Knit Day(s)!

Knit in Public Day(s) are coming up!
I say day(s) as those who officiate this “day” have it scheduled from June 8-16.  Whatever the day, all over the world knitters are encouraged to congregate en mass and show off to the greater public.
This year I thought some of you might want to join the demonstration.
We will be congregating in Trinity Bellwood’s Park on Saturday June 8th from 12-2pm for a knitalong!  Bring your crocheted blankets to sit on and bring needles and yarn for stitching.  The bigger the group the better!
This is a SHINE ONLY plan.  The rainy day plan will be to come to the Knit Cafe where we regularly “knit in public”.  We will sheltered here behind our safety glass, under the pretty tin ceiling, insulated by the yarn.

Learn how to make a sweater! Make it mini in a one night class and learn all the skills to make a full-sized one at your leisure.

One Night Only Sweater Workshop
$30, materials not included
Thurs May 30, 6:30-9pm
Call to register 416 533 5648

Adding crocheted edges to napkins, and pillowcases, and skirt hems, and collars, and aprons, and scarves, and shirt sleeves, and curtains, and tablecloths, and bed skirts, and tea towels, and hand towels and…and…and…

Learn how at the Crochet on the Edge Class

$30, materials not included


Wed May 29. 6:30-9pm

Call to register 416 533 5648

Craftily yours
Kristin

new from knitbot

Who says you can’t knit in the summer?
If I didn’t already have a million reasons to spend a summer’s day with busy needles, now I have a few more.

A new book by Hannah Fettig!
This one is devoted to knitting patterns that feature linen.  That suits me fine, since I love the stuff.  The ebook containing 5 pretty and versatile pieces is available for preorders from Quince and Co. You can get individual patterns from Hannah’s Ravelry Page

The patterns were knit with 100% linen in a gauge that matches exactly to Euroflax linen.

These are the colours currently in stock.
Top row: natural, crabapple, aqua
Next row: steel, cream, island moss
Next row: charcoal, red, navy
Bottom: pewter
246 m (270yds) is $26

Craftily yours
Kristin

Swatching in circles

To swatch or not to swatch, that is the question.
The answer in many many cases is “yes – you should”.
Don’t worry, I won’t spend this time trying to lure you over to the side of pro-swatchers. Today I want to talk about swatching in the round.
When you are knitting a project in the round it is imperative you test swatch in the round too.  I am sorry to say that this is something I did not learn, till later in my knit-life.  It seems that the difference in our tensions from flat knitting to circular knitting can be extreme! Extremely extreme!
So if you are about to knit a project that requires you to knit in rounds then follow these steps to make a swatch.

1.  Using the needles you would like to knit with (these will be either circular or double pointed needles) cast on stitches sufficient enough for a swatch.  It is desirable to have at least 10cm to measure, since most gauges are given over 10cm. If my swatch is for a stocking stitch fabric I like to do a little boarder of garter stitch so that the swatch won’t curl as much when I am trying to measure, but this is optional. Work your first row.

2.When you get to the end of the row drag your stitches to the other needle point. Don’t turn your piece to the other side!

3. Leaving a long stretch of yarn flopping across the back or the knitting, work into the stitch you have positioned near the tip of the needle (the first stitch in the previous row).

Repeat steps 2 and 3.  Eventually you will get something that looks like this on the back side.  You see how it is important to keep those runs at the back as long as possible so your swatch can lie flat for measuring.

Once the swatch is blocked many people, myself included, will snip the long runs at the back before measuring.  This is usually more accurate and you can get a better feel for the fabric you’ve created that way.

Now go ahead and measure.

Of course there are other ways to swatch in rounds.  Some folks prescribe knitting a hat first (when I say some people I mean Elizabeth Zimmerman).  Others will start a sleeve and and call it a swatch.

If you are joining us at the Sock Master Class, please make a swatch in the round before class.  Sock Masters will be making their socks using their gauge to calculate the size, so you will need a proper swatch.

Sock Master Class
Thurs June 6, 13, 20, 7-9pm
Call 416 533 5648 to register

If you are interested in swatching (and who isn’t?) I really like what Robin Hunter has to say on the matter in her blog How to become a Professional Knitter. I’ve only recently discovered her blog, but have since enjoyed very much reading about what fellow knitters do, and how they do it.  Perhaps you will too.

Craftily yours
Kristin

Virtual/Reality

Why am I posted a picture of a computer?

Imagine you’re sitting right here at this very computer finding the knitting pattern of your dreams.  This does not need to be a dream, it could be a reality. Yes – we are living in the digital age, and there is perhaps no other group that have embraced the internet and all it’s possibilities quite like knitters have.
Thanks Ravelry!
Ravelry has developed a LYS (that’s local yarn shop) Ravelry In-Store Pattern Sales option.  This means you can come into the Knit Cafe and search for “leg warmers” or “coffee cozies” on our resident computer and then purchase a download of the pattern that meets your needs through the Knit Cafe.
This will be especially appealing to folks who dislike making purchases over the internet.

The other advantage is that we can help you navigate ravelry while you’re in the shop and try to track down the perfect pattern for the yarn you are squeezing and coveting right there in real time.

If you are new to Ravelry.com – we can give you a tour of the site and show you how you might navigate it on your own later.
Ain’t technology grand?

Craftily yours
Kristin

Get classy this week!

Crochet Slipper Class
Do you know the basic crochet stitches and want to beef up your skills? Do you just want to make these adorable slippers? You can!
Bonus – you will learn how to make the leather slipper-soles too!
Thursday May 9, 16, 7-9pm
$50 materials not included
Call to register 416 533 5648, tell us your shoe size when you register!

Lace 101 Class
Make delicate lace stitches, perfect for the summer weather.  Learn all the basics along with deciphering lace patterns both written and charted.  Practice your stitching in class and gain the confidence to tackle lace projects at home.
Saturday May 11, 18, 10:30-12:30
$50, materials not included
Call to register 416 533 5648

We had a blast at the Steeking Class this past week.  Check out our local spinner Jana’s thoughts on the class here.
…and  a few of my pics are right here↓

Reinforcing the edge with crochet, and after it’s done a shot mid-cut.

After the cut’s complete, and a “raw cut” without any reinforcing.

If you missed out keep your eyes peeled for another Steeking Class next season.
Craftily yours
Kristin

Fairwell to Frolic, Hello to Spring!

Frolicking is fun, but it is also great when it’s over. Yes- we can close the book on another year at the local, annual, knitter’s fair – the Knitter’s Frolic.  It was a goodie! We fed and watered a lot of hungry shoppers at our Knit-Cafe, and we passed on some special yarn and project plans too. In fact several new Knit Cafe patterns were introduced at this years Frolic. We will have them ready for purchase any day now on Ravelry so keep your ear to the ground and your eyes peeled. Big thanks go out to our outstanding team of helpers that made the whole thing possible for us.
Still the good times will not stop – just check out these lil’darlins↓

There is nothing like a mini skein!  10 metres of joy! Koigu  has sent us a great collection of colours this time.  For things to do with mini skeins check out this post, or register for our June 17th needlepoint class and learn a whole new way to play with these colourful characters.

Everyone likes contests, so I thought I would pass this along.  The West Queen West BIA is giving away a Mother’s Day shopping spree!  Just follow this link for more details. Many shops in our illustrious neighbourhood are participating, including us of course.
Happy May 1rst all
Craftily yours
Kristin

A week of crafting.

Our Fingerless Mitten Class starts this Monday April 29th, and there is still time to add your name to the list of students.  This is the class for you if you have not yet attempted to knit in circles. This simple and stylish palm warmer will give you a chance to try out double pointed needles, shaping techniques and pattern reading.  Your knit-knowledge could grow by leaps and bounds in this class.
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Also starting this week is Crochet 101.  This class for first time crocheters  runs for four sessions over four weeks.  You learn a lot in this class! Not only the basic stitches but how to make 3D shapes (a hat and a toy) and granny squares too! A class that runs over several weeks is so helpful.  There is nothing like a little follow-up to really get a technique down.  It has been clinically (that is in-knitting-shop) proven!

Are you coming to the Knitter’s Frolic this weekend? If you are you should know 2 things.
1. The Knit Cafe is running the cafe and will have lots of delicious treats for you, so come by and say “hi”.
2. The Knit Cafe will also have a booth full of delicious yarn and there will be a pretty amazing “Show Special” (that’s a sale), along with a few surprises.  So, come by and say “hi” there too.
Find out more about the frolic here.

Recap:

Fingerless Mitten Class
2 sessions, $50, materials not included
Mon April 29, May 6, 7-9pm
To register call 416 533 5648

Crochet 101
4 sessions, $96, materials not included
Wed May 1,8,15,22, 7-9pm
To register call 416 533 5648

Knitter’s Frolic
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
6 Garamond Court, Toronto, Ontario

Craftily yours
Kristin