Knit and Crochet Day in Georgia

Governor Deal has proclaimed April 14th as Knit and Crochet Day in Georgia, a very special reason for all of us to celebrate.  There will be a rally on the steps of the State Capitol on Saturday, April 14th, from 11AM to 2PM.  If you can go and show your support, that would be great.  If you can't make it downtown, you can still support this wonderful day at a knit-in at Needle Nook from 1-4PM.  Bring your own chair, sunscreen and your knitting bag.  Everyone who sits and knits will receive a coupon for a 15% discount on any purchases during the event.  Let's show Georgia we care.

Spring Fling

Join yarn shops in the North Georgia area for our first annual Spring Fling. We invite you to our shops from March 29th to April 2nd to check out all the awesome supplies we have for your knit and crochet pleasure. Let us help you pick out your Stitches supplies and show our vast array of yarns, books, patterns, notions, needles, accessories, kits and more. We have what you need here in your local yarn shops. Make a $25.00 purchase during this event and have your name entered into a drawing for a $100.00 gift basket. There are 21 shops participating in this fling. There will be demos, workshops, specials and more. Go to our group on Ravelry, Atlanta Area Yarn Shops Spring Fling and join our group. There you will find all the shops listed, photos of the gift baskets and posts by each shop. What a great way to welcome spring.

My First Sweater

Meet Carolyn Daniels and her first sweater.  It is a fabulous pullover made from Malabrigo yarn.  She is so proud of it and rightly so.  Carolyn is a great knitter and we are happy to call her one of our Needle Nook family.  You go girl!

New Items Abound

I think all of the fall and winter yarns have arrived.  I am seeing reps for spring yarns now and it seems they have new winter yarns too so some of them have been ordered and are in stock.  Below are photos of some of the newest.

This is called Ronda, a ruffle yarn.  The difference is that is has a contrasting color on the edge.  Isn't is adorable?  The skein costs $15.00 and knits up quickly.

Noro has come out with a new book that is filled with great items.  It contains hats, mitts, capelets, sweaters and more.  It is a book that can actually be used by the average person.  It is worth a look.  $24.95.

Our new Dreamz needles have arrived, shown here in a Hiyahiya case.  It is an interchangeable set containing needle sizes 4-11.  It also comes with cables, end caps and needle size identifiers.  We have extra pieces coming this week (extra cables, extra tips and more).  I have tried them and they are great.  These would make a wonderful holiday gift for your knitting friends.





And here is Margie's curlicue shawl (one of our knitalong projects) that she just finished.  It is absolutely gorgeous, flowing, drapey, oversized.  She knit it out of Royal Alpaca and what a great choice.  I wish I had one!

Needle Nook is fully stocked with all your holiday needs.  We have wonderful gifts for knitters including mugs, towels, umbrellas, totes, yarn saks, scissors and so much more.  Come by to visit soon.

Fall Is In The Air

It's rather nippy this morning in my house but never fear, I have slipped on my Featherweight Cardigan our knit group made last year.  I never realized how much I would like this project but I really do.  It's available free on Ravelry.

We are gearing up for fall classes at Needle Nook.  We have added Famous Steve Tracewell to our list of fabulous teachers.  Please see http://www.needlenookatlanta.com/ for photos and information on our classes.  You can also sign up there. 

We will hold a free workshop on this quick and easy Aloha Scarf on Saturday, Oct. 15th from 2-4PM.  No reservations are necessary, just come on in.  Only charge is for the Aloha yarn.  You can knit this scarf in under an hour or finger knit it in about 10 minutes.  How's that for fast?

We are expecting our first order of the new Dreamz needles very soon.  These are color coded to size, have great points and smooth joins.  We will start off with circulars, a few straights, double points and interchangeable sets.  Be on the lookout for these.

We are full of great yarn for fall and winter and now is the time to get going on those holiday gifts.  Come see what is new for you.

AT LAST - THE WINNERS!

Another shop hop is in the books.  The 2011 hop was the biggest and best so far.  The shopowners met today and our newest participant, Pat Capistrant of Lovin' Knits, drew the winning passport.  And the winner of $900.00 in shop gift certificates is:

DEBBIE KANZELMEYER

Debbie will enjoy many months of knitting with the supplies she can choose as the winner.  Or she can choose classes or anything else she desires.  I hope you participated this year and will again next year.  Here are the other winners and the retail value of their prizes.

CAST ON COTTAGE WINNERS

Maritza Ray - Shawl pin & Jawoll yarn  -  $50.00

Donna Paul - Lantern Moon notions bag   -  $75.00

Laura Williams - Stacey Shawl Kit  -  $12500

LOVIN' KNITS WINNERS

Nancy Gaddy - Bambool yarn & book  -  $100.00

Stephanie Johnson - Gift Certificate  -  $75.00

Tori Berube - Della Q. project bag  -  $50.00

NEEDLE NOOK WINNERS

Katrine Pate - Atenti Satchel bag  -  $132.00

Susan Hurd - 11 skeins Rhythm yarn  -  $71.00

Geri Patterson - Trendsetter Orbit  -  $49.00

ONLY EWE & COTTON TOO WINNERS

Pina Rambo - Hiyahiya Interchangeable needles  -  $150.00

Elina Ivon - Kudo yarn, pattern, shawl pin  -  $68.35

Lawrence Banner - Knitters blocking kit  -  $60.00

RARE PURLS WINNERS

Kumara scarf kit & pewter button  -  $65.00

Susan Amador - 2 hanks Epiphany yarn  -  $55.00

Michelle Stauffenberg - Sock Kit  -  $50.00

SHEEPISH WINNERS

Linda Fitzsimmon - Mt. Colors Weavers Wool  -  $76.00

Cynthia Thorn - Beginners spinning supplies  -  $75.00

Ethel Smith - Sock Package  -  $64.00

STRINGS & STRANDS WINNERS

Shannon Parris - Multi Fiber shawl kit  -  $88.50

Robin David - D. Macomber knitting accessories  -  $59.00

Marie Shuart - Sassy Skeins sweater kit  -  $54.00

THE WHOLE NINE YARNS WINNERS

Carolyn Penniman - Little Red book and yarn  -  $85.00

Wendy Langley - Origami yarn and pattern book  -  $55.00

Tracy Herring - Class gift certificate  -  $50.00

YARN GARDEN WINNERS

Becky Sorrells - Sock Package  -  $107.50

Margaret Bowers - Afghan Package  -  $78.25

Anna Shmukler - Notions Package  -  $52.00

There you have them, the lucky 28 who were chosen for prizes worth over $2900.00 donated by the 9 shops.  We thank you for visiting all of our shops and hope you will continue to do so.

Shop Hop 2011 Approaches - New Knitalong Beginning

Hi Folks:

It's been too long since I have updated here.  The 5th annual Atlanta Shop Hop will begin on Sept. 17th and go through Sept. 25th.  Passports ($1.00) go on sale this Saturday, August 27th.  Purchase a passport, visit as many shops as possible, and maybe win a fantastic prize.  See http://www.shophopatlanta.blogspot.com/ for more information and a list of participating shops and their hours.

Here is a photo of our next knitalong.  It's called A-HA by Holly Chayes.  It is knit in sock weight on size 5 needles and requires about 1400 yards of yarn.  Recommended yarn is Mini Mochi.  I have started mine in Jojoland Rhythm.  It needs a yarn that has long color floats, not one that changes frequently.  The pattern costs $6.00 and you can download it from http://www.tangledness.com/.  Wednesday is the day we will meet.  One group meets in the afternoon on the first Wednesday of the month from 1-2PM.  We will also work on this at our regular knit nite every Wednesday from 5-8PM, so you can join us for either time or both.  Everyone who has seen this pattern oohs and aahs over it so maybe you would like it too.  Here is a photo of the one I started last night.

See what I mean by the long floats of color?  It needs this to form an eye-pleasing color formation.  Pattern is super easy, all written out, no charts.

So get yourself a copy and come by next Wednesday to select your yarn.  We will be working on this for several months as it is a rather large piece.  We don't put any time limit on our knitalongs, everyone works at their own speed.  I haven't even started the last design we chose.  Come have some fun.