aug newsletter: happy birthday to us!

Birthday = Sidewalk Sale Time! 

Happy Birthday Maisie!

Help us celebrate her 5th birthday this month with a sale weekend Aug 15-18th. We've pulled stuff, our magical red markdown pen is out & busy, and the sidewalk will be loaded with goodies 50%+ off.  

It's time to think about holiday gifts so mark your calendar.

Sale runs Friday Aug 15 - Monday Aug 18; Open 10-5 daily

(mmmmmmm birthday cake!............)

Berroco: First of Fall Arrives

Berroco's Inca Tweed arrives Thursday. First time we've scheduled a big chunky, wintery tweed yarn to arrive in the middle of summer...but I seriously can't wait to work with this yarn. I don't care if it's 100 outside....I want my Inca Tweed! Big needles and great patterns...what more can you want?

The patterns Berroco created this fall are fantastic and perfect for gift knitting. Think soft, chunky, tweedy, lots of cables....can't wait. The three below are in lineup for casting on immediately. A lace shawl (3 hanks), slip stitch cowl (2 colors 1 hank ea) and a hat & mitts set (2 hanks).

The rest of the patterns have many other quick knits perfect for gift-giving season. Here's a few promising candidates:

See this last pic below? Those are knee-high cable socks. Not just legwarmers. No siree Bob! They are full-fledged socks with toes and heels. As if that wasn't great enough...the pattern is written for two-circular/magic loop technique with chunky yarn and only 2 hanks. Zippity-doo-dah knitting!  

Have a peek at the audio slideshows to hear and see more. I always love listening to Norah and Andra discuss the new collections in detail. Inca Tweed is highlighted in the NG Vol 15 and #346 Inca Tweed shows, but check out the others to see sneak peeks at rest of fall yarns arriving in next few months.  

pssst...still reading? Here's a head's up: watch for our new shop kits highlighting some of these patterns. Not officially debuted yet but soon. We're excited! just one more hint. . . . mason jars.

Shop KALs & Classes

Community Stash Busting Squares

We're launching a new fall community project: making squares from our stash. Help us by working up your stash into squares that will become lovely charity blankets. Guidelines easy peasy: knit or crochet squares in 2.5", 5" or 10" sizes. Don't worry about weights, colors, or patterns. It can be simple garter stitch or your favorite pattern, or test a new technique.

Our lovely maisieblue gals will magically sort and seam them into afghans to donate to a worthy local charities, raffle, or someone in need of handmade love. It's a way to turn leftover yarns into a heartfelt community project. We've set a goal of Nov 1st to begin assembly.

Watch for special KAL meet-up dates later in the Fall but in the meantime....get knitting or hooking squares!

 Classes

Several things on tap. Here's quick preview of a few

Fish Lips Kiss Socks 

Cathy's loving this pattern...or really a heel technique and method of knitting custom fit socks in any weight yarn. She'll run a 3 class series Sep 13, Oct 4, Oct 11 from 1-4pm. $70 and it's for those wanting more advanced sock techniques. She'll use Sox Therapist's technique. It's a two-at-a-time method with special steps for measuring and an innovative heel. Call or email to save a spot.

Building in Color: 

Just started our second offering of this new series on  Aug 2 from 2-4pm. Not too late to jump if you're interested. Just give us a call or email for more details. Next class Aug 16th.

On the Bookshelf

Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World
My favorite book of the summer! A great micro-history based on actual race around the world. In 1889 fearless reporter Nellie Bly (at behest publisher Joseph Pulitzer’s and his World newspaper) set off to circumnavigate the globe in less than 80 Days (a la Jules Verne's fictional novel). Not to be out done, the magazine The Cosmopolitan sent it's reporter, Elisabeth Bisland on her own journey in opposite direction to beat Bly. Both set out on same day in opposite directions in a race that captivated readers for the next several months.

The author does a fantastic job of recounting the tale of the specific race and the women but also numerous mini-histories that creates a vivid picture of life and travel at this time. Little nuances are interspersed throughout we read of this race around the world. Somehow Mathew Goodman captures each woman's very different personalities & backgrounds, their individual traveling experiences and the realities of daily life. It's not just a book about this famous, ground-breaking race it encompasses much more. Perfect for fans who enjoy well done narrative history in the vein of Simon Winchester and Erik Larson or David McCollough

New paperbacks

Adriana Trigiani's Supreme Macaroni Company. In similar vein as Shoemaker's Wife. You can count on her to always deliver wonderfully heartfelt characters and vivid writing.

Amy Tan's The Valley of Amazement. It's been a bit but she's back with another tale of China, mothers & daughters and family drama spanning cultural divides. An old photo titled 10 Beauties of Shanghai inspired Tan to scrap her current novel-in-progress and instead delve into the history19thc.Chinese Courtesans and her own....that of her grandmother. Two centuries, two cultures, endless human emotions all expertly crafted in Tan's characteristic style. Listen to recent NPR interview and you'll be hard pressed to not want to scrap your current book in favor of this one.

Notable Mystery Series

Claude Izner's historical detective series in 1880s Paris. The author is actually two French sisters/booksellers from Paris, experts in 19th French art and literature so they know their stuff. Their protagonist is amateur detective Victor Legris who is (wait for it....) a bookseller/sleuth. Are you a Charles Finch fan? Then this is right up your alley.

Nicola Upson's Josephine Tey series: I've mentioned this one before but bears repeating. This series is growing steadily, continuing to garnish praise and a perfect read for Maisie Dobbs and Joe Sandiland's fans. This series has unique hook: Josephine Tey was an actual successful mystery author & playwright in 1930s London, who in this modern series is the main character. Each book is a standalone mystery with important elements of Josephine's biography providing a back drop to classic whodunnit a la Agatha Christie. Great historical details, vivid writing and well-rounded characters.  Right now we're well stocked and there's a brand new installment that's arrived. If you're in the market for a new mystery....check Upson's out.

Kerry Greenwood's Phyrne Fischer: Jazz Age Australia. A gorgeous modern flapper turns Lady Detective. Fun, light series that books inspired the successful Aussie TV series, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Talk about perfect binge-watching tv! Series 1 available on Netflix; Series 2 available on AcornTV and just announced....Series 3 set to start filming! There's also soundtracks (that Kim adores). Read more here about Phryne.

Upcoming Book GroupPicks

 August 18th: Burial Rites

For intrepid readers head over here and here to read more book picks.