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Where creativity & imagination go hand-in-hand... |
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Monthly Newsletter April 2011 |
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Dear Knitters and Kumihimo-ists! | |
Hi there,
It has been another very busy and fun month. I spent the first 14 days of March in Oaxaca, Mexico where I was fortunate enough to be a part of the Knitting Basket Retreat. It was a trip of a lifetime - rich with culture and new friendships. Check out the Oaxaca Slideshow. My mom, Irene York, headed up a KAL and I taught Kumihimo.
The Kumihimo "wild" fire is spreading. In our fast paced lives, Kumihimo provides a fabulous creative outlet that is soothing, therapeutic, very portable, relatively inexpensive and provides the added benefit of instant gratification. It is so quick!
Thank you to all of you that host and participate in my classes. I enjoy all of you so much. I'm glad that many of you take me up on my offer to call/email with questions - I really do like brainstorming and helping. We all learn from each other.
Happy Braiding and Knitting - Karen |
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NEW ARRIVALS....Yippee! | |
Pendants & "Large Hole" Beads
I have had several people ask me to make my pendants and "large hole" beads available online. So, I have started adding some of these items to my Kumihimo Pendant & Bead Shop (just a page on www.WhataKnit.com). Most of these items are hand- picked and limited in quantity. I will try to share a few things at a time and I will give you dimensions as well as colors that team up well with the pieces.  Quantities are limited. If you like something, buy it! My intention is to add new stuff and not re-stock the things that find a new home! Keep checking back...
3 New "Petite" Kumihimo Satin Cord Colors
  
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Chocolate, Jungle, Plum (they are gorgeous in real life - deep, rich colors)
$3.00/10 yard package
Wide Eye Needle for Seed Beads
$1.50 (one per package)
Beading needle with large eye for easy threading. Tip: When storing needle, slip a piece of yarn through the eye. This makes it easier to find when you want to use it the next time!
Click link to Visit Kumihimo Store to start shopping...
Click link to Visit Kumihimo Pendant & Bead Shop... |
| Kumihimo "Artist" Showcase - Ro Simpson |
"My First Kumihimo Necklace" by Ro Simpson
Ro was part of the 1st Session of the Oaxaca, Mexico Knitting Basket Retreat. Her first Kumihimo necklace is spectacular. This Kumihimo Cord is an 8 strand three color braid. Ro used the Turquoise, Caramel and Black "Petite" Kumihimo Satin Cord. Her necklace is exquisite! Ro has also made many other beautiful necklaces, bracelets and a strap for her Oaxaca purse. Check out her necklace in the Kumihimo Gallery Slideshow.
8 Strands, 3 Colors :
Color A = 4 strands (Turquoise)
Color B = 2 strands (Black)
Color C = 2 strands (Caramel)
Measuring: Determine the desired finished length, double that and then add 4 to 5 inches.
Set-Up: With 32 in the North position place satin cords evenly around disk going clockwise: AA, BB, AA, CC
Movement: Left Bottom to Top, Right Top to Bottom, Clockwise Quarter Turn and so forth.
If you would like to be showcased, please send me a picture. I absolutely love seeing what you make. Email me with your pictures! If you can, take your pictures on a white background! |
| We're Back! Knitting Basket Retreat - OAXACA, Mexico | |
 Bill and Irene York of the Knitting Basket have been planning and leading Knitting Retreats in Mexico and Europe for almost a decade. I spent 14 days this past March enjoying their amazing trip to Oaxaca, Mexico.
One of the guests summed it up perfectly. When she got home she wrote up a summary for her Weavers and Spinners Guild and described herself as feeling "culturally full". My dad adds, "there is no place in Mexico quite like Oaxaca for culture, color and cuisine". Cobbled streets, fabulous architecture, churches, wonderful colors, museums, botanical gardens, open air markets, mariachi music, sounds, smells, craft villages and gourmet cuisine just begin to describe all that is Oaxaca. Click here to view the OAXACA Slideshow.
Next year we are going to Guatemala where we will explore Antigua, Panajachel, Atitlan and Chichicastenago. Stay tuned....
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| Kumihimo Tip |  Everyone that has taken one of my classes knows that I like to use WELDBOND glue for attaching end caps to finished braids. This great glue dries clear in an hour and cures in 24 hours. The longer it is left, the stronger the bond. It's great stuff. WELDBOND is available through ACE Hardware stores. If your local ACE Hardware doesn't carry it, you can order it online and it will be delivered FREE to your local ACE Hardware Store. |
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Lesson of the Month - 16 Strand "Diamond" | |
16 Strand, 3 Color Diamond:
A,B,C
Color A: 7 (background - Purple)
Color B: 8 (diamond- Pink)
Color C: 1 (center of diamond - Green)
Measuring: Determine desired finished measurement, double that and add 4 to 5 inches.
Set up Disk: Starting with N #32: AA (32,1), BB (4,5), CB(8,9), BA (12,13) ,AA (16,17), BA (20,21), AB (24,25),BB(28,29) . Space pairs evenly around disk .
Movement: Bottom Left to Top, Top Right to Bottom, Clockwise Turn to Next Pair.
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| |  Thank you for meandering through my What a Knit Newsletter. If you need Kumihimo Disks, bobbins, Satin Cord, end caps (hook & eye or magnetic), patchwork knitting patterns, Kumihimo Kits (they make great gifts) just click the link to my Kumihimo Shop and order away.
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