Knitting with Company » news

Flying Saucers Sighted Over Geneva

Neil — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:33:41 +0000

Just in case you don’t know what Fliegende Untertasse means, it is German for Flying Saucer (or literally “flying under-cup”), and that is exactly what landed in the store on Tuesday. These super colorful disks of yarn are created so that you put a piece of yarn or string through the center, hang them on a doorknob or something similar, and then you can unroll TWO STRANDS AT A TIME of the same space dyed yarn, thus making identical socks! Fun, Fun, Fun … Christie started a pair at the store yesterday so come and see them and grab your Flying Saucer while we still have them … they are literally flying out.

Post from: Knitting with Company If you enjoy participating in a community of knitters and crocheters you'll want to join our Knitting with Company groups both online and at our store in Geneva, in the western suburbs of Chicago..

Flying Saucers Sighted Over Geneva

Mindful thought – Woman knits helmet liners for troops with patriotic touch

Neil — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:48:20 +0000

July 3, 2010 by KATIE MORELL For Sun-Times Media

More than 70 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are patrolling with comfort, thanks to the efforts of one woman: Carol Rosene.

Earlier this year, the St. Charles resident became aware that helmet liners worn by servicemen and women are made of nylon and very uncomfortable, but that the government accepts wool liners made by citizens to replace the nylon pieces.

Carol Rosene, 72, of St. Charles, is passionate about helping servicemen and women in Afghanistan and Iraq, so she knits helmet liners for them to use in battle. She is the daughter of a World War II veteran, so she says she can relate to the families of those overseas.

read the full article …

July 3, 2010 by KATIE MORELL For Sun-Times Media

Helmet Liners, Gators, Stocking Caps

Neil — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:35:56 +0000

Good Afternoon Wool and Company Customers:

I am dropping you a quick note to let you know that we received your donation of 86 Helmetliners, 39 Neck Gators and 38 Stocking Caps on July 16, 2010. This brings your year to date total to 419 Helmetliners, 13 Scarves, 153 Neck Gators, 25 Cards, 1 Cardigan and 52 Stocking Caps.

We appreciate your generosity because without volunteers like you this wouldn’t be possible.

Thank you for supporting our troops.

Kandy Scribner
Administrative Coordinator
Citizen SAM

www.citizensam.org

Citizen Support for America’s Military is a 501 (c)3 charitable organization.

Want to learn more about how you are supporting our troops?

Meet Dani Cortez at Wool and Company

Neil — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:15:08 +0000

Come on Wednesday July 7th at 2:30 pm to meet Dani Cortez. She will be visiting us on her Craft Culture Summer Tour and she wants to meet as many knitters as she can to talk about crafting across America.

Have you ever wondered what it is about the crafting world (and crafters) that seems to give us common threads (no pun intended) across large swaths of time and distance? What holds us together, even in different regions? What are the differences between a punk rock stitch & bitch in Seattle versus a small prayer shawl ministry in the heart of the south?

Dani Cortez, the host of the Craft Culture podcast will be visiting Wool and Company on July 7 on the first leg of a cross-country tour and would love to talk with YOU about your crafty lives and groups! This leg of what will eventually be a worldwide tour is focused primarily on knitting and spinning, and Dani plans to visit with local yarn stores, stitch & bitches, knit nights, prayer shawl ministries, and knitters on the street (among others). That means YOU could be a part of this tour!

She’ll be blogging her progress as she travels from pristine Anchorage, Alaska to Greensboro, North Carolina, as well as doing videos and podcasts highlighting her adventures. And it’s all for a good cause — the data she collects will be used for either a section of an upcoming book or a book in its entirety about the sociological and cultural impact of modern handcrafts. We’ve always known, as crafters, that what we do can impact and change both ourselves and the world around us, and now, Dani’s looking to document it firsthand.

We will have refreshments, and a couple of drawings for some cool crafty things … so make sure you come.

Hyde Park Guild

Neil — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:39:48 +0000

Did you know we love to have Guilds come and visit?

We have had a couple in the past few weeks and it is always fun to meet new knitters from other areas.

Here is a great photo of the Hyde Park Knitting Guild posing outside the store.

Ladies of the Hyde Park Knitting Guild

Some of these ladies have been customers since we opened, and for others it was their first visit, and we enjoyed having them.

If you’d like to arrange a group visit please contact us.

Shoes for Ophan Souls Update

Neil — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:18:31 +0000

From the triblocal …

As the final curtain closed on Pheasant Run’s Mainstage on May 17, the Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy’s Cinderella cast left the theater knowing they’d accomplished more than entertaining an audience. This cast of 6 to 8 year-olds turned their time in the spotlight into an opportunity to help other children.

The cast of Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy’s spring musical not only spent six weeks rehearsing for two performances, they also collected donations of shoes, socks and shoelaces for the 10th annual Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe drive. The cast members set out donation bins at local businesses, schools and churches. Some of the girls asked their Girl Scout troops for donations. In addition, the cast invited the audience to donate these items at the performances.

So far, the cast has collected 130 pairs of shoes, 168 pairs of socks, 4 pairs of shoelaces and the donations haven’t all been counted yet.

There’s still time to donate … just bring your new shoes, socks and laces and drop them at the store.

If you want to see how valuable these shoes are check out this news release from Partners in Health.

Summer Class and Workshop Schedule

Neil — Sat, 22 May 2010 02:35:31 +0000

We’ve added some great classes for the summer, there’s a smattering of daytime classes as well as a great selection of evening classes.

How about the Birch Shawl. This shawl was designed by Sharon Miller for Rowan – it’s a classic, knitted using Kidsilk Haze. This lace beauty looks much harder to make than it really is. You”ll learn basic lace techniques, tips and tricks while making the shawl.

Or maybe the Citron Shawl is more your style? Designed by Hilary Smith Callis who writes, “As this little shawlette was taking shape, I couldn’t help but notice a resemblance to a slice of citrus due to its semi-circular shape and increases subtly radiating from the center. With its bit of ruffle and ruching, and especially its reference to my favorite of the California crops, I knew I would be wearing this fruit accessory to each and every party this year”.

Want to take a step outside your comfort zone and learn a few new knitting and crochet skills? We added nine different Power Hour Sessions – we’ll cover Cast Ons, Cast Offs, Increase Decrease, Blocking, I-CORD, Swatching, Charts, Duplicate Stitch, Edges and Hems.

A great opportunity to round out your skills.

There are lots of other new classes, for beginners, baby knitters and others, as you’ll see on the full schedule.

Win a free gift basket in our Classic Elite Knitalong

Neil — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:12:08 +0000

Join us for a Knitalong and win a fabulous gift basket that is worth at least $200.

Win a Gift Basket Value $200

Simply purchase a pattern book and yarn at our store from the Classic Elite Summer Collection between May 20th and July 31st; complete a project using one these fabulous yarns that we stock by July 31, 2010 provide pictures (you can upload the pictures here) of your completed item along with proof of purchase and we’ll enter your name into a drawing for the basket. You will get one entry into the drawing for every ball of yarn that you purchase.

Choose a Pattern Book

Think that you might need some support and encouragement? Then come along and join in one of our knitalong support sessions:

Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 – 3:00PM on June 9th, 16th, 23rd and July 7th; and / or
Sunday afternoons from 3:30 – 5:30PM on June 13th, 27th, July 11th and 18th.

The Yarns

Firefly this warm-weather yarn has a subtle sheen and wonderful hand. A super blend of line and viscose.

Allegoro is part of Classic Elite’s eco-friendly Verde collection. A blend of organic cotton and linen that is soft with great stitch definition. Linen is a great warm weather fiber; it’s cool to wear. Because it takes up moisture rapidly, it wicks away dampness from your skin, and as the moisture evaporates from the fabric, it cools you.

Fresco is a smooth and even 3-ply sport weight yarn. The plies are twisted together tightly enough to make a firm, springy yarn, but not so tightly that the yarn looses its lofty, soft hand. The fiber blend – wool (for warmth and strength), alpaca (for loft and sheen), and a bit of angora (to provide a soft halo) – makes a yarn that’s warm, soft, and slightly fuzzy.

Classic Elite’s Silky Alpaca Lace is a beautiful blend of alpaca and silk, spun into a gossamer yarn that knits into amazing lightweight pieces. Take your favorite lace pattern and using Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace, make yourself something that is a masterpiece – a shawl, a scarf or maybe a wrap. The alpaca gives the yarn warmth, softness and a wonderful halo; the silk adds the silky sheen along with additional softness.

Charles “Skip” Mennerick Memorial Concert

Neil — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:18:07 +0000

Join us on Thursday May 27 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois for great night out. Show starts at 7:00 pm, doors open at 6:00. Tickets are just $25 and are available online at www.thearcada.com.

Skip Mennerick died suddenly and tragically in October 2009. Proceeds from this concert will benefit his wife Erika, son Cole and daughter Kiera.

Chicagoland’s premiere horn band IS AUGUST. Not just a band with horns, but a band who plays some of the best music ever written; a band whose essence is horn-driven rock, soul and R&B. Experience that music, experience the band … www.augusttheband.com.

With very special guest, guitarist, singer, sogwriter Greg Boerner (“Burner”). His music is an original blend of blues, folk, country, roots rock n’ roll and all that comes between — Southern style. www.gregboerner.com.