TNNA Recap & Purchases!

For me, this was the best TNNA show I have ever been to. SuperCrafty has been in business for 4 years now, and this is my 4th TNNA show. The yarn industry, to say the least, is kind of in the dark ages when it comes to internet yarn shops (and the internet in general. Not one supplier has online ordering - they still operate by phone and fax. Yes; fax!)

When I started, and continuing on until this year, some suppliers refused to sell to me or imposed such high minimums it was not a good business decision to buy from them. For example, one has a $1,000 minimum order for brick and mortar shops and $5,000 for internet sites. Seems kind of discriminating, doesn't it?

The suppliers had this belief that online tarnished their image and hurt brick and mortar shops. Many believed we were fly-by-night discounters and were out to steal business away from shops. This theory is simply a misunderstanding of how the internet fits in to how and when consumers shop. The internet is about consumer empowerment: getting what you want at the right price. They buy from me what they can't find at their local shop, or they don't have time to get to a shop, or they don't have a yarn shop near them.

But all of this seems to be a moot point, since not one single supplier turned me down. This is the first year this has happened, so it's very exciting to actually be able to pick and choose what to buy.

So now on to all the exciting yarn and patterns I bought and approximately when it should be arriving (again, this is the yarn industry - they operate on their own time!) I also noted NEW suppliers for me.

Malabrigo Yarn NEW
This is a new yarn supplier for me. I purchased 7 colors of a new, gorgeous limited edition certified cotton organic yarn (due in 8 weeks) and 8 shades of their kettle dyed worsted variegated. Some colors I ordered are Curacao, Amoroso, Verdes and Melilla. Both yarns are stunning and will be very reasonably priced. Good value & quality is important to me in a yarn, in addition to its being beautiful and a pleasure to work with.

South West Trading Company NEW
Tofutsies sock yarn is coming within 2 weeks. I ordered a sample pack subscription, so I will have 2 skeins of each color, and every quarter I will get new yarns.

Pagewood Farm NEW
2 ply 100% merino superwash sock yarn. If you haven't tried it, you must. Trust me. Some of the colors I ordered: Camo, Bird of Paradise, Greens, Denim, Navajo, Really Red. It should be here in about 6 weeks.

Koigu NEW
26 colors of KPPPM and a handful of patterns. Due in 8 months.

KnitWhits Patterns
I haven't ordered from Tina in a while, but placed a large order of patterns and a few kits (kids socks, felted backgammon kit and kits to make felted Easter eggs in a basket - super cute!) I should have these within 2 weeks.

Pickup Sticks Patterns
Reorders plus their new patterns and a few kits, including a felted wreath of calla lilies. I should have them within 2 weeks.

Stitch Diva
Reorders plus about 8 new patterns. Reorders should be in next week; new patterns by mid February.

Berroco
Sox sock yarn, Norah Gaughan vol. 2 pattern book, and the 6 new pattern booklets #270-275. They should be here by Wednesday.

Mission Falls
Reorders of all out of stock colors, plus 5 new solid colors of 1824 cotton and 4 new variegated colors. They also have a really cool new pattern book. Hopefully I'll have this in a few weeks.

Misti Alpaca
Reorders of worsted and most popular chunky colors. Should be here in about 2 weeks.