Stringtown Yarn & Fiber

It’s JUNE already!

Happy Birthday to the store :)Stringtown has been open 2 years this week. I can’t believe it’s already been two whole years!  Thank you all for your support. We have a wonderful fiber arts community that has grown up around the shop.  I really enjoy watching everyone learn and try new things and I love to see your finished projects.

To celebrate the store’s birthday, there will be cupcakes and a special discount drawing bowl on Thursday June  4th. Everyone who buys something Thursday will get to draw a coupon out of the bowl for up to 50% off their entire purchase. That’s including clearance stuff, so come celebrate! 

Speaking of clearance stuff, there is some new yarn over there in that section. I’m making room for all the Fall things I’ll be ordering at Market so SWTC Pure (100% soysilk, DK weight, super drapey and good for summer stuff!) and Vickie Howell Craft (DK weight organic cotton & milk fiber, also great for summer & baby things) are both on clearance at 50% off while they last. There are sweater quantities of both yarns over there right now, but I can’t say how long that’s going to be the case so you’d better hustle. heehee

New in the store for June is Crystal Palace Mini Mochi sock yarn in all 8 colors (click the link to see how they stripe), and for those of you who have been asking for Ribbon Yarn we have Universal Precious in 6 summery colors. MSRP on that one is $9, but while it lasts we have it for just $5.99!

Also new for Summer are Stringtown’s Summer Hours. The store has switched to Noon-6PM every day except Noon-8PM on Thursday and Closed Sundays now through the end of July.  If you absolutely can’t make it in after noon and you need something, give me a call and I can let you in earlier by appointment.  Also, the store will be closed June 15th while I’m away at TNNA Market getting goodies for Fall.

Classes for June and July

Saturdays in June & July are Free Help/Learn To Knit days! Just bring your project (no matter where you bought your yarn or pattern) and get free help from Kristen or Elizabeth (tips are appreciated, but not required) OR buy your yarn and needles here and get a free beginning knitting or crochet lesson.

Sunday, June  28th or Sunday, July 26th Noon till 4PM - Learn to dye your own yarn with Jacquard Acid Dyes! Bring up to 2lbs of yarn from home or we’ll have some sock yarn, some worsted, and some bulky for you to buy the day of the class. $30 includes instruction, all the dye you need, and use of equipment. Bring your lunch or a snack to share if you like. Please register in advance. 

One on One Beginning Knitting, Crochet, or Spinning classes are still $10 by appointment any time during regular shop hours. Just call or come in to sign up. 

Knitting 911 is still going on 3PM-5Pm every Tuesday. Beverly has been away recovering from her recent heart surgery, but please feel free to go ahead and come in for help on your projects or just to visit and work on what you can until she returns. 

Thursday Night is Stitch N Bitch / Craft Night from 6PM-8PM! This is a free get-together. Bring snacks and drinks ir you like. We have free coffee, tea, and water. Hang out and work on your project while you get caught up with what your friends are up to or make some new friends :)   

Denise Bell and Kay Meadors showing off the traveling shawl at Stringtown on March 21st

Thanks to everyone who came out to see the Traveling Shawl while it was at Stringtown on Saturday! Courtesy of designer Kay Meadors, I’ll have copies of the pattern available at the shop for $5 with the money going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation or you can donate through the Traveling Shawl Blog and bring me the printout showing you made your donation to receive a copy of the pattern that way

Anyone interested in being on a Stringtown Team for this competition please let me know. I can supply some hand cards and a loom. Spinners need to have your own wheel or at least have experience spinning on a wheel so you can be FAST on a borrowed wheel

Heritage Skills Sheep to Shawl at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park
Prairie Grove, Arkansas
May 16, 2009

Hosted by: Heritage Skills Society

This will be a judged team competition. Our main objective is to have fun. We will use this as an opportunity to educate the public and promote appreciation of wool and our crafts. (This is included in Team Spirit.) The public will be invited and demonstrations will be going on in other areas of the park.

RULES OF THE DAY
Each team will consist of 1 weaver, 3 spinners, and 1 gofer. All team members can help with fiber preparation and tying fringe at any time. Team members may change tasks during the competition, but will keep the same number of jobs at all times. The gofer role is defined as the team member who answers questions and interacts with the public so that the other members can concentrate on their tasks. The gofer will be assigned two 15 min. time slots to speak to the public about their team history, what the teams are doing and answer questions. When not announcing they may help their fellow team members.

Each team will supply all its own equipment. (i.e. spinning wheel, pre-warped loom, shuttles, bobbin winder, hand cards or flickers)

No drum carders, pickers, or electric equipment.

Pre-warp loom (dyed or natural) at no fewer than eight ends per inch. Pattern: your choice. Raw fleece will be sent to all teams. You will have the fun of scouring, carding, spinning, plying, and warping at your leisure.

At 11AM each team will receive a measured amount of scoured and dry fleece, provide by The Heritage Skill Society, which must be processed into the weft.

All equipment must arrive between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. and be set up by 10:45 a.m. Nothing can be added once the contest begins. Only team members and judges will be permitted in the work area.

The competition will begin at 9AM and end at 4PM

The handspun weft yarn will be plyed and not exceed 3 times the diameter of the warp yarn.

The completed shawl must be a minimum of 18 inches wide and 72 inches long, excluding optional fringe. (Points will be deducted for being shorter.)

Teams will be judged on the following basis. Placement will be by total number of points.

Team Work
-Costume, 5 points (whatever to show group- period dress, tee shirts, caps,???)
-Sign, 5 points ( show off your group)
-Promptness, 5 points
-Spirit in contest situation, 5 points

Spinners, 20 points
-Fleece preparation, cleanliness, and count
-Spun plyed weft yarn not to exceed 3 times the diameter of warp yarn
-Uniformity of preparation, size, and type of yarn produced
-Ability to keep weaver supplied

Weaver, 15 points
-Even edges, minimal draw-in
-Even beating
-No threading or treadling errors

Finished Shawl
Finishing details, 10 points
Aesthetic appeal (drape, hand, over-all appearance, and design), 20 points
Time: first finished, 10 points second finished, 9 points, etc.
Deductions for measurements outside of standards

Lunch will be served 12:30-1:00. Please let us know of any special needs. Drinks and snacks will be available throughout the competition.

50 women, each from one of the fifty states, are all tied together through Ravelry, the postal service, and one beautiful traveling shawl that each is knitting a part of in turn.  The Traveling Shawl project is raising money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Reasearch, and it’ll be visiting Stringtown on Saturday, March 21st around 1PM!

The founders of this project, designer Kay Meadors of Little Rock and Denise Bell of Lost City, OK will be at Stringtown to show off the shawl in progress and meet face to face for the first time   If you’d like to meet Kay and Denise and see the shawl just come on down to the shop at 1PM on Saturday. You can visit their blog at traveling50statesshawl.blogspot.com to make a $5 donation for a chance at winning the finished shawl. 

Now, watch this Extreme Shepherding video. haha

The short answer is “Yes, you probably can!” haha Here’s the long answer from the TSA website. 

Spring is just around the corner, and new spring things have been arriving almost every day this week! I’ve been so busy getting everything tagged, in the computer, and out on the shelf that I almost forgot to send out the class schedule. Duh!

New Stuff For March

• Plymouth Kudo - This yarn has a self-striping, tweedy look similar to Boku, but in a soft, bouncy cotton/rayon/silk blend that would make a really pretty spring cardigan, shawl, or scarf
• Plymouth Trabajos Del Peru - SOFT 100% Extra Fine Merino Wool, slightly thick & thin, handpainted awesomeness. 7 colors are in stock now, with more to come.
• Plymouth Dreambaby Shine - Your favorite DK Baby Yarn with a shiny rayon strand. It’s the pompador baby yarn everyone has been asking for. yay!
• Fiesta LaLuz and LaLuz Multi - Over 200 yards of hand painted 100% Silk goodness per skein.
• JoJoLand Consonance - Silk & Cashmere blend laceweight with 440 yards per skein.
• Crystal Palace Panda Cotton - It’s a wool-free sock yarn! Bamboo & cotton with just a touch of elastic to keep your socks up. While you’re there looking, check out all the FREE PATTERNS on the Crystal Palace website. They have a ton.
• JUL Project Bags - Beautiful handmade dragonfly satin brocade drawstring pouches. Use them to contain your small projects or as gift bags. Let me know if you see anything else on the JUL website that you’d like, and I can order that for you too

There are also some new Ann Norling patterns, the new Debbie Bliss magazine, a great new book by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton for Plymouth called Earthworks, new colors of Crystal Palace Kid Merino, some pink Polarknit yarn, and some new styles of their Yarn Dots badges (”just one more row”, “shut up I’m counting”, and “crafty monkey”) More new stuff will be arriving soon!

Not surprisingly, with all this new yarn showing up I’ve had to put more stuff in the clearance area to make space for the new things. Regia Cotton and Regia Silk sock yarns, Wisdom Bamboo Splash, and Rowan Kidsilk Night are 50% off over there while they last. There is still some ”Sunset” Malabrigo at 40% off right now too, but it may not be there later tonight.

March Classes

Crochet For Knitters  Saturday, March 14^th 3PM – 6PM

Want to add a crochet edging to your next knitting project, but you don’t know how to crochet? Just want to learn the basics so you can make yourself a quick crocheted scarf or afghan? This is the class for you! You’ll learn how to make a foundation chain, slip stitch, single, half-double, double, and treble crochet stitches & how to read a crochet pattern, plus you’ll get to practice some crochet edgings. Bring a 4×4 swatch knit with any color of worsted weight yarn and a light color worsted weight yarn for practice. A crochet hook is included in the price of the class. Cost is $15.

 Fixing Your Knitting Mistakes    Saturday, March 21^st 3PM-5PM

Oops! Don’t panic, just grab a crochet hook and learn how to fix those mistakes, pick up lost stitches, and make everything right again. Bring a light color swatch still on the needles (ask for instructions when you sign up for the class) and a small crochet hook. Cost is $15.

 SKILLS NEEDED: You must already be able to cast on, knit, and purl

Mitered Squares    Saturday, March 28^th 3PM-6PM

Use up those odd leftovers and that yarn lurking in your stash that you just don’t know what to do with! Make a funky scarf, wrap, or afghan with mitered squares. Pick up stitches as you go with the no-sew method or make a bunch of individual squares and seam them up for a more portable project. Bring your yarn and needles of whatever size you need to work with that yarn. Cost is $15 and includes a pattern.

 SKILLS NEEDED: You must already be able to cast on and knit

Beginning Knitting or Crochet by appointment during regular shop hours. The cost is $10 per session plus materials for your first project. Materials must be purchased at Stringtown. Call or come by to register. For singles or groups of up to 4 people.

Beginning Drop Spindle Spinning by appointment. The cost is $10 per session plus materials. Materials must be purchased at Stringtown. Call or come by to register. For singles or groups of up to 4 people.

Knitting 911 with Beverly every Tuesday 3PM-5PM. The cost is $5 paid directly to Beverly at the time of the class. If you are stuck on a pattern or things just aren’t turning out right with your project, bring it in for her to take a look at. Beverly can also help you learn a new stitch pattern or give you some tips on keeping track of your pattern. Don’t worry about whether or not the project you need help with was purchased at Stringtown. We don’t mind a bit if you bring in something you got somewhere else. We’re just glad you’re here. Beginning Knitting or Crochet can also be learned during this time.
 

Stitch N Bitch/Craft Night is Thursday 6-8PM. This is a free get-together. Bring snacks or drinks if you like. We’ve got free coffee, tea, and water. Hang out and work on your project. Swap tips, and get caught up on what your friends are up to.

Need some time away from the house? You’re always welcome to come hang out and work on your knitting, crochet, or spinning projects here during regular store hours 10AM-6PM Mon-Wed & Fri, Noon-8PM Thur, Noon-6PM Saturday

Thanks for supporting your local yarn store!

~Elizabeth

The store is closed today due to the bad weather. As a general rule, if the Fort Smith schools are closed, so is the store. I don’t like to take a chance of getting stuck out away from home when it’s icy, and if we lost power at the store it would get darn cold super fast.

Sadly, this means that the usual Tuesday class is also canceled for today, but I hope everyone is safe at home with a big cup of something warm to drink and that you all get lots of work done on your projects so you need some more yarn when this mess is over

Hello!2008 is almost over, and that means inventory time is coming up. The store will be closed January 1st-4th for that, but to help you get yourself something to work on while it’s closed and just so I don’t have so much yarn to count, how about this? 

YEAR END CLEARANCE SALE!

All in-stock yarn is 20% off now through December 31st. This includes things that are already on clearance. (So if you’ve been eyeing that Claudia Handpainted laceweight silk which has been marked down to 25% off, it’s now 45% off.)  

The store is open regular hours today, Monday, and Tuesday, and will be open 10AM-8PM on Dec. 31st. Celebrate new years eve with your friends at Stringtown before you head out to watch the ball drop. The usual Thursday Stitch N Bitch will be happening on Wednesday the 31st 6PM-8PM, and there may be a New Years Eve special or two. I’m just sayin…

Oh, and don’t forget to pick up your Customer Appreciation Coupon when the store re-opens on the 5th! If you’ve spent at least $100 at Stringtown during the last quarter of 2008, you’ve got a coupon for at least 10%  and maybe up to 50% off up to $100 in merchandise waiting for you at the register.

 Happy New Year!

The January Classes are posted here. 

 Can you believe 2008 is almost over? I totally can’t.

The big Fiber Extravaganza at Mt. Magazine took place last weekend. I had a great time meeting people and being a vendor at an event for the first time.  I learned some lessons for next year (Bring tablecloths and an extension cord and don’t run off without the shopping bags!) and I’ve already booked a cabin for Dec. 4&5th 2009 If you think you might want to go and spend the night, book a room at Mt. Magazine now before they’re all gone. Just tell them you’re with the Arkansas Fiber Extravaganza, Group #73820 and they’ll hook you up.  I think we kinda freaked out the staff there at the lodge this year because there were so many of us. I also think that’s AWESOME. 

 OK, now for some sad news. I’ve had a death in my family. My Mother In-Law Margie Holder Lee passed away early on Saturday morning. Her funeral will be held at Edwards Funeral Home here in Ft. Smith on Thursday morning, so the shop will be closed on Thursday, December 11th. The usual Stitch N Bitch night will be held at Sweet Bay Coffee next to Creekmore Park, 6PM-8PM. Please spread the word to people you know usually show up but who may not have email access. 

NEXT Thursday, December 18th 6PM-whenever, we’ll have a Christmas Party at the shop. I’ll have drinks and cookies, paper plates, cups, napkins, silverware, etc. Feel free to bring a dish and join in the fun. 

 There are lots of new things ahead for 2009. I’ve already been buying some really snazzy luxury yarns from Fiesta and I’ve got my eye on a few new sock yarns too. (Trekking XXL anyone?)  Meanwhile, in case you haven’t been in to see for yourself, we now have all 36 solid colors of Universal Classic Worsted. This stuff is a machine wash & dry wool/acrylic blend that works great for  baby/child or laundry-challenged adult knitting. 

OK, that’s all the news I can think of. Here are December’s Classes. Happy Holidays!

DANG! This month is just getting away from me over here.  
First, I need to let everyone know that the store will be closed on December 6th for the 2nd Annual Arkansas Knit & Spin Extravaganza on Mt. Magazine. I’m heading up there the 5th after the store closes and I’ll have a little booth space, so if you’re planning to attend and want me to bring you something specific just let me know.  For more info on the event just email Anne Bean (Anne@AnneBeanVA.com)

The Cricket Looms are here from Schacht, and I’m expecting a Matchless spinning wheel just any day now.

New Yarns This Month:
Kollage Delightful - This glittery mohair blend yarn is great for the holidays. They’ve even got a free Delightful Lace Scarf pattern that uses only one skein. (the link goes to a .pdf file of the pattern)

Zealana Eco Merino/Cashmere - Chunky and super soft!

Universal Yarn Afghan Kits are also here! I love these things. I keep having to fight the temptation to rip one open and cast on. I may be losing the battle. haha 

The other new item in the store this month is the Fidelis Spinning Wheel from Heavenly Handspun. This is a great little starter wheel with a unique look. It uses a bicycle wheel & the bobbins are HUGE. Come check it out if you’ve been thinking of getting a starter wheel. I’ll be getting some more of the Babe wheels towards the end of the month too. 

OK, Just click here to see this month’s class schedule.