It's been a busy time couple of weeks here at the shop. If you haven't stopped in to see the new layout of the store, you have to check it out! Kelli has really done wonders with the furniture and shelving to make the shop even more inviting. We've found that it's also helping people notice yarns that have passed them by on first glance. Evil enablers? Yes we are.

Classes

Carla and Carol's classes are picking up as the temperature goes down, so if you have a class in mind that you think you might be interested in, make sure to call or stop in to reserve your spot early. I would encourage you to check out Carla's new Illusion Knitting class. It uses simple knit and purl stitches to amazing effects!

New Stock

In the way of new inventory, we recently received a huge order from our major book distributor.
Lots of hot titles including Blueprint Crochet with some very stylish patterns, Classic Elite Knits featuring 100 patterns from one of my favorite yarn companies, and the new Vivian Høxbro book: Knit to be Square, all about mitered knitting.

For your tried & true crocheters, we just received a large order of patterns from the Stitch Cooperative. Have you heard about these guys? Really great idea for independent designers!) And if you prefer two sticks to one hook, also in the shipment are some really great items from Stephanie Japel (Glampyre Knits) & Annie Modesitt.

Yarns? NEW TY-DY SOCK YARN IS HERE!!! YAY!!!! The great colors of the Ty-Dy worsted cotton, but in luscious, buttery wool. Stay tuned to Ravelry for more yarn updates, as we're expecting the Harry Potter Opal sock yarn any day now.

Just in time for press release, the mail carrier just dropped off a HUGE box from Conjoined Creations!  That's right, Flat Feet are back!  We have over 50 uniquely hand-painted flats ready for your inspection.  The staff has been told to lay off of them for a week, but after that it's open season, so get here quick!  Also stay tuned to Ravelry for more yarn updates as we're expecting the Harry Potter Opal sock yarn any day now, as well as new colors in the Cascade 220 Superwash.

New Ideas

With a lot of stitchers buckling down and planning those projects for the Holidays, have you taken a moment to think of yourself? What do you want during the season of giving this year?

Inspired by several spouses, siblings, and kids, we've decided to start the Natural Stitches Registry Program.

The next time you're in the store, be sure to ask for a form to fill out. Be as descriptive (10 skeins, Malabrigo, Water Green) or as vague (yarn…lots of yarn) as you like. We do recommend making note of your favorite colors, fibers, and weights of yarns so that we can better help those special non-stitchers pick out something for you. It helps to mention if you prefer machine washable yarns. There will also be a place to request needles, notions, books and patterns.

Like a wedding registry, however, we couldn't figure out a way to hide what has been purchased for you. We'll be keeping the registry going all year round, so feel free to fill one out for birthdays and anniversaries too. Just make sure to tell everyone, "I'm registered at Natural Stitches."

Lamb's Pride Worsted by Brown Sheep Current Price: $7.40 / ball

***One of our favorite "work horse yarns," we thought you'd like to hear how it has touched the life of one of our customers.***
I've found Lamb's Pride to be a good yarn to work with when I've wanted warm sweaters. Of course it works well for hats and scarves as well, but I've also found it useful for garments. My dear, late husband and I shared the opinion that a sweater should keep you warm and be nice and comfy.

Lamb's Pride was a favorite of his (and mine). The mohair helps to provide extra warms without adding much weight. It is very easy to work with; it wouldn't slip off of my needles if I let go for a second, yet it would still glide smoothly, with little effort, as I knit. (I don't like to fight with yarn.)

The colors – not every color of the rainbow, but pretty close, a very nice selection of dark and light tones. My hubby's uncle was a haberdasher, so he was very comfortable helping me decide what style and colors to choose for each gift sweater I made for Christmas.

Oh, the gift sweaters. For quite awhile I'd make a sweater, every other year, for each Small Fry in the family. My hubby took great pride in the sweaters that I made for others. He liked knowing that the time and relatively nominal money that each cost to create would culminate in such a gift love and warmth. And since he was Grandpa or Great-Grandpa of each of the Small Fries – what better way to say "I love you" and "are you warm enough?"

I'll end here. His birthday was September 28th and I get a bit – well – I'm wearing one of the sweaters I made for him today…enough said?

Jill reviews Kidsilk Haze

Kidsilk Haze by Rowan Current Price: $14.95

Rowan Kidsilk Haze is a yarn people either love or hate. Airy, ethereal, wispy with a silky sheen – these things make me a lover and not a hater. The yarn is made up of baby kid mohair and silk; it has the typical fuzzy halo of mohair yarns and is plied with a strand of luxurious silk that gives the yarn a gorgeous shimmer.

With a variety of fashion forward colors and patterns from Rowan to choose from, Kidsilk Haze is a very versatile yarn that shows off lace beautifully, but also knits up into beautiful, light weight, warm garments that have wonderful drape. A single ball of Kidsilk Haze has 229 yards, so one skein will go a long way. A medium size long sleeve sweater only takes 4 or 5 balls of yarn typically.

Knitting with Kidsilk Haze can be a challenge because it is a fine yarn. However, Kidsilk Haze works at a variety of gauges and a variety of needle sizes, so knitters of all kinds can still enjoy this yummy yarn. One problem many experience with mohair yarns is the shedding.  I have to tell you that I've been wearing black all day today while working with the Kidsilk Haze, and I have hardly a hair on me.  Another big challenge of mohair comes when you need to rip it out. I find that a pair of embroidery scissors with sharp tips are invaluable when ripping out mohair. You can use them to separate the stubborn halo fibers that stick to each other. Just be careful not to cut the core of the yarn!

I recommend using needles with a very pointy tip and a little bit of drag to them, like the Addi Lace Needles, when knitting with Kidsilk Haze. The yarn can be slippery on some metal needles but it can have too much drag on bamboo or plastic.

Dreamy, whispery softness and the luxurious silk are what draw me to this yarn over and over again. There aren't many other yarns like it on the market and I am a Kidsilk Haze Lover!

(Note from Melissa: Every morning when I check my email, I always have at least 2 emails from Carla starting, "Check this out!" She has been restricted from sending me any pattern that calls for DK weight or below. She needs an outlet, and she needs to share her inspiration with the world. I'll let her use the newsletter.)

Anyone who knows me well calls me the Queen of Free Patterns. I just seem to have a knack for finding lots and lots of them. (Currently my file of free patterns runs to over 4 ½ gigabytes!) So we thought it would be fun to share some with you so I'll be doing that in the coming newsletters.

If you want to start finding your own free patterns, here are a few suggestions. Go to yarn company websites. Many of them offer free pattern for the yarns they provide. Here are a couple to get you started.

http://www.kraemeryarns.com

http://darkhorseyarns.com

Also, when you find a free pattern, follow links you may find on that page. Many pattern writers offer more than one pattern so go to their home page and see if you can find links for more.

There are also many sites where folks have been kind enough to post whole pages of links to free patterns. Be aware that not all links will work. Pages leave the Net as fast as they come onto it, but it's fun seeing all the different things you can find. Here's one you can try. http://www.kimknits.net/patterns.html

Natural Stitches carries many of the yarns called for in these patterns, and if we don't carry that specific yarn you can bet we can find you a great substitute. Just bring in your pattern and we will get you all fixed up!

You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to open PDF files which is the format a lot of patterns come in. You can get it for free.

Now for this week's free patterns:

This first link will take you to a PDF file with 5 patterns in it. 2 jackets, 2 shrugs, 1 scarf. The styling of the jackets is awesome!

We carry the Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece yarn that this next pattern calls for. This one has an Easy experience level and a huge range of sizes. Best of all it is designed by Melissa Leapman! Suggestion: You could make the sleeves longer so it's more suitable for our upcoming winter weather.

Now something for the little ones. Isn't this hat adorable? (Hint-while you are at the site sign up for their weekly web letters. Just scroll down to the bottom of the pattern page for information.)

The cropped look is all the rage with the younger set, but if you don't have the age (or the figure lol) for it then just make it longer. Right now, Kaya is on sale at the shop for 20% off!

On size 10 ½ and 11 needles this one will knit up fast. And this yarn is also on Super Sale! 40% off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How about a couple patterns for our crocheting customers-you didn't think I would forget you, did you? Wouldn't these little angels make great holiday decorations?

And how about this one? Free patterns, tutorials, and stitch instructions. WOW! You could spend days on this site. (Ask me how I know.)

That's it for this time. Watch our next newsletter for more free patterns and technical sites, too.

Finally, Martha found this in our mailboxes a while ago. Knitting humor is so rare that we'd thought we'd pass it along.

A policeman spots a woman driving and knitting at the
same time. Driving up beside her, he shouts out the
window, "Pull over!"

"No," she shouts back,"it's a cardigan!"

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!

Please check out what is happening at the web page.
Past editions are always available online as well.