Friday, January 27, 2012

All Together Now! Come to Our Pizza Knit Tonight!


Hey Y'all,
So knitting solo can be totally calming, meditative, and rewarding. And as Deb likes to tell her Sock 101 students, NEVER attempt a kitchener stitch in the company of others.

That said, knitting in a group has its own wonderful rewards. More so when there is pizza involved. Toward that end, our first Pizza & Knitting Party of 2012 happens tonight. I'll post all the details below, but first, let me ask you...

Do you host regular knitting gatherings? I do. I call mine Knit Knights and we always have a crowd of people and mountains of food. Sometimes we even get some knitting done. My friend Rachel Kieserman hosts Arts & Drafts every Thursday at Rio Rita from 7 pm til ?? And for that event, you don't even need to knit-- you can work on any craft.

If you know of any other open knit groups, let us know.

Meanwhile, if you can join us tonight-- call us by 3 pm and tell us what kind of pizza you want. 512-707-7396. We'll order the pizza so it's here for the party start at 6:30. You can pay for your pizza when you get here. So, short version:

Pizza Party
TONIGHT!
January 27, 2012
6:30 pm til ??
Bring You Appetite!
Bring Your Friends!
Bring Your Knitting!
Bring Your Cricket!
Bring Your Crochet!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Come on Down to Mercury Hall! New Pattern Book Now Available!

Hey Y'all,
After the happy success of our first two pattern books-- Hill Country Weavers SHELTER Collection and the Prairie Bliss Collection-- we are delighted to introduce you to our latest book. Tada! Welcome to Musings from Mercury Hall!

The book is available in print form or as an ebook, your choice. Suzanne and Kennedy just got back from debuting the collection at VOGUE Knitting Live! in New York where it made a big splash. That's right-- not only does everyone want to live in Austin, apparently everyone wants to knit here, too.

The gorgeous photos for the book were shot by Meg Rice at Mercury Hall in South Austin-- that's an old, pretty little church that was moved to the property and converted to a dance hall and wedding venue. If you've never been there, check it out-- it's elegant simplicity at its finest, just like the patterns in Musings from Mercury Hall.

Designers of the crochet, knit, and weaving patterns include: Ana Clerc, Jennette Cross, Carol Spurlock, Elizabeth Green Mussleman, Patricia Kalthoff, Elizabeth Cobbe, Kennedy Berry, Suzanne Middlebrooks, Emily Kausalik, and Susan Frick. Check out some sneak peeks below:

Sisterdale by Suzanne Middlebrooks

Threadgills by Susan Fricks

Blue Gene's by Patricia Kalthoff

Night at the Gruene by Kennedy Berry

Mercury Hall Pullover by Jennette Cross

Caberet Swing by Carol Spurlock

A Girl at the Spoke by Ana Clerc

Tweet Me at the Criders by Emily Kausalik

Luckenbach Two-Step by Elizabeth Green Musselman

Luckenbach Two-Step by Elizabeth Green Musselman

Dance With Me by Elizabeth Cobbe

Friday, January 13, 2012

Live From New York! It's Hill Country Weavers!

Of the many perks those of us who work at the shop get, a really big one is Knitting Trips with Suzanne. Twice a year she goes to TNNA Market-- California in January and Ohio in June-- to see all the great new stuff the yarn companies are offering to the merchants. And she always takes one of us with her.

Well right now, Suzanne is in New York City with Kennedy and the event they are attending is Vogue Knitting Live! Those of us back here in Austin are understandably jealous-- VKL is an amazing experience with tons of knitting superstars, vendors, and passionate knitters all gathered together in one spot to swap ideas, buy and sell products, and teach and take classes.

Suzanne and Kennedy are set up inside of the Buffalo Gold booth, showing off a sneak preview of the newest, not-yet-released HCW pattern collection, Musings from Mercury Hall, which includes knitting, crocheting and weaving patterns. And which is, like the other two pattern collections, stunning (of course)! They've got pictures AND sample garments. Fear not-- if you can't hop a flight up to NYC this morning, they'll be back soon enough to show off the goods right here on the home front.

Stay tuned for some exciting pictures from the Big Apple!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Come Sale With Us! Our Biggest Annual Event!

annual inventory reduction sale



It's The BIG ONE!!
Don't get caught sleeping through it!

January 5th through 8th

20% off on purchases up to $149.99
25% off on purchases from $150.00 - $299.99
30% off on purchases over $300.00

*sale includes yarn, bags, needles, and notions
sunday hours extended for sale 11:00 - 5:00
*sale does not include books, patterns or previously discounted items

Friday, December 30, 2011

Knitting Horoscopes for 2012!


Greetings Fellow Knitters,
Herewith is your Knitting Horoscope for the New Year! One thing we can promise for ALL of you-- you'll be getting 2012 off to a MAGNIFICENT start with our Blowout First First Thursday of the Year Sale on January 5th. Stay tune for details!


Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
Cappy the goat is known for patience, resourcefulness, setting big goals, and reaching them. But reaching these goals can, goat-style, require climbing the mountain slowly. Toward that end, you'll be taking on at least one or two projects this year that will require paying close attention and dedicating untold hours to getting things done. From start to finishing, hang in there-- that cable sweater or lace shawl is worth it!


Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
The symbol for Aquarians is the water carrier, and those born under this sign are known to be a little kooky (in a good way of course), super-creative, and dreamy/floaty. 2012 is going to be a very colorful year for you Aquarians! Think hand-painted sock yarn, lots of Noro, and maybe even some Knit Collage yarn, too. Plan for a summer of water-carrying now: make a cool felted cozy for your favorite water bottle.

Pisces (Feb 19 – March 20)
Greetings my fishy Pisces friends. You fish are known to adapt well to whatever water you swim in. Sky's the limit for you in 2012. If you can dream it, you can knit it. Don't be surprised if you're drawn toward ocean blues and soothing greens as you explore your own possible sea of possibilities.




Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Once again it's time to put that hardheaded tenacity and incredible enthusiasm of yours to work in 2012. This is going to be a Super Classy year for you rams, by which we mean plan on signing up for lots of classes. Time to get out of your comfort zone and charge full speed ahead into cables, sweaters, spinning and maybe even some weaving!










Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Feeling bullish about a new year of knitting, Taurus? You should be. Time to stampede into the shop and stock up on patterns. This could be the year you get so inspired you start creating your own designs. You'll need to study up a bit first, though. Figure on spending as much time in the book section of the shop as you do over on the yarn side.









Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Geminis, symbolized by The Twins, will once again find themselves hard-pressed to knit just one of a project. This could find you, once again, knitting socks and gloves and other paired items. More likely though, you'll come across some patterns you love so much you'll just have to make two. Consider this an opportunity to test your color sense-- be playful with color combos. Try the first item in classic color schemes, then go wild with the second one. (We dare you to make a sweater in Manos Highlighter!)

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Cancer you kind and patient teacher, you. You spend so much time guiding others but this year it's time to teach yourself some new tricks. You've been hanging out in your knitting comfort zone for the past year or two. Now it's time to bust out of those boundaries and figure out how to move to the next level. If you're a beginning, why not try learning to turn a heel? If you're advanced, why not plan a trip to Scotland where you can take a workshop with some ancient master knitter?
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Leo you are just going to ROAR into the new year. You'll want to start off with five projects at once and devour them-- such is your nature. This year, though, we challenge you to slow down, loll about, and just focus on one or two things at a time. We're seeing a lot of black and white for you, too-- could this be your love of zebras coming out in the new year? Possibly. Stalk down only what you need for a couple of projects, knock those out, then come on back in for stash building. We'll be waiting.





Virgo (August 23 – Sept 22)
Dear Controlling Virgo,
No big surprise here-- 2012 is going to find you downloading still more apps for your smartphone, apps to help you organize and reorganize your needles and your stash. But you can't knit on an iPhone, at least not yet. You'll need some actual tools to go along with your virtual tools. We see at least one set of interchangeable needles in your immediate future. They are self-organized so they're totally suited to your need for order. Last year you might've found yourself organizing your stash by color. This year, go crazy and come up with a new system-- by weight, by amount, by country. Sky's the limit!




Libra (Sept 23 – Oct 22)
Libra, don't ask us why but we are getting the feeling that this year might be the year you take up spinning. Probably has to do with the fact that it'll give you an opportunity to use the scale to weigh out your roving. And also, you can play with more weights as you learn to spin out that roving into different plies. Even if spinning isn't on your immediate horizon, there's a good chance you'll find yourself knitting with roving, using massive jumbo needles. Now that's a weighty experience. Fun, too!
Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
Scorpions, you are going to really feel the sting of inspiration this year, and it's a sting that's going to last. You'll have a hard time keeping up with your own desire. You'll see projects you want to knit and you'll come up with plenty of ideas for your own knitted designs. Be sure to keep an ideas notebook close at hand to capture all these amazing ideas. You'll get through lots of them in 2012, but chances are good you'll have plenty leftover to ring in 2013, too!

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – December 21)
Mellow Sags,
Listen up-- we know you're easygoing and like to amble along. But this year, when you hear a little voice urging you to try out something big and bold, heed the call! Try knitting something super chunky, super bright, or both. You'll feel a big pull to knit in groups this year-- listen up to that, voice, too. Sure, you can still fit in plenty of alone knitting time, but think about signing up for classes and groups. Maybe you'll even start your own monthly Knit Night at your place. Who needs book club when you can be knitting with friends, right?





Sunday, December 25, 2011

And The Winners Are...

Check out the free pattern for these little stockings at Little Cotton Rabbits
Hey Y'all,
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Peaceful Sunday! Whatever you're into we hope it's a most lovely day for you. Thanks to everyone who posted comments on our Gift Certificate Giveaway Blog. Down at the store yesterday, we randomly picked one winner for each worker. So instead of giving away just one $25 gift certificate, we are happy to inform you that lots of you won. Below is the list. Come on down to the shop when we open back up and claim your prize. Thanks for participating and congratulations to:

Sylvia
Cyn Danielson
Karla
Eve
Sarah
Anne Marie 66*
Sara
Tracie Vickers*
Le Ann
nurse1111

Happy New Year from All of Us at Hill Country Weavers,

Suzanne, Kathy, Lindsay, Kennedy, Emily, Connie, Warren, Renate, Spike & Debbie (Stella also says Fleas Navidad!)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Just a Few More Days 'Til You Know What-- Last Minute Gift Ideas!


Uh-oh, did you procrastinate? Not to worry! We have gift possibilities for everyone on your list-- knitters and non-knitters alike. For example, you could get a pattern and yarn for some lovely something, wrap it up for your beloved non-knitter and include a card promising to make the wonderful knitted whatever really soon. That is definitely a win-win since you get to knit and they can look forward to an after Christmas gift, too.

As for the knitters on your list, including you? Oh there is no end to the possibilities. Have you checked out the book room lately? There are plenty of practical options-- books that break down techniques, include simple or complex patterns, etc. But there are lots of whimsical book options, too. We recommend keeping a stack of both kinds on your coffee table so even when you aren't knitting, you can be scheming about your next project.



Along those lines, we've got Clara Park's new Book of Socks for sock knitters and the Haapsaluu Scarf for lace fans. Stitch dictionaries are always a good idea, and we have best of collections from Interweave, Austentatious Crochet and more .

We've also got lots of great things for stocking stuffers: Lantern Moon tape measures (they come in adorable forms like sheep, peppermints and turkeys), project bags, decorative stitch markers, notions cases, keychain needle gauges & shawl pins.

What if you STILL can't decide? No worries! We have beautiful gift cards you can give so the knitter/crocheter/weaver/spinner in your life can decide come on in and decide what to get.

Stay tuned for our big Christmas Day Drawing. It's not too late to enter. Just leave a comment at this blog post!