Handknit Yarn Studio

I am pretty smart all things considered but some things I cannot for the life of me figure out include: doors, dishwashers, and thermostats. So I am almost always cold during my shifts these days because of the a/c.

Good thing it's a yarn shop and we have wonderful samples! I put on the mohair+fingering sweater Lynn knit the other day!

The complete Tour de Fleece info is up on our website now btw!

Wanna trade? Come do a fibre swap! One week from now, on Saturday June 27, there will be a casual opportunity for all of us to refresh our fibre pantries in preparation for the Tour!

Bring at least 100 g of fibre from the same braid/lot and take at least 100 g home. They'll be put on a table for 11 am at which point everyone can take a pick. We won't be checking the bags ourselves for imperfections and can't take responsibility so do check them yourself before bringing one and taking one. Honour system!

If you have an unreasonable stash like I do you can also just bring some and not take any. The thought of parting hurts, but sometimes one ought to practice letting things go. Or maybe I don't. We'll see.

Have you been sad this week because you do not spin but you want to join in the Tour de Fleece festivities? Well we've got a Trial Stage Prize for you! We are giving away a 2-hour private learn to spin lesson with our very own Cathy Elizabeth Thomson! Learn to spin and join the fun!

You and she will decide on a time that works and you'll be off to the races. All you have to do to enter to win is comment below. You can truly say anything and be entered, but I will personally respect you more if you include a pun on the word spin. We will draw and announce the winner on the morning of Thursday June 25!

I didn't mean to keep you hanging longer than 24 hours! I just slept in, which happens sometimes.

The deadline on the calendar is to enter to win these prizez! One lucky winner will pick a 100g braid of Odd Cat Yarn merino cashmhere nylon we have in store AND receive a Ashford Hand Carder! (If you have one already you can opt for a $75 gift card to our shop.)

How? You can get two entries: 1) tag us in a post or story about your Tour de Fleece intentions or email us before July 4; and/or 2) tag us in a post or story about what you accomplished during Tour de Fleece or email us before July 29.

But there's one more thing you can win! But unfortunately (fortunately?) You'll have to wait until tomorrow.

First of the real information: the schedule!

To mark the beginning and end of Tour de Fleece, we will clear space at our usual Satuday 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Knit Circle for a spin-in! As always, our wheels are free to use during spin-ins. Just make sure you have your own bobbins.

We'll be offering a drop spindle class and a blending workshop on the other Saturdays in the afternoon. More on these coming!

Also, a deadline? For what? You'll have to wait to find that out, too. What's a story without a cliffhanger?

I used to spin. It was at a radio station in a suburb of Boston, and I programmed and DJed classical music. You may not remember this, but music used to come from spinning discs. Elderly residents of Boston used to call me on the station’s landline to express gratitude for my not overlooking solo bassoon repertoire or appreciation for my rambling spin on the relationship between Kundera, Nietzsche, and Beethoven.

Wait no. I still spin. I ride my single speed bike to West Harbour then take the train to Exhibition, and I spin my wheels down Queen Street, stopping at Paper Plus Cloth and Type Books, then up Shaw to Flying Books then Wonder Pens then She Said Boom, until my pannier is overflowing with books and stationery then I shoot back down University to Union where I take the bus back to Hamilton Go. Then I have a pint at the pub on Augusta to congratulate myself for another day well spun.

Wait no. I don’t spin anymore. My head used to spin because I couldn’t keep anything straight. Now I have total clarity of thought.

Wait no. I do spin still. I spin out threads of stories one after another that seem to have nothing to do with each other, but then they get plied into a whole that seems, in afterthought, inevitable.

Getting warmer. GET WARMER! SPIN SOME YARN WITH US.

Yes, all that just to say: Tour de Fleece is upon us starting July 4, when we spin yarn with the cyclists spinning their wheels through France. More information is coming all week long! Let's be real, there was no real information here. But it's coming!

Today is World Wide Knit in Public Day and the sun's out! We'll be set up outside the shop. But names can be decieving: you can bring your crochet or your spindle too. You could bring a whole wheel if you'd like. Don't bring a fleece and a bathtub though.

World Wide FIBER CRAFT in Public Day!!! See you there?!

(This is also foreshadowing for something coming your way 😉)

Look I know I've been making a big deal out of how I have become a new person and I am finishing stuff before casting on new stuff and I have 2 dress WIPs from last summer but should I cast on another dress??? The Lily Vest pattern by Sari Nordlund includes the dress mod now!!!???

THIS SATURDAY JUNE 13: WORLDWIDE KNIT IN PUBLIC DAY!

Every day is knit in public day for some of us but this is a great day to knit in public TOGETHER! Come on by and socialize with mates and join me and Tracy in stitchmaxxing! I'll even come early and have tables set up by opening time at 10:30. Perhaps there will be egg tarts if I can get my self together.

See you there!