This afternoon, Gayle Garland off Willis, Texas won the drawing for the Lantern Moon knitting basket filled with yarn, needles and other good stuff! Congratulations to you Gayle! We look forward to seeing you next week!
Owning and working in a yarn shop with a bit of my life with Joe and the kids mixed in
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Posted with Blogsy
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Awake and the Wallaby
It is 1:30 AM and I am wide awake. Bella woke me up (see small Boston Terrier). So now, Bella and I are on the sofa together. She has gone back to sleep and I am wide awake! I have found a small glass of wine helps me sleep, so I am sipping a bit of Jam Jar hoping to get the "sleepies" soon.
In the meantime, I am working on the Wonderful Wallaby worksheet for the KAL/Class that I will be doing in September. I am knitting a small size in Cascade's Ultra Pima for shop display and to check gauge. Any worsted weight yarn will work fine for the pattern.
I had knit the Wallaby up to the underarms and was using a needle that was too large for the yarn, so it got frogged yesterday. (you are probably wondering how I knew the needle was too large - the stitches were not "firm" making the knitted fabric look sloppy) I have started again with one size smaller needle. Since Ultra Pima is a dk weight yarn, you will have to knit the next larger size for it to fit properly. I am making sure the sizing will work out.
The next time you are on Ravelry, check out the Wonderful Wallaby. It is a favorite of knitters and they have knit it out of every yarn imaginable. You will get great ideas about what yarns to use AND what yarns NOT to use.
Goodnight
In the meantime, I am working on the Wonderful Wallaby worksheet for the KAL/Class that I will be doing in September. I am knitting a small size in Cascade's Ultra Pima for shop display and to check gauge. Any worsted weight yarn will work fine for the pattern.
I had knit the Wallaby up to the underarms and was using a needle that was too large for the yarn, so it got frogged yesterday. (you are probably wondering how I knew the needle was too large - the stitches were not "firm" making the knitted fabric look sloppy) I have started again with one size smaller needle. Since Ultra Pima is a dk weight yarn, you will have to knit the next larger size for it to fit properly. I am making sure the sizing will work out.
The next time you are on Ravelry, check out the Wonderful Wallaby. It is a favorite of knitters and they have knit it out of every yarn imaginable. You will get great ideas about what yarns to use AND what yarns NOT to use.
Goodnight
Sunday, August 12, 2012
IPurl's Shop Philosophy
We are getting many requests from knitters to stock a certain yarn. I will probably ask you how often you knit with that particular yarn and what you knit with it; then make note of your request. A yarn shop must have a plan in place while working to stock what the majority of customers are asking for.
Quality Over Quantity - It is our belief that a yarn shop must stock the basics - a good 100% wool for knitting and felting - worsted, DK and chunky weights, a great cotton and cotton blend selections for our climate, a varied selection of the best sock yarns/sock weights, lace weights in various fibers, alpaca, cashmere, the requisite baby yarns and the current "popular" trends that come and go. Along the way, high- end specialty yarns will be added such as expensive beaded yarns with minimum yardage. Sales of all stocked yarns are being closely monitored to see what is selling and what is not. The yarns that are not selling will not be restocked but replaced with something else. This process doesn't happen overnight, it takes time.
Knitting needle selection - we stock Crystal Palace Yarn bamboo circular needles (a personal favorite). They are the only circular (that I am aware of) with a cord that rotates on the needle. Addi Turbo is the metal needle of choice for most knitters and we stock those in the Lace version. Kollage Square needles are super needles with great points. Their 5" dps are perfect for socks and handwarmers/mittens so we are stocking those. I believe the small (8" to 12") circular is invaluable for many knitting projects so we have a selection of those also. Most knitters are using circulars now. With that in mind, no single point knitting needles will be stocked.
I love knitting bags! There will always be a selection of small project bags, baskets and larger knitting bags of excellent quality.
We aren't going to stock knitting books. I am sure you have noticed, the printed book industry is in the midst of a major change. I have watched knitting friends go into a yarn shop, look through a particular knitting book to see if they like it and go home to order it from Amazon and/or Kindle for less than half the price yarn shops sell them for! I first noticed it with the Kindle and the industry has continued to race toward the ebook. I feel compelled to buy the books I want to have in print now before they are no longer available! I get VOGUEknitting by subscription on my iPad along with a couple of crochet magazines. Patterns are easily purchased and instantly downloaded from the Internet. Ravelry is a must for every knitter and crocheter for this reason. You can buy knitting books via Kindle - download them onto your iPad which can easily be put in your knitting bag! As you can see, it is not profitable for a yarn shop to stock knitting books. I think knitting and crochet magazines are not far behind. IPurl has fast wifi so everyone can access the Internet for all their books and pattern needs. We do have patterns for specific yarns that cannot be purchased on the Internet.
There are no plans to ever have weaving or spinning products or equipment. I don't have an interest in it and don't have the space to stock those items.
In time, we hope to have a great yarn shop, stocking the yarns and equipment our customers want.
Our website is currently undergoing a hosting change. This means we are creating a new website adding all the products we currently have in the brick and mortar shop. The new website is attached to our shop software for processing sales and maintaining inventory. When the new website has enough products, we will shut down the old one. We are still processing orders from the old website (just shipped NORO to The Netherlands) but not adding new merchandise. We hope to make a smooth transition very soon.
Classes - Several of us have our heads together working on a class schedule for September. We are hoping to email it out in a week or so. We are planning several project classes and KALs.
As you can see, there is a lot going on with iPurl. When I have time to knit, it is for a shop display or something for an upcoming KAL or class. Currently, I am working on a small Wallaby. The Wonderful Wallaby will be the subject of an upcoming post.
Quality Over Quantity - It is our belief that a yarn shop must stock the basics - a good 100% wool for knitting and felting - worsted, DK and chunky weights, a great cotton and cotton blend selections for our climate, a varied selection of the best sock yarns/sock weights, lace weights in various fibers, alpaca, cashmere, the requisite baby yarns and the current "popular" trends that come and go. Along the way, high- end specialty yarns will be added such as expensive beaded yarns with minimum yardage. Sales of all stocked yarns are being closely monitored to see what is selling and what is not. The yarns that are not selling will not be restocked but replaced with something else. This process doesn't happen overnight, it takes time.
Knitting needle selection - we stock Crystal Palace Yarn bamboo circular needles (a personal favorite). They are the only circular (that I am aware of) with a cord that rotates on the needle. Addi Turbo is the metal needle of choice for most knitters and we stock those in the Lace version. Kollage Square needles are super needles with great points. Their 5" dps are perfect for socks and handwarmers/mittens so we are stocking those. I believe the small (8" to 12") circular is invaluable for many knitting projects so we have a selection of those also. Most knitters are using circulars now. With that in mind, no single point knitting needles will be stocked.
I love knitting bags! There will always be a selection of small project bags, baskets and larger knitting bags of excellent quality.
We aren't going to stock knitting books. I am sure you have noticed, the printed book industry is in the midst of a major change. I have watched knitting friends go into a yarn shop, look through a particular knitting book to see if they like it and go home to order it from Amazon and/or Kindle for less than half the price yarn shops sell them for! I first noticed it with the Kindle and the industry has continued to race toward the ebook. I feel compelled to buy the books I want to have in print now before they are no longer available! I get VOGUEknitting by subscription on my iPad along with a couple of crochet magazines. Patterns are easily purchased and instantly downloaded from the Internet. Ravelry is a must for every knitter and crocheter for this reason. You can buy knitting books via Kindle - download them onto your iPad which can easily be put in your knitting bag! As you can see, it is not profitable for a yarn shop to stock knitting books. I think knitting and crochet magazines are not far behind. IPurl has fast wifi so everyone can access the Internet for all their books and pattern needs. We do have patterns for specific yarns that cannot be purchased on the Internet.
There are no plans to ever have weaving or spinning products or equipment. I don't have an interest in it and don't have the space to stock those items.
In time, we hope to have a great yarn shop, stocking the yarns and equipment our customers want.
Our website is currently undergoing a hosting change. This means we are creating a new website adding all the products we currently have in the brick and mortar shop. The new website is attached to our shop software for processing sales and maintaining inventory. When the new website has enough products, we will shut down the old one. We are still processing orders from the old website (just shipped NORO to The Netherlands) but not adding new merchandise. We hope to make a smooth transition very soon.
Classes - Several of us have our heads together working on a class schedule for September. We are hoping to email it out in a week or so. We are planning several project classes and KALs.
As you can see, there is a lot going on with iPurl. When I have time to knit, it is for a shop display or something for an upcoming KAL or class. Currently, I am working on a small Wallaby. The Wonderful Wallaby will be the subject of an upcoming post.
Monday, August 6, 2012
A Quiet Day Away from iPurl
I am enjoying a nice, quiet day off on this beautiful Monday morning. Yes, I am still puttering around in my PJs, enjoying an iced coffee. The deer have been in the back yard showing off a new addition to their family. What a beautiful little thing! God made so much beauty for us to enjoy every day. Sometimes i have to remind myself to get quiet enough to see it.
I have done a couple of iPurl things this morning. iPurl has such energy already that she can't be totally ignored on my day off! It seems we are experiencing growing pains already.
People are always asking me what I am knitting. It is nice that they are interested. For the most part, I have been knitting shop displays that reflect yarns and patterns that are in the shop. At this moment, I am finishing up some baby bibs to update pictures for my pattern, The Perfect Baby Bib, on Ravelry. It will also be available in the shop (back by the Ultra Pima cotton) and it is a free pattern. Taking advantage of the timing, I have knit a few extra for a friend that has a new baby boy!
I am also trying to finish up the teapot cozy for the NORO display! When that is completed, I am starting a small Wonderful Wallaby in Cascade's Ultra Pima for display and a refresher for me for the upcoming Wonderful Wallaby KAL. The display will be a beautiful red (Christmas is around the corner) with a stripe of turquoise in the ribbing. The Wallaby I will be knitting for the KAL will be for Alexis since I haven't knit anything for her in quite awhile.
Joe finished his Chevron scarf in Iro. It is truly something to behold! I thought it was in NORO's accessories book but it is is not - YIKES - I need to order the book it is in! I blocked it for himBefore taking it to the shop. I forgot to take pictures of it before I left the shop Saturday. I will take pictures tomorrow and post them. A shopper bought two hanks of Huasco in colors that are in Joe's scarf because she thought they were so beautiful together. Inspiration comes from many different directions!
I am adding a cute garter stitch version to the pattern.
I have done a couple of iPurl things this morning. iPurl has such energy already that she can't be totally ignored on my day off! It seems we are experiencing growing pains already.
People are always asking me what I am knitting. It is nice that they are interested. For the most part, I have been knitting shop displays that reflect yarns and patterns that are in the shop. At this moment, I am finishing up some baby bibs to update pictures for my pattern, The Perfect Baby Bib, on Ravelry. It will also be available in the shop (back by the Ultra Pima cotton) and it is a free pattern. Taking advantage of the timing, I have knit a few extra for a friend that has a new baby boy!
I am also trying to finish up the teapot cozy for the NORO display! When that is completed, I am starting a small Wonderful Wallaby in Cascade's Ultra Pima for display and a refresher for me for the upcoming Wonderful Wallaby KAL. The display will be a beautiful red (Christmas is around the corner) with a stripe of turquoise in the ribbing. The Wallaby I will be knitting for the KAL will be for Alexis since I haven't knit anything for her in quite awhile.
Joe finished his Chevron scarf in Iro. It is truly something to behold! I thought it was in NORO's accessories book but it is is not - YIKES - I need to order the book it is in! I blocked it for himBefore taking it to the shop. I forgot to take pictures of it before I left the shop Saturday. I will take pictures tomorrow and post them. A shopper bought two hanks of Huasco in colors that are in Joe's scarf because she thought they were so beautiful together. Inspiration comes from many different directions!
A quick snap of a trio of bibs
I am adding a cute garter stitch version to the pattern.
Crocheted Motif Shawl from VOGUEknitting Crochet Magazine
I had asked Cindy if she would crochet the shawl on the cover of VOGUEknitting's Crochet magazine for the shop. Always gracious, she agreed to take on a special project. Cindy, an experienced crocheter and knitter, did a fabulous job! She brought it to the shop this afternoon and I couldn't wait to put it up for everyone to see. Lacy and delicate; it is truly gorgeous!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)