We are now officially ready for Fall, with the last of our big shipments arriving today (except, of course, for KOIGU and PRISM which arrive in October/November). And what shipments they were! Even John the UPS Guy was in awe. Why? Because we received hand-dyed cashmere and the Louisa Harding Collection!

We have been yearning for LOBSTER POT CASHMERE ever since our lovely sales rep Donna showed it to us a few years ago. And now we felt ready for and worthy of it. Wait until you see this worsted weight 100% cashmere from Cape Cod. It truly is dyed in Lobster Pots! We have natural and black as well as an array of Cape Cod colors. One skein makes a scarf, which we will furiously knit tonight. And Sue, the owner of Cape Cod Fibers, was kind enough to send some patterns as well, which we will offer free with the purchase of this amazing yarn. Anyone for a baby set in pure cashmere????

And the LOUISA HARDING COLLECTION arrived today. For those of you who read our TNNA report, you may remember that we viewed this as the most exciting new collection at the show. Four yarns: IMPRESSIONS, a mohair blend,

SARI RIBBON, a broad ribbon with metallic running through it,

KIMONO ANGORA, a luscious angora blend,

and KIMONO RIBBON, a jewel toned rayon ribbon.

And look at IMPRESSIONS and SARI RIBBON knit together:

Louisa calls that Button Wrap and I am knitting it for myself right after I finish the Lobster Pot Cashmere scarf.....

Two books: THE DESIGN COLLECTION and ACCESSORIES. We chose colors and fibers that create many of the designs in these books. We have seldom seen a more feminine or original collection. We think you will agree.

So I guess current projects get put aside, because we can't wait to tear into these gorgeous fibers.

Other news: three more Rowan books are in: BIG IT UP, CLASSIC WOMAN, and CLASSIC WEEKEND, as well as new sock book SENSATIONAL KNITTED SOCKS.

Finally, our newsletter will be out next Tuesday, September 6. If you want it before it goes up on the website (which takes about a week), please sign in on the lower left side of this home page. You will follow a three step process to get on our email list. And that means you will never miss a newsletter, sale, or special WoolWinders event (hint hint) again.

Boxes and boxes of Debbie Bliss' fabulous ALPACA SILK! New colors and a brand new DK gauge-you can now knit this soft and beautiful yarn at 5.5 stitches to the inch on a size 6 needle! This yarn sold out last year more than once. So we believe that we have ordered enough this year, but who knows? Debbie has two pattern books for the yarn, the latest including patterns for the new gauge. As always, they are elegant and easy-to-follow!

Also in, the silk-lined needle/accessory cases from Lantern Moon. Perfect for storing both straight and circular
needles, as well as those pesky notions that get away from you!

The yarn we cannot keep in stock is back in! Blue Sky Organic Cotton has proven to be a winner for baby blankets, children's sweaters, afghans, and anything else that needs to be cozy. No dyes are used, so virtually anyone can use and wear this fiber. And the Blue Sky Cotton, in bright and wonderful colors, is back in stock as well!

Our lovely friends at Rowan sent one of our favorite yarns today. We are in love with their CASH SOFT line; a DK Weight blend of cashmere, microfiber and extra-fine merino. Last spring we introduced it for babies; this fall we bought their "grown-up" colors as well. If you are most comfortable with a lightweight 5.5/inch size 6 needle project, this is the perfect yarn for you. And the color palette is clear and lovely.

Also in, the Winter 2005 Schoeller Stahl pattern book. We call this the "Adrian" book; like her it is sophisticated and dazzling!

The Fall class schedule is up on the site; just click on the classes/lessons tab up top. One very important change-The Felted Modular Bag class will be TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4 rather than MONDAY the 3rd. Sorry. It will still be held from 6-8 PM.

Three popular colors of NORO SILK GARDEN have arrived: tones of reds, tones of teal/grey, and tones of brown. The last is the one most often chosen for the men in one's life. This yarn never lasts long on the shelf....

And neither does the Cascade 220! We have already had to re-order the black and ruby colors and now we have plenty in stock. Let the felted bags begin!

Finally, two new books from Elsebeth Lavold. Her beautiful designs now grace the TAKE FIVE COLLECTION and MELLOW TONE COLLECTION.

John the UPS Guy only brought us two boxes today, but what two! We FINALLY have size 10 circular needles in both wood and metal, thanks to our lovely friends at Skacel.

And we have new yarns from Tahki in stock: FILATURA BABY KISS, a chunky weight variegated yarn perfect for quick baby/kids things;

UMA, a fun and funky thick/thin twisted variegated (!) yarn that will make fabulous hats, scarves, vests and the like;

and MULTICOLOR, an elegant mohair blend that knits at a quick 18 stitches/4 inches and will change your views about mohair. You have NEVER felt mohair this soft.

We take this rare opportunity when we do NOT have to blog about any new arrivals, since John the UPS Guy passed us by today, to remind everyone that we are offering FIT FOR FALL through this weekend. Just give us a call to set up a time when we will take your complete measurements so that from this point forth your knitted or crocheted garments will fit perfectly! We have had a tremendous response to this program, and have a few slots available this weekend. In addition to the measurements, you will receive 15% off your purchases!

We predicted that shawls and shrugs were going to be big this year. How big? Interweave Press has dedicated an entire book to the garments! WRAP STYLE arrived today. And it is fantastic!

Following in the footsteps of the extraordinarily popular Scarf Style, Wrap Style is a collection of 24 classic and contemporary wraps from 18 knitwear designers, including Lily Chin, Teva Durham, Nicky Epstein, Norah Gaughan, Deborah Newton, and Jo Sharp. The designs for these ponchos, capes, stoles, and capelets vary from simple to challenging and explore shape and silhouette possibilities in a host of techniques including stitch patterns, color work, lace, beads, crochet, and felt. Also included is an in-depth chapter on designing and a clearly illustrated glossary that provides all the information necessary for even a novice knitter to successfully create one-of-a-kind fashions.

John the UPS Guy staggered under the weight of six large boxes, so the call went out in the store. "THE ROWAN IS IN!" This is always a very happy day at WoolWinders. The staff hustles to get all the yarn put out because they would feel guilty sitting around looking at all the books otherwise. So as we write this, most of it is entered, priced, shelved and stored. And yes, we have already sold some out of the box.

So what came in? Old favorites in both existing and new colors: FELTED TWEED, RIBBON TWIST, KIDSILK HAZE, KID CLASSIC, BIG WOOL, YORKSHIRE TWEED, and CASHSOFT DK. And new yarns: BIG WOOL FUSION, a fabulous variegated superchunky merino, KIDSILK SPRAY, a tone on tone variation of the fabulous KIDSILK HAZE, and HARRIS TWEED ARAN AND CHUNKY!

And as the staff can attest, the books are fabulous! Come check out the CLASSIC line: CLASSIC CAFE, GARDEN, BABIES, HOLIDAY, HOME, and WINTER. The beautiful SHORELINES is in as well, which in addition to containing lovely patterns has some unbelievable photos and poems as well! We have some reading to do tonight (and some planning to do tomorrow!)

Don't know how to work with these gorgeous yarns? Well, our FALL CLASS SCHEDULE is at the store and will complement many of the techniques shown in the new books. It should be up on the website within a day or two, but if you are local, stop by and pick one up!

Rowan 38 is in the house! We are JUST about to sit down with it, so stay tuned. And can the yarn be far behind??????

We also received exquisite buttons from One World Button. These are really unique embellishments made from Tagua Nuts which grow on paml trees in the Ecudorean Rain Forest. Use them on your Manos del Uruguay cardigans and you will be a walking global advertisement for fiber arts!

And more colors of Cascade 220. So let the felting begin!

It has been a busy summer at WoolWinders. We present a photo journey through the past months....

Felted bags are going to be THE hot accessory for the fall:

While Lisa finished this gorgeous crocheted afghan made from Manos yarn during her beach vacation:

Knitasha is the perfect model for a lovely scarf Lynne made by weaving ribbon through dropped stitches:

And we had customers and friends stop by to display their finished projects throughout the summer months:

Lew finished his Koigu T-shirt knit on SIZE 3 (!) needles:

And Lynne and Karina work on their new obsession: I-Cords!

While we bring a new young knitter into the fold...

And here is why we love Colinette yarns. Don't you want to dive into them?

Several customers have asked about fall classes. Our annual staff meeting is next week, and so the class schedule will be available next WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 at the shop; it will be online a few days later. Just to give you a few teasers-we will be doing a COLORWORK series to celebrate SALLY MELVILLE'S new book, due out in October-whether you want to learn INTARSIA, FAIR ISLE, MODULAR, ENTRELAC, or SLIP STITCH knitting, we will have the introductory class for you! We will be holding TWO CROCHET classes, both for beginners and the more advanced students, and we will be repeating our popular GIFT CLASSES to get everyone ready for the holidays! And a ROCK STAR favorite will be returning to the shop....so stay tuned.

Ready to move on to sweaters? We have made it easier for you. We have reorganized our single patterns and now have notebooks specifically for beginners! Just look for EASY KNITTING on the side of the binders; we have SHORT SLEEVE PULLOVERS, CARDIGANS,and LONG SLEEVE PULLOVERS that are PERFECT for beginning knitters.

Who says that crocheted garments lack imagination? Not us, after glancing through the new book MORE CROCHETED ARAN SWEATERS. These are just gorgeous! And we FINALLY learned how to wield that hook, thanks to our fabulous teacher Karen Richardson, who patiently showed us the "pinch and rotate" method (don't ask!). So can these beauties be far behind?????

Also back in, the very popular CORNELIA TUTTLE HAMILTON BOOK 2. Wonderful designs including the popular (and easy) KLARALUND, which is a terrific first sweater project.

Well, actually, we called London very early this morning. Our color cards from Patricia Roberts are on their way! We finished the back of our sweater done in the DK weight wool and are pleased to report that it is one of the loveliest wools we have ever experienced! In fact, it is so nice that we cancelled another yarn at that gauge. We plan to carry her 4 PLY cotton as well; her color range is beautiful, with clearer colors than we have seen from anyone else at the 4 ply gauge. Almost makes you want to get out those size 2 (gulp!) needles, huh?

So stay tuned. If all goes as planned, we should have the yarns here within about six weeks; plenty of time to knit those lovely winter shawls and sweaters!

"Do you have a sample of how this looks knit up?" As new yarns come in, we hear that question more and more. So our solution is to knit samples as quickly as we can! If you came into the store today, you noticed the bags lined up on the sofa filled with projects to display our beautiful fall yarns. We are knitting hats, scarves, vests, shawls, and even sweaters both to show off the fibers and to inspire you to create projects from the super-easy to challenging. This week, we knit up the exquisite GREAT ADIRONDACK HOMESPUN SILK, which proved to be one of the most beautiful yarns we have ever worked; the SCHULANA CASHMERINO,a cashmere/merino tweed that would make a fabulous boyfriend (or girlfriend, or best friend) sweater; a sweater done in BLUE HERON BEADED RAYON and ROWAN KIDSILK HAZE held together,and the MAGELLANES worsted wool. Now you know what we do on our days off! In the coming week, look for works in progress involving GREAT ADIRONDACK CUDDLES, MANGO MOON, ZARA PLUS, CASHMERINO CHUNKY,SCHAEFER YARN MARJAANA and CASCADE 109. So don't ever hesitate to ask us "What does this look like knit up?" Because we will be happy to show you, finished project or not!

We are happy to report that the Fall issue of Vogue Knitting is....BEAUTIFUL! Lots of sweaters, vests, coats and shawls. And COLOR is featured prominently, which is a good thing for us (stay tuned for our FALL CLASS SCHEDULE!).

We hope you got our email regarding our "FIT FOR FALL" activity. We are here to help you ensure a perfect fit for those fall garments; simply call to make an appointment to have a complete set of measurements taken during work hours from AUGUST 18-21. We will give you the measurements on a handy index card and will assist you in reading/changing patterns to fit your measurements! There is no charge for this activity, but please call to make an appointment so we can give you the best service. In addition, you will receive a 15% discount on your purchases for your first "Fit for Fall" project!

It was just a Noro kind of day here. Ted the sometimes UPS Guy wheeled in two big boxes filled with our favorites: IRO, SILK GARDEN, KUREYON, CASH IROHA, and KOCHORON along with a new soon-to-be-favorite, SILVER THAW. We have already swatched this ultra-soft and very interesting 4.5/inch offering from Noro-come see the beautiful patch it creates!

And the new NORO 19 PATTERN BOOK. Want to make a coat? There are two patterns. Want to make sweaters that show off the Noro yarns? This is the book for you. No matter how many hand-dyed yarns we offer, Noro remains at the top of our list.

And to go along with the fabulous yarns, the new PERFECTLY BRILLIANT KNITS by Melissa Mathay and Sheryl Thiegs. We fell in love with this book at TNNA and we think you will share our enthusiasm.

We fell in love with Great Adirondack Yarn in Florida, of all places, when our mom took us to a funny little yarn shop amidst a flea market! Patty Subiak's colors are unique, even for those used to hand-dyed yarns. You have to love names like "Kenya," "Mocha," "Irish Creme," and "Zulu" to list a few. Rich browns; vivid purples mixed with oranges and greens; turquoise and olives that complement each other....Patty has an eye for the unusual and extraordinary. And she gives value as well; her skeins range from 200-600 yards!

Great Adirondack is a new yarn for us, so we wanted to make sure we gave you a chance to knit these fibers no matter what gauge you prefer. SIERRA is a DK weight TWEED ALPACA; MONTANA is a heavy worsted weight WOOL; HOMESPUN SILK, a worsted weight SILK/WOOL yarn is just delicious; CUDDLES (don't you love the name?) is a CHUNKY BOUCLE, and PERIWINKLE completes the line with a THICK/THIN SUPER CHUNKY.

Martha and Karina are busy finding just the right spots to highlight this line. Come check out their hard work!