News from Double Ewe - Stuff To Do

Today I want to tell you about a few things coming up at the shop. In the spring, we usually slow down on formal classes, but that doesn't mean we stop knitting! Why not consider popping in the shop for one of our Knitterventions? Or maybe come to a Yarn Tasting or a Knitalong?

Knittervention! - This Friday, April 15th

This is our once-a-month "hang out, knit, talk, crochet, eat, laugh" night at Double Ewe. It's gobs of fun, so come join us - everyone is welcome!

When: Every 3rd Friday each month

Time: 6:30 - 10:00 pm

What to bring: Your project, unless you want to start something new...I know a lady with some yarn for sale... ;)

Potluck: Bring a snack to share if you'd like, but don't stay away if you can't. There's usually plenty to snack on. As always, coffee, tea, and water will be available.

Chairs: I never know how many people to expect, but if you have an easy-to-transport lawn chair, you may want to bring it. We do have our usual chairs available, so if you can't bring a chair, don't worry. But if nobody brings a chair, we'll just might run out. Make sense?

Knit Along: The Painted Diamonds Bag

What is a knit along (aka KAL)? It's when a group of people are working on a the same project at the same time. It's sort of like a class, but not a class. I've knit the bag, so I'll give you some pointers and guidance along the way, but it's pretty casual. It's another excuse to knit together. It's fun.

We're going to start a Painted Diamonds Bag KAL on Saturday mornings this spring. It's a fun bag to knit that uses a mitered squares; it's all knit in one piece, and there's no sewing together the squares - really, the only finishing required is weaving in the ends.

There is no charge to participate in the knit along, but you'll need a Painted Diamonds Bag kit, which is available in several colorways for $44, and a pair of size 7 needles. Finished size is approximately 13.5" x 13.5". It's not a felted bag, but it can be lined if you wish. A finished bag is on display at the shop.

When: Saturday mornings, April 30th - May 14th

Time: 9:30am - Noon

Cost: Free, but you'll need the kit for the bag

Materials needed: Painted Diamonds Bag Kit, Size 7 needles

Painted Diamonds Bag

Meet Our Newest Instructor: Judy McElyea

Judy came on board to our teaching crew a couple of months ago, and it's about high time I introduce her to you! She teaches our Tuesday morning Knitter's Choice, which has been a great help to me. Thanks, Judy!

Judy's been knitting for almost 60 years and teaching for about five. While knitting is her favorite hobby, she also spins, and does a bit of crochet & sewing as well. Her non-fiber-related hobbies include sketching, beading, and reading. Judy's favorite things to knit are sweaters, but right now she has a lace shawl and two pairs of socks on the needles. She says typically she's a one-project-at-a-time style knitter.

From here, I'll let Judy tell you in her own words about her start in knitting:

When I was in 4th grade, Miss Alice Bjuge decided her entire class needed to learn to knit. Bless her heart! She insisted boys as well as girls must know how to knit as life could be unpredictable and illness and hospital visits for broken bones were (are) a fact of life. Knitting passes enforced down-time productively!

From somewhere, Miss Bjuge gathered up an enormous amount of Red Heart knitting worsted in dark green, beige, and brown and needles in various colors of shiny aluminum.

Every day at story time, we sat in tangles of yarn struggling with the unfamiliar process of clacking two needles together making swatches. We tried, tangled, raveled, and tried again until we were all declared passable knitters.

From then on, we cast on the required stitches and knit squares of wool which Miss B. promised would be wonderful at completion. She read aloud to us while we knit. Time was allotted to review our work and assist with problems.

The finished project was lovely! Miss Bjuge sewed our individual squares into an afghan we donated to the Red Cross. A picture of the proud class, a beaming Miss Bjuge, and our school principal was published in the local paper. Many years later a copy of that appeared in the library window of our children's junior high.

For me this was an awakening. It was a thrill to my fingers to have the warm yarn skittering over cool, smooth needles to create something useful. I was one of several Miss Bjuge taught to knit a keyhole scarf (a staple of Christmas giving from then till present).

It is a pleasure to share my craft with you in the hope you will also find pleasure there.

--Judy McElyea

Join Judy on Tuesday mornings for her Knitter's Choice from 10:30 - 12:30. Details can be found here: Spring Classes

Our Workshop Style Classes

As I mentioned earlier, we usually don't have as many classes going on in the spring we do in the fall & winter, but we're still here to help you expand your knitting skills. Currently, we have four drop-in workshop style classes going on: Knitter's Choice on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings, The Workshop on Wednesday mornings, and Knit Along with Ann on Wednesday afternoons. You can see the details on our website: Spring Classes These are all "pay as you go" classes, meaning you only pay for the sessions you attend.

Yarn Tasting!

What is a yarn tasting? Think wine tasting...but instead of wine, you'll be trying different yarns. It's a fun way to sample some new things; it's a way to find out what you like, or what you don't like, or maybe what you love. It's also another excuse to enjoy the company of other knitters while testing out some of our new spring yarns. You'll get mini-skeins of at least eight of the new yarns as well as some of my favorites, along with some other goodies. You'll snack, chat, and swatch. What a great way to spend an evening!

When: Friday May 6th or Friday May 13th

Time: 6:30 - 9:00

Cost: $20

What to bring: Knitting needles; you'll be sampling yarns from lace weight up to chunky, and the suggested needles range from size 1 to size 11-ish. So, bring the needles you have, but don't worry if you don't have all the sizes - I have some needles I can share with you if needed.

How to sign up: Seating is limited, so you need to register ahead of time by calling 763-780-2465. Payment in full guarantees your spot in the tasting - if you can't get to the shop before the event, you can hold your spot by calling with a credit card.

WWWKIP Day - Mark Your Calendar!

It's hard to believe, but WWKIP Day is just around the corner. What is WWKIP Day, you ask? It's World Wide Knit in Public Day, of course! It's a day when knitters get together and knit right out in public, right in front of non-knitters. If you want to read about the origins of WWKIP Day, you can visit the website that started it all.

This is going to be our 5th annual WWKIP Day celebration at Double Ewe. (Fifth?!? Seems like we just had our first!) Mark your calendars: We're going to be holding it on June 11th, from 1:00 - 5:00. Details will follow, but it always is a day full of food, knitting, fun, drawings, great people, and if we're lucky, sunshine. So put it on your calendars now!

Open Knitting & Crochet

Join us for a fun social time while working on whatever you want. No registration required - just show up. We have three time each week you can join us: