TNNA Report - Baskets of Yarn!

TNNA, Wow!
We attended The National Needlearts Association trade show in Columbus Ohio last week
for the first time since relocating and reopening Baskets of Yarn. We intended to send a
newsletter from the show but obviously, that didn't happen. We appreciate those of you
that noticed, missed seeing it, and told us! We like to know that you enjoy getting it since we
work hard to make it interesting for you.
Our website host decided to move the website to a new server while we were gone and that
kept us from completing the newsletter as planned. Many of you had issues last week trying
to get on the website and that is the reason. Everything seems to be back in working order
now.
TNNA was phenomenal and we had the opportunity to take classes lead by Lily Chin, Cat
Bordhi and Robyn Chachula. They were wonderful sources of information and inspiration.
We have so many new ideas and yarn to share with you! We will phase that information in
during the next few months as the yarn and projects come in.
In the meantime, here are some “celebrity” pictures from TNNA as well as some shots of the
great yarn and projects.
Let us know if there is anything you see that you especially like! A lot of them are already
on our “potential” list, but the more feedback we get from you about what you would like to
see, the better! More pictures are available on the facebook page.
We were excited to meet with most of our current suppliers, see new yarns and accessories
and shake hands with some of the "celebrities" of the knitting world.
The annual show is a major event with hundreds of vendors, designers, dyers, etc showing
their wares and thousands of shop owners and enthuiests in attendance.
During out first day Patty had a class, taught by Lily Chin, who was once rated the worlds
fastest crocheter and is a top designer for major magazines, yarn companies and some of the
worlds best known fashion houses.
We saw many great designs during the show, some of which we hope to be bringing to you
this year, including, from Punta Yarns, the sweater above and the too cute "baby bag" below.
On the show floor we met Eunny Jang, Editor of Interweave Knits magazine and host of
Knitting Daily TV on public television. Eunny has long been a favorite of Patty's, and after
meeting her, the admiration is only greater.
Patty really liked this entwined sweater from Asland Trends. We wish we had a better picture
but we kept forgetting the good camera and had to rely on our cell phones.
Patty's last class was "Crochet Like a Pro" with Robyn Chachula, famous for her crochet
designs and classes that she teaches all over the country. Robyn definently showed the
"Crochet Diva" some new tricks!
Kollage FYC Syncopated Stripe Socks
We were holding all the newest Kollage kits for the class that we had this past Saturday. The
students had a rocking good time learning the Magic Loop method from Trish! We now have
the kits on the floor for purchase and they are just under $25! They have some great colors
and utilize Kollage “Luscious” yarn. This fabulous yarn is 63% Cotton and 37% Nylon for a
really great feel. Each kit has one solid skein, one variegated, the project bag and a pattern
for the sock. What a bargain!
New Arrivals
We placed an order for Punta Sock yarn earlier this year, just before they had a big fire at
their Mill. We received some of our order, but the rest has been delayed until now.
Good news! They are up and running again! I ordered the 3 most popular (and brightest)
colors of sock yarn that they make plus one space dyed black/grey sock color.
Speaking of Space Dyeing…
What the heck does that mean anyway?
Space dyeing mainly just refers to the fact that the yarn has been dyed in 2 or more colors. It
produces a variegated coloring in your finished work when you knit or crochet with it. This
usually consists of short bursts of horizontal stripes that produce a collage-like effect.
We’ll talk about hand dye and kettle dye in a future newsletter that features that type of yarn!
Design Contest!
Don't forget that our design contest is still on and there is time for you to join in! As I was
previewing the fall designs at Vogue Knitting I saw a cute lace cowl knitted in the round and
thought to myself "We could do that!" So here is my challenge to you: Create your own knit
in the round lace cowl, submit the sample and pattern for judging and the winner will walk
away with the yarn for the Kaffe Fasset Unwind Wrap (a $150 value)!
The rules:
1. We must have at least 5 entrants.
2. Each entrant must purchase at least 2 skeins of our "in stock" Kidsilk Haze yarn (your final
design may use more or less yarn than this).
3. You have until August 15th to submit your sample and pattern. Judging will be from
August 15th through September 1st and will be made by votes from our customers, one vote
each.
4. Patterns remain the property of the designer but we will ask you to allow Baskets of Yarn
clients to use these patterns to create your cowl through April 1, 2012.
5. Cowl samples remain the property of the designer but we will ask you to allow Baskets
of Yarn to display the cowls for judging.
6. Eligibility: All customers, staff and instructors are eligible to participate in this contest.
We generally do not allow staff or instructors to participate in "give aways" but I want to
make an exception in this case to allow all our creative minds to join in on this fun project.
Gary & Patty will not participate and will act as "keeper" of the votes. Your votes will
determine our winner.
On Our Needles...
Patty has many new ideas from TNNA, here is one of them that she was anxious to start!
“I made this much progress just on Saturday night, after the store closed! This pattern, Summer Flies by
Donna Griffin, is available on Ravelry as a free download for personal use. It will end up being a shawl
that is great for a light cover-up or worn backwards as a great cowl. If you look closely, you can see the
butterflies in the second section.”
This version is being made with Sirdar Juicy DK (Oh My! How soft!) and we will have it on sale this
week for 20% off. According to the pattern it should only take 4 balls of this 80% Bamboo, 20% Cotton
summer weight yarn.
Take a look at past projects "on our needles" for fun and inspiration!
Customer Projects
We're very happy to share another completed project with you this week. This on is by one of our
newest community members, Sarah Becton.
The design, Karma, is from the "Custom Knits" book that has been so popular with many of our knitters.
Sarah has been visiting the shop recently while she and her fiance were in town looking for a new
house. They'll be joining us again when they move up from Savanah in about two weeks and the many
new friends that she had made here already will be happy to have her with us! You can find Sarah on
Ravelry, and especially in the Baskets of Yarn group, under the name s3lisara.
Great job, Sarah!
Local Flavor
We have lots of new openings to tell you about! This week we feature Akahana Asian Bistro, Bar &
Sushi at 1308 The Plaza!
Gary and I had not rushed to try out this new restaurant when it opened earlier this year because (1) I
am not a big fan of sushi and (2) it is in a location that has had several failed restaurant attempts.
However, we have now eaten there two times this week and I think I could eat there every day. I only go
for the non-sushi items, but the vegetarian selections are great and Gary tells me the sushi is great too.
They have a permanent special of buy one get one free sushi rolls so you can either double up on your
order or split one with a friend for a really inexpensive meal. Try it out next time you are here!
Upcoming Classes at Baskets of Yarn
Sasha Skirt
The first session of this 5 part class will begin next Tuesday, June 21st at 6pm. If you've
been waiting for the class to start, your time is almost up! You can choose one to four colors
for the ruffles and it can be a short, medium or long length skirt! For this reason the class is
priced at $100 to include 5 two hour sessions and the pattern, but not the yarn.
Please come to the shop once you have registered to select the colors you would like to use!
When you pick out your yarn, we will give you a sample of the yarn to make your gauge
swatch before coming to the first class.
Instructor: Betsey
Class Time: Tuesday 6/21 6pm
Tunisian Mitered Square Afghan
One of the favorites around the shop has been the Tunisian Mitered Square Afghan. Many of
our students have learned this technique and made this as their first Tunisian project. I have
had a request to teach it again, so we are putting it back on the schedule.
You can used any yarn you like, but we strongly recommend the Kertzer Chunky Marble and
will include 5 skeins of this yarn with the class. It now comes in 24 different and beautiful
colors. We have the most popular colors here in the store, but can order any color with about
1 week notice.
Instructor: Patty
Class Time: Saturday, 6/25 10:30am
Lace Sock Pattern
Another sock class for experienced sock knitters, this session will cover the specifics of the
lace pattern and short row heel construction needed for the "Tessellating Lace Sock" pattern
by Kat Haines.
Instructor: Deana
Class Time: Saturday, 7/16 10:30am
Susan Undulating Scarf
This beautiful scarf is made with Schaeffer Susan yarn, a 100% mercerized cotton yarn that
blocks out wonderfully for this beaded pattern.
This is special order yarn and it only takes one skein, so you can custom pick your color. We
can order one skein at a time. Let us know if you are interested and we can put in another
section on the weekend if needed and get your yarn custom ordered!
Instructor: Patty
Class Time: Saturday, 7/16 1pm
Elizabeth Sweater
Another great pa3ern featuring Liberty Wool yarn, the classes for this sweater will cover
gauge, choosing the appropriate size, basic rib s=tch, slipped rib s=tch, arm shaping and
finishing. We will have 3 classes, one in each month of August, September and October. The
final class will go over finishing techniques, the maligned stepchild in kniGng. That finishing
class will provide you with the techniques to make your sweater go from “home-­‐made” to
“hand-­‐made.” Class will be taught by Pa3y with special guest appearances from Nancy, our
finishing expert!
Instuctor: Pa3y Frame (special guest Instructor: Nancy Strider)
Class Time: Saturday, 8/6 2pm
Check our CLASS SCHEDULE to see all the available classes!
Our Hours
Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Knit Mornings (Tuesday & Thursday): 10am - 12pm
Knit Nights (Tuesday & Thursday): 6pm - 8pm
Our Location
1318 Central Avenue, Suite E3
Charlotte, NC 28205
Find Us!
CLICK HERE to get directons to the shop!
Look for us past the Family Dollar building and behind the Fitness Together!
Call Us!
(704) 733-9053
Join Us!
In addition to the newsletter there are several other ways to keep up with what's going
on at the shop and to contribute to the community if you like. We'd be very grateful if
you joined the conversation either by joining or Ravelry group at
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/baskets-of-yarn
or by following us on facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/basketsofyarn
or, to be the first to know everything, follow our twitter feed at
http://twitter.com/#!/Baskets_of_Yarn
We look forward to seeing you soon at Baskets of Yarn!
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