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HERITAGE CLUB
Are you a member? Ask about joining the next time you are in the shop. Or click the logo for more information. |
| Events |
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 KnitFlix
September's movie is A Good Year. Mark Sat., September 13 at 6 p.m. on your calendar and join us (and Russell Crowe and others)!
Sit & Knit
These are social knitting times - no charge, but no help is provided.
Tues. evening 7 to 9
Wed. morning 10 to 12
Sun. afternoons 2 to 4 | |
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Greetings!
The end of the summer was lovely. I hibernated at my property - just me and the bear (which I didn't see, but did smell) - and spent a little of each morning on the computer enjoying the lack of phone and wallowing in the quiet time, afternoons were spent spinning and napping and evenings knitting. How perfect could it be? I was there alone for most of the time, but at the end the family descended en mass and we all had a wonderful time. Here's a photo of those that attended in dad's newest toy: an original 1923 Model T.
You are invited
Join us Sunday, September 21, from 1 to 4, to make a comfort blanket for a cancer patient. We'll have get-started kits available (100% of the price of these kits will be donated to Knit Michigan) or bring your own supplies: 3/4 to 1 yard of fleece, one skein matching yarn (Berroco Comfort is perfect), Size G crochet hook, awl, scissors, and tapestry needle. You need not know how to crochet - volunteers will be on hand to teach you! |
| What's New |
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 This yarn isn't here yet, but it has a great story and a Michigan connection. The yarn is River Twist by Mountain Colors. It is made in a way which I have never seen a commercial hand-dyed yarn made before. It is a two-ply yarn and each of the plies are dyed before they are spun. And, they are spun up north at Stonehedge Fiber Mill. While I was in East Jordan (my property is down the street from the mill), I got to see part of the process. The colors are stunning, fun and have such great potential. Here's some of the sampling I did with the Firehole River colorway. The hat is our Trinity Stitch  Hat pattern. The Domino knitting was done with Shepherd's wool and the same River Twist. The fiber content of this yarn is 100% merino, making it next-to-the-skin soft. One skein measures 240 yards and is DK weight, knitting up on size 6 to 7 needles. The hat was knit on 7's, the swatch on 5's. I expect our order to be here in a few weeks. In the meantime, line up your projects and check out the rest of the colorways at www.mountaincolors.com.
FYI, we also carry Mountain Colors Bearfoot, their Targhee dyed top for spinning and can special order any of their other yarns for you. |
| Special Instructor |
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 Beth Brown-Reinsell has been on the knitting circuit teaching classes (and supporting herself) for about 20 years. What does that mean to you? She's a really good teacher! On top of that, Beth is one terrific person. I know you'll enjoy time spent with her. Come October, she's doing two classes and a lecture for us.
Friday evening, October 10, 7 to 9 p.m. she's doing a presentation called Twined Knitting, Past and Present $20
Saturday, October 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Maine Mittens. $85
 Sunday, October 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Norwegian Mittens. $85
A complete description, supply list and homework can be found on our website. |
| New Patterns & Samples in the Shop |
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 LynnH sent along several of her new patterns and loaned us samples so you can see the finished product up close and personal. These little Chippy socks are perfect toddler gifts: make a bunch in the same colors but not necessarily the same color arrangement or pattern and you totally escape the "second sock syndrome" and the end result is a group of socks that mom doesn't have to worry about matching up after doing laundry. They just "go" together. Think of them as "grab and go" socks! What a terrific concept. Oh yes, they are knit with DK weight yarn so they go fast - you have have one made in just a couple hours. Why "chippy" socks? Because they are like potato chips - you can't knit just one!
 Then there's Lynn's zig zag bags. How cool are these? Marge is knitting up a sample of the large version (not pictured) for us using Noro Kureyon and Shepherd's Wool and it is going to be beautiful. Watch for it in the shop in a few weeks, in the meantime, come and visit the mini versions of the bag pictured at left.
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| Classes |
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For Spinners - be a Fiber Scientist!
Breed of the Month Class
2nd Wednesday of the month starting 9/10
Class limited to 12 - we still have a few seats available
Many people don't realize just how different the wool from various breeds of sheep can be. This series of classes will provide an up-close and personal experience with a variety of common and not-so-common breeds of sheep. Each class will begin with a lecture and then we will examine the wool and classify it to learn how it "wants" to be spun. We will work with hand cards, flick cards and combs to compare different fiber preparations and see what works best for that breed for projects you may have in mind. Instructor: Joan Sheridan Hoover
Coming up in September:
Weaving a Project
Friday, September 12 from 6 pm to 9 pm, Saturday, September 13 from 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday, September 14 from 10 am to 3 pm, three sessions
Have you taken a beginning weaving class but didn't get a chance to weave again, or just plain would like someone looking over your shoulder to guide you? This class is for you! Friday night will include a warping refresher and we'll wind our warps based on the project of your choice, on Saturday we'll dress the loom, and everyone should be weaving by Sunday morning. Most will not finish their projects in class which is why we've included two weeks' loom rental in the class price. If you aren't sure about what you want to weave, please stop in before class so we can help you. Room for two more weavers.
Our Next Learn to . . . classes:
Learn to Crochet: starts 9/17
Learn to Knit: starts 9/23
Learn to Tat: starts 9/25
Learn to Spin: starts 10/12
Learn to Weave: starts 9/29
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| Zephyr |
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 Many new colors of of Zephyr yarn arrived in the last week. If you haven't been introduced yet to Zephyr, allow me!
Zephyr is made of 50/50 silk and merino. It comes in two weights: lace and DK. Right now, Kathy, one of our knitters is working the Coloring Book Shawl up in Zephyr on a size 3 needle. I'm knitting the DK weight in the Estonian Garden Wrap on a size 7. We've got a couple shawls on display already that use the yarn: one from A Gathering of Lace and one from Folk Shawls. It feels so good to work with and to wear.
Although both yarns only come on a cone, you can wind off as much as you need for your project, so it can actually be more affordable than a less luxurious yarn. You get exactly what you need and it is almost always cheaper to buy coned yarn than skeined yarn.
Did I mention that Zephyr is made in the USA? Yup. Out in Maine by some very nice folks. If you haven't tried it yet, stop in this week and knit a bit - we'll have a cone standing by for your sampling pleasure! | |
4th Annual Art Show
My office is starting to fill with boxes of wonderful prizes for our art show from our vendors. So far: Arnhild's Knitting Studio - a Kilo of Norwegian yarn; Henry's Attic - 5 pounds of various natural colored yarns; Knit One Crochet Too - two different knitting kits; Brown Sheep - two a box full of Cotton Fleece; Skacel - a sweater kit; Mountain Colors - two kits; JaggerSpun - 3 pounds of cones wool; Water's Edge - handmade stitch markers; Muench - comple set of 14" straight needles in carry case; Russi Sales (Heirloom Yarns) - 3 kits; Louet - two gift certificates to their on-line pattern collection; Cottage Creations - two patterns; UKI Supreme - $50 shop gift certificate; Schaeffer Yarn - handpainted scarf kit; Berroco - Hande Eze gloves and sweater kit; ChaioGoo - needles. Each year I am amazed at how generous our vendors are.
Any of these great prizes or THE GRAND PRIZE - a hand spun, painted and woven shawl - may be yours. Visit http://www.heritagespinning.com/main.html to learn more about our Art Show - YOU make it special. Join us, won't you?
Tonight is Girls Nite. Tomorrow morning the spinning group meets. Next Saturday night is KnitFlix. All are invited to these events, there is no charge to attend, and reservations are not required. Hope to see you in the shop soon! Happy Fibering,
Joan Sheridan Hoover
Heritage Spinning & Weaving |
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