Going around in circles!

Holy cowl!

These are just fun to make!

Cast on a bunch of stitches, join in the round (being careful not to twist!) and knit until it's long enough or you run out of yarn!

1st:  'Inspira Cowl' (I made the Mesa Version, but cast on 160 stitches).  Using 5.5 mm needles and Liberty Wool, takes 2 colours and 2 balls of each!

This pattern is 'West Desert Hood'  (cast on 144 stitches and worked until the end of the contrast colour ball)  I am making another with a few changes to the pattern.

Finally this really quick knit is 'Cherry Garcia', one ball of 'Inca' a new yarn that is 100% Superwash wool, very soft and great solid colours.  ($9.95)  I made the cowl in one day, maybe 4 hours!

The best thing I have learned about joining in the round is to  (you will have to think for a minute, but it works.) :

Cast on all the stitches, then turn your work and work the first row of the pattern without joining!  Then join your work and continue in pattern, being careful not to twist!  That extra row, that is just a little more stable makes it very easy to see if there are any twists.  All you need to do is hide that first 'blip' when you weave in your beginning yarn.

See you Soon.

Challenges!

How many of you noticed that the last two posts are pretty much the same, I didn't really notice until a couple of days after I wrote the second one!

Trying to keep you informed and entertained at the same time has proven to be a bit tricky.  I will try again.  

Like you I have stash. It is my goal to reduce the personal stash this year,  I have sorted it a little and have given away some of the yarn I know I will never use. I purchased a lovely yarn a few years ago and I when I purchased it I did not quite know what I would make with it, but I loved the colour and softness.  (100% organic cotton)    It came down to either giving away the yarn or giving away the project. 

During that really hot week in July we went camping, camping  without air conditioning!  The trailer was a very quiet and lovely spot, but it was hot!  I started this 'Chalice' blanket but the heat would not let me get much past the first ball, knowing that if I did not create a deadline for this project that is would hide in a WIP bag for a long time.  I decided that the only way to ensure that I would get this finished was to enter in the Orono Fair.  I finished it 2 days before the Fair.

The blanket did not win a ribbon, but now I have a lovely gift for the next baby worthy of an organic cotton blanket.  (The extra ball is for the matching sweater, next year's Orono Fair?)

I entered a few other projects, some came home with ribbons attached.

We always have an interesting discussion on the Judges opinions, but I would never like to be the judge in a competition,  

Included in the entries was a new cowl knit with my favourite super wash yarn.  Classic Elite's Liberty wool is the perfect yarn for this 'Inspira' cowl.  Pick 2 different colour ways and watch how they blend.

It's beautiful and squishy and super soft.

In the stash at the store there is a complete 'Yarn Tasting' kit from Classic Elite. Time to use that one up too!  Included in the kit are mini skeinettes of several yarns that are in the shop's inventory and a lovely door prize.  

On October 2nd from 7 pm - 9 pm 10 of you can join us!  The fee for the night is $15.00, it gives you at least a dozen samples to take home and the chance to win a door prize.

Sign up soon, 

Lessons?

Scheduling lessons is always a challenge, we have our schedule, you have yours!

Now that the shop has expanded and we have a lovely 'lesson' area we are going to try to get our schedules to line up.

Every other Wednesday is 'Knitt'n Night', a group of a dozen or so meet at the shop to catch up and work on projects together.  ( 6pm - 8 pm)  Since we are here and the shop is open Helen will offer a Knitting Basics class.  From 6:30 - 8 pm.  Helen will help you through some of Knitting's basic skills, there is a limit of 3 for each class and for September there are only a couple of spaces left, you must reserve your place in advance. 
September 11, 25; October 9, 23.

Gwen has scheduled a basic sock class that will run Saturday Mornings from 10:00 am - 11:30am.  (September 21, 28 and October 5th)  The fee for the session is $45 (plus HST)  Pattern and Yarn to be purchased in advance from Soper Creek Yarn.  Payment ensures your spot in the class.  (maximum 6 students)

Regan is planning to join us on Tuesdays, hoping to offer a Knitting clinic from 12:30 - 1:30.  Sign up and bring your knitting or spinning projects and Regan can get you going again!  The fee for the session is $15, reservations are required.

On September 24th, Regan will teach a basics in lace knitting, from 10:30 - Noon.  The $25 fee includes yarn!  Class Limit is 6 and we need 3 to get started!  Reserve soon!

That's the beginning, we are planning a daytime knitting group we just have to come up with the right day!

That's it so far!

See You Soon.