Holiday Hours at GYG & Mo's Stash Box

We at GYG hope you're enjoying the holiday season with your family and friends!

Christmas Eve, December 24th, close at 5pm

Closed Christmas Day, December 25th

New Year's Eve, December 31st, close at 5pm

Drop by and visit us when you need a break from the hustle and bustle and want to see and feel the colors and textures of the great yarns we have in stock. We're expecting shipments of new yarn lines this winter so we'll keep you informed as they arrive.

If you are signed up on the GYG Mo's Stash Box list, your latest gift has arrived!
If you have not signed up for 2016, now is the time to come in and get hooked up!
Please call or come in to find out about this special offering for our customers.

December Events at the Goat

LuLaRoe Pop Up Clothing Boutique-December 4th 5-7pm

We're hosting a pop-up event this Friday evening featuring comfortable and fashionable women's clothing by Lu La Roe, The clothing line includes dresses, skirts, and leggings - perfect for layering under your knits!

Slip-Stitch Knitting courses on December 5th

Our featured December instructor Faina Goberstein, is the co-author of the bestselling books "The Art of Seamless Knitting" and "The Art of Slip-Stitch Knitting".

She is teaching two courses this Saturday - an introduction to slip stitch motifs and a course on designing with slip stitches. She's bringing garments to display to give you some ideas of what you can make with these designs and she will be signing her books during the break between classes.

We have some books on hand, so some by early to pick them up before we run out.

For more information about Ms Goberstein and her designs, see fainasknittingmode.com.

GYG Gives Thanks to our Clients

We hope that you enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends. GYG Yarn Studio will be closed on Thursday, November 26, so that we can celebrate and give thanks for this past year as well.

Friday morning, we'll be up bright and early to welcome you back into the shop with some fantastic deals. On Saturday and Sunday, we're opening up the shop to local artisans with crafts that will help you to fill out your holiday gift list .

As a thank you to you, we're offering discounts all day on Friday, November 27th, and extra hours to shop our collection of gorgeous yarns! These discounts include all yarns, patterns, and books. Excluded are those yarns already discounted (no doubling up), needles and accessories.

Black Friday Sale

8-10 am - 25% off yarn, patterns and books

10-5 pm - 20%  off yarn, patterns and books

If you've attended our Vendor Craft Show in the past, you probably couldn't resist picking up a few items for your gift list - and for yourself. This year, GYG will host our vendors on both Saturday, November 28th, and Sunday, November 29th.

Come in and check out the wares of these local artisans and enjoy some respite from the shopping craziness of the season.

Vendor Craft Show
Saturday, November 28, 10am - 5pm 
Sunday, November 29, 11am - 3pm

October Classes

Theresa (TT) Thurmond is offering her Drop Stitch Crochet Class this coming Saturday, October 17 from 1-3 pm. This technique will teach you how to combine crochet with a knitted drop stitch to create fast and easy scarves and cowls with or without the fringe we're seeing in a lot of Fall 2015 fashions.

This technique uses a large-size needle or dowel. She will have dowels available for purchase during the class if you are not able to pick up a needle ahead of time. Sign up at GYG to get instructions on materials - or call TT at (916) 792-7744. Class cost is $20.

Top Down Sweater Workshop with Diane Soucy
Diane returns to GYG on Saturday, October 24th, for her very popular Top Down Sweater Workshop. You will learn how to customize a cardigan or pullover from her popular Knitting Pure & Simple sweater patterns using any yarn weight. You will learn how to adapt a pattern to fit your own body for the most comfortable and flattering fit as well as how to change neckline or sleeves,

Students should be advanced beginner to intermediate knitters.Cost is $75.

Sign up at GYG to get instructions on homework/materials you will need for this course.
Saturday, October 24, 10am-4pm with a break for lunch.

We're here! No phone!

The good news is that our move is done and our grand opening opening on Saturday, October 3rd, was a huge success. Many of you came by to visit us at the new shop.
The bad news is that our GYG phone is not hooked up yet, so we cannot pick up your phone calls yet. The disruption is temporary (maybe 10 days) and our phone number will not be changing.

If you have not had a chance to visit us yet, we're keeping the same hours in our new location, so please come by and check us out!

We've got gorgeous new yarn from Shibui on display - Staccato,Pebble, and Maai, all blends of Merino yarn with silk, cashmere, and/or alpaca for a superior quality and a luxurious knitting experience.

We've also added more yarn to our 40% discount bins- many of our Saturday visitors found great deals and went home with surprise winnings.

Our space features great sitting areas to look over pattern books, get advise from other knitters, plan your next knitting project or just chat with friends. Come by and say "Hello" to Mo!

GYG Yarn Studio Grand Opening on October 3rd

In case you are not on our mailing list, you may want to know that we are closed until Thursday, October 1st, when the doors open to the public (fingers crossed) at our new location. We have planned our grand opening for this coming Saturday, October 3rd.

YOU ARE INVITED! Thank you all for being patient with us as we transition to our new location. As a thank you for being a valued customer, we are excited to invite you to celebrate with us in our new space on Saturday, October 3rd from 10-5:00. We'll have free raffles every hour, great snacks, and an opportunity to meet the amazing people behind this business. As a reminder, our new home is located in the TJ Maxx shopping center next to the Tuxedo store.  The address is 1850 Douglas Blvd, Suite 910.

But first, the MOVE

To finish up our move, the current store location will be closed this Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.   We will reopen at our new location on Thursday, October 1st barring any unforeseen circumstances.  Again, please accept our sincere appreciation during this very hectic and exciting week! The Got Your Goat Yarn Studio Team

Labor Day & upcoming Grand Opening

In case you are looking for a place to spend part of your hard earned day off, drop by on Monday, September 7, to knit or crochet with us. We will be open on Labor Day.

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The first coat of orange paint has gone up on the walls in our new store location at the TJ Maxx shopping complex. If you're in the area, take a peek in the windows. Each week we'll be adding more to the new location - shelving, lighting, fixtures - all in preparation for the big move at the end of September.

New location as of October 1st: 1850 Douglas Blvd, Suite 910

As of this posting, we plan on being closed on Tuesday-Wednesday, September 29-30. There are some items which we must have in place at the new location which will not allow us to do business at the old address at the same time. We plan to open on October 1, with a grand opening weekend of October 3-4 to celebrate with all our regulars and to introduce newbies to our favorite yarns and crafts. We will be introducing new yarns and displaying new samples - just in time for fall and the start of your holiday knitting and crochet projects.

Put us on your calendar and join us in the celebration!

Yes - We are moving!

You may have heard comments that "The Goat" is moving and I'm here to tell you that the rumors are true!

We expect to open in our new location, just 2 blocks down Douglas Boulevard, in just under two months. Our anticipated opening date is Thursday, October 1, 2015 and the new address is:

1850 Douglas Blvd, Suite 910

The new store is in the TJ Maxx shopping complex and we're gaining space! The move is also offering us an opportunity to put in new lighting, better layout for all the yarns you want to browse through, and displays of some of the yummy new yarn lines we're introducing at Got Your Goat Yarn Studio.

We'll be hosting trunk shows to introduce those new lines as well as special events to bring you in and keep you smiling. Our lounge and knit area will give you time to try out your new purchases and to meet up with old friends or make a few new ones.

We plan to be open at the current location up until then, but we may need to shut down for a day to move, so keep checking here, on Facebook, and on our website for the latest news. We'll be continuing to offer great discounts on current yarns as we remove inventory to make way for the new, so do drop by in August and September to take advantage - and don't forget to sign up for the Diane Soucy Sock Workshop!

Knitting Pure & Simple Sock Workshop

Diane Soucy is coming back to GYG Yarn Studio to give a repeat offering of her very popular Sock Workshop. For those of you who missed the class the first time around or want a refresher, we're offering the workshop in mid-September - early enough to start knitting for the holidays!

When: Saturday, September 12  10-4pm

Where: Got Your Goat Yarn Studio

Cost: $75.00 

This class is great for beginners who have completed at least 3 simple projects and know how to purl or for more intermediate/advanced knitters who need to brush up or customize their sock knitting skills.

You will learn basic sock construction for a top-down sock including:

• how to turn a heel
• how to shape a gusset and toe sock of any yarn weight or gauge
• how to make your socks fit perfectly
• and how to design your own custom sock

Drop by or call to sign up before the class fills up!

New Bling‌ in GYG Shop!

If you're familiar with our featured custom bags from Tango Tango Designs by Theresa Thurmond, you'll be excited to hear that we're selling her new line of embellished shawl pins. Each design is a one of a kind blend of beads, crystals or embossed leather in fabulous floral, shell, spiral or other inspired shapes.

Come in to see which pin will suit the shawl you're knitting now or will match the yarn you're buying for your next shawl. Here are some of the pins in stock as of this posting:

Crochet this Shrug!

You may have noticed new summer samples in our shop lately (or if not, it's time to come in and visit!) We've added some light weight sweaters in cotton and linen as well as some cute children's items.

We recently added the Patina Shrug, a simple crocheted shrug made with Universal Yarn's Cotton Supreme from the Spring Forward pattern book. Modeled by lovely Debbie, the shrug adds interest to a summer outfit without any weight.
Note - this shrug is a medium and Debbie is a petite/small.

We hope to feature more crocheted items in the future since yarn lovers of all kinds are welcome at Got Your Goat.

Small Project? Pick up yarn at a great price!

This month we're putting our deep discounted yarn up front and center. These yarns include some gorgeous hues and blends like alpaca and cashmere at 35% off their original price.

If you want to knit a scarf, shawl, pair of socks, or any other small yardage project, this is a great deal! We'll be adding more to our clearance as the summer goes on to make room for our fall wools, so check out this area the next time you're in the store.

July Red/White/Blue Yarn Sale - and Holiday Store Closure

We had such a great response to our Red/White/Blue yarn sale last month, we're repeating the 30% off yarn sale for July 1-3 and July 5-7!

Come in and purchase any red, white or blue yarns at a great discount price - while those colors last. No teal, beige, pinks or other variations will be accepted for this special sale.

We are taking a break for the holiday this year - GYG Yarn Studio will be CLOSED JULY 4TH!

So come in before or after the holiday to take advantage of these patriotic colors!

Goat Your Goat Kids Camp 2015

GYG is offering Basic Knitting camps for kids (of all ages) during the summer. These camps are appropriate for children between the ages of 8-14 and adults looking for a daytime Learn to Knit class.

Instructor Theresa Thurmond will be available in the shop in July on Thursday evenings, from 5:00 - 6:00 pm, to assist you with beginning knitting and/or a project.

The camp dates/times: July 2, 16, 23, 30 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Note that July 9 is not a camp day.

If you're ready to tackle a project, but need help with ideas in your skill range, contact Theresa by email at: tangotango60@aol.com or by phone at: (916) 792-7744

For more info or restrictions, see (but ignore the date/times until we update!) http://www.gotyourgoatyarn.com/kids_camp_2013.htm

Summer Knits

What do you knit/wear when our temperatures hit the upper 90’s and 100’s? If you’re ready to set aside your wools and reach for something cool, reach for our linen, cotton, and bamboo blends to switch up the pace. Ranging from fingering to aran weights, we’ve got yarn and great store samples to inspire you for hot weather knitting during summer 2015!

First, check out Rowan Pure Linen, a beautiful Aran weight 100% linen which can be used in patterns like the free Chal/Poncho Emelia, the flowing Flex tee, and the popular Sandshore cardigan.

Rowan Pure Linen

And featured in More Modern Top-Down Knitting, please check out our gorgeous shop sample of Snow Raglan, knit with Berroco Fuji, a soft combination of silk/cotton/rayon/nylon, which shows how you can make a successful yarn substitution and still retain your cool.

Snow Raglan

Dawning knit in Berroco Karma from the Creative Knitting, Summer 2015 magazine in stock in our store. Karma is a bulky mesh of 100% cotton and the open weave lace keeps you cool over a tank or cami. Check out the modifications on our sample if you don't want sleeves or want to go longer than cropped.

Dawning

Challenge yourself with a little color-blocking with the Dolman-Sleeve Tee from Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2015 knit in Weekend DK

Dolman-Sleeve Tee

Finally, for the younger girl, check out the Olearia bolero and Pebbles in the Fountain halter top both knit with Berroco Weekend DK an acrylic/cotton blend which retains shape and is machine washable.

Pebbles in the Fountain top with Olearia bolero

Favorite Stitches and Why

Garter - Knit every row. In the round, knit one row, purl one row.

It's a soft squishy texture that doesn't take much concentration but it's bouncy, "double pain" fabric make for a comfortable, warm garment or accessory. Looking for a travel project? A super warm scarf? Or want something to lay flat? Garter stitch is the way to go.

Cables - twisting stitches to lay over one another.

With anything, you throw a cable in there it looks classy. It may eat up more yarn but if you want to jazz up a plain piece, put a cable on it. They chart well and make your knitting interesting without getting too complex. Think of any traditional or sophisticated looking knitting and most likely it has a cable on it.

 Short Rows - a method of knitting where you stop short of a full row, turn your work and knit back. It creates dimension, depth, curves or allows for shaping with different colors. Prime examples, sock heels, earflaps or collars.

This technique or stitch allows you to do so much to your knitting. It gives you the option to have your garments fit better or have the extra shaping you were looking for without having to knit an extra piece. It really grants you the ability to play with color and shapes.

Local Inspiration

Aren't these gorgeous? Wisteria happen to grow right outside our shop and it's that time of year for them to bloom to their beautiful purple and ripple in the wind.

Since the color and flowers are mesmerizing, I thought I would put together a project based on this lovely vine.

Pattern: Diving In (recipe)

Designer: Mam'zelle Flo

Yarn: Ballad by Jojoland, 100% Wool

Colors: Deep Lavender (268), Quiet Green (413)

 

 The light striping in the beginning of the pattern allows you to bring the subtle green of the Wisteria Vine and the then the purple just amps up the beauty for the main part of the shawl. It's an interesting piece to knit and it's always fun making something inspired by something else. Makes for a good story.

 

"Why did you choose this project." "Because it reminds me of Wisteria." "Oh my goodness, it totally does!" See what I'm saying? If you feel like taking a whack at it, come on in and we'll hook you up or come up with a project using your own inspirations. 

Our Best Sellers

These are our heavy hitters, the yarns that walks out of here the most. It's a wide range of fiber content, weights and prices but I like that we aren't good for just one thing. Check it out and then come on in and feel for yourself why these bad boys are super popular.

Uptown Worsted, 100% Acrylic. It's soft, washable and inexpensive.

Malabrigo Worsted, 100% Merino. It's a kettled dyed, singly ply yarn that always makes your projects pop.

Cherub Aran, 55% Nylon, 45% Acrylic. Soft, washable, inexpensive, tons of colors and we can get it in quick for you.

Silky Wool, 45% Wool, 35% Silk, 20% Nylon (Polyamide). DK weight, cool feeling yarn, Fun mix of colors that have a speckled feel, perfect for a summer project.

Chalet, 70% Alpaca, 30% Bamboo. A chunky weight ultra warm, ultra soft, ultra light weight yarn that is perfect for that luxury knitted piece you've been holding out for.

Melody, 100% Wool. A washable, light fingering weight yarn. Great for shawls, socks or light weight projects in general. 

Madelinetosh Vintage, 100% Merino. Hand Dyed, that's all you need to know. Vintage is pictured but anything from this woman you all seem to love.

We try and keep these stocked with a variety of colors as we know how you like them. Don't be fooled though, we have tons of other yarns that can satisfy a fiber craving.

Pattern Holders

Check these out guys. Ever sitting at a table and knitting and you have to uncross your legs, lean forward and look down at your pattern lying on the table? Well look no further for a solution because here it is. Pattern holders by Tango Tango Designs exclusively at Got Your Goat.

Pull this little cutie out, plop it on the table and prop up your pattern and knit without interruption. It comes in two sizes and has fun, colorful designs that will brighten your mobile knitting area. Come on by and take a look.

Resolution Review

It's the end of January and those resolutions have had some time to settle in and be tested. How are they holding up? Rethinking that pledge to not buy any new yarn? Or possibly giving up coke or sugar or caffeine now seems like a bad idea?

We didn't make any resolutions as a group here but we do see the benefits of taking the New Year as a time to re-situate yourself for the next 12 months.

If I were to make some knitting resolutions, they would go something like this:

1. I resolve to bust out my gift/stamp cards and indulge myself with some Alpaca and possibly a new bag. Seriously, I have my eye on both of these things.

2. I resolve to keep my greasy snacking to a minimum while I'm knitting, either that or invest in some really awesome paper towels.

3. I resolve to finish all of my works in prog..........I can't even finish that sentence, all of my bags of W.I.P. are laughing at me.

4. I resolve to invest in some good audio books and give my TV a break while I'm knitting. Maybe I'll learn something too, nah, fiction here I come.

5. I resolve to tell my husband about every yarn purchase I make this year.......dun, dun duunnnn. That will definitely keep the stash at a minimum.

I think five resolution ought to do it. If by now you have conquered your resolutions or feel like adding a few more or hey, you want to start, feel free to pick up any of these. Good luck with your reformation!

Books and Yarn

Today I'm thinking of my happy places.  I am guessing that many of you share my love for these destinations, a book shop and a yarn shop. I can spend hours in either one of these two. The endless possibilities of getting lost in an imaginary world or a genuine love story or ticking off one of those classics on the list. Or touching so much soft yarn your skin starts to feel more smooth or daydreaming about patterns to go with the alpaca you just found or "investing" in another needle set. These places just get me.

Now we don't have the space to pull this off at the shop but wouldn't it be great to combine the two? Raise your hand if you're with me! Since we can only dream about it, how about we meet half way and at least talk about the books that have been tickling our fancy lately while we indulge in some yarn shopping. Feel free to talk books as well as yarn next time you're in. :)