Dear Friends of The Blue Purl,
So much of our time is spent looking back.
That makes sense, where we have been is in many ways who we are. We are a collection of our experiences (and genes, for sure). And to the best of our knowledge, none of us really have a crystal ball.
But still, sometimes, it makes sense to look forward, to focus our attention and energies on the next step, not the last step.
The Spring seems like the time for that, so let’s, together, look to the future, which can be as far off as next year, or the year after, or as close up as one hour from now, or even right now.
As members of a project and learning based community, you do this naturally. You are always thinking one stitch ahead, and then about what project comes next.
That kind of thinking, inherently optimistic, has helped all of us get to where we are today. We are all happier, healthier and more grounded because we work to create beautiful things, because we always know that what we are doing today is actually preparing us for what comes next.
There is this writer, Arnold Bennett, who put it so nicely, we thought we’d share it with you.
“The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance.
The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you,
as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied
a single moment in all your life.
You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose.”
That is our point. Forget time wasted. The right now is what matters, and the future is in every stitch and every skein and in every class. We are ready to take with us the lessons of this past year, into a better future. There is no going back, only forward, together.
connect + create
Patty, Wendy & TBP Team
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BYOB - Please Bring Your Own Bags! |
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We had started asking you to BYOB just before the pandemic began to support Madison's initiative. Let's get back there! |
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SEE WHAT WE'RE UP TO! FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
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Spring hours: Tue. - Fri. 11-4
Saturday 11-3
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6 customers at a time are allowed in the shop for half hour shopping.
- Face masks MUST be worn.
- Phone/facetime/email sales and curbside pickup will continue
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Please limit your in-person visit to 30 minutes when we have others waiting.
- We have 30 min scheduled appointments for shopping. Call us at 973-377-5648 for a scheduled appointment.
- We can NOT offer knitting help/fixing mistakes in the shop at this time due to social distancing guidelines. Thank you for understanding. Call us and we'll try to arrange for help.
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Woolfolk's Sno Collection 2021 was released recently and we can not stop admiring the Protea sweater by Orlane Sucche. This is a breezy, super soft sweater worked top down with a-line shaping in three beautiful shades of Woolfolk Tynd & Sno. We have the sample colors in stock but we also pulled together some other spring combos for you. The pattern can be purchased on Ravelry. The yarn is available both online or in the shop. |
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Woolfolk Accessories Trunk Show |
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Our NJ WoolWalk Woolfolk Trunk Show is here (say that 5 times!). The folks at Woolfolk put together a special accessories collection for the NJ WoolWalk and we couldn't wait until the 17th to show it off. Get an early start to your WoolWalk planning & check out the trunk show next time you visit us. |
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The spectacular weather this week has us planning for your warm weather knits. Designer and founder of DanDoh Yarns, Yumiko Alexander is based in Arizona and her yarns & patterns reflect this. She wants her designs and yarn to be fashionable & functional for warm weather.
We love DanDoh Cotton Fine, a light fingering yarn with a smooth & crispy texture from its coating of a viscose rayon film. This will come off with washing, revealing a soft comfortable garment. Yumiko released several new patterns during the pandemic and we pulled them all together into a Ravelry bundle for you. Check out Breezy V, featured in our pic to the left. |
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Silk + is another of our DanDoh favorites. This is a sport weight raw silk with little specs of color combined with a cotton. It has the strength of silk with the comfort of cotton. We love the Meander top and the Reeds wrap. Our DanDoh Ravelry bundle includes patterns for both DanDoh yarns. You can find DanDoh online or in the shop. |
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Do you find yourself always buying the same needle sizes in different lengths or never finding the needles you thought you already have? This is a good sign to invest in quality tools to set you up for all your future projects.
We just received a few sets of AddiClick Rocket Squared in both standard lengths & short lengths, AddiClicks in standard length in their new pink carry case, AND ChiaGood shorties!
Patty is using the Addi Rocket Squared now & LOVES the texture of the needles, no more slippery metal! Tam & Wendy started using the ChiaGoo Shorties and finished sleeves are flying off their needles. The sets come in a range of sizes with multiple cord lengths, all neatly organized in a carrying case. More details are posted in our online shop or come in to check them out. Don't wait too long, we didn't get many of these. Find the needle sets online or in the shop. |
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We have special hours, special trunk shows, special visits- all for WoolWalk 2021. First, our special hours:
WoolWalk week only
Saturday, 4/17: 10- 5pm
Sunday, 4/18: 10-5pm
Monday, 4/19: closed
Tuesday, 4/20: 11-4pm
Wednesday, 4/21: 11- 7pm
Thursday, 4/22: 11-4pm
Friday, 4/23: 11-4pm
Saturday, 4/24: 11-5pm
Sunday, 4/25: Closed, back to regular programming
Special Trunk Shows- we are so excited to showcase these spectacular designers, hand dyers & yarn companies.
- Marian's Marianted hand dyes in all her bases will be at the shop all week and the dyer herself may pop in for a quick visit.
- Lori Versaci is lending us her samples of her fabulous designs to showcase at the Blue Purl! How often do you get to see the designer's own samples of her work. These will be in the shop the whole week of WoolWalk.
- Laurie Brekke (Motherknitter) of Sandnes Garn will visit Sunday 4/18, 10-2, to showcase new & current Sandnes Garn yarns and samples.
- Of course, there's the special Woolfolk Accessories Trunk Show mentioned above.
We can't wait for all this fun. In the meantime, we only have a few of the special edition Blue Purl WoolWalk 2021 tote bags left. Our relentlessly creative Wendy made & applied the design on the backside of the WoolWalk totes just for Blue Purl fans. All proceeds of our special totes will be donated to the Community Food Bank.
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We also have WoolWalk passports available for purchase. You'll need these to get all the discounts & join the raffles during WoolWalk week.
Both the special edition totes and the passports can be purchased in the shop.
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It's time (again!) to make baby blankets for the newborns at Newark Beth Israel Hospital. The midwives, moms & newborns loved your Baby Blossom Blankets. Last year's effort was a huge hit and they could really use more this year.
The simple blanket requires 3 balls of Baby Blossom chunky, we'll include the pattern & give a 10% discount if you mention it's for the Beth Israel newborns. This is an ongoing effort, so no deadline. We'll keep collecting & donating, if you keep knitting. Drop off the finished blankets at the Blue Purl. Yarn can be purchased in the shop to get the 10% discount.
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Laine Issue 11 & 52 Weeks of Shawls |
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Laine Issue 11 is available for preorders! This issue features 11 gorgeous patterns in garments and accessories featuring beautiful yarns, including Sandnes Garn Alpaka Ull and Winterburn Aran. This summer issue will be available on May 7th, but preorders start now. You can reserve your copy online or in the shop. |
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3 copies left of 52 Weeks of Shawls in our preorders! Order online to reserve your copy.
Laine's latest book, 52 Weeks of Shawls, will be an immediate classic. The book features a pattern for every week of the year, including 2 crochet patterns. Designs range from color work, lace or simple textures in a variety of shawl shapes. |
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Beginner Class - A Simple Washcloth
LEARN TO KNIT!!!
Date & Zoom Time: April 12, 19, 26,May 3 9:00-10:30 am
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Class fee: $50 + supplies from The Blue Purl
This class will cover the basics of learning to knit. We’ll learn how to cast-on, knit, purl, read a pattern and bind off while making these cotton washcloths. If time permits, we’ll make 2 or 3 different cloths – we’ll see how it goes! Class size is small so we can provide lots of support.
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The Doulton Cushion - LAST CHANCE!!! |
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designer: Jenstarknits
Date & Zoom Time: 3 Fridays April 9, 16, 30 - 9- 10:30 AM
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Skill Level: Intermediate
Cost: $35 + supplies from the Blue Purl
This pillow is pretty on both sides and features 2 cables – a simple cable up the sides and a larger diamond cable with bobbles in the center. Techniques include cables, chart reading, making a one-row buttonhole and sewing a simple seam. From the pattern: “This is an envelope style cushion cover inspired by vintage gansey patterns and fields of sheep, which are represented by the flowing diamonds and small bobbles in the design.”
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These are little works of art.
Crochet is the BEST for little 3-D Amigurini-ish objects. Just loving the fruit!!!
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Cherie came in with her Hitchhiker - (with a twist) by Martina Behm. The twist was k2tog with a YO every 6th row to make it a more open construction - perfect for the Spring! She used a big ball of Lang's Millie Colori! It's beautiful!!! |
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Meg's Yume Isabell Kraemer is a classic for good reason. It's a great pattern and always has spectacular results! Meg made hers by holding together Baah LaJolla and Shibui Silk Cloud. This top down sweater can be made with short or long sleeves. It's Dreamy Meg! Love it! |
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Wow this is stunning! Nancy made this beautiful Bubbly Shawl by Ainur Berkimbayeva. The drop stitch design has a beautiful open texture and the plum color of the Kelbourne Scout yarn makes this shawl stand out. The pattern for this was in Making Magazine No. 10. Beautiful Nancy! |
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Maura dropped in with these beauties. They are called Speedsheep b y DUCATHI using Plymouth Homestead. With small needles and thick yarn these will really keep your hands toasty. They feel AND look awesome! The pattern construction around the cable is tight. LOVE them Maura! |
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Kathie came in with this beautiful cowl, super soft made with Fibre Co's Cumbria Fingering. The Faye Cowl is one piece but knitted in two parts, so like the mitts above is not only soft but thick and cozy with the two layers. The two patterns look great together AND it's a free pattern on Ravelry. Gorgeous Kathie! Thanks for sharing! |
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Mary made the Sulka Mitts by Caitlin Hunter's during class. She had enough Cascade yarn left to incorporate into a cowl. Looks great together Mary! |
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We hid Marybeth's half knitted arm of her Hard Cider for our group shot! (top) SLEEVES! they take FOREVER! She made her beautiful sweater during our KAL with Blue Sky Woolstok - Tam & Wendy made theirs with Jill Draper Makes Stuff Kingston DK. Check out how all 3 necklines are different! Hope that sleeve gets done quickly Marybeth because you look great and I'm sure there's a couple sweater weather days left?! On to our next KAL.... |
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Lots and lots of Vintage Chunky!! |
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We love seeing the different blanket from the Building Blocks classes Keri is teaching! Top is Lisa's ( in the wild :) It looks beautiful in the room. Below teacher is holding Kim's - love that she used 7 colors! Both are. made with Berroco Vintage Chunky. These WILL be put to good use. Both are wonderful!! Congrats! |
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Monika often comes in with a fab sweater! This is Cable Inset Cardigan,by Deborah Newton published in Vogue Knitting Late Winter 2018 - It fits her perfect. She made it a bit ago but needed to take a picture... She used Berroco Vintage Chunky.Lovely Monika!
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Cheryl made Elizabeth Smith Chunky Monkey cardigan vest, with Berroco Vintage Chunky for one lucky growing grandson! The pattern goes from 3 months to 4 years. Bottom up and one piece and connected at the shoulders with a 3 needle bind-off - of seamed. Super CUTE Cheryl!
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