Where we write about what we love....
Our thoughts on all things woolly and some tips we've picked up along the way
We’re still homeless
Our online shop has reopened. While we work our way through boxes of stock please be patient with us as it may take a little bit longer to get your orders out but we will aim to post them within 2 days.
Unfortunately we are still without a shop but are happy to accept orders over the phone if you prefer.
Call us on 086 3294558
Big changes for 2023
As we move into 2023 we are commencing the big job of packing up our shop. Our time in Bawnogue is coming to an end and we are on the move again. As we get everything packed up, we won’t be operating to our normal hours. You are still welcome to drop in but we would recommend phoning first (086 3294558) to make sure we’re there as we’ll be travelling back and forth to our storage space.
Online orders won’t be affected as we’ll continue to pack and send orders out as normal.
So far, sadly, we have been unable to find new premises but we’ll keep you updated on the progress of our search. We want to assure you that we will be continuing to operate in whatever way we can till we find a new home and are continuing to get deliveries of new stock.
Do I need to check my tension?
Tension/Gauge….why it’s important to check it
Ask any knitter “do you check your gauge before starting a project” and a large number of them will say no. They’ve been knitting for years, their tension hasn’t changed etc. Yet we’re told on every pattern to check your tension before starting. Why?
If you’re making a garment, the last thing you want is for it to turn out too big or too small when you’ve put weeks (or even months) of work into it. Nightmare! Of course when we arrive home with the yarn to start a new project we want to cast on right away, not waste a couple of hours playing around with swatches and different needle sizes.
Recently a customer finished a child’s cardigan but it turned out much too small for the intended recipient. She thought there was a problem with the pattern but a quick calculation of the suggested tension and the number of stitches required showed that the pattern didn’t seem to be the problem. I asked her to go away and knit up two tension squares with two different needles sizes and we’d take a look at them. The photo below will show you the difference in size of the two swatches, one knit with a 4,5mm needle and the other with a 5mm. That’s 0.5mm in the difference but you can see how the two swatches turned out different sizes. Not a massive difference but that was over 30 stitches, so when you multiply that out across the actual number of stitches in your garment, that makes for a big difference.
But what if you have been knitting for years and everything turns out ok normally, why should you now start checking your tension. How would it suddenly make a difference?
Here’s just a few reasons why your tension can vary:
Time of day. Yes seriously. If you’re tired, if you’re watching TV at the same time, relaxed or concentrating hard on the piece you’re working on.
Needles – are you using a new pair of knitting needles? Maybe you’ve always used metal or aluminium needles but have used the same size in Bamboo this time, or you’re more used to straight needles but are using circulars this time. The size of the needle hasn’t changed but the material in the needle feels different in your hands and can affect the way you’re knitting. Some years ago I was commissioned to crochet two identical tops from a drawing by a designer. I designed the pattern and wrote detailed notes as I made the first top. About 4 inches into the second one, I realised it was turning out much smaller that the first one. I rechecked my notes, checked them against the first completed top and then checked the one I was working on again. Everything was correct but still there was a difference in size. After tearing my hair out for quite a while I discovered that I had two 3mm crochet hooks, both looked similar, but were giving me a completely different tension. Lesson learned, always take note of the needles or hook you’re using for a project, especially if you’re going to leave it aside for a while.
Yarn – if ever you use a different brand of yarn than the recommended one for your pattern, you need to check your tension. Different brands vary, different yarn qualities vary (cotton v acrylic for example).
Convinced? Great, if not, try it before your next project and see what happens.
Ending on a wrong side row
Ending on a wrong side row
What does it mean when you see the words “ending on a wrong side (ws) row? This often confuses knitters. Does it mean I’m about to start a wrong or right side row next?
When your pattern tells you to end on a wrong side row it means that the last row you knit is the one on the wrong side (hidden side) of your project. So if you are knitting in stocking stitch (stockinette) the last row you work is a purl row so that you are ready to knit the next row. In other words the last row you work is on the bumpy side or the inside of your project, ready to work the right side (rs) or outside next.
What happens though if you are working in garter stitch? So every row is knit. How will you know if you’ve ended on the wrong side? Often your pattern will tell you at the start which row is the right side (rs) at the start. If it doesn’t you can decide yourself because both sides are the same. To identify which is the right or wrong side in garter stitch, use a stitch marker or a piece of a different coloured yarn tied to one side to guide you. Of course if you are doing this, make sure to take a note of which side you’ve put the marker!
How does this all translate to crochet? Again your pattern may tell you which side is which but if not you can once again use a marker as a guide when you start your project. Some crochet stitches just look nicer on one side than the other so pick which side looks best to be the right side of your work.
Shopping during lockdown November 2020
I hope you are all keeping well at the moment and getting through this current lockdown as best you can. We are working hard to keep you all busy with your various craft projects fulfilling orders online and over the phone as quickly as possible. Just a few things to note:
If you are in the local area you can choose to “click and collect” for shipping and we will contact you when your order is ready. Generally we will have orders available for collection between 10.30 and 11.30 each morning at the shop. If however, you are around the Clondalkin area but can’t get out to collect, just put a note on your order and we will arrange to deliver to you.
We ship orders within 1 working day of receiving it. Orders are shipped with An Post and for larger orders with Fastway couriers. Please be aware however, that post is slow at the moment and we have seen some smaller orders taking up to 2 weeks to deliver with An Post recently.
We are trying very hard to keep stock levels on our website up to date, and we revise the numbers regularly throughout the day, however, there may be times when an item shows as in stock on our website but may have just sold out. Please be patient with us on this as we try to keep everything up to date.
If you need advice on a project feel free to contact us by phone on 086 3294558 or email info@lozawool.ie. We may not be able to get back to you immediately but will reply to you as soon as possible.
Our online knitting and crochet classes
Online knitting and crochet classes
For quite some time we’ve been preparing to launch online knitting and crochet classes to handle the demand for our in store classes. What happened this year was the catalyst for us to get moving quickly. 2020 has really been a tough year for anyone in business. Overnight we had to close down, then try to operate within various restrictions as they were announced. For us in Loza Wool, while our shop is a large part of our business, our knitting and crochet classes were really hit hard.
Prior to March this year we ran at least 8 different classes every week. Restrictions to the number of people in store at any one time and the need for social distancing meant we could no longer have 6 people round a table together. At the same time we found that with so many people either working from home or sadly loosing their jobs and looking for something to fill their time, more people were turning to crafts. The demand for classes became bigger than ever.
So like every business we had to learn how to do things differently. Luckily we had already been in the process of adding classes online rather than in store so were all set and ready to go. Over the past few months we have been running beginners classes in both knitting and crochet and are continuing to add classes at all levels over the next few weeks and months. So far it’s worked out really well and is particularly suited to someone who can’t normally commit to a specific time or day, or who lives too far away to travel to us.
What makes our online classes different from watching a video online? Our classes are live so you have access to a teacher as you work and can ask all the questions you like. You have someone who can look at your work and tell you what your mistake is and how you can fix it. Our teachers have many years of teaching experience and can guide you through your project at your pace.
If you are interested in learning a new skill or maybe taking it to the next level keep an eye on our classes page for details.
10th Birthday Competition
10th Birthday Knitting and Crochet Competition
We want to see your lockdown projects. What have you been knitting or crocheting these past few weeks? Send us your pictures via email, facebook , WhatsApp or use the hashtag #lozawool10 on Instagram. Include details of the pattern used (if it’s not your own design) and yarn. Closing date for entries is Sunday May 3rd.
You could win a €50 voucher to spend at Loza Wool and more prizes still to be announced. We can’t wait to see your projects.
T&C:
Closing date Sunday May 3rd, winners will be announced May 4th
Prize cannot be redeemed for cash
Loza Wool is 10 years old!
10 years ago today we opened the doors to our first shop in Castle Crescent, Clondalkin. It’s a wonderful feeling after all these years to still be doing what we love, helping people to develop a love of crafts, seeing all the fabulous projects that you create and advising on the best products to use.
Just a few months prior to opening I (Maureen) had a coffee with Alan Strowger, the Irish sales rep from Sirdar yarns. I was toying with the idea of starting an online yarn shop but Alan convinced me to go all out and open a bricks and mortar shop too. Many times over the years we’ve laughed about how it’s all his fault!
It’s been an interesting time, with many highs and lows, moving to bigger premises, then having to pack up and move again with the next new location falling through after we had packed everything up. Finally we found our special space in Ace Enterprise Park which has proved to be the perfect location for both ourselves and our customers.
In the current climate, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have had to re-think all the plans for our 10th birthday celebrations. However, we’ll hopefully all be back to normal soon and can look forward to our next 10 years.
Can I bring my knitting needles on a plane
Can I bring my knitting on the plane? Are knitting needles allowed in carry on bag? We’re asked this question all the time so decided to find out for sure.
Best Customer Service….we won!
So this night last week we were awarded joint winner of the Best Retail Customer Service at South Dublin Chamber Business Awards. We’re so delighted with our achievement and to think that our little shop could be considered for an award like this. Of course, when you love what you do it’s not hard to be nice to your customers.
A big thank you to all our customers for their support over all these years and for all the fun chats we’ve had along the way.
