Knitters Factory Shop Newsletter

Welcome! This is our first newsletter with information about what’s happening at the shop & resources that may help refine your craft.
The KFS has been an institution for years, but it still amazes me the number of “crafty” people that still don’t know about us or where we are, however with the miracle of the internet, we now sell yarn on Trade Me & Etsy.com under the name “yarn4miles” so some of our best customers have never actually graced our doors. This coming year will be our 25th year in business & we thought it has time for a tart up, so make sure you keep in touch to see what we have been up to.
We will be taking a break over Christmas closing from noon Tuesday December 23rd & reopening Monday January 12th, so make sure you stock up the stash to keep your fingers busy over the festive break.
If you have a knitting question or problem, you are more than welcome to pop in see me on a Wednesday morning, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to resolve it, but I might be able to point you in the right direction. If anything takes your fancy you can contact me directly via email reception@designspun.co.nz
Finally at the KFS we would like to wish you a very happy & safe festive season & Mary, Suzanne & myself look forward to seeing or emailing you soon.
Cheers Maree

Sea of Colour
One of the hottest trends in the US right now is hand painted yarn, armed with this knowledge, look what happens when you let Peter loose in Essam’s dyehouse with pots of dye & some delicious Merino yarn. There are 4 different colour stories & the samples so far have knitted up beautifully. I have played & knitted it in the round & you get sone lovely striping (great for socks) & on straights is an explosion of random colour. If you are after some totally unique yarn, not available anywhere else, this is perfect – ideal for children’s’ garments

Hand Painted Merino 50gm skeins $7 each

Forever Green Elan - Organic Merino
This new range has been a labour of love over the past 18 months. It uses the very best organic merino yarn, officially Biogro certified, then loving spun by us & hand dyed in small batches using 100% natural dyes. It comes in seven soft ‘gelato’ colours & a small range of patterns designed specifically for infants. However I have seen an adult garment in this & it is stunning. Come in store & have a look for yourself & plan an heirloom project or something special for someone you love. To see the full range, check out our store on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/ use 'elan' in the search) feel free to purchase from here if you are from the northern hemishere, for those downunder, contact me direct at reception@designspun.co.nz

$12.95 per 50gm ball 167 metres per ball. Can be knitted as either a 4ply or 8ply

Massive Mohair Specials
We are clearing some discontinued colours prior the release of our new range

These shades now $3 per 50gm ball

Chunky Clearance
14ply Varigated 100% Wool 50m per 50gm ball
$2.50 per ball
Four colours available

Happy Knitting Holidays

The art of giving this Christmas

I enjoy Christmas gift giving. I enjoy the process of thinking about what the recipient would really like & take time in gift selection & creation. I know it would be much easier to shop at a 'mega store' but where's the fun in that?? I am not a religious person, I acknowledge the historical significance of Christmas, for me Christmas is the time that family & friends take time out to spend time together. All helped of course by the fact that Christmas falls in the middle of New Zealand Summer holidays, so in these parts it's a barbeque & plenty of bubbles.

If I had my perfect lead time to Christmas I would have plenty of time to make all my gifts, however the reality of two small boy's & working part time has meant I have only managed to make one gift this year. It's for Naomi, the 3 months baby girl of friends of ours. They are recent immigrants to NZ from the UK & they have totally taken to the whole Christmas in Summer thing. This is Naomi's first Christmas & I am a sucker for knitting for little girls. It has been so nice to design something & being able to add delicate feminine touches, I had to brush up on the skill set, I did a pretty fair isle border & scalloped crochet trim, I haven't done fair isle in years, but was please to learn it's a bit like riding a bike, a skill you never forget.

Since I haven't been able to do as much of my own gift creation this year hasn't meant I have avoided hand made treasures. My friend Rebecca is a mad scrap booker & makes the most stunning gift cards & I have bought dozens of hand made chocolate truffles for our local parents centre fundraiser - finished in an organza bag, these make lovely gifts. I think next year I might start knitting early so I have less time pressure.....(wishful thinking?!)

PS Phil's fusty cardy got some good work done on it a few weeks ago whilst we were in Taupo, since then Louis has decided to play 'drums' with the needles of the 'Fusty' project losing one & tearing the project off the other (let's just say it was a bad day ending with me having to phone the insurance company, again, to claim for Louis damage) So I am having some time out from 'Fusty' until the new year.

PPS Louis Hemp pants washed up beautifully & look great, if I can keep them on him long enough. His highness has decided he doesn't like them so refuses to wear them, thank goodness I have 2 sons!

Last but on least: Currently on the 'sticks' is a jumper for Hugo for this coming winter. I am knitting up some Koigu KPPPM hand painted sock yarn. I have learned my lesson & know know why they suggest knitting off 2 balls at a time, it does make for better patterning. It's great to knit other garments with, it produces a warn lighter weight fabric that's incredibly hard wearing, I'll blog it when it's done.