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(Ball & Skein Boa - knit in Alegria Grande 9089 Huarache)

This is free open time where we chat, share ideas and projects. Join us and meet knitters and crocheters from all across the country, or maybe down the street!

It's the stitching group you didn't know you wanted to join and of course it's free. All skills and interests welcome from all over!

It's the stitching group you didn't know you'd love!

Done by December!

Start today on these quick and delightful projects!

Fairmount Fibers, the US distributor of Manos del Uruguay yarns, is creating patterns in Maxima, their 100% Merino, worsted weight yarn. These patterns will feature designs using one semi-solid color and one space-dyed color, so you can play with color! The idea is the pieces are simple and fast, so you'll be Done by December!

To help you get started on your projects using these or any other patterns, we're offering a "Done by December" promotion.

Buy at least two (2) skeins of Maxima and use the code DONEBYDEC at checkout and get 20% off!

Note: 'Done by December' patterns start with pattern number F188

About Manos del Uruguay

Why do we love Manos so much? Why do we commit so much of our shop, our energies, and our time to this yarn line?

(Mirta-Elena Spinning in Fralie Muerte)

Manos del Uruguay, meaning 'the Hand of Uruguay', is more than just a yarn company. The Manos Cooperatives were founded in 1968, begun by five women whose goal was to develop economic opportunities for women in a country where there were, and are still, few opportunities for work.

When Kris and Oz traveled there a few years ago, they discovered how much Manos means to everyone in Uruguay, a small, very friendly and welcoming country.

“We all were happy to have an income derived of the products we made with our own hands, but there were also important changes. 40 years don’t seem like so much, but it was a really different time then. Women didn’t have their own incomes, the husband was the one working. This job took the women out of their homes and made them function individually. We were learning to group, have meetings, administrate money, make decisions, organize orders, deliveries and stock, take charge of all the coop’s needs and make ourselves responsible for them. We grew up and found aptitudes we hadn’t imagined we had. It was a revolution.”

– Elisabeth Sosa, artisan and former President of Manos board.

Manos del Uruguay is unique. Since 1968, 54 years now, they have provided a way for women to remain in their villages and towns and take care of their families. Beyond that, the women that work there also own the company, making it truly a unique organization.

Manos is certified by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and they are committed to the 10 principles of Fair Trade:

• Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
• Transparency and accountability
• Capacity building
• Promoting Fair Trade
• Payment of a fair price
• Gender Equality
• Safe and healthy work conditions
• Respect for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (child labor)
• Better environmental practices
• Trade with concern for the well-being of marginalized small producers

We feel very fortunate to be able to carry every yarn Manos produces in every color. We love reading the tags and thinking of the women that make this possible. Buying Manos is more than getting 'just another yarn', it's something much bigger.

If you have any questions, or want to make your next project with Manos, let us help you choose the perfect yarn!

Learn to Needle Felt!

Join us ON-LINE Saturday, September 17 at 9AM. This class is on line, so even if you can't make it on that date, you'll receive a recording of the class!

Want to make new friends? This class will teach the basics of needle felting techniques. You will make your own felt Sheep using a Wool Buddies Sheep Needle Felting Kit.

In addition, when you register for the class, you’ll receive a 20% coupon good for 20% off all non-sale items on the web site! (Coupon good for a single order, no limit on the number of items in the order)

Learn to Knit a Hat in the round!

(knit with Maxima 9332 Nantucket)

Join us ON-LINE Saturday, September 24 at 9AM. This class is on line, so even if you can't make it on that date, you'll receive a recording of the video!

Keep knitting scarves but want to do more? Learn the next level of knitting techniques while knitting a hat in the round.

We will learn knitting in the round, working with circular and double point needles, decreases, and making a pom pom. This class will provide all of the skills to make the Ball & Skein Basic Beanie hat, a shop favorite!

In addition, when you register for the class, you’ll receive a 20% coupon good for 20% off all non-sale items on the web site! (Coupon good for a single order, no limit on the number of items in the order)

A Trip to Uruguay!

Join a group of fellow fiber fans on a unique trip to Uruguay! You'll not only go to the headquarters of Manos del Uruguay in Montevideo, you'll travel out to the Cooperatives and meet the Artisans that own the company and produce the amazing, fair trade yarns we all know and love.

This trip is being organized by Manos del Uruguay and their US distributor, Fairmount Fibers. While we don't have all the details, we can tell you the dates are April 16 to 24, 2023.

Click the link below to see the latest details and to register your interest for this amazing trip!

Kris and Oz went on the first "trial run" of this trip, which was much shorter, so we know this one will be even better!

Yarns at a Discount

This is where to find some yarns at a discount. Could be discontinued yarns or discontinued colors. Who doesn't love a sale? Some of the products on the list will show the discount when you add it to your cart!