Thursday, April 28, 2011

Private milling of Falkland Merino

To mark the visit of Mr. Wool to our U.S. shores, Wool2Dye4 is going to offer 100 kilos of a private milling of superfine merino from the Falkland Islands. Some knitters and dyers may recall a gorgeous and creamy soft Falkland Bulky we had about two years ago. That yarn just few out the door.

Once someone bought a kilo of it, they came back and stocked up for more, and easy to understand as it has such unique properties to it. Just imagine, for a sec, the unique climate in the Falkland Islands, and what it takes to survive there in the open. These sheep are an example of survival of the fittest in the most refined sense of the word.

All I can tell you at this writing is that the 100 kilos of this new Falkland merino will be in more than one weight, and will be a finite amount of yarn available. We will have samples available, but by request this time. Usually we send out samples of new yarns with all orders, but these samples will be sent by request only.

We will be sending out a special newsletter with details within the next day or two, and also will add more details here, and on Ravelry.com, as well.

Cannot wait to get my hands on this lovely stuff!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Old Stand-By Favorites are back in stock

Today I have not been happier to see that truck backing up to the door! We welcome back some of our favorite Wool2Dye4 merino yarns. These yarns have already been posted on the website and are available now.

Cash Sock MCN (skeins)
Ultra Merino 3Ply (skeins & cones)
W2D4 Merino DK-SW (skeins & cones)
W2D4 Merino Worsted-SW (skeins & cones)

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Yarn Stats on the Website

I frequently have customers write and ask me about yardage per skein. All of our yarns are put up on 100 gram skeins, and should have the yardage on the package label; however, if you cannot put your fingers on that info, there is a place on the website where it is listed.

Go to the Home Page of www.Wool2Dye4.com and look at the tabs at the top of the page, just under the picture/banner. On the right is one called Yarn Stats, and it is a chart which lists yards per 100 grams, the industry standard. If you need yards per kilo, then multiply the 100gr skein figure by ten and you will have yards per 1,000 grams (which is one kilo).

If you are working with yards per pound, then figure the yards per kilo.
Then, divide by 2.2 pounds to get how many yards per pound. (Because there are 2.2 pounds in a kilo.)

So, even if a yarn is not showing on the website === and they do not generally show if there is not stock === you can still find out basic information on all of our yarns. Also, if a yarn is not showing, it simply means that we have no stock of it at the present and NOT that it has been discontinued. Seems that every time a yarn is out of stock for a little bit, I get frantic letters about it going out of stock.

We all have to stock up when we can, and this goes for customers who may be expecting Wool2Dye4's stock to be solid and robust when they need to order, but this is not always possible. So, my advice is to start in a small way to stock up, a kilo here and there, on your best sellers so that when we are low, you will not suffer.

Believe me, I know what it is to suffer when you want a yarn very badly! I am right at this moment suffering fivefold for Sheila's Sock, Sheila's Gold, Silk Sock 50/50, Silk DK 50/50, and Platinum Sock. They will be back, all of them (see published lists of earlier posts), I promise. In the meantime, there are so many wonderful yarns to work with!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Mr. Wool is Coming to Town

My wool broker, fondly known as Mr. Wool,has actually bought an airplane ticket and is flying in from England at the end of the month to work with me. We plan a whirlwind three full days and will make the most of the last morning, probably, on the drive to the airport. Over the mountain, and through the woods, talking wool all the way.

He comes over once each year and we find ways to fine tune our work, plan future releases, talk about market trends, the economy, etc. He brings samples and European knitting magazines for me to consider after the visit, and we remind ourselves, in person, tha we really work and think and plan very well together.

We may try to do a Chat or RoundTable on Ravelry.com on my group, Friends of Wool2Dye4. Or come up with another idea to mark his visit with my mostly US market. (No offense, please, to my friends in Canada and Australia, who's numbers are certainly growing.) There will be an announcement closer to the end of the month of how we will celebrate his visit.

I am thinking that because Wool2Dye4 is his exclusive Bluefaced Leicester dealer in the States, that maybe it's time for a 3-day sale. While he's here, that would be a nice gesture, but watch for an announcement here, on the home page of the website, on the Ravelry.com group, and also in the newsletter. Whew! May as well post it on FaceBook, right?

So exciting!!! Now, I have to spiffy up the new studio, and maybe even get those posters of rare sheep breeds finally laminated and hung! He sent them five years ago and they languishing in a cabinet. SSShhhh....

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Surprise shipment of yarn is just a week away!

Over and above the previously listed incoming yarns, there has been a welcome release of the last of my yarns held at the mill. So! The good news is that in just a week, a couple of the best sellers will be in stock again, and the wait for restocking is shortened.

Today or tomorrow, Cash Sock MCN arrives. No change there and orders where this is the only backorder will go out immediately. We are poised at the ready, and our new UPS and USPS men are just thrilled that Wool2Dye4 is on their route. Well, they seem happy, anyway. Wait until they start coming in after the big shipment arrive and the mountain of outgoing boxes is taller than they are. Am I gushing, here?

Here is the surprise yarn, due next week, probably before April 18th. It is now posted on the website, but anything currently out of stock and on this list will be shipped, of course, when it arrives. Hmmm. A better way to say this, is that if you place an order with any of these yarns on it, shipping will be delayed until the actual arrival here in the studio, around April 18th or earlier. Watch the Home Page of the website, on that little message which crawls across the top, for arrival date. Or, on Ravelry. You are on Ravelry.com, right? If not, please join and come find and join our group: Friends of Wool2Dye4. But, now onto the important and exciting stuff... the list!

Platinum Sock skeins
Sheila's Sock cones
Ultra Merino 3Ply cones and skeins
W2D4 Merino DK-SW cones and skeins
W2D4 Merino Worsted-SW cones and skeins

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Updated Stock Arrival List - April 7, 2011

Subject: Wool2Dye4 incoming orders through August '11

Mid-April: Cash Sock MCN
… skeins unless otherwise noted
End of April/Early May
Cash Aran MCN, skeins and cones
Cash SockMCN
Sheila’s Gold
Silk Sock 50/50
Sheila’s Sparkle

Mid May
Sheila’s Gold
Silk Sock 50/50
Tweed Sock
Ultra Select
W2D4 Merino Worsted
The Honeysuckle Project yarn

Late June
Angel Delight Fingering
Angel Sport Sock
Angle Select
Butterfly Select
Cash Aran, skeins and cones
Cash DK, skeins and cones
Cash Sock, skeins and cones
Sheila’s Aran, skeins and cones
Sheila’s Gold
Sheila’s Sock, skeins and cones
Silk DK 50/50, skeins and cones
Silk Sock 50/50
Sheila’s Sparkle
Tweed Aran, skeins and cones
Ultra Merino 3-Ply, skeins and cones
W2D4 Merino DK-SW, skeins and cones
W2D4 Tencel/Merino
Platinum Sock, skeins and cones
W2D4 Merino Worsted-SW, skeins and cones

Late July
Cash Sock, skeins and cones
Sheila’s Glitter
Sheila’s Gold
Silk DK 50/50
Silk Sock 50/50
The Honeysuckle Project, skeins and cones
Tweed Sock
Ultra Merino 3-Ply, skeins and cones
Ultra Select
W2D4 Merino DK-SW, skeins and cones
W2D4 Merino Bulky
Platinum Sock, skeins and cones
W2D4 Merino Worsted-SW, skeins and cones

Mid-August
Angel Sport Sock
Butterfly Select
Cash Aran, skeins and cones
Cash DK, skeins and cones
Cash Sock, skeins and cones
Crazy Eight, skeins and cones
Sheila’s Aran, skeins and cones
Sheila’s Gold
Sheila’s Sock, skeins and cones
Silk DK 50/50, skeins and cones
Silk Sock 50/50
Sparkle Select Lace
Sheila’s Sparkle
Tweed Aran, skeins and cones
Tweed Sock
Ultra Merino 3Ply, skeins and cones
W2D4 Merino DK-SW
Tencel/Merino, skeins and cones
W2D4 Merino Worsted, skeins and cones
Platinum Sock, skeins and cones
W2D4 Merino Worsted-SW, skeins and cones