| Shop Hours | |
Wed/Thurs 10 to 7
Saturday 10 to 4
Sunday 12 to 4
EXCEPT: Closing at 5 on Wednesdays from June 22 until after Labor Day.
Closed: Easter Memorial Day - 2 days 3rd and 4th of July Labor Day - 2 days Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day
Closing early: Thanksgiving Eve - 5 pm |
| Standing Events | |
These are ongoing shop happenings.
Fair Isle Friends
2nd Sunday of each month from 12 to 2. All are invited, $10 per visit. NOTE: this is not a time to learn to knit in the Fair Isle style. This is a time to bring questions on your FI project, discuss color, and set goals.
Social Spinning
Second Saturday from 1 to 3. Different topic each month.
Weaving Assistance
Open weaving every Monday from 6 to 9. $20/week
Rigid Heddle help on first Saturday from 1 to 4. $20.
Spinning Help
Second Saturday from 10 to noon. Same fee as Knitting Help (below) - you may mix and match knitting and spinning on a Knitting Help card. Reservations requested by Thursday. Please tell us what you'd like help with when you make reservations so we can be prepared.
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.
NOTE: No Knitting Help on Wednesday's from mid-June until after Labor Day.
Sock Support With reservation at least one day in advance: 1st and 3rd Mondays from 5 to 6:30. $15 a session or 4 sessions for $50.
Crochet Help With reservation during Knitting Help times. Knit with Suzanne Thursday evening, 7 to 9. $15/wk.
Sit & Knit
These are social knitting times - no help is provided. Wed. morn 10 to 12
Friday eve 7 to 9
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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 -- this year a set of four dish towels, handwoven by Clara and designed by Joan. The annual drawing will be held at our New Year's Day Party. Each time you make a fiber purchase your rewards status will print on your receipt. |
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Greetings! Grab a cuppa - I have lots of news to share!
Certified!
A few weeks ago I traveled to Salt Spring Island in British Columbia to attend a Dealer Retreat hosted by Louet. The end result of the weekend for Louet is that they have their first five Certified Louet Loom dealers. We spent one day with Jane Stafford "learning to weave." Not all members of the group were weavers even though they sell looms in their businesses. So, Jane (seated in the photo) gave  us a one day quickie class on the looms in her studio (she has more Louet looms in one place than I've ever seen). It was a great refresher for me and a reminder of how to teach a beginner-level class. We then spent another day with Jane giving us a guided tour through most of the Louet looms from the new Jane (named after ... guess who?), to the David, Spring, Delta, Octado and Megado. I learned lots and was reminded of just how happy weaving makes me! Our third retreat day was spent talking business with Dave, president of Louet. Dave (the tall guy in the back in the photo) grew up with the business and, like many of the "next generation," said he'd never join it. Well, life didn't happen that way. After his stint in the Canadian Air Force where he met his wife, Pam, they returned home and began to learn the business from a different perspective. Dave is now responsible for all the day-to-day operations, Pam is on the road for Louet much of the time, and his parents act as nearby consultants. Conferences aren't only about what is on the agenda. I bunked with Amy (owner of Spunky Eclectic in Maine and author of the book Spin Control) and Jen (Spokane's Paradise Fiber's weaving person). It is interesting to talk about "how things are done" in other shops and in other parts of the country. There is always something to learn. The incredibly productive weekend was wrapped up with a trip to the Maiwa shops in downtown Vancouver. They are full of hand spun and handwoven fabrics that are dyed with natural dyestuffs. I came home with a rug and several other pieces. I learned that I'm a really great packer - all my purchases fit into my back pack and very small carry on! For a taste treat for the eyes visit Maiwa online. Certifiable? So, it appears that I gave confusing information regarding our upcoming Spring Cleaning Sale in last week's newsletter. To clear things up: The sale starts THIS Saturday(April 16) and runs through next Friday (April 22). Selected lines are 50 and 75% off. Patterns we are discontinuing are $1 each and Louisa Harding Kashmir (dk and Aran weights) is $2 per ball. Please remember that all sales are final -- not just for this sale, but for any item you purchase that has been discounted, including birthday discounts. Printed materials and notions are never returnable. |
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New Class: Weaving "Try me" | |
We're adding a new type of weaving class: one where you get to weave on a multi-shaft loom without having to do the set-up work. At the end of the day you will have woven three or four large swatches that can be made into pillow tops, a tote or "doilies." Each of the looms will be pre-warped by the Heritage Weaving Elves. Students will learn how to hem stitch, how to wind a bobbin, how to throw a shuttle and how to take your project off the loom. If you find out you really do like weaving, then you can sign up for the Learn to Weave class in July. I suspect that these Try Me classes will fill rapidly, so make your reservation now for one of the two classes in June. |
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New in the shop | | |
Hard to believe that spring hasn't really arrived yet and I'm already ordering fall yarns! This week I met with three different yarn reps. One of the more challenging parts of owning a yarn shop is deciding what to put in it. What will the economic climate be in September, what will you like six months from now, heck, what will I like next fall? The new yarns are very enticing in so many ways. So, I hope what my crystal ball showed will make your fingers itch (in a good way) come fall!
Meanwhile, some of recent NEW things:
I think this Noro Taiyo Sock yarn would be beautiful in a shawl or in entrelac work. Sock yarn isn't just for socks anymore! The nitty gritty: fiber: 50% Cotton, 17% Wool, 17% Nylon, 16% Silk. Yardage: 462 Stitches: 7.5 Needle size: 2 Ball weight: 100g.
This is our sock yarn that was dyed as a "blank" and then rewound into two identical balls. It is so pretty sitting on the shelf ... but wouldn't it be pretty at your house? That's what one of the yarn reps thought when she came in this week and left with an armful of our yarn saying, "I think I spent my commission."
These two books - Vintage Gifts to Knit and A Stitch in Time are based on knitting patterns from days gone by. Freshened for today's knitters, they are worth taking a peak at. These are just two of the new books in the past few weeks.
Snazzy Jazz is one of the new yarns from Southwest Trading Company. Jazz used as a carry along in knitting will spiff up the plainest yarn, use it in your weaving to add a bit of flash.
Did you know that we stock many colors of Paternayan? Paternayan is traditionally a needlepoint yarn, but it is also nice for knitting, tapestry weaving and repairing garments. It costs less than a dollar per skein, each skein can be used "as is" or it can be broken down into one or two sets of plyed yarn, depending on your project.
 A sneak peek: Stonehedge Fiber Mill - the folks from up-north that make Shepherd's Wool - is working on a dk weight yarn (22 sts in 4" on a US 6). I got the first sample in the mail yesterday. Deb and Chuck have been talking about producing it for a while now. Thankfully, that time has come. So, as soon as this newsletter is finished, THEN I get to knit with the prototype yarn. I'll post a picture to the Heritage FaceBook page to show you. I can tell you that at this moment it is a 6 ply yarn and the plies are about the same size as those in their fingering weight. Because there are more plies, it will pill less. It also will cost a bit more because more plies = more mill time. Based on what I see, you are going to LOVE this new weight and the price is fair. |
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In-Store Retreat with Christa | |
This Sunday the 17th, we are having an in-store retreat with Christa. We still have a few spaces remaining. I will provide snacks and dinner, plus some special goodies for the retreat goers. If you've always wanted to go to one of our up-north fiber retreats, but haven't been able to, this is the next best thing! Come and hang out and knit, perhaps watch a movie, eat, visit, get help from Christa on your project. Or, just join us and work on your project du jour and I can help you with any questions you may have. We are having fun putting together the special bag-o-goodies -- need I tell you they include chocolate???!!! |
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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 Christa -- An In-Store Retreat next Sunday, 4/17
Learn to Knit -- the start date has been changed to 4/18
Weaving Vintage Towels (weaving done outside of class) -- Sunday May 1.
Coming soon ... a new teacher! Monica is an avid knitter that loves sharing her art. She likes to create project-based classes that teach a solid skill. As an engineer by training, she has a practical and contemplative mind. Her first class is scheduled for May 24. Check the website for details. Welcome, Monica!
Did you know? If you'd like us to schedule a class just for you and your friends, we can do that. We prefer to have 4 students.
Just ask: If there's a topic you'd like to see on our schedule, pop me an email and we'll get it scheduled. If you have a difficult schedule - give us some times and days to work with. We schedule a minimum of six weeks out.
Private Lessons: If you want to learn NOW, you can. Private lessons are offered in any topic for which we possess the skill. Our in-shop rate is $25 to $30/hour, depending on the instructor. House calls are $50/hr plus mileage.
Help is available. Check the list on the left of the newsletter for specifics.
Our Next Learn to . . . classes start on:
Learn to Crochet: Private lessons, please call.
Learn to Knit: 4/18
Learn to Tat: in the fall
Learn to Spin: June 4
Learn to Weave on the Rigid Heddle (one day class): 6/5, 8/13
Learn to Weave: Open Weaving on Monday evenings
Details on all of these classes and more on our website. |
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Published
Did you read the new Wild Fibers magazine? If not, come check it out. They have a very nice article on Stonehedge Fiber Mill and, because I design using their yarn, we had a pattern published. Fun stuff. And great insight into Stonehedge. Did you know their farm was built in the 1860s and many of the buildings are original? Read about that and how they came to be fiber processors.
Used looms
To make room for new, we must move some of the old. If you are interested in a like-new used loom, please contact me via email for specifics.
Progress
Construction season is here -- and we are feeling it keenly in downtown Lake Orion. Truly, it could be worse. Road closures have been intermittent and we have lots of parking both behind and beside our building. This photo shows Tuesday's progress. Remember, everytime you make a purchase between now and when the construction is completed you will be entered into our drawing. Prizes are: a guest towel set decorated with lace knitting and two $25 Heritage gift certificates. Just our way of saying THANK YOU for coming in and supporting us while Lake Orion gets a make over. BTW, if you'd like to see what things will look like down town when they finish, click here.
On needles
I do a LOT of swatching and I love my double point needles. Each fiber seems to ask for a different type of material. My dpn stash includes Kollage square needles (love the shape in the smaller sizes), Brittany birch and Chiao Goo bamboo (nice when working with slippery yarn), Crystal Palace polished bamboo (they just feel sexy), and then there's my good-old-fashioned- from-the-1960s pastel double points (I love the tips). These are getting harder to find. New dpns from Susan Bates and Boye aren't as pointy. I've looked at every Salvation Army I know of, I've looked at rummage sales and antique stores, but I rarely see them. Then I discovered eBay. Now I know where people that make knitting needle jewelry go to find their raw materials. I've had luck finding the dpns there and it's fun to shop in my jammies when everyone else has turned in for the night.
You may have noticed the class we offered recently on knitting vintage lace edgings. I really enjoyed my prep work for it. The prettiest laces are the fine ones -- whether they are knit or crocheted. So, the question became: how low would I go (in needle size). So far the limit has been 0000 (four ott) because that's the smallest I had. I didn't know that dpns came finer until I was placing an order with Lacis for my own crafting. I discovered 5 and 6 ott, and just out of curiosity, I ordered them. Lordy me, are they fine! I haven't had the courage to try them yet. I'm thinking heavy sewing thread?
So, what's on my needles now? A baby hat for my first granddaughter that should be here any day now, a wedding shawl for Becca (her and Jimmy are marrying July 2), and swatches for Isabelle's summer sweater and hat. I've actually been knitting so much that my elbows are complaining! I researched "tennis elbow" on line and learned that you should change the repetitive motion that is causing it. So I'm on a break from knitting for one more week. The knitting hiatis gave me a good excuse to bone up on tablet/card weaving. Watch for classes on this technique in the fall. No prior weaving experience is required to learn and it really is fascinating and fun to do. I figure Molly (my black lab sidekick) will be the best dressed dog in town when I finish her leash and collar. Suppose then I'll have to make a collar for the cat, too.
No fiber left behind, that's my motto!
Joan Sheridan
Heritage Spinning & Weaving Sign up for Facebook and become a fan of Heritage Spinning & Weaving. (To follow Heritage happenings, enter: "Heritage Spinning & Weaving" in the search box and follow the instructions to become a fan.) |
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