Mar 31
Hello and happy happy Spring!
Two color colorwork kits – Netty anyone?
It seems like it has been ages (actually, it has been!) since our last shop update. We spent March dealing with sickness, travel, weather (dyeing outside – good times) and, again, being sick. The good (very good) news is we are caught up. The March 1st orders have begun shipping with the rest leaving the studio tomorrow and Tuesday this week.
So, tomorrow, Monday, April 1st at 8:00 p.m. Eastern right here on the plucky blog. Please join us – it’s the place to be!
I’m happy to let you know that for the first time in quite some time all the bases (except Bulky) will be available. That means you can pick your (available) color and have it dyed for you. Want to make a Chocolate Stout? You can! Rustic is back in the house. Have your heart set on a sweater in Primo Aran dyed up in Grandma Bev? You can get that tomorrow!
Bases available:
Primo (fingering, sport, worsted, aran)
Plucky Feet
Plucky Sweater
Rustic
Traveler (sport & aran!)
Cozy
Single
Colorwork kits – Two color and three color kits will be available (even a mystery version!).
Three skein kits will be available in the following bases: Primo Fingering or Sport or Traveler Sport.
Esjan Kits – Esjan kits (no pattern. pattern can be purchased via Ravelry) will be FOUR skein kits. One skein color A, two skeins B and 1 skein C and available on either Traveler ARAN or Primo ARAN.
And, for the very first time, we have Plucky LACE! LACE is a lovely 2ply laceweight (sort of a “chunky” lace weight) with a composition of 70.20.10 merino, silk & baby camel, 750 yards.
Plucky LACE – Singin’ The Blues
In addition to colorwork kits, the following is a very small sampling of the colorways available tomorrow.
Breakfast on 5th, Pollen, Gone Glamping & Grandma Bev
Please note: This is a pre-order update and ships according to our pre-order policy.
My sincere thanks and very best wishes for a lovely Spring-y week ahead!
Mar 11
Good Monday morning to you! Seth asked that I share the following with you:
After days of discussion and planning, we have decided to simplify the Plucky Classics process. Hold on, cause this might just be kind of amazing (at least I hope). Here is the plan…
On or by March 14th, we cancel all current subscriptions and refund subscription payments made for April delivery.
Once all subs are cancelled, Sarah will announce a sign-up period to take place for April’s Classics. Most likely later this week, but it might be next week (Sarah will announce right here on the Plucky blog). We will keep this sign-up open for as long as we can, at least a couple of days, to give everyone serious about Classics a chance to sign up for what they want.
We will use the blog update style. Pick your base. Pick your quantity. Checkout. Simple, right? No cart jacking. No crashing servers. Pretty much everyone’s favorite, right?
So, what do you need to do? We ask that you review your current subscription and have in mind what you’d like your new subscription to be. Please Do Not Cancel At This Time. Sarah and I will handle all cancellations (to make sure you are refunded for already-paid-for April Classics).
Then, be ready when Sarah announces the sign-up dates.
Why are we doing this? Well, Classics has a tendency to get a little messy over time. People want in, people want out, and people want to change what they’re getting every month. The sign-up periods in the past were not always on the same dates of the month, so sometimes people are paying over two months in advance for their yarn or they’ve got a payment on the 10th of February and a payment on the 10th of March… both for April Classics, which is kind of crazy impossible to keep track of on our end.
So with the new arrangement you will be signing up (and paying) in March and you receive your shipment in April. Then you will be billed again in May for your June shipment and so on. Classics will always ship the month after you pay for them.
Some things to remember…
If your subscription doesn’t work in a particular month (credit card failed, account closed, etc.), it is your responsibility to work that out with us (pluckycustomerservice@gmail.com). We cannot re-initiate payment requests on subscriptions (not that I’ve found), so if your payment fails, you may miss Classics for the period, or even be dropped off the list if your payment method doesn’t work the next time. Please be sure to include your subscription number in all correspondence.
There will, of course, be opportunities to change your Classics subscription in the future, which we will explain in more detail when the time comes. And you can cancel any time before your subscription payment date if you no longer wish to receive Classics.
Well, that’s probably enough from me. Feel free to ask questions and we will do our best to help you. If you know you have a subscription and paid for April Classics and do not receive your refund by the end of this week, please contact us @ pluckycustomerservice@gmail.com and we will get that worked out.
Wow, this is going to be so awesome come April. Seriously, you guys might not know this, but I pretty much do most of my crying and drinking when it is Classics month due to all the date confusion and missing information on some old sign-ups.
Alright, sum it up… don’t cancel anything, Sarah and I will cancel your Classics and send refunds to those who’ve paid for April already. Signups will be announced soon!
Thanks and have a great day!
Seth
Feb 28
We’re back from Friday Harbor and try as I might no one would let me bring this little guy home with me. Ah, well. My boys would have gone all terrier berzerk anyway. It’s probably for the best.
So it is high time to get back to business. It is update time! Tomorrow, Friday March 1 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern and again at 8:00 p.m. Eastern in the evening (we want to accommodate as many time zones as possible) right here on the plucky blog. It’s the place to be!
And for the first time in a very long time all the bases (except Rustic) will be available!
brand new Plucky Single – Fingering weight. 430 yards per skein
Following are a sampling of the colorways available tomorrow. There will be several others not shown. 
Feb 12
Good morning Plucky pals – both new & old!
As I’ve said before (and it totally bears repeating), the heart and soul of Plucky is you – our wonderful, caring, funny and oh so talented customers and knitty friends who share our passion for hand-dyed yarns in unique colors (on the best custom milled bases I can find!), that steal our imaginations and spark our creativity. I feel truly blessed to be able to serve so many of you and to see what you create. You have no idea what joy I get from sharing our work and creations with you and hearing your positive feedback.
However, from time to time we do get complaints about availability, which I welcome (after all, we always want to improve) though I have to say, also trouble me greatly because Plucky is all about pleasing our customers.
To address those occasional complaints and confusion, allow me for a moment to reflect on where we’ve been and where we are today.
When I first began dyeing yarn in my tiny cottage I never would have imagined five years later it would have become my full time job. Plucky has grown from a single person–me!–to a small group of family members (and friends who are truly family – literally I’ve known them about as long as I’ve know my own sister) who work with me to get your yarn to you.
While the Plucky team has increased slightly in number, all Plucky yarns are still created by Hayley (my sweet and just as nutty sister who totally gets my passion and, dare I say it, crazy) and Tiffany (dear cousin and raiser of sheep… stay tuned) and, of course, Ryan, who tells us what to do and when to do it and me. We all work very hard to hand dye your yarn in just the right shade(s), and we continue to take great joy in sharing it with our customers – many of whom have become dear friends.
While production is increasing a bit you still will not be able find it in stores all over the country (just a few carefully chosen stores) or available 24/7 on the internet because Plucky can only be produced through a personal, passionate, handmade process. That is just how I feel it needs to be done.
Please know that all of my business decisions are made with you in mind and I am constantly working with my team (ok, my family and a few special friends who, for better or worse, have to stick with me) to find new and better ways to serve you and get yarn to you more easily and often. After all, as I mentioned earlier, the heart and soul of Plucky is you, our wonderful customers.
On another very positive note, there are several exciting things on the horizon for 2013, the most exciting of which is a new studio!! Do you know what that means?! We will be even more productive and not so at the mercy of mother nature as we have been (-9 degrees in January and 108 in July. Oy….).
I have also made changes in the administration and organization of customer service inquiries and emails as well as the shipping and tagging of the yarn. We also will be re-vamping our website. All of this will help me focus on what I love—dyeing, dreaming up colors, bases, kits and working with designers and, of course, chatting and knitting along with you lovelies online!
So, after all that rambling – really the one thing I want you to know is:
My priority has always been, and will continue to be, my online customers. It is where I started and where my focus will remain. This community we have created is so special and I feel very strongly that we keep it open, warm and welcoming.
Please know how much I appreciate you. I do not your take interest and enthusiasm for granted nor will I ever. It is never lost on me that you have many options where you could spend your hard earned money and precious time, and I am so honored that you choose Plucky.
Jan 27
Instructions for Class Sign Ups- READ QUICKLY FIRST!
As this registration page goes live at 8 PM Sunday the 27th, there are about seventy class seats available spread out over the following eight choices. Each class costs $85. You may sign up for up to one choice in each of three time slots.
YOU MUST KNOW THAT WHEN YOUR PAYPAL CONFIRMATION ARRIVES, THIS ONLY MEANS THAT YOUR REGISTRATION WILL BE FORWARDED TO LORILEE WHO HAS TO MANUALLY SEAT YOU ONE REGISTRATION AT A TIME, IN ORDER OF THE TIMESTAMP ON YOUR PAYPAL RECEIPT. IT IS COMPLETELY POSSIBLE THAT A FEW OF THE LAST REGISTRANTS WITH A PAYPAL CONFIRMATION MAY ACTUALLY GET SHUT OUT. IN THIS CASE YOU WILL BE REFUNDED AND NOTIFIED OF BEING PUT ON A WAIT LIST. THIS IS BECAUSE ALL THE CLASSES WILL NOT FILL EVENLY. PLEASE UNDERSTAND.
DON’T GO ABOUT BOOKING FLIGHTS AND RESERVING HOTEL ROOMS UNTIL YOU HEAR FROM LORILEE. SHE WILL BEGIN CONFIRMING RIGHT AT ABOUT 8:15 PM THE 27TH AND CONTINUE UNTIL ALL ARE SENT, EVEN IF LATE THAT NIGHT.
THAT CONFIRMATION WILL INCLUDE CLASS LOCATION AND SOME HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS. WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF ROOMS RESERVED AT ONE FACILITY, BUT YOU ARE FREE TO GO OUTSIDE THAT AND MAKE YOUR OWN ARRANGEMENTS. IN NO WAY ARE YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT BY GETTING A CLASS YOU WILL BE GUARANTEED A PLACE IN A ROOM WE HAVE RESERVED. WE ONLY MANAGED THAT FOR RETREATERS. YOU WILL BE GIVEN A CODE FOR A DISCOUNT AT ONE PARTICULAR LOCATION ONLY, AND THEY ONLY HAVE TEN 2-bed ROOMS THERE.
THANKS!!! Now, good luck.
April 26 & 27, 2013 – Friday and Saturday
Plucky Knitter Open House & Knitting Classes – Holland, Michigan
Holland, Michigan. Class location will be provided to confirmed class-takers.
Friday afternoon class 2:00 – 5:00
2 options:
Bohus Knitting Tradition
Anne Berk
Skill: Intermediate
Prerequisites: Knitting, purling, experience with stranded colorwork and ability to knit with yarn in either hand.
The Bohus Stickning knitting collective in Sweden produced unique hand-knit garments from 1939 until the early 1960′s. The charts used were designed by artists with the goal of aesthetic beauty, rather than ease of execution – and are laborious to knit – but stunning. In contrast to Fair Isle patterns, Bohus charts often use more than 2 colors per row, and purls add texture to the stockinette fabric. We will analyze charts, discuss yarns that will best capture the spirit of the designs, and the history of the Bohus collective.
Students Should Bring: Plucky Knitter yarn will be provided for the class sample. If you wish to compare yarns, you may bring to class fingering weight yarns, preferably with some angora content, which is what Bohus sweaters use. Kid Silk Haze or Jamieson’s Spindrift, or fine alpaca yarns are acceptable choices, desiring a gauge of 7 sts and 10 rows/1″, with size 2 needles. Needles: bring various needle sizes from 1-3, as we will experiment with gauge. DPN’s or 16″ circular needles.
Homework: None
It’s All in the Details- Necklines and Cuffs
Fiona Ellis
Intermediate to advanced level
Fiona believes that the design of a garment does not end at devising beautiful fabric or patterning. That to add polish and finesse to any project attention must be given to the trims and finishes – especially at the neckline. She has developed many ways to do this. In this class she will show you samples of her favourites and discuss the decision-making that goes into this aspect. You will also be able to try 2-3 of the techniques so that you will know how to include them in your own projects.
Materials: partial balls of 2-3 medium weight yarn in contrasting colours, yarn-appropriate needles.
Homework: none.
Saturday morning schedule
8:30 – 11:30 for Fiona and Anne / 9:00 – 12:00 for Lorilee
2 options:
Intarsia with a Twist
Anne Berk
Skill: Intermediate
Prerequisites: Basic intarsia skills, ability to knit and purl flat and in the round.
Go beyond the basics of intarsia colorwork, and learn to follow complex and simple chart motifs, identify and fix mistakes, and do appropriate finishing techniques including mattress stitch, and weaving in ends efficiently. We will learn how to knit intarsia in the round (ITR) , with no visible seam, and how to convert intarsia patterns easily from flat to ITR. The ITR method taught is similar to one that Priscilla Gibson-Roberts attributed to a Bolivian method. You will knit a small bag either flat or in the round, using intarsia technique, which can later be felted.
Students Should Bring: Yarn needle and scissors. Books, magazines or patterns with intarsia designs that interest you, photographs or drawings you want to discuss as possible intarsia projects. Metal board and magnets for holding charts, and/or post-it notes. For the project bag: Assorted colors of 100% worsted weight wool yarn, as the bags are designed to be felted. Total yardage needed is about 150 yds (75 grams). Size 8 or 9 circular needle, 16 length, for knitting flat or in the round. Straight needles may be used if you wish to knit the bag flat.
Homework: None beside gathering materials
Saturday afternoon
1:30 – 4:30 for Fiona and Anne / 2:00 – 5:00 for Lorilee
2 options:
Experiment with Colour and Fair Isle
Fiona Ellis
Advanced beginner to advanced level
Working with colour can be so much fun! And dreaming up your own colour story is very rewarding. In this workshop we will look at colour theory and apply it to knitting. There will be time to experiment by yourself to see what happens when you introduce a new colour palette to a tried and tested pattern. For students who are unsure of how to work the Fair Isle method instruction will be given.
Materials: partial balls (a few yards each) in medium weight yarns, bring as many colours as you can and are willing to share, pair of yarn-appropriate needles, squared paper, coloured pencils (if you have them).
Homework: none.
ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTORS
Anne Berk
Anne Berk was certified by The Knitting Guild of America as a Master Knitter in 2003. She has been a knitting instructor since 1998. She has taught Annetarsia techniques for Sock Summit, Madrona Fiber Arts, and local yarn store classes. Her designs and articles have been published by Simply Shetland, ShibuiKnits, Interweave Press, Piecework, Twist Collective, Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Vogue Knitting and more. Her DVD titled Inside Intarsia is available from Interweave Press.
She is an optometrist and enjoys choral singing and distance running.
Fiona Ellis
Fiona graduated from DeMontfort University (England) with a degree in fashion knitwear design in 1993 and has been designing professionally ever since. Her work is much sought after, with sustained exposure in leading magazines such as Vogue Knitting, online in each issue of Twist Collective and as product support for yarn manufacturers. Demand for personal appearances and workshop instruction at international conferences and guilds, she is also a on-line instructor at Craftsy. She is the author of Inspired Cable Knits, Knitspiration Journal and Inspired Fair Isle Knits.
Lorilee Beltman
This former yarn shop owner’s experience providing answers for a steady stream of questioning knitters taught her the value of delivering an honest answer with kindness. Her most sought-after course is continental knitting. She also enjoys teaching projects that introduce new techniques. For her, a classroom full of curious minds is a most happy place. Since 2009, she has enjoyed her students at national events and now looks forward to meeting you in class!
Her designs have been published in Interweave Knits, Interweave Sockupied eMag, Twist Collective, Beyond Toes by Judy Becker, and The Ultimate Hat Book from Vogue Knitting.
Tent-camping with her husband and boys and has brought her to over twenty National and Provincial Parks.
Signup Here
Please choose your class signups options below. Choose no more than 1 from each drop-down, as each drop-down represents one time slot.
Friday Afternoon
Saturday Morning
Saturday Afternoon
Jan 5
and in with the new!
It’s a brand new year and time to mix things up a bit. We’re having a little plucky retirement party tomorrow, Sunday, January 6th and Monday, January 7th for several of our oldies but goodies that are retiring this week. Time to get them while the getting is good! Those being retired are:
Oz
Aunt Hazel
Roasted Pumpkin
5th Avenue
Chantilly
Blueberry Sour
Fly The Concord
And now, introducing the first new colorways of 2013!
The retirement party and/or debut of new colorways will be tomorrow, Sunday, January 6th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern AND Monday morning, January 7th at 9:00 a.m. Eastern right here on the Plucky blog.
We truly do want to accommodate as many timezones and schedules as possible and we have again structured this update so you are able to choose a true rainbow of hues (forty-three… 43 colorways!) from across the plucky bases.
Bases available: Primo Fingering, Sport, Worsted & Aran, Plucky Feet & Sweater, Rustic, Plucky Bulky and (finally!) Plucky Traveler and Traveler ARAN.
PLEASE NOTE: Traveler ARAN and Traveler SPORT are on back-order and will ship late February.
Thank you so much and best wishes for a lovely week, month and year ahead!
