Wool&More – May 2017 Newsletter
In this issue:
- Trading Days / Hours for Winter – Please note
- Some “housekeeping” points – B Y O B and others
- Community Project Program – keep assisting please
- Odd Ball Sale
- Hints & Tips – no contributions this month, unfortunately!
- New yarns
- Crochet Corner: Workshop – Fantasy Blanket details & Crochet-a-Long links
- Share and subscribe (and gentle plea!)
- Newsletters
Naturally, I am delighted (actually, over the moon) that I am officially a grandmother to a beautiful little girl (who arrived early) call Mia Simone. It’s such a surreal experience – can describe it like watching an emotional movie: I feel all the wonderful feelings (when I see videos and photos of Mia), then the movie is over and normal life continues!! In October, I will be going to London to meet the little angel – until then, the videos will have to suffice. And my knitting and crocheting will be stepped up in intensity, obviously!
Little Mia – all of a week old!
Season Trading Days / Hours:
Please make a note of the following days and hours that we will be trading for the Winter season
Monday to Friday: 10-00 to 4-00 * (unless Public Holiday)
All Public Holidays: 09-30 to 12-30
Every Saturday: 09-30 to 12-30 (until end of August)
Some “housekeeping” points:
We would like to let you know how some of our “in house” workings are handled:
- B Y O B – BRING YOUR OWN BAGS!! We are really determined to lessen the amount of plastic which leaves wool&more! After an inspiring and worrisome talk given by the TED delegate, Bea Johnson on ZERO WASTE, it occurred to us that a large part of keeping Plett, South Africa and indeed, the World in a decent shape, we ought to stop handing out masses of plastic. This is a serious plea – besides reusing and recycling, please REFUSE packaging wherever possible. Keep fabric bags with you for your shopping and remember to use them. Thanks for assisting with this important aspect.
- If we keep yarn for you (in a specific dye lot to complete a project), it’s our pleasure to do so but please do let us know if you are not going to be needing the yarn. All yarn kept, is automatically returned to the shelves after TWO MONTHS. Please bear this in mind.
- Sufficient space in any yarn shop is a huge challenge, and more so at wool&more because of the massive range of yarns we keep (for your pleasure!). The full plastic bags of yarn are stacked high and rather delicately balanced so we ask that you please do not try to handle these bags. ALL yarn in bags IS actually displayed on the shelves – please just ask where you can find it – we will be happy to point it out to you – where you can then see and feel the yarn properly.
- Whilst we do try to always check the dye lots of yarn taken off the shelves for you, please know that the onus is on you to take the correct balls. When we are really busy, it’s a huge help if you do the job yourself. And we really do need to limit yarn returns (for a number of reasons).
- Last month, we mentioned being gentle with the stock – it really is appreciated when the balls of yarn are not abused (pushed, pulled, poked, stuffed into spaces, dropped, trampled on, etc etc!!). Also, please do not allow children to have free range in the shop – we will, and do, take control of the kids who will insist on meddling with the yarn (there is a very “angry voice” at the shop which is scary, so beware!). Your assistance in this matter is really appreciated.
- From a purely financial viewpoint, purchases of less than around R50 ought to be paid for using cash. Credit and debit card use on small amounts is not viable for any business. Bank charges are astronomical so please keep a little cash on you for small purchases. Many thanks.
Community Project Programs:
Last week, we handed a large bag of blankets and beanies to the local Seeff branch who will be handing out clothing, blankets, etc to those in need, in the local community. Thanks a million, again, to all those who are generously bringing in blankies, beanies, etc.
Please keep blankets coming in – approximately 1m x 1,2m, or bigger, knitted or crocheted – as Winter bites harder, we will be distributing these to vulnerable folk in our Plett area. Infant beanies are also needed. Both these are a great way to use up your stash and ensure that your items will be gratefully received by those who receive them. The need is a bottomless pit, so we never refuse your contributions. Thanks again to everyone!
Sale:
There are still quite a few Odd Ball items (local and imported) at cost price and below – this pile is always morphing as odd balls get added or sold. Clever and imaginative combining of sale yarn with other yarns will give you a very inexpensive and unique project!
New yarns:
We are constantly ordering, receiving and unpacking new yarns so regular visits to wool&more ought to be on your agenda!
This week, we finally received a large shipment of Katia Merino Aran in twelve beautiful colours. It is 100gm of soft, cuddly pleasure with a 53% merino content and fully machine washable!! It’s knitted as an aran or chunky weight and for the price, is amazing.
Saprotex (elle yarns) have just launched a new range of printed (variegated) Charity double knit yarns which is going to be a winner – fantastic colour ways and so affordable. Their new Lusso (for which they imported a machine from Italy) still hasn’t arrived but a space is waiting for it – it’s a soft, light weight chunky yarn, very different to the other elle yarns.
Reminder: all elle’s patterns are now available FOR FREE on their website (elleyarns.com). On this basis, we at wool&more will still be stocking some of their patterns to buy, but on a smaller scale.
Crochet Corner:
The workshop details for the Fantasy Blanket (shown below) have been finalised:
For Whom: Anybody who is not a total beginner in crochet (knowledge of basic stitches is a must)
When: Thursday 8th June 08h30 to 13h00
Where: Registration at wool&more by 08h45, latest
Cost: R390-00 per delegate, includes refreshments (tea, coffee, snacks), tuition and yarn (the sampler will be worked on in 10 to 15 colours of 4ply acrylic yarn) – you will have a fantastic choice of yarns to choose from for your colour mix.
What you need to bring: Pen and paper and youe crochet hooks and some stitch markers
BOOKINGS: Essential!! There are limited spaces available and full payment when booking will secure your spot at the workshop. Closing date for payment is Friday 2nd June 2017.
This Fantasy Blanket is an heirloom project and is infinitely more exquisite when done in cottons and bamboo (all natural yarns) than in acrylic yarns. Please bear this in mind when considering making your own item after the workshop.
Here is a photo of one kind of Fantasy Blanket (can also be done in straight rows). No photo can do this work justice!
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.
For crochet beginners, here is a really good video on how to make a classic Granny Square – great place to start (just scroll down to the video on the blog)
http://children-crochet-yarn.blogspot.co.za/2017/05/how-to-blanket-crochet-square-granny.html?m=1
Elle have been running another Crochet-a-Long (a beautiful rug crocheted in the round). The links for the patterns are below, as well as the patterns for last year’s Crochet-a-Long which was fantastic!
http://elleyarns.com/product-category/patterns/crochet-a-long/?orderby=date
Share & Subscribe:
If you know anyone who would like to receive this newsletter, please don’t hesitate to share with them and if you do receive your copy from someone else, please let us have an email and we will happily send your copy directly into your email box every month.
Newsletters:
All past newsletters are on our website www.woolandmore.co.za – please do have a look. Your comments are always welcome.
That’s it for this lovely month of May – we hope that you enjoyed Mother’s Day and that as winter creeps in, your desire to create with yarn will grow and bear wonderful results!
As always, sent with much love and gratitude for your support.
Joy Sachs
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wool&more, 7 Gibb St, Plett 044 533 3182
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