WC Mercantile

Fair Isle Valentine Mitts

2012-01-30T19:52:00.002-06:00

Fair Isle Valenitne is the February Knit Kit. The pattern is included in the kit, but if you would like the pattern alone, you can buy it on Ravelry. You'll be smitten!

Ritratto Weaving Kit

2012-01-30T19:49:00.002-06:00

The Ritratto Scarf is a beauty! Check out the kit here.

Shelter Island Hat Knit Kit

2012-01-06T12:29:00.004-06:00

Shelter Island Hat Knit Kit

This month's Knit Kit is this lovely Cable Hat in Coast. Colors are Sunlight, Sea Grass and Wistera.

Weaving Kits!

2012-01-05T15:36:00.004-06:00

Tempo Weaving Kit

Perfect for weaving on any size loom, including the Cricket Loom, our weaving kits include a 2 oz. cone of Zephyr Wool & Silk yarn for warp and two skeins of Tempo yarn for weft. Sample shown in plain weave. Kits come in an array of colors!

Felted Soaps...Good, Clean, Fun!

2011-11-19T15:43:00.009-06:00

Making felted soaps is fun and easy.

Supplies needed: Wool Batt from WC Mercantile

Soap

Warm/Hot water

Towels

Step 1. Make two strips of wool batt to match the width and height of your soap.

Step 2. Wrap soap in one direction.

Step 3. Wrap soap in opposite direction.

This is a picture of a fully wraped soap.

Step 4. Get the wool and soap very wet.

Step 6. Rub soap in your hands...a lot!

Your soap in finished when the wool is nice and tight around the soap.

ENJOY!!

Happy Birthday WC SALE!!

2011-10-15T13:23:00.004-05:00

The more you buy, the more you save!

Sale is on yarn and fiber, books and needles only &
does not include previously marked down yarns.
But we can't leave out our other favorite items ... now can we?
Receive 10% in "Fiber Credit" when you buy wheels and equipment.

This sale is too BIG for just one week!
It will last TWO weeks: Saturday October 15th through Sunday October 30th!

You spend $0.01 - $100.00 and you save 10%
You spend $100.01 - $275.00 and you save 20%
You spend $275.01 and BEYOND and you save 30%

Store HOURS:
Wednesday through Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday Noon - 5pm

Coupon Codes
Use the appropriate codes on online check-out:
HappyBirthday10 purchases up to $100 saves 10%
HappyBirthday20 purchases up to $275 saves 20%
HappyBirthday30 purchases BEYOND $275.01 saves 30%

These codes are valid now through 10/30/2011 on our website: wcmercantile.com

Shop in Store
Bring this coupon to save in our store!
Happy Birthday WC Sale
Valid 10/15/2011 - 10/30/2011

Coupon Savings
purchases up to $100 saves 10%
purchases up to $275 saves 20%
purchases greater than $275.01 saves 30%

Fiber Credit
After the purchase of your wheel, loom or carder,

we will email you a credit code equal to the amount of your "Fiber Credit."

"World's Softest Yarn" Batt

2011-08-25T12:15:00.001-05:00

We are batting up a blend our friend Robin calls "the Batt for World's Softest Yarn." Robin is heading up Spin Along, which will start in September. We are selling these batts undyed and thought it would be a neat part of the Spin Along to also Dye Along.

Blend: Superfine Merino, Baby Camel Down, Tussah Silk, Texas Grown Kid Mohair (by Mom's goats), Baby Suri Alpaca.

Once we get this one underway, we may make this a series with different blends. Feel free to join us and after you spin up this blend you might suggest another blend, your idea for the "WORLD'S SOFTEST YARN Batt!"

Needle Felting a Pin Cushion

2011-08-12T15:28:00.002-05:00

Materials used: Corriedale Wool, Student Punch Needle, Lamb Creamer

Other types of items that can be turned into a pin cushion. If your container is wider at the opening than the bottom (like the Swan in the picture), you may need to glue your felted wool into place.

Cutie Patooty.

Stuff a large amount of wool into your vessel.

Pack it in nice and tight.

Add more wool if needed.

Stab repeatedly.

It will compress as it felts.

Add more wool to the top as needed to make a rounded "mushroom."

Keep on stabbing. Keeping your fingers out of the way!

Ta Da!! Isn't she awesome!

Bollywood Batt

2011-08-12T14:29:00.001-05:00

Shearlock & Sonata Came to Play!!

2011-08-06T13:28:00.001-05:00

We were honored to have Shearlock & Sonata in our Phat Fiber Box!!

Having them means we had the best sample for the Art Nouveau theme.

Right away they played in the wool!

Then it was time to get to work. They helped us pick out the materials for the August "Bollywood" Box. Great taste, Shearlock!! Superfine Merino!

Now it is time to batt it up!! Sonata loves the carder!

Cool dip in the glitz!

Fun on the Farm!

2011-08-06T13:27:00.001-05:00

Cotton Pickin'

YEE HAW!!

Kissin' Ginny

Team Meeting!

Howdy!

Gettin' down and dyeing!

Margaritas and Fajitas!

Make mine a double!

Prizes for TDF

2011-07-16T12:35:00.003-05:00

Week one TDF Prize. Hand-Dyed Merino Wool

Week Two TDF Prize - Chunky Art Batt with Add-ins.

Summer Knit Along!

2011-06-24T09:36:00.003-05:00

Little Slip Of A Thing by Diane Sutliff
Summer KAL starting July 3rd
Join us in the shop on Sundays or
Chat and Post Pics in our Ravelry Group!
Requires two skeins of Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted
We've got every color in stock and it is on sale through the end of June 2011

Dyeing Classes

2011-06-23T15:47:00.005-05:00

Yay for Dyeing Yarn! it's a "How to" Workshop! by Loretta Eaton

Ever want to create your own colorway? This is the perfect way to roll up your sleeves and dive right into the thick of it! You'll learn about mixing up the dyes, different ways to apply the dye, and what to do with it when you are done with your Masterpiece! As a part of this workshop, you will hand-paint your very own skein of sock yarn or wool top...you choose.

Date: Saturday July 23rd, 2011

Time: 1pm - 4pm

One Class $30 includes all supplies

Sock Knitting 101

2011-06-17T16:43:00.004-05:00

Sock Knitting 101 on Saturday June, 25th

Join us as Sue Ellen teaches everything you need to know to knit beautiful socks!

Reserve your spot today!

2011-06-15T13:57:00.002-05:00

This month's theme for Phat Fiber is Sci-Fi.

Our submission is the Rachael Batt inspired by Blade Runner.

This super-soft batt is made of Merino Wool, Jacob, Farm Fresh Kid Mohair, Hand-Dyed Ramie and Tussah Silk with a touch of Sparkle.

There is a very limited supply, check it out here.

Ice Cream Social!

2011-06-09T10:46:00.003-05:00

Join us this Friday Night for Ice Cream & Knitting!

June 10th 5:30 to 9

We Made a Rainbow!

2011-06-07T11:20:00.001-05:00

Tons of Fun at CHT last weekend!

Seashell Sun Dress

2011-05-18T12:31:00.006-05:00

Seashell Sun Dress
by Petra Wright

Skill Level: Intermediate Size: 12-24 months Finished Size: 17 inches long
Materials: Cara (3 50 g. balls) or other DK weight yarn to achieve same gauge
Knitting Circular Needles size 3 24"
Gauge: 7 stitches and 10 rows = 1 inch.

With circular needles, cast on 247 stitches. Join being careful not to twist yarn. Place marker
Seashell Trim
Row 1: K1 Yo *K5, sl 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th stitch over the first stitch, yo; repeat from *; end K1
Row 2: K1, *[p1,yo,k1 tbl] in next stitch] k1; repeat from * to end
Row 3: K1, k1tbl, * K3, K1tbl; repeat from *, end k3;
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit
Row 6 : Purl

Knit until piece measures 9.5 inches from beginning. (197 stitches)
Next Row: *K1, K2tog ; repeat to end (132 stitches)

Lace Pattern (Twisted Openwork)

Stop working in the round. Turn work when reaching marker.
Row 1 and 3: P1, *K3, p1; repeat from * to end
Row 2: *K1, p3; repeat from *; end k1
Row 4: *K1, yo, p3tog, yo, K1; repeat from * to end
Row 5 and 7: K2, p1 * k3, p1; repeat from *, end k2
Row 6: P2, K1, *p3, k1; repeat from * ; end p2
Row 8: P2tog, yo, k1, * yo, p3tog, yo k1, repeat from * to end
Row 9-16: Rep. Row 1-8 of lace pattern.
Place 66 stitches on a holder.

Arms
Continue working in pattern; work only the front section (66 stitches). Bind off 8 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Bind off 2 stitches at each end of the right-side rows 4 times. Continue until piece measures 3” from beginning of lace pattern.

Neck
K12 stitches and place on holder. Bind off middle 18 stitches. Knit to end.

Front Strap
Work in stockinette stitch until strap measures 3.5 inches. Bind off
Remove stitches from holder and work in stockinette stitch for 3.5. Bind off.

Back
Continue working sane as front to create arms and neck.

Back Strap
Work in stockinette stitch until strap measures 3 inches.
K4, yo, k2tog, k to end; purl next row; knit next row; purl next row; bind off.
Remove stitches from holder and work as other back strap. Bind off.

Finishing
Crochet edging on straps (SC, HDC, SC in approx. every fourth stitch).
Sew open side from beginning of lace pattern to arm hole.
Sew buttons on front straps. Weave in ends.

Last Batch until Fall 2011.

2011-05-05T13:09:00.018-05:00

#68 * Brazilian Cherry * .53

*Sold*

#67 * Cherry * .35

#66 * Walnut * .42

*Sold*

#65 * Brazilian Cherry * .63

*Sold*

#64 * Cherry * .46

*Sold*

Dan Spindles

2011-04-20T13:06:00.021-05:00

Dan Spindles by Dan Duree

Dan Duree hand-carves Drop Spindles at the delight of hand-spinners and spindle collectors all over the world. He crafts each spindle to be perfectly balanced, light weight and beautiful. Dan finishes each spindle with clear Danish Oil to enhance the natural beauty of the wood; none of his spindles are stained or dyed.

#55 * Red Heart * .77 ounce

* Sold *

#58 * Purple Heart * .59 ounce
*Sold*

#60 * Arizona Hardwood * .55 ounce

#56 * Arizona Hardwood * .54 ounce

#42 * Mahogany * .35 ounce
*Sold*

#48 * Bois d'Arc * .58 ounce
*Sold*

#61 * Red Heart * .60 ounce

*Sold*

#54 * Arizona Lacewood * .67 ounce

*Sold*

#59 * Purple Heart * .80 ounce
*Sold*

#45 * Oak Whorl & Mahogany Shaft * .53 ounce
*Sold*

#57 * Brazillian Cherry * .53 ounce

#44 * Bois d'Arc * .57 ounce

*Sold*

My Cricket Loom

2011-04-15T15:31:00.002-05:00

I just love weaving with this thick n' thin art yarn!

And I couldn't pass up having Leon Collins paint it for me. Just beautiful!

We are in the Eagle!!

2011-02-03T12:03:00.000-06:00

Navasota Business Woven into Community
By SHAUNA LEWIS

shauna.lewis@theeagle.com
Published Thursday, February 03, 2011 12:04 AM
Eagle photos by Dave McDermand

NAVASOTA -- A small shop on Washington Avenue here seems to be a paradise for knitters and spinners as visitors can see and touch the several colors of Alpaca fiber, wool, cotton and mohair that are tucked on shelves along the walls.

WC Mercantile sells a variety of yarns and fibers, as well as related supplies, including needles and spinning wheels.

Stephanie Cunningham said she and her mother, Petra Wright, opened the store in 2002 because of their passion for natural fibers. The initials in the store's name come from the pair's last names. She said her mother started knitting as a child while in Germany and passed the passion onto her.

"We love to make things with our hands, and we love texture and color," Cunningham said.

Cunningham said she carefully chose the location for the store along a street lined with other quaint businesses in Navasota.

"With its bustling art community, historic charm and central location, Navasota is the perfect place for our business," she said. "It's also the 'Alpaca Capital of Texas.'"

She said her store offers an extensive selection of fibers for hand spinning, felting and other related hobbies and also carries locally produced fibers, hand-spun yarns and hand-painted rovings, which are bundles of fiber usually spun into yarn. She said there aren't any similar stores in the area.

Weaving idea to reality

Cunningham said their biggest achievement has been "growing the business from an idea to a wonderful shop." While larger retail stores often carry mostly acrylics, her store carries natural fibers with a "natural feel," she said.

"It just ends up being something real," she said of products made from natural fibers. "It used to be this was how everything was done."

"This came from a sheep," she said, holding an orange shawl she made over two months.

Also, wool, which often has to be hand-washed and laid flat to dry, has barbs and therefore holds its shape better than acrylic fibers, she said.

"There's a passion around textile arts," Cunningham said. "I think it's making a big comeback."

She said much of her fiber is commercial, but the store works with alpaca and goat farmers to offer local products, too.

Cunningham said much of the shop's mohair came from England. However, a lot of mohair is produced in West Texas. It's shipped to England because it has several large mills; then the U.S. buys it back, she said.

She buys wool -- mostly that from Merino sheep -- from Great Britain. Often the wool from Great Britain is from sheep raised in Australia, she said. Most of her store's silk comes from India and China.

Some of the alpaca fiber comes from Peru, she said, but the nicest and finest alpaca fiber is grown locally.

Cunningham said some of her alpaca fiber comes from Bluebonnet Hills Alpaca Ranch on Courtney Road in Navasota, owned by Laurence and Donna Binder. Some of her mohair came from Wright's ranch, but Wright recently stopped raising Angora goats -- where mohair comes from -- because of health reasons, Cunningham said.

Laurence Binder said he and his wife have raised alpacas at their ranch for 13 years. They have their 80 alpacas sheared once a year, typically at the end of March or early April, before the Texas heat hits. He said he approached WC Mercantile in January 2010 about selling the ranch's alpaca fiber and yarn at the store. The store's owners welcomed the chance to sell his local products, he said, and have had them on consignment at the business since.

"The end product of raising alpacas is soft, luxurious fiber so being able to sell our fiber at WC Mercantile has really been a blessing for us," he said. "I am not aware of other stores in the area that sell local fiber products along with the wonderfully commercially produced products that are available."

Binder said he and his wife have been in the store while people from Fort Worth, Houston and East Texas have been there shopping. He said even he visited Cunningham during the holidays at the store, when she had made arrangements to be open for a customer from Florida.

Binder said a customer recently drove from Fort Worth specifically to buy Texas yarn.

"We are members of the Go Texan program, and folks really enjoy purchasing products from the great state of Texas," Binder said.

Learning a new old trade

Binder said area residents are fortunate to have a shop like WC Mercantile.

"Stephanie and Petra, as well as some of the regulars to the shop, are always willing to help with any project that a fiber artist is having difficulty with. The atmosphere in the shop is always welcoming to those who want to ask questions or just sit and spin and knit," he said.

He said his wife learned to knit at WC Mercantile over the past three months, and just finished making a shawl as part of the store's annual "Knit-Along" that starts in January.

He also recommended the store's "Spring Spin-In" scheduled for April 30.

"It is amazing to see so many folks spinning all kinds of fiber," he said. "They come from everywhere to sit and spin for several hours. It is great fun for them."

Cunningham said her customers are a mix of hobbyists and those who buy raw products to make things to sell. She said they can spin raw products into yarn and sell that or even make the yarn into clothing or other items.

Cunningham said one of the advantages of the store is the knowledge and inspiration from the owners as well as customers.

"I think a big part of knitting is getting inspired by what others do," she said.

The store's "Sit and Knit" every Sunday is free, and anyone can come to crochet or knit from noon to 5 p.m.

The business holds its "Spin-Ins" twice a year, during which it puts out different colors of fibers for spinners to try out. The customers pay $10 for Wright to make the fiber into a batt for them, which can be used to spin into yarn or for the inside of quilts. The products are donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Besides being fun, those who participate learn from others in the group. For instance, one person might know a particular type of stitch; another might know another way of doing that type of stitch, she said.

The store also holds spinning, knitting and other crafting classes that range from $20 to $30.

Besides natural fibers, the store also sells spinning wheels, which can range from $330 to thousands for a new one, Cunningham said. She said customers can save money by buying a used wheel, but they sell fast.

Cunningham said she often uses a method of kettle dying to color her natural fibers while she works in the store. She puts it in a crockpot, sets the heat, and it's done when the water turns clear, usually after half a day. It can also be rolled in plastic with dye and microwaved or put inside a black plastic bag and set in the sun during hot weather.

WC Mercantile has customers of all ages, Cunningham said.

On Thursday, Navasota resident Robyn Caberera came in with her three girls: Twins Kendall and Jordan, 12, and Isabel, 9, and her son, Devin, 11.

Jordan said the family comes into the store almost every day of the week, and she and her twin started knitting when they were 8.

"It's really fun coming here," she said. "We meet lots of people and learn things."

Kendall said she likes to come into the store because she always discovers something new.

"I learned how to weave, dye a little and spin," she said, adding that she came in that day to learn how to lace a pattern for a scarf.

She proudly held up a pink hat and put it on her head, the first one she recently knitted. She said she's making another one for a baby as a gift.

Their younger sister quietly worked on a project in a corner, while their brother listened to music.

Their mother said, "It's a good learning experience for kids and adults."

Besides crafting supplies, the store, next to The 4 Queens Antiques & Unique Gifts, carries other items, including a few stuffed animals, eye-glass cases, pins, knick-knacks, paintings and wine glasses.

For more information on the store and a list of classes, go to www.wcmercantile.com or call 936-825-3378.

We LOVE Dyeing!

2011-01-14T16:18:00.005-06:00

New Year Knit Along!

2011-01-11T15:11:00.003-06:00

Summer Flies by Holly Griffin
is the pattern we are all knitting for our New Year Knit Along.
This is my progress, I am done with section one.

New Years Knit Along.

2010-11-17T09:27:00.002-06:00

Casting on after the Holidays...Summer Flies.

A wonderful Knit by Donna Griffin.

Art Yarn Class

2010-10-21T09:10:00.004-05:00

Saturday October 23rd, 2010

1pm to 4pm

by: Kristen Holmquist

Too Much Fun!

2010-09-12T09:07:00.005-05:00

Jessie & Marcus of Phatfiber!

2010-08-15T17:08:00.004-05:00

It was awesome meeting Jessie and Marcus, if only we could have had them longer! The seminar was great. Lots of tips and tricks that I had no idea about--now the real work begins! The food was catered by Martha's Bloomers and was a big hit. I would love to have Jessie and Marcus back again. Maybe as a part of a retreat so we can have even more fun!

Before Jessie arrived, I had warned her that I just have a tiny little yarn shop, but that we pack it full of FUN! When she walked in she could not believe the size of our shop and said this is what a tiny yarn shop looks like in Texas!

We Really Gone BATTY!

2010-06-15T09:35:00.002-05:00

And they get prettier and prettier every time!

Phat Fiber Lady Coming to WC Mercantile!

2010-06-07T14:26:00.006-05:00

Phat Fiber Marketing Seminar
Thinking of starting an Etsy shop or selling online? Wondering how to be found in cyberspace? Jessie Booth, founder of Phat Fiber, is coming to WC Mercantile to share tips, tricks and marketing strategies with a focus on crafts, yarns and fibers. Lunch will be provided. SEATING IS LIMITED. Please email to reserve your seat.
Date: Saturday August 7th, 2010 Time: 10:30 to 1:30
Seminar Fee: $60.

WC Mercantile Has Gone BATTY!

2010-05-18T19:38:00.005-05:00

We are turning out batts faster than ever! And they are heavenly to spin!

Spring Spin In

2010-04-29T12:32:00.015-05:00

A very special Thank You to Martha for taking pictures!

Thank you to everyone who came. We all had a blast!
The Fall Spin In will be Saturday September 25.

Schacht Cricket Loom

2010-04-04T12:12:00.003-05:00

We are having a blast with this little loom!
A great stash buster!

New Class Coming in May: Entrelac

2010-04-02T07:59:00.007-05:00

May 15th 10 am - 2 pm

We will be making a bright and colorful felted bowl. This is a great class to learn Entrelac, practice knitting in the round and felt the knitted peice. Call or email for more details.

Zauberball!

2010-03-12T14:29:00.001-06:00

Make long stripe socks and be smitten!

Majacraft Aura

2010-03-05T21:08:00.004-06:00

Looks very interesting! I can't wait to see one in real life.

Lots of Dyed Bamboo!

2010-02-24T15:41:00.000-06:00

Beautifully Dyed Bamboo

Button, Button, WC Mercantile Has Some Lovely Buttons!

2010-02-17T12:09:00.003-06:00

More Buttons...Yeah!!

Lots of Lorna's

2010-01-31T22:21:00.004-06:00

I love the bright colors!

Sari Silk

2009-12-16T15:18:00.002-06:00

Carded Sari Silk

Soft and Clean, Colorful and Fun!

TWIST!!

2009-11-20T15:01:00.003-06:00

New from Malabrigo...TWIST.

100% Baby Merino Wool

Deliciously Dyed and Super Soft.

Mixed BFL

2009-11-09T20:05:00.002-06:00

Makes a Wonderful "Oatmeal" Yarn.

Dan Spindles

2009-10-25T21:17:00.003-05:00

Dan Spindles. Only at WC Mercantile.

One of Every Color!

2009-10-21T07:04:00.003-05:00

Over 60 colors of beautiful Merino Wool ready to be spun!

We now have Fiesta Yarns

2009-10-19T07:55:00.002-05:00

These colors are beautiful!

Fiber Fun!

2009-10-17T16:59:00.006-05:00

This is going to be a great week. We are getting in every color of Merino Wool Top available.

And a Fresh Batch of Malabrigo is in, too!

New Yarn to Dye For!

2009-09-28T19:22:00.002-05:00

60% Merino 40% Silk

Worsted Weight
4 ounces, 250 yards
High squish factor and very yummy.

We made it to the Etsy Front Page!!

2009-09-04T07:52:00.001-05:00

Cashmere

2009-06-12T10:06:00.003-05:00

I am in LOVE!