New products from REGIA

With all the new books and yarns (click to get the lists of the new products) in September, I nearly forgot to announce two handy dandy products from Regia.

Regia ABS Latex - You can now create your own non-slip socks with this Latex product which comes in three colours, red, blue and black and is without Ammoniak.

Anyone who has tried wearing socks or slippers on hardwood flooring knows the importance of a good grip. Now you can add it to the bottom of any sock or slipper. The latex boes on like glue (it comes with a handy template collection), then quickly dries, creating a rubber-like surface with excellent grip. The 100ml bottle will do several pairs and retails for $13.25.

Regia 4-ply Color Sock Yarn "Flusi the Sock Monster"

This fun sock yarn comes with a little kids booklet by Bine Braendle, which also includes basic sock knitting instructions and a size table for children's socks.

The Regia "Flusi" sock yarn has shorter repeats especially for children's socks. Come see our samples. The 50g ball (210m) retails for $8.45; the yarn is made from 75% wool and 25% Polyamide and is machine washable. Here is the funniest shade card!

Sassy Skein Designs and more ...

Wow, what a time gap since my last posting. Talk about a busy summer!

New products from Sassy Skein came in. An innovative new line of children's knitwear, featuring bright colors and beautiful yarns. We are pleased to now have in stock several of the Sassy Skein pattern kits, which include the pattern, complete with educational "tips and techniques" plus necessary notions, such as buttons, decals and ribbon (no yarn). Most of the designs can be knit with one of our favourite cottons, "Super 10 Butterfly". We keep a wide range of colors in stock, so you can start on your new project right away for your favourite little one. The pattern kits retail for $9.95.

Also from Sassy Skein - Buttons! Many of our customers asked in the past if we carry buttons, but up until now it's been difficult to find lines that we were really excited about! The button line from Sassy Skein is truly one of a kind, featuring bright, fun designs that will dress up your knits for the young at heart. Buttons are individually priced. The perfect finishing touch!

We also received a shipment from Nancy's Knit Knacks, including more of the popular Double-Point Work-in-Progress Tubes (DP WiP Tubes), which allow you to store your partially done socks and needles in a handy protective tube. No more losing your stitches when you put work away! We first stocked these tubes last fall, but quickly sold out. The set includes two WiP tubes plus a bonus tube to store your double point needles, and retails for $8.95.

Lantern Moon is shining

We are proud to now carry products from Lantern Moon, a company specialising in beautiful and functional handcrafted products. They support "socially and globally conscious living".

New from Lantern Moon:

Sox Stix - a beautiful handcrafed set of 6 double pointed sock needles, made from rosewood and packaged in a silk plaid organza bag. We have them in 2.0 and 2.75 mm sizes and 5" length and they retail for $23.95 per set. Other sizes and 6" length available on request.

Buttons - hand crafted shell buttons make a perfect closure for a shawl or cardigan. We got them in a variety of styles and sizes, ranging from 1.5 to 2,5" in diameter. Price by size. The buttons are either $3.5 or $5.95 ea - they are a work of art!

Purse Handles - we received handles in two styles: oblong wood (either natural or ebony) or straight rosewood. The oblong sets retail for $9.95/pair and the straight handles are $21.95/pair. A great way to finish a felted or quilted bag!

Needle Cases - these beautiful quilted cases are hand crafted from 100% silk and come in 2 styles. The circular cases hold 18 or more circular needles, while the combination cases hold both straight, double pointed and circular sets or crochet hooks. Both styles retail for $45.95 and make a great gift for the knitter in your life.

We wind your skeins for you!

A Swift and Ball Winder is now available for our valued customers. We are happy to wind skeins into centre pull balls for you - or you do it yourself!

New in Store, from Nancy's Knitknacks

We got this at the beginning of Summer 2008 and our customers just love these knitting helpers:

Color Wheel and Color Palettes Book: Take the guesswork out of choosing colour combinations with this handy tool developed by Nancy Shroyer. Use the wheel and accompanying book to find colour combinations for your knitting and other fiber arts projevts. Retails for $18 only.

Double Point WiP Tubes - Keeps your works in progress (WiP) protected with these ingenious telescopic protector tubes. Socks stay secure and on your needles every time! A set of two tubes retails for $9.00

Double Point Needle Tube - Protect and store your double point needles with these telescopic tubes. Each tupe can hold five needles up to 10 inches in length. A set of four tubes retails for $6.50

Project Kards - Keep track of your projects with these handy information cards. Each card includes space for you to record who the project was for, yarn used, he pattern and more. A great way to record your finished knitted and crocheted items. A bag of ten cards retails for $5.00

Circular Needles ID Tags - A great way to identify your circulars! Each bag includes 29 ID tags, and comes in two sizes: small (2-4.25 mm) and large (4.5 - 19 mm). Retails for $8.00 per bag.

Elegant Shawl Brooches from India!

With our first shipment as Surina Importers Canada we got a good selection of elegant Shawl Brooches in, made either from Surina wood or Sea Shells.
The Shawl Brooches come in diamond and in oval shape. The Shawl Brooches made from authentic Sea Shells are beautifully crafted and leightweight. They add more glamour to your attire. The Surina wood is lightweight, with a grained look and superb smoothness. The Luster-polish finish on the Shawl Brooches is achieved without use of any harmful chemical or agent.

Check our Surina product page for all new Surina products - try them and tell your friends!

Great New Books just arrived!

I just posted 9 new books in our web site, which adds nicely to the ones which were already listed there. We carry more in our store, of course!

This is Inge's favourite new book:
Amy R. Singer: No Sheep For You - your guide to the wonders of knitting without wool. Get cozy with some of the most luxurious (not most expensive) fibres on the planet. Learn all about nonwool yarns, including cotton, silk, linen, soy, bamboo, hemp, Tencel, rayon, and their characteristics. Delight in the 21 knockout patterns. "No Sheep For You is full of wit, wisdom, and answers to questions I never even thought to ask about my favorite fibers. And it's a wonderful pattern book."

If you cannot wear wool, this is the perfect guide. We are glad to offer the beautiful and affordable Bamboo yarn Eden from Madil (see my earlier posting) - amazing colours and sheen! See our web site.

Yarn is Not Enough

No, yarn is just not enough! You need good tools too and we carry a full range of bamboo and birch knitting needles. We have the Brittany Birch in double pointed, in both the short length for socks and the standard length. These DPN's come in a set of 5, which we find much easier to knit with than a set of 4, particularly for socks. I must admit the sock needles in size 2.50mm sell out almost as quickly as we order them, however many sets we order. Brittany also make
birch crochet hooks with wonderfully turned ends - truly things of beauty. We also carry their straight needles in the 10 inch and 14 inch lengths. All Brittany needles are guaranteed for 5 years.

Our bamboo circular needles come from S.R. Kertzer, in lengths from 40 cms. to 80 cms. If you have never knitted with wooden needles, you will be surprised how easy and comfortable they are, especially if you have sore joints or are just beginning to knit.

For the speed fiends amongst us, we carry the addiTurbo circular needles. Both Inge and I love using them. The cables never seem to get tangled and the transition between needle and cable is very smooth.

If you would like to try any of these needles, drop by the store and give them a test run.

Knifty Knitters are in

They are back. We have just received a new shipment of Knifty Knitters in various sizes. The large size is back ordered, but should arrive soon. What are Knifty Knitters? Well, you remember the old fashioned spool knitting, sometimes called "French Knitting", Knifty Knitters are the same idea, but much larger. You can make hats, scarves, bags, afghans, even the body of a sweater. The kits come in their own carrying cases and include all instructions, the frame, the hook (which we also sell separately) and a tapestry needle. The yarn suggested is two strands of a chunky weight, so items knit up very quickly indeed. We have a frame out for customers to try, so check it out!! Click on the photo for a closer view.