Wool&More – March 2017 Newsletter
In this issue:
- Community Project Program
- Special Event for “locals” (Plett, Knysna, Storms River, etc) – Hurry & book!
- Massive Sale – Starts 24th March …. don’t delay – good stuff will sell out fast!
- Hints & Tips – new regular insert
- New yarns
- Crochet Corner: Lessons at wool&more, learning to crochet videos, premmie baby octopus pattern
- Sewing Machine & Overlocker servicing and repairs done in Plett
- Trading Days / Hours for Winter – Please note
- Newsletters
Welcome back to our latest newsletter – do hope you find this one informative and helpful!
Community Project Programs:
Please remember to keep bringing knitted / crocheted strips into wool&more: any width (30, 40, 50 stitches / 20cm to 60cm wide), any colour or mixture of colours and One Metre long please. Or better still, completed blankets approximately 1m x 1,2m in size, or bigger!
Scarves and beanies for adults (great way to use up your “bits and pieces”) are needed.
For more details, please see our February 2017 newsletter on www.woolandmore.co.za
And please keep the newborn beanies rolling in for the local infants born throughout the year.
Once again, to all the amazing ladies who have already brought in blankets (we even received two beautiful crocheted blankets from Judy in Australia!), jerseys, beanies, strips, etc …. you are hugely appreciated. Thank you all so, so much.
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 Knit-a-Thon on Tuesday 28th March 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 (with competitions, prizes, etc) and will run from 18H30 to approximately 21H00. The venue has been confirmed to be at the Beacon Island Resort (what a pleasure!). 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 subsidized by wool&more, your financial contribution will only be R25-00 per person, payable at time of booking!! You will be issued with a “ticket” with a number on it: please keep this handy and present to us on entry.
Also please bring some knitting needles, crochet hooks (for DK yarn), some scissors and sewing up needles if you have – as said earlier, we will be providing some but don’t want to be caught short! No need to bring yarn!
(Alcoholic beverages and cool drinks, etc will be for your own account).
Three criteria: To gain entry: you Must wear a Hat!! (any hat). 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!!!
Massive Sale:
We are clearing piles and piles of yarn to make space for new winter stock – Full Bag items below cost and Odd Ball items at cost (some even below cost)!! Local and Imported yarns will be in the bins. Huge variety – get your Stash topped up at incredible prices!! And talking of Stashes – this closely resembles mine at home (though not as neat!). How does this resonate with you, I wonder?
(Please remember that for the locals who have loyalty cards: these are not applicable for reduced items – sorry!)
Hints & Tips:
Thanks for the interesting and useful tips we received – please keep them rolling in. Great way to share knowledge and ideas!
– A handy hint . Always knit into the back of the last stitch when knitting squares. It gives a nice edge. – Thanks Margaret Clark
– Knitting in this hot weather with the yarn sticking to the pins caused by the perspiration from my hands reminded me that my mother always dusted her hands with talcum powder when knitting.- (Please can someone arrange for Winter to arrive, says Joy!)
Another tip learned from my mum was to knit the first and last stitches of a purl row to keep the edge tight.
When knitting a raglan sleeve if it is in stocking stitch I always decrease thus ; knit 1 slip 1 knit 1 psso and end with knit 2 together knit 1. Then knit the first and last stitch of the purl row. It gives a very neat edge easier to sew up without holes.
If knitting in pattern and it is a raglan I decrease by knitting 1 knit 2 tog and end with knit 2 tog knit 1 and knit the first and last stitch of the wrong side row.
Interesting tips: thanks so much Kate! Will certainly try the raglan tip when I next do one.
– also another tip re:sewing buttons esp metal buttons which tend to “chew” through thread …you can pass the thread through bees wax before sewing. Never thought of that – thanks Carol
I did ask the Elle pattern designer for some useful tips … she was not hugely forthcoming, but to emphasize the huge importance of doing your gauge before starting a project! I am always amazed by how many ladies still don’t / won’t spend that extra half hour to just get things right in the beginning and avoid massive heartache at the end!
New yarns:
At time of writing, the huge Katia order is being packed for shipment to wool&more so I can’t tell you too much about those until next time – safe to say, they are gorgeous and many different and textured yarns among the order.
A new yarn from Elle is their Charity Mega Chunky range, in plain colours (already arrived) and their Printed (variegated) selection, due in very shortly. It’s soft and cuddly and will be great for throws, scarves, etc – and is an excellent price too (300gm balls). Remember that all Elle’s patterns are now all available FOR FREE (yes, for free) on their website. 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
We also had a selection of Dana Biddle’s Colour Wheels dyed for us in pure soft Merino, in exciting colours (done in DK, sock weight and lace weight). They have been very well received so get yours while stock lasts!
Gail Brandt kindly sent this amazing link and pattern, explaining how well premmie babies do with a little crocheted octopus in their crib – fascinating – please read it. Thanks Gail – mine came out beautifully – we will be keeping some of these little characters at wool&more for purchase.
https://www.babble.com/parenting/crocheted-octopus-lovies-help-premature-babies/
And this is the pattern for the octopus I’m using American crochet terms:
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
2 sc tog – 2 stitches together
sl st – slip stitch
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring
R2: 2 sc in all st (12)
R3: 2 sc in every 2nd st (18)
R4: 2 sc in every 3rd st (24)
R5: 2 sc in every 4th st (30)
R6: 2 sc in every 5th st (36)
R7-14: 1 sc in all st (36)
R15: *4 sc, 2 sc tog* – repeat *-* 6 times (30)
R16-17: 1 sc in all st (30)
R18: *3 sc, 2 sc tog* 6 times (24)
R19-20: 1 sc in all st (24)
R21: *2 sc, 2 sc tog* 6 times (18)
R22: 1 sc in all st (18)
R23: *7 sc, 2 sc tog* 2 times (16)
R24: 1 sc in all st (16)
R25: Here you start the arms: * 1 sc, 50 ch, turn and make 2 sc in each ch, finish with 1 sc*. Repeat 7 times so you get 8 arms. End with 1 sl st and pull the yarn through. If your arm doesn’t want to twist try making 3 or 4 sc in each ch. And here is a nice photo tutorial on the arms.
If the outstretched arms are longer that 22 cm, make fewer chains.
Arms of the Octopus
The bottom of the octopus:
R1: 5 sc in a magic ring
R2: 2 sc in all st (10)
R3: 2 sc in every 2nd st (15). Finish with a sl st and pull the thread through. Weave in the ends.
Fill the octopus with the fiber and sew the bottom to it.
As for the decorations such as eyes, hats etc. let your imagination run wild. For example, I made the octopuses’ eyes with 6 sc in a magic ring and then 2 sc in all st (12). Then I weaved in the dark yarn and that’s it:) You can find many nice tutorials on the Internet on how to make amigurumi hats, bows and eyes. PS Thank you Annette – he is gorgeous!
Remember that we offer crochet lessons at wool&more for beginners, intermediate levels, or just for something specific you may wish to learn. Please do call us and book your two hour lesson/s.
A really lovely video site was referred to us called Bella Coco Crochet – she is a delightful British lady who explains all sorts of crochet tips and ideas. Her slight lisp is rather charming too!
For anyone who hasn’t had a look at the Nurturing Fibres’ website, here is a pattern of their latest blanket done in Eco Cotton (of which we keep a large stock). It’s called Casablanca (featured before) and a few ladies have started doing theirs (two ladies even changed colours and one is doing an extra large one)! Here is the pattern for you again – we will be happy to order and supply the yarn for the full blanket – please contact us for a quotation.
http://nurturingfibres.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Casablanca-v3.pdf
More free patterns are available on Eco Cotton & Fusion’s website:
http://nurturingfibres.com/product-category/nurturing-fibres-patterns/free/
Sewing Machine & Over locker Service/Repair:
Edward is doing a fine job of servicing and repairing machines in the Plett area. Because he is from out of town, we at wool&more are the drop off and collection depot for him and for your convenience. His current rate is R450-00 (cash please) for a service and he will quote for additional spares, etc should those be required.
Season Trading Days / Hours:
Please make a note of the following days and hours that we will be trading for the Winter season, effective 25th March 2017 (we will be open on public holiday 21st March):
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
Summer times will resume beginning September, 2017.
Newsletters:
All past newsletters are on our website – please do have a look.
Where are you, Winter??? Whilst we wait patiently for rain and cooler days, we wish you love, light and good health, now and always. Keep creating….
Joy Sachs
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wool&more, 7 Gibb St, Plett 044 533 3182
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