October Newsletter

Well hello, fellow makers! (that's a lot of double 'L's)
I can't believe Knit City was already over three weeks ago!

My plan that weekend was to only attend on Saturday. Then, on the Sunday while looking at Instagram photos of people chilling out there that day I said out loud to myself, kind of begrudgingly, "Oh, Knit City looks so nice on Sunday".  My sister-in-law overheard and offered to take my son for a couple hours and with that I was spending Sunday afternoon in a very chilled out version of the day before. Seriously, Sunday at Knit City is the best! That is unless you have certain yarn on your shopping list, in which case I would plan on going on both days: Saturday for shopping and hype and Sunday for the chilled out visits with friends and designers. For me, they are perfect paired together. Hilariously, even though I got there by noon on Saturday I still didn't get the Sweetfiber yarn that I wanted, Cashmerino in the Tea Rose colourway, because it was already sold out. Melissa could easily double her booth size next year and maybe, just maybe, people wouldn't be stuffed in there like sardines. On day two her booth was wiped out. I'm guessing about 1/3 of her stock was left for Sunday shoppers. Same went for Gauge Dyeworks who does self-stripping yarn and had much less yarn on day two, too. And let me tell you it is no surprise that they did so well. After seeing both those brands in person again, and with all the colourways next to each other, they are by far my favourite yarn companies. There was not one colourway in either booth that I wasn't coveting. Hilariously though, I didn't go home with either. I'm much too pragmatic when I shop for yarn and only buy if I know exactly what I want to knit with it (even though I change my mind later), or, in the case of that weekend's purchases, it is so soft/such a good deal that I can't not get it. My big purchase was 9 skeins of Twisted Sisters Mill 100% alpaca. This yarn is SO soft and squishy and very reasonably priced. When I learned that their alpaca are their own and the fibre is spun in their very own mill just outside Edmonton, I couldn't resist spending my entire budget (which means I went over it with all my other goodies). The proprietor, Leanne is the biggest sweetheart and on day two gave me an extra skein because she suspected that one of the skeins I had taken home the day before was a slightly lighter brown than the rest. How amazing is that?! I bought two seafoam green and three natural caramel for a Briochevron Cowl and 4 white that I'll dye half with madder root for a white and red-orange Clarke Pullover.

Recently off my needles (finally) was the Jess and Taylor cardi with sparkle yarn and angora. Right now I'm knitting up Pip n Pin's Plains hat for Sam's teacher and as soon as I'm done I'm planning on casting on late for the Tin Can Knits' Strange Brew KAL with a baby-sized pullover.
 
Did you see our wee Knit City video?
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​NEW AT VY
stuff we recently added to the website

Added to our Canadian Yarn list:
Local dyer Fidley Dyeworks recently opened an online shop. See her Lone Larch colourway knit up into a pullover on Jenny in her lastestpodcast episode on the Lone Larch podcast.

Added to our podcast list:
I discovered the Hand Me My Knitting podcast and I'm obsessing over her small Stephen West shawl, Building Blocks, which she wears in her first episode. I think I need to buy that exact yarn and knit the small size up just like hers.

New Shop!
Penelope's Fiber Arts opened a Brick and Mortar shop in Surrey. Penelope's has been online since 2004 and we've seen a few incarnations over the years including a by-appointment shop alongside her online shop, but I think this is the first storefront. In addition to yarn, Brenda carries spinning and weaving equipment. It's looking good and I can't wait to visit. Congrats, Brenda!

On the Interwebs
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​Standard Knits patterns are 33% off until the end of October. No code required 

Grocery Girls' podcast about their time at Knit City is a must-see. If you, like me, are now kicking yourself for not spending more time at some of the local booths at Knit City Tracie and Jody share at length about their local purchases. I did a little research and found which local shops carry the yarn they talk about. So, you might be happy to know that you can go see and touch these yarns at the following local yarn shops: There is lots of Yarn Ink at Baaad Annas and Gauge Dyeworks can usually be found there, too, but they are sold out at the moment (maybe get on their mailing list to find out when they get more in). And, Sweet Fiber is stocked at 88 Stitches.

Moving on,
Blogger Cathalynn Cindy Labonte-Smith attended three workshops in the first week of October. Mushroom Dyeing with Maiwa, Mending at Knit City and Lever Knitting with the Yarn Harlot at Knit City. Read about them here 

And Jane Stafford (on Salt Spring Island) released this how-to video about twisting fringe for weaving.

Recently on our Instagram
​My textile adventures and regrams of local designers, artists and businesses

​Events

Here are the events that I know about so far. But, keep your eyes peeled on our calendar, I add events as I hear about them.

The local textile recycling initiative, Our Social Fabric,  sells fabric once a month in their East Van location. November's sale lands on the weekend of the East Side Culture Crawl, November 19th. I've been keeping my eyes peeled for a good deal on some charcoal wool blend tweed for a mid-century teak couch that I'm reupholstering. Hoping to find something along those lines there.

Forthcoming trunk shows at 88 Stitches in Langley include
Syliva McFadden on Saturday, October 28th,  Pip n Pin on November 4th and Raquel Oliveira on December 9th. Raquel will also be at Three Bags Full on December 16th. Find more details on our calendar.

Caitlin ffrench released these two beautiful books at the beginning of the month. And did you know that Vancouver is now home to Like Water Publishing, a tiny niche company publishing knitting books, like Silvia Mcfadden's newest, Gentle Armour?

On November 17th and 18th Amanda of The Crafty Jackalope is hosting a Designer Sample Sale where she is selling her hand knit samples at amazing prices alongside other local designer and yarn shop samples. Check out the details on our calendar.

Recently on our Pintrest
Canadian designers and yarn
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Classifieds
Have textile tools you want to sell? Let us know and we'll include them in next month's newsletter. email [email protected]

FOR SALE: Wooden upright tabletop Shacht tapestry loom, 18" wide with four shedding bars. $80.00,
email Bonnie, 
[email protected]

FOR SALE: Gently used Ashford Joy II spinning wheel with extra flyer and carrying case. $850.00
email Bonnie, 
[email protected]

FOR SALE: New 8" Mirrix Loom with shedding device for $175. Located in Surrey.
Email Sharon

​Know of an event or other listing that I can include in an upcoming newsletter? Email me.

Be kind to yourself,
Janna

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