OOPS!

There is so much stuff going on at the store every day that we sometimes forget to let you folks know when we get new yarn in...sorry...



If you haven't seen it in the shop already then you don't know about the huge new shipment of Malabrigo sock that has graced our shelves for the past few weeks. It is diminished slightly from when it first arrived, but still fabulous. We have a great selection of colours, including the highly coveted "Persia" (I had to stop my self from buying a sweater's worth on the spot!) So for all you Malabrigo justkies who are wondering when you'll be able to get you next fix, come to the Sheep. And for those of you who haven't knit with the splendid Malabrigo sock, its time for you to figure out what the fuss is all about!



ahhhh...its so shiny...

Thinking Green

Since we all like to do what we can for the planet, we've got some green things for the blog today:
First, for all of you coffee drinkers out there, we just got in a bunch of these beauties:

Stainless steel mugs perfect for your hot beverages (and cold ones too!) They seal up at the top to prevent spilling while you're juggling your drink, purse, knitting, and metropass getting on the streetcar in the morning, and using them saves you money at most coffee places! You can pick one up at the sheep for 12.00!


Also, starting on Monday, June 5th, plastic bags will cost 5 cents, city wide. This is an inititive to get people to recycle bags, and use re-usable cloth bags. Of course if you're a knitter or crocheter, there are tonnes of patterns available to make your own shopping bag - way prettier then a plastic one anyways, and a great stashbuster!

This is the Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty, and it's an easy, fast knitted bag project. Knit one up in cotton, or linen, and it'll last forever! This one stretches sideways to fit whatever you buy in it, and has a nice dense garter stitch bottom to keep your stuff from falling out!

Are you a crocheter? check out this bag from Canadian Living. Great for Saturday morning trips to the market!

SALE!

We have too much yarn, and no where to put it all! Thats right, the Sheep is doing a bit of a destash, which means great deals for you. Rigt now all of our lovely Jo Sharp and Fibre Company yarns are 50% off! Jo Sharp Silkroad aran, ultra and aran Tweed are all just $5.50! Fibre Company Terra and Khroma are $10, and Organik is $7.95! It doesn't get much better than that. We are sad to see them go, but just had to make some room for new yarn (such difficult decisions!)



At this great price these awesome yarns are selling fast, so be sure to check in before its too late!

Project Class

Hey everybody,

I'm sure that most of you out there have that one lingering project that you are eager to knit, but scared of because it might involve a challenging new skill (I know that I have a few of those!) Well we have a solution for you, sighn up for a project class!

Our project classes run for 5 weeks, and are taught by the lovely Kate Atherly (a total knitting genious!). You can knit whatever your heart desires, and each knitter in the class will be working on something different; we really like that part because you'll end up learning about all the projects in the class, not just your own. You can come with your own materials, or purchase them here. As with all of our classes, each registrant receives a one-time use %10 storewide discount (woo hoo!)

Our next prject class will begin Sunday June 7 from 10-12, and will continue for the following four Sundays (14th, 21st, 28th and July 5th). If you are interested in registering drop by the store or give us a call, but sign up quick because we keep our classes small; there are only 6 spaces available!

We have a beach and we plan to use it

As many of you may already know, Saturday June 13th is World Wide Knit in Public Day. This concept has been worrying some passers by the store (non-knitters of course!) so for safety's sake, I'll fill you in on what the day is about...

...WWKiP day began in 2005 as a way of bringing knitters together and ensuring that knitting was a social activity; its no fun when you run into a scary mistake and have no knitting buddies to come to your aid. Plus it's a great excuse to have some fun and spend the day knitting!

The Naked Sheep will be hosting a public knit on our home turf, the beach! You can find use on June 13th at the bottom of Glen Manor (thats our closest cross street). We'll be knitting on the beach from noon, until our fingers are worn out, and we'd love for you to join us! Bring a chair or blanket to sit on, pleanty of sunscreen and of course your knitting, spinning or crochet projects. We will be supplying some snacks and drinks as well. If you are interested in coming please send an e mail to Lisa at lisa@nakedsheep.ca

Hope to see you there!

Winter time lace?

I know the weather is just warming up and everything, but you can't blame a girl for thinking ahead...

...take a look at my latest WIP...




If you feel like you've seen this pattern before, you have, it is the Modern Leaf Lace Wrap by Kate Atherly. We have a sample in the store knit in the lovely Estelle Arequipa (an alpaca blend sock yarn). Arequipa is $17.99/skein, and Kate used just one for this lovely little sample, which was knit on 4mm needles.



I'm knitting my version in Classic Elite Princess, a delicious blend of wool, angora and some other good stuff; I like to think of it as a fiber medly. I am going to be using 5 balls of Princess, which is $12.99/ball, and I'm using 5.5mm needles. Because Princess is a worsted weight yarn, my version is going to be a bit bigger than Kate's origional, hooray a cozy winter scaft is born!




This lace is simple and very fun to knit, its great for a beginner lace knitter. If you are still a bit nervous about knitting lace, we've got your back; Kate will be teaching a two week class on this pattern in June. It will be running Thursdays June 18th and 25th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm and will cost $50. Now you have no excuses! If you're just not in the mood for a winter scarf (which we totally understand...I'm a bit extreme) this pattern would look fantastic in a wide variety of fibers and weights, go wild!



So be sure to come by the store to check out mine and Kate's versions of the Modern Leaf Lace Wrap, and just maybe create your very own!

Lacey Tanis, and books!

We got some beautiful Tanis Fiber Arts Laceweight in the other day! With 1000 yards in a skein, there's enough there to make an impressive lace shawl! Lace not your thing? Have you seen the whisper cardigan from Interweave Knits? This light summer cardi could be knit up with just one skein! and at 22.00 a skein, that's a very inexpensive project!

it's so pretty!

And, we've also got some new, and awesome books in as well:
A little bit of everything, and lots of nice small summery projects!

Summertime Lace

Hey all,

Lisa just finished knitting the Summer Lace Shawlette by Sandi Wiseheart of knitting daily. She used one of our favourite new yarns for summer, Diamond Luxury New Washed Linen.



This entire shawl took just 3 balls of this 80% cotton 20% linen blend, which is a steal at $5.95/ball!



this quick knitting pattern makes a great gift, or a special treat for you!

Toys, Toys, Toys!

In addition to our new sitting area, we brought in some toys for the little ones to play with during your stay:



I raided my daughters' toy chest and brought Polly Pockets, Lego, Connect Four, Jenga, a memory game, some cars, paper and markers. Oh my - what more could a kid ask for while waiting for mommy or daddy?

Enjoy!

New comfy chairs!

We've been re-arranging things here at the Sheep, and yesterday we set up a new seating area!


This means more seating for all of you to come in and knit! We'll be adding a few more chairs soon, and as always, the coffee is on us!

Our sale yarns are still there, don't worry, we've just re-arranged them. Don't forget to come in before the end of May to get some great deals on yarn - Our Jo Sharp is 50% off, so is cotton stretch, cotton tape, and many more yarns. We hope to see you soon!

F O s

Hi all,

I often wonder which is the most exciting thing about knitting; is it starting a new project, or finshing one? Whichever is your favourite (maybe neither) I have some finished objects to share with you, and I'm quite excited about both.

Firstly, in one of our favourite summer yarns, is Sarah's Tomten Jacket (Rav link). She used Estelle Cloud Cotton, an aran weight %100 organic cotton...lovely! The Tomten is another genious Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern that we absolutely love...



...And I just finished up an Ishbel shawl in our beloved Tanis Fiber Arts Fingering weight. I used her chestnut colourway, and had enough yarn to knit the size small stockingette and large lace sections. It turned out beautifully!



Drop by the store to visit these beauties in person!

Yummy Sock!

We all know that knitting in the summer can get a bit sticky, and everyone has adapted thier own coping methods (because not knitting is simply not an option!) Some tend towards cottons and other summery fibers, but for those die hard fans of animal fibers (like myself) cotton doesn't always make the cut. My solution to an animal fiber craving in the middle of July is to knit socks; I get to knit with wool, and I'm not sweating under the weight of a sweater. Perfect!




At the Sheep, we've stocked up on some of our favourite sock yarns so that you can happily knit with wool all summer long, without the sweat!



Yummy Sock:
This uuber smooshy yarn is dyed in a fantastic range of colours, and with 370 yards its a steal at just $17! Check out Lisa's lovely sock...




...Scoop some Yummy sock soon for your own wooly summer knitting project; your fingers will thank you, and come winter time your feet will too!

Annie Modesitt!!!!! Annie Modesitt!!!!

Annie Modesitt is coming to teach at The Naked Sheep!

ONLY CANADIAN STOP!

Annie Modesitt, teacher extraordinaire, designer & author is coming to TORONTO to teach her innovative Combination Knitting technique Christened "Combination Knitting" by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts (Fall 2000 Interweave Knits magazine) This method is a combination of the Western or German/American/English style of knitting and Eastern/Islamic knitting.

It is easier and quicker than traditional Western knitting, this method creates a very even tension with less "rowing out", less wrist strain. If this method is different than how you've been taught, give it a try and you may discover a new love of knitting blooming! If you are a first time knitter, ENJOY!

In addition, she is teaching Cable Mania & Embellishments and Modular Knitting.

Schedule

Date & Time Class Price

June 10 2pm to 5pm Modular Knitting $60

June 10 6pm to 9pm Combination Knitting $60

June 11 2pm to 5pm Combination Knitting $60

June 11 6pm to 9pm Cable Mania & Embellishments $60

Maximum Participants for each class is 16.

Special on two or more classes
If you are interested in taking two or all three classes with Annie, the fee per class is $50.

Payment
Classes must be paid for in full when you register, are non-refundable and not transferable. All class fees include taxes and we offer a one time 10% store wide discount, excluding class fees.

Class Descriptions

Modular Knitting

We’ll cover the basics of Mitered - or Domino - Knitting, learn ways to visualize mitered patterns through charts, and begin The Universal Mitered Bag, which can be completed at the knitters own pace after the class.

Modular Knitting is a general term that embraces several ways of creating multi-directional knit fabric. Two of the most popular modular knitting methods are Entrelec & Mitered - or Domino - knitting.

Please bring at least 3 balls of worsted or sport weight yarn (variegated is fine), circular needles of any length to work well with your chosen yarn.

Cable Mania and Embellishments

Overcome your fear of cabling and at the same time learn a technique that is faster and easier than the standard technique which uses an extra needle to twist the yarn. And accentuate your lovely items with knit embellishments such as flowers, leaves, knots, knit fringes, several types of cord and knit buttons!

Please bring: Light colored worsted weight yarn, needles to work well with yarn.

Combination Knitting

Christened “Combination Knitting" by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts (Fall 2000 Interweave Knits magazine), this combination of Western and Eastern styleknitting is faster, creates a nicer tension with less "rowing out" and less wrist strain. Established knitters may enjoy this different method, new knitters can mistress this right away!

Please bring: Light colored worsted weight yarn, needles to work well with yarn.

At each class we will have snacks and refreshments.

May Sale!

Hello Knitters!
I just wanted to let you know that we are having a fantastic sale for the month of May :
We've brought out some of the deal zone yarns from Boxing week, and it is all 50% off!
This includes:
Jo Sharp Ultra
Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran, and Aran Tweed
The Fibre Company Organik
Rowan Cotton Tape
Cotton Stretch

If you've been looking to make a sweater out of the super soft Jo Sharp now is your chance! But stop by soon: it's not going to last!

Also, we're clearing out our winter yarn to make room for spring! All wool, alpaca, and mohair blends are 10% off!
This excludes sock and lace weight yarns, and silk and cotton blends, but there's still plenty to choose from!