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!

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.

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:

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.

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!

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!

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

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:

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.

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.