Tagged: classes

Mar 28

Knitting little hats

As knitting projects go, little hats are just about perfect. They’re ideal canvases for trying out stitch patterns, color palettes, new techniques and embellishment. And because they’re for small heads, they’re super-quick as well. That also makes them (almost) risk-free — if a hat doesn’t come out quite as you planned, you haven’t wasted weeks of your life knitting it. Oh, and also, they’re darn cute.

Baby hats!!

Surely there's a little person in your life who needs a cute hat?

Starting next Wednesday (April 6), I’ll be teaching a workshop in which you’ll design your own baby or child hat. (And frankly, a hat’s a hat — if you want to knit an adult hat, the rules are the same!!) I’ll teach you everything you need to know; as long as you can cast on, knit and purl, you’re good to go. This is a great chance to learn some embellishment techniques to spiff up any of your knitting projects — if you’ve never knit i-cord, made a pompom or experimented with stripes, this workshop will teach you all of those things! Plus, you’ll learn to knit in the round, which is a great skill to have in your bag of tricks. (Though if you’ve knit hats before and just want to take the class so you can knit cute hats with other knitters, come on down!!)

First, you’ll use a worksheet to sketch and plan the perfect hat (don’t worry — I’ll provide the colored pencils!). What does your ideal hat look like? Pompoms? Tassels? Stripes? Blocks of color? Rolled brim? Once you’ve got a picture in your head (and on your worksheet), we’ll work together to create a customized pattern for your hat. I’ll teach you how to knit in the round on circular needles and double-pointed needles. And I’ll teach you some fun techniques for embellishing your hat any way you like. Then all you need to do is find a small head to show off your work. Because no matter how cute that hat looks on the needles, it’s going to be even cuter on a little head!

Interested? Call the shop at (301) 652-8688 to sign up. The class meets Wednesdays, April 6 and 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. (I’ve left an extra week in between so you’ll have plenty of time to do the bulk of the knitting before we meet up again.) Registration fee is $60 (materials not included, but the pattern is). Here are the materials you’ll need, so you’ll be all ready to go when the workshop begins:

  • Worsted-weight yarn in as many colors as your heart desires (recommended: Cascade 220); 100 to 150 yards TOTAL is a generous estimate
  • US 7 16-inch circular needles and set of four double-pointed needles (or size to obtain gauge)
  • US 5 16-inch circular needles (or two sizes smaller than size to obtain gauge) — these are optional, but they make for a more snug-fitting brim.
  • Stitch marker
  • Tapestry needle

If you have questions about the workshop, don’t hesitate to e-mail me at becky_sher@verizon.net or leave a comment here!

MARCH MADNESS SALE!!

March Madness is in full swing at Knit and Stitch. Our Elite Eight are now 50 percent off their regular prices: Rowan Colourscape, Rowan Cocoon, Trendsetter Free Spirit, Trendsetter Dune, Classic Elite Fresco, Punta Space, Alchemy Sanctuary and Alchemy Silken Straw. Shop these yarns for half off until Saturday, when our Final Four yarns go on sale for 75 percent off!

METRO YARN CRAWL

You’ve marked your calendar, right? The Metro Yarn Crawl runs April 9-17, and totes are selling like hotcakes. Be sure to swing by and pick one up so you’ll be set for savings when the crawl begins.

10 YEARS OF BLISS!

On Sunday, April 10, we’ll be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Knit and Stitch! Be sure to stop by for special promotions, a little glimpse of the shop’s history, and some sweet treats.

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Posted in Classes, Events, Metro Yarn Crawl, Techniques, Workshops

Feb 10

Feeling stranded? A few tips

First, we have a winner! Sarah W. is the lucky recipient of the Girdwoods pattern. Yay! And since she said that her goal is to learn colorwork, I think we should all expect to see a finished pair of mittens in the very near future. Right, Sarah?!

I’m going to give us a day or two to rest, and then I have another giveaway (and then another one!). Lots of fun things in store …

These stranded mitts are a fun mix of traditional and contemporary designs. (Wintry Mix Mitts)

But we’re supposed to be talking about colorwork, so let’s do that, shall we? I thought today I would round up a few tips that might help you, especially if you’re a colorwork rookie. Maybe a quick vocabulary lesson is in order first, yes? Generally, what most of us are talking about when we say “fair isle” is actually “stranded colorwork.” That means you’re knitting with more than one color, and the color that you’re not using at a particular time gets carried along the back of your knitting. This leaves floats or “strands” on the wrong side of your work. (This is in contrast to intarsia colorwork, where you knit blocks of color and use a new strand of yarn every time you change colors.)

In reality, “fair isle” is much more specific, and comes from the name of the place where it was developed — Fair Isle, a teeny-tiny island north of Scotland. Generally, traditional fair-isle patterns have no more than two colors in a row, and only a few consecutive stitches in the same color.

These days, you’re likely to hear “fair isle” and “stranded colorwork” used interchangeably (as I usually do), and only a small segment of knitters is very particular about the true meaning of the terms. Contemporary stranded patterns sometimes have very long floats (which means you need to learn how to “catch” floats so they aren’t loose and dangly and prone to being caught on things like jewelry or fingers or glasses). And some patterns have more than two colors in a row which (in my opinion) is not particularly fun, but totally manageable, especially as it’s often only for a few rows.

As I’ve mentioned before, about a year ago, I decided to tackle stranded colorwork. It was slow going at first, but after a lot of small projects, some Internet research and quite a few consultations with knitters at Knit and Stitch, I got the hang of it. Now I’m obsessed. (Don’t believe me? See my projects page on Ravelry.) I am in no way claiming to be an expert, but I have picked up some wisdom along the way. So in honor of Fair Isle February (maybe I should have waited until Stranded September?), here are a few tips as you dive in to stranded colorwork. Remember, knitting is very personal, so what works for me might not work for you. But I often find that it helps to hear what someone else is doing so I can find my own way.

1. Learn to knit with both hands. Again, this is very personal. Plenty of people knit colorwork with two colors in one hand, and they do it very well. But for me, colorwork was a painfully slow process until I learned to hold one color in each hand. I learned to knit English-style (meaning I hold the yarn in my right hand and “throw” it), and when I knit with one color, that’s what I still do. But I taught myself to knit Continental-style (holding the yarn in the left hand and “picking”) — I knit an entire solid-color baby hat Continental-style, and by the end, I had mastered it. Now, I hold one color in each hand, “throwing” one color and “picking” the other. Honestly, doing it this way, I can knit a colorwork hat faster than a solid-color one. I highly recommend that you at least give this a try — it really made the process of knitting colorwork much more enjoyable for me.

And hey, if this sounds good to you, we’re holding a one-session workshop this Sunday to teach you to knit Continental! The class (Sunday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m. to noon) is for knitters who already knit English-style, so you’ll basically learn how to hold the yarn, and make the motions in a whole new way. This is a great start if you want to tackle colorwork. (The workshop will also be offered again in March.)

2. Don’t be intimidated. Colorwork knitting is still just knitting. It’s the same in-around-out-off motion that you learned when you first cast on. There’s often not even any purling — many stranded colorwork patterns are done in stockinette stitch in the round, so you’re really only knitting. And no matter how complicated a pattern may look, you have to think of it one row at a time. Usually there are only two colors in a row, so if you focus on one row at a time, even a complicated pattern is manageable. Also, don’t forget that if a pattern has more than two colors in a row, you don’t have to work them in stranded knitting. It’s perfectly acceptable to add the third color in duplicate stitch after you’ve knit the pattern.

3. Block your knitting! Please, please, for me, for yourself and for good handknits everywhere, block your colorwork knitting. If you click on that link in the last sentence, you can read my previous treatise on blocking. But I am repeating it here because I think it’s extra-important for colorwork. There have been projects that I’ve been ready to frog because they looked so lumpy and unappealing, but a good blocking saved them. Blocking evens out lumps, which are not uncommon in colorwork, and smoothes out the fibers quite a bit. You really won’t believe the difference.

Elephant colorwork vest knit from Rowan Wool Cotton

4. Knit with wool. OK, this is definitely a personal preference; I know plenty of people knit colorwork with non-wool fibers with wonderful results. BUT, I’d encourage you to try 100 percent wool for your first colorwork project. Look, I’m just saying — fair-isle knitting originated in a place with a lot of sheep. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. The thing about wool is that it sticks to itself. This is good because it makes the color changes much smoother. The stitches grab each other and hold together so that the fabric looks nice and even. Other fibers don’t necessarily do that. See the little elephant vest over there? I knit that out of Rowan Wool Cotton, which is half wool and half cotton. Wool Cotton is probably one of my top three yarns in the whole world, but I didn’t love it for colorwork. Obviously, the result is still very cute, but up close, I don’t think it’s as neat and tidy as colorwork done with 100 percent wool. As with anything knitting-related, it’s up to you to experiment, but I’ll put in my 2 cents and say that you should try wool for your first go-around.

5. Use all your tricks. When I knit my first pair of colorwork mittens, they were so tight that I really would have needed to chop off a finger to wear them comfortably. After some diagnosis, I determined that one of the problems was my method — I was using double-pointed needles. Ever since I started using DPNs, I tug very tightly on the first stitch of a new needle, to create a nice, tight join. Well, “tight” is not so good in colorwork, so every time I changed needles, I was pulling the floats way too tight. I decided to pull out my long circulars and try Magic Loop. Turns out, it was the perfect solution. There are only two “joins,” so you don’t have to worry so much about getting the floats around the “corners.” (This is very hard to explain, but if you try it, you’ll see!) Now, I always knit colorwork mittens on Magic Loop, even though I am still a devoted DPN user. It works, what can I say?

6. Just do it. All these tips aside, don’t overthink it. Just pick up some needles and give it a try. Start with a hat — a baby hat, if you’ve got a baby to give it to. Start with worsted-weight wool and size 7 or 8 needles so you can move more quickly and see some progress. Honestly, you don’t even have to start with a fancy pattern — just try knitting every other stitch in alternating colors (white, blue, white, blue). This will teach your fingers what to do before you have to add chart-reading to the mix.

In my next post, I’ll share some of my favorite stranded patterns with you, so you’ll have some starting points. And don’t forget about our Stranded Colorwork workshop on Feb. 27 — that’s a great place to try all this stuff.

Colorwork knitters: Got anything to add? Share your tips or favorite patterns with our colorwork newbies.

DON’T FORGET!

We’re hosting “Brave New Knits” author Julie Turjoman for a book signing and trunk show on Wednesday, Feb. 23 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. That means we’ll be open late for extra shopping. Please join us!

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Posted in Chat, Techniques, Workshops

Feb 04

A Fair Isle February giveaway!

Welcome to Fair Isle February! I always love a good theme, and I also can’t pass up a good alliteration, so Fair Isle February it is. This month, I’ll give you some tips about colorwork knitting (including a discussion of the terms “fair isle” and “stranded colorwork”), share some favorite patterns, and host a few giveaways. If learning colorwork is on your knitting to-do list, be sure to keep an eye out for lots of encouragement this month.

I want to get right to the first giveaway (!), but quickly, let me tell you about a few classes that we’re offering in the shop this month to get your colorwork juices flowing:

  • Endpaper Mitts: In this class, Joanna will help you knit Eunny Jang’s famous Endpaper Mitts, a pair of colorwork fingerless mitts that can be worked in endless color combinations. These are absolutely gorgeous mitts, and a good way to learn both colorwork and double-pointed needles. This class starts next week, so call the shop to register now! (Monday, Feb. 7 and 14, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.)
  • Stranded Colorwork workshop: If you’re looking for a quick way to dive in to colorwork knitting, try our one-session workshop on Sunday, Feb. 27 (10 a.m. to noon). This is a low-stress way to try out the technique — you’ll learn different ways to carry your yarns, how to manage floats and more.

See those mittens in the photo above? They’re the Girdwood Mittens by Mandy Powers. And as soon as I saw the pattern, I knew I wanted to make it a part of Fair Isle February. Mandy’s stranded colorwork patterns are a wonderful entree into this technique, because they are well-written, straightforward, intuitive, and of course, beautiful! This is a particularly special pattern, because it includes sizes from newborn to adult large. You change the size of the mitten by changing the size of your yarn and needles — fingering-weight yarn for baby mittens, all the way up to bulky yarn for large adult mittens. It’s genius. I whipped out that adult mitten in the photo in just a day — I am totally in love with it. And as you can see, I’ve started the second one, so I hope to have a pair very soon.

You know how sometimes you come across a technique or tool that seems to improve your knitting immediately? Well, I’m pleased to say I’ve discovered TWO while knitting this pattern. The first is the i-cord cast-on (see a close-up photo at right). I know the Latvian braid is a hot technique for mittens and hats right now, but I have to say, I like the i-cord cast-on better. It’s so nice and tidy, prevents curling, and is easy to do once you get the hang of it. (I referenced this tutorial to get me started.) I am already itching to use it on another pattern. The second revolutionary knitting helper I discovered really has nothing to do with this pattern at all. I just happened to find it on the day I cast on! See that yellow strip in the photo above? That’s Post-It Label Roll, and it is the best thing that ever happened to me (knitterly speaking, anyway). If you knit from charts for lace or colorwork, you MUST find this stuff. It’s basically a long roll of Post-It tape — an inch wide and 700 inches in a roll (!). I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been able to find the perfect way to keep my place in a chart. I even bought a fancy magnetic chart holder, but the magnets never wanted to stay where I put them, and they cast a shadow over other parts of the chart. This is the perfect solution: It stays exactly where I put it (the entire back side is sticky), and is completely unobtrusive. I thought I’d need to replace it several times throughout the pattern, but one piece lasted me all the way through one mitten chart. I should tell you that this stuff was not easy to find. I saw it mentioned on Ravelry last year, and have been looking for it ever since. Anywhere I go that sells Post-Its, I look. Finally, this week, I happened to be in Staples, walking past the file folders, and there it was. Not in the giant aisle of Post-It products, mind you. Ugh. You can also find it on Amazon, though it was cheaper at Staples. And next time I go, I’m buying enough for the rest of my knitting life.

Back to the giveaway: Mandy has generously offered to give away a copy of the Girdwood pattern to one Knit and Stitcher! So here’s what we’ll do — leave a comment on this blog post telling me the tip, technique or tool that revolutionized your knitting. It doesn’t have to be fancy — sometimes it’s the simple things that turn out to be lifesavers (see above!). I’m going to make this a short giveaway, because I have several other fun giveaways planned this month. So I’ll close the comments and randomly choose a winner at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Mandy has nicely offered to send the PDF to the winner, or put it right in your Ravelry library, if you’re a member. Don’t forget to leave your e-mail address and/or Ravelry name with your comment so I can find you if you win. Good luck!!

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Posted in Classes, Patterns, Techniques, Tools, Workshops

Jan 19

Upcoming class: Owly mittens

Owl mittensThis class isn’t actually happening until March, but I love the project so much that I could wait to share it. Joanna is teaching our Owly Mittens class, where she’ll teach you to knit the adorable Give A Hoot mitten pattern (Tuesday, March 1, 8 and 15, 6:30 to 8 p.m.). This is a great pattern to learn in a class — it’s not overly complicated, and it teaches some important skills, like cabling and basic mitten construction. Plus, it’s just really cute. If you’ve been wanting to try cables, this would be a great place to start, since there’s only one (well, two, if you count both mittens!). Other than that, it’s a pretty straightforward mitten pattern, so you’ll get some good practice in basic techniques like knitting in the round, creating a gusset and knitting a thumb. Also, check out the unusual thumb increases — don’t you love the curve they create on the palm side of the mitten (see the photo below)?

Owl mittensJoanna chose to knit her mittens in Montana, which is an eco-friendly roving yarn that comes in beautiful natural colors. This creates a really nice rustic look to the mittens, which — combined with the owl! — make for a woodsy-feeling accessory. Montana also knits up into a large, cozy mitten. (If you wanted to knit these mittens for a man, Montana would be great for that.) You could get a similar look with Cascade’s Ecological Wool (which comes in a HUGE skein, so you could also knit a matching hat). But Cascade 128 would be an excellent choice if you’re looking for some brighter colors — I would love to see these mittens knit up in orange or bright green. Stop by the shop and Joanna (or any of our staff) can help you choose the right yarn and needles for this project.

We have so many other great classes coming up. Be sure to check out our entire class schedule! And keep checking back for more details on some of our upcoming classes.

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Posted in Classes, Patterns, Shop news

Jan 11

Upcoming class: Mobius cowl

A few Knit and Stitchers on Facebook asked for details about the upcoming Mobius Cowl class (Sunday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m. to noon). So that’s next up …

First, do you know what a mobius cowl is? It’s based on the concept of a mobius strip, which is basically a loop with one half-twist in it. Cowls are a hugely hot accessory right now, and mobius cowls add just a touch of whimsy and elegance.

Many mobius cowls are knit flat, twisted one half-twist, and then seamed together. And this is a perfectly valid way to knit one. BUT … for all you knitters who are looking for a little challenge, there’s another way to knit a mobius cowl, and that’s what Abby will demonstrate in this class. You can actually use a very cool cast-on so that you can knit in the round with the twist built right in. (Note my use of boldface — I am completely blown away by this technique.) It’s a little tricky to get started, but after that, it’s smooth sailing, and completely magical, if you ask me.

But, as with many things in knitting, it’s bound to go more smoothly with someone sitting next to you, showing you the technique. That’s why this one-session class is perfect — you’ll get help with the tricky parts at the beginning, and then you can head home and knit up your cowl in no time. Abby is using a pattern of her own design, and will help you customize it to get a good fit. She plans to use Cascade 128, which is a nice chunky wool yarn that comes in lots of different colors. It’s warm and cozy, and chunky enough that you’ll be able to finish the cowl while it’s still cold outside!

Intrigued? You should be — you’re going to walk away with a very cool trick up your knitting sleeve. Call the shop at (301) 652-8688 to sign up, or stop by to register and grab your yarn at the same time.

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Posted in Classes, Techniques

Jan 10

Upcoming class: Brushed Suri Mitts

If you’ve looked at our class schedule for the next few months, you’ve probably noticed that it’s jam-packed. We really wanted to cover a variety of techniques and projects, so there would be something for everyone.

But of course, that means it’s a lot to digest. It also means we had to keep the descriptions short so we could fit in everything. So I thought that over the next few weeks, I would use the blog to tell you more about some of the upcoming classes. Here, the space is unlimited, so I can go on and on about the virtues of our classes and the many reasons you should carve out some time to take them. First up …

Later this month (Sundays, Jan. 23 and 30, 9 to 11 a.m.), I’ll (hi, it’s me, Becky!) be teaching a class on the Blue Sky Alpacas Brushed Suri Mitts. Here’s what they look like:

Brushed Suri Mitts

"Hi! We're the softest mitts you'll ever come across!"

I knew I wanted to teach a class on fingerless mitts. They are a really popular accessory — did you know that “fingerless gloves” was one of the most popular terms on Google during the holiday season? They’re also one of my favorite things to knit (and to wear) for a variety of reasons: They’re quick  to knit, they’re easy to wear because you still have use of your fingers (I’m wearing them as I type this!) and they make a great gift for just about anyone. Of course, their popularity means there are A BILLION patterns for knit mitts. I browsed around for a good pattern to teach, and knit several samples. But in the end, I came back to these, for a few reasons:

  1. They’re incredibly soft. We have a sample mitt in the shop, and everyone who touches it swoons. The Brushed Suri is just amazingly soft, and also surprisingly warm.
  2. The pattern is very simple. The fun thing about the Brushed Suri is that the yarn is so special that it really does all the work — you don’t need a complicated pattern. In fact, I think you’d be pretty unhappy if you tried to knit a complicated pattern with this yarn. This pattern is a great intro to fingerless mitts, and a good way to learn some basic techniques: Knitting in the round on double-pointed needles, creating a thumb gusset and working a thumb. Once you know those techniques, you can knit just about any mitt pattern you can find. (And there are a lot of them!)
  3. The yarn is fun. All you have to do is look at my Ravelry project page to know that I’m a plain wool girl. I like plain wool yarn in bright colors. But I am head-over-heels in love with this yarn. And it’s surprisingly easy to knit with. I was dreading working with it, but it turned out to be just fine. In the class, I’ll give you some tips about working with the yarn, so if you’re a bit intimidated, please join me!
  4. You get to beat them with a wooden spoon! Yes, during the blocking process, you beat the mitts to help fluff them up a bit. If you’ve never blocked your knits, I’ll give a quick tutorial during the class.

Since you really need to use this specific yarn for the class, we’re including a skein in your choice of color in the class fee, along with a copy of the Blue Sky Alpacas pattern card, which is just the right size to slip into your project bag. If you’re taking the class, please try to stop by the shop and pick out your yarn so we can get it wound and ready to go before the class.

Interested? Call the shop at (301) 652-8688 to register. I hope to see you on the 23rd.

Stay tuned this week as I tell you about other classes. Got a question about a particular class? Leave a comment and I’ll give you the details.

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Posted in Classes, Shop news

Dec 30

Crafting resolutions, part 2

OK, more ideas for knit and crochet resolutions. Don’t forget to share yours in the comments!

6. Take a class. Look, first and foremost, knitting and crochet classes are FUN. You sit around for a few hours doing something you love with other people who love the same thing. It’s not algebra class, people. There’s no exam at the end. It’s just a great way to learn something new. And even though these days you could learn to turn a heel by watching an Internet video, you’ll almost always be more successful if someone is standing over your shoulder and helping to guide your needles in the right direction. You can always watch the video when you get home if you need a reminder. We’ve got tons of great classes this winter and spring. Some of them are on basic topics that you might need to improve your work — fixing mistakes, finishing techniques, etc. But some are just classes you can take just for the fun of it — owl mittens, fair isle tam, intarsia, aran knitting. Check out our schedule, and then sign up.

7. Plan your gifting. True, we just came out of the gift-knitting season, and it’s hard to think about it again. But you just might find you enjoy making gifts much more if you start thinking about it well before Thanksgiving. Make a list of all the people you’d like to knit or crochet for next holiday season, as well as other gift-giving occasions, like birthdays, Mother’s Day, etc. That way, you can spread your gift-making throughout the year, instead of doing it all in the span of a few weeks. Or …

8. Give yourself a break from making gifts. My mom (who is also a maker) and I often say that the holidays create a lot of self-imposed stressed for people who like to make gifts. We feel forced to make handmade presents for everyone who crosses our paths, when most likely, very few of them expect it. Decide right now that in 2011, you’ll give yourself a break from making gifts. Or choose one or two worthy recipients, and make really special gifts for them. If you’re feeling guilty, resolve to alternate years — in 2011, you’ll lay off the handmade gifts, and in 2012, you’ll get back to it.

9. Learn to crochet. Yes, it’s a very specific resolution. But it just might be worth doing. I’ve already laid out all my reasons here, so I won’t do it again. This year, we’re adding a new one-session class called Crochet for Knitters. So if you think you’ll never be a full-fledged crocheter, maybe that’s a good one for you. You’ll learn some basic techniques to enhance your knitting, like a provisional cast-on, basic edgings and simple embellishments.

10. Knit socks. Again, very specific, but with good reason. Socks are just plain fun. I taught a socks class earlier this month, and it rejuvenated my love of sock knitting. Socks can be simple, fancy, lacy or cozy. Sock yarns are fun to buy, and don’t take up TOO MUCH space in your stash. And there’s something magical about turning a heel that makes you feel like an absolute knitting genius. Plus, it’s a really good feeling to knit something so useful, something that you or someone you love can wear every day. Take our socks class to get started and you’ll see what I mean.

OK, that’s probably enough to get you started. So tell us, what’s your stitchy resolution for 2011?

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Posted in Chat, Classes

Dec 29

Crafting resolutions, part 1

2011!

Every year around this time, we start hearing much too much about resolutions. Suddenly, commercials for diet plans and fitness equipment are ubiquitous; there’s no escaping the constant drumbeat that seems to say, “Improve yourself. Improve yourself.”

This year, in addition to all those resolutions you’re making about your weight, fitness, friendships or bad habits, why not add one or two that will be really fun to keep? If you truly want to improve your skills as a knitter or crocheter, set a few goals for 2011 that will make it happen.

Last year, I resolved that 2010 would be the year I tackled colorwork. I knit English-style (holding the yarn in my right hand), so I started in January by teaching myself to knit continental-style (that’s holding the yarn in your left hand) so that I could hold one color in each hand. That was slightly painful, almost like learning to knit all over again. But I managed it, and soon, I was knitting stranded colorwork like a pro (almost). Now, it’s safe to say I’m addicted to colorwork, and it was the best year of my knitting life (so far!).

So what will you resolve to do this year, stitch-wise? I’ve come up with a few suggested resolutions (and some ideas for meeting those goals). But I’d love to hear how you’re planning to challenge yourself this year. Please leave a comment with your crafty resolution, and throughout the year, I’ll try to offer suggestions about how to make those goals come true. And don’t forget to check out our new class list — taking a class is one of the fastest and easiest ways to learn a new skill and improve your work.

1. Get organized! I don’t think I’m the only knitter who has multiple WIPs and a stash that is threatening to eat me alive. In January, inventory your in-progress projects and take stock of what you’re working on. Be brutal — are you ever going to finish that lace shawl that you’re knitting on size 1 needles? If you are, great. Put everything you need — yarn, needles, pattern, notions — in one bag and leave it somewhere where you know you’ll pick it up. If not, don’t dwell on it. Frog it and start looking for another project that will use the same yarn. Do this with all your WIPs, putting each in a separate tote so you’ll be able to grab them when you’re headed to a doctor’s appointment or a swim practice. (We’ve got so many cute bags and totes in the shop — come see!) Once you’ve whittled down your projects, you’ll feel much less guilty when you see a new pattern that you MUST cast on for right away!

2. Challenge yourself. No matter where you are on the crafting spectrum — from rookie to super-advanced — there’s always something new to learn. Choose one or two skills that you’ve always wanted to try. For me this year, it was stranded colorwork. For you, it might be lace, double-pointed needles, socks or crochet. Don’t focus so much on choosing a particular pattern right away. Instead, think about the PROCESS — the skill you want to master, instead of the finished product. Once you have that in mind, we can help you make a plan for getting there, whether it’s taking a class or working through a private lesson on your chosen topic.

3. Meet other stitchers. Certainly, knitting and crochet can be solitary hobbies. And that can be a very, very good thing. But there’s also something fun about sharing your passion with others. If you are the only knitter you know, resolve to change that this year. Take a class or join one of the groups at the shop, and at the end, be sure to exchange contact info with at least one person. Make a date to meet for coffee with your needles or hook in hand. Come to the shop not just to grab a skein of yarn and go, but to sit and knit for a while and chat with other customers and staff. Or, if you’re the introverted type, head to Ravelry (or join, if you haven’t already) and join groups based on your interests. Be “friends” with other stitchers whose work your admire. It’s nice to have a forum to chat with other people who are equally interested in whether to use an SSK or SKP decrease.

4. Choose a dream project. Maybe you’ve always wanted to crochet a queen-sized granny square blanket. Or knit a beautiful pair of lacy socks. Or knit an argyle vest for the bookish man in your life. Or create a beautiful heirloom-quality layette set for an important baby (or baby-to-be). This is the year to begin! Choose a project, let us help you select the yarn, and just dive in. If you feel it’s a bit over your head, don’t be afraid to cast on; instead, schedule a private lesson so someone can help you get going. Don’t set a deadline for your project (unless there’s a built-in deadline, like a baby’s arrival!). Deadlines just cause stress, and this project is NOT ABOUT STRESS. It’s about enjoying the process, and anticipating the finished product.

5. Upgrade your tools. If you’ve never worked with a truly beautiful yarn, give it a try this year. It’s not to say you can’t knit amazing projects out of so-so yarn, but you’ll be surprised how even the simplest project shines in a really gorgeous fiber. Walk slowly around the shop and see what yarns seem to call out to you. Even if it’s a fiber you would have never considered before, we can help you find the perfect pattern. Likewise, if you’ve never knit with Addi needles before, treat yourself to a set this year. Or upgrade your project totes from Ziploc bags (guilty!!) to project bags that make you want to pick them up and knit. Invest in a good notions case (the Perfect Notions Case that we carry in the shop is a great one) or a cute measuring tape. Nice tools make your projects more fun, and often, easier and better-looking too.

Hmmm … looks like it’s going to take more than one post to list all my resolution ideas. Check back tomorrow for more suggestions. And don’t forget to leave your resolution in the comments!

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Posted in Chat, Classes

Nov 12

Come stitch quick gifts Dec. 5!

Wine bottle scarves and hats

How else does a bottle of chilled champagne keep warm?

There’s a reason that there are entire books devoted to “last-minute” gifts: During the holiday season, it seems we’re always in need of a little gift for one person or another, and of course, it’s always, ALWAYS at the last minute.

Maybe you’re heading to a holiday party, and don’t want to go empty-handed. Maybe you need another small gift for your child’s teacher(s). Maybe your mail carrier has been extra-vigilant about leaving your packages where they won’t get rained on, and deserves a little gift. And maybe (probably?) you just can’t bear another trip to the mall.

This year, Knit and Stitch is excited to host a special winter workshop devoted especially to these small, quick gifts. On Sunday, Dec. 5, join us in the shop to learn to knit or crochet a few little items that are just right for last-minute gifts. The workshop runs from 1 to 5 p.m., but you can come and go as you please — we’ll have lots of hands available to help you get started on the project you choose. The workshop itself and the patterns are absolutely free, and you can buy kits that contain mini-skeins of yarn and some additional small items to complete your projects. (The kits will contain plenty of yarn for several projects.)

Of course, the workshop is going to be fun! But it’s also a chance to sharpen your skills. If you’ve never knit on double-pointed needles (or are a bit rusty), this is your chance to get some free instruction and practice on a very small project. No need to tackle a sock or mitten as your first DPN project — we’ve chosen some very cute patterns that even a DPN beginner can tackle. If you’re a crocheter — or want to be — we’ve chosen a simple (but SO cute) crochet project as well. So if you want to learn to hook, there’s a chance for that too.

So what are we stitching? Here are the projects we’ve chosen:

  • Wine bottle hats and scarves (pictured above): How can you not smile when you see these? A bottle of wine is always appreciated, but a bottle of wine wearing a hat and scarf will be the talk of the party! How about a six-pack of beer wearing hats in your favorite team’s colors? Awesome.
  • Korknisse: Corks wearing tiny hats and sweaters! See a great example here. These are a great way to practice on DPNs, and use up little bits of yarn. Turn them into ornaments or gift toppers, or make a whole gang of them to sit on a table or mantel.
  • Coffee sleeve: You know those cardboard cup sleeves you get at coffee shops? Why not knit one? Saves a tree, and looks super-cute around your morning latte. Add a Starbucks gift card, and this becomes a perfect teacher gift.
  • Crocheted bird: This adorable bird decoration is also great crochet practice. You’ll learn to crochet a circle, which is the foundation for lots of crochet projects.

Think you’ll join us? We want to have plenty of kits (and staff) on hand for everyone. If you think you’ll drop by the open house, send us a quick e-mail at knitandstitchbethesda@gmail.com. We won’t hold you to it, but it would help our planning considerably.

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    Posted in Patterns, Shop news, Techniques, Workshops

    Nov 02

    A call to crochet

    Crocheted potholders

    Fruity trivets and potholders, a free pattern from purlbee.com

    I learned to crochet before I learned to knit. My mom has crocheted for as long as I can remember. She tried to teach me for the first time when I was in high school, but it didn’t “take.” (Which might have been because at the time, we were sitting in a car with a flat tire, waiting for help to arrive.)

    About seven years ago, when the new wave of knitting and crochet was just beginning to hit, I asked her to teach me to crochet granny squares. For Christmas that year, she gave me a big box of yarn, an assortment of hooks and my first lesson. I crocheted about a dozen granny squares in that first week, and assembled them into a scarf. It was kind of lumpy, so it eventually went off to Goodwill, but an obsession had begun.

    The next year, I learned to knit, and while knitting has eclipsed crochet among my fiber-based hobbies, I still crochet several projects a year. I think crochet gets a bad rap, especially among knitters. When I was first learning to knit, I was browsing in a yarn shop, and I heard another customer ask one of the shop staff about the difference between knitting and crochet. “Well,” the woman replied, her voice dripping with disdain, “Crochet always looks handmade, but knitting can look really professional.” Obviously, she wasn’t a crocheter.

    But I was (am!), and I’ve always remembered that conversation. And it’s just not true; just as knitting has soared in recent years, spawning lots of beautiful new patterns and yarns, crochet has also had a renaissance. It’s no longer just a craft of bulky acrylic afghans and lacy doilies. The new wave of contemporary crochet has something for everyone.

    You owe it to yourself to give crochet a try — sign up for our two-session beginning crochet class, Wednesday, Dec. 1 and 8. In the first session, we’ll learn the basics, and then in the second class, we’ll learn to read a pattern and crochet a basic granny square. I’ll also chat about a few ways crochet and knitting play well together, so if you’re already a knitter, you can use crochet to enhance your projects.

    Still not convinced? Here are my top five reasons that crochet is worth a look:

    Granny square potholder

    A cotton potholder made from two basic granny squares

    1. Have you ever tried to knit a perfect circle? It’s (sort of ) possible, but it requires some skill. It’s easy to crochet a perfect circle. And from there, the possibilities are endless. Surely you’ve seen all the cute patterns for crocheted toys (called amigurumi). It’s become easier to find patterns for knit amigurumi, but it started as a crochet phenomenon, partly because it’s easier to form some of the stuffed shapes in crochet.

    2. I’m not going to get into a debate about whether crochet is easier than knitting. Plenty of people find that one craft or the other just isn’t for them. But I will say this: I find it a lot easier to fix my mistakes in crochet. When you crochet, you only have one stitch on the hook at a time, so if you mess up, you just unravel back to where the mistake occurred. Anyone who’s tried to fix mistakes in knitting knows that it’s not always that easy. I’m a pretty advanced knitter, and I’ve still been known to frog significant portions of a project rather than try to fix a mistake.

    3. Much like knitting, crochet takes on an entirely different look depending on the materials you’re using. You can use a tiny hook and skinny thread and crochet a doily, or a giant hook and bulky yarn and crochet an area rug. Out of the same pattern!

    4. I won’t carve this in stone, but often, crochet is quicker and takes less yarn than knitting. For example, I almost always choose crochet when I want to make a baby blanket. I did knit a super-squishy bulky blanket for my niece, but both of my own children have crochet blankets. I just find that it’s faster, and when you’ve got a deadline like a baby’s arrival, that’s a good thing.

    5. If you’re already a knitter, crochet is a good trick to have up your sleeve. Even if you’re a novice knitter, you can knit a basic hat in stockinette stitch. Crochet a giant flower, sew it on, and suddenly you’ve created something really special. You can also crochet beautiful borders and embellishments for lots of knitted items. And if you’ve never used a crochet provisional cast-on, you need to check it out. Great for turned hems and other fun improvements to your knitting.

    Did I convince you? Good — call the shop now at (301) 652-8688 and register for Beginning Crochet. And keep an eye on this space for more reasons you really should pick up a hook.

    A NOTE ON THE PATTERNS

    The cute potholders and trivet are crocheted from a free pattern available on The Purl Bee. They’re knit with a K hook from the lovely Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton, which we carry at Knit and Stitch in lots of gorgeous colors. The yarn is held doubled, to make a nice thick potholder (or trivet) to protect your hands (or countertop!).

    The granny square potholder is actually just two basic squares (a granny square, and a plain double-crochet square), crocheted from cotton yarn with a G hook. They’re crocheted together with a round of single crochet.

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    Posted in Classes, Shop news

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