| Standing Events | |
These are ongoing shop happenings.
Sit & Knit
These are social knitting times - no help is provided. Beginning 4/1/2010 we are asking for a contribution
for attending, if you can afford it. $2 to $5 is recommended. Please note that Sunday Sit & Knit has been discontinued.
Tues. evening 7 to 9
Wed. morning 10 to 12
Friday evening,
7 to 9 (if no one comes by 7:30, we will close)
Open Weaving
Every Monday from 6 to 9. $20/week
Knitting Help
Tuesday from 11 to 1
Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Thursday from 1 to 3
Friday from 10 to Noon.
$10 per session/$6 for $50.
Crochet Help
Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00 pm $10 session.
Knit with Suzanne
Thursday evening, 7 to 9. $15/wk.
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| Be a Smart Sheep: Our Customer Appreciation Program |
Here's how it works: For every $350 in fiber purchases (yarn, coned yarn, spinning fiber) you will receive a coupon good for 60 days for $25 off your next purchase. The coupon may be redeemed against ANY purchase - equipment, classes, needles, whatever. Further, each time you redeem a coupon you will be entered in an annual drawing to receive a really nice prize including a $100 gift certificate and a handwoven "something" for the home. 2010's prize is a set of four dishtowels woven by Clara. The drawing will be held each year at our Annual New Year's Day Party. Each time you make a purchase your rewards status will print on your receipt. Complete details at HSW. | |
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| Greetings!
For many of you, winter means knitting and summer means gardening. For some of us die-hards, knitting and weaving are year-round things and summer is for gardening AND spinning. I have to admit, I've been doing a lot of all of the above lately. It feels good to get outside again and get a real work out - the kind where you feel sore the next day from raking and trimming and packing leaf bags. I've found one problem with that: my hands are rough and get caught on every bit of fiber I touch. I've been using the Gloves in a Bottle hand product before and after being outside and it really helps. Tip for the week: tuck a small bottle of it in your knitting notions bag and another by your wheel. You'll be glad you did!
Coupon Reminder
Don't miss this issue's coupon below. It's a good one! |
| Joan's Knitting Gauge Soapbox | | Gauge Swatch "Did you knows . . . "
- Swatches should be a minimum of 5 inches square (so you can measure 4" each direction in the middle of the swatch).
- Start with the size of needles recommended on the ball band.
- Feel first, wash (or steam) second, measure third.
- The fabric you create should feel appropriate to the garment you are making (a scarf can be looser than a sweater).
- Washing or steaming is necessary because the fabric will change dimensions during both of these processes (which will also happen to your finished piece).
- Never steam acrylic or yarns than have dissimilar plies.
- Always measure on a flat surface using a ruler and not a tape measure.
- Label your swatches. If you use the same yarn a lot, you don't have to knit a new swatch. Note the needle size and kind (Addi, Crystal Palace bamboo, etc.) on the swatch tag for future reference.
- Your second swatch is in the garment. If you think it is too big or too small . . . know that it won't change as you knit. Measure and be prepared to make adjustments if necessary!
Uses for Knit Gauge Swatches
- Taking to the store to match buttons to.
- Practicing picking up stitches for button hole plackets.
- Practice making button holes on that placket.
- For repairing the garment years from now (launder with the garment to ensure the same wear).
- Sew many together and make a blanket.
- Oh, yes, and measuring your gauge.
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| Open Knitting | |
We have two different types of "open" knitting sessions. The first, Knitting Help (formerly called Drop In Knitting) provides exactly that: knitting help. You can bring any project in you'd like and we'll help you. You can also learn to knit, learn a technique, learn how to finish a garment and just plain have knitting company during these times. The fee to attend is $10 per session or you may purchase a card valid for one year that gets you six visits for $50.
Knitting Help Times: Tuesday with Marge from 11 to 1; Wednesday with Jae from 7 to 8:30; Thursday with Shar from 1 to 3; Friday with "staff" from 10 to 12.
Our second "open" knitting session is Sit & Knit. These are times where there is no help available and the knitting is social. Conversation abounds (tho follows the shop rules of no politics or religion being discussed so as to not make anyone uncomfortable). There is no set fee for Sit & Knit, but we do have a contribution jar and ask that you contribute to the "heat and light" fund as you can ($2 to $5 per session is recommended). In these tough economic times, I don't want to turn people away for their inability to contribute, but I do still have to cover the cost of the space. This seemed a fair way for all concerned.
Sit & Knit times: Tuesday evening from 7 to 9; Wednesday morning from 10 to 12; Friday evening from 7 to 9. Sunday has been discontinued.
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| New stuff | |
It has been a busy couple weeks for our delivery folks. Here's a quick sampling.
A new pattern . . . or rather 50 of them! Michigan's sock is a boot sock to honor our lengthy winter (the designer of our sock lives up north!). Because the patterns are provided on CD in PDF form you can print them as you need them and they have lots more information and photos than regular printed patterns. On this CD you will find patterns from 23 different designers in "socks the way you want them" such as beaded, with cables, cuffed, Fair Isle, Gansey, Holiday, Lace in multiple weights, sizes and techniques. A real treasure trove. $30.
A variety of new books came in, many with children's patterns.
Kids Rock is a new bulky weight kids yarn - perfect for knitting for kids that grow fast because you'll finish your project fast. Machine washable in a BIG skein, this yarn is attractively priced at $9.65 for 165 yards/100 gm.
Debbie Bliss Ecobaby Fair Trade is 100% organic cotton in a traditional baby weight. Not just for baby - it is also wonderful for summer knitting. This yarn in the worsted weight has received rave reviews from those of you who have knit with it. Machine washable, 98 yards for $8.60.
Elsebeth Lavold's new yarn is Cool Wool, a blend of 50% cotton and 50% wool. It knits up at the same weight as Silky Wool so there are plenty of pattern choices. If you look closely in the photo of the books above, you'll see Elsebeth's Book 20 with patterns for children. Cool Wool is machine washable in cold water and has 109 yards per skein for $7.55.
Peru is known for it's fine Pima Cotton. Mirasol Wach'i is made from 85% cotton and 15% silk. It has staff members ooohing and aaaahing. The small bit of silk and the high quality cotton give this colorful yarn a wonderful hand. PLUS, a portion of the purchase is dedicated directly to the funding of a school in the remote area of Munani in the Puno region of Peru.
Also got a restock on our Ty-Dy yarn. This self striping yarn has long bands of color. I'm using it in a pair of gloves that will certainly be one-of-a-kind when I am done! Marketed as sock yarn, it feels too good to only be used for foot knitting. Let your mind wander and figure out how you can use it . . . remember, two strands of sock yarn equal one strand of dk weight yarn.
Finally, Stonehedge made up kits for our newest design and they are here. Now it's even easier to make your own Freedom Cap. |
| Spinning takes off | | | I received this note via email that I thought you'd find interesting:
 "I wanted to take a minute and tell you how much I've loved the recent spinning classes at the shop! I've read lots of books, and am active online, but nothing is quite the same as hands-on teaching. So far I've taken the carding class and the spinning with color class and have really learned a lot from the teachers, Cherie and Debbie. I've picked up new skills, like handy plying, refined my technique, and have explored what I like and don't like when choosing hand painted fiber. Plus, I learned that the way I was carding (via a video on YouTube) was all wrong! My handcarders thank you! Here's a picture of a future spinner, perhaps she'll be ready for some classes in a few years!" -- Ann
Spinning with Color class last weekend.  | |
| Classes | |
Click on the class calendar on the class page on our website and see what is starting and what is already underway or ongoing.
Knit with Shar. This new class provides not only an opportunity for you to get all your knitting questions answered and projects planned and completed, but also to feel like part of a knitting community. The six week class begins next week and costs $60. Class meets on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 and is limited to six students.  Spinning Big and Lofty YarnAfter beginning spinners move from thick, uneven yarn to smooth, finer and finer yarn, it is sometimes difficult to get back to bigger yarn. And if you want to knit a sweater, it just doesn't seem efficient to create a four ply to get to the diameter of worsted yarn. This session will help everyone create worsted to bulky yarn. The picture above is 7 wraps per inch and 6 stitches per inch knit on size 11 needles. We'll discuss the best fibers for big yarns as well as how to adjust your wheel, hands and treadling. Come and meet the challenge. Who can spin the biggest yarn? Sunday, April 25, 2010 10am to 1pm
Upcoming Classes: Beginning Sock Knitting, in a day: 4/24 Spinning BIG and Lofty Yarns: 4/25 Spinning for Socks: 5/1 Our Next Learn to . . . classes start on:
Learn to Crochet: Every Wednesday Evening.
Learn to Knit: Next class starts 5/2
Learn to Tat: in the fall
Learn to Spin: Next two sessions start 4/22 and 6/23
Learn to Weave on the Rigid Heddle (one day class): 4/24
Learn to Weave: Open Weaving on Monday evenings
Details on all of these classes and more on our website. |
| Heritage Gallery | | |
Jacque has done it again. This time with her "coat of many colors." This striking sweater is knit using mostly Claudia's Handpaints. The simple mitred square technique makes this piece almost seamless.
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Constant Contact All Stars
I was tickled to receive notification that we are Constant Contact "All Stars." Constant Contact is the cloud computing program that I use to send you our weekly newsletters. Receiving this designation means the hours and hours I put into writing the newsletter are worth it because their effectiveness is measurable!
According to their website: A "2009 Constant Contact All Star" is a customer or business partner who we have given special recognition for their email marketing success and continued commitment to following best practices. Their accounts qualified for this special status* by meeting all of the following standards of excellence during the entire year of 2009:
- Had used Constant Contact for a minimum of 1 year starting on or before 12/31/08
- Averaged a bounce rate less than or equal to 15%
- Averaged an open rate of 20% or higher
- Sent Constant Contact emails regularly (in all 4 quarters in 2009)
- Averaged a click through rate of 2% or higher
- Received no compliance related complaints or inquiries
I've been writing newsletters for my business and for customers and non-profits for many years (in my former life as a graphic designer). I must say that publishing on-line is more gratifying than print ever was because I often hear from you almost immediately with your feedback. How did we ever survive without the Internet?
Happy Fibering!
Joan Sheridan
Heritage Spinning & Weaving
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(Please note, I am also on FaceBook personally for my family and close friends. To follow Heritage happenings, enter: "Heritage Spinning & Weaving" in the search box and follow the instructions to become a fan.) |
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