Roll Tide!

Tuscaloosa is all a-buzz about this weekend's SEC Championship game in Atlanta. Everyone is decked out in their crimson and white, giant "A"s are everywhere, and we're ready to cheer the Crimson Tide to victory! The game kicks off at 3:00 p.m. CST and, well, we're adjusting our shop schedule accordingly. We'll be open from 10:00 - 3:00 on Saturday. Our holiday workshop schedule has been altered and you can view the new schedule here.

We just got a new shipment of Crimson Pride yarn in yesterday, so come on down and we'll help you choose a new project to work on during the game. We have LOTS of Alabama themed canvases for our needlepointers, too. Finally, our SALE ends Saturday, so be sure you come by and take advantage of the unprecedented savings!

Until next time, happy stitching!

Holiday Workshops

The hustle and bustle of the holidays is upon us! Take a 'time-out' from the frenzy and join us at Serendipity for some stitch therapy. Come down to the shop the first two weekends in December and learn a few new tricks - or get a gift project started. The cost of each workshop is $10 (+ materials) and preregistration is required. Space is limited to six participants on a first-come, first-served basis. (Please note that basic knitting and crochet skills are required for all workshops.)

Saturday, December 1

Fair Isle Christmas Ornaments
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Learn the art of Fair Isle knitting on these simple Nordic inspired holiday ornaments.

Magic Three Yarn Scarf
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Grab three fabulous and different yarns - or three colors of the same yarn - and off you go, making a magically easy yet complex fabric.

Vintage Crochet for Throws or Scarves
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

This beautiful rippled stitch makes fun striped scarves or a lovely afghan - or both!

Granny Squares
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Bet you can't make just one - unless it's one really big one! A pillow is a great place to start and Noro's Silk Garden yarn takes all the guess work out of when to change colors.

Saturday, December 8

Shoulder Cozy
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

It's holiday's ultimate accessory: a capelet/cowl you can knit in an evening or two! Luxurious mohair and silk yarn makes this wardrobe staple extra yummy.

Fingerless Gloves
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.<BR>
Classically styled fingerless gloves are quick and easy to knit. Knit them in luscious cashmere for a real treat, or use a sturdy wool tweed for daily use - either way, they're sure to please!

Felted Gingerbread Ornaments
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The knitting is as easy as pie - easier, actually. Once your knitted piece is fully felted, we'll help you simply cut your "dough" into jolly cookie shapes. Next, we'll help you decorate as desired with simple embroidery stitches. (Note: you must have your felted fabric ready to use for this workshop.)

Knitting for Others

Do you know of someone in a wheelchair? Is there a nursing home in your area? Think about knitting some lap robes. They are simple and fast to do and will be greatly appreciated by the recipients.

There are all kinds of patterns from which you can choose, but here's a really simple one for you to try...

You'll need 350 grams of worsted weight yarn (approximately 700 yards) and US size 8 or 9 knitting needles. Cast on 96 stitches. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 32 inches (or until yarn is almost gone). Bind off loosely and work any loose ends into the lap robe.

Making lap robes for others is a great group activity, too. Gather some friends (teach them to knit, if they don't know how) and enjoy the camaraderie that results when kindred spirits join together. You may choose to have a pastor bless the lap robes, including a small tag for the recipient that reads as follows: "This shawl was hand made especially for you. May you feel the warm embrace of our Heavenly Father as you wear it."

We knit for others on the first Thursday afternoon of each month here at the shop and I invite you to join us. Our schedule will be a little different for November, though - we'll meet on November 14 (Wednesday afternoon) from 1:00 - 4:00 instead of November 1. I'll be happy to help you choose some yarn and help you get started...just come on down and join the fun!

Until next time, happy stitching!

Bring on the yarn...cooler weather has arrived!

Fall is a wonderful time of year - bright orange pumpkins and colorful gourds artfully arranged on bales of hay at the Farmer's Market, friendly ghosts swaying from crepe myrtle trees in the neighbor's yard, and the first whiff of woodsmoke. All of these things proclaim the season - and they make me want to knit and knit and knit!

I'm not one of those "one-project-at-a-time" knitters. Nope...if I see something that I want to make, it's full speed ahead for me! I jump in with both feet and cast on with gusto, blissfully dismissing all of those other PIPs scattered around the house (and car, and shop...)! I know that I'll get back to them one day, but now - for this moment - my attention is on the delightfully springy and cheerfully colored bright blue yarn I'm using to knit our Mystery Cowl. I'm having a terrific time, so far. The pressure to finish is, somehow, diminished with this project. Perhaps it's because I only have one fourth of the instructions presented to me at a time and I feel that I can surely complete the required knitting before the next set of directions appears in my "in box" on Thursday. Whatever the reason, though, I'm happily knitting along on something that makes me smile every time I see it.

Won't you join me? We'll meet at the shop every Tuesday afternoon (from 1:00 - 2:30) in October to work on our Mystery Cowl. You can participate from home, too, if that's more convenient. There really are no rules - just lots of fiber-y fun. You may call me at the shop (205-758-0108) if you want to join the fun. I'll be happy to help!

Until next time...happy stitching!

Can it be...summer is almost a memory?!

We've had a tremendously busy summer at the shop and, alas, my blogging has suffered. I'm ever so sorry about that, dear friends, and will do my best to keep you in the loop, henceforward, on a more regular basis.

Lots of stitching has been going on around our big farm table and I'm delighted to say that our needlepoint numbers continue to grow. We've added lots of new stitchers to our circle of Serendipity friends and invite you to come on down and join the fun when you're in the neighborhood. There's always plenty of room to pull up another chair - and our ginormous candy dish stays filled to the brim with an assortment of CHOCOLATE! (Who could ask for anything more?!)

We have a couple of trunk shows in the shop now through the end of August. Princess and Me Designs and Winnetka Stitchery both offer a huge assortment of hand painted canvases from which to choose.

Until next time...
Happy Stitching!

Where did March and April go?!

Oh my stars...I can't believe that it's been so long since I last talked with y'all! Life does get busy, doesn't it?

We received the Alabama map canvas that Raymond Crawford designed especially for us and I can hardly wait to begin stitching it. Jeanne, Kelly and I have pulled the fibers and my fingers are just itching to start. (The picture I've posted above shows all the luscious colors and textures we chose!) I'll keep you up to date on my project here with pictures and stitch selections, since so many of the canvases went to our out-of-town friends. We'll have ourselves an online stitch-along!

Well, it's nearly 10:00 and time for another fun-filled day at the shop, so I'd better go and unlock the door. Have a great day and I'll see you again soon.

Raymond Crawford at Serendipity Needleworks!

Friday, February 17
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

What a treat we have in store for us at the end of this week! Nationally renowned needlepoint designer and artist Raymond Crawford will be at Serendipity Needleworks on Friday, February 17 from 10:00 - 4:00. I hope you'll join us for a fun-filled day with him. We always have a ball when he comes to Tuscaloosa and I'm sure that this visit will be the best yet!

We'll have his latest masterpiece, our very own exclusive "Sweet Home Alabama", displayed for you to see and will be taking orders for the first shipment. It's definitely a piece that every stitcher with ties to our fair state is going to want!

Raymond graciously sent us a wonderful trunk show, too, and it's brimming with loads of his newest designs, as well as a delightful array of finished pieces that are guaranteed to inspire you! These jewels are all on display at the shop right now, so shop early for the best selection.

Knitting Bliss Weekend!

What a wonderful time we had last weekend! It was filled with side-splitting laughter, exquisite hand painted yarn, lots of yummy food (including bowls and bowls of M & M's), expert tips and hints, as well as loads of inspiration from our guest instructor - and new dear friend, Chris Bylsma. We learned to think "outside the box" when it comes to choosing fibers for projects and we experienced - firsthand - the importance of gauge. Learning how to finish your hand knits with precision and finesse rounded out our time together. I've included some pictures from our fun-filled time together for you and hope you'll consider joining us in January 2013 for our next Knitting Bliss Weekend!











Visit our Facebook page for more photos from the weekend with Chris.

Crimson Pride!

I finished my Roll Tide Ruffles scarf and wanted you to be the first to see it! It required a lot of knitting, but it was very simple to do - as long as you keep up with your row count. In fact, I actually got it done in about a week, only knitting on it in the evenings after work.



Here's our Tidal Wave scarf, the scarf kit we designed for the 2009 National Championship. I thought you might like to see it, too! We love our Crimson Tide around here and are so proud of their accomplishments.

Both kits are available in our online store.

Be sure and visit the blog next week for pictures and stories from our wonderful weekend of knitting bliss with Chris Bylsma that we're hosting this Friday - Sunday!

Knitting for the Weekend!

This weekend is a long holiday weekend for many of you, and what could be better than spending three blissful days with a new knitting project?! I already have my new project picked out and, of course, it's in celebration of the 2011 National Championship that the University of Alabama secured this past Monday night.

I've wanted to make the Churchmouse Yarns pattern, Barb's Koigu Ruffle Scarf (pictured above), since I first saw it and, thanks to the suggestion of our Serendipity friend, Barbara M., I've decided to jump in and give it a whirl. Here's a picture of our Crimson Pride sock yarn.




I'll keep you posted on my progress here on the blog. You're invited to join the fun, too, if you'd like. You can purchase a kit on our web site.

"Home for the Holidays"...the canvases!

I hope you enjoyed a weekend filled with all kinds of fiber-y fun! Your positive response to "Home for the Holidays" continues to delight all of us at the shop - and Julia and Melissa, too, I'm sure! A few folks wondered which canvases were included in the set, so I thought it would be fun to share them with you here. The first ornament is the snowman and, as you already know because you've seen him, he's reeaaalllly cute!

Pictures of the rest of the ornament canvases in the series are posted for you below. Feel free to call me on our toll free line at (888)248-4743 if you have any questions or would like to join the fun!

February's Canvas - Snowflake Stocking



March's Canvas - Toasty Mittens



April's Canvas - A Cup of Cocoa




May's Canvas - Gift of Joy



June's Canvas - Ho, ho, holly!



July's Canvas - Wacky Christmas Tree



August's Canvas - Mr. Claus

Home for the Holidays - 2012 Ornament Club

Happy Thursday!

I'm so glad that you love our "Home for the Holidays" ornament club as much as I do. Julia did an awesome job with the stitch guides for these cutie pie ornaments and I know they're going to be loads of fun to stitch.

I'm still working with our web site manager on the best way to handle online registration for the club, so, here's the deal...you may call the shop on our toll free line and we'll share all the details with you on how to start receiving your ornament kits. Serendipity Needleworks is located in Alabama. That's in the Central Time Zone - same as Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas, and all kinds of other cool places. ; ) The shop is open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and we'll happily answer all of your questions when you give us a ring at (888)248-4743.

The first ornament in the series is the happy little snowman pictured above (and on the last post, where he's shown already stitched.) His "bags" will be packed and he'll be shipping out on January 17. There are a total of 8 ornaments in the series and one will be shipped each month, so there should be plenty of time to get them finished for the upcoming holiday season. Our finishers will be delighted to wave their magic wands over your stitching, if you need help turning them into ornaments. (We'll share the details with you - just ask about finishing.)

Again, thank you for your overwhelming response to these darling gems for your tree.

Have a wonderful evening and, until next time, happy stitching!
Ellen

Happy New Year!

I hope you and your family had a blessed holiday season. I certainly did and, now that the Christmas decorations are (almost) all packed away, I can hardly wait to get started on some new projects.

I have all kinds of terrific things planned for 2012 at Serendipity, with this blog being one of the most wonderful ways of keeping in touch with you. Our newsletter is scheduled to arrive in your e-mail box every couple of weeks - around the first of each month and toward the middle of each month. You can keep up with us on Facebook and Ravelry, too!

Well, the Christmas tree is calling and I really do want to get started on one of those new projects in my que, but, before I close, I should tell you about the picture at the top of this post. It shows the first ornament in our 2012 Christmas Ornament Club, "Home for the Holidays". The canvases were designed by Debbie Mumm for Melissa Shirley Designs and the stitch guides were created exclusively for Serendipity Needleworks by Julia Snyder. Check back tomorrow afternoon for details on how you can sign up!

Until next time, happy stitching!
Ellen