Knit in Public Fun Fun Fun!! And new merchandise, too...

Worldwide Knit in Public Day (actually week) began yesterday and Main Street Yarn and its following were not to be let out. The overcast skies cleared in time for a free workshop to teach the Sweet Tomato Heel for a sock. Folding chairs came out on trunks, hatches and backseats of vehicles and participants had a great time.

Look how nice this heel turned out! I was handling the indoor duties at the book shop and yarn shop so now I need to get some instruction on this fabulous heel that all just raved about!

Congratulations to Cathy who won a lovely door prize donated by Universal Yarn Company.

In other news: New yarns and bags went on sale this past week and to say some of them "ran out of the shop" is not an exaggeration. Just look at the goodies...and, yes, many remain for others to purchase.

Rich colorways from Desert Vista Yarnworks! Knitters thought it was difficult to select which one (or ones) to purchase. Ha! The toughest part was deciding which colorways to select for the shop.

The Hag Bag collection made its way to the shop. Sorry the photo is blurry..I took it with my phone. The seamstress is another woman-owned small business. I am pleased to say that she joins company with Wandering Wool and Desert Vista Yarnworks. As a small woman-owned business I am proud to support others. Working together is the root of success for each of us. And thank you to those who support Main Street Yarn because you are supporting all of our efforts. We are dedicated to our fiber adventures!

Karbonz Knitting Needles Have Arrived!

Karbonz Knitting Needles -- made from high-tech carbon fiber -- will be for sale at Main Street Yarn beginning tomorrow mid to late afternoon. These New Age Needles are very popular so some sizes are back ordered. We do have a selection in 6" double points and 24", 32" and 40" circulars. Stop by and check it out.

Also, a new really FUN yarn from Universal will be on sale beginning tomorrow afternoon. Hope to see you!

Time to Catch Up....

I cannot  believe that it has been almost two months since I wrote a blog post. Opening a yarn shop, while trying to keep up with life in general, makes one really busy but it is a good type of busy.

Let's see what I have done since I last checked in:
-- Traveled to MD Sheep & Wool Festival with a busload of fiberholics and met up with my good friend Roberta. We had not seen each other in 3 1/2 years. The day flew and too soon it was time to say good-bye but we had a ton of fun
-- Got a case of "startitis" -- translation I've begun and not finished a bunch of knitting projects. Goal now is to complete them soon!
-- I'm learning to use Constant Contact which is a great newsletter program and have sent out two newsletters -- the next one will be later this week
-- Gotten very active on the Main Street Yarn Facebook page
-- Launched the website yesterday -- check us out at www.mainstreetyarn.net The blog updates are available on the website
-- Began investigating yarn companies I don't stock. One big issue in adding most of them is their high opening order minimums. Yikes! $2,000 is more than I planned for an opening order with one in particular. Purchasing from them might get put onto the back burner for a while.
-- Have been giving medical care and fluids under the skin to my older Golden Retriever. Fortunately, his stomach issues seem to be settling down. Now if he only would quit licking the front of his leg. There is nothing wrong with it. I think it is just nerves.

Whew! It has been a busy few weeks.

There are a lot of fun classes planned at Main Street Yarn including how to dye your own yarn, more Magic Loop Sock Classes, and some others we will soon announce.

No photos this time but I will post new photos of a summer yarn and the Karbonz knitting needles in a new blog post later in the week. The timing is all up to the UPS man.

A sneak peek! Opening day April 11

Main Street Yarn
121 E. Main Street
Rebersburg, PA 16872
814-349-2611
Website under construction
Check us out on Facebook
Hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Here are a few photos to peek your interest. Hope to see you soon!

Opening Day: April 11

Just a quick note with a couple of photos from yesterday...work continues:

The sign is done! Isn't it gorgeous? A smaller version will be by the door near the parking lot.

If your yarn escapes like mine does...here are two solutions to keep it under control...hand thrown knitting bowls and handmade wooden yarn caddies. Either -- or both! -- are good choices.

Just one angle of the room dedicated to fingering weight yarn. This is just one angle of the space. Some yarn is backordered but is scheduled to arrive this week! Also lots of knitting and crochet patterns.

See  you soon with more photos....

Yarn Comes Out from Hiding

This is the weekend...the yarn starts to be put out, models get displayed and needles and accessories will be put into their designated spaces in Main Street Yarn. Opening day is just around the corner -- April 11. Our hours will be Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 6 p.m. The shop address is 121 E. Main Street, Rebersburg, PA. The shop phone will be installed next Friday. Once I'm sure of the phone number I will add it to this post.

Main Street Yarn will have a website, Ravelry page and Facebook page. There also will be a monthly newsletter emailed to all who are interested.

Here are just a couple of photos from today to peek your interest. Hope to see you soon! Kim

"The Singles Bar" of fingering weight yarn is is just ripe for all sorts of projects -- from socks to shawls to hats and more!

The JoJoland Yarn Wall! A fabulous twist of color in worsted weight. Look at that gorgeous shawl! Yum.

A closeup of the gorgeous shop model knitted by Libby Beiler. Just think of the lovely items you can knit or crochet from Jojoland.

They Match!

This is a quick post to show you my lovely yarn bowl and the sock yarn I currently have on the double pointed needles. I chuckled at the coincidence of the nearly matching colors of the yarn bowl and the yarn. Aren't they lovely? I'm going to the shop tomorrow to dust and clean  the small room and the middle room. Hopefully I can actually get some yarn and other items in place. If so, I will take photos and update tomorrow night.

Please if you read my blog posts leave me a note, at least occasionally. I took off the blocks so leaving a message should be quick and easy. If there are still issues, please let me know. Thanks!

Closing In On The Finish Line

I took these photos a few days ago so even now they are outdated. The two contractors/renovators have done a spectacular job to transform a neglected very outdated space of 3 rooms into a light and bright yarn shop. There is some minimal interior work to be completed. We need signs for the building and parking lot and some cleaning is required to remove remnants of sawdust and dirty boot prints.

Boxes of yarn arrive almost daily. I think the last ones -- except for the backorder -- arrived today. Needles and hooks are here. Project bags are here with some others to arrive in a few weeks. Hand-dyed yarn is being dyed into beautiful colors and will arrive in a few weeks. Fixtures need to be ordered but the delivery is overnight. I have arranged, rearranged and rearranged several more times in my mind's eye. I think I have the design now. Time will tell.

Here are the latest photos:

This is the main room  customers will enter from either the parking lot entrance or through Forefathers Book Shop at the front of the building. Most of the yarn will be in this room.

The built in cupboard (teal door just leaning there for now) will be a great display place and storage spot. The wainscoating is gorgeous since it was resealed. Love my lavender walls! Country cottage look.

And lookie what else! A small fireplace on the lovely hearth that was built to raise it a bit. I can just see all of us sitting there and knitting, crocheting, etc. now. I just can't wait!

This room was a DISASTER but look at it now. It is a small space but will serve several important purposes to customers, myself and those who work in the shop.

Watch for more soon....

And So It Begins.....Main Street Yarn

Some of you might think...uh-oh...what happened. The title of this post can be interpreted in to way -- positively or negatively. This post is positive VERY POSITIVE.

A long-time dream has been to own a yarn shop. In a month or so that dream will become a reality thanks to my husband. He purchased a former bank building in Rebersburg, PA and gave me the back three rooms and funding to open the shop, purchase merchandise and hire a fabulous person to work there with me and teach classes. No, I'm not leaving my fulltime job so a knowledgable co-worker was a requirement.

Keith is opening Forefathers Used Book Shop in the front section of the building. Those renovatiosn are complete and it looks gorgeous. The shelves are getting fuller and fuller each day.

Renovations began a week ago and the difference is amazing. Oh there is a long way to go but the guys are quick workers. The changes in a week are startling...the place already looks bigger and brighter!

This blog will be connected to the website once it is up and running. I do hope people comment and ask questions. I considered an additional shop blog but had to be realistic with my time limitations. The shop is me and so is  this blog.

I have a beautiful logo but am not unveiling it or giving clues to what yarns or other products will be in the shop. I am still deciding and ordering -- althought boxes are arriving almost daily.

The building has a long history in Rebersburg and has some special touches that are remaining with the integrity of the building. It also had some paneling that was removed.

At left is lovely wooden wainscoting in the middle room. At right is a gorgeous floor-to-ceiling built-in wooden cupboard that is as lovely as it will be useful.

A closeup of the wainscoting.

This paneling was in the middle room. It is gone.

This paneling in the large yarn room was nice -- for anyone who likes paneling -- but it made the room too dark. Light and bright walls and daylight bulbs in the ceiling lights. All to help everyone see the "true" colors of the yarn they are purchasing.

Peeking from the first room into the second room. The walls are gone.

Two days later. Walls are up.

To be continued......

Happy Birthday Timber

My little Golden boy is 3 today! Happy Birthday my little sweetie. May we celebrate many, many more together. I love you so much.

Beautiful Yarn Bowl

This is such a thoughtful and personal Christmas gift from a wonderful friend. A perfect size yarn bowl in shades of lavender...purples are my favorite colors. Once my hand heals from the carpel tunnel or whatever its issue is, this bowl will get lots of use. Thank you Celeste!

Wonderful Treats!

I am on Ravelry and if you are a fiber person it is the place to be...lots of inspiration, patterns, yarns, and fun. One of the fun things we do are "swaps" within certain groups. I am in a Starbucks-themed cowl swap group and today my package arrived.

Katy was my swap partner and she went above and beyond. I so wanted to share the joy I felt when I opened the box this afternoon. 

The cowl with the cabled edgings fits perfectly and is GORGEOUS. I love the yarn color -- a medium blue teal and those wooden buttons are outstanding. I tried it on immediately and it is unbelievable. I love the fact that I can leave one button open if I want or button up for a really cold, windy day. I might have to go take a walk so I can wear it now.

The skein (already wound) of Heritage Silk hand paints is gorgeous. I think it is destined to be a pair of fingerless mitts and a shallow matching cowl. There is lots of yardage in this fingering weight.The purple/teal mix calls my name. I love it!

Locking ring markers in their own little case. Nice. Can’t wait to try them.

Then we have the Starbucks element -- the gift card in an Autumn design, a Tall Starbucks mug with candy inside and a reusable Starbucks tote. I have been looking at those totes for ages, have almost gotten to the counter with one for myself and decided to be thrifty. Katy must have read my mind.

Here is a photo so you can see…