Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Greetings and Salutations for the Festive Season

A glimpse into the shop - you can even see into the mill
Things are well and truly winding up at The Yarn Kitchen.  The mill is busy with the last day of processing today before clean up tomorrow & our own festive staff function tomorrow evening.

It has been an exciting year with wonderful growth at Skeinz, so thank you to all those who have purchased from us over the past year.  It has seen four new yarns launched, with double that already imminent for the new year.  All processed here, in our Napier mill, something we are very proud of.  In the face of a barrage of cheap imports we try very, very hard to purchase as much as we can from New Zealand sources first to spin and process here at home.
Our Penguin mascot are still popular this season.
Skeinz & our mill are very much a family - we have three couples that work here, a mother and son and frequently other family members get roped in during the peak times of year.  Over half the staff have been with us for more than a decade ( in fact we have many who have hit the 20+ and 30+ year mark) and even though it feels like yesterday since I started, I will be entering my 8th year next year.

So from our Skeinz & Yarn Kitchen family to yours.  Have a very festive, happy & safe holiday season.  We looking forward to seeing you all in the new year.

This is the closest we come to a snow drift at the Yarn Kitchen

Skeinz Shop Hours: I have posted these on the home page of the web (in the ‘Blog & News’ section), but just to remind you that the last day for the Skeinz Shop here is Napier is this Monday the 22nd, I am in there in the morning & Suzanne will be manning the afternoon until 3pm. We reopen again Wednesday the 7th of January.
Just 5 minutes away from the Yarn Kitchen is the beach - Merry Christmas
Last dispatches for skeinz.com before Christmas will be that Monday (assuming your payments have processed and cleared.) You can make orders whilst the shop is closed and these will be checked and dispatched in two batches across the festive break. If you are going to be away, be sure you let us know in the comment section, as we can hold your order and wait to dispatch it upon your return to ensure safe delivery.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Twinkle Twinkle....


The two projects knitted by Robynne - Newborn & 6 month sizes.
I arrived this morning and Robynne, one of our amazing Skeinz Shop marvels, had just completed a little cardigan in the new Stirling Alpaca yarn.  It was seriously swoon worthy.  I made sure I quickly snapped it up and photographed to be able to share it with you all.

The Stirling Range - from soft to dramatic

I know I have blogged about this yarn already but I am seriously smitten with it. Stirling is an Alpaca yarn with just the merest whiff of silver thread, adding a slight twinkle to the finished fabric.  The Alpaca has a soft halo when knitted so the overall effect is soft, warm and very, very beautiful.  The yarn is also somewhat of an all rounder.  It is spun as a sport weight (5ply), but because of that Alpaca halo in testing Stirling has performed in patterns ranging from fingerling (4ply) weight all the way through to Light Worsted (DK/8ply).

Stirling Carmine - my personal favourite.
Robynne's samples are made for babies as it is soft and special enough to be worn by infants, but I could also see this yarn is a lightweight cardigans and boleros or knit your favorite wrap/shawl & left the silver add extra luxury to your finished project.  the colours have been designed to suit the very small, soft and subtle to the more dramatic evening options.  I especially love the Carmine & Charcoal - they both really make the silver thread pop & well... Twinkle!

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Season of Giving

Just a teaser of what is in the parcel.
I have had so much fun this last week scouring around the mill in this little hidden corners, dusty cupboards and in secret stashes for all sorts of fibrelicious goodies.  It's amazing what you can find.
What is the point of this exercise I hear you ask?
Our first yarn 'Teaser'

It is to put together an amazing prize bundle for a lucky Skeinz customer who shops with us between December 1st and January 18th.  To get into the draw for this prize, all you have to do is spend $50 at skeinz.com and you are automatically in the draw.  Easy.
This is a gem from the 'trial file' - never before been available.
I have tried to make sure that all the yarn in the parcel is enough to complete a small project all the way up to a garment lot for an adult.  There are all thicknesses, colours and fibres.  From the finest Merino, to lush alpaca and mohair.  Make sure you like our Facebook page to get teasers of what to expect in the parcel over the coming weeks.