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Thrifty Thursday June 23

On June 22nd, 2011, posted in: Inspirations by In The Loop

In The Heat

These Thursdays seem to be coming a little faster each week, but we are prepared. This weeks “wallet happy” project is Talitha Kuomi’s “In The Heat“, using about 165 yards, this versatile lace pattern scarf can be knit with just about anything that strikes your fancy. We knit the shop sample with Bashful Bags and Fibers mohair, but why not try Classic Elite’s Firefly or Magnolia, Rowan Savannah, Nashua CF Linen or Louet Euroflax Linen. With or without beads, pocket or no pocket, dress up or dress down, this scarf is pure elegance. Everyone will be asking you for one of these.

Just mention you saw this weeks project on Facebook or the blog at checkout and you will receive %15 off your yarn purchase for “In The Heat”.

Now that summer is in full swing, school is out and you want to stay out of the heat, come join us on Saturdays for “Happy Hours”. Sit in the air conditioning, join us at the table, make some new friends and enjoy 15% off any purchase while you stitch with us from 10:00 – 12:00.

Button Button Who’s Got The Button

On June 21st, 2011, posted in: Inspirations by In The Loop

With one cardigan almost completed for our first KAL and a second on the way I thought everyone could use a quick Button 101.

Placing Your Buttons and Buttonholes Evenly (from series 600 of Knitting Daily TV)

1. Take a strip of no-stretch sting or a piece of paper and make it the length of exactly the beginning and ending points for the buttons.

2. Fold the string or paper into four equal segments.

3. Mark these four segments with a pen or pencil and hold the string or paper up to the knitting.

4. Place markers or pins where the buttons are to be placed.

5. You can also mark the string or paper with size of button to know how big to make the buttonhole (Figure 2).

Now that you have your button hole placement set, time to make the button hole. I found a great “recipe” from Yarning For You’s Blog.
Work 3 stitches (or desired number stitches for placement of button hole)

2. Bring Yarn to front of work as if to purl.

3. Slip 1 stitch from left needle to right needle.

4. Return yarn to back as if to knit.

5. Drop yarn. You will not use yarn again until step 9.

6. Bind of 2 stitches without working them. (or desired number of stitches for size of buttonhole)
To do this, pass the 1st slipped on right hand needle over the 1st stitch on left needle etc.

7. Slip stitch from right needle to left needle.

8. Turn your work as if you were going to do a short row or turn the heel of a sock.

9. Cast on 3 stitches if you have done a 2 stitch buttonhole. (Always cast on 1 more stitch than bound off.)

10. Turn work

11. Slip 1st stitch from right needle to left needle.

12. Knit these 2 stitches together and finish your row.

13. This completes the buttonhole in one row.

Button holes and button placement doesn’t need to be intimidating. Just think of them as those “oops, I made a hole”.

The Brigid Knit Along

On June 20th, 2011, posted in: Inspirations by In The Loop

The Brigid

Our first KAL was a great success and we are now taking names for anyone who wishes to join us on September 18th, from 1:00 to 3:00, for the start of our second KAL project, The Brigid Cardigan. The Brigid, featured in Vintage Modern Knits, uses Fibre Company’s Terra and can easily be worn throughout any season. This sweater is a great choice for anyone wanting to add to their skills of chart reading, cables and pattern modifications.

We are now taking names until June 24th and to insure that everyone will be able to knit with the color of their choice, we have Terra color cards available. You must place your order, for your book and your yarn choice, no later than July 31st. Yarn orders will be placed the first week of August with a 50% deposit. (There are no refunds or credits as this will be a special order through Fibre Company)

Anyone placing an order will receive a 15% discount on the yarn and the book for this project. You are welcome to substitute any yarn that will meet the gauge requirements but the yarn for this project must be purchased at In The Loop.

So join us for the first project of the fall season and see why everyone has fallen in love with Brigid.

New Addition to the Little Loops Collection

On June 16th, 2011, posted in: Inspirations by In The Loop

Petite Petal Hat and Poncho

What do you do with a little time, some pink Katia Peru and the most adorable selection of new Frizzalicious Knotty Handspuns? You design a few new pieces for our Little Loops Collection.

The Petite Petal Hat uses 1/3 of a skein of Katia Peru( for the 9/24 month) on size 10 1/2 needles, mix with a little Frizzalicious and you have the perfect hat for the little princess.

Need something to wear with that Hat? The Petite Petal Ponch, also knit with Katia Peru, on size 10 1/2 needles, is simply a garter stitch rectangle, lovingly attached with a ruffle of Frizzalicious. The shop sample was made for 9-18 months but you can easliy adjust the stitches for any size you need. The directions are in the pattern.

We have plenty of Frizzalicious in pink, purple, peach, orange and yellows and Katia Peru or Misti Alpaca Chunky just waiting for that special “Little Loop”.

Thrifty Thursday June 16th

On June 16th, 2011, posted in: Inspirations by In The Loop

Our illusive summer is upon us, which means the days are flying past as we try to catch a glimpse of the sun. Thursday is here again and this weeks “wallet happy project”, a knitted hanger cover, is the perfect gift for a baby shower or a new mother.

Knit in garter stitch with the leftovers of Classic Elite Provence (any worsted or dk cotton or linen will do) , stitched over a padded coathanger, adorned with a matching bow. What could be simpler, easier and of course inexpensive! No little ones you say, how about a grown up version with a lavender sachet attached. Now is the perfect time to grab that lavender from the garden to dry and whip up some great gifts.

Mention you saw this project at time of check out, on Facebook or our blog and receive 15% off your yarn purchase for this project.

Help for New Hope

On June 15th, 2011, posted in: Inspirations by In The Loop

Recently, one of our evening class students has been passing on tidbits of her new experience as an advanced beginner knitter, paying it forward, to a group of women she meets with weekly, as they learn how to trust two shiny sticks, a piece of fiber and themsleves. These woman are learning to knit. I was not surprised that we were asked if she could write a guest blog on behalf of these woman and so my friends, I introduce you to ”teacher” and her new friends. We do not know these women, and yet, we all know these women.

Tuesdays are turning out to be my favorite day of the week. Actually, Tuesdays were always up there because it’s my knitting night. But now, the daytime hours are gaining ground because it’s the day I knit with the women at the New Hope House.

I participated and completed the training program with the New Hope Domestic Violence Agency of North Attleboro earlier this spring, and started volunteering at the shelter about a month ago. I thought I was going to do Pilates with the women, because that’s what I do for work. But, I wanted to try something new, so I decided to knit with them. Now, I am not a knitting teacher. I know knitting teachers. I have great teachers at In the Loop. What I’ve come to know is that I can pick up some of the best tips during Sit and Knit, when we’re all just sitting around the table with no official teacher. We just share what we’re doing and I’ve learned a ton around that table. My plan was to get them started with knitting and purling, start with a simple dishcloth pattern, and then let the real learning begin.

I committed to 10-11 on Tuesday mornings, figuring I couldn’t get into too much trouble in an hour. I bought some cotton yarn, a few sets of needles, and off I went. There were 5 women that first day, different in just about every way women can: age, color, language, etc. By the end of that first hour, I’d figured out how to “teach” each one according to her needs, and they’d figured out casting on and the knit stitch. Their homework: just keeping knitting until you either run out of yarn or run out of patience. In the case of the latter, frog it all and start again. I floated home. It was THE BEST hour I’d spent in a long time.

Three weeks later, we’re still knitting dishcloths, but as practice for learning new techniques. We’ve SSK’d, PSSO’d, cabled and cast off. They’re working on afghans now and chomping at the bit to start scarves and sweaters. One woman is absolutely begging me to knit a dress! Each week, the time we spend around the table gets a little bit longer and I’ve set 3 hours as my limit although I could probably stay all day if they’d let me.

My mother taught me to knit and I made dishcloths until they were coming out of my ears. The first time I came into the shop and told Cheryl I wanted to try something a little more adventurous, she couldn’t have been more generous with her time or her spirit. Her welcoming energy was infectious, and it wasn’t long before I started spending the grocery money on yarn rather than food for my family. (Screw ‘em.) Ellen probably doesn’t remember helping me pull out a scarf I was making (badly) with a Tilli Tomas yarn. It had tiny beads in it, so pulling it out was a total pain in the ass. She sat at the table with me and went row by row until we’d frogged it all and rewound the whole thing. Soon, I joined a class, came to the sit and knits, and fell in love. And it is my absolute privilege to pay if forward with these amazing women on their journey to rebuild their lives.

Each week, I bring a few more skeins of cotton yarn and add a few knitting tools to they’re growing tool kit. There will be a basket at the shop labeled NEW HOPE. If you have yarn in your stash (see list below for more details) that you know darn well you will never touch again, please throw it in the basket. If you’ve upgraded your needles and you’ve got a bag full of your old ones, they will be much loved at the House. Same with any tools you may have upgraded.

NEW HOPE KNITTING NEEDS:

Yarn: If possible, please provide enough to complete a project, i.e., a scarf, mittens, a hat, blanket, baby items, kids items, etc.
Needles: All sizes are needed, especially single pointed for beginners, as well as straights, and circular or varying lengths.
Tools: Stitch markers, pencils, needle cases and tool bags, etc.

Thank you in advance for your support of these resilient women. Of all the best lessons I’ve learned around the table either at the shop or the House, it is always what happens when we K2TOG, whether people, a broken heart, or knitting. It is always better, stronger together.

We, at In The Loop, know in our hearts that you will not pass up this opportunity to help the women of New Hope. One of the girls recently commented to her “teacher” that this was the first time, while she was knitting, that acutally “brought back happy memories”. Ladies, we wish you inner peace, love, hope and a chance for many more “happy memories”.

Your new friends at In The Loop.