Cable Gram Blog

Monthly Yarn Store Spotlight Series: Yarnology

Posted in News by Melissa Mintern on Jan 11th, 2021

Basic yarn store info:  Yarnology, 65 East Third Street, Winona
We're currently open Tue + Thu -- Noon to 6 pm, Wed + Fri + Sat -- Noon to 4 pm
We allow only 6 customers in the shop at a time (both to allow room for distancing and so that we can do our best to assist) 
 
Tell us about your team: Kelly is the creative genius of our lead team--she literally wakes up in the middle of the night with amazing ideas for window displays and shop samples. Ingrid is the warm, perceptive heart of the shop--she's likely to remember not only your name, but also what you were working in last time you stopped in. Gaby specializes in "back of house"--she makes sure the bills are paid and loves to pack the online orders. 
 
What yarn do you stock that you feel doesn't get the attention it deserves:  We are known for stocking some amazing European yarns that are hard to find (La Bien Aimee, Biches et Buches, etc.)--and we're very proud of that. But a yarn company that I feel doesn't get the attention it deserves is Minnesota's own Blue Sky Fibers. They offer a breathtaking array of yarns, topnotch design and marketing materials, and are some of the kindest, most generous people in the industry.
 
What class offerings do you have coming up: While we are not offering classes during the pandemic, we have figured a way to give a bit of guided help for customers who've gotten stuck in the middle of a project. We offer a very limited number of 10-15 minute appointments on Wednesdays and Fridays before we open. Both the customer and the Yarnologist stay masked and distanced, but we have seating for two set up with good lighting and tools--and it's often just enough to get people back on track.
 
Are you offering virtual classes: We decided not to offer virtual classes during COVID, as so much of the fun in teaching a class is in the proximity. We do encourage people to look for online classes offered by many of knitting's "rock stars"...like those offered via Vogue Knitting Live, for example. Now is a wonderful time to take a class from your favorite designer.
 
Do you have any upcoming trunk shows or other events: We are in the midst of our 2021 Sweater Challenge, which is lots of fun. It's good to make a commitment out loud to that you are really going to start and finish a sweater. The Challenge officially began Jan 1--but you are welcome to cast on later--and the goal is to bind off by Feb 28. Any yarn, any adult sweater pattern, just go for it. We love the camaraderie and the fact that, even though we're knitting apart, we're also knitting together. Go to the website for more information on signing up.
 
What is your favorite sample: Oh, wow. This is such an unfair question to ask of a yarn shop owner! Yarnology is a shop that loves samples--so we have a LOT of them. It is lovely to be able to try a thing on before you decide to knit or crochet it, isn't it? I guess my favorite sample at this moment is the Wave of Change Jacket (by the talented Denise Bayron). Kelly knit it using Biches et Buches Le Gros Lambswool and, for me, it achieves the perfect balance between rustic and sophisticated.
 
Do you offer a MKG discount or a frequent buyer club: We offer a 10% discount to MKG members and have a Reward Card system for everyone. We keep track of your dollars spent and send out a $20 gift card in the mail when you reach the mark--no punch card in your wallet.
 
Other than shopping, what are the best ways we can help support your yarn store: We very much appreciate it when people take the time to like, follow, and comment on our social media posts. The algorithms are always in flux, but having a strong base of active followers helps us get our message seen in a broader way. Also, think about joining our Ravelry group and going to our website--both to browse and to sign up for our emails. We are minimalists when it comes to mailings, so never worry about being deluged.
 
 
Is there anything else you'd like us to feature? ie: are you committed to providing extra benefits to employees? are you involved with a local charity? are you committed to being green?: We are committed to keeping everyone (most especially our talented Yarnologists) safe during the pandemic. To that end, our hours are shortened, our gathering spaces temporarily removed, and our capacity in-shop is reduced. On the flip side, we continue to be as full-service as we can be and are able to offer short bursts of shopping assistance, blocking/finishing services, and a lovely on-line shopping experience. We hope customers are willing to work with their LYS to make things work.
 
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Sunday Knitting Brunch

Posted in News by Kathy Lewinski on Jan 6th, 2021

Feeling a little isolated this winter and missing your in-person knitting groups?

Join us for our first Sunday Knitting Brunch on Sunday, January 17th from 11:00am - 1:00pm.

Grab your favorite morning beverage and catch up with other knitters at this virtual meet-up hosted by Guild President Kathy Lewinski. This is a purely social gathering and there will not be any planned programming, but feel free to bring questions about your current projects or knitting related topics in general. 

  • Zoom Meeting link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87206673375 Meeting ID: 872 0667 3375 You will be put into a waiting room when you first join in. Note: you do NOT have to pre-register as you would with our monthly meetings.

  • Join in anytime in the two hours and stay as long as you wish.

  • Some of us have decided to use this time to work on sweaters, but you are welcome to work on any project you wish.

  • If the group is too big, we will split into smaller break out rooms for easier discussion

  • We will schedule future Sunday meet-ups based on interest.

Questions? Email Kathy.

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New Year, New Knitter?

Posted in News by Jess Dahlberg on Dec 28th, 2020

New Year, New Knitter? : (Photograph), Finish, or Frog

I have not historically been a new year’s resolution person. The years I’ve tried, I find the resolve fizzles out pretty quick, and the shift into the grind of normal life reasserts itself pretty firmly. That being said, around the end of the year, I tend to get reflective about the knitting I did in the previous year and the knitting I’d like to do in the year to come. As a daily knitter, my knitting time is a big portion of my year! With 2020 being such a crazy year, a lot of my routines were broken, and I’ve found myself looking ahead to 2021 as a fresh start and a chance to reassert some order out of the chaos in all areas.

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Dec '20 Meeting Wrap Up

Posted in News by Kathy Lewinski on Dec 18th, 2020

What fun we had at our December meeting. While it wasn't our normal potluck and silent auction, we certainly enjoyed ogling the pretty yarns and samples from Sun Valley Fibers in WI and learning lots of new tips and tricks from Mary Lou Egan. I can't tell you how many times I thought why didn't I think of that before during ML's presentation! I look forward to being able to take her three hour tips and tricks class at some point.

By the way, don't forget the coupon code to use when shopping on Sun Valley's website, minnesotanice, to get a discount on your next order. 

Then it was on to the business portion of the meeting...

Winter Virtual Knitting Get Togethers - We will be launching these in January. Currently, we are planning on one of Sundays from 11am - 1pm and one on Thursday evenings. They will either be once or twice a month, we'll let you know all the details. These will just be social knitting times to give people a place to connect and maybe even get a little knitting help.

It's Time to Renew! - If you last renewed or joined before July 1st, your membership will expire on December 31st, 2020. We rely on membership fees for most of the Guild's income and we have not raised them in over a decade. If you have been enjoying the Guild's programming, use the Textile Center Library, or just want to continue to help promote knitting in MN, we encourage you to join or renew. PLUS as an incentive, we will have a prize drawing for lots of knitting related goodies from small businesses in January. Anyone who has joined to be a member through 2021 by midnight December 31st will be eligible.

Not sure if you need to renew? Sign into this website. On the Members' Area page click Renew My Membership. From there you can see when your membership expires and renew if necessary. Have a question or need help signing in? Contact Nikky.

Textile Center Fiber Art for All - The Textile Center will be holding a virtual Fiber Art for All Festival in February with workshops, talks, and a juried auction. They are currently looking for items for the auction and sponsorships. Find out more on their website. 

2021 Planning - The Textile Center has let us know that they are not allowing meeting room rentals through March 2021. Our plan right now is that we will most likely continue to hold virtual meetings until at least June with, perhaps, an outdoor meeting in July. We are still planning on some in person activities in the fall. The Great Guild Getaway is scheduled for October and Stitch 'n' Pitch with the Twins is scheduled for late September. We are also considering holding some of the meeting in the future virtually even when we can meet in person, especially in the winter when driving and parking are difficult. 

Service Knitting Drop-Off Event - Our November drop-off event was a huge success. We received 451 items for donation and 84 skeins of yarn. We were surprised by a reporter for WCCO at the event and featured on both evening and morning news!

2021 Service Knitting - Next year we will be knitting for The Range Center, Hats for the Homeless, and HatandMittens.org. The organizations need adults and children hats, children's mittens, adult fingerless mittens, and lap blankets. See more details and some pattern links on the Service Knitting Page. All three organizations will be speaking at our January meeting.

We are planning on drop-off events in April, August, and November 2021.

Featured Designer - Our December featured designer in our own Susan Rainey. While Susan has a lot of great patterns, it was her great last minute holidays gift patterns that caught our attention. Read more about her here. 

Give to the Max Day - Thanks to everyone who helped my our first Give to the Max Day a huge success! You can read all the details of how we did here. If you gave $50 or more and are eligible for a free membership, make sure to answer the email you received from Nikky to either redeem or gift your membership.

Door Prizes - We had lots of great door prizes this month and the winners were...

$30 Sun Valley Gift Certificate - Diane Mountford

Susan Rainey pattern of choice - Annette Watters

Susan Rainey pattern of choice - Alice Ableman

PomPom Magazine - Pat Keller

Amirisu Magazine - Sue Knipfer

Shetland Wool Adventures - Paula Denmaan

We want to wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season! We look forward to a brighter New Year full of laughter, community, great finished projects, and, of course, yarn, lots of yarn!

 

 

 

 

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Designer Spotlight: Susan Rainey

Posted in News by Melissa Mintern on Dec 7th, 2020

Are you looking for some last minute gifts to knit up for the holidays? Look no further than our very own Susan Rainey, the Designer Spotlight for December. While Susan has designs for all times of the year, her Holiday designs really shine a light on the gifting season.

She has designs for all the little ones on your list with her new baby Gansey and matching hat, but take a look at these hats and ornaments!

Susan has been knitting for years. We're so lucky to have her as a member of the Guild.

You can find Susan on Instagram @lv2knitmn, on her blog with her sister and on ravelry.

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Monthly Yarn Store Spotlight Series: Harriet and Alice

Posted in News by Melissa Mintern on Dec 7th, 2020
Basic yarn store info:
Harriet & Alice, 3922 West 50th St, Edina, MN (50th & France Shopping District), Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10-4pm, Sunday 12-4pm.  We limit the number of shoppers in the store at one time, but also have a space next door where customers can wait or even knit or crochet.  We also offer curbside pick up as well as on-line shopping. 
 
Tell us about your team or would you like to highlight someone special?
 
The crew at Harriet & Alice is super friendly and always happy to help you with your project support or shopping needs.  We love to find the perfect yarn for your next project and seek inspiration from all those fun new ideas coming into the shop each day.  We like to think of ourselves as family, and our customers are just an extension of that family. 
 
What yarn do you stock that you feel doesn't get the attention it deserves?
 
One of my favorite worsted weight yarns is Sugar Bush Rapture.  Unfortunately since we carry so many great worsted options, I feel like this one is overlooked more often than not.  It's a great wool/llama soft blend that has a hint of tweed and a super soft feel.  Great for your next favorite sweater. 
 
What class offerings do you have coming up?
 
We try to offer Beginning Knitting classes each month, and will hopefully have some fun classes like mittens and socks in December.  We also love to offer quick gift ideas and KALs, so check us out for more info. 
 
Are you offering virtual classes?
 
All of our classes (besides beginning knitting) have a virtual option. 
 
Do you have any upcoming trunk shows or other events?
 
50th and France has 3rd Thursday events that we will be participating in, so watch for deals.  Look for information regarding retreats and other events soon (all depending on COVID numbers and insuring safety for all) 
 
We will also have some new gift items just for the holidays, puzzles, mittens, gnomes & more.
 
What is your favorite sample? 
My favorite shawl is my Night Shift by Andrea Mowry.  I'm so glad it is cold again so I can wear it often.
My favorite sweater is my Dissent Pullover by Andrea Rangle
My favorite hat is the Linden Hat by Jenny Banyard (a local customer) 
 
Do you offer a MKG discount or a frequent buyer club?
 
Yes, 10% off yarn purchases.  We also have a loyalty program built in to all purchases. 
 
Other than shopping, what are the best ways we can help support your yarn store?
 
We love to see people come and knit and crochet with us.  Join us for a group time via Zoom or in person.  This is also a great way for people to get inspiration for their next project.  Also, share that we are here.  Every day we have someone stop in that had never heard of us and they live close.  Word of mouth goes a long way. 
 
Is there anything else you'd like us to feature? ie: are you committed to providing extra benefits to employees? are you involved with a local charity? are you committed to being green?
 
We support Hats for the Homeless and Hat not Hate by collecting supplies and hats at our store.  We also recently helped to raise over $8,000 for the MN Domestic Abuse Project by helping my mother sell her late friend's stash after her passing.  
 
Also, we have a wide variety of locally made gift items for everyone.  Coasters, towels, candles, jewelry, bags and more.
 
 
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