newsletter archives - 2005
Some of the yarns
you'll find at
Lettuce Knit
And more...
We ship world wide everyday! Please call the shop to inquire about mail order!
We ship world wide everyday! Please call the shop to inquire about mail order!
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2008
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2007
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2006
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2005
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2004
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December 2005 Hello Knitsters!
It's here......It is offically holiday knitting time, (if
you're crazy enough to
do that sort of thing - and I am!). This month's
newsletter will
focus on quick knits to inspire your gift knitting. Also,
consider this an invitation to our annual holiday party/
anniversary party, which will be held on Wednesday,
December 14, from 7-11pm. If last year's party was
any indication, this year's event will be lots of wild and
woolly fun. We hope to see ALL of our beloved
customers. It's our way to thank you for a wonderful
year. And on that note, I will sign off....I must get
back to my Christmas knitting!
p.s. pom-poms are a perfect way to top your holiday gifts, make a garland to add a festive warmth to your decor, or fill a whole box and give a loved one their own instant pom-pom collection! Lettuce Knit has pom-pom kits which include a pom-pom maker, instructions, and lots of small balls of some of our yummiest yarns. Keep Knitting, New at Lettuce Knit... 
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In this issue...
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Alchemy Haiku |
This Month's Favourite Links |
You know Crack Silk Haze right? Well, this is better.
40% silk, 60% mohair, 325 yards in 25 grams, this is
lace weight HEAVEN. Lettuce Knit has all of the
multicolourways, and ten of the elemental colourways.
One is enough to do an amazing ethereal scarf! TWO
is enough to do the Birch pattern. We also received
ten shades of Silk Purse (100 % silk) from Alchemy to
correspond with the Haiku colours. Knit them held
together for a truly poetic piece.|
November 2005 Hello Knitsters!
It's that time of year again...the knitters are coming
out in droves and the yarn is piling up in the shop. I
am so excited for the upcoming Holiday Season! If
you haven't seen it yet, please come by the shop and take a peek
at Melanie Falick's new book "Handknit Holidays"
(pictured below). It is a gorgeous book, sure to put
you in a holiday frame of mind. We were also happy
to receive a full box of Stephanie-Pearl McPhee's
second Book "Yarn Harlot" (also pictured below), and
the very same day the Yarn Harlot herself graced us
with her presence and signed all of the books, so drop
in if you want a signed copy of this HILARIOUS new
book. As her LYS, we are so proud and happy for
Stephanie's fame and success! So pop in, check out
all of our new books, new yarns, and new accessories;
it just keeps on coming!
p.s. Lettuce Knit now has our own Handspun Yarn for sale (pictured above). Spun by Yours Truly, it is funky, chunky, fluffy fun. Each Skein is one-of-a- kind, spun with mostly hand dyed merino wool, some have bits of silk, and some have sparkles. New Skeins are spun every week. Keep Knitting, 
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In this issue... Be Sweet!  |
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Malabrigo Merino Worsted  |
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Alchemy Lonestar Satchel Kits |
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Go Knit Pouches |
This Month's Favourite Links |
A new kit from Alchemy. Designed to be the ultimate
carry-all, the Lone Star satchel will leave you
wondering how you ever got along without it. Strong
and sturdy enough to hold a laptop, this bag is meant
to be your constant companion. Features a handy
side pocket for your cellphone. Knit out of Alchemy
Lonestar Wool and Mohair blend, dyed by hand with
the most vivid and pure colours, knitting this bag is a
treat for both your hands and eyes. Each kit is unique
with different colour combinations.
These cool knitting-on-the-go pouches arrived this
week. As featured in Vogue Knitting, these nylon
pouches are great for small projects like socks or
scarves. This is how it works: feed the yarn through
an interior loop, attach the outer loop to your belt
loop, purse strap or wrist, and you are ready to knit
anywhere! In line at the bank, the grocery store, on
the subway...never a wasted minute!|
October 2005  Hello Knitsters!
As we welcome October and cooler weather, now is the prime time to get back in the groove of knitting. We have loads of new yarns....in fact, our regular customers often marvel how we keep packing the new shipments into our tiny store! As you may notice, this month's theme is ORANGE! p.s. Pumpkin hat kits, like the one Penelope is wearing, are now available in the shop! Keep Knitting, |
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In this issue...
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September 2005 Hello Knitsters!
Get out your datebooks! We have an upcoming event! Shannon Okey has written "Knit Grrl"; a knitting how-to with 15 fun and funky patterns geared towards the young knitter. Shannon will be celebrating and signing books in the afternoon of October 2 at Lettuce Knit. Grab your favourite tween or teen and join us for a lovely afternoon with tea and cookies and knitting, of course! Visit the Knit Grrl website for information on Shannon's other upcoming books. And now for something a little different....did you
know that Lettuce Knit is an authorized dealer of
Louet and Ashford spinning wheels and looms? As you
know, we don't have the room to house numerous
spinning wheels and accessories, but we can order in
any wheel from either company. Check out their
respective websites, and let us know if anything
piques your interest!
If you're curious about spinning your own yarn, but want to start small, we have drop spindles, rovings, and instruction books to get you started. Look at these gorgeous Fleece Artist Rovings!
One totally inspiring book on the topic of spinning your own super creative yarns is Handspun Revolution by "Pluckyfluff" aka Lexi Boeger. Even if you are too shy to attempt her outrageous techniques, the book is worth a look - it's pure eye-candy for fibre floozies (you know who you are!) Also, to my knowledge, we are the only shop in Canada with copies of this book.
We are also happy to offer SpinSpin, a cute zine written by Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane with instructions on how to use a drop spindle, make a niddy-noddy, kool-aid dye, and more! And for only $6! Well that's it for now.....hope to see you at the "Waterloo County Knitters' Fair", this coming Saturday, September 10th, and also on Sunday, October 2 at the Knit Grrl Book signing! Stay tuned for another newsletter at the end of September, when i'll tell you all about the many, many new yarns we've received for Fall. Keep Knitting, Megan |
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August 2005 Hello Knitsters!
Handmaiden Textures scarf kits. These are going like hot cakes! 25 grams of silk boucle and 125 grams of a slubby wool, expertly dyed by the Handmaiden herself combine to make a quick and delicious scarf. (2 patterns to choose from, included with yarn!) Who cares that you won't be able to wear this for another 2 months????? It's like candy for your needles.....resistance is futile.
Handmaiden Lace Silk. 100 % silk in a fine lace yarn, hand dyed in numerous colourways. Each 100 gram skein is 600 metres. On 2.5mm needles this yarn yields 28 stitches over 4 inches, but looks equally stunning on larger needles for open lace work. I am going to use it to knit a Shoalwater Shawl. Come into the shop to see it! Handmaiden Silk Cashmere. Need I say more? A 55/45 silk and cashmere blend, and hand painted too! 50 grams and 300 metres, knits up to the same gauge as the Lace Silk. The yardage on this one would be perfect for a Flower Basket Shawl. A new shipment of Lorna's Laces! Over 20 colourways in the Shepherd Sock are now on the shelves! 10 shades of Helen's Lace arrived, and Shepherd Worsted came too! We've never had the Shepherd Worsted before, but it looks as though this is going to be a favourite. Buttery soft worsted weight superwash wool, in hand painted 100 gram skeins and 225 yards. Great for chunky socks, kid's sweaters, or One Skein Wonders!
Opal Rainforest Sock Yarn. Your favourite opal self-patterning sock yarn, in rainforest animal colourways. Choose from Zebra, Tiger, Fish, Parrot, Owl, Ladybug, Chameleon, and Flamingo. Available for a limited time only! That's the news for now! Be sure to check out the new class schedule for September and October. Also note that an extra "T-Shirt in One Day" class has been added in August due to popular demand, and there are still spaces available for our dying workshop, and "toe-up socks" class later this month. Keep Knitting, Megan |
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July 2005 Hello Knitsters!
Koigu is in the house! Oh yeah, 43 pounds of mouthwatering Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino finally found it’s way to Lettuce Knit! That’s about 30 different colourways, with over 10 skeins per colourway. If you have been considering a project out of Koigu, now is the time! We also received copies of the legendary Charlotte’s Web pattern. Run, don’t walk, on over to Kensington Market!
Alchemy Poncho Kits have arrived! My goodness.....if you love colour like I do, you will be very excited by these poncho kits. Sure, they include a poncho pattern in the beautifully packaged yarn kit, but i’m thinking sweater, throw, maybe even a skirt. Each kit includes 10 skeins of Lonestar, a merino / mohair blend each hand dyed a different shade corresponding to the natural elements; Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. The colours are striking, and they are lovingly presented in a gift bag, ready for giving to your favourite knitter, or yourself!
Fleece Artist yarns! Rovings, sock kits, and shawl kits from the Fleece Artist arrived last week! So much colour, so little time......both the sock and shawl kits make great summer knitting projects, as they are small and easily portable.
Handmaiden Yarns, a new label from Fleece Artist (it’s actually her daughter), have made their debut at Lettuce Knit. It’s all about the silk. The Silk Vee kit makes a gorgeous v-neck tank top in lovely hand painted silk boucle. (I’m making one now!) There is also a lace weight silk floss and silk shawl kits! You might also like to know that the new Fall issue of Interweave Knits magazine is in the shop. And we also received knitter’s note cards and gift tags from a new company: Knitterella! Very cute. Happy summer, and keep knitting! Megan p.s. check out the great classes we have scheduled! |
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June 2005 Hello Knitsters!
Cascade Fixation is 98.3% cotton / 1.7% elastic. It is 186 yards in 50 g. 24 stitches = 4" on 5.5mm needles. It is perfect for making both summer socks and bikinis! We have heard that this yarn is hard to find around town, so come to Lettuce Knit and choose from 9 multicolours and 7 solid colours. More are on the way! Ask and you shall receive! I recently had a number of customers come into the shop asking specifically for Rowan Denim Yarn and the Denim People book. So, I got them! All four shades of Rowan Denim, a practical and hard wearing 100% cotton yarn, are now in the shop, as is the corresponding pattern book.
Rowan Denim carries all the same characteristics as jeans denim - it will fade as it is washed and will last a lifetime! This unique yarn gives a wonderful firm fabric making it perfect for cabling, and shaped jackets and sweaters. This yarn is put up in a 50 g ball with 93 metres. Knit with a 4mm needle will yield 20 sts x 28 rows over 4". I am planning on knitting a jean skirt with this yarn in the very near future! We welcomed another special yarn from Fiesta Yarns into Lettuce Knit this month. La Luz is 100% spun mulberry silk with semi-solid, delicate mottled colour variations. It is whisper soft and light weight. It would make a lovely camisole, tank top or shawl. It knits up to 23 sts and 29 rows over 4" using 4mm needles. There are 220 yds per 2 oz. Bring on the summer knitting! Other points of interest:
That's the news this month! Hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather, and for goodness sake, keep knitting! Megan p.s. check out the great classes we have scheduled! |
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May 2005 Hello Knitsters!
With only one skein you can create the 'Triada Scarf' (pictured above) featured in Interweave Knits Summer Issue (which is now in the shop!). This yarn would also make a smashing triangular shawl, or special occasion poncho. Lettuce Knit has 17 colourways to choose from! We received our second shipment of yarns from Lorna's Laces! In addition to 80 mixed skeins of Shepherd Sock Yarn, we also brought in Helen's Lace Yarn. This lace weight yarn is 50% wool and 50% silk. There are 1250 yards in 4 oz. and each large skein includes a free shawl pattern that is easy enough for a first time lace knitter! Beautiful hand painted colourways make a one-of-a-kind lace shawl. Also new in the shop this month are Knitting Pure & Simple Patterns. These patterns feature classic designs and easy knitting techniques. Most sweaters are knit in the round and from the top down, for minimal finishing. Lots of patterns for women's sweaters, kids sweaters, ponchos, and socks. We love these patterns, and you will too! We now stock Bryspun double pointed needles. Great tips, and flexible plastic, these needles are recommended for those with arthritis. Great price too! That's it for now! Hope to see you soon! Happy Knitting, Megan p.s. check out the great classes we have scheduled for May and June; spaces still available! |
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April 2005 Hello Knitsters!
Firstly, my most special new arrival, Penelope Pearl is here! She was born March 6 (her due date) weighing 9lbs 12oz. Thank you to everyone for your well wishes and congratulations. She’s not slowing down my knitting too much as you can see below; she’s a very good baby!
And now on to other exciting news! "Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much" by our favourite blogger, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka The Yarn Harlot - www.yarnharlot.ca), is now in the shop! This book is a must have for every knitting basket. It is inspiring, hilarious, and reminds us again and again why we love to knit. And it’s only $13.95! Last Wednesday Lettuce Knit hosted the first book signing/celebration of Stephanie’s book; we had champagne, chocolate, and yarn. What more could you want? Alchemy Yarns of Transformation are here! To introduce you to this amazing yarn company i ordered the Bamboo yarn in 31 (!!!) elemental colours. This yarn is so special......100% bamboo fibre, it looks and feels like a cross between cotton and silk. It is put up in 50g skeins with 138 yards. Gauge is 24 stitches = 4 inches (6 sts = 1 inch) using US 5 (3.75 mm) needles. Alchemy is committed to chemical free dying which means a time consuming unique cold water dying process without harsh fixatives. Because their yarns are hand painted rather than immersion dyed, there is a subtle variegation in the colours, which lends a rich, luminous quality to the fibers. There are also great patterns for this yarn; including a tank top (takes 4-7 skeins depending on size), large tote bag (takes 8 skeins), baby sweater (takes 3 skeins), and a market bag (takes 2 skeins). I am offering this yarn at a special introductory price of $24/skein. Offhand Designs Knitting bags and needle clutches have been replenished! Made from vintage velvet, these are more than knitting bags; they are stylish enough to carry anywhere and everywhere. Manos Cotton Stria has arrived! The softest cotton from the Manos Del Uruguay Co-op in 18 remarkable semi-solid colours. This yarn is slightly textured and very lightweight. It would be great for a spring poncho or a kid’s sweater. Each skein is 50g and approximately 116 yards. Gauge is approximately 18 - 20 stitches = 4 inches (4.5 - 5 sts = 1 inch) on US 4 - 6 (3.75 - 4 mm) needles. We have all 18 colours in stock! I told you it was exciting! Come out to the shop and see for yourself! Hope to see you soon.... Megan |
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March 2005 Hello Knitsters!
Lantern Moon Ebony Needles - simply the finest quality knitting needles in the world! Also from Lantern Moon - traditional rice baskets - perfect for hiding your stash in style! Spring must be on it’s way...Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece has arrived! A favourite for spring and summer knits. Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton - organic cotton dyed in 14 yummy colours...so incredibly soft. Undyed organic cotton (available in four natural shades) is also available. Be sure to check out the class schedule, we have some really interesting workshops coming up from guest instructors. In closing, i want to say a big thank-you to my loyal
stitch n’ bitchers who ganged up and (behind my back!)
collaborated on this beautiful baby blanket for my
soon to be here babe. Keep knitting, megan |
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February 2005 Hello Knitsters!
Stitch n' Bitch Nation is back in stock! Check out Lettuce Knit's fab review in the back of the book! Everyone seems to have heard that Mission Falls is discontinuing their 1824 Cotton. It's true, but we are still receiving shipments of the cotton and can take special orders for most colours. We currently have a good supply of about 10 colours, so come by, or call the store to see if your favourite is still available. Stock up now; this yarn might someday be a collectors item! Lorna's Laces Yarns are en route to Lettuce Knit! Expected before this coming weekend, you will be able to indulge in Lorna's Laces Yarns in the following varieties: Angel: 70% Angora, 30% Lambswool, 5 stitches per inch - so yummy! Lion & Lamb: 50% Silk, 50% Wool, 4.5 stitches per inch - for Clapotis! Shepherd Bulky: 100% Superwash Wool, 3.5 stitches per inch - great for kids knits! Shepherd Sock: 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon, 7 stitches per inch - 100 skeins of assorted colourways - I can't wait to see what arrives! That's it for now! Be sure to check out the classes for February and March! Keep Knitting, Megan |
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January 2005 Dear Knitsters,
ArtYarns hand painted wools and silk arrived in the shop today! You can read all about these exciting new yarns here: knittersreview.com/article_yarn.asp?article=/review/product/041223_a.asp We have every colour now in stock in the following yarns: Supermerino (a superwash worsted merino), Ultramerino ( a luxurious merino in 100 g skeins), and Royal Silk ( pure silk, in a single ply). Visit ArtYarns website to view the colours: www.artyarns.com Also be sure to browse their fabulous patterns, which we also have in stock. Mohair! I love mohair, and if you love mohair, we now have all 30 colours of Louet Sales Riverline British Mohair in store. Look at the pretty colours here: www.louet.com/mohair.htm Blue Sky Alpacas Yarn! 4 large boxes arrived today! A lot of customers learned the joys of knitting with the Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky this holiday season. It knits up so fast and is so luxuriously soft. I knew they would be back for more, so i’ve stocked up! A replenishment of “Knitter’s Little Helper Hand Balm” also arrived in this shipment, fyi! Do check out their lovely website, if you haven’t already: www.blueskyalpacas.com Believe it or not, more than this arrived, and the week’s not over! Do come and visit soon, and happy new year knitters! megan |
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Toronto, Ontario
M5T 1M5
416·203·9970
Open to (at least) 9:00 pm!
Map to Lettuce Knit
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