Important Happenings Natural Stitches will be CLOSED for Inventory, November 5th-8th.

We have so many new and exciting yarns arriving this fall that we are dedicating this issue of the newsletter to reviewing three of our new favorites: Dazzle Sport from The Natural Dye Studio, Rios from Malabrigo, and Vintage Chunky from Berocco. Keep reading for important announcements about our fall schedule and a very exciting FALL SURPRISE.

Yarn Review: Dazzle Sport from the Natural Dye Studio By Yvonne For $20, you can get 394 yards of what I would consider some of the best yarn stocked at Natural Stitches. Back in June, when I went to TNNA, I was drawn over and over again to the Natural Dye Studio’s booth. This small hand-dyer from England had a gorgeous display, with full-sized hanks hanging on the wall, and mini skeins (which were free for the taking) all over their table. I fell in love with the feel of the yarn, and Martha agreed to bring it in to the shop. Anxious to get my hands on it, and to knit something “worthy” of the yarn, I purchased 2 skeins of the “apple” colorway and cast on for the Schieffelin Point Shawl. The pattern is very charming – a simple garter stitch half moon shape with a knitted on edging. It took under one skein of the Dazzle, and took me just 12 days to complete. It will make a great holiday gift! This detail of Yvonne’s Schieffelin Point Shawl shows the wonderful tonal quality of the yarn as well as the excellent stitch definition. Enough about the pattern…let’s talk about the yarn some more. The yarn is nicely plied and I did not find it to be “splitty.” It was easy to work with, flowing through my hands easily. I did notice that there was some dye transference (my hands were blue!) but the dye rinsed away easily with soap and water. I was shocked, though, that after soaking in a water bath for blocking, the water was barely colored! The end result? A deliciously soft, I want to touch it all the time (maybe I’ll go blind?) shawl. (Anna literally just said “This is so soft. I didn’t expect this.”) Stop in to the shop to give this shawl a pat, and then try the Natural Dye Studio for yourself. I’m sure you’ll be a fan, too! Natural Dye Studio Dazzle Sport 100% British Blue Faced Leicester Wool 394 yards/100 grams Recommended needle size 3-5 (Sportweight) $20.00 per skein

Yarn Review: Malabrigo Yarn Rios By Anna Baby Beau, by local designer cosymakes, knit in Malabrigo Rios. I have to admit, the word “superwash” on a yarn label has me feeling skeptical lately. The superwash process strips the “scales” from wool that normally cause the fiber to felt when exposed to water, soap, and agitation. Many times, this process can leave the yarn limp and lifeless, without a pleasing hand. I am so thrilled to announce that this is most definitely not the case with Malabrigo Rios. This worsted weight yarn knits up with bounce and energy. It slides pleasingly through my fingers and forms a sturdy yet soft fabric. Rios truly combines the best of all Malabrigo has to offer. Rios has all the buttery softness you've come to expect from the standard Malabrigo Worsted, making it the perfect choice for children's garments and anything you want to be easy-care. It also is a plied yarn instead of a single, making it sturdy like Malabrigo Twist. I washed my finished baby sweater in Eucalan and laid it flat to dry. The colors – I used three different colorways on my garment – did not run at all. The garment sprung back into shape quickly and did not pill or fade. Once again, Malabrigo has not disappointed when it comes to color. Here are many of your old favorites, like Glazed Carrot, Ravelry Red, and Lettuce, plus new amazing variegated colorways. The depth of color is extraordinary, partly because the superwash treatment allows the yarn to take color and partly because of Malabrigo's stunning kettle-dying process. Malabrigo Rios Pure Merino Superwash 210 yards/100 grams per skein Recommended needle size 6-8 (Light Worsted) $13.60 per skein

Yarn Review: Berocco Vintage Chunky By Carla What can I say about Berroco Vintage Chunky yarn? Well, quite a lot actually. This big sister to Vintage worsted weight is awesome. Having been a fan of the worsted weight for some time, I was primed and ready when the chunky was delivered. In fact, there was one color that never made it to the shelves. The sweater I knit out of it is gorgeous: squishy and soft and feels great on my skin. Vintage Chunky comes in a 130 yard skein, is 50% Acrylic, 40% superwash wool, and 10% nylon which means (drum roll, please) it is machine washable. The colors are wonderful and many of them are heathers to give your project that extra depth. It knits up to 14 stitches in 4 inches on a size 10 needle, so your knitting will speed along. It only takes nine skeins to make a woman's size 42 sweater so it's hugely economical. And speaking of economical, the price is just right at $6.50 a skein. Berroco Vintage Chunky 50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, 10% Nylon 130 yards, 100 grams per skein Recommended needle size 10 (Bulky) $6.50 per skein

Announcements, Announcements, Announcements! Carla and the rest of the teaching staff of Natural Stitches want to remind you that we will not be offering classes in December, so if there’s a class you’ve had your eye on, please sign up for it in October or November. Our complete class calendar, with class descriptions, can be found here. We will be CLOSED for our annual inventory from Friday, November 5 through Monday, November 8. However, we don’t want to count all the yarn we have, so we are thrilled to announce…. SALE SALE SALE!!! Yes, it’s our Annual Pre-Inventory and 3rd Anniversary Sale! From October 29 - November 2, 2010 Come help us get ready to count everything in the shop by making sure there is less for us to count! Every Cotton/Cotton Blend yarn is 30% (or more) off! All Books, Patterns and Magazines are 30% (or more) off! All needles & hooks are 30% off! All notions & accessories are 30% off! All spindles are 30% off! All buttons are 30% (or more) off! All bags and baskets are are 30% off! All sales are final, absolutely no returns or exchanges. Sale good on in-stock merchandise only. Sale prices do not apply to special orders, holds, or layaways. Sale items may not be placed on hold during this sale. Winding services will not be available during this sale.

From the entire staff of Natural Stitches, we wish you happy knits, creative crochets and splendid spinnings. And, as always, if there's anything we can do to help, just let us know!

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