APRIL ‘09 WOOLY BULLETIN

As always, thank you for your patronage. You have chosen to support a local, Tallahassee business that strives to deliver quality natural fibers and products you can feel good about using. If you love your purchase, tell someone (or everyone). If you are in any way dissatisfied, please let us know. We are eager to resolve any issues that may arise and are receptive to any suggestions or recommendations you may have. (I know people say this sometimes, but we really mean it.)

We truly appreciate all of the warm wishes you’ve offered since announcing that Wooly Bully will remain open. We’re so pleased that the Bully lives on and we can continue to serve you.

Fondly,

Hannah and the Bully Crew

New things!

Come and see the beautiful yarn bowls crafted by one of the Bully’s cherished friends, Bethany Kocher. Say farewell to tangled yarn. Each bowl has multiple holes and slots to thread your yarn through. A thin layer of cork coats the base of the bowl so it won’t scratch any delicate surfaces or start slipping. Not only an object d’art, your yarn bowl can always double for a salad or fruit bowl if you’re in a pinch. Own a piece of functional art for $35 – (other yarn bells cost upwards of $55)

You know when you’re on the go, knitting to pass the time, and you’ve dropped a stitch. GAAA! We’ve all done it and miles from the nearest crochet hook at home. This is just the little keychain for you. It’s perfect for your notions bag or attached to your project bag (or Easter Basket?). Stitch Savers make great gifts for knitting friends and knitting swaps. Only a few inches long, the stitch saver is portable and convenient. A lobster claw clasp allows you to detach it from your keys for ease of use. Beads and colors will vary. The hooks are available in the following sizes: USC2/2.75mm, USD3/3.25mm, USE4/3.50mm, and USF5/3.75mm. Get one now for $6.

Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock
A box of solids and multis shipped Tuesday. For those of you who haven’t had a Lorna’s experience, the time is now.

Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece
The perfect springtime staple in a ton of colors - 80% cotton for breathability and softness - 20% wool for loft and strength. 100g/215yd for $9.

Mission Falls 1824 Wool
We’re adding the rest of the palette and it’s shipped! Block of the Month-er’s, eat your heart out! This is our favorite 100% superwash wool.

Plymouth Happy Feet
Ravelry members will be familiar with our enthusiasm for this yarn.  We love its squishiness, its softness, and especially the price!   We’re expecting about 12 colors any day - lots of manly colorways! Only $6 per 50g skein - come and peruse!

A fun activity
Put your yarn scraps to work!
Spring is the start of the breeding season for most of our North American birds. They pair up with mates, build nests, lay eggs, raise young, and then some of them repeat the cycle – as many as three times. There are some things that you can do to assist your backyard birds at this busy time of year. Put out short pieces of yarn, fiber, and string, offered in an onion bag, small basket, or suet cages. Orioles, some sparrows, and robins, among others, build woven nests. You can encourage nest-building behavior by providing pieces of yarn about 2 inches long (any longer and they could get tangled in it). You may wish to offer other materials to the birds, dog fur, roving, etc. but you must observe this cardinal rule (pun intended): do not give dryer lint to the birds. Not only can it contain chemicals, should it become wet, the material takes a very, very long time to dry out.

C’est voila! (note: cat is indoors, not eating birds)

Does it work? Behold the evidence! See the pink yarn (look lower right)?!

For information about what to do if you find a baby bird:
http://www.wildlife-rescue.org/library/babybirds.php

APRIL ‘09 CLASSES

Crochet Couch Dress
Learn almost every conceivable crochet technique while completing a figure-flattering Couch Dress. You will customize the dress to fit you and any loveseat or sofa in your home (we’ll email you a measurement worksheet after you sign up). This class is suitable for both advanced and beginning crocheters. Those not quite ready to undertake such a large project may prefer the Crocheted Chaise Gown option provided with the pattern. The class meets from 11am to 1pm so bring a lunch, your hooks, and a smile on your face! Get ready to burn through your stash.
Wednesday, April 1, 11am-1pm, FREE!

Colorwork Easter Eggs
Knit several multicolored Easter eggs, perfect as ornaments or a special gift for the Easter Basket. This is a great introductory project for learning both Fair Isle and intarsia methods of colorwork while working in the round. We’ll also share how to eliminate the notortious “jog” that occurs with stripes in the round. The class is $25 which includes yarn and forms to shape the eggs.
Saturday, April 4th, 2-4pm.

Learn to Crochet with Shari
Make a lovely washcloth in various shades of organic cotton while learning both single and double crochet stitches. This class is a great introduction to the craft. Shari will cover all the basics: choosing yarn and appropriate hooks, turning, changing yarns. You’ll even learn a few fancy stitches perfect for borders.
Saturdays, April 4th and 11th, 11-1pm, $25.

Mother’s Day Shawl Class
As per tradition, this April we will be offering a Mother’s Day shawl class. It’s an excellent opportunity for learning lace work. You will also have a final product suitable for gifting - a shawl that will surely be cherished by the lucky recipient. This year we have chosen the beautiful Revontuli Shawl or “Northern Lights” Shawl.
The class starts at the beginning of the month to allow for adequate time to complete your Revontuli before Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 10th.

Class will meet three times for a one-time of cost of $40:
Wednesday, April 1st, 6-8pm
Wednesday, April 8th, 6-8pm
Wednesday, April 22nd, 6-8pm

Erica has some fantastic ways to help you keep it simple, and still understand what you’re looking at when it comes to lace. You’ll learn how to do a left leaning decrease, a right leaning decrease (SSK and K2tog), and yarn overs but the pattern also allows for lots of places for your brain and your hands to rest between learning the new skills. Stop by the shop to see Shari’s Revontuli knit up in the silky, drape-y Araucania Ruca. Erica made hers out of Jaggerspun Zephyr, half Tussah silk and half fine merino wool.

Pinwheel Pillow
Join Hannah in making a cute, multicolored pillow. We’ll cover short row fundamentals (wrap & turn, picking up wraps), changing colors mid-project, cabling, and seaming in this three-part class. You’ll also create two attractive buttons to fasten to the center of your pillow on either side. If you are a beginner wanting to take this class, you should have a solid grasp on casting on/off, knitting, purling, and following a pattern aka the basics.
Tuesdays, April 7, 14, and 21st, 6-8pm $25.

April’s Block of the Month
The journey continues. Join Erica for the next step towards your afghan. If you plan on attending this one, please call and reservea spot, even if you were present at last month’s BOTM class. If you’re interested in receiving emails specific to the Block of the Month Classes and Knit-a-long, email Hannah.
Wednesday, April 15th, 6-8pm, $20

Baby Mary Jane Booties
If you’ve made pair after pair of Saartje’s Booties and are ready for something a bit more piquant, this class is for you. Make an adorable pair of baby shoes Mary Jane-style in this class with Hannah. You’ll wrap and turn your work and use special decreases to shape the toe. Learn basic seaming to transform your flat piece of knitting into a little shoe. Pick up stitches and knit in the round to add a cute sock cuff. Participants should be comfortable with knitting basics.
Mondays, April 20th and 27th, 6-8pm, $25

Learn to Knit with Erica
Join Erica for this two-part introduction to knitting. You’ll learn about yarn and needle selection, casting on and off, knitting and purling, changing colors, and seaming. You’re final product will be a cozy pair of fingerless mitts. Just think - soon you’ll be making sweaters!
Saturdays, April 18th and 25th, 2-4pm. $25

Calling all Crocheters! - A note from Shari
I’ve got something fun planned for next month! You’ve probably seen the Babette blanket, right? The amazing Kathy Merrick made this with seventeen colors of sock yarn! Yeah… We’re not doing that.

Instead, I’ve designed a beautiful mosaic blanket and reduced the intimidation factor by choosing only ten colors of the fabulously affordable, Florida-friendly worsted weight Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. I’ve taken to calling it “The Bobette Blanket” in honor of all the lessons I learned designing and making the Bob’s My Man Afghan (see below). If you know the very basics of crochet or have taken my Learn to Crochet class, you have all the skills you need for this project.

During the first class, I’ll show you the basics for how to make the block motif and give you the map for planning out your blanket. The second class is optional. In it, we’ll go over design and color balance. We’ll have charts, colored pencils and lots of enthusiasm and advice! Bobette will have very exact instructions, but it’s also the perfect project for you free-spirited crocheters to customize. And, should your budget or your energy run low at any point along the way, it can easily be made into a pillow or a baby blanket.

During the rest of the year, we’ll set aside a couple hours every month that we can all get together at Wooly Bully and crochet (gratis, of course). Watch everyone’s colorful pile of blocks grow, share color theories and tips, or use the time as a way to make sure you keep progressing.
There is a one-time fee of $25 for the two classes and the pattern.
Saturdays, April 25th and May 2nd, 11am-1pm

(we are hoping to make the pattern available soon for purchase for those unable to attend the initial workshops)

You must call the shop at 850.224.2855 (BULL) to sign up for a class!