Yarn weights

Just thought I would post this little yarn weight guide that we are taking out of our newsletter to make room for more yarn porn pictures!

Don't know your yarn weight? No problem! We are always here to help you figure that out. To help you understand the weights a little better here are some pictures of all our Wonderland Yarns lined up. First we have Duchess (lace), Cheshire Cat (fingering), Mad Hatter (sport/DK), March Hare (Worsted)

Updates & Flex Frames

Hello!
Wow who knew my life would become so busy that I wouldn't have time to blog, and I love to Blog but thus is the life for a small business owner. A million things to do and never enough time. I think I've hardly even had the time to enjoy knitting!

Some things I would love to get off the ground but might not happen till next year are being a part of Spinzilla, Tour de Fleece and doing some summer kids classes during the day. We will get there and it will be just fine.  The hard part about a small business is knowing when to say enough and be content with what you've got.

Part of what I love with the shop is keeping up with trends that I think more adventurous knitters and crocheters are into such as the bright colors and new ways to integrate yarn into their lives.

One of my new found things is using Flex Frames! I've been ogling Wool and the Gang and all their clever clutches and I wondered if I might find a distributer locally for the frames to make our own clutches in store. Lo and behold I found someone!



So we have in stock 3.5", 9" and 10" frames ready to use.  I feel like the best use for the larger frames are with T-shirt Yarn and the smaller ones are perfect to use your gauge swatches to make unique coin purses as presents or gift card holders.

For this coin purse I picked a swatch I had been meaning to try and it casted on about 20 stitches in sport weight with size 3 needles.

I measured out the fold over in stockinette so that I would have enough to tightly cover the flex frame piece. Then I seamed together the sides with blanket stitch and began to attach the pouch part to the frame inside out.

After it was all stitched together it was a simple to slide it and turn it inside out.

Easy Peazy!

The best part is if you already have gauge swatches you can just pick up enough stitches for the fold over and attach your frame in the same way. These mini 3.5" frames are only $2.50 each so it's a very cost effective present for anyone!

So close to open....

Hello everyone!
It has been so incredibly hectic the past few months in life and business that I have had no time to do one of my most loved things which is blogging and sharing my adventures.

Yarn it & Haberdashery, ltd has been soft open now for a little over a week!
There are still some minor store things to work on such as door mats, some painting and placing of products and the massive amount of inventory that needs to be inputed and sticker'd before the Grand opening on June 22nd!

We had a Lovely Article written up about us on Columbus Underground.

My friend Jen took this picture of me among the new stock of Manos Del Uruguay. I mean when else would I ever get the opportunity to take a Scrooge McDuck dive into yarn? Let me tell you it was excellent, everything you think it is. 

Here Are a few photos taken by my friend Laura owner at Rivet - Designer Toy & Art Gallery. Laura came over with a few other friends to help me out late for two nights to get this in order for our soft opening and also get my window display up.

 Sample Knitting has also been in full swing trying to show everyone what these exciting new yarns in the store can do!

Great Companies that I am happy to bring to Columbus and Ohio Include:
- Ewe Ewe
- Be Sweet
- Knit Collage
- Erika Knight
- Loopy Mango
- Frabjous Fibers
- Ozark Handspun

Then a larger selection of
- Shi Bui
- The Fibre Company
- Manos del Uruguay

I'll also be stocking
- Madelinetosh
- Ella Rae
- Noro
- Berroco
- Kenzie
- CoBaSi
- Simplicity
- Rylie
- Brown Sheep

For Needles, hooks and Notions and hand care I've got
- Knitpicks
- Addi
- Clover
- Tastefully Dirty
- Milk + Honey

Soon I'll also be stocking from some great local artists
- Yarn Bowls
- Drop spindles
- Jewelry and select gifts

And now BACK TO WORK!  There is still a lot to do before the Grand Opening.
I also want to regal you with the tales of my Korea whole sale experience and how I hope to bring some new things that no one else will have straight from Asia!

Cheers!
MC Shorty

Off to Adventure!

Hello!
I'm off to start an adventure.
This adventure is a new business.
This business is a Yarn store and Haberdashery (not the hat kind, the notions kind).
I will call it "Yarn It & Haberdashery" or "Yarn It & Dash" for short!

I love to blog so I thought I would blog about the progress as I get started.
This is a dream I've had for a long time and been waiting for the right time. Well the time is now!

I want to create a friendly and creative environment that is open to the community. It will include lot's of classes and trunk shows to get people involved. I also want to focus on yarns that you may not have known existed or that are comparable replacements for the big names. I want my patrons to think outside of the box and get their creative juices flowing. 

The details that are not fun:

• Filing paperwork LLC, DBA, Vendor's License
• Filling out whole sale purchase forms
• Getting my SS card up to date with my married name
• Finding a brick and mortar location

The fun parts:

• Going to TNNA for research
• Ordering yarn for research
• Consumer polling and research
• Making samples
• Coming up with class plans for sewing, knitting, crochet, spinning, and design
• Contacting consignment

Right now I am still in the not fun section but it is all these little business details that will keep me and mine safe and legal. There are a heap ton of things to consider when you want to start the business. The first off is that you have the dedication for the not fun things as much as the fun stuff. If you have no head or taste for the business and legal side of it, maybe you shouldn't jump in. I've gone through these thoughts for years before I finally decided, "Yes, I am willing to take the bad with the good to make it happen".

As much as owning your own store sounds fun it is a lot of work and effort up front with no thanks just a lot of grit. Just like any adventure it will have it's hi's and lo's. Please bear with me as I work through this all and I appreciate any comments you make but let's please stay positive during this journey.

Cheers!
MC Shorty