A Little Bit of Everything

Ok, that's a little bit of hyperbole, but I know everyone is looking for ways to be better stewards of the planet. When we talk about this subject, the textile industry isn't usually the first one that comes to mind. But you might be surprised to hear that the textile industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions annually. Or that 11.3 million tons of textile waste are thrown away every year in the US alone. Or that the textile industry accounts for one-fifth of the 300 million tons of plastic produced globally each year. What's more, it's not just the landfills...

Rowan makes wonderful yarns, and we have been proud to stock Rowan Felted Tweed and SoftYak DK. They are both high quality, versatile yarns that will make garments and accessories that can be passed down to future generations. However - Rowan is a company with a bit of a fraught history regarding distribution in the US. The difference between what you would pay for it in the UK and what you pay in the US has always been larger than one would expect. It does make sense that the international shipping will factor in, but Rowan has always had a...

Another local yarn shop recently asked "what makes you happier, starting a project or finishing one?" (I put that in quotes, but I'm actually paraphrasing.) I thought "duh, finishing, so I can use my new thing". But I have discovered that it isn't really true. What I feel when I finish something, whether I like it a lot or just feel ambivalent about it, is relief. I know this because I just finished two sweaters this past weekend, and my main source of joy about it was knowing I didn't have to carry the guilt for NOT finishing them anymore. My...

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hope you have a wonderful time with cherished family and friends.

It might be my lack of maturity, but I still feel like a little kid when the holidays are approaching. I still get butterflies when I think about the twinkling lights, the holiday concerts, The Nutcracker Ballet, holiday parties - the whole shebang. Interestingly enough, gifts are always the last thing I think about. Maybe that's because when I was growing up, extravagant gifts were less of a thing - there were no car commercials suggesting you need to give your partner a car, oh, and while you're at it just grab one for yourself too. No commercials telling you...