April Fools!!!! What's it mean?

Wikipedia states, the origin of April Fools' Day is obscure. One likely theory is that the modern holiday was first celebrated soon after the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar; the term referred to someone still adhering to the Julian Calendar, which it replaced. In many pre-Christian cultures May Day (May 1) was celebrated as the first day of summer, and signalled the start of the spring planting season. An April Fool was someone who did this prematurely. Another origin is that April 1 was counted the first day of the year in France. When King Charles IX changed that to January 1, some people stayed with April 1. Those who did were called "April Fools" and were taunted by their neighbors. In the eighteenth century the festival was often posited as going back to the times of Noah. An English newspaper article published on April 13th, 1789 said that the day had its origins when he sent the raven off too early, before the waters had receded. He did this on the first day of the Hebrew month that corresponds with April. A possible reference to April Fools' Day can be seen in the Canterbury Tales (ca 1400) in the Nun's Priest's tale, a tale of two fools: Chanticleer and the fox, which took place on March 32nd.

From the Museum of Hoaxes (http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/index) here are a few interesting April Fool's Day Hoaxes:

#4: The Taco Liberty Bell

1996: The Taco Bell Corporation announced it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to express their anger. Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed, a few hours later, that it was all a practical joke. The best line of the day came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale. Thinking on his feet, he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold. It would now be known, he said, as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.

#8: The Left-Handed Whopper

1998: Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper (lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty, etc.), but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. Simultaneously, according to the press release, "many others requested their own 'right handed' version."

#6: Nixon for President

1992: National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation program announced that Richard Nixon, in a surprise move, was running for President again. His new campaign slogan was, "I didn't do anything wrong, and I won't do it again." Accompanying this announcement were audio clips of Nixon delivering his candidacy speech. Listeners responded viscerally to the announcement, flooding the show with calls expressing shock and outrage. Only during the second half of the show did the host John Hockenberry reveal that the announcement was a practical joke. Nixon's voice was impersonated by comedian Rich Little.

#11: UFO Lands in London

1989: On March 31, 1989 thousands of motorists driving on the highway outside London looked up in the air to see a glowing flying saucer descending on their city. Many of them pulled to the side of the road to watch the bizarre craft float through the air. The saucer finally landed in a field on the outskirts of London where local residents immediately called the police to warn them of an alien invasion. Soon the police arrived on the scene, and one brave officer approached the craft with his truncheon extended before him. When a door in the craft popped open, and a small, silver-suited figure emerged, the policeman ran in the opposite direction. The saucer turned out to be a hot-air balloon that had been specially built to look like a UFO by Richard Branson, the 36-year-old chairman of Virgin Records. The stunt combined his passion for ballooning with his love of pranks. His plan was to land the craft in London's Hyde Park on April 1. Unfortunately, the wind blew him off course, and he was forced to land a day early in the wrong location.

#24: Drunk Driving on the Internet

1994: An article by John Dvorak in PC Computing magazine described a bill going through Congress that would make it illegal to use the internet while drunk, or to discuss sexual matters over a public network. The bill was supposedly numbered 040194 (i.e. 04/01/94), and the contact person was listed as Lirpa Sloof (April Fools backwards). The article said that the FBI was going to use the bill to tap the phone line of anyone who "uses or abuses alcohol" while accessing the internet. Passage of the bill was felt to be certain because "Who wants to come out and support drunkenness and computer sex?" The article offered this explanation for the origin of the bill: "The moniker 'Information Highway' itself seems to be responsible for SB 040194... I know how silly this sounds, but Congress apparently thinks being drunk on a highway is bad no matter what kind of highway it is." The article generated so many outraged phone calls to Congress that Senator Edward Kennedy's office had to release an official denial of the rumor that he was a sponsor of the bill.

#75: World to End Tomorrow

On March 31, 1940 the Franklin Institute issued a press release stating that the world would end the next day. The release was picked up by radio station KYW which broadcast the following message: "Your worst fears that the world will end are confirmed by astronomers of Franklin Institute, Philadelphia. Scientists predict that the world will end at 3 P.M. Eastern Standard Time tomorrow. This is no April Fool joke. Confirmation can be obtained from Wagner Schlesinger, director of the Fels Planetarium of this city." The public reaction was immediate. Local authorities were flooded with frantic phone calls. The panic only subsided after the Franklin Institute assured people that it had made no such prediction. The prankster responsible for the press release turned out to be William Castellini, the Institute's press agent. He had intended to use the fake release to publicize an April 1st lecture at the institute titled "How Will the World End?" Soon afterwards, the Institute dismissed Castellini.

#71: Michigan Shark Experiment

In 1981 the Herald-News in Roscommon, Michigan reported that 3 lakes in northern Michigan had been selected to host "an in-depth study into the breeding and habits of several species of fresh-water sharks." Two thousand sharks were to be released into the lakes including blue sharks, hammerheads, and a few great whites. The experiment was designed to determine whether the sharks could survive in the cold climate of Michigan. The federal government was said to be spending $1.3 million to determine this. A representative from the National Biological Foundation was quoted as saying that there would probably be a noticeable decline in the populations of other fish in the lake because "the sharks will eat about 20 pounds of fish each per day, more as they get older." County officials were said to have protested the experiment, afraid of the hazard it would pose to fishermen and swimmers, but their complaints had been ignored by the federal government. Furthermore, fishermen had been forbidden from catching the sharks. The Herald-News received a flurry of letters in response to the announcement.

For the full list of the top 100 April Fool tricks click here.

New Books @ Tempe Yarn

True to the Japanese ideals of high-quality design and materials, Japanese Inspired Knits includes: 12 sweater patterns oriented around the months of the year, such as Sake and Soba, Summer in Tokyo, Rice Fields, Flower Buds, and Stone Garden.

Patterns featuring double knitting, domino knitting, shadow knitting, lace, cables, entrelac, intarsia, and stranded two-color knitting, all described in detail with clear text and illustrations. An illustrated glossary at the end of the book provides additional technical instruction needed for any project.

And Japanese ideographs that relate to themes that inspired the projects, a Japanese calendar, plus lush travel photography of Japan that will inspire any knitter.

If you're looking for innovative women's wear with new techniques for sweater design or how to gain insight on translating travel inspiration into beautiful knitwear, look no further than Japanese Inspired Knits.

Lightweight yarns have a bad reputation: slow to knit with, unfashionable, limited to socks and lace, and fussy to deal with. Give those skinny yarns another look! Projects knit with thin yarns can range from quick, easy, and daring to bold, elaborate, refined, and sophisticated. Perfect for all skill levels, the projects in Knit So Fine show that garments knitted with thin yarns fit more precisely, are more flattering to the figure, feel better against the skin, are great for layering, and offer more versatility for fashion elements like ruching, ruffles, gauzy layers, and drape.

Knit So Fine educates knitters about fine yarns: what they are, the many advantages of knitting with fine yarns, plus tips and techniques to make the knitting process more enjoyable. Knitters will also find stylish and contemporary patterns, including a drapy silk top, a supple zippered cable hoodie, a bamboo skirt with stunning drape, a bohus-inspired pullover, a wrap dress, a ruffled scarf, and much more! Discover the versatility of knitting with fine yarns, from quick knits and small projects to long-term projects that are worth the wait, with Knit So Fine.

Spin to Knit teaches you all the details about fibers, tools, and materials for getting started spinning, and offers a substantial selection of simple patterns for knitting with that fabulous yarn you've created all on your own. Don't want to spin a lot of yarn? No problem, you'll find lots of ideas for combining your precious handspun with commercial, mill-spun yarns or for accenting sweaters and accessories you already own..Urban spinner Shannon Okey, author of KnitGrrl, answers all your burning questions about spinning basics.

For instance, what fibers are good for close-to-the-skin projects, what's good for layering, and what on earth can you do with dog fur or recycled fabric? Find out the basic tools you need to get started spinning, whether you should begin with a drop spindle or a wheel, why "lumpy bumpy" yarn is your friend, ways to un-lump your yarn, and how to control singles, twist, and ply. Incorporating color in spinning is also introduced, from "dishwasher dyeing," to incorporating beads, thread, or other media into yarns for visual interest.

Self-patterning yarns - those that magically knit up into stripes, Fair Isle, graduated color bands, and zigzag patterns - are extremely popular but they can be expensive, and it can be difficult to find just the yarn you want. Yarns to Dye For presents an easy and fun way to make your own self-patterning yarn - no other book details this intriguing process.

Using the dyes for natural fibers that are available at most grocery and craft stores, you can create your own, one-of-a-kind patterns in commercial yarns or your own handspun. Previous dyeing experience is not required because the author guides you step-by-step through choosing your materials and equipment, skeining and preparing your yarn for dyeing, and painting the yarn. To practice your technique, there are 22 quick and simple projects - each presented with dyeing and knitting instructions - including fingerless gloves, mittens, a headband, a child's sweater, leg warmers, an adult vest, and much more! Also included are suggestions for modifying and embellishing projects as well as ideas for using your left-over yarn.

Dogs in Knits offers a collection of sweaters and blankets for dogs by expert knitwear designer Judith L. Swartz, who has created sweaters that dogs can "wear with dignity." It includes styles for all knitting skill levels, plus instructions for measuring dogs and sizing patterns correctly for a perfect fit. A must-have for dog lovers and passionate knitters alike.

Take a break from knitting fussy garments with complicated techniques. Instead, knit simple, beautiful designs with interesting details and silhouettes with Simple Style, a collection of 19 contemporary garments that celebrate stunning results without the intricate techniques.Following in the footsteps of Wrap Style, Scarf Style, Lace Style, and Bag Style, Simple Style features:Appealing projects from 16 renowned knitwear designers - including Pam Allen, Veronik Avery, Mags Kandis, Deborah Newton, and Vicki Square - ranging from pullovers, cardigans, vests, skirts, wraps, and more, all using simple design sensibility for maximum impact Beautiful, luscious lifestyle photographs Easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions and thorough materials lists And a Design Notebook that covers ways to maximize style while simplifying knitting and finishing techniques.

Tempe Festival of the Arts - Tempe Yarn

Need a yarn fix after walking around Mill Avenue looking at the wonderful art pieces at the Festival of the Arts? Stop by Tempe Yarn and explore our shop for that special yarn.

Universal Yarn Galore!!

Do you know how much 200 pounds of yarn is? It's a lot of yarn. Today we received that much Universal yarns.

Your favorites are all in including:
Classic Chunky LP, Classic Worsted LP, Classic Shades, Classic Worsted, Classic Worsted Tapestry, Cottonwood, Deluxe Chunky, Classic Worsted Impressions and Poems.

Come down and check out the colors.

Want To Be In the Know About Tempe Yarn?

Don't miss out on that new shipment of yarn, or the new exciting class, or that special upcoming event. Consider signing up for Google Alerts where an email is automatically sent to you when we update our web page.


It's easy to do, simply visit the Google Alerts home page, and in the box titled "Create A Google Alert" enter the following:

Create a Google Alert

Search terms: TEMPE YARN
Type: Comprehensive
How often: (select either: as-it-happens, once a day,once a week)
Your email: ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

Then when Fred updates the webpage, you'll get an email with the posting title and a brief summary. To view the update simply click on the highlighted portion and it will take you to the web site.

Interweave Crochet Spring 2009

Welcome spring with light wraps and stylish cover-ups, as well as easy-carry totes and a cabled baby blanket. A medley of 20 projects will keep you crocheting into summer. Doris Chan unravels the mysteries of lace, and Back to Basics shows how to do linked crochet. In crochet history, Dora Ohrenstein seeks crochet’s origins, and Departures peeks into the tiny world of Mariella Vitale.

Spin Off Spring 2009

FEATURES

Behind the Scenes: At Magpie WoodWorksby Bobbie Irwin

Armchair Traveler: Londonby Diane Mulholland

Textile Words: An English Language Historyby Sharon Collins

Dorothy Reade: Spider Woman from Oregonby Donna Druchunas

High Whorl, Low Whorlby Abby Franquemont

Your Yarn: Spindle-Spun Yarns

The Handpainted Wheels of Monica Lenoxby Jackie Deems

Iowa Mennonite Track Wheelby Kaye D. Collins

A Conversation with Elizabeth Prose and Carol Rhoades

Fiber Basics: Clun Forestby Carol Huebscher Rhoades

Handspun Gallery of Maine Morning Mitts

Lanolin for Healing by Suzanne Artley

HOW TO
Spinning Basics: Finding Balance by Jennifer Shafer

Spinning for Needlepointby Sarah Swett

Spinning Perfect Sock Yarnby Judith Mackenzie McCuin

PROJECTS
Clun Forest Setby Carol Huebscher Rhoades

Slotted Scarfby Jillian Moreno

Denise Organizers Have Arrived!

Several of you have been after me to get more of the Denise Organizers. They just arrived! No one filled out special order forms so it's first come first serve.

They’re big enough to hold a whole Denise kit (plus more), yet small enough to be unobtrusive. 100% made in the USA and designed and built to last a lifetime.

Tempe Yarn Market Bag Pattern Is Ready

Now you can share with others part of the fun of the last Mystery Crochetalong Market Bag. This useful bag is designed for the eco-on-the-go shopper. It's fun to make and use. TYF has the pattern, Tempe Yarn Market Bag, ready for sale.

Please pass the word on to others that this pattern is ready.

Bunnies, Eggs, Chicks and Candy Corn Patterns to Inspire the Season

New! the Woolly Bunnies are here! . . . just in time for Easter baskets & bunny lovers of all ages.

The Woolly Bunny pattern came to me quite suddenly actually, materializing before my very eyes. It obviously was meant to be. To my delight and surprise, I am sharing a new pattern with you so soon into the new year. The Woolly Bunny uses worsted weight yarn and size 10-1/2 double point needles. Each bunny measures after felting and being stuffed with fiberfill, about 4-1/2 inches long and high. I have a basketful of bunny samples to share with you. I have used a variety of yarn brands, hues, weights and even novelty yarns to satisfy every bunny-lover. Woolly Eggs Knit up a dozen eggs just in time for Spring! No dyes. No mess. These felted eggs come in two sizes: a 3-inch medium and a 4-inch large. It's an easy pattern that inspires creativity. The pattern includes directions for embellishing with beads, buttons, needle felting and more.
Woolly Chicks Knit a few chicks to tuck inside your Spring time baskets. They are quick and easy to felt up, so plan on hatching a dozen or so. They lend themselves to needle felting polka dots all over their bodies or tiny flower bonnets to tie around their necks. They use sport weight yarn.

Woolly Candy Corn Now you can have a bowl of whimsical treats for every season without the additional calories! The over sized stuffed candy corn measures about 4-inches in height, after felting, using worsted weight yarn. A smaller sized candy corn is created by using sport weight yarn. The pattern includes color changes for Autumn, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Spring/Easter. Combine this pattern with Woolly Eggs to create a bowl of jelly beans and candy corn!

Frog Tree Yarn (Sport Weight)

We are happy to announce that we have added Frog Tree Alpaca sport weight yarn to our shop.

Here's a little history about T&C Imports who is the importer of Frog Tree Alpaca.

"In 1997 we started purchasing a variety of products from various artisans/non-profit groups in Latin America. One of our primary imports is Alpaca yarn, which is produced by a non-profit cooperative in Bolivia. This cooperative has trained between 800 and1200 women to produce beautiful hand knit articles from this yarn. The women are paid fairly for their work. We strive to provide a way for women to provide for their families' basic needs and invest in community development, yet still be able to maintain their traditional lifestyles with dignity. The Alpaca yarn has become so popular that our non-profit cooperative in Bolivia has been unable to keep up with the demand. As a result, we have expanded our scope, and are now working with another supplier in Peru."

"Purchases made by Frog Tree Yarns are intended to provide support to the individual artisans and non-profit groups. We operate as a not-for-profit company, and do not take any salaries for our efforts. Excess funds generated by T & C Imports are used to provide educational assistance to individuals and support to educational projects."

Sounds like to supplier that we want to support.

April Class & Event ScheduleLearn to Knit/Learn to Crochet & More

It's spring and with spring comes the urge to explore and conquer new challenges. We are here to help you meet your yarn challenges.


In April beyond the introductory Learn to Knit, Crochet Clinic and the Advanced Beginning Knit Project classes, we'll be offering Explore Free Form Knit & Crochet, Learn to Knit Socks (both sample and adult), Knitting in the Round, Fair Isle for Everyone, Continental Knit-Purl, Lace DeMystified, Learn to Spin, Fixing Your Knitting Oops, Casting On & Binding Off, Toe Up Mini Socks, Seaming Things Together and Blending Fiber Colors Spinning.

If none of these meet your needs, check with us about a Focus Class that is custom to exactly what you want.


For a full details of dates and time click classes and events.

HYPERBOLIC CROCHET CORAL REEF

Over the past several months many of you have participated in the exciting Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef project.

Shortly you will be able to see the fruits of your labor, such as those shown done by Teri Eichhorn from Ramona, California and mailed to TYF.


Where:
The Gallery @ the Library,
Scottsdale Civic Center Library
3839 N Drinkwater Blvd Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Click here for directions

When:
On view from APRIL 11 - JULY 11, 2009

Opening Reception Saturday,
April 11th at 2 PMGallery @ the Library

Lecture by Creator Margaret Wertheim
Monday, April 13th at 6:30 PM @ Library Auditorium

Interesting Measurements

Recently I've heard some interesting ways to measure yarn related projects. So interesting that I thought I'd share them with you.


1) This one must be an engineer and/or very disciplined:

Year To Date Total Yards/Miles of Yarn Used: _____yards/ _____ miles
Goal for 2009: 35,200 yards / 20 miles

Year To Date Total Skeins of Yarn Used: ___
Goal for 2009: 480

2) She has a bet going that she can do one Adult sweater per month during 2009.

3) Her goal is to donate 200 items to charities during 2009.

4) To complete all yarn Christmas gifts by July 1st.
If you have an interesting personal goal about yarn that you'd like to share, let me know and we'll keep a running tally of the fun ways to measure yarn usage.

Best Way to Prevent Alzheimer's?

"You may be able to delay or even prevent dementia or Alzheimer's disease if you knit when you're in your 50s. Or quilt. Or read a book. Or play computer games. Engaging in a hobby in middle-age could ensure you keep your wits when you're old.

The BBC News reports that researchers from the Mayo Clinic interviewed nearly 200 people ages 70 to 80 who had mild memory problems and a control group of the same age whose memories functioned properly. The participants were asked about their daily activities during the previous year, as well as activities they engaged in when they were 50 to 65 years old.

The Mayo team found that those who spent their 50s and early 60s reading, playing games and engaging in various craft hobbies, including knitting and quilting, had a 40 percent lower risk of memory impairment than those who didn't have hobbies. In later life, these same activities reduced the risk by between 30 percent and 50 percent.

What won't work?

Watching television. Spending time in front of the TV not only won't help prevent dementia, but also could speed up memory loss. Those who watched TV less than seven hours a day were 50 percent less likely to develop memory loss than those who spent longer than that staring at the screen, reports the BBC.

"This study is exciting because it demonstrates that aging does not need to be a passive process," study author and neuroscientist Dr. Yonas Geda told the BBC. "By simply engaging in cognitive exercise, you can protect against future memory loss. Of course, the challenge with this type of research is that we are relying on past memories of the participants; therefore, we need to confirm these findings with additional research."

Knitting a shawl or reading a book are not only fun ways to spend time now, but also they could be the best thing you do for your future mental health.

The study findings were reported to a meeting of the American Academy of Neurology."--From the Editors at Netscape

Click here for the original article.

Mystery Scarf Knitalong Show & Tell Celebration

They started arriving at 1pm this afternoon for the Mystery Scarf Knitalong Show & Tell that didn't begin till 6pm. By six we had a house full of mystery knitting sleuths with many of them dressed in green for Saint Patrick's day.

A brief history of the design and development of this mystery knitalong was followed by an around the room show and tell. As promised the secrets to the knitalong were unlocked with a special key.

For more picture of the event click here.

The next mystery knitalong is scheduled for mid April, according to Sherlock.

On Saint Patrick's Day Everyone is Irish

Saint Patrick's day is an Irish holiday celebrated around the globe on March 17th to honor the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. It is also a celebration of Irish culture and history.


So why would Tempe Yarn & Fiber celebrate Saint Patrick's day. There is a strong tie between Ireland, wools, knitting and crochet and most important it is a chance to have a good time.

Stop by anytime today and have a spot of "green tea" with us and celebrate being Irish (at least for a day).

We'll leave you with part of an old Irish poem:

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

If you drink anything stronger than our green tea, please be safe.

Romance At Tempe Yarn & Fiber (New Photo Added)

Who said it's dull in a yarn shop?

Tonight in front of a group of about 20 Saturday night knitters, Will Highsmith asked Candy Stalker to become his wife.

We think she said yes, but couldn't really hear the answer with everyone clapping.

New Photo

Scrabble is the game that brought these two love birds together.

Mountain ColorsTarghee Combed Top Roving & Merino Ribbon & Half Wool Crepe Yarns

From Mountain Colors:

We received 8 colors of this 100% Targhee Combed Top roving. It is hand-dyed and inspired by the beautiful colors in Montana where Mountain Colors Yarns are located.

Half Wool Crepe - Tiny, tight loops wonderful for weaving and fun used double for knitting.

Merino Ribbon is incredibly soft, yet light weight. Knit stitches are clear and distinct.

Just Arrived Knitter's Magazine Spring 2008

Inside this edition you'll find:

Stepping Out - Squiggles, Jitter-bag, Wavy baby, Grooves & grannies

Denim & Diamonds - High desert, Coral columns, Saltillo, Purple majesty

Not Just Black & White - Spruce & ivory, Ticks & tracks, Domino stripes, Mandrian, Floating checks and Rickrack & rails

Understanding Plying Class on Wednesday the 11th

Have you been spinning for awhile and are now ready to take it to the next level. The Understanding Plying class is just what the doctor ordered. Plying can make or break your yarn. Whether you 2 ply, 3 ply, cable or Navajo ply, it can change the look of your yarn. Learn all of these methods and more in Understanding Plying.

There is still space available in Wednesday's class at 6pm. Give us a call today to sign up.

Mark Your Calendars for TYF's 3rd Annual "Choose Your Own Adventure Retreat"

If you haven't marked your calendar yet - it's time to write down that you will be attending the 3rd Annual Tempe Yarn & Fiber "Choose Your Own Adventure Retreat" on July 18-19th. This will be a time to get away from the world and focus only on your yarn & fiber interests. This year's Retreat will be held at the Hotel Scottsdale and, while it officially begins on Saturday morning, July 18th, there will be an optional reception on Friday Night, July 17th, for those who wish to begin their adventure early.

Registration for the 3rd Annual "Choose Your Own Adventure Retreat" will begin on April 1st and go until June 1st.

Check out the photos from the 2008 Adventure.
Watch for more details to come in the TYF March Mid-Month Update.

Coral Reef Project Group Collection Party

While the coral reef project doesn't end until March 31st, TYF's customers are always ready for a party. Shown below are part of the group that attended the Scottsdale Public Arts Coral Reef Project Collection party held at Tempe Yarn.

 

The creativity that the crocheters put into this project is amazing.

Now go dry off and enjoy the rest of the day!

New Books to Enjoy

Pet Projects is simply irresistible. This collection of 33 adorable patterns is to knit for any pet and ranges for the beginner to the expert knitter. To be cherished by pet owners and crafters alike, this ingenious collection of 33 patterns, Pet Projects, has something for nearly every pet. Knitters will delight in making canine coats, collars and caps. Cats will curl up on the Mouse Mat throw rug or any of the cushions. The wide range of patterns in Pet Projects includes a horse blanket, flowers for a koi, a hamster house, and a hibernation tent for your turtle.

Make the yarn of your dreams! You can buy yarn anywhere, but spinners know that the best yarn is the kind you make for yourself. Start Spinning takes you from loose fiber to yarn made on a spindle and spinning wheel, with friendly advice and a sure hand at every step. Developed over two decades of teaching beginners, Maggie Casey's techniques and tidbits will have you creating delightful yarns to knit, weave, crochet and admire.

Elizabeth Zimmerman Books
Many knitters considered the designs in Elizabeth Zimmermann's Newsletters to be timeless; from her first Fair Isle issue in 1958, to the now classic Baby Surprise Jacket in 1968. Long time fans will welcome these old friends and new knitters may discover the freedom and creativity that Elizabeth's patterns encourage. Also includes 15 "new" articles and stories from Elizabeth's journals and notebooks. 42 designs, 38 different knitters contributed garments.

A basic book on knitting presented with wit and wisdom by a master instructor. Covers all the skills from casting on to more advanced lace, shoulder shaping, and complex patterns. These knitting techniques make even the most complex patterns easy. B/w photos throughout.

Make designs that are easy to follow, fun to work and full of common sense solutions to technical problems. Covers basic techniques in a witty readable prose that offers a number of ways to do such procedures as casting on and off, increasing and decreasing.

Make 20 cute animals from bats and bees to mermaids and gnomes.

Presents 60 expert finishing techniques that cover everything from increasing and decreasing seams, selvage edges, buttonholes and blocking, and decorative finishes. Includes step-by-step color illustrations, easy to read text and close up color photos of finished pieces. Convenient trim size is perfect to carry, and spiral format makes it easy to use.


Information on group knitting and history along with 20 projects.

Forty one-of-a-kind sweet, adorable knits for baby and beyond.

25 fashionable garments for all seasons along with information on how to adjust patterns for a perfect fit

Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Collection Party & Celebration

To showcase the work that you've done for the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef project, on Friday March 6th at 6:00 pm, Tempe Yarn & Fiber and the Scottsdale Public Arts will hold a Collection Party and Celebration.


However, this isn't the last opportunity to donate pieces to this project. We'll continue to collect items through March 26th.


If you haven't participated in the project there is still time. We'll be holding a free Hyperbolic Crochet class on Friday, March 20th at 6:00pm. Participants should call ahead to register, as space will be limited. Yarn will be provided, but students should bring their own crochet hooks if they have them, or they may purchase them at TYF. Previous experience with crochet (chain and single crochet stitches) is helpful, but not necessary.


Finally, Tempe Yarn will also continue to host a Coral Reef Project group every Friday night at 6:00pm through the end of March.

We are planning to contribute two sets of pieces for the Scottsdale Public Art installation: one made entirely from natural fibers (wool, cotton, etc.) and another created with man-made fibers (plastic, acrylic, nylon, etc.). Group participants should bring or buy their own hooks and yarn (or man-made materials) to crochet with. For those who don't crochet, knitted and/or felted pieces are perfectly acceptable, as well as free form knitted/ crocheted shapes to complement the more formulaic Hyperbolic pieces.

Happy Birthday Tempe Yarn & Fiber

IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY!

Where were you on March 4, 2006? Many of you came to check out the "new yarn shop" (Tempe Yarn & Fiber) in Tempe, Arizona.

On our first day we opened with help from friends and family.

Our motto was "Come Watch Us Grow."

As you can tell from these early pictures we had a long way to go to fill the space.

Here's a photo of our first of many gatherings.

And grow we did.

In May of 2007 we moved across the parking lot to a larger space and have never looked back.

Over the past three years our customers have purchased enough yarn to circle the earth over 90 times at the equator, enough books to fill a small public library and almost a ton of fiber. Teaching became a cornerstone of our business as we've taught nearly 3500 men, women and children either knitting, crochet, spinning or other related skills.

We've shared many adventures, including two retreats, 3 baseball games (Stitch N' Pitch), yarn tastings, pot lucks, New Years Day parties, spin-ins at local malls, knit alongs and discovered the joy of mysteries (spinning, crochet and knitting). We've had dye days and halloween costume contests, a fiber to shawl day, held a knit in public photo contest, made hundreds of photos of customer made items, had fun on talk like a pirate day and provided direct support for various charities (i.e. Ronald McDonald, Project Linus), .

Thanks to you we have grown a community that reflects our philosophy and meets your needs. Your loyality, laughs, encouragement, participation and business has allowed us to remain in business and have a lot of fun doing it.

Thanks for the first three years and we look forward to the next 23 years together!

What a contest! Thinking Outside the Sox

From the Knitting Universe webpage:

The judging for all of the categories took place on Wednesday and Thursday at STITCHES West 2009. The winners were announced during the Student Banquet on Saturday evening. Before we show you the winners, we’d like to thank the... Skacel, SWTC, Mt. Colors, Regia, Universal Yarn, Unique Kolours, Cherry Tree Hill Yarn, and addi Turbo by Skacel – (not to mention Knitter’s Magazine, KnitU, STITCHES Knitting Expos, and XRX Books) who donated over 21,000 in prizes in 27 categories.

Here are a few quick stats about the contest...The contest received 292 entries from 7 countries (38 states in the USA, Japan, Finland, Canada, Australia, Ireland, & Russia). Another cool thing that we saw was that almost 65% of the entries purchased their yarn from one of the sponsors.

To see the winners of the Sox Contest click here.

Undulating Waves Scarf

"Undulating Waves Scarf," designed by Laura Nelkin for Schaefer Yarn, is a beautiful lace scarf that can be made with one of Schaefer's beautiful hand-dyed sock yarns, Heather or Nichole, or with Susan, a hand-dyed 100% pima cotton. It only takes one skein of yarn to make this lovely lace scarf, and it can be knitted with or without beads.

Check out the Yarn Harlot's blog May 26, 2008 (Random Monday) for her take on this scarf.

TYF will start this knitlong in March on Mondays at 6:00 pm and/or Saturdays from 2:00 - 4:00 pm for anyone wishing to make this beautiful scarf. The "Undulating Waves Scarf" pattern will be provided free of charge with the purchase of your Schaefer yarn.