Pucks n' Purls

Fleece Artist Thrumb Mitten Kit from Linda's Craftique

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:32:10 -0500

What a great prize. Linda’s Craftique has donated a Fleece Artist Thrumb Mitten kit for the Pucks n’ Purls raffle. Thrumb mittens are so warm and cozy. Perhaps the lucky winner can make some headway on knitting these up during the game. They will be fabulous with all the snow we are expecting to have tomorrow. If you go to the Fleece Artist website, you can see how one talented knitter used her kit to make a thrumbed hand warmer perfect to keep hands warm while watching hockey. There’s even a link to a free pattern.

Linda’s Craftique has moved to a new location as of February 5. It is just down the street at 37 Lakeshore Rd. E, Mississauga ON. Telephone 905-274-4115 Visit the website for more information .

Be sure to come to the Linda’s Craftique Grand Reopening on Saturday, March 2: 11 am to 4 pm.

Linda’s Craftique has been serving knitters and other fibre artists in the Mississauga area...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:31:58 -0500

Linda’s Craftique has been serving knitters and other fibre artists in the Mississauga area since November 1983. On February 5, it relocated to a larger space at 237 Lakeshore Rd E. But don’t worry - it’s not far - Just down the road from the old store. The phone number 905-274-4115 and even the postal code L5G 1G8 remain the same. Linda says there will be lots of space to look at all the scrumptious yarns and sit and knit. Check out the website for up-to-date information.

Linda Benne, the owner, is well know to many knitter’s. Linda is the North American champion Fastest Knitter. At Pucks n’ Purls she and Wannietta Prescod, the Canadian Champion will be competing in the Fastest Knitter Face Off during the game. Both Linda and Wanietta are great sports. What fun for all of us.

*****Mark the Dates*****

Linda Benne Appears on Canada’s Greatest Know-It-All

Monday, February 18: 10 pm on Discovery Channel

Linda will be making an appearance on this show. Wonder what that’s about! A must watch!

Grand Re-Opening - Linda’s Craftique

Saturday, March 2: 11 am to 4 pm

At its new location at

237 Lakeshore Rd. E, Mississauga ON L5G 1G8

905-274-4115

Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Hat Book

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:06:00 -0500

We have another fabulous pattern book as a Pucks n’ Purls raffle prize donated by a DKC member and Pucks n’ Purls supporter. Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Hat Book is a wonderful collection of modern, chic hats in a variety of styles.

As Knit Picks says in its review:

In The Ultimate Hat Book, the editors of Vogue Knitting present the most comprehensive and stylish collection of hats available today. Complete with a brief history of knit hats and helpful techniques, there are 50 patterns in all—assuredly not typical, with bowlers and pillboxes alongside the ubiquitous beanies and berets.

Some lucky Pucks n’ Purls ticket holder will get to take this great book home.

Estelle Donates 50 Scarf Kits as Pucks n' Purls Prizes

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:44:00 -0500

A really big box came today from Estelle. It contained 50 scarf kits as giveaways for the Pucks n’ Purls raffle. Wow! How incredibly generous. Thanks you!

Each kit contains a skein of Sakura Silk yarn, 50% silk/30% cotton/20% acrylic (200m/100g). The Seafoam Scarf pattern included was written for this yarn by Toronto’s own exceptionally talented Kate Atherley. Sakura silk is a beautiful variegated yarn in soft tones that will make a fabulous scarf. And 30 Pucks n’ Purls ticket holders will take this kit home.

Estelle Yarns imports fine yarns and distributes them to your local yarn store. They carry yarns from Estelle, Lang, Cascade, King Cole and Manos del Uruguay. Although Estelle only sells its yarns and products wholesale, visit their website to learn about new yarns and patterns and download free patterns.

Look at All the Hockey Prizes too

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:01:00 -0500

For all the Pucks n’ Purls ticket holders, there are both hockey and knitting raffle prizes. And for the raffle all you need is your seat ticket to win.

For your family members - and maybe even you - who are rabid hockey fans, the Marlies have given us some great prizes to give away. We have:

3 autographed hockey sticks, 1 autographed by the whole team
3 Marlies scarves
2 vouchers for 4 tickets to a future Marlies game
2 sets of 4 admission vouchers for the Hockey Hall of Fame
10 Marlies T-shirts

Seat numbers that have won prizes will be published at the PRIZE KIOSK behind Section 102 in the Concourse. If you have a winning ticket, the next step is to chose between a knitting or hockey prize. Now you draw the prize number from the basket and make it your own. If you are a visual type, this is how it will work.

Dye-Version Sock Yarn Donated by Knit-O-Matic

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:20:43 -0500

Knit-O-Matic, a charming yarn store on Bathurst Street, has donated a fabulous skein of Dye-Version Bamboo Sock yarn (370m/115g) which is 93% bamboo 7% lycra as a Pucks n’ Purls raffle prize. Awesome. Thank you. This is a beautiful hand dyed yarn that is so soft and squishy, but because of the fibre content, even people with allergies can wear it.

Although this yarn will make incredible socks, it can be used for anything that requires fingering weight yarn. Think scarves and shawls. There are endless possibilities.

And it is hand dyed right here in the Greater Toronto Area.

Knit-O-Matic 1378 Bathurst St, Toronto, On M5R 3J1 416-653-7849 Visit the website or store blog for more information.

Knit-O-Matic is a charming yarn store nestled into the west side of Bathurst Street south of St....

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:54:48 -0500

Knit-O-Matic is a charming yarn store nestled into the west side of Bathurst Street south of St. Clair Avenue. It has a wide range of yarns and supplies for knitting, crocheting, embroidery, felting and other types of crafty pursuits. Knit-O-Matic has a full range of knitting classes - everything from “Learn to Knit” to interesting projects and techniques. The new list of classes will be published shortly. You can check out their website or keep up to date with what is going on on the store blog.

Until February 17, Knit-O-Matic is having a buy 3 get 1 free promotion on a slew of great yarns. Hurry in and get some before the promotion ends.

Located at 1378 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5R 3J1 Phone:(416) 653-7849

TTC Bathurst St at Alcina Ave

Fabulous Yarn from Tanis Fibre Arts

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:37:07 -0500

Tanis Fibre Arts has sent two luscious skeins of their fingering weight Blue Label yarn as Pucks N’ Purls raffle prizes. How generous!! The colourways are Cobalt and Mallard. This yarn is super soft merino and nylon (80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon, 115g/385m) that is strong enough for socks but soft enough for any project requiring fingering weight yarn including baby knits. What a great prize for two lucky winners!

Tanis Fibre Arts is an all Canadian company that produces high quality, hand dyed yarns. The yarns are available in eight bases; Blue Label Fingering Weight, Purple Label Cashmere Sock, Red Label Cashmere/Silk Single, Yellow Label DK Weight, Green Label Aran Weight, Orange Label Cashmere/Silk Worsted, Pink Label Lace Weight and Silver Label Mulberry Silk. And each base is available in 36 colourways, everything from sophisticated neutrals to soft pastels and deep and delicious jewel tones.

Check out their yarns, kits, patterns, clubs and even notecards on their website.

There is also a TFA blog that Tanis updates regularly. She chats about her latest project, things she loves and what inspires her. It’s a charming window into her professional and personal life. Very inspiring.

This is Cobalt

And this is Mallard

Terrific Kit With Bamboo Yarn from Old Mill Knitting

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:48:16 -0500

Old Mill Knitting has been so generous to Pucks n’ Purls. This is one of the three kits they have donated as raffle prizes.

This kit contains ten skeins of Stella 100% bamboo yarn (50g/175m) manufactured in Italy for Naturally. That is 1,750 m of soft, silky yarn that some have compared to the touch of cashmere. But it is bamboo, which keeps you cool and dry in the summer, warm in the winter and is hypoallergenic. The yarn is a gorgeous pale yellow - fabulous for summer sweaters or baby duds. To round out the kit there are seven pattern leaflets from Naturally for different baby, toddler and women’s garments to make from this fabulous yarn. All are very tempting.

Old Mill Knitting is a yarn distributor located in Ancaster near Hamilton, Ontario. Visit their website to see all the luscious yarns they distribute and find the yarn store near you that carries them. You should also check out their blog, The Empire Strikes Back, for news updates and interesting patterns.

Addi-ART "Diamond" Limited Edition Needles

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:01:35 -0500

Many thanks to Denis and Diane DeBray from Wool and Wicker in Richmond BC. They have very generously donated Addi-ART “Diamond” limited edition needles as a Pucks N’ Purls raffle prize.

“Unique in all respects, the limited edition needle was handcrafted with great patience and care. This once in a lifetime creation features a visible core of genuine Swarovskicrystals which twinkle and dance in celebration of every stitch you knit. The construction of a needle this special required the utmost attention to detail. Thus, for a single day in the fall of 2012, addi devoted their daily production to focus all efforts on this individual item. Keeping with addi’s hands-on tradition of manufacturing, each individual Swarovski crystal was painstakingly placed into the heart of every needle. The final product gently blurs the line between form and function, constructing a piece of art, with purpose.”

“Look to the horizon, as the addi team continues to allow their artistic creativity to inspire additional addi-Art designs. Each design will be released in a different size, resulting in a full set of limited edition needles.”

The Addi-ART needles are indeed beautiful - a piece of sculptural art. And practical too! They are a 32” 10mm circular needle that weights only 6 oz.

What knitter wouldn’t want such an exceptional set of needles. Some lucky Pucks n’ Purls ticket holder will take them home on February 9.

Indigodragonfly Dyes a Unique Colourway for Us

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:13:52 -0500

Kim and Ron have done it again! They have created a special, unique colourway for Pucks n’ Purls 2013. And they have donated three skeins of yarn as raffle prizes for lucky ticket holders. Would you like your yarn prize to be:

Merino Sock (100% superwash merino) 100 g/365m ?
MCN Sock (80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon) 115g/365m ?
Merino Silk 4ply Sock (50% superwash merino, 50% silk) 100g/393m ?

Of course they started with blue, to salute the Marlies and their older brothers the Maple Leafs, but in this dyeing the the colours really pop.

We know you are waiting for it. What is the cheeky,outrageous name for this colourway. Well from the folks that keep us laughing in the aisles, we have:

The Masters: Giving Maple Leaf Fans Something to Watch in April Since 2005

Brilliant!!

Are these three skeins all there is?Did Ron dye a few more skeins that unlucky souls can buy? No news on that front yet.

Indigodragonfly is a hand dyed yarn and fibre studio located in Haliburton that is known for dyeing great yarns in fantastic colourways. It is also known for naming those colourways with tongue-in-cheek (some would say smart ass) names such as “As God Is My Witness, I Thought Turkeys Could Fly” or “Up Until The Punching, It Was a Real Nice Party” that bring a smile to your face. Some are laugh out loud funny.

You can visit the Indigodragonfly online store to check out all the beautiful fibres and purchase some for your next project. Or you can follow the kniterly antics on the Indigodragonfly blog or on the Ravelry Indigodragonfly fan group.

Indigodagonfly will be at the Toronto Knitter’s Frolic marketplace where you can see, feel and purchase the luscious yarns. The one-day marketplace is on Saturday, April 27 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 6 Garamond Court, Toronto, Ontario.

The Best of Fondle Patterns from Michelle Porter

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 12:27:00 -0500

Michelle Porter has compiled a pattern booklet exclusive to Pucks n’ Purls - “The Best of Fondle Patterns”. The booklet has 20 patterns - everything from scarfs, hats, mittens, cowls, boot toppers, and headbands to vests, ponchos and sweaters. What a wonderful variety of great patterns for some lucky winner.

In the booklet forward Michelle asks “Why “Fondle”? Well we all fondle that new yarn; rub it under our chin; smell it; squeeze it; wondering what creation will leap from from the ball onto our needles. I’m not designing patterns to show off my knitting skills. These designs are items that I’ve made for myself and for friends and are worn regularly. These patterns are for the average knitters who just want to wear what they make. They don’t take years - or even months to complete.”

Michelle is a young Richmond Hill knitter and knitwear designer that hails from St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Taught by her grandmother as a youngster, Michelle has broad experience in the knitting industry. She has worked in a yarn shop, owned a yarn shop, taught lessons, worked for a yarn distributor, written patterns and now designs and writes her own line of patterns. This has helped her develop her signature style and understand what her customers want. She strives for simplicity but if a customer has a problem they can reach her through “contact me” on the Fondle Patterns website.

You can see more of her designs on the Fondle Patterns website, on Patternfish and on Ravelry. She also has current designs available from such companies as Diamond Luxury Collection, Mirasol, Manos Artesanas, Cricket Cove Filtes King and Lana Gatto. Please look for these designs at you local yarn store as well as on Patternfish.

Michelle is known for her beautiful designs with modern shaping. To learn more about Michelle check out these interviews with her on The Diamond Yarn blog and on the How to Become a Professional Knitter blog.

Self Patterning Yarn Kit from Old Mill Knitting

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:15:08 -0500

What a wonderful raffle prize from Old Mill Knitting. Another kit that includes both yarn and pattern book.

The yarn is a beautiful self striping yarn in a colourway quite aptly named “Heaven” in delicious shades of pinks and grey blues. Perfect to wear with jeans. The kit contains 10 skeins of this 100% wool Freedom Spirit yarn (50g/119m) made in England by Twilleys of Stamford. Also included in the kit is a Freedom Spirit pattern book with patterns for cardigans, pullovers and vests that would look fabulous knit in this lovely yarn.

Would You Like a Free Pattern Every Week?

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:54:46 -0500

It is so easy! Just register at the Old Mill Knitting website and every week you will receive an email with a free pattern that you can just print and use. They will send current patterns for adults, children and babies in all weights of yarn. They will also send you information about specials that your local retailer will be offering on yarns and accessories that Old Mill Knitting distributes plus up to date news on what is new and trendy.

REGISTER TODAY

Just go to Old Mill Knitting website and click on this icon to to sign up for your free patterns.

Don’t forget to check their blog “the empire strikes back” for current projects and news.

Terrific Bamboo Yarn and Patterns Kit from Old Mill Knitting

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:34:49 -0500

Old Mill Knitting has been so generous to Pucks n’ Purls. Again this year, the company has donated three great kits as prizes for the raffle.

This is the the first kit that we will show you. The kit contains ten skeins of Stella 100% bamboo yarn (50g/175m) manufactured in Italy for Naturally. That is 1,750 m of soft, silky yarn that some have compared to the touch of cashmere. But it is bamboo, which keeps you cool and dry in the summer, warm in the winter and is hypoallergenic. The colour is magnificent, a beautiful, soft shade of pink. To round out the kit there are seven pattern leaflets from Naturally for different baby, toddler and women’s garments to make from this fabulous yarn. All are very tempting.

Autographed Copy of "Inspired Cable Knits" by Fiona Ellis

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:10:00 -0500

Fiona Ellis is a Toronto knitwear designer, author and international workshop instructor. Fiona graduated from DeMontfort University in England with a degree in fashion knitwear design in 1993 and has been designing professionally ever since. Fiona joined the Downtown Knit Collective (DKC) in early 2001 and became an active supporter from the start. In 2001, she gave her first presentation at the guild in May and taught at the DKC’s Toronto Knitter’s Frolic.

Fiona’s work is much sought after. It has sustained exposure in leading magazines such as Vogue Knitting, online in each issue of Twist Collective and as product support for yarn manufacturers. A recent example is the “Soak Boxes” that were introduced in the spring of 2012. Fiona designed the fingerless glove patterns for “Cuff au Lait”, “Lace Kelly”, “Clark Cable” and “Double Pointe Pink”. Fiona’s patterns can be purchased online at Patternfish or on Ravelry.

Fiona is in demand for personal appearances and workshop instruction at international conferences and guilds. She has just returned from another year teaching at Vogue Knitting Live in New York. She is also a Craftsy on-line instructor. Enroll in her free mini workshop on Creative Cabled Necklines and her full workshop Mastering Cable Design.

She is the author of Inspired Cable Knits, Knitspiration Journal and Inspired Fair Isle Knits. Fiona can be found on Ravelry as fionaellis and has a fan club group as well where you can catch up on chat or join a knitalong (KAL) group.

Fiona has generously donated an autographed copy of Inspired Cable Knits as a Pucks n’ Purls raffle prize. Could you be the lucky winner?

Fabulous Blocking Mat from Creative Yarns

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:11:00 -0500

Ever wonder where on earth (well at least in your home) you are going to block your latest knitting creation? This prize is the answer!

Creative Yarns has donated a Block ‘n Roll Flexible Blocking Mat as a Pucks n’ Purls prize. This blocking mat is a boon for knitters. When opened flat it is 38” W x 50” L, big enough to accommodate most projects, and the 20mm X 20mm grid lets you line up edges and seams before you pin directly to it. The surface is Teflon® coated fabric laminated to fire retardant 8mm foam which the promotional information says “allows for steam, wet blocking and pressing.” You can lay the blocking board on many surfaces, and because it is so flexible, you can even move it if you need to.

When you are finished with the blocking mat, just roll it up, tie it with its built in ties and stow it way. Its rolled size is only 38” L x 6” diameter, so it doesn’t take much room.

I have one of these mats and I love it.

Thanks for the generous donation Creative Yarns.

Visit Creative Yarns at 269 Ellesmere Road, Scarborough, ON. It’s right on the TTC line and has lots of free parking.

Visit their websitefor more information.

The pictures below show the front face and reverse sides of the blocking mat.

The next pictures show the blocking mat rolled up ready to store and a picture from the internet showing a shawl blocked on the board.

"Persian Slippers" Patterns Donated by Denise Powell

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:04:11 -0500

Denise Powell is a local designer and a member of the Downtown Knit Collective since the guild’s first meeting in January 1997. She was one of the creative group of women who saw the need for and set about to organize the guild. Denise’s designs can be purchased on Patternfish and some of her new designs are being showcased in upcoming issues of A Needle Pulling Thread. Denise, a.k.a. Dr. Knit, provides a special service at every Downtown Knit Collective meeting. If any member or visitor has a thorny knitting problem, they can meet with Dr. Knit before the start of the meeting to get the “differential diagnosis and therapy” to get their knitting back to healthy status. Dr. Knit is also on hand at the Downtown Knit Collective’s Toronto Knitter’s Frolic to dispense individual knitting advice for a small donation to the Relay for Life charity.

Denise’s Persian Slippers designs are whimsical. As she notes in the pattern book forward “There is something about the term Persian slippers that conjures up an air of romance and mystery. We are reminded of Aladdin and the Thousand and One Nights, and inevitably, of Sherlock Holmes.” Included in the pattern booklet are patterns for these felted slippers in sizes for babies, children and adults.

Thanks Denise. Find Denise on Ravelry as DoctorKnit.

"Stream" Scarf Kit Donated by Lettuce Knit

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:18:07 -0500

Lettuce Knit has donated this beautiful “Stream” scarf kit from Queen Anne’s Lace as a raffle prize for Pucks n’ Purls.

The pattern is designed by Anne Corcoran a.k.a. Carol Tomany, a local designer, who gets her inspiration from nature, music, poetry etc. This pattern notes that “Water adds sparkle to the forest. This lovely scarf catches the flow of rippling water in a zig zag lace pattern.” The yarn in the kit is Fantastic Knitting Zephyr Lace Weight in Aegean Blue - a perfect colour for this pattern.

Thanks to Lettuce Knit for another generous donation.

Lettuce Knit is a great yarn store located at 86 Nassau Street Toronto, ON M5T 1M5 and you can call them at (416) 203-9970.

Visit their website to to see their scrumptious fibres, workshops and special events.

Knitting Tote Bags from Creative Yarns

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:16:11 -0500

What knitter doesn’t want a knitting tote bag! And these are so cute and practical.

Creative Yarns in Scarborough has donated three knitting bags by Knit Happy. Each heavy canvas bag is 12” h x 14” w x 4” d, with double handles and a dome closure. There are lots of places to organize your knitting tools and notions in the four external pockets. The bags are two tone; all are cream on the top but the bottoms are brick red, logan green or navy blue.

There will be three lucky Pucks n’ Purls ticket holders that will go home with one of these tote bags.

Thanks for another generous donation Creative Yarns.

Visit Creative Yarns at 269 Ellesmere Road, Scarborough, ON. It’s right on the TTC line and has lots of free parking.

Visit their website for more information.