It is a little chaotic around here. Ok, I am full of it. It is a LOT chaotic around here. We are packing for New York!
Bins are being piled.
Kits are being assembled. Oh, bonus shot! Check out Janet’s finished Knit Swirl Jacket out of Noro Silk Garden Lite.
If you just happen to be in New York this weekend and just happen to be at Vogue Knitting Live stop by and see us! We are in booths 2814 & 2816.
Hey there! We just extended the deadline to sign up for Sock Club 2012. It is now January 31st.
Be sure to sign up for this awesome club! Get The Knitters Book of Socks, 6 awesome sock yarns, and be a part of the Members Only Sock Club knit along. Check out this blog post for more info. Give us a call or stop by the shop to sign up!
Edit 1/11: Want to sign up but haven’t been able to make it down to the shop yet? But a membership on our website!
This week’s free pattern is entirely silly. I have made two of these and they always get a great response so I figured sharing was in order.
Here is the Bearded Toque.
This hat and beard combo has a series of interchangeable mustaches. That’s right! I said interchangeable mustaches.
It’s all knit in one piece, top down. It is a great way to stop face freeze on those super cold and windy days. It’s always a great way to get your male friends or nephews really interested in your knitting. Wait until you see their eyes light up when you tell them that you will makes one of these amazing hats for them.
Plymouth Encore is the perfect yarn for this. Just make sure you hold it doubled to get gauge.
Get the Bearded Toque pattern here.
Happy Friday and happy knitting!
Have you signed up for our Sock Club yet?
The deadline for signing up is January 15th. Don’t miss out! It’s going to be way cool.
It’s raining and dreary out. Perfect time to curl up with a book or a movie and your knitting. But it’s damp and there’s a definite chill in the air. How can you be all nice and toasty and warm?
Do not fear as I have the answer. It’s a hot water bottle wrapped in a cozy. And it’s a magical thing.
Rachel’s ISBN Cabled Hot Water Bottle Cozy has two versions included in the pattern. There is a super cute striped version or a classic cabled version.
Lamb’s Pride Worsted is the perfect yarn for this. And so many colors to choose from too!
Happy Friday, happy knitting, and happy New Year!
I’m not going to comment on the holidays being, um, here. I’m not going to comment on procrastination. I’m not going to comment on time crunches.
I am just going to present you with this - the Wink Scarf.
This scarf uses gigantic yarn (Berroco Link) and needles. It is ridiculously quick to make. Super bulky knits are so in this year.
You have time to make this. Really. Deep breath. You got this.
Happy Friday, happy knitting, and happy holidays!
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!
Just to let you know, our holiday hours are as follows.
December 24:
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
December 25:
Closed
December 31:
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
January 1:
Closed.
We hope you have very merry holidays! But we’ll see you before then, right?
This week’s Free Pattern Friday has been moved to Free Pattern Saturday. On Friday there was an protracted fight with Microsoft Excel. And Excel won. Grrrrr.
This week’s free pattern involves a little knitterly Christmas tradition that I have created for myself. The holidays are always super chaotic. Lots of running around with errands, visiting friends and family, cooking, shopping…..you know the drill. By the time Christmas Eve and Christmas Day actually come around I really look forward to the bit of down time that comes with no work and the “to do” list being done. Or at least the “to do” list is called done because if it ain’t done by Christmas Eve, it ain’t getting done. And by that point I am totally fine with that.
With my Christmas time downtime, I pick out a project just for myself. It isn’t a gift and it doesn’t serve a particularly useful purpose. It is something to be knitted that is purely for the love of doing it. For me, this project always takes the form of a scarf because scarves for me are usually no think projects that I can enjoy knitting while spending time at my in laws’ house with a glass of wine.
This year I have decided that my Christmas project is A Little Ruffle.
I continually find myself being drawn to designs that are simple and feminine without being fussy. This scarf fits the bill for me.
I think I will be knitting this up in Ultra Alpaca Light. It would also be very lovely in Manos Silk Blend. For a fun and colorful twist, it could even be done with Noro Silk Garden Light.
Get A Little Ruffle pattern here.
What knitting or crocheting Christmas traditions have you made for yourself?
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?