Newsletter May 9th 2022

Birds, Beaches, Sun, and Colour  We’re blasting into summer with a fun line-up of local yarns that celebrate the beautiful Grey-Bruce area. We love working with local producers, and this season we're thrilled to introduce you to the talented Tanya Weichel of Gilbert Lane Studio in Southhampton, Ontario.  Tanya has dyed 13 stunning colourways for Riverside Yarns in a luxurious Cashmere/Merino/Nylon blend of fingering-weight yarn, perfect for a light shawl to wear while strolling along the shores of Lake Huron. Gilbert Lane is in-store now and available on the webstore. You'll be inspired by these exceptional yarns, dyed with love by an artist.   And what was that about birds?  Knitters and crocheters are a cheerful, colourful bunch, and we love to flock together. That’s why we’re so excited to be involved in a fun collaboration between the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory and Stratford-based yarn dyer Vicki Ryder of Songbird Yarn & Fibres. Vicki has created a unique line of fingering-weight yarn based on the colours of North American songbirds. We’re going to bring Songbird Yarns to Riverside Yarns this summer with a focus on colourways that reflect our local bird life.  Piping Plover anyone? Proceeds from each sale of Songbird Yarn will be donated to the BPBO, which is celebrating its 20th year of operations. For more information on what the observatory does, visit https://bpbo.ca. You'll see more about this fluttery collaboration in the store and on our social media later this month.  We've also re-arranged our own nest here at Riverside Yarns, and made room for visitors at our front table. Next time you're in, feel free to pull up a chair and stay awhile -- bring a friend or two.  We really want to see what you've been up to these past few months.  Please consider wearing a mask while in the store. We appreciate it!  Photo of the Piping Plover by Brendan Toews https://www.ontario.ca/page/piping-plover   See Gilbert Lane Studio Here New yarns for summer knitting Mirasol Winqu The blend of cotton and silk in this lightweight worsted yarn creates a 'slubby,' casual look that's great for easy wraps and tees. It's a smooth 85% Tanguis organic cotton, 15% silk blend that's soft to the touch.    100 g/ 185yd/ 170m skein Gauge: 16.0 to 20.0 sts = 4"  Needles: US 7 - 9 or 4.5 - 5.5mm  Hook size: 4.5mm - 5.5mm (I)   10 colours $23.50 Spun in Peru  Machine wash. Lay flat to dry. Shop Winqu Araucania Huasco Coton Kettle Dyes New for this spring from Araucania, this fingering-weight 100% cotton yarn is hand-dyed using small kettles, making for a unique colour. There are no dye lots, so we suggest you buy enough yarn to complete your project, and knit with two skeins, alternating rows. 100% cotton  100g /481yd- 440m skeins  Gauge: 27 -32 sts = 4" Needles: US 1-3, 2.25-3.25 mm Hook: 2.25mm - 3.25mm 10 colours $20.00 Shop Huasco Coton Coming soon Regenbogen Cosmos by Rellana Garne Let the yarn do the work for you. Cosmos is created from four plies of hand dyed yarn, and each 800m ball creates a unique striping effect that makes the simplest pattern look great.   One ball is all you need for this essential summer shawl, and the pattern is free. 50% Cotton, 50% Acrylic 200g/ 875yd - 800m ball Gauge: 25sts = 4" Needles: 2.5-3.5mm 6 colours     Sock knitters take note - OPAL RESTOCK We've just restocked your favourite sock yarns from Opal! We now have 8 new lively summer colourways of Wasserwelten, and 7 new shades of Hundertwasser. 75% Wool, 25% Polyamide 100g/ 425m ball $17.50 - $18.50  Shop Opal Something exciting is in the works  We are so grateful to have received one of four Marching Forward Grants offered by N. Jefferson and Clover. NJL is a family-owned and operated business that supplies knitting, crochet, sewing, and crafting supplies to retailers across Canada. This spring they partnered with Clover, a manufacturer of quality crafting tools and notions, to offer grants to retailers impacted by local and provincial COVID-19 restrictions.   We're looking at ways to regenerate our local crafting community. Crafters love to connect over their shared practice, be it knitting, crochet, weaving, felting or needlework. We're planning some fun gatherings - stay tuned to our Instagram and Facebook feeds, as well as our webpage, for all the details.    Finished Object Gallery   Left: Success from our first post lockdown Beginner Knitting class! Audrey Armstrong has knit up two little hats in Rhichard Devrieze Sirocco and Araucania Sayí. She’s loving it! Nice work Audrey! Right: Josie Woodman altered the pattern for "Christine’s baby booties” to 8x14 stitches for the sole, as she found the 10x18 stitches called for in the original pattern was too big for most newborns. She has knit these up in Sirdar Baby Crofter.   Top left: Dawn Tremblay's sweater was inspired by Birkin by Caitlin Hunter,  but she has made many modifications at the yoke and sleeve. She knit this with BC Garn Bio Shetland, and she said the yarn is fabulous to work with.  Top right: Josette was drawn to the simplicity of this top-down summer shirt, and had it on her wish-list for a while. When we brought in Cotton-Cashmere from Katia, she knew she had the right combination. She knit up Anker's Summer Shirt with five balls of Cotton-Cashmere in the Stone Grey colourway. It's soft and light on its own, but can be easily worn under a jacket or sweater.   Bottom left: Pat Wagter made a trip to Rhichard Devrieze Studio's to find the perfect shade of Peppino for this Walk Along sweater by Ankestrick . Bottom right: Another great sweater for Pat, this time in Sirocco by Rhichard Devrieze. The pattern she used is  Not Too Much by Hinterm Stein, in the Cadis Creek colourway. Barbara Smith finished this cosy Lumme sweater by Sari Nordlund just in time to go skating. She highly recommends the pattern as she found it very clear to follow. She knit it in Estelle Alpaca Merino Worsted. She also knit this Woven Cable Headband by Priscilla Uloho in the same yarn. The pattern is free on Ravelry, and Barbara has made several of these headbands. Left: Clare Matthews used Estelle Worsted and Lichen and Lace Marsh Mohair to create this lovely Woodbine sweater. The pattern is available in Laine magazine, volume Nine-1833 (Autumn/Winter 2019). She used Lichen and Lace Marsh Mohair in Shroom, and Estelle Worsted in Snow, and Teddy Bear.  Right: Abby Miners knit this amazing Maple Leaf Shawl using Sugarbush Yarns' Trickle. The shawl is designed by Natalia@Elfmoda, and is suitable for intermediate to advanced knitters.   Edie Isles Crocheted these two shawls for her daughters, using two colours of Estelle Worsted. This is the Perfect Pockets Shawl, designed by  Sonja Hood and available on Ravelry. Edie's daughters love their shawls.                   Left: Mary-Lynn Armstrong has been using her RSY stash to prepare for her much anticipated first grandbaby.  Right: This is our first collection of items gathered for the Knitting for Neonates program. All these lovingly-made items have been dropped off at the Grey Bruce Health Services Owen Sound hospital.  We have a winner We were so happy to be able to celebrate Local Yarn Store Day on April 30th in person this year. Shoppers entered their names into a draw for a bag of yarn and notions. Local maker Sandy Barker was the lucky recipient! We thank everyone who came by that day, and all our customers, for your continued support of Riverside Yarns.