Dear Friends of The Blue Purl,
It is the kind of thing easily overlooked -- and for years it was. It was just a small cotton sack, worn and tattered, and it ended up in a box of other scraps at a Nashville flea market, where it lay unnoticed until someone chanced upon it and took a moment to read the words embroidered on the front.
My great grandmother Rose
mother of Ashley gave her this sack when
she was sold at age 9 in South Carolina
it held a tattered dress 3 handfulls of
pecans a braid of Roses hair. Told her
It be filled with my Love always
she never saw her again
Ashley is my grandmother
Ruth Middleton
1921
Most people move towards the loudest noise and look up at the brightest flash. Most people follow the crowd, cheer for the touchdown, jump up and down as the music blares.
You are not most people. You all see the value in the quiet, meditative arts of knitting and crochet. You know that a sweater or blanket made by a loved one carries deep meaning, even if there is no one cheering for it.
We at The Blue Purl want to begin the New Year by asking, what is your cotton sack? What article, trinket, button, needle, do you cherish because it carries a story of past lives and future hopes? What inspires you, quietly? Do you have a blanket that your mother made? A pair of socks from a great aunt? Is there one item that survived a long journey and was passed down to you?
For Tiya Miles, it was a tattered bag that was her inspiration. What is it for you?
In our continuing effort to build community, we are asking for your stories that tie you and the past together. Please send photos and a brief description to our email: info@thebluepurl.com.
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 *Knit Night*
Saturdays, 11am-4 pm
Closed Sundays & Mondays
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Given the current environment, we ask that everyone please wear a mask.
- We can offer knitting help/fixing mistakes in the shop again but can only spend 5-10 minutes for drop-in issues.
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Keri by appointment is BACK! - Tuesday & Thursday. Please call the shop to schedule.
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Wednesday Knit Nights! Wendy is hosting open knitting on Wednesdays 5pm-7pm. This is social knitting for us to catchup with everyone. 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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Sweater Quantities of TOSH
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With the holidays behind us and the winter temps feeling more wintry, time to do some knitting for you. Drop in and you'll find the big table hosting sweater quantities of Madeline Tosh Merino Light, Tosh Sock, Tosh DK and Tosh Vintage. There're also a good number of ASAP skeins to consider. Can't make it in? Click onto the links above. The colors are a veritable feast for the eyes. |
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Use your phone & keep warm... |
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Churchmouse's Welted Fingerless Gloves are great in Shibui Nest but even more luxurious held double with Shibui Silk Cloud. The Nest with the pattern are available in the online shop (lower photo) - add a skein of Silk Cloud (top photo) if you'd like a little more posh warmth and fuzziness. Great for using tech in chilly weather :) 'Wow!' is what you'll say when you see W's sample in the shop. |
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Tamy Gore's Knitnight Shawl |
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The Three Color Cashmere Cowl by Joji Locatelli in Road to China Light and The Frank Shawl kit in Madelinetosh Merino Light are both just luminous. Come see for yourself. Both available in shop, as well as online.
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Restock kits include our hottest selling color combos of The Morning Walk Hat in Woolfolk Tynd's 11 & 1+11 aka the speckled navy colorway and the 15 & 1+15 aka speckled black colorway.) The pattern is available directly from Ann Patterson. Stop by for your kit or go to our online shop. |
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Baah! La Jolla - January '22 |
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January '22 La Jolla just captures winter in silvers with accented flecks. Pick up a skein or 2 while supplies last! |
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Getting organized in the new year? How about a Plystre Bag to keep your latest project contained. There are still a few of these left. |
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Oma Goodness - Oh My Goodness - Amy!! |
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Two very cute Sandcastles |
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Nancy made these adorable Sandcastle ponchos by Jamie Thomas. She used Sandnes Garn Alpakka Ull. The sizes are for a 3 month and 3 year old. Super work and nice picture, Nancy! |
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Keeping the cold at bay are Morgan and Tulip, the whippet, both sporting matching hats complete with pompoms made by none other than our Keri! She used Berroco Vintage to show off her handiwork. Morgan's has some Shibui Silk Cloud mohair added for extra coziness. Before you ask, it's from an old pattern not available online. Tulip's is Knitted Dog Hat with an extra cable to match Morgan's... too perfect.) Fabulous, as always, Keri! |
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Crofter sweatered and capped |
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Keri has adorable and spunky Christopher to knit for also! What a piece of work modeling his Sirdar Baby Crofter and matching hat. Mom loves it so much she requested another! Yay! |
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For Christmas, Ellen made this gorgeous Valnod by Inese Sang for her daughter in Woolfolk Far. This effort was nothing short of a labor of love. Look at all of that beautiful texture. Well done, Ellen! |
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Morning Walk - this winter's go-to hat! |
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Maryann made this Morning Walk Hat for her daughter this Christmas. She said her daughter was shocked that she actually made it because it was so "perfect". The hat is knit up by holding Woolfolk Sno and Tynd together. It is very squishy, comfy and super soft. It was so popular this season for a reason! |
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Cheryl was inspired by our community section of the newsletter to mak e this sweet Easy Knit Heart Baby Blanket with Berroco Vintage. What a special gift for her great niece. It's love and lovely, Cheryl! |
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Cherie has been making hats! You want to work with her because she gives them as gifts during the holiday! Here is a Pull the Wool Over kit in MadTosh Vintage and Shibui Silk Cloud finished beautifully with a super fancy real fur pompom topper. What a rich color and the recipient clearly loves her gift too!
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June's Creels Keep Coming... |
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June was busy knitting more Anne Hanson's Creel Cowl using 29 Bridges DK from the pop up. Your special tag is a nice touch. Nice work, June! |
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Adrianne's Christmas Booty |
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13 headbands, 6 hats, and a scarf in 2 weeks. Adrianne used Be Wool for this knitting marathon. You win the Gold Medal!
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Nancy's Beckam, Declan and Lucca plus...
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Nancy, one of our busiest knitting elves this past holiday, knit a family of Christmas stockings for her friends. What a wonderful and generous surprise. Kudos to you, Nancy! |
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If you like this section, check out our Before & ...After on Instagram - here are a few !
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BEFORE & AFTER… Where’s Keri going all wrapped up with that Brooklyn Tweed Shelter? Just off to make a beautiful Crosby sweater by Julie Hoover. This is a pieced henley with that gorgeous diamond pattern rolling down the back, as well as the front. Keri is teaching this class. So, we’ll be seeing more!!!
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A Good Vintage Cardi Class Preview |
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BEFORE & AFTER… In no time, Carolyn, another one of our wonderful teachers, whipped up her latest crocheted sweater class' finished project:
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Also from our Instagram.... We are big fans of Lurch & Morticia knitting and are always talking about embracing mistakes. This quote from writer, Neil Gaiman is a perfect meme mashup to bring in the New Year.
Happy New Year everyone. Can’t wait to see what this year brings. We are so grateful for your support. ❤️ The Blue Purl Team
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