Needle News
The Needle Emporium March 27, 2007
In This Issue
Ecologie Cotton
Knitter's Frolic
Rusted Root
Socks
Tip of the week
Handbags
offhand 
Our first shipment of bags from Offhand Designs has arrived.  The finishing on these bags is amazing.  Larisa's website shows which bags and colours are available-we can special order any bag if we don't have it in stock.
 
Playful Penguins
 
penguins      
 
A new felting pattern from Fiber Trends.  No one can resist a cute penguin!!
 
Sites To Visit...
 
 
 
 
 
 
Join Our Mailing List!
Most of the yarns for spring are now in.  The store is full again!!
 
Starting on May 1, our summer hours will begin.  The store will be closed on Mondays until the beginning of September.  If you are visiting from out of town and that is the only day you can come, please call ahead and we will try and accommodate this.
 
Don't forget to check out my blog between newsletters.  I show new yarns that arrive and progress on my knitting.
Surplice Lace Top
nashua
 
A great summer top made from Nashua's Ecologie Cotton and designed by Canadian Gayle Bunn.
 
Natural Focus Ecologie Cotton is a 100% cotton dyed with natural plant dyes. This soft matte cotton is perfect for any spring style - lace, cable, texture - creating timeless designs.
Knitter's Frolic
dkc
 
We will be taking part in the Knitter's Frolic on Saturday, April 28.  The show will be at The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto.  Great workshops are being offered-see you there. 
 
Rusted Root
cotton classic 
After seeing the finished sweater on a customer and a few other customers coming in to buy the yarn I wanted to pass this along.  You can purchase the pattern for Rusted Root from Zephyr Style.  I am told that the pattern is easy to follow.
 
The sample is knit out of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece-it's not on our website but we have it in the store.  There is no problem special ordering a colour if we don't have it in stock.
New Sock Yarns
socks
 
We have 2 new sock yarns in the store.  The first is called Fabel from Garnstudio.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
socks
The second is from Online and is called the Tropic Assortment.
Tip
I can't tell you how many times someone comes in the store with a finished garment that doesn't fit.  My first question is always, 'Did you do a tension swatch?' 
 
Just because your tension was fine on the last project doesn't mean that it will work on this one. 
 
To make a proper tension swatch
  • cast on at least 25% more stitches than the pattern asks for
  • work your swatch in the pattern stitch that the pattern asks for
  • work for at least 4"
  • cast off
  • block the swatch and let it sit overnight
  • measure the center 4" of the swatch-we don't want to measure the edge stitches
  • if you are getting less stitches than the pattern asks for-use a bigger needle and start again.
  • if you are getting more stitches than the pattern asks for-use a smaller needle and start again.