It's YarnCrawl Y'all!

The Magalog from Skacel

It's YarnCrawl again!  August 3 - 11, 2013.  We have several special events for you on the Crawl agenda:  First up is a party!  August 2nd we'll kick off the Crawl with an evening of refreshment and yarn-y stuff like new merch featuring a special Chicago Indie dyer; free and exclusive Knit1 knit and crochet patterns along with the designers; shop samples; a trunk show from Skacel (see above) and info about upcoming workshops, classes and study groups.  Festivities start at 6 and go until 8:30.  We will be offering 15% off on all products in the shop (for this night only! 10% off during the Crawl) and you will be able to get your Passport and have it stamped.

Workshops During the Crawl:
Basics of Intarsia
Intarsia is a knitting technique used to add color; unlike Fair Isle, the yarn is not carried across the row.  The process requires twisting the yarns so no hole results.  You will also learn to weave in yarn tails and make butterfly bobbins.
Wednesday, August 7 from 10 - 11AM
Wednesday, August 7 from 6 - 7PM
Cost for the workshop is $10, fee covers the cost of supplies.  
Hint:  Our free knitting pattern involves Intarsia...

Single Crochet Chevrons
Learn the crochet skills needed to make the colorful free crochet pattern I designed as a tribute to Italian fashion icon, Missoni who's plane was found the day I designed this piece.  There are many yarn options for this scarf and I encourage you to come in and explore your options before the class. 
Thursday, August 8 from 10 - 11AM
Thursday, August 9 from 6 - 7PM
This class is free with the purchase of yarn specifically for this project.

Please email or call to reserve a space in the workshops.

Stay tuned for more Yarn Crawl info.
Lynn

Monday's Cowl Reknitted

Never mind that it's the hottest day of the year so far, I wanted to post this for you on a Monday.  I re-knit the Monday's Cowl in a new yarn.  This is a fantastic new aran weight from Malabrigo called Mecha.  It's a superwash merino and the colors are sensational.  Each stitch is a pleasure, the yarn just feels so good.  I loved knitting it and when I blocked this piece the fiber glowed -- like the yarn had been glazed.  I don't know if it's the superwash that gives it that quality but, whatever it is, it's winning. 

Notice the button?  It's from our favorite embellishment store Soutache.  She just moved into new quarters and it's beautiful.  The new location is just across the street from her old place but a world apart. 

Don't forget that we're open in the mornings starting this week:  10AM on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  I love the light in the store in the mornings and Delicious Cafe next door has great coffee and morning fare.  Grab something at the cafe and come next door.

 Lynn

New Summer Hours

The first day of summer inspired me to change our hours. 
We will now be open 3 mornings a week beginning Monday, June 24th.

Monday  1 - 8:30
Tuesday  closed
Wednesday  10 - 8:30
Thursday  10 - 8:30
Friday  1 - 5
Saturday 10 - 5
Sunday  12 - 5

Happy Solstice,
Lynn

Chevrons of Several Stripes

A Giant Anatomical Chevron

Ever since I can remember I've loved chevrons.  When I was a young girl I had a pretend gramma, she was from Russia and she taught me to play dominoes which we did for hours and hours on end.  She also drank tea in a glass which I thought was exotic.  And she crocheted.  I knew how to knit, but for some reason I never learned to crochet.  When I was 10 she made me a giant blanket in red, white and blue which were my favorite colors.  I still have it, and it's in pristine condition.  It's made of wool and even though (I think) she was quite elderly when she made it, her skill is obvious. 

Several times a day someone comes to the store inspired to knit a blanket, and on Saturday 2 people hung out with us a bit who were making chevrons.  One was knit and one was crocheted.  This lit a little spark under me and now I'm preoccupied with thoughts of chevrons.  I'm thinking about colors of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino which would be beautiful in a garter stitch chevron, but I kind of can't stop thinking about Rowan All Seasons Cotton for a quick, chunky, modern take on the retro crochet of my childhood. 

Here are some chevrons for you to contemplate. 

Choosing colors and working through a couple rows of each stripe is so much fun and not hard, I think it's the perfect project for this season when we're all looking for something effortless and simple, yet engaging enough to keep our interest. 

Do you have memories of chevron blankets and their creators?

Lynn

The Answer to ALL Your Problems

Want to improve your knitting skills? check
Need to make a baby gift? check
Need a wedding gift? check
Want to take a class at Knit 1, but need flexibility? check
Need a portable project? check
Want to knit with some really cool new yarn, but don't know what to make? check
Want online support for your class when you can't call Lynn or Cory? check

See!  All your problems solved with several clicks of the needles!!  We're starting the Building Blocks Class the first week of June.  Every pattern in the "Building Blocks" book focuses on the development of a skill while knitting a lovely square. Each square, or block, builds upon the skills learned in the previous patterns, giving knitters more confidence, knowledge and skill. At the completion of the series, the reward is an abundance of knitting know-how along with 12 gorgeous blocks to assemble into a sampler afghan.

We are offering this class 2 times during each week, on Wednesday mornings from 10 - noon and on Monday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30.  We encourage you to take all 12, but for a bit more coin per class you can sign up for just 3 or 6 classes.  

The cost of the series is $220
6 classes = $115
3 classes = $60

You will need to purchase the book for $20 and we kindly request that you use Knit 1 yarn for this project, but why wouldn't you want to use the brand new Hikoo Simply Worsted?  After all the book is written around this yarn and it comes in beautiful colors, it's washable and it's well priced at $14 per skein.

You've read this far so you get a reward!  Mention your dogged perseverance and get a Knit 1 Project Bag when you sign up for all 12 classes in the series.

Lynn