2014 Festival continues to take shape

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2014 Festival continues to take shape

We still have lots to do before the Festival takes place next spring, but here are a couple of updates:

1. Thanks to Terri Stramba at Stramba Farm Alpacas and More, we’ve finished some beautiful felted centerpieces for the dinner and luncheons at the Festival. In fact, we are planning a return visit to Terri’s farm on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 1:30 p.m. for a studio play date. We’ll continue to make more centerpieces for two luncheons and a dinner.

2. We’ll have a private dinner and a luncheon with our VERY special guest, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

3. We’re preparing a special charity event involving the donation of 18-inch dolls and handmade outfits for them. Now’s a great time to check your yarn stash so you can start knitting or crocheting the outfits. If you’re fresh out of 18-inch doll patterns, may we suggest Nicky Epstein’s latest two books, which we reviewed in the Aug. 7 issue. We’ll keep you updated with participating yarn stores and drop-off locations. Nicky will feature a full doll display with the dolls dressed in all of the outfits from both books. Remember her Barbie Display at the 2011 Festival? This promises to be just as fun!

4. A Kick Off the Festival Weekend Fashion Show & Luncheon is in the works. Details next issue…

With Warm Regards,

Barb

More shopping opportunities at Knittreat!

If you were unable to sign up for our Knittreat event taking place Nov. 7-8-9-10, but live near the Omni Bedford Springs Resort, we invite you to stop into the Market Friday and Saturday (Nov. 8-9) from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kathy’s Kreations, Soft n’ Sassy and Embroidered for You will have an assortment of yarns, kits and accessories available.

Barb’s yarn review: Perfection

Kraemer Yarns, also known as Kraemer Textiles, sits proudly on Main Street in Nazareth, PA. Just as their website states, it’s a “living, breathing testament to small-town Americana — spinning dozens of varieties of yarn from natural and synthetic fibers that will become lovingly crafted handmade items. We’re working hard to keep up with the rapidly growing demand for quality yarn.”

We have had a longstanding relationship with Kraemer Yarns. I have come to know their yarns and their staff members, and they are, in a nutshell, reliable, kind and trustworthy!

Eleanor Swogger is one of those people who has been involved with us for years. She has taught many of your favorite classes at the Festival, and Kraemer has always provided the yarn for the students Eleanor is teaching. She will be teaching the Slip Stitch Sampler Pillowcase at this year’s fall Knittreat at Bedford Springs. Kraemer will provide the yarn for the class, and they’ve sent me their latest yarns to review:

Perfection is not a new line, it has been a tried-and-true Kraemer yarn for as long as I can recall. What is new, though, are Perfection Super Bulky and Tapas!

Perfection Super Bulky (Yarn Weight #6) is a blend of domestic merino and acrylic. It is a soft, easy-care wool blend that won’t break the bank. Perfection Super Bulky is soft, but balanced with six plies and enjoyable to knit or crochet. It is very comfortable against the skin. It is great for quick projects such as hats, scarves, jackets, and some home decor. This weight of Perfection is available in a wide range of colors, with many more colors available in the near future. I personally see this as the “perfect” yarn for those oversized cowls that are so popular. Perfection Tapas

Perfection Tapas is a worsted-weight blend of domestic merino and acrylic. It is another soft, easy-care wool blend from Kraemer that won’t break the bank. The merino wool makes this blend one of the softest around. It is very comfortable against the skin and there is a wide range of colors, the most recent are the” tweedy” ones.

The Perfection yarns work up well and are consistent. I have a skein of Super Bulky (April Shower) and one skein of Tapas (Arugula) for one lucky winner.

HOW TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES: Simply send an email (one entry per person, please) to pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com by Oct. 15, 2013, with the subject line of “Perfection Yarn.” Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. The winner will be drawn randomly from the entries and announced in the next issue of Festival Update, along with the winners from our Sept. 3 sweepstakes (which by the way, runs until Oct. 1! Check it out here!).