Helllloooooo out there?

Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself on this blog. I know thats not true because I've checked the website statistics and I know you are out there. But when you don't leave me comments, it makes me lonely! More importantly, your feedback is really important. We are always coming up with new ideas for yarn bases, colorways, clubs, patterns, etc. But without your feedback is hard for us to know if they are good ideas or not. The reason we are in business is for you all- our customers. So help us out by letting us know what you like. Really-- we want to know! 

To encourage a bit more dialogue every so often (maybe once a week-- we'll see how it goes) I am going to randomly choose someone who has left a comment and send that person a little gift in the mail. A bar of handmade soap, a mini skein, set of stitch markers, 10% off coupon...something like that. The only rules are that a) you have to leave a comment on this blog-- it can be on any of the posts and be about anything b) I can figure out who you are from your comment and c) you have placed an order from us in the past (otherwise I won't have your mailing address on file). 

Christmas Giving

You may have noticed that on everyone of our ball bands or patterns, right below the little Sheepy logo it says "at least 5% of Unique Sheep's profits are donated to charity". Did you ever wonder what we meant about that? Of course we have our Yarns and Patterns for a Cause Collections, but thats different. At the end of the year, when we do all our financial paper work and figure out how we did for the year, we donate at least 5% of our net profits for the year to one or two charities that we personally feel are worthy. We haven't made up our minds yet about where we want our money to go this year-- there are so many great causes out there. 

I know we aren't the only ones who give a little more around the holidays. What charities do you donate to (or wish you had the resources to donate to)? 

Unique Sheep Meets Miss Violet!

Guess who Kelly and I got to meet this week---- Miss Violet ala Lime & Violet. Thats right, THE Lime & Violet. As in, the Lime & Violet Podcast and the Daily Chum. Probably my favorite knitting celebrity in this country (though I have to admit to having 'favorites' in a number of different countries...). Miss V was in North Carolina for some businessy meetings and decided to extend her stay by a few days to visit with knitters, yarn shops and other must-sees in the state. On Monday my friend Alli from Winston-Salem played hookie from school (shes a teacher, shhh don't tell the principle!) and we had coffee with Miss V at one of my favorite Carrboro coffee shops. Then Miss V came over for a tour of the "studio". I think she was pretty impressed by how much I managed to cram into my little apartment! I had a very nice time and it was so great to meet someone who's voice I hear so often on her podcast. You know, I love the yarn and the knitting and the dyeing and everything, but my favorite part of this job is meeting all the great people from around the country and even around the world. I feel like I "know" so many of you-- customers, designers, fellow dyers and yarn shop owners--even though I've never met you in person. Having the opportunity to meet face to face is like icing on the cake! 

Today Kelly had the opportunity to play tour guide for Miss V in Greensboro and Highpoint, visiting all the great yarn shops (Knit Picky Yarns, Gate City Yarns and Common Threads-- all of which either carry or are soon to carry Unique Sheep yarns!)  I'm sure she'll share her stories/photos with us tomorrow after shes had a chance to rest up from all the fun! 

Introducing....Something Blue

The Something Blue Stole was designed for The Unique Sheep by Marie Haigh.

This stole symbolizes the structure of a happy marriage. The knitted columns ebb and flow into each other just as one half of a married couple shoulders the majority of the responsibilities and provides unconditional love during times of hardship. Later, such support is reciprocated by the other half of the married couple.

Knit the stole as a gift for a bride, as an anniversary present or as homage to your own happy marriage.

May the stole bring you or your loved one many years of marriage bliss.

A little bit of Holiday Cheer

More pictures of Honeybun in her Santa hat can be seen on my personal blog.

Gift Shopping

Everyone has holiday gift shopping on their minds right now. Most holiday knitting has been started already (unless you are a really fast knitter!) but what about the knitters on your list? We have a few suggestions.

Our no-rinse Sheep Soap is a great stocking stuffer for all the knitters in your life. Sheep Soap is an all-natural, handmade liquid soap that easily dilutes in a tub of water to gently soak your hand knits. And the essential oils that make it smell yummy also deter moths and other pests!

And because people need soap too, you can now buy our Human Soap by the bar. Its the same great, handmade soap included in our Wash Set Kits. I have a bar in each of the guest bathrooms, a couple bars by the bathtub, and one in the kitchen. Oh and of course I have a few hanging in their Soap Sacks in the shower.

Shawl Sticks are great gifts for knitters who knit wraps or shawls. Our wooden shawl sticks are simple and subtle enough to let the beauty of the knitting/crochet to be in the spotlight. We have lots of different styles available!

For the sock-knitter on your list, our mini sock blocker kits fit the bill. Each keychain comes with a pattern and mini skein of Unique Sheep yarn to knit a tiny sock!

And if you just can't decide, gift certificates are always great gifts!

Holiday Feet

I made these socks using the pattern from our 2nd Ram Club shipment. The pattern is called Harbour Tweed and was designed by Charles Voth (aka StitchStud on Ravelry). The socks were originally designed for men, but I just used the smallest size to fit my foot. I made a slight pattern modification by carrying the really cool woven slipped pattern and tuck stitch down the heel flap of my socks.

Charles is a wonderful designer and comes out with some very innovative ideas. If you would like to see more of his work, you are welcome to join one of our clubs, as he is also designing socks for our second Ram Series and one of the secret projects for The Six Kingdoms.

The Harbour Tweed pattern is not available to the public yet, but worked as a great showcase for the Christmas Gradiance color way. That color way can be used with most any sock pattern if you use the Gradiance tips for socks.

Knitting with a Holiday inspired color way helped make me feel very festive and my socks will get a lot of use over the next few weeks :)