Wool&More – October 2016 Newsletter
In this Isssue:
- Closed for annual holiday – Please note dates
- “Creative Crafters” evening at Beacon Island Resort
- New yarns – Katia and Elle
- Button Hole pattern
- Knit-a-Long Blanket – links of first 5 squares (9 in total)
- Community Project Program
- Two new blogs – links for you
- Children’s Book for Christmas
HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY wool&more … and thank YOU all for helping us grow with your awesome support! It’s our intention to continue to provide a spectacular yarn shop, offering huge selections, great prices, some fun and laughter, excellent service as well as classes and workshops and a special place to be, for you all. With much gratitude.
Annual Holiday Closure (12 – 24 October 2016):
Final Reminder: Please make a note of the dates and do let all your friends know as well: CLOSED FROM WEDNESDAY 12TH OCTOBER AND RE-OPENING ON MONDAY 24TH OCTOBER. (It was my error in the last newsletter to say that we will be closed from Thursday 13th – it’s from Wednesday 12th – sorry about that!)
Creative Crafters:
This local group meet every second Tuesday evening and on the 20th September, wool&more hosted the evening – I am sure that all will agree that it was a great evening. We met at the Beacon Island Resort and they pulled out all the stops and put on a fabulous spread for us. There was a good turn out of ladies and it was particularly great to have some “new blood” in the ladies who came to join us from Knysna. Thanks to all for attending and for enjoying the evening (and the fun henna tattoos)!
New Yarns:
Elle has a new summer yarn called Tropical which has arrived in store and is claiming many “ooohs and aaahs”! It is not only soft and cuddly to the fell but also has a range of rather stunning colours. Tropical knits as a double knit but has a little kink and some texture. Really something new and different. Their Pure Gold double knit will have some gorgeous printed (variegated) yarn, arriving in store around the end of October. We are of the opinion that this range will be a hit!
Katia, as often happens, have surpassed themselves in the launching of some really stunning brightly coloured cottons for summer. One that is very different and seems to be a once-off, is their cotton blend “Woody Bits” which is already strung with brightly coloured wooden beads. Each ball comes with a pattern on how to knit a loose scarf for summer – beautiful worn with a simple plain t-shirt. Really takes style up a notch. Not much was imported and it is quite pricey but really worth having just one (if you manage to choose from the stunning colour range)!! Most of the rest of the Katia summer range now in store are brightly coloured and variegated – seems to be “the thing” for this season
Button Hold Pattern:
Below is what we have found to be The Perfect (one row) Button Hole to knit! Please just follow the simple instructions step by step – like me and many customers, you may never want to knit another button hole again!
ONE ROW BUTTON HOLES
Knit or rib to the beginning of the buttonhole position on the band / cardigan on wrong side of work:
Yarn forward (as if to purl)
Slip 1 purlwise
Yarn back (as if to knit)
Slip 1 purlwise then pass the second stitch on your right needle over this slipped stitch as your cast off.
Repeat the above row for the number of stitches required to cast off (depending on size of buttonhole required)
Return the last stitch on the right needle to the left needle
Turn work
Yarn back
Cable cast on the number of stitches cast off PLUS one extra stitch
Turn work
Yarn back
Slip next stitch purlwise and pass the last stitch on right needle over this slipped stitch
Return the last stitch on the right needle onto the left needle
Finish the row as required.
Perfect, neat and sturdy button hole – done!
Elle Yarn Knit-a-Long:
Unfortunately there were some glitches in some of the links we sent out last week so we have decided to send out the current links again. Should you have any difficulties with any of the links, please email Tanja at Elle (Saprotex) who will happily send the patterns directly to you. taldred@bertrand.co.za. They have been working on their website and we are using a new (and not very well understood) mailing program so between us, you ladies may be caught in the middle of a techno-storm! Here are the links of the patterns received thus far. The balance will be sent with our November newsletter.
Enjoy it and remember that wool&more stocks this range of yarn being Pure Gold dk (and many others)!
Week 1: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5227222/16048%20KALsquare1.pdf
Week 2: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5227222/16049%20KALsquare2.pdf
Week 3: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5227222/16050%20KALsquare3.pdf
Week 4: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5227222/16051%20KALsquare4.pdf
Week 5: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5227222/16052%20KALsquare5.pdf
Community Project Programs:
Some beanies for babies and some strips for blankets have been trickling in slowly – please ladies, let’s keep the momentum going with both these items. The strips may be in any yarn, any colour, any width (now there is some freedom for you!) but must be 1 metre long please. We have found that double knit knitted in garter stitch with 4mm or 4,5mm works best – but it’s your call. If you are feeling energetic, you are welcome to sew the strips together (length wise) joining 5 or six strips together … and if you are feeling incredibly energetic AND generous, you are welcome to finish them with a little crochet edge. Many thanks, as always, to those who consistently and frequently bring their beanies and strips in for us!.
There is a great organisation called Flowers of Compassion in the Wittedrift area of Plett, amazingly run by Chris du Preez. He and some wonderful folk from Perth in Australia have joined forces to create informal job opportunities to the local community. The ladies knit and crochet items which are in demand and saleable in Perth, send them over, where they are sold. The proceeds are used to pay the ladies and purchase more yarn, offer lessons for them, etc. Well done to you guys! Chris is always looking for a lift for their items to Perth so if anyone is able to squeeze a parcel into their baggage, please do offer to do so. They will be hugely grateful.
Marinda, who is South African and has spent many holidays in Plett, resides in Perth. She and her husband were here recently, collected many beautiful items to take back and brought with them a bag full of babies’ jerseys knitted by a lady in her late eighties in Perth. These were given to the Hope Pregnancy Centre in Plett, who offer counselling and assistance to teen moms-to-be. They recently received a large bundle of babies’ beanies from you ladies as well. Thanks again and keep up the great work.
Two new blogs for you:
We recently had two particularly interesting customers at wool&more – Tracey from Jeffries Bay and another lady (whose name escapes me – sorry) from Holland. Both have “yarn” blogs – here are the links to the blogs – do take a look. We found them to be so interesting.
http://happyinred.blogspot.co.za/2016/10/get-creative-crochet-some-fruit.html#more
http://tracey.co.za/100-percent-merino-wool-beanies/
(Please note the lovely mention in Tracey’s blog, of wool&more!)
Children’s books for Christmas:
At wool&more, we have two delightful children’s books which are just perfect as Christmas gifts (or gifts to give any time). “Welcome, Tommy Toad” was written by owner of wool&more, me, Joy Sachs, and it is based on a true life story of two toads who come to live in the family dog’s water bowl (and all the adventures that ensue). The underlying messages in the beautifully written and illustrated story are of Love, Trust and mostly, Gratitude. It’s been printed on recycled paper, is in full colour and suitable for children aged approximately 5 to 12 years of age.
The second book is written by Avril Lasker in Cape Town called “The boy who flew higher than the moon” and covers deeper issues (very gently and beautifully) like race, life after death, etc. Whilst it is also illustrated in full colour, it is suitable for slightly older children (approximately 6 to 14 years of age).
Both books are on sale at wool&more at the reasonable price of R99-00. if you order both via email (woolandmore@mweb.co.za) we will pay for postage within South Africa. You will love them both….!!!
Mirage Fraud
This is something we will be covering next month – suffice it to say, we are still shaking our heads after hearing about this issue …. watch this space!!
Previous newsletters & unsubscribe:
Should you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, please just send us an email with your name and we will (sadly) remove your details. Also, all past newsletters are on our website – please do have a look.
So, finally, it’s time to say goodbye – my time with my children is calling … See you all at the shop on or after the 24th October and be ready for a great newsletter in November!! Bye for now and take care.
See you soon and sent with love.
Joy Sachs
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wool&more, 7 Gibb St, Plett 044 533 3182
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