Monday, July 31, 2006

Sockanon's First Sock

A few weeks ago (pardon for my tardiness in posting), Jen, one of our first Sockanon members, completed her very first sock out of Nature's Palette Fingering wool.

Here it is! Yay Jen!



Remember, all Sockanon members have a chance of getting their sock photos posted to the Marin Fiber Arts blog.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

July Newsletter & Sale!

Just thought I'd share a picture of our lovely Maya, Resident Bundle of Creative Energy, as she models our Goa summer tank.



I just sent out the July 2006 newsletter, but for those of you not on the mailing list, here it is.

ps: What mailing list you ask? Go here to subscribe: MFA mailing list

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Greetings Fiber Friends,

Warm and sunny days are here, but that means things are kinda quiet at the ol’ yarn store. As you head out to the beach, Lake Tahoe or the picnic, consider taking along a small project to keep your hands busy. Baby hats and socks make great summer projects. We have a constant inflow of new sock yarn in the store, from Germany’s Opal sock yarn to the hand-dyed wonders of Schaefer Yarns and Claudia Handpaints (both of which are due in the store soon). And of course, don’t forget Shepherd Sock from Lorna’s Laces... new colorways of sock, worsted, and Lion & Lamb just arrived!

If you’re not yet a sock enthusiast, we teach sock knitting at our Tuesday evening workshops.

Midsummer SALE

Believe it or not, now is the perfect time to start on your holiday knitting. Is your gift list long? Get a head start now. To help you out we’re offering our huge Midsummer Sale - all in-stock yarns are discounted at least 30% off! Have you been waiting for-EVER to buy that cashmere to make your hubby a warm and cuddly scarf? Now’s the time! Mark your calendars because the sale is on for a very limited time... Friday through Sunday, July 28 - 30.

Sample bags of yarn have started to arrive. What are these? I’ve requested early shipment of single bags of most new yarns due this fall so we can play with them in advance of their arrival. Ask us about these latest arrivals... you’re more than welcome to sit down at the front table and knit up a swatch with these new yarns.

For example, recent arrivals include Grignasco’s 100% cashmere (yumm), Reynold’s Whiskey (a soft, lovely earthy tweed), Jo Sharp’s Alpaca SIlk Georgette (alpaca/merino/silk), Schulana’s Merino-Cotton, Garnstudio’s Silke-Tweed (silk/wool), and Ornaghi Filati’s Zingara. And yes, you can swatch with these yarns for FREE.

100 Colors of Cascade 220 - a dream come true?

Yes, it is a dream come true. I’m happy to unveil one of the largest selections of Cascade 220 in Marin County... a total of 138 colors! A shipment of 100 colors just arrived this week and we are feverishly applying price stickers and shelving the yarn.

Sockanon - allow us to enable your pleasure

Sockanon is the club for sock knitters. With a $35 annual membership fee you get a punch card (buy yarn for 10 pairs of socks & get a 20% discount shopping spree), admission to monthly sock meetings, free patterns and door prizes. For a $150 annual fee you also get mini-skeins of sock yarn as well
as full skeins of yarn - enough for 4-5 pairs of socks - throughout the year.

New Accessories

I’m happy to announce that I now carry a small but growing selection of terrific buttons and knitting-themed notecards. My favorite buttons are little sheep with feet that wiggle - too cute! Buttons range from $1 to $7.95 each and are located at the register in a great big bamboo bowl.

Tours and Retreats

I am in the early stages of planning a Yarn Retreat for mid to late October of this year. The price should be between $150-$200 per person for a two-night (Friday & Saturay) retreat in a lovely Victorian house located in San Anselmo. A large amount of free yarn will be provided for your swatching and knitting pleasures. Please call the store at 415-459-4600 for more information. Final details should be ironed out within the next two weeks.

One of our favorite Knit Nighters, Patricia, is a cruise planner, and she has organized a wonderful five night Sock Knitting cruise for all you sock enthusiasts. The dates are April 29 - May 4, 2007. The cruise embarks in L.A., stops in San Francisco and Victoria, B.C., and disembarks in Vancouver, B.C. There will be sock knitting workshops, classes, excursions, and a tote bag full of goodies for all attendees. Prices start at $475 per person. Contact: seasocks.blogspot.com, 888-286-9827, or pbabischkin@cruiseplanners.com.

That's all I have to share this month - as always, thanks for all of your
kind support.

Warren
Marin Fiber Arts
415.459.4600