Hello!

Preparations are underway to get ready for the Spring season. The annual inventory restocking should be complete by the end of March so we can handle all your yarn needs with quick order response. We are out of stock on only a half dozen colors.

To celebrate the start of our tenth year in business Marie and I have decided to bring back two of the variegated hand painted colorways we featured when we first started the business. See What’s New for more detail.

We would like to thank you for your patience during our winter closing period. We are all caught up and working hard to get ready for the Spring season and the OHS Conference in mid May.

Marie created a limited edition Hand Painted Tencel scarf warp for the last OHS conference in Kingston. Marie has been encouraged to create a warp for this year’s conference and has started to experiment with colors drawing on the Conference poster for inspiration. Watch the next newsletter for more details.

Don and Marie

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WrapSTYLE

This same newsletter last year talked about a knitting book called “scarfSTYLE”. Now here is the sequel. It would be a great source of information and inspiration for both knitters and weavers. “wrapSTYLE” is beautifully illustrated and follows the same format as the previous book with an entire section at the end of the book suggesting various ways to go about designing your own wrap.

The authors describe the standard shapes and measurements for all the wraps discussed. They also talk about finishing details and edges, closures and necklines. All this information can easily be adapted to woven pieces as well. One of our tips ( left column) referred to lace knitting, and our tencel yarns make beautiful knit lace pieces. A knit tencel scarf was pictured in the article last year. I knit this scarf from 2/10 handpainted tencel using 3.75 Brittany wooden needles. We do have a 2/5 size in our undyed tencel selection for anyone who would like to try knitting with a little thicker yarn.

Perhaps a weaver could put together a “wovenWRAPS” publication sometime in the future. If you do create a woven wrap, please take photos and send them along so we can publish them here and in our website gallery. wrapSTYLE by Pam Allen and Ann Budd/editors of Interweave Knits ISBN 1-931499-91-8

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From the Distillery

Lots of events are planned for the Distillery District this year.

Complete details are available on the Distillery District website - thedistillerydistrict.com.

When you visit the Distillery District be sure to drop into Studio 105, Case Goods Building, 55 Mill Street, Toronto. Wednesday—Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

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What's New & Coming!

A Heritage Hand Painted Variegated Colorway is returning ...

To celebrate the start of our tenth year in business we are bringing back two of our original hand painted colorways, one for Spring the second for Fall. Next week Linda is going to start painting Wine Country in both Tencel and Rayon Chenille. We will also make Wine Country 2/8 Tencel scarf warps on a “to order” basis. The return is also timely as 2007 OHS conference is being held in the heart of Ontario’s Niagara wine region.

In September look for Autumn Rhapsody a subtle combination of Fall shades.

Tencel 2/16 - 4 ply discontinued….

We have sold the remaining inventory of this yarn and the source who custom twisted it does not for see a repeat in the near future. We do have on hand a limited quantity in Black available at $28.00 per pound on cones that vary from 1 lb. 3 oz. to 2+ lbs.

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Knitting Tips

Just a couple of tips that Marie came across to help make the lives of knitters a bit easier.

When knitting a gauge swatch for a cardigan, knit in a button hole, following the instructions. Now you have a sample with both the colours and also the button hole size to take along when shopping for buttons for your sweater.

When knitting a lace pattern, write each row of the pattern on a separate sticky note. When you finish row one, place that sticky note on the back of the pile and start row two, which is now on the top of the pile, and so on and so on until you reach the last row of your pattern.

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Weaving Lessons

Marie’s Weaving Class beginning later this month has a full complement of students. Each of the six sessions is three hours long and are held at the Marie Josette Studio in the Historic Distillery District.

Marie is planning another session of classes in the fall, more details will be in upcoming Newsletters. Private lessons on a specific topic can always be arranged with Marie.

Thanks….

Thanks to all the Newsletter recipients who answered the appeal to change from receiving a mailed copy to getting an email note. The short note lets customers know that the Newsletter is on the website for viewing.

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Shows we will be attending in 2007….

• May 11 - 13, 2007 OHS Conference,
  "Old World, New Ways" Brock University, St. Catharines.
• September 15, 2007, Five Counties Seminar,
  “Keeping Traditions Alive”
  Rivergrove Community Centre, Mississauga , ON
• October 13, 2007, OHS Central Region Seminar,
  "Celebrate the World in Fibre!",
  Neilson Park Creative Centre, Toronto (Etobicoke), ON

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March/April Specials

Annual Dyer’s Special…. all undyed yarn 20% off our regular prices!

Shop for all your dye season yarn at great savings during our Annual Dyer’s Sale. If you dye your own yarn now is the time to buy! During March and April every undyed yarn in stock is on sale at 20% off our regular prices. All six sizes of Tencel ( North America’s widest rage of sizes), three sizes of Rayon Chenille plus our exclusive 4 ply Rayon.

Here is the perfect addition to the Dyers Special.

G&S Procion MX Starter Kit containing:

• 25 gm dye: Yellow, Turquoise, Fuchsia and Black.
• 250 gm Sodium Carbonate ? 200 gm Urea
• 60 ml TNA Soap ? 500 gm Sodium Sulphate
• 60 ml Raycafix ? Basic Mask—Gloves
• Instructions for Batik, Immersion and Direct Application
  Dyeing Complete Kit only $30.00.

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Customer Satisfaction Guarantee

As mail order specialists we fully understand the apprehension to purchase yarn sight unseen. If you are planning a project and feel our yarn may be suitable we’ll be glad to send a reeling of any yarns you may want to order so you can be sure they are right for you. Just call toll free 1-877-448-4544.

If you buy yarn from us and discover it is not exactly what you wanted for your project we’ll take it back. We want you to be happy with your Yarns Plus purchase. To make it absolutely risk free we are happy to exchange an item or give a refund. We'll even pay the return postage. Just call!

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A Little Pearl…..

“ When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.”

Henry J. Kaiser

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