Dear Friends of The Blue Purl,
Holiday season is upon us! Time for good cheer, family fun, smiles all around. Right?
Well, not always. The holidays can also be a time of stress, a time when we reflect on misplaced dreams and find ourselves back in the middle of family feuds.
As artisans who work with our hands (yes, that means all of you), we are often confronted with our own mistakes. You maybe dropped a stitch two hours ago and now, there is nothing to do, but rip it all out.
We have all been there.
So, then what? You beat yourself up? You resent the extra time spent redoing the whole thing?
Well, our advice today is to: Let It Go.
Just Let it Go.
There are so many life lessons we can take away from knitting and crocheting. And this is one of them.
Try to be in the moment. All that extra time you have to spend working on your project after discovering your mistake is EXTRA TIME TO PRACTICE. It is not time wasted, but it is time you are investing in yourself. We hope that all your experiences with knitting build you up and don’t bring you down.
It’s a cliche to say that knitting is cheap therapy but there is some truth to it. And all of us here at The Blue Purl hope that we, too, help lift you up and give you the skills, materials and encouragement you need to be able to take on the holidays with a smile.
So, if you feel a holiday malaise coming on, Let It Go.
If you make a mistake, rip it out and Let it Go.
And if you just can’t quite get there, come visit us. We'll help.
As Always,
connect + create
Patty, Wendy & TBP Team
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Please BYOBags to support Madison's green initiative. Let's get back there! As per ordinance, we now charge 10¢ per bag.
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SEE WHAT WE'RE UP TO! FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
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Our Extended Holiday Shop Hours
**Sundays until Christmas, noon-4pm**
Closed Monday
Tuesday, 11am-5 pm
Wednesday, 11am - 5 not 7 *this week only
Thursday, 11am - 5 pm
Friday, 11am - 5 pm
Saturday, 11am-4 pm
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If NOT vaccinated, please wear a mask; if vaccinated, face mask optional - but highly suggested.
- 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 on Tuesday and Thursdays. Please call ahead to schedule.
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Wednesday Knit Night! We are back in action this week but will take a holiday pause on 12/15th. Stop in to knit, chat, and shop! Help fixing mistakes unavailable 5pm-7pm.
- **OPEN Sundays until Christmas from noon-4pm**
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29 Bridges Pop Up Sale &Trunk Show |
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Just arrived is the Pop Up Shop and Trunk Show for 29 Bridges Studio, a Maryland-based indie yarn company offering a collection of hand-dyed yarns, complete with samples. For your consideration on the big table are: Go to Sock, Sport, Merino DK, Bulky Merino, Chunky Singles, as well as Go to Sock Mini Kits. All quantities and colors are available for a VERY limited time only, as in only until December 20th. All this loveliness will disappear as quickly as it arrived. Some weights available only in shop. Need ideas for what to do with all of these beauties? Click here onto our curated Ravelry Bundle.
Curious to see but unable to stop in, some selections are available in the Yarn dropdown menu in the online shop or click onto the links above or call. |
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After a long wait, the Plystre Bags are here. Come on in to take a look at the vibrant colors and styles. We think the orange is so happy! |
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Expected delivery tomorrow! Some of you have been waiting for yours and we are happy to oblige! Treat yourself! Love the board pictured above 'in the wild' used by Cherie in the Christmas Stocking Class. Great for colorwork! |
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December '21 La Jolla - Just In! |
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Look at this month's offering! Colors in the variegated skeins of La Jolla's fingering weight yarn are reminiscent of pine trees in winter. A perfect choice for the month of December. Stop by and see for yourself or click here.
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New Kits this week & Class Sign-Ups...
Strawberry Mountain combos
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Boy have the elves had fun, fun, fun playing with all the new yarns... In shop kits this week include selected color combos for Strawberry Mountain using a skein of Primrose Homestead Sport and a contrasting solid. Those taking Liz's class might drop in to take a peek at our pairings (some already have) but you don't need to be a class member to jump in. Pool's open to everyone and the water's just fine!
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Churchmouse's Simple Toe Up Socks |
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How serendipitous is it that we have tons of choices in solids and speckled color ways, new this week in the 29 Bridges Go to Sock yarn, a generous 463 yards in Superwash Merino and 25% Nylon for strength and durability. Marianated's Scrumptious HT also has nylon and is great for socks. Our loaded table overrunneth with eye popping goodness. We're betting you'd be hard pressed to choose just one!
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29 Bridges Studio's Chunky Singles arrived in so many gorgeous colors... 'twas inspiration for Y to design a cowl that's not only super easy and stylish but also a quick knit (possible Christmas gift?). Hers is on loan at the shop. With 2 skeins and nothing but garter stitch and a 29 stitch cast on (coincidence?), you too can whip up this snuggly soft beauty in no time at all. There's an optional crocheted button loop closure for added toasty versatility. Pattern available free with yarn purchase. Hey! W's already rockin' hers in Flaming June (great color/band name?) and 'just right' button.) Perfect!
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Open to learning something new? |
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Churchmouse's Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf |
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Churchmouse's Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf kit available in shop only |
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Available on December 11th |
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Laine Magazine Issue #13 - Winter 2021
Usnea includes:
- 148 pages
- 10 knitting patterns & 1 crochet pattern, beautifully photographed and illustrated
- an interview with Danish knitwear designer Lærke Bagger
- an article about June Cashmere
- an article about ChiaoGoo
- an article about the importance of crafting and creativity by our regular writer Päivi Kankaro
- seasonal recipes
- book reviews
- Laine Favourites section
Designers featured in this issue: Susan Chin, Susan Crawford, Sidsel Grau Petersen, Midori Hirose, Susanna Kaartinen, Inyoung Kim, Hanna Maciejewska, Mariya Matveeva, Paula Pereira, Maiju Räsänen and Griselda Zárate.
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How to Upcycle your favorite jeans plus ...
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Laurie knit this wonderful Diggory Venn, a pattern by Isabell Kraemer in Blue Sky's Woolstok. Love that cute pocket and contrasting colorwork dots above the ribbing. Elegant result, Laurie! |
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Cindy's Welted Fingerless Mitts - Knit one mitt a night! |
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Cindy's in full holiday production mode! No fear of supply chain delivery issues for her.) She used Churchmouse's pattern for the Welted Fingerless Mitts in wonderful MadelineTosh DK. (We have kits in the shop) The subtle variegation and softness of the fabric are luscious...beautiful work, Cindy! |
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Kathleen's Super Gifts Ready-Set-Go! |
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Wonder Woman, Ms. K's not only a full-time attorney but also a part-time weekend TBP staff member (along with innumerable other side gigs-list's too long) AND pattern modifying maven (after our own heart!) of the Tin Can Knits World's Simplest Mitts pattern in Cascade 220. She made them into flip-top mitts :) Not enough? Well, then, toss in a Morning Walk Hat made with Tynd & Sno held together. You, GO, GO, GO, K! |
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Nancy's made these happy, toasty mitts using Sandnes Garn's Double Sunday for a lucky friend. How generous is that? Nice picture and great work, Nancy! |
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We can't keep our hands off Dee's Pink Fizz (WIP) - Liz's class - knit in The Fibre Co.'s Cirro. Dee's work is divine (and so is the colorway she chose.). If that wasn't enough, Dee earns this week's ship-in-the bottle prize for making her precious and impressive knitting ornament. Wow! You are AWESOME, Dee! |
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Janet used Sirdar Snuggly DK for this nicely made cardi and pinafore combo from an old Sublime book she had in her pattern library. Her granddaughters will be dressed to the 9s in grandmother's knitted handiwork. Way to go, Janet! |
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Morning Rituals Graduates Carolyn & Karen |
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Knit-A-Long leader, Tam and Carolyn are sporting their Morning Rituals by Andrea Mowry in Woolfolk's super soft Flette. Karen dropped in later to the shop to show off hers. Lookin' fabulous and displaying truly marvelous work everyone! |
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Eleanor's First Christmas... |
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Little Ms. Eleanor is napping under her very own Christmas Stocking, a class in progress by Keri. What a sweet thing ... get a load of those long & lovely eyelashes and perfectly coordinated onesie! Christmas merry, indeed.) |
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Sandi's glowingly lux mitts |
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Sue knit this super soft trio with Berroco's Ultra Alpaca Natural. The Prudy Beanie's by Nina Hagerty. Excellent stitch definition and cables all around. What wonderful gifts! Lovely work, Sue!
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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… Tam is a superstar, we are so grateful to have her in the shop! She does a fab job test knitting for designers and here is one for Heidi Kirrmaier called Reflections Vest. She made it in Brooklyn Tweed Arbor. Vests are the best. It took her two weeks! Len’s looking awesomely handsome! So great under a jacket. This is a unisex garment. Check out the detail pic.
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CM Linen stitch & Madison Christmas tree |
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A Mad-ison Monday fun shot…A drive by shot of the town tree looks just like the Churchmouse Linen Stitch Scarf in the shop. Right??? (Yes, it’s called knitters brain. Haha. ) We’ve made a kit using 3 Koigu skeins. Our town was alive this weekend with people and music! Come visit! |
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The New York Times yesterday had this picture of a stylin’ automated T-Rex that lives in The Natural History Museum in London. He/she dons a knit colorwork sweater. Yeah, you know, those T-Rexes 🦖… they have short little arms to knit for so, it’s not like making a turtleneck for a Brontosaurus 🦕 Just saying… |
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