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River City Yarns… your place to unwind!
We have two locations!
River City Yarns Downtown
#107, 10106-111 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5G 0B4
Phone: (780) 477-9276
Email: rivercityyarns@shaw.ca
March 2011
River City Yarns Southside
3438-99 Street
Edmonton, AB T6E 5X5
Phone: (780) 450-9276
Email: south@rivercityyarns.com
This issue is packed!
Nova Pure Wool Heather 2
for Sweaters
Rowan Panama
2
Amy Butler Belle Organic 2
Nashua Daylily
2
March & April
Workshops
3
Mitten o’the Month Club 3
DIY Projects
3
Mirasol Tupa & Nuna
4
New Knit Kits
4
A Fantastic Trip to Scot- 4
land & England
Gallery Updates
4
RCY Store Hours
for March:
 Monday—Friday:
10 am to 6 pm
 Saturday:
11 am to 5 pm
 Sunday & Holidays:
12 pm to 4 pm
Wool, Wine & Wheels 2011
The plans have been made for
our eighth annual Wool,
Wine & Wheels knitting excursion taking place November 4-7, 2011. We are very
excited to have Nicky Epstein
joining us this year.
Nicky Epstein is a world renowned knit wear designer,
teacher and author of over 20
bestselling books featuring
knitting, crochet and embellishments. Nicky has won the
National Independent Book
Publisher’s Award for Best
Craft Book Of The Year…
three times!
Her innovative, fashionable,
whimsical and award winning
designs have appeared in every
major knitwear magazine, in
museums and on television,
and she has taught classes to
knitters around the world and
hosted many Vogue Knitting
Tours overseas as well as others. And now she is coming to
Edmonton!
Details for WWW 2011 are
available on our website. The
location will be the same as last
year – the Best Western Jasper
Inn. Their service, food and
workshop space were highly
rated last year so we are returning. We’ve sharpened the pencil and negotiated hard to keep
the trip rate the same as last
year and still include all the
perks!.
Nicky Epstein is our featured
guest and workshop instructor.
For all the details and contact
information for our booking
agent, Wendy at John Steel Rail
Tours, please visit our website
at www.rivercityyarns.com
and click on the “Special
Events” button.
Yummy Yarn Studio
Sam Stevenson is an indie dyer from Calgary,
Alberta and in her Yummy Yarn Studio, Sam
recently came up with 6 special colourways just
for us! Sam has hand dyed a beautiful “sock”
yarn (80% merino, 20% nylon) that you can use
for socks, mittens, gloves, scarves, baby items or
your heart’s desire. Each hank comes with a
special sock pattern written by Sam just for you!
Four Seasons Hat Kits
We’ve brought in sixteen Four Seasons Hat kits
from Tanis Fiber Arts. The Four Seasons hat
pattern contains one set of instructions to knit a
lovely, slouchy hat, and four chart options, each
inspired by a season. So, really, it's like four patterns in one! Each kit contains enough hand
dyed yarn to knit any of the patterns, so if you
like one season's motif's, but prefer another sea-
son's colours, no problem! Just use the colour
palette of your choice to knit the pattern you
want. Kits are available at both RCY locations—while supplies last!
March 2011
Page 2
Sweater Story: Nova Pure Wool Heather
We went looking for a perfect
sweater yarn and found it in
Nova Pure Wool Heather. It’s
a beautiful aran weight yarn
that’s lightly spun (no plies) for
a soft lightweight and cozy
finish. 100% wool, each 100g
ball is packed with 155m and
knits up 15sts/10cm on 6.0mm
needles.
Nova Pure Wool Heather is
available at both RCY locations
and is value priced.
Cynthia’s Baby Cowichan
Of course, this yarn can be used
for a number of projects, from
sweaters to mitts, hats and
scarves. Or try it out
for felting.
Cynthia is eyeing it
up as a Cowichan
sweater yarn… warm
and cozy, yet fine
enough to knit in some fabulous detail.
Nova Pure Wool Heather
Head South for Panama
A new yarn from the Rowan collection is being featured this month
at our Southside store. Panama is a blend of 55% viscose, 33%
cotton and 12% linen and comes in 50/135m balls. With a lovely,
soft handle, Panama knits up at 27sts/10cm on 3.25mm needles and
provides beautiful drape and sheen. Come in and see the five gorgeous shades and the Panama Collection book.
South: Amy Butler Belle Organic Yarn
Rowan Yarns added
Amy Butler to their
talented collection
of yarn and pattern
designers. Amy
Butler also has her
own line of sewing
patterns, fabric, craft
paper and wallpaper.
“I can tell you
that it knits like
a dream.”
-Amy Butler
“It's so great to be able
to indulge one of my great
craft passions - knitting -
with my new yarns! The
[Belle Organic] yarn is a
100% organic cotton and
wool blend.... 50% of
each fiber which makes
for the perfect combination for softness, drape
and wear… and I can
tell you that it knits like
a dream.”
There are several
beautiful colours, all
freshly plucked from her latest
fabric color palettes, and all of
which mix and match beautifully.
Amy’s second knitting pattern
book, River Camp Knits, is
now available. The outdoor
elements and environment
provide the inspiration for this
collection of projects: cover
ups of natural glamour, delicate
like a fern and layered with
modern pattern are paired with
cozy blankets and accessories
to provide romantic comfort.
You will find Amy’s Belle Organic Yarn and River Camp
Knits at our southside location.
North: Nashua Daylily
We’re bringing back more of
Nashua Handknit’s Daylily
yarn in new colours and with a
new pattern book.
Daylily is a captivating combination of spaced dyed and
solid color cotton twisted together in a worsted weight
summer yarn.
Each 50g/80m ball contains
46% cotton, 31% acrylic and
23% nylon. It knits up quickly
at a gauge of 17sts/10cm on
5.0—5.5mm needles.
You will find Daylily at our
North store, while supplies
last. Come in and see our sample garments. But don’t wait
too long… this is just the yarn
to get you through March in
colour and style!
Nashua Daylily is a captivating blend of solid
and space-dyed cotton.
March 2011
Page 3
March & April Workshops & Events
Join us at either RCY locations
on the first Sunday of the
month, March 6, from 1-3 pm
for Drop-In Knitting Circle.
This social knitting group is
free of charge but an RSVP is
requested to ensure adequate
seating is available.
Learn to knit in the round on
dpns (double pointed needles)
or a circular. Start
with a basic hat or
neckwarmer then challenge your new skills
with mittens or socks.
If you’ve never knit in
the round before, we
recommend starting
with our Baby Hat
class working on dpns and held
at both RCY locations on Saturday, March 12 or Sunday,
April 10 (downtown only).
Another great beginner option
is Annabelle’s Cowl, a beautiful neckwarmer knit on a circular needle and held at our
Southside store on Saturday,
March 19 and Downtown on
Sunday, April 17.
We have fun, new
felting workshop
too! Make a
Felted Tea Cozy
(also knit in the
round). Sheila and
Mary will take you
New! Felted Tea Cozy
Class
through the
steps to create a unique,
Felted Slippers
felted tea
cozy on April 2 & 9
(downtown store).
If you’ve knit in the round
before, try our Felted Slipper
class on March 13, 20 & 27 or
Sock Boot Camp on March
19 & 26 or Thrummed Mittens on April 7, 14 & 21
(Downtown location).
For intermediate knitters, Cynthia will be holding another
Cowichan Sweater class starting Sunday, March 20 (four
Sundays finishing April 17) and
Cathy will be
teaching the
Entrelac Scarf
class on March
26th. (Southside
location).
Need workshop
follow-up?
Check out our
Workshop AmAnnabelle’s Cowl:
nesty times.
learn to knit in the
Need help with a
round
project? Have a
work schedule
that makes hard to
attend one of our
classes? Check out our
Project Tutorials or
call to book a one-onone time with an instructor.
Entrelac Scarf
www.rivercityyarns.com/workshopinfo.html
Mitten o’ the Month Club
Our January mitten, Accomplice, designed by Robin Melanson, was a hit! We displayed
our lovely collection in both
stores and drew two names for
our January kit draw (one from
each store). Jan Amundson
and Judy Forwick-Wood each
won a gift certificate for the
amount of their January mitten
kit purchase. Congratulations!
And, we’ve been collecting
the February mittens: Chevalier, also designed by Robin
Melanson in her book, Knitting
New Mittens & Gloves. Chevalier had us knitting with boucle
and sewing on embellishments.
The new Mitten o’ the Month
for March is Snug - a
thrummed mitten, for which
you will find the pattern on
pages 110-113 of Robin’s
book. Thrumming is a method
DIY Projects
Felting is cozy. Update your décor and cozy up to this lovely
felted pillow. We have Louet Felted Pillow Kits in stock, designed by Leigh Radford. This beautiful design is made by knitting with Louet Riverstone and then felting the knitted piece to
achieve the final result.
Austermann Step Sock Yarn (below)
Accomplice (January) Mittens on display
of inserting bits of unspun roving into your
knitted fabric as you go… creating a lovely Snug (thrummed mittens)
and warm, fleece-lined mitten. We have
is the March Mitten 0’the
kits available for you in both stores and if
Month
you knit your mitten from one of our kits
within the specified time, you can display your mittens and enter
your name in our kit draw. Come and play along!
Euroflax Linen is also used in the trim
for a decorative touch.
And we have new colours in the
Austermann Step Sock yarn. Austermann's amazing sock yarn blends 75%
wool and 25% nylon, with a special treatment of Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil. These
two ingredients are said to be the oldest
Louet Felted Pillow Kit –
well known medicinal plants. Now the
Finished (above)
active skin care ingredients are also available in a sock yarn. The effect has been
proven to remain after more than 40 machine washes.
1 ball makes 1 pair of most socks.
River City Yarns… your place to unwind!
New Knit Kits in Stock
More from Mirasol
We have more of the amazing
Knit Kits and there are new
colours: black, turquoise & red.
We have two more Mirasol yarns in both
stores for you to check out. Mirasol yarn
are a fair trade label that supports the education of children in a remote part of Northern Peru.
The Knit Kit is
equipped with
the eight most essential knitting accessories needed to accompany a set of
needles and yarn in
your project bag. The
front of The Knit Kit
contains a durable row
counter and a smooth retracting 5ft. tape measure. The left
side of The Knit Kit has a fully
removable double-ended crochet hook for picking up that
dropped stitch or weaving in
an end and the right side of
The Knit Kit has a
folding in-and-out
thread cutter in the
event your scissors
are not available.
The back compartment of The Knit
Kit nicely houses
sturdy, TSA Compliant, collapsible scissors as well as
point protectors, wool needle
and three different sized stitch
markers.
Mirasol Tupa is a 50% merino wool, 50% silk blend that is wonderful for anytime of year but especially spring. Check out the
patterning for summer tops in Mirasol Books #2, 3, 4, 6 and 7.
We also have Mirasol Nuna (40% merino wool, 40% silk and
20% bamboo sourced viscose). Nuna is a sport weight yarn with
plenty of shine, softness and drape. The last time we brought in
Nuna (for Wool, Wine and Wheels last November) we sold out.
Don’t miss your opportunity to get some of this beautiful yarn for
your summer knitting.
Katia Triana
Some of you were lucky enough to be in store when this yarn arrived a few months ago – and you made the
most beautiful scarves with it. We’ve been waiting patiently for more and just received 6 new colors this
week. If you want more or you want to try this new lacy mesh yarn stop by either of our stores. And check
out the video on youtube to see how to knit with this amazing yarn. You can have one of these for every outfit; they are so easy to assemble. There’s a you tube video that you can watch to see how it’s knit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvvmXy14-M
An England & Scotland Tour? Gallery Updates
Anyone?
Jill T. finished her first pair of felted slippers. She
Our friends at Eucalan are planning a trip to England and
Scotland and want you to come along. Departing August 30,
2011, Eucalan's 12 Day Scotland and England tour is called
"Wool, the Fabric of Life".
used three colours of Sandnesgarn Tove (an amazing felting yarn). Don’t they look cozy?
Cynthia H. finished a unique Canadian Cowichan
sweater for her daughter, Sarah.
The zippered cardigan features
You will follow the whole process of producing wool,
hippos on the front and back,
from its raw state off the sheep's back to the finished
made in purple, cream and black.
knitted garment. Cruise on Loch Lomond, visit a
Sarah’s Hippo Sweater
Cynthia used Diamond Luxury
local farm demonstrating sheep herding and sheering,
Lima yarn for this
go to "university" at Heriot Watt and try carding,
project and Sarah
spinning and dyeing. Visit York, the Piece Hall in
designed all the
Halifax and enjoy a workshop at Rowan Yarns, led by
graphics.
Marie and Sharon Brant, author of the best selling
Jill’s
Felted
Slippers
book, "The Ultimate Knitting Bible".
Wag B. made this
gorgeous wrap using her own
This 12 day excursion starts in Glasgow, Scotland and ends
handspun yarn. We are all so impressed with this
after a visit to the "I Knit" show in London, England.
project—it’s truly “made from scratch”! The
You can find all the details at Denure Tours:
wrap design is from Wrap Style: 24 Inspirational
Wag’s Handspun Handknit
www.denuretours.com/ourtours_det.asp?id=283&destid=19
Shawls, Ponchos, and Capelets to Knit and Crochet.
Wrap