At Tempe Yarn & Fiber we are always looking for the un+ewe+usual items that we think you might love. When we saw Sheep Incognito in Atlanta at Stitches, we knew that we had to have them in the shop.
The Sheep Incognito paintings are full of life, fun and are cute while still being a little warped. These 8x10 prints are produced by artist, Conni Togel, and are sure to bring a smile to any sour face.
Party Pooper
Belly Dance
Tower of Baaabel
Baaanzai
Another Dance with Ewe
Little Bundle
Water Down
High Strung
After the Storm
Close Encounter
There are many more prints available. Check them out and we can special order them for you.
From the Artist
Sheep are cuddly and cute - or so we're taught to think...
In fact, they are messengers of insanity and camouflaged comments on social and political happenings. "Sheep Incognito" is my response to the world's changes around us. The casual observer will comment about the whimsy in my work - yes, it's there, but it is really in the deeper interpretation where the true meaning of my work is found. The titles of the paintings are an integral part of my creations - they point the viewer beyond the obvious to the real message of what is visible on the canvas.
Sheep Incognito incorporates cunning allegories packed in woolly wrappings - juxtaposed between reality and fantasy, in a world full of silliness and wry observations. Sharing my artwork was one of my bigger dreams -- and having the opportunity to work as a professional artist has become a reality for me. I’ve been places I never thought I’d be. I’ve seen sunsets I would otherwise have never experienced. And I’ve encountered many, many wonderful people and sheep along the way. Art has enabled me to go beyond my dreams - come along and join the fun!
Over the past four+ years YOU, our customers, have been the best form of advertising. Through your comments and recommendations to others we have continued to grow. Recently we changed our business cards and started a new program to make it easier for you to continue to help spread the word.
On the back of our new business cards we've added a "Refer a Friend." All you have to do is simply hand these out to new potential customers and write your name on the bottom.
When the new person (someone who isn't already in our system) comes in and gives us the card, we drop their referral card into a drawing. Every 25 business cards we receive, we will draw one lucky card and both names on the card (yours and the new person's) will receive a $25 TYF gift card.
Our hope is to continue to expand the Tempe Yarn Community.
Stop by and pick up some of the new business cards and help us grow.
BUT WAIT that isn't the end of this story...drum roll please. The first of hopefully many winners is JEAN MORRISSY who referred ELLEN HARAI to Tempe Yarn & Fiber. Both ladies will receive a $25.00 gift card. Keep handing out those referral business cards to win.
Tempe's forecast today is "mostly cloudy with temperatures rising to 101 to 105 and the humidity is 35%."
So why do we love to hate the weather?
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. High humidity makes people feel hotter outside in the summer because it reduces the effectiveness of sweating to cool the body by reducing the evaporation of perspiration from the skin.
In Arizona we complain when the humidity is above 5%.
RAIN is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail or sleet. In the Phoenix area we rarely get this, but when we do people run to the windows and watch it, it's reported on the news as the number one story, but if it goes for more than a few minutes we complain about it too.
The Heat, do I really have to say more about the heat? It's a dry heat, but so is an oven. But despite the fact that we all complain about the summer heat and wish it were over, we still stay here and brag about our wonderful weather in the winter. How does yarn relate to the weather. Come on I own a yarn store, I know I can do this somehow. Hummmm. No matter what the weather is outside, yarn is still soft and lovely. Not bad, okay not great either. Let's talk about the weather.
Dyak Craft's beautiful fibers are known the world over for their vibrant colors, the blending that results in beautifully spun yarns with a combination of heathers and brights, and the rich sheen of the fiber.
They use commercially available Corriedale wool in our batts, which run approximately 3-4 ounces per batt, and are superb for both wet and needle felting. Each colorway can be presented as a soft, blended stripe or an all over blend.
Dyakcraft beautiful spindles are hand turned in Vermont using the best woods available. The hooks are individually formed and mounted, the whorls are notched for ease of use, and each spindle is fully tested before it leaves their shop.
This yarn is unique in that it's a sock yarn that has been injection dyed by hand in a double ply yarn in order to yield identical pairs of socks!
What that means is you can either knit two socks at the the same time or wind the yarn into two balls and knit the socks one at a time and they will MATCH.
• 75% Virgin Superwash Wool - 25% Nylon
• 459 yards per 100 gram skein
• 2-3 mm (approx. US 0-2) needles
• Approx. 7.5 sts per inch
We expect that this yarn will fly out the door so don't wait to check it out!
Combining a love of yarn with simple knitting has been theKnitscene mission since day one; the Fall 2010 issue marks the fifth anniversary of the magazine. We have come a long way! The size and frequency of the magazine has changed over the years, but the fresh and quirky spirit that drove the very first issue has remained. Cool designs, tutorials, and photography, just like good yarn, can make your knitting lively and engaging. This issue is no different, with explorations of lace and ribbing, a collection of cardis, great Fall outerwear and accessories, and a delightful trio of sweaters by designer Hannah Fettig. Hannah particularly epitomizes theKnitscenemission with her use of color, fiber, and construction, taking simple garments from ho-hum to must-knit. This issue is brimming with accessories and quick knits. There are plenty of simple sweaters, with a few more involved projects thrown in to challenge the intermediate knitter.
Jean Greenhowe Designs are publishers of knitting pattern booklets for dolls and toys. These are great booklets.
First, in her collection is the Knitted Animals.
The Duck Family. The pattern is exactly the same for the adults and children. Double yarn is used for Mom and Pop and one strand for the Little Ones and the Hatching Chick. Isn’t he adorable? The ducks measure 13cm (5in) high, excluding the hats. The ducklings are 9.5cm (3¾in) high. Baby duckling measures 6cm (2⅜in) including the egg shell pieces.
The Frog Family enjoy a day out in the country, although father frog doesn’t seem to be having much luck with his fishing! Knitters will have fun discovering the unique construction of the frogs ‘toes’ and ‘fingers’. The adults measure 21cm (8¼in) in height. The children are 16cm (6¼in) high.
Knitted Animals booklet is full of great animals. Click here for more pictures.
Second, we have the Toy Collection where you'll find the Bunny Family, Dinosaurs and Stoneage People, Little Mena & Monsters, Octopus, Mascot or Toy, Grandpa and Grandma Humpty Dumpty, and Christmas Tree Trims.
Jean has included one of her favourite themes - with a Bunny Family. The set is another storybook picture where Jean made most of the props including the fireplace, armchair, trunk and even the tape measure which of course is accurate! Mummy and Daddy are 18cm (7in) high and Little Bunny 12cm (4¾in) including the ears.
Jean’s prehistoric world of Dinosaurs and Stoneage People is packed full of humour. The little cave people are only 4cm (1½in) high yet every one is an individual with a different facial expression. The slightest variation in the facial stitches can create different expressions of happiness, surprise, worry etc. There’s so much going on in this prehistoric land - dinosaurs and flying reptiles watch as cavemen dig their allotment, invent the wheel and play eggball (ancient football!)
The tiny bears in the Teddy Bears' Picnic are spending a lovely day in the sunshine. They measure just 10cm (4in) when standing and have movable arms and legs so they can stand up or sit down. The picnic cloth is spread with a feast of knitted cakes, sandwiches and lemonade. For more pictures of the Toy Collection click here.
Finally we have "JIFFYKNITS." This is a 28 page pattern booklet with sections on Foods, Easter Delights, Allsorts of Novelties, Haunted Halloween, Jungle Fun and A Merry Christmas - - all in one booklet. In the Fast Food section there are around thirty yummy knits for breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea. You could open a no-calorie cafe! Treat the children to a feast of mix and match knitted food - ideal for play groups and much nicer than the plastic variety.
Children will adore our Halloween favourites. Knit cute Black Cats (10 stitches, 17 rows), or comical Pumpkins (small size, 10 stitches, 37 rows), or tiny Toads (8 stitches, 14 rows). But I promise you will refuse to part with The Invisible Man. My family said I couldn’t do it but here he is ... or isn’t? Who would believe you could knit a dozen or so Halloween makes from simple garter stitch pieces? And can you resist The Mummy's Mummy with her designer handbag and chic hat? She’s a hoot!
There are 28 pages in this pattern booklet for more pictures click here.
Pairing detailed instructions with clear, step-by-step photography, this dynamic guide of spinning techniques and demonstrations explores an array of fiber possibilities—such as wool, glitz, and sari silk—to create unique yarn for fiber art projects. Designed for the advanced beginner to the intermediate spinner, this reference covers a variety of subjects such as spinning fundamentals, techniques for wool and silk, spinning with non-traditional materials, introducing add-ins, and creating plying effects. Additionally, the comprehensive tutorial offers information on easy home dyeing and directions for using a drumcarder to blend colors and fibers.
When it comes time to put the finishing touches on the edges of a fiber project, a crochet border is the perfect solution. Edgings are essential adornments to the most popular knit and crochet pieces blankets, scarves, and afghans. But borders can do so much more; they give handmade goods a delightful finishing touch, serve as focal points, tidy uneven edges, and add handcrafted flair to store-bought apparel. Borders often require turning a corner shaping the edgings around a 90-degree angle without breaking the pattern. This is rarely simple; add too few stitches at a corner and the work rounds inward; too many stitches, and the piece begins to ruffle awkwardly. Unfortunately, most published edging patterns fail to include specific instructions for turning the corner, leaving crafters to fend for themselves. Edie Eckman comes to the rescue in Around-the-Corner Crochet Borders, a collection of 150 colorful crochet frames, each with detailed instructions for working around a corner. Instructions are offered both as text and as charts for working in-the-round; back-and-forth charts are also included for when that method is more appropriate. Photographs of finished borders, each turning a 90-degree corner, allow readers to see the details up close. Borders range from the delicate to the flamboyant and are sure to appeal to a new generation of trend-setting crafters. Offering practical solutions to one of needlecrafts most vexing challenges, Around-the-Corner Crochet Borders is an essential addition to every crocheters reference library. With this book, marvelous crochet borders are just around the corner.
Chock-full of instruction, inspiration, and to-die for designs, from a Fishnet Skullcap to a lacy evening wrap. Benefit by learning this sister craft to knitting, a discussion of tools; all the cool yarns available, and what the different gauges mean; plus basic techniques and stitch patterns - including the chain stitch, picot, flowers, filet crochet, changing yarns and finishing.
This fabulous collection of knit hats, curated and presented by well-known knitter and author Annie Modesitt, is sure to delight and inspire. The book includes both original designs and well-knit examples of hats of all styles; for men, women, and children alike. The top 10 original designs submissions received prizes, and those 10 award-winning hat patterns are included in the book.
It's another hot day in the Valley. So in our quest to help you stay cool we went to Mother Nature to get some suggestions. Combine these suggestions with a visit to Tempe Yarn, where it's always cool, to get through this wonderful Tuesday.
1) Go tropical
Take the lead of those who spend most of their lives in tropical climates: loose, lightweight cotton and linen clothing rules.
Theguayabera, sometimes called the "Mexican wedding shirt," is constructed to cool you naturally. A relative of the traditional Filipinobarong, the guayabera wicks moisture from the skin and is worn untucked to promote air circulation. Madras is another good summertime choice for both men's and women's clothing.
Don't forget the old standard of the American Deep South: seersucker. Originally an Indian import, its crisp cotton and cooling ridges make it a hot weather classic.
2) Cool that pulse point
When you were sick as a child, your mom may have brought you a cold facecloth. This idea works the same way.
Chill your pulse points by running cold water over your wrist for a minute or so each hour. Splashing water on your temples or face can produce a similar effect. And be sure to put some of that tap water into a glass and stay hydrated.
3) Don't eat: Graze
Ever notice how you feel hot after a big meal? It's not just because the food was served warm.
Big, protein-laden meals force your body to stoke its metabolic fires. The solution is to break up your eating into smaller, more frequent meals. You'll feel cooler — and it's better for you, anyway.
4) Eat to sweat
Latin America, India, Thailand — some of the world's hottest places. And they happen to serve some of the world's hottest foods.
Scientists have argued for years over why this is the case, but the most likely reason is that spicy foods make you sweat without actually raising body temperature. Chalk it up to capsaicin, a chemical found in things like hot peppers. Once your skin is damp, you'll feel cooled by its evaporation.
A lot of people find it difficult to sleep in hot weather.
Want to cool the bed down? Fill a standard hot water bottle with ice water. Use it to cool your ankles and the back of your knees — it works. You can also try bagging your sheets and tossing them in the freezer for an hour or two before bed.
Cooling your head cools your entire body. Opt for a cool and absorbent pillow of organic cotton if at all possible. Put aside down and latex pillows until the weather cools down this autumn.
Our first order of the Kromski Fantasia spinning wheels sold out in two days. We've just received another allocation of these wheels in today. If you've wanted to see/spin on one, they are now in stock.
The Fantasia is newest in the Kromski collection. Yes, thoroughly modern in every aspect, but the concept and design are obviously Kromski.
What is not obvious is a new style single drive flyer design. The whorl is “changeable” for different speeds; to change bobbins, the front of the flyer simply pulls off - no drive band to deal with. Very fast bobbin change. The flyer also has sliding hooks. And both the flyer and the wheel spin on sealed ball bearings for a truly smooth feel.
The Fantasia is made of European alder and available in several wood and color combinations. Comes in unfinished wood & MDF wheel or finished in clear wood & veneer with walnut accent on wheel, or walnut wood & veneer with clear accent on wheel.
We are experiencing technical problems with our web hosting service being able to show our class descriptions and event/class schedules. This will be fixed later today. In the mean time please call Tempe Yarn at 480-557-9166 with any questions on classes or events.
Again we are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
I like making a piece of string into something I can wear. ~Author Unknown
A #6 aluminum needle has been known to furnish an excellent emergency shearpin for an outboard motor. ~Elizabeth Zimmerman
It took me years and years of trial efforts to work out that there is absolutely no knitting triumph I can achieve that my husband will think is worth being woken up for. ~Stephanie Pearl-McPhee,At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much
There is no right way to knit; there is no wrong way to knit. So if anybody kindly tells you that what you are doing is "wrong," don't take umbrage; they mean well. Smile submissively, and listen, keeping your disagreement on an entirely mental level. They may be right, in this particular case, and even if not, they may drop off pieces of information which will come in very handy if you file them away carefully in your brain for future reference. ~Elizabeth Zimmerman
Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit, either. ~Elizabeth Zimmerman
Everybody tells me that they would love to knit, but they don't have time. I look at people's lives and I can see opportunity and time for knitting all over the place. The time spent riding the bus each day? That's a pair of socks over a month. Waiting in line? Mittens. Watching TV? Buckets of wasted time that could be an exquisite lace shawl. ~Stephanie Pearl-McPhee,At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much
At Tempe Yarn & Fiber we want to offer you the opportunity to explore as many areas of the fiber arts world as you wish. Starting the Saturday we have a learn to spin class scheduled.
As a spinner, the feelings that you get as the fiber slips through your fingers, the plying and the wonderful end product (yarn) is hard to describe. You start spinning and before you know it 3 hours have passed.
If this sounds like your cup of tea, give us a call (480-557-9166) to sign up.
History of Spinning
No one really knows when the first spun fiber was made. The oldest known fabric is from 6300 BC (Turkey) and already showed great skill.
All fabrics were made from yarns spun from animals and plants until the mid 1800’s and all yarn colors were made with natural dyes from plants and bugs. Textiles and wool were very important commodities throughout history. Great Britain tried very hard to keep sheep out of America so they could force the colonies to buy textile products from abroad. Sheep did make to the colonies but at first they were so scarce that any person who killed or harmed a sheep was executed even if they were the owner!
An industrious housewife was one that spent every spare minute spinning either for her family’s own use or as barter for other items. Being a spinner was a symbol of value and thrift.
Originally, being a spinster meant that you spun yarn. However, in the 1700’s spinster became the legal term for unmarried women past their "prime". This was because the best spinners were always unmarried. Developing the skill necessary to make the finest yarns required more time than any married women with children could afford. Therefore being a spinster of the highest skill also meant you were unmarried!!
In the 1600’s up to the 1800’s young girls made up the spinning labor force (6 to 9 years old) and worked extremely long hours for low wages. But in the 1800’s spinning became mechanized and textiles were soon a major player in the industrial revolution. However, even with these dramatic changes in the industry, spinning wheels were still common in households up in to the early 1900’s.
Today in the United States there has been a renewed interest in handspinning and demonstrations are found at many festivals and fairs. There are festivals and conferences that are specifically designed for handspinners held all over the country.
Who would have ever believed that something as simple and beautiful as yarn could bind together a group of strangers and allow a community to grow?
Since TYF opened in 2006 our community has grown and changed time and time again. Many good people have visited our shop, with some electing to become part of our community, while others have moved to different venues. We've watched people find their hidden talents. We've had community members die and heard stories of hundreds of new births. We've joked and told wild tales and shared fantasies. We've laughed and we've cried. We've seen good friends and relatives move to distant places. We've found comfort in each other’s wisdom and experience and shared our fears and weaknesses.
Our community is a welcoming place, with few rules. It exists because each of us invests a piece of ourselves into its health and well being and truly want it to be here. Through your continued support we plan on being here for years to come.
On this long holiday weekend, I'm happy that I'm part of this community and hope that each of you continue to be part of our community and help share this with others.
Rumor has it that normal people are off on Monday July 5th. Well since we are un+ewe+sual folks at TYF, we'll be open our normal hours. Stop by and recover from your 4th of July celebrating.
The Fourth of July is a special time to celebrate the freedoms we have, hard fought and won at a great cost. We should enjoy this day, and every day we have to live free, for to do less would be to waste the high price paid so that we might.
Ravelry annually holds a Tour de Fleece event where participants spin along during the Tour de France. The concept is simple; participants spin on bikes, we spin on spinning wheels. It's a real spinning themed spin along.
Spin every day the Tour rides, if possible. Saturday July 3rd through Sunday July 25th. Days of rest: Monday July 12th, Wednesday July 21st. (Just like the actual tour) Our team is"Fred's Fiber Fiends From Tempe Yarn & Fiber" or F3 (cubed).
Come in on Saturday July 3rd and join the fun that Candy has planned.
