Upcoming class list

Here’s a list of some of our upcoming classes; more information is available at the shop!

All classes limited to five people
Classes fill up quickly; please reserve your space early by paying in advance

Crochet Your First Hat
February 9 and 16, 2008 2 PM - 5PM (Saturdays)
$50 | Materials Included

Introduction to Knitting (Part One; the Knit Stitch, Increasing, Decreasing)
Feb 16, 23, Mar 1, and Mar 8 10:30 AM-1:30 PM (Saturdays)
$100 | Materials Included

Sock Knitting using Double Pointed Needles
Feb 23, March 1, 8, and 15, 2008 2 PM - 5PM (Saturdays)
$100 | Materials Included

Amigurumi Bunny
March 6, 13, and 20, 2008 6 PM – 8 PM (Thursdays)
$75 | Materials Included

Introduction to Lace Knitting
March 15, 22, 29, and April 5, 2008 10:30 AM-1:30 PM (Saturdays)
$100 | Materials Included

Introduction to Needle Felting
March 22 and 29 2008 2 PM - 5PM (Saturdays)
$50 | Materials Included

Sock Knitting using the Magic Loop Method
April 12 and 19 2008 2 PM - 5PM (Saturdays)
$65 | Materials Included

My First Hat
(Learn to use Circular and Double-pointed Needles)
April 12 and 19 2008 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM (Saturdays)
$65 | Materials Included

Coming later in the Spring:
Introduction to Entrelac Knitting
More Crochet Classes
More Introduction to Knitting Classes
Another Slumber Party

Individual classes/lessons available by request (prices may vary)

Friday Five: Five patterns on Knitty that we love

Welcome to a new blog feature-- five random things on Friday. It will always be on Friday, and there will always be five things; but while they will always have a common theme within the five things, overall they will be entirely random from week to week.

Hot Tamale:

This rockabilly inspired skirt is hot hot hot: guaranteed to make you the belle of the bowling alley. Customize with embroidery, optional drawstring or elastic waistband, a sassy lining or no lining at all.

Sharon loves her some Jodi Green... I will leave the telling of Sharon's trials and tribulations with this skirt to her, though.

Knucks:

Reluctant to commit to the permanence of a knuckle tattoo, but yearning to express yourself? Here is your solution. Embroider the eight-letter text that says you onto these quick-to-knit fingerless gloves and the world will know just what you stand for. Knit your Knucks from the knuckles down -- a fast knit on size four needles. Working down allows you to split the yarn into two balls and knit until the balls run out -- achieve extra-long matched-length gloves with no anxiety. Choose between a ribbed cuff with a sewn cast-off and a textured cuff with a crab stitch edging. Included are simple tutorials for both. Learn something new, yo.

I can not even tell you how many times I've made this pattern! Sadly I have never done the embroidery, as I can not embroider my way out of a paper bag. But I love this easy-to-modify pattern, and it's awesome for one-skien projects (or even half-a-skein)!

Monkey:

I would like to say that I knit these socks because I was inspired by falling leaves, the angles of tree branches as they part from mighty oaks in a V-shape, or allude to poetry and art. But let's face it: the true driving force behind these socks was ADDICTION. There was no other way to get them off my back than to knit them.

I may be one of two sock knitters in the free world who has not made this pattern (though I was gifted some!). Sharon has made them and agrees that the pattern is highly addictive, making you want to work on nothing else.

Tubey:

Last winter in the midst of a snowstorm in NYC, I found myself on a bar crawl. Despite the weather, we were determined to stick it out. Each time we changed location, we all put on multiple layers to brave the cold. Every time we arrived at a new place, we all started peeling layers off so we'd look a bit less like snowmen. As we layered up preparing for another trek, my friend and I started discussing one of the garments she was wearing. It was a lightweight sweater with no armhole seams and a square neckline. The garment construction stuck in my mind. During a stash-diminishing exercise, I started playing with creating a chunky, stripey ribbed interpretation. This sweater is literally made from two tubes, one for the body, and one for the shrug-like sleeves. The rib makes the body nice and fitted, and really warm. However, the square neckline makes this a cute sweater to wear on a cold night out. The sleeves are stockinette, and very slightly belled. It can be tried on as you go, and easily adjusted to fit the way you want. It's a fast knit, and there is no seaming!

Tubey may be the Monkey of the pullover world. I've made it. Kelly's made it. Ouida's made it. Betharoopie's made it. Anyone else? I'm even planning on making another. I can guarantee from seeing it on myself and all my friends that this pattern is flattering on just about every single body type out there (if you know what I mean, ladies).

Samus:

One of the latest additions to my video game fanatic husband's collection was a Metroid game, starring a futuristic orange-armored warrior heroine named Samus Aran. I immediately thought of this in a knitting context and wondered what sort of Aran sweater Samus might wear when she's not saving the world from evil. Instead of a traditional up and down cable pattern, these cables are worked separately to make them sideways. The patterned band was adapted from the Saxon Braid in Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge. The body of the cardigan is worked back and forth in one piece to allow an uninterrupted cable across the bottom of the sweater. Both charted and written instructions are included for the cable pattern. An applied i-cord edging finishes the rough edges for a more modern feel.

Say-muss. Shay-muss. However you say it, it's beautiful! Both Sharon and Kelly have made this (Kelly's not quite done with hers yet) and it is a fantastic first-cardigan project.

New Classic Elite yarns

The first two of four new yarns (new for us, that is) that we'll be carrying from Classic Elite have come in; they are still in boxes but we are getting everything checked in and these should be on the shelves and on the website by the end of the day on Friday (barring any emergencies and/or alien abductions). Meanwhile, here's a sneak peek:



Alpaca Sox

Treat your feet to exquisite fibers in fabulous colors. The luxurious combination of fibers in Alpaca Sox gives you the resource to create one-of-a-kind socks. From dressy to special everyday, you now have another alternative for hand knit socks. Wrap your feet up in warmth this season!

Description: 60% Alpaca, 20% Merino Wool, 20% Nylon
Handling: handwash cold, dry flat
Gauge: 8 sts/inch on US #2 (2.75 mm) needles
Skein Weight: 100 grams
Skein Yardage: 450



Renaissance

Renaissance is a 100% wool with a very soft hand and a simple twist. It is great to knit, and looks beautiful in cables, openwork stitches and textures.

Product Information
Description: 100% Wool
Handling: handwash cold, dry flat
Gauge: 4.5 sts/inch on #8 needles or 5 sts/inch on #7 needles
Skein Weight: 50 grams
Skein Yardage: 110

The Hanks Question of the Week

Swaps! How do you feel about them? Have you ever taken part in one? (You don't have to actually name it if it was a horrible experience that you get the shakes just thinking about.) Do you more prefer swaps that are one month/one package, or three month/three package? Do you prefer to send yarn, or to send a finished object?

January is for Karen Knit-along

We've been talking about this over on Ravelry (if you're on The Rav and haven't found us, Hanks has a group here) and we'd like to do a Knit-along for January is for Karen.

We have copies of the pattern in the store, and while the page is under construction, for right now you can download a PDF of the pattern here.

We'd love for you to comment here, if you want to knit along with us! Tell us what yarn you plan to use, and if you plan on doing any mods!

January is for Karen

In 2008, we’re going to be featuring a new - free - scarf pattern every month. The patterns will be available in the shop, and hopefully for download on the site. Here is the January scarf, titled January is for Karen.

Edited to add: you can download a free PDF of the pattern here.

Yarn: one skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in "Jay Pond”
Needles: Size 8 straights
Pattern: January is for Karen, available now in the shop

The Hanks Question of the Week

Does the weather or outside temperature dictate what you'll be knitting? For example, it gets plenty hot here in Florida during the summer, and I don't know about the rest of you but there's no way I'm working on an afghan when it's in the 90's all day. But cold weather? Bring on the big projects!

What about the rest of you?