Hola everyone, and happy New Year!

Our January 2012 is out and has been emailed to our on-line subscribers. It’s full of great ideas for organizing your knitting accessories, getting your stash under control and setting your knitting goals for the new year.

If you’d like to join the fun and be added to our mailing list, click here to subscribe to future issues!

We are open during regular hours over the holiday season with the following exceptions:

Christmas Eve (24th): 10 AM - 3 PM
Christmas Day (25th): Closed
Boxing Day (26th): Closed

New Year’s Day (Jan 1): Closed

All of us at Knit & Caboodle Yarn Shop would like to thank you all very much for your business and for supporting our shop. We wish you happy knitting/crocheting, a very Merry Christmas and all sorts of blessings for the New Year!

Ahhhh...aren’t these cuuuute? These are Christmas themed wood carvings done by a local Canmore woodcarver and available only at our shop. He’s also done several Snowmen and Santas with knitting needles and yarn.



One-of-a-kind and perfect little stocking stuffers...are these!

Here’s a wonderful scarf made of soft and colourful “Boboli” by Berroco:



This scarf makes a perfect Christmas gift and takes only two skeins of Boboli. The pattern is FREE with the purchase of the yarn!

Here’s something to put on your Christmas wish list or give to your favourite knitter: a Lorna’s Laces & Soak Gift Set!


Yup these two fabulous companies have teamed up this Christmas to create these great kits which include a skein of Lorna’s Solemate sock yarn and Soak’s Heel foot cream. Aaaand...as an extra bonus and ‘cause it’s Christmas, the makers of Soak have included a sample pack of their fabulous Soak wool wash.

All of these goodies are nicely packaged and ready for wrapping!

Here’s a quick knit for a great Christmas gift: The Flicker Neck Warmer.


This is a very easy lacey neck warmer made from super soft and subtly sparkly Flicker by Berroco. Flicker is an alpaca chainette-type yarn that is a pleasure to knit with and wear. The subtle sparkle is so pretty and it is one of our softest yarns in stock right now. It’s also great for hats, mitts, scarves and shawls.

Our Flicker Neck Warmer takes only one skein of Flicker and the pattern is FREE with the purchase of the yarn!

The Mitten Tree is a Christmas tradition at Knit & Caboodle Yarn Shop.

Every year we collect knitted items from our customers and locals so we can donate them to charity and keep those in need warm all winter long. We definitely have the warmest Christmas tree in Canmore, so come on by and help us bundle it up.

We accept all kinds of hand knitted and crocheted items from hats to mitts and beyond, made with all kinds of fibres.

Please bring in your items and help decorate our Mitten Tree before: December 14.

We just put these goodies on the shelves:

Lorna’s Laces “Solemate” sock yarn made from 55 percent Superwash Merino, 15 percent Nylon and 30 percent “Outlast” a fiber technology that continuously interacts with a body’s microclimate to moderate temperature from being too hot or too cold. It was used by NASA. Cool, eh...or would that be warm? Either way your feet will feel just right with this yarn!

Aaaaand Madelinetosh: Tosh Sock and Tosh Lace…Lots of colours to choose from and as fabulous as evah!

We will be open from Noon - 5PM on Friday, November 11.

Join us at the shop for a few Saturday afternoons and learn how to make a proper sock with our resident sock expert -- Val Kildaw!

November: 19 & 26
December: 3
Time: 2-4pm

$80.00 includes 3 classes and book ($24.95 in value!) ... plus 10% off all purchases while in class!

Skill level - intermediate: must know how to knit, purl and cast on.

Call or email the shop to register!

We’ve just added all new colours to our Maxima by Manos del Uruguay collection. Have a look at a couple of the colours: Valentine (L), Ultramarine (R). Yum!



Maxima is 200 metres of superfine (and supersoft) merino that is kettle dyed by individual artisans that make up the Manos del Uruguay cooperative. This is a certified fair trade cooperative with profits going back to the fibre artists -- and if that isn’t cool enough, the label of each skein is signed by the artist themselves.

Also new in the shop is Manos Lace. A delicious blend of alpaca, silk and cashmere -- three exquisite fibres indeed -- all beautifully hand dyed, with an incredible lustre and handfeel.

Just a reminder that we will be starting our fall/winter hours this week. That means we will again be open seven days a week...and longer each day... to help facilitate your deepest yarnie desires!

Here’s the deets:

Monday - Thursday: 10 - 6
Friday & Saturday: 10 - 5
Sunday: Noon - 5

Also...all you Ravelers, please join us on Ravelry. Our group is the Knit and Caboodlers and we would love to have you join us and keep up to date on shop happenings!

Hey everyone...here’s the buzz for the upcoming Labour Day weekend September 2,3 4 & 5. We’re open our regular hours over this upcoming long weekend:

Friday & Saturday: 10 - 5
Sunday: Noon - 5
Monday: Closed

After the Labour Day weekend we revert to our Fall/Winter/Spring hours. We’re open 7 days a week and longer hours:

Monday - Thursday: 10 - 6
Friday & Saturday: 10 - 5
Sunday: Noon - 5

Come & see us. All the new fall stuff is arriving and we’ll have lots of new items this September long weekend! It’s a great time to stock up on fall projects.

Hi y’all
Just a quick update to let you know that we’ve received a new .... and totally spectacular ... batch of yarn bowls from local potter/artist Katie Borrowman from “of Cabbages and Kings” studio. She’s based right here in beautiful, Rocky Mountainous, Canmore, Alberta, and the work she does is amazing. We just can’t keep these little beauties in stock!

Will post pics as soon as I can, but I wanted to share this most awesome news!

New this week are hand-made ceramic buttons from Hello Beautiful created by Denise Jones-Chu of Burnaby, BC. The buttons come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Each button is hand crafted and hand glazed by Denise, making them one of a kind art pieces.



We’re showing a set of these little beauties on a pillow made from one skein of TwoJ Tweed...a 100% merino 3-ply, hand-dyed yarn from Canmore’s own TwoJuniper Yarns. This pattern free with purchase of a skein TwoJ Tweed!

The most amazing shawl pins arrived today. They are made of lighweight brushed aluminum and there are matching cuff bracelets to complete the look. Although they can be purchased separately, they’d look great together. There are a range of colours, from copper, steel, green, wine and purple. Have a look:


Shawl pin (copper)




Cuff bracelet

ooooooh....ahhhh, eh!?

A quick update to let you know that the post office was very kind to us on Friday and delivered a big box of Madelinetosh - Tosh Merino DK in all of it’s fabulous hand-dyed glory....PLUS...a box of Knit Collage yarns. Our Hodgepodge hat was specially created for this unique yarn and is free with purchase of a skein of Knit Collage. We’ve had many customers pick up several skeins to make for Christmas presents. A fast, easy and oh-so-unique gift.

Come have a look at both of these fabulous yarns!

This is not knitting related...but one must put down the pointy sticks once in a while to stop and smell the roses as it were!

The wildflowers have been blooming like crazy here in Canmore. We’ve got it all: Black-eyed Susans, Harebells, Wild Rose, Potentilla, Tiger Lillies...you name it. I thought I’d share a few photos from my morning walk.








You really should come and visit us, not just for the yarn but for everything that our little mountain town has to offer!

We will be closed Friday, July 1st (tomorrow) to celebrate Canada Day! We will resume our regular hours on Saturday (10-5) and Sunday (12-5).

Happy Canada Day and have a great long weekend!

We are thrilled to be carrying Knit Collage yarns—the creative passion of designer Amy Small.

These beautiful yarns are a collage of natural fibres mixed with sparkly treasures of ribbons, sequins and flower appliqués.

Not only are the yarns stunning, they are made with heart. Amy designs the yarns and employs spinners in Punjab, India to create the finished pieces. Her goal is to create beautiful yarns and better the lives of the women who craft them.

Through her company, she has created employment and developed new skills for 36 uneducated women.


We have designed this cute earflap hat that takes one skein of Knit Collage and about 100g of a bulky weight contrasting colour.

The pattern is free with yarn purchase.

On June 15 we will be starting our summer hours...and here they be:

Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: Noon - 5pm
Monday: Closed



We hope to see you soon!

We just received our order of yarn bowls from local potter, Katie Borrowman. We asked Katie to combine her creative eye and unique glazing techniques to create these beautiful custom bowls just for us (and of course for you!). No two are alike you really must come and see them--and take one home!

Check out this awsome interview on the Crave blog featuring our very own Kelly--the creative mind behind Bohoknits (patterns) and Bohoyarns.

Kelly is interviewed by fellow designer Faye Newport who asks some pretty insightful questions. So, go grab a cup of tea and settle in for and great read and a wee browse of both of these designers’ cool patterns! here.

We’re open our regular hours on the weekend (10 - 5 Saturday; Noon - 5 Sunday)…but closed on Monday, May 23.

So if you are out in the mountains this weekend, do stop in. Have a great weekend y’all!

For some people, Spring is the time of year to set your needles down for a season. But we at Knit & Caboodle Yarn Shop embrace our craft all year round!

Springtime is a the best time for small, portable projects, cottons and silks, and lacey shawls. If you are looking for some inspiration, come check out our Cockleshells Scarf--designed by our very own Kelly of Bohoknits-- and made with one skein of oh-so-soft Malabrigo baby fine merino lace. This scarf is extremely lightweight and the design takes advantage of luxury fibres.

Best of all? It’s a free pattern with the yarn purchase!

Yay...at long last our shipment of Madelinetosh, Tosh Merino DK is here...and it’s beeeeautiful!

Tosh Merino DK is a single-ply merino yarn that is 100% superwash and 100% super-soft! It packs a whopping 225 yards/205 metres, per skein and it’s hand-dyed in the incredible depths of tonal shades that Madelinetosh yarns are known for.

Come have a look. You won’t be dissapointed!

Those of us who live in the Banff/Canmore area woke up to a freak spring snow storm that left about 12-inches of soggy white stuff on the ground on Friday. The sun’s back out and it’s pretty much all melted now…

So it seems fitting that we received a huge shipment of cotton yarns from Berroco; perfect for spring and summer knitting.

We have Pure Pima--a luxury cotton in DK weight; Weekend a worsted weight cotton blend in 15 fabulous colours; and Remix a new yarn made from 100% recycled fibres including, cotton, nylon, silk, and linen.

In honor of recent Earth Day, Berroco issued a free pattern by designer Kristen Tendyke, called Gaia, that uses Remix (but I think you could also do it in Weekend).


Bring on summer!

Many of you who’ve visited the shop have met Kelly, our resident yarnista, designer and the creative mind behind Bohoknits designs--her unique line of fun and quirky patterns.

Now, she is taking her creativity, incredible eye for colour and that degree in Art History, and introducing her own line of hand-dyed yarns called Bohoyarns.

Here...take a peek…

and another…

and another...


Nummy, yes?

Kelly became addicted to the art of dyeing yarn after taking a course and spending a year experimenting with different colours, fibres and application techniques. She uses a combination of tie-dyeing, hand painting, over-dyeing, kettle-dyeing and steaming to create her unique and daring colours.

Where can you get your hands on some? Right here at Knit & Caboodle Yarn Shop! Kelly dropped off several skeins today...but don’t wait too long, I expect these little beauties will fly out the door!

Also, be sure to join Kelly’s Ravelry group, Bohoknits Club…and visit her website www.bohoknits.blogspot.com to keep up with the latest!

I spent the better part of a day or so last week doing all the paperwork and driving to Calgary to liberate a box of Madelinetosh Merino from customs. They’ve been holding it for a few weeks and it could still take a couple of weeks to work its release through the system...I’ll keep you posted.

Perhaps the folks at Border Services love Tosh just as much as we all do, and didn’t really want to part with it... hey, I can understand that!

The Easter Bunny has arrived! Take a look at this little cutie that was ‘hopping down the bunny trail’ in front of the shop the other day.

We are open our regular hours on Easter weekend, except for Good Friday, when we’ll be open from Noon - 5:00 PM. Do drop by!

I’ve been remiss in my blogging duties. My apologies! We’ve been working on another great newsletter!

Our April newsletter is all about beginnings and endings.

When it comes to a new project, most of us jump in with great gusto neglecting to first check our gauge. Then we often stall out when it comes to blocking and finishing.

Both of these activities are essential for proper size and fit. So in this issue we talk about the G-word (gauge) and the B-word (blocking) to give you hints and ideas to make these two crucial steps a little less painless!

Also in this issue we have some of our usual features and shop updates like:

• New yarns, books and bobbles...
• Yarn review: The Cuddle Afghan by Hand Painted Knitting Yarns.
• Book reviews: to help you create and design the ultimate garment.

In our March newsletter we had a feature interview with Canadian designer Holli Yeoh and her adorable patterns for tots! Our newsletters are available to on-line subscribers. If you would like to be on the mail out list, click here to sign up.

Knit. Relax. Repeat.

In this issue we explore how the act of knitting & crocheting can evoke a relaxation response.

We were fortunate to speak with author Andrea Price, and Canadian knitwear designer and author, Sally Melville, to get their thoughts on knitting and relaxing... so be sure to read the feature article!

Also in this issue... Colour theory meets colour therapy; how colours affect mood; Customers share personal reflections on how our craft helps them de-stress, and a free pattern for our online subscribers.

Our newsletter is available only to online subscribers. To join in the fun, go to our Newsletter page to sign up.

There’s still room and still time to sign up for our Beginner Crochet Class. Here’s the lowdown:

Saturday, February 12 & 19 (2 Saturdays) 1 - 3 PM

Call or drop by the shop to register!

I just put the finishing touches on this little cutie. It’s a fast knit made from two and a half skeins of “Lima” from the Diamond Luxury Collection. This yarn is simply irresistible with its soft, subtle heather tones and a range of colours. And it’s got great yardage...160 metres for a mere $7.95 per ball.



The bolero is topped off one of our shawl pins, but you could easily crochet a loop for a button, or do nothing at all and wear it open.



A little advance warning...there were lots of stitches to pick up around the armholes, and about 210 stitches around the perimeter edge. You’ll need both 16-inch and 32-inch circulars to do the job, but by the end of it you’ll be an expert in this finishing technique, hands down!

The pattern knits up in one piece and was from a free Ravelry download called the Sullivan Street Bolero.

It’s beautiful in Canmore today-- well it alway is -- but today was crisp and clear, and perfect knitting weather to boot!



Plan your trip to the Rocky Mountains soon and be sure to drop by the shop to pick up a little project to knit by the fire and enjoy the mountain view!

We’re running a Beginner Crochet Class on two consecutive Saturdays in February:

Saturday, February 12 & 19, from 1 - 3 PM.

Don’t miss the fun and a great opportunity to learn a new skill! Call or drop by the shop to register.

My apologies for the delay in posting this. I did my annual upgrade/installation of the software for our website which resulted in the complete and utter loss of said website data ... and that anxiety producing event further resulted in the gnashing of teeth and biting of nails until I could find the files and restore them.

But here it is and we are back up and running and very excited to announce that our January Newsletter is ready for our email subscribers. If you haven’t read it...go to your email now and click on the link...’cause this is another really exciting issue.

We have a feature interview with British designer Woolly Wormhead. If you haven’t heard of her or knitted one of her delightfully creative hat patterns, you are in for a treat...and if you are one of her 2900 and counting fans on Ravelry, or have knitted one of her fabulous hat patterns you will be delighted to get to know more about her.

In honour of Woolly, we have devoted this issue to hats: books about hats, the history of hats--where we pay hommage to the Canadian touque--and our hats off to all of you who contributed to our Christmas Mitten Tree. We’ve also got our usual yarn reviews and new shop patterns, plus a few other goodies.

If you are missing out on all the fun, you can sign up for our newsletter here. Once you are on our list, it will be sent to you each month via email.

Wow...Christmas 2010 has come and gone and we’re now getting ready to ring in the New Year. Where does time go? Seriously. I can’t believe it’s the start of another year.

Thanks to all of you for supporting the shop...we’ve had a wonderful 2010 and look forward to a grand 2011 filled with fabulous yarns, new projects and most importantly, YOU...our great customers!

Just so you know...we will be closing a couple hours earlier on New Year’s Eve. Shop hours will be 10am - 3pm on Friday, December 31. And, we will be closed Saturday, January 1st. We’re back to regular hours on Sunday, January 2nd.



From us to you--we wish you all the very best of everything--and a Happy 2011!

Are you going to be in Canmore over the holidays? We're open regular hours throughout the holidays with the following exceptions:

December 24: 10am - 3pm
December 25: CLOSED
December 26: CLOSED

December 31: 10am - 3pm
January 1: CLOSED

Do stop in and visit... We’d love to see you!

Our December Newsletter is done and ready for readin’!

This is our Christmas issue and that means toys!

We are soooo excited to have a feature interview with Hansi Singh, toy designer extraordinaire and author of the book Amigurumi Knits: Patterns for 20 cute mini knits. Also in this issue...

• • Toys for Knitters: we've created a list of great gadgets just in time to add to your Christmas wish list.

• • Book reviews, yarn reviews and the winning entry from November's Obsessed Knitter contest.

Our newsletter is only available to on-line subscribers. If you’d like to sign up and join the fun, click here!

Are you looking for ways to put your yarn stash to good use? Do you want to “Knit for Good” and know that your work makes a difference in the lives of others?

Once again this Christmas season, we are asking knitters & crocheters to make hats, mitts and scarves to help decorate our Christmas “Mitten Tree.” Your work will be gratefully donated to families in the Bow Valley who are in need.

Thank you for your support!

Our November newsletter is ready!

This issue is dedicated to the yarn obsessed and the guys who love us. Be it fathers, sons, friends, boyfriends, husbands... we love 'em all for being in our lives and for abiding our passion for pointy sticks and string!

Plus we’re having a contest! You could win a Knit Happy Travel Mug and a set of Kollege Square Double point needles. Check out page 7 of the newsletter for details.

Our newsletter is available only to online subscribers. Click here if you wish to join our email list!

Our October newsletter is ready just in time for a nice read over the Thanksgiving long weekend.

This issue features a fantastic interview with Amy Hendrix of Madelinetosh yarns…plus info on how to get started on dyeing your own yarns, as well as shop news, patterns and more!

If you haven’t received our newsletter and want to, click here to sign up and download. Once you’ve added your name to our email list, we’ll automatically send it to you every month. How good is that!?!

We hope to see you this Thanksgiving weekend. We are open as usual on Saturday & Sunday and will be closed on Thanksgiving Monday, October 11.

Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday: Noon - 5:00pm
Monday: CLOSED

Thank you to everyone who have continued to support the shop. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of friends, family, reflection and gratitude!

Renowned knitwear designer Jane Ellison will be in Alberta facilitating the Wool, Wine & Wheels retreat put on by our friends, Cynthia and Barb, at River City Yarns in Edmonton. The fun takes place November 5 - 8, 2010.

If you don’t know about RCY’s WWW, then here’s the skinny…it’s three days of full-on knitting bliss with wool (see SWAG below), wine (you know what that is!) and wheels (a train trip to/from Edmonton/Jasper, AB; with overnight stays in a hotel in Jasper) plus instruction from the Ms. Jane Ellison herself. Jane is simply the best young designer in the knitting world right now!  Not only has she designed more books and patterns than anyone else out there – she creates simple straightforward patterns that are easy to follow.

We’ve got some of her books here at Knit & Caboodle if you want to check it out before signing up, ‘cause we love her work too!

Everyone who attends will get a bag of goodies at the meet and greet registration and party on Thursday evening... now who doesn’t looove SWAG? From what Barb tells me, this isn’t just your average bag of goodies, but a real big’un. “Our suppliers have stepped up to the plate,” says Barb, “donating great yarns, patterns, and accessories for you to try out.”

I can hear you now…WHERE DO I SIGN?!? Here’s the link to the website to find out more and to sign up.

Our September Newsletter is hot off the press and ready to read.

Our feature article this month is on designing your own knitwear. You’ll also find news about the store including new patterns, new products, new hours, new books and more!

If you are on our email list, check your inbox ‘cause it might already be there. If you’re not on our list, click here to subscribe and download.

Starting Tuesday, September 7, 2010, we will be open on Mondays and open longer every day. Here are our NEW hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10am - 6pm
Friday, Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: Noon - 5pm

We will be open Labour Day Monday from Noon - 4:30pm.

Saturday is the usual 10:30 - 5:30 on and Sunday Noon - 4:30 as always.

Hope to see you in beautiful Canmore this weekend!

OK, we're doing the vacation thing and the part that gives me more stress than the rest, is packing my knitting. My philosophy on packing is this: I make the best list I can, but if I forget something, I try not to sweat it too much, 'cause I can always buy it once I arrive at my destination. Toothbrush? Buy it. Favourite book? Get another at the airport. Hat, sunscreen, bug spray? Buy it, buy it, buy it.

But when it's knitting related, things get complicated. If I forget a set of knitting needles or run out of yarn, well, replacements aren't always so easy to come by. Especially since I like to take several projects because, hey, you never know what you might feel like working on, right?

So I packed everything up in my shiny new red Namaste Hermosa. I'd been drooling over these beautiful bags all week in the shop and I was possessed. Must. Have. Bag. I have not been disappointed. This is the best bag I've owned, evah!



That brings us to the present situation. I packed tons of needles, and stitch markers, and a pair of scissors, and even my needle gauge (I always forget that one, but I was on the ball this time). I even packed a stitch dictionary. Now who does that people?!? Who takes a Harmony Stitch Dictionary on vacation with them???

So now, do you think I can find a set of 4 mm double points? Um, no... 3.5 mm -- yes. 4.5 mm -- absolutely. 5.0mm -- in the bag. But no 4 mm's and I want them for the mitten pattern I am working on. Gah!

The same scenario played out on my last trip too, except it was a set of 4.5 mm circulars that I needed desperately for the Meret beret. I can't tell you how many sets of these I own but none to be found.

I guess I'll pick up one of the other projects I brought along instead. Hence, justifying my purchase of my bulging-with-yarn Hermosa bag...and also my need to bring along a billion projects (plus stitch dictionary :-) on vacation.