Another Toy Knitting Class!

Sophie the bunny was so popular that we have decided to add another "Toys by Ysolda" Class - this time the project is Elijah the Elephant! 

The class is scheduled for three Sundays in April, starting on April 7th from 2-4 PM.  Again, this toy is knit in one piece so there is no seaming upon completion. This adorable toy will make anyone smile.  Call the shop for details.  

Happy Knitting!

Manos del Uruguay & Maxima

Manos del Uruguay is a wonderful company that is both a woman's cooperative and a member of the World Fair Trade Organization - not to mention they are a producer of gorgeous yarns! A shop favorite, Manos Maxima is a yarn that is quickly gaining in popularity with both knitters and crocheters.  It is an extremely soft hand-spun merino wool with an ever expanding color palette - those strikingly beautiful colors that made Manos famous.

A fantastic infinity cowl that will keep you warm on these windy days is the Shocking Seed Stitch Cowl. Knit out of 3 skeins of the main color and 1 contrasting it makes for a very cozy accessory. 

We love Maxima so much, we knit our charity blanket out of it! The blanket pattern is The Four Seasons Throw designed by Judith Shangold.  We have the yarn and the pattern booklet available at the shop.

By the way, there is still time to get a raffle ticket for a chance to win!    The raffle will be held on Saturday March 30th - we will choose one lucky person's ticket who will be the new owner of this fantastic, cozy, warm, and wonderful hand knit blanket.  Tickets are $5 - All proceeds benefit the Hoboken Homeless Shelter.

Springtime Bunnies

Join us for a new toy class starting in March!

Knit "Sophie" by Ysolda - Toy Knitting Class

Explore toy knitting and learn numerous skills in this three session class.  This adorable toy bunny is knit in one piece so there is no seaming when you are done.  Makes a great gift for the special little one in your life.  You will learn a challenging cast-on, picking up stitches, and increasing and decreasing methods.  Pattern included in the price.  Call the shop for details.  Dates: March - Three Sundays, 2-4PM 3/10, 3/17, & 3/24

Check out our website for more class offerings.

9th Annual SuperBowl Sale!

Celebrate 2013 by attending our 9th Annual Superbowl Weekend Sale, Saturday February 2nd and Sunday February 3rd! Pick up the perfect project for the big game!

• Yarns will be discounted 15% - 50% off regular price!
• Special sale prices on select patterns and books
• Superbowl pool & giveaway with purchase!

Happy Knitting! - Patricia

Update: Thank you to all of my wonderful customers - we had a great sale weekend!

Charity Knitting

Knitting something for another person is always special, but when you are knitting something that will benefit the community it becomes exceptional.  For the third time, friends of Patricia's Yarns worked together to make a beautiful blanket.  The project kicked off at Grimaldi's Pizza (Second and Clinton Streets) with a fun night of knitting and pizza.  Each person knit one square. 

The blocks were returned, blocked, and sewn together. The finished result is a gorgeous and soft blanket made with love.   The blanket is made from 20 skeins of Manos Maxima and the Four Seasons Throw pattern by Judith Shanghold (please note, permission was given from Judith to make the blanket).

You can buy tickets to win the blanket at Patricia's Yarns ($5 each or 5 for $20).  All proceeds benefit the Hoboken Homeless Shelter.  Manos Maxima and the Four Seasons Throw pattern are also available at the shop.  

Happy Knitting!

What to Knit When You're Expecting

Nikki Van De Car is a Jersey City resident and an avid knitter. She has kept her blog titled "What to Knit When You're Expecting" since 2008 and recently completed her first pattern book under the same title.

On Saturday Nikki spent the afternoon with us signing books and teaching a class on one of the projects in the book, the chickadee hat.

It was a great afternoon with lots of laughs and knitting inspiration. Every knitter in the class learned something new and has a chickadee hat started with all the challenging steps behind them.

I look forward to seeing the completed hats from this talented group of knitters.

Thank you very much to Nikki for bringing your talents to Patricia's Yarns. We look forward to working with her again soon!

A Special Book Signing and Class

Patricia's Yarns is having a book signing & class with local author, Nikki Van De Car, author of the adorable pattern book What to Knit When You're Expecting. The book is beautifully done with 30 gorgeous patterns suitable from birth through the first year.

On January 12, Nikki Van De Car will be at Patricia's Yarns for both a book signing and a class - to start a project from the book.

Call the shop (201) 217-9276 or email with questions or to sign up.

#26Hats for #26Acts

Patricia's Yarns will be knitting #26Hats for #26Acts.  We will give free kits complete with yarn and baby hat patterns to 26 customers who want to help.  All of the hats will be donated to charity. Ask Patricia for details.

"Some good can come out of something even this bad." - Ann Curry, NBC News

Patricia's Yarns on TV

Patricia's Yarns is featured in a new commercial for Optimum.   Thank you Cablevision for choosing local Hoboken businesses!

There is also this new version of the commercial.

Or, check out Optimum's commercial about Patricia's Yarns.  New!



Happy knitting!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Once again, join us for the Twelve (weekend) Days of Christmas! From now until the day Saint Nick dons his red scarf, Patricia's Yarns will be celebrating! Every Saturday and Sunday will be like receiving a new gift in your hand-knit stocking. One Saturday might bring a sale on your favorite yarn and the next might be that perfect project you've been hoping to make. Some days we might offer sweet treats and others offer a glass of bubbly. So join us for some holiday cheer!

To sign up for our Twelve (weekend) Days of Christmas, simply "like" us onFacebook and/or follow us on twitter. We will make announcements each weekend day. We can't promise you a Partridge in a pear tree, but we can promise you purls.

Riley is ready for the holidays (above, on a hand-knit blanket) - are you?  Happy Holidays!

Love,

Patricia

From One Generation to the Next...

If you are a regular reader to our blog, I do not have to tell you all of the wonderful reasons people knit.  What I do want to tell you is that our knitters are starting younger and younger every year and this year is no exception. Plain and simple, kids want to knit!  And we think it is great!   Not only does it teach kids how to create with their hands (a lost art in many respects) – it also has been proven to help with following directions, fine motor skills, and even mathematics.

Over the summer, we launched an initiative to sponsor Hoboken Elementary and Middle School educators who were interested in offering knitting clubs at their schools.  Many teachers took us up on the deal – which offered free knitting lessons to the educators themselves, and a sponsorship of supplies to the schools where they teach.  

Well, I am happy to report that there are many new local knitting clubs under-way!

Below are a few pictures from one such club – taken by Hoboken Charter School Educator Courtney Leahy.  Thanks for all of your hard work, Courtney.  Your students are doing great - and we are happy to see so many smiling faces!

If you're a local teacher and would like to get involved, please contact the shop for more details.  Happy Knitting!

Millamia

Millamia has been a shop staple for almost a year now. It is an extra fine merino wool that is machine washable. Many people love it for a variety of projects from fair isle sweaters to baby blankets. The blanket below was knit by Jackie for her newest niece and it is absolutely gorgeous. The stitch definition is wonderful. 

It makes great children's fall/winter accessories as there are so many options with their color palette.  

The pattern books that support the yarn have numerous wonderful designs that are sized generously - many from 3 months to 7 years. A useful range of sizes and the styles are timeless. 

The Uno Cowl is a wonderful knit accessory for a boy or a girl.  We have one on display at the shop and it is a beautiful knit and the color combinations are endless. It is a super soft yarn that is sure to please every child. 

The books have something for all levels and the yarn is fantastic to work with. Did I mention machine washable? Perfect for everyone.

Helping Hoboken

Help us help Hoboken!

Starting in December, Patricia's Yarns will be raffling off a blanket made by loyal shop customers to benefit the Hoboken Homeless Shelter.  What could be better than our shop's knitting community helping our Hoboken community?  Stop by Patricia's for details or to purchase your ticket (this blanket is gorgeous!). 

Also, thank you for all of your purchases during our Shop Patricia's Yarns Event benefiting the Hoboken Boys and Girls Club!  Once the sheep purchases are tallied (see below), we will be making a large donation soon!

To aid recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy, Patricia's Yarns will also be selling sheep - not real sheep, of course, but paper sheep.  Stop in the  shop and get a cute little sheep with your name on it.  Each sheep is $1 (special sheep will be selling for $5) and all proceeds will benefit the Hoboken Boys and Girls Club which suffered extensive damage from the storm.

For more information about the Hoboken Boys and Girls Club, please visit: http://hoboken.patch.com/articles/hoboken-boys-girls-club-ravaged-by-sandy

More ways to help:

The Rebuild Hoboken Fund: To donate to this charity founded in the wake of Hurricane Sandy by a group of local organization and charities in partnership with the City of Hoboken, please visit www.rebuildhoboken.org. Monetary donations are welcome; please do not donate supplies.

Heal Hoboken: Buy customized apparel from HealHoboken, an organization founded in the wake of Hurricane Sandy by the New Jersey Tech Meetup community. All proceeds go to the Rebuild Hoboken Relief Fund. Visit www.healhoboken.org for more information. 

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey: To donate to the Community Foodbank of NJ’s Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, please visithttp://www.njfoodbank.org/, call (908) 355-3663 ext. 243, or text FEEDNJ to 80888 to make a $10 donation. You may also drop off canned food and other non-perishables to the organization's location in Hillside. Visit the website for more details.

NY Sheep and Wool, 2012

We had an amazing time at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY!  On October 20th, twenty four of us boarded a chartered bus on a beautiful day.  The annual Rhinebeck trip was filled with good friends, good wines, and, of course, beautiful fibers.  I am posting a few of the photos I took on my phone, but I assure you, they do not do this trip justice - it was so fun!  If you missed this year's trip, be sure to sign up next year.  This is an annual Patricia's Yarns Event!

Kelbourne Woolens & Patricia's Yarns

This weekend was so special as we had an exclusive class with Kate Gagnon Osbourne & Courtney Kelly of Kelbourne Woolens, distributors of the Fibre Co Yarns.  

It was fantastic. The class was filled with 8 enthusiastic knitters ready to learn from two of the industry's leading yarn & knitwear designers.  

We began with lots of discussion of gauge, needles, patterns and how some things just do not work out. There was swatching and re-swatching, followed by measurements and size decisions. 

It was a very successful class and everyone smiled so brightly as they left with the utmost confidence in their chosen sweater project. Having the support of each other, the shop and Kate & Courtney is the perfect formula for success. Well done everyone!  Happy knitting!

Fall has started to arrive...

This time of year is very exciting at the shop and for fiber enthusiasts. The temperatures start dropping, you may need a light sweater for an early morning commute and new yarns for fall start rolling in.

Unlike summer when I know exactly what Danny (our UPS man) is bringing, fall brings a bit of a buzz as so many new things are coming! This week has been full of excitement.

We received some Maxima from Manos del Uruguay (1 of 2 shipments) and are very pleased. Manos del Uruguay is a company that is a part of the World Fair Trade Organization because they actively support women's cooperatives throughout Uruguay. Their yarns have the best colors and the Maxima is super soft.

Next we restocked our Shepherd's Wool from Stonehedge Fiber Mill, a Michigan made yarn. This is a soft worsted weight wool 100% USA made

A brand new line to Patricia's Yarns is Brown Sheep. A very large box came from Nebraska full of Lambs Prided worsted & superwash worsted. A rainbow of colors from American made Brown Sheep now fill their fare share of shelves.

Finally, Lantern Moon delivered some gorgeous needle cases, baskets & notions perfect for every yarn lover.

New items are arriving daily so check in often for the best selection. Who knows what will spark your next creative urge. 

Happy Labor Day 2012

What a great summer 2012 has been. In honor of Labor Day the shop will be closed this weekend from Friday 8/32 thru Monday 9/3.

We will open on Tuesday 9/4 at noon full of fall energy - what will your first project of September 2012 be? I am casting on a little number with this...

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend & we will see you in September!

8 Wonderful Years

Recently many customers have noticed my "celebrating 8 years" sign in the window and say, "has it really been 8 years?". I can't believe it either! We then begin a trip down memory lane recalling classes, projects and yarns from the past. The years have been wonderful and hold such great memories like kids summer camp, the annual Rihinebeck road trip, wine tastings with Clark, birthday parties and customer celebrations. With much happiness our celebration begins today.

The celebration is complete with a sale (all yarns on sale 15%-50%) and raffle prizes from a few of our favorites like the Fibre Company, Blue Sky Alpacas, Spud & Chloe and Soak.

Thank you to all my amazing customers for eight wonderful years. I look forward to what the next eight will bring & look forward to celebrating with everyone this weekend.

Fibre Company's Tundra

One of my favorite booths to visit at the needle arts trade show (TNNA)  is the Fibre Company. It is always great to see owners Kate and Courtney and being surrounded by every color of their beautiful yarns is a sight to behold. 


Fibre Company's new yarn for 2012 is Tundra. It is a "2-ply bulky weight blend of soft baby alpaca, bouncy merino and shiny and drapey silk". It will be arriving for fall but I have a few samples if you need a sneak peek. 

Pictured is the darker color Taiga and the lighter blue hued Glacier. I am currently knitting this up for a shop sample. Drop by to see it and touch it for yourself.  In typical Fibre Company fashion, this yarn is super soft, heavenly luxurious and a dream to knit with. What will you be knitting using Tundra?

Knit, crochet, create!

Patricia

TNNA here we come...

For the 9th year I will be attending the TNNA yarn market trade show in Columbus, OH to pick out amazing new products for Fall, 2012. I'll have Margaux (aka Tentenknits) joining me for the 4th year in a row and I am so excited.

I look forward to catching up with my best knitting friends and indulging in some Jeni's ice cream at every opportunity (a legendary ice cream spot).

I can't wait to see (in no particular order):
Beth, Michael and Amanda at Lorna's
Taiu & Rhichard at Koigu
Jacque at Soak
Stacy Charles... You know who he's with
Kate, Charlotte & Courtney at Kelbourne Woolens
Amy at MadelineTosh
Everyone at Blue Sky Alpacas
Lisa at Fairmont Fibers who bring us beautiful yarn from Manos del Uruguay
Clare at Erika Knight... (Oh yes- she has started her own line and we will have it for Fall 2012).
Juanita at Misti Alpaca
Donna at Skacel
and Della at DellaQ

And then there are so many booths with fabulous new things that will bring wonderful knit-inspiration to us! It is really exciting.

I will be sure to tweet & update Facebook from Ohio so you can follow the adventures of TNNA! It is going to be great!

I am looking forward to bring back many wonderful products just for you. Happy Knitting!