Yellowbird Yarn Room

For the love of wood and wool

I'm a process kind of girl. 

I like road trips, not plane rides.  I like to read and study and learn, but have little use for the papers and percentages that show what I know.  I like to write these posts, but frequently find myself staring at the keyboard and thinking.  The words always sound so much better in my head.

And I like wood knitting needles.

Plastic is good for the tight knitter, who needs the needles to be flexible and a little slick.  Metal is for the speed-knitter, with sleek designs and sharp points.

But to me, there is just something so perfect about a beautifully created wood needle.  It's like a slow drive on a winding road through the woods in fall.  Or a walk in a field of wildflowers in the spring.  Or curled up under a blanket by a fire on the beach.

If I have any favorites at the shop, one would be the needles I have found.  The first come from Oregon, from a company I stumbled across one day while doing research.  Laurel Hill has fantastic tools, but my particular favorite is the coconut needles which are apparently a closeout item.  They have been my best seller so far, so I do hope they continue to offer them for some time!  I have some in my knitting bag, 10" size 13.  (That happens to be what I use to teach beginners.)  They just make me happy!

The second set of needles I would call my favorites are DPN's.....Darn Pretty Needles.  These are from Vermont, from Tom and Linda Diak of Grafton Fibers.  They. Are.  Stunning.  I have eyed these needles in magazines, but now that I have seen them in person I cannot wait to have some for my very own!

My last favorite is my latest addiction, which I can also attribute to Grafton Fibers.  As promised, I tried my hand at needle felting during the Fall Festival last weekend.  I started with a hot pad, which I had knit out of Tahki Yarns' Montana and felted in the washing machine.  I then used a pen-style needle felting tool, some cookie cutters, and a mini batt from Grafton in perfect fall colors.  Further embelishment with some stash yarn, and I was finished with a fantastic leaf and pumpkin hot pad! 

I wish I could show you pictures.  I finished it Saturday morning, and sold it Saturday afternoon!  I can, however, show you the matching coasters which are a work in progress.  (Click on the picture in the sidebar.  The project is the current table display at the shop.  As soon as the flu has finished with us, I will be in to finish them!)   I would be more than happy to work with anyone intersted in experimenting with this craft, as I find it equally as addictive as knitting.  And that's saying something!

If you stop by the shop to check out the wood and wool for yourself, but want something in a different size or color, please give me a call and I will see what I can do for you. 

In the meantime, please keep the following sage wisdom in mind:  do not knit in the car if you are prone to carsickness, and never...EVER...knit while driving.  Even on road trips.   

Ah, good times...

Well, the weather may not have been pleasant, but the company certainly was.

I spoke to so many wonderful and interesting people during the Fall Festival that I was reminded once again why I love retail!  Having stayed home with my children for nearly a decade, I have missed talking to customers, being able to help them find what they need, learning things from them, and laughing with them.  And it was so nice to get to spend the day playing with fiber and talking about knitting!  What a wonderful job!

The highlight came, as highlights often do, in the form of a friend.  As my friend took some time to look around River City, I gave her daughter an impromptu lesson.  I made her slip knot for her, but she learned the knit cast-on and knit stitch in no time!  She squeezed in as many rows as she could while my friend and I talked, but eventually had to leave.  When she came back for a question sometime later, she and her dad brought me a cookie from the bakery.   Apparently, she enjoys her new hobby so much they even had to come back Sunday for more yarn!

For those of you I just met, I hope to see you again and maybe see some of your work.  Violetbee, I hope those needles worked for you!  I'm normally in the shop on Tuesday mornings, though not this week as I'm afraid the seasonal flu has made it's way to our house and I have a little one to tend to.

I should say that any comments left will be responded to either in the blog posts or through e-mail.  I haven't worked out all of the kinks here as of yet, including my apparent inability to comment on my own blog!  Sue, thank you for your kind words.  I've already sold some of your Silk Ribbon and had many compliments on Mango Moon's beautiful yarns! 

The Stash Basket

I'll show you mine...

Now added to the shop, the Stash Basket!  If you click on the link for YB Pictures in the left sidebar, you'll see a picture of it.  Inside this basket you will find everything from a few feet of well-loved yarn that would be perfect for small felted embelishments, to entire skeins bought on impulse that have yet to find the right project.  You just never know what you'll find.  Maybe inspiration!

Now, perhaps your stash has grown a bit too big.  Maybe you've held on to odds and ends over the years, but it's time to let go.  You need to make room for more!

There are two ways to enjoy the Stash Basket:

1. Sort through and see what you can find. My stash is your stash. Who knows, you may find just enough of that discontinued yarn to finish the sweater you started five years ago.
2. Make an appointment and show me yours! We'll see what you've got, and what we can work out. Each case will be as different as the stash from which it comes.

Since I will already be in the shop for the Fall Festival this Friday 10-3 and Saturday 10-5, you are welcome to bring some items in. Please let me know the day before, though.  I need to know what I'm going to be looking at so I know what the current retail price per yard would be.

Speaking of the Fall Festival, I decided to broaden my fiber skills while I was there.  I have never needle felted before, but have been anxious to try.  So, I'm off to pick myself up some necessary tools and will not open them until Friday morning.  If anyone would like to join me, with or without felting, all are welcome!

Humble Beginnings

I have a place to call my own, and it's name is Yellowbird.

It is a small room inside the River City Gift Shoppe that I am filling will yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks, handmade items, and anything fiber-related that strikes my fancy.  I have a small table there for giving private knitting lessons, but you are welcome to just come in and sit a while with your knitting or crochet or whatever traveling craft you happen to be working on.  There is room enough for four people at the moment, so long as two of you don't mind getting a little cozy! 

On October 23rd and 24th, Friday and Saturday, River City will be having a Fall Festival.  It runs from 10-5 both days, though the shop will be open until 6:00.  There will be pumkins, cider, food, arts, crafts, and antiques.  On Friday, Jane Snow will be signing her new cookbook from 1-3, and Ann Roher (auther of Mr. Picky and Me) will be there from 1-5.

And I will be there.  On Friday I plan to be there from 10-3, and on Saturday from 10-5.  My room is upstairs in the building next to the road.  If you would like to chat and I'm not in my room, I am probably either wandering around the festival or picking up my lunch at Shisler's Cheese next door.  I promise I won't be gone long! 

In the meantime, have a look around and take advantage of my Grand Opening Sale!  For the two days of the festival I will be offering 20% off everything. 

The sale will include everything under my vendor number, even lessons.  So, no matter what day you have your lesson, if we schedule it during those two days you will recieve your 20% off! 

I look forward to meeting you!