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Where creativity & imagination go hand-in-hand...

Monthly Newsletter                                                                                                                  February 2011

Take a Look...
Magnetic End Caps Have Arrived!
"Artist" Showcase - Susan Martinez
Satin Kumihimo Cord - 18 Colors!
New Kumihimo Slideshow
Lesson of the Month
Knitting Retreat - Oaxaca, Mexico
Patchwork Knitting
Kumihimo Links...
Patchwork Knitting Links...
Learn the Basic Patchwork Shapes and then try out the Patchwork Purse Collection pattern series.  

Dear Knitters and Kumihimo-ists!

KarenIt's been a busy month! Thank you to all of you for helping organize Kumihimo Classes, hosting classes in your homes and for supporting my business with your frequent purchases. I really appreciate all of you.

 

Thank you also for sending pictures of the gorgeous things you have created! It is a great pleasure for me when I see so many people having fun. This makes me happy!


It occurred to me that since I call my business What A Knit, I should include some knitting news in this newsletter. I am a Patchwork Knitter so that is what you will see alot of. I have included some free tutorials of the basic patchwork shapes. Try it - it's really fun!

  

Happy Braiding and Knitting - Karen

 

P.S.  To show my appreciation....

It's FREE SHIPPING FEBRUARY.

See coupon below - applies to all orders! (expires 2/24/2011)

New Arrivals !

Kumihimo Base Metal End Caps with Magnetic Closure

 

Magnetic End Cap

I have tested several magnetic closures and these magnets are strong and reliable. I use a smaller magnetic clasp with the 4mm end caps and a slightly larger magnetic clasp with the 6mm and 8mm end caps. The magnetic closures come fully assembled. The magnets "snap" together making then easy to use on necklaces as well as bracelets.

 

Kumihimo Base Metal End Caps with Magnetic Closure

4mm End Caps with Magnetic Closure $2.50 (set)

6mm End Caps with Magnetic Closure $2.85 (set)

8mm End Caps with Magnetic Closure $3.75 (set) 

 

 

Click link to Visit Kumihimo Store to start shopping... 

Kumihimo "Artist" Showcase
 
Beach Glass Necklace
"Beach Glass" by Susan Martinez

"Beach Glass" by Susan Martinez
This Kumihimo Cord is an 8 strand, 3 color spiral variation and Susan used  

Purple, Turquoise and Lt. Beige Kumihimo Satin Cord. The pendant is a piece of beach glass that Susan's mother found and then Susan creatively wrapped the beach glass with wire and then added a bead. It is stunning. Susan took her first Kumihimo Class just a few weeks ago! Check out "Beach Glass" at the Kumihimo Gallery Slideshow.
Kumihimo Chart

 

8 Strand, 3 Color Spiral Variation:

Colors A, B, C
Color A = 4 strands (Purple; main color)
Color B = 2 strands (Turquoise; accent)
Color C = 2 strands (Lt. Beige; accent)
 
Measuring: Determine the desired finished length, add some and then double that. For example, when I am using end caps I have found that 40" is a safe length for a necklace. For an 8 Strand Spiral Cord I would cut 8 strands at 40" each. However, if I were making a "Looped End", I would cut 4 lengths at 80" each. When I fold the strands in half, to create the "Looped End", I then have my 8 strands at 40" each.
Movement: Left Bottom to Top, Right Top to Bottom, Clockwise Quarter Turn and so forth.
(For those of you that took the class, this chart is in your "Kumihimo Disk Braiding Instructions" handout).

There is so much that we can learn from each other. Sharing is great. If you would like to be showcased, please send me a picture. I absolutely love seeing what you make. Email me with your pictures!

Kumihimo Satin Cord "Petite" 

Satin Kumihimo Cord

 

Made in the U.S.A., this soft, shimmering, vibrant Rayon Satin Cord is a Kumihimo favorite. "Petite" satin cord is approximately 1mm - 1.4mm in size (roughly 1/16 inch or slightly over) and is sometimes referred to as #0 or Bugtail. "Petite" Satin Cord makes a gorgeous 8 strand Kumihimo round braid and pairs perfectly with the 6 mm end caps.

 

Colors: (Starting Top Left) Maize, Emerald, Avocado, Red, Royal, Dk. Olive, Caramel, Black, Turquoise, Coffee, Lt. Beige, Wine, Purple, Lt. Blue, Mint, Mauve, Teal, Antique Gold

 

What a Knit Price: $ 3.00 / 10 yards (These generous 10 yard lengths of Rayon Satin Cord come packaged in reclosable plastic bags labeled with color and length).  Click here to Shop for Satin Cord. Shop now...it's Free Shipping February!

 

Kumihimo Gallery Slideshow

 
Beaded "Ocean" Kumihimo NecklaceNew & Improved...now you can take a look at a variety of Kumihimo Projects in a Slideshow format. 

  

Click link to:  Visit the Kumihimo Gallery Slideshow
 

The necklace pictured is a 12 strand Ridged Spiral Variation with Beads on 4 strands. I used Patons Grace Mercerized Cotton (black) and Royale #3 Fashion Crochet Thread (turquoise). Check out the Ridged Spiral Cord. It's beautiful. It's definitely a "stand alone" braid so don't be afraid to try it without the beads.

Lesson of the Month - 12 Strand Ridged Spiral

12 Strand Ridged Spiral Set Up

 

12 Stand, 2 Color Ridged Spiral:

A,B

Color A: 4 (Blue in example; this will form the ridge)

Color B: 8 (Red in example)

 

Measuring: Determine desired finished measurement, add some and double (double again and cut half as many if looped end finish). The ridge strands (A = Blue in this example) are 1.5 x longer than B.

 

Set up Disk: Starting with N #32: AA (32,1), BB(6,7), BB (9,10), AA (16,17), BB (22,23) and BB (25,26).

 

Movement: Bottom Left to Top, Top Right to Bottom, Clockwise Turn to Next Pair.

 

 

 

I have mapped out the movements so you can get the feel of this braid sequence. Pay close attention to what you are doing and you should see the repetition in the movement. The trick is how you move the Red strands. If you can imagine a lengthwise line dividing the Red "X", the Red strands to the left of the line are a set and the Red strands to the right of the line are a set. Ridged Spiral Sample

 

17 to 31, 1 to 15; clockwise turn

10 to 21, 23 to 8; clockwise turn

7 to 24, 26 to 5; clockwise turn

32 to 14; 16 to 30; clockwise turn

25 to 4, 6 to 23; clockwise turn

22 to 7, 9 to 20; clockwise turn

15 to 29, 31 to 13 clockwise turn

8 to 19, 21 to 6; clockwise turn

5 to 22, 24 to 3; clockwise turn and so on and so forth!

Knitting Retreat, Oaxaca Mexico 

Zapotec RugsEverything Wonderful About Mexico is Even Better in Oaxaca -
2011 Knitting Retreat
 

At the end of this month I will be heading to Oaxaca, Mexico for 2 weeks to assist at the Annual Knitting Retreat put on by the Knitting Basket (formerly Lake Tahoe) but now located in Green Valley, Arizona.

 

Bill and Irene York, of the Knitting Basket, have been planning and leading these knitting retreats for over a decade with "sell-out" success each time. 

 

Oaxaca is one of the leading art & craft meccas of Mexico and much of our time will be spent visiting several Master Weavers, Wood Carvers and the well-known Black Pottery Studio of Dona Rosa. We will also visit local craft markets, ancient ruins and other cultural "things". Several of us will take a half day Oaxacan Cooking Class.

 

Knitting project? Oh yes, each person on the trip will receive a Zapotec woven rug and several balls of handspun/hand dyed yarn to match. Knitters can choose between knitting a purse, a pillow or a wall Oaxaxa KAL Projecthanging. The picture (above) is my mom at the weaving studio of Bulmaro Perez Mendoza in Oaxaca, Mexico. She is selecting the woven panels and yarns for the knitters.

    

Oaxaca Purse

Kumihimo? Oh yes, that too. I will be teaching Introductory Kumihimo Classes. The purse (left) has Kumihimo accent trim on the purse flap and the strap is also Kumihimo.

 

While I am away, (February 28 - March 14) my Kumihimo Shop will be on "vacation" too ...if you think you will be needing anything, please let me know before the end of the month!

Patchwork Knitting - Captivating!

 
Patchwork Shell PurseIf you are interested in one of the most creative ways to knit, you must try Patchwork Knitting. My mom, and I am proud of her, is the Patchwork Knitting Guru. Patchwork knitting is exciting & captivating (new word for addictive). It's colorful, imaginative and it's a great way to use up your bits & pieces.

We have created a series of Patchwork Knitting Tutorials to get you started.
Choose a shape, try the Tutorial and then choose a pattern from the Patchwork Purse Collection. Experiment with color. It's always fun to choose a self-striping yarn that you love and then add some solid colors to coordinate. You can mix fiber content. You can mix "fancies' with plainer yarns. Let yourself experiment.

Knitting Shells

 

As you knit your shapes you are knitting them together as you go. In other words, you don't get to the end of your project and have a bunch of pieces to stitch together. 

 

 

Click on any of the following links to get started with

The Basic Shapes Tutorials:
"Mitered Squares", "Shells", "Triangles", U-Turn Squares"

Thank you for meandering through my What a Knit Newsletter. If you need Kumihimo Disks, bobbins, Satin Cord, end caps, patchwork knitting patterns, Kumihimo Kits (they make great gifts) just click the link to my Kumihimo Shop and order away. This is a great time to order because it's FREE SHIPPING February!
 
Kumihimo Classes? Yes, I love to teach. Click link to go to Kumihimo Workshop page.
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Free Shipping 
There are alot of great things about shopping on-line. Isn't it great that you don't have to go to the store? Isn't it great that you can pick out what you want any hour of the day? You can actually shop in the middle of the night!

I appreciate your orders and I love hearing that you liked my "fast" response and I especially love to hear that your received everything "perfect". Thanks for shopping with me.

To show my appreciation, this month I am offering Free Shipping on any order.

Offer Expires: February 24, 2011 (get your orders in before I go to Mexico)