Stitch

Join us on Saturday June 19 for World Wide Knit in Public Day.

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:52:03 -0400

World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIPD) was created in 2005 to show the general public that knitting can be a community activity. Since WWKIPD started, it has grown from 25 gatherings to hundreds all over the world! When many knitters come together and pursue their craft in public, it reminds everyone that knitting is still alive and well and done by all types of people. Often it’s a great opportunity for those who are interested in learning to knit to ask questions and check out the beautiful things being made. It’s a way to celebrate the craft we love so much by sharing it with others.

Join us on Saturday June 19 to celebrate World Wide Knit in Public Day. Weather permitting, we’ll be able to enjoy the side garden. Be sure to bring a chair and we’ll be happy to supply the lemonade. The Stitch Knit in Public Day gathering will start at 11:00 when we open and run until 6:00 when we close.

Store directions and contact information can be found at www.stitchonline.ca

Good things come in threes! Join us for our anniversary sale.

Sun, 30 May 2010 19:08:00 -0400

I can’t believe where the last 3 years have gone. It’s been so exciting to watch Stitch grow into the thriving creative community it’s become. Our new location in Jordan has been wonderful. We have more space for yarns, fabrics, patterns and workshops and best of all for gathering and sharing our love of the needlework arts. To celebrate our 3^rd anniversary, Stitch will be having an anniversary sale the first week of June.

The anniversary sale will take place . Thursday June 3rd from 11:00 - 6:00, Friday June 4th from 11:00– 10:30, Saturday June 5th from 11:00 - 6:00 and Sunday June 6th 11:00 – 5:00. We’ll be offering:

20% off all yarn and fabrics in store.
15% off all books, needles and accessories (excluding Grayson E handles)
As always, there will be wonderful treats and goodies to round out the celebration.
visit www.stitchonline.ca for store contact information and directions. See you there!

Make sure to block off Saturday June 19th on your calendars. It’s Knit in Public Day and we’re planning lots of great activities at Stitch.

Spring Arrivals

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:25:00 -0400

Those of you who’ve been coming to Stitch for a while have gotten to know Linda who works in the store. She has a beautiful son and has just recently also welcomed a lovely daughter. Born on March 12 weighing in at a perfect 8lbs 13 oz Baby Gina is a joyous addition to their family and the Stitch family too! I was so pleased when Linda brought Gina to the store for her first official photo shoot. Here she is nestling in the yarn and cuddling with the quilting fabrics. Haven’t we all dreamed of being small enough to do this ourselves?

While a new baby may be the most exciting spring arrival there are many other new items arriving daily. First up are the beautiful yarn and books from Classic Elite. We have several shades of Soft Linen (top left) which is 35% linen, 35% wool and 30% alpaca. It’s a DK weight and has wonderful pattern support. There are some wonderful shades of a new yarn called Firefly as well (top right). This knits to a sport weight and is 75% Viscose and 25% linen. It has a wonderful sheen and Classic Elite’s great book Picnic showcases several wonderful designs using this yarn.

Manos Serena is a cotton/alpaca blend, knitting to a sport/fingering gauge (bottom left). This yarn would be perfect for those little shawls that are so popular right now. There are wonderful fabrics all cut and waiting to be assembled into beautiful quilts (bottom right).

Rowan has really focused on sustainable products and in this vein, has launched a great new yarn called Revive which knits to a DK gauge and offers a generous 137 yds. This yarn uses recycled clothes that are processed and hand-dyed to create soft, heathery shades. This lovely cardigan is called Shallot and its featured in Rowans new pattern book called The Purelife Recycled Collection and uses 7-11 balls.

Whew! Exciting yarns, fabrics and best of all a new baby. Were betting that her first word will be Mal-a-bri-go but Linda thinks she’ll say “Hand over your fabric and I won’t shoot.”

Reminder: No Knit Night this Week and “The Spirit of Harriet Tubman”

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:18:00 -0500

It’s hard to believe that this weekend is our Underground Railroad Quilting Retreat!

Just a reminder to those devoted Knit Night participants that this Friday night’s Knit Night is cancelled due to the retreat. The Saturday Night (Feb. 13) 7:00pm Featured Performance: “The Spirit of Harriet Tubman” by Leslie McCurdy promises to be an unforgettable experience. Tickets are still available for the Saturday performance so call the store and bring a friend for this wonderful event.

Saturday night’s performance will be held at: Jordan Station United Church, 4105 Bridgeport Drive, Jordan Station, ON L0R 1S0.

The Underground Railroad Quilting Retreat

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:36:00 -0500

It’s safe to say that one of the things we quilters love most about our craft is its rich history. Some historians believe that African Americans seeking freedom from slavery may have used a quilt code to navigate the Underground Railroad. Quilts with patterns named “wagon wheel,” “tumbling blocks,” and “bear’s paw” appear to have contained secret messages that helped direct slaves to freedom. Jordan Village is the perfect backdrop for a quilting retreat and performance based on this theme.

Dates: February 12, 13 and 14, 2010.

Quilting Workshops: Feb 12, 13 and 14 held at the Stone School House in Jordan. Built in 1859 this quaint school house has been restored (complete with separate entrances for boys and girls) and provides the perfect ambiance for our weekend.

Cost: Retreat including meals, classes and Saturday performance $195.00 (plus GST)

Saturday Night (Feb. 13) 7:00pm Featured Performance: “The Spirit of Harriet Tubman” by Leslie McCurdy.* Jordan Station United Church, 4105 Bridgeport Drive, Jordan Station, ON L0R 1S0.

*Tickets for the Saturday performance are available to the public. Cost: $27.50 + GST

Class size is limited. Please call (905- 562-1505) to register.

www.stitchonline.ca

Stitch's Boxing Week Sale

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:53:12 -0500

If you’re up to your ears in figgy pudding, mistletoe and leftover turkey – take heart, I have the perfect escape. Stitch is having a boxing week sale starting Sunday December 27.

Hours are as follows:

Sunday December 27 Noon – 5PM

Monday December 28 CLOSED

Tuesday December 29 11AM – 6PM

Wednesday December 30 11AM – 6PM

Thursday December 31 11AM – 4PM

The sale* will include: 25% off all yarn and fabric, 15% off all books, notions etc.

*Excludes Grayson E Leather handles.

We will be closed for inventory from January 1 – 6^th, 2010.

While you’re in the area, enjoy the other shops and sites in Niagara’s romantic Jordan Village. It’s especially beautiful during the holidays

The Second Annual "Knit In" Holiday Open House

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:08:00 -0500

Whether you’re a knitter, crocheter or quilter - you likely have a gift you’re making for someone that’s in the home stretch of the race to completion. You are also likely noticing just how close Christmas is and you’re wondering if wrapping the yarn/fabric/needles with an IOU would be considered poor form. All you need is just a few quiet minutes by the fireplace to get it ready to wrap. The problem is…you don’t have a fireplace or a few quiet minutes for that matter. No worries, we have both. Stitch is having its second annual Open House / Knit In Sunday December 13 (from 12:00 - 5:00). It’s a chance to wish your fellow needle artists all the best for the holidays, to enjoy some freshly baked goodies and to soak in the peace and quiet needed to complete that project.

Fall Workshops

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:33:00 -0400

I can’t believe it’s been one month since Stitch opened at its new location in Jordan. All of the fixtures fit perfectly and there is so much natural light - the yarns and fabrics look even better than before.

Now that we’ve settled in, it’s time to truly initiate the new space with three new workshops.

Expanding Your Knitting Skills

If you’ve mastered the knit and purl stitches and would like to take your knitting to new heights, this 8 week course is for you. Build your confidence and skills each week while Marilyn (I’ve learned so much just by sitting in on her classes!) teaches techniques ranging from different cast-ons, fixing mistakes, cables, colour work, increasing/decreasing, buttonholes, finishing and more.

Daytime Session: Starts Wednesday, October 21st, 1 – 3 pm Every Wednesday 1 – 3 pm for 8 weeks

Evening Session: Starts Wednesday, October 21st, 7 – 9 pm Every Wednesday 7 – 9 pm for 8 weeks.

Skills Required: Knit and Purl

Cost: $105.00

Alpaca Mittens

This workshop will span three Sunday afternoons and will focus on making the most scrumptious Alpaca mittens (pictured here). The patterns use Americo worsted and superfine Alpaca. Choose from two different styles. These would make a wonderful Christmas gift for someone special – if you can bear to part with them. I still have mine!

Sessions: Sunday October 25„ November 8, November 15th 1 – 3 pm

Skills Required: Knit and Purl

Cost: Free with purchase of Americo yarn to make the mittens.

Felted Christmas Stocking

Alterknits Felt by Leigh Radford is one of my favourite books. This felted stocking has that “Seussical” feel to it and is sure to add a little whimsy to your festivities. You’ll knit this stocking in the round using Malabrigo worsted yarn and then come back for the second session a few weeks later to felt it at Stitch. Our sample here is stuffed with all the accruements any knitter would love.

Sessions: Sunday November 1 Sunday November 22 for felting. 1 -3 pm

Skills Required: Knit and Purl

Cost: $65.00 (Includes copy of Alterknits Felt book, seminars and 2 skeins of Malabrigo Worsted weight.

Call (905) 562-1505 to register.

*Please note: Class fees are required in advance to register for the workshop. You can register in person or with a credit card by phone. Workshops are non-refundable and non-transferable. This helps us book the instructor’s time and to reserve your materials.

Opening Day

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:22:00 -0400

Stitch has officially opened in its new home at 3799 Main Street in Jordan Village. I can’t believe how quickly September 15 came. As you can imagine, it’s been a very busy time getting set up in the new space but I’m so glad we’re here. The front door will welcome needle artists of all stripes (look for the grape vine knitting balls to take their rightful place out front again) and just picture yourself in our comfy chair beside the fireplace on knit night! Here is a shot of the front room taken Sunday while we were still moving in. It showcases the beautiful light that illuminates the space. The fabrics and yarns look great with all of this natural light!

To celebrate - our sale will continue from September 15th - September 20th. All yarn is 20% off of regular price, needles, accessories and books will be discounted 15% from regular price.*

Grayson E leather handles excluded from the sale.

Strength in Numbers

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:56:09 -0400

When the sum is greater than the total of the individual parts it’s called Alchemy. It’s the way stitches, colours and materials come together to create magical textiles. It’s also the way people come together to complement each other’s strengths and to support each other’s dreams. When Stitch opens on September 15th, John Valleau (a.k.a. Dyeguy) and Alan McLean will also be opening a fibre arts -based business that day only five doors down called The Fibre Garden. Stitch will continue to provide a sanctuary for those wanting to knit and crochet with beautiful yarns by names such as Noro, Debbie Bliss, Malabrigo and Rowan and quilt with antique reproduction, vintage and artisan fabrics . The Fibre Garden will delight those who want to start their fibre journey up the process chain a bit by offering natural and dyed fibres , DYEGUY™ yarns and fibres done in their own studio, dyes, natural dyes, spindles and Majacraft wheels. They’ll also carry the latest “gotta have it travel wheels” by SpinOlution.

With Stitch and The Fibre Garden as two exciting and complementary destinations, we’re betting most fibre lovers will find it well worth the drive to Jordan!

A MOVING EXPERIENCE

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:39:50 -0400

A recent article in the Toronto Star cited Main Street in Jordan
Village as one of the 10 best streets in the 905 exchange area.
Columnist and architecture critic Christopher Hume found Main Street
“Quiet, comfortable and lived in, it feels like home”, he wrote. I’d
have to agree. When I opened Stitch in 2007, 3799 Main Street in
Jordan Village was the only other address I’d even considered.
Timing, however, is everything, and at that point the timing just
wasn’t right. Then, about six weeks ago, the same awesome shop came
back to me by way of a wonderful messenger and all the pieces fell
into place. I hadn’t even been thinking about moving, but there I
was … falling in love all over again … which is not difficult
where this charming property is concerned. It has everything on my
wish list (think lovely side garden for stitching in … more space
to house a variety of delicious yarns and fabrics and to have
wonderful classes and knit-ins … a fireplace (complete with warming
oven!) to cozy around on “Friday Night Stitch Nights” when the
weather gets blustery) … and the ambience … oh my!

AND SO … love wins (of course!) and Stitch will be growing into its
new location this September. We will be bidding a fond farewell to
48 Robinson Street North, in Grimsby with a moving sale from Tuesday,
August 25th to Saturday, August 29th and reopening at 3799 Main
Street, Jordan Village (905) 562-1505, Tuesday, September 15th. Our
new extended hours in Jordan will be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
11am - 6pm, Friday 11am - 10:30pm, Saturday 11am - 6pm and Sunday
12pm - 5 pm.

Thank you so much for taking this journey with me so far … I’m
looking forward to all of the wonderful times ahead!

Dye Guy

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:01:00 -0400

Stitch is pleased to be carrying Dye Guy sock yarn in colourways that are sure to entice! The “Comfort Cuisine” series tempts with names like Blueberry Cobbler, Spinach Fettucine and Grape Custard Tart. If socks aren’t in your queue then consider beautiful hats and scarves too. There are many wonderful ways to use sock yarn!

The yarn is a lovely blend of 75% wool and 25% nylon with a recommended needle size of 2-3mm. It boasts a generous 420m (459 yards) per 100g skein. It retails for $24.95 which is a great value when compared to other sock yarns of similar yardage. They are individually dyed in Niagara by John Valleau of Jordan Village. The colours are long-lasting as John uses top-quality dyes.

Some have short repeats and others offer a more marbled/random pattern but as you can see all of them are absolutely delicious!

The Swiss Army Knife of Knitting

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:14:00 -0400

Finding time to knit while juggling busy lives is hard enough without wasting precious time fumbling around for your knitting tools. The Knit Kit was created to keep all of your most important tools all in one handy place. And we’ve got the Knit Kit at Stitch now.

“This kit includes a tape measure, stitch counter, thread cutter, scissors, crochet hook, stitch holders and tip protectors all on one compact device. No need to continually buy various accessories when you can have it all in one.” (Knitkit.com)

With summer coming up and vacations on the agenda - this is the perfect tool for traveling. It’s also very pretty!

The Knit Kit is TSA (airline) approved so it’s perfect for long flights that give us lots of time to sit back and make headway on our projects.

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:07:17 -0400

Toe Tapping

Thu, 14 May 2009 22:51:00 -0400

When it comes to getting bang for your knitting dollar - it’s hard to beat socks. They’re the perfect summer project; portable and full of instant gratification.

We have beautiful shades of Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn in the store. This yarn is soft and squishy (delicious to sink one’s feet into) yet machine washable.

You may also want to check out the innovative book Socks a la carte. This manual is divided into 3 pieces which allows the knitter to line up the cuff, leg and toe pattern combinations they desire.

Depending on whether you’re a double point or magic loop sock knitter, we have a variety of needle options.

Two Years and Counting

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:25:56 -0400

It’s Stitch’s 2nd anniversary and we’re celebrating with a great sale and in-store events.

The anniversary sale will take place Saturday May 2nd from 11:00 - 6:00 only. We’ll be offering:

20% off all yarn in store.
15% off all books, needles and accessories (excluding Grayson E handles)
30% off all Mission Falls yarn
We’ll also have a masseuse to give neck and shoulder massages (these were a big hit last year).
Treats and goodies to round out the celebration.

visit www.stitchonline.ca for store contact information and directions. We hope to see you there!

When everything "Clicks" into place...

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:37:05 -0400

New at Stitch…

If you’re a knitter with a “capital K” - chances are you’ve got several projects on the go at the same time. When seasons change as they are now, you’ll often find yourself wanting to cast on something new for spring. You may be in the middle of a project wishing you could steal the tips off of your circular needles leaving the cord in the project to hold the stitches until you’re ready to pick it up again.

Wish no more.

The ADDI CLICK system provides 10 different sizes of ADDI Turbo™ tips (US 4 (3.5mm) – US 15 (10mm)), three different lengths of a new, extremely pliable blue cord sized at (24”, 32” and 40”). There’s also one connector piece which helps to either store stitches or combine your cords. The Click tips require no tools to change; simply insert the cord deep into the tip, twist and release. The tips will remain safely in place until you change them. Of course, the needles come with the wonderful Addi quality we’ve come to expect over the years housed in an elegant case for storage.

ADDI CLICK s $179.95 which for 10 sets of Addi needles is very cost-effective.

Almost Famous

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:33:44 -0400

One of the hottest trends in accessories has to be the scarf. It seems to be taking the place of bling - scarves are more casual and laid back yet they still succeed in making any outfit special.

It’s not hard to convince those of us who knit to embrace the scarf. They give lots of bang for the buck and can often be made quite quickly. Pound for pound, it’s hard to beat the classic book Scarf Style edited by Pam Allen and published by Interweave Press. Each design is classic with a trendy twist (all scarf-related puns intended).

We really love the Vintage Velvet scarf made out of 5 balls of Muench Touch Me chenille. Here are some great close ups on Ravelry. What makes this design extra special is that the scarf is felted after knitting which gives the final product an extra glossy finish. The scarf truly looks as though it was made from vintage velvet.

We have a great supply of wonderful colours in stock and if you don’t have the Scarf Style book with the pattern, we can help you get the same effect with another cabled scarf pattern. The Touch Me is incredibly soft, making each stitch a joy to work. Pick a pretty spring colour and wear it with a blazer or denim jacket. You’ll too be fighting off the paparazzi!

Precious Things

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:16:00 -0500

There are so many luscious patterns for felted bags - we thought they deserved equally decadent handles. These beautiful leather handles are from Grayson E and they’re available in a variety of sizes. Grayson E leather handles are hand made in California. The colours are straight out of a Mediterranean painting featuring aqua, tuscan red and saturated olives (to name just a few).

Of course now that the Grayson E handles are on the daybed in the sunroom, India has scouted out less crowded places to snooze. Her people called to complain that Gracie was getting more face time on the blog. India’s contract clearly states that she gets equal billing however she’ll take

our written apology here under considereation.

Oh Bliss!

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:04:52 -0500

Debbie Bliss has launched her own magazine and its premiere issue last fall sold out in no time at all. Her spring issue has just arrived in the store and it’s another winner! This issue has many wearable yet romantic designs made from of her wonderful summer yarns. This flirty wrap on the cover would be perfect for a summer wedding or romantic date.

The book also features designs in her luxurious 100% silk. This beautiful laced yoke detail sweater uses around 8 skeins of her silk. It has gentle waist shaping to make it even more feminine and fashion-forward. Check out Ravelry, it looks good on many body shapes.

We have her wonderful Prima yarn which is a bamboo/merino blend. The merino gives the bamboo a wee bit of memory so it won’t stretch too much while the bamboo gives the merino a lusterous shine and some drape.

Stop by to get your copy soon. They won’t last long!