Granny Squares and Circles Set to Bloom this Monday

For those of you who have always wanted to learn how to crochet or already know how to crochet but have always wanted to learn how to make a granny square, we're having a mini crochet retreat this coming Monday, April 16 from 9:30 - 2:30.  Check out here for more information!  

And remember, a granny square can be as simple

or as ornate

or as floral as you want it to be.

Hope you can join us!

Craft Activism

Gale Zucker brought that green granny bag with her today when she came to teach her photography workshop and sign copies of her book.

By using outtakes of shots from the book as samples, she was able to share many ways to ensure that the photos you take and use for yourself or your on line presence are as strong and effective as they can be.

I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of the book either at the shop or by clicking on the link to the right.  The book has great knitting and crochet patterns, great photographs, and great resources for using your love of crafts to start a business or raise money for a cause or charity.

It's Not Just About The Yarn - Part 2

Well, it might have taken a little longer than we thought to get the word, but it was definitely worth waiting to hear that Little Joe's took the Grand Prize for the Extra Yarn contest.

It's very exciting news for all of us and we once again thank you for contributing to this community effort.

I've talked about how a yarn store is not just about selling yarn here before, and this contest is one great big example of that.

While knitting and Katonah Yarn is how the particular community was formed, the many people who contributed from our shop did so in the spirit of helping out.  They may have loved the idea or simply knew the people asking, but they wanted the effort to succeed.

And it did.

(You can read what Little Joe's has to say about their win here.  If you haven't seen the slide show Amy Drucker made as part of their winning submission, I highly recommend that you check it out.)

Mother's Day Wish List

It's time to come in and fill out your Mother's Day Wish List.

Help your family figure out what to get you.  They really do appreciate you and want to get you something you want.

Put down your favorite color (including the shade), something you've always wanted, something you absolutely do NOT want.  Little details help.

Wish lists are fun.  And our staff will do their best to guide your family and friends to make sure they pick out the items most likely to fill your needs.

Jennifer and Jen Cook from Little Joe's Bookstore

Over 1000 balls of yarn were donated and 200 knitted items loaned towards Little Joe's effort to win the Extra Yarn book contest. Once the contest is over and the knitted items returned, the yarn balls will be donated to the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women.

This project was great for so many reasons. It was light hearted and fun. It was community building. And it allowed us to do something for others. We all know how restorative knitting and crocheting can be.

Check out this fantastic slide show with photographs from soulshineimagery.com. It describes and documents the entire project. See how great Little Joe's Books looks all yarned up.

We're Doing The Granny Square

Bag in Progress/Rowan Hand Knit Cotton/Craft Activism

Sometimes it's fun to complete what you're working on quickly, and when you're crocheting granny squares you get to finish quickly over and over.  There's a feeling of satisfaction that comes over you every time you come to the end of a row and have to slip stitch into the third chain of original chain and fasten off.  And the often large selection of colors involved keeps things interesting and delightful to the eye.

Bag In Progress/Rowan Cotton Glace/Rowan Holiday Knits

I'm currently working on two bags for the store and Lisa W. just started a throw for her family room.

Blanket In Progress/Lisa W.

If you've got granny squares to show us, please post them on the our Facebook page.  We would love to see them.  And if you've always wanted to learn how to crochet but never got around to it we're doing a workshop on Monday April 16 9:30 - 2:30 when you will learn how to crochet AND make a granny square.  

Little Joe's Waits To Celebrate Extra Yarn

Wanting to include as many of the generous contributors as possible for its effort to win the Extra Yarn bookstore decoration contest, Little Joe's is postponing it's Thank YOU party until March 5.

Meanwhile, here's a photograph Amy Drucker took of the store all yarned up.  Doesn't it look great?