Holiday Happenings

Okay, as of midnight tonight, it's December. DECEMBER! To us, December means knitting at warp-speed, celebrating with all of you as you come in to get supplies to frantically knit, decorating the shop (this year in shades of blue and silver, thanks to our lovely Amy of Good-to-be-Girl fame) and stopping once in a while to take a breath, gulp a cup of tea and reflect on how grateful we are for the joys of the past year. And speaking of Amy - she just dropped off a new supply of her mom's knitting bags in several sizes: snowmen, mittens and more designs to tempt you.

This week, there are a couple of opportunities to get together with all of your knitting pals and make some progress on those last-minute knitted gifts: Friday, Dec 4 is Knit Nite, 6-8pm. Join us for the music of the season by Ray Skjelbred and his dolceola (miniature piano). Ray is a well-known local musician and husband of our infamous VYT fan Elsa - hear Ray's music from 6-7. Treats will be provided by Dinners Ready and we'll get to know more of our neighbors from the Towne Center.

Saturday, Dec 5 is our Holiday Open House and we'll be in celebratory form all day with yummy goodies from Svedala Bakery, hot tea (of course), harp music by our friend Valerie Day from 10am-1pm and a holiday ornament Make & Take from 12-3, with Susan Dirk. If this day doesn't get you in the mood for the up-coming holidays, we don't know what will! So bring your smiles and show off your projects and join us for the fun!

Black Friday?

That's the traditional name for the day after Thanksgiving and all of its shopping madness. It won't be black or bleak at Village Yarn and Tea that day, though, because we have yarn in all kinds of colors and tea in all kinds of flavors to soothe the savage shopping beast. Come in and get some!

Just to make the day a little more special, join us in celebrating the launch of the newest book from Interweave Press by Mary Scott Huff: "The New Stranded Colorwork." We'll have a trunk show, book signing and reception. Mary is the aunt of one of our very favorite customers, Katy Scott - and Katy knitted one of the projects in the book! Way to go, Katy! Mary will be with us from 11am to 1pm on Friday, Nov 27.

We'll be closed on Thanksgiving Day and we wish you and yours a happy holiday filled with lovely memories, delicious food - and productive knitting, of course!

Mitten, mitten, who's got a mitten?

You will, if you sign up for Lisa Ellis's class on knitting twined mittens, coming up on Sunday, November 22 from 2-4pm. These mittens are made using an easy technique that gives you a firm, double-thick fabric that no wind and cold can possibly get through! You'll learn twining in stockinette and rib stitch, plus experience a thumb gusset and top of the mitten shaping. Lisa always has plenty of extra tips and tricks to share and her energy is definitely contagious. Reserve your spot by calling the shop ASAP - at $30, this jam-packed class is a steal!

Yarn: oh, yeah, babe!

You may have noticed that now we're in the Towne Centre, our yarns are flying out the door at an alarming rate of speed. Lucky for you, they're flying in at almost the same rate! Why, it was just a few days ago that the Mink/Cashmere blend blew in. Yes, I did say mink. As you knit with it, it magically blooms into an amazingly soft and light piece - and at 230 yds per skein, you can knit a cowl and fingerless gloves from one.

Today a box of Dream in Color Smooshy and Starry appeared at our door. If you haven't tried knitting socks or scarves or fantastic small shawls with this yarn, now is the time. Somehow, Joni managed to leave the shop without any Starry in her bag. We're betting by Thursday, she'll reconsider.

Faye, however, did not make it out the door without a couple of skeins of Aslan Trends Santa Fe sock yarn. Because, you know she has no sock yarn at home... Anyway, she did use restraint, because she was about to leave with FOUR skeins and then guilt got the best of her. At $6.50 per 190yd skein, you can see why she got so excited!

Speaking of Aslan Trends, Invernal is here! This angora/merino blend is another yarn that blooms when your hands touch it. Check out the soft, subtle colors at a great price.

See you soon around the shelves!

Knit yourself an event

If we all get together, we can knit ourselves an event! Two are coming up this weekend. Join us Fri, Nov 6 for the first-ever Knit Nite in our new space. Meet our new neighbors from Dinners Ready and Lake Forest Park Bar & Grill, who are welcoming us (and you) to the neighborhood with yummy snacks.

If your knit-fix is still not complete, join our friends at Third Place Books for a knit-in in the Commons and be lulled by the Kana Wind Quintet. What could be more relaxing? Sun, Nov 8, 1-4 pm. See you there!