Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Woolen Treasure

I subscribe to the DenverKnits email list and last week Donna Druchunas had advertised an event at Woolen Treasures in Loveland:

"June Hall, who is visiting from England, will be giving lectures at Woolen Treasures yarn shop in Loveland on April 21 and 22 at 6:00 PM. She's a local historian and has been studying the history of knitting in the UK as well as in Lithuania for many years. Here are some topics she'll be talking about:
  1. History of hand knitting in Northern England. Knitting became an important cottage industry from around 1600 to late 1800's.

  2. St. Kilda - Britain's remotest islands - the islands, the voyage and the Soay sheep, Europe's oldest breed, which have lived there for 3,500 years.

  3. The Wool Clip - a cooperative of sheep farmers and wool craft workers in England's Lake District.

  4. The importance of sheep in shaping England's landscape. The evolution of breeds. "
I was immediately drawn to the event given that: I'm from Northern England (not too far from the Lake District); about once a fortnight I work out of our Loveland office anyway; I hadn't yet visited Woolen Treasures on the Colorado Yarn Tour. Not to mention that I love learning about all things knitty.

So I scheduled meetings in Loveland yesterday and made the 90 mile road trip up there, all with the ulterior motive of visiting this yarn store after work ;o) And what a fabulous evening it was!

June is a warm, engaging and wonderful speaker with an amazing wealth of knowledge. She had us all fascinated for a good couple of hours. Oh and for my friends in the UK, June also is one of the major organizers of Woolfest. Go check it out and tell her Samantha sent you ;) To be honest I'm even wondering if I should try and plan my next trip home for this! Taking a day trip with my family to a woolfest in the beautiful Lake District... I'd be a very happy girl!

And Woolen Treasure is a diamond of a store. It's a home that's been converted into a yarn store and has a really welcoming and cosy feel.


She has a quite a number of unique items including some beautiful handcrafted buttons -- I thought I'd hit the jackpot when I found some that would work beautifully for Buttony. But alas my buttony needs 13 buttons and there simply weren't enough of this type in the store.


There is also a huge variety of particularly lovely yarns. One of the rooms was dedicated to sock yarn, which might explain why I came home with quite the stash of Shi Bui sock yarn.


I picked up some in a rust colourway and a green colourway. I haven't decided which I'll be using for the Colorado blanket yet. (I'm expanding the colour scheme to include some green, after seeing this picture). Either way I think they are both winners.

Loveland, Colorado, is also home of Interweave Press. It's literally just down the street from this store. I took a little wander over there and shot a few snaps.

I feel that there could be more detours on the way home from my future Loveland trips!

10 comments:

Susan Luni said...

Great trip! I am so envious.
Speaking of Interweave, they have instructions for gorgeous handmade buttons on line as part of the latest issue of Piecework. That might be the answer to your button search.

Corwink said...

Looks like a great place! I might have to make my way up there one day. Ahhhh Interweave Press. Did you just stand at the door with your face pressed up against the glass? They would have had to call the cops on me. LOL!

Anonymous said...

oh yes yes go on! Then we can meet up at Woolfest! Lily and I are going together.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely place to shop!

Denise said...

Wow, lucky you :-) That sounds so interesting too. Glad it worked out for you.
:)

Bea said...

You guys have such pretty shops in Colorado. None of the ones here look nearly so inviting.

WandaWoman said...

Woolen Treasures is a nice shop to visit. I heard about the guest speaker and would have liked to have gone, but I had a prior engagement. I'm glad you were able to go.

Terrie D. (StarSpry) said...

I'm so glad you were able to go to Loveland and hear June Hall! Sounds like fun :) Woolen Treasures looks like such a cute shop. I love both colors of the Shi Bui yarn you got!!

The Lake District looks like a really beautiful place :)

Terri Lynn said...

You have been busy! I hope you get to go to the Lake District! I sure love the green yarn!

KimT said...

seems like a lovely store. Wish I could go!