Thursday, September 30, 2010

October and November 2010 Classes

Learn to Knit
Lets us teach you how to knit! In this 3 session class, we will show you all you need to know to get you started and challenge you to start your 1st project.

1st class: Cast on, learn how to knit & purl, garter stitch, stockinette stitch and ribbing.
2nd class: Increasing, decreasing, reading your knitting, adding 2nd ball or colour.
3rd class: Fixing mistakes, casting off, importance of gauge, yarn weights, knitting terminology, Q&A .

Price: $60, includes needles & yarn to take home,
Class Length: 3 – two hour sessions
Instructor: Sarah Fay

Next Session: October 18th, 25th and November 1st - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Next Session: November 22nd, 29th and December 6th - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
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Learn to Felt – Wet and Dry!
We get loads of questions about felting and so we listened and designed a class to help you understand how to wet AND dry felt.

In the first class you will wet felt a square using a bucket of hot water and plunger. Once that is done, you will learn how to wet felt a bead!

In the 2nd class you will needle felt on the dried felted pieces you worked on during the first class.

HOMEWORK: you need to knit TWO squares prior to the first class. Pick up your package at the shop.

Cast on 30 stitches and knit 30 rows, cast off. Repeat for 2nd square.
Price:$65. Everything is included – enough cascade 220 yarn for two squares, bucket, plunger, felting needle and 7mm needles.
Class Length: 2 – two hour sessions
Instructor: Missy Westgate

Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting a titch wet!

Next Session: October 26th and November 2nd from 7pm to 9pm
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Learn How To Crochet Hexagons!!!
OMG – this is my newest obsession and I would love to show you how to crochet these gems! All you need to bring is as little as one colour up to 4 colours and appropriate sized hook. I used a worsted weight yarn and 4.5 mm hook.

Please note - You must have solid knowledge of crochet basics, this class is not a beginner’s class.

Price: $20 + materials
Class Length: one two hour session
Instructor: Lisa Farmakovski

Next Session: October 21st from 6-8pm
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Cedar Leaf Shawlette! 3 spots left
A beautiful crescent shaped, little shawl that drapes beautifully around your shoulders and looks absolutely stunning wrapped around your neck as a scarf. The curved shape of the shawl is created through the use of short rows. The leafy border is knit on once the body of the shawl is completed.
Students must know how to cast on, knit, purl and cast off.

PRIOR TO FIRST CLASS – YOU NEED TO CAST ON 270 STITCHES and KNIT 6 Rows!!!!

Price: $40, please bring pattern found at nevernotknitting + 500 yards of DK weight yarn and 5mm needles.
Class Length: 2 – two hour session
Instructor: Kate Atherley



Next Session: October 31st and November 7th from 10am to noon
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Learn to Make Plain Old Mittens!
We live in Toronto, a cold, cold place from November to March, so learn how to make plain old mittens to keep your fingers toasty freaking warm! We will teach you how to increase for the gusset, decrease to close up the top and provide tips and tricks to close up those inevitable holes at the base of the thumb.

Price: $50. Yarn and double pointed needles included.
Class Length: 2 – two hour sessions
Instructor: Sarah Fay

Next Session: November 19th and 26th from 7-9pm
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Learn to Make Thrummed Mittens - 3 spots left
If you or someone you love has cold, cold hands, Thrummed Mittens are the best mitts on the planet to keep hands super duper warm. Knit with worsted weight yarn and bits of roving knitted in, they feel like clouds on hands! You need to know how to cast on, knit in the round on double pointed needles, increase, decrease and cast off.

Price: $60. Yarn and roving included. Please bring 5mm DPNs
Class Length: 2 – two hour sessions
Instructor: Missy Westgate

Inside:
Outside:



Next Session: November 16th and 23rd from 7pm to 9pm
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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Brave New Knits!

Lookie what just came in........See Brooklyn Tweed's post and drool over all the fab projects you can make.


Description
Brave New Knits is the first book to celebrate the convergence of traditional hand-knitting and modern technology. The Internet has made it possible for the knitting community to connect through photos, pattern-sharing, and blogs that document the knitting projects and passions of dozens of designers and enthusiasts. With a Foreword written by Jessica Marshall Forbes, co-founder of Ravelry.com, Brave New Knits includes 26 must-have garment and accessory patterns, all gorgeously photographed by knitting celebrity Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed. Contributors range from established designers like Norah Gaughan, Wendy Bernard, Anne Hanson, and knitgrrl Shannon Okey, to rising stars such as Melissa Wehrle, Connie Chang Chinchio, and Hilary Smith Callis. In-depth interviews with the designers reveal their design philosophy and passions. From shapely sweaters and delicate shawls to fingerless gloves and stylish hats, each of the knitted designs features detailed directions and charts to inspire both the beginner and experienced knitter!!!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Cedarleaf Shawlette Class

Back by popular demand - Learn to Knit this beautiful crescent shaped shawl:


Dates: October 31st and November 7th from 10am to Noon

Price: $40

Please bring pattern found at nevernotknitting + 500 yards of DK weight yarn and 5mm needles.


PRIOR TO FIRST CLASS – YOU NEED TO CAST ON 270 STITCHES and KNIT 6 Rows!!!!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Mara!!

In the spring I ordered some Freedom Spirit yarn in about 15 variegated colourways and when the shipment of this yarn arrived, I was a little disappointed. All the colours looked similar and it is very hard to make the balls look appealing together on the shelves...

The yarn has just sat there, and sat there some more so I thought I sample was needed. Plus, I wanted to see for myself how this yarn knit up. I went through pages of patterns in Ravelry and finally decided on Mara, from Madelinetosh - a free pattern BTW. I cast on, knit a few rows and instantly FELL IN LOVE!

This yarn is freaking fantastic.....So much so, that I was loyal to this shawl until the end....It feels so good to knit with the yarn, the shawl is awesome and can be worn so many ways:





I knit this shawl with 6 balls on 5mm needles. Each ball is $5.95.. You can knit a shawl for yourself or a gift for about $36.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Citron!

Another Citron is in the house! This is a mindless knit that looks awesome in small to super large sizees. This one is knit with two skeins of Painted Fleece Naturally dyed fingering weight yarn. With the colder weight on it's way, this is perfect for morning commutes, chilly offices, morning/evening walks - or hey, do ya really need a reason to wear something so fab?

Didn't think so! We also have Malabrigo Lace, which the pattern is originally knit with!


Sunday, September 19, 2010

Garter Yoke Cardigan and Painted Fleece Naturally Dyed Yarn!

Need a super quick baby gift? How knitting the Garter Yoke Cardigan, a free pattern online and for this newborn to 3 month old size, you only need one skein of Painted Fleece's Naturally Dyed Fingering weight yarn.

If you need to knit the cardigan a bit bigger, knit with a thicker yarn, or cast on more stitches with her lovely yarn.

Either way - perfect gift!!!!!


Saturday, September 18, 2010

New Yarn! Berroco Campus

New yarn has arrived. A bulky weight yarn with 50% Wool, 40% Acrylic, 10% Alpaca, 130 yards all for $11.00.

We also have the Campus pattern booklet - which BTW is AWESOME! If nothing in the booklet tickles your fancy, how about knitting Thorpe? Yeah, I like that idea and you know, only one skein is needed! Knit one for you and your friends and family - they will love ya for it!





Friday, September 17, 2010

New Sample!

Sarah who is now back working at the shop on weekends (yeah!!!) just finished this sweater - Leyfi from Interweave Fall 2010 issue. She knit this sweater with 2 balls of Eco + in a fantastic green colourway.

You need to see it, but it won't be at the shop forever, she will take it back once it starts getting colder, which BTW, I think will be soon. So, if you want a quick to knit sweater, this is a good option.









Thursday, September 16, 2010

Blocking!

Over the years I have learned to love and appeciate the blocking process because it has saved my ass more times than I can count. From making a sweater a titch too small to fitting just right. Ensuring all my stitches lay nice and flat after I shoved the pieces in and out of my bags, left them in a heap on the couch to giving my lace knitting the best look on the planet!

Blocking: you are my best friend EVER - lets be BFFs, I promise to treasure you, really I will. I have also learned some tricks to ensure all like pieces, like sleeves, fronts and backs of sweaters or cardigans are the same length. I am not sure if I thought of this myself or the idea popped up on someone's blog. Anyhoo, here it is.

Lets block some sleeves, shall we? I first thread blocking wires through the sleeve edges of the first sleeve and pin to proper measurements. I then spray the piece like there is no tomorrow to completely soak the piece. I thread blocking wires through the 2nd piece, lay it directly on top of the 1st piece, pin it to the same size and spray that piece like crazy yet again.

Once both pieces are dry I then have two sleeves that are the same size in width and length.

Perfect, everytime:

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Ashford Joy For Sale! SOLD!!!!

I bought my Ashford Joy Single Treadle Spinning Wheel a few years back and have used it a hand full of times. I keep it around because I think I learn to spin, and then decide to knit shop samples instead, so I would like it to go to a good home.

The wheel is portable and has three bobbins. Price: $450.00. SOLD
From Ashford's Website

Ready to go- portable- 4 ratios- assembled and lacquered- carry bag accessory.
This compact wheel is light weight (5kg/11lb) and portable with folding treadle, built-in lazy kate and carry handle. Fold and go – it can be carried easily in cars, as carry-on luggage in planes (check with your airline first as this varies from aircraft to aircraft) and takes up little space at home. Spin a variety of yarns using the four ratios.

The stretchy drive cord does not require any adjustment as you change from one ratio to another and always maintains the correct tension. Treadling is easy with the weighted wheel and ball bearings. The wheel comes assembled and lacquered, ready for spinning. specificationsWheel diameter 40cm (15½ins)Orifice 10mm (⅜in)Bobbin capacity 130gm (4-5ozs)Ratios 6, 8, 11, 14Weight 5kg (11lbs)Timber Lacquered plywoodSize when folded 64 x 40 x 14cm (25 x 15¾ x 9½ins)Included accessories:Built-in lazy kate, 3 x 90mm bobbins, and Threading hook.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

lazy blogger - I'll admit it...

Believe it or not there is so much going on at the shop, but I can't bring myself to blog about any of it. I am finding it hard to find spare time, and even when I do, I can't find the energy or motivation to blog and keep ya'll updated on whats up at the Sheep! Sorry my friends, but believe me, there is a lot happening. We have a tonne of new samples to inspire you...

I will take pictures at knit night on wednesday, I will damn it!

We have new yarns and kits and oh my, I totally need to get my act together.......Soon my pretties, soon I'll post some awesome pics of the awesome stuff we have been receiving.

Love ya!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Malabrigo Worsted & Lace Sale!

Oh yeah baby - we are making room for the newest Malabrigo colours, but need to clear out some space. For the month of September OR until it is all gone, both Malabrigo Worsted and Lace are 25% off.

That is not all! GO Knit pouches, Namaste Bags, Sock blockers and SOAK tubs are 25% off!


***in stock items, no holds or special orders!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

New Spinning Class!

Kicking it up a notch: Spinning for end use

Can you spin already, but want to take your spinning to another level? Do you find that your handspun yarn isn't quite right for your projects? Would you like to learn how to choose and spin fibres with an end use in mind?

Julia will guide you toward producing just the right yarn for whatever you want to make. You will learn to prepare the fibre appropriately, spin singles using a suitable technique, and ply to give a balanced yarn. Selecting the best fibre for a project, and finishing it properly, will also be discussed.

For this class you will need to bring a spinning wheel in good working order. If you can bring handcarders, a lazy kate, and a niddy-noddy, they will be useful too.

Price: $65 Please bring your wheel in good working order and your own roving/fibre.
Class Length: two - two hour session
Instructor: Julia Lee

Date: September 23rd and 30th from 7-9pm

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Crochet Crazy

This will be the last picture of Jay's crochet blanket, well maybe not, but it sounds good non? It truly is a large blanket - here are two tween girls of good size all wrapped up in it = acting a tad nuts!

Come on now - you do want to make one as well?



Oh and I finished her pillow to match...See:



IMG_7795

Friday, September 3, 2010

I finished this awhile ago, but forgot to take decent photos! On our way up to our friend's cottage, Maddy and her friend "O" were cuddled under Maddy's hexagon blanket. Don't they look cute? I used Aya and a cotton cream yarn for the border. I never thought crocheting hexagons would be so addictive, but let me tell you - they are! Once you start, you can't stop.

Thankfully Maddy didn't want a big blanket like her sister's giant granny square. She just wanted one big enough to cuddle with while she slept.


After searching through Ravelry looking at all the awesome hexagon blanket colour combos, I find one that is to die for! Here is the link - beautiful! I am planning on doing a huge one for the couch in our family room in Cascade Eco and the middle will most likely be scraps of yarn I have at the shop - regardless of type....You don't need that much and it will be grand to use of the odds and ends I have at home and at the shop.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Where did my vacation go?

It seems that my vacation just two weeks ago feels like it might as well as been two years ago. Ah, such as life...This is what my older daughter wore most of the week:


And this was the view I had most of the week - Jay and her friend giving each other high fives!

Although Maddy did have a cast on her leg, it didn't stop her from having fun - no way Jose!


She did wish she could have tried water skiing, but that would have been tricky.



Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Learn To Knit Classes!


Learn to KNIT!

Join us on

September 13th, 20th & 27th
630-830pm

$60 – includes yarn and needles to take home

3 spots left!


This is the first full Learn to Knit Class for Fall 2010!