Summertime, Summertime

June and July have flown by in blur of heat and record temperatures but there have been some fun goings' on at Yarn Cravin' in spite of heat.In June we celebrated World Wide Knit In Public (WWKIP) Day, complete with contests, prizes, and companionship.




Thank goodness for shade and cool drinks that day!


We also had future knitters in attendance.

A very popular pattern on Ravelry right now is the Beekeeper's Quilt. It's made from many hexagonal, stuffed "puffs," which are sewn together. Kay H. brought her hexapuffs to work on that day and showed them to us.


Novelty yarns have come back into style and many have expressed a desire to knit a scarf from novelty yarn, but not wanted anything too complicated. Here's the answer:

The ribbon comes with holes already pre-punched for the knitter to knit through. One simply knits a garter stitch scarf to produce the ruffled scarf shown above! Look at the variety of colors and prints:

Yarn Cravin' finally has Kauni Effekt yarn! This yarn is wool, great for socks, or colorwork projects and is famous for its long color repeats. It's flying out of the shop. Yes, we have patterns, also!

We also have Fame Trend sock yarn in a myriad of colors.

July has been consumed by the Sock Marathon, with goals set by many knitters for completion of individual socks. A winner will be announced soon. Everyone who participated wins, though, since so many socks have been finished and now single socks have mates! Way to go, knitters!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• After Labor Day, Yarn Cravin' will be open on Mondays again. Shop hours will be changing, however. Tuesdays and Thursdays will still have late hours.
• Recently Yarn Cravin's email list was lost by their email host during a server change. If you want to keep receiving emails from Yarn Cravin', please go to Yarn Cravin' website and sign up again. You don't want to miss out on valuable information!
• The Porch Sale is still happening.
• The shop can sell Ravelry patterns directly from the shop. Choose your yarn and the pattern all at once!

As always, we're here to help with projects, questions and fiber needs.

May Happenings

By now you've observed Memorial Day and are hopefully enjoying the beautiful weather that has visited our area. We certainly hope that you have made time to sit and knit on the porch at Yarn Cravin' as well! As always, there is much new happening at the shop.

New yarns and patterns continue to flow into the store.
This is Firefly, a lovely linen and viscose blend. It's nicer to knit with than plain linen, and drapes beautifully! Look at all the different colors...

Yes, there are patterns to go along with this yarn, if you don't have something specific already in mind.

A new sock yarn has come in also. Mille Colori by Lang is beautiful and comes in a myriad of shades. 50% wool and 50% acrylic, socks from this yarn will wear like iron.

 


For those of you who cannot live without bags, we have new ones! These are made from recycled billboards and help women in poverty become independent.

These smaller bags are made from recycled materials as well. They are perfect for your notions and DPN's!

Also new to Yarn Cravin' recently is Cascade 220 Sport weight. Now there's another option for baby knits and color-work projects. Come in to see the many beautiful colors of this yarn!

Are you receiving the weekly summer sale emails? Make sure you are on Yarn Cravin's email list to hear about great weekly summer deals and discounts.


RETREAT NEWS!!!! The Annual Knitting Retreat will be held at Lial Renewal Center in Whitehouse, Ohio, September 14, 15, 16. The cost is $140. As of right now, the Retreat is full - it filled up amazingly fast. There is a waiting list, however, if you want to try to attend. Please call the shop and ask to be on the waiting list. We are excited that the Insanknitty Retreat continues to be a popular event.

SUMMER HOURS: Remember that after Memorial Day, Yarn Cravin' will be closed on Mondays. This is just for the summer.

As always, if there's something you need that Yarn Cravin' does not have, do not hesitate to ask.  We will do everything we can to order it in for you.  Happy Summer!

Spring and Slumps

Days like the one shown above make it hard to knit, don't they? Yes, it's early April and everything that blooms in May is already blooming. And there's even a butterfly out already!

I've heard more than one knitter tell me that they are in a slump; that their knitting mojo is gone. How timely that Clara Parkes addressed the very same issue in her online newsletter just this week! She includes ten tips for overcoming "Knitter's Block," as she calls it.

The link to the article is included for you all below. Bookmark it. Print it. Save it. Certainly subscribe to Knitter's Review, which is only sent once a week, and will not send you eleventy-billion advertisements or beg you to buy things you don't want or need. How to Overcome Knitter's Block

If you're in a slump, or want to fondle yarns, patterns, or books to find inspiration, Yarn Cravin' is here for you.

Looks Like Spring

If it looks like Spring, is it really Spring? Even if the calendar says it's still days away?

Spring has sprung at Yarn Cravin'! The porch furniture is out, just waiting for knitters to gather, and spring cleaning has begun to make way for new yarns! Be sure to stop by between now and March 24 to check out the SALE! Discounted yarns are 35% off, and paying with cash or check will earn you an extra 5% discount. Yarns in the "sale room" are discounted deeper.

The Destination Yarn Trunk show was a big success! At times it was almost like a feeding frenzy as fiber enthusiasts jockeyed for the best selections at the tables. If you missed it, never fear. Bobbie and Dale made sure to keep some of Jeanne's yarn at the shop. Below are some photos of the day.




New Spring colors from Destination Yarns - these sold out fast.


Dale Ann and her stash.

The Jan/Feb/March calendar of classes is quickly winding down. Be on the lookout for a new schedule of fun and exciting classes with new projects to make, and new skills to learn.


Cheryl, Karen, and Dee learning about Ravelry.

Next weekend, March 24, is the Black Swamp Spinners Market Day and Fiber Fair. It is held in Bowling Green at the Wood County Fairgrounds. Yarn Cravin' will have a booth, and it's a great time to go and see other crafters as well. This linkMarket Day will give you more info.

HONOR FLIGHT SCARVES are pouring into the shop. There are only 19 left out that need to be completed and turned in before the April 15 deadline. Way to go, knitters!!

A few new things of interest have come into Yarn Cravin' this week including another yarn for making ruffled scarves, called Ric-Rac. Sorry, photos didn't turn out, but here's a link Berrocco Ric Rac to colors and patterns.

We have a yarn called "Toledo"!



Some are solids, some are tonals. What do you do with it? Dale is making a shawl.



This LaLa's Simple Shawl (Ravelry link) and the pattern is free.

There's so much going on right now, and many new yarns to check out! Hope to see you soon.

Destination: Spring!

It certainly feels like Spring, doesn't it?

Yarn Cravin' has a special treat for all of you this weekend! On Saturday, March 10, from 10:00-2:00, Jeanne from Destination Yarn will be back with us! She's bringing a load of yarn to sell, in various weights and colors. Come early to this Trunk Show for the best selection!

So many new yarns are coming into the shop, you wouldn't believe. A big shipment of Malabrigo recently arrived. Sock yarn and Rasta are flying out of the shop. The ever-popular, buttery-soft worsted weight yarn is in greater supply.

Malabrigo Sock


Malabrigo Worsted


A new gorgeous yarn is Garn, by Viking. It's superwash and self-striping, a heavy worsted weight. Just look at all these colors!



The internet has been a-buzz with the release the Namaste's newest knitting bag, a backpack called "Boardwalk." Yarn Cravin' recently received a shipment, and they are going fast! Want one?



Speaking of bags, have you seen the bags sewn by our owner Bobbie? She makes the most wonderful project project bags! These are great for socks in progress, small projects, and now, even bigger projects. Prices vary, and you pay by cash or check.



We sent out the word for help with the scarves for Honor Flight, and you did not let us down! All of the yarn has been committed to scarves. Over half of the goal of 80 has already been met! Keep returning those completed scarves to the shop ASAP. We need them by April 15. If you are not able to complete your scarf let us know right away. We will find someone else to take over the finishing.



Along with the yarns shown, there are more being unpacked and priced as this is written. Lace weights. Silk and summery yarns. A new line called Juniper Moon Farm has joined Yarn Cravin, and we think you'll love it.

Stop in and see what's new. The porch may be open soon!

Milestones and Honors

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY YARN CRAVIN'!



Sunday,February 12 was the 5th anniversary of Yarn Cravin's opening, and co-owners Bobbie and Dale Ann celebrated by having cake for customers on Friday and Monday. Shoppers lucky enough to drop by were treated to a customer appreciation gift and a coupon to use in the future. How blessed we all are to have Yarn Cravin' in our lives!! Best wishes to Bobbie and Dale Ann for their continued success! You are loved, ladies!

As this is written, it is President's Day, and what better time to write about honoring those who have served our country? Honor Flight of Northwest Ohio takes WWII Veterans from our area to Washington DC and makes sure they safely are able to see our nation's monuments, and especially the World War II Memorial, built to honor their service and sacrifice for us all. It is the goal to make sure all WWII Vets see the Memorial, and other parts of Washington DC, before they die. Upon their return to Toledo, it is nice to have some token to present to them as a remembrance of their trip. This is where we need your help, fiber friends!

Having a goal of 80 scarves by the first flight of spring (late April 2012), Yarn Cravin' has volunteered to help by knitting 80 (yes, EIGHTY) red/white/blue scarves. You only need to know the knit stitch, as the scarf is all done in garter stitch. The yarn is Encore, pictured below, and the cast on is 22 stitches on US size 8 needles. Nothing fancy. But we want to make sure every veteran receives a patriotic scarf when he or she comes off the airplane. Knitters are also welcome to be part of the "welcome home" contingent waiting for the veterans at Toledo Express when they return from their trip.



Your scarf will end up looking something like this:



Yarn Cravin' has so many customers who are speedy knitters. We can hit this goal in no time! Stop in, pick up a ball of Encore at the register. Make sure you sign up on the clipboard, and let's HONOR our beloved veterans!

There are many new goodies in the shop right now. Cuddles is a yummy yarn from Crystal Palace in many delicious colors. There are solids and variegated. This yarn is amazingly soft and would make great chemo caps, baby items and children's clothes.



Thought to be gone forever, Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn is back! Make socks, or pair it with another yarn, such as a mohair, to make a shawl.



We have many little felted wool bags for notions, felted embellishments, zipper bags and more.



These little guys are pins for your lapel!



As always, Yarn Cravin' has books, patterns, yarn, needles and notions to meet all your fiber needs. If it's not in stock, it can be ordered in for you. Stop in soon!

Generosity

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are numerous opportunities for giving to those who are need of food, toys, clothing, financial assistance and other things to get them through the Holiday Season. What happens then? *crickets chirping* It's been found that right after the holiday season, food banks have a dire need to re-stock their shelves, and our creative, generous, yarn shop owners dreamt up a plan to help.

Saturday, January 7, was our first ever Breakfast Sale. Yarn Cravin' opened two hours early to shoppers, and all those who brought a non-perishable breakfast food item to donate received a 35% discount on their purchase from 8:00-10:00AM that morning. We were blessed with generous shoppers who brought nutritious food items in the way of cereals, pancake mixes, pop tarts, cereal bars, muffin mixes,oatmeal, peanut butter, juices, and more.

This photo shows the food donation just an hour into the sale!

After 10:00AM, any non-perishable food item could be redeemed for a 25% discount on purchases for the rest of the day. The food continued to stack up, and the knitters continued to pour in the door to shop.

Just across the street, in the church, the community room had been reserved. Knitters, spinners, and other crafters were welcome to spend the day working on their UFO's and socializing. Snacks were shared. Knitting support was offered. Some even brought their kids with them, and they proceeded to play and look after the little ones.

Some old friends came back to us just in time for the sale. Our old, worn out, comfy chairs came back, having had a face lift! Look how gorgeous they are now!



This chair has a cover that cannot be removed.

The chair pictured below, however, has a lovely slip cover which can be removed.



Isn't the back lovely?



If you are interested in showing an old piece of furniture some loving, here's the contact information:
Feather Your Nest
Upholstery and Slipcovers
Barb Converse 419-874-5911
barbjc@bex.net
112 W. 2nd Street, Perrysburg, OH
Located In Back Alley Design Studio

Here's the latest wall art at Yarn Cravin'



Hopefully the generosity of the knitters this past weekend will help soothe the souls of many in need. And we hope that having our comfy chairs back, all beautified, will help soothe your souls as you sit and knit.

Thank you again for all you do to support Yarn Cravin' and each other.