Nothing makes me happier than the first bite of frosty air. It has finally arrived! We have had our first fire in the fireplace and I am ready to settle back into the sofa, watch football (even though the sox did so well) and knit the cold air away! Sounds like an oxymoron, but it is the truth. Everything I knit is intended to keep the cold air at bay; mittens for cold hands, socks for purple toes, and sweaters to give extra hugs of warmth on chilly afternoons. If you are ready to take on fall and winter knitting come on in to the shop and get inspired.

One of the very newest things that we have to offer is a limited, but ever changing supply of hand spun, hand dyed yarn from Brooksong Fibers; Roberta Evans’ very own sheep and farm. The undyed handspun yarn even has the name of the sheep that so thoughtfully donated its fleece. Annabelle, Tapio and Grace are lovingly cared for by Roberta and they love to see their fleece used by valley knitters. Roberta washed and carded and spun this fleece into the softest, warmest, most knittable yarn in the valley. She even designed a simple hat pattern that uses only one skein of this sensuous stuff so that you can treat yourself and any number of your loved ones. We give the pattern to you free when you purchase the yarn, the choice of 3 natural colors is all yours.

Brooksong Fibers are all processed without any chemicals or bleaches. The dyes that are used are all petro chemically free. This makes the colors very clear and the natural yarns very soft. Adrienne is using the multi colored yarn to make a pair of socks on a size 6 needle. We will have these on display as soon as one of them is done.  We are proud to support on of our favorite local growers of yarn by making this product available to you.

Now that fall is officially under way I want to remind you that we are open on Sundays from 1pm -5pm. We will continue to open on Sundays all the way through February. I want to be sure that you are able to get your “knitting on” whenever you need it. I think you will need knitting this winter if you are a Patriots fan like me. Go Patriots!! I am just about ready to start my Super Bowl sweater so watch for updates about that.

Happy Knitting! Linda

The rumor is that once you learn to make a pair of socks you will become a sock addict. First there comes the tactile pleasure of the sock yarn itself. Soft, squishy, warm and colorful, the yarns that are now being made just for sock knitting are as varied as the feet they are meant to cuddle.

We have many new sock yarns in stock. One of the new favorites is Alpaca Socks from Classic Elite. Made of 60% alpaca, 20% merino wool, and 20% nylon (for heel and toe strength) the feel of this yarn is amazing. Your feet will never stop thanking you when you treat them to socks in this yarn. The colors are saturated and luscious and won’t settle for being stuffed into shoes. You’ll have to show them off!

Then comes the wonder and awe of actually making a shaped piece of knitting that can perfectly surround any foot with warmth and love. Turning a heel is one of the most miraculous moments in any knitters experience. Don’t deny yourself this experience!

Once the socks are knit the joy of giving or the joy of wearing these precious creations gives happiness to the sock knitters fingers as well as her heart; and the next pair of socks is ready to be cast on.

Come explore the different methods of sock knitting at Northampton Wools this fall.

The traditional method of using double pointed needles to make a sock from the leg down is where I suggest you start. All you need to do is to make one, a good and complete understanding of the whats, whys and hows of a sock can make the best foundation for future learning. This one day workshop is usually taught by Linda, and will start your sock knitting adventure on very solid ground.

Knitting socks with two circular needles came along a couple of years ago and shook the sock knitting world to its very toes. No more dropped needles, poked fingers or loose joining sts, knitting on two circs became a “why didn’t I think of that?” moment for most of the sock world. Slightly different in construction from the double pointed needle sock, this workshop will make your sock knitting fun and quick.

Finally, the magic loop came along. Sock knitting with one circular needle transformed the way knitters thought about circular needles entirely. The double pointed needles in the world quaked when even Decker (aka-I don’t do socks) became addicted to sock making with one circular needle. She loves it so much that she teaches the entire method in a three session workshop that is guaranteed change the way you think about sock knitting for the rest of your life. Check out the classes page on the website to see when the next workshop is scheduled and then call to reserve your seat. Your feet will never be cold again.

Finally Fall is just around the corner. We can tell by all the new yarns that arrive on our doorstep almost everyday. It means that everything in the store gets moved around and shuffled to new places to make room for the new stuff. One of the favorites is a yarn called Taos from Tahki Stacy Charles. This is a multi-colored yarn that is soft and warm with a good amount of loft.

Of course the sweater that Tahki designed for it is really fun to knit and great to wear. It is flattering on every body type; we know since everyone is trying it on and looking great in it.

This is always a very busy time of year. Not only are we putting yarn on the shelves, filing new patterns and books and cleaning as much as possible, we are also knitting new models as fast as we possibly can. Sometimes these new models are small: look for the ski helmet knit in Bel Air (very chic), the modular mittens in Wooly Stripes (mind boggling), and our original Rapunzel Hat (scarf and hat in one).

Shawls in every fiber are this seasons must have accessory. Check out the window at Eileen Fisher and then come choose your favorite color in your favorite yarn and create the perfect shawl for your new coat. Have you seen the 3 button shawls out there? We have lots of patterns for them and several already made in the store. This is your chance to try one on and experiment with all its different possibilities.

There are some new faces at Northampton Wools this year. We have sadly had to say goodbye to Robin Gunn. She has moved on to a teaching job in the Easthampton public schools and we wish her all the best. All I can say is that she better keep knitting!

Catherine Harper is working in NohoToo on Tues and Wed morning. Harper has years of knitting experience and is ready to help with any knitting problem you may have. She will also be able to help you decide which of the cutest baby projects to do next. Check out the changes that we have made a t Noho Too and plan the baby knitting that needs to be done now.

Maryann Clark has been working in the store all summer. Now she will be here on Tuesdays. Maryann must have the world’s most organised knitting stash, ask her about it when you visit the store.

Natalie Bell returns to work on Mon and Wed afternoons. She spent her junior summer in France and has one year left at Smith. When she graduates she may open a yarn store with her mother in their home state of Indiana.

I’m happy to welcome these knitters into the Northampton Wools family and I hope you find them as helpful and friendly as the staff at NoHo Wools has always been.

Don’t forget to check out the class and workshop schedule and to sign up soon for the class you want.

See you in the yarn bins, Linda

The other day one of the Northampton Woolettes* was in the store preparing for the next project. She loves to knit baby and children’s things. They give her a chance to try lots of new techniques and stitches, while at the same time the knitting is finished and wrapped up in a fairly short amount of time. This Woolette loves both the process and the product of knitting. The funny thing is that all these little knit things go into her “Grandmother Hope Chest”. Her children are getting married so we think the babies will start soon, and she has knit items ready for any and all variations!

Another one of my favorite Woolettes came in with a baby sweater and booties nearly done. Everyone in her family knows about her knitting addiction (oops, I mean therapy) and she had knit this little piece at the request of an aunt whose son was soon to become a father. As we talked I thought how great it would be to have a little stash of completed baby projects just for occasions like this. That upcoming shower, the friend of a friend who is having a baby; I am sure there are many times when a knitted gift would be so appreciated but there just isn’t enough time to get something done. Sounds like good summer knitting to me, but not many of us are that organized or prepared.

This next week will find me in the cellar quite a bit as we try to get ready for sidewalk sales. I will be digging in boxes and bins and making decisions about what yarns to keep and what yarns need to find new homes. There will be plenty of surprises and plenty of yarn opportunities for the savvy yarn shopper. The whole of downtown will be on the street offering bargains and blowouts. I will have baskets and tables full of yarn and books and things that need to be gone so that we can have room for all the new fall items. This is a great time to add to the stash because there will be some real deals. If you are in the mood for socks and mittens you might even take advantage of some cashmere that I will have on sale. Make some room in the yarn barn! Sidewalk sales start on Thursday July 26 through Saturday July 28. See you on the Sidewalk.

*Northampton Woolette- Any knitter who has taken a class, wants to take a class or is thinking about taking a class at Northampton Wools and buys her yarn at Northampton Wools.

Summer is officially here, I just wish it was a little warmer. I like my summers hot and humid so that I can justify sitting in front of the fan with my knitting in my lap. “It’s too hot to be running around outside doing things like gardening or mowing the lawn”, I say to my husband who is always ready for the next event. I love my summer knitting time and anticipate the relaxing days ahead of me.

If you think summer is too hot for knitting you should think about the small projects that you can get done during your down time. Knitting a sock on the beach is fun and colorful and can help you keep track of the time in the sun. A bag for felting, a set of coasters or even a few cotton wash cloths all make easy knitting time into productive time as well.

In the current Rowan books there are several projects that are not typically knit, look through these patterns for inspiration and new ideas. So far I have crocheted a beach bag, knit a new seat for a little camp chair and I am currently knitting a new cover for an umbrella. Look for a window display of these items in a couple of weeks and I’ll bet you can come up with some neat ideas yourself.

Lantern Moon Lace circular needles have arrived. Not only that, there is now a wonderful storefront display for all the Lantern Moon needles that we carry. Our supply is good right now so if you have been waiting for a particular size of rosewood this is the time. Every knitter needs a new summer bag and there is now a large selection of Lantern Moon baskets in a variety of colors. I can’t help but smile every time I look at them. I have the hardest time deciding which color is my favorite and which of the bags I need to buy. These basket/bags are great for the picnics, beach trips, farmer’s markets and the general running around we all seem to do in the warm weather. Pick the one you like the best and set out on your adventure.

Russ (my husband) and I have finally found our dog. We picked Bailey up 2 weeks ago when she was just 7 weeks old. She is half golden retriever and half giant schaunser (?).  I think she is one of the smartest dogs we have ever had. She is well on her way to being house broken and has already learned to sit, come, and where her food is kept. The best trick, however is how to completely control Russ. She makes sure that she gets a taste of everything he puts in his mouth. Needless to say, I now have to train the both of them!

At last, on Tuesday, June 19th, we finally had a new window in place. The light is now streaming in showing off all the beautiful colors of the yarns as well as the dust and fingerprints already on the glass. Oh well, the balance of life continues; good and bad.

I am so happy to be able to see out onto the street. I have decorated the first window display with a little selection from the Ireland trip. Many of the people that took the trip have finished the Ireland souvenir scarf and have very generously allowed me to display them in the window.  Check it out the next time you are strolling by. This display is a good example of how color, yarn texture and individual knitting tension can affect the way a design looks. While we were on the trip knitting, I was surprised and amused to hear each person marvel at the other person’s knitting. Every one was eager to comment on the beauty of the other knitter’s yarn choice and I can’t tell you how many times I heard someone say that they wished they had chosen another color. And yet no one is really unhappy with their scarf when it is done. Each scarf is unique and very beautiful. I guess we just never get enough color, we always want more and more.

Also in the window is a little photo montage of some of the sights from the trip. I hope you enjoy seeing them. The word is that Jim P. is in Peru right now, working on putting together the next knitting tour for us. Keep checking the blog because as soon as he sends me information I will be posting it.

Knitters have been signing up for the summer workshops so be sure to check the class page to see if something there is of interest to you. The Magic Loop class and the hand dye your own sock yarn class have been generating a lot of interest. I can’t wait to see the creations from both of these classes.

ON THE WAY: The new “Lace” needles from Skacel are on their way. Sometime next week we will be unpacking them just in time for your next knitting project. These needles are circular, gold in color and have an even more flexible cord than the addi turbo’s. I must admit that I at first poo-poohed them; thinking how can I possibly justify another needle type in the shop. However, I was given a pair at the trade show and after knitting with them for a short time, I am hooked. I spoke with many other shop owners and everyone of them said that their knitter’s love them so much that they request certain sizes to be held for them so that they don’t have to fight off anyone else looking for that needle. So far the needles are available in various lengths, but only in sizes 0-6. We will look for larger sizes to be  made in the future.

Keep on Knitting! Linda

Here it is the middle of June and still no window. Chase glass was supposed to install on Friday and called to cancel. They are now saying Mon or Tues. Guess they don’t really care that all of Northampton is waiting to see just how long it takes them to do a simple installation.Oh well, we continue on happy to see every face that comes through the door.

Every once in a while an item comes along that is just to cute or appealing to pass up. The Itty Bitty notecards are just that kind of thing.

These cards have toothpick knitting needles with a small swatch of knitting on the cover and very clever little wishes or notes on the outside and inside. The biggest problem with these cards is that every knitter who buys one won’t want to give it away. These are the kind of cards you wish someone would send you. The entire selection is available on the big table in the big store. here is a sample of one of the many choices awaiting your perusal.

Those of you that have been downtown in the last 2 weeks know that our window is still not fixed. I must have been windowless in a past life and am having to relive some of that drama now.

Robin, KeriAnne and I set off on May 31 to attend the TNNA Fall trade show in Columbus, Ohio. The day before we left I had spoken with the glass company and was excited to learn that they were ready to install the window that Thurs or Fri. I was only sad that I wouldn’t be here to see it go in. As I sat on the plane to Columbus I dreamed of returning to the store with sunlight streaming through the clear, clean glass of a brand new window.

On Friday morning I was taking a crochet class with Dharma Raymond. I was happily and industriously creating a piece of shadow crochet, thinking about teaching this method in a workshop this summer when to my surprise my cell phone rang. My husband was calling to tell me that the glass company had just called him to say that they had broken the window when they were getting it ready for installation and that it would take another 2 weeks before they could get another piece of glass and install it.

I’m surprised the entire convention didn’t arrive to see what the yelling and wailing was all about. It took a while, but I finally calmed down and found that zen place. I can’t control this, so I must go with it. Today the glass company told me that the glass was due to arrive next Wednesday. I sure hope that by next Friday I will be once again watching the traffic on Pleasant St through a plate glass window.

In the meantime the three of us had a wonderful time at the trade show. We are excited about the new fall things, some of which will be coming before fall. I will begin to show you these things and to talk more about them in the next session. Happy Knitting and remember to watch for a new window display.

Linda

May is the time for graduation in the valley. All five of colleges send the next wave of eager young adults off into the world to make the most of their education. This year we celebrate with them as our own KeriAnne Shaw graduates from Smith College. KeriAnne will continue to work at Northampton Wools through the summer and into the fall. Congratulations KeriAnne!!

We celebrate every year. Graduation and the reunions that occur at the same time, fill our little town with people from all over the world. It is always a happy time for me, welcoming back some familiar faces that have been gone for a while. I get to see and hear about the life since graduating of some of our favorite Smith and Mt Holyoke alumni, meet their husbands and children, and take a proud look at how much their knitting skills have grown.

Some mothers of these students have made visiting with us a part of the visit to their daughter or son at every opportunity, and I am sad to see graduation and moving day come because I know I will probably not ever see them again. On the other hand I had a customer tell me last weekend that her daughter was graduating and that she had come into the store when she dropped her daughter off as a freshman and now when she was picking her daughter up at the end of her four years. At least her attendance at the store was 100% when she was in town.

No matter how often people visit town, I am happy that they choose to make us a part of their knitting adventure.

I didn’t expect to be writing about philosophy, but every once in a while the yarn business and life connect in such a way as to provide profound opportunities for exploring life’s questions. As many of you know the plate glass window in the store was shattered last Saturday. No one was seriously hurt, thank goodness and the breakage was due to an old fashioned scuffle between two boisterous men on the sidewalk. The noise was tremendous, the police presence was comforting and the support and sympathy from the people milling about was helpful. By the end of the day the glass was cleaned up and the window was boarded up with the usual unattractive plywood.

Now we enter the wonderful world of insurance and the mountain of paperwork it takes to replace one broken window. Nothing ever happens quickly enough so I have decided to stop the worry and the frenetic pace of everything else and let the window get fixed whenever the insurance company and the window company can get their paperwork done.

In the meantime we are open for business as usual and trying to have some fun with things life throws at us. That window breaking has actually been one of my biggest fears ever since I first moved Northampton Wools to this location. Now that it has actually happened I find that I didn’t have to be as worried about it as I was. The thing I feared most has happened, I lived through it, I dealt with it, and realized that my fear was greater than the actual event. A life lesson- our fears are usually worse than reality.

So don’t be afraid of starting that big project or trying that new stitch or even of moving on to start your first sweater. Right now thinking about doing it is worse than doing it! Trust me, I’m still waiting for a new window.  Linda