A virtual community

To keep in touch during the temporary closure of the shop, and to maintain our connection whilst keeping our social distance, I'll be trialling a new virtual shop group starting on Monday 13th April at 7pm.

We are using Zoom, a video chat application, which many of you have probably used before!

If you'd like to join the Zoom group (you can join and leave during the meeting) please email me shop@thewoollybrew.co.uk and I'll send you a link and a password.

If you are using a mobile (Apple or Android) you should download the Zoom app ahead of the meeting.

You can also use your laptop or PC, you can download that app here.  It is best to do this before meeting starts!

In any case, click the link in the email I send you... and you should be taken to the 'meeting room'.

Zoom have a tutorial here, you might find useful.

In the meeting room, you can mute your microphone, switch your camera on and off and most importantly see everyone and their projects... refreshments are optional (but obviously recommended!)

If you haven't used Zoom before, I'd be very happy to set up a quick trial for you.  Just send me an email, download the appropriate app, and we can have trial run together.

If you are on Facebook I've created a new Facebook group where people can share their projects with other Woolly Brewers.  This is separate from Zoom - so if you'd rather not do video chat, you can still connect with people through photos and text!

COVID-19 shop update

Can you spot our  newest yarn?

UPDATE 23rd MARCH... DUE TO NEW GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO ACCEPT ORDERS OR POST ITEMS.  I CAN HELP WITH PATTERN AND TECHNIQUE QUESTIONS VIA EMAIL!

I’m sorry to say, that due to COVID-19, the shop will close on Saturday 21st March at 5pm.  This is a temporary measure!  I’ll let you know, as soon as I know, when I am able to reopen.

Remember, I am able to do mail order.   Phone 01333 312 042 (leave a message) or email (shop@thewoollybrew.co.uk) with your yarn, needle and pattern requests.

I can take payment over the phone or by PayPal.

And please check out the website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for new arrivals, samples, patterns ideas and chat.

Check back for a wee shop tour and some ideas for a virtual shop group, now that we can’t meet face to face in the shop.

Unfortunately the 2020 Pittenweem Arts Festival has also been cancelled.  However the Pittenweem Community Craft Project continues!

Take advantage of your distancing/cocooning/isolation and knit/crochet/sew towards A Walk in the Woods 2021!  More ideas and details to follow.

Stay safe, take care and wash your hands!

COVID-19

Like you, I’m following the news of COVID-19 and I have decided to make a few changes to how the shop operates.

The shop remains open as normal - Wednesday thro Friday, 10am to 4pm and 10am to 5pm on Saturday.  However when things change and I need to reduce hours or indeed close for a period, then I’ll share this information on the website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and newsletter.  Please check these ‘channels’ if you’re planning a visit.

In the shop, doors, surfaces and our hands are cleaned regularly.  Please stay away if you have a high temperature or a new continuous cough.  You can find guidance on the NHS website re symptoms, hand washing and self isolation.

Remember, we are happy to post items to you.  We can help you by phone (01333 312 042) or email (shop@thewoollybrew.co.uk).  We can take payment by card or PayPal.

Given our small size and the benefits of social distancing, all shop groups are cancelled and workshops are postponed.  Tuesday’s group will go ahead (in case people don’t see this message), but there are no further shop groups scheduled. Katherine Lymer’s workshops will be rescheduled in the autumn.  Full refunds will be offered for all workshop bookings, I aim to do this by Wednesday 18th March when I’m back in the shop.

This is an uncertain and very difficult time for everyone, but yarn crafts can help some.  Whether giving a sense of control and purpose or a means to escape (and bonus... you need clean hands).  So, I’m aiming to do more online to keep in touch, mainly by sharing more shop inspiration and all my WIPS.  Please share your projects too, with other Woolly Brewers, on whatever ‘channel’ suits you #thewoollybrew.  Feel free to call the shop or contact me online if you have a yarn or pattern query... always happy to help!

Festive Opening Times in 2019

Our opening times this festive season!

With Christmas falling on a Wednesday, the shop will be open the Sunday before and the Sunday after!  Extra time to get your gifts and projects in order (or to escape any festive drama)

You can see final posting dates on Royal Mail website, but in summary (for UK) Wednesday 18th December for 2nd Class and  Friday 20th for 1st Class.

2019 Pittenweem Arts Festival

Box Office, 47 High Street, just down the street from us!

The Pittenweem Arts Festival is an annual visual arts event in places and spaces around the village. You can read more about the festival on their website, including the parking restrictions.

The 2019 festival runs from Saturday 3rd to Sunday 11th August.  

As usual the shop is EVERYDAY during the Arts Festival.  10am to 5pm.  

The shop is well stocked with all your favourites and a brand new hand dyed yarn from Colliston Yarns.

We've got lots of colour...

Jawoll Twin Socks, knitting doll and Opal mini balls
Self striping Colour Lab and kid friendly needles, Zauber Flower

As well as some muted shades too!

neutrals

Lots of garments and accessories too...

Capo, Elspeth
Alpaca Blend, Felix

Mohair Cowl, Heartwarmer Cowl
Twixtmas, Copenhagen Calling

Sea and Shore, this years Community Craft Project, is at Venue 93, Coastline Community Church.  

There are lots of beautiful handmade items inspired by this year's theme.  These items will be sold on behalf of two charities  - Parkinsons UK and the Fisheries Museum for The Reaper Restoration.

This is the 11th anniversary of the project, which has raised over £20,000 for charities.  You can read more about it here!

Remember!  The Woolly Brew is open EVERYDAY, 10am - 5pm, Saturday 3rd to Sunday 11th August.

Hope to see you soon!

festive opening times 2017!

We're open as normal this year, between Christmas and New Year, and then closed until Saturday 6th January 2018.

And don't forget...

On the 10th December The Woolly Brew are having a special Sunday opening for all your festive knitting and yarnie gift buying needs!

Quick knit projects for last minute gifts, stocking fillers and kits... AND don't forget your own holiday project... There may even be some festive refreshments.

Shop is open as normal if you want to browse and buy!

festive opening times 2016!

Festive opening times!

Please note we are closed on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve...

But we are open Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th for all your yarnie needs!

Oh! And here are the last recommended posting dates too...

Saturday 19 December 2nd Class and Royal Mail Signed For®
Monday 21 December 1st Class and Royal Mail Signed For®
Wednesday 23 December Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed®

our Super Eyelet Shawl in the USA

A wee while ago we were approached by the organisers of the Illiana Yarn Crawl asking if they could use our Super Eyelet shawl pattern to promote their event and specially dyed yarn.

The Illiana Yarn Crawl  is a self-guided tour of yarn shops along the border of  Indiana/Illinois border from 12th through the 25th July for all knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners and other fiber artists.

Our pattern will showcase their special dyed yarn.

We can't wait to see their creations!

In the meantime Ravelry already shows over 100 projects for our easy DK shawl...  You can see them here.

Interested in making your own?  You can download the pattern for free from Ravelry.

We used Louisa Harding Noema to make ours... 8 shades in the shop!

And remember we're happy to post - just give us a call.

the BIG move around sale

The sales reps are out and about this month with all the new yarns, shades and patterns for Winter 2015/16...

So we're making up our shopping lists... BUT we have no space for the new stuff!

SO...  We're going to have a bit of a move around in the shop... nothing too drastic!

BUT we want to reorganise, clear the decks, make a clean sweep...

To do that we need to clear the yarns and patterns that have been discontinued.  Yarns that are either no longer available or ones that we're not continuing with.

SO... we're having our first BIG sale!  All sale yarns are 30% off - lots are available in garment quantities and we've got patterns to match.

Included in the BIG move around sale are the following...

Debbie Bliss Juliet was £4.50 now £3.15
Patons 4ply Cotton was £4.80 now £3.35
Wendy Merino Chunky was £3.95 now £2.75
Freedom Alfresco Aran was £3.95 now £2.75
Rico Highland Chunky was £2.35 now £1.65

Manos Lace was £14.50 now £10.15.  This is an absolute bargain!

ALL the scarf yarns are included (Tutu, Tutu Plus, Campanello and Cha Cha Cha) ALL with 30% off!

BUT you need you need to be quick.  Once it's gone it's gone!

And remember!  We're happy to post...

Festive opening times!

Our Festive opening times!  Please note that we will close early at 2pm on both Christmas and New Years Eve.

Do you Like us on Facebook?

This is about Facebook.  You have been warned...

a wall of wool to make all this Facebook chat easier...

A while ago I noticed I didn't actually see any status updates from The Woolly Brew in my own personal newsfeed.

I obviously not only Like the page, but I also write status updates, post links and I'm a page admin!  Yet it didn't show up in my newsfeed.

After a bit of digging I discovered that because I was not interacting with the page as me, an individual, Facebook had decided that it wasn't important to me and thus it didn't show me when new things were added.  This is true for status updates (e.g. "Knitting group tonight!"), links (e.g. to this website or others) or photos (like those in our Gallery album).

If my friends interacted with these items - perhaps liked, commented or shared, then it seemed to be deemed more popular and it would pop up in my newsfeed.

ANYWAY...

I started liking and sharing status updates and links - which perhaps seemed a little narcissistic but it had to be done and it did help..

But if it was happening to me, then it could be happening to many of our other Facebook fans - who may only see a handful of our Facebook activities...

In the past weeks we've shared a photo sent by Karen Haggis on her trip to Peru.  We asked if you could donate some knitting needles for a project she is supporting there.  We also posted a link to a fantastic article by Yarn Harlot on blocking.  And another article on the affect different types of needles can have on your knitting.  Not to mention sharing our congratulations to the local and multiple award winning Ardross Farm Shop and details of the Edinburgh Yarn Festival.

SO...

If you use Facebook and want to make sure that you see what we share there, then please consider doing this... Switching on Notifications...

on our page click the drop down arrow at Liked

select Get Notifications by clicking on it

Notifications are now on!

this will pop up to notify you when something new has been added.

Clicking the little globe, opens up your list of notifications...  

So now you will know when we post something new to our Facebook page...  rather than waiting for it to appear in your newsfeed.

If you like what you see then please Like it, comment on it or indeed share it with your own Friends & Family.  That is the really important bit.  It lets us know what you like to see and it makes Facebook think we're interesting!

Obviously this works with other Pages.  Please consider doing this for the other small business pages you Like on Facebook.  That way you are not missing out on their news as everyone's newsfeeds fill up with sponsored, paid for adverts.

But don't worry!  Facebook is not our only way of keeping you up to date with all our news.  We are (occasionally) on Twitter, very active on Pinterest, we have a group on Ravelry  and we send out a (mostly) monthly newsletter.  You can also check our website or indeed add our website feed to your favourite blog reader*... (which could be a whole other article...).

And of course you can always pop into the shop!

*if you're interested, I use Feedly.

Festive Opening Hours and Ramdeer

To help you plan your yarn needs over the Festive period

Have you seen our Wee Black Faced Sheep yet?

Designed by Janice Anderson (or workshop tutor) and knitted in Rico Fashion Highland Chunky this little guy is ready for Christmas...

Yarn and patterns in the shop and available online!

Ramdeer

our virtual notice boards

You may have noticed Pinterest popping up on our recent newsletter or noticed our snazzy buttons over on the top right!  You may even have registered for your own Pinterest account.

Pinterest allows you to 'pin' photos and videos to a virtual notice board.

It can allow you to collect and curate ideas - birthday party themes, recipes to try, inspiring images, fashion and beauty tips, a holiday wish list etc

And obviously knitting and crochet patterns, tutorials and wish list!

You can find out more here and get some Pin etiquette here.

You add a 'pin it' button to your internet browser tool bar, full instructions here, and whilst browsing website sites you can click the 'pin it' button to save an image on the website to one of your Pinterest boards.

You can have lots of 'boards', to keep all your pins organised by theme.

These boards can be seen everyone who browses Pinterest and you can look at, follow, search and repin images from other users.

Pinterest have also introduced secret boards so you can keep some of your collections private... Perhaps ideas for secret birthday gifts.

We've been building our own Pinterest boards... To give you a visual reference to helpful tutorials, pattern ideas, seasonal knitting and general eye candy!

Some images have been pinned from our website... Like the Gallery. Some have been pinned from someone else's website like Attic 24.

If you register with Pinterest, you'll be able to follow our boards each time you login in.  You can do this by clicking the follow button and whilst you're there check out these other 'local' boards you may find interesting...

Crail Food Festival - for all things East Neuk, Fife, food and seasidey!
Funky Scottish - our neighbour!

p.s A little warning!  Like Ravelry you can 'waste' a lot of knitting time on Pinterest... an inspiration overload!

Heads up!

We have news of discontinued yarns and price increases.

We wanted to give you a heads up in case you had plans for these yarns.

Now is a great time to buy!

We found out recently that Twilleys have discontinued Freedom Purity. This is a fantastic wool/alpaca blend in a chunky weight. You will have seen it pop up on our website a few times!

From Tracy and Penny's first garment, to Karen's coat and the now famous cabled waistcoat!

Priced at £3.75 it's a great buy and knits to a general chunky tension. We have lots of chunky patterns in the shop too.

We cannot buy anymore. What's in the shop is all we have. So if you have planned a project, now is the time to buy.

We've also been informed of price increases by Rowan and Patons yarns. These come into effect on 1st February... so if you're planning a project... say in the lovely Rowan Felted Tweed or Patons Colourworks Aran buy now at the lower price.

There are also price increases for our SMC yarns - Merino Color and Aventica Supreme. However we are holding their prices at current levels as we do not intend to continue stocking these yarns.

So again, if you have a project in the pipeline this is the time to buy!

And just to remind you Louisa Harding Ondine and Ianthe have both been discontinued too.  We are unable to buy more of these lovely yarns...  we still have a few colours available in garment quantities, especially in Ianthe.  But you'll need to be quick!

Looking forward, we do have some lovely new yarns coming in Spring.  Including a new chunky, a new striping merino and a gorgeous silk!

Festive hours

To help you plan your yarn needs over the Festive period, here is a reminder of our opening times...

Closed until Tuesday 24th July

Due to unforeseen circumstances the shop will be closed until Tuesday 24th July.

We're really sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

Normal service resumes 10am Tuesday!

 

Posted with Blogsy

weekend activites

Lots happening this weekend in the East Neuk!

St Monans Sea Queen day starts at 10.30am on Saturday 16th June, at St Monans Harbour.  With a family disco at St Monans Town Hall from 7pm.

There is also an indoor market and cookery theatre as part of the Crail Food Festival on Saturday too at the Crail Community Hall.

And there is a Harbour Festival in Crail on Sunday 17th June, starting at noon.  Lots of information on these and other Crail Food Festival events on their website.

As usual lots of lovely food and drink at Ardross Farm and they will also be at St Monans Sea Queen day with their fantastic burgers and they're at the indoor market in Crail too.  Check out their website for their latest newsletter.

East Neuk Open Studios is also on this weekend over 30 artists to visit in their studios throughout the East Neuk.

And if that artistic gastronomical and family filled fun is not enough you need to come and visit us too!  We've got lots of lovely yarn to squeeze and pattern books to browse.

Some new baby inspiration and patterns by independent designers - Cotton & Cloud, Kate Davies, Carol Feller and Gudrun Johnston.  Or some lovely Shetland Spindrift and cotton blends...  And have you seen the Spring/Summer edition of Debbie Bliss knitting magazine?

Debbie Bliss Spring/Summer magazine

just a few of the many exclusive patterns in the magazine!

We've also got shop samples in Zauberball, Manos Lace, Debbie Bliss Angel, Debbie Bliss Rialto and lots lots more.

We're a local store on Ravelry!

Ravelry allows you to search for a specific yarn as well as browse for yarns with particular fibres or tension.

This is the yarn page for Louisa Harding Ondine

It gives you lots of info about the yarn including tabs across the top for pattern ideas and projects using the yarn.  Notice us on the right hand side?  If you click on buying options you'll see this...

We'll be a local store if you live within 60 miles of Pittenweem!

And if you haven't seen our page on Ravelry here is a snippet...

and if you click on the yarns tab...

Remember we also have a group on Ravelry too - you can share your Woolly Brew projects there!

what are we all about?

A big welcome to all our new readers and a wee bit about what we're all about...

We're opening our yarn shop in Pittenweem in 10 weeks (eek!).

We'll be stocking lots of lovely yarns; some well known big brands, some new or smaller ones.  In a range of fibres and colours and weights.

We'll also have a selection of needles and notions and patterns books and single patterns.  And we can offer you a cup of tea and slice of cake whilst you enjoy it!

We hope to inspire you, encourage you or simply supply your knitting needs (and wants).  Not just in the shop but on this website too and our newsletter (sign up here) and Facebook page (LIKE us).

We will also continue to make and sell our popular craft kits.  We currently have 5 kits...  All available mail order (email thewoollybrew@gmail.com or call us 07919 846 211) and in the shop when we open in December.

We designed these kits for beginners - young and older, but the more experienced will enjoy them too - opening a bag and finding all they need to knit, crochet or sew their own item.  Full instructions and ideas included too!  This includes a How to Knit guide in the knitting kits and How to Crochet guide in the crochet kit and a little stitch guide in the felt flower and bangle bag kit too.

You can find out more about our kits here including more photos and  links to even more ideas.

You can read more about our knitting projects and Stitches here.  Stitches is our knitting group that meets 7.30pm every Tuesday at Harbour Howff, St Monans.

For us, the month of October will be filled with planning, list making and ordering.

The month of November will be filled with lots of painting, shelf building and yarn unpacking (yeah!)  The best way to stay in touch with all this excitement is to sign up for our newsletter, visit and like our Facebook page or subscribe to this website.

And remember all our kits are available by mail order... is that jingle bells we hear?