Dear Fiber Friend,
If you're reading this before your big day(s) of midwinter
celebration, I wish you well in the final preparations. You may be deciding which projects you can
actually finish, and which family members have the sense of humor to receive
their "gift" still on the needles. You
might even be sighing as you wrap a box of yarn with a promise and good
intentions to your most patient loved ones.
My family is well trained: I hit the max one Christmas with five
partially finished offerings. Son Philip, Owen's new daddy told me that my grandson
wouldn't mind receiving his first Christmas sweater still on the needles,
to get him used to Grandma's good intentions & overly optimistic time management.
Christmas, Hanukah, Yule & Kwanzaa will come whether we've finished our stitching or
not. May yours be filled with family,
friends, joy, spiced with pleasant memories, the fervent anticipation of true
believers, the awe and wonder of miracles, and most of all, a sense of
peace. If you don't read this 'til after
the big day, I hope yours was wonderful.
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Learn
to Spin with Holly : Drop Spindle & Wheel
Holly Ilex received a Bachelor in Fine Arts; Fiber from
the Maryland Institute, College of Artand a Masters at Philadelphia College
of Textiles and Science where
she majored in weaving, which is at the core of her day job in textile design.
Her passion however pushes the fiber process upstream to making the yarn. This four week introduction is designed to
"draw" you into Holly's passion [ you'll get the pun after you've taken the
class:]. These are the topics Holly will cover:
Week 1: -Introduction to spinning wool using wire
technique; drop spindles explained; pre-drafting and drafting; Z-twist and
S-twist; hands-on practice with drop spindle; wheel spinning demo & plying
yarn made in class.
Week 2: Hands-on practice with spinning wheels and
drop spindle; spinning wheels explained; ply yarn made in class, or reserve
singles yarn for end project
Week 3: Hands-on practice with spinning wheels and
drop spindles; making 2-plied yarn; Navajo plying.
Week 4: Hands-on practice with spinning wheels and
drop spindles; finishing techniques; wrap up and review
Class Fee: $45 for 4 two hour classes,plus supplies & materials purchased from City Knits. Drop spindle tool kit $39.50.
Wool roving to spin approx $25. Recommended texts are also available for purchase.
Enroll for January spinning sessions and pay only $40 for the class.
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Learn to Weave with Ruth on a 4 Harness Loom
We
are excited to offer intimate classes and individualized instruction
on our four harness weaving looms upstairs at City Knits in the Fisher Building with Master
Weaver Ruth Quah.
Ruth, a statistician by day, learned weaving during
her senior year of college as a fun
elective and has been weaving for 35 years. Her other fiber interests include
knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing and cross stitch. For Ruth the biggest
appeal of weaving is the combination of
the mechanics of weaving and the art of combining colors and pattern.
Ruth has
designed a wonderful first project <see photo above> and supporting curriculum
to introduce you to
weaving
on a four harness loom, by planning and completing a beautiful mohair blend,
twill scarf in two colors. In three 7 hour Saturday sessions,
Ruth will assist you in designing your first project, selecting colors for the warp and weft (and teaching
you what the heck
warp and weft are), calculating and winding the warp, dressing the loom, weaving the fabric,
and tying
it
off
when the
weaving is finished.
As you finish your first project, Ruth will guide you through
preliminary planning for your next project.
Session 1: Saturdays, 10 am to 6 pm. January
10, 17, & 24, finish by Jan. 31.
Session 2: Saturdays, 10 am to 6 pm. March 14, 21, & 28, finish by March 31.
Students should dress in layers, as the studio can get
rather warm, and bring their lunch, because weekend food options are limited in
the Fisher Building.
The $150 cost
for the class includes
instruction
and studio time over four weeks to finish weaving the project and all materials. Space is
very limited (we only have three looms), so reserve your slot today. Enroll for the January Session and
receive an introductory rate of only $135.
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Knit Michigan:
Fiber Arts and Fundraising
for Cancer Research
Saturday February
7, 2009.
The Academy of the Sacred Heart
· 1250 Kensington Road · Bloomfield Hills
Last year
Knit Michigan raised $30,000 for Cancer Research and collected over 2500
chemocaps. This year the goal is $50,000
Knit . . Dabble: Spin . . . Weave
& Felt . . Knit & Crochet . . Fiber for Kids ages 4 to 8.
Tween Learn to knit for kids aged 9 to 13.
Marathon: Still time to be one of the 100 hardcore stitchers who will be working/playing with
fiber from 7 am to 10 pm to raise money for Cancer Research. Raise pledges of at least $250. City Knits will be happy to help you meet
your goal. For $90 and one comfort item, you get two classes (NOT including materials), "Learn to" Events, Knitting Help
Room, dinner, goodie bag, and lots more[ lunch extra] Download mail-in
registration form: Knit Michigan Marathon RegistrationDownload Knit Michigan General infoCity Knits will be there as a vendor. Save the date for FUN! |
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Special
Classes:Sox on Circs & Princess Sweaters
Fisher Building: Two Sox on Circs with Karen
Tired of
orphanitis<lots of single socks>? Karen will be teaching intermediate sock
knitters how to make 2 sox at the same time on circular needles: Toe up or Cuff
down: your choice.
Class  project will be a pair of child size sox with big yarn
for quick completion. The class will be offered Thursdays both afternoons from 2-4
pm & evenings from 6- 8 pm. 3 classes only $40. plus Materials (City Knits supplies only please!)10% discount on yarn.
Session 1: Jan
22, Feb 5, Feb. 12.;
Session 2: Feb.
19, March 5, March 12
Session 3 March 26, April 9, April 16
Mt. Clemens: Princess Aurora Sweater: An original Aran designer by Master Knitter Sandie
Owens
Choose
between two wearable wonderful worsted Merino yarns. 4 Sessions: $60 plus materials(City Knits supplies only please!)10% discount on yarn.
Sundays 1-4 pm: Jan. 11,
25, Feb. 15, March 3
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May your festivities be filled with fun, fiber and blessings.
In the depth of midwinter darkness:
See the Light-Be the Light-Bear the light-Share the Light
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Peace be with you,
Karen Kendrick-Hands
City Knits
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January 2009 Spinning & Weaving Classes at City Knits:
It has long
been Karen's dream to expand the fiber arts offerings at City Knits in the Fisher Building [CKFB] to include
Spinning - the creation of yarn and Weaving - another way to use yarn.
Thanks to the talents of Holly White, our spinning teacher,
& Ruth Quah, our weaving teacher will be
offering classes in both at Sign up for
January classes at the Fisher Building and take advantage of discounted
introductory rates. Call today to register. Ask for classes as as a Holiday Gift.
Shelley Buckman continues to teach spinning at our Mt.
Clemens [CKMC] store by appointment.
Details in this Newsletter,
on the web or call
CKFB 313.872.9665
CKMC 586.469.9665
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Holiday Hours
Monday, Dec. 22 & Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008
Regular Store hours - both locations
Wednesday, Dec. 24 & Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Closed for Holiday - both locations
Friday, Dec. 26. & Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008
10:00AM - 6:00PM both days = Fisher Building
Mt. Clemens closes at 2PM on Saturday
Monday, Dec. 29 & Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008
Regular Store hours - both locations
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008 & Jan. 1, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Closed for Holiday - both locations
Friday, Jan. 2, & Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009
10:00AM - 6:00PM both days = Fisher Building
Mt. Clemens closes at 2PM on Saturday
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? Souper Bowl ?
Fisher Building
Souper Bowl Knit-in
February 8, 2 pm -5 pm
Karen's Cooking Soup & bringing her knitting. Y'all come and bring yours . . . .
$5 to reserve your spot. We'll Credit the $5 toward your purchases on Feb. 8.
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