Knit-O-Matic News: 12/01/2007

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Knit-O-matic Boxing Week Sale!
December 27 to January 3

25% off EVERYTHING!

Regular priced yarns
Sale yarns
Books
Magazines
Patterns
Accessories
Eucalan wool wash
Needles, Hooks & Accoutrements

Holiday Hours
We will be closed on December 25 & 26, January 1. We will be closing early at 4pm on December 24th & 31st and at 6pm on January 2nd.

Due to the Christmas closure we will be open until 8pm on Thursday December 27 and January 3rd and will hold our Stitch 'n Bitch those nights.

Knit-O-Matic Classes Winter/Spring 07/08

Beginner Knitting • Liane Schwarz

Skill Level: absolute beginner

Monday Jan 7 & 14, 6:30-8pm

Tuesday Feb 5 & 12, 6:30-8pm

Monday Mar 3 & 10, 6:30-8pm

Tuesday Apr 1 & 8, 6:30-8pm

Monday Apr28 & May 5, 6:30-8pm

You'll learn all the basics: how to knit, purl, put stitches on your needle (cast on), finish up (cast off), change yarn in the middle of your project, weave in your ends, and how to read the information that comes on a ball of yarn. You should be able to make a scarf in this class (but you have to do your homework, so get ready to spend a few hours of down time working on your 'assignment' in front of the TV).

• Class consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks

• $55 + tax (includes materials).

Knit Hat Workshop • Liane Schwarz

Skill Level: beginner (after scarves)

Tuesday Jan 22 & 29, 6:30-8pm

Tuesday Mar 4 & 11, 6:30-8pm

The next step after making scarves is making hats! Hats are fast, easy, are very, very satisfying! We'll teach you how to knit in the round (on those funny looking Siamese twin needles), knit on double pointed needles (the ones that look like little chop sticks), decrease stitches and read a pattern.

• Consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks.

• You must know how to cast-on and knit for this class; knowing how to purl is an asset.

• $65 + tax (includes materials)

Knit Mitten Workshop • Liane Schwarz

Skill Level: beginner (after hats)

Monday Feb 18 & 25, 6:30-8pm

Monday Mar 31 & Apr 11, 6:30-8pm

The next step after making hats is making mitts! Mitts are a lot like hats: fast, easy, satisfying, inexpensive and make great gifts! We'll teach you how to knit in the round on double pointed needles, (the ones that look like little chop sticks), decrease stitches, increase stitches, pick-up stitches and read a pattern.

• Consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks.

• You must know how to cast-on and knit for this class; knowing how to purl is an asset.

• $55 + tax (includes materials) *receive an $11 discount if you take the hat class

Cabled Beret Workshop • Liane Schwarz

Skill Level: intermediate-beginner

Monday Jan 21 & 28, 6:30-8pm

Cables are another thing in knitting that look hard but are really simple once someone shows you how it's done. In this workshop you’ll learn cabling basics, how to follow a cable pattern, how to shape a beret, and how to use both circular and double pointed needles. Class consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks.

• Consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks.

• You must know how to cast-on, cast off, knit, purl and read a basic knitting pattern for this class.

• $80 + tax (includes materials)

Felted Ballet Slippers • Liane Schwarz

Skill Level: intermediate-beginner

Tuesday Jan 8 & 15, 6:30-8:00pm

Find out why felting is so addictive! Learn how to shape a slipper and how to wet-felt in one fell swoop! You'll follow a pattern, use circular needles, increase and decrease stitches, pick up stitches, and find out why I call my washing machine “the Felter”.

• Class consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks.

• You must know how to knit, purl, cast-on & cast off for this class; knowing how to use circular needles is an asset.

• $80 + tax (includes materials)

My First Toe Up Sock • Liane Schwarz

Skill Level: advanced-beginner

Tuesday Mar 18 & 25, 6:30-8pm

Socks seem hard, but they don't have to be. While you make your sock, you'll follow a pattern, use double pointed needles, increase, decrease and pick up and wrap stitches. You’ll also shape a toe without complicated grafting and turn a professional looking heel without the usual math. It doesn’t get any easier!

• Class consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks.

• You must know how to knit, purl, cast-on & off for this class; experience with double pointed needles is an asset. *$80 + tax (includes materials)

Diamond Lace Scarf • Liane Schwarz

Skill Level: intermediate

Tuesday May 13 & 20, 6:30-8pm

Lace is pretty, impressive and simpler than you think! While you fashion this beautiful scarf, you’ll learn lace basics, how to follow a lace pattern and chart, and many useful tricks to bring to your next project.

• Class consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks.

• You must know how to cast-on, knit, purl and read a basic knitting pattern

• $55 + tax (includes materials)

Baby Sweater Workshop • Liane Schwarz

Skill Level: intermediate

Monday Feb 4 & 11, 6:30 -8pm

An excellent way to get your sweater feet wet! In this workshop you’ll make a simple neck-down raglan cardigan that will teach you the basics of shaping a sweater, how to read a pattern, and simple finishing techniques. With this under your belt, you’ll have the courage to tackle an adult-size project!

• Class consists of 2 sessions

• $85 + tax (includes materials)

Felted Flower Workshop • Liane Schwarz

Skill Level: intermediate

Monday Apr 14 &21, 6:30-8pm

Break the felting ice while making this beautiful accessory! In this workshop, you’ll learn how to shape petals, make I-cord, and how to transform this floral beauty (through wet-felting) into a beautiful, brooch, hat pin, or purse decoration.

• You must know how to knit, purl, cast on and off.

• $50 + tax (includes materials)

Knitted Toy Workshop

Skill Level: beginner/intermediate

Tuesday Apr 29 & May 6; 6:30-8pm

Make an adorable stuffed animal for your child or grandchild while learning the basics of shaping (increasing and decreasing) and the techniques of finishing (esp. top stitching). An excellent way to make two birds with one stone!

You should know how to knit, purl, cast on and off.

$55 + tax (includes materials)

Beginner Crochet • Liane Schwarz

Skill Level: absolute beginner!

Tuesday Feb 19 & 26, 6:30-8pm

Monday Mar 17 & 24, 6:30-8pm

Tuesday Apr 15 & 22, 6:30-8pm

Monday May12 & 19, 6:30-8pm

Crochet is fast, easy and becoming very popular. You'll learn all the basics: how to make a chain, the foundation stitches (single crochet, double crochet, treble crochet, slip stitch), how to follow a crochet pattern and read the information on a ball of yarn. You should be able to make a scarf after this class and if we have time (depending on student progress) a granny square or a crocheted flower.

• Class consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks.

• $50 + tax (includes materials).

Private Classes
Monday to Friday, 12pm to 4pm,

By appointment only

Class cost is $10/hour + materials + tax

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

New Books

New books at Knit-O-Matic

Suss Design Essentials ~ $38 Me Likey! If you are a fashionista like me, you will like it too. I'm not crazy about Suss Cousins (pronounces Sooze, like Suzie)prior publications, and this one is still not as good as Teva Durham's Loop-D-Loop, but it aint bad. Many of the patterns follow Suss's simple California aesthetic, there are lots of basic shapes and simple outlines, like simple boatnecks and v-necks tweaked in very up-to-date styles that are eternally wearable and simple enough to make. My absolute favorites are the zippered sweater on the cover, a tweedy cowl neck pullover, and asymmetrical buttoned sweater, a very cool open-front pullover, a slinky raglan pullover. the patchwork skirt is a fashion crime, so just take an exacto knife to those pages and purge it from your memory. the dresses are all great as tunics over pants or leggings and the coats make me wish it was autumn all year long. Cousins still has a propensity to use synthetic fuzzy-furry yarns so you'll have to do your best to envision those designs in an alpaca or kid-mohair. Still, despite my gripes, it's a good showing and worth checking out.

The Twisted Sisters Knit Sweaters ~ $27.95
This book is full of simple and creative sweater patterns. It's raison d'etre is to teach you how to knit sweaters to your own measurements, basically allowing you to buy up a bunch of gorgeous yarn without being tied to a specific pattern! They take you through all the steps with clear, easy to follow instructions and diagrams for both regular and side to side sweaters. Plus, there is not a raglan among the patterns, so you'll get to learn something that isn't floating all over the internet. The styles are simple, there isn't anything fitted, but in no time you'll be plowing through your stash and making room in your closet!

New Books

New Books at Knit-O-Matic

Boho Baby Knits ~ $35 I'm not really sure what 'Boho' means or how it applies to baby knits, but this book is cool, free spirited and fun. Kat Coyle gets kids, gets adults and gets knitters. The patterns are fun, not too elaborate or too hard, brightly coloured without being gaudy. I have a few favorites, especially lounging pants, hats shaped like aliens and lions, a menagerie of a mobile, big dolls to populate tea parties and a very cool, very simple striped boatneck sweater (i see myself making these by the boatload! Hee-Hee!). Boho Baby Knits is probably not for the Martha Stewart crowd, but if you are looking for a funky, useable baby book, this is it!

Knitting New Scarves ~ $25.95 If you like funky, fun, contemporary accessories you love this book! There's never a dull moment in this book, despite the fact that it features 27 scarf patterns. Lynne Barr's patterns are reminiscent of the work of Teva Durham and Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton: very sculptural and simple in their aesthetic - very wearable, very giftable. The technique may be new but she takes you through them with clear illustrations and easy to understand instructions. If you are tired of the same old-same old and want something different, something that will wow people, this book is a must!

New Books at Knit-O-Matic

Knitting Little Luxuries bu Louisa Harding ~ $21.95
This book is for anyone who likes to make or wear feminine things. The projects are small, which is great because you an get through them fast and get a lot of bang for your buck. All the designs are ornamented in some way, either with cables, lace, intarsia or applique. There's lots of vintage, wearable Victoriana to go around: hats, bags, mittens, gauntlets, wraps, capelets, scarves and a single sweater and tunic-vest (the Winter 2007 issue of Interweave Knits for the Alicia Tabard vest pattern). Some benevolent knitter has also started a Knitalong for the book, so there is moral and knitting support out there (plus pictures of all the projects).

Pretty Knits by Susan Cropper ~ $38
Curtis of This hard cover book is one of those coffee-table-esque ensemble productions that i frequently use for patterns and eye candy. There are a few misses but the majority of the patterns are hits so just close your eyes on the odd ones and all will be well. I really like that the patterns are very pretty without being fussy. Features knit designers include Debbie Bliss, Louisa Harding, Leigh Radford, Nadine Curtis of BeSweet yarns, Kristeen Griffin-Grimes of French Girl Knits, Rowan Freelancer Emma Seddon, Susan Cropper of Loop yarns in London and many more. I think my favorite pattern is an contemporized bed jacket By Any Twigger Holroyd in super bulky wool. My only caveat is that they call for expensive yarns, but most of them are accessible in North America and all can be easily substituted with the gentle guidance of your LYS owner. Now, I admit that I am especially susceptible to chapter headers like "Beautiful Boudoirs" and "Feminine Fripperies", but I think I'm still objective enough to say that Pretty Knits is a great British take on modern femininity.