Dear Friends of The Blue Purl,
Late last week, a young woman from Queens went bird watching in a wildlife refuge near her home. But what was supposed to be a calm, peaceful chance to commune with nature, ended up becoming a lesson in how one person can make a difference.
The woman, Ariel Cordova-Rojas, spotted a sick swan. Now swans are big, and can be aggressive, but Ariel took care as she wrapped the bird in her jacket and took it for a 23-mile odyssey by foot, car and subway to be treated.
Ariel saved the bird’s life.
We found this story so inspiring. The vibe in the air these days tends to focus on what is wrong, what is beyond our control, what ails us all.
And yet, here we have a young woman prove that we do have control. That our decisions can make a difference to others.
As knitters, we know this, perhaps more than other communities. We, who work with our hands, have agency over our lives. We focus on what we can accomplish with our time. Our bet is that your sense of purpose extends beyond your knitting, to other corners of your life, too.
Of course we get something out of the work - just like Ariel must have felt good to have saved the bird. And while our choices may not have us saving a swan, we can warm a person with our work – physically and emotionally.
Smart choices. Taking control. Things we can accomplish, together.
But we cannot control everything. We cannot control the pandemic, we can only control how we respond to it.
At The Blue Purl that means taking precautions to ensure that we can continue to serve you all in a safe and security environment. That means we can only have four people in the shop at one time. It means we will sometimes have to ask you to wait to come in. It means that sometimes we may not be able to say "yes", but "please wait."
Like Ariel it is our small way to do what's right during this time. It may make a big difference to everyone (both staff and customers) who walk through our door by following best practices, wearing masks, not crowding around the tables, zoom classes, hand sanitizing.
We don’t like it much either but ask that you have patience, with us and with the situation.
Ariel set out that day to celebrate her pending 30th birthday. What she did not know is that others had seen that sick swan and merely reported it to the rangers.
Some of us are doers, like Ariel, and like you all, who would never be content to live life as observers. Come by our shop. Tell us what you need. We'll help as best we can!
connect + create
Patty, Wendy & TBP Team
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Fall hours: Tue. - Fri. 11-4
Saturday 11-3 - extended...
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4 customers at a time are allowed in the shop for half hour shopping.
- Face masks MUST be worn.
- Phone/facetime/email sales and curbside pickup will continue
- Please limit your in-person visit to 30 minutes when we have others waiting.
- We have 30 min scheduled appointments for shopping. Call us at 973-377-5648 for a scheduled appointment.
- We can NOT offer knitting help/fixing mistakes in the shop at this time due to social distancing guidelines. Thank you for understanding. Call us and we'll try to arrange for help.
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NEW BEGINNERS CLASS - DECEMBER |
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WHEAT SCARF FOR BEGINNING KNITTING - Pass it along! New Session |
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WHEAT SCARF - ZOOM CLASS - a free beginner pattern from Tin Can Knits
When: 3 TUESDAY Evenings - DEC. 1,8,15 zoom time 6:30-8pm
Teacher: Caroline Hanson
Carolyn will take you through the beginning steps of knitting this simple scarf. Learn how to cast on, knit, purl, cast off, read a pattern and sew in your ends.
The Tin Can Knits Simple Collection patterns also have tutorials that will help support you in between classes. Class sizes are small so you can ask questions.
Class fee: $35 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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BROOKLYN TWEED Pop-Up Shop |
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We just got a re-stock of popular colors Long Johns, Sweatshirt & Tartan in Shelter and an update with a couple of colors of Arbor.
Our Brooklyn Tweed classes are filling up. We've kept them intentionally small so that Keri & Liz can spend enough time helping the students. While most of the classes start in January, we will close out registration of these classes when our Brooklyn Tweed Pop-Up ends. Call us at 973-377-564 or email - [email protected]
These classes are planned around this wonderful rustic, American sourced & dyed yarn. We have 7 classes at various levels of experience from sweaters to accessories that show off the beauty of Brooklyn Tweed. The classes are geared towards using Brooklyn Tweed yarn purchased during our Pop-Up. If you plan to sign up for these classes, please purchase or place your special order for the quantities & color needed during our Pop-Up. Once the Pop-Up ends, we can no longer accept orders, even if you signed up for a class.
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Classes Pictured: Svenson, Voe Hat, Winter Orchard Cowl |
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Svenson by Jared Flood
Dates & Zoom Time: 5 Saturday mornings - 9:00 to 10:30am
Jan. 9, 30 Feb.13, 27, March 13
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Skill Level: Experienced (Advanced) - this is NOT a first sweater project or a first cables project.
Cost: $75 + supplies from the Blue Purl
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Voe Hat by Gudrun Johnston
Dates & Zoom Time: 3 Thursday afternoons - 4:15 to 5:45 PM
Jan. 7,14, 28
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Skill Level: Intermediate
Cost: $35 + supplies from the Blue Purl
This beautiful colorwork hat is inspired by the yoke of a pullover. With this three color hat you'll be working from a chart and there is a short and long version.
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Winter Orchard Cowl by Laura Aylor
Dates & Zoom Time: 3 Friday Mornings - 9-10:30 AM
Jan. 15,22, 29
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Cost: $35 + supplies from the Blue Purl
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Creel Cowl by Anne Hanson
Dates & Zoom Time: 3 Saturday Mornings - 9-10:30 AM
Jan. 16, 23, Feb. 6
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Skill Level: Beginner - need to know how to knit & purl
Cost: $35 + supplies from the Blue Purl
Have you just learned how to cast on, knit and purl? If yes, then this is a great project for you!
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Apart Together Socks by Dawn Henderson
Dates & Time: 4 Wednesday mornings - 10-11 AM
Jan. 20, 27 Feb. 3,10
Teacher: Liz Braverman
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Cost: $50 + supplies from the Blue Purl
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Ashby by Leila Raven
Dates & Zoom Time: 3 Fridays - Jan. 22, Feb. 12 & 26 4:15-5:45 PM
Teacher: Liz Braverman
Skill Level: Intermediate (charts, short rows, picking up stitches)
Cost: $35 + supplies from the Blue Purl.
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Woolfolk Fall 2020 Trunk show has arrived and we can't decide which we love more. It's hard to tell how amazing these pieces are from pictures. Once you see them in person, you won't be able to stop thinking about which project to get on your needles.
- The Hesselo Wrap, knit in TOV, is a masterpiece of cables. If there were a museum of knitting, (field trip for sure), we'd find this piece there. Worked as a flat wrap/scarf, there is no shaping, making this more approachable for the rest of us.
- The Svelmo hat, knit in Tynd, comes in 3 sizes, uses just 2 skeins of Tynd and basic cabling.
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Asko is an adorable cropped sweater with beautiful texture. Knit in TOV DK the sweater length can be adjusted from the bottom up before the dropped sleeves.
- The Veno pullover, knit in TOV, is a modern take on the cabled sweater. Each sleeve features a different cable while the body has an asymmetric pattern. The sweater is knit in pieces to be seamed and the pattern has men's and women's sizing.
- The Faeno sweater is a cloud of soft understated texture. Knit in Far, top down in one piece (no seaming!), the length can be adjusted to personal taste.
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Eno, an oversized cardigan knit in TOV, is worked from the bottom up in pieces. The cables are accented by eyelets & garter ridges, making the texture pop out.
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Tuno is a unisex turtleneck worked in Far with large soft cables all over. The back is slightly longer than the front allowing for comfy side vents around the hip area.
We encourage you to check these beauties out in person. The pictures do not do justice to the designs.
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Our latest shop sample is the Cirro Chevron Scarf. Knit in 3 colors of Fibre Co.'s new yarn Cirro, the pattern only has 2 rows that are repeated throughout the project. We used 3 colors in our sample but you can use as many or few as you'd like. The pattern is free in our shop with yarn purchase.
Cirro is a fluffy soft blend of suri alpaca, organic cotton and merino wool. The effect is a light, soft texture but with the warmth of wool.
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Plystre Totes and Project Bags |
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Plystre Totes and Project bags are here in the shop and online! Judy grabbed her favorite color as we unpacked our boxes. A woman ready for a season of knitting!
The Tote features a removable & adjustable shoulder strap for crossbody or shoulder use and handles for toting around if you prefer a bucket style. Made of heavy duty cotton canvas and double lining for the interior, there is a drawstring closure at the top, multiple inside & outside pockets, including grommet holes in one pocket to help organize multicolor projects. This is the Swiss army knife of knitting/crochet totes.
The Project bag has enough room for your yarn, pattern, needles, phone and more. With a leather strap to use as a clutch and double cotton canvas lining, this is your go-to for projects by your side.
We have several colors in both totes and project bags, while supplies last- available in our online shop. |
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The Miura Cowl by Olga Buraya-Kefelian use one skein of mYak Tibetan Cloud, simple knits & purls to create architectural magic in a cowl. This beginner level cowl is a great way to practice following a pattern and working in the round. The Tibetan Cloud holds the intended structure of this pattern so well while giving a nice drape around your neck. We just got 2 more colors of mYak Tibetan Cloud in, Cannella and Artemisia, for a total of 10 colors in this lovely yarn. |
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Blue Sky Fibers is now offering Wild Thyme in their 150g skeins and along with the new color choice, they're offering the Royal Oak Cowl as a free pattern on Ravelry. The generous cowl uses 1 skein of the 150g woolstok, knit in round on a size US 8 needle. The pattern is full of texture with double seed, simple cables and braid patterns. It is a great way to practice working cables without having to deal with the increasing or decreasing of a garment. |
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Casapinka Glamping Blanket KAL |
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You still have time to join the Knit-Along fun. Casapinka's blanket KAL just started and has no deadline. Her pattern is now available on Ravelry. It is full of fun TV-watching sections and comes in 4 sizes.
While Berroco is backordered in several colors in their kits, we have plenty of Berroco colors in the shop. Let one of us help you create your own combo and join the fun.
Check out Tam's sofa-sized version in Sandnes Garn KOS. Who says you can only use Berroco- we have other Chunky weight yarns that could also work for this blanket. |
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Have you seen Wendy's Holland Wrap? Knit in Blue Sky Extra, an alpaca blend, the piece is worked flat using simple knits and purls to create texture in sections, it's perfect for advanced beginners. The alpaca is so soft & warm, this will be the piece you reach for during the cool evenings sitting in your back patio. |
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Did you notice the Publications section in our online shop? We are steadily adding publications each week for online purchase. In addition to current publications, you can e pre-order your copy of upcoming popular books/magazines like PomPom Winter 2020. |
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We're taking preorders now for Pompom Winter 2020. This is special issue edited by designer Stephen West & dyer Aimée Gille of La Bien Aimee in Paris. Both are known for their beautiful creations in colors and textures. This issue is full of graphic colors and patterns to brighten up the long winter night. Call us at 973-377-564 or email - [email protected] to order. |
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Amirisu Fall/Winter 2020 is available in the shop or online. We are all over it - peeking through it - there are so many wonderful projects and articles!
Where to begin...there's an amazing article on Kristin Ford who is the founder of Woolfolk (her grandmothers last name!) You know we LOVE our Woolfolk -the article traces the source of the yarn and how Kristin started the company and works with Ovis 21, a co-op in Patagonia.
The patterns pictured below are done in yarns we carry in the shop! There are so many more not pictured. Seriously worth the investment!
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Our shipment of Fair Isle Weekend by MJ Mucklestone is here! Those who pre-ordered will get a call from us. We have extra copies for purchase online - or in the shop.
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Blue Purl Loyalty Program |
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Did you know we have a loyalty program? We launched it back in May amid all the chaos. Some of you signed up but we want to make sure all the Blue Purl friends had a chance to join.
For every dollar spent, you get 1 point.
Here's what you get:
250 points = $5 off
500 points = $15 off
750 points = $25 off
1000 points = $50 off
1500 points = $110 off
We'll also have special days when you can earn double points like Small Business Saturday- 11/28.
To join, call us or let us know next time you're visiting the shop. We'll need your cell number. You'll then get a text that you need to click on to finalize your loyalty account. Once you click through the text, you'll be on your way to earning rewards for yourself!
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Don't forget, we are collection Hats for the Homeless through mid-November. Kathy (part of our knitting community) is spearheading this project. All hats (and scarves) will be distributed to Nourish New Jersey of Morristown, formerly The Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center. Use up that stash to help your community. |
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Keri's Baby Doll Clothes Are in! |
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Keri's hand sewn/knit doll clothes are here for the holidays and they are INSANE! They fit American Girl size dolls. There's about 20+ unique outfits to choose from. They are one of a kind and go quickly! |
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Our Fabulous Community - Babes |
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Look at that cuteness wrapped in the BEST BLANKET EVER! Keri's new grandson is the luckiest kid on the block with his snazzy knitwear! Right?! |
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Ronnie used Plymouth Homestead for this elegant little double-breasted baby sweater for her granddaughter. Camille was designed by Julie Partie and it's top down. The buttons really pop on this beauty. Lovely Ronnie! |
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Elba & Patty both just made booties :) Elba's two on left are crocheted and she used a Spanish language tutorial. Patty's are knitted in Koigu yarn. |
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Rocco is back in the shop! |
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Rocco's mom Marissa knit up this cute hat holding Kos double. Super soft and who's Rocckin' that pompom!?! We love when Rocco visits! |
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Susan nailed the face on this cute, plump little bunny from Keri's bunny class. Not as easy as you may think! Adorable Susan! |
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“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” - A.A. Milne
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We were very lucky to have Phil at our table. We will miss him. |
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