Friday, April 23, 2010

New Book! Knitting Green




Knitting Green by Ann Budd ($29.95)
Knitting Green is an ideal reference for knitters eager to make their needlework even more eco-conscious. Peppered throughout this resource are nine thoughtful and engaging essays to help you think about your carbon footprint. From Lisa R. Myers's frank look at running a yarn shop in the new era of conservation to Kristin Nicholas's lovesong to sheep, Knitting Green is chock full of information for you to consider while you work your needles. Other essayists include: Carmen S. Hall, Clara Parks, Pam Allen, Sandi Wiseheart, Kristeen Griffin-Grimes, Darlene Hayes, and Amy R. Singer. 


Knitting GreenSpacer 10x10 pixelsKnitting Green
Solstice Skirt
Soy-Silk Kimono
Knitting GreenKnitting Green
Commuter Knapsack
Cunene River Pullover
Knitting GreenKnitting Green
On-the-Go Bike Basket-Purse
Honor-the-Buffalo Socks and Mitts

NEW Easy Lacey Slouch Hat Workshop

NEW Easy Lacey Slouch Hat Workshop
Skill Level: intermediate-beginner
Instructor Liane Schwarz
Tuesday May 4 & 11, 6-8pm

Lace is springing up all over! In this workshop you will learn the basic principles of lace—negotiating yarn overs, the slants of your increases and decreases, as well as lace patterns and charts--while making yourself this gorgeous slouchy hat that’s perfect for this time of year. Knowing how to knit in the round is an asset, but not absolutely necessary.
  • Class consists of 2 sessions over 2 weeks
  • $80 + tax (includes materials)

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Summer Interweave Knits Summer 2010

The new issue of Interweave Knits Summer 2010 has arrived! It arrived so quickly that the publisher doesn't even have it up on their web site yet!

Interweave Knits Projects

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

NEW Amigurumi Workshop!

 
NEW Amigurumi Workshop (Crochet and Knit)

Skill Level: intermediate-beginner
Instructor Liane Schwarz
Tuesday May 18 & 25, 6:30 to 8pm

So creepy, so cute and horribly infectious! Everyone loves an amigurumi! In this workshop, we will knit and crochet a bunch of these little critters. Just bring a pattern you would like to make and we will provide the yarn and the instruction to get you from start to finish.
  • 2 sessions over 2 weeks. 
  • $60 + tax (includes yarn and instruction)

Yarn Swap! Sunday April 25th



Date:
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Time:
1:00pm - 5:00pm
Location:
Knit-O-Matic 1378 Bathurst St, Toronto ON


It's Time for the April Yarn Swap! Get rid of your old yarn (we donate leftovers to charity), and take anything from the donations. The only rule is don't bite other peoples' fingers.

If you can't make it but still want to donate feel free to drop off your donations any time that is convenient, we'll make sure they make their way into the swap baskets. 

As an aside, we could really use some donations this month! We haven't received much in the last few months and the charity we send the bulk of the yarn to, Silver Circle West Toronto Senior's Services, are hard up and really need donations. They especially love the cheap acrylic yarns, so don't be shy about passing those on.

See you on Sunday!

~ Haley

P.S. 
You can find the Yarn Swap on Facebook right HERE!


New Koigu KPPPM Stock!


New Koigu KPPPM stock has arrived! Yes, we have sumptuous new Koigus just for Yous! 
  • Meticulously artisan dyed in Ontario
  • Sock weight
  • 100% merino wool, washable
  • 50g/160m
  • 2 skeins can make a pair of socks, 3 for bigger socks
  • Koigu KPPPM Pattern Ideas


Saturday, April 17, 2010

Knitscene Easy 2010


This is a special issue of Knitscene with newish knitters in mind (or those who still have skills in the beginner spectrum). It has a great spectrum of projects that are fast and easy to accomplish, but will also help you expand your skills a little so you can start to make those things that you always thought were hard. It is also organized in sections by skill and level of difficulty (garter stitch, stocking stitch, knit and purl combined, increasing and decreasing, and finally things applying all these skills). The patterns are not hard, you can definitely accomplish all of them. Definitely a great buy for a beginner or anyone who wants to make some fast, simple projects!


Saturday, April 10, 2010

New Book! Toe-Up Socks For Everybody



Toe-Up Socks For Everybody by Wendy Johnson ($27.95)
This is an excellent book for people who a) want to improve their sock knitting skills and get into more complicated patterns, b. prefer toe up socks, and c. need to modify patterns to fit their feet. 

Personally, I swear by toe-up sock knitting, it is just plain and simple easier and I like having a bit more control over the sizing. An added benefit is knowing that I'll have enough yarn to finish the project. Toe-up rocks!

Fit is a big issue with a lot of people and Wendy negotiates this in a couple of ways. The patterns in the book are written in several sizes, based on foot circumference. The patterns are generally small/medium/large, or 7/8/9" circumference. Additionally, Wendy offers instructions on how to up-size a sock pattern, even the fancy ones, in width and length. She also has instructions on how to design your own sock!

Wendy is a great teacher, she holds you hand every inch of the way. The patterns may be fancy looking but the instructions are clear and intended for people who have never made a fancy sock. At the start she  she walks you through how to read charts, so don't worry about that, they won't look like multiple choice test to you anymore. The chapters are organized by concept: lace, cables, color work.  At the start of each chapter the patterns  are ranked by difficulty, followed by the techniques used, which are are discussed and clearly illustrated. She also gives you advice on what type of sock yarn to use. 

Finally, the book looks great! The patterns are consistently beautiful, they very pretty socks you will enjoy knitting and wearing. There are patterns for men, women and children, as well as a pair of knee socks and thigh-highs. On a more superficial note, the photos, layout, and graphic design are also lovely. I know this sounds silly, but it just makes me happy. 

Toe-Up Socks For Everyone gets two thumbs up!

Thursday, April 08, 2010

60 Quick Knits in Cascade 220

60 Quick Knits: 20 Hats*20 Scarves*20 
Mittens in 
Cascade 220 

60 Quick Knits in Cascade 220: 20 Hats, 20 Scarves, 20 Mittens  
This is a very nifty and useful little book to have in your library. All of the patterns are knit in the same yarn, which happens to be nice, affordable, and extremely easy to substitute. There are patterns for Women, Kids and Men at a variety of skill levels and styles. Also, it isn't marketed as such, but this book is actually great as a resource for stash busting!

My favourites include:

April 2010 Newsletter

The April 2010 Newsletter is Up & Out!

Sunday, April 04, 2010

Misti Pima & Silk Handpaints


Misti Pima Cotton & Silk Handpaints  $9.50
  • 83% Peruvian Pima Cotton, 17% Silk
  • 100g/300m (holy cow that's a lot of yarn!)
  • DK weight
  • 5.5 to 6 sts per inch
  • 3.5mm to 4mm needles
See examples of this yarn in action using FREE patterns!
Misti Pima Silk Hand 
Paint Appletree  Misti Pima 
Silk Hand Paint Appletree Clapotis 
CP 03 Apple Tree & Clapotis Knit in Apple Tree

Saturday, April 03, 2010

Malabrigo Merino Sock

Malabrigo Merino Sock
  • 3ply/light fingering weight
  • 100g/400m
  • 2.25mm to 2.5mm for socks, 3mm for other projects
  • 100% merino wool
  • Kettle dyed Semi-Solids and Hand Dyed Multi-colours
  • $27.50
Projects that are worth knitting in skinny yarn

Friday, April 02, 2010

Vogue Knitting Shawls & Wraps


 
Vogue Knitting Shawls & Wraps  $31.95
This book has spring shawl-spiration is spades! It consists of 40 shawl & wrap patterns previously published in Vogue Knitting magazine over the last 10 (or more) years. As you'd expect, there is lots of lace, some easy and some more involved. But it is a real mix of style so there are lots of things in it for everyone. There are bulky yarns, colour work, cables, big wraps, little wraps, high fashion stuff, traditional looks, and lots of women on windswept beaches. Shawls and wraps are one of those ubiquitous projects because you ALWAYS need one to wear to that fancy event and they are such a perfect gift because they always fit and look very impressive.

Some of my particular favourites (keeping in mind that I am not a lacy knitter):

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Araucania Cottons


Instant Gratification Cardie Jacket
Araucania Nature Cotton & Patagonia Cotton
Yay! The Nature Cotton is finally here! If you haven't seen it before it's worth the attention. Nature Cotton and it's hand dyed counterpart Patagonia are a chunky to bulky weight, slubby, hand dyed/kettle dyed cottons. It knits FAST and you can use it to make just about anything: sweaters, blankets, washcloths, etc. We like it so much, we even wrote our own pattern for it (see picture above).

Nature Cotton $12.50
  • 5mm to 6mm needles (we like it on 7mm needles)
  • Kettle Dyed
  • 100g/97.5m
  • 13 sts = 4"/10cm (on 6mm?)
  • 100% cotton
  • Yarn made in Peru, Dyed in Chile
Patagonia $14.50
  • 5mm to 6mm needles (we like it on 7mm needles)
    Hand Dyed
  • 100g/97.5m
  • 13 sts = 4"/10cm (on 6mm?)
  • 100% cotton
  • Yarn made in Peru, Dyed in Chile

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