The Blog has moved!

Hi!

I’m ever so glad that you want to keep up with the latest from our cozy little shop. Our blog has moved to our new website, so hop on over by clicking on this link and check out what we’ve been up to lately.

See you at Serendipity!

XOXO!!!
Ellen : )

It’s Sublime! And it’s BOGO!

Need a soft, gorgeous yarn that’s fun to work with and perfect for the wearer? Wouldn’t it be great if it didn’t break the bank, too? Well, meet Sublime’s Organic Cotton DK, which just so happens to be buy one get one free right now at Serendipity! Plus, you’ll earn FiveStars points, and if you knit up five baby hats with it for our Yarn Bowl, you’ll get a stamp on your Summer Passport Adventure!

The yarn gurus at Sublime have created Organic Cotton DK, a  100% natural and untreated yarn. The cotton has been grown without the use of pesticides and then gently dyed with vegetable dyes, creating subtle pastel shades that are beautiful. This soft organic yarn is gentle enough for little one’s delicate skin, and will knit up into adorable baby hats for those tiny NICU patients we’re helping with our donations during the Yarn Bowl!

Passport Adventure – All the Juicy Details!

There’s so much to experience when you join us on our Summer Passport Adventure! You’ll be making new fiber friends, trying new yarns, threads, and other fibery goodies, learning new techniques, exploring a new kind of fiber art, creating handmade treasures (for yourself – or to gift), experiencing the joy of making something with your own two hands, and, most of all, having fun!

Throughout the summer there will be three main projects that are connected to National Parks throughout the US. We announced the June project today, the July project will be announced on June 28, and the August project will be revealed on July 26. Passport Adventure participants will get a stamp on their passport for finishing each project. We’ll hold Snippets mini-classes throughout the summer that will focus on techniques related to the projects, and completing a Snippet will get you a stamp on your passport, too! Remember the Yarn Bowl? You’ll get stamps on your Passport for knitting/crocheting baby hats, too (plus, you’ll help us beat Ole Miss, which we really just HAVE to do – 5 hats will equal one stamp). There will be other opportunities (and contests!) for passport stamps, so stay tuned. And of course, prizes will be awarded for completing the Passport!

Today we announced the “first stop” of our tour at Acadia National Park and revealed the first project: Lady Fern. She’s gorgeous in every way and each section reminds me of a different and amazing area in Acadia National Park. Lady Fern is made using Shibui Linen yarn, luscious to the touch and delightful to the eye. We’ve created three different color options from which to choose – each inspired by the beautiful colors of Maine. (From left to right below, Bar Harbor, Cadillac Mountain, and Schoodic Point.) You can snag your kit in person or in our online shop!

Participating From Afar

Not local? No worries! We’re excited for you to participate, too! As you complete projects, we’d love for you to send us a picture of your finished project that we can share on Facebook. And of course, you’ll get stamps on your virtual Passport, too!

For those participating from afar, the dates for project completion (to qualify for the prizes) are as follows:

• The June project needs to be begun and completed between 6/1 and 6/30 (with a photo of the completed project uploaded to our Lady Fern Project Photo Gallery by 11:59 p.m. CDT on 7/1).
• The July project needs to be begun and completed between 7/1 and 7/31 (with a photo of the completed project uploaded to our Project Two Photo Gallery by 11:59 p.m. CDT on 8/1).
• The August project needs to be begun and completed between 8/1 and 8/31 (with a photo of the completed project uploaded to our Project Three Photo Gallery by 11:59 p.m. CDT on 9/1).

You’ll find the Project Photo Galleries on the Serendipity Passport Adventure Facebook page. Come join it today! And, if Facebook just isn’t your thing (I get it!), you can send me a picture of your completed project on the aforementioned dates at ellen@serendipityneedleworks.com.

And, just in case you still have questions, we put together some general info and a FAQ to see if we could clear up any confusion!

General Info

1. We are offering double FiveStars points for the yarns you are going to use for your project during a designated shopping week called “Pack Your Bags” each month. The double points reward for Project One, is valid for one project’s worth of yarn during Pack Your Bags Week One (May 24 – June 1).  The double points will be awarded when your package ships. Not a member of FiveStars? We’ll be happy to set up an account for you. Just send an email to Ellen@serendipityneedleworks. com and I’ll take care of it for you.

2.  If you choose to do all three projects with us (yarn for each project purchased during Pack Your Bags Week or later for that project and finished project photos uploaded by the deadlines) we will also be awarding you a special skein of beautiful fingering weight yarn, in a fun Summer Passport Adventure color at the end of the summer. We anticipate having the bonuses ready for you around the middle of September. This gives us the chance to get all of the photos approved and up in the photo galleries.

So if you participate in all three months of the Passport Adventure and follow the guidelines, you’ll get 3 projects worth of DOUBLE FiveStars points and a beautiful skein of fingering weight yarn in an exclusive Passport Adventure color. That’s yarn not available for purchase in the store – ever!!!

Summer Passport Adventure Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Can we participate with needlepoint instead of knitting or crochet?
A. For the 2016 Summer Passport Adventure, we’re sticking with knitting or crochet.

Q. I didn’t get to order during Pack Your Bags Week, but if I order my project yarn later and complete the project by the deadline, does that still count, even though I know I don’t get the double FiveStars points?
A. Yes.  Any yarn ordered 5/24 or later can count for Project One. You’ll still be eligible for the drawings and prizes for that month, and if you finish all three projects by the deadlines (with yarn ordered during that project’s Pack Your Bags Week or later), you’ll get the bonus reward – a free skein of yarn.

Q. I want to participate using yarn from my stash. Does that still count?
A. We’re happy for you to participate using yarn from your stash, as long as it’s yarn that we currently carry at Serendipity Needleworks. Unfortunately, you won’t be eligible for the bonus at the end of the Adventure if you use stash yarn.

Q. When you say to knit the project between 6/1 and 6/30, when EXACTLY does the timing start?
A. You can start at 12:01 am your time on 6/1 if you’d like, although a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast might be a better idea. The project needs to be done by 11:59 pm on 6/30, your time. The photos need to be uploaded by 11:59 pm OUR time (Central Daylight Time) on 7/1.

Q. How do I know if I’m on track for the free bonus, and when will I get it?
A. If you purchase your project yarn during Pack Your Bags Week (or later that same project month) and upload your photo by the deadline, then you are on track. Once the Passport Adventure is over and the bonus is ready (approximately mid-September), we’ll send you a notice to let you know.

Passport Adventure

Are you firming up your summer plans? So are we, and it’s going to be a fantastic summer! We’re celebrating the National Parks Centennial Celebration, but with a fun, fiber twist, of course!

This year is the National Park Service’s 100th Birthday, so our Passport Adventure will be a tour of the US via some of our country’s most beautiful places.

What exactly do we mean? Well, we don’t want to give it ALL away, but think something along the lines of…

• making new fiber friends
• trying new yarns, threads, and other fibery goodies
• learning new techniques
• exploring a new kind of fiber art
• creating handmade treasures (for yourself – or to gift)
• experiencing the joy of making something with your own two hands
• having SOOOOO much fun!

Stop by the shop, give us a call at (205)-758-0108, or drop us an email to get your passport and learn how to fill it up with Serendipity stamps!

Tin Can Knits and Mrs. Crosby

What could possibly be better than having a Tin Can Knits trunk show in the shop with tons of samples to try on so that you can find THE perfect pattern for you/your best friend/your Mom/your sister/your Aunt? How about also having luscious, hand-dyed yarn from the one and only Mrs. Crosby?! And, what if the yarn just happened to be PERFECT for the Tin Can Knits projects? We like to call that Serendipity. Stop by the shop now through the end of May to see what an amazing pairing these two make!

Wine and Cheese with Ann Weaver!

That’s right. Not only do we have the incredible Ann Weaver here at Serendipity for a few of her fabulous workshops, now we get to have a wine and cheese night with her on Thursday, April 28th, from 5:30-7pm, and EVERYONE is welcome! Not signed up for the workshops? No big deal – come join us for this fun meet and greet! Sounds awesome, right? But, it gets EVEN BETTER! All of Ann’s samples will be out – talk about inspiration. Beauty. Color. Works of art, frankly. And so, so fun! Did I mention wine and cheese? And Ann Weaver? And ALL are welcome? Because this event is kind of blowing my mind and I just want to make sure you have a clear picture! Fun. F-U-N! See you there!

PS – Not registered for the workshops yet?! It’s ok, we saved a spot just for YOU! Our online registration is easy peasy, or give us a call at (205)-758-0108 and we’ll get you all squared away!

Handmade Gifts

Why handmade? Gifts made with love are always the best! Special occasions call for special gifts, and nothing says, “You are precious to me,” more  than something that you made yourself, with love, with care, with heart and intention.

The gift doesn’t have to be elaborately detailed or costly to make – and bonus? It doesn’t have to be perfect! A needlepoint or cross stitch ornament to commemorate a couples first Christmas together, a set of hand embroidered pillowcases for their first home, a knitted or crocheted blanket to keep them toasty on a cold wintry night – the possibilities are limitless. (Of course, if you’re stumped on what to make, we’re always happy to help.)

Hat Patterns, Get Your Hat Patterns!

Are you ready for the 2016 Yarn Bowl? Let’s make all the hats (and beat Ole Miss in the process)! We’ll be collecting baby hats from April 16th – September 1st, and all of our beautiful handiwork will be donated to the DCH Regional Medical Center here in Tuscaloosa.

We need hats for preemies through full-term babies, so there are LOTS of options! Need a few hat patterns to get you started? We’ve got you covered – and they’re all FREE!

Try this Simple Baby Hat pattern by Alison Wilson – it’s a lovely little one-hank hat (perfect for embellishing) and the rolled brim is absolutely adorable.

Or knit up this cute little Basic Baby Hat by Heather Tucker. It’s a simple pattern with a ribbed bottom, stockinette body, and neatly decreased crown. It’s worked in the round so that it’s seamless (and oh-so-comfy for little delicate heads).

If you’re looking for crochet patterns, the Easy Baby Hat by Anita Meehan is a classic choice, and you can easily customize it with endless color choices.

And you absolutely cannot go wrong with this beyond cute Baby Hat by Bernat Design Studios – it’s really a tiny crochet wonder – the only thing that’s cuter is the lucky baby who will get to wear it!

What Can You DO with Color Work?

You’re thinking of signing up for the Ann Weaver workshops April 29-30, but you just aren’t sure what you’ll do with the skills you learn. It’s ok! I’ve been there. So I’m going to tell you – and show you! – what you’ll gain and what you’ll be able to do after the workshop!

In the Albers Cowl and Color Theory workshop, you’re going to gain new appreciation for how colors work together – and how they don’t! You’ll learn new ways of combining color to bring out their beauty, and once you have a new understanding of color and the skills to apply it in your knitting, your projects will take on a whole new dimension!

This is the perfect skill to apply to fingerless gloves, cowls, shawls – you know – ALL the projects you love to make as gifts? Application of  color theory takes them from thoughtful (which they are, of course) to being works of art.

And speaking of gifting, don’t you declare EVERY year that you’ll start your projects earlier this year, and then, all of a sudden, it’s November? “Ah, next year,” you think. Well, this workshop is the PERFECT opportunity to jumpstart your gift-making, and to do it with color combinations that must be seen to be believed!

Finishing Techniques with Ann Weaver

Do you have projects piling up, awaiting final touches like seaming, grafting, weaving in ends, or working button bands? Are your finishing skills – or lack thereof – dragging your knitting down? Then this is the class for you!

Join us Saturday, April 30th, from 1-4pm. Register by April 1st to reserve your spot and to score early-bird pricing!

Skills needed: casting on, knitting, and binding off.