This date was set aside in 1970 to encourage world-wide awareness and appreciation for earth's environment.  One of the major concerns for environment are plastic bags.  We have all heard the facts: 

               *100 billion plastic bags are used annually. 

               *Plastic takes 500-1000 years to biodegrade, growing more and more landfills. 

              * 12 million barrels of oil are used in the production of plastic bags.

              *  Marine animals become entangled,

              *  Etc., etc. etc.

Many U.S. cities in the United States and other countries are attempting to make the use of plastic carry-out bags extinct

You may be asking what all this has to do with knitting and crocheting?  I was thinking what a difference stitchers could make in our the effort to eradicate plastic bags….what if each of us made 5 bags for personal use and 5 more bags to give to friends?  We could each make a difference and have fun doing it!  Bags are easy, inexpensive and fast to knit/crochet.

Free patterns are available in many places, including The Stitchin' Den.  If you need ideas, yarn, or patterns, come visit us.  Make a difference this year!

 single skeins of yarn lurking in our closets.    Some of these skeins are casualties of discarded projects.  Some are leftover from finished projects.  Some are expensive (we could only afford one), special yarns we bought on a whim.  Whatever the reason the yarn has not been used, the skeins weigh on our minds and cause a bit of guilt every time we think/look  of them. 

They really should be used, but for what?  The Stitchin' Den may be able to assuage your guilt with a pattern that is perfect for that stray skein.  These books are the perfect place to find a project:

  It looks like this Groundhog has been to The Stitchin' Den!  Red yarn is 10% off this month.  Does this mean we will have 6 more weeks of  winter?  Happy Knitting!

Photo is courtesy of Sutter's Knit Shop.

The frigid weather at the beginning of January brought the Gaptastic Cowls out of the closet!  Saturday, Kathy wore her cowl, made out of Baby Alpaca Chunky, to work and wore it all day.  Later, Keturah came in wearing her cowl made of Burly Spun.   Then a customer came in wearing her Gaptastic Cowl made of Baby Alpaca Chunky.  She was here to buy yarn to make a friend the cowl.  Alison is almost finished with her Baby Alpaca Cowl.  This cowl is truly Fantastic!  If you like to feel warm and cozy, come in and see this free pattern and pick out the yarn of your choice.  To help get you started or inspire you to finish the Gaptastic Cowl, we invite you to come to our February Free Project on Friday, February 8th.  We will meet from 1:00-3:00 PM.  You must pre-register, but the class is free if you purchase your yarn from The Stitchin' Den.  Don't be left out in the cold without a Gaptastic Cowl.

to knit something for yourself after finishing all those Christmas projects? I have not been knitting as much in January as I did during the December gift-knitting frenzy.   Then the new magazine issues began to arrive in the shop with so many inspiring patterns, I'm back into a knitting frenzy.  Come find your inspiration at The Stitchin' Den!