Archive for August, 2011
Mark your calendars for Friday and Saturday, October 21st and 22nd, for two great workshops with Nora Bellows, the creator of Noni patterns. Friday’s class is Blocking and Finishing Your Noni Bag; Saturday’s is Embellishing with Flowers. Click to read more extended class descriptions and register online. If you’d like, join us for both classes and save!
Cinch Bag - image courtesy Noni Designs
In honor of our upcoming workshops, we are pleased to announce a Noni Knitalong (KAL)!
If you were considering taking either of our two workshops with Nora, but were unsure of what to do, we will have all the inspiration, help and support you’ll need to get your bag knitted or crocheted and ready for expert finishing and embellishment. Stop by the shop and we will help you select the right yarn, pattern, and needles for success. We’ll help you read the patterns and discuss tips and tricks for successful felting. We’re also ordering lots of new hardware to go with the bags.
Bedouin Bag - image courtesy Noni Designs
The details:
Join us Thursday evenings in September from 5-7pm, beginning September 1st. This is a drop-in KAL, not a formal class, so you don’t have to come every week if that suits your schedule. You are not obligated to sign up for the Nora Bellows workshops to attend this KAL (but of course we’d love to have you!).
Escher's Oriental Poppy Cowl - image courtesy Noni Designs
What can I make?
We have lots of new patterns from Nora. We especially love the Bettie Boop bag (Sudha has already finished one and you can see it here in the shop) with its floral embellishment, but the Bedouin Bag and the Cinch are also great, fresh-looking designs. There is even a crocheted version of the Adventure Bag. If you love flowers you’ll love the Evening Bag with Camellias or one of the Felted Carpet Bags. Check our our full collection of bag patterns online for even more inspiration.
Veronica and Saloni are looking forward to trying out Escher’s Oriental Poppy Cowl with its big bold ruffled flowers.
If felting doesn’t sound like fun, did you know that Nora has a great new pattern for a knit and embellished evening bag? Les Tuileries is the sophisticated handbag for you.
So come on by – we’re looking forward to seeing you Thursday evening!
Les Tuileries Bag - image courtesy Noni Designs
August 29th, 2011
For many months, Saloni has been searching high and low for an indie dyer with both impeccable color sense and a nice yarn base. This magic combination has been found in Karin Maag-Tanchak’s yarns: The Periwinkle Sheep. Karin dyes her wonderful yarns in her own kitchen in Albany, NY. We love having the chance to support this small-business owner and talented dyer! Her color combinations are truly a feast for the eyes.
Sock Dream is a lovely, machine-washable combination of 80% Merino Wool, 10% Nylon, and 10% Cashmere. While this is a nice yarn for socks, it’s also absolutely lovely knit up as shawls, scarves, hats, and mitts.
Here are some nice mitts knit up in the colorway “Memories of Summer.” The image was taken from the Periwinkle Sheep blog.
Ms. Maag-Tanchak has a great philanthropic streak as well! $3 out of each skein of yarn sales in the color Cranberry will go to Doctors Without Boarders. Come into the store to see all the colors up close!
August 23rd, 2011
Can you read the following knitting pattern fragment?
Row 1: Slip 1 wyif, K4, (yo, K2, ssk, K2tog, K2, yo, k1) 3 times, K3
Row 2: Slip 1 wyif, K2, purl to the last 3 stitches, K3
Row 3: Slip 1 wyif, K3, (yo, K2, ssk, K2tog, K2, yo, K1) 3 times, K4
Row 4: Repeat Row 2
Can you figure out how many stitches you would need to cast on for this pattern? If yes, then we’d love to see your resume and talk with you! If you would like to spend your days surrounded by yarn, send us an email with your resume to info AT ninerubies DOT com. We are hiring 2-3 new people!
The official job description:
Retail Salesperson
Nine Rubies Knitting, a San Mateo knitting and crochet store, is looking for people with superior customer service skills to work as a Salesperson. Retail Salespeople at Nine Rubies Knitting are not just selling “stuff” to people, they are members of a community of crafters – part-therapists, part-teachers, and part-students.
Nine Rubies Knitting has been open since January 2006 and we specialize in providing our customers with a comprehensive array of yarns and supplies in a beautiful environment. We have an e-commerce website and we are committed to providing our products to customers all over the world. We have a wide range of classes and workshops for Weavers, Knitters and Crocheters. We help customers finish their projects and resolve their problems in the store. We are committed to strategically growing the business, staying on the cutting-edge of knitting and focusing on our customers.
Major responsibilities for a Knitting & Crochet Retail salesperson include:
- Superior customer service is our number one priority. Helping customers find what they are looking for; whether it is a project or the supplies
- Help increase sales by being able to describe the products that we carry and their main features
- Conduct the financial transaction to complete a purchase; using the POS terminal, opening and closing register
- Trouble-shooting customer knitting and crochet problems; helping coach customers when they need to learn an additional skill
- Help stock shelves or racks, arrange for mailing or delivery of purchases, mark price tags, take inventory, and prepare displays
Minimum requirements include for a retail sales person:
- Deep knowledge of Knitting and the confidence to figure out solutions. Applicants with Crochet knowledge in addition to knitting are preferred.
- Superior customer service skills and great communication skills.
- Scheduling flexibility; must be available to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. We specially need people to work weekends and until 7 pm during the week.
- Ability to teach a customer a new skill in knitting or crochet with patience and tact is required.
- Must have used computers on a regular basis. Familiarity with Ravelry, email, Facebook, and researching issues using major search engines is required.
- Ability to speak Spanish or a second language a plus.
- Knowledge of yarns and patterns available in the US; must know how to use Ravelry effectively.
- Prior retail experience preferred, especially in the knitting/crochet area.
We encourage applicants of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds.
Please send email to info@ninerubies.com or drop your resume off at the store. We are located at:
28 E. 3rd Avenue
San Mateo CA
August 10th, 2011
Laura Chau (aka Cosmicpluto Knits!) is a young, prolific designer. Her designs run the gamut from scarves to socks, and we’ve recently had the pleasure of stocking a bunch of her patterns! The following is a list of our very favorites:
The Dipped Infinity Scarf uses 8 different colors of sock yarn, held double throughout to create a beautiful ombre effect. The stitch pattern also brings it all together, and looks really complicated, while not being very difficult at all. We are also selling a kit for this scarf, which includes the pattern. It takes the trouble of coming up with color combinations out of the equation.
The Delicious Knee socks are deliciously fun to knit and wear! You can mix up two bright colors to bring out your wacky side, or go with toned down shades to wear out in the city with some tall boots! The over-the-knee version of these socks can be great for those especially blustery winter days, when you want something extra warm on your legs.
The Simple Yet Effective shawl is the perfect pattern for those ready to branch out from rectangular scarves. You’ll learn how a typical triangular shawl is shaped, and get a chance to practice your increases! This pattern uses only one skein of Noro Kureyon Sock. You can substitute any sock yarn, like Malabrigo Sock, or try out a softer lace-weight yarn like Noro Kirameki.
The Honeybee Cardigan will get you buzzing with delight (too corny?)! The delicate lace motif is not too difficult for those newer to lace knitting, and it will definitely keep you interested! This pattern is also really easy to customize – change the body length and/or the sleeve length to make this cardi work for your preferences and body-type. This cardigan uses between 2 and 4 skeins of a fingering-weight yarn. I think it would look amazing in Cascade Heritage Silk. The silky sheen will really show off the lace work!
We hope you enjoy these patterns, and feel free to give us any feedback on them! If you have knit any these patterns, feel free to post a picture of your FO in the comments!
August 9th, 2011
First off, congratulations to Elizabeth for winning our second giveaway! She has been emailed and will hopefully soon be claiming her prize.
Now I am going to announce the prizes for our 3rd and 4th giveaway, which, in a little twist, will be condensed into one HUGE giveaway! On August 27th, I will announce winners 3 and 4 of the Nine Rubies Blog Giveaway! The reason for this is that I have decided to move back to New York, and 8/27 is my last day at the store. I will miss Nine Rubies and all the fun I’ve had here, but my homeland is calling.
Anyway, let’s get on with it! The first prize is:
A notions case by HiyaHiya, one skein of Malabrigo Rios in Purpuras, a sampler pack of Shibui yarns, size US 9 ebony Lantern Moon circulars 40″, size US 4 32″ bamboo HiyaHiya needles, a moisturizing bar by Lavishea, and one Clover needle gauge.
The next prize is:
One skein of Eclipse by S. Charles, a 3 yarn sampler of Rooftop Yarns, one skein of Malabrigo Worsted in color Sotobosque, a Lantern Moon project bag, one 47″ size US 9 stainless steel by ChiaoGoo, and one cool magnet!
These are some great prizes, right? I wish I could be eligible!
To enter this giveaway, you can answer one of two questions:
1. When you visit a yarn shop, what about it makes you want to come back again or what makes you not return?
2. When(if) you buy yarn online, do you ever wish they would offer a service to wind it for you? If so, how much would you be willing to pay for this service?
Good luck to everyone! Only one entry per person, please. Check back August 27th to see if you’ve won!
August 6th, 2011
While we are all sad that Hannah has left the staff of Nine Rubies, she is setting off on some fun adventures! She has graduated from San Francisco State, and has hit the road with her husband, where they will be spending the next few months working at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. Hannah will be working on her costume designs while her husbands jousts away!
If you’d like to keep up with Hannah’s world, she is keeping a blog at http://lacewingcostumes.wordpress.com/, and will soon be setting up her own Etsy store to sell her creations.
We will miss you, Hannah! Good luck!!!
August 4th, 2011
