A SALE!!!! and Schedules for July thru December

Discover Knit and Crochet Classes are on Sale!!!!  25% off all classes in the book.  Here are my classes through the end of the year.

Basic Crochet Classes

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

June 24

July  23

August 19

September 16

October 14

November 11

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

July 29

August 26

September 23

October 21

November 18

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

July 31

August 5

September 9

September 30

October 28

December 2

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

August 12

October 7

November 4

December 9

Basic Knit Classes

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

July 25

August 22

September 19

October 17

November 14

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

July 5

August 1

August 29

September 26

October 24

November 21

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

June 27

July 6 (Saturday 9 – 11:30 am)

August 8

September 5

October 3

October 31

December 5

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

August 15

September 12

October 10

November 7

December 12

Advanced Beginner Crochet Classes

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

Rattle     July 24

Textured Baby Blanket    August 21

Textured Baby Blanket September 18

Baby Rattle  October 16

Textured Baby Blanket November 13

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

Lacy Wrap     August 28

Granny One Piece Throw September 25

Lacy Wrap October 23

One Piece Granny Throw November 20

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

August 7

September 4

October 2

October 30

December 4

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

Bavarian Crochet August 14

Tapestry Crochet  August 24 9:30 – 12

Crocodile Stitch September 11

Tunisian Crochet October 9

Painted Crochet October 26 9:30 – 12

Broomstick Lace November 6

Hairpin Lace December 11

Advanced Beginner Knit Classes

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

Kimono July 26

Blanket & Booties August 23

Kimono September 20

Blanket & Booties October 18

Kimono November 15

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

August 2

August 30

September 27

October 25

November 22

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

June 28

August 9

September 6

October 4

November 1

December 6

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

Short Rows August 16

Knook September 13

Mobius Knitting September 28 9:30 – 12

Entrelac October 11

Knook & Loom Knit November 8

2 Needle Sock   November 16 9:30 - 12

I-Cord December 13

I will also be offering the following dates for yarn nights.  Those are times when you want to sit and knit or crochet with someone experienced nearby for a quick question, have a question about what yarn to use for a project, how much yarn to use for a project, check a pattern you think could have a problem or explain a complicated stitch pattern you just don't quite understand.  Yarn nights will also be including starting in August a stitch pattern of the month for each Knit and Crochet.

July 30  6 – 8:30 pm

August 10  1 – 4 pm

August 24   1 – 4 pm

September 14   1 – 4 pm

September 28   1 – 4 pm

October 12 1 – 5 pm

October 26 1 – 4 pm

November 16 1 – 4 pm

December 14 1 – 4 pm

As an ongoing effort to help those who have less, I am also running joining parties for the Warm Up America movement.  We have lots of donated squares.  We have lots of need for finished afghans.  All afghans will stay local to Lebanon area and be distributed through Lebanon HOPES.  Here are the dates for these events.

August 18 2 – 5 pm

September 22 2 – 5 pm

October 6 2 – 5 pm

October 27 2 – 5 pm

November 10 2 – 5 pm

New techniques being offered in fall

I'm offering new techniques in the fall!

In addition to the basic classes and advanced classes I already offer, I will be adding  Mobius knitting, Intarsia, Entrelac, Short Rows, I-cord , tapestry Crochet, a 2 needle sock class, Tunisian Crochet (knit and purl variants), Crocodile stitch,  Bavarian Crochet, and painted crochet. Yarn Nights will now include a stitch pattern of the month for knit and crochet.

The basic classes being offered have not changed.  The advanced classes currently being offered also will not change.  

The stitch patterns will come from a variety of sources.  If they come from a book Michaels sells, you will know about that book.

A new take on Summer crochet and knit projects

June seems to be the month for weddings.  I know this because Las Vegas is the marriage capital of the world and June is their busiest month.  I can't guarantee the capital of the world for weddings but I do know June is the busiest.  Getting hotel rooms there can be brutal for the month of June.  September, around the SEMA (the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world) show, is also not too easy.  But back to June, I have a son getting married in Las Vegas in June, in just a few days actually.

Bride friendly gifts have been running through my mind for a while.  Wedding party ideas have also been swirling through.  I'm going to crochet a wedding purse for myself on the plane since I know what my limits are beforehand.  It will be a small beaded thing, nothing fancy but pictures will be posted after we return home.  I'm also going to make myself a general purpose multi pocketed wallet/purse for times when a purse is needed but not a fancy one and not the tourist fanny pack.  Most purses I carry are entirely too large to be airline friendly.

Some bridal ideas include a small clutch, a veil and/or headpiece if she hasn't chosen one yet, a shawl, or a garter.  Groom ideas could include boutonnieres for the men to wear.  

Check these links for some ideas:

lion brand bridal patterns

red heart bridal patterns

Can I knit and crochet in summer???

The answer is YES!  Yes you can knit and crochet in summer.  You just have to choose your projects with a little more thought and care.  This is not to say that knitters and crocheters don't do this already, but in summer weather a little extra is required for your comfort.  

Summer is the time for working with cottons, linen, bamboo and rafia and tarn.  Tarn is yarn made from t-shirts cut into 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inch strips.  The t's can be old that have stretched or faded, new ones or the fabric before the shirts are cut out and assembled.  Cottons can be the dishcloth cottons that are worsted weight down to the fine crochet threads.  Linen, bamboo and rafia are all plant fibers that have many different characteristics, most of which I won't go into.  Rafia can also be made from synthetics and have a sheen that borders on shine.

Summer is the time for small projects.  In the heat of July and August might not be the time to work on a large wool afghan that was started in the end of winter but didn't get done.  You could however, think ahead and if you prefer wool to plant fibers, work on small items like hats and mittens.  Mostly though, when I think of summer work, I want to do things like embellish flip flops and baseball hats, dish cloths, small purses, or beach cover ups.  I also think to do quick slippers and baby hats for donations.  I like quick to finish projects because so much of my time early to mid summer is spent outside.

Here are a few ideas along these lines.

I offer these ideas and can teach these during basic beginner classes.  Nothing shown here can't be done after a class or two.  Basic stitches, cotton yarn and flip flops are all that are required.

I also think of afghan squares or granny squares.  These are quick to make, not too hot to hold and easy for a brain that has been fried in the summer sun.  I do them with an eye towards the coming winter and those who are not as fortunate.  These blocks also give me a chance to practice techniques I want to learn or re-familiarize myself with.

Have a great summer!  Posts will still continue.  I'm also going to do a Christmas in July series of posts.  Keep checking back.

Yarn and How Much Do I Need?

As an ongoing part of the series of questions I get frequently asked, How much yarn do I need for X? tops the list right at the same number of times as What kind of needles should I use?

Yarn choices are amazing.  There are so many new things out there on the market to try.  But this post is to deal with How much not fiber content.  Although fiber content can make a difference, weight does make a difference in how much to purchase.

There are generalities I can point to for a quick answer but that doesn't begin to get an accurate number for how much do I need?  yarn yardage requirements is a quick link to Lion Brand Company's chart for very basic information for both knit and crochet.

You need to know your gauge with a specific yarn.  You need to know how big your project needs to be.  You need to know what kind of drape you want your project to have.  An example is you don't want a floppy drape-y fiber like alpaca would give you if you are doing a tailored jacket that needs to hold its shape.  You also don't want a crisp yarn when your project should be molding to your curves or cuddling baby.  All of these have to be taken into account.  You should also wash your swatch.  Your fiber choice could relax into an ocean sized puddle when gotten wet or shrivel like a prune.  Wouldn't it be better to have that happen to a swatch than an afghan or sweater?

But, you say, I'm using acrylic/polyester/super wash wool!  Even those fibers can react to water or even just knitting or crocheting in unexpected ways.  Please don't ever wash synthetic fibers in hot, hot water and then dry in a hot dryer.  You can kill the spring in the fiber.  

More will be posted on this topic in the future.  This is just to get you thinking.  If you have questions, post a comment.  It will be addressed.

Things are getting back to normal

Over a month ago, my husband was in a car accident.  Things are looking up in my household.  He's almost back to his previous abilities.  In his recovery, I have been thankful that I had my knitting and crocheting.  Simple things with simple stitches helped me stay on an even keel in the early days and helped pass the time in waiting rooms.  Now I have been developing new classes and projects and trying to finish my classes.  I also have put together a knitter's scavenger hunt for my guild's retreat at the end of the month.

My new projects have included learning a mobius cast on to do an infinity cowl/shawl for class in two ways.  One way is to teach this technique.  Another way is for me to wear it in the winter.  I have also been binge-ing on charted crochet patterns I see offered on websites.  I have worked a bunch of flowers, saved a slew more to my computer, used a few in classes, and am halfway done with a purse from a charted pattern. 

I have also developed a short row class complete with a round dishcloth.  I am in the middle of developing a double knitting class.  A hot pad will be the project for that.  Also in the works will be a machine knit workshop for winter, tapestry crochet, intarsia knitting, and more.

Stay tuned for more information and pictures.

simple work

Why would anyone ever work the plain garter stitch xxx?  Why would anyone just make a simple crochet block all the same?  There is nothing wrong with plain and simple.  For beginners it is all about practicing the new and that is great.  We all need to practice the new.  It's how we get better at what we are learning.

It also holds the power to soothe a troubled person.  Recently, my family had a minor tragedy occur.  Everyone is fine as in not in a hospital. Everyone is not fine in the respect that we carry on as before.  We see this all the time when major tragedy hit our country in 2001, when loved ones are lost, when tragedies strike whole communities.

Simple garter stitch, plain granny squares, double crochet squares, garter and ribbed slippers, all these are quick to craft but more importantly, they hold the rhythm that lulls us into not feeling overwhelmed, kind of like a rocking chair for some, back rubs for others.  They give the rest we sometimes need and can't get watching television or cleaning or any of the things we have to do to get through our days.

What has helped me?  Garter stitch dish cloths.  I now have quite a few and these don't wear out nearly as fast as those I bought.

Here is the pattern I prefer to use.  I don't have to think for any of it.

Materials needed:  worsted weight cotton yarn.  I use Lily Sugar & Cream and Peaches & Creme.  They are affordable and easily found in my area on store shelves.  Mid sized needles, with my favorites being US size 6 - 8.  Use whatever size gets you the density you desire.  When I'm stressed, I have been known to go up to size 11 or 13 to get a gauge that doesn't result in cardboard.

Cast on 3.
Row 1: knit1, yo, knit 1, yo, knit 1.  (5 stitches now.  This will increase by 1 stitch every row)
Row 2 - 35 -50:  knit 2, yo, knit to the end of the row.  
Next Row:  knit 2, yo, knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row.  (The yarn over keeps the pattern the same on the decrease side.   The first knit 2 together keeps the stitch count the same.  The second decreases by 1.  This row will decrease you back down to about 4 or 5 stitches.)
You decide when it's big enough.  Want a blanket instead?  Keep increasing.  Then continue down the other side.  For a blanket I would use something soft and easy to use that doesn't have a lot of "stuff" for me to think about.  But that is just me.  On better times, I might use a novelty yarn with an easy pattern.  I'm on familiar ground but still get something that looks different and unique.