Thistledown Shoppe

September 4, 2011
Thistledown Shoppe Newsletter
 
HAPPY LABOUR DAY!!!!!!!
In This Issue
Tips and Tricks
Free Patterns
Voices and Choices
Silent Auction
Patterns we carry
Two color cardigan


ShiBui :  Two-Color Baby Cardigan
using their sock yarn


onesie

ShiBui Baby Onesie , another lovely pattern using the ShiBui sock yarn 

 

 

Bird House  

Fiber Trends:  Felt Birdhouses

 

 

Get out the Lamb's Pride. 

 

 

 Ornaments

Felt Birdhouse Ornaments

 

 

felted hats

 

Felt Winter Cap

Another great pattern for Lamb's Pride. 

 

bath stuff  

Sunshine and Sails Bath Set Use 2nd Time Cotton or All Hemp6. 

 

 

 

Katarina 

Coco Knits Katarina - Portland Tweed would work well with this pattern  

 

Greetings!

This Monday is an opportunity for us to honor the workers of our country.  And did you know that Canada also celebrates work solidarity?

Betsy will be in the shoppe on Monday to greet those who would like to stop by.   In recognition of all the workers in North America, we are offering 25% off your purchase for that day.  This will not apply to the already 40% discounted sale items

Knit On,
Kathy
 Tips and Tricks


Long Tail Cast On 

Beth Brown Reinsel has a good video on how to do a long tail cast on with short ends.  This is helpful as it will show you how to do the long tail without having to worry about about long to make your tail.  (I know, it sounds dumb, but it works.)

Yarn Genie by Yarn Market - an application for the iPhone and iPod.  How many times have you wanted to make something but did not have the pattern with you?   This application will help you determine how much yarn to buy.  It also has a handy chart for hooks and needles that convert the US and mm sizes.  And a stash buster - enter the gauge and the yardage and it gives you ideas of what you can make with that stash.  I have to say that I think this is a handy dandy application and I have already used it several different times.


 NEW AND UPDATED  

Jojoland

Fantasia - This is new for the shoppe and for Jojoland.  We have a cute hat that shows how it knits up.
100g, 145 yards per skein.
Chunky weight.
Recommended needle size is
U.S. 9-11, 5.5mm-8mm. 4.5-5sts=1 inch
Machine washable in gentle cycle, lay flat to dry.

Tonic  - Many more colors  (they have a total of 60).

Schaefer Yarn Linen Stitch Scarf Kits - six different colors.  I had to grab one of these and start it.  I have always loved the linen stitch as it it makes a scarf that looks woven.  The pattern is very easy, you slip one and knit one.  The down side (if you have to have a down side) is that you cast on 400 stitches, but then that means less rows.  So it evens out.


Craft Work Knit
by Ann Weaver


cardi


shawl

cowl
baby cardigan

Ten patterns in the book and a PDF of all them will be emailed to you when you purchase the book from us.

Need a Sock?  This is a great sock book for beginners.  You can start out with a basic pattern and work up through ribbing and then textured, lace, or cabled socks.  Sizes go from baby up to men's size 12.  Yarn to be used goes from fingering to heavy worsted.  Needles used are double points, but you may substitute your two circulars, Magic Loop, or small circulars.


More patterns

ShiBui

Draper Shawl and Ondula Scarf. 

Draper shawl  
The Draper Shawl uses fingering weight yarn - ShiBui designed this pattern for their Staccato yarn.


Cabin Fever

A-Line Plus Cardigan fits finished bust sizes from 46" to 64 1/2" and uses worsted weight yarn.

Fern Kerchief - a reversible garter stitch kerchief that is written for four gauges in sport, DK, worsted, and aran heavy weight.

Diamond Wrap

Diamond wrap
fingering or DK weight yarn.

Buttons Cardigan - top down for 3 months up to 2 yrs.

Lucy Neatby - Whirlygig Bags.

whirlygig bag

 Three different sizes of a tipsy square felted bag.

Ilga Leja - We purchased  these patterns as they work very well with the Kauni yarn.

Morocco is a colorful scarf or shawl that will remind you of Moroccan carpets. 

Bermuda uses short rows to create a shawl reminiscent of waves along the shore.Bermuda

Earth Maiden is a long rectangular stole.

Queen of the Waves shawl is
Queen of the Waves
worked from the bottom edge to the neck.

Lady of the Forest wrap is worked on the bias.

Lake of the Woods is a rippled capelet.

The Kauni Messenger Bag uses triple stranded Kauni and then is felted.

Weaver Knits - The World Series Sweater.  A one button raglan cardigan meant to be knit from yarn with long color repeats.  Easy.  We are using this with Kauni.

Mountain Colors 
baby bunting
Baby Bunting 
This is a great pattern as it has a button holed opening for car seats.

The Shawl Collar Vest is made up in Twizzle.

Chic Knits

Velynda is a lovely shaped cabled cardigan using
worsted weight yarn.

Velynda
  Pull out your wool, alpaca, cotton or blended yarns.

Vonica is an eyelet vest
vonica
or cardigan knit from the top down using s DK weight yarn. 

He Said She Said is a cap and cowl set for both sexes.  Bulky yarn makes it a quick knit.


Classic Elite

Carriage House has seven patterns using La Gran.  From a beret to cardigans and vests, this is a fun book bringing back memories of wearing mohair.

Waterway is a booklet using Moorland yarn.  A pullover, vest, cowl, and fingerless mitts.

Panache has scarves,
Panache
shawls, and wraps using eyelets, ruffles, and lace.

Crestone & Vista
Crestone

 contains patterns for skirt, cardigan, pullover, shawl, knee socks, and a striped or fair isle tam.  I love this book. 
 

 FREE PATTERNS



Presto Baby Hat -
baby hat

Iced - a lovely cardigan for the upcoming cold weather.  Quite a few people have used Eco wool.

Danube Cowl
is also available on Ravelry so you can put it into your library.  Loyal, Portland Tweed, and Moorland would be lovely with this.

Go back to the sixties and knit a peace washcloth.

A customer came in yesterday that knits American Girl doll clothing  and she started me thinking about the patterns that are out there.  One of them that I liked is the Retro Cardi.

 

CLASSES

Knitting Socks:
Magic Loop method
Monday evenings, September 19, 26, and October 3 from 6-8:30 pm.
$40.

Socks are one of the most easy and portable projects ever.  Betsy is a master at this craft and she will introduce you to the wonderful world of the Magic Loop.

You must be able to cast on, knit, and purl.

You will learn how to create a golf sock using a long circular needle.  You will decrease, turn the heel, and pick up stitches.  These techniques can be applied to any sock pattern.

Materials needed:  32" or 40" circular needle needed for gauge.  Opal 6 ply, Denali 4, Trekking 6 ply, On Your Toes, or Fixation yarn.
 

Felted mittens:
Monday evenings, October 17, 24, and 31 from 6-8pm
.
$40.

You need to know basic skills such as cast on, knit, purl, knitting in the round, and bind off. Betsy, your instructor, will guide you through the basic construction of a mitten and give you specific tips on felting.

Materials needed for felted mitten: Knit One, Felt Too book, 200 to 220 yds. of Lamb's Pride Worsted or Elegant Kaleidoscope, US 11 and US 13 needles in 16" with short tips and double points or one long circular needle for the Magic Loop.


*Please note: you must pay the class fee in advance to register for the class, either in person or with a credit card over the phone. Classes are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Materials are separate from the cost of the class.  A 10% discount will be given for material purchase.

 

VOICES AND CHOICES

One of the groups in which I am involved is Voices and Choices.  The program was started around 1999 with a Juvenile Justice grant. 
The purpose was to involve young women, ages 12 on up, in different activities and to give them a chance to make healthy choices in their lives.

As with other nonprofit groups, Voices and Choices is run on a shoestring budget and we are constantly looking for other avenues of funding.  Earlier this summer I asked Maureen Voss, the coordinator of Voices and Choices, to tell us what she is presently doing and what she sees for the future.


Voices and Choices of Leelanau County is in full swing this summer. In partnership with the probate court, we are linking girls to each other, to adult mentors, and to the great outdoors. Excursions have included kayaking and biking thus far. Plans for camping and more outdoor activities with team building and trust building are scheduled throughout the rest of the summer. We continue to exercise our mission of providing healthy activities whereby the girls feel valued. We strive to provide opportunities that boost their sense of belonging and give them practice in using their voices and becoming aware of their choices as they grow-up.

 

Programs planned throughout the school year include: Teen Talking Circles held once each week, lunchtime intentional talks, and creative exploration. Throughout the year we will plan activities according to the needs and interests of the girls.

 

We are fortunate enough to receive funding through State alcohol tax money that only covers the coordinator's salary. Our needs are to create more funding and enlist more personnel support.

 

Funding supplies such as arts and craft supplies, food on excursions, entry fees for activities, transportation costs, and an occasional ice cream would really help lift us into the ability to have more freedom with what we can do.

 

The same goes for support people. With the help of volunteers to join us on excursions or in groups, we can service more girls. I AM ESPECIALLY LOOKING FOR A CO-FACILITATOR TO JOIN ME IN A WEEKLY TEEN-TALKING CIRCLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS.

 

Leelanau County has been such a welcoming and supportive place to work; I look forward to linking with more and more people as this program progresses.   I ask that you please help link me to those who can be a good resource for me. I also welcome your willingness to fund our program or to volunteer some of your time.

 

Thank you,

Warmly,

Maureen Voss

Voices and Choices Coordinator of Leelanau County

946-5077

maureenavoss@gmail.com  

 

Please feel free to contact either Maureen or I if you would like to contribute as a volunteer, have supplies, or know of additional funding.

Silent Auction

As some of you know, I also work part-time in child support.  Every fall (this year it is October 5 - 7) I am fortunate to attend a conference with other child support workers throughout the state.  One of the events that we have is a silent auction.  This year the proceeds go to Little Mary's Hospitality House located in Wellston.
As I mentioned in the free pattern area, I was speaking to a customer about knitting American Doll clothes for charity.  She is going to knit up a U of M cheerleading outfit and I will knit the MSU outfit.  These will go to the silent auction.  I am also knitting a hat.

If anyone else would like to make or donate any items towards this auction, let me know.  In the past we have had baskets of wine and chocolate, gift certificates for restaurants, birdhouses, and other nice gifts.  We have folks attending from all over the state, so it is possible that you could drop off your donation at your local office that handles child support. 

 



Thistledown Shoppe  

419 N. St. Joseph St.

PO Box 52 

Suttons Bay, MI  49682
231-271-YARN (9276)

thistledownshoppe@yahoo.com 

 

The Wee Shoppe with a Big Heart


Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10-5
Monday and Wednesday 10 - 6
Sunday 12 -4
 

Yarn Lover's Night - every Wednesday from 6 - 8 pm    

 

 

Want an up to date listing of what we carry and what we are doing?   Check out the blog.  

 

 

 

 Ravelry group  - Thistledown Musers 

 

 

 

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Save 25%
Off your purchase on Labour Day, Monday,
September 5th.  Will not apply to items already marked down to 40% off.