Dear Friends of The Blue Purl,
We focus on socks today, why, well they are whimsical, and who does not need a little whimsy. Just look at them, and they kind of make you smile.
We know, it does not really feel like a time for smiles, with so many touched by the virus, tens of millions unemployed – and now an explosion of anger across our country. Protests have broken out, and while some have been out of control mostly it is just regular people asking for equal treatment under the law, free of racism.
We value community and connection. To come together, we need to listen to each other, even when we disagree. Dissent is patriotic in our democracy, from its founding. And with that in mind...
... let us return to the topic of socks, which we all wear, but only some of us can actually make! Picking up the gusset stitches is a challenge, (join a zoom class below) and those ten toes, yikes, they are a challenge too. But when all is said and done, when the project is complete and the needles are put down, they accomplish two things – remind us of our humanity (we all have feet) and, they feel good, they are made with love, they can make you smile.
connect + create
Patty & Wendy
Now let's turn the newsletter over to Pablo Neruda...
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Ode to My Socks
Maru Mori brought me
a pair
of socks
which she knitted herself
with her sheepherder’s hands,
two socks as soft
as rabbits.
I slipped my feet
into them
as though into
two
cases
knitted
with threads of
twilight
and goatskin.
Violent socks,
my feet were
two fish made
of wool,
two long sharks
sea-blue, shot
through
by one golden thread,
two immense blackbirds,
two cannons:
my feet
were honored
in this way
by
these
heavenly
socks.
They were
so handsome
for the first time
my feet seemed to me
unacceptable
like two decrepit
firemen, firemen
unworthy
of that woven
fire,
of those glowing
socks.
Nevertheless
I resisted
the sharp temptation
to save them somewhere
as schoolboys
keep
fireflies,
as learned men
collect
sacred texts,
I resisted
the mad impulse
to put them
into a golden
cage
and each day give them
birdseed
and pieces of pink melon.
Like explorers
in the jungle who hand
over the very rare
green deer
to the spit
and eat it
with remorse,
I stretched out
my feet
and pulled on
the magnificent
socks
and then my shoes.
The moral
of my ode is this:
beauty is twice
beauty
and what is good is doubly
good
when it is a matter of two socks
made of wool
in winter.
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We asked the sock lovers in the shop to share some sock love...
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LIZ...
I am knitting
Apart Together Socks
(MadTosh Sock). Together, with my daughter, while we are 1753 miles apart.
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CARLA...
I love making socks (as you know). My reason for making them is I have a very narrow foot and have a hard time getting socks to fit. My feet are always swimming in store bought socks. The ones I make fit me so much better, plus I love all the color options. I mostly use the
Yankee Knitter Classic Socks
pattern because I love the fit and I can take a plain sock and add my own designs/textures that I can fit into my stitch count.
The Picture attached is using this pattern and adding a simple stitch pattern for the texture.
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CAROLYN..
My favorite socks to make are
Fancy Feet
by Lucy Neetby. We conducted a class in the fall and it was so much fun since there are so many designs made with the 2 different yarns (one variegated and one solid)
I make one pair of socks per year. I now have over 10 pairs in different colors and designs.
Socks are my go-to traveling project; lots of knitting is a small, compact carry-all.
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KATHLEEN...
(a Haiku & her handmade sock drawer - above)
Knitting on the go
Perfectly portable socks
No more wasted waiting time
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TUESDAYS-FRIDAY, 11-4pm, Sat. 10-1pm - Sales consultations on phone/FaceTime and email - Curbside Pickup Only
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Call us 973-377-5648 - It's always best to e-mail with your requests anytime at
info@thebluepurl.com.
Also, we regularly update our
ONLINE SHOP with existing and new inventory. Kits, yarn, & needles are showing up daily! It's a work in progress! We are busy inside fulfilling orders (with gloves and masks) and will hang them on our door when you pull up curbside, or send them in the mail.
FYI - We have one phone line - if you're having trouble getting through please email us. Also, please, all button sales go through email - send us the size button needed, color, and if possible a snap of the garment or yarn used.
We appreciate the support and love you are all giving us!
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THE BLUE PURL LOYALTY PROGRAM
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We've wanted to find a way to reward those of you who regularly support us.
Here it is- the Blue Purl Loyalty Progra
m!
Sign up is easy! Call 973-377-5648 or
email us
info@thebluepurl.com,
your cell phone number and we will sign you up. You will then receive a text to finalize the sign-up process - simple as 1-2-3.
You will need to click on the link in your text to complete the sign up process or the system doesn't count your purchases towards loyalty points.
You will get 50 points simply for signing up and one point for every dollar spent. When you accumulate 250 points you will get 10% off of one item or $5 off one item at time of purchase. We will be updating our reward offering throughout the year, as the program grows. The program is tied to our point of sale system and our online shop, so it will be seamless to use and no need to track your points, the system will do it for you.
*Woolfolk excluded from discounting.
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Our zoom classes are limited and supportive. The teachers answer questions and help you through issues through chats and support videos - whatever means necessary! AND it's fun to be together for an hour or so....Try it!
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Basic Cuff Down Socks
Level: Advanced Beginner: need to know how to cast on, knit & purl & knit in the round
Instructor: Carolyn Hanson
Class dates: 3 Tuesdays - June 16, 23, 30
Time: 5:30 - 7 PM
Pattern: provided by instructor
Cost: $35 + supplies from The Blue Purl
There is nothing like handmade socks, so toasty, so comfy. Learn to make a basic sock using either double points, one long circular needle or 2 circular needles. Choose a lovely self striping yarn
(like our opal sock yarn) and you’re ready to go.
Techniques: You will learn to turn a heel, gusset, and kitchener stitch.
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Bright Star - an heirloom project! - Zoom Class
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Instructor: Keri Samuels
Level: Advanced Beginner- on up
Class Dates & Zoom Time- Thursdays: June 18, 4-6pm, June 25, 4-5:30, July 9, 4-5:30
Cost: $
30 + supplies from The Blue Purl
"Inspired by the intricate piecing of patchwork quilts, the large, brightly colored stars in this afghan are mainly composed of
mitered squares
. Since the color changes within the squares are all in straight, intuitive lines, this is a perfect project on which to learn the art of
intarsia
. The straight lines also make the chart easy to memorize, so you can comfortably engage in conversation as you work."
This is an heirloom project. It's stunning, Done up in squares so it's a great summer project.
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Instructor: Carolyn Hanson
Level: Beginner and Advanced Beginner
Class Dates & Zoom Time- 2 Mondays: June 22 & 29, 5:30-6:30pm,
Cost: $25 + supplies from The Blue Purl
Pattern: Provided by teacher
This is a great, classic, summer bag made in raffia, and a great beginning crochet project. Learn to read a pattern make an icord, and the bag of course.
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July Knit Along with Liz- Soundtrack Sweater
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Designer Marie Greene, aka, Olive Knits will start her 4th annual sweater knit-along this July and our lovely Liz will be hosting a zoom room for this. This year's sweater is
Soundtrack, knit in
Kelbourne Scout. Soundtrack can be knit in any DK weight, with basic mosaic colorwork for the contrast color, this is a good advanced beginner project.
The pattern will release on July 1st and the knit along runs until August 1st.
Pattern
is discounted to $8 on Ravelry if you purchase by June 15th; it'll be in your Ravelry library on the release date- July 1st.
What: It's a virtual Knit-Along, come join the fun! Compare notes, colors, techniques & Liz will be there if you want advice, but not teach.
When: Wednesdays, 7pm-8pm, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, & July 29
How: in a Zoom room.
Email
or call us to sign up. We'll send zoom sign in credentials ahead of the 1st meeting.
Cost: FREE, with materials purchased from the Blue Purl
Want some ideas for your Soundtrack Sweater? Check out these
Scout
combos. Sweater quantities of
Scout
can be found in our online shop. The combo with self striping
Edition 3 would mimic more complicated colorwork.
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Want a superwash or hand dyed option for the Soundtrack sweater? We expect a shipment of Tosh DK in sweater quantities to arrive in early July. We don't have a definitive delivery date yet, so it may not arrive until after the knit along starts, but it's tentatively expected in the first week of July. If you'd like to preorder these, please email or call the shop to prepurchase these colors-
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Our web store is growing! Lots of kits - and the yarn is slowly popping up -oh so exciting!
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Stepping Stones Cardigan by Rebecca McKenzie, is knit in Fibre Company's Arranmore Light. Why do we like it? 3 words- CUSTOM FIGHT BICEP! The pattern is knit from bottom up with minimal seaming, adjustable length, custom fit sleeve and custom fit BICEP. We rarely find patterns that offer this much flexibility and we know customers always ask our help with this. And there's more---Until June 16th, the pattern is 20% off, no code needed. Also until June 16th, the designer is donating 15% of pattern sales to the
Loveland Foundation.
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TOGETHER APART by Melanie Berg
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We uploaded new colorways for Melanie Berg's
Together Apart
, with our recent Tosh Merino Light shipment. You can find them
here. We only have 1 kit of each colorway.
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Casapinka's Hug Shot- extended to June 14
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Casapinka's latest free pattern with yarn store purchase is Hug Shot. A completely different design from her last giveaway pattern, Hug Shot also uses 1 skein of solid fingering and 1 skein of variegated fingering.
Kits are available on our online shop now, but the pattern will be released June 5th. Every
kit purchase will get a code for the pattern once we have it. Please note- the pattern code will EXPIRE on JUNE 14th.
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"A fun little zig-zag detail at the edges gives this basic garter stitch scarf a fresh finish. The shallow triangle is worked 'both ends against the middle'- two identical pieces are knit separately and then grafted together at the center for perfectly mirrored halves."
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Baah's Color of the Month is here!
We have a limited amount of Baah's La Jolla June '20, so it won't be on our online shop. Please call or
email
to grab these.
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A little help from our friends at Berroco
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From Berroco:
We are aware that many of our LYS have had to temporarily close their doors for their safety in accordance with regulations from their governors. We recognize it's a difficult time for many of our brick and mortar shops. Many shops are transitioning to curbside and e-commerce options but we wanted to help them offer something more! We are happy to introduce Berroco 123 DropShip, to ship Berroco yarns directly to your home.
Isn't that great!
Here (click in) is how it works
...
you find what you want and then call us and we'll place your order and they'll ship it. You can even dip into yarns we don't have in the shop like Farro for this week's free patterns-
Drift
and
Beagle
.
Both sweaters, by Norah Gaughan, are knit with Berroco Vintage, one of our store staples! Call us- 973 377-5648 or
email to get the free patterns with yarn purchase through us.
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And the winner of our random drawing of the Blue Pur
l
Finished Objects
thread is....Caren and her robot blanket!. Caren- if you don't see an email from us, please reach out so we can send you the prize.
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Cheryl's Shawl of Memories...
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Cheryl just finishes a shawl out of meaningful scrap yarn (she also used the project to learn croch
et) ...
"it's
particularly meaningful for the memories of the blankets, sweaters and shawls I’ve made for my family."
And she said it's the first thing she made without using a pattern. Bravo Cheryl it's lovely!
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Mary-Ellen just finished these two beautiful projec
ts.
The cardigan is called
Gradient Cardigan
by Jacqueline van Dillen. It was made with Rowan Kidsilk Haze and was found in Vogue Magazine, Early Fall 2019. The vest is
Ambra
by Martin Storey. That pattern is on Ravelry. It was made with Rowan Alpaca Soft DK. So beautiful Mary-Ellen.
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These adorable bookmarks are crocheted from a book called Bookies. They were so popular Marilyn had to keep making them for her family! These were made with Cascade Ultra Pima. Love them!!
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Cherie used Splash yarn for her
Josie Shawl by Kimberly McAlindin. Stunning Cherie!
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Hours: Tuesday-Friday
11am- 4pm and Saturday 10am-1pm for Curbside Delivery and Mailing Only
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