News from knitch--linen and lace

Summer kicked-off here at knitch with Susan's half-day dye workshop. On a sunny day, under the bluest sky, students made rainbows on yarn. Those colorful skeins will warm their knitting long after our too-short summer ends!

June Dye Class

Knitting is a gentle activity, but like too much of anything, even too much knitting can have adverse effects on your hands. If you knit less during the summer months than during the rest of the year, your hands naturally get a break, though other activities like gardening and computer work can stress your hands, too.

At Knitting Daily, Interweave Knits Magazine's blog, you'll find a great article on taking care of "Your Most Important Knitting Tools" - your hands! It includes diagrams and instructions for gentle stretches that sooth tired hands and wrists. It's worth printing out and tucking a copy in you knitting basket.

Remember, Evening Open Knit on Thursday nights takes place from 5-8 during the summer. Join us tonight, June 17.

Call 262-646-9392 or email with questions.

Be sure to look for our coupons in the current issue of Clipper Magazine.

Sample Spotlight

Linen and Lace--on a steamy summer day, what could be cooler?

Linen has a well-deserved reputation as the natural fiber of choice for comfort in hot climates. It feels light against your skin and the more you wash it, the softer it gets!

Just compare two new samples that arrived in the shop this week:

Lacey Linen Shawl

The Lacey Shawl is from Louet's "Lacey-Casey-Macey" pattern--three shawl designs that each call for 3 skeins of Euroflax 100% wet-spun linen.

It has great drape and stitch definition, but at first touch, you might find it rougher than it looks. Just one washing could remedy that, as the other sample demonstrates.

Sasha Skirt

The Sasha Skirt is hot off Kathleen's needles. It features 4 tiered flounces, each worked in a different color and a different lace pattern.

Washed once, it still drapes beautifully and holds its stitch definition, but feels a lot softer than the shawl, which came from the yarn company, and probably received minimal finishing treatment.

For Fun: Knitted Fauna

Bunny and Puppy Mittens

Kathleen's needles are definitely NOT idle for the summer.

Besides the Sasha skirt, she also brought in these fun Bunny mittens and Puppy Mittens, for kids. The patterns are found in the book
6o Quick Knits: Designs for Cascade 220