Oh yeah, we love crafts too.

Allison — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:09:04 +0000

I started my Christmas knitting but I’m also planning which cookies I am making and starting to piece together some of my holiday cards. I realized there are probably lots of other knitters and crocheters out there just like me. Your craftiness doesn’t end with yarn and you aren’t always using it with hooks or needles. I was first introduced to yarn while making plastic canvas tissue box covers with my grandmother when I was 6. Then, a decade or so later, I used a furry, eyelash type of yarn and wrapped it around a large wreath form. That wreath, which is a bit tattered, still goes on my inside door every Christmas season. It wasn’t until my early days at Plymouth Yarn that I started knitting almost daily. I am always looking for deals on blocks of paper and scrapbook supplies. I’ve tried at least half of Martha Stewart’s recipes. I own hundreds of buttons but rarely use them in clothing. Finally, anytime I go on vacation I try to find a ceramic studio to take my son to, as they are few and far between where I live. My yarn stash lives down in my basement but I have 3 shelves of non-yarn goodies too.

Where am I going with this? Most of us who like to play with yarn, also like to craft, bake and create. We had a rare snow in Bucks County, PA over the weekend and it was a wet, cold, slushy mess. I opted to stay in and found a fun website that caters to all of my crafting needs. If you are looking for a project, of any type, check out Craftfoxes. I found this adorable free pattern for a crochet zombie from the book Crobots: 20 Amigurumi Robots To Make by Nelly Pailloux. Image by Andrew Perris. Encore DK would be perfect for this project.

Crobots: 20 Amigurumi Robots to Make

I also found this fun free pattern for a crochet sandwich from the book Yummy ‘Gurumi: Over 60 Gourmet Crochet Treats to Make by Christen Haden and Mariarosa Sala. Image by Jeremy Hopley. You’ll find the perfect colors in Encore Worsted. Everyone needs a crocheted sandwich, it has only a fraction of the calories a real sandwich has!

Yummy 'Gurumi: Over 60 Gourmet Crochet Treats to Make

I also found how-tos on recycling old books, DIY decor, recipes from pickles to cookies, and so much more. They even have instructions on coffee dying! So if you want to make your holiday gifts this year, craftfoxes is the place to start. Become their fan on facebook and follow them on twitter. Find a yarn shop near you to start with those knitting and crochet patterns!

Employee Spotlight….Meet Betty!

Allison — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:21:00 +0000

Our Betty Boop

Plymouth Yarn Company has been in business for just over 47 years and we’d like to introduce you to Betty, a fixture here since 1966. We thought it was time to honor our awesome octogenarian! Betty just celebrated her 87th birthday in May and we couldn’t be happier that she spent her day with us.

Betty on her 87th Birthday!

Betty is one of three sisters and moved to Pennsylvania from Buffalo, NY when she was 15. Betty was employed at The Hunter Arms Company during World War II, assembling parts for machine guns. She was married to her late husband Francis for 30 years and has one very talented son, Jack who is a local artist. You can see some of his paintings in one of the shops on Historic Mill Street, here in Bristol Borough.
Betty enjoys watching QVC, the Phillies, relaxing and cooking. Her favorite singer is Frank Sinatra. She loves her jewelry and is always wearing beautiful pieces.

Looking Good!

Making color cards

Betty worked with us full time up until just a few years ago. When she started at Plymouth, she would sort and wind yarn, pull orders and you can still find her five days a week making color cards. She says that her least favorite job, of all the many she has done here, is using the yarn bailer. Her favorite part (and this is why we love her) is all the friends she has made, especially Gloria. She has always loved working for Dick Power Sr, Dick Power Jr and Butch. She enjoys her work here and says “it keeps me young.” Thank you to our “Betty Boop” for 45 years of dedication and friendship.

Plymouth Yarn Blog » cooking

Oh yeah, we love crafts too.

Employee Spotlight….Meet Betty!