Baaad Anna's Yarn Store

We could all use a pick me up these days, so for the next few weeks we will offer a one-day sale every Sunday for you to pick up a sweater quantity at an affordable price, or even just a single skein of that something special to treat yourself.

This week we will offer our entire remaining stock of Ocean Park Yarns at 40% off. This local Vancouver-area designer announced earlier this year that she will be retiring from yarn dyeing, so this may be your last chance to get some of her beautiful speckles, semi, and solid colourways on eco-friendly bases.

Enjoy your Sunday! We will weather this together, as we are stronger as a community.

There’s a new yarn line in town! And we’re in love. In fact, a number of our staff cast aside our WIPs to immediately cast on new sweaters with it (see below), and we are oh so happy that we did. If you missed your Fibres West browsing this year, you are not alone as the fibre art community was saddened at its postponement early in this isolation period, but every cloud has a silver lining… and ours is our new love affair with Chester Knits Yarn.

Dyed in Williams Lake, BC, using yarn from a Canadian mill, Chester Knits was founded by Jessica Kozuki in mid-2019. Although Jessica only recently launched Chester Knits, with her Lower Mainland debut originally scheduled for last month’s Fibres West show, she’s been dying yarn for five years and her fibre journey began long before that.

BROWSE HERE!

Meet Jessica Kozuki of Chester Knits. This is the Milu Shawl by Tamy Gore in her sport base.

A self-described farm girl of Norwegian descent from the Okanagan, Jessica comes from a family that enjoyed raising sheep and where everyone was a knitter, including her grandfather Chester (the Chester in Chester Knits!). As a child her family taught her about shearing sheep, carding wool, spinning and of course knitting, as well as instilling in her a deep love of nature and the outdoors. That deep love of nature is one that you’ll see reflected in the Chester Knits colour palette that is reminiscent of BC’s landscapes, wildflowers and semi-precious stones.

When Jessica had her first child her grandfather, Chester, gave her a beautiful layette that he knit for her new baby, which meant so much to her (check out Jessica’s Instagram post to see pictures of the layette, as well as her favourite picture of her grandfather). Continuing her family’s legacy around sheep, wool, knitting and nature is something Jessica is proud to be carrying on.

A Soldotna Crop WIP, knit in Chester Knits sport in colour ways Hematite, Pussywillow and Sundown.

Baaad Anna’s is currently the only store stocking Chester Knits yarn and we are lucky enough to be carrying both sport and worsted lines, with 48 colour ways in the sport and 29 colour ways in the worsted. Both yarns are dyed on superfine superwash merino bases and are tremendously soft and squishy. For those who enjoy tech specs, this yarn averages 17 microns and is that extra bit softer than most yarns intended for garments that are worn next to the skin which are 19-21 micron wool. You can learn more about yarn and microns in this interesting page from New Mexico State University.

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It’s also worth noting that the yarn bases come from a Canadian mill and are Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified which means that the wool comes from a farm that respects the welfare of the sheep and the land that they graze on. This is wool to feel good about.

For inspiration on what to make with your Chester Knits yarn, here are some examples of what we have made with it, as well as a few of Jessica’s own projects. The yarn is perfect for colourwork projects, for shawls, and for any project where the yarn will be touching your skin (like Jessie Maed Designs Framework Bralette).

Jessica is wearing her Weekender Sweater knit in Chester Knits worsted.

Chester Knits Soft Sport

115g/4oz; 259m/283y

Fibres:  100% Superfine Superwash Merino
Gauge:  24-26 sts = 4” (10 cm)
Needles:  US 3-5 (3.25-3.75mm)
$31.95

BUY HERE.

~ and ~

Chester Knits Cloud Worsted

115g/4oz; 194m/212y

Fibres:  100% Fine Superwash Merino
Gauge:  18–22 sts = 4” (10 cm)
Needles:  US 6-8 (4-5mm)
$31.95

Canadian milled and dyed.

BUY HERE.

The online store is stocked with Chester Knits yarn and while the store is still closed for browsing we are offering curbside pick-up and shipping options for customers. If you want any help selecting the right colours for your upcoming project, give us a call between 11am-2pm, when staff are in the store and available to help.

To follow along on with Chester Knits make sure to give Jessica a follow on Instagram @chesterknits.

We can’t wait to see what you knit with your Chester Knits yarn! We hope that you’ll find yourself as smitten with it as we are. This love is one that is here to stay.

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Today, April’s Fool, is my five year anniversary of ownership of Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store and it has been some of the most fulfilling years of my life.

There’s always something new to learn from our community, customers and team which makes each day unique and interesting. I feel blessed to be able to balance my impact on the fibre arts community while remaining active in the lives of my young school-aged daughters, and work hard daily not take this for granted. I have every person who supports our local, family owned business to thank for that, and I today I want to do just that. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

This August Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store celebrated 10 years of business, and despite what is going on in the world today, we aim to serve the fibre arts community for at least another decade. Thank you for partnering with us to make this community closer and stronger every day. Here’s to another 10 years!

Do you know anyone who could use a new skill in this crazy time? We will now be offering a Beginner Knitting class online to connect and expand our community of support, and need your help! Please help us spread the love of knitting by word of mouth to any of your near and dear that may benefit from a new skill. And for those that are interested in moving beyond the basic knit and purl, we are also offering an online knit-a-long fingerless mitts class that will teach a few new useful skills.

Knit me!!! This is the pattern designed by our teacher Rebecca specifically for this first-time knit class in choice of mitts or cowl!

While we all continue to stay at home during these unprecedented times, no one should ever feel alone and our mental health and well-being is more important than ever. Virtual knit nights, group meetings and fitness classes have become the new norm and they have given us the opportunity to stay connected to our community.

At Baaad Anna’s we have made the shift from in store classes to on line, using the Zoom app.  To access your class you will be provided a link at registration and if you down load the free Zoom app you can join in on your smart phone and or tablet as well, detailed guidelines can be seen here. This will allow us to continue to provide the opportunity to learn a new skill as well as provide a platform for students to meet and share with others online.  Research has shown knitting to have a measurable effect on calming anxiety and relieving stress as well as keeping us socially connected.

BEGINNER KNITTING – ONLINE

REGISTER HERE

BEYOND THE BASICS KNITTING CLASS ONLINE:

KNITTING ON DPNs IN THE ROUND AND CABLES

The KAL (knitalong) Vancouver Fog fingerless mitt pattern by Jen Balfour which we will work on together!

REGISTER HERE

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Although our store front remains closed to the public we continue to be available for online purchases and arranged curbside pick-ups for all your materials needed.

There’s many ways to meet up with other knitters this week. We have again updated our list of known virtual meet ups that are hosted by generous volunteers all week long. If you haven’t tried out this new window out to other knitters, it is well worth downloading the free app Zoom and joining in as I have found a real solace in this connection. And to those that have, it is nice to see your virtual face (and projects on the needles)!

Check the updates list for the week here; the first starting today at noon!

Also, keep an eye on Instagram tomorrow (Monday) at 7pm to catch me host a live video on how to make a felted soap… this super easy fibre art project can keep your captive household entertained, or can make for an e-date night with friends as it can be worked on together via your own live-chat evening with a glass of wine. An easy distraction; join me tomorrow for a demo on how!

Find all updates on upcoming VIRTUAL KNIT GROUPS here.

We have kits!

Sometimes a small knit is all you need. Maybe it’s right after finishing that complicated colour work sweater, a large shawl, getting off sleeve island or blocking that WIP (work in progress) that was sitting for far too long. Sometimes a small project is the perfect transition and palate cleanser before you dive into that next project. Maybe these times call for small knits – little joyful knits that are fast and lend themselves to short bursts of attention amidst all the things that demand our time (kids, work, news, those pesky dishes in the sink).

CHECK OUT GNOME KITS HERE

Knit up one gnome or two; each kit comes with everything you need to complete a gnome including an Imagine Landscapes pattern, yarn, stuffing and glass beads for bottom weights.

We have put together kits of everything you need to knit up one of these two patterns by Imagine Landscapes: Here We Gnome Again and Gnome Pun Intended. If you need a quick grab and go that we can get in the mail for your sanity, here’s a quick way to add a friend to your household.

If you aren’t yet familiar with Sarah Schira (@imagined_landscapes on Instagram), Imagined Landscapes, and her knitted gnomes, you should be. They are delightful, whimsical and relatively quick to knit up. They also appeal to the new and established knitter. You can follow the pattern or customize your gnome to your heart’s content (a mini sweater, a scarf, braids instead of a beard), there are no rules. A quick browse of Sarah’s Instagram, one of the gnome hashtags, or the projects tab in Ravelry and you can draw inspiration from the amazing creativity of gnome knitters everywhere.

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Over the past few weeks, Baaad Anna’s staff have done up some samples to share and we’ve also created two different kits in a number of colourways so that you can easily whip one up. Each kit includes everything you need: the pattern, yarn, washed llama hair filling, and glass bead weights.

The first kit, ‘Here We Gnome Again’, features a cabled body and hat and is a great gateway for anyone who has been curious about expanding their knitting skills to include cables but doesn’t yet want to commit to a cabled sweater or accessory.

The second kit, ‘Gnome Pun Intended’, features a slouchy hat and stockinette body that is perfect for knitters who want a balance between attention to detail and then some straightforward knitting in the round with a few increases.

Is it weird that we think each one has a bit of a different personality? Or that it looks like they might all be singing as a wee gnome chorus when they’re pictured together?

Consensus here at Baaad Anna’s is clear, waste gnome time before casting one of these cuties on!

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The gnome kits are now available in our online store or you can call us between 11am-2pm to order one over the phone. We can ship to you through our many shipping options or you can arrange for curbside pick up if you are local.

We are now collecting links to any online knit/crochet/maker groups that welcome anyone that would like to connect.

You can find a link to our most updated list in an ongoing basis on our homepage here:

CLICK: Upcoming Virtual Knit Groups under our LOCATIONS tab.

There are two happening today and one on Friday, and I will try to keep this list updated as I hear more. As we go further into social distancing, there is gifts of kindness like the hosting of these groups to help us stay a community.

Also, check out Janna from Everlea yarns community website, https://www.vancouveryarn.com/ for additional information on what’s going on around our local yarn shops and yarny community.

There’s something magical about completing a pair of socks. The whole flap/heel-turn/gusset trio never ceases to surprise me when it works, and then there’s the wonder that I got when I complete two separate sock projects before I can even wear my pair! But when you have a yarn that you love it sometimes feels like the socks knit themselves, and I especially enjoy the colour changes that a self striping yarn provides.

Yarn Enabler’s NEW Succulent colourway.

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NEW spring fresh colourway: Flora.

We received a few new colourways of one of our favorite self-striping Canadian hand dyers, Amanda of Yarn Enabler. Known for her amazing Number 2 Pencil and Paper sock sets, she has also created some amazing sock monkey, hogwarts, watermelon and other fun colourways which we have stocked in the past. But check out these fun new colourways we just got in (as knit up by my store manager and I in a sock race to get every new Yarn Enabler colourway on and off our needles):

NEW! Sock Monkey in Love colourway.

NEW! Graffiti colourway.

When a customer comes in asking for help to understand how a heel turn works, I usually share my own experience of finding the first twenty or so single socks I knit to be pure magic… just follow the directions and VOILA! you get a heel on your sock. Since then I have also found the after-thought heel to be a great way to add in a second colour without too much difficulty, and have enjoyed all sorts of patterns with various heels to keep me knitting more and ever more feet-warmers!

NEW! Professor colourway.

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Curbside pickup and our online store are still available for the time being, but things are changing daily. If you need some sock magic in your life pick up a skein or two while we bunker down for the next few weeks. Keep safe… we will weather this together, as we are stronger as a community.

We are UPDATING this list of any UPCOMING virtual knit groups as we hear of them. Please email us at baaadannas@gmail.com if you have any to share.

UPCOMING EVENT DETAILS:

• Tuesday April 7
  • 5:00-7:00pm
    Event page: https://www.meetup.com/Knit1Tea1/events/269864608/
    Zoom ID: 313-140-581
    Password: Please sign up to event for password details
  • Host: Rebecca Glazier has been hosting Knit1Tea1 Meet Ups in New Westminster and Vancouver this past year. These virtual meet ups are free of charge, but you need to sign up to the Knit1Tea1 group on Meetup to receive the password to this event.

• Thursday April 9
  • 7:00pm-9:00pm
  • Event Link: https://www.meetup.com/froggers/events/pkwzmrybcgbmb/

    Host: Lisa has been hosting Froggers Meet Ups in the Burnaby/Vancouver for many years and even if you haven’t had a chance to attend one in person yet this is the perfect time to join in.

• Saturday April 11
  • 10:30am-12.30pm
    Event page: https://www.meetup.com/Knit1Tea1/events/269864594/
    Zoom ID: 419-759-788
    Password: Please sign up to event for password details
  • Host: Rebecca Glazier has been hosting Knit1Tea1 Meet Ups in New Westminster and Vancouver this past year. These virtual meet ups are free of charge, but you need to sign up to the Knit1Tea1 group on Meetup to receive the password to this event.

WHAT IS HAPPENING AND HOW?
“Zoom” is an online Video Conference service that allows us to meet online. You do not need to sign up for a Zoom account in order to join. You just need to click the link under the “Join Zoom Meeting” link down below. You’ll be asked to enter your name, and that should be it.

You should be able to access the virtual meeting on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Set it up somewhere flat and stable so that we can see your face, and that way you don’t have to worry about trying to hold it while knitting! (The bigger the device, the more people you can see in the meeting.) You may want to consider using headphones especially if you have housemates. If you have neither audio nor video, you can still join and use the “chat” feature to message us.

MUTE BUTTON
* When you join the meeting you will automatically be muted – you will need to “unmute” yourself once you’ve joined and are ready for us to hear you. You can temporarily mute yourself at any time (or hide your video feed) if needed.
* Be sure to use the mute feature if you are walking away from the chat for a minute, if you are eating, if you are talking to your pets, if your baby is crying, if you are rustling around in your notions pouch or plastic yarn bag, etc. Zoom picks up all those sounds and this makes it difficult to hear the active speaker. Thank you in advance!
****The host reserves the right to mute you if you forget to mute yourself or if you don’t realize that your room is noisy****

GALLERY VIEW
The default setting when you sign in is usually “Speaker View”, and you will see one large picture of whoever is actively speaking at that time, and smaller pictures of others in the group. When someone else starts taking, the large picture will switch to that person. This can sometimes be dizzying! We recommend switching to “Gallery View” where you will see small pictures of everyone, and the outline of the active speaker will be highlighted.

HOUSEKEEPING

* Avoid talking about religion, politics or other controversial topics
* Refrain from swearing as much as possible
* Be mindful to limit discussions regarding the pandemic as some are particularly sensitive to this topic at this time. That said, I also know that others may be wanting to talk about it, so I may set up a “breakout room” for those who wish to discuss the issues (and you can always come back to the main room at any time).

*****

Our original post from Mar 21st, 2020:

Last night I attended my first virtual knit night online using the app Zoom, and hosted by the local Froggers* Knit Group and it was surprising cathartic. It took a little getting used to talking one at a time and being okay with online bouts of silence while everyone knit/crafted, but the organizer did a great job moving the chat along when needed by engaging each participant through questions you would normally hear at night knits (such as: ‘What’s the next project in your queue?). It definitely helped ease the feeling isolated and out of our normal groove of self-care activity.

(*Froggers is an independent knit night get-together that has been meeting weekly at a local Vancouver/Burnaby area Starbucks; details can be found through the Vancouver-area Meetup app).

One of our amazing knitting teachers also hosts a local knit group and this weekend is launching her first Virtual Meet-Up Event this Saturday; and you are invited!

Cozy up with a warm cup of your favourite drink and your current WIP (work in progress) and join knitters, crocheters, weavers, felters and spinners this Saturday from 10:30-12:30 for this virtual meet up event.

Rebecca Glazier, one of our talented knitting and crochet instructors, has organized this fantastic virtual event to help us all stay connected during this time of social distancing so that we can continue to share our passion for fibre arts.

All you need to do to participate is follow this link via Zoom to join the event HERE. If you download the Zoom app you can also join from your tablet or smart phone. Prop up your device facing you in your most comfortable knit corner and join us!

EVENT DETAILS:

• Saturday, March 21
  • 10:30am-12:30pm
  • Event Link: https://www.meetup.com/Knit1Tea1/events/268780632/
    Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2252179322

    Zoom Event ID: 225 217 9322

  • Host: Rebecca Glazier has been hosting Knit1Tea1 Meet Ups in New Westminster and Vancouver this past year and even if you haven’t had a chance to attend one in person yet this is the perfect time to join in.
• Saturday, March 21
  • 7:00pm-9:00pm
  • Event Link: https://www.meetup.com/froggers/events/269562114/

    Zoom Event ID: 269 562 114

  • Host: Lisa has been hosting Froggers Meet Ups in the Burnaby/Vancouver for many years and even if you haven’t had a chance to attend one in person yet this is the perfect time to join in.

As we adjust to our new normal, virtual events like this one are so important to helping us maintain connections to friends, old and new, and to continue to learn from one another in the fibre community.

A big thank you to both Rebecca & Lisa! We are so grateful that you’ve organized these event.

We hope to virtually see you at either or both! We can’t wait.

If you want to share any other virtual meet ups or craft connection events, please email us at baaadannas@gmail.com and we would be happy to post your info to open them up to our community. We will weather this together, as we are stronger as a community.

Previous events include:

• Tuesday, March 24
  • 10:30am-12:30pm

  • Event Link: https://www.meetup.com/Knit1Tea1/events/269588312/

    Zoom Event ID: 269 588 312
  • Host: Rebecca Glazier has been hosting Knit1Tea1 Meet Ups in New Westminster and Vancouver this past year. These virtual meet ups are free of charge.
• Tuesday, March 24
  • 7:00pm-9:00pm

  • Event Link: https://zoom.us/j/404589027?pwd=cVhldW01L2EzTENiOXNaZHJiQno0QT09Zoom Event ID: 404 589 027 password: knit

  • Host: Lisa has been hosting Froggers Meet Ups in the Burnaby/Vancouver for many years.
• Friday, March 27
  • 7:00pm-9:00pm

  • Event Link: https://zoom.us/j/139759949Zoom Event ID: 139 759 949

  • Host: June and others have been hosting four different Knit2gether groups in the Burnaby area libraries of Tommy Douglas, McGill, Cameron, Poirier in person and now you are invited to join in online.
• Saturday, March 28
  • 10:30am-12:30pm

  • Event Link: https://www.meetup.com/Knit1Tea1/events/269556403/

    Zoom Event ID: 269 556 403
  • Host: Rebecca Glazier has been hosting Knit1Tea1 Meet Ups in New Westminster and Vancouver this past year. These virtual meet ups are free of charge.
  • Sunday March 29
    • Noon-2:00pm

    • Event Link: https://www.meetup.com/froggers/events/269705463/

      Zoom Event ID: 269 705 463

    • Host: Lisa has been hosting Froggers Meet Ups in the Burnaby/Vancouver for many years.
  • Wednesday, April 1
    • 10:30am-12:30pm

    • Event Link: https://www.meetup.com/Knit1Tea1/events/269671623/

      Zoom Event ID: 269 671 623
    • Host: Rebecca Glazier has been hosting Knit1Tea1 Meet Ups in New Westminster and Vancouver this past year. These virtual meet ups are free of charge.
  • Thursday April 2
    • 6:00pm-9:00pm

    • Event Link: https://www.meetup.com/froggers/events/pkwzmrybcgbdb/

      Host: Lisa has been hosting Froggers Meet Ups in the Burnaby/Vancouver for many years.

  • Friday, April 3
    • 7:00pm-8:30pm

    • Event Link: https://zoom.us/j/405544929

      Zoom Event ID: 405 544 929

      Host: June and others have been hosting four different Knit2gether groups in the Burnaby area libraries of Tommy Douglas, McGill, Cameron, Poirier in person and now you are invited to join in online.

  • Saturday, April 4
    • 10:30am-12:30pm

    • Event Link: https://www.meetup.com/Knit1Tea1/events/269161472/

      Zoom Event ID: 269 556 403
    • Host: Rebecca Glazier has been hosting Knit1Tea1 Meet Ups in New Westminster and Vancouver this past year. These virtual meet ups are free of charge.

Last night I attended my first virtual knit night online using the app Zoom, and hosted by the local Froggers* Knit Group and it was surprising cathartic. It took a little getting used to talking one at a time and being okay with online bouts of silence while everyone knit/crafted, but the organizer did a great job moving the chat along when needed by engaging each participant through questions you would normally hear at night knits (such as: ‘What’s the next project in your queue?). It definitely helped ease the feeling isolated and out of our normal groove of self-care activity.

(*Froggers is an independent knit night get-together that has been meeting weekly at a local Vancouver/Burnaby area Starbucks; details can be found through the Vancouver-area Meetup app).

One of our amazing knitting teachers also hosts a local knit group and this weekend is launching her first Virtual Meet-Up Event this Saturday; and you are invited!

Cozy up with a warm cup of your favourite drink and your current WIP (work in progress) and join knitters, crocheters, weavers, felters and spinners this Saturday from 10:30-12:30 for this virtual meet up event.

Rebecca Glazier, one of our talented knitting and crochet instructors, has organized this fantastic virtual event to help us all stay connected during this time of social distancing so that we can continue to share our passion for fibre arts.

All you need to do to participate is follow this link via Zoom to join the event HERE. If you download the Zoom app you can also join from your tablet or smart phone. Prop up your device facing you in your most comfortable knit corner and join us!

EVENT DETAILS:

• Saturday, March 21
  • 10:30-12:30
  • Event Link: https://www.meetup.com/Knit1Tea1/events/268780632/
    Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2252179322

    Zoom Event ID: 225 217 9322

  • Rebecca has been hosting Meet Ups in N:ew Westminster and Vancouver this past year and even if you haven’t had a chance to attend one in person yet this is the perfect time to join in.

As we adjust to our new normal, virtual events like this one are so important to helping us maintain connections to friends, old and new, and to continue to learn from one another in the fibre community.

Additionally tonight at 7pm, I will be hosting an Instagram Story LIVE VIDEO from the shop to demonstrate a beginner needle felting project that everyone can try from home. This is less interactive, but one small effort I can do to help us stay connected. You will be able to watch it in the @baaadannas Instagram stories until 7pm Saturday night.

A big thank you to you, Rebecca! We are so grateful that you’ve organized this event.

Peek in on Instagram tonight, and we hope to virtually see you all there Saturday morning. We can’t wait.

If you want to share any other virtual meet ups or craft connection events, please email us at baaadannas@gmail.com and we would be happy to post your info to open them up to our community. We will weather this together, as we are stronger as a community.