Knitters Mercantile Blog

It’s show and tell time!

We just finished up a couple of January sock classes. We are so proud of what our students have done and we want to share it with you.

Kathryn taught Basic Socks. This class teaches first time sock knitters to do top down socks on double points. Students work a baby sock in class before working on their full sized adult socks. The baby socks have the exact same construction as the adult sock and are a great way to learn all the techniques needed to make full sized socks.

Look at how cute their baby socks are!

Ruth taught “Oh So Fine” 2 Socks at Once on 2 Circular Needles. The beautiful socks you see are Ruth’s design. Students worked from Ruth’s pattern to knit 2 toe up socks at the same time on 2 circs. Not easy! But look at the beautiful work below.

Here is a picture of everyone taking a picture of their assembled socks.

You too could knit these socks. Ruth will be teaching her “Oh So Fine” 2 Socks on 2 Circs class again in the future but we have not yet decided on dates. We have another Basic Socks class beginning this Friday, February 3 from 12 - 2 p.m. Give us a call at the shop at (614) 888 - 8551 to sign up!

This just in - the new Addi Lace Click set! This snazzy new set was all the rage at Vogue Knitting Live and TNNA.

The original Lace set featured short needles, which is cool because with the shorter tips you had the option to make a 16″ needle. That’s a real bonus with an interchangeable set.

However, a lot of people who love the Addi Lace tips wanted longer tips in an interchangeable set. And ta dah! Skacel produced it. 

But wait, there’s more! A brand new feature to this set is the Addi Lifeline Cords. Here is how Addi describes them.

The addi-Lifeline Cords were created to allow knitters to work a lifeline in to their projects, quickly and easily. Each cord features two threadable eyelets on each end, near the tip connections, through which a waste yarn can be run. When not in use, the eyelets remain closed so as not to interfere with one’s knitting.

Last but not least, the case is a positively delightful color of pink. It would look lovely in a knitting bag.

Stop by the shop to check out the new sets! Or you can also check them out here on our website.

Despite grey skies above, Spring is on its way. And to brighten us up even further, Pantone’s Spring 2012 colors are here!

Pretty vibrant palatte, dont’ you think? Pastels are IN. There are some alluring neutrals but the color of the year (as designated by Pantone) is Tangerine Tango.

Tangerine Tango is described on the Pantone website as “an enticing, juicy orange, a vivacious and appealing refresher to enliven anyone’s outlook this Spring.”

I don’t know about you but when I read that description all I can think of is Diana Rigg’s voice moderating the fashion show in The Great Muppet Caper. (Holy wow! I didn’t realize it until I found the clip - I think Diana Rigg is actually wearing Tangerine Tango in that scene!)

I think my favorite color of the season is Driftwood. What’s yours?

Whew! We are having quite a time of it in New York. Here are some pictures from day 1.

I would like to begin by saying that I am by no means a decent photographer. I’m getting better all the time but a lot of what you’ll see here is me going “hey I should take a picture of that!” while hastily pulling out whatever photographic type device is most handy (sometimes its the camera and sometimes its my phone).

So, here is day 1 from start to finish.

The first picture is actually from last night but I found it odd enough to include here. Really? A “Fresh Remote?” Heavens forbid we get a stale one.

Here is a very blurry picture of the city skyline from our van before we got in the Lincoln Tunnel.

Yay a horse!

This is how our booth looked when we first got there.

Look how close we are to the stage!

Awesome Vogue Knitting Live sign.

Booth set up in progress.

Booth is done!

The marketplace was open from 5 - 8 p.m. I didn’t take any pictures, which is why you don’t see any pictures of that there.

After market, we went to dinner.

We ate at Bill’s Restaurant and Piano Bar and Janet’s awesome friend Carol joined us. We ate upstairs which wasn’t the piano bar area but it did have an extended Frank Sinatra playlist. We were pleased.

They had all kinds of really rad original turn of the 20th century boxer pictures. I joined in with fisticuffs.

After dinner it was absolutely required that we go get the best cupcakes in the world. We went to Magnolia Bakery. I believe we succeeded in our quest.

More tomorrow!

Super exciting news…..we’re doing a Sock Club!

 Knitters Mercantile’s Sock Club 2012 will be an adventure in knitting with unique yarns, available first to club members, that have been specifically chosen to fit interesting new sock patterns. You will experience firsthand how a yarn’s fiber content, ply and weight can create beautiful, long lasting socks. We will be knitting 6 socks from Clara Parkes’ The Knitter’s Book of Socks, one new pattern every other month. Club members will experience various sock construction techniques, stitch patterns, and knitting in the round methods. Please join us for a year of fun “sockventures.”

Included in the Sock Club 2012:

6 unique sock yarns
Clara Parkes’ The Knitter’s Book of Socks
members only Sock Club knit along

The complete Sock Club is $225. Ask us about the additional fancy schmancy luxury month featuring Artyarns cashmere!

Stop by the shop or give us a call at (614) 888 - 8551 to sign up for this fabulous club. The Sock Club 2012 starts in February so sign up soon!

And now for something completely different. It’s the February class list! 

Basic Socks: Learn to knit socks on dpns (double point needles) using DK or worsted weight yarn.  You will learn the art of “turning the heel” and grafting the toe.  See how easy and simple and fun it can be. 
• Fridays, February 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 12-2 PM
• Cost:  $50.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Kathryn

Basic Brioche: Have you ever wanted to learn the brioche stitch? Now is your chance! In this class students will learn the basics of brioche. We will tackle plain brioche stitch, two color brioche stitch, Italian Cast On and Italian Bind Off in sample swatches then move on to a beautiful two color brioche stitch scarf.
• Tuesdays, February, 7, 14, and 21 from 6-8 PM
• Cost:  $40.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Kathryn
 

 Beginning Knitting:  In this four week class you will learn all the basics of knitting – the knit stitch, cast on, bind off, increasing, decreasing and more. 
• Mondays, February 6, 13, 20, and 27 from 6-8 PM Kathryn
• Tuesdays, February 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 12-2 PM Janet
• Cost: $50.00 plus supplies.  Instructor: Varies

ChainReaction Crochet Afghan: The ChainReaction class teaches you an array of new crochet techniques and chart reading needed to make the 20 squares of this unique and beautiful afghan. This class teaches two different squares each month for 10 months, with one additional class for finishing techniques. Your afghan will be completed in time for Christmas 2012. Come every month or drop in as you can. 
• Wednesday, February 8, February 22 from 12-2 PM or 6-8 PM
• Cost:  $15.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Ruth

Crochet Boot Camp: If you want to fast track learning how to crochet, this is the workshop for you. No matter if you’ve never worked a stitch in your life, or if you would like to brush up on unused crochet skills, or if you are a knitter who would like to add crochet to your arsenal of finishing techniques, this is the class for you. During this all day workshop, you will learn basic crochet stitches, increasing and decreasing, gauge and crochet, crochet motifs, and how to read patterns and crochet symbols. You will leave this class knowing how to negotiate the world of crochet.
• Wednesdays, February 15 and 29 from 12-2 PM or 6-8 PM
• Saturdays, February 4 and 11 from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Cost:  $30.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Ruth

Felted Festival Bag:  Ever want to take your felted bags one step further and finish it with lining and special touches? This class will guide you through the knitting, felting and finishing of a shoulder bag perfect to wear when attending festivals and fairs, while keeping your hands free to browse or hold someone’s hand.
• Mondays, February 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 6-8PM
• Cost:  $50.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Andrea

Lace Shawl – Intermediate:  Did you take the beginner lace class and ready to move forward to create a triangular shawl?  In this class, students will create Ishbel, which is the perfect start to more complicated lace patterns.
• Thursdays, February 16, 23, and March 1 from 6-8 PM
• Cost:  $40.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Andrea
 

Preventing and Fixing Mistakes: Ever get to the end of a row and find you are short a stitch or two, or that you have too many stitches, or that holes have inexplicably appeared in your knitting? Maybe your stitches are looking a little wonky and you just don’t know how to fix them. Then this class is for you. Learn what common mistakes we all make while knitting and, more importantly, how to fix them. 
• Thursdays, February 2 and 9 from 6-8 PM
• Saturday February 18 from 10:30-3:30 PM (with an hour for lunch)
• Cost:  $30.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Ruth

That’s February! We are now busy planning March and April classes.

Now I ask you - what classes would YOU like to take in March and/or April?

Our January and February class schedules are done!

We have some old favorites, like Basic Socks and Top Down Sweater. We have some brand new classes, like ChainReaction Crochet Afghan and Design a Hat, that we think you will love.

Have a look see at the January schedule…..

“Oh So Fine” 2 Socks at Once on 2 Circular Needles (picture coming soon): This beautifully delicate sock requires toe-up construction in order for the lace pattern to work. You will learn to knit two socks at a time, toe up, on two circular needles. This class will also teach you lace and three-stitch cable techniques. We will be fitting your socks as we go along. The sock pattern is included in class fee.
• Mondays, January 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 6-8 PM
• Cost: $50.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Ruth

Basic Socks: Learn to knit socks on dpns (double point needles) using DK or worsted weight yarn.  You will learn the art of “turning the heel” and grafting the toe.  See how easy and simple and fun it can be. 
• Tuesdays, January 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 6-8 PM
• Cost:  $50.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Kathryn

Beginners Felted Tote:  In this class you will make a felted tote while learning the basics of knitting in the round, picking up stitches and I-cord bind off.  This is the perfect class for the Beginners Class graduate.
• Saturdays. January 21 and 28 from 10:30-1:30 PM
• Cost:  $30.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Andrea

Beginners Handwarmers: One of the hottest trends for this year is a fingerless glove or handwarmer. Learn to cable and knit in the round using double pointed needles (dpn’s) while making a stylish pair of handwarmers.
• Wednesdays, January 18 and 25 from 6-8 PM
• Cost:  $30.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Andrea

Beginners Hat:  This class is designed to give students a chance to knit in the round with circular needles and double point needles.  Students will learn to cast on and connect stitches in the round and learn to decrease and finish off the top of the hat.
• Tuesdays, January 3 and 10 from 6-8PM
• Cost:  $30.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Janet

Beginners Needle Felting: Learn the basics of dimensional needle felting by making a lovely rose pin that you can embellish or accessorize your wardrobe with.
• Saturday, January 7 from 10:30-1:30 PM
• Cost:  $25.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Andrea

Beginning Knitting:  In this four week class you will learn all the basics of knitting – the knit stitch, cast on, bind off, increasing, decreasing and more. 
• Thursdays, January 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 6-8 PM Ruth
• Fridays, January 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 12-2 PM Andrea
• Cost: $50.00 plus supplies.  Instructor: Varies

ChainReaction Crochet Afghan: The ChainReaction class teaches you an array of new crochet techniques and chart reading needed to make the 20 squares of this unique and beautiful afghan. This class teaches two different squares each month for 10 months, with one additional class for finishing techniques. Your afghan will be completed in time for Christmas 2012. Come every month or drop in as you can. 
• Wednesday, January 11 and January 25 from 12-2 PM or 6-8 PM
• Cost:  $15.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Ruth

Design a Hat:  Would you like to take a stab at designing? Well, this is a perfect class for an introduction to making your own patterns. Not for the faint of heart, you will be using your math and vast knitting knowledge to design your own cabled hat. We will start with a “vanilla” pattern and add your choice of cable(s) pattern(s) to make a unique creation of your very own.
• Tuesdays, January 17, 24, and 31 from 6-8 PM
• Cost: $40.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Andrea

February Baby Sweater: Need an adorable little sweater for a new baby? This lacy little cardigan pattern by Elizabeth Zimmerman is a favorite! In this 3 session class, we’ll walk through the yoke increases, buttonholes, dividing for the sleeves, and knitting the sweater body. The original pattern uses a sweet Gull lace pattern. We will also discuss substituting other stitch patterns in the sweater body to change the overall look of the sweater, including more gender neutral stitch patterns.

• Mondays, January 9, 23 and 30 from 6-8 PM
• Cost: $40.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Kathryn

Great American Aran Afghan:  The Great American Aran Afghan class teaches chart reading, how to cable, make bobbles, and techniques needed to make the various squares.  This class is offered once a month.  You can come every month or pick one or two months. 
• Wednesdays, January 11 from 6-8PM
• Cost $15.00 per class plus supplies.  Instructor:  All of us

Kimono Sweater:  Take this easy to make and wear sweater class to learn about gauge, swatching, picking up stitches and sewing pieces together.
• Thursdays, January 5, 19, February 2, and 16 from 12-2 PM
• Cost $50.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Janet and Anna

Noro Necklace:  This hip accessory is a fast knit and a one skein project! The 6 icords take advantage of Noro’s long self striping colors. In this class students will learn provisional cast on, icords, knitting in the round, and kitchener stitch.
• Wednesdays, January 18 and 25 from 12-2 PM
• Cost:  $30.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Kathryn

Top Down Sweater (Formerly Advanced Beginners):  Are you ready to make your first sweater?  In this class you will learn to read patterns, check gauge, how to knit with double pointed needles and circular needles, plus some increasing and decreasing of stitches.
• Thursdays, January 26, February 9, 23, and March 8 from 12-2PM
• Cost:  $50.00 plus supplies.  Instructor:  Janet

Stop by the shop or call us at (614) 888-8551 to sign up for classes!

Our Saturday secret surprise addition to our Last Minute Gift Sale is……Cascade 220! It is a fabulous yarn for felting and colorwork. It is a classic workhorse yarn. It is 20% off today only!

Baby sweaters are wonderful things. First of all, what is more adorable than a sweater in minature? Secondly, in a baby sweater you get all the satisfaction of completing a sweater but in a fraction of the time it would take you to complete an adult sweater. Thirdly, they make for fantastic gifts for new parents. Think of all those oohs and ahhs when the box is opened at a baby shower.

 With those thoughts I bring you Debbie Bliss’ Ribbed Baby Jacket.

This is a cute-as-a-button cardigan for babies. The design is simple so it is classic and, depending on your color, unisex. And cardigans make for easy dressing of babies. Moms and dads will appreciate that.

The pattern calls for the super squishy and machine washable Cashmerino Aran. We have lots of lovely colors of Cashmerino Aran in stock. Check them out here! 

Download the pattern here.

Happy Friday and happy knitting!

Today I give you Juliana. This free pattern from Berroco is a “versatile scarf with sleeves.”

The pattern uses Ultra Alpaca Light. Have you ever had the chance to squish Ultra Alpaca? If you haven’t then you’re missing out. It is scrumptious. Finished projects with Ultra Alpaca have a stunning drape too.

Click here to see all of our colors of Ultra Alpaca Light.

 Click here for the free pattern.

Happy knitting and happy Friday!