Planning ahead - great gifts - magazines and classes!

Have you seen the new issue of KnitSimple? (We have it, BTW.) There is an article that explains the importance of planning. The author says that the best time to plan for the next intense gift-giving time is when you are recuperating from the last one!


She talks about Christmas, and how you should make your list of who will get gifts, what they will get, and then figure out how much time each gift will take. If your list is like mine, it could take years! That's when the author suggests you rethink your list and make your gifts more manageable.

About this time of year, when it's too hot to think, I like to set up a big basket for winter presents (birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's). Each thing that is finished gets a little gift card attached to it, so it's ready for spur-of-the-moment gift events, too. The basket is pretty, and seeing the pile of presents stack up and grow makes me feel like I'm making some headway!

Tomorrow - Shelda Eggars is teaching a class on felted Christmast stockings and mittens. They would be very manageable and beautiful gifts! Call the Shoppe today and register!

Another gift idea is magazines. Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe is filled with current knitting, crocheting, weaving, spinning and fiber magazines. And, here's an idea: OLD magazines are wonderful gifts! Last year for my birthday a friend gave me about a foot and a half tall stack of knitting magazines. What a joy! If you don't have a friend willing to part with her stash of magazines, Bex has a collection of old magazines that date back a few years. This is a great way for you to fill the holes in your collection or to find patterns for the new skills you've acquired this year!

Come on in - check the middle bookcase that's got the jewelry, buttons, pins, reference books, patterns, and MAGAZINES in it!

----Denyse for Bex at Hillcreek Yarn Shoope

The CIRCULARS are here! Lantern Moon & Bryspun

The Lantern Moon circulars have arrived! Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe has them in Ebony and Rosewood, 16", 26" and 32" lengths, sizes from 4 through 11.

Lantern Moon always has exquisitely beautiful products, but they aren't just pretty. My wood single point needles are treasured and useful tools in my collection. I make a real production out of using them! First assemble the heaps and piles of yarn that need to be wound into balls. Get the pattern out, all ready to use. Then reach over and pull out the Lantern Moon wooden needles. Hmmm. Knitting is a sensual experience!

I'm looking forward to adding the circulars. My current circular needles are fine tools. They are there ready to work whenever I need them. Trusty. Sturdy. I think that the Lantern Moon circulars are going expand the adjectives that I'll use next time to describe my circular knitting experience!

Do you know the story of Lantern Moon? Here is their mission statement. This company is one that fits Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe's fair market philosophy!

There's more!

HYS now carries Bryspun circular needles! You might be familiar with Bryspun knitting needles (single point, double point and now circular). The company advertises that they are made of a special plastic that warms to the touch and is especially suited for arthritic hands. Knitters have also found that the points of Bryspun needles are great for scooping into tight stitches. I've used them for a mouse pattern that started at the nose and then immediately expanded into the body; I had a very difficult time making all those tight little stitches. My Bryspun double points helped do the trick! And they were wonderful when working with Merike Saarnitt's Estonian stitches! The Bryspun circulars are useful warm additions to our knitting tool box!

If you're in town, stop by the Shoppe! 1414 Rangeline under the giant ball of yarn sign! Or give us a call. We have friends/customers all over the world!

573-449-KNIT (5648) or 1-866-482-KNIT (5648)

----Denyse for Bex of Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe

Elsebeth Lavold!

It has come to my attention that the Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe's Web site does NOT show our Elsebeth Lavold collection! Unthinkable!

Her yarns!

• Cotton Patine (100% Combed Cotton)
• Cable Cotton (100% Cotton)
• Silky Tweed (40% Silk, 30% Cotton, 20% Merino Wool, 10% Viscose)
  
• Silky Wool (65% Wool, 35% Silk)
• Classic AL (50% Baby Alpaca, 50% Merino Wool)
• Angora (60% Angora, 20% Wool, 20% Nylon)
  
• Hempathy (41% Cotton, 34% Hemp, 25% Modal)

Her EIGHT pattern collections!

• The Viking Knits Collection (Book 1)
  
• Sentimental Journey Collection (Book 2)
• Embraceable You Collection (Book 3)
• Sophisticated Lady Collection (Book 4)
• Summer Breeze Collection (Book 5)
• The Take Five Collection (Book 6)
• The Mellow Tone Collection (Book 7)
• The Enchanted Garden Collection (Book 8)

We have them all! In stock today! Give the Shoppe a call at 573.449.KNIT (5648) or 1-866-482-KNIT (5648) and we'll help you find happiness in our Elsebeth Lavold collection! (And we'll get our Web site up to date!)

---- Denyse for Bex at Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe

LUNA - a shawl? a shrug? a shrawl?

Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe has a new pattern and sample from Jeanne Abel and Nature Speak Knits. LUNA - a shawl and a shrug at the same time! The model is knit in Mountain Colors merino ribbon. Here is Jeanne's description from her Web site:

Here's an very soft, elegant wrap shown in Mountain Color's Merino Ribbon trimmed with beads from South Beach Trimmings. It can be worn several ways; cross the long tails in the front (or back) and then drape them over the shoulders, or wrap one around the body and drape the other over the shoulder. This yarn is a very soft merino tape, the wave stitch is open to highlight the color and texture of the yarn, the garment is knitted from side to side and the beads add a touch of glitz.

Jeanne is right -- the beads do add a touch of glitz. They could also add a touch of whimsy or personalization, depending on the beads or buttons or charms that you decide to use. Remember our knitting mantra? "The pattern is just a suggestion. The pattern is just a suggestion. The pattern is just...." Be sure to stop by the shop and see the model. The model will go with Bex to Stitches Midwest for the fashion show and then go on its way to another shop, so be sure to come in and see it while it's here! Better yet - make one for yourself!

Boone County Fair - Sorry, I could not get good clear pictures. I can tell you, though, that Boone County is filled with talented people! Especially interesting from the fiber perspective were the knitting, crocheting, felting, tatting, and triangle loom weaving. The knitting alone included Fair Isle, Intarsia, double knitting, and lace techniques. Beautiful work! The fair runs the rest of this week -- go out and support your neighbors! (And the multipurpose building, which is where the HomeArts and 4H divisions are located, is AIR CONDITIONED!)

Have a great knitting day!

---- Denyse for Bex of Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe

Sale! (so MANY sales!)

Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe has MANY on-going sales this summer! There's the daily in-store sale, the phonebook coupon sale, the register receipt sale, and the monthly sale!

The Daily In-Store sale is always interesting. What is going to be on sale that day is often decided as the store opens! Saturday's in-store special sale was any black and/or white yarn. Why? Because three of the four people working that day came wearing black and white, and the fifth person was wearing white! Usually the sale is by manufacturer; recent featured items included Euroflax (think of all those great Mason Dixon Knitting patterns!), Fiesta (great colors! great textures!), and Noro (it's Noro. What's to say?).

Bex has also placed coupons in the local YELLOW Book and MU Phone directories. One is for 10% off, the other is for $10 off. The MU coupon expires in August, so bring it in now!

Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe also sponsors coupons on grocery store receipts at HYVEE and PATRICIA'S food markets. Check them out!

Our monthly sales vary by month. July features knitting needles. August is books!

Finally, we have unannounced but predictable sales -- whenever 'management' leaves town, the yarn crew goes wild and has store-wide sales. These are not generally advertised in advance, but here are some hints: Bex will be attending Stitches Midwest in August, and she is going on a special birthday trip later in August. Stay tuned!

And if all the above sales were not enough, there are baskets and carts of special sale items -- discontinued colors, yarns or odd lots. These are great ways to try a new yarn or add to your stash.

I'm going to the Boone County Fair today. I'll bring pictures back from the Homearts Division!

-----Denyse for Bex at Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe

Friday - and It's Raining!

Hooray! It is raining and temperatures are supposed to drop to the mid-80s for a few days. Perfect knitting weather! (But all weather is perfect for knitting!)

A note about Joan's crochet classes. The last time Joan taught the basic crochet class, her students went on to make all sorts of projects -- dishcloths, facecloths, scarves, and even a basket! Joan's basic (and not-so-basic) crochet class is tomorrow morning (10:00-noon). There's still room, so give us a call or drop in to the shop.

Don't forget that you can always come in and sit and knit. This is a great, stress-free place to come and visit. And, although I'm happy to report that the heat index will be down for a few days, this is Missouri, and it is July. August is coming. If you don't want to think about it, we understand. Just remember: Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe is air conditioned and has huge bottles of cold water, just waiting for you! Oh, and lots of yarn, too! Come and join us!

----- Denyse for Bex at Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe

Cool Classes for a Hot Summer!

Our Hot Topic class schedule for the rest of the summer is up and running! All Hot Topic classes run 10:00am-noon on Saturday; cost is $15.00.

July 22 -- Crochet with Joan Ditmore. All level projects will be explored in this class.

July 29 -- Start your Christmas projects early! Felted Ornaments with Shelda Eggers. Felt knitted mittens or stocking for your tree and mantel.

August 5 -- Basic Socks or Christmas Stocking! Bex teaching. All level projects okay.

August 12 -- Crochet with Joan Ditmore. We think that snowflakes would be great for this class. Let us know what you want! All level projects.

August 19 -- Mobius Knitting. Bex teaching. This is an intermediate knitting class.

August 26 -- Play Day! Work on anything you want. Joan will be orchestrating the event!

CALL NOW for registration, supply lists, and information! (573) 449-KNIT or toll free 1-866-482-KNIT.

What Hot Topics would you like us to schedule for future dates? Let us know!

Our classes and topics are HOT like the weather, but remember -- WE'RE COOL and air conditioned! Why go to the movies or the mall? Bring your friends and meet new ones here at Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe!

----Denyse for Bex at Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe

Club House/Community Room

Our Club House/Community Room has been busy!

Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe is a collection and drop off point for several projects, including afghans for Afghans, Project Linus, Warm Up America, and one of our own local charity knitting groups, Knitwits.

Knitwits sent off a box this week to Afghans for Afghans, full of woolen hats, mittens, and even some crocheted baby booties! Wonderful people knitting wool when we are under a heat advisory! Fifteen hats, six pairs of mittens, and two pair of baby booties. The next shipment will probably be in September.

Thursday is the deadline for entering your handy work in the Boone County Fair. We have very talented knitters, crocheters, weavers, and spinners in our midst -- we're looking forward to seeing what they enter in the Fair! I'll take pictures if I am allowed, and I'll post them here.

Remember that we have friends and customers all over the world, but we are also a local yarn store. We have deep roots here in the Boone County area, and our Community Room/Club House is one way that we 'give back' to our community! If your non-profit community group would like to use our space, give the Shoppe a call. Chix with Stix and KnitWits (evening and day groups) already call us home.

We are a business, too! Remember that our month long July special is buy four sets of knitting needles of the same brand and get the fifth set (of equal or lesser value) for free!
-------Posted by Denyse for Bex/Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe