New Yarn/fiber Club!

Abstract Fiber presents a new yarn club! Our customers keep asking us to do a club, and we've finally decide to give it a go. We discussed the things we would want in a club and thought about some other clubs and came up with these ideas.

We will offer six installments, one every other month starting February 2012.

We will deliver a new, exclusive Abstract Fiber color with every issue. Only club members get to have these colors for one whole year after issue.

We will get great designers to design very pretty things with our yarn. We've got Sivia Harding, Mary Scott Huff, Chrissy Gardiner, and more.

We will offer more than just socks. Socks are good, but variety is even better.

Sometimes one skein just isn't enough. All projects will have the option to make more. Maybe a larger size, or a set of things, or a different style that needs more yarn. We know very clever designers and will encourage them to be creative with this concept.

We will not forget that many of our loyal fans are spinners. Fiber instead of yarn will be an option. Sometimes we may not be able to get the exact same fiber blend as the yarn, but we will take good care of our spinners and get them great stuff to spin. The colors will be the same.

We will offer discounts or coupons for early adopters.

We think it might be fun to offer prizes for club members who post finished items on Ravelry. Do you?

And how about getting to try new, luxurious yarns? Silk and/or cashmere blends, or a little texture? Something we might offer the world, but only after our club members get a preview? New introductions anyone? Probably some old favorites too.

Click here to sign up!

Field Trip!

Last week Karen, Colton, and I skipped work and took a field trip. One of the things I like about living in Portland is how quickly the city ends and farmland begins. Our trip led us to pick up beef at Sheila's farm. Sheila raises happy cows that become the best beef.

But she also raises yaks. (Of course when I say Sheila, I mean Sheila and her husband, he was most obliging in convincing the yaks to come near the scary strangers.) How often do you get a chance to meet yaks? They have definite personalities, and were very entertaining during our visit. After hiding in a far pasture out of view, the first yak appeared, following a bucket of apples. The next appeared at a run, 'wait for me, I want some' like a puppy after a ball. One yak tried to cuddle with the man with the apples, or push him away from her apples or something. I had to ask if she was really trying to stab her master. Apparently not. The cows looked genuinely frightened. They sounded frustrated which they were. The apples were yummy, but the yaks seem to be in charge of such bounty and don't like cow drool in their food. Who could blame them, really? So the poor cattle had to wait their turn.

In addition to the gorgeous and entertaining yaks, we saw sheep, some rare spinning wheels, and rare wools. What a great day!