Mother’s Day is May 11th, so if you want to make something for your Mom, you’re running out of time!
Saturday, April 26th - Saturday, May 3rd
ALL YARN & BOOKS 15% OFF
ALL BAGS & TOTES 10% OFF
Would your Mom enjoy a Gift Certificate? All Gift Certificates purchased during the week of the sale will include a coupon for 10% off to be used with the Gift Certificate.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Here in Arkansas, April Showers bring hail and tornados! We had golf ball size hail and lots of scary weather last night.
I went down to check on the store last night after the hail, and YAY! The skylight didn’t have any holes in it. There is the usual basement puddle and a little bit of skylight drip like we always get when there are high winds, but the yarn is safe and nothing on the table was damaged.
I hope everyone else came through the storms OK.
Customer Appreciation Discount Coupons
The new Customer Appreciation Discount program has been a big hit so far. If you’ve spent at least $100 at Stringtown during Jan, Feb, and March then you qualify for a coupon worth from 10% to 50% off to be used before July 1st. This time around I’m going to issue paper coupons so be sure to ask for yours if you think you’ve qualified for one and I don’t give it to you next time I see you.
New Stuff!
There are several new yarns in the store this month.
Rowan Summer Tweed - This cotton/silk blend yarn works up at 16 sts to 4in on US8 needles. Great for summer tops and accessories. Coordinates with Rowan Damask
Rowan Damask - A slightly thick and thin blend of Viscose, Linen, & Acrylic with a silky sheen.
Berroco Sox - New Superwash Wool and Nylon self-patterning sock yarn. One skein makes a pair of socks for only $12. They have a couple of free patterns for it here.
Tofutsies Stitches Collectors Edition Packages - These are available now in a very limited quantity. You get 4 exclusive colors of Tofutsies previously only sold to XRX Stitches Market attendees, a cute little project tote bag, and a cd with 10 sock patterns all for just $64 (the price of 4 regular skeins)
In other news, Stringtown is an official “Sox Hot Spot” in the XRX Think Outside The Sox Contest. Go to http://www.thinkoutsidethesox.com/ for all the details on how your sock design skills could win you up to $6,000!
New Spring yarns have started to arrive!
Jojoland 2-ply Cashmere, Harmony Laceweight, and Melody Superwash are here along with some of the patterns featured on their website.
There is also a batch of new Tofutsies colors. Just in case you haven’t heard about it already, Tofutsies is the official sock yarn of Sock Wars III. Just click that link to find out more about Sock Wars and sign up if you want to.
Oh, and I now have some super cute new needle felting kits with everything you need to make two different cats or a monkey. If you haven’t tried needle felting yet, you should check it out.
Something else you should check out is Ravelry. If you haven’t signed up yet, you just don’t know all the fun you’re missing. It’s the best free pattern and yarn information resource around. Look me up and friend me when you get there 
Arriving next month: Rowan Summer Tweed and Damask yarns!
March Classes
Needle Felted Flowers
Saturday, March 8th, 3PM-5PM
You’ll be learning to make needle felted flowers that can be used as a pin or embellishment on a felted bag etc. Cost is $15 which includes all materials and instruction. Class limit is 6 students. Please call, email, or come in to register in advance. (The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is also scheduled for the 8th, so maybe get here a little early)
Beginning Lace Knitting
Saturday, March 15th 3PM-5PM
You’ll be learning about lace construction and how to read and follow a lace chart while making a feather & fan scarf using any DK to worsted weight yarn you choose and size 8 or 9 needles.
Skills Needed: You must be able to cast on, knit, and purl.
Cost is $10 and includes the pattern and instructions. You must buy the yarn here, but you can bring your own needles if you already have them. Class limit is 6 students. Please call, email, or come in to register in advance.
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 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.
Toe-Up Socks
Saturdays, February 2nd and 9th, 3PM-5PM
You’ll be learning to make socks with any weight yarn that you can try on as you go. You’ll need DPN’s or 2 Circulars in a size to match whatever yarn you choose.
Skills Needed: You must already be able to cast on, knit, and purl and work in the round on double pointed or two circular needles. It helps if you also have experience knitting socks, but if you don’t then don’t let that stop you from signing up.
Cost is $15 which includes the pattern and instruction. You must buy the yarn here (previously purchased here yarn is OK), but you can bring your own needles if you already have them. Class limit is 6 students.
This is a 2-session class, and no refunds will be given if you sign up but can’t make it to both sessions. Please call, email, or come in to register in advance. We’ll do this again in March if there is a demand for it
Beginner Hat / Knitting In The Round
Saturdays, February 16th and 23rd 3PM-5PM
You’ll be learning about hat construction, how to check your gauge, and making a simple hat using any yarn you choose with 16-inch circular and double pointed needles.
Skills Needed: You must be able to cast on, knit, and purl.
Cost is $15 and includes the pattern and instruction. You must buy the yarn here, but you can bring your own needles if you already have them. Class limit is 6 students.
This is a 2-session class, and no refunds will be given if you sign up but can’t make it to both sessions. Please call, email, or come in to register in advance.
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 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.
The store is closed today because I’m a big chicken when it comes to driving on ice. I’ve been seeing video of accidents on the bridge there by the store and a couple of cars creeping super slow across our back parking lot on Channel 5. They keep putting these bulletins across the screen saying roads are hazardous and not to go out if you don’t need to. I don’t think I’m gonna take the chance, and I don’t think you should either.
Supposedly the roads will clear later on tonight and in the morning when the sun comes up so I’m gonna say the Dye class is still on for tomorrow morning. If you’ve signed up for it and you aren’t going to make it, please let me know and we can reschedule for you for a different time. Of course the Hat class is also still on for tomorrow since it’s supposed to be in the 50’s by the afternoon. (??!! crazy weather)
Meanwhile, here are some Finished Items for you to enjoy:
I confess that I suck and I can’t remember who made it, but isn’t this a cute little baby cardi? It was made with Opal sock yarn. If you’re the one who made it, let me know so I can give you credit
Kristen made this hat using Nashua Julia. She adapted a pattern from the book “Kristin Knits” by Kristin Nicholas. It turned out all pretty and her color substitutions really make it unique. The ease of color substitution with this yarn and the patterns in the book is one of the things I love about it.
Finally, these are Sarah V’s Tempted Socks. She used the “Shock Rocker” colorway, and they turned out just great!
Speaking of socks, we’ll be doing another toe-up sock class in February. It’ll be held Feb 2nd and Feb. 9th from 3PM-5PM, and I’ll be teaching a tip of the toe cast-on, so you can use any yarn and any gauge you like. Class limit is 6 students and the cost is $15 for the class. The rest of the Feb. class schedule will be out soon.
Everybody take it easy today and be careful if you have to go anywhere.
Do you know about these?
Basicly you’re a hitman and your weapon is either a sock (for Sock Wars) or a cabled hat (for Hat Attack) When play begins you get a pattern and the name and address of your target. You knit the item as fast as you can and mail it off to your target before you receive one yourself. A player is “dead” when he or she receives the item and must then send you their own target’s info and their incomplete item for you to finish and mail to the next target. Play continues until there is one winner left in each contest.
Get all the info at the following places:
Sock Wars: Yahoo Group and Ravelry Group (these are the sites for the last round. The info for the latest round (Sock Wars III) will be posted to these groups soon.
Hat Attack: Yahoo Group and Ravelry Group
Sign-ups are through the Yahoo Groups.
The official yarn of Sock Wars III is Tofutsies, and the yarn used in the Hat Attack pattern is Lamb’s Pride Worsted.
Since I have both of these yarns in stock at Stringtown, and I’ve signed up for both of these, (yes, I’m nuts.) I thought I’d do a special.
Mention Hat Attack when you buy a skein of Lamb’s Pride Worsted or mention Sock Wars when you buy a skein of Tofutsies, and I’ll give you 25% off.
Hurry though, sign-ups for Hat Attack end Feb. 9th, and sign-ups for Sock Wars III are rumored to be starting on “Bloody Valentine’s Day”. Have fun!
I just want to remind everyone that if Fort Smith Public Schools are closed for bad weather/icy roads, then Stringtown will also be closed. The weatherman is talking like we might have some ice tomorrow morning.
Also, most of the new stuff I ordered has come in. We have the new Plymouth Kaos Confusion, Kraemer Tatamy Tweed, Kraemer Silk & Silver, Berroco Comfort, and then restocks of all your favorites including some new colors of Tempted Sock Yarn (as seen recently on wendyknits.net) Ultra Alpaca and Malabrigo. As of right now nearly all colors of the Universal Tapestry yarn are in stock, and I’m expecting a shipment of Lamb’s Pride Bulky later this week.
So, if it doesn’t ice us in tomorrow, come down to see the new stuff
OK, after that bummer post about being closed today due to the ill-timed painters I figured I’d give you guys some good news. The first batch of new yarns are going to start rolling into the shop late next week.
Here is a little preview of what I have ordered:
From Kraemer Yarns (Spun in the USA! Yay!)
Plymouth Yarn
Berroco
I’ve also re-ordered lots of your favorites like Malabrigo, Plymouth Boku, Dreambaby DK, and Universal Classic Worsted Tapestry and LP. By the way, the Universal people called yesterday to say that all the colors of Tapestry that have been on back order are finally shipping today! YAY!
Hi Everybody!
I arrived at work to find a big old scaffold full of painters set up all over the storefront. (Thanks for the warning, Mr. Landlord - not!) They say they’ll need to be there all day, and unfortunately they’re blocking the door. I got in, but they won’t be able to let people in and out of the store. At least when they’re done the outside of the building will be pretty.
Tomorrow’s Toe-Up Sock Class will be going on as scheduled, and the store will be open regular Saturday hours (Noon till 6PM) even though the painters will still be here doing some trim work. They’ve promised they won’t need to block the doorway. So, watch out for wet paint on your way in tomorrow. They’ll also be working on our basement, but the sealer they’ll be using down there doesn’t smell upstairs, and it should be pretty enough outside tomorrow afternoon that we can have the transom window open just in case.
If there is something you absolutely have to have today, give me a call and I’ll let you know if they’ve unblocked the door yet. I’m going to be here for a few hours cleaning and moving stuff away from the walls in the basement.
I’m really sorry for any inconvenience this causes anyone.
See you tomorrow!
~Elizabeth
NEW STUFF
Bernat Handicrafter Cotton for dishcloths! Lots of bright, varigated colors - only $1.69
Universal Pebbles yarn
Classic type knitting stands in 2 styles and 4 colors
New colors of Brown Sheep Burlyspun
We now have purse handles! These are great for felted bag projects.
There are still some Rowan Close-Out Yarns left - Big Wool Fusion or Chunky Print for just $5 a ball or $45 if you buy a whole bag and RYC Soft Lux or Nashua Creative Focus Ribbbon just $3 a ball or $25 for a whole bag. These yarns are usually $9.95-15.95 a ball so this is a super great deal.
CLASSES
Toe-Up Socks
Saturdays, January 5th and 12th, 2PM-5PM
You’ll be learning to make socks with any weight yarn that you can try on as you go. You’ll need DPN’s or 2 Circulars in a size to match whatever yarn you choose. (usually size 2 or 3 for sock yarn - size 5, 6, or 7 for DK/worsted)
Skills Needed: You must already be able to cast on, knit, and purl and work in the round on double pointed or two circular needles. It helps if you also have experience knitting socks, but if you don’t then don’t let that stop you from signing up.
Cost is $15 which includes the pattern and instruction. You must buy the yarn here, but you can bring your own needles if you already have them. Class limit is 6 students.
This is a 2-session class, and no refunds will be given if you sign up but can’t make it to both sessions. Please call, email, or come in to register in advance.
Beginner Hat / Knitting In The Round
Saturdays, January 19th and 26th 3PM-5PM
You’ll be learning about hat construction, how to check gauge, and making a simple hat using worsted weight yarn and size 7 or 8 16-inch circular and double pointed needles.
Skills Needed: You must be able to cast on, knit, and purl.
Cost is $15 and includes the pattern and instruction. You must buy the yarn here, but you can bring your own needles if you already have them. Class limit is 6 students.
This is a 2-session class, and no refunds will be given if you sign up but can’t make it to both sessions. Please call, email, or come in to register in advance.
Dye Your Own Sock Yarn
Saturday, January 26th, 9AM - Noon
This class will be held in the morning before the store opens for business. Once the class starts, the doors will be locked. Please call, email, or come in to register in advance so that we know to expect you.
Learn to use Jacquard Acid Dye to create your own custom sock yarn colorway!
Cost is $30 and includes dye, yarn, and instructions. Wear old clothes in case we make a mess Class limit is 4 students.
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 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.
