Back at The Port

After being stranded in Auckland (long story, no details nec.) after 24 hrs travel, I finally have made it back to Port Adelaide, South Australia! No thanks to Air NZ, but mega thanks to Qantas, who saved me from being marooned in Sydney. Go the big red kangaroo!

For the Port Adelaide Market this Sunday:

Some limited edition premium sock wool -- this is high twist, 100% pure merino sock yarn (21 micron), the GOOD STUFF and won't last long. It was a scoop purchase from one of my US mill visits. There are some pale watercolours left in the premium (golds, with touches of blues and pinks) and one hank left of the premium wool/nylon (80/20) still left in a deeper colourway of burgundy with multicolour accents. The 100% wool is also brilliant for shawls and works well with my Versailles Shawl design. $25.00 per 100 gm hank -- the same price as my regular sock yarn, which is still of an excellent quality, just not the same high-twist, Italian-style yarn.

New Nepalese Laceweight Stock and new shawl pattern -- There are new colours of the Nepalese Laceweight 100% handspun, hand-dyed yarn in stock -- pale watercolours and a semi-solid colourway I am calling Cigarettes and Roses (think smokey pink). The new shawl is a version of my Jitterbug Perfume design, but using only 1 hank of Nepalese Lace to create a triangular neck wrap. The pattern is FREE with the purchase of the yarn. Two hanks makes a full-size shawl.

New colour of Cornucopia in stock -- That's right -- It's a gorgeous purple shade, Radicchio, deep pansy purple, not grapey at all. It's unreal and must be claimed so that I don't knit it myself. $15.00AU per50gm hank. This is 100% corn fibre and is machine washable, great for summer and children's garments. This corn yarn is nothing like the stuff you find in discount shops in Oz. Chalk and cheese people. Once you've knitted with this, you will understand why it is special. Try 1 hank for embellishment/accent for a start and let me know what you think.

Kollage Circ. Sizes in Stock:

In addition to new yarns (oh yes, there's more coming), the new Kollage square circular and sock needles will be at the market this Sunday. If you can't make it to the market, please email me at strandedinoz AT gmail DOT com and I will be glad to quickly expedite your order.

Circulars: 3.75mm (24" and 40"), 4mm (32" and 40"), 4.5mm *32" and 40") and 5mm (32" and 40") (US 5-8) $19.80AU per circular
Double-Pointed: 2mm, 2.25mm, 2.75mm, and 3.25mm (US 0-3). Available in 5" and 7" lengths, thought the 5 inch version is going FAST. $18.00AU per set of 5

And lastly for today, thank you to Gail and Anne at Yarns and Company. For all the lovely knitters and weavers and crocheters who made me feel so welcome in Easton, MD, you will be happy to know that Gail is stocking SIOz yarns -- and has a lovely new lot of sock yarn and Nepalese Laceweight in stock. You won't want to miss out on the sock yarn especially, as she's got some beauts -- Semaphore, Betty's Yarn, and some Sherwood Forest colourways. If you are in the Easton area, do stop by Yarns and Co and check out the lovely wool Gail has in stock -- including Berroco and Plymouth yarns. They're located in Harrison Street, just across from the Tidewater Hotel. I will miss them both, as they are accomplished masters and dedicated to the craft of knitting. And I will especially miss Cinnamon, the resident Yorkie Princess who presides over the daily activities.

CU at the Port, Melissa

Soy! and more Soy

Hope you are looking forward to spring -- a great time to store away your wooly stuff and think about trying something new. Plenty of new soy dk colours available -- it's great for summer garments, beach bags, and babies/kidswear -- machine washable, absorbent like cotton, but doesn't pill.

Wool storage tip: try the dry patchouli leaves available at the Honey Shoppe in the Adelaide Central Market. They're the leaves from Ache, Indonesia and they're great for keeping the bugs outta your stash. Sure, your stash will smell like hippies, but that's a good thing right? This shop is also a good source of lavender, if you just can't stand the patchouli.

On deck for this Sunday: Kate (Kaviare on Ravelry) will be in charge of the shop this weekend. What to look for this week? Check out guest spinner, Vellan's, handspun yarn. There's a special lot of skeins to be scooped up by an intrepid customer. Lovely stuff!

The palm wood Kollage square needles continue to be popular. Plenty of them still available (see the sidebar for more details).

Happy Knitting! Melissa

The Weather and Yarn

It's Mel's birthday!  Wheeeeee! To celebrate, I mixed a purple that has been bothering me -- just had to mix it today -- and so far, it's looking good.

Rain has delayed the drying of the new Nepalese Lace Yarns in McLaren Vale, Silly Galah, and the Impressionist watercolours, but I'm hoping a day and a half will do the trick. As soon as it's dry, I'll post some pics.

Check out the newest SIOz design from SWTC -- a Xie Wrap. It will be available for download very soon!

Square Needles: Kollage advises that they are sending the last of their palm wood needles in sizes they have left -- I ordered a stack, as they are fabulous. But have no fear -- they are introducing.... SQUARE CIRCULARS (60 and 100cm lengths from 2.00 to 6.00 mm) and a new line of dpns and straights (the straight squares will be bamboo). Please email me to pre-0rder your circular square needles!

See you at the market or online!

THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who came by my stall at Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show this last weekend. It was great to meet you all. Below you will find my stall "sign". Necessity!

And my apologies to all who missed out on the wool sock yarn and banana palm silk/banana smoothie kits. I have ordered more sock wool (more of the good stuff people!) and the silk is drying on the racks as I type. If you are seeking sock wool, email your colour suggestions to: strandedinoz at gmail dot com early this week.



This week's banana palm silk colours: mid-green (a bit Kermity!), reddish purple (deep beetrooty), and a deeeep red, because I get so many requests for it.

There's another batch of soy on the way, this time in a wild purple mix (by request).

Smoothie kits are $35.00 ($30.oo if you say you already have the latest issue of YARN). $5.00 postage within Oz, (sans insurance).

The Kollage Square Needles are SOLD OUT. If you would like to try a pair, please let me know by the end of the week, when I am putting in my new order.

And a special thank you to the people who came 'round to give me a loo break, a sanger, or a cup of java, especially Judith, Kate, and Vellan. That was ace.

Mel, still stranded!