Insight Bowl/ Block Party - Tempe Yarn Hours

TEMPE YARN will be open for your yarn needs on Wednesday from 10am till 4pm December 31st.
Please come on down and share part of the day with us, then go on down to Mill Avenue for the New Year's Eve Block Party.

2008 Was A Great Year!

Okay, you might disagree with my assessment of 2008, but I've got to tell you that owning a Yarn Shop in Tempe, Arizona in 2008 wasn't a bad gig.

First and foremost, it was a great year because of our customers. Your loyality, laughs, encouragement, participation and business allowed us to remain in business and have a lot of fun too.

Beyond this, let's look back at some of the fun times (in no specific order)we had in 2008.

-The year started off with two parties - New Year Day and Super Bowl Sunday.

-Then a water main break at University and McClintock had us doing daily traffic and construction updates.

-TYF became a Sox Hot Spot for the Think Outside the Sox contest and grew our sock yarn select to one of the best in the valley.

-There were two Spin-In events May and November.

-Throughout the year our yarn and fiber supply doubled as we added new colors, textures, weights and suppliers.

-We held our first Mystery Knit Along (KAL) with the Mystery Bag.

This was such a success that one customer wrote a poem about her experience.

ODE TO THE MYSTERY BAG

The sizzle, the tease, begging...we All said please

Tight lipped they stayed...June 11th what a day!

The yarns, the needles, the computers they did buzz

The vacuum, the laundry, the dishes all grew fuzz!

Day after day we would beg for more

The marathon continued while we did nary a chore!

Help! Help! A bag...are you SURE?

But torture you did and made us stay pure!

The clues are now finished...the bag IS a bag

So hurry...plan another ...our lives are a DRAG!!!

by Laura Buchanan

-Yumiko Alexander continued to be a creative influence at TYF that included a meet the artist day.

-We got to be silly on Talk Like a Pirate Day

-Our second KAL proved as popular as the first when we rolled out the Mystery Blanket KAL

-There were a couple different Dye Days.

-Jody from Greenbean held her first Meet the Artist day and truly showed her wide range of talents.

-We held a first ever Mystery Spin Along

-Our Halloween Costume Contest brought out the stranger side of some customers

-We held our second annual Create Your Own Adventure Retreat

-Naked Dolls got clothes!

-Giving back to others, we held a Charity Knit Night

-We had a Fiber to Shawl day.

-New Days / Hours started in October (Open on Mondays).

-Any reason to have a party, how about a Fall Celebration

-Baseball and Yarn what a winner - Stitch 'n Pitch

-Knit in Public photo contest

-Ronald McDonald House donations made a difference in so many lives.

Finally the most amazing part of the job is getting to see and photograph the creations made by our customers.

Malaybrigo Yarn Shipment Has Arrived

We are unpacking now....come check it out.

Twas The Night Before Christmas (Yarn Style)

Twas The Night Before Christmas (Yarn Style)

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all around me

There was unfinished knitting/crocheting not under the tree,

The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care

‘Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

But I had not finished the caps for their heads.

Dad was asleep—he was no help at all.

And the sweater for him was 6″ too small.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I put down my needle/hook to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash.

Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.
The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow

Reminded me how far I still had to go.

When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,

I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.
And although I was tired–my brain a bit thick,

I knew in a moment that it must be St Nick.

Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed

For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.

“Move Malabrigo! Move Cascade! Move Universal and Clover!

Move Schaefer! Move Plymouth! Move Farmhouse! Move over!

Autunno, don’t circle around, just stand there in line.

Pay attention you sheep and you’ll work out just fine!
I know this is hard as it’s just your first year

But I’d hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer.”

I peered over the sill. What I saw was amazing:

Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!
And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door

Santa’s big boots stomping on the porch floor.

I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.

As I turned around, St Nick I did meet.
He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe

And his clothes were hand knitted/crochet from above to below.

A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back.

And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran crochet sack.
His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace

A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.

The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,

And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.
On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.

And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:

“S.C.” in duplicate on the cuff.

So I asked, “Hey, Nick, did YOU knit and crochet all this stuff?”
He proudly replied, “Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.

I learned how to knit and crochet when I was just a kid.”

He was chubby and plump, a well dressed old man,

And I laughed to myself, for I’d thought up a plan.
I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,

And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.

He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap

Where I had laid my needles and hooks and yarn for a cap.
He began then to knit/crochet, first one cap then 2–

For the first time I thought I might really get through.

He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,

While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.
Quickly like magic his needles/hooks they flew,

Good Grief! He was finished by two!

He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,

And over his shoulder he looked back at me.

I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,

“Next year, start your projects sometimes around JUNE!”

~ Author Unknown ~

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TEMPE YARN & FIBER

Holiday Hours

Happy Holidays!

On December 24th we will be open from 10 am till 4 pm.

We'll be closed on December 25th.

We'll be open our normal hours (10 am till 8 pm) on Friday (12/26) and Saturday (12/27).

New & Old Standby Books Arrive

The undeniable urge to purchase yarn. The desire to out-stash your fellow knitters. The expression of love through yarn & needles. Artist and writer Franklin Habit has the affectionate eye, the knowledgeable ear, and the slightly twisted mind of one who knows the innermost yearnings of a yarn junkie's soul....because he's one, too. His wit, keen observations, and slightly outrageous humor will have you laughing out loud on subjects from the delightful mania of the fiber festival to the siren song of the handknitted sock.

This book is packed with information - basic colour and design theory, creating knit & crochet fragments, 18 wonderful projects with instructions, plus special effects for your creations, polymer clay closures to create, a stitch collection and finally a gallery of wearable art, jewelry and more! Welcome to the wonderful world of freeform knitting and crochet, or "scrumbling."

If you thought handmade socks were just for knitters, think again! This wonderful collection of crocheted socks ranges in style from fun to fashionable. Lean how to crochet socks that mimic the luxurious look and feel of knitted socks. Sixteen sock patterns are each given in a variety of sizes for both women and men. These crochet patterns will knock your socks off! (Some patterns used our Lana Grossa cotton sock yarn).

The expanded color section in this new edition has 44 new mittens, 23 new graphs, an numerous new color combinations -- more than enough to justify buying this even if you already have the original. The book opens with a short cultural background, explains color and design symbols, and provides more than 125 black and white diagrams. All mittens come in 7 sizes. Latvian brides knit 100 to 200 pairs for mittens for their marriage chest before the wedding. Aren't you and your loved ones work a pair or two each?

The first release from Rustling Leaf Press, The Eclectic Sole is a collection of exciting and diverse sock patterns that will delight both new and experienced sock knitters with a little something for everyone. Styles range from lace to stranded colorwork to cables with an occasional touch of whimsy. Some socks feature unusual construction, others beautiful graphic elements. One pattern even comes with holes built in (no darning necessary)! Each chapter is beautifully illustrated with pictures of the socks, and an inkling of the inspiration behind the pattern. Detailed yarn information, including color recommendations and WPI information, make it easy to substitute yarns from your own stash so you'll be able to sit down and begin one of these lovely patterns right away.

Learn how to sculpt wool roving with a barbed felting needle to make three-dimensional figures and animals. Using only wool, a needle, and a foam pad you can create birds, bugs, giraffes, trolls, penguins, and mermaids. No need to cut or wet the wool: just shape and needle it, adding details as you go. With superb photography and easy-to-follow instructions, Wool Pets explains the techniques and gives you the tools to make your own freeform figures. Make them into mobiles, ornaments, or fashion accessories. Arrange them in shadowboxes or perch them on dressers and windowsills. These adorable pets are always irresistible.

Addi Clicks Are In (Very Limited Quantity)

This is the interchangable addi knitting system that we have all been waiting for. More than 500 combinations with 10 pairs of addi Turbo needle tips (US 4 - US 15), 3 blue cords (24 , 32 and 40 ), and 1 connector. The Click tips require no tools to change; simply insert the cord deep into the tip, twist and release. The is the addi Turbo dream set!

We received a very limited quantity - so if you are interested in seeing or purchasing this set, please don't wait as we will not get any additions set till late in January.

January 2009 Event & Class Schedule Are ReadyLearn to Knit/Learn to Crochet & More

Events that you don't want to miss:

New Years Day - we'll be open from 10am till 8pm with a Pot Luck Social during the day

Coral Reef Project

Adult Surprise Knit Along

Show & Tell Spin Along

For more details click EVENTS

Classes to Stimulate the Mind:
Here's a partial list of classes:

Hyperbolic Crochet (Free Class)

Lace De-Mystified

Entrelac

Fixing Knitting Oooops

Casting On / Binding Off

Seaming Things

Learn to Knit Adult Socks

Learn to Spin

Fair Isle Knitting

For more details click CLASSES

What's a Deedle??? We have them!

A Deedle is a felted creatures which appear from the mind of the artist, Diane. These one of a kind special felted creatures are the perfect gift for the person who has everything.

Stop by and check them out.

Schaefer Yarn Fans - Judith, Andrea, Nancy & Heather Arrived for the Holidays

"Judith" yarn is 100% prime alpaca. The skeins are 4 oz. skein and 330 yards DK Weight at 5.5 St/inch on US #7.

"Andrea" is 100% cultivated silk in 3.5oz. / 1093 yard skeins. This drean lace weight knits up at 8 St/inch on US #0

"Heather" is a sock yarn with 55% merino wool SUPERWASH, 30% cultivated silk, 15% nylon. It comes in 4 oz. - 400 yard skeins and knits at 7 - 8 St/inch on US #1.
"Nancy" is 95% merino wool, 5% nylon in 8oz. - 600 yard skeins. This light worsted weight - knits 4.5-6 st/inch on US #5-7

Arizona Snow Balls???

Ewe-nique skeins created just for you. Approximately 70+ yards of custom novelity yarn ready to make scarfs. Includes a pattern for an Arizona Scarf.

Ronald McDonald House Dolls

We have the greatest customers in the world. If you have been followed this, Union Bank donated 27 naked dolls that needed to be dressed. Our customers took those dolls and dressed them for donation to Ronald McDonald House. Here are the dressed dolls.

Special thanks go to Karen Saunders from Union Bank for the donation of the dolls and to Amy Barrett for helping take the dolls to the RMH.

Cascade Eco Alpaca 100% Undyed Baby Alpaca

Cascade Eco Alpaca is a natural, undyed 100% alpaca worsted weight yarn. Alpaca is super cozy and Cascade Eco Alpaca does not disappoint. It's perfect for lots of projects.

Yumiko Alexander's Latest Pattern- Berry Farm - Is In Stock

Many of you have watched Yumiko grow as a designer over the past few years. We are proud to offer her latest pattern, Berry Farm.

Last Minute Quick Gift Ideas

A little knitting and some felting and in about 1-2 hours, depending on which project you select, you have a one of a kind gift. We've got the patterns and all the yarn you'll need. Stop by for more details. All these items were made by Allari.

Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts - New Shipment Arrived

In the third special issue of Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts, get ideas for stretching one or two skeins of luxury yarn; quick, easy projects with a little something special; playful accessories sized for the whole family, quirky items for the home—and much more. Get inspired to keep knitting through the holiday season!

Here are just a few of the projects in this edition:

Arm Warmers

Berry Bobbie Hat

Hourglass Eyeglass Scarf

Necklets

Don't Panic - There is still time...

1) Saturday December 13th, Tempe Yarn will extend our hours till 10 pm to provide a space for you to work on your holiday projects.

2) We have lots of chunky yarns that works up quickly to make those last minute gifts.

3) We are full of suggestions on quick and easy things that you can make.

4) We have lots of great stocking stuffers.

5) We have our always-desirable Gift Card that allows your special person the chance to pick out their own perfect gift.

Direct from the North Pole (Minnesota) Patterns for Holiday Favorites

With these patterns you combine knitting and felting to make loveable holiday items.

Woolly Snowman
Stay inside by the crackling fire and knit yourself a pint-size snowman. They come in two sizes, small and large, measuring 6-1/2 and 8-1/2 inches tall after felting. The pattern includes designs for a black top hat, a scarf and a corn-cob pipe. Both snowmen have beaded arms fully bend able. They are knit out of worsted weight yarn, cream colors that have proven felt able.

Woolly Snowman Hats
Give your Woolly Snowman personality and style with a felted hat! This pattern includes 12 hat designs. They are knit using sport weight yarns. Have fun adding stripes, beads and needle felting to embellish your hats. These hat designs fit the small and large Woolly Snowman.
Woolly Snowbaby
Introducing the newest addition to the snowman family, the Woolly Snowbaby! Two balls of freshly knit snow. The pattern includes directions for three hat designs and a scarf. The yarn used is sport weight. The Snowbaby measures about 4-1/2 inches tall after felting.

Woolly Gingerbread Cookie
No flour, no mess! This gingerbread cookie is so easy to knit and felt up, and even more fun to decorate. The cookie comes in two sizes: small and large. The difference being in the yarn and needle size used. Sport weight yarn creates about 3-1/2 inch cookies and worsted weight yarn creates 5 inch cookies.

Woolly Holiday Ornaments
Make an ornament for each member of your family or that special teacher. This pattern includes three ornament designs: the classic ball, the teardrop and the beaded ball ornament. The pattern includes embellishing ideas so no two ornaments need ever be the same! This pattern uses both sport and worsted weight yarns.

Victorian Holiday Stocking
This pattern makes a large felted stocking with a 6-pointed cuff. The finished size is about 8-inches wide by 22-inches high using worsted weight yarns. It is a generous stocking, now you can be too!

Woolly Nest Ornament Kit
Knit up a bird's nest with 3 blue eggs as an ornament for your next holiday tree. The nest is small and quaint, measuring about 3 to 3-1/2 inches wide after felting. The legend tells that to find a nest in your tree brings your household health, wealth and happiness. A great stocking stuffer that keeps on giving year to year!

Woolly Birds
Embellish a woolly bird to look like a robin, cardinal or chickadee. The birds measure, after felting, about 3-1/2 inches wide by 4-1/2 inches high. How about a calico bird with purple wings and a polka dotted tail? The pattern is designed so you can create your own bird! The pattern uses worsted weight yarn and introduces simple needle felting techniques

Woolly Gnome & Mushroom
Knit and felt a whimsical gnome for that garden enthusiast. Tuck your gnome amongst a polka dotted mushroom or two. According to German folklore, the garden gnome symbolizes good luck, and that the forces of nature are on your side!
The gnome and mushroom use worsted weight yarns and size 10-1/2 double point needles. The beard is needle felted using cream roving.

Get Your "Spin Off" Winter Edition At TYF

FEATURES
Behind the Scenes: At Clemes & Clemesby Rachel Eugster
Armchair Traveler: Southern Arizona and the Sonoran Desertby Heather Ordover
Serendipitous Spinning with Battsby Shannon Okey
What to Look For in Handpainted Fiberby Amy King
Fiber Basics: South America’s Wild Ones, Vicuña and Guanacoby Kaye Collins
The Andean Connectionby Amy Clarke Moore

HOW TO

Spinning Tips: Plying on a Spindleby Maggie Casey
Spinning Basics: Blending Colors at the Wheelby Amy Tyler
An Introduction to the Tex Count Systemby Peter Teal

PROJECTS
Handspun Gallery of Spaced-Out Felted Scarves
Swoopy Skirtsby Kathryn Alexander
Spinning for Beginning Weavingby Jane Patrick with Stephanie Flynn-Sokolov, Melissa Ludden, Gail Matthews, and Beth Smith
Card, Knit, Wear: Unspun Capsby Carol Huebscher Rhoades
A Guanaco Hat: Wild and Warmby Kaye Collins
Stella the Guard Dog: A Dog-Down Cell Phone Coverby Pat Martinek

Meet the Artist - Jody of Greenbean Glass and Stone

You've seen her beaufitul buttons, now come and meet the artist.

TODAY from 2:30 - 6:00 pm, TYF will host a trunk show featuring creations by artist Jody of Greenbean Glass and Stone.

This truck show will include lots of great holiday gifts, including: Purse Hangers, Book Marks, Bracelets, Rings, Key Rings, Wine Stoppers and of course Jody's great buttons.

This will be a great opportunity to find the perfect buttons to complete the project you've been working on, or to find a button or pendant that will inspire a whole new piece to be created around it. While we all know that buttons can be used as closures, and pendants make great necklaces, don't forget that they also make great embellishments!

Stop by and meet Jody and see her wonderful work.

Collections for Ronald McDonald House Still Welcome

Ronald McDonald House Charities is Tempe Yarn's charity of choice. In the December newsletter, we asked our customers to bring in items to support this charity.

Fiber/Yarn people are the best people in the world!

Over the past two weeks we've collected two large boxes of items, both purchased and handmade with love, for the Ronald McDonald House.

We'll will continue to collect items till December 12th.

Here's a list of items that they need:

For their families: new toys (unwrapped), movie passes, sporting tickets,
bus passes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, long distance phone
cards, gift cards to local grocery stores, Target, Wal-Mart, and Toys-R-Us.

Help Fill Their Pantry: Cereal bars, crackers and cookies, microwave
popcorn, and non-dairy creamers.

Household Supplies: Light bulbs (60w), liquid hand soap, facial tissue,
paper plates, trash bags.

For the House: alarm clocks, blankets, white sheets for queen and twin beds, white towels.

Happy Holidays to everyone.

Tempe Festival of the Arts - Tempe Yarn & Fiber

This is the 40th anniversity of the Tempe Festival of the Arts. After you visit this wonderful event, if you feel creative and are in the need for a "yarn fix", stop by Tempe Yarn & Fiber at 1415 E. University Drive (between Rural & McClintock in the University Plaza) and explore our yarns and fibers.

Tofutsies Sock Club Membership

The October Limited Edition Tofutsies Sock Club yarn has arrived! Members may pick up your yarn and the "Bee's Knees" pattern any time.

Non-Members:
We still have openings to become members of the 2nd half of the 2008/2009's Tofutsies* Sock Club. By joining the Tofutsies Sock Club, you will be guaranteed to receive a skein of the Southwest Trading Company Limited Edition Colorways of Tofutsies yarns and a designer sock pattern.

Here are the details:
-Join the TYF Tofutsies Sock Club for six months for $48.
-Receive 3 skeins of Tofutsies Limited Edition (one every other month)

Add your needles and produce a one of a kind pair of socks. Give us a call to sign up before they are gone.

*Tofutsies: 50% Superwash Wool25% SOYSILK brand fiber22.5% Cotton2.5% Chitin (made fromshrimp and crab shells!) 8 sts = 1"needles: US 2 (2.75mm)425m /100g ball machine wash and dry

Naked Dolls No More!

Union Bank, N.A. donated 27 cute, cuddly dolls for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The dolls only need to be dressed, before they went to some lucky child as a special gift for the holidays.

The wonderful ladies and men who frequent our shop, stepped up to the task and have taken 23 of the 27 dolls. If you want to be part of this wonderful gift, stop by and pick of one of the last dolls. Here's a picture of some of the completed dolls:

For the Tempe Yarn and Ronald McDonald House, we want to thank everyone involved in this undertaking. Your time and effort will make a hugh difference to the children who receive these dolls.

Knitter's Magazine Has Arrived

Mix it Up! Great techniques mixed with lots of color and texture will make sure you are cozy, warm, and busy no matter what Mother Nature sends your way.