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2-27-18 Newsletter


Celebrate Yarn Companies Helping Women World Wide!
March 7th - 10th
Every year we like to celebrate International Women's Day with a non-political celebration of yarn companies that go the extra mile to help women.
Presentation: 
Andean Textile Arts
Wednesday, March 7th
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Ercil has kindly agreed to join us Wednesday night to share what the Andean Textile Arts is doing to help women artisans in the Andes.  They are trying to preserve traditional textile arts through education, economic development, and creating new markets for the products.

Ercil will have products you can buy too!  This is a non-profit co op so the monies go directly to the artisans.  And we are having an International Foods Potluck -- talk to Sue for details.

To learn more about Andean Textile Arts click here.
Manos del Uruguay
We are completely in love with Manos.  The company was started in 1968 as a non-profit to help create jobs for women in rural Uruguay.  50 years later they are still a non-profit, they are now a series of co ops and they are the only Fair Trade Certified Yarn Company in the world.

When you buy their yarn, you will see the artisan's name who made it and which village she is from.

They not only dye the yarn but the have created co ops for knitting, crocheting, and weaving.  The artisans sell their products through Manos stores in Uruguay. 

We have a model garments for you to try on in Fino and Silk Blend.  Patterns and kits are available as well. Both of these lovely yarns are a mix of  merino wool and silk.  The Fino is fingering weight and the Silk Blend is DK.
 
Click here to learn more about Manos del Uruguay.
From the Mountain

This yarn makes you purr!  We only bring the handspun cashmere in once a year...  So this is your chance!

Even as much as we love the yarn, we love what this company does even more.  Sadly, 99% of the wealth from cashmere used to leave Afghanistan.  The fiber was poorly collected, bought for pennies on the dollar, and finished in other countries where all the wealth was collected.

Abdul Basir Hotak created a process to better shear the goats, clean the fiber, and prepare it for spinning.  He and From the Mountain have worked to train over 100 women in cottage industries to hand spin the yarn.  Every yarn you buy was spun on a drop spindle!!

Spinning cashmere provides women with a well paid job, they are able to be head of household and raise a family.  Most of these women have been widowed by war or divorced and there are very few options in Afghanistan for legitimate work for women.

AND, you will LOVE the yarn!!!  It comes only in 4 colors and is all undyed.  Supplies are very limited...

To learn more about From the Mountain, click here.
Urth 

Wow, this yarn is pretty.  You will be blown away -- but you will likely need to get here early because their yarns are in great demand so we did not get much.  We brought in Uneek Fingering and Harvest Fingering.  Harvest is all naturally dyed -- and pretty.

We love Urth not just because it is yummy!  We love their spirit and mission.  For every skein they sell they plant a tree in Africa!  They have chosen areas that have been devastated by deforestation and are working to bring back the forest and along with it forest farming.

They have two plants in Turkey where they make their yarn.  Their mission is to hire and train women from underprivileged backgrounds and pay them a fair wage.

To learn more about Urth click here.

Urth started a KAL with Uneek Fingering!  Click here to learn more.
Think Global Act Local

On Saturday we will celebrate local women who have started their own companies.

Bahbah Fibers and Under Dutch Skieswill be here with their fiber for spinning!

Porterness Studios will be here with her amazing shawl pins and jewelry.
Yarn shrinks the world!  We love that women are so predominant in our industry -- not only as knitters and crocheters but also as business leaders and innovators.
New Classes!
for the complete calendar click here
Warping Board Demo
March 6 4:30 pm
FREE!

Want to take your weaving to the next level?  That will likely require more complicated warping.  Peggy will demonstrate how to use a warping board -- and we have one in store you can use!
Beginning Crochet 
with Flow!
Saturday March 17th

Yay!  A crochet class on a Saturday!  Flow is one of our newer partners and is a fantastic crocheter.  She will teach the basics of crochet while you make a simple wash cloth.  

Be sure to pick her brain during class for her favorite designers -- she is an encyclopedia of cool, hip, and fun crochet patterns!

Click here to register.
Intro to Weaving
with Peggy
March 19th
Peggy will walk you though the basics of weaving - including how to warp a loom, fill a bobbin, weave, and finish.
 
Looms are available for rent -- please be sure to secure a loom rental in advance as supplies are limited.

Click here to register.
Historic Buttons
With Peggy
March 24th
Peggy will teach you how to make these lovely historic buttons.  They are the perfect solution for those times you want matching buttons -- or just a unique look.  

Click here for more information.
Intro to Drop Spindle
With Felicia
March 21st

Inspired by the hand spn cashmere and want to make your own yarn?  Learn to spin yarn on a drop spindle!  Felicia will walk you though all the basics, and you will get some yummy Bah Bah fiber to play with!  Click here to register.
Class fees may be refunded for store credit if the class is cancelled at least 24 hours ahead.  Class fees vary by teacher.  Classes are limited to between 6 and 9 people so register early to guarantee your spot.
HOKC started a blog!  Read Sue's first installation here.
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