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Spring seems to be making some headway here in the Northwoods even though Mother Nature recently dropped another 14 inches of snow here. The robins have been spotted and a little open water has been seen on the area rivers and even a few lakes.
We're looking forward to kicking off spring with two new shop knit-a-longs - an afghan featuring various colorwork techniques and a Fair Isle cowl. These two projects will be a fun way to spend your summer months!
Liz, Claire, Cathy & Joe
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Winter and Spring Hours
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Noon to 3 pm;
Saturday through Tuesday by chance or appointment.
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Summer Hours
Starting May 21, 2014: Tuesday through Sunday noon to 3 pm.
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Shop Knit-a-Longs
Building in Color Afghan Knit-a-Long  We will be starting a new shop knit-a-long this spring in May 2014. Using the new book from Michelle Hunter from Knit Purl Hunter - Building in Color. This great book will help you learn and improve your color knitting skills. Each panel in the sampler blanket features essential color knitting skills - there are ten panels total and we will be knitting two each month. We will meet once a month to share our progress and to get any needed help. First shop meeting will be Thursday, May 22, 2014 at 9 am. You will need about 2,800 yards in three colors and 6, 7 or 8 needles. Shop suggestions for yarns to use are:
Plymouth Yarn Encore - 75% acrylic & 25% wool
Kraemer Tatamy Tweed- 40% cotton & 60% acrylic
Blackberry Ridge Wool or Wool Blend
Fair Isle Moebius Cowl Knit-a-Long  The other knit-a-long is the Fair Isle Moebius Cowl from the cover of the Winter 2013/2014 Vogue. The cowl is knit in the round with fingering weight yarn. We will meet once a month to share our progress and to get any needed help. First shop meeting will be Friday, May 23, 2014 from 5 pm to 8:30 pm. (If you want to share in the pizza please let us know by that Friday. The cost is $10/person). You will need about 1,600 yards in nine colors and size 3-16" circular needles. Shop suggestion for yarn to use is Blackberry Ridge Fingering 2-Ply - 100% wool in 1 oz. skeins
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BOOK: 
Building in Color by Michelle Hunter of Knit Purl Hunter. Build your color knitting skills one panel at a time! We will be starting this as a shop knit-a-long in May of this year! |
MAGAZINE: 
Vogue Knitting Winter 2013/14 - The Fair Isle Moebius Cowl is featured on the cover of this issue. Copies are still available at the shop. |
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What's New in the Shop?
MAGAZINES:
YARN:
 Plymouth Yarn Neon Now - Sock Weight, 75% Wool & 25% Nylon, 436 yards per 100 gram skein. These five vibrant colors will brighten up your springtime projects.
 Plymouth Yarn Baby Beenz - Worsted weight, 100% acrylic, 214 yards per 100 gram skein. We have two colors of this lovely soft yarn in right now Tan Neutral #166 and Glacier #172.
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Have You Ever Wondered?
Have you ever wondered how much an average knitter or crocheter spends on their favorite hobby? Check out these stats from "The State of Specialty NeedleArts 2013" compiled for TNNA (The National NeedleArts Association) :
Knitting Enthusiast Profile
Spending: average $801
Time Spent: average 10 hours per week
Number of Knitting Projects Completed: average 24
Expertise in Knitting: 40% expert & 57% intermediate
Cross-Participation: 42% also crochet
Average Age: 52
86% of knitters use Ravelry & 29% use Facebook for fiber arts interests
Crochet Enthusiast Profile
Spending: average $570
Time Spent: average 10 hours per week
Number of Knitting Projects Completed: average 39
Expertise in Knitting: 45% expert & 51% intermediate
Cross-Participation: 49% also knit
Average Age: 51
69% of crochters use Ravelry & 38% use Facebook for fiber arts interests
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Classes and Workshops
We're announcing a new format for instruction and help. Instead of the shop setting up the time schedule for class you and/or your friends will arrange the time and day. Several times a year we will present a list of suggested knitting and crochet classes on our website and in the newsletter to help you choose, but keep in mind that any and all suggestions will be accepted.
As always there is no charge for help and instruction during regular shop hours. At all other times of the week the cost is $5.00 per student/per hour.
Current list of classes
Beginning Knitting
Beginning Crocheting
Toe-Up Two at a Time Socks
Beginning Entrelac
Cabled Sides Wine Cozy
Raglan Sweater Ornament
Claire's Sweater Dishcloth
Intarsia Sheep Bag
See website for more details and additional classes.
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Events
Iceland & Beyond - A trip to Iceland & the Faroe Islands especially for Fiber Enthusiasts & Adventure Seekers! June 2, 2014 to June 10, 2014 - This is the third trip to Iceland that Pam and Barb have organized and this time we have added a visit to the fabulous Faroe Islands. I went on the first trip in 2003 and had a great time.
In the Faroe Islands:
* Learn INNOVATIVE systems of making knitting patterns
* Expand your senses in Knitting
* The Faroese knitting heritage - lecture.
* Meet a Faroese knitting club - local knitters
* A visit to Sirri store in Faroe Islands http://www.sirri.fo/home.html
* Visit to Gudrún og Gudrún, the famous Faroese design duo
http://shop.gudrungudrun.com/
* Visits to local yarn shops and knitting clubs
In Iceland:
* ALAFOSS LOPI yarn factory & shop
* South Shore tour
* &The World Famous BLUE LAGOON SPA
7th Annual Walk in the Woods Art Fair - We will be a vendor again at St. Germain's annual art fair on Saturday, June 7, 2014 from 9am-3pm.
World Wide Knit in Public Day - This year, the dates are June 14, 2014 to June 22, 2014. This is a great way for knitters to come together and enjoy each other's company!
Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival - Mark you calendars! The 2014 Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival will be held from September 5, 2014 through September 7, 2014 at the Jefferson Fair Park in Jefferson, Wisconsin. We will be a vendor there!
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What do these words have in common?
Illusion
Computer
Solutions
Mystery
Equation
Dangerous
The first person who emails back the correct answer will receive a certificate for 15% off of one item. Once the first correct answer comes in, we will post it in our Ravelry group . |
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Sutter's Gold 'n Fleece
can now be found on:
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Margaret Brennan, Liz Sutter, Claire Pagel and Cathy Benecke are publishing their patterns under the Ravenswood Knit Designs label. So far the RKD inventory includes 18" doll patterns and accessories
This shrug is an quick and easy cotton knit with almost no shaping and an uncomplicated lace pattern. It's a perfect wrap for
when you have to take a baby to an event in the summer. It's dressy, but comfortable for the little darling, while easy to get on
and off. Because there is little shaping, it is an easy pattern to adjust to fit.
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Made in the USA
In 1815, Thomas Jefferson announced, "I have come to a resolution myself as I hope every good citizen will, never again to purchase any article of foreign manufacture which can be had of American make, be the difference of price what it may."
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