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March
Greetings to all you Knitters,
I've
just returned from 2 weeks in Florida- the longest I've been away
from the store since I opened 7 years ago. Fortunately Lynn came down
halfway through and brought me up to date on all the shop news. It
was a wonderful time and I managed 3-4 hours of knitting a day,
thanks to the Olympic coverage and frostier than normal temperatures.
While away, I got into discussions with different people, and
knitting often came up in the conversation. (Any chance to talk
knitting and I'm there). What struck me about all of the random
people I chatted with was that four times, Debbie Bliss' name came up
as the reason they returned to knitting... or started knitting! Her
patterns had changed their view of knitting and suddenly it was 'hip
to knit'. Now, many of us "hardcore" knitters are
fascinated by this new wave of knitting interest, but while away I
had time to think about Bliss' brilliance and the way she 'kick
started' this new group of knitters. I think I have come up with a
few reasons why...
 1-
Her patterns are 'do-able'.
2-
She's prolific. I've lost count of the number of books she's
published, and now she even has a magazine.
3-
Her colour palette is awesome. Dare I say 'leading edge'?
4-
She supports many of the old local mills and works with them to keep
quality yarns on our shelves and in your hands.
5-
She's created an Eco line that looks promising.
6-Best
of all, both Lynn and I have spent time with her and she's warm,
engaging and humble- a delightful combination!
Do
yourself a favor while you're waiting for the weather to warm up...
have a look at some of her books at your library, local bookstore,
even Shopper's Drug Mart has her magazine! Re-think making one of her
designs. I don't think you'll have any regrets! Thank you Debbie for
bringing knitting 'out of the bottom drawer'.
From March 16th- 20th we will be offering 25% off
Debbie Bliss' Baby Cashmerino, Donegal Tweed, her magazines, books
and a new yarn called "Amalfi", a cotton, linen and silk
blend.
We
will also take orders for full bags (10 balls in a bag) of any Debbie
Bliss yarn that we don't stock at a 20% discount. Must be paid at the
time of ordering. (All sales final).
ALSO- We will be having
a draw for 3 of her books- ballots available at the store! For every
$25.00 you spend, receive a ballot to enter!
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New Yarns
While Mary was
away, Lynn and Kersti welcomed new boxes of Spring yarns daily. The
shelves are stuffed with gorgeous cottons, silks, bamboo and
summery fibres (HECK We even have yarn made out of milk for that
matter!). All we can think about are the warmer months that lie
ahead- and what summery knitted garments we'll be working on! The
drape of so many of these new yarns will lend themselves well to
the perfect summer tank or cardi.
Cascade Yarns have done it again
with a fabulous DK weight pima cotton. The colours are so rich
you are going to think you just won the lottery. At $10.99 for
100grams (and the ever-so-popular yardage of 220 yards), this yarn is
a super choice for crocheters and knitters alike.
Click here for
Cascade's library of free online patterns.
We
welcomed Punta
Yarns to our 'stash' last fall and are happy to
announce that we have brought in two new cooler yarns for Spring.
Montoya Beach is a solid coloured yarn that is 100% linen. Luxurious
tea towels anyone? I feel like I'm in Denmark all of a sudden...
Punta
Cotton is a hand dyed cotton that knits to an aran gauge. The multi
colours that we fell in love with in the merinos have carried
over nicely to their cotton yarn.
Click
here for Punta
Yarns catalogue of free online patterns.
Apologies
for no pictures in this section... I was so busy knitting swatches
that I forgot to snap some photos!
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March
Break at Mary's
If you and the kids are sticking around this March Break, why not
join us at the shop for some fibre-filled fun? Who needs palm
trees during March Break when you've got yarn anyway!
Kids
Learn to Knit (Ages 8-11)
Tuesday,
March 16th from 10:00-11:30 am
$25.00 per child, materials included.
Do you have a son or daughter that has expressed an interest in
knitting but you aren't sure you're the one to teach them? (Lynn
refused to listen to Mary at that age, so it was another shop owner
that taught her her!)
Bring your little one to the shop to learn the basics and you never
know... the knitting population in your household just might increase
by one!
'Older'
Kids Learn to Knit (Ages 11-16)
Wednesday,
March 17th from 1:00-2:30pm
$25.00 per person, materials included.
Don't let just the little one in the house have all the fun! Let your
teen sleep in until noon and then bring them over to the shop for
some beginner lessons. I can think of no better way to spend a day...
Kids 'Fun
with Fibre' (Ages 7-11)
Thursday, March 18th from 10:00-11:30am
$25.00 per child, materials included.
No knitting today! But lots of other fun things that can be done with
yarn- pompoms, twisted cords, corking and of course lots of laughs!
Your house will be littered with yarn bits once your little one is
through with this class! (Come on... there are wrose things!)
'Older'
Kids Granny Square
Friday, March 19th from 1:00-2:30
 $25.00 per person, materials included.
How can you not love granny squares? I mean... really!?!?! They're
incredibly addictive and your in-house-teenager can begin on a square
that just might someday become blanket or cushion for their own nest.
Click HERE to see the
cushion that Lynn's sister made her for Christmas!
Also, click HERE to see the
throw that Lynn made a while back.
Once you start, you just can't stop!
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 Classes
DEBBIE
BLISS BABY SWEATER- I've always admired
one of Debbie's patterns from her first issue of baby
cashmerino...it's a baby sweater with lots of cabling and intarsia
(colorwork) bears.
Please join me while we work our way through this mind bending, but
manageable project.
When-
Thursday
April 8th, 15th, 22nd 10am -12pm.
Cost-
$65 Includes Materials and a book.
Skill
Level- Intermediate level.
TOP
DOWN SWEATER-I just completed my 5th sweater
using this method and I'd love you to join me while I'm still
enthused!
When-
Thursday April 29th and May 6th 10am-12pm
Skill
Level- Ambitious Beginner (must be able to cast on, cast
off, knit and purl comfortably).
BELLS
ON YOUR TOES BOOTIES- Back by
popular demand! Why not whip up a pair of these little cuties for the
next little one in your life? Learn some new techniques while having
a hoot at the same times.
When-Saturday
April 17th 10am-12pm
Cost- $25
includes materials.
Skill
Level- Ambitious Beginner.
FINISHING-
OK folks...there's no excuse! We're giving you 3 chances to take a
very necessary lesson in improving your knitting. Not the most
creative part of knitting, but certainly the most satisfying!
When-Tuesday
April 20th 1-3pm or 7-9pm or Saturday April
24th 10-12pm
Cost- $20
Homework
required.
BLOSSOM
DEARIES- If you are interested in trying out some new
knitting techniques such as toe up sock construction and knitting
with beads, why not try out these precious baby booties?
 When-
Wednesday, March 24th and 31st 7-9pm.
Cost-
$55.00 includes materials.
Skill
Level- Intermediate.
SOCKS-
Still haven't given it a go? Now's the time dear knitter. Keep those
feet warm!
When- Wednesday,
April 14th and 21st, 7-9pm.
Cost-
$40.00 plus materials.
Skill
Level- Intermediate.
GRANNY
SQUARE- If the kids are doing it, why can't we? Get your
hook on with a hip granny square. So much fun you won't know how to
stop.
When-
Wednesday, March 24th 1-3pm.
Cost-
$20.00 plus materials.
Skill
Level- Basic crocheting skills are handy.
ARGOSY
BABY BLANKET- Babies are
everywhere these days- and babies need to stay warm! If you haven't
already tried this fabulous and fun pattern, now's your chance! Click
HERE to see
Lynn's blog post about her fun blanket.
When-
Wednesday, April 7th 1-3pm.
Cost-
$20.00 plus materials.
Skill
Level- Ambitious Beginner/Intermediate.
SHALOM
CARDIGAN- This has been hanging in the
shop for a while now and makes a perfect addition to your Spring
wardrobe! The time has come to tackle a top-down sweater for YOU!
 When-
Tuesday, April 6th, 10am-12pm.
Cost-$40.00
plus materials.
Skill
Level-Ambitous Beginner (this makes a great frist sweater!)
BEGINNER
KNITTING/PROJECTS CLASS-Have you never knit
before and ready to give it a shot? The first lesson will be knitting
101 and the following three lessons will be guiding you through your
first project. Already know how to knit but want a bit of help
through something you've been dying to make? Join us for the last
three classes as we guide you through that project you've been afraid
to tackle on your own.
When-Saturday,
April 10th, 17th, 24th and May 1st from 1-3pm.
Cost-
$75.00 for four weeks (this includes 'Knitting 101' for absolute
beginners), $60.00 for three weeks plus materials.
Skill
Level- Why, Beginner, of course!
All
classes must be paid at the time of registering.
Refunds
will not be given for missed classes, so please check your schedule
before signing up.
All
materials must be purchased at Mary's Yarns.
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We
hope this newsletter finds you all energized about the warmer
weather that lies ahead. If you can hardly wait for a breath of
Spring air, be sure to check out Canada Blooms
at the Direct Energy Centre from March 17th-21st. Swing by the shop
for a coupon for $4.00 off your admission. Then... cast on with some
cotton!
Happy
Spring knitting dearest Knitters!
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From all of us at Mary's Yarns
Mary,
Lynn, Kersti and Karen
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