Monday, April 21, 2008

We are so thrilled to welcome Lucy Neatby to Knit One on Tuesday, June 17, and Wednesday June 18, from 10am-4pm. She will be conducting a six hour workshop each day. On Tuesday her class is on Intarsia and Wednesday the class is employing different techniques to make a scarf. Below are the class descriptions. Cost for each workshop is $85. Feel free to check with us to determine skill levels. Please sign up early. Class size is limited!
Lucy Neatby is the author of two books, Cool Socks Warm Feet, and Taking the Chequered Flag: Finishing in Style, a boatload of knitting DVDs, and has written numerous patterns and articles for knitting magazines. Lucy, a former Merchant Naval Officer, is the owner of a mail-order company called Tradewind Knitwear Designs (www.tradewindknits.com) specializing in selling Canadian yarns (including her own Celestial Merino) and her own patterns. Lucy's warm personality and original teaching style make her one of the most popular teachers in North America.
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The Cinderella of Knitting Techniques - Intarsia Explored!
Tuesday June 17 10-4pm
6 hour class. Intermediate upwards - some small amount of intarsia experience necessary.
An exploration of intarsia from the basics on up. Whilst working on a sampler swatch we'll explore
pre knitting planning and preparation - the key to serene working. Pattern analysis, identifying easy or challenging intarsia, (to each their own!) and design considerations. Use and simplification of charts.
Preparing a symbol, shade and information card. Low tech hints for yarn management. Tackling tangles. Use of measured lengths of yarn. Bobbins v yarn butterflies.
Getting the first row right. The intarsia join. Knitting backwards. Darning in, tricks and tips. Knitting in ends - in both directions. Awkward shapes and beginning with one stitch. Ragged first stitches - the causes. Handling horizontal colour jumps without needing to plan ahead.
Adding that little extra to your intarsia; blending yarn textures and colours, fancy stitch patterns, stranded knitting, cables, stripes and use of variegated yarns. Surgical replacement of things you don't like!
Supplies - Darning needles; blunt and semi-sharp; a pair of needles US 5-6 (3.75 - 4mm) Scissors. A bag of part balls of yarn, in six or more colours (preferably wool and wool blends), in mainly DK/Sport (6st per inch) weight. Small amount of fingering / 4 ply weight yarn in two colours. Odds and ends of variegated yarns, mohair scraps. Markers or coloured pencils (optional). Ruler or sticky notes and usual knitting paraphernalia.Homework -With any of your yarns, cast on 22 sts, knit 3 rows (garter st). Leave 2m/yds of yarn attached to your work.
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Scarf Trio - Mirror Mirror, Sea Lettuce or Falling LeavesWednesday June 18 10-4pm
6 hours. Intermediate.
Pick one three great scarf patterns designed by Lucy (or sample all three)!
Mirror Mirror uses double-knitting to combine contrasting yarns in a reversible chequerboard pattern;
Falling Leaves is an elegant design based on a repeating texture pattern;
Sea Lettuce uses short-rows to create a stylish ruffled scarf edged with picots.
Over the course of the day, Lucy will guide you through yarn and needle selection for each project and then give instruction in the many and various techniques involved in each and launch you on your chosen project.
Techniques covered will include: I-cord cast-on, elegant increases, Modified Conventional Bind-off, picots, short-rows, working from the right needle to the left (aka knitting-back backwards), Provisional Crochet cast-on, two-colour double knitting and more!
Supply List
These scarves will all work in any weight of yarn.
Bring circular or straight needles in a size to suit your preferred yarn weight. For Mirror Mirror, bring somewhat larger needles in the range 6 - 7mm (US# 10 - 11).
Scissors, crochet hook, blunt darning needles and usual knitting paraphernalia.
Bring yarn for your project (if already chosen) and a small quantity of play yarn to experiment with.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Back again. There are so many new things happening at Knit One that it is a little overwhelming. Just to update you about our bus trip to the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival, we are leaving promptly at 6am. We will be leaving from the Community Day School which is at the corner of Forward and Beechwood Boulevard. There is a parking lot there with plenty of room. One tip I can share based on my previous experience at the festival is to pack a lunch. The lines were very long at lunch time and if you are like me, If I am hungry and can't wait in line, I snack and eat junk and then feel lousy afterwards. If that is not like you, you will have a blast.

On Mother's Day the chemo cap group from Knit One will be distributing free chemo caps at the Gazebo at the Race for the Cure. Please stop by and see us. Our goal is to make 1000 caps and we are definitely going to reach our goal, especially if you want to help. Call us at the store for details. We are giving out free yarn for this project.

Join us for Spa Day at Knit One on Friday night, May 16 at 6pm. We will be having a "girls" night out and make yummy slippers that evening. There will be wine and cheese, too. More details will follow in the newsletter but think of it as a mini slumber party with lots of treats!

And of course Lucy Neatby is coming in June on the 17th and 18th.. She will be here for 2 days of workshop classes, one on intarsia and the other making a scarf which uses a number of new skills and techniques.

Monday, April 07, 2008

I know, I know....it has been forever since I blogged. But, I have to tell you that I have felt so guilty about it that I was reluctant to even start blogging again. I realize that does not make sense but have you ever wanted to do something so much but just couldn't because it was just hard to get into it again. Well, if that has not happened to you, you are lucky. In any case, I'M Back!!!

So, what is new? Well, first off, we are so excited about going to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. We have a busload of 55 able knitters, crocheters, spinners, dyers, all ready to shop until we drop and have a great time. I am as much excited for the festival as I am for the bus trip. It is an all day adventure.

Next, on my list of what is new is that we are so fortunate after a 2 year wait list to have Lucy Neatby come to Knit One in June. Lucy will be there for 2 days of workshops. Plans are to have one day of Intarsia and the other (we don't know yet).

That is it for now. I promise I will be back soon.

Best,

Stacey