After two very short work weeks, we are now well and truly faced with the chilly days of winter. This year, knitting is really coming to the fore - stories abound of knitwear in fashion, the arm knitting craze, how knitting is good for mental health. 

I managed to get away for a much needed break over the Easter and ANZAC weekends, to recharge the batteries and think about where to next for the shop. I never usually read the paper, but I cast my eye over the Sunday Star Times on Easter Sunday. To read the following in the Sunday magazine fashion section:

Stuff like this makes me incredibly grumpy. It certainly isn't only 'Nanas' who knit, and you can absolutely knit very fine gauge garments by hand. This is what we're about - teaching people about the new generation of knitting and knitters, demonstrating what a therapeutic and productive outlet handcrafts can be in a modern, fast-paced world. 

And it's about time we got ourselves organised with some classes, so here we are: the first class in our Winter season, is for beginner knitters. 

Don't burden your grandmother with knitting for you: she has worked hard all her life. Buy her some nice yarn to knit something for herself with; learn how to knit your own beautiful garments. It's rewarding, it connects you with a new community of interesting people, and honestly most of our regular knitters are well below retirement age. Learn how to knit that super bulky scarf you're lusting after at a fraction the price and 150% the enjoyment. 

Learn to knit with us!

The class will cover casting on, knit, purl, and casting off. Plus anything in between that might intrigue a new knitter. We will provide needles and yarn to get you started, and then we can discuss what you might need to get going on a first project. 

Date: Saturday 10 May

1pm - 3.30pm

Holland Road Yarn Company, Upstairs, Grand Arcade, 16 Willis Street

$20 for the session including yarn & needles to get you started. Oh, and tea and coffee and cake!

Bookings can be made online or in-store. Cancellations up to a week in advance will receive a full refund, less than a week 50% refund, cancellations on the day will receive no refund, sorry!

Yesterday was a good day - a great big box of Malabrigo Rios and Sock arrived on the doorstep, just in time for Easter.

Here's two I simply couldn't resist...

Malabrigo Sock in Candombe

and Malabrigo Sock in Arco Iris

Aren't they a photogenic pair? Speaking of Easter, here's our hours for the weekend:

Friday 18th April - CLOSED

Saturday 19th April - 10am - 4pm (both stores)

Sunday 20 April - CLOSED

Monday 21 April - CLOSED

Tuesday 22 April to Thursday 24 April - back to normal hours

Friday 25 April - CLOSED

Have a wonderful break, drive safely if you're going anywhere, and happy knitting!

Handmade is one of our favourite events in the craft calendar. This year promises to be even better (and yes, I say that every year, and yes, it gets better every year). A new venue, a bigger marketplace, more classes and best of all: you get Monday off to relax, recover and enjoy the best of Wellington. 

The Knit Lounge will be better than ever this year - but annual favourite, the giant knitting needles, will definitely make an appearance!

I'm even teaching a class this year: an introduction to knitting lace. We often have new knitters mention how they'd like to learn how to knit lace, but aren't confident enough to teach themselves. The class will cover basic stitches to form lace patterns, and how to read a chart. 

There's a really great range of classes in the Yarn section of the programme - from absolute beginner to more technical workshops for the skilled knitter looking to refine their craft.

I can highly recommend booking early - often classes sell out super quickly. The Taste programme is always in hot demand, as is the Jewellery stream. What I love about Handmade is the opportunity to improve your skills in a craft you already enjoy, try out a new one you've been thinking about, hang with old friends, make new friends and meet some exceptional craft professionals. 

Tickets are on sale now - hooray!

Wonders of Wool is here again, and as I wade through piles and piles and piles of Knitsch Sock yarn in preparation, here's some info:

10am - 4pm

Saturday 5 April

Underground Market, Frank Kitts Park, Wellington

And as per usual, we are doing our very special One Day, One Dollar Off promotion. Show us the image below either at the market, or in-store, and you'll receive $1 off each skein of yarn purchased. 

We'll have loads of brand new Knitsch Sock, including Isobar kits, and a brand new (to us) yarn! Just arrived from The Fibre Company, is their lace weight yarn Meadow - on sale for the first time tomorrow only at Wonders of Wool (it'll be in stores next week.)

Hope to see you there!

Offer is valid for Saturday 5 April 2014 only. Discount applies to yarn and may not be used in conjunction with any other discount voucher.

Some good friends of mine have been discussing mental health this last week, mostly sparked by this article. It has really struck a chord with me. If you're present anywhere at all on social media, and follow any knitting-related accounts, you're sure to have seen one of several links to stories connecting knitting with positive mental health (i'll link to these in a moment). 

Understandably it's not something people like to talk about, either their own experiences or those close to them. I have so much respect for those that take a deep breath and share their story, telling the world how it is, enabling others who may be struggling to seek help. 

One thing I tell people all the time, is to take care of themselves. To knit selfishly because you deserve it. Take time out, breathe, treat yourself (to nice yarn, of course). And then I don't take my own advice. 

The last three weeks have been an avalanche of personal and work events for me. After more than 4 years in business, i've learned that it is critical to take time out and pace myself so I don't turn in to a weepy heap of anxiety and stress. Thankfully I have a wonderful support network including excellent staff who can pick up the slack when I run away for a week to deal with a funeral, and again when I find that I haven't been taking care of myself, the stress is a bit much and I really do just need a break. 

At times like this it is knitting that helps me pull it all back together. Making stitches occupies my twitchy hands, brings my thoughts back to a central place, and slows everything down. Knitting feels productive when everything else seems to difficult, and there is a simple joy in the tactile nature of beautiful yarn becoming fabric.

If ever I seem a bit frowny at work, it's because sometimes I feel a bit like this (trigger warning: anxiety). The wonderful thing about the community at Holland Road Yarn Co is understanding that everyone has their stuff to deal with, and we're all here to help each other out, stitch by stitch, project by project. It's why we have Knit Nights and Sat Sit & Knit, why we have tea and baking and comfortable couches. 

And no, I haven't forgotten: here's the article on CNN about the connection between mental health, ageing and craft; The Daily Mail pretty much regurgitates the same article, with bonus picture of Ryan Gosling.

For more really excellent articles on mental health, take a look at what The Wireless is covering this week.