We're Done Blogging

After six and half years, we're going to stop posting to this blog. Back in 2011, we didn't have a web site, nor an Etsy store, nor a Facebook page, so a blog made a lot of sense as a place for the GBOW community to stop by and see photos of customers' lovely work, hear about sales, and get information about classes. 

But we have other ways to do that now.

With social media trending towards short posts (tweets, Facebook updates...) and photos, there's not as much appetite for the longer style of writing that we often do here. 

If you haven't already, "like" Great Balls of Wool on Facebook, or pop by our web site, or check or our Etsy store. 

Thanks very much for travelling along this road with us. We've enjoyed the journey. 

Snow Day

The store will be closed today due to SNOW! Lots of it...and so far, not much road clearing is happening.

Mary Lou Vella

We were sad to note the passing of Mary Lou Vella recently. Mary Lou was one of the original "Loopy Loungers" back in 2012 when Roisin opened up the room as a communal knitting space. She was an amazingly fast knitter, loved sparkly things, helpful to less skilled knitters--and always cheerful. 
She is second from the right in this photo, taken in February 2012. 

Loopy Loungers

Come hang out and knit in the Loopy Lounge...all are welcome. Here's some industrious Loopy Loungers hard at work. You can drop in Fridays 1-3 pm - $10 drop-in fee...why? Because Roisin will help you. And Saturdays 10-noon - no charge...DIY! Well, not really as you will find the Loopy Loungers a helpful crowd. 

CORRECTION ON SATURDAYS!....Sat a.m. still at $10 per person, per 2 hrs of help.
Sat 1-3 - FREE DIY drop-in. No 'Roisin' Help.

Closed Monday

It's the long weekend! A reminder that the store will be closed on Monday (and Sunday as usual) but open again on Tuesday at 11am. If the weather has you thinking about indoor activities, GBOW is open today until 4. 

A hat would be a good project for the weekend.  This is Brandon's first knitting project - we're impressed!  Knit with Galway Chunky and following Roisin's directions (no pattern) he quickly knit this to his specific taste.  Looking into our crystal ball we see many brilliant projects in his future knitting life!

Closed Canada Day

Happy Canada Day...with so much turmoil in the world, we can all be grateful to live in Canada whether we were born here or emigrated. And thanks for supporting GBOW!

We'll be closed tomorrow, Friday.  Open Saturday for regular hours and the usual 10-noon $10 drop in. Also Open Monday.

And here's some Canadian knitting patterns for you to peruse.

http://theknitwitbyshair.com/2015/07/canadian-knitting-patterns-round-up.html

Easter Weekend Hours

Closed Friday March 25th

Open Saturday March 26th - 10 - 4pm

Closed Sunday March 27th

Open Monday March 28th - 10 - 4pm

The pattern for these knitted eggs is free. Click this link.

Family Day Hours

Monday, February 8 is Family Day in BC. And we will be open (thanks to Amy) from 11 am - 3 pm if you want to come with the family and stock up on yarn.

Hard At Work

Saturday afternoon drop-in knitting in the Loopy Lounge, and everyone is hard at work.  No chitty chatty going on here! We'll show you the results soon. 

Remember you too can come and be serious (or not) with us, 1-3pm on Saturdays at no charge. 10-Noon on Saturdays is "Get Help Time" . A $10 drop-in for knitters working on projects.

Drop In Saturdays

Tomorrow is Saturday so it's Drop In day at the Loopy Lounge. Here's last Saturday's group hard at work, all knitting different projects at different levels.  It's a happening.  And we have fun too!

Shop Online

You do know you can shop for wool at GBOW online, don't you? A lot of people hours have gone into the web site so you can see the yarn (or any other item) and check out what we have in, say, "yellow" (60 items, by the way).
Most knitters like to touch their yarn but this way of shopping is perfect if you are buying yarn you are familiar with, need more for a project, need a yarn fix at 2am, or just find getting to the store hard....yarn online is way better than no yarn isn't it?

New in stock -  Drops Fabel and Drops Big Fabel (new colours in both).  And fyi, Drops Big Fabel Sock yarn is being discontinued.  Last chance,  to buy - limited amounts!

The URL is www.greatballsofwool.ca

And for our local customers there is a 'hold for pick-up' option in the check out section...

Mmm, yummy Drops Big Fabel Garnstudio superwash DK. 

Happy Christmas

However you choose to celebrate, we at Great Balls of Wool wish you peace, and contentment. And some time to knit. 

But please, don't try any of these at home. 
(Image is from thesweaterstore.com and they will gladly ship you ugly Christmas sweaters)

Back To Normal

Jude Skeer's visit is winding down.  It's been an amazing couple of weeks, and there's lots more to share from this wonderful time.  So grateful to have him here.

Just letting you all know we're back to 'normal' on Tuesday with a Sockista Class  on Tuesday afternoon.

Thursday is drop-in and knit in the Loopy Lounge, and Friday 1-3 is $10 drop-in for help on Roisin's patterns (Lundie Hoodies, Texada Time Wraps, What's the Point? Ponchos). Saturdays 10-noon is Beginners Knit and $10 drop-in for other projects.

Looking forward to knitting all winter long with y'all.

Thanks and see you soon...

The GBOW gang.

Jude Skeers - Week One

Oh my....so much to catch up on! I've been away visiting family in Ontario so missed the very beginning of Jude's residency at GBOW, but I caught up today, with his hat workshop...more on that below. 

Jude started his first-time visit to Canada with a short stay in Vancouver, hosted by Friend-Of-GBOW, Nigel and his husband Geordie. Nigel took Jude to various knitting meccas, the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, and a long lunch with Holli Yeoh, knitting designer, and Nigel's step-daughter. And then it was off to PR for Jude where woolly things began right away.

These are some photos from that first week. Make sure you look at the whole post as there are a lot of photos. Come back for Week Two photos!

Jude's first workshop in the Loopy Lounge.  Everyone is busy knitting the E-longated shawl which looks like this, finished:

Myrt, Jude and Amy hanging out with GBOW Yarn and wearing Jude designs. They're woolly happy.

The back of Myrt Modeling Jude's Elizabeth Zimmerman style jacket.  We've already had one class...another one next week.

Here's what the front looks like.

These photos are from the Möbius and Zimmermann style jacket classes. Goodness, this is fun!

And then today was the hat workshop... This is the first Jude class I have taken and I learned a lot! Aside from learning some very cool knitting techniques, untried by me (stranding...double knitting....) I also learned Jude is a great teacher who can tell stories at the same time he keeps track of each participant's progress. (Yep, that's me in the orange lace shawl that Nigel knit me for my birthday).

It's Now Or Never

Well, this won't last long! Mohair Special. Hurry in and get some! Exquisite mohair and mohair/kid silk...and more.  These would be a good choice for the workshops with Jude Skeers in October. Or for your own project now.

It's a special deal, and quantities you see are what there is...and no more!

Jude is Coming!

 A reminder that Australian designer, artist and knitter, Jude Skeers, is coming to Canada for the very first time, from October 16 until the first week in November, right here to the Malaspina Peninsula. 

His true Moebius designs have been the basis for many beautiful items 
we've showed you photos of. Here the details. 

Hunter's Lundie

Hunter, our youngest Loopy Lounger (and Poster Boy), was quite happy to lounge around last Friday in his freshly finished "Lundie Hoodie".  Mum just took it off the needles and put it on him, fits perfectly and even though the weather was warm there were NO complaints (Brooklyn and Owen take note)   Congrats Hunter on choosing such an accomplished Mum. We foresee many more woolly creations in your future.

What Am I?

Heads' up, members of the First Dibs Club....Saturday May 23rd from 2-4 pm at the store the Unveiling of our fresh new design and pattern, with many samples to view. This Exciting NEW pattern is a Top-Secret joint effort by knitting trolls, Roisin and Brenda.

Information we can divulge at present:
1: Totally Original, design and pattern
2: YOU WILL want it!
3: YOU CAN make it!
4: Many trials and testing of pattern have been done to assure ease of following.

First Dibbers get first viewing and first chance at "IT".

(and you can become a First Dibber by calling or dropping by the store, or sending email)

Clues:

1:  Specific to our Region

2:  There's a point to it

Ideas?

Thursday Loopy Lounge

This past Thursday's HELP group.  Well, some don't need any help and just come to hang out and knit, which is fine.

We have Hillary holding our Loopy Lounge mascot, Hunter, who gurgles and smiles at all of us.  We figure he's used to our voices: he's heard them since way before he was born. Will his first words be Knit or Purl?  

If you're curious--or need help--come and check it out, Thursday afternoons.

Loopy Lounge Saturday

After you pop by the Winter Market (perhaps its last weekend as the Summer Market opens next Saturday) why not come hang out in the Loopy Lounge and knit?
1 - 4 pm.