February: Snow Days
________________________________________________________________
Will the snow ever end? Will the cold ever dissipate? Possibly, but not likely
any time soon. Down here at Knit-O-Matic Yarns and Amateur
Psychotherapy we not surprisingly believe that the best way to survive
the winter blahs is to pick up your knitting and crochet and get jiggy
with your yarn. In this newsletter we offer up some project ideas to
help make the long, dark days of winter fly into spring!
The dead of winter is also a great time to acquire mad skillz (we have so
many street credits that they are crowding out our Girl Guide badges.
Seriously, we're too cool for school, we don't have any Girl Guide badges,
we were only in the Brownies, but it was back when the Brownies were
still hardcore and they made you wear brown). You can take an online
tutorial in the cozy comfort of your home, or if your home is a dump and
you're climbing the walls you can sign up for one of our workshops and
visit us here! (If you've got cabin fever we also host Stitch 'n Bitch
groups 3 times a week: Tuesdays from 12 to 4pm, Thursdays from 5 to
8pm and Sundays from 1 to 5 pm.)
Other things that will keep you amused until the patios re-open and
the birkenstocks send the socks into exhile is blog gazing. Craft blogs
are great, they're an infinite source of inspiration and free patterns.
Of course we'll share our favorites with you, we love to share!
Just a little housekeeping, you may have noticed that you've been
getting more mail from us lately. That's because we've started offering
a "Deal of the Week". We don't like bombarding you with e-mails, but
since it is for the sake of a sale we figured you would want to be in the
know. Every week one yarn or product will be on sale for a limited period
of time, so if you want it you've got to get it quick and take advantage
of the sale before the price goes back to normal. Let us know if you need
help finding a project to go with your dream yarn, we are good at that
sort of thing.
xox
Haley
P.S.
As usual, most links lead to Ravelry.com, so if you don't already have an
account you can use ours (login = knitomatic2, password = knitomatic).
| |
New Yarns, Books & Magazines
____________________________________________________________
Briggs & Little Soft Spun $7.70
From Canadian wool manufacturers Briggs & Little, Soft Spun is a
brand new worsted weight wool made soft for the sensitive of skin.
It's comparable in touch to Cascade 220 but is thicker and has more
body, perfect for cable knitting.
- Soft enough for most people to wear next to their skin. - Has an earthy quality without being too sheepy. - Made in New Brunswick Canada, leaves a smaller carbon footprint. - Excellent for felting!
- 100% wool, 2ply
- 113g/219m
- 20sts=4"/10 cm on 4.5 mm needles (heavy worsted weight)
- Available in 8 colours: green, blue, pink, natural, brown, black,
red & navy.
- Check it out on RavelryNew Books
French Girl Knits
Amber by Kim Hargreaves
Knitting Goes Large
Nordic Felted Knits
New Magazines
Vogue Knitting Winter 2009
Knitscene Spring 2009
New DVDs
Knitting Daily TV Season 1
|
Winter Inspiration _________________________________________________________________________ The problem with February knitting is that winter clothing isn't quite so
exciting now that you have to wear 3 layers of it. It's time to dress up
your home. The long, dark days of winter are the ideal time to start (and
finish) home projects like a large project like a blanket or afghan. My
favourite part of knitting a blanket is that I get to cuddle under it while
I work on it. My other favorite part is that it becomes an heirloom, I have
it and use it forever (unless it turns out kinda ugly, in that case some
else gets to have it and use it forever). As usual, all roads lead to
Ravelry.com, but if you don't already have an account you can use ours
(login = knitomatic2, password = knitomatic).
- Ombre Knit Blanket (above)from 'Last Minute Knitted Gifts' - a fast
& easy throw
- Reversible Cabled Throw by Lily Chin (a leaflet pattern by Fibertrends,
we got 'em!)
- Modern Log Cabin Blanket from Mason Dixon Knitting is FREE and
is great in Super 10 Cotton (you could also make the Moderne Baby Blanket
also FREE)
- Make an Afghan from Manos Silky Woolif you're feeling the need for
luxury or sub in someting more economical, it's all good!
Crochet is also great for long, slow stretches because it's faster than knitting.
February is also a great time to learn a new skill!
| | Inspiring Craft Blogs __________________________________________________________ It takes a bit of effort to get through the winter duldrums and blogs are
a great source of inspiration fro the artsy and the crafty. We offer up some of our favourites for your crafty pleasure!
Inspiration + Application
- Whip Up: projects, tutorials and inspiration aplenty!
- Craftzine: soooo good! Tutorials, patterns, exhibits, lots of goodies!
- Betz White: the chick likes felting sweaters and hs lots of great
tutorials!
- Design Sponge: lots of great tutorials and ideas for the homebody.
- Frayed at the Edges: our blog, we love great free patterns!
Inspiration
- Twinkie Chan: no patterns or tutorials, but the stuff she makes is
sooooo cool!
- Wee Wonderfuls: not particularly knitterly but lots of cute, lots of
toys, lots of quality kitsch.
- Anna the Red's Bento Factory: occupies a liminal place between
cuisine and craft, but it's a FABULOUS place!
- Toronto Craft Alert: a news blog strictly limited to craft-happenings
in the Toronto area.
Essential Web Sites
- Knitting Daily: free patterns, tutorials and general guidance.
It isn't a blog but they'll send you an e-mail with their daily update.
- Craftster: your friendly, neighbourhood crafting community.
- Ravelry: the ultimate resource for finding free and indie patterns,
as well as helpful for finding a project to match your yarn. | |
|
February Classes
_______________________________________________________________________
If you would like to learn something that is not on our schedule or has
already been offered we can always book a private tutorial: finishing,
thrummed mittens, tunisian crochet, hairpin lace, entre-lac, fair isle,
lace, needle felting, design principles, kool-aid dyeing or even your
own project group! Just contact us at 416-653-7849 or
info@knitomatic.com.
Knitted Hat Workshop Liane Schwarz
Skill Level: beginner (after scarves)
Monday Feb 2 & 9, 6:30-8pm
The next step after making scarves is making hats! Hats are fast,
easy, are very, very satisfying! We'll teach you how to knit in the
round (on those funny looking Siamese twin needles), knit on double
pointed needles (the ones that look like little chop sticks), decrease
stitches and read a pattern. Knowing how to cast on and knit is the
only requisite.
· Consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks.
· $65 + tax (includes materials)
NEW Simple Adult Cardigan Liane Schwarz
Skill Level: intermediate
Tuesday Feb 3, 10 & 17, 6-8pm all three nights
An excellent way to get your sweater feet wet! In this workshop you'll
make a simple paneled sweater that will make you wonder why you've
been putting this off. Along the way you'll learn the basics of shaping
armholes, knitting sleeves, how to read a pattern, and how to put the
finished product together. With this under your belt, you'll have the
courage to tackle that big pullover you've been dying to make.
· Class consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks
· $125 + tax (includes materials)
Beginner Knitting Liane Schwarz
Skill Level: absolute beginner
Monday Feb 16 & 23, 6:30-8pm
You'll learn all the basics: how to knit, purl, put stitches on your
needle (cast on), finish up (cast off), change yarn in the middle
of your project, weave in your ends, and how to read the information
that comes on a ball of yarn. You should be able to make a scarf
in this class (but you have to do your homework, so get ready to
spend a few hours of down time working on your 'assignment' in
front of the TV).
· Class consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks
· $55 + tax (includes materials).
My First Toe Up Sock Liane Schwarz
Skill Level: advanced-beginner
Tuesday Feb 24 & Mar 3, 6:00-8pm
Socks seem hard, but they don't have to be. While you make your
sock, you'll follow a pattern, use double pointed needles, increase,
decrease and pick up and wrap stitches. You'll also shape a toe without
complicated grafting and turn a professional looking heel without the
usual math. It doesn't get any easier! You must know how to knit,
purl, cast-on & off for this class.
· Class consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks
· $80 + tax (includes materials)
| | Events: Next Yarn Swap
______________________________________________________________________ The next YARN SWAP will be on February 22, 2009 from 1 to 5pm. Bring in your old, unwanted yarns and we'll find them a good home! You can see all the upcoming dates and find out more about yarn swaps on our website.
| | Contact Information __________________________________________________________________ phone: (416) 653-7849
e-mail: info@knitomatic.com
web: www.knitomatic.com
__________________________________________________________________ | |
No comments:
Post a Comment