Merry Christmas!

All of us here would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for being a part of this wonderful year for us. We feel so lucky to have so many great people supporting our little shop.

Juliet is very excited about Santa coming. Not so crazy about dressing up like Santa though! Juliet just wanted to say thank you for all the great pats this year. She now expects nothing less than your undivided attention when you arrive.

We will be open over the holidays for all your knitting needs. We will be closed Christmas Day and New Years day. So come by for some egg nog and yarn!

Happy Holidays!!

Touch and Feel Catalogues of Yarn!

We here at Knits by the Sea were thinking about how difficult it can be to order yarn online when you don't know what it feels like. And after some more thinking and lots of knitting the Touch and Feel Catalogues of Yarn are now out! These catalogues are designed to help those who live far away from a yarn shop go to a local shop in their town and feel the variety of brand name yarns that we carry. There are swatches of all our brand name yarns knit up on the recommended needle sizes for you to see. We currently have catalogues in Port Hardy, Tahsis, Bamfield and Port Alberni. For full details on which businesses are holding our catalogues go here. Want a catalogue in your community? Contact us!

We hope that these catalogues will help you decide what the best yarn for your project is!

Happy Birthday!

The little greeter here at Knits by the Sea is a year older today! Happy Birthday to little Juliet. I'm sure she will have no idea why she gets extra treats today but I doubt she will complain about it!

If you haven't checked our website in awhile we have posted the December Newsletter! The big news is we have received the new Cookie A. book! This book is full of more amazing sock designs to drool over.

There was also an article about knitting that was just put out in the local paper the Westerly! Stacey and I were quoted in it and the journalist looks at knitting and it's new popularity. A fun read!

Keep your eyes open for specials in January. We will be offering some deals on our upcoming classes so be sure to check back if you are thinking of making a New Years resolution to take some knitting or crocheting classes!

Jingle all the way!

Jingle into Christmas is getting closer and we here at Knits by the Sea are getting excited. We love an excuse to have yummy food and refreshments and stay open late for our shoppers! Friday November 26 is the date for this fun event of sales and food - two great reasons to come to the shop!

But we were thinking about what if you can't make it to Tofino for this fun event? It's a shame to miss out on all the fun! So for the weekend of November 26-28 for all our online customers we will be offering free shipping! It's our little way of passing along some of the Jingle into Christmas fun on to you! The free shipping will start Friday at 12:00 pm Pacific Time and end at 9:00 pm Sunday November 28 Pacific Time.

Want to drop some hints about what you want. You can create a wish list and email it right from our online store! It's that easy.

And if you haven't been in the shop in awhile we have our Knits by the Sea tree up with of course Lucky the octopus as the tree topper. Lots of great last minute gift project books and the Interweave Holiday Gifts magazine is here. Plenty of inspiration for the holiday season.

We are now online!

We here at Knits by the Sea are very excited to announce that we are now online! You can now shop for all your favourite yarns from the comfort of your own home. Click here to see the new online shop! We currently have all of our brand name yarns up and available for purchase. We are still adding more of our locally dyed BC yarns and accessories and notions are coming too. So be sure to check back as we are adding new items all the time. If you have seen something at our shop but can't find it online just call! We are happy to fulfill your order over the phone as well. We hope you enjoy our online store!

November Newsletter!

Our November newsletter has been posted! You can find it here. We have made a few changes at the shop and you can see some of the photos there. We are also adding more classes all the time. So be sure to check out our website to see what is coming up!

Some great holiday books have arrived and the Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts edition is here! It is full of great gift ideas and tons of cute patterns. Great for inspiration.

We have new hours for the winter! We will now be open 12:00-6:00 Tuesday to Saturday, Sundays we are open from 12:00-4:30 and we will now be closed on Mondays. And Stitch Night is still continuing even as the days get shorter! Bring your projects and come in out of the rain and join us for some refreshments and good company! Every Wednesday from 6:30 till whenever!

Happy Halloween!

It is hard to believe it is the last day of October already! Happy Halloween everyone! Juliet "decided" to be a bunny this year. You can see just how thrilled she is to have the hood up on her costume. If you are in the Tofino area today be sure to stop by the shop for some treats! The sun is trying to come out so fingers crossed for all the tricker treaters tonight that there isn't any rain. Everyone here at Knits by the Sea hopes that you have a great Halloween filled with lots of candy and fun costumes!

The classes keep coming!

The class schedule keeps getting added to here at Knits by the Sea so be sure to check out our class page regularly for updates! The next class that is coming up soon is the Whale Mitts class which is a fun class where you learn how to knit the mittens pictured above. And learn how Faye designed her own mitts! Coming up on Saturday is our very first Intro to Crochet class! This class will teach you the basics of crochet while making a granny square which is a great stash buster project!

The online store is taking some time and we apologize for the delay. But the end is in sight for programming! We have been given an estimate of 2 more weeks and we have our fingers crossed that we can make it happen!

Halloween is coming up soon and we are getting excited. The big question of course is what to dress up as! Is anyone doing any Halloween knitting? We would love to hear what you're working on!

Retreat details and a newsletter!

So lots of updating happening on the Knits by the Sea website these past couple of days. But we are so excited that the retreat details are now posted! It's been hard to keep this one under wraps during the planning stages. Knits by the Sea is very excited to announce that Cookie A. will be coming to Tofino for a weekend of sock knitting! This amazing sock designer will be sharing her knowledge and taking you through the steps to designing your own socks. There will also be a great class on the Sunday that focuses on how to make your ribbing flow into your design. This will be a fun weekend at Long Beach Lodge with great food, a wine and appetizer reception on Saturday with a book signing session with Cookie A. and if you have time to stay on Sunday afternoon...High Tea!! For all the retreat details you can go here. We really hope that you can make it out for our very first retreat. It's going to be lots of fun! Pictured above is one of her free designs on Ravelry called "Cubist" knit up in SweetGeorgia.

AND our October newsletter is out! You can read it here. We have some new yarns at the shop and it outlines some of the fun new classes we will be offering. We have lots of classes scheduled all the way until the beginning of December so take a look and see what is coming up!

A new sample and new yarn!

Faye one of the teachers at Knits by the Sea came by today to drop off this lovely sample of the fish hat today! We will be offering this class on Thursday October 21 & 28 from 6:00 - 8:00 so we are really happy to show you how cute it will turn out. The hat was knit up with Spud & Chloe Sweater and makes a perfect west coast accessory! You can find the pattern for free here and some great photos of the finished project.

A new yarn has arrived at the shop as well. Noro Kirameki has arrived and is a great lace weight yarn. It is very similar in look to the Sekku however the Kirameki contains 60% Rayon, 25% Nylon, 10% Wool and 5% Cashmere. So it has a subtle shine to it! You can see the great new colours we brought in above.

Stitch night is tomorrow night. Hope to see you here from 6:30 - ??

No jacket yet...sigh!

I am happy to be back at Knits by the Sea after a busy few days in Toronto! Juliet is happy to be back to her greeting duties as well and she is really enjoying the beautiful September day we are having today! The jacket did not get done in time for the wedding. So close but chart 3b really stumped me. And I think I may be the only one since fellow Ravelrers who completed the jacket did not seem to have a problem. I am hoping to have it done soon for the shop. But from here on out I am referring to it as the %&*@(*^ jacket!

Details for the retreat will be posted soon! We are so close to getting all the details together we can almost taste it! We are so excited about this retreat and hope that you will be too. We are hoping to have all the details together for the upcoming October newsletter.

Better late than never right??

So the September newsletter is finally up! Our apologies for the delay. Hope you enjoy it! We just got back from the Nanaimo Fibre Arts Showcase and had lots of fun. It was quite the two day experience and we got to meet lots of great people. Pictured above is all of the wonderful yarn that we just had to bring back for the shop. In the newsletter it outlines some of the new yarns we are now carrying. They were just such great yarns we just couldn't resist!

Stacey will be in the shop for the week so be sure to come in and say hi! She will be running the shop while I am off to Toronto for a big fat Greek wedding. And as usual I am knitting right down to the line here with the #29 Cropped Lace Jacket from Vogue. Lots of pictures will be posted when it's done. So fingers crossed I don't get hassled while trying to board the plane with my yarn and needles...I'm on a deadline here! Two sleeves to go and the wedding is on Saturday.

Stitch Night is on Wednesday as usual so be sure to come out! Tea, wine, cookies and lots of great conversation. A great evening of fun.

A trip to Nanaimo and more yarn!!

The post office staff are really getting to know me with all the great shipments that are arriving regularly! And some great yarns that have arrived in amazing fall colours are Yarn Candy, SweetGeorgia and Painted Fleece! All of these talented artists have created some irresistible yarns and you really need to see the colours in person to get the full effect.

Too busy to come out to Tofino? How about Nanaimo?? Knits by the Sea is heading to the Vancouver Island Fibre Arts Showcase this weekend and we are bringing our yarn with us! The showcase is held at the Vancouver Island Convention centre in Nanaimo on Friday and Saturday. For more details check out their website. This is Knits by the Sea's first time participating in this event and we are very excited.

The online shop is coming soon...we apologize for the delay however we will be up and running by the end of September. We are really looking forward to offering an online shop for all your knitting needs!

New month...new yarn!!

It is hard to believe it is already September! Kids head back to school on Tuesday and Tofino is buzzing this weekend with lots of visitors for the long weekend. There is lots happening at the shop for September to help you with all your knitting needs and some new yarn for inspiration. Blue Sky Alpaca worsted cotton (pictured above) is 100% organically grown cotton and is a great thick cotton for all kinds of projects. And the colours are incredible! Come by and feel how soft this cotton is and there are lots of patterns to help you find the right project.

Also, there are 3 new colours for the Aslan Trends Los Andes. This great thick merino wool has been a very popular pick for customers. And with 3 new great colours there are so many possibilities. Noro Retro is also back in stock now with a great pattern for a ribbed hat and hand warmers to go with it.

Lots of classes for September including the new Basic Mitten class and an Intro to Knitting for kids! Space is limited so be sure to reserve early. And Stitch Night continues. So come out every Wednesday from 6:30 to whenever for stitching, refreshments and fun!

New needles AND a new class!

Hiya Hiyas have arrived!! We are very excited to be offering these great needles in a variety of different sizes and types. Included in the shipment from Hiya Hiya are the 9" circular needles which are perfect for knitting socks! If you are used to using double pointed needles when working from the top down this is a great alternative that also eliminates those pesky ladders that often result from the double pointed needles.

Also, in preparation for the coming cooler months a new class has been added to the September line up and a new teacher to teach it! Faye will be joining the Knits by the Sea teaching team and she will be teaching the Basic Mitten class on Thursday September 9! This class is a great project class that will take you through the construction of a mitten and you get to make your own mini mitten. The pattern comes with a variety of different sizes from baby all the way to mens so making the perfect mitten after this class will be easy. Space is limited so be sure to sign up early. For more detail see our classes page here.

Another special guest

Another special guest stopped by Knits by the Sea a few days ago. Former mayor of Vancouver Sam Sullivan stopped by the shop with his wife! Sam Sullivan was an important part of bringing the 2010 Olympic Games to Vancouver. He is also the recipient of many incredible awards including the Order of Canada for his work. It was an honour to have him stop by! You can read more about him and his accomplishments here.

Another project is on display at the shop. For those who have been coming to stitch night you have seen the progress of this top and I'm happy to announce it is finally done! The top is knit with Spud & Chloe sweater which is an organic cotton and wool blend making it very soft and adds a little extra warmth for the cool breezes off the ocean. The pattern is from Stefanie Japel's book Fitted Knits with a slight change in where the ribbing starts at the bottom of the top.

More classes have been posted for September and more will be added! A new class that is being offered is a colour works class. This class will cover fair isle, intarsia and some other basic colour changing techniques. A great class for those looking to add extra colour to their knitting!

Now open 7 days a week!

Knits by the Sea is happy to announce we are open 7 days a week! Stacey has joined the shop and will be here for all your knitting needs one day a week. We are so happy she could join us and we are looking forward to being better able to serve you with these extra hours!

On new product news we have just received a big shipment of Blue Sky Alpaca so there is more of the bulky wool/alpaca blends available that so many of you love! And the new Spud & Chloe colours for fall are in!! Come see these great new shades and the wonderful patterns to go with them.

More notions have arrived as well! The perfect notion case is here and is great for holding all your stitch markers, needles etc. We have DP tubes that are perfect for storing your double pointed needles in a safe place so they stay together. And a WIP tube perfect for when you are travelling with your sock projects. And since Tofino is so prone to black outs we decided it was necessary to have the Knit Light! This perfect little light works great for illuminating your work even when the lights are out.

How about some books for this hot weather!

Well it yet again appears to be summer here in Tofino. I knew it was there somewhere. And rumours were that it was even as close as Port Alberni. But it just wasn't quite happening here. So yesterday was the first really hot day here since that week of sunshine we had in July! And the forecast is looking good for the week! So with everyone heading to the beach we are happy to let you know that a big shipment of books have arrived! It's the perfect companion to take to the beach along with your knitting. Pictured above is one of my favorite summer knitting books called Indigo Knits. It has tons of great summer knitting projects including a great beach bag and tank top.

And with all these foggy days that we have been having I decided to try the Noro Retro and make a hat for Jesse. Pictured above you can see how great this yarn knits up and it is super soft! I love the subtle striping that it has. I'm currently working on hat #2 in the bright pink and will post pictures of it when it's done.

Celebrity Sighting!

It was an exciting start to the day for Juliet and I here at Knits by the Sea. We arrived at our shop to find Pamela Anderson sitting outside waiting for us! This well known celebrity had been seen in Tofino over the past few days while she visited the wild west coast with her family. But we did not expect to find her at our shop! It was a real pleasure to meet her and she is just as beautiful in real life! She really made my day stopping by for yarn and needles and she was very sweet. And I think it is great when people in the public eye knit because it really promotes how fun knitting can be for everyone!

And speaking of learning to knit we still have spaces in our classes for August! So if you are looking for some fun evening activities take a look at our classes page on our website. More classes will be added for September. And we have some fun new classes we are going to be bringing out in October! And don't forget Stitch Night is every Wednesday from 6:30 - ?? so we hope you can join us!

Also we have a new arrival at the shop - seaglass shawl pins! These beautiful shawl pins made from sterling silver are from Cheri who also does the seaglass buttons at the shop. These pins make the perfect addition to any shawl or sweater!

A Grand Affair!

Well Juliet and I are still recovering from the super fun, super busy Grand Opening Party on Saturday. We can't thank everyone enough for coming out for this special day. It was so great to see so many familiar faces, and meet so many new people! A very special thank you to Beth who helped out until 11:00 the night before wrapping up gift baskets and then stayed until after 10:00 the next day helping to clean up. You helped make the day go that much smoother!

And another big thank you to all the suppliers who donated fantastic gifts. It made the day so much fun with draws every hour for great prizes! We had great prizes from Yarn Candy, SweetGeorgia, Indigo Moon, Painted Fleece, Noro, Sirdar, Malabrigo, Spud & Chloe, Blue Sky Alpaca and Westminster Fibres. And congratulations to all the winners!

It is hard to believe we are already in August! The newsletter will be posted soon but in the mean time if you are looking for some classes check out what we are offering for August!

Grand Opening Party Tomorrow!

Well tomorrow is the big day! And as you can see Juliet is resting up for it. Knits by the Sea's Grand Opening Party will be starting at 11:00 and going until 9:00!! There will be lots of yarn on sale, prizes drawn every hour and some great giveaways! And if that wasn't enough to entice you there will also be yummy food from Green Soul Organics, chocolate from Chocolate Tofino and with the Fish Store right next door having their party too there will be lots of yummy smoked salmon and tasty treats over there too!

A huge thank you to all of the suppliers who have donated prizes for the big day tomorrow. Yarn prize packs that will be given away tomorrow include: Yarn Candy, Sweet Georgia, Indigo Moon, Painted Fleece, Spud & Chloe, Blue Sky Alpaca, Noro, Malabrigo and Sirdar. And there is a great pattern book prize pack donated by Westminster Fibres! So be sure to come by and get your name into the draw for a chance to win one of these great prize packs.

We are really looking forward to celebrating being open and finally in our permanent home. Hope you can make it out for the celebration.

A SOCKing revelation!

Well I was just looking for a different way to use socks to tie into the sock class change. I just couldn't help myself! But there has been an adjustment to the sock class that needs to be spread around! The sock class for August has been extended to a 3 evening class. This will give everyone ample opportunity to to learn the great skill of sock knitting under the great guidance of Stacey. So if you were planning on coming to the class please be sure that all three evenings are free. For a list of all of the classes for August check here.

And on yarn news...Noro Retro has arrived. We have brought in 4 colours of this great subtle Noro. It is still the colour striping that we all love, in a much more subtle way. When looking at the yarn it looks like it is a solid but when knit up it has such a great effect. And with the combination of wool, silk and angora it is so soft and snuggly.

AND another reminder of the Grand Opening Party this Saturday from 11:00 - 9:00. SO many great donations from the suppliers these are prizes you don't want to miss. So be sure to stop by and get your name into the draw. Lots of yarn on sale, plus refreshments. It will be lots of fun all day long.

More yarn!

More yarn has arrived at Knits by the Sea from Painted Fleece!! These two new types of yarn are both shiny and so soft and hand dyed in Toronto. The first is the bamboo sock yarn (top picture) with 80% bamboo and 20% nylon. This yarn comes is some great colours which makes is hard to decide what you want to make with it! The second yarn to arrive is a seacell silk lace yarn. This yarn contains 60% seacell (derived from seaweed!) and 40% silk. And with 700 yards per skein one is enough for many different shawl patterns!

And if you haven't already marked your calendar for July 31st...you should!! It's Knits by the Sea's grand opening party! There will be prizes and giveaways and sales!! And of course there will be yummy food and refreshments all day long. The adult beverages will be brought out at 4:00. We hope you can stop by the shop on that day. There will be lots of fun happening!

Mo Mohair!!

The fuzzy delightful Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Aura have arrived! These kid mohair and silk blended yarns are so soft! The Kidsilk Haze (bottom photo) is the finer of the two and can be used to make a soft fuzzy shawl, scarf or maybe the beautiful Celeste mohair lingerie wrap in French Girl Knits by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes. It can also be knit with other yarns to add a little extra warmth to your sweater, hat, etc!

The Kidsilk Aura (top photo) is a little thicker but just as fuzzy and soft. In French Girl Knits the Viola is a great pattern for this yarn! The Aura creates a great little cardigan that is both versatile and cute! The book and yarns are available at the shop. Come by and see all the great possibilities!

And don't forget to mark your calendars for Knits by the Sea's Grand Opening Party!! It will be on Saturday July 31st from 11:00 - 9:00. There will be sale items, prizes, giveaways and food and refreshments. It's going to be lots of fun and we hope you can make it out!

Another sunny day!

Well the weather in Tofino has really turned around in the last little while. Up until the end of June is was cold, grey and generally very un-summer like! However I'm happy to say that it finally feels like summer! Knits by the Sea has been happily operating at its new location at 366 Campbell Street now for 5 days. Thank you to everyone who has come by to see the new shop! It has been so great to finally be here.

Here are some pictures of the latest knitted up projects. Because of all the chilly weather hats have still been a big favorite for me. This lovely beret is a free pattern from Ravelry called Ground Flower Hat and it only took one skein of the Malabrigo Worsted. It's soft and lovely! My most recent lace project has been completed as well. It is the Forest Canopy Shawl which was knit from Indigo Moon which is a BC yarn hand dyed on Gabriola Island. These yarns have amazing colour to them. You really have to see and feel it up close to get the full effect! The Forest Canopy Shawl pattern is now available at Knits by the Sea as well as several other great lace patterns by Susan Pierce Lawrence. She has created some beautiful patterns and you can be sure more samples of her work will be surfacing soon.

The Forest Canopy Shawl will be the lace pattern taught for the Intro to Lace class on August 9 & 10 and the cost of the class includes the purchase of the pattern. Space is limited for this class so be sure to sign up early!

And don't forget that Stitch Night is every Wednesday! Hopefully it will be another sunny evening tomorrow and we can sit outside on the back deck again!

We're in and OPEN!

Well it's been a long week for Knits by the Sea but it is so great to be in the new space! We closed up shop on Sunday at 4:00 pm and have been sorting and unpacking ever since. We are all unpacked now and set up at 366 Campbell Street and it is so great to be here! So many pictures to post it was just easier to put it on Facebook so please check here for all the pictures! There will be some on our website soon too!

We had our first stitch night on Wednesday in the new place even though the front access was not done yet. It was so great to use the back deck and enjoy the sunshine while knitting! Thank you to everyone who came out!

The shop is open from 11:00 - 7:00 Tuesday to Sunday so hopefully you can come by and visit. We have two new brands we are carrying now - Spud & Chloe and Blue Sky Alpaca! So lots more soft yarns and great patterns to go with them.

Canada Day Tomorrow!

It is almost July! It is hard to believe that June has already come and gone. An early Happy Canada Day to everyone! There are tons of festivities planned for the day here in Tofino. So if you are in town then you are in for a treat! There will be live music and lots happening at the village green across the street from the Pharmacy. Make sure to plan some time for it!

Knits by the Sea is excited to be carrying Robyn's hand knit hats now! Robyn is an avid knitter and crocheter and makes beautiful hats. It makes the perfect gift or just a nice treat for yourself!

Class schedule is out for July! Take a look here for details on all the upcoming classes. Remember space is limited so be sure to sign up early!

Knits by the Sea got a very kind mention in a travelling blog! Click here to see what Rosina had to say. It was great to meet her and her daughter on her visit here. And another great blog mention was from Melissa the creator of the beautiful yarn Yarn Candy. You can read about her trip to Victoria and FibreFest here.

It is our last Stitch Night at 120 Fourth Street tonight. We are moving on Sunday July 4th so our next stitch night will be at our new home at 366 Campbell Street! We are really looking forward to being in our new space. Hope you can make it out for tonight! Refreshments are served as usual!!

FibreFest Fun!

Well it was a very busy weekend for Knits by the Sea and company. We packed up the car with some great yarn, shelves and two dogs and headed to Victoria for the Victoria FibreFest. We participated in the Saxe Point Market and were amazed with the turnout! So many wonderful fibre lovers came out for the market it was so great to meet everyone. And a special treat Melissa (pictured above with me!) who is the dyeing talent behind Yarn Candy stopped by the booth to say hi! It was tough to get a hold of her Silk Cashmere fingering yarn by the end of the day as so many people loved her colour combinations!

We also got to meet Ursa the colour wizard behind the beautiful Gaia's Colours. We carry a variety of Gaia's yarns and it was so amazing to see her booth and the incredible amount of colour and beauty she offers with her brand. With so much happening at our table we didn't get to step away to visit many others but it was amazing to meet everyone that came by our booth.

And for everyone who entered a name into the "Name the new mascot" contest we will be picking a winner in July and posting the winner in our July newsletter. So stay tuned for that! And to see all the pictures we took at the festival check out our Facebook page.

Sparkle and Shine!

Painted Fleece yarn has arrived at Knits by the Sea! Missy, the owner of Painted Fleece is a Toronto, Ontario based hand dyer with a great sense of colour. The Silver Sock is so pretty you have to come in and see it to really get the effect! It is 63% superwash merino, 20% silk, 15% nylon and 2% sterling silver to add a great sparkle! With 15 different colours to choose from the possibilities are endless! Also arriving from Painted Fleece is the Knitting Notions kit. This kit comes with stitch markers, row counter, tape measure, collapsable scissors, a darning needle and crochet hook. It's the perfect starter kit, or if you need an easy kit for travelling. Stitch markers have also arrived from Painted Fleece and with a mix of small and large in one container they are perfect for every project.

The count down has begun for the Victoria FibreFest. We are really excited for this little road trip and to be a part of such a great festival. We will be hitting the road on Saturday in order to be there for the market on Sunday morning! The shop in Tofino will still be open for all of your fibre needs though so not to worry!

Knit in Public Day and Accessories!

Well it was a beautiful sunny day in Tofino today which made it perfect weather for a Knit in Public day. However with all the other fun activities to do and short notice there was only 3 of us (plus Juliet!) out knitting. A big thank you to Stacey and Debbie who joined Juliet and I out in front of the shop for our very first Knit in Public Day here in Tofino. Pictured above is Stacey, Juliet and I enjoying the sunshine. We promise to be more organized for next year!!

More accessories have arrived for Knits by the Sea! Beautiful handcrafted shawl pins, sweater pins and buttons! All of these amazing items are handcrafted by the very talented Gary from Nature's Wonders in Ontario. They are the perfect finishing touch to any project. These items and many more will be coming with us to the Victoria FibreFest next Sunday June 20th. So if you can't make it out to Tofino but are in the Victoria area be sure to stop by our table at the Saxe Point Market!

More fun in the mail!

Well even more yarn has arrived today for Knits by the Sea. The popular Los Andes from AslanTrends has arrived in new colours! People are so drawn to this soft chunky yarn when they come into the shop. So due to the demand more colours have been brought in! Pictured above are the four new colours that have arrived! This yarn is great for making warm hats for those cool Tofino mornings. Because even in June that ocean breeze stills makes things a bit cooler here.

In addition to the Los Andes arriving more Galway Worsted and Chunky yarn have arrived. There is now a basic black in both the worsted and chunky and a white in the worsted. Because you need the basics!

Knit in Public day for Tofino is tomorrow! Come by the shop at 1:00 for refreshments and then lets head outside and knit/crochet our little hearts out. Sorry for such a late decision on the day. It is amazing how quickly the days can slip by! Hope you can make it out!

The face of the blog has changed! Thought it was time to try something a little different. Hope you like the new colour scheme!

A little bit of Tough Love...

Socks that is! SweetGeorgia yarn has arrived!! And to add to a great day...so has Yarn Candy! Both of these very talented Vancouver based hand dyers have sent Knits by the Sea some amazing yarns. SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock (pictured above) is here in a variety of amazing colours. This sock is a super wash wool and nylon blend making them durable and pretty! Also from SweetGeorgia the Cashsilk has arrived. This luxurious blend of cashmere and silk is so soft you just can't help but pet it!

Yarn Candy Cashmerino sock is here. Want that extra soft touch for your feet? Then add a little bit of cashmere. These socks are a blend of super wash merino, cashmere and nylon. So soft and with such great colours it's hard to choose. Also from Yarn Candy the Silk Cashmere Fingering has arrived. Another fabulous blend of silk and cashmere with a little bit of shine to brighten up that next project.

With these two amazing new yarns in stock a blog wasn't enough to show all the pictures. So go to our Facebook page to see the album posted there....or even better just come on by!

Now on Ravelry!

Well it has taken a bit of time and the octopus still looks a bit squishy in the picture but a Knits by the Sea Ravelry group has finally been put together. So hopefully you can join us! Please feel free to share any projects you have done, discuss yarn or share your experiences and stories of knitting and crocheting on the wet coast in Tofino and Ucluelet!

There is a new addition to the shop. If you haven't come by in the last week then you should! We now have a new official greeter named Juliet. She is a always happy to see you and loves nothing more than some good scratches on the back! If it's chilly enough you can find her sporting her hand knit sweater. Hopefully you can stop by and say hi! Juliet is always looking for visitors!

Needle Cases and MORE!

Beautiful, locally made needle cases have arrived. For those of us who like to keep the needles we are traveling around with organized or like a neat way to store them at home these satiny cases are great! They are made from 100% recycled materials and designer Lisa from Cheeky Chic Boutique here in Tofino has made them both stylish and functional.

The Victoria Fibre Festival is coming up soon. Knits by the Sea is happy to announce that we will be attending! This will be our very first festival and we are very excited to be a part of such a great one. We will be at the Saxe Point Park Market on Sunday June 20th. So if you are in the area be sure to stop by and say hi and see some of the BC yarns that we are bringing with us!

Knits by the Sea also just put out our very first newsletter. The newsletter outlines what is happening at the shop for June including some great new yarns we are getting in. Lots happening at this little yarn shop!

Fun Socks!!

Want the look of fair isle socks without all the extra yarn and stranding? Then self-patterning socks are for you! Knits by the Sea has two fun patterned socks in stock right now. The orange and green sock is a great bamboo blend for that extra soft touch around your feet. The red multicolour sock is a warm wool blend for those chilly rainy days. And nothing goes better with gum boots than hand knit socks!! Come into the shop to see these lovely socks up close and all the colour varieties that are available for these patterns.

Don't know how to knit socks but want to learn? The Sock it to you! classes will be coming soon. An easy and practical approach to knitting socks. They aren't so scary to knit once you have it all broken down into easy steps. Keep an eye on our website or the blog for more info on the upcoming sock classes.

Stitch night is coming up again on Wednesday. Hopefully you can make it out for a fun evening of refreshments and sweets...and stitching!!

Dark Ending to Stitch Night!

Well it was an even bigger crowd last night for Knits by the Sea's second Stitch Night! Luckily extra chairs had been brought in and an extra table courtesy of Sugar Shack made it possible to fit everyone in comfortably! It was a fun night of knitting and crocheting and the perfect stormy night to be inside. Unfortunately this stormy night was the reason for the early ending to the night. Just after 8:00 the power went out leaving everyone in the dark! It was a truly Tofino ending to stitch night as locals here are accustomed to black outs during the stormy winter months. Thank you to everyone who came out to make the night so much fun.

More yarn brands are coming in to Knits by the Sea over the next few months. Want some input on what we carry? Suggestions are always welcome! You can always contact us or just come by and let us know what you would like. And on Stitch Nights samples will be brought in of potential brands. So tell us what you want! We would love to hear from you.

Store Opening Sale - 50% Off All Classes in June!

Well it's official - the first Knits by the Sea class schedule is out! You can check it out here for details on the first two classes - Intro to Knitting and Learn to Knit Again! We are very excited to be offering these two classes taught by the very talented Stacey! Stacey brings many years of knitting and teaching knowledge to these classes. With a practical and easy to follow approach she will make learning to knit fun and interesting! And because this is our first month of classes all classes in June will be 50% off! Spaces are limited for these classes so make sure you book soon!

Yarn news for the shop - Knits by the Sea is offering it's very first knit kit! It is the Hacho Hat Kit. The kit offers you a great rainy (or sunny!) day project with beautiful Mirasol yarn! Come in and see the sample! The kit includes a 50g ball of Hacho yarn (your choice of colour), the needles you will need and pattern. This is a great hat pattern as you don't need to know how to knit in the round! For the great price of $13.95 plus taxes it's a great deal! Hope to see you soon!

First Stitch Night a Success!

A big thank you to everyone who came out for Knits by the Sea's very first Stitch Night! It was so much fun to have everyone here for a night of knitting and crocheting. There were great refreshments from Green Soul Organics and Chocolate Tofino and great company which made the night so much fun! The picture was taken a bit earlier in the evening so unfortunately not all the guests are pictured here! And thank you to everyone else who just came by for a quick visit to say hi and see the shop! If you missed the stitch night last night don't worry! This will continue to be a regular event every week. So come by Wednesdays from 6:30 till ?? for a fun evening of stitching!

Star studded Tofino

There is lots of excitement in town with Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson in town to film a movie. They are supposed to be filming only a block away from Knits by the Sea sometime this week so we will be keeping our cameras ready.

Two days ago we had an unexpected visitor in our garbage. Being in Tofino one of the great benefits is the amazing wildlife. It's just a bit scary when it's right outside your shop! A black bear had decided he was hungry and was happily feasting in the dumpster! Here is a photo of our not so little visitor.

On to knitting news! Knits by the Sea's very first knit night is being held tomorrow night!! Green Soul Organics will be providing some fresh platters and Chocolate Tofino will be supplying the sweet stuff. It will be from 6:30 till ?? We hope you can make it out for this fun night of stitching, sharing and fun!

First Entry

Well I am happy to be writing in this blog because it means that the website is up and running! Welcome to Knits by the Sea’s first blog entry and hopefully the beginning of many years of yarn! We are located in beautiful Tofino, British Columbia and have a shop full of yarny goodness!

The doors opened on May 1st but there was still lots to do. The shelves are now fully stocked (finally!!) and the first knit night is coming up soon (May 12!!). Knit nights will be held on Wednesdays from 6:30 till whenever! A class schedule will be posted soon so if you are looking to learn or expand on your current skills stay tuned! You can also follow us on Facebook.

We hope you can stop in sometime soon and see all the beautiful yarn that is here.