Yarn Shop Day 2015 at Spin A Yarn

The second annual Yarn Shop Day came around so fast! This event is organised by knitting magazine Let's Knit to celebrate the wonderful local and independent yarn shops around the UK, with all sorts of fun shenanigans being arranged for customers at their favourite shops.

We were lucky enough to have the very talented designer, teacher and now published author Anniken Allis visit the shop with a copy of her new book, 'Beaded Lace Knitting' hot off the press! Anniken has long been a friend of Joyce and the shop, and it's wonderful to see her beautiful designs in print. We're taking pre-orders for the new book which will be published by Search Press shortly, so if you're interested get in touch!

We also had some fun yarnbombing the shop. Customers brought in their own squares or knitted them on the day, in exchange for a discount on their purchase. We had great fun covering bits of the shop including the till while Joyce was on holiday. If you're reading this Joyce then don't worry, we still remember which buttons to press ;)

We're looking forward to next year's already!

Tremendous Tea Cosies for a Good Cause

 



When knitter Penny Comley-Ross visited the shop earlier this year in search of unusual yarns such as Noro, we were intrigued to find out what she'd be using them for...

On chatting to her, we discovered she has set herself the target of raising £3,000 in support of St Margaret’s hospices in Somerset, by making glorious and extravagant tea cosies. How could we not be totally behind Penny in her wonderful quest!

Many of the designs are by Loani Prior from her books ’Wild Tea Cosies’ and ‘Really Wild Tea Cosies’ with kind permission of Murdoch Press and Search Press. Each one takes about 4 evenings to knit and most people make a donation of between £20 and £30 in exchange for a cosy.

St Margaret’s Hospice needs to raise £10 million per year to provide superb services to people with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones. If you're not a tea lover but still want to support this great cause, we will also be accepting donations on behalf of St Margaret's hospices, or you can always donate a knitted tea cosy of your own to help Penny raise funds.

Great British Knitting Awards winners - again!

We are all celebrating this week as our lovely shop is in the top three BEST INDEPENDENT KNITTING SHOP SW! Last year we were placed fourth placed so were moving up the poles.

Each Summer we welcome lots of new customers to our shop in Bovey Tracey as well as customers on holiday who always come and visit us and stock up on designer yarns.

We also treat knitters with serious 'knitters withdrawal symptoms'! People who come on holiday without ANY PROJECTS???! A soothing cup of tea, browsing our huge pattern collection and two rooms of yarn collections to choose from gets them back to their happy place.

Frill Seeker Boa for parties, presents and just to own

If you would like to knit this beautiful scarf, there are a few spaces left on Thursday 18 September...

The Frill Seeker Boa

Workshop spaces still available in September!

We are famous for our workshops, our teachers are designers and authors. Is a lovely day to learn, relax and be in the company of knitters, surrounded by beautiful yarns - how can you resist!

The workshop space. Classes are small with a maximum of eight

Workshops cost £49 and include 10% discount voucher to spend on the day.
Full day, 10.30am – 4pm and with a homemade lunch, tea, coffee and tea time treats
Friday 5th September


Anniken teaching one of her workshops

Continental knitting with Anniken Allis
Wednesday 17 September
Tunisian crochet with Diana Stewart
Thursday 18 September
Frill seeker Boa with Alison Crowther-Smith
To book call us on 01626 836203
The complete Autumn programme is on the website.

Happy knitting,
Victoria x

Student designs

Textile student Heather Firby, working with the Spin A Yarn team this summer has been inspired by our big collection of designer yarns. Specialising in knitwear design she has put her talents to use and created this fabulous crop jumper in the Schoppel laceball

 

Heather used one ball of Schoppel laceball



Beautiful variegation gives a contemporary look

Heather with a selection of Laceballs

Thanks Heather for designing and knitting this, Victoria X

Cowlboys

Yarns knit up differently, we know this, but it can be difficult to get a true comparison. And, yes prices can vary dramatically.

With this conundrum in  mind we have knitted this Cowl pattern in two different yarns to help our customers feel the difference.



Cowl knitted with one ball of Sirdar Wool Rich Aran

Cable cowl knitted in Artesano Aran knitted with 2 skeins, although one would just as good.