Upcoming Knitting & Crochet Classes (plus a plug for quilting too)

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Beginning Knitting is available every Thursday morning from 9am-10am. There will be a drop in fee of $10.00.

Ski Hat–Two color knitting. Marilyn will be offering this 2 session class Thursdays Jan 21 and 28 from 6pm-7:30pm. Cost $35

Beginning Crochet — Saturdays, 3 sessions, Jan 23, 30, and Feb 6, 9am-10:30am. Cost $45

Pure and Simple Socks — Tuesdays. 3 sessions, Feb 2, 9 and 16, 5:30-6:30pm. Instructor Julie Conway will be teaching beginner socks with a mid weight yarn. Knitting Pure and Simple pattern will provide supply list. Cost $45

Double Knit Mittens with Sylvia. 2 sessions, Saturdays Feb 6, 13, from 1-3pm. Cost $40

St Denis Abstract Leaves Vest. Marilyn will lead this class using a new yarn and a new book from Classic Elite Yarns. 4 session class. Saturdays, Feb 20, 27, March 13, 20 from 10am – 11:30am. Cost $60

Your First Sweater — Tuesdays 4 sessions, Feb 23, March 2, 9, 16 from 5:30pm- 6:30pm. Julie Conway will lead you through your first sweater using a top down pattern from Knitting Pure and Simple. Cost $45

Modified EZ Mitered Mittens — Saturdays, 2 sessions, February 27 and March 6 1-2pm. Kristi will lead you through EZ’s mitered mittens with a more comfortable gusset thumb as well as provide you with the modifications required to knit it from any weight yarn for any size hand. Cost $25

Sundog Sweater — Saturdays, 3 sessions, March 13, 20 and 27th 1-2:30pm. Kristi will guide you through knitting this great top-down yoked sweater for children (available from Twist Collective) that is designed to grow with them. Cost $55

Felted Easter Basket — Tuesdays, 2 sessions, March 23 and 30, 5:30-6:30pm. Cost $35

More info and class supply list will be given on sign up. Samples for all classes are in the shop.

Outside the usual. Many of us cross over into Quilting and with that a One Day quilt work shop will be offered Feb 27 from 10am to 3pm at the Inn at City Park. Cost will be $50.00 for the day with lunch included. Guest instructor Kelly Gallagher-Abbott of Jukebox Quilts will lead us in making the top for Funky Checkers. See the sample in the shop. Minimal preparation prior to class. With registration, pattern and supply list will be provided. Class limited to 12 students. Check out Kelly’s web site, www.jukeboxquilts.com.

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TUTORIAL: Right Twisting Cable Without a Cable Needle

Yesterday I shared the way I like to cable without a cable needle, but I only showed you how I do it for left twisting 4-stitch cables. Today I’ll show you how I do it for right twisting 4-stitch cables or cable 2 right (or back).

Step 1: Take the right needle tip in front of the left needle and place it through the third and fourth stitches on the left needle as if to purl.

Step 2: With your left index finger apply some pressure to the base of the 1st and 2nd sts and remove all four stitches from the left needle.

Step 3: Slip the left needle through the two loose stitches from left to right so they are mounted normally on the needle.

Step 4: Pass the first two stitches now on the right needle back to the left needle. It looks kind of disorganized and the stitches may be somewhat distorted. They may also seem quite tight. This is normal.

Step 5: Knit the four newly reordered stitches and the cable is complete.

You should be able to see the direction the stitches are twisted before you even knit them. It is good practice to take a look at this stage to make sure you did cross them in the proper direction before you knit them. It is easiest to fix the cable before it is knit.

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TUTORIAL: Left Twisting Cable Without a Cable Needle

I always tell my students who are new to cabling that it is nothing more than an organized way to knit stitches out of order. Most commonly one uses a cable needle to aid you in working the stitches in a different order, but anyone who has done long term cabling projects knows those pesky cable needles like to run away and hide! Even if you do not wish to embark upon a full project dedicated to cabling without a cable needle, knowing how can get you out of a bind if you happen to loose a cable needle while out and about. Today I’ll share how I like to cable without a cable needle to make a basic 4-stitch left twisting cable sometimes called “Cable 2 Front (C2F).”

Step 1: Take your right needle tip and bring it behind the left needle and pass it into the third and fourth stitch on the left needle as if to purl.

Step 2: Take your right thumb and place pressure on the first two stitches on the left needle and kind of pinch them to keep them from dropping. Then slip all four stitches from the left needle.

Step 3: Insert the left needle tip through the 2 loose stitches you are pinching with your right thumb. The tip should enter them from left to right so they are mounted normally onto the left needle.

Step 4: Slip the 2 stitches on the right needle back to the left needle. It looks kind of disorganized and the stitches may be somewhat distorted. They may also seem quite tight. This is normal.

Step 5: Now knit the newly reordered stitches normally. You should be able to see that two stitches cross to the left in front of two stitches. This forms the left twisting cable.

Come back soon for Right Twisting Cables Without a Cable Needle!

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January FREE Pattern – First Cabled Hat

For January the pattern is a basic cabled hat made from bulky yarn. It is written for three sizes and has a simple 6-stitch repeat great for practicing the basics of cabling. You can even knit a band 3-4 inches wide and then bind off in pattern for an ear warmer and not worry about cabling and shaping the crown of the hat at the same time! Make two and substitute all the C2F (cable 2 front or cable 2 left) with C2B (cable 2 back or cable 2 right) to practice both directions of cabling.

The sample above and one display at the shop is knit from Noro Transitions, but you should be able to substitute Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky or Lana Loft Bulky or for extra warm and softness Mist Alpaca’s Chunky would be wonderful.

Download the PDF Version Now!

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New Soy Candles In and January Stitches!

My sister gave me a wonderful soy candle for a gift and I love it. It burns clean and long, ths scents are wonderful and not too strong. I love it so much I just had to order some for the shop so you all can give them a try. We have the medium for $12 and the large for $18.00. Stop in for the greats selection of fragrances!

Also, the January 2010 newsletter is now up on the web site and ready for downloading (PDF). Don’t miss out on Kristi Schueler’s First Cabled Hat pattern and some mini-tutorials on cabling without a cable needle. There is also an in-depth look at two recent yarn arrivals we have fallen in love with and details on our January and February Community Knitting project. We’ll be posting some of the info here on the blog as well in the coming week or so. Stay tuned!

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