Tag Archives: yarn shop

JMF is coming to the Northwest and SLC!

Posted on July 14, 2012 by | Comments Off on JMF is coming to the Northwest and SLC!

I’m flying out to the PNW on Monday for a handful a really great events at yarn shops! I’m super excited because I haven’t visited any shops in that part of the country but I absolutely love the Pacific Northwest. And- BONUS- I’ve never been to Salt Lake City but my friend Lizzy is positively evangelical about how great it is.

Here’s my itinerary for next week:

MONDAY JULY 16

1-3 p.m.
PACIFIC FABRICS & CRAFTS
1645 140th Ave.
Bellevue WA 98005
425-747-3551
www.pacificfabrics.com

6-8 p.m.
WILDFIBERS
706 S 1st Street
Mount Vernon WA 98273
360-336-5202
www.wildfibers.net

TUESDAY JULY 17

1-3 p.m.
FOR YARN’S SAKE
11767 Southwest Beaverton Hillsdale Highway
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-469-9500
www.foryarnssake.com

5-7 p.m.
KNIT PURL
1101 SW Alder
Portland OR
503-227-2999
www.knit-purl.com

THURSDAY JULY 19

6-8 p.m.
BLAZING NEEDLES
1365 S 1100 E
Salt Lake City UT 84105
801-487-5648
www.blazing-needles.com

If you are going be in the area of any of these shops I would love love LOVE to meet you. And, as an added inducement, I will be previewing our Fall/Winter yarn and the amazing designs that everyone is going to be talking about this Fall. I am insanely proud of this collection and I know you’re going to be gaga over it.

See you soon!

 

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TNNA Sneak Peek

Posted on June 23, 2012 by | Comments Off on TNNA Sneak Peek

Caroline and I are in lovely Columbis for the TNNA trade show this weekend and  I couldn’t resist showing you a little preview of our Fall/Winter collection. I’ll post detailed pics as soon as I can, but I figure there is no harm in posting theses as long as I don’t reveal any details.

I can tell you that this collection is the work I’m most proud of since we started collaboration with KFI on our commercials lines. You will love the yarns! And the designs are simply amazing. More details to come.

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Solstice Sale!

Posted on June 20, 2012 by | Comments Off on Solstice Sale!

In honor of the longest knitting day of the year we are clearing our the yarn shop! Sock yarn is on sale for $18 a skein. Worsted weight fine wool yarns are on sale for $10 per skein. (Supplies of sock and worsted are super limited!). We also have around 50 skeins of our special Kid Mohair/Merino worsted weight yarn on sale for $10 while they last, and 27 skeins of our premium Cormo worsted weight yarn on sale for $12/skein.

But the BIG news is that- for 24 hours only!- we’ve put all of our yarn and fiber CSA shares on sale for 10% off. You must make your purchase between now and 4:30 p.m. tomorrow (June 21) in order to get this deal though, so make haste!

Thanks and enjoy all that glorious daylight while it lasts!

 

 

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Midwest Yarn’s LYS is Opening Soon!

Posted on April 25, 2012 by | Comments Off on Midwest Yarn’s LYS is Opening Soon!
Could I possibly be any busier?  I'd been knitting and working like crazy to get a lot of things ready for the vendor fair that I participated on Saturday.  There were 135 vendors present (you can see the guy behind me who had tie dyed items and recycled glass items).


I brought a lot of yarn, met some great people, and made some connections.  Turn out was low, but I got a lot of time in working on the Sock Madness Round 3 socks.  In spite of how much time I'd spent on the fair, I made it on to Round 4!


The Round 3 socks were made in Ella Rae Lace Merino in the color Rose Pink.


After a long day at the vendor fair, my husband called to tell me that he'd spoken with the landlord of our retail space who'd agreed to let us get the keys a week and a half ahead of schedule!  It's now three days later, we've got a lot of items moved in, including the yarn.  Sunday, we move in the fixtures and furniture and from there I start setting up and decorating.


The official Grand Opening for our shop is June 5, 2012.  Should everything be set up sooner than that, I will announce it here, on Ravelry and Facebook.  The biggest challenge is changing the signage so that people don't think that we're the previous shop.


Tentative shop hours are as follows:


Tuesday: 10am - 6pm
Wednesday: 10am - 6pm
Thursday: 10am - 6pm
Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday: 10am - 4pm


Everything's happening so quickly, but I'm excited that we're on our way!  Check back soon!

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New Stuff! And Surprises!!!

Posted on April 24, 2012 by | Comments Off on New Stuff! And Surprises!!!

We have been working on a couple of new projects that are finally ready to be unveiled this week! Hip hip HOORAY!

The first is the inaugural JMF “Year on the Farm” Sock Yarn Club. This one is Zac’s baby and it is AWESOME! Six months of exclusive colorways that reflect the rhythms of life on the farm. Sock knitters have been asking us for this for years and I’m thrilled that Zac is willing and able to take it on. Spaces are super limited, of course.

My new project is actually a solution to a conundrum I’ve been trying to figure out for a while now. Some of our sheep are more pets than livestock, and the truth is, they haven’t really been pulling their considerable weight around here. Since all the animals at JMF are required to earn their keep, I’ve been looking of something to do with the lesser fleeces produced by Buster, Cosmo, Ernie and the gang.

Hence, we’re starting the JMF Blanket CSA. We have half a dozen or so of these blankets here at the farm and they are absolutely covetable and warm as the dickens. Since this is our first year, we’re keeping this CSA pretty small.

And here’s the surprise- since my birthday is this Sunday- we’re putting everything in our shop on sale! Use the coupon code HAPPYBIRTHDAY when you check out receive 10% off your entire order. You can apply this discount to camps, CSA Shares, the new Sock Club, and everything else we sell. The discount applies only to new orders, placed between Monday, April 23 and Sunday, April 29, 2012.

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Helloooooo Maryland!

Posted on April 18, 2012 by | Comments Off on Helloooooo Maryland!

Maryland Blue Crab, the state bird of Maryland. That’s a joke but this is not- did you know that jousting is the state sport of Maryland? No lie. Photo by John Consoli – University of Maryland

I’ll be doing a trunk show in conjunction with two classes this Saturday at The Knitting Boutique in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Let me tell you, I was at this shop last fall and it is as fine a local yarn shop as anyone could ever wish for. Great location, well-curated yarns, a lovely staff. They don’t come better.

From 9:00 a.m. to Noon there is a class in the Amari shawl. The class is $45 and I’m pretty sure it includes your yarn, pattern and lunch. (Lunch will not be crab related, darn it.) Then from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., you can take a lace scarf class featuring Findley from the gorgeous and talented Bonita. Also $45. Both are a bargain because, in addition to the class, the yarn and the instruction, we can hang out. So win/win, right?

Questions? Give them a ring. 1-410-553-0433

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Rollercoaster

Posted on April 13, 2012 by | Comments Off on Rollercoaster
They don't tell you in business school that starting your own business is overwhelming on many levels.  You worry about your own success, the success of the business, and definitely about the toll it will take if you don't immediately realize what you call success.

While I continue to do the basic parts of what I love - knitting, designing, and running a business - I'm also expanding other parts of my creativity as a way to keep my mind off of things while I wait for certain milestones to happen.  


First, I'm counting down the days to a HUGE vendor expo, featuring 135 vendors, including a number of craft retailers that will be taking place in a little over a week.  Midwest Yarn will have its own booth so that people can stop by, check out some of the stock, and meet me.


I've also made tons of stitch markers as something handmade to sell at the expo as well.  Whatever stitch markers I don't sell there, I'll be listing in my Cherished Moments shop on Etsy.  If I can find a few more vintage craft books, I'll be selling those as well (I've got a number of vintage and antique craft books that are pretty cool).


There's also only 10 days left on my Kickstarter campaign and we're only at 5% funding.  


Finally, Sock Madness is on an optional round due to the holidays, so I took this time to give Peanut all the attention he can get for Easter.  That meant seeing bunnies at The Elegant Farmer, a haircut, and Easter dinner with family (both Saturday and Sunday nights!).  He and I are also visiting my parents at their bed and breakfast this week so he can get spoiled by his Mimi for a few days as well!




There's officially no turning back now.  I get the keys to the retail space soon, which means our storage space will be emptied, our house will be rearranged (all of my personal yarn and craft stash will be heading to the shop), and I will be in full swing.  I cannot wait until this new chapter begins.  Not to mention that my 30th birthday will be happening during the first month that the shop will be opening, so I have all kinds of milestones happening.

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Hey Pennsylvania!

Posted on April 12, 2012 by | Comments Off on Hey Pennsylvania!

I’m doing a trunk show this Saturday in Dubois PA at The Ewenique Sheep. It’s located at 200 Commons Drive in Dubois. 814/590-3897 for more details.

I’ll have all the garments from our Spring/Summer collection for you to ooh and ah over. BONUS- 10% off all JMF yarns purchased during the event.

Looking forward to seeing your smiling faces there!

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Pop-up Yarn Shop!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on Pop-up Yarn Shop!

We have been such busy bees that ages and ages have gone by since any yarn has found it’s way into the dye pots. Zac and I rectified that this weekend and we’re excited to share the results with you.

Fall Back Sock Yarn

We’re trying a little something new in our online shop. In addition to selling single skeins, we’ve put together two collections- The Sweater Set and The Sock Set- that give you a discount when you purchase several skeins at a time. Check out each listing for the full story.

Peacock Feet Sock Yarn

We dye all of our yarn in small dye lots because we think it improves the quality of the yarn. The batches are small, and we generally don’t repeat color ways, but if we are sold out, don’t despair! We’ll be adding new colorways from time to time.

Lady Sybil Worsted Weight

We also still have some Yarn and Fiber CSA Shares available, although they are going fast, as always.

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Still Here!

Posted on March 31, 2012 by | Comments Off on Still Here!
Sock Madness Round 2 - Submitted last night
After a week of knitting and planning to exhaustion, I'm happy to sit at my computer to take a break.  I found out this morning that I've made it on to Round 3 of Sock Madness!  After completing the first sock using US 0 sized dpns, I nearly kicked myself because I'd forgotten that gauges change with cables.  My right sock ended up way too small around my ankles, but fortunately was long enough for me to continue without frogging the sock.  I plunged forward using US 2 dpns and ended up with a sock that didn't cut off my circulation a day and half later.


My first "official" pattern - Garter Stripes Cardigan
for 0 to 24 months
This particular round was interesting, as it featured an afterthought heel which I'd heard of, but never tried before.  I used to be one of those who, after reading the specs of a pattern, would not attempt a pattern if it featured a technique I didn't know.  After this past year of picking up skills left and right, I've changed that behavior.  I guess I've found that it was much easier to learn something new than it was to find a pattern with techniques I'd already mastered.  Not to mention that it makes me feel better if I make a mistake because, hey, I'm learning.


My favorite design - Falling Leaves Jumper
I'm also in the midst of putting together crafts and yarn for a few craft/vendor fairs.  One has already passed and a HUGE one is coming up on April 24 at Potowatomi Casino in Milwaukee.  I'm very excited about this one, as I'll be setting up an area almost like a booth at a yarn trade show in hopes of raising some additional capital for the shop.  After the first show, I did figure out the yarn capacity of my car and got some very funny looks while travelling.  


And as if I didn't have enough to do, I've been convinced by my mother to write a book of patterns for baby clothes.  To raise money for that venture I started a Kickstarter campaign, so if you like my designs, please contribute to the cause (and there are some great rewards out there too).  I've got quite a few sketches ready and some other ideas that need to make it onto paper, but funding is mainly to get materials for testing patterns, making swatches, paying a photographer, etc.  I have also made plans to attend the publishing workshop at Stitches Midwest in August.  I will be booking the class soon, just have to price hotel stays etc.  Wish me luck!


My son, Peanut, modeling a few of my impromptu
child hat designs.  Above - Groundhog ; Below - Packers/Sport Beanie

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