Me loves the granny square!

Recently I have become very, very, VERY obessed with granny squares and hexagons! So much so that my hands have not seen a pair of knitting needles in about two weeks. After years of trying super hard to understand how the whole granny square business was all about, I finally sat down and followed directions from Attic 24. She is brillant. She MAKES you want to crochet items for your entire home.

So that is what I have set out to do. My first project is a giant granny square blanket for Jay. I used the scraps of our Playful Stripes Cardigan to see if I could crochet squares - and I can! This whole test project has now turned into an obession to crochet a blanket to fit Jay's single sized bed. I am using about 20 different colours, if not more of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino on a 3.25mm Clover hook.

OMG - this is something that I think she will love forever!

Malabrigo Chunky Cowl

OMG, knitting with Malabrigo Chunky was so, so, so, so SO, SO enjoyable. I cast on 46 stitches on 8mm needles, knit through two skeins and seamed the cast on edge to the cast off edge, and voila - look what I just finished:

It took me longer than I thought it would and only because every single freaking row, I stopped to stare and pet the fabric. This cowl is so big, you can use it as a head cover in the really cold months of winter! Or you can scrunch it up around your neck and face!

This incredible cowl will make great quick Christmas, holiday or birthday gifts for the loved ones in your life.

Toddler Sweater!

Lookie here, I totally fell in love with this sweater pattern when I saw it online! It is Knitting Pure & Simple's newest pattern knit with a bulky yarn.

I knit ours with two skeins of Araucania Patagonia Nature Cotton on 5.5mm needles. The sample is for an 18 month old. If you need to knit a quick gift, this is is one fab option:

Splash Vest!

When I spied with my little eye Wendy Bernard's newest pattern, I had to, just had to knit it right away! This is Splash, knit with 4.5 balls of Noro Shirakaba on 4.5mm needles. this yarn is a delight to knit with and looks freaking awesome.

All colourways have been re-stocked!

Keep checking back for an update on our Baby Surprise Jacket knit with the super cute pink colour!

Felted Clogs Sample

We received a bunch of felted clogs kits and no one that has looked at them understand how fast, and easy to knit these clogs are - and how great they are to wear on your feet! Especially in the colder months. I wear them all year round as I have ceramic flooring throughout my first floor of my house and these are great to combat the hardness and coldness of the floor!

These make great gifts too! Christmas is only 6 months away (can you believe it?) and these would be perfect for the loved ones in your lives!

The kit contains more than enough yarn to make a very large pair of men's clogs and I used one skein and a titch of the 2nd one for these size small clogs:

Finishing Class June 25th!!!

I've heard it all before about finishing - people do not like to do it. Finishing is one of those skills I think you need to be shown how to do it properly. Once you know how, you will want to tackle projects that will put your newly learned skill into action.

On June 25th from 6-8pm, let Kate Atherley, finishing queen/extraordinaire/superstar show you how to do it right!

For $20.00 you will walk out of the shop with renewed confidence to seam all the WIPs you have hidden away at home.

Trust me.....I know you will like to finish after this class....

Learn To Crochet Class!

Want to expand your fiber habit to include the wonderful world of crochet or just want to learn the basics? This two session class will walk you through the foundation chain, single and half double crochet, double, triple crochet stitches and slip stitch.

During the 2nd class, you will learn how to crochet granny squares, crochet in the round & understand basic crochet terminology.

Price: $40-Includes yarn and hook to take home
Class Length: 2 – two hour session
Instructor: Lorraine Kidman

June 21st and 28th 6pm to 8pm

Namaste & GO Knit Pouches!

Namaste bags and GO knit pouches are 10% off! We have quick a bit of stock of all the bags at the shop, so come on in and check them out!

Cocoon Infinity Scarf/Cowl

For those that know which yarns I love best, you all know how much I love Rowan Cocoon. This yarn is so magnificent to knit with and to touch. A yarn that is 80% merino and 20% mohair, 125 yards for $16.99.

MMMM....goooood! So good, we have a few samples, Juliet (she is at home having a bath, but will be returned to the shop soon) , a Squishy Scarf:

and now an infinity scarf! This awesome scarf was knit by one of our sheep knitters, Francine. She used three balls, cast on 271 stitches and knit seed stitch on 6.5mm needles until she ran out of yarn. You can wear this scarf wrapped around your neck up to four times, or you can it hang down low. Your choice. We have some pretty awesome colours from light to dark tones and every in between.

New Patterns!!!

Glenna from Knitting To Stay Sane blog designed an awesome pattern that I fell in love with when she debuted it on her blog - Royale:

One of Knitting Pure & Simple's newest patterns arrived as well - 106 Girls Cap sleeve Cardigan Vest. I've started the 18 month size in Araucania Patagonia Nature Cotton. I am hoping two skeins will be enough!

Both patterns are $7 each.

Amy Butler Book!

The mailman is bringing us some awesome things the last few weeks. This is what arrived this week, Amy Butler's NEW knitting pattern book:

I would totally love to knit this dress/tunic on the front, but miles and miles of stockinette stitch isn't something too appealing for me at the moment. Maybe when I feel like mindless knitting, I'll cast on for it!

Each book is $24. ENJOY!

Cedar Leaf Shawlette

Wowza folks, this is an awesome little shawlette! Designed by Alana at nevernotknitting, you can knit this shawlette with any yarn! This knit is quite long, and we have wrapped it quite a few times around the mannequin's shoulders. Knit with a smaller weight yarn, it will turn out to be a much smaller version, but nice none the less!

We choose Nashua's Cotton/Linen blend yarn - 2 skeins + the pattern = $30 project.

We have scheduled a class to knit this shawlette on August 8th & 15th. Cost is $40, includes pattern + materials. You will learn how to knit short rows and knitted on leaves. All we ask is for you to cast on 270 prior to the first class.

TTC KAL

It is back - the TTC KAL. Last year we had so much fun and I am really looking forward to it again. I won't regurgitate all the info on my blog - go HERE to the official TTC KAL blog for more info and to sign up.

Like last year, we will have prizes for everyone, food (and lots of it) AND plenty of fun.

World Wide Knit In Public Day - June 19th

The Naked Sheep is hosting a World Wide Knit In Public event!

Join us on June 19th to celebrate and share your love of knitting, crochet or spinning.

Location:
On the beach at the bottom of Glen Manor, just south of the shop!
Time: Noon til ??
Bring: your knitting, chair or blanket, hat and sunscreen.map link

We will provide water, pizza, watermelon and some fruity drinks!

Please RSVP to lisa@nakedsheep.ca so I know you are coming and ensure there is enough food for you!

Feel free to forward this invite to your friends. ALL are welcome

new book!

I know it is way too early to even start to think about wearing mittens and socks again, but when I saw the patterns in this book I couldn't resist ordering. Summer is the perfect time to knit mittens and/or socks. They are small portable projects and if you would like to try your hand at colour knitting, this is the book for you!

The book is $29.99 and here is a LINK to all the fab projects!

Hiya Hiya Interchangable Needle Sets

We have received Hiya Hiya Interchangable 4" small needle sets. The set includes 4" tips in sizes 2.75mm to5mm plus cords in 16", 24, 32" and 40" and a beautiful chinese fabric case to store them.

Each set is $67.99.

The set with the larger needles from 5.5mm to 10mm are on back order and will of course post about their arrival.

I quite like these needles. I like how short the tips are, the cords are super flexible and the tips are not grippy (is this really a word?). In fact, I like them more than my knitpicks options and I only just figured this out when I was knitting my Linen Stitch scarf and my options needles cord snapped. I changed to the Hiya Hiya needles and my tension loosened! I found I was fighting with the options needles as they were gripping the Louet Gems yarn quite tightly.

I will give the few tips and cords to Sue, as she likes them and they need a good home to go to.

Drop Spindle Class - June 17th and 24th

Back by popular demand is our Drop Spindle Class on June 17th and 24th from 7-9pm.

Want to learn how to make yarn using a drop spindle? The spindle is one of the oldest tools used for making yarn. We include all you need to get you started – a drop spindle, some roving and an excellent instructor!

Price: $50.00, includes all you need
Class Length: 2 – two hour sessions
Instructor: Missy Westgate

New Vogue Arrived

Vogue Summer 2010 arrived and we have a few copies left. Here is a LINK to the preview.

June Newsletter Now Available!

Not on our mailing list? Click HERE to read our June newsletter.

Highlights:

• World Wide Knit In Public Day - June 19th



• Upcoming Classes



• New Stuff....Madelinetosh Sock, Viola Sock and Fancy Sock, Baby Cashmerino, Namaste bags (10%off sale on namaste bags!)



• Samples....Gretal, Splash, Playful Stripes and Cedar Leaf Shawlette

Here is our class schedule - we have great classes scheduled through August!

Finished Object!

Missy finished this awesome Fireside Cardigan and I had to try it on. I think it looks so good on me that she should just give it to me! Isn't that what friends are for, right??? If you agree, you can pester Missy on my behalf.

She knit this sweater with two strands of Cascade 220 and the results could not be more perfect!

Project Class - 3 spots left!

Sign up for one of our most popular classes - The Project Class, run by Kate Atherley. Let Kate help you through from beginning to end: from reading the pattern, understanding gauge, increasing, decreasing, fit for YOUR body, and seaming! This is class is suitable for newer knitters and will increase your confidence to tackle any knitting challenge.

This class is not just for knitting your first sweater, but can include lace, cables,plain stitches, shawls, socks - you want to knit it, Kate will help you. You can also bring in a slew of projects that are in the final stages of completion, but you are not sure how to finish them professionally.

Please sign up soon, we have 3 spots left, which is rare, as our project class is always full before we even get a chance to post our schedule.

The cost is $100 and runs on June 13th, 20th, 27th, July 11th and 18th from 10am to noon.

Beginner Knit Night

June 4th is our next beginner knit night. Ask Lisa anything you want on your project(s), get that mistake fixed, get started on something new - anything goes on this night, as it is a night just for you!

This workshop is from 6-8pm, cost is $20. Please call 416.691.6320 to register or pop in to the shop!