Louisa Harding Fashion Show for Macmillan

This April, Spin a Yarn is proud to host a fashion show with designer Louisa Harding at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen. We have put on a number of fashion shows in the past but this is our first with Louisa and we’re excited to meet her.

Last November, Louisa proved her mettle by undertaking a trek into the Himalayas to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. As well as being sponsored for the trip she also designed hat patterns – the proceeds of which added to a handsome total.  So far she and her group have raised £180,000!

Louisa’s cause is personal as her husband was diagnosed with Lymphoma in January 2011 and the Macmillan team were a huge support for her family. There aren’t many of us who haven’t been affected by cancer in some way and Macmillan is a name most of us will recognise. Inspired by Louisa’s story we will be giving half the money we raise at the fashion show to Macmillan Cancer Support and half to our usual charity the Devon Air Ambulance Trust. Louisa’s hat patterns are also available to pick up in our shop in Bovey Tracey for any amount you wish to give to her charity.

In other news, it’s Spin a Yarn’s 7^th birthday on the 4^th of July and we will be celebrating with a week long sale on all yarns and accessories! Loyalty Card holders get an extra 10% off. This sale will also be available on our website www.spinayarndevon.co.uk so don’t forget to register online before then.

Details of Louisa’s trek are available on her website http://www.louisaharding.co.uk/macmillan/

While I'm away from the shop I'm missing the arrival of MillaMia yarns from the Swedish sisters design team. Also expecting the beautiful Artesano sock yarn to arrive any day now.
If any of you have a favourite yarn that we don't stock don't forget to get in touch with you suggestion; you never know it might be on my list of yarns i need to buy next. I'm looking at Malabrigo, Erica Knight and Habu at present.

Jersey continued

Must get out and take some piccies in the snow soon. Meanwhile I've got my Andes neck roll in Debbie Bliss's Andes to complete as well as Anniken's pretty little shawlette, Mar Menor, knitted in Botany Lace and a random misplaced rib scarf I'm knitting in 2 strands of Angel Prints together because a ball got tangled in some luggage and is a brilliant easy knit.

We're so proud of our son here working as a PWC accountant surviving his first busy season working from 8.00pm until after midnight most days. He is so mature now and took his parents out for a delicious seafood meal last night at the Navigator seafood restaurant at Rozel overlooking an exciting Atlantic sea.

I love to watch the lashing waves while my husband just thinks puke!1

Stranded in Jersey!!

When I had the idea a few weeks ago to visit our son in Jersey combining his birthday, my birthday and mother's day all in one weekend trip nobody had any idea that we would have the worst weather Jersey has had for the past 30 years!
We arrived after a pleasant crossing on Saturday to warm barmy weather here.
unfortunately the storm arrived last night and everything has been cancelled today flights, schools and more importantly for us the ferries. The comfortable fast one we came over on is not due to run until next Friday. We are booked to take the next available one out on Wednesday. This leaves at 6pm and takes 13 hours to Portsmouth. We are booked into reclining seats and are trying to get hold of a cabin.
Fortunately I have plenty of knitting to keep me calm!! My poor husband gets very seasick so is dreading the journey back.

Sue is keeping the team together at Spin A Yarn. so don't worry you can still buy wool to take advantage of this cold weather to knit.

Spring news

Already March, although its still pretty cold.
visited the Stitches show in Biirmingham a couple of weeks ago and was impressed by the Milla Mia stand. I decided to order the extra fine merino because the clear bright colours are so pretty and the patterns and books are brilliant.

We've just had a delivery of lots more qiviut mixes; as all the ones we had in stock have sold out. Its easy to become addicted to this luxurious,so soft yarn and customers have been tempted back to buy more once they have knitted with the beautiful fine yarn.

Now I'm excited about the Rowan Angora Haze and Kidsilk Eclipse which are being launched in the Autumn.

New Hand - dyed sock yarns are obviously the new obsession. I've ordered some Rowan Art Yarn and the Artesano Sock yarn which comes in lots of plain colours. Also been looking at Malabrigo........................!

Oh Dear . can't seem to stop planning what I'm going to purchas next!

Newsletter and Schedule is finished!

At last we've finished the newsletter and workshop schedule and sent it to the printer. Just hoping he gets it back to me before I fly off to New York for 5 days with my daughter,  Christina. It will be our 5th trip in a row to NY for Christmas shopping.
I'm busy trying to see if I can find any new yarn shops to visit so if you have any suggestions please let me know. NY is just so Chrismassy with its beautiful decorated shop windows and pretty trees.
I'm really excited because Christina is on her way home from Singapore for her best friends wedding and for Christmas,today!

Louisa Harding Fashion Show

We''re very excited because Louisa Harding is coming to visit Spin A Yarn for the first time on Thursday 18 April in preparation for our latest Fashion Show in the Devon Guild that evening.
We all love Louisa's designs. They are so feminine and fit really well with pretty darts and unusual detail.

Designer Yarns are sending some Noro garments down for the show that evening as well.

I think the evening will sell out very fasy after the success of our latest show, held in October with Martin Storey and Alison Crowther Smith

More qiviut

My clever son-in-law has sorted my problem with photos so I thought I would post the couple of photos that I meant to put on the site yesterday.

The proud couple with their beautiful yarn is Vivian and Ozzie from North of the Arctic Circle in Alaska.

We really enjoyed meeting them and entertaining them in Spin A Yarn.
I actually ought to have taken loads of photos but couldn't really concentrate........
Not sure how I remove the date from the photo. But never mind it'll be good to remember the exact time and day that they visited.

Cheers

Joyce
xx