We hope everyone has a fun and safe Fourth of July holiday!
Holiday Hours
Friday, July 3 closing early @3pm
Saturday, July 4 closed
Sunday, July 5 closed
Monday, July 6 SWAK in the City open 10-3, Guthrie location is closed on Mondays
For years the rarest, most luxurious fiber we’ve been able to offer was qiviut. We’d always say it was the rarest and warmest legal fiber, because the vicuña was even rarer than qiviut. The vicuña have been protected animals since the early 1970’s. In the 1990’s trade of the vicuña fiber resumed, but it was quite limited and not readily available outside of South America until recently. The amount of vicuña coming out of South America is quite small, and I’ve been wanting to get my hands on some of it for quite awhile now.
My first attempts at purchasing pure vicuña were not successful. It is probably for the best since the price is $300/ounce for its natural golden color. So far no luck there, but I didn’t think you all would be lining up at the door to purchase any at that price.
However I am happy to report that I now have in my hot little hands Paco Vicuñas, a vicuña/seacell/optim wool blend yarn that is available in vibrant colors. It is laceweight yarn, with 350 yds/skein for $60. Yes, still pricey but beats $300! This limited edition yarn won’t be around for long so don’t procrastinate if you are interested.
If you are intrigued as to what exactly is a vicuña, it is a relative of the llama that lives in the Central Andes of South America. Legend says that the Incas raised them for their fiber which could be worn only by royalty. The Spanish Conquistadors began hunting the animal, and they were nearly hunted to extinction by the 1960’s. The vicuña only produce a small amount of fiber and can only be sheared every three to four years.
This is a rare treat indeed! Come and see the new Paco Vicuñas at both SWAK locations.
I have the most wonderful group of employees in the world. Most folks when they’re not working, spend their spare time away from work. Not my employees. I think they spend more time just hanging out at SWAK than they do working here. They’re always glad to pitch in and help each other out and I don’t know what I’d do without them.
We also have the most wonderful customers in the world too. When we’re not hanging out and knitting/crocheting together we’re twittering, plurking, raveling, and otherwise yaking it up.
Recently a group of SWAK employees & customers teamed up for WWKIP day. After scouting the options (or lack thereof) in OKC, they took off for Tulsa. Held at the Cherry Street Farmer’s Market, it was a beautiful venue and they gave away 2 totes full of prizes. We sent some goodies up to share with the Tulsa folk, but it seems that our OKC envoy made a great showing.
Stacy with Tempted Yarns was there with a basket full of yarn (I’m thinkin’ she left with an empty basket)!
What a great day for knitting! Maybe next year we can organize something at our local farmer’s market and invite our friends from up the turnpike. You can see more pics from the Tulsa outing here. You can also read more about our great group of employees. Everyone but our new Catherine is there (and that reminds me to bug her for her info!)
It’s really starting to heat up outside, so I thought I’d show you some cool new things to help take your mind off the heat.
Just yesterday we received a new shipment of hand-dyed sock yarns from Two Windows Dye Co. These are from a fabulous indie dyer out of Kansas, and the new shades are gorgeous! The Knitty Bits Sock yarn is $28 a skein and is available at our Guthrie location. Each skein is a unique creation so if you don’t live near, give us a ring and we can help you out.
We also love these box bags from RoseKnits. With fun summery fabrics, they are perfect for toting around small summer projects. RoseKnits box bags are $25 and available at both SWAK locations.
And there is nothing we love more than a delicious summer treat. If you haven’t tried the Prairie Gypsies‘ Strawberry Lavender Cake, well you are missing out! It is so simple to make - you really need to treat yourself to a piece soon! (psst - here’s the recipe)
Mason has been enjoying the summer weather as well. He recently went on his first fishing outing with his daddy and caught a fish.
His pappy also fixed up the area in back of our Guthrie store so he could go outside and play with his meme. Here he is playing in his new picnic house. He has also been decorating our trees with play-doh, rocks and leaves. I think he’s a budding artist!
Come on in and get out of the heat with us!
Introducing Hermosa, the latest addition to Namaste’s Cali Collection.
If you’re a gal who likes a big bag, the Hermosa is for you. Measuring 18″x14″x7″, this tote will stand on its own . . . literally. Available in black, eggplant, saddle, olive, and peacock. $75
If you prefer something on the smaller side, the new Cali Mini Clutch is cute as can be! Available in colors to match the Hermosa, you can have the best of both worlds with this stylish new pair of handbags. $39
The Hermosa & Cali Mini Clutch will be shipping early July. Pre-order yours today!
We also have the perfect accessory for any knitter - the Knit Kit. It’s like a swiss army knife for knitters, with a measuring tape, row counter, crochet hook, thread cutter, scissors, point protectors and stitch markers . . . all in one compact case. Now available in black, you’ll want one to coordinate with each of your project bags. $19.95
Did you know that one of the hottest sports is women’s roller derby? In fact many of these gals are knitters. We think this is way too cool and have become quite intrigued.
Our local team is the Oklahoma Victory Dolls, and we’re planning an outing to go to their next bout!
All one has to do to see the impact of this economic downturn is to get out of the house. We eat out frequently and I can’t help but notice that many of the places we eat at on a regular basis are half as full as normal. Many of the places I shop are eerily quiet. I worry how much longer some of these businesses can hang on. Where am I going to eat, other than McDonalds. Where am I going to shop, other than WalMart. Maybe I’m socially conscious, or maybe I’m just selfish but either way I have been worried.
So it was a breath of fresh air to hear about the 3/50 project.
This grassroots movement is a wonderful idea, and could be just what we need to help turn the boat around. Please take time to read about it and see how easy it is for you make a difference in your community.
Speaking of community, we love our local library. The Guthrie Public Library is an independent, small-town library but they are doing some really great things. We’re excited because they have been offering knitting classes, and even have a group that meets on Friday mornings. There is nothing we love more than spreading the love of knitting within our community.
They also are looking for donations of gardening/cooking/craft books (including knitting and crochet). So if you have some books to unload, they will be happy to accept your donation - and it is tax deductible too. One great thing about donating books to the Guthrie library, is that books within this category will not be turned around and sold. They are kept within the library system for all in the community to enjoy.
I am an avid Today show watcher, although some mornings we have to go with Sesame Street or Wonder Pets in order to keep the peace in my household. Recently I was able to catch their Call to Action series on helping the military and it got me to thinking about what we could do.
So in appreciation of all of our enlisted customers and their families we are happy to announce . . .
Monday Store Hours
SWAK in the City is open on Mondays from 10 to 3
SWAK’s Guthrie location is closed Mondays. It was becoming increasingly difficult being one of the few businesses open downtown on Mondays. After years of trying to reverse this trend, we have finally thrown in the towel.
There is nothing I love more than to knit sweaters, especially if there’s a whacky feature to hold my interest. So last summer I finally started this fair isle design from Teva Durham’s Loop-d-Loop
that I’d had my eye on since the book came out. The short rows kept it interesting, but it still took until February to get it finished. At least I got to wear it once or twice before the weather warmed up.
Then my summer sweater knitting began. First I knit this sleeveless top out of Bonsai (and I absolutely love it). The pattern is free on Berroco’s website.
Then I went on my Brigitte knitting spree, and I can’t promise you that it’s over. I can make this sweater in ONE DAY. Okay, so the first one took me a bit longer, but I now have it down to a one day sweater. First I knit one with the yarn in the pattern (Rowan Cotton Braid). I also tried the Rowan Kidsilk that is suggested as an alternative. Then I got to thinking . . . wonder what it would look like in Rowan Linen Print. I think it is my favorite of all. In fact I wore it to the Stitch ‘n Pitch baseball game with white pants that actually stayed white, and yes Mason came along too. It was a miracle indeed.
And if that wasn’t enough, I continued on my French Girl kick and made two versions of Fantine while I was at it. These are practically instant sweaters in case you were wondering if I have taken to knitting 24/7. I only get to knit late at night after Mason goes to sleep, really.
You guys have been busy too! Katherine knit this stunning shawl for her mother’s 85th birthday. 
She used the Knitty Bits sock yarn from Two Windows Dye company. You’ll find this yarn at our Guthrie location.
Janet came to the Bangles class earlier this spring, and is now a bangle making fool. Check out her stylish bangles, using sock yarn leftovers.
In keeping with the idea of using sock yarn for non-sock projects, Laura knitted these gorgeous mitts with Tempted’s Good Grrl yarn. Laura is one of our prodigal young knitters - she just learned last year.
If you missed out on the Tempted trunk show, we still have quite a bit left at both locations. We have another Tempted trunk show event with an exciting special guest brewing, so stay tuned for more about that.
And in keeping with the idea of using leftover yarn, Wanda made a Colinette Ab Fab throw and had a little bit of mohair left over. So she brought in her scraps and we helped her find yarns to make a second. I think the second turned out even more fabulous than the first (and didn’t cost as much either).
See more customer projects at our Project Parade. We’d love to show off your finished projects too. Either email your photos to us at s w a k @ s w a k k n i t . c o m, 
or let us know so we can snap your photo next time you’re by. You don’t have to be in the photo if you’d rather not, and we’re not going to pounce you with a flashing camera like some sort of paparazzi either. We’re also absent minded and forget to ask you for your picture sometimes too, so speak up! We love showing off all of your beautiful things.
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