Needle Felting Class!

Mark your calendar! On Saturday, January 22nd, we'll be hosting two needle felting classes with a special instructor, Bob Nichols. There will be a beginner's class from 9:30 to noon, and an advanced class from 1:00 to 3:00. Each class is $20 (including all the supplies!). Take one class or make a day of it and do both. Bob's easy going, a great teacher, and it's sure to be fun! You can read about Bob and his fiber art here. That's Bob, above, at Fiber College, with his needle felted sculpture and paintings at Fiber College.

Needle felting is fun and easy. If you've ever wanted to make a cute little animal or doll with this technique, here's your chance to learn! Needle felted animals are so cute! If you're in the shop, check out our selection of needle felting books. "Wool Pets" is a great beginner's book, with lots of cute animals (of course):

Stop by or give the store a call (872-2118) to sign up for either or both workshops.

There's still time to knit up Christmas gifts! We've got new sock yarn (as if we didn't have enough for you to choice from!) And don't forget to grab some free patterns when you're in the store. The easy hat pattern is here, made with lovely Eco Duo yarn. Two skeins make three hats!

If you'd like some help with your knitting, or just some good company, don't forget about our ongoing knitting classes - Monday through Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9:00pm, Wednesday afternoons from 2:00 to 4:30, and Saturdays from 1:00-3:30.

Buy fifty dollars of yarn (for yourself or as a Christmas gift - y'know, knitters love yarn as a gift - hint, hint), and you'll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate. The next drawing will be on December 5th. Speaking of Christmas gifts, we've got the wonderful Hiya interchangeable needle sets for $79.99. We've figured it out and that's about $500 dollars worth of needles!

December stamping classes

Christmas Card Workshop
Wednesday December 1st 1-3pm
Get those Christmas cards started!

Time to Make Your Cards
Saturday December 5th from 10-Noon
If you haven't gotten started on your Christmas cards, it's time!


New House Mouse and more. . .
Wednesday December 8th 1-3
Saturday December 11th 10-Noon
. . .Christmas cards, of course! These are all so cute.

Last Minute Christmas Card Extravaganza
Wednesday December 15th 1-3
Saturday December 19th 10-Noon
As they say, "better late than never!"

Christmas Card Party
Wednesday, December 22nd 1-3
This will be really last minute! We'll get in the holiday mood, and also make some Christmas Thank You cards.

The next drawing for the $25 gift certificate will be on December 4th. Remember, if you spend fifty dollars on supplies, you'll be entered in the monthly drawing.

As always, bring scissors, double sided tape, a glue stick, and whatever stamping supplies you'd like to the classes. Please call 872-2118 or stop by the store to sign up.

A really popular scarf

Here's Peggy, surrounded by lots of sock yarn, wearing the ever popular basket weave scarf from Nomis' booklet "Hats, Scarves, and Mittens." This big scarf is knitted in Noro Kochoran, a lovely blend of 50% wool, 30% angora, and 20% silk. Would make a wonderful Christmas gift! At the store, we've got samples of many scarves knit in the same pattern. It looks just as lovely (but quite different) in solid white - Plymouth's Buckingham is a great choice - another super soft yarn made of luxurious 80% baby alpaca and 20% silk.

Speaking of sock yarn and old favorites, here's a link to two free sock patterns from a 1940 booklet entitled "Essentials for the Forces" from England. There's a pattern for over-the-knee socks, and one for bed socks with pom-poms! Both of them, these days, are more suitable for women. Check it out here.

Hats!

These hats are great for gifts (and great for you). They're so warm and cozy in Cascade's 70% baby alpaca and 30% merino Eco Duo yarn. The yarn comes in various shades of natural colors.

You'll need one skein of yarn, a 16" size six circular needle, and size 6 circular needles. This pattern fits most:

With circular needle, cast on 100 sts.
Work 8 rounds in K1, P1 rib.

Switch to stockinette stitch (knit all rounds) until hat measures 6 inches.

Option: If you wish to work a contrast color into the hat, decrease 1 stitch in the 9th row. Knit 1 stitch in main color, 1 st in contrasting color around for 5 rounds. Then switch back to working in main color, increasing 1 stitch when you do.

Decrease rounds (switch to double pointed needles when needed):

1 - K3, K2tog around
2 - Knit around
3 - Knit around
4 - K2, K2tog around
5 - Knit around
6 - Knit around
7 - K1, K2tog around
8 - Knit around
9 - Knit around
10 Knit 2tog around
11 Knit around

Cut yarn, leaving a 12" length. Using a yarn needle, thread yarn through remain stitches, pull together, and weave loose ends in.

Easy!

November stamping classes

There's still leaves on the trees, but they're going fast! That lets us know that the holidays will soon be here. It's time to get stamping! Here's what we've got in store for November:

Christmas Concertina
We'll learn to make little books. Cards, too!
Wednesday November 3rd from 1-3
Saturday November 4th from 10-Noon

Stamping on Tiles
We'll be making hot plates and wall hangings. Stamping is not just for cards!
Wednesday November 10th from 1-3

Northwoods Christmas Cards
We'll be making cards with new design from the ever popular Northwoods collection.
Wednesday November 17th from 1-3
Saturday November 20th from 10-Noon

Call 872-2118 or stop by the store to sign up for classes. As always, bring a glue stick, double sided tape, scissors, and stamping supplies to class. Participants receive 10% off all stamping supplies in the store, and if you buy $50 worth, you'll be entered in our drawing for a $25 gift certificate. The next drawing in on December 4th.

Wrist warmers

Call them what you will - wrist warmers, fingerless gloves, pulse warmers, wristers, or gauntlets - they're quick to knit and make great gifts. Berrocco's Ultra Alpaca is a super soft yarn that comes in many colors. Click here to get the free pattern.

October stamping classes

Besides the usual birthdays, thank you, and get well cards, Autumn is a time to get cracking making cards. Before you know it, it'll be Christmas!

Awesome Autumn Cards
Northwoods makes such gorgeous scenery stamps, especially for this time of year!
Saturday, October 2nd from 10:00-Noon

Sympathy and Get Well Cards
It's always good to have these on hand.
Wednesday, October 6th from 1:00-3:00
Saturday, October 9th from 10:00-Noon

Alcohol Inks and Watercolor Techniques Workshop
We'll learn to make cool backgrounds and shading.
Wednesday, October 13th from 1:00-3:00

Tea Bag Folding
Tea bag folding is a paper folding technique that originated in Europe. It's similar to origami. Come learn the basic folds to make something new!
Wednesday, October 20th from 1:00-3:00
Saturday, October 23rd from 10:00-Noon

All Occasions Cards Workshop
You name it - we'll make it!
Wednesday, October 27th from 1:00-3:00
Saturday, October 30th from 10:00-Noon

Please call 872-2118 to sign up or drop by the store.

Bring scissors, a glue stick, double sided tape, and stamping supplies to all workshops. If you buy $50 or more of stamping supplies, you'll be entered in our drawing to win a $25 gift certificate. The next drawing is on November 20th. As always, class participants get 10% off all supplies purchased.