Dear Friends of The Blue Purl,
Do you look at a half-filled glass and think, "half empty" or "half full"?
We like to think of ourselves as half-full kind of people.
As long as the sun rises in the morning and we can fill our lungs with air, anything is possible. That's our mantra, especially these days when the news seems to bring us one glass-half-empty moment after another.
So forget about Big 10 football for right now, here is our glass-half-full news flash The Blue Purl is up and running. Vacation was great. Time with family and friends was terrific - but it has been really nice to see you all these past few days.
We still must observe best practices when it comes to COVID-19, but we've got that now, right?! Masks, social distancing, hand cleanings, 3 people at a time, and all that.
The next big thing will be the brown uniformed delivery person who will step off an equally brown UPS truck and bring to us ALL OUR NEW YARNS!
Seriously, it is a fun, even exciting moment, when we pull back the top of a brown (again with the brown) box to reveal our wondrous new yarns. Please come by
and see what we have that is new. We try to provide you with a range of materials at a range of prices that will meet all of your needs. If you want to see when new yarns come in join our instagram @thebluepurl and our facebook page.
Look, we are all tired of this thing that has upended all our assumptions about today, tomorrow and the next day. But the glass truly is half full, and we truly are blessed to live and work in a great community surrounded by great family and friends. We don't mean to be too preachy, but we are really excited to be back and want you to share in our enthusiasm.
So please join us for a zoom class. We scheduled 15, that's right 15, and tried to design something for everyone. Ok, yes, sure it is not the same as sitting around a table with the instructor but there is an upside: We see that remote lessons have brought out the best in most of us because we're forced to learn, really to figure it out, without the teachers hands on ours. It forces us all to slow down, look, listen and try again. It's harder, sure, but that makes the gains all that much more rewarding. You did it yourself!
The glass is half full. The sun will come up tomorrow.
And we hope to see you in The Blue Purl.
connect & create
Patty & Wendy
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Back to summer hours: Tue. -Fri. 11-4
will open Saturdays after Labor Day!
- 3 customers at a time are allowed in the shop for half hour shopping.
- Phone/facetime/email sales and curbside pickup will continue as we have been
- We have 30 min scheduled appointments at table by front of store - back door if weather is uncooperative. Call us at 973-377-5648 for a scheduled appointment.
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HOW TO SIGN UP: To sign up for a class please call the shop today or tomorrow, 973-377-5648 (KNIT) or email - [email protected]
- Classes are limited to 10 people.
- If you did not receive your zoom invitation a day before class please check your spam folder first then either call or email us.
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We ask that you please buy your supplies through The Blue Purl so we can continue bringing you these great classes - check out our online shop! Thanks :)
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Level: Advanced Beginner
Felted Satchel LAST CHANCE A COUPLE SPACES LEFT!
Teacher: Liz Braverman
Dates: 4 Thursdays: Aug. 19, Sept. 9,16, 23 9:30-11am
Be creative! Choose any color scheme that excites you to make this generously sized bag. Great for a project bag or for everyday.
Skills Taught: picking up stitches, in the round, I-cord, applied I-cord, felting
Class fee: $40 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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Level: Intermediate, assumes you have worked in the round on a circular needle. Color work experience a plus but not required.
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Dates: 4 Thursday mornings: Aug 20, 27, Sept. 3,10 9-10:30 AM
Offered again by popular demand! In this class you will be designing and creating an original Christmas stocking in plenty of time for the holiday. Choose from a wide range of motifs and combine any number of colors of worsted weight yarn to create a new family heirloom!
Skills Taught: stranded color-work, after-thought heel, Kitchener stitch, working from charts, the 16 color charts can be mixed and matched.
Class fee: $40 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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Level: Beginner (prerequisites- Knit & Purl)
Teacher: Liz Braverman
This quick knit will keep your new knitting skills fresh. Entwine is a satisfying project- great for gift giving.
Skills: maintain pattern, slip stitches, tassels
Class fee: $30 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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Crochet for Knitters - Tech Workshop |
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Level: Advanced Beginner knitter
Teacher: Carolyn Hanson
Dates: Tuesday Sept: 22
Time: 6:30-8PM
Calling all knitters…are you ready to learn a few key crochet techniques to use on your knitting? Want to add a beautiful crab stitch edging to your knitted garments? Learn that and more, including: crocheting seams together, using a crochet hook to pick up dropped stitches, and crocheted I-cord.
Homework: make 2 gauge swatches 4” x 4” to use for seam and crochet edging. Have crochet hook, Size H and scrap worsted weight yarn on-hand.
Class fee: $25
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Instructor: Keri Samuels
Level: Advanced Beginner- on up
Class Dates & Zoom Time- 3 Saturday mornings Sept. 12, 19, Oct 3; 9-10:30
"Inspired by the intricate piecing of patchwork quilts, the large, brightly colored stars in this afghan are mainly composed of mitered squares. Since the color changes within the squares are all in straight, intuitive lines, this is a perfect project on which to learn the art of intarsia. The straight lines also make the chart easy to memorize, so you can comfortably engage in conversation as you work."
This is an heirloom project. It's stunning, Done up in squares so it's a great take-along project.
Skills Taught: mitered square, intarsia, seaming
Class fee: $35 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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Instructor: Keri Samuels
Level: Intermediate
Class Dates & Zoom Time- Thursdays: September 10,17,24; 4:15-5:45pm
From what we've seen these little guys are addicting! Make these funny little gnomes with Keri's guidance.
Skills Taught: icord, working in the round (pattern written for DPNs but easily adapted for magic loop and knitting on 2 circulars)
Class fee: $35 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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Level: Beginner 2 - This is a basic crochet class for those who have taken the Learn to Crochet class and now want to take the next step.
Teacher: Carolyn Hanson
Dates: 2 Wednesdays: Sept: 30, Oct. 7 - 5:30-7PM
Make this adorable 3-color hat in time for Halloween for that special little one in your life.
Skills: Learn to increase, change colors and crochet in the round. Read a pattern
Class fee: $30 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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Level: Advanced Intermediate
Sleep Sack
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Pattern provided -adapted from Bergere de France
Dates:4 Thursdays: Sept: 17, Oct. 1, 8, 22; 9-10:30 AM
This is such a beautiful sleep sack! It's elegant and cozy. A beautiful heirloom project!
Skills: pattern interpretation, cables, shaping by decreasing and casting on, buttonholes, 2 types of seaming
Class fee: $40 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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Level: Advanced Beginner
Teacher: Liz Braverman
Dates: 4 Wednesdays: Oct. 28, Nov. 4, 18, 25; 9:30-11am
Holding 2 lace weight strands, knitting on a large needle, this lovely v-neck works up quickly. A great wardrobe staple.
Skills: Top Down Raglan, V-Neck, in the round, I-cord
Supplies: Isager Alpaca Merino or The Fibre Company Meadow or Shibui Silk Cloud
US 7- 24”, 32” & US 7 dpn
Stitch markers
Class fee: $40 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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Level:Advanced Beginner -and up
Cabled Headband
Teacher: Keri Samuels
Pattern provided
Dates: 2 Fridays: Oct. 9, 16 9-10:30 AM
Skills: cable, provisional Cast on , 3-needle bind off
This is a fast and easy project - done in an evening - great for gifts.
Supplies: Yarn – 50 yds. of super bulky yarn
Needles – size 13
Class fee: $30 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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Level: Advanced Beginner
Teacher: Liz Braverman
Dates: 4 Friday mornings: Oct. 30, Nov. 6,13,20; 10-11 AM
Move from stripes to texture and simple, intuitive lace as you work up this luxurious cowl.
Skills: Seamless- in the round, joggless stripes, texture, lace
Supplies: 3 different colors- Cumbria or Woolfolk Tynd or Sno
US 2.5- 24”
Stitch markers
Class fee: $40 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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Dragonfly Bandana - Crochet it! |
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Level: Beginner 2 - need to know basics
Teacher: Carolyn Hanson
Dates: 3 Thursdays: Nov. 5, 12, 19- 5:30-7pm
This class will set you on your way to becoming a crocheter! It’s a great refresher for those who want to pick it up again. You will have a beautiful piece at the end.
Skills: You will learn the basic of crochet, basic (and a couple not so basic) stitches, how to read a pattern, increasing and decreasing, picot edge
Class fee: $35 + supplies from The Blue Purl
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Baah's color of the month is here. Cheerful and summery, it's perfect for Toni Lipsey's Party Punch crocheted shawl highlighted below or Joji Locatelli's Venezia, (20% off with code jojifallkal) another one skein wonder for knitters. Call or email us to pick this up. It just arrived and hasn't made it to our online shop yet. |
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NJ Wool 2020 was postponed in April, for obvious reasons.
Thanks to some hardworking shop owners there is a virtual one in the making for the beginning of October! We'll keep you posted.
We have the bags though! And they're on sale for $8. A collectors item for sure :)
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SALE Section- Reggae Ombre by Schoppel Wolle |
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Just added to our sale section this week, Reggae Ombre makes a beautiful gradient. We used it to make these fingerless mitts. The mitts pattern is included with Reggae Ombre yarn purchase. |
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Crochet Corner- Hooked Yet? |
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The Party Punch Shawl only uses 1 skein of fingering weight yarn. Pick your favorite colors from our fingering weight section online or come by to check our selection of Baah La Jolla and many more. This pattern is perfect to capture the beauty of a hand dyed skein. |
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Jokull is a generously sized wrap in a gorgeous gradient houndstooth pattern. It's perfect with Freia's ombre shawl ball paired with a solid color fingering. Check out our combos in Freia and Cascade Heritage Sock. Call/ email us for selections. |
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The name says it all. This top in several colors is what we need to get through this heat. Sized from XS to 6XL, the pattern is 20% off until 8/15. We love Shibui Twig, DanDoh Silk+ or even Cascade Ultra Pima for this. Check out the sport weight section online or call/ email us for selection. |
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Have you checked out our new yarns yet? Alpakka Ull by Sandnes Garn is a well-priced, versatile worsted weight yarn with a super soft touch. A 65/35 blend of alpaca and wool, the soft squishy yarn is surprisingly machine-washable in delicates. Check our Wendy's Fox hat crocheted in it - (above in classes!)
Be Wool is our newest super bulky. Perfect for a bulky scarf, hat, cowl or even a headband, the acrylic/wool blend is also machine-washable in delicate cycle.
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A little help from our friends at Berroco |
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From Berroco: We are aware that many of our LYS have had to temporarily close their doors for their safety in accordance with regulations from their governors. We recognize it's a difficult time for many of our brick and mortar shops. Many shops are transitioning to curbside and e-commerce options but we wanted to help them offer something more! We are happy to introduce Berroco 123 DropShip, to ship Berroco yarns directly to your home.
Isn't that great! Here (click in) is how it works ... you find what you want and then call us and we'll place your order and they'll ship it. This week's drop ship free patterns are the Artin and Retta. Both are knit in Berroco Vintage, a workhorse, worsted weight blend of wool and acrylic.
Call us- 973 377-5648 or email to get the free pattern with yarn purchase through us.
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Bonnie this is gorgeous! It's a Debbie Bliss pattern called #17 Jacket With Pattern Border. Bonnie knit this is super soft Rowan Alpaca Soft DK and it is lovely. Bravo Bonnie! |
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Sandra has made a couple of these blankets and each one is stunning. It's a mix of her amazing yarn choices along with a great pattern and, of course, her knitting chops! The hand dyed yarn makes it sing! Here she uses Lichen and Lace yarn and the pattern is Reversible Afghan Square in a Square.
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Lynn made this stunning red Etched Rio Wrap by designer Sarah Smuland in Plymouth Reserve Sport. The geometric lace edge makes it great for dressing up! Beautiful Lynn! |
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Elba is crocheting blankets with Baby Blossom chunky in different colors and WE LOVE IT! Thanks for sharing Elba! |
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Sharon's S plash scarf from our kit is lovely. The pattern - 251-59 Lang Yarns Splash, on Ravelry is perfect for a cool summer night. Remember those :) So pretty Sharon! |
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Baby Crofter Class Projects!!! |
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Jane and Arlene finished their Baby Crofter sweaters! (patterns and yarn available in the shop) Love 'em! Well done what a lot to learn in a little sweater - right?! Congrats! |
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File under Random Cuteness from Ravelry |
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How cute are these crocheted dioramas? Create your own with the free Ravelry patterns from designer Kwannie Cheng here and here. Who's ready to try camping now? |
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Bonus Content! If you made it all the way to the end of our newsletter- here's a coupon for Joji Locatelli patterns. She's running a pattern sale as part of her KAL. Use code jojifallkal in Ravelry for 20% off all her patterns until the end of August. |
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