Get that warm, fuzzy feeling.

We promised to blog weekly and we meant it. Last week was more than a little crazy and, well, Fashionknitsta Thursday fell on Thanksgiving, so that didn't happen. We are determined to get back on schedule, though, and stick to it... even if it takes me 'til closing to write all this up. Which it might, since a lot has been happening here!

Firstly, we have a blog subject that's long overdue and that you should expect to see a lot of over the next two weeks -

Handknits For Hard Knock Kids

It's the happiest time of the year... for some. For others, like children in foster care, it's the time where they can be the most lonely. But we can help make children in foster care more comfortable, in strange places with strange people, when they can't be with family.

From now through December 17th, we'll be accepting donations of handknit (and store-bought!) clothes and toys in good condition for Oregon children in foster care.

Drop off "New or used, hand-knit or store-bought [clothing]," at the store (or mail it to us, if you live out of state!) and you'll been entered into a prize drawing that includes several one-of-a-kind skeins of sock yarn from happiest girl! dyeworks, sock yarn from Abstract Fiber, many Knit Purl gift cards, and any other prizes we can rummage up.

We'll be collecting clothing from now through Thursday, December 17th, the night of our prize drawing. If there's continued interest, we'll continue to accept clothing after the holidays.

The Knit Purl clothing drive for children in the Oregon foster care system. Many foster care families can barely afford to feed and clothe their foster children, making the winter months particularly hard when the cold weather sets in. After reading an article in the Oregonian and Mim's blog post, we decided to do something.

Curious about what you can/ should donate?

"The only requirements the woman I spoke to noted were that items need to be clean and in good condition. They can use every size since they care for kids of all ages, from newborns to teenagers." (-Mims Copeland)

If you have any handknits, or hand-me-downs, sitting around the house, please consider donating them. Just think of the warm and fuzzy feeling you'll get and, quite possibly, the lovely prizes we've collected for generous knitters.

And now we can return to our regularly scheduled programming and sharing customer projects. Y'all know how much I love to share what our knitters have been doing. It brings me a little dose of vicarious joy every time.

Sarawan brought in her completed Seed Stitch Scarf a few days ago, and we all had to compliment her yarn choice:

ShibuiKnits Highland Wool Alpaca? Niiice (it's so sqooshy!). I think several staffers want to make their own version of this scarf now, because Sarawan was stylin' it. There aren't any notes on her project sheet, so we're just going to have to assume from her smile that she likes it, too.

Next, Tanuja wore in her Noro Silk Garden cardigan, from Noro Mini Knits (Design 26):

I just have to say that I looove her color choices. There are actually three different Silk Garden colorways in there, though I couldn't tell you where or when they start. But it definitely is lovely, and totally works for layering this winter and wearing into spring. Unfortunately, I couldn't find Tanuja (or her cardigan) on ravelry, so we can only admire from afar.

Yesterday, Martha brought in her finished Clara baby dress to show off:

We are so proud of her for sticking to this project - the pattern was translated (confusingly) into English from its original Scandahoovian language and can be really frustrating at times (trust me, I've helped a lot of perplexed customers with this 'un). Final verdict? It's totally worth the annoyance and confusion. Honestly. I've had several knitters tell me so, and just look at it. Isn't it adorable beyond words?

Martha's (getting back to the original topic) was made for a friend's daughter, and is on ravelry here. Go and fav it, you know you want to!

And that's all the customer projects I have for this week (and last week, too). If you have a project you'd like to share, please let us know or visit the store, because we'd love to feature it!

Lastly, we have some store updates to share. You may already know that Takako of Habu Textiles...
will be in Portland this Friday and Saturday, for the express purposes of teaching Knit Purl customers how to read Japanese patterns and to show off the Habu Textiles trunkshow. But, did you know that we're down to three spots left in the second session of Takako's Reading Japanese Patterns class?

It's true! But, don't worry, if it fills up and more knitters want to take this fun (and very useful) class, Takako has agreed to teach another session on Saturday. So, if you've been pining for a Japanese pattern book, you might want to clear your schedule this Friday!

And, ooh!, we have some new items in the store. My favorite are the two Danger Crafts patterns that just came in. Esther the Eccentric Elephant...

and Sammie the Sock Monster...

Who, incidentally, I have bought the pattern for and plan on casting on this weekend (squee!). He's so cute! He could even guard the sock yarn stash... Hmm, imagine.

And, lastly, we also have a new line from Punta Yarns. MeriTwist:


A delicious handpainted 100% Merino BULKY yarn that just begs to be knit up as a chunky scarf or hat. Yum. Knit at 3 sts/ inch, it's simply ideal for those last-minute holiday gifts you forgot to cast on a month ago (don't worry, we won't tell).

And last, but certainly not least, we finally received our shawl pin order from Lantern Moon and, thusly, have both the Textured Metal Shawl Pins and Classic Shawl Pins back in stock!





Yes, we are excited, too. One of those Classic Shawl Pins will be mine. If you've been coveting them (like myself), grab one (or two) soon, because even Lantern Moon admitted that they didn't know when we could get more.

That must be everything. If it isn't, we'll try again next time. Have a good week!