Going, Going, Gone!

contributed by Shawn

Last Saturday we introduced several new students to the art and joy of knitting in our Learn to Knit Class. It filled up quickly and in the days leading up to it we still had folks calling to see if they could sign up for the class. I wish we could have accommodated everyone - it would have been a hoot!

So this is your reminder that if you want to join us for any of the upcoming exciting new classes we are offering, don't wait! Do it today. 

There are just a few spots left in our First Time Sweater class that starts on Monday, February 13th. Jill just sent us a really fun striped version of the Roll Raglan Sweater Pattern that we will be using in class. 

Don't worry, you don't have to knit stripes unless you would like to. This sweater is a fun project and you will learn a lot in the class: increases, decreases, working two sides of the neck at the same time, picking up stitches and proper finishing techniques!

In our upcoming Understanding Gauge class on Thursday, February 16th, Barb will be sharing a huge wealth of information - don't miss this class! Gauge is often considered a dirty word in knitting, because people just don't seem to want to talk about it. But it's the most important aspect of knitting. Come and join us so you can understand what gauge is, how you can change it and what effects this will have on your yarn and knitting.

For those of you scarf knitters, it's time to learn a new technique! In our Knitting Basic Mittens class we will show you how to make a pair of simple mittens. 

Mitten we will be making in class

After the class, you'll be feeling so confident that you can make yourself a pair of our Warmest Mittens. These are lined with the coziest, furriest yarn... not visible in this picture.

Our Warmest Mitten sample - come try it on!

If you haven't tried our sample on, please do. We find that most people don't want to take it off, and end up making themselves a pair!

Our Rectangly Hat has been one of the most popular winter projects in the shop.

It's not that difficult (it only looks it!) but people requested that we turn this into a class, so we did. Sometimes it's more fun to knit a project like with a group, and we know you will love learning this double knitting technique!

If you want to join in on any of these classes, give us a call at the shop.

It's all about the kids

Been a little quiet here recently... sorry about that! We've been a bit buried in some large projects here, and in addition to the busy shop and website, that sometimes means fewer updates to the blog. But it doesn't mean there's not a lot to say... February is always a busy month. Of course February vacation, while relaxing for the kids, is not always relaxing for the working parents. My kids went to Maine to stay with Marc's parents for the week. Marc and I stayed home and worked, but headed over for 2 days to pick them up. We managed to get in a few rides on the "sleds" or "'chines" (pronounced "sheens") as they say. They had a lot of snow over there. This is up on Center Hill overlooking Webb Lake.And here are the girls (ON the lake) with their cousin in front of our summer camp. It looks so different in the winter! Over the past week and a half I've been working on projects for the next after school knitting program, which started today. We really want these kids to do more than just sit around and knit. I have seen how excited my girls were when they learned to purl, and when they started understanding all the great stitch combinations there are with just those two easy stitches.

I came up with a new project for these kids. Here's the sampler scarf:Today each child picked a ball of Plymouth Encore Colorspun in the self striping colors. I gave them a pattern so they could get practice reading an actual pattern. It says that each time the yarn changed color, they have to change their stitch pattern. They can do garter and stockinette, since they just learned to purl, and once they are comfortable with purling, we'll show them stitch patterns like 1x1 and 2x2 rib, etc. I figured we'd do that in class next week since all that yarn going between the needles often results in extra stitches!

The nice thing about this scarf is that it really teaches them how to do different stitch patterns, and what the differences are between these patterns. They were all intrigued today that the ribbed sections on my scarf were "skinny" and the garter sections were "fat." It's important for them to notice this on their own, and to do it themselves so they actually learn how different stitch patterns will affect the outcome of their work.

So it went really well, and then when they finish the sampler scarf, they can make a doll or teddy bear hat. They'll practice ribbing, work a turning ridge, do more ribbing, then learn stripes, decreasing and seaming. They were all excited today to see the hat and think that they could actually do it themselves! All it takes is practice, right?

Speaking of kids and knitting, we've got our summer kids knitting camp information up on the website. It's going to be fun!!!

Current Project – Take Two (or Three, or Four…)

So I don’t know about you, but it seems whenever I make something for myself and start to wear it, everyone who knows that I knit starts to inquire about it. It doesn’t matter what it is, or where I am, people start to ask, "Could you make one of those for me?" Some of them find sneaky, subtle ways to say this and some of them just come right out and boldly state the question. Folks offer to pay for the materials, they offer me a trade or a type of barter, and even my family has tried to bribe me with baked goods for socks when they spied the new Berroco Sox colors on the website.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love to give knitted objects away to people. As long as they demonstrate the proper appreciation for the materials and time that goes into the project...

I’ve even been known to give things away to people who don’t actually ASK for something because I’m so amazed that they can restrain themselves compared to everyone else. (Yes, this is a hint. If you don’t ask and just admire, you may very well get bumped to the front of the project line :) )
In any case, I usually end up making multiples of everything. Some of you may have heard me mention in the shop that I’ve worked my way through at least 12 of the Super Bulky Button Hats in almost every color of Malabrigo Chunky that we carry. It’s a good thing they don’t take long to knit!
But I’ve also started to realize that the proper response to all of my friends who admire the knitting I do is, "Maybe you should learn to knit, then you can make whatever you want."

(We do offer Learn to Knit classes. And for those of you who find yourselves in positions similar to my own you can always suggest that someone take one of these classes!)

I’ve also spent some time spreading the art of knitting to some of my closest friends. In the last several months I’ve gotten four different friends started on their first projects (or their first projects in a 10 year lapse.) I’m very impressed with all of them. Most of them picked out fairly challenging projects to work on this winter or they’ve finished multiple projects and have started gifting knitted items to others. And I’ve had so much fun getting together with them all to knit!

I am going to encourage my friends to share their new knitting experiences in our Kyarns Ravelry Group, and also on our Kyarns Facebook group. So be on the lookout for a Peruvian Tweed scarf, a Baby Alpaca Chunky hat, and some amazing orange Ultra Alpaca sleeves with a turtleneck there soon. We hope you’ll join us there and maybe you’ll let us know what you are working on!

This is how a stitch & bitch starts

Today Helen and Sophie had their friend Julia over after school to play for a bit. We taught Julia to knit a couple of years ago, and she hadn't really knit much since then. Until recently, that is. On her own, she decided she wanted to pick it up again, so she pulled out her Encore Mega Colorspun, her Brittany knitting needles and her Kyarns small vinyl tote bag, and has been click, click, clicking with her needles ever since.

So today they got off the bus and Sophie came in the door saying, "MOM! We're going to knit today!" She was bursting with enthusiasm, and dead-set on knitting. Unfortunately, it's been a couple of YEARS since my kids last knit anything. Sure, they know how. I taught them when they turned 5. They've gone through periods of knitting, periods of not knitting, and even periods of finger knitting (who needs needles anyway?)

During one of those periods of "not-knitting" I got rid of their stash. There wasn't much left - only a few yards of Mega in a couple of different colors. They had already made several doll blankets and scarves with it and they were in an uninterested phase, so goodbye it went. Of course today, they were intent on knitting because Julia had brought her stuff.

I only had sportweight and fingering weight yarns at home, and those are certainly not gratifying for 9 year olds. So we piled in the car and headed back to the yarn shop for some super bulky yarn. They were so excited in the car - talking about what color they were going to get, what they were going to make... isn't that how WE feel when we go yarn shopping?

I pulled into the driveway of the shop, and they were out of the car and in the front door before I had even turned the car off. Helen and Sophie both chose Encore Mega, this time in a solid color.I cast on for H&S when we got home and the three of them headed outside to knit on the swing set in the sunshine. Nothing like a little outside knitting! Too bad it was only 48 degrees out. That whole thing about keeping your yarn pristine? Doesn't matter to a 9 year old. Heck, throw it on the damp grass in the leaves, it doesn't matter!Helen was more concerned about her yarn - it stayed nice and clean in her vinyl bag. That's my old Berroco Furz poncho on her head. When it got really cold they came inside to play in the basement. I was making cookies and I heard them playing on the keyboard down in the basement. Then, as I was dealing with one cookie sheet after another, things got quiet down there. I had seen Julia race upstairs to get her knitting bag several minutes earlier. I figured they were knitting again, so I grabbed my camera and tiptoed down the stairs. As I rounded the corner, this is what I saw.Who needs a formal stitch-n-bitch? Just grab a few close friends, head over to your local laundromat and knit! As you can see, it can be very informal. Apparently, chairs are optional. Laundry baskets and cat condos work really well. Take off your shoes! Put your feet up. And enjoy knitting with your pals.

I'm so glad Julia kept up with her knitting, and that she inspired my girls to pick it up again. It's 8:30 at night, and they're STILL knitting! Thanks Julia!

Speaking of kids and knitting, Kaleidoscope Yarns is sponsoring a 3rd & 4th grade knitting class at Williston Central School through the Williston Rec Department. Suzie von Reyn, who teaches knitting classes for us here at the shop, and who used to work here full time several years ago, has been informally teaching kids to knit for years. She's doing a 6 week knitting workshop on Wednesdays for 3rd & 4th graders at ABS and WCS - it starts in a few weeks. Just $25 and they'll learn to knit, get yarn, needles, a cool vinyl bag, etc. It's going to be a lot of fun.

We're so excited to be involved in this. Helen and Sophie and I will be there the last few weeks... once their art class is finished we'll be free again on Wednesdays after school. Can't wait!