Another Sale!!!! And the new classes for October, November, December

Here's a shock for us all.  The Discover Knit and Crochet classes are on sale until Halloween for $20 each.  Those that are priced less than that stay the same.

And finally pictures of the new classes.  For Crochet the new offerings for project classes are

Crochet Cowl featuring woolspun from Lion Brand Yarn  A very warm garment that can be made larger or smaller or glammed up with a different yarn choice or ribbon choice.

Cross Stitch Potholder using Sugar and Creme  A great gift idea for the hunters in your life!  They can use this while cooking up their catch.

Fingerless Gloves using Vanna's Choice  A great gift idea for a lot.  Change them up by doing in different colors for each recipient!

Boot Cuffs using Red Heart Super Saver.  These are well loved by the twenty something women in my store!

And finally the strawberry cake scarf in color choice 1.  This is just fun and exciting.  Makes me hungry for cake.

 And now for the new Knit Classes......

This is the Knit baby hat and booties.  

These cup cozies are a quick knit and great for co workers presents! 

This slouchy hat is also a great gift idea for teens

And finally the new kids projects.

The mannequins are wearing the multi strand necklace and headband.
In front are the basketball necklace and bracelet.  Super easy and stylish for the kids!  

Kid Crochet 2 are cuff bracelets.  Individuality is gained by color choices and the buttons chosen.

The animal pouches are #3 even though they use the same stitch as the cuff bracelets but there is more to do for these.

New Schedules and some time off

In an effort to have sufficient time for everything coming up, one son with his fiance is coming for a visit around Easter.  The same son is graduating and getting married in the month for weddings.  I also wanted to make sure I had enough classes scheduled for everyone to be happy and get what they need.

Here are my classes thru the end of July.  I don't want to think of August or the last third of the year just yet.

Beginner Knit Classes which are held Thursday nights unless otherwise noted are first.

Discover Knit Stitch Class    All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

February 28

April 4

April 6 (Saturday 9 – 11:30 am)

May 2

May 30

July 25

Discover Purl Stitch Class   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

March 7

April 11

April 13 (Saturday 9 – 11:30 am)

May 9

June 6

July 5

Discover Pattern Stitches Class   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

February 14

March 14

April 18

April 20 (Saturday 9 – 11:30 am)

May 16

June 27

July 6 (Saturday 9 – 11:30am)

Discover Cables Class All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

February 21

March 21

April 25

April 27 (Saturday 9 – 11:30 am)

May 23

June 7

Beginner Crochet classes are next up.  These are held every Monday night unless otherwise noted.

Discover Single Crochet  All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm   

March 11

April 1

April 29

June 24

July 23

Discover the Tall Stitches of Crochet   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

February 11

March 11

April 8

May 6

June 3

July 29

Discover Granny Squares   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

February 18

March 18

April 22

May 13

June 10

July 31

Discover Textured Stitches   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

February 25

April 22

May 20

June 5

Advanced Knit classes are held Friday nights unless otherwise noted.

Discover Baby Knits Class   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

Kimono March 1

Blanket & Booties April 5

Kimono May 3

Blanket & Booties May 31

Kimono July 26

Discover Mitered Knitting Class   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

March 8

April 12

May 10

Discover Fair Isle Class/Learn to Fair Isle   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

February 15

March 15

April 19

May 17

June 28

Discover Time To Knit Classes    All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

March 22 Socks Toe Up

April 26 Double Knitting

May 24 Socks Top Down

Advanced Crochet classes are the final classes scheduled.

Discover Baby Crochet Class      All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

Rattle March 6

Hooded Blanket April 3

Rattle May 1

Hooded Blanket May 29

Rattle July 24

Discover Throws and Wraps in Crochet Class  All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

Lace Openwork Wrap February 13

One Piece Granny Throw March 13

Lace Openwork Wrap April 10

One Piece Granny Afghan May 8

Lace Openwork Wrap June 26

Discover Crochet Gifts Class      All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm

February 20

March 20

April 17

May 15

Discover Time to Crochet Classes   All Classes are 6 – 8:30 pm 

February 27 Tapestry Crochet

March 2 Knook

April 24 Broomstick Lace

May 22 Afghan Patterns

The last thing to note are yarn nights.  

Yarn Nights are times for you to get a question answered about a stitch, yarn or pattern question that doesn’t require a full class.  You can also sit and stitch with me at this time.  Times are 6 – 8:30 pm unless otherwise noted.

February 26

March 19

April 23

May 21

June 1 (Saturday, 1 – 4 pm)

July 30

Sale Time!!

Michaels has just announced!!!  

Knit & Crochet Classes during September 8 Open House will be 50% off.  What a great deal!!  


I must edit this post as new details have arrived.

Knit and Crochet classes qualify for the discount all day September 8.  The meet the instructors event is 11 - 3.  

All classes in the books will qualify for the discount.  I have classes scheduled to the end of the year.  Schedules will be available.

Bookmark Patterns

As promised, here are 2 bookmarks.  The first is a knit Christmas tree.  The lace pattern is taken from Barbara Walker's Treasury of Knit Patterns.  Her books are a gold mine of patterns that seemingly never end.  Even if you run out of actual patterns to work with, your imagination can take those patterns and combine them in ways that many have not seen before.  The second is a double pineapple bookmark in crochet.  Pineapples in crochet have been around for a very long time.  They can be added into patterns, stand alone, created circles or squares.  They are an amazing motif.  In my research of pineapples, I have even seen a pair of earrings made from crocheted pineapples.

Knit Christmas Tree Lace Bookmark

Gauge:  Not important for this project

Finished Size:  2" x up to 6" long

Materials needed:  Size 10 Crochet Cotton Thread, I used DMC Baroque in Christmas Green

                             Size 7 steel hook

                             Size 0 needles

                             Tapestry needle

Stitches used:  K - knit, P - purl, k2tog - knit 2 together, ssk - slip stitch knitwise, slip stitch knitwise, put both back on the left needle and knit them together through the back of the stitch, 

Cast on 25 sts.

Knit in garter stitch up to 4" in length.  For the lace section, keep first 4 and last 4 sts in garter.  End with 3 - 6 rows more of garter stitch.

Lace Panel Directions

Row 1 wrong side (and all wrong side rows):  K 4, P to last 4 sts, K 4.

Row 2:  K 10, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k to end

Row 4:  K 9, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k to end

Row 6:  K 8, (k2tog, yo) twice, k 1, (yo, ssk) twice, k to end

Row 8:  K 7, (k2tog, yo) twice, k3, (yo, ssk) twice, k to end

Row 10:  k 6, (k2tog, yo) 3x, k 1, (yo, ssk) 3x, k to end

Rows 12, 14, 16, 18,  20, 22, 24,  and 26:  Rep Rows 8, 6, 4, 6, 8, 6, 4, 2

Row 28:  K 11, k2tog, yo, k to end

Row 29: Rep Row 1

For this pattern I used a light pencil mark to keep track of where I was in the row count.  Also this will need blocking.  Use a burst of steam and a light pressing for this.  The garter will need stretched a bit around the lace panel and the stockinette background will need the steam to help the stitches to line up.

Pineapple Bookmark

Materials needed:  Size 3 thread, I used Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet Cotton in Scarlet

                             Size B hook

                             Tapestry needle

Gauge: Not important in this project

Finished Size:

Stitches used:  Ch - chain, sc - single crochet, sl st - slip stitch, dc - double crochet, sp – space, dc3tog – double crochet 3 stitches together

Note:  Ch 3 at the beginning of a row counts as a dc throughout this pattern.

Ch 5, join with a sl st to form a ring.

R1:  ch 1, 9 sc in ring, join with a sl st in top of first sc.

R2:  Ch 3, 3 dc in same st as join, * 3 dc in next st.  Rep from *. Turn

R3:  Ch 3, dc in next st, ch 2, * dc in next st, ch 1.  Rep from * to the last 2 sts.  End ch 2, dc in dc, dc in top of ch 3 of prev row.  Turn.

R4:  Ch 3, dc in dc, ch 3, sc in ch 1 sp, * ch 3, sc in next ch 1 sp.  Rep from * across.  End ch 3, dc in dc, dc in top of ch 3 of prev row.  Turn

R5:  ch 3, dc in dc, ch 3, sk first ch 3 sp, * sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3.  Rep from * across skipping last ch 3 sp.  End ch 3, dc in dc, dc in top of ch 3 sp of prev row.  Turn

R6:  ch 3, dc in dc, ch 3, sk first ch 3 sp, * sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3.  Rep from * across skipping last ch 3 sp.  End ch 3, dc in dc, dc in top of ch 3 sp of prev row.  Turn

R7:  ch 3, dc in dc, ch 3, sk first ch 3 sp, * sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3.  Rep from * across skipping last ch 3 sp.  End ch 3, dc in dc, dc in top of ch 3 sp of prev row.  Turn

R8:  ch 3, dc in dc, ch 3, sk first ch 3 sp, * sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3.  Rep from * across skipping last ch 3 sp.  End ch 3, dc in dc, dc in top of ch 3 sp of prev row.  Turn

R9:  ch 3, dc in dc, ch 3, sk first ch 3 sp,  sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, dc in dc, dc in top of ch 3 sp of prev row.  Turn

R10:  ch 3, dc in dc, ch 3, dc in dc, dc in top of ch 3 of prev row.  Turn

R11:  ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, dc in top of ch 3 of prev row.  Turn

R12:  ch 3, dc3tog.  End off.

Turn upside down so the sc ring is at the top.  On the right side, sk 2 sc.  Join thread with a sl st in next sc.  Start with R2 from the other side and make the other half.

Again blocking with a shot of steam will help this to lie flat. 

You can embellish these as you see fit.  Just remember to keep beads away from the main body of the bookmark so as to not break the spines of the books these are sure to be used in.

Merry Christmas!

Something for the readers in my family

For some reason most knitters and crocheters I know also read a lot.  I know I do.  One of the ideas that came to me today was bookmarks to tuck into a bestseller or topic specific book those on my list have been yearning for.  I'm thinking of thread lace crochet, hairpin lace, knitted lace, and possibly book jackets in some of the "standard" sizes of books.  This allows the reader to be left in peace with his or her book.  No one to question the choice of book or if your are into the new thriller, no one to spoil the whodunit.

Along this line would would also be an e-Reader sleeve to protect it from bumps and scratches.  I think a nice fair isle pattern that gets felted could be a good idea.

In looking through my patterns, books and magazines recently, I came across some interesting ideas.

Create a single crochet pineapple two pineapples long and put scallops along the edges.  Pattern for this will go up this weekend.  Pick any lace pattern either knit or crochet that is 6 to 12 stitches wide and work in size 10 thread with either a size 8 steel hook or size 0 knitting needles and work enough repeats for 6 inches.    Again a pattern for a knit idea and a pattern for a crochet idea will go up this weekend.  All of these will also have pictures.

For a book jacket or eReader sleeve, try these patterns from different yarn manufacturers.  Some nice ones are at lion brand and caron.

 http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10543.html?noImages=

http://www.caron.com/vickiehowell/patterns/isleeve/isleeve.html

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/search.php

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/search.php

For the last two, put kindle in the search box.  There are a few for your viewing and stitching pleasure.


A selection of many different and fun bookmarks can be found at these sites.

http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/patternFinder.fcgi?search=Search&searchText=bookmark&craft=0&categoryKey=Any&subcategory=Any&size=Any&edition=Any&cost=Any&componentCategoryKey=Any&yarnClass=Any&searchType=0

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/search.php

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/search.php

For the last two, put kindle in the search box.  There are a many here also for your viewing and stitching pleasure.

If this isn't enough variation, go to www.ravelry.com and signup if you haven't already.  Once you are in, click the patterns tab and put in your search request.  No matter what I'm looking for there is always at least one pattern or project for me to see out there.


This should help with a few ideas for now.

Christmas in July continues

I've been giving some thought to this once again as I listen to podcasts from KnitPicks.  One episode was geared to what one book has patterns that would satisfy most if not all of your holiday knitting.  I think you would have to know what you are planning to do in the general for each person you are knitting for before you can start pinpointing patterns.  One of the people quizzed said that she kept her knitting for holidays simple.  Choose basic patterns that you can do easily but with enough variety to prevent boredom and let the yarns you choose carry the project.  Another people quizzed said that you should pick projects based on the recipients.  In other words don't give something lacy to a person who really only likes and wears tailored items, a bulky wool sweater to someone who lives in the tropics.  However, you can give finger-less mitts to people who work in offices that are not heated as warm as our homes or feel so due to the sedentary nature of their jobs.


Today's patterns are all about finger-less mitts and mittens.  You can choose patterns that use yarns as fine as fingering weight (sock yarn) on up to patterns that use super bulky.  They can be knit or crocheted.  Mittens are appreciated by almost everyone and they can keep your hands warmer than gloves by keeping the fingers bunched together.


Some choices for easy patterns would be 


http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/cozy-knit-wristers   K

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/lacy-bobble-scarf-and-wristlets   C

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/really-easy-wristers   K

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/twin-cables-wristers   K

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/crochet-mittens-all   C

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/mittens-all   K

http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/winter-crochet-wristers-0   C

These are all from Red Heart.  However, they were chosen for being easy to knit or crochet and allowing the yarn to give emphasis to the mitts or mittens.  Any pattern you choose can be done in any yarn as long as you remember to check the gauge of the yarn recommended and match that up to the gauge of the yarn you want to use.  As your math skills get better you can pick any yarn  to go with any pattern.

Christmas in July

I'm planning to do a link a day to something I think might be fun to knit or crochet for a Christmas present or two.  The links will mostly be items that are already out there but might have been overlooked.

I will also be figuring out what I'm doing for Christmas gifts this year and posting pictures of finished presents.  Things that will need to be done before all this knitting and crocheting?  Do I have the correct needles, hooks, knook, cro-hook for anticipated project?  Do I have enough yarn in the desired fiber and color?  If not, can I get more?  Will I need a complementary color?

Can I think of ways to keep presents from becoming covered in dog/cat fur?  What are the best ways to de-fur presents?  Will I have the stamina to complete big things in the dog days of August?

Let me know your thoughts on what you are planning?  Do you have ways to keep your projects free from "contaminants"?  For those allergic to animal dander, this could be of real interest.

Getting Ready for Open House!

Open House is a little more than a week away.  I'm getting things ready to show off and hopefully inspire people to create and maybe even want to take some lessons.

In response to a class I recently taught on granny squares, I have been adding to that portion of my curriculum.  I have added advanced granny squares and now a sweater of grannies.  All I have left on the sweater is button bands, collar and cuffs.  Baby clothes are a wonderful way to play with techniques and patterns to see if you will get the desired effect before committing to a lot of time and money in yarn if you won't like the finished article.

I have also been working on my samples for classes.  There are some really interesting things in the advanced beginner classes.  The baby rattle is my favorite so far. 

Pictures will be forthcoming of finished items.  I just have to find my camera cords.  They disappeared at Christmastime and have not resurfaced.  I could use my cell phone's camera feature, but the pictures from there are not the best quality for seeing detail.

Remember to tell a friend, classes are all on sale on March 3.  Wilton's classes are a different percentage off than the rest.  Knit, Crochet, Bead, Knack, Scrapbooking, and the fine painting are off 25%.  Class schedules should be available and paperwork in the book.  Come join us for the fun!

March's Discover Time for Crochet class will be Tunisian Crochet.  I will be starting off with learning the basic afghan stitch and moving forward from there.  April's Class will be Hairpin Lace.  There is more to this lace pattern than meets the eye.

March's Discover Time for Knit class will be double knitting.  This is a wonderful technique that can have so many applications.  April's Class will be all about learning some of the more advanced techniques that you use in knitting that don't get explained too well in written instructions.  These techniques also have many uses, some of which I will go over.  None of these techniques are involved enough to need an entire class but are still worth learning.  Some covered will be short rows, Kitchener, and i-cord.

A Sale and a small crisis

Computers are a wonderful thing when the work.  Computers can cause heartache and headaches when they don't.  I come to you today from the local library.  Our computer has died again.  The motherboard and possibly USB ports need replacing.  This is the second Dell in less than two years for us.  This is the small crisis. 

Better news!!  The Discover Knit and Crochet classes are going on sale for 25% off on the first Saturday of March.  Sale price is $18.50. 

I don't have anything that I can use to post pictures of the Filet Crochet project I designed for the end of February.  The finished object is a purse and is at Michaels on my storyboard.  It's a square bottomed purse and the filet lace goes around the sides.  It is a cinch top.

I'm also having a demo on Saturday, February 11, from 11 am to 1 pm.  It will also be a joining party for all the blocks we have from the Warm Up America collection.  Come on out and help.  Many hands make light work.

February Class Schedule

February 2012
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1	2 Discover Knit	3 Discover Baby Knit	4
5	6 Discover Tall Stitches	7	8 Discover Throws & Wraps Crochet	9 Discover Purl	10 Discover Throws & Wraps Knit	11 Demo 11 - 1
12	13 Discover Texture Stitches	14 Happy Valentine’s Day	15 Discover Gifts Crochet	16 Discover Pattern Stitches	17 Discover Gifts Knit	18
19	20 Discover Granny Squares	21	22 Discover Time to Crochet Filet Crochet	23 Discover Cables	24 Discover Time to Knit Socks Pt. 2 Toes	25
26	27 Discover Single Crochet	28	29