Dear Friends of The Blue Purl, |
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So, what would bring you to the phone?
Let’s first lay a little ground work. There are things that define each of us. Family. Work. Faith.
Those are the basics for many of us, right?
So, if a stranger calls and says this is the office, you come to the phone. If an unknown number pops up and someone says they have information about your family, that’s easy, you take the call.
Now, if a random number pops up and someone just asks for you by name, what do you do? Oh, there are so many telemarketers and scammers out there, you are probably suspicious and ready to hang up.
Take a minute and listen in on a recent call to "Jane".
TBP: Hello, is "Jane" there? This is the Blue Purl.
Male Voice: Uh, No.
TBP: Can you have her call us back? I can give you our number.
Male Voice: Well, I don't know when she will be back (going to hang up...).
TBP: Wait! This is about knitting.
Male Voice: Ohhhh, you're legit.
TBP: Yes, she signed up for a workshop at The Blue Purl.
Male Voice: Hold on she's in the shower... Jaaaaaane....! Jane, The Blue Purl is on the phone and they have a message for tomorrow.
Jane: OK, what is it?
TBP: Bring along DPNs size 8 or under and a tapestry needle.
Male Voice: Bring DPRs and needle.
TBP: Have her call us back....
Family. Work. Faith. AND KNITTING.
Jane’s husband was doing what anyone would do to protect a partner from some random cold call. The magic word was knitting and even though Jane was in the shower (she really was; we heard the water), he knew her well enough to know that this call mattered.
What we do is not just what we do, but in many ways who we are.
We get you and we know you get us, even if sometimes it means interrupting your shower.
connect + create
Patty, Wendy & TBP Team
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SEE WHAT WE'RE UP TO! FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
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Shop Hours
Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, 11am-5 pm
Wednesdays, 11am-7 pm
***Wednesday Knit Night 4pm-7pm***
Saturdays, 11am-4 pm
Closed Sundays & Mondays
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Per updated NJ State masking rules, the shop will become mask optional as of March 7th. While taking in-person classes, however, we respectfully ask students to follow your instructor's lead.
- We can offer knitting help/fixing mistakes in the shop again but can only spend 5-10 minutes for drop-in issues.
- Keri is on a well-earned hiatus for some R&R and unavailable until Thursday, March 24th.
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Wednesday Knit Nights! Wendy is hosting open knitting on Wednesdays 4pm-7pm. This is social knitting for us to catchup with everyone and to ooh and aah over each other's work. We will be unable to provide fixing mistakes help during this time. The shop is also open for shopping during these hours.
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NJ WoolWalk 2022 - Passports Available! |
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Pick up your $6 passport in shop or email @thebluepurl.com for this year's NJ Woolwalk. $1 of each purchase will be donated to the Community Food Bank of NJ. Mark your calendars, folks... the festivities begin on Saturday, April 23 and run through Sunday, May 1st. That's an incredible week book-ended by 2 weekends for a total of 9 days!
Stay tuned for TBP's celebration of our craft. Wendy and Patty are cooking up LOTS o' reasons to drop in, including MORE trunkshows, possible celebrity sighting, TBP exclusives ...
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Winter has been elbowing back Spring... If you've been perusing Ravelry recently, you've noticed there's been an uptick in patterns worked up in worsted weight fiber. We've created a bundle filled with some of our favorites.
Happily, we have many choices for your next project. So many more that they couldn't fit onto the basket! See W's curated grouping in the photo above: superwash, wooly wool, and non-wool options which include:
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TBP's Road to Madison - The Final 4 |
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TBP's March Madness Color Championship comes through the Road to Madison toward the FINAL 4! Your voting participation has been critical. Please keep up the great work!!
With that, TBP's Selection Committee enthusiastically announces the results of your votes to the Final 4. Cinderella - O-Wool O-Wash Worsted's Barn Owl, continues on its stealthy upward trajectory and has defeated, the perennial large and in-charge favorite, Woolfolk's Flette Bulky. The shocking upset continues in an all gas, no brakes contest...
Our resident bracketologists have been fielding unrelenting calls from our fans across the country and around the globe. Even prognosticator and pollster, Steve Kornacki known for predicting elections and football games "was called in"(though Tom Brady's re-emergence from retirement caught him a wee bit off guard).
The buzz now: Will Barn Owl make it to the final round? Will it be able to overcome Marianted Scrumptious HT's The Blue Purl? Or, could Cinderella's dance be over? Only your votes will tell.
Please click here to see our Final 4 pairings and continue your voting to decide which colors get to move on to the final .
Stay tuned to our Instagram or newsletter. Results will be announced next week right here. The fates of the Final 4 and soon-to-be March Color Champion are in your hands. Remember to enter your name and email for prize eligibility at the end of the vote.
The shop's Final 4 contenders, in alpha order are:
Remember to vote, vote and vote some more!
The March Color Champion will be crowned on March 31st!
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Swatch to Sweater & Learn to Crochet |
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Skill Level - Advanced Beginner - must be able to cast on, knit and purl
Class Dates - 5 Wednesdays beginning April 13, 20, May 4,18, June 1
Class Time - 9-10:30 am
Cost - $110 + Supplies from The Blue Purl
Instructor - Liz Braverman
You see all these beautiful sweaters in the shop and in our social media - and you want to make one but don't know where to start. Well, here ya go - Liz will take you through it step by step...
YES YOU CAN!
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Skill Level - Very Beginner
Class Dates - 3 Tuesday's April 12, 19 May 3
Class Time - 7-9 PM
Cost - $90 + supplies from The Blue Purl
Instructor - Carolyn Hanson
Pattern provided in class
Whether you're an avid knitter who has never picked up a crochet hook (except for dropped stitches) or never worked with yarn at all, this is a perfect class! In these sessions you'll learn the basics of crochet while creating a scarf. Techniques include: single, double, half double, and triple crochet, Foundation chain, scalloped edge & pattern reading.
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Happily Mitts & Mitered Crosses Blanket |
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Skill Level - Beginner - must know how to cast on, knit & purl
Class Dates - 3 Tuesdays, March 29, April 5, 12
Class Time -9-10:30 am
Cost - $65 + Supplies from The Blue Purl
Instructor - Keri Samuels
This class is perfect for the beginner who just completed the Learn to Knit class. You’ll build on your skills by learning to knit in the round and change colors for striping.
Skill Level - Intermediate
Class Dates - 3 Tuesdays, May 3, 10 and June 14
Class Time - 5- 6:30pm
Cost - $65+ Supplies from The Blue Purl
Instructor - Keri Samuels
This dramatic blanket is made in individual squares (great for warm weather knitting :) which are then connected with simple seams. You’ll use self-striping yarn to make the center of the blocks and a plain color for the borders.
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Our very popular Jill Draper's Kingston, a lovely rustic, tweedy DK is in the house. Get yours now, as tweed is all the rage. Here's our extensive Ravelry bundle filled with ideas. Psst... read on to see Ansel, fingering, worked up. |
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The KAL's humming along. Super progress on the Birkin, all! Just lovin' the color choices and colorwork. Tough part's behind you... you'll be able to work the sleeves in your sleep or while watching the games during NCAA's March Madness! |
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Pam took Birkin and made it her own. The pattern calls for fingering but she used worsted weight Berroco Vintage. Lots of successful modifications and the fit is right on. Love your happy and bright palette. Go, Pam! |
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Joni's wrapped in Texture |
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Here's Joni sporting her Textured Scarf, in-house pattern in Berroco Vintage Chunky. It's her first project after an extended knitting hiatus. Word is she'll be knitting one for her hubby in Juniper Moon's La Pampa. Nice work, Joni! |
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Lisa used Fibre Co's Acadia & Rowan Alpaca Soft DK for her Sirell by Berangere Cailliau. Oo, la, la....transporting us to Paris in Spring. Perfect to wear for a stroll through the Tuileries .) A little bit of lace, fun stripes and gorgeous color make for an absolutely fabulous result. C'est manifique, Madame!
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Maura made Toph with Kelbourne's Scout and a color changing yarn. Reminds us of sinuous tree peony buds hiding the forthcoming show stopping spectacles within. ❤️ a purply-pink short row beauty... Wowsers, Ms. M! |
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Diana knit up this gorgeous Gianluca by Isabell Kraemer in none other than Jill Draper Makes Stuff's Ansel. We ❤️ her awesome modification skillz - sporting a different collar and short sleeves. The rich, variagated red is outstanding and that colorwork combo plays oh so, delicately and politely. Big ❤️, Diana! |
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If you like this section, check out our Before & ...After on Instagram - here are a few!
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Peggy's hooked on Bobbles |
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BEFORE & AFTER… Awesome Peggy 🤩 crocheted her Rainfall Cardigan full of bobbles (so much easier to crochet!) with generous pockets and super cozy vibe. This beauty is made with Plymouth Homestead Tweed and the pattern is by Little Golden Nook (Oma Goodness class take note!) Thanks for sharing, Peggy. LOVE IT!
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