|
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
|
Knitting classes!
Watch this space; it will be updated as time marches on.
I'm the new knitting instructor at Michael's in Crystal. My goal is to provide classes that go above and beyond what is usually offered at a craft store, and are more on par with those available at yarn shops. I also hope to instill confidence and a sense of adventure into my students, rather than simply teaching a pattern.
Register by visiting the store at 203 Willow Bend, Crystal - 81 & Broadway Avenue (click for a map), or by calling 763-531-2372.
Each session is about 2 hours long and costs $15, and some classes meet for more than one session (i.e., a two-session class would be $30). Prices do not include materials, all of which will be available from Michael's.
Scheduled Classes
Saturday, November October 11 - Class Preview - 1-4 p.m. (sign up for classes and receive a discount on supplies)
Sunday, November 12 - Warm Up America Event - 1-5 p.m. (help us put together afghans for Warm Up America)
Saturday, November 18 - Diagonal Knit Scarf - 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sunday, November 19 & 26 - Mittens - 3-5 p.m. (2 sessions)
Tuesday, November 21 - Beginning Knitting - 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 28 - Advanced Knitting - 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Upcoming Classes (subject to change)
Mittens, miniature sweater ornaments, diagonal-knit scarf, socks, felted bag
I also plan to offer classes on finishing techniques and fixing mistakes, if there is interest.
If there are any classes you'd like to see, please let me know, and please pass this email onto anyone who may be interested. I will also be putting class information on my website, along with project examples (which can also be seen at the store).
Tipper @ 9:17 PM * link
|
|
Thursday, September 21, 2006
|
Hellooooo
For those of you coming here from Ms. Harlot's blog, here's my post about the trip to see her.
I would share news for those of you who already know and love me, but there isn't much. I finished that-there diagonal scarf made from Patons SWS. I finished my crazy Chicago sock - finally - and it actually fits. I fixed my pretty blue gloves, which had a fingertip that succumbed to my pointy, too-long finger, and the new Vogue Knitting is fantastic.
Cold weather has arrived in Minnesota, and that is a beautiful thing.
Tipper @ 5:01 AM * link
|
|
Sunday, September 17, 2006
|
I just have so much to tell you!
In between making edits to my father-in-law's book (about using magic tricks in therapy) and making some free-range/organic chicken noodle soup (I cook and eat mostly vegetarian food, except when I decide to purchase organic or produced-by-a-small-farm meat), a blog post shall be born.
My first day
My first demo at Michael's was yesterday. I knit for two hours, fielding questions about where the bathrooms are, where the baskets are, where velcro is - you get the picture. Two people seemed interested in classes (not counting employees of the store). Most of the people who were interested in what I was doing already knew how to knit. It was fun nonetheless, if only because I like to say hi to people.
Here are a couple of things tacked up on "my" board:
I wish I would've thought to make a lighter-colored scarf. Ah, well. That scarf (a drop-stitch novelty yarn thing) will be a class taught next Saturday, should I get any students.
Oh, yarn, you siren!
In my defense, some of this yarn (the Classic Wool, Fun Fur - uff da, and Patons Rumor) were purchased for class purposes. I had to buy some Patons SWS to make a "one"-skein wonder or boobholder or something, because I started on my diagonal striped scarf (also for class) and fell in love with the yarn. It hasn't been fuzzing up like Maia mentioned, but it certainly has the potential to behave that way. I don't care, as I got it for 40% off (thanks to employee appreciation days).
The Lornas Laces Shepherd Sock (in "Aslan") came from...
New yarn store!
Lakeville has a yarn store now, Knitter's Palette, and I stopped by today. It's chock full of beautiful yarn, from the luxe (Artyarns, Cherry Tree Hill, Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Louisa Harding) to the practical (Cascade 220, Lanett Superwash, Smart). The prices are spot-on retail and the store is airy and well-organized. And Pam, the owner, was extremely pleasant and willing to help.
The needle selection wasn't my favorite (I saw Turbos, Brittany, and some sort of bamboo; I prefer to see every single needle under the sun, as impractical as it is) and the book section could be larger (although it is a very high-quality selection), but I'm still jealous of the folks that live down that way.
Tasty magazines
I bought Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits with the employee discount, too. The book/magazine selection at Michael's has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few months. I'd tell you what I like, but I haven't been able to flip through the magazines yet. Life gets in the way of knitting far too often.
Christmas is coming
So, what are y'all making people for Christmas (if you'll be making things, that is)? I have some fair isle gloves and/or mittens in my sights for certain gifts, but a blank is being drawn for everything else. Got any ideas to share?
In conclusion
I started this post several hours ago and now I've probably forgotten most of what I was going to say. (You wouldn't know to look at it.)
Tipper @ 4:00 PM * link
|
|
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
|
It's about darn time.
If my sidebar can be trusted, this is my first finished object in five months. (It can't quite be believed, as I finished Sockapaloooza socks in late April.)
Pattern: Thuja by Bobby (Dear Bobby - Pick something pronouncable next time. Love, Tipper)
Yarn: Artyarns Supermerino in color 112 (I think), 2 skeins.
Needles: size 4 US
Modifications: None, though I didn't exactly look at the pattern beyond finding out how to do the nifty rib.
Notes: Two skeins ended up being just right for my size 8 1/2 feet, with a teensy bit of each skein left over. I could've gotten another inch per sock, somewhere, but I'm happy with 'em the way they are. I started out with size 6 needles, as requested in the pattern, but that was wayyyy too loose for me. Size 4 was just right. I have no idea what my gauge is. All I care is that they fit, and they do, very well.
Also, this yarn is luscious. If only I could afford enough for a whole sweater.
As is tradition, I slapped 'em on my feet immediately.
Tipper @ 9:25 PM * link
|
|
Sunday, September 10, 2006
|
Mission Yarn Harlot: Accomplished
Today was a good day. We went to Yellow Dog Knitting in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
The sign said, "Welcome Yarn Harlot and Sock."
We ate some food.
That is a look of excitement, not fear.
We hung out where the Freemasons do. (It was all very secretive.)
This is where we performed our secret knitter ceremonies.
There was much camaraderie (and many cameras).
Socksy! From 12-o'-clock: Shelly, Stephania, someone I didn't know, Rox (who does have a blog, after all!), yours truly, Kelle, and Meleah.
Tiny babies wear tiny socks. (This is Knittybaby (and Knittymama).
Shelly's blanket was the star of the show. We were just its roadies.
And that was all before Ms. Pearl-McPhee made her appearance. She was funny, of course, and we all had a great time. I'd like to pretend that she knew who I was, but at least I got to touch her sock. It's not often that you get to touch a Canadian's socks.
Here's photographic evidence. (Please note that I am wearing the scarf that Matthew knit for me. It is my official fall scarf.)
According to the note in my book, "Obsession is normal." Ha! Take that!
Oh, and while all that was going on, I started and finished a sock.
That would be 1/2 of a pair of Thuja socks, pattern by my dear friend Bobby (who better post soon or I'll do something drastic like knit with Red Heart!).
I ran into lots and lots of people there! Like Jess, Christy, Melissa, Chris, Catherine, and Deb (who I'd never met 'til tonight), along with other people whose names are just too slippery for my neurons to grasp.
Yarn power!
Tipper @ 10:55 PM * link
|
|
|
H-Day
Today is H-Day, or Harlot Day, if you'd prefer. Tonight legions of knitters from the area surrounding Eau Claire will descend upon the sleepy town and laugh their arses off while trying not to stab themselvs with needles.
I still have not decided which lucky knitting projects will come with me.
It could be that I'll just end up knitting samples. Samples, you ask? Yes, samples, for a store, as I've taken a (as in "another") job as a knitting instructor at the Michael's in Crystal. It's not glamorous, but it will be fun. The biggest challenge is coming up with projects that utilize the yarns that Michael's offers. Thankfully, this particular store has expanded its selection within the past month or so to include more non-novelty yarn. Three new Patons yarns are on the shelve: SWS, a gorgeous wool/soy blend that felts really nicely); Rumor, which is mostly acrylic with alpaca and polyester, and is very, very soft; and Shetland Chunky Tweeds, which is mostly acrylic but still decent. They've also got Classic Merino Wool.
The first sample I've whipped up is a really quick little cabled bag made with Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick 'n' Quick. It's not something I'd normally make, and it didn't turn out quite to be what I wanted, as I was limited by the handle selection on hand, but I think it will make for a fun class where a lot of things are learned.
Sitting on top is a drop-stitch scarf I'm making out of Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair for the ubiquitous novelty yarn scarf class.
I am going to be buuuuuusy with all of the demos I'm required to do, on top of the classes, but it will be the good sort of busy. I might as well get paid (and I'll actually get paid well!) to talk about yarn and knitting, right?
In personal knitting news...
I'm a total idiot. My ruffle wasn't done. It was 200(!) rows short, thanks to my inability to count properly. I was to the armholes when I realized that something was very, very wrong, and then had to rip out all of the boring stockinette I had slogged through. I've only got about 150(!) rows of the ruffle yet because, of course, I haven't really touched it since. I have, however, picked up my Forecast sweater again. It needs a couple more inches at the bottom, two sleeves, and a button band, and we're ready to rock. It will also need a very aggressive blocking so it will fit over my ta-tas.
Tipper @ 9:20 AM * link
|
|
|
