Vintage Knits Update

Vintage Knits Wool Shoppe LLC is having a clearance sale on most products distributed by KFI, and a few other lines that we may not stock in the future. Yarns from the Following companies are now marked 20% off: Noro, Sublime Araucania, Ella Rae, Jo Sharp, Manos, and Panda Cotton sock yarn.

In addition to the 20% off, you can get additional discounts for purchases over 100.00. The coupon codes at our online store

OK. This is not a post about yarn or knitting. I was one of the many people who waited until the last minute and did nothing about converting to digital TV. Last Friday at 9:00 a.m., my TV screen went black. So, I thought it was about time to go buy a new TV, and a new antenna. Off to Costco I went, and purchased a TV. Then, I went to Target to buy an antenna. Well, I let the TV sit in the box for a few days before deciding to put it together. Apparently lack of television was not all that bad.

I got everything set up, and scanned for channels, only to find out that I could only get three channels, and they were public broadcast channels. No network local channels could be received, no matter how much I manipulated the antenna. So, I thought I needed a better antenna. Back to target I went, and to my surprise, the lady behind me was returning the more expensive antenna. That one did not work for her. I thought the more expensive antenna might work for me, so I bought it. I get home, and still cannot receive any network channels. Now, off to Radio Shack; the very nice gentleman working there asks me where I live. I tell him my suburb, and he says “there is no antenna that I can sell you that will get you digital channels.”

Apparently, this digital system has a lot of flaws. It is much like cell phone service, if you live in certain areas or around trees, you cannot get service.

I then call the FCC. They put my address in the computer, and confirm that there is very weak (or no) service in my area. The FCC says “call your local TV station and see if they are working on the problem.” When I called the local TV station, they tell me to call the FCC. This is really crazy! At least with analog, I got the channels; not always clearly, but I could watch TV. It looks as if they are forcing people to have to sign up for cable or satellite service. Do I see a conspiracy here?

Why did I feel the need to write this rant? Because every day, I stop working for ½ an hour, and go and watch the Bold and the Beautiful. I guess I must be going through withdrawal from that soap. It is the one thing that I miss from not having TV service!

We just found an unopened box of yarn dyes that somehow was placed in the back of a storage closet and forgot about for over a year. These are yarn dyes that we received in 2008, and are just now getting them online. The dyes are fine. We are just a bit embarrassed that we neglected this shipment for so long.

Dyeing your own yarn is a great way to put your creative side in action. Not just knitting the sock or sweater, but creating your one of a kind color-way, and seeing how it knits up. Vintage Knits recommends the Gaywool Original Dyes. These dyes are high quality and have a vibrant color range, which can be strengthened or diluted to suit your taste. Everything is included with these dyes. There are no extra solvents or stabilizers that need to be purchased. Best of all, your fiber will be color fast in 30 minutes.

Here is the Gaywool Original Yarn Dyes color-card (click the photo for a larger view):

We stock 19 colors of the Gaywool Original Dyes. The dyes are priced at $16.00 each. These dyes are manufactured in Australia, and are sold in 100 gram (3.5 ounce) containers, which can dye up to 2.2 pounds of natural fibers.

If you want to start dyeing with a complete kit, check out our Louet Yarn Dyeing Kits. These kits come complete with the dyes, and enough yarn to make a pair of socks. You might also be interested in books on yarn dyeing. We carry several titles on dyeing yarn. Check out our book department for the current yarn dyeing books available.

Here are some quick links to our online store if you are ready shop for yarn dyeing products:

Make sure that you check out our latest sales and promotions before you complete your purchase. You can find our coupons codes at our main website, on our specials page and on the first page of our online store. The coupon code needs to be entered prior to finalizing your purchase. For a number of reasons, once an order is placed, we do not make price adjustments for coupons that were not entered at the time of the sale.

What a great time to knit a purse for the upcoming season! The snow is finally gone, and it’s time to turn to some spring and summer knitting. Small projects are always appealing, and we now have some new additions to our online store. We’ve added quite a few bag/purse handles. Although, they have been in stock for quite some time, we are just now getting them online.

The bag handles are sold in sets of two. They range in price from $7.25 to $14.75 per pair. Most handle styles come in at least two colors, giving you a choice to match your bag with the perfect bag handle. We anticipate adding more bag handles to our online store this summer. They are made from plastic or synthetic materials, and have wonderful finishes to resemble bamboo, marble, and others. Here are a few of the bag handles that we have in stock. Click the images for a larger view.

Clover Bag Handle
U Shaped Marble Ivory Design

Clover Bag Handle
U Shaped Marble Dark Brown Design

Clover Bag Handle
Round Bamboo Design

Clover Bag Handle
Lady Hair Bamboo Design

Clover Bag Handle
D Shaped Crystal Design

Clover Bag Handle
D Shaped Black Design

Clover Bag Handle
D Shaped Amber Design

If you are looking for project ideas to use with our bag handles, check out Ella Rae Book 8. Ella Rae Book 8 is devoted entirely to bags. There are 14 exquisite bags to knit and felt using Ella Rae Classic yarn. Patterns are suitable for all knitters, whether you’re a just venturing into felting, or are a “veteran” knitter. The bags range from simple knit & purl stitches to intarsia patterns. Here is a sampling of the patterns included in this book (click on the image for a larger view):

You might be interested in a felting pattern to accompany our bag handles. Nora Bellows’ Noni patterns are innovative, fun, and the perfect project for the felting enthusiasts. Here are a few of the Noni patterns that we stock (click the image for a larger view):

We are getting a bit low on our bag handles. So, if you need them immediately, place your order soon. To purchase the bag handles, or any of our other products, visit our online store.

We are always changing things here at Vintage Knits, and that includes our specials. Right now, we are trying something new. Awarding medium and large purchases with discounts based on order total. Here are the new specials:

Since we are talking money, check out our newest specials from Southwest Trading Company. These selected yarns are on sale for 25% off the regular sales price. Click the images for a larger view.

Oasis:

This is a wonderful yarn that consists of 100% soysilk. Oasis knits at 5 stitches per inch on size 6 needles. It retails for $12.50, and is currently on sale for $9.38.

A-Maizing:

This innovative yarn consists of 100% corn fiber. A-Maizing knits at 6 stitches per inch on size 7 needles. It retails for $9:00, and is currently on sale for $6.75.

Bamboo:

Just like its name, this yarn is 100% bamboo. Bamboo knits at 5 stitches per inch on size 6 needles. It retails for $13.50, and is currently on sale for $10.13.

These specials are good for the immediate future. What that means is that one day you will check our website, and the specials will be gone. We have not set any end date at this time. To purchase our products, visit our online store.

Just a quick note – We are having a store-wide sale, 25% off orders of more than $100.00 (excluding shipping and applicable taxes). The discount can be used on our already reduced items, including clearance items. Use this coupon code during checkout: bb07329ba4

This sale only applies to in stock items, and cannot be used for special orders, or adjustments on prior orders. To be notified of future sales, subscribe to our newsletter.

Last week we found out that the manufacturer of our wonderful KA Circular Knitting Needle Set raised the price of the Optional Cord Set. Apparently they were not making any money on the optional cord set because it was being sold below cost. The Optional Cord Set is still available, but the cost has doubled. Yes, I said doubled. The new price for the KA optional cord set is $40.00 instead of the original price of $20.00. The good news is that there was no increase in the KA Bamboo Circular Needle Set.

The lovely floral fabric case for the KA Circular Needle Set has been discontinued. This is the case that we picture in the item description of this needle set. The manufacturer buys a specific quantity of various fabrics for their needle cases. Once each fabric is gone, they buy other fabric to make their needle cases. We are not going to redo the pictures of the needle case that we have online. It is very time consuming to take the pictures. Also, with the fabrics constantly changing, it would be a never-ending project to keep up with the current available fabric cases. Please note that when this product is ordered, we will ship whatever fabric case that is currently in stock.

Also on the knitting needle news front, we are pleased to announce that we are bringing in nearly the entire line of KA Bamboo Knitting Needles. Much of this needle line is already in stock, including the hard to find 9″ and 12″ circular knitting needles, and the 4″ double point knitting needles. The balance of the KA knitting needles should arrive this week. We will carry the entire KA knitting needle line, with the exception of their flex needles. I have never used a flex needle, nor had any customer request one. If anyone would like the flex needles, we may decide to carry them.

Here’s a look at the KA bamboo circular and double point needles (click the image for a larger view):

KA knitting needles are very smooth, lightweight and have nice points. The circular needles have a flexible cable, with a swivel bearing so the cords never twist. The joins are flawless, with a very smooth transition from cord to needle.

Since we are bringing in nearly the entire KA bamboo knitting needle line, we rethought our needle inventory, and which products we will stock. We have decided to phase out the Crystal Palace line of knitting needles and their sock yarns that we carry. While Crystal Palace makes very good knitting needles, the KA line is comparable (if not nicer) in quality, but with a significantly lower sales price. We have quite an inventory of Crystal Palace knitting needles in stock, so these needles will be here for a while until they sell. But, they will not be restocked.

We normally do not put our targeted ad coupon codes on our blog, but in the spirit of the holiday season, we wanted to alert you of our current sale posted on knitters review. For one week only, save 10% off your entire order. Use this coupon code during checkout: krdec08. This coupon expires on December 11, 2008 at 11:00 p.m. (pacific time).

For all those last minute shoppers, we found some really great gift ideas for the knitting enthusiast. If you are buying for the experienced knitter who loves cables, twisted stitches, textures, and a challenge in general, then they would love Elizabeth Zimmermann’s First American Aran Pattern.

First American Aran

The pattern is in Vogue Knitting Magazine, Winter 1998/1999. The yarn used is Briggs & Little Regal, in washed white. We sell both the yarn and the pattern at our online store. The yarn requirements are: 5 (6, 6) skeins. The finished knitted bust size is 38″ (41″, 45″).

What’s the perfect project for someone with a busy lifestyle? Socks of course. Small, portable projects can be knit on buses, subways, and during lunch breaks. The nice thing about socks is that you can complete the project in a manner of days. Who doesn’t like immediate gratification?

We highly recommend New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi.

New Pathways for Sock Knitters

New Pathways teaches you how to construct a sock that fits your foot. You learn techniques by knitting small miniature socks on either circular or double point needles. Once you learn the techniques, you can adjust the pattern to fit your feet by taking a few measurements, and placing these measurements in Cat’s universal pattern. This is a very interesting and informative book that any sock knitter will love.

We have more than 20 sock books in stock. Something for the beginner, or those wanting to learn to knit socks on two circular needles, and books for more experienced knitters. We have over a dozen sock yarns to choose from, including:

We stock lots of kits, but want to focus on a few that would make exceptional gifts. Many knitters want to do more than simply buy yarn and knit it. For the really creative types, they might like our Hand Dyeing Kit.

Hand Dyeing Kit

This kit comes with everything that you need to dye and knit a pair of socks. The yarn included is Louet Gems Merino, which is a very nice sock weight yarn. This kit is available in 5 different colorways: blues, pinks, reds, browns, and greens. This kit is on sale for $45.00.

Do you know someone interested in learning how to spin their own yarn? Our Drop Spindle Kit is the perfect entry to spinning.

This is a fantastic beginner spinning kit which comes with detailed instructions that are down to earth and easy to understand. Provides a great base of knowledge on which to build spinning technique. The kit includes ½ pound of dyed fiber, 1 Louet Drop Spindle, and detailed instructions. The kit is on sale for $31.50.

Another great gift is our Needle Felting Kits.

Needle felting Kit

Needle felting is a method of dry felting which allows the fiber artist to create intricate surface designs on existing fabrics, or explore imaginative 3 dimensional forms from flowers to pumpkins or dragons.

We offer two variations of the Needle Felting Kit. The Basic kit is on sale for $27.00, and the deluxe kit is on sale for $45.00. The kits include:

Basic – including 2 needles, 6oz fiber, instructions to make one needle felt project (Pumpkin, shown), and a sample bottle of Meadows Wool Wash.

Deluxe (Shown) – including a needle felt tool with 5 needles, 6oz fiber, instructions to make two needle felt projects (Pumpkin and Cat & Mouse, shown), and a sample bottle of Meadows Wool Wash.

Now on to the stocking stuffers. Check out our funky tape measures. Or, what about a Brass Needle Gauge and handy knit klips? The knit klips make seam sewing a breeze!

Visit our online store to see all of our products. Shop early for the best selection. Don’t forget to use the coupon code to receive your discount.

I can’t believe it’s December, and Christmas is only a few weeks away. How fast this year went by. I want everyone to have a happy holiday, meaning, I want your orders to arrive before not after Christmas. This is just a reminder, if you are ordering after December 6th, and want your order delivered before Christmas, do not choose parcel post shipping. Our website links into the United States Postal Service server for shipping prices, and time quotes. Although the postal service says that parcel post takes 4-7 days, it is often longer. One customer did not receive her timely mailed package for nearly three weeks. But, 10 days seems to be the norm.

From what I have learned, it all depends on your local post office, and what they do with the packages. Some local post offices are great with handling these packages, and they arrive near the estimated time. Others, let these packages sit until all other higher priority mail is delivered. Also, remember that rural areas may have delays in deliveries.

I give this warning every year, and every year someone chooses parcel post, and their package does not arrive before Christmas. The difference between parcel post and priority mail is usually less than a dollar. We are doing everything on our end to get your orders packed and shipped within 1-2 days. But, we cannot control the postal service, and how they handle parcel post packages.

Yarn Sale!

Just a quick note. We are having a back to school sale at our online store. Take 25% off orders of more than $100.00. Use this coupon code during checkout: bb07329ba4

The coupon is good for a limited time only, so shop early for the best selection. This sale ends on September 21, 2008 at 11:00 p.m. pacific time.

What’s New to the Online Store?

We have lots of patterns that are in stock, but not online yet. contact us if you are looking for a particular pattern or pattern booklet for any of our yarns, we may have it.

We also have the full line of KA needles, purse handles, and fun notions in stock, but not online yet. We will be adding more products to our online store this weekend. If you are ready to shop, visit our online yarn store for secure, safe shopping.