Category Archives: Classes/Events

Tara picked 17

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Is that because she will turn 17 next year?  Anyways, number 17 was . . . drumroll please, Nancy Wilson! 

Nancy receiving her winning book, Knitted Gifts

Nancy receiving her winning book, Knitted Gifts

And here she is just sitting down after a hard day of teaching. 
No, she isn’t an employee, but is a valuable part of our teaching team and she was teaching the Three Tams using a two-handed Fair Isle technique.  One tam took a skein of Silk Garden and a skein of Shepherd’s Wool. 

 

 

 

 

Everyone who took the class made the project their own:

 

A selection of colorways used for the Three Tams pattern

 We’re ready for our next Noro Kureyon or Silk Garden project;  it doesn’t matter if its sock or worsted weight.  Post a  link to a picture of your project and tell us a little bit about it in your comments.  On December 25, yes Christmas Day, I’ll have Haley pick a number and the matching commenter will receive a Knit Happy insulated tumbler!

Thank you to Passing Down Crazy and Mckmama for pointing the way to doing a photo collage.  I have a lot to learn but it was fun getting started . . . .

Soups on!

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Tomorrow is the beginning of our winter Soups On! knitting . . . on Fridays from 11-3, we put soup from Martin’s Homestyle Soup Company in our crock pot (hmm, maybe I better check and make sure its here as well as that I have enough bowls, spoons, etc.) and anyone who would like to partake throws a couple bucks in the cup.  We don’t just eat though, we also knit and, as shown below, we might even spin!  If you are in the area, join us . . . this Friday we have one of my favorites, Pizza Soup!  Lea-Ann

Spinning at Knitting Today

the day after UFO night

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and I’m taking stock on what I was able to get done and don’t want to think about how much I need to go . . . a couple rows of Cassidy, which actually is a huge accomplishment considering that I’m knitting a huge size and I combined the fronts/back.  I did maintain some decreases at the waistline but increased back out to my bust size.  I want it fitting, but not fitted; if you know what I mean.  I am absolutely loving working in the Shepherd’s Wool worsted and my color is Great Lakes.   Here’s the current pic:

Cassidy Back Cassidy fronts

Also on UFO night, we caught up on some giveaways.  Jan had won Tom’s FCCTCC contest and she used the gift certificate toward Lorna Miser’s Faith, Hope, Love book and some yarn, I believe.  I’m a little foggy after staying up a couple hours later than normal.  Natalie and Jan had both won Knit Happy Notebooks in a pre-Stitches Midwest post too.  Here’s a picture with Haley standing in for Natalie. 

Haley and Jan with Knit Happy notepads

And, here’s the gang, happily knitting away.  Its so much fun and I love having everyone gathered here.  Haley took these candid shots and while everyone seemed to be smiling, I see she caught a few looking not so happy . . . and then some snuck out before the pictures even began. 
Natalie at UFO nightNancy at UFO nightInis at UFO nightUFO knitters
. . . thanks knitters!!  -Lea-Ann

P.S. Sneak preview:  Zauerball and the new Knitters!

Zauerball and Knitters Fall 2009 K96

You’re Invited . . .

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to an open house to celebrate Penny’s retirement. 

Penny wearing red hat   Hmmm, as my mind travels back through the years that Penny has worked for me, I realize there are many “jobs” she has performed, from making sure the packages are out the door complete and on time to decorating for the holidays and making sure I’ve shut the coffee pot off at the end of the day.  Oh, and retreat — oh my!  Who will take her place at retreat?  And, what will we do without new baby sweaters to display every time her friends kids are expecting?  I don’t think we’ll be able to let her retire, but if we must, join us . . . .  

When:  Tuesday,  September 29, 10-4

Where:  Knitting Today

Refreshments will be provided throughout the day.  If you are able, please stop in. 

P.S.  We’re hoping Penny will come back in the new year to teach some classes for us . . . . but in the meantime, I think after working for me for an unmentionable number of  years, she’s ready for a break!  No comments from the peanut gallery, please.  If you can’t make it to the party and would like to send Penny a message, she’s still available at penny@knittingtoday.com.   

P.P.S.  Notice on the picture that Penny is wearing a Casting for Recovery shirt.  One of the first things she is going to tackle is setting up a retreat for them in Northeast Indiana.  The retreats she has been on are therapeutic, relaxing, and educational.  Check the organization out at:   http://www.castingforrecovery.org/

BTS at Stitches Midwest

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BTS = Behind The Scenes, an acronym we use at Emmaus Walks for the go-fers

And, here are some shots from BTS at Stitches Midwest and, yes, Tom was definitely the “go-fer” and we couldn’t have done it without him.  My thanks to the whole team that helped man the Knitting Today booth, Claudia from Yarn Sisters for Zealana, Karen and Patti from Knit Happy, Chuck and Deb from Stonehedge Fiber Mills.  My hope is they had a great time meeting all the knitters that came through and have had a chance to rest their feet and legs by now. 

Tom setting up

Setup

And where is Lea-Ann?

Behind the Boxes

 From the back aisle you see the Noni Designs as well as the Heritage Spinning and Weaving and other Shepherd’s Wool samples:

From the Back Aisle

the view coming around the corner was Shepherd’s Wool:

Shepherd’s Front View

Walking around to the inside is another view of Shepherd’s Wool and on the back wall is the spinner rack full of Shepherd’s Wool Fingering.  Next to the fingering is a better view of Y2Knit’s Seven-Eighths and Winter Ball Scoop Cami (check Ravelry for their knitalong)

Shepherd’s from the InsideShepherd’s Fingering

Back to a view from the aisle, on the left is Y2Knit’s Seven-Eighths and Winter Ball Scoop Cami followed by the Zealana Kia Ora Kiwi and Kauri and in the middle is the Knit Happy bags and tumblers with the Gathered Totes on top of the yarn

From the Aisle

On the back right of the booth is the Zealana Eco 2020 on the top and Zealana Kia Ora rimu on the bottom with the Windy Hills Alpaca from a farm in Ohio to the right.  The models shown are on the left: Eyelet Cardi by Chic Knits knit in Kauri fingering; Laguna knit in Rimu DK,  on top is the Grommet bag and the Watermelon Tote, and on the far right with the long row of buttons is Noni’s new cardigan pattern.

Eco and Rimu

On the right of the booth, we featured Willow by Zealana, a cashmere/merino blend yarn that feels luscious and we have Knit Happy mugs lined up next to the checkout

Zealana Willow 

After all this set-up, here’s Tom:

 Tom worn out

And a big thank you to the three more helpers:  Deb and Chuck from Stonehedge Fiber Mills and Claudia from YarnSisters representating Zealana yarns:

Deb and Chuck from StonehedgeClaudia and Callie

Here’s the gang, Karen, Patti, Tom, Lea-Ann and Claudia:

The workers

 And, we did catch Tom smiling once or twice — he’s holding the Kiwi bird covered in Possum Fur:

Tom and the Kiwi Bird

Hope you enjoyed the virtual tour of our booth at Stitches Midwest 2009!  Thank you for stopping by, please leave a comment, you never know when I’ll do a drawing for some goodies!!

those UPS men, they never stop working . . .

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I feel bad, sort of, that on Tom’s vacation he has to load a truck, drive, unload a truck, move boxes, unload inventory, fill shelves, and at the end of a long weekend refill boxes, move boxes, reload a truck and drive again, unload, etc.  I think he’ll then leave the reshelving to the rest of the staff.  This is on his VACATION!  Now, he is telling me I plan these things to happen on his vacation, seriously, I don’t even have his vacations on my calendar to call the organizers of these events and tell them this is when they have to have Stitches Midwest, because Tom is on vacation, you know <LOL>.  

Our first shipment to load is Zealana Yarns, over 300 pounds of yarn!!  The second shipment that came in that is now at our house is ten boxes of display fixtures, each weighing 60 pounds — you do the math — he said not to stack it all in one place on our living room floor, wonder why.   Today we’re making the trek to Karen’s to load the Knit Happy boxes, I don’t even want to count how many we’re talking about, but I think it filled half of her garage when I saw them the other day and it took her weeks to price/tag everything.   On Tuesday we’re going to haul the trailer — oh, thank you to my neighbor Steve F who is a bread man who just upgraded to a box truck and has loaned us his 20 foot trailer so we can load in increments instead of saving it all until Tuesday night <wooh, what a sentence!>– over to UPS and wait in their parking lot for the unload to finish and snag my boxes.  Now I know why I married a UPS man, a direct line to the center and my son who works unload there (he would help but he’s on vacation too).  Nine boxes are arriving from Stonehedge in every color of their yarn as well as more patterns for felted hats, clogs, and, hmmmm, I know there is 15 boxes we have to pick up at last count.  Then back to the store to finish loading the display pieces.  Tara has made a list of what she needs to add,  complementary shirts, necklaces, and I don’t know what else, to fancy the mannequins up and make their sweaters stand out.  I have samples from Noni patterns, Heritage Spinning and Weaving, Zealana, and our in house samples of Shepherd’s Wool and Zealana yarns.   I’ll have to take a picture of everything before it is boxed up so we know how to put it back together. 

Well, on this Labor Day, since we’re working; I hope you get in some knitting time.  Tom is taking a few minutes to cast his line into the water.  A couple of blue gill yesterday and he’s on a morning stroll down to the lake this a.m. to see what is happening down there.  I should have thought ahead and outfitted the cottage (across the street from our house on Pretty Lake) so we could stay in it last night, at least he would have felt like he was on vacation one day — oh well, next time!  I have to get moving and get stuff done . . . have a great day everyone!!  Comment and tell me what you did today, and we’ll pick a winner for a Knit Happy notebook in your color choice after we get back from Stitches. 

Knit Happy Notebook

If you want to see all the Knit Happy products we’re taking, click here. And, don’t forget to stop by Booth 329/331 at Stitches Midwest and tell us Hi!!

Iwannaknit Retreat 2009: hand knitting with Joan McGowan-Michael

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Iwannaknit Retreat banner

Oh what a wonderful time we will all have . . . this, our eleventh retreat, is looking like a fun, fun, time.  Of course, the snow days really threw a twist in the works since June 5 is now my girls last day of school.  I made it this weekend as it looked like their last day would be June 2.  Leave it to Indiana weather to throw a few snow days/fog days in there and the State Board not grant a waiver.  They have two half days June 1 and June 2, now how much schooling do you think they’ll actually get done??  Anyways, this post is about retreat, not a rant about our school system.  Let’s see . . .

 Joan McGowan-Michael, White Lies Designs is teaching our handknitting classes this year. 

  •  Dress You Up starts the sessions on Friday with a class on combining knits and fabric.  While the sample is a small dress, the techniques can be interpreted into an adult jumper, lingerie, or even a lovely wedding gown.  I think we’ll see more of this style on the runways in the next few years as I had the opportunity to see some photos from Italy a month or so ago taken by Susan Lazear and there was a whole collection of fabric and knits combined.  I have a vision of a burgundy-colored bodice knit in a filmy lacy yarn, attached to a velvet skirt, princess styling, a-line.  Can you see it?  My girls would look just lovely for prom.  I think Susan had one like this in her photos. 
  • Whip Your Knits!  On Saturday, this class will teach just how to shape for the larger bust, or larger belly, or smaller shoulders.  Learning how to add designer touches and flatter your figure.  Yes, it involves measuring, but do you know how much time goes into knitting a sweater that doesn’t look good on the body once its done and so you don’t wear it?  Do you want to wear what you knit and have it look FanTastIc?  Take this class!
  • Beading Your Knits finished up the weekend on Sunday morning.  The inspiration on Joan’s Blog is beautiful, but I know I probably won’t spend that much time adding beads to a sweater  — Oh, no, I just had a vision of lovely beads added to a knitted coverlet over a wedding dress; I think Lukinda (my son’s fiance) already has her gown so maybe this will be for one of my girls in 10, 15, 20 years!) — but the class project of a beaded sunglass case sounds do-able.  I’d probably make it into a cell phone case personally since I don’t wear sunglasses.  But still, the technique will be one useable for many projects down the road. 

Look for White Lies Designs upcoming trunk show too!  Tomorrow, more about classes . . . .  Lea-Ann

Cassidy Knitalong starting soon . . .

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We love designer Bonne Marie Burns, ChicKnits, designs and her design Cassidy is calling my name.  I have seen pictures on ravelry of it with a collar instead of a hood and I just love it.  I’ve done two lace designs now and I’m ready to get back to cables.  So, anyone want to join in our knitalong?  I’m looking for the perfect daytime/evening; day of the week to get it rolling.  If you want on the list for hte pattern, let me know.  And, of course, I’m doing mine in Shepherd’s Wool so get your color picked out now if you want it so we can be sure and have adequate stock.  Looking forward to a new project . . . Lea-Ann

Tom’s March Madness “FCCTCC” Contest

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Join Tom in a Knitting Today-sponsored “Felted Clogs College Team Colors Contest” (now known as the FCCTCC). Simply knit your favorite college team color clogs using the Fiber Trends clog pattern (available at http://www.knittingtoday.com/go.mvc?ID=80252), embellished however you wish to represent your favorite team, and send a before and after picture with FCCTCC in the subject line to Lea-Ann@knittingtoday.com. Please also include the yarn details and your contact information. Each picture received will be printed out and entered into the drawing. Receive two more drawing entries if you use Shepherd’s Wool purchased from Knitting Today (available at http://www.knittingtoday.com/go.mvc?ID=shepherdswool ).

The “FCCTCC” starts now until the final buzzer of the final tournament of March Madness. Winner will be drawn out of all entries received. The winner will receive a $30 gift certificate from Knitting Today along with a pair of Fiber Trends Seude Slipper Soles of your size and color choice.

Let’s Get Knitting!  — Tom

Did you hear? Lorna Miser at Knitting Today, Saturday November 1

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Lorna Miser, knitwear designer and author and former owner of Lorna’s Laces, is in Indiana right now and is available to teach a special class at Knitting Today this Saturday, November 1, from 1-4. It is going to be a class I had to leave out of the retreat offerings: Design for Baby, Knit for Baby. But don’t let the title fool you as the project can server as a sampler for a larger sweater too. Lorna will be talking about using inspiration and ideas for the design from “found” items such as scrapbook paper. Working from a generic cardigan shape sweater for baby through toddler, and your choice of yarn, you can start knitting right in class as well as have many ideas for future projects. Cost is $30 for the 3 hours session, a bargain considering that the same class goes for $80 at Stitches which is where she’s headed. Lorna also has designs and inspiration for the Stitches classes and if time allows, we’ll have show/tell. Please reply or call immediately if you are able to attend as class size is limited to 8.

Since we’re putting this together on the fly based on a quick telephone call, and I need to get to the girls parent/teacher conferences, I’m sending this out subject to Lorna’s approval. If we need to make changes, I’ll let you know when confirming your registration. I’m so excited since every time I spend time with Lorna I learn a lot about design and knit structure, not to mention its just plain fun! If you have a friend to share with, please feel free to do so. If more than 8 sign up, I’ll try and move the class to

a larger space. Hope you can make it! Lea-Ann

Lea-Ann

Knitting Today

8040 E 500 S

Wolcottville, IN 46795

260-351-2260 800-426-5098

http://www.knittingtoday.com