Our days are numbered.
Thank for your many sincere notes, folks. The recurring themes are shock and sadness, plus some “do you hafta?’s”, all wrapped in kindness, gratitude and understanding. Edited to add: the initial announcement is in the November 14 post below.
Sockfest and Cast On Special
Before I fill you in on the subject on our minds, I have to remind you we still have some fun stuff going on. It’s Sockfest time! We really need those socks to pour in to display through Saturday, November 28. Those of you who bring us a sock (singles only) or two (or as many singles as you care to show off) will get a 3.3 ounce bottle of Eucalan wool wash to caring for your handknits. We want everything from first socks through your own designs. Be sure to tell us about them when you drop them off. We only ask that they are made from City Knitting stuff. Everyone enjoys a 10% discount on sock books, patterns and yarns for the event, our Cast On Special. New stock of Berroco sock yarns, including the sparkly kind, will be arriving on Thursday the 19th. Extra challenge: enter your own design for a chance to win free yarn for two pairs of socks. The winner, decided by popular vote, will be announced during this event’s reception on Tuesday night, November 24, 7 - 9 pm.
Now, back to the topic of the store closing. Please help us spread the word. Since only one third of our customers receive these announcements, we’ll need your help. Following are some things that will necessarily change.
Gift certificates- we will no longer be selling certificates. Please help us pass the word that it’s important for certificate holders to redeem them ASAP. We have some recipients’ phone numbers, but not all, so I worry about some slipping through the cracks.
All sales will now be final; we will not be able to accept returns. This will be posted in the store.
If you have special orders being held for you, please come pick them up right away.
We will announce sales weekly. Discounts will grow as the weeks go by.
The City Knitting website will be changing but remaining active, keeping you up to date on classes, workshops, festivals and retreats. Lorilee’s patterns will remain for sale on there as well.
Calendar
These events and percentages may change, but here is the current working plan for our remaining days:
November
17 Tuesday. 12-9. We need your socks for Sockfest. Bring them in!! 10% off sock stuff.
18 Wednesday. 10-5. 10% off sock stuff.
19 Thursday. 10-9. 10% off sock stuff.
20 Friday. 10-5. 10% off sock stuff.
21 Saturday. 10-4. 10% off sock stuff.
24 Tuesday. 12-9. Sockfest reception 7-9. 10% off storewide.
25 Wednesday. 10-5. 10% off storewide.
26 Thursday. Closed for Thanksgiving Day.
27 Friday. 10-5. 10% off storewide.
28 Saturday. 10-4. End of Sockfest. 10% off storewide.
December
1 Tuesday. 12-9. 20% off storewide.
Begin picking up your sockfest socks.
New classes for 2010, which Lorilee will hold in her home very near the shop, will be posted on the website.
Fixture sale will begin. All our cubbies and any other store fixtures will be marked for sale.
2 Wednesday. 10-5. 20% off storewide.
3 Thursday. 10-9. 20% off storewide.
4 Friday. 10-5. Final Late Night Yarnie Party, 7-midnight. 20% off storewide.
5 Saturday. 10-4. 20% off storewide.
6 Sunday. Special event for Hearts for Haiti, hosted by Caroline and Lorilee. Brunch from 11-2. All are welcome.
8 Tuesday. 12-9. 30% off storewide.
9 Wednesday. 10-5. 30% off storewide.
10 Thursday. 10-9. 30% off storewide.
11 Friday. 10-5. 30% off storewide.
12 Saturday. 10-4. 30% off storewide.
15 Tuesday. Final Tuesday, 12-9. 40% off storewide.
16 Wednesday. 10-5. 40% off storewide.
17 Thursday. 10-9. 40% off storewide.
18 Friday. 10-5. 50% off storewide.
19 Saturday. Planned final day, 10-4. ??% off storewide.
2010
As I mentioned earlier, the City Knitting website will remain to announce classes, retreats and the like. Since my greatest love is teaching (the people part), I am going to continue to offer classes in my home. I’d also like to find a way to offer quick help, a sort of “knitting doctor on call”, but I need to work out the details of how to do it, and determine whether any of you would use it. We will also still offer retreats.
With complete agreement from my family, starting in January, our home will be open to the Tuesday knitters. I’ll be giving out my address at the shop, or send me an e-mail request for it.
January
5, 12, 19,… Tuesdays. Knitting at Lorilee’s house 3-9 pm. It’s a small measure of consolation.
We appreciate your concern, but…
As you can imagine, it will be very hard on all of us if we have to spend too much time talking about this all as you come in. So, I have an alternative activity planned for you. There is a station set up with 11″ x 14″ drawing paper. I’d like you to have a seat there and write your thoughts, or not, but then you must take up the blindfold and the pens and draw. Blindfolded, draw me a sheep, or alpaca, or bamboo grove, or someone knitting or crocheting, or a spinning wheel, or Carol on the corner of the red sofa. Be creative. Take the blindfold off, have a chuckle, sign your name. I will bind them into a memory book. This is all I ask from you for me, and I will treasure it.
For my staff, if you wish to write a note of appreciation, leave a tip, or a restaurant certificate, or the keys to your timeshare on the Riviera, please do that. There are named baskets on top of the cubbie as you enter on the ramp.
See you Tuesday. -Lorilee
21ba
1
November 16th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Is it human nature to take the things we love the most for granted? I guess that’s kind of a compliment… City Knitting: the best LYS in the world!
2
November 16th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
love your goodbye. so classy and thoughtful. the tuesday knitters are lucky!
3
November 17th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I was just in to shop on Saturday. What a shock when I read your newsletter on Sunday night! I’m so very sad to know our wonderful, favorite shop will be no more. At least as we know it. I will cherish the memories of taking my beginners’ knitting class last March with Amy as our wonderful teacher. Lorilee, I wish you and all your staff God’s abundant blessings as you move toward your future. Thank you for caring for your customers with such love.
4
November 18th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
I am so sorry to hear the news. We will miss working with you!