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KNITTING

Yarns
Wool, cotton, & luxury blends from Muench Yarns, Kollage Yarns, Baabajoe's, Brown Sheep,Wool in the Woods, Skacel, & more
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Kathryn Alexander Designs, Knitter's yarn packs, Kollage Yarns, Fiber Trends, BaabaJoe's
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Check out these great bargains! A large variety of yarn, many from the Skacel Collection & Brown Sheep Company.
Join our millends list and you'll automatically receive an email when add new millend yarns!
NEW! Mill-ends on cones
Weaving cotton, novelty yarns, boucle, chenille, silk blends & more!
New! Handcarved crochet hooks!
Needles
Addi Turbo, Inox, Clover, Brittany, Bryspun
Patterns
Fiber Trends, Cottage Creations, Antipodes, Ann Norling, Oat Couture, Sivia Harding, Spincraft, Susan Moraca
Gifts & Accessories
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FIBERS

Spinning wheels
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Looms
Ashford, Schacht, Cranbrook, LeClerc, Beka, Norwood, Kromski
Shuttles
Schacht, Bosworth, Norwood, LeClerc, and more!
NEW! Mill-ends on cones
Weaving cotton, novelty yarns, boucle, cashmere blends, alpaca blends, silk blends & more!

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Huge selection of all the most recent titles
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TOOLS and SUPPLIES

Handtools
Carders, combs, swifts, niddy-noddys
Supplies
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Gifts & Accessories
Knitting bags, notecards, needlecases

Spring 2005 Contest

We are sponsoring an afghan block contest!

Knit or crochet a 7” by 9” square and help us show the world we care!

Theme of the Spring 2005 contest:
World Peace

We will donate proceeds, afghan(s) and squares to Afghans for Afghans and Warm Up America. The first group sends hand-knit and crocheted blankets and garments to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan. Warm Up America collects blocks and blankets to donate to the homeless and other needy folks. We will showcase your entries on our website! Our plan is the raffle off the finished afghan to raise much needed funds for these organizations.

1st place: $100 gift certificate
2nd place: $50 gift certificate
3rd place: $25 gift certificate
BEST YOUTH (under 18) ENTRY: $25 gift certificate

Deadline: April 30

We suggest using medium weight yarn in at least 50% natural fibers. Send squares to Paradise Fibers, 701 Parvin Road, Colfax WA 99111

Fall 2004 Contest

Fall 2004 Trivia Question: All spinning prior to which century was done on a handspindle? Check out Bette Hochberg’s Textile Articles* for the answer!
Winner is chosen from correct entries, and receives a $25 gift certificate!
*A reprint of 16 articles on spinning published in eight different magazines, $4.95.

Fall 2004 Prize Drawings: Nov 15 deadline!

1st place: Denise Interchangeable Needle Set Includes points and connectors for creating 10 different sizes, from US 5 to 15, in various lengths. Circular needle 11 lengths plus 6 straight needle lengths. $44.95 value!
2nd place: Knitting in America by Melanie Falick This inspiring book showcases the nation’s foremost designers, and includes over 30 projects. Oversize coffee table book. Orig. $35; overstocks are $19.95 (value of prize).
3rd place: THE KNITTER'S HANDY GUIDE TO YARN REQUIREMENTS by Ann Budd This laminated pamphlet is an excellent reference. $5.95 value

Summer 2004 Contest

Summer 2004 Trivia Question: What is the trick to getting a sheep to sit still for shearing?
Winner is chosen from correct entries, and receives a $25 gift certificate!

...goes to Phyllis Young!

I have to quote this excellent and interesting answer from Martine Woodvine Southampton, UK:

Lay the sheep on its side. Put your foot under the shoulder of the sheep. There is a pressure point that relaxes/immobilizes the animal so that it does not struggle. You shear on side this way and then you get the animal onto the other side. When I was still married we had 1200 sheep and Tom our old shepherd (then 89) had told me about this. He was talking about the 'good old days' before the modern shearers from New Zealand came over. Three years ago a lecturer from the local agricultural college showed this trick at a shearing demonstration. After he 'got the spot' he placed a spare set of clippers where his foot had been, and walked away for a drink of tea. Pretty impressive to see it actually done. You might have to try this a few times to find the right position. It sure looks that the animal is not stressed out, at all. Hope this helps. Kind regards Martine Woodvine Southampton, UK

Summer 2004 Prize Drawings:

1st place: Rhapsodies Handpainted Yarn or Roving! Your choice of a 1-lb skein of yarn (several yarn type choices) or 1 lb of ready-to-spin top (merino, superwash, Blue-Faced Leicester, or mohair/wool top) $48 value

...goes to Monique Rio of Sterling Heights MI!

2nd place: Mt. Colors Sock Kit Choose wool or superwash wool/mohair/nylon handpainted sock yarn and your choice of a huge selection of patterns for handpainted yarns. $19.95 value

...goes to Sophie Kovel of Mill Valley CA!

3rd place: Handcarved rosewood crochet hook or needlecase These unique items are made in Nepal using found materials, including rosewood branches, horn, and bone. Each is adorned with a handcarved animal: frog, elephant, swan, bird, etc. $16.95 value

...goes to Karen Jennings of Moscow ID!

Spring 2004 Trivia Question: Why is it that wool naturally sheds dirt? (Hint: This is only true for wool that has not been treated so it is machine-washable.) Winner is chosen from correct entries, and receives a $25 gift certificate!

Winner: Nancy Ortmann of Wolf Point, MT!

Correct answer: Wool sheds dirt because the fibers are made of follicles, something like shingles on a house. These follicles contain lanolin, which is a natural lubricant.

Spring 2004 Prize Drawings: March 1 and May 15 winners!

1st place: YOU pick! Choose from our great selection of new books in this newsletter! We always have all the latest titles! Up to $39.95 value

March 1: Jan Rider of Pomery, WA!

May 15: Deb Meteney of Venecia PA!

2nd place: YOU pick! Choose from our great selection of SALE books in this newsletter! We always have all the latest titles! Up to $19.95 value

March 1: Peggy Westcott of Eaton Center, NH!

May 15: Francoise Deygout of Paris, France!

3rd place: YOU pick! Choose a free pattern from our great selection: Fiber Trends, Oat Couture, Ann Norling, Antipodes, Spincraft, Knitting Pure and Simple, Cottage Creations (Wonderful Wallaby, Grabbit, others), and 3 Trails Designs (fabulous socks!) patterns! Up to $5.95 value

March 1: Lisa Couturier of Charlotte NC!

May 15: Elizabeth Coldiron of Somerset KY!

Winter 2003 Contest

Winter 2003 Trivia Question: What is the strongest natural fiber (of the fibers you normally encounter in clothing and household goods!)! Winner is chosen from correct entries, and receives a $25 gift certificate!

Winner: Nancy Donahue from the Bronx, NY! Congratulations!

Jane Thompson submitted an excellent answer. I also used the following reference:

According to "Fibre Facts" by Bette Hochberg, fiber from the flax plant is the strongest natural fiber - the fiber used to make linen. Flax has a tensile strength of 5.5 to 6.5 grams per denier (the amount of pull it can take until breaking for a certain thickness of yarn). The next strongest fiber is hemp at 5.2 grams per denier followed by silk at 4.3 to 5 grams per denier. I wasn't sure what a denier was, so I looked it up. According to Merriam-Webster, a denier is a unit of fineness for yarn equal to the fineness of yarn weighing one gram for each 9000 meters. Thanks for asking! Submitted by Jane Thompson

Winter 2003 Prize Drawings:

1st place: The Encyclopedia of Knitting: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide with an Inspirational Gallery of Finished Works by Lesley Stanfield & Melody Griffiths A beautiful new guide to the craft of knitting, profusely illustrated with techniques, a huge stitch collection, and a design section. $24.95 value

...goes to Bette Fuqua of Casper WY!

2nd place: Felted Knits by Beverly Galeskas A collection of 18 projects from the Fiber Trends author includes purses, pillows, slippers, hats, mittens, and more inventive projects that you knit, then felt in the washing machine. Great fun! $21.95 value

...goes to Regina Legard of Salinas CA!

3rd place: Gold addi turbo needle, just in time for the holidays! Your choice of available sizes (no longer in production, but I have a good supply). $11.50 value

...goes to Tommy Stalker from White Pine Mercantile in Imlay City MI!

How do you enter the monthly drawings? E-MAIL spinning@paradisefibers.com or make a purchase sometime during the contest period and you will be automatically entered in the next drawing (Jan 1, 2004).

Winners of the Summer 2003 Contest

Summer 2003 Trivia Question: True or false: Wool is warmer when wet! Winner is chosen from correct entries, and receives a $25 gift certificate!

...goes to Jane Wolff of Berkeley CA!

And it IS true that wool is warmer when wet, because of an interesting chemical process. Wool is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the atmosphere. As it absorbs, the hydrogen bond of water is broken and chemically reacts with molecules of the wool to generate heat. Moreover, it can protect the body in both cold and warm conditions. Wool always absorbs moisture from the atmosphere of greater humidity and releases it to the drier environment as it creates a balance in moisture conditions. This characteristic makes wool a versatile all-season fabric. (paraphrased from the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers website at http://www.kswpa.com/woolchar.htm)

Here is a quote from www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk which sells wool insulation for homes:

"Wool generates heat when it absorbs moisture from the air. That energy is known as the 'heat of sorbtion' and account for the warmth felt by wearers of woollen clothes in winter conditions. When the air is saturated with water vapour, wool absorbs some 40% of its dry weight in moisture, producing 960 kilojoules of heat energy for every kilogram of dry wool."

And a fun read on the virtues of wool underwear from the makers of fine woolen products (including underwear) in Scotland:

http://www.peterscott.co.uk/caseforwool.htm

Thanks for all your answers!

Summer 2003 Prize Drawings:

1st place: Cherry Lap Spindle! This spindle (on right), designed by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts and beautifully handcrafted in cherry, remains my favorite! The whorl is removable for travel, and a heavier plying whorl is also available. $37.50 value

...goes to Jesse Bennett of Kenosha WI!

2nd place: Mt. Colors Sock Kit Includes a large skein of handpainted yarn and your choice ofpattern. Makes one large pair of socks! $20 value

...goes to Kim Elliott of Corning CA!

3rd place: Golden Gleanings: 50 Years of Knitting Ideas by Joyce Englund A knitting expert shares her knitting secrets, tips, and techniques in this wonderful spiralbound book. $10 value

...goes to Pam LeFree of Mukilteo WA!

How do you enter the monthly drawings? E-MAIL spinning@paradisefibers.com or make a purchase sometime during the contest period and you will be automatically entered in each month's drawing.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS!

How do you enter the monthly drawings? E-MAIL spinning@paradisefibers.com or make a purchase sometime during the contest period and you will be automatically entered in each month's drawing.

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