it's back to the basics with a Beginner Knitting class starting on September 11, 7 - 9 pm for four sessions. If you're ready to move beyond the basics, sign up for Beyond Beginner Knitting starting on October 9, 7 - 9 pm, also for four sessions.

Christa will be back in Point Grey on Friday afternoons, 1:00 - 2:30 pm, with her Painless Project sessions. Take this class to get help with a current project or to learn a new technique. Sign up for one or more classes, the first one runs on September 12.

Astor Tsang will be waiting for you on Sunday mornings in Point Grey with her Knitting Q & A class, 11:00 am to 12 noon. Bring your projects and questions to this quiet semi-private lesson for help with pattern reading, complicated stitches or finishing. Astor also has some great demos planned for the Fall, watch for further details in the next few weeks. Sandra Dunkin will run her Aran Block of the Month class in Point Grey on Sunday afternoons, 12:00 - 2:00 pm., starting on October 5.

Whew, what a great list of classes, I'm going to try to drop by and pick up a few new skills myself. For more information, have a look at our class schedule.

And if you don't see what you're looking for, we're happy to customize a class for you. We'll set up a lesson for one or more students with flexible class times. Grab a couple of friends and have fun learning a new skill together. For more details, phone Kathleen or Becky at 604-228-1122.

Simply Sublime

2008-09-05T20:33:00.000-07:00

We have a sublime new yarn, Organic Merino Wool DK:

It's gently dyed with environmentally friendly products, using the softest organic merino wool fibers from Australia. Go green with this one.

And there's a great new accompanying pattern book, with twenty fabulous designs for women, men, girls and boys:

It's an inspiring collection of knits for cosy winter layering.

If you're knitting for babies these days, be sure to check out the new Sublime book with nineteen designs for babies from 0 - 3 years:

Both the patterns and babies are adorable.

There's also a fantastic new Sublime pattern book for kids aged one to twelve years of age:

This one is crammed full of fun and trendy designs that are perfect for any kids wardrobe. There are twenty-three designs in all. Simply sublime indeed!

Our special this week is RYC Soft Tweed at 50% off the regular price. This is a luxurious chunky yarn that's perfect for new winter projects.

We have loads of new yarns, books, patterns and notions going out on the shelves right now and there's lots more on the way. It's a very inspiring time of year!

Boxes and Boxes

2008-09-03T21:18:00.001-07:00

Man are we getting boxes...

Too busy to post but stay tuned for details.

Hat Attack

2008-08-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for Hat Attack? It's a friendly 'Kill or be Killed' competition where the weapon of choice is a hat. You'll be assigned a target and given a pattern. Your goal is to knit a hat and mail it to your target before you are killed by receiving one yourself. The last assassin standing will be awarded US$500. worth of SWTC yarn. Sign up right here before September 16 and if you do, be sure to join the Hat Attack group on Ravelry.

Hat Attack is sponsored by SWTC to launch their new yarn, Therapi. It just arrived in our stores:

It's a gorgeous new yarn that's 30% bowlder (jadeite ) fibre, 50% fine wool and 20% silk. A very cool mix.

We also have more of the wonderful Indigo Moon Handpainted and Semi-Solid Merino:

Very nice stuff. And there's a bunch of DP WIP tubes from Nancy's Knick Knacks going out on the shelves today. The WIP tube is a clever little tool that holds your DP needles together with your current project to prevent the loss of needles and stitches. A fantastic gadget for all you sock-knitters.

We recently published our Fall Lesson Schedule. There are some fabulous lessons starting soon in both Edgemont and Point Grey. Check out the entire lesson schedule right here.

And our special yarn this week is Rowan Big Wool Fusion at 50% off the regular price:

Only $7.98 for a big 100g ball of pure wool. Fusion knits to the same tension as Big Wool so it can be used for any Big Wool pattern. It has a surface dye effect which results in some lovely subtle, muted colours.

Drop by, have a look at the new yarn and pick up a new project to knit over the Labour Day long weekend. We'll be open as usual in both stores on Saturday and Sunday but closed on Monday. Hope you have a relaxing long weekend!

What was in the Boxes?

2008-08-24T11:38:00.000-07:00

Becky's been bustling around unpacking all the boxes and most of it's now on the shelves.

We have bags and bags of new Noro. Absolutely fabulous as usual. Our favourite is the Silk Garden Chunky:

We also love the new Silk Garden Sock and Maiko. And we've re-stocked a bunch of Noro yarns in our favourite colourways. Try knitting Interweave's Kochoron mittens with just one skein.

We also have loads of new Malabrigo Lace, Worsted Merino, Gruesa and Silky Merino. It all looks absolutely divine. Malabrigo Sock will arrive next week. And check out Malabrigo Book One, by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton:

There's tons of new Sirdar Snuggly DK and Baby Bamboo:

There are now sixteen colours of Baby Bamboo and we have most of them.... We also have some great new Sirdar magazines and leaflets. Like the fanatastic new Eco Wool DK Book II:

There are some fantastic new designs in this one.

We also loaded up our shelves with tons more Debbie Bliss yarn this week. New colours of Cashmerino Aran, Cashmerino Baby, Cashmerino Chunky, Cashmerino DK, Alpaca Silk Aran, Alpaca Silk DK and more. Her new yarn and books will be coming soon. Also her new magazine which should arrive in early September.

Speaking of Debbie, we're sad to report that she's had to cancel on our Whistler retreat, she's booked for surgery in October (nothing serious but surgery nonetheless) and her doctors have advised her not to fly that month. As you can imagine, it's not easy to fit into Debbie's busy schedule so the retreat is postponed indefinitely. Maybe next year... We're still hoping to schedule Jane Ellison for a visit, she's a great up and coming designer for Noro, Mirasol and many others. We'll keep you posted.

Jill's Lace and other Tidbits

2008-08-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

That's Jill modelling a gorgeous shawl of her own design:

She used a combination of lace patterns from Vogue's Ultimate Knitting Book. It's knit with the luscious Handmaiden Sea Silk. Very inspiring...

And talk about inspiring, Julie's been knitting some beautiful capelets with Fleece Artist Dreadlocks. Just 1 skein, a beautiful buckle, a couple of movies and voila:

That's Julie modelling her capelet in Victoria. She's one of our regular mail order customers, now trusting Kathleen to pick out colours for her. She liked the fabulous colours of her first Dreadlocks shipment so much that she quickly ordered another 3 skeins. Julie's been busy knitting capelets for her friends and family, here's another version modelled by one of her friends:

We have the pattern (thanks Julie!) so just ask if you'd like one. Dreadlocks is one of our current specials and sadly we can't get any more so quantities are limited.

Our special this week is Rowan Plaid at 70% off. We mentioned this one a few days ago, it's a lovely, soft combo of wool, alpaca and acrylic. Only $7.79 for a big, beautiful ball, 100g, 100 metres. Can't go wrong at that price...

And late-breaking news, we have tons of new stuff going out on the shelves as we speak. Yesterday we received fifteen boxes in Point Grey and a bunch of new boxes in Edgemont as well. There's also loads of new stuff on the way like Malabrigo sock yarn and SWTC Therapi for Hat Attack. No time to tell you all the details but stay tuned for more info next time...

More New Rowan

2008-08-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

We've unpacked another brand new Rowan yarn, Shimmer. When you get the urge to go glam, add a little glitter to a project with this sparkly new yarn.

We also have Kim Hargreaves FABULOUS new books, Heartfelt and Nectar. Kim has over twenty years of design experience and it shows. We're drooling over the designs... We're almost sold out of Heartfelt but don't despair, there are more on the way. They'll be here soon, just leave your name and we'll phone when they arrive.

And if you're knitting for babies these days, you'll love the new Rowan Milk Cotton Baby Collection. Another lovely collection of designs for little ones that's hard to resist!

Lazy Summer Days

2008-08-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

We're loving the sunshine! The warm weather is even more welcome than usual after the long rainy winter we endured this year. It's very hard to sit inside at the computer while that glorious sun shines. So blog posts may be sporadic as long as the sun stays around...

Anina had some lazy summer days in July at her family cottage in Quebec, knitting natch:

She knit a great little boy's sweater with Sirdar Denim Chunky. Here's her nephew modelling:

We've always liked this design; it's not always easy to find a good boys sweater pattern. This one was recently discontinued so we'll happily photocopy our store copy for you without charge.

Anina also knit a great hoodie for her son, Luc, with the wonderful Rowan Plaid yarn:

This is a free online pattern from Lion Brand yarn, #10520. You can see more of Anina's completed projects on Ravelry. She's "aahknit".

Rowan Plaid is a great blend of wool, alpaca and acrylic with many fantastic colour combos. It's a discontinued yarn that's currently on sale at our stores for only $7.79. These are big 100g, 100 metre balls. Here's a close-up:

Love it.

And better late than never, our special this week is Rowan Kidsilk Spray at 30% off. This one's a sumptuous blend of 70% kid mohair and 30% silk. The beautiful variegated shades give an added depth to this lustrous yarn. It's a close relative of Kidsilk Night that's also on sale at 30% off. We're almost sold out of KSN and can't get more so if you want some, don't delay.

Now back to the sun until further notice...

Quick Study

2008-08-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

Meet local knitting designer, Cheryl Niamath:

She's a fantastic designer whose first pattern, Fetching, was published in Summer Knitty 06. We have to admit, we were a bit surprised to see Cheryl in Knitty knowing that she'd knit her first scarf just two years earlier (bright green Garnstudios Eskimo, fyi). That's right, other than a few early attempts at knitting with her granny, this girl hadn't touched a set of needles before Summer, 04.

And now there are almost 7,000 ravelers who have posted Fetching photos. Unbelievable.

Cheryl's become a prolific creative force and we're loving her designs. Anina and Becky knit these adorable Sprout hats:

Becky knit the pale blue hat with Diamond Luxury Fine Merino Aran. Anina used Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran. A fast and fun project.

Cheryl's excited about her new Fall designs. Her beautiful skirt pattern, 'Inari' is in Fall Knitscene. And her gorgeous wrap design, 'False Modesty' was published in the first issue of Knotions, another fabulous new e-zine. She's even cracked Winter Interweave Knits with a fantastic mitten design. Very cool.

Kudos Cheryl! Your designs are incredibly inspiring. Keep up the excellent work.

Anina's Back

2008-08-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

She's been knitting up a storm the last few weeks and photos have been promised. I've seen one item so far, it's the fabulous Ski Beanie from Son of Stitch and Bitch. This is a great hat for men or women, my darling Tween has already asked for one. I'm predicting this will be one of our 'must-knit' items for Fall.

In addition to promising photos, Anina has promised martinis and a full show of her FO's tonight. Can't wait!

Aslan Trends

2008-08-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

A gorgeous new line of yarn with a beautiful book of designs:

And we love the dog...

We have four scrumptious new Aslan Trends yarns, Del Sur, Ecolana, Guanaco and Invernal. Knock yourself out!

Weekly Special

2008-08-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

This week it's Rowan Scottish Tweed 4 ply at 30% off the regular price. That's only $4.87 for a beautiful 100% wool tweed. We have many gorgeous colours of this yarn on the shelves in both stores.

And we have some special little tidbits for Edgemont, there are a couple of colours of Rowan 4 ply soft on sale at 25% off. And we've added several sizes of addi turbo needles to the sale bin at 40% off. Sadly we can't keep every single size in stock, we have to say good-bye to some of them.

Check out all of our yarn specials right here. Then pick up a great new project to knit at the beach. Isn't this sunshine fabulous?

Fall Rowan Books and Yarn

2008-08-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

It's always an exciting week when the new Fall Rowan books and yarn arrive. We'll never forget our first Fall season. The Rowan lovers were excitedly hovering as we unpacked the new boxes. And they soon walked out with stacks of full bags in their arms. You know who you are...

Well it's that time of year again. This week we received four new Rowan books, three new Rowan yarns for Fall and three brand-spanking new books from the Rowan Classic line.

There's a new book to go with the Cocoon yarn that we gushed about earlier this week. It has sixteen fabulous designs by Marie Wallin and Sarah Hatton.

There's also The Colourscape Chunky Collection with twelve beautiful designs by Sarah Hatton. This book showcases the stunning new Colourscape Chunky yarn with colours by Kaffe Fasset.

The British Sheep Breeds Collection features twelve easy to wear designs for the new Purelife British Sheepbreeds yarn.

And The Organic Wool Collection has twelve wonderful designs for, you guessed it, the new Purelife Organic Wool.

The three RYC books are Book 27 Winter Gifts, Book 28 Vintage and Book 29 Alpine. Gorgeous designs and photography as usual.

Be sure to phone or drop by this weekend if there's anything you can't live without. Some of it may not last long...

And if you have a chance, take a look at the new online knitting zine, the Twist Collective, with some fantastic designs. The first issue was published today. This one's going on my favourites list.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!

PS If you're wondering about our holiday weekend hours, we'll be open as usual on Saturday and Sunday in both stores. We'll also be open in Point Grey on Monday from noon - 5 p.m. but we'll be closed in Edgemont that day.

Twisted Sticks

2008-07-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

We have the beautiful new Twisted Stick pewter brooches from Perl Grey:

They come with one wooden stick - choose your favourite colour.

Hold a shawl together or embellish a sweater with a twist!

Weekly Special

2008-07-29T23:39:00.000-07:00

Our special yarn this week is Sirdar Denim Sport Aran at 30% off. A sister of the Denim Tweed DK that was our special last week. These are big 100g balls with 237m of machine washable yarn that will knit to an 18st gauge on 5mm needles.

There are also a few skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn on sale at 25% off. We're making room for a big new batch of LLSS that will arrive very soon.

And we've culled our leaflets again. There are some great designs by Alchemy, Blue Sky, Fiber Trends, Fiddlesticks, Noni, Pick Up Sticks, Sirdar and more on sale at 50% off.

Have a look at all of our current specials right here. There are loads of fantastic yarns at incredible prices.

Cocoon

2008-07-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

Check out the beautiful new colours of Rowan Cocoon:

Have you touched this yarn? It's one of the softest wools ever - 80% merino, 20% kid mohair. And the price has dropped this season to $16.95 for a 100g ball.

There are big boxes full of new stuff arriving every week, this is an exciting time of year! Stay tuned...

Rowan Magazine 44

2008-07-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

Look what arrived today...

It's a special issue to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Rowan yarns.

There are three stories, Nostalgia, Renaissance and Elegance. Each has beautiful designs shown in stunning photographs.

A great way to kick off your Fall knitting...

Weekly Special

2008-07-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

Our special this week is Sirdar Denim Tweed DK at 30% off the regular price. This is a nice light yarn for summer knitting, with 25% cotton in the mix. And it's machine washable. We have loads of DK weight patterns that will work well with this yarn.

And we've added a bunch of new books and magazines to our sale section. There are new titles from Colinette, Debbie Bliss, Rebecca, Rowan and RYC on the sale shelves at up to 50% off the regular price. These won't last long...

What's New

2008-07-22T16:25:00.000-07:00

The boxes continue to arrive at our door so we have lots of new tidbits to share...

We unpacked some beautiful Fleece Artist Soft Wavy Wrap kits:

These are 250g Baby Alpaca and 250g Mo. The wrap is easy to knit with alternating rows of these yumilicious yarns on 7mm needles.

And we pulled out some Handmaiden Casbah sock yarn in stunning new colourways:

Casbah is 80% superwash merino, 10% nylon and 10% cashmere for the softest socks ever.

Here's a photo of the luscious Art Yarns Beaded Rhapsody that we mentioned last week:

Gotta love it.

We have a new Sirdar yarn, Eco Wool DK:

This is 100% non-dyed virgin wool with purely natural products used in the processing to keep the wool as natural as possible. There's a great accompanying pattern book:

With 22 great designs for women, men and young girls. Go green with this one...

Love the Sun

2008-07-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

And there's more on the way... There's been a severe shortage of sun this year in Vancouver so I can't seem to sit at the computer for long these days. While I tap away at the keyboard I see the empty deck chairs outside and they're simply irresistible. So I'll try to cram all our news into one quick post, then back to soak up some sun.

Our special this week is Laines du Nord Cashsilk at 30% off. This is a beautiful merino, silk and cashmere yarn. And that's not all folks. We've dropped the price of our clearance section in Point Grey to 70% off. There are many great yarns at only $2.99 each, including some Rowan, Jaeger, Gedifra, Sirdar, Schachenmayr and more. And we've put a few Debbie Bliss yarns on sale in Point Grey at 40% off, including Cathay, Pure Cashmere and a couple of colours of Baby Cashmerino. We're still trying to make room for all the new stuff that will arrive next month...

And we continue to make some permanent price reductions as we receive new yarns at lower prices. This week we dropped the price of Colinette Point Five to $22.95 and Giotto to $29.95. We've also dropped Elspeth Lavold Silky Wool to $7.95. We don't have time to change all the labels but the new prices are in the computer so you'll receive the lower price at checkout.

Becky's been hard at work unpacking boxes this week. We replenished our supply of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, Sirdar Baby Bamboo and Louet Euroflax and Gems. The most stunning arrival this week is the gorgeous Art Yarns Beaded Rhapsody. It's a beautifully soft yarn with tiny sparkly beads running through it. One luscious skein will make a lovely scarf. A perfect little project to knit in the sun. That's where I"m heading right now....

Handmaiden Lace

2008-07-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

Ooh la la. We have stunning new shades of Seasilk, 70% silk & 30% seacell:

And scrumptious Mini Maiden, 50% silk & 50% wool:

There's also new Swiss Mountain Cashmere & Silk, 4 ply Cashmere and several other luscious tidbits from the Maidens. Yum.

Namaste

2008-07-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

You're going to love the new Namaste bags. The designs are better than ever.

And you couldn't find a nicer bunch of people than the gang at the helm of this business. They're friendly as can be with a laid back California vibe. The business started when Clint designed a set of glass needles as a Christmas present for his fiance, Kelly. Everyone who saw them wanted a set and the rest is history. They've kept it all in the family with Clint's sister, Dawn and mom, Toni now helping out. Even their dogs come to work with them...

All of the Namaste bags have a spacious interior and plenty of interior pockets for notions and whatever else you need to tuck inside. The Newport is the latest addition to the popular Cali Collection:

It's sleek design and solid structure make it an ideal multi-purpose handbag.

Love the hip simplicity of the Malibu:

A perfect beach bag.

The Laguna is another great looking bag. This one has exterior pockets and a detachable shoulder strap for extra storage and convenience:

The Cali Clutch is an elegant way to hold your needles, together with a few other essentials:

We also have the Messenger Bag, Needle Binder, Knit Tube and Vintage Bag.

And the best part? These bags are all great value, ranging in price from $59.95 to $69.95.

Last but not least is the Cali Cozy that will hold a set of needles:

It's a perfect gift for you or a friend at only $11.95. Or upgrade the gift with a beautiful set of Lantern Moon rosewood or ebony needles.

Sadly we didn't receive a full order so we have only a limited selection of the new bags. If this is your 'have to have' Summer item, don't delay. They won't last long. The good news is that we'll have more in the Fall...

Weekly Special

2008-07-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

Our special this week is Grignasco Infinity at 40% off the regular price. This one's 35% bamboo and 65% merino, with lots of great colour options. It's a great deal at only $4.77.

And we've reduced the price of a few of our specials including Rowan Chunky Cotton Chenille at 60% off, Chunky Print and Ribbon Twist at 50% off and selected colours of Big Wool at 40% off. Check out our entire specials list right here.

Diamond Luxury Collection

2008-07-07T14:51:00.000-07:00

We're blown away by the quality and value of this collection. One of our favourites is Alpaca Melange, an uber-soft 100% alpaca in subtle heather shades:

It's a DK weight with 100 metres to a 50g ball for only $7.95.

We also have Alpaca Peru that's just as soft. Same specs as Alpaca Melange without the heather, for only $6.95.

There's also a gorgeous new DL sock yarn, Foot Loose. It's 90% merino, 10% nylon and machine washable:

Grab a couple of skeins and knit a pair of socks for only $15.90.

We've also added the DL Merino Superwash line to our collection in 3 weights: 4 ply, DK and Aran, all for only $5.95 per ball:

This one's a great staple yarn for almost any project.

We've had the DL Baby Alpaca Sport for awhile. It's a velvety soft chunky yarn with loads of colour options.

And don't forget the DL Alpaca Cashmere that's on our specials list for only $4.17 per ball.

We think you're going to love this collection, better check it out...

New Books

2008-07-02T00:20:00.000-07:00

We have some wonderful new books on our shelves.

'Inspired to Knit, Creating Exquisite Handknits', is getting rave reviews:

Love the author's book dedication to her family, "Thanks for eating at the kitchen counter for more than a year while the dining room table was covered with "knitting stuff" and for putting up with a wife and mother who is "always knitting". See kids, there are other crazy moms out there... The book has a wide range of beautiful projects arranged by season, as well as four great mini-workshops.

Another great new title is 'Shibori Knitted Felts', by Alison Crowther-Smith:

This one has loads of beautiful felted designs, many using Japanese-inspired techniques such as beading, pleating and embroidery to manipulate and decorate the fabric. Rowan Scottish Tweeds are used for many of the designs; we have lots in stock. The pillows on the cover are going on my list.

For some fantastic contemporary takes on classic styles, check out 'Knitting Classic Style' by Veronik Avery:

There are 35 fabulous designs in this book. Love the Top-Down sweater on the cover and the Layered Skater's Top knit with Kid Silk Haze.

Have a look at Robin Melanson's book, 'Knitting New Mittens & Gloves' for some quick new projects:

This inspiring book has 28 gorgeous designs for gloves, mittens and arm warmers.

Be sure to flip through the pages of the new Noro book, 'Joy' featuring 14 Spring/Summer designs by Jane Ellison:

There are designs for some of our favourite Noro yarns, as well as recent releases Taiyo and Matsuri. Noro books are always very popular and this one doesn't disappoint.

And for something completely different, there's 'Anticraft, Knitting Beading and Stitching for the Slightly Sinister', by Renee Rigdon and Zabet Stewart:

This one has a Goth flavour, heavy on the skulls, snakes and pirates. There are lots of edgy designs for both knitting and crochet. Check out the beautiful Belladonna Sleeves and the Andy Warhol influenced Pop Art Skulls pillow. There are also 26 pages of instructional text and photos.

We always have too many new books to mention, there are loads of new titles on our bookshelves. If you're a book lover, it's hard to resist the plethora of new titles. There's definitely something for everyone, drop by and have a look.

Canada Day Specials

2008-07-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

Our special yarn this week is Rowan Kid Silk Night at 30% off. If you've always loved Kid Silk Haze and like a little glitter, you should check out KSN. It's a beautiful mohair/silk blend with a subtle sparkle, perfect for featherweight summer shawls. We have 10 beautiful colours, it will be hard to choose just one. With 208 metres per ball at only $11.17, you can't go wrong.

And to celebrate Canada Day, we've dug up a few more treasures to put in our 60% off clearout section. We've added some discontinued Rowan yarns to the mix, including Chunky Cotton Chenille, Lurex Shimmer and Plaid. We've also added one colour of Soft Baby, a perfect yarn for baby sweaters and blankets. And we're saying adieu to the lovely RYC Bamboo Soft yarn. These bargains won't last long, the new Fall yarns will arrive very soon and the clearout section will be gone...

What's New

2008-06-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

There are so many lovely new things. We oohed and aahed over the contents of the boxes we recently received from Koigu. Tons of new colours in Kersti:

And KPPPM:

Love this stuff.

We have loads of new Online Supersock yarn. There are three new options, Circle Colour, New Weave and Wellness, all 75% wool and 25% nylon. We also have some of Online's Summer Supersock yarn left, it's 40% wool, 45% cotton and 15% nylon.

And we finally have the beautiful red Online Solo Colour yarn for ruffly scarves. Remember? We've been waiting over six months for this one.

We re-stocked the beautiful Gingko Leaf shawl pins:

These stunning pins are crocheted with sterling wire and semi-precious stones.

We also have the gorgeous Gingko Leaf Stitch Marker Necklaces:

The day these arrived, we all took one home with us. These pendants are made with sterling silver and come with ten easily accessible stitch markers. Some have lace sized stitch markers and others have larger sizes. There are also matching earrings.

GTG now but there's lots more new stuff, stay tuned for more updates next week....

Holiday Hours

2008-06-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

We'll be closed in both stores on Canada Day, Tuesday, July 1. Otherwise, we'll be open our regular hours in Point Grey this Saturday through Monday and in Edgemont on Saturday and Sunday.

Have a happy Canada Day long weekend!

Weekly Special

2008-06-24T14:42:00.001-07:00

Our special this week is Filatura di Crosa Venezia Print at 30% off. This is a beautiful, soft ribbon yarn that's 40% cotton and 60% polyamide. It's a great choice for summer projects, the colours are gorgeous. Check out all of our weekly specials right here.

And don't forget about our summer clearance section in Point Grey. There are still some great yarns left on sale at 60% off the regular price. There are also some fantastic books and leaflet patterns in this section. If you're a bargain hunter, don't miss out on these savings, they won't last much longer...

Crochet Craze

2008-06-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

Crochet is sizzling hot right now. Check out the fantastic designs in Interweave Crochet's summer issue. Recognize the background in this photo?

Yup, it's our Point Grey store. You might remember, the shoot was scheduled for the beach but snow flurries interfered with that plan. Kim Werker was desperate for an alternate location and we were happy to oblige.

If you'd love to hook some of these fabulous designs but haven't yet learned to crochet, join our Beginner's Crochet class starting tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Point Grey. Last time I looked there were a couple of spots left.

If crochet's not your thing, have a look at our class schedule for some other options. Alexa Ludeman has scheduled some great new classes. Learn to knit her gorgeous Button Scarf in just one evening:

Or if you'd like to learn to knit lace, join Sivia Harding's Beginner Lace Knitting class on Wednesday evenings starting July 9. Learn to knit her beautiful Norwegian Woods Scarf.

And if you like intarsia knitting with teeny-tiny wool, join Anina, our Norwegian girl, in knitting Dale of Norway's Whistler sweater design in honour of the 2010 Winter Olympics. We don't yet have the pattern but Anina has a photo. She'd love some company so we're thinking of scheduling a class. Let us know if you're interested...

Summer School

2008-06-15T22:53:00.000-07:00

We have some great new lessons starting in June and July. Check out our Summer 08 lesson schedule right here.

Looks like there's finally some sunny weather on the horizon. Good thing as I'm going camping this week with 62 grade seven kids. It's bound to be more fun in the sun...

So we're taking another little blog break, back next week.

Mission Falls 1824

2008-06-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

MF 1824 wool and cotton are two of our most popular yarns. Both have the same gauge, 18 stitches and 24 rows to a 10 cm square, so they're interchangeable in the MF designs. Both are machine washable and come in a fabulous range of contemporary colours. What's not to like?

We currently have a Mission Falls Trunk Show in both stores, with tons of fantastic MF garments on display. Here's a small selection:

Two beautiful sweaters are displayed in our Point Grey window:

Ursula looks great in this bold design:

Here's a colourful hat and cardigan set for your favourite toddler:

And an elegant cabled scarf peeks out of our flower box:

If you get a chance, drop by and have a look at the entire collection...

Inspiration

2008-06-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

Check out Knitty Summer 08. So many fantastic projects.

Love the Shetland Shorty wrap.

And the featherweight Seascape shawl, knit with a perennial favourite, Kid Silk Haze.

Helena is an adorable sweater-dress for babies. Too cute.

There are socks and hats and a fabulous summer bag.

Oozing inspiration.

What's New

2008-06-10T11:06:00.000-07:00

More Fleece Artist has arrived. Oh Happy Day!

We have a couple of great kits for warm weather projects. There's the Sea Vines Vest:

This one's knit with Seawool, a lightweight blend of 70% merino and 30% seawool.

The Lu top is another great summer project:

It's knit in one piece with Scotian Silk, a beautiful blend of 65% wool and 35% silk.

We also received many new colours of the gorgeous FA Suri Blue yarn, a luscious blend of 50% alpaca and 50% Blue Faced Leicester wool. Grab two skeins and knit the stunning Laminaria shawl from Knitty. Or try the Criss Cross scarf, we have a free pattern.

And we unpacked some of the beautiful Blue Faced Leicester 2/8 wool, with 1000 meters per 250g skein. Knit the cute Tempest cardigan from Knitty with just two skeins. Love the fit of this cardi, especially the thinner stripes around the waist that accentuate the waist shaping.

Perhaps best of all, we've got a bunch more FA Dreadlocks and it's our special this week, on sale at 25% off:

This gorgeous yarn is 78% mohair, 13% wool and 9% nylon with 180 metres on a 250g skein. Sadly Dreadlocks has been discontinued so we can't get it anymore. When this batch is gone, it's gone for good.

And one last thing for today, we've dropped the price on our clearance section in Point Grey from 50% to 60%. Yup, 60% off the regular price of some fantastic yarns. There are still a few bits and bobs from great lines like Colinette, Debbie Bliss, Jaeger, Louisa Harding, Rowan and many others. We have limited quantities of these yarns and we won't be ordering them again so we have to say adieu. Our loss just might be your gain...

Darling Dinos

2008-06-09T14:56:00.000-07:00

Anina knit a cute little Triceratops that tiptoed through our garden:

Here's his buddy:

We have the pattern and the yarn...

More Show and Tell

2008-06-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

We have more beautiful projects to show today....

Donna has been busy, in addition to the gorgeous blue tank we showed on Tuesday, she's knit this stunning top:

It's the Josephine Top design from Interweave's Summer 2007 issue. She used the Sea Silk yarn from a Handmaiden stormwater shawl kit for this one. Talk about inspiring....

Julia knit this great bag from just one skein of Noro Taiyo:

It's the Elisa Nest Tote from Purl Bee. Make a few of these bags and chuck the plastic. Have a look at more of Julia's projects on her blog, Crispy Noodle Knits.

Jane came in one day wearing this beautiful shawl:

I believe it's Jane's own design, knit with the Italyarns Iris that's on our specials list at 40% off. Iris is a lovely yarn that's 30% cashmere.

Anina finished her beautiful Babette:

Have a look at this fabulous creation next time you drop by Point Grey.

And be sure to check out the beautiful Linen Shawl that Alexa recently knit with Louet Euroflax. It's also on display in Point Grey. Euroflax is a fantastic linen yarn for summer projects. Machine washable and dryable. And it softens up nicely after washing.

Whew, talk about inspiration, the needles are calling me...