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Do You Have Any Knitting-Related Resolutions?

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Organzing your stash this year? Tell me your crafty resolutionsAs we get ready to turn the page on 2014 and start fresh in 2015, I’d guess a lot of you are taking some time to come up with resolutions or goals for the new year. I have a lot of the usual ones: getting more exercise, eating healthier, finally cleaning up my pit of an office.

But I like to have crafty goals, too. This year, for real, is going to be the year I get better at sewing and actually break my serger out of the box. It might also be the year I try some more complicated lace — as much as I knit I still consider myself pretty beginner when it comes to lace knitting. Or it may be the year I finally start the Master Knitter program, which I’ve wanted to do for years.

How about you? I’d love to hear your crafty resolutions, particularly if they have anything to do with knitting (here’s a list of a few from About to get you started thinking about it, if you haven’t already). Your responses could shape my content choices in the coming year, so speak up!

And allow me to wish you a very happy, healthy and crafty new year. Thank you so much for reading, commenting and sharing. Knitters are the best people!

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Comments

  4. I concur with Lyn… Problem is, our LYS is closing and I “might” not have enough yarn to make it through 2015. Happy New Year!!

Have you read?

Michaels Acquires Joann Intellectual Property; Joann Website Now Forwards to Michaels

Craft retailer Michaels has acquired the intellectual property and private label brands of now-defunct retailer Joann, according to a media release, and the Joann website now forwards to Michaels. 

The releases states that Michaels will be developing the “beloved Big Twist® brands as part of the Michaels portfolio.” It also notes plans to expand its offerings in the fabric, sewing and yarn categories, with more than 600 new products being added. 

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to welcome JOANN customers into our creative community and are committed to delivering the selection, value, and inspiration they are looking for at Michaels,” David Boone, CEO of Michaels, said in the release. 

Specific to yarn, the company notes it has plans to expand its yarn selection by 25 percent this year, including releasing more than 60 new private-label Loops & Threads products beginning this month, expanding offerings of Lion Brand and the Yarnspirations family of brands, and welcoming Big Twist yarns. 

The release specifically mentions Big Twist Value Plus, Big Twist Twinkle, Big Twist Posh and Big Twist Baby Bear, and notes that the offerings are “now being developed as part of Michaels portfolio of brands and will be available in-stores and online later this year.”

No word on what this means for Herrschners, which previously announced it would carry Big Twist. Its page announcing the news still says “at this time we are not able to release details on specific Big Twist varieties or colors, or the exact date the yarn will be available to order” and encourages signing up for email updates.

This news comes just days after the final closing of the last Joann locations and the appearance of a message on their website talking about “stitching up something new.” The Joann website now forwards to a landing page for craft retailer Michaels. 

“Welcome Joann customers,” it says at the top. “We’ve got your go-to essentials and so much more.” The page also notes “everyone is welcome at our craft table” and says the website is a source for “fabrics, yarn, notions & more.”

Further down the page it says “With JOANN stores closing, Michaels is excited to welcome new makers, crafters, and sewing enthusiasts into our community” and has a string of links to product categories these shoppers might be looking for. It says Michaels carries “many of the favorites that Joann customers love” including patterned fabric, yarn, ribbons and notions. 

The release calls this a “dedicated landing page” with a “curated assortment of products” they think are relevant to the Joann shopper. 

If you go directly to Micheaels.com, you see their regular website but there is a link at the top of the page for Joann customers that leads to the same page linked above. 

The release doesn’t mention opening any new stores in towns left without a craft store thanks to the Joann closure. It does note they have 1,300 stores in 49 states and in Canada, and they have both US and Canada-facing websites. 

What do you think of this news? It’s not the exciting future I’d hoped for with Joanns cryptic announcement, but I know legions of knitters and crocheters will be happy to know Big Twist will live on, and other crafters will probably be happy about expanded selection at Michaels.