Tuesday, August 31, 2004

mmmmm ... some inspiring non-knitting from the NY Times Magazine. but who says it can't be translated?

i especially like this sweater from Anthropologie , but didn't lizabeth Marmugi publish a pattern for this off-the-shoulder in interweave a few yearns back?



more boxes!

Sunday, August 29, 2004

my apologies to anyone who came in yesterday, saturday, and found me in a harried & irritated state. my mother, god bless her martyred soul, works in a different flow than i do and like all good moms likes to show up & help out with her grandchild - alot, unannounced & for a long time.

I am spending today getting my groove back.

I have started conceptualizing gift ideas for the holidays: this will include a binder of pattern ideas, quick & easy gift project kits, and classes to go along with them.

I have not set dates or times for classes & seminars, but here is a tentative list in order of difficulty:

BEGINNER/SCARF
For Absolute Beginners.
Kit: "entry level scarf"
. worsted weight yarn, 5mm needles.
Learn to cast on stitches, knit, purl, cast off.

BEGINNER REVIEW/SCARF
For people who need a review, but have knitted before.
Kit: "Dropped stitch scarf"
. worsted weight yarn, 5mm needles.
Review casting on, knitting, purling, casting off, and learn how to use dropped stitched for decorative effect.

KNITTING WITH CIRCCULAR NEEDLE/PONCHOS & CAPELETS.
Prerequisites: must be proficient at casting on, casting off, knitting and purling.
Kit: any poncho or capelet kit, adult or child
.
Learn how to use circular needles, how to use stitch markers, increase, read a basic pattern, very basic finishing skills (blocking & weaving in ends).

KNITTING WITH DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES/HATS.
Prerequisites: must be proficient at casting on, knitting and purling.
Kit: any basic hat kit that does not involve changing colours in the middle of a row, adult or child.

Learn how to work in the round with double pointed needles, decrease, read a basic pattern, very basic finishing skills (blocking, weaving in ends, other).

BASIC SOCKS
Prerequisites: must be proficient at casting on, knitting, purling, working in the round, working with double pointed needles, basic finishing, reading a basic pattern, increasing & decreasing.
Kit: basic socks
. worsted weight yarn, 5mm dpn.
Many people find socks intimidating, but they really aren't hard. Learn how to make a pair of basic socks from the top down on double pointed needles, pick up stitches, graft stitches, introduce new colours at the beginning/end of a round.

MY FIRST SWEATER/EASY BABY SWEATER
Prerequisites: must be proficient at casting on, knitting and purling, basic finishing, reading a basic pattern, rudimentary increasing & decreasing.
Kit: Easy Baby/Toddler Raglan Pullover, worsted weightt yarn (5mm needles)
Baby garments are the ideal project to learn how to make a sweater because they are small enought to move through the different stages in a class setting. Learn the basic morphology of a sweater, blocking techniques, and simple methods to sew a sweater together.

other seminars .....

SEMINAR - BASIC HAND KNITTING DESIGN PRINCIPLES - experienced knitters
Prerequisites: must be proficient at casting on, knitting and purling, finishing, reading a basic pattern, increasing & decreasing, and be a fairly self-reliant/independent knitter who is open to experimentation. Must have completed at least one sweater.
Preparation: Please prepare a large (20cm x 20cm) swatch of knitting that you would potentially like to design into a sweater. No project will be completed in this seminar, but you will be able to apply what you hae learned and turn your swatch into a basic sweater.
We will discuss, among other things, the importance of knitting a gauge swatch, different types of fibers and textiles, the merits & deficits of pattern software, how to design from scratch, web resources, and style.

SEMINAR - CREATIVE KNITTING: EXPERIMENTING WITH COLOUR
Prerequisites: must be proficient at casting on & off, how to change colours in the middle of a row (intarsia), knitting and purling, and be a fairly self-reliant/independent knitter. must know
Peparation: a) please bring an assortment of random bits of yarn from your stash and a series of different sizes of knitting needles (straight needles are fine) - these bits will be shared among the group to create a palette of sorts. b) please bring a colour image or picture that you find aesthetically inspiring or that you would like to adapt.
NOTE: this seminar is not project oriented and will not focus on a specific finished project. The seminar will be modeled on an art class and will focus on developing aand expanding creative and expressional skills.

SEMINAR - CREATIVE KNITTING: EXPERIMENTING WITH TEXTURE
Prerequisites: must be proficient at casting on, knitting and purling, and be a fairly self-reliant/independent knitter.
Peparation: a) please bring an assortment of random bits of yarn from your stash and a series of different sizes of knitting needles (straight needles are fine) - these bits will be shared among the group to create a palette of sorts. b) please flip through magazines and patterns and bring images of garments or other textiles that feature texture or incorporate different textures and textiles.
NOTE: this seminar is not project oriented and will not focus on a specific finished project. The seminar will be modeled on an art class and will focus on developing aand expanding creative and expressional skills.



crochet classes ...

BEGINNER CROCHET/WORKING A PROJECT IN 1 PIECE
For absolute beginners
Kit: crochet pillow, sachet or small handbag kit
Learn the foundation stitches of crochet, learn how to read a basic crochet pattern, change colours at the beginning and end of a row, and make a flat project, either a small pillow or purse.

NEXT LEVEL CROCHET/MULTI PIECE PROJECTS
Prerequisites: experience with the foundation stitches of crochet, learn how to read a basic crochet pattern, change colours.
Kit: Crochet granny square pillow, baby blanket or purse
Learn how to apply crochet stitches and use them in a non-linear pattern.


fun classes ....

Dyeing Yarn with Kool Aid

Needle Felting

Screen Printing

Parents & Kids workshop

Intro to Embroidery

Teen Knitting

Friday, August 27, 2004

look what the cat dragged in!! the new SPECIAL ISSUE of Interweave Knits Crochet. It is AMAZING!
ADDENDUM ....

my apologies, the Big Print is $6.75/ball, not $4.80. sorry!

Big print is a great yarn for kids to learn how to knit with. It is very colourful (very important for kids), very affordable, fully washable, and the perfect gauge for little hands - it goes great with the kids knitting needles for 4 bucks

Thursday, August 26, 2004

UPCOMING CLASSES:

Help me! Pattern Workshop:

Wednesday Sept 1 & Sept 8, 6-7:30 pm, 3 hours total, $30

Beginner 1:
Tuesday September 7 & 14, 6-8pm, 4 hours total, $40
More Knitomatic SALE:

Lang FURORE $8/skein (was $17): high end technofur, soft like a baby bird, not icky plastic
like barbie hair. 5-6 mm needles, 50g/82m, polyamide.

Luxury BABY PIMA $5.60 (was $7)
: 80% pima cotton, 20% alpaca, 24st/28r, 3.5mm
GORGEOUS!

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE

Needful CAPRI $9 (was $12)

Needful PORTOFINO
$9 (was $12)

Needful (filtes king) KELLY
$4.50 (was $6)

Needful (Filtes King) KIKKI $5.65 (was $7.50)

OnLine CITY $7.50 (was $10)

OnLine VISION $9 (was $12)

Scheepjes JAVA $6 (was $8) (just like Online Vision)

Scheepjes SOFTFUN $3.20 (was $8)

Adriafil FROU FROU
$10.50 (was $14)

Lang VEGA $4 (was $10) - GREAT SUB FOR DEBBIE BLISS COTTON ANGORA

Estelle 100% SILK
$6.50 (was $8)

Galway HIGHLAND $6 (was $7.50) 4.5 mmFELTABLE!

Galway HIGHLAND HEATHERS $6.40 (was $8) 4.5mm FELTABLE!

Twilley's FREEDOM COTTON DK $5.60 (was $7) 4mm - GREAT SUB FOR ROWAN HANDKNIT DK COTTON






What i scored on sale the other day:

Austermann SCARLET $7.20/ball (was $12) - the ultimate no-brainer scarf yarn, also
great for a sumptuous poncho!

Schoeller PICADILLY $2.70/ball (was $4.50) - DK weight, can't go wrong!

Berroco X-PRESS $5/ball (was $10) - Similar to Lang Max except with more merino.
9.5sts/14 rows, 10mm needle. DISCONTINUTED,
so get it while it lasts!

Stahl LIMBO COLOUR $5.40/ball (was $9) - 100% virgin wool, dk weight, 4mm needles


Stahl BIG PRINT $6.75/ball (was $8) - 100% superwash wool, aran weight, 5mm needles

Stahl COLLEGE $7/ball (was $11) - 9mm needle, tweedy & great for fall sweaters,
ponchos, hats, scarves, mittens ....


Apartment For Lease
renovated 2 bedroom appartment, Bathurst & St. Clair (Toronto), XL living & bedroom areas, steps from Subway, Bus, Grocery, Drugstore, Shops & great parks. $1350/mo (includes utilities). Parking available. Call 416-878-1946

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Rowan, Rowan Rowan! rowan big wool, biggy print, kid silk haze, kid class appeared on my doorstep today! the new books are in too, equally delish!

the new issue of Readymade has also shown up - yippee!
the new iKnitiave/Natalie Wilson Patterns Have arrived! more ponchos, capelets, shawls ...
i totally scored yesterday! fabulous berroco yarn at 50% off!

some of the new matt & nat bags are here, not much really, just a gorgeous oxblood red sqare bag, very retro, and wallets, also red to match the bag. they are yummy!


Monday, August 23, 2004

the new American Apparel store in Toronto is amazing! i'm so happy they opened one here!!!! no more sweatshops - ever!

Sunday, August 22, 2004

i think i have set up the blog to enable comments, i hope it works!

also started compiling an essential bibliography on amazon.
many thanks to MMJ for taking the reins for the day and liberating me to buy more toner, update the accounting software and fetch my children from their grandparents digs. woo-hoo! thanks also go to MMJ for liberating the Lamb's Pride sheepy goodness and the fantabulous cherry tree hill - it all looks gorgeous, but i have it on good authority that i nailed the colours - but what did you expect? ;-)

The new Matt & Nat yummy vegan couture are backordered but are on their way. i don't think their website is updated yet, but they are hot.

oh, and here is a visual on the fleece artist afghans

those in the 'know' aare already acquainted (i'm always the last to know, i lay no claim to cool) but new to knitomatic is the fantabulous pattern kits of Subversive Cross Stich. They should arrive soon!





Saturday, August 21, 2004

fleece artist afghan kits have arrived! think colinette but 1/2 the price & 2x the yardage!

an early fall FASHION SHOW with Needful Yarns has been confirmed! RSVP only, e-vites will go out as soon as we book a date. on that tangent, some gossip! sending shout outs and 'break a leg' to the goddesses at Needful who will be appearing some time in the near future on the fantabulous, but still unavailable in canada (pester your TV provider today!), TV show Knitty Gritty on the DIY network

Shout outs to Jian Gomeshi for the amazing choices he's been facilitating on CBC Radio's 50 Tracks - fight the power!

have updated the knitomatic temporary webpage

Thursday, August 19, 2004

boxes just keep arriving.

new books from interweave:
200 crochetblocks for blankets, throws & afghans
... some gorgeous combos, good book, me likey!

Scarf Style, ed. Pam Allen
... brilliant & sinple concept done right- absafuckinglutely goegeous scarves, shawls, wraps, shrugs, capelets, collars! And a star studded list of authors: Teva Durham, Lily Chin, Jo Shrap, Nicky Epstein, Debbie Bliss, Ann Budd, Jane David!

Boxes just came in from Brown Sheep & Cherry Tree Hill!

Must get back to work, lovely merino & kid mohair came from Needful.

Sunday, August 15, 2004

the lopi is so fresh & sheepy! that's some gooooood felting!

SNB at the wading pool at Duffering Grove today at 2:30.

next week beginner class starts at 6:30 on wednesday.

TVO is airing The Corporation again next week!

generic poncho pattern - hate the yarn used, but the pattern can work with other chunky yarns

free patterns from elann

adriafil's patterns


Saturday, August 14, 2004

apparently the Lang Vega that i've had on sale for eons is a great sub for some of the debbie bliss patterns. the distributor only has various shades of grey left, but i think i might get some, it's a beautiful yarn regardless and i wanted to make the big slouchy cardi that closes with a kilt pin.

Friday, August 13, 2004

so much yarn .......

part of the needful order came in. haven't opened the boxes yet.

KITS
- suede handbags
- rowan cotton tape capelets - quickie
- rowan cotton tape ponchos - quickie!
- rowan cotton braid ponchos - quickie!
- thick cotton turtleneck ponchos - quickie!
- vintage capelets that button up the front
- mohair shawl, with or without fringe - quickie!
- easy baby blankets

New Books from Interweave Press
- hip to crochet
- knitters handy books of sweater patterns
- knitter's handy guide to yarn requirements
I put in an order with iknitiative, the patterns should be arriving next week?

Fall orders are coming fast & furious:
- lopi bulky
- lopi (new colours!)
- naturally merino & fur
- naturally merino & angora
- naturally mohair
- other mohair!
- noro kureyon
- noro silk garden
- Fleece Artist Afghan Kits (deal!)
- bag smith hand-bag kits

so much more ....

also have a visitor in the store today - my cousin's bird Pluto is making a stopover on his way to my apartment. he'll be in his cage/condo doing tricks for the audience.

~ H :-)

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