Author Archive

The Climbing Leaves Hat, designed by Michelle Maurer, is the perfect compliment to our 2011 LYS project (Climbing Leaves Fingerlesss Gloves).  The construction is a technique used by Nicky Epstein!  First, knit the climbing leaves panel.  Then, you’ll pick up stitches and knit the crown of the hat.  About the yarn:  Designed with one of our local indie dyer’s yarn (Liberty’s Yarn), Sportmagudi.  Sportmagudi is 415 yards of superwash Merino.  You can expect to get 5 – 6 sts/inch and is beautifully dyed. One hank of Sportmagudi will make the hat and the Climbing Leaves Fingerless Gloves.

Climbing Leaves Hat Pattern

Presenting our 2011 LYS pattern!  Designed by our own, Michelle Maurer!  These fingerless gloves can add style to your evening wardrobe or provide warmth while enabling you to remain productive in those chilly offices.  Designed with one of our local indie dyer’s yarn (Liberty’s Yarn), Sportmagudi.  Sportmagudi is 415 yards of superwash Merino.  You can expect to get 5 – 6 sts/inch and is beautifully dyed.

One hank of Sportmagudi will make the fingerless gloves and the Climbing Leaves Hat.

Climbing Leaves Fingerless Gloves

Seeing Double Mystery Knitalong

Double Knitting creates amazing fabrics.   Beautiful flat, reversible colorwork ribbing in inverse color patterns are a snap.   Seamless tubes knit on two needles open up the world of Amigurumi and make knitting glove fingers a breeze.  Fabrics with different designs on the front and back in three or more colors are even possible.  And did we mention reversible felting?  Join Abbott Smith as he reveals the potential of this family of knitting techniques.  Students will practice knitting both two sided colorwork and seamless one color tubing in projects designed specifically for this course.  As with all of Abbott’s classes, you  will get a little history, a little science and a wealth of practical advice on adding this amazing family of techniques to your knitting.  Join us and see your knitting double.

Andalucia Scarf designed by Abbott Smith

Half of the joy of going into a yarn shop is staring at all of the beautiful colors just waiting on the shelf. Yet working with color overwhelms many knitters. Many knitters restrict themselves to a few basic color choices and shun color work such as Intarsia or Stranded knitting because they are not confident in their color choices. Join Abbott as he takes the mystery out of knitting with color and explains how a few basic principles can forever impact your knitting. As with all of Abbott’s classes you will also get a bit of history, some science, folklore and very specific knitting strategies for working with color. We will be knitting a color sampler scarf that Abbott is designing specifically for this class! Students should be comfortable with basic stranded knitting in the round or double knitting.

Half of designing a knitted garment is deciding how to decorate the surface.  Join designer, Abbott Smith as he helps take the mystery out of creating your own motifs for Colorwork and Gansey knitting.  Abbott will walk you step by step through the process of creating a new motif from concept to finished design.  As with all of Abbott’s classes, you’ll get a little history, a little science and a wealth of practical tips for creating your own knitwear.  Motif design allows you to create a cornucopia of new designs without ever having to design a new way to knit a garment. If you’ve always wanted to try your hand creating your own designs, now is the perfect opportunity to learn how to create those designs without having to invent any new knitting architecture.

These clogs are warm, cozy and fun to make!  You will start by choosing a good felting yarn.   As you knit, your friends and family will  be in awe that the clogs will actually fit someone in the end!  Once you are finished with the knitting, you will felt.  Simply put, hot water and agitation will do the trick!  Felted clogs make a great gift for your family & friends!

Click here for more information and to register for class.

Join us this Friday, December 10th, for an evening with several local artisans and their beautiful handiwork! We will have the most beautiful handmade baskets on hand as well as jewelry and other surprises. Delicious refreshments will be available as well!  Read on for more details about the designers:

Paula Van Gaver is a local basket weaver and her work is amazing!  The handmade baskets made by Paula are not only beautiful, but functional too.  They can be used for just about anything, from storing yarn and holding newspapers, to gift giving and home decorating.  Paula’s baskets can be repurposed for years to come.  Paula has found weaving baskets to be a creative and gratifying craft.

Lori Waight, the person behind ArtIsCentral, has always had a strong interest in all things creative.  From acquiring a love of the fiber arts at the age of 5 to becoming a graphic designer and freelance artist years later, to currently immersing herself in fused glass, jewelry and pattern design, her interests are ever evolving.

What started out as an interest in stained glass and jewelry design has let to creating ‘Touch Stones’, ’42 Buttons’, ‘Pebbles from My Daughter’, ‘A Quotable Spirit’ and ‘My Sheltering Tree’ as well as a line of illustrated cards.

Designed by Michelle Maurer, this luxurious shawl will be one of your favorite pieces to reach for to get you through your busy day and well into evening festivities!  Michelle’s yarn choice is Audrey by Schaefer Yarn Company.  Audrey is a blend of 50% Merino and 50% Silk.  The colorway shown is named after Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.

Are you looking for that perfect holiday gift? Designer Brian Kohler unlocks the joy of 2 color knitting in this fun project. Work one color at a time, using knit stitches only! The piece is knit flat, and while there is a seam – NO SEWING is involved!  Click here for class details.

Just 2 balls of yarn is all that is needed to make this fun accessory item. Learn how to modify it to make a 2nd pair with the leftover yarn! Brian recommends Cashmere Queen, a luxurious blend of 35% Cashmere, 45% Merino Wool and 20% Silk. Knitting up at approximately 5 stitches per inch on a US 4 – US 7 needle, this will surely become one of your favorite yarn.

Love the design and do not need the class?  Brian’s pattern is available online.

One of our favorite designers, Brian Kohler, takes you through the in’s and out’s of Entrelac knitting as you make this beautiful hat.  The word “Entrelac”, comes from the French verb entrelacer, meaning to interlace or interweave.  In addition to learning about Entrelac, you will learn how to knit backwards.  The cap is done up in Zitron’s Unisono, a beautiful merino which will do part of the work for you with its amazing color features.  Click here for class dates.