Fall Greetings!

We had the strangest weather this past weekend - it rained! Our usual weather means we don't see rain from sometime in May until early November. Ok, so once in a while we get a day of drips in June but not real rain. They predicted dry lightening but turns it it came with actual rain. It made it feel like fall - a bit warmer than November rain, but nice nonethelss.

It didn't seem like there were as many vendors at our Webster Jam last weekend as in previous years, but there was a fudge vendor from Livermore with some tasty dark chocolate fudge. I'm always on the look-out for good chocolate treats!

Society of Soie Surfine
...when only the finest will do!

Earlier this summer I got a real treat from Anne at Gloriana Threads. She'd accidentally dyed some Au ver a Soie Soie Surfine and I was the happy recipient of this fortuitous mistake. I started stitching on a piece of 45 count Lakeside Linens with it (some of you have seen my tiny pieces) and a love story was born...

Fast forward to today and I'm really pleased to announce the formation of the Society of Soie Surfine. We are a cooperative of five needlework shops dedicated to the finest in counted-thread supplies. And by finest I do mean very fine count linens and the finest of threads. We all love working on and selling high-count linens and have searched for a thread that works well on 40 and 45 count linen. And we've found it in Au ver á Soie's Soie Surfine. Soie Surfine is a 130/2 twisted silk thread that stitches like a dream - as smooth as...silk!

We have arranged with Gloriana Threads to hand-dye Soie Surfine exclusive for our Society of Soie Surfine Member Shops and as a stitcher you can become a Society Subscriber by purchasing a subscription to the Society. Our hand-dyed Soie Surfine threads are limited editions and available only through the Society - no one else will have them.

Our first subscription (Series #1) is just now starting and will last for 6 months. We will be featuring 5 thread colors and 1 fabric during the six months. Our first thread color is called Carmine Rose and is a lovely Red/Rose tone-on-tone color. It comes in a 100 yd twisted skein packaged in a crystal clear bag you can put on a ring to organize your subscription threads.

The fabric will be a custom color dyed for us by Lakeside Linens and will be available in 40 or 45 count during the series. It is coordinated to go with the 5 thread colors we have picked for this series. The fabric will be approximately 18x12 in size, enough for some fine design use. Additional yardage can be ordered by Subscribers during Series #1.

While we do not currently have any designs that call for this limited edition thread and fabric, we are investigating having a design created for it and will let Subscribers know how that comes along. But we know everyone has lovely designs that call out for some special thread and fabric so we're sure our Series #1 subscription will find great designs to be paired with.

Series #1 subscriptions are $18 for each month for 6 months ($108 total). This entitles Society Subscribers to 1 skein each of the 5 thread colors and one piece of 40 or 45 count fabric (approx. 18x12) over the 6 month time period. You will receive 1 skein of thread or the fabric each month (we haven't yet decided which month the fabric will come). Subscriptions are limited so sign-up now to ensure your receipt of these unique threads and fabric. You can sign-up through us by calling the shop or through the on-line catalog. Be sure to specify which count fabric you want as part of your Subscription. For more information on the Society and up-to-date information visit The Society News blog.

Society Member shops are: Needle In A Haystack, Acorns and Threads, Attic Needlework, Stitchville USA and Traditional Stitches.

Lace Knitters @ NIAH

The lace knitting group that used to meet at Lacis has found a new home at NIAH. Mary Frances, who is our newest staff member is part of this group and we're happy to have them use the shop for their meetings. They will be meeting from 1 to 3 on the third Sunday of every month to share adventures in lace knitting. Their first meeting is this coming Sunday, September 20th.

The group is open to anyone who wants to knit lace. If you are a beginner, the group will share their expertise, and if you are a seasoned lace knitter, they will be happy to learn from you. Bring along your latest project and join the lace knitters as as they encourage, applaud, and if necessary commiserate with one another through lace knitting thicks and thins.

A knitter since childhood, and a lace knitter for most of her life, Mary Frances has taught knitting at the Shanti Project in San Francisco, at local yarn shops, and informally to anyone who wanted to learn. She also designs (because she can never just knit a pattern without fiddling with it), and is an expert in stash acquisition. Mary Frances will bring along her latest design to the next meeting, a wee lace tablecloth featured on the cover of this month's PieceWork, and show you how to turn the shop's lovely silken threads into a tiny knitted treasure.

Stitch 'n Zip Trunkshow

Eyeglass Case Poppies	Cosmetic Case/Purse Tropical Fish
Scissors Case Stars	Coin Purse Poppy on Scrolls

This is the last week of our Stitch 'n Zip trunkshow from Alice Peterson, which ends Sunday the 20th. All SNZ designs are available via our on-line catalog so you can view the photos and order on-line if you're not able to make it into the shop. The full kits come with the pre-finished silkscreen design, threads, needle and instructions. Just stitch it up and if you want, add a nice fabric to the inside when you're done to make an even prettier finish. There are also blank pre-finished kits for some of the sizes so you can create your own design. All kits are all 18 mesh on interlock canvas. The thread in the kits is DMC floss and you don't even need to strip them down - just stitch with all 6 strands intact.

If you purchase any of the Stitch 'n Zip kits during the Trunkshow you will earn Double Stitching Has Its Rewards points on your trunkshow purchases. These make great gifts for family and friends and are quick to stitch up. So don't delay!

What's New & Updates

Just a handful of new items in the past few days. More will be coming soon...

• Magazine - Cross Stitch & Needlework issues for July, September & November
• Books - A to Z of Silk Ribbon Flowers by Ann Cox ($40)
• Glendon Place - Sleepy Hollow
• Kit & Bixby - Dreidel Wool
• Jeannette Douglas Designs - Take Time to Scrapbook (chart & thread pack)
• Little House Needlworks - Pumpkins 4 Sale, A Walk in the Park
• Mirabilia - Shakespeare's Fairies
• Sam Sarah Designs - Baubles; K is for Kimono, PEARLS - Yikes!

Blackbird Designs - Tis Halloween ordering information in available in the on-line catalog. You can order the booklet, the fabrics and the threads for all 13 stockings in one place.

You can find quite a few newly released charts through the Hoffman Merchant Mall and you can place orders for anything in the Hoffman on-line catalog. You're also welcome to check out our other 2 main distributors, Norden Crafts and Wichelt Imports to see what's new or what other fun things are available we've not mentioned.

September Releases

The 2009 issue of Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue arrived Tuesday so we've starting send them out to those of you who've pre-ordered them. We have plenty so if you haven't already ordered yours they are in stock at the shop now. You can give us a call or sign-up via the on-line catalog.

If you follow Kathy Barrick's Blog you'll see she's been posting photos of the square that make up Carriage House Samplings Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow. We'll be bringing them back with us when its released at the St. Charles market next weekend. We have a page in the on-line catalog where you can pre-order the chart, the fabric and the NPI Silk threads. If you wish to use a color other than Examplar or Vintage Examplar, you can order that through our regular fabric catalog or give us a call at the shop. We have been ordering custom cuts of Examplar and Vintage Examplar for the piece in 36 and 40 count and extra Stitcher's Halves of the 32 count. You can keep up with Kathy via her Blog for the latest news.

The St. Charles market next weekend means we'll be bringing back many new goodies for the shop. I haven't been able to keep up with all of them, and I need to go over the Lakeside Linens list of new designs to make sure I've ordered enough fabric :-). We'll post more new stuff after the show.

2009 Series

Just Another Button Company is continuing their fun series of designs for their button packs with the Cup O'Tea series. We get a new design each month and you get the design with the purchase of the button pack. You can see all of the available Teapot or Teacup series in our on-line catalog.

Blackbird Designs - 2009 Loose Feathers Club -- The 2009 series is well underway with the releases of #35, #36, #37 and #38. If you've not signed up for the 2009 Club you can do so by calling the shop or on-line.

I'm continuing to make good progress on my Zecca purse. The bird's feathers are done and I need to start on its spindly legs (my husband does not understand how this bird stands on such thin little things). I'm posting photos to my personal blog so you can see the progress. I also posted photos of all the bears we made for Rachele and a photo Rachele sent of them in their new home.

Happy Stitching,

Cathe
...and Debi, Leila, Jennifer, Mary, Ali, Caroline, Sherry, Mary Frances, Susan and Margaret

510-522-0404 *  877-HAYSTAC *  877-429-7822
1533 Webster Street  *  Alameda, CA 94501

Shop Hours: Tuesday 11am - 8pm, Wed - Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sun 1pm - 4pm
Monday By Appointment

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