Wool&More – February 2017 Newsletter
In this issue:
- Community Project Program – New beneficiary announced
- Special Event for “locals” (Plett, Knysna, Storms River, etc)
- Hints & Tips – new regular insert
- Crochet Lessons
- Bag Making Competition – Update
- New Yarns and news from Elle
- Trading Days / Hours for Winter – Please note
- Total Inspiration
Thanks to so many ladies who have sent and given me their wishes (and advice) on my pending “granny-hood” … it’s exciting and daunting. Will keep you posted.
A busy time is ahead for us at wool&more so let’s get cracking right now:
Community Project Programs:
After much research and debate, we have nominated our 2017 Winter recipient as the New Horizon Care Centre which caters for approximately 70 aged and infirm folk. The work this group of folk do with those who depend on them (who are mostly destitute and infirm) is fantastic – for example: they visit once a week with a hot meal, they wash the folk and generally care for them in their own surroundings. We would like to assist by supplying them with blankets, beanies and / or scarves, made with care and love by the ladies who support wool&more.
Please let us have your contributions in strips see below) by Friday 17th March and completed items (blankets, beanies and scarves) by no later than Friday 7th April 2017 – we would like to hand over the warm goodies before Easter which is the following Friday (14th April).
Beanies and scarves: some lovely bright and warm ones for adults will be wonderful.
Blankets: Please either knit or crochet strips of any colour and any width but One Metre Long. These are joined together to make blankies for the folk (see Special Event below). If you are feeling really generous and energetic, you are welcome to knit or crochet already made up blankets for us – this will really help so much. Size of blankets: approximately 1m x 1,2m which makes a lovely size knee rug or bed blanket. At this juncture, we would like to say thanks for all the strips which keep rolling in from so many ladies. Special mention this month for their contributions goes to Dr Sian Hartshorne (from her rooms) and Dr Cucci (via his wife, Enzina) and to Marie-Anna for her really funky completed blankies. Thanks to all!!
Please, for those of you who enjoy knitting baby beanies (for newborns), please do continue. These are always needed and supplied to our local clinics for the infants there on an ongoing basis. Thanks again.
Special Event for Locals:
To give the locally situated ladies (Plett, Knysna, Storms River, etc) a bit of moral support, wool&more will be hosting a Blankie-a-Thon on Tuesday 28th where tea, coffee and delicious snacks will be provided, along with yarn and bodkins (sewing up needles) and we will be completing all the blankets by sewing up strips and crocheting borders, making ready for our hand over to the New Horizons Care Centre in April. The evening will be lots of fun (competitions, prizes, etc) and will run from 18H30 to approximately 21H00. Venue to be confirmed, in Plett. Please do RSVP before 20th March to facilitate catering arrangements (so that you don’t go hungry)!! Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend – please invite friends and family who are also able and willing to assist with knitting and crocheting.
Because the evening is heavily subsidised by wool&more, your financial contribution will only be R25-00 per person!! (Alcoholic beverages and cool drinks will be for your own account).
Three criteria: To gain entry, you Must wear a Hat! And must be willing to get the job done, there and then! And be willing to have a fun evening!! Let’s give this one our all!!!
Hints & Tips:
We introduced this segment last month – a forum in which to share knowledge in the form of hints and tips (tricks of the trade) with others. It was not very well supported: only two ladies responded and I managed to misfile one of them (so, so sorry – please resend your trick – I have created a new folder so that they don’t go into another one, as clearly happened this time!).
Ruth from Oudtshoorn offered this tip (crazy how sensible it is yet had never thought of it!). Thanks Ruth.
You mentioned tips: When having to unravel (or unpicking) some knitting, I find that picking up the stitches again with a smaller sized needle makes it much easier. Using the same size needle causes more dropped stitches.
And you all know that this process is called Tink (knit spelt backwards)!
Please offer more – we can all learn from each other.
Another I thought of was to coat the thread with which you use to sew on buttons in clear nail varnish, once sewed on, of course. They stay put much longer.
Crochet Lessons:
It’s time for me to let my vulnerable side out to play for a moment: until Friday 30 December, I was barely able to crochet!! How ridiculous! Had tried a few times but never managed to “make” anything. So I decided that I was not going to let 2017 arrive without making an effort. I googled c2c (corner to corner) and followed the video – was challenging to say the least but now, I am doing a blankie for charity AND one for my grandchild when he/she arrives (in Katia’s Alabama cotton blend). It’s fun and going well … we recently had a lesson with our in-house teacher, Annette, to learn borders, how to decrease the c2c, etc. Am delighted with the results!!
Here the video I followed (there were a few of them but this one went at a good pace, she had a decent accent and seemed easiest to follow!)
Glimpse of the c2c as my first “serious” crochet project! Colour way is gorgeous….
News on our upcoming Fantasy Blanket workshop and our pending Bavarian Afghan workshop (by Ella from Pretoria) will be given as soon as they are both confirmed. Dates and venues still to be decided.
Meanwhile, book a lesson or two, for two hours, with Annette on any crochet issues you may have, or if you wish to learn from scratch or to do Tunisian Crochet. Just call us and we will arrange for you.
Bavarian Crochet in Ombre … reverse side is reversed colours (white in centre).
Bag Making Competition – Update:
This competition was meant to be held to encourage us all to stop (or at least, drastically cut down) on using plastic bags but for various reasons, has been put on ice for the moment – we will certainly revive it soon. Meanwhile, here is a link of a really lovely crocheted pattern for a shopping bag – this one is from Ester from Holland on her Blog, Happy in Red.
http://happyinred.blogspot.co.za/2015/10/free-crochet-pattern-grocery-bag-in-linen-stitch.html
Reminder: Carol, the “Plett Queen of Recycle” (!!) has brought in some fabric bags for you to purchase when you buy your yarn … they are brightly coloured, made by locals and hold a lot of groceries, yarn, etc. Get yours soon (at a very reasonable price) and remember to always bring in your own reusable bags – wherever possible. Many thanks.
New yarns / products & news from Elle:
After an hiatus of around 5 months, we have finally found a new manufacturer of our hugely effective, non-toxic moth and fishmoth repellent to keep in your yarn stash, linen cupboard, clothing areas, etc. It is made exclusively for us and comprises only natural herbs and spices in a coconut oil base (we could have opted for a cheaper palm oil base, but to “save the environment”, elected to go the coconut oil route instead). It is slightly more expensive but truly, customers who have used it, swear by it. Get yours soon.
Elle have had a really big and very exciting launch – it was sooo challenging to decide what to order from them! Some of their new range includes a Charity Mega in plain and printed colours (use a 10 / 12mm needle!) plus a blended yarn that is even thicker called Biggy.
Rustica has been a huge success on the market for years – Elle have brought out Country Tweed which, it seems (I hope I am wrong) will ultimately replace Rustica. The latter is still available but in a limited range of colours. Cotton Fleck has a lovely feel and some cotton “slubbies” which add interest and texture. The range of colours is also delightful. Besides their new Winter Blanket pattern book, they have also launched Classic Wool Chunky – the Aran version of this yarn has previously sold really well – am delighted to see their Chunky range. Mostly all of these will be available from end February – some already here.
Katia: Eish!! Another huge challenge making our choices. Mostly variegated and textured yarns will be in – they are exciting and delicious! First delivery expected around mid March, second a month later.
We have decided to have a substantial “clean out” by offering a huge range of discontinued yarns and odd balls at below cost – this will take place starting 31st March …. please pop in frequently to see what gems you can find in the Basket. We so badly need the space for the new yarns – despite having had new shelving installed.
Stylecraft’s Special DK is an absolute delight – their colours are fantastic and it knits and washes like a dream. It is made in Turkey, imported via England and is acrylic. Excellent for blankets and jerseys – full range just in!
News from Elle: Elle announced that they would be discontinuing their Premier Cotton Range!! We were all distraught to hear it and kicked up rather a loud and meaningful ruckus! On that basis, the people have spoken …. so Premier Cotton is here to stay (for now)!! Yay and thanks to Saprotex.
Elle have also announced that ALL their patterns will be available FOR FREE (yes, for free) on their website, effective beginning March. On this basis, we at wool&more will still be stocking some of their patterns to buy, but on a smaller scale.
Here is the link for you:
http://www.elleyarns.com/knitting-patterns/free-knitting-patterns
More free patterns are available on Eco Cotton & Fusion’s website:
http://nurturingfibres.com/product-category/nurturing-fibres-patterns/free/
Season Trading Days / Hours:
Please make a note of the following days and hours that we will be trading for the Winter season, effective beginning April 2017:
Monday to Friday: 10-00 to 4-00 * (unless Public Holiday)
All Public Holidays: 09-30 to 12-30 (includes 21st March)
Every Saturday: 09-30 to 12-30
Normal times will resume beginning September, 2017.
Naturally, we are hoping for a long, cold Winter with plenty of rain …. South Africa certainly needs it and of course, we prefer Winter to look and feel like Winter and not like Winter’s “baby sister”!
Total Inspiration:
A friend sent this to me today: it has nothing to do with yarn but it was just incredible to watch …. do yourself a favour and watch this TED video. You will be moved, for sure (in the best possible way)!
Sent with love and wishes for your creativity to flourish – now and always.
All past newsletters are on our website – please do have a look.
Joy Sachs
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wool&more, 7 Gibb St, Plett 044 533 3182
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