Win a $1000 Gift Certificate in our Pattern Design Contest

We’re elated to announce the launch of a Pattern Design Contest in collaboration with TKGA.

This contest features six different categories, and three prizes will be awarded to the best designs in each one. The Grand Prize of a $1000 Yarnmarket Gift Certificate will be awarded to the overall best design.

The categories are:
* Women's Fashion Classic
* Women's Fashion Forward
* Men's Wear
* Children's Fashion
* Baby's Fashion (6-12 month size)
* Accessories (hats, scarves, purses, etc.)

First prize in each category is a $300 gift certificate. $200 and $100 gift certificates will be awarded to second and third place winners.

Entries must be received by the TKGA by March 11, 2009. We are accepting photographs for the initial judging. Winners will be announced at the TKGA National Conference/Knit & Crochet Show in Portland, Oregon from May 14-17.

For more information about this contest, please click here.

You need to join the TKGA to be eligible to win. It's a great organization for knitters worldwide, and you get Cast On magazine as part of the benefits. (You can join after you submit your pattern, but you've got to be a member once you're selected as a finalist.)

What's really great about this contest is that you can enter using a photograph. Once we select the semi-finalists, we'll ask you to send the garment. Then, after it's been presented at the TKGA National Conference/Knit & Crochet Show in Portland, Oregon, we'll send it back to you.

Another good thing about this contest is that we will not request ownership of everything that's entered. (Some contests do this.) We're going to award prizes to the winners, and we'll keep their patterns. But we do ask that we get "first rights of refusal" on patterns that don't win. In other words, you might not win the contest, but we may want to be able to buy your pattern from you because we like it enough to want to produce it.

Please let all your knitting friends know that they’ve got the opportunity to win one of NINETEEN prizes in the Yarnmarket/TKGA Knitting Pattern Contest!

Snow Leopard Trust needs your support

At Christmas time, we get a lot of thank you cards from groups that we and our knitters have helped support. Today we received this lovely card from our very good friends at Snow Leopard Trust.

In case you haven't heard of them, Snow Leopard Trust is a non-profit group that helps protect the endangered species in Mongolia, China, India, Pakistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. Their work is helping to ensure that we don't lose these beautiful cats. Not only do they actively care for and monitor the snow leopards, they also help improve the local economies of their habitat by helping the locals earn money through yarn manufacturer rather than hunting. That yarn is beautiful hand spun camel that you can purchase at Yarnmarket.

If you're considering a charity for your end-of-the-year contribution, please consider Snow Leopard Trust.

Bargains galore at BargainYARNS!

If you're trying to save money this holiday season (and who isn't?), be sure to check out BargainYARNS, our sale site. We've just received an enormous shipment of Imperfect books. These books have very minor damage for the most part, and are available at terrific discounts.

We sent out a BargainYARNS Alert yesterday to let our shoppers know that we've just added dozens of new books, so you won't want to waste any time buying the ones you want. They're literally flying out the doors. This makes Josh very happy.

I'm happy to report that BargainYARNS is also featuring several gorgeous Cherry Tree Hill yarns at discount prices, including Baby Loop Mohair, Glitter Alpaca, Silk and Merino Bulky, and Supersock Potluck.

We've also got some great Della Q and Lantern Moon bags and needle holders. These would make ideal Christmas gifts...for knitters you love and for yourself!

BargainYARNS features fabulous savings on good quality yarns and accessories. If you sign up for the BargainYARNS Alert, you'll receive a monthly alert telling you about what's new and on sale.

Busy time at Yarnmarket

Boy, this is a busy time of year. Not only have Alex and I been traveling (to NY where we visited a great yarn store, String on 82nd Avenue and Lexington) but we've also been celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary. Because the 27th isn't considered particularly monumental, we decided to make it a bit more interesting.

So from now on, the 27th Wedding Anniversary is to be officially known as "The Mahovlich."

For those of you who didn't grow up in Toronto in the 1960s, Frank Mahovlich was one of the top players on the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had the most goals per season a couple of years in a row and helped the Leafs win the Stanley Cup. He was one heck of a hockey player, and thinking about him brings back such great memories of Hockey Night in Canada and enjoying the games from the Blue seats behind the goal when I was ten years old. Those really were the good old days. My brothers and I could travel safely by ourselves on the TTC to see the hockey games, and then return home when they were over around 10:00 p.m. without anyone worrying about us.

My older brother, John, used to love Mahovlich. (I confess...I had a weak spot for Eddie Shack.)

Anyway, Alex and I declared this our Mahovlich Anniversary, and he went all out for it. First, I received a card that Alex had Susan design for the occasion. It had a nice photo of Frank in his hockey uniform, circa 1964. Then flowers were delivered to my office bearing the message, "Happy Frank Mahovlich."

Now, I figured this was really something. Alex had outdone himself. But that was only the beginning. That evening, after dinner, he presented me with a cake that had the number 27 in candles, and the inscription, "Happy Mahovlich." Embedded in the cake was an official NHL hockey puck signed by -- you guessed it -- Frank Mahovlich.

Then, when I thought it was over, Alex presented me with a gift. As I opened it, I asked, "What is it? A Maple Leaf hockey sweater?" Well, much to my delight, Alex had found a pink and white Maple Leaf shirt, and had a local fellow print "Happy Mahovlich" over the big "27" on the back.

Can you believe it?

It's stuff like this that reminds my why I married Alex 27 years ago. He's the sweetest guy in the world. And I know that if I were hit by a truck, there'd be line-ups of women wanting him. (Nice, funny guy who's considerate, creative and owns a yarn store. Yup. He's a hottie!)

Thanks, Alex, for making our 27th so memorable. You're my sweetypie!

(Oh...I knitted a cashmere scarf for him. He said he knew I was up to something, and was relieved that it wasn't socks.)

Also...thanks to Frank Mahovlich, who is now a Senator in Canada. Frank, it's probably been 40 years since we last saw you and you still have a place in our hearts. Thanks for making hockey what it was in the 60s. It was the greatest game on earth.

Rare...and beautiful Orenburg lace yarn.

If you want something that's truly unique...and very difficult to find, take a look at this gorgeous Orenburg lace yarn. We've just received some of the most glorious colors you can imagine.

This amazing superfine "Orenburg Lace" yarn from Cherry Tree Hill is handspun in the Ukraine and then hand-dyed by Cherry Tree Hill. Because the spinning process is so labor intensive, this 80% mohair/20% silk fiber is in very limited supply worldwide and we might never again receive another shipment. Be the first in your knitting group to knit up a superb lace shawl or scarf as fine & delicate as created by Russian women throughout the centuries.

Aslan Trends is now at Yarnmarket! Ahhhh....

I am so excited! Yarnmarket is tickled pink to announce that we've just added the magnficent AslanTrends Yarns to our shop. They first contacted us a few weeks ago, and followed up with a box of yarns that I did not want to have to hand over to Alex. Instead, I showed them to all the ladies who stroked them and squeezed them and sighed, "Ahhh..."

Now how could Alex refuse us the yarn that made us all say, "Ahhhh...."?

Well, he couldn't. And here it is!

Now, if you're not familiar with the brand, AslanTrends was founded in 1951 -- so it's even older than I am! The company produces top quality natural yarns from Patagonia and the Andes mountains. I've seen their ads in Vogue Knitting, so I was sort of familiar with the line. You've probably seen them, too.

Among the yarns we're excited to present are Glaciar Del Cielo, Del Cerro and Guanaco.

Glaciar Del Cielo is a 100% Cotton yarn that comes in a variety of delicious colors. It's super soft and would be perfect for baby, kids and adult projects. Yarnmarket currently has ten projects you'll want to check out. Think of the wonderful holiday gifts this yarn would create.

Del Cerro is one of the softest 100% Merino Wool yarns you'll ever caress. We've got lots of colors to choose from, and several projects for warm winter wear.

Guanaco is actually a super soft and luxurious 60% Alpaca/40% Merino Wool blend. We have three projects online for that yarn, so it's easy to buy everything you need in one spot.

Oh...if you're not familiar with our Projects, you'll love them. Everything you need is in one spot so you can buy it without searching the site for all the tools. Of course, if you've already got something, just click it (or, un-click it...or whatever the heck you do to remove the check mark) and it will be removed from the shopping list. These are a couple of the projects you'll find for AslanTrends -- a cotton cardigan and a great pair of gauntlets.

If you'd like to take a look at the patterns for these scrumptiously soft and cosy yarns, we've got two books just filled with ideas.

Now, if you're one of those clever, creative people who create your own patterns, you're going to want to know all about the Aslan Trends Knitting Challenge. If you win, you'll not only win the admiration of knitters throughout the known universe, but you could also win some other great prizes. Here are the details:

The AslandTrends Knitting Challenge
You could win one of six great prizes when you enter the AslanTrends Knitting Challenge. Entrants are asked to create their own designs using AslanTrends Yarns. A panel of prestigious judges from the professional Knitting community will select winners who will receive a different amounts of cash and yarn. First place winners will also receive a free subscription to Vogue Knitting magazine.

Take a look at the great prizes!

FIRST CATEGORY
Full size garments and/or Afghan blanket of at least 48× 60
First Place – $350 cash, 15 skeins of assorted AslanTrends yarn, and
1-year subscription to Vogue Knitting magazine.
Second Place – $200 cash, 10 skeins of assorted AslanTrends yarn.
Third Place – $125 cash, 5 skeins of assorted AslanTrends yarn.

SECOND CATEGORY
Scarves, hats, hand bags and/or baby blanket
First Place – $250 cash, 15 skeins of assorted AslanTrends yarn,
and 1-year subscription to Vogue Knitting magazine.
Second Place – $150 cash, 10 skeins of assorted AslanTrends yarn.
Third Place – $100 cash, 5 skeins of assorted AslanTrends yarn.

For all the details, visit the AslandTrends web site.

Okay...back to business. Be sure to check out all our lovely new AslanTrends yarn. And, if you're in the neighborhood, stop by our showroom so you can actually fondle and squish these decadently soft creations.

Another Yarnmarket Bulletin!

Jan released another Yarnmarket Bulletin this week, and it's been a big hit! In this issue she features new yarns from Artyarns, Regia & Caledon Hills plus new colors from Lang, Rowan, RYC, Cherry Tree Hill, Regia & Gedifra. She also provides some great info on autumn and winter fashion trends and offers some terrific holiday gift ideas.

Be sure to subscribe to it so you'll get Jan's newsletter and bulletin every month.

That reminds me...a lot of my friends are really nervous about the current economic crisis. And with Christmas around the corner, they're anxious about spending too much money on gifts. We're reading a lot of articles urging people to consider homemade gifts this year -- not only to save, but to return to traditional values.

Well, I'm all for it. I can honestly tell you that there's nothing that will be cherished more than a gift made with your own two hands.

When I was 16 years old, my Grandma made me a quilt for Christmas. It was pink cotton squares, with pink and white gingham trim. Grandma used pieces of white yarn to make a little knot in the center of every square. That was 37 years ago. That pink quilt is long gone, and I have no photograph of it, but it's left in indelible impression on my heart. I picture it vividly.

I also keep in my drawer, in a plastic pouch, the white acrylic shawl Grandma knitted for me the Christmas before she died in the mid-70s. I may never wear that shawl -- because it's too precious to me -- but I will never, ever part with it.

Isn't that the kind of gift you want to give?

I really hope that instead of shopping for expensive trinkets and gadgets that won't be remembered, many of you will be making gifts to be cherished for decades to come.