From Lantern Moon: the ever popular Molly bags are here in black and turquoise (red is still backordered), with the Iris bags (perfect for small projects), and two colors of the handmade Handuk knitting bag and clutch: red and turquoise.

Join our exclusive sock club

Be a member of the first annual Hank of Yarn Sock Club:

Limited membership; available quarterly, April 29, July 29, October 28 and January 27
Unique one-of-a-kind packaging
Contents:
Exclusive sock weight yarn not available to other HOY customers
Two original patterns; one for socks, one for another garment
Unusual treats included
Dues: $40 per quarter individually, or $140 for all four installments
(Hint for April–think Spring)
Join now! Space is limited…

Knitting Tips (from 101 Top Knitting Tips, knitsimple, 2009)

12. For projects that will expand at the bottom (e.g. lace), choose a cast-on with a little more stretch, such as a knitted or purled cast-on. Designer Shirley Paden prefers this method: “Purl across the foundation row. You will notice loops that look like interlocking O’s. When you begin working the lace pattern after working the foundation row, those little circles will expand enough to prevent restricting the bottom of most expansive patterns.”
13. Slip the first stitch on every row rather than knitting it. The edge of the work will be neat and even–a bonus for cardigan fronts and vest armholes that have no other special finishing.
14. When swatching, add an extra stitch at each end of the pattern stitch. For example, knit the first stitch at the beginning of the row, and then work the pattern stitch. At the last stitch, pull the yarn to the front of the work (as if to purl), then slip the last stitch. The result will be a nice chained edge at each side of the work.
15. Does your knitting ladder when you’re working in the round on double-pointed needles? Follow Jil Eaton’s advice and pull both the first and second stitches firmly as you begin knitting on each needle.

New in the shop

Denise interchangeable crochet hooks–perfect for Tunisian crochet and afghans!
New Knitscene special edition magazine
Debbie Bliss Rialto yarn…baby merino in lovely colors

CLASSES

Introduction to beaded knitting: beaded sachet Tuesday, April 13 6-8 pm
Fixing mistakes on Friday, April 16 1-3 pm
Beginning crochet Friday, April 16 2-4 pm
Beginning knitting Saturdays, April 10 and 17 10-12 noon
Reading crochet patterns Friday, April 23 4-6 pm

Quote of the Week

“…simple things can be very beautiful.” Kay Gardiner, co-author of Mason-Dixon Knitting.
And who hasn’t looked at this book, or Debbie Bliss patterns, and found this statement to be true?

This Thursday, April 1, Courtney will be here from 6-8 to remove unwanted hairs and straighten nails…$10 each is a bargain!

Spring yarns

Corn yarns and bamboo yarns in Spring colors…great for that shell or short sleeved sweater just right for Spring/Summer wear.

Don’t forget–we have stocked up in colorful cotton yarns in all weights for Summer knitting.

Quote of the week

“Knitting occupies the hands and frees the mind.” Elsebeth Lavold

Yarn of the Month: Bebe Cotsoy

April’s Yarn of the Month is Queensland’s Bebe Cotsoy…a serendipidous combination of 50% cotton and 50% soy…at 20 sts and 26 rows to 4 inches on size 7. Bright spring colors: get your pick before everyone else! All Bebe Cotsoy is 30% off during the month of April.

EASTER SALE
This Thursday, Friday and Saturday come in for the Easter sale: Choose an Easter egg, open it, DON’T eat the candy until you know which discount you have–then you can eat the candy! 20 – 50% discounts.

New patterns
New Spring patterns, lace, socks, etc. from KnitSpot designed by Anne Hanson. Also shawl patterns for Mountain Colors Winter Lace, Jr.

Classes for April
Socks: April 2 and 9, 1-3 PM
Fair Isle: April10 and 17, 1-3 PM
Beginning Knitting: April 3 and 10, 10-12 AM
Beaded Sachet: April 6, 6-8 PM
Beginning Crochet: April 3, 2-4 PM

Sally’s books are available here at HOY: The Knit Stitch, The Purl Stitch, Color, Sally Melville Styles and Mother Daughter Knits (with her daughter). Several of us have had classes with Sally either at Stitches or TNNA market, and can tell you that she is an excellent teacher: very natural and approachable.

Reminders
• There are only about 8 days left to take advantage of our March Yarn of the Month, Bamboucle, a bamboo/cotton/linen/nylon blend at buy 2 get 1 free. There are several samples to view, and enough colors and balls to make almost any summer garment.
• GRAB BAGS: There are 9 grab bags left…everyone likes surprises! They may not be heavy, but you know good things come in small packages.
• KNIT ALONG: There is still time to join the knit along scarf project. Sign up, buy the Classic Elite yarn, make the scarf before April 15, and you will be entered in a drawing for a $200 gift basket.
• The monthly Memphis Knitting Guild meets tonight at White Station Library at 6:30 PM. There will be cars leaving Hank of Yarn at 6 PM if you’d like to go with us.

‘Dress Your Feet Sock’ Club

Beginning in May, Hank of Yarn will offer a sock club! We are still working out the ‘kinks’ but I can say that the sock yarn will be unique and not offered in the shop…only in the club, the patterns will also be exclusive, and there will be other surprises included. Watch our emails for more information!

Summer Kid’s Camp

It isn’t too early to be thinking about enrolling your child(ren) in our summer kid’s camp. Arrangements are not final, but we enjoy offering this to those youngsters who are interested in fiber arts. Last year, the kids dyed yarn, wound yarn, made their own knitting needles, learned to knit, learned to weave, and got a spinning demonstration. The minimum age is around 10, according to the child.

We are celebrating on the day after this year:

* check out the ‘sale trunk’…everything is now 50% off! Last decrease on the trunk yarn prices.
* all green yarn 30% off Thursday, March 18th only.

* plus another Thursday surprise…you have to come in to find out!
Classes

There is still time to sign up for classes in March…April class calendar to be out soon.

* Entrelac, Saturday, March 20 from 1-3 pm. Learn the Boku or Noro color changing scarf and the fascinating method of making squares on two needles!
* Beginning Crochet: March 27, 1-3 PM. If you are a knitter and need to know how to do basic crochet to complement your knitting, this is the class for you.

New to Hank of Yarn

* New colors of Cascade 220
* New colors of Vintage Wool
* The Knitter Spring edition
* Creative Knitting Spring
* Northern Knits by Lucinda Guy: great patterns from Iceland and Scandinavia
Remember the KAL

Jessica and Rita have completed their scarves, and they are gorgeous! There is still time to sign up, pick your yarn, and complete your scarf by the April 15 deadline. The names will be entered in a drawing for a basket of goodies worth $200!

QUOTE from Elizabeth Zimmermann

“Soft wool from the simple silly sheep can be as fine as a cobweb, tough and strong as string, or light and soft as down. There are scientific reasons why wool is the best material for knitting, and into these I will not go…Woolen socks never become cold and clammy, however wet. A woolen sweater is so water-resistant that when dropped overboard it floats long enough to give you ample time to rescue it. The surface on caps and mittens made of wool repels all but the most persistent of downpours….For people allergic to wool, one’s heart can only bleed.”

Most of our customers are aware that Sally Melville is coming to Memphis in October, but some of you may not, and some of you may not even know of her. (Come into the shop and we can introduce her to you through her books.) We have arranged for Sally to come and lead workshops Saturday and Sunday, October 9 and 10, 2010. More information later, but mark your calendar now if you wish to attend, and look Sally up on the web. You’ll be impressed.

Allegoro is a combination of 70% organic cotton and 30% linen in a DK weight in soft Spring colors. *See the Knit-Along below.

Vogue Knitting: The Spring/Summer 2010 issue is here and full of great projects, including lots of lace (not all made with lace weight yarn)! Honestly, this is a great issue.

Comfort Knitting and Crochet Afghans is a big book full of quite unique afghan patterns and all using Comfort yarn (but you can substitute another worsted weight yarn if you wish). Make a beautiful afghan now before it gets hot and you’ll have it to use or give as a gift this fall/winter!

CLASSES!
Crochet Project Bag: Last chance for the crocheted bag…all you need to know is single crochet, and you will create a project bag in the round using two colors in alternating rows. The class will be Wednesday, March 10 and 17, 4-6 pm and yarn is included in the registration.

SCRIBBLE LACE: A fun way to mix bulky yarn with lace yarn and make lace. Laura will teach this inspiring technique for creating lace without yarnovers or decreases! Wednesday, March 17 from 6-8 pm.

Beginning Knitting: There are still openings in this class Wednesday, March 10 and 17, 6-8 pm.

Tunisian Crochet: Saturday, March 13, 2-4 pm you can learn to crochet with these cords with hooks on each end and make a reversible scarf.

Socks, Socks, Socks: Friday, March 12 and 19 at 1-3 pm. Another chance to learn this challenging and fun knitting project.

The Knit-Along you’ve been waiting for!
This project is the Fringed Scarf from CEY’s Spring 2010 Picnic collection. We’ll use the newly arrived Classic Elite Allegoro, a 70% organic cotton/30% linen blend just right for Spring. We will begin Thursday, March 11 and end the Knit-Along on Thursday, April 15. We’ll take pictures to post on Ravelry and to send to Classic Elite.
PRIZES! If you complete the project by the end date, your name will be entered to win a gift basket from Classic Elite worth at least $200!
Stop in to sign up, get the pattern and pick out your yarn!

Ironstone Yarns have been added to our list of companies with three exciting new yarns and pattern support:

SUN: Three yarns together, a ribbon, a sparkly and a thin nubby cotton. Make a beautiful Spring shrug with two skeins, or it will be lovely as a scarf or shawl for Spring! See the sample garment!

SKY: (see a pattern here?) Two thin yarns 70% cotton/30% rayon…check out the sweater sample.

SOLO: Sport or DK weight 100% cotton in vibrant Spring/Summer shades. We have a lovely short sleeved cardigan sample to whet your summer sweater appetite!

There are also four pattern booklets with great items to make from these yarns.

WORK IN PROGRESS WORKBOOK…wait, there’s nothing in it…well, in the back there are empty graphs…

But if you think about it…these workbooks are great for sketches and chart patterns that you want to make in the future, or notes about items you have recently made, or cut out pictures of things you would like to make. You will think of loads of things you do with this workbook.

We have restocked several of our ‘old standby’ books…so if we didn’t have it when you were in…perhaps we have it now.

Spinning in Southaven

Hank of Yarn will be open March 19, 6-9pm for spinners. Bring your wheel or drop spindles and spin with us. If you have always been interested in spinning but haven’t acted on your interest, come watch and/or try it out! We will provide light refreshments.

Knitting

How smooth the feel
of wooden knitting needles
Moving in my fingers
flicking the woolen yarn
Down and over
in the primal rhythms of a motion
As easy as singing.
Quiet, I grow comfortable
So to be joined
by threads to my forebears, women
Knitting in the sun
at windows of cottages and shacks,
Nearly idle.
Thoughts briefly rising and falling
Graze the pattern
emerging as I stitch
and may change it.
Though I keep to the overall shapes
that hands have known
Of themselves for centuries so well
I seldom look down.
My mind, become peaceable, can listen
to the silence of the ages
Till I find in the blunted click of the wooden needles

The music of the poetry I live by.
Phyllis Hoge Thompson

CLASSES _______________________________

Baby Surprise
Learn to knit the “Surprise Jacket”–aptly named because it looks like nothing on earth when you have finished knitting it…but it does turn into a cute jacket! Your instructor is Christy, and she will cover a brief biography of Elizabeth Zimmermann, the amazing designer and who, according to the New York Times, ‘revolutionized the art of knitting.” The final class will also cover options and minor pattern changes such as lengthening the sleeves, adding a hood, or a collar, etc. The pattern covers the jacket from infant to adult.

Scribble Lace
A fun way to mix bulky yarn with lace yarn! Laura will teach the inspiring technique of scribble lace, a way of creating lace without yarnovers or decreases.

Fair Isle
Our popular Fair Isle class is scheduled again for Saturday, March 6 from 1-3. These hats are turning out just beautifully using the Jojoland yarns. Sign up soon before the class fills.

Felted Slippers
Quick easy instructions to make slippers for any member of the family or all of them!

Mittens
Start knitting for fingers by doing mittens (one finger per mitten) and then you will be prepared to do a glove!

Check out our website for more details! www.hankofyarn.com