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The autumn knit, crochet, crafting, and weaving season is in full swing, and there is no better time to celebrate the wonders of wool. Yes, we know that for some October is unofficially 'Socktober,' but it's also Canadian Wool Month. This month the industry group Campaign For Wool - Canada is promoting all aspects of Canada's wool industry, from the farmers who raise the sheep, to the consumers who use wool for creating beautiful things. Their goal is educate Canadians on the wonders of wool, including that it's natural, renewable and totally biodegradable.
Here at Riverside Yarns we're putting the spotlight on wool products in our store that proudly sport the Maple Leaf.
And you can't get more local, or more Canadian, than yarn from Meaford Wool and Woollies in the Country.
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| There's a happy flock of Columbia and Shetland sheep at Spruce Haven Farm, just east of Owen Sound ON. Meaford Wool sends their lovely fleece to a mill in nearby Elora, and the result is fingering, lace, chunky, and Lopi-style yarns that are a delight to work with. If you’re planning on making some thrummed mittens, check out their Columbia Roving. |
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| Fibre artist Bonnie Perry, of Chatsworth ON, has created a unique line of sock yarn using fleece from her farm pets. Woollies in the Country is spun from the fleece of her Romney sheep and Alpacas. Bonnie's palette is inspired by the four seasons, and the name of each of her farm pets is on the label. |
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We've been carrying yarn from Briggs and Little, Canada's oldest woolen mill, since last fall. Briggs and Little has been manufacturing yarn, using Canadian fleece, at Harvey Station in New Brunswick since 1857. We love the rustic feel of their 100% wool yarns, which are ideal for mittens, hats, and sweaters.
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Briggs and Little Durasport
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| Briggs and Little Handpainted Softspun |
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Sweet Paprika Designs was launched in 2007 by two sisters who had a passion for creating beautiful things with yarn. This company is known for providing high-quality materials for knitters and crocheters, with a focus on locally-sourced and sustainable products. Their Winfield Worsted and Sutton lines are spun from fleece sourced from Circle R Farm in Wellington County.
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| We're celebrating Canadian Wool Month with a draw! We've put together a collection of our Canadian-produced yarns, as well as a treat from local dyer Rhichard Devrieze, and topped it with a hand-made needle case from Peter Fabricius. Your name will be entered into a draw for this collection any time you purchase one or more skeins of our featured Canadian wools. The draw will be held at the end of the month, and don't worry, all online and in-person sales qualify. |
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It's time for a Crochet-Along!
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Find Your Zen Blanket by Brenda Grobler
This is the perfect project for those who are new to crochet, as well as those who want to add more stitches to their repertoire.
Don't want to invest the time in making a blanket? It's easy to turn this project into a sampler scarf. Our store sample is made with eight colours of Hayfield Bonus DK, but there's no limit to the colour combinations.
Our free Zoom sessions will be led by Shawna Katz, whose work can be seen on Facebook and Instagram at seak.creates.
We'll be hosting three sessions, with limited participation in-store, on Oct. 25, Nov. 8, and Nov. 22. Further support will be made available through Zoom.
To register, please send an email to: cathy@riversideyarns.ca
The pattern is available for purchase on Ravelry at: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/find-your-zen
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Illimani FELI
We couldn't resist the luxurious feel of this boucle-style yarn that's 70% ultra fine merino and 30% cashmere. FELI is created by wrapping brushed cashmere around fine-grade merino. FELI is an amazingly soft and light worsted-weight yarn that makes a beautifully delicate fabric.
150m/ 50g skein - $27.00
16 to 20 sts = 4"
8 colours
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Estelle Eco Tweed Chunky
Another great yarn for next to the skin garments and accessories! GOTS - certified, the 25% viscose is completely benign and free of any toxic chemicals. This woolen spun yarn is lofty and light, making for a luxuriously soft knit!
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75% Organic Wool, (50% wool, 25% Alpaca) 25% Cellulosic Viscose
117m/ 100g skein - $18.00
Needle Size/Tension: 6mm | 14sts
10 colours
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Estelle Eco Shetland Worsted
You're going to fall for this warm and cozy woolen spun yarn, made from 100% Organic Shetland Wool. We love how it shows off heavily textured stitches, particularly cables. Because this yarn is woolen spun, more air is trapped alongside the fibres, giving it a larger number of metres per skein. Like the Eco Tweed Chunky, this is a lofty and light yarn.
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100% Organic Shetland Wool
275m/ 100g skein - $14.00
Needle Size/Tension: 4.5mm | 20sts
10 colours
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Johanna Brown models her 'Sprig' pullover. The design by Alana Dakos features a small sprig of foliage on the asymmetrical neckband and sleeve cuffs. Johanna modified the pattern a little bit, and is pleased with the results. She knit this in Cascade Anchor Bay, in Denim.
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Anne Thompson, showing us that everyone needs an 'Effortless Cardigan.' This cardigan is knit in one piece from the top down, so no seaming required! This is a free pattern from Lion Brand Yarns, available on Ravelry. Anne knit this up in Knitting Fever's Painted Sky, a 100% Superwash wool.
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If you are in the store this fall, make sure you check out this 'Walk Along' pullover that Pat Wagter is loaning us. It's a clever raglan design by Ankestrick, and Pat knit it in Rhichard Devrieze's Peppino. She used In the Navy for the main colour, and added pops of colour at the cuffs, neckline and hem with more Peppino in Blithely.
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Clover Dukes absolutely loves knitting really complicated socks! The busier the design, the better.
These are her 'Rogue or Storm' socks, designed by Heidi Nick. Clover has knit these with Sweet Paprika Designs' Pizzicato, in the Barn Door colourway.
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Another cable pattern, 'Looking Forward Looking Back,' by Claire Ellen. Clover knit these with Lichen and Lace's Matte Sock in Beach Glass. Both these patterns are available as free Ravelry downloads.
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Top left: Sue Burley's daughter is the perfect model for this 'Alaska Hat', designed by Camille Descoteaux. Sue knit this with Lichen and Lace as the main colour and Sockenwolle Uni for the ribbing and tree motif.
Top right: Suze Laporte had some fun with two 50g balls of Estelle Superwash DK and one 50g ball of Sirdar Snuggly Crofter. She used a free in-store pattern, and knit up five cosy 'Umbilical Hats' in three sizes!
Bottom left: Barbara Smith did a great job with this 'Sunshine Coast' sweater by Heidi Kirrmaier. This is a seamless top-down sweater, and Barbara knit it in Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton.
Bottom right: Anne Thompson is the first customer of ours to work with the new Feli by Illimani. She said she enjoyed the feel of this cashmere/merino blend. We think it's the perfect yarn for the 'Cladach Hat' by Littletheorem -- another great free pattern on Ravelry.
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IT'S BACK!
EVERY THIRD THURSDAY!
COMING TO YOU FROM RSY!
Keep an eye on our social media channels for our
EVERY THIRD THURSDAY promos,
special deals that only happen on the
THIRD THURSDAY of the month!
on Instagram @riversideyarns
on Facebook at Riverside Yarns
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Come ZOOM With Us
Virtual Craft Group on ZoomWe've been meeting virtually since Sept. 21, and we've already shared dozens of project ideas, and viewed some serious works in progress. But that's not all we talk about! Books, movies, weather, family, and travel plans, it's (almost) all on the table.
Our Tuesday Craft Nights are free to join, and begin at 7 PM every Tuesday.
If you'd like to get in on the fun, please send an email to josette@riversideyarns.ca.
Knitting Help on Zoom
Looking for some one-on-one help with your knitting? Josette is more than happy to arrange a Zoom meeting to look at your project and help you sort it out!
Drop her a line at josette@riversideyarns.ca.
Explain as best you can what the problem is, and include photos and pattern notes.
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