August...the calmest part of summer. LONG days and waning sunlight. A great time of year to ponder plans for the future, but not get energetic about them just yet.  Still time to recharge your batteries before the chill of fall gets you up and moving again.

The Fall Knitting Retreat at Winter Clove Inn is filling up. A whole group of friends got together to come...what a great idea! We still have 10 spots open, so ponder what you'd like to be doing the first week of November and take a look at the projects lined up. If you love stranded knitting and color in your hands, you will LOVE the small projects for this retreat. They would make wonderful gifts for anyone.  Check them out by clicking on the picture below.

We are taking August to play with a few new ideas here at Countrywool. Our first ever SOAPMAKING CLASS and HAND SEWN PATCHWORK POTHOLDERS classes are listed below. These homemaking classes will be part of our summer lineup in the future, and we hope you enjoy them when hot weather arrives.

We are also working on our presence. So many of you check in there and at that we decided to make it easier for you to see what is happening here. When you  us, you will hear all about the FACEBOOK ONLY sales for the month of August.  When you come by to shop and say the magic word...voila...you'll get the sale price for the yarn mentioned that week!

If you are a wanna-be yarn dyer, there is a special class just for you at Columbia Greene Community College. Check it out!

Knitting on Sundays has been put on hold until September as everyone is doing fun things outside. But watch for it next month along with our extended FALL HOURS.

NEW IN THE SHOP:
........100% cotton and 100% wool quilting batts.
........100% cotton quilting fabric
........100% cotton quilting kits
........Quilting threads and notions

CLASSES THIS MONTH:

Tuesday, August 7: MAKING SWEET ANNIE SOAP: 8 am - 1 pm. Learn the whole process of creating lye based soap using all natural ingredients and organic Sweet Annie grown at Countrywool. Take home over 4 pounds of soap.  LIMITED TO 4 SOAPERS! All ingredients provided. You may bring all your own ingredients (up to 16 oz frozen goats milk) if you wish but results will not be guaranteed.  You may come to just observe the process at a reduced fee. Bring a bag lunch. $105.

Sunday, August 12: Hand Painting Yarn at Columbia-Greene Community College: 12noon-3pm.  Call (518)828-4181 to sign up. $36.

new!  Sunday, August 26, 12 noon - 3 pm. HANDSEWN POTHOLDERS: Log Cabin. Our introductory class for those new to hand sewing and quilting. Make beautiful pieced traditional Log Cabin patchwork squares and turn them into potholders. No experience needed.  Bring your own fabrics or pick up a 100 % cotton kit with everything included except the sewing needle and thread ($13.50). Pattern supplied. $25. Prepayment required.

Friday through Sunday, November 2-4: North Atlantic Knitting Techniques at Winter Clove Inn, Round Top, NY. Come and relax with a fabulous group of knitters while you learn a few new things and laugh a lot. $175 for the classes; $230 for your room and meals. Bring your friends and have a grand time in the gorgeous Catskill Mountains.

Happy Knitting and Spinning!

Claudia