September, for me, is a time of new beginnings. For many it’s at the beginning of a new term, whether school or university – my daughter has already gone back to Falmouth for the beginning of her final year. For some of my customers, it’s a chance to begin a new project and we already have had people in planning their winter knits. One of my customers today told me that she looks forward to the nights drawing in because it means more time to sit and knit. In the Jewish seasonal calendar, the festival of Rosh Hashanah, New Year, usually falls in September as it does this year. When we celebrate, we eat apples and honey and wish for a peaceful and happy New Year. So I watch the apples ripening (and there are so many of them this year) and I feel quite hopeful. Even the sight of the swallows flexing their wings and preparing to leave for the winter gives me a feeling of anticipation.
And of course, it is the beginning of the Autumn/Winter season in the Yarn Shop. Mandy and I have celebrated this by completely rearranging the furniture. It started out as a small shift at the back and ended up with us moving almost every piece of large furniture that we have. Mandy was brilliantly patient about the whole thing and Rowan, who was roped in for a couple of extra hours yesterday, rearranged wool with astonishing speed and efficiency. I look forward to hearing what you think about it.
We are starting to take delivery of new season colours – West Yorkshire spinners has brought out some beautifully rich colours both in the Fable and the Retreat Twist Chunky ranges. Due to the furniture removals, neither of these are yet on the website, but I will get them up there as soon as I can. I have also dyed some new colours on our BFL sock base but I’m afraid that you will have to wait until after the 14th of September and the Social Stitchers Seaside Sunday event to see them as I’m launching them there. And of course, not forgetting the West Yorkshire Spinners annual Festive Signature 4ply. This year a wonderfully rich red toned yarn with a gold sparkle, called Mulled Wine. What’s not to like?
What else do we have beginning in September? On the 6th some of us are beginning to knit the Halibut Sweater, while others, perhaps not so keen on fish, will be starting the Key Sweater by Petite Knit. This was only decided yesterday and I have to say that while I will be doing the Halibut now, the Key is definitely on my list as well. We also have a Fair Isle course starting on 20th September – there are still places available.
Social Stitchers dates for September as follows:
Tuesday 2 September: 11am to 1pm
Tuesday 9 September: 2 – 4pm
Saturday 20 September: 2-4pm
Tuesday 23 September: 7-9pm
All are welcome, just bring along your current project and enjoy the chat.
Looking forward to October, on the 11th we will have the Mid Norfolk Spinners and Weaver’s guild coming to talk to us about the history of spinning . The event will be in the afternoon , two to four p.m. will cost £5 per head . Again this is not yet up on the website but will be next week if you want to book. I’ll send out a separate e-mail about it .
I will not be in the shop on Tuesday for the first Social Stitchers group of the month as I will be attending my son‘s graduation in London. I suppose the graduation marks an end for him of his formal education, but it is also a new beginning and it will be exciting to see what he does next.
I wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year!