Classes – so many classes!

Our second term class schedule is underway and there are so many options. How to sew slippery fabrics, make a cardi/coat on your overlocker, draft a skirt block, learn the magic loop (that one’s free) – these are just some of the classes coming soon that still have spaces. Check them out online or in our flyers in the shop and enrol online or in the shop. We need a minimum number to go ahead so get in quickly please!

New Fabrics!

Among the latest arrivals are two gorgeous boiled wools (60% wool, 20% each rayon and nylon) in the aptly named colours plaster and saddle. Ideal for coats and jackets these are easy to sew fabrics with a hint of stretch.

We’ve expanded our knit fabric selection considerably with NZ made rugby knits and merinos, plus double faced merino/tencels, and French terrys. Our overlocker classes will teach you how to get the best results with knit fabrics – just saying!

Photos of the boiled wool and merino/tencels

Jess and I spent an hour on 1 May ordering more new fabrics from one of our main suppliers who brings many samples to Wellington. Among our choices are needlecords and thicker cords, printed rayons, wool/nylons, linens and cottons. Watch our Facebook and Instagram posts for news of these as they arrive.

New Yarn!

We’re delighted to have in stock Brushtale possum merino in 4 ply and 8 ply. This yarn is made from the remnants of possum and merino fabric that has been made into garments. The remnants are broken down and reconstituted as yarn and it’s soft and light and lovely!

The 8 ply has 200 metres to 50 grams, which is twice the meterage of a regular 50 gram ball of wool. The 4 ply, with one exception, has 300 metres to 50 grams, which is 1.5 times the meterage of 4 ply wool. The exception is the colour ‘Natural’ that we have received. It’s from a previous spin and is 250 metres per ball. In future, we are told, all the 4 ply colours will have 300 metres per ball.

Another yarn just in is the Heirloom 100% Merino Fleck, 50grams, 105 metres. It’s a lovely wool, not machine washable, so has a more natural look and feel than the superwash merinos. Many flecked wools have acrylic or viscose in the flecks but this one is 100% merino, fleck and all! At $9 a ball, it’s great value.

Crazy craft cotton sale continues!

We still have 100 craft cottons on sale for $18 a metre, with the rest (except Japanese) discounted by 20% from their regular prices. Keep checking the $18 sales table for new offerings because every time one of those fabrics sells out I replace it with a more expensive one that is then discounted to $18.

Sunday Stitches

We held our first of these social sessions on Sunday 30 April and it was fun! I opened up the space outside my office by moving the dress fabric stands and the DMC thread stand and managed to fit in 13 chairs for 10 enrolees and 3 tutors, as well as the big table and a smaller table to hold afternoon tea and projects. In fact one of the enrolees couldn’t attend and I think the 12 of us who were there were very near the maximum number for the space, and the ratio of 3 tutors to 9 enrolees was good.

Issues raised included sewing up knitted garments neatly, the long tail cast on, the cable cast on, knitting a small circle on double points, how best to darn a striped jumper with one stripe largely absent in one place, how to pick up dropped or missed stitches, how to change colours on a crocheted granny square, and adapting socks for different sizes. There was also lots of other discussion and laughter about patterns and yarns.

The 2 hour session (1.30 to 3.30pm) stretched out a bit, which was absolutely fine, with some enrolees doing a bit of impulse buying along the way!

We will certainly do this session again on 28 May - the last Sunday in May - and you can enrol any time from now online or in the shop. Spaces will be capped at 10 so get in soon if you’re keen. $20 for the session includes afternoon tea!

Absent stock!

We are waiting on several lines of our regular stock, but some are due to arrive this month, including Knitpro needles and other Knitpro items, Malabrigo and Broadway yarns, Touch 12 ply mohair/merino, Indiceita 14 ply baby brush alpaca and the new 10 ply baby brush alpaca, which is called Halo. I will do facebook and Instagram posts when any of these treasures arrive!

Keep warm!

See you next time,

Jo, Jess, Vincent and Toni