Winter News

Hello Knitsters!
Happy Holidays! As Knitters, this must be our favourite season...our time to shine as we bestow our beautiful and warm hand knits on our most loved ones. It is also prime time to pick up a little fibre treat for ourselves, to keep our spirits up (cashmere anyone?). So whether you are stocking up on supplies to complete your holiday gifts, or sneaking in for a little fibre therapy during this hectic season, we hope to see you before the end of this year, and wish you the Happiest of the Holidays, in person. See you Soon!

Keep Knitting,
Megan
 

New and Inspiring

In this issue...
* Kensington Market Festival of Lights
* Socks That Rock!
* New Yarns at Lettuce Knit
* Holiday Hours
* Fall Classes and Dye Workshop Info!

Kensington Market Festival of Lights
Join us in the Market this Friday, December 21st, for the 19th Annual Kensington Market Festival of Lights. Lettuce Knit will stay open late, until 9pm, so that you can warm up with some hot cocoa and maybe buy some yarn, before you head home to wrap those presents! For more information, visit Red Pepper Spectacle Arts.

Socks That Rock!
Do you have someone on your list who would love a skein of Socks that Rock? Well, you're in luck! If you order on or before Thursday, December 20, we can guarantee arrival before Christmas to all major Canadian Cities. Please call the shop to order, 416-203-9970.

New Yarns at Lettuce Knit
As this is crunch time for everybody, myself included, here is the condensed list of all that is new and exciting in the shop. Feel free to call and ask for more details!

Nashua Shepherd: An amazing Felting wool with 220 yards in 100 grams, we have 62 colors in stock, and it sells for just $6 each!...Berroco Peruvia ($9), Ultra Alpaca ($10), and Ultra Alpaca Light ($6) have been flying off the shelves! Great quality yarn for a great price. Check out the Berroco Website for great free patterns and more info about their yarns. Norah Gaughan is Berocco's Head Designer, so their booklets are top notch. Also check out Norah's Berroco Design Studio Blog!...Lettuce Knit now has 100% Wool Felt available undyed and also hand dyed. Perfect for making those last minute decorations!....Lots of new Fleece Artist and Handmaiden Kits and Yarns, including Handmaiden's new Swiss Mountain Cashmere and Silk. You have to feel it to believe it. Another new favourite is Handmaiden's Casbah Sock, a three ply sock yarn composed of 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon. There's a lot more i could include, but i still have Christmas Knitting left to do!

Holiday Hours
 
December 24, 11-3
 
December 25 & 26, closed
 
December 27, Boxing Day Sale! Stitch N' Bitch in the evening, 11-10pm
 
December 31, 11-3
 
January 1, closed

Autumn News

Hello Knitsters!
Well it's certainly Autumn now, and that can only mean one thing; it's time to knit the littlest ones pumpkin hats! We do it every year, and this year is no different. We have made up Pumpkin Hat Kits with soft superwash wool, hand dyed by us, complete with our original pattern in three sizes.
It's the perfect punctuation to any Autumnal outfit! Come and pick them up while they're in season!

Keep Knitting,
Megan
 

In this issue...
* Special Guest Teacher at Lettuce Knit!
* Glorious Garter: New Dimensions to a Basic Stitch
* Just Drop It! Working with Wrapped and Dropped Stitches
* Fall Classes and Dye Workshop Info!

Special Guest Teacher at Lettuce Knit!
We Welcome Ilga Lega on October 26 & 27
We are so excited to welcome the talented and lovely Ilga Leja from Halifax, Nova Scotia for two special 3 hour Workshops outlined below. Visit her website, www.ilgaleja.com to get a sense of ilga's elegant and natural design sense. Spaces are limited, so register soon! (You can register by phone too!)

Glorious Garter: New Dimensions to a Basic Stitch
The lowly Garter Stitch has been relegated long enough to life as the "Beginner's Stitch". The Garter has many attributes and qualities which make it an ideal stitch for the designer.

Learn how to "think Garter". Incorporate Garter Stitch into colour knitting and as a component of other stitch patterns. Watch how it can be used as the basic component to garment structure, as a design feature, and for multi-directional knitting.

During the workshop, we will work a sampler to experiment with the many ways in which Garter Stitch can enhance and complement our knitting.

Skill Level: Suitable for all knitters, who have a good understanding knit and purl (yes, purl, too!) stitches. Ability to cast on and bind off.

Supplies: · Several balls of yarn (at least three) in harmonious and contrasting colours. Select those colours with which you prefer to work. These may be either variegated or in solid colours. It is best if the yarn is double-knitting or worsted weight. Allow for some solid colours which will show stitch patterns well. · Knitting needles in the appropriate size for your yarn · Scissors · Tapestry needle (for weaving in ends) · Pen or pencil for note-taking

Friday, October 26, 6-9pm, $60 includes refreshments.

Just Drop It! Working with Wrapped and Dropped Stitches
Wrapping and dropping stitches have become an easy way to add interest and excitement to your knitting.

Learn how to use these simple techniques to create gorgeous, lacy, quick-to-knit projects. During the workshop, we will get started on a sampler scarf that combines these beautiful stitch patterns. We will also look at how we can incorporate these design features into our knitting.

Skill Level: Suitable for all knitters, who have a good understanding knit and purl stitches. Ability to cast on and bind off.

Supplies: · Yarn in the colour(s) of your choice. I recommend a double-knitting or worsted weight yarn (nothing too fine or too bulky). These may include a handpainted yarn. A light colouration is preferred for a handpainted yarn, to best show the stitch patterning. · Knitting needles in the appropriate size for your yarn · Cable needle (or one double-pointed needle) · Scissors · Tapestry needle (for weaving in ends) · Pen or pencil for note-taking

Saturday, October 27

End of Summer News

Hello Knitsters!
I know, I know, this should be the "Beginning of Fall" newsletter, not the "End of Summer". But the truth of it is that I'm just not ready yet to say goodbye to Summer! There are still so many "Summer" yarns left unknit! Or rather, we seemed to receive a number of shipments in the last couple of weeks that remind me of Summer's sweetest fruit, worth savouring and worth telling you about! Our newest arrivals are yummy, really yummy; so pop in, or give us a call, because we would love to help you indulge in the last of Summer's (yarn) bounty.

p.s. We now have a bit of fabric as you can see in this photo! Sold by the yard,or as fat quarter bundles. Lots of prints by Denyse Schmidt and Heather Ross; come see!

Keep Knitting,
Megan
 

New and Inspiring

In this issue...
* Alchemy Bamboo
* The Fibre Co. Savannah Dk
* Habu Yarns
* Reusable Shopping Totes
* Fall Classes and Dye Workshop Info!

Alchemy Bamboo
Silky, slinky, sumptuous bamboo. We have our Alchemy Bamboo display right by the natural light of the door and you wouldn't believe how this yarn reflects the light, and in fact looks as if it is lit from within. Nobody can capture the subtle nuances of colour like Gina Wilde, the dyer extraordinaire of Alchemy Yarns. Each 50 gram skein of Bamboo holds 150 yards, and knits to about 24 stitches in 4 inches on 3.75mm needle. One skein is enough for a special scarf; knit it, wear it, and remind yourself of the vibrant intensity of summer all year long. $28 each.

p.s. This photo shows Dragon, Persimmon, and Citrine.

The Fibre Co. Savannah Dk
The Fibre Company has done it again to the knitters of Lettuce Knit. This yarn is positively lust worthy! A blend of 50% merino, 20% organic cotton, 15% linen, and 15% soya fibre, this dk weight yarn knits up to about 24 - 26 stitches over 4 inches on a 4mm needle. There are 160 yards in each 50 gram skein. A great late summer sweater yarn, this one demands a closer look, as the depth of colour, and interplay of different fibres makes for one very special yarn indeed. $18 each.

Habu Yarns
We are so excited to have Habu Yarns at Lettuce Knit! The little balls of fine cashmere and Kusa silk/mohair yarn pictured here remind me of jelly beans! They're so tiny, but the yardage is incredible: one skein is enough for a scarf! Read on about our new Habu Yarns...

A-34 2/26 Cashmere. No fancy name, just really high quality 100% cashmere in the most amazing range of colours. Each 14 gram ball has 182 yards! This is a very fine laceweight, but it is also fun to knit with multiple strands together. Try two stands together with a 3.5mm needle for a dk weight pattern. $19 each.

Kusa Silk Mohair has more silk content than other silk/ mohairs on the market. 60% silk, 40% mohair with 186 yards in each 14 gram ball. This yarn is naturally dyed, so the palette is very soft and pretty. $12 each.

A-20 1/20 Silk and Stainless Steel. You have to see this yarn knitted, before you can fully appreciate it! The content is 69% silk wound around a core of 31% stainless steel. The yardage is approximately 311 yards on a 14 gram cone. Because of the stainless steel, there is a memory in the yarn. You can twist it around and it will stay in that shape unless you straighten it out. Because it is so fine, it is easiest if you knit with 2 strands held together, though a lace stitch in a single strand is stunning. $15 each.

XS-31 20/18 Bamboo. This Bamboo is positively pearly! It is undyed 100% bamboo in a dk weight. There are 55 yards per ounce, and each skein is between 8-10 ounces. Try dying this yarn in one of our Cotton and Plant Fibre workshops! $7 per ounce.

Reusable Shopping Totes
These cute reusable shopping totes are perfect for unexpected yarn shopping! Each one comes in a tiny zippered pouch which then clips onto the side of the bag (perfect for small scissors, stitch markers, etc.). The handles are long enough to carry the bag over your shoulder and I've found myself taking one out for the day instead of my purse or knitting bag because it is so lightweight yet holds so much! Made of durable fabric, these bags can carry up to 26 lbs! Yarn or groceries, it's up to you! The best part? Other than saving the environment, because you aren't bringing home more plastic bags, is that these cuties are only $10 each! 5 colours of floral print available; green, taupe, purple, red, and yellow.

Summer 2007

Hello Knitsters!
Wow! What an exciting, busy and productive Spring we've enjoyed at Lettuce Knit! It's Summer already, and I thought running a Knitting Shop would allow me a restful summer season, but apparently not!

So, what's new? For starters check out our beautiful new stained glass window my friend Heather Lee West created for above the shop entrance. She did such an outstanding job, and we love it so much!

But that's not all that's new, oh no! Read on for the rest of the news...

Keep Knitting,
Megan
 

New and Inspiring

In this issue...
* Lettuce Knit Dye Studio & Lettuce Knit HomeGrown Yarn
* Dream in Color Tulip and Rocketry Kits
* Socks that Rock Back in Stock!
* New Spinning Wheel Classes Added
* Classes Schedule for March to May

Lettuce Knit Dye Studio & Lettuce Knit HomeGrown Yarn
This is a very exciting development for us! We now have a full service dye studio right under the shop! Beginning in the middle of July, we will be offering studio time so you can dye your own yarn in a safe environment which is totally set up with all necessary supplies. We will also be offering workshops where we will guide you through hand dying techniques and tricks. Dates, times, and more info will be posted on the website in early July.

While we "pretty up" our dye studio for the public, we have not wasted any time in putting it to use! Laura has been busy as a bee dying up "Lettuce Knit Homegrown" our very own line of Hand Dyed Yarns, exclusive to Lettuce Knit. Let me introduce our line of four cotton yarns, perfect for Summer knitting and wearing...

	Organic Cotton, 100 % cotton, 325 yards, 225 grams, knits up to gauge of about 16 stitches over four inches, $28 each.
	Raggedy Cotton, 100% cotton, 250 yards, 225 grams, knits up to a gauge of about 10 stitches over 4 inches, $49 each.
	Cotton Tape, 100% cotton, 475 yards, 225 grams, knits up to a gauge of about 14 stitches over 4 inches, $34 each.
	Bubbly Cotton, 74% cotton, 26% rayon, 150 yards, 225 grams, knits up to a gauge of about 10 stitches over 4 inches, $24 each.

Dream in Color Tulip and Rocketry Kits
new colourway pictured here

The Original Tulip Sweater Kit, sized for 6-9 months, $40 includes 8 colours of yarn and pattern
The Original Rocketry Sweater Kit, sized for 6-9 months, $40 includes 6 colours of yarn and pattern

Ummmm...these baby sweater kits may look innocent and cute, but let me warn you...they possess the power to spark mass hysteria. After appearing on the Yarn Harlot's blog we were inundated with requests for these baby sweater kits. We must have mailed out over 300 of these kits already, and the requests continue to pour in to the extent that the mill that spins the yarn has now run out! That means that Tulip kits in the original colourway won't be available again until September. In the meantime we have made up a limited number of kits in a new colourway (at the top) We will continue to make up kits for the shop with different colour combinations, so pop in to see!

p.s. If you are on the waiting list for the original Tulip Sweater and would like to receive the new colourway instead, please call the store - be sure to let us know that we already have your information.

Socks that Rock Back in Stock!
75 lbs of Socks that Rock Lightweight Sock Yarn arrived this morning! Need I say more? Get on the horn and buy yours while it lasts!

New Spinning Wheel Classes Added
Due to popular demand, we have added two additional spinning wheel classes to our summer schedule:

SPINNING WHEEL BASICS
INSTRUCTOR: LAURA CHAU
2 LESSONS, 4 HOURS TOTAL
MONDAY, JULY 23 & 30, 6-8PM
OR
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 & 12, 10-12 NOON
COST: $100 INCLUDES EVERYTHING
Tired of the drop spindle and itching for something new? Or just want to dive right into spinning on a wheel? Spinning wheel basics will cover all you need to know to get going with a wheel. We'll discuss different types of fibres and preparations, working with colour, as well as multiple wheel techniques and plying. Try out different models of wheel to find out what suits you best. Space is limited, so sign up early! Some spinning experience is recommended, but not necessary.

April 2007

Keep Knitting,
Megan
 

New and Inspiring

In this issue...
* New O-Wool Balance
* New! Dream in Color Yarn
* Della Q Circular Needle Cases
* Offhand Designs Spring Collection
* New Addi Lace Needles
* Louet Victoria
* Private Lessons now Available

* Classes Schedule for March to May

New O-Wool Balance
O~Wool Balance is a blend of 50% merino wool and 50% cotton with an earthy look and a soft hand. With the flexibility of wool and the coolness of cotton, this yarn is perfect for light sweaters, cool-weather wraps and clothing for children. O~Wool Balance is made from 100% certified organic fibers and processed in accordance with the Organic Trade Association?s Fibre Processing Standards. Dyeing the blended fibres gives the yarn a subtle tweed-like effect, allowing you to make beautiful garments while supporting a sustainable environment. Each skien has 130 yards in 50 grams, and suggested needle size is between 3.75mm and 4.5mm for a gauge of 19-21 stitches over 4 inches. We have all 18 colours in stock! $9 each.

New! Dream in Color Yarn
Are we excited about this! Our friend Amy Singer brought me the shade cards of this fabulous yarn from a knitting trade show a few months back and I fell in love. Thanks Amy, I owe you one for this!

Dream in Color Veil Dyed Superwash Handpainted Wool is machine washable and can be tumbled dry on low heat, making it an excellent choice for baby clothes and blankets. It is incredibly soft, spun from 22 micron 100% Australian Merino Wool. Inspired by the play of light in nature, the veil dying process means that the colours will not "flash" or "pool", but rather shimmer and shine.

There are 4 oz. in each skein and 250 yards. The recommended needle size is between a 4mm and 5mm, for a gauge of 16-20 stitches over four inches. We have received all 16 colours in the 100 and 200 series, and have already reordered! View all the colours and download a free pattern here. $20 each.

Della Q Circular Needle Cases
A great new product for those with lots of circular needles. "The Que" holds multiple needles in each pocket, each marked with a fabric tag indicating the needle size. A compact and attractive way to carry your circulars. Read what Clara Parkes from Knitters Review has to say about them here.

Offhand Designs Spring Collection
Put a spring in your step with a new knitting bag! The new spring fabrics from Offhand Designs have started to arrive and they are lovely and sophisticated. View the new fabrics here. Call the store to inquire about prices and availability.

New Addi Lace Needles
I am in love! This is my new all time favourite needle to use. Now we have to start hounding them to make more sizes. Currently the new Addi Lace Needles are available in 2.5mm, 3mm, 3.25mm, 3.5mm, 3.75mm, and 4mm in the following lengths: 60cm, 80cm, 120cm. Lettuce Knit has them all in stock. Read Cat Bordhi's favourable review here.

Louet Victoria
They're finally back! I love this little spinning wheel; you won't believe how lightweight (only 6 lbs!) and small it is, but so very easy to use. Includes a carrying case and bobbins. Scotch Tension Brake System gives you an unlimited range of tension.

Available in Classic Oak ($740) or Contemporary Beech ($700). I have 2 Oak and 1 Beech available.

Private Lessons now Available
By popular demand! Beginning this week, every Thursday between 11 and 6, Super Knitter Laura Chau will be available for private lessons. For only $15 per hour, you can tackle your trickiest knitting problems with Laura's guidance. Hourly slots must be booked in advance. Call the store now to book your preferred time!

February 2007

Keep Knitting,
Megan
 

New and Inspiring

In this issue...
* Sweet Georgia Yarn
* New! Sea Wool from Fleece Artist
* Lexie Barnes Bags and Needle Cases now at Lettuce Knit!

* Classes Schedule for March to May

Sweet Georgia Yarn
How sweet it is! This delectable hand dyed yarn from Vancouver's favourite blogger Sweet Georgia has finally arrived at Lettuce Knit. It is a bittersweet reception, as we have just learned that Felicia is taking a hiatus from dying yarn, perhaps for up to one year, and so we feel very fortunate to have some of the last (for a while) of her beautiful painterly yarn. As my friend Stephanie is so fond of saying : "This is collectible yarn!"

Here's what we have while it lasts! Superwash Sock Yarn in 30 colourways: 100% Superwash Merino Wool fingering weight yarn handpainted in vibrant colours. Approximately 185 yards of fingering weight yarn per 50g skein. 1-3 US needles to give 7-8 sts per inch. Hand or machine wash. $14 each.

Handpainted Lace in 30 colourways: 100% Merino Laceweight, handpainted in vibrant colours. Approximately 875 yards (112 g). $28 each.

View the incredible, almost edible, colourways at Sweet Georgia's Website.

New! Sea Wool from Fleece Artist
Riding the wave of the insanely popular SeaSilk yarn by daughter company Handmaiden, Fleece Artist has just sent us the highly antcipated "Sea Wool". This sock weight yarn is composed of 70% Merino, and 30% Seacell.

Seacell is a cellulose based fibre made from seaweed. It is highly breathable and very soft. When worn, your skin's natural moisture will release magnesium, calcium and vitamin E contained within the seaweed. It has anti- inflammatory properties and has been shown to protect the skin.

Sea Wool comes in a 115 gram skein, with 350 metres. One skein is more than enough to knit a pair of socks. It is a very similar yarn construction to the ever popular Fleece Artist Merino Sock Yarn, but with a lovely silky sheen. Each Skein also includes a newly designed sock pattern called "Bordello Socks".

As with all Fleece Artist yarns, Sea Wool is handpainted in a myriad of colourways. Anticipating it's popularity, we received 300 (!!!) skeins, so there is something for everyone. I think this would make very comfortable socks for the summer time, but also it would be a great choice for lightweight sweaters, lace shawls, and baby knits. Did I mention it's machine washable? $25 each.

View the colourways on the Fleece Artist Website.

Lexie Barnes Bags and Needle Cases now at Lettuce Knit!
What all the cool knitters are sporting! Now in stock: Lady B (shown here), Flo (new design!), Kitty needle case (for circulars), and Betty needle case (for straights). We have all of the above styles in the Viona, Baja, and Dutch treat fabrics. Visit the Lexie Barnes Website to view the fabrics.