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Project Linus, Cascade Eco Duo and Julie's Favorites!

POSTED: October 28, 2011 by Lizz

Working Within the Community

We've mentioned in the past that we're going to be doing some charity projects in the coming months to help give back during the holidays.  We'd like to announce an on-going collection for Project Linus!

Project Linus is an amazing nation-wide organizaiton that has a mission we knitters can stand by: "to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans."  That is why MSK will be collecting any donated items for Project Linus.  If you would like to donate blankets, keep reading for their blanket-making guidelines. (Please note: what's listed here is what they are specifically in need of, as requested by Project Linus.) You can also go here for some free patterns.  Additional needed items: stamps (for thank you letters and post cards); yarn in children and baby colors (acrylic, please no wool); cotton fabric for making quilts; batting for quilts; gift cards to craft stores such as JoAnn's, Michaels or Hobby Lobby.  If you would like more information on this organization or would like to volunteer, please visit the Project Linus website. 

Blanket Making Guidelines

• Child size: 36"x40", up to 40"x60".  These sizes are appropriate for grade school age children.  Bright, kid-friendly colors are great!  They always need boy-themed blankets in this size.

• Older youth and teen size: 48"x60" up to 60"x72".  These sizes will work well for mose Junior and Senior High School kids.  If you are making a blanket this size, think in terms of what fabrics, yarns and fleece would appeal to a teen.  A two yard long piece of fleece would make a blanket appropriate in size for an older teen.  Again, they are always in need of boy blankets in this size.

• Please remember to wash your blanket with unscented detergent and fabric softener before donating it to Project Linus.  This simple action is very important to the hospitalized babies and children who may be receiving your blanket.

New in the Shop

Cascade Eco Duo is an awesome yarn, made up of 70% Merino and 30% Alpaca.  It's a single-ply yarn, which makes it super soft and warm.  It comes in five shades of un-dyed delight, and MSK is pleased to announce that we now have all five shades!

Each skein has subtle color-changes to it, so it will fade and darken with whatever project you choose.  A 100 gram skein yields 197 yards (or 180 meters), so it's perfect for hats, mittens, gloves, slipper-socks, and anything else you have planned for keeping yourself and your loved ones warm this winter.  Stop by the shop to see the samples, and to pick up some of your own (before it's gone)!

Staff Favorites

We here at MSK are fickle knitters ... we have a lot of favorites, and we always have a lot of NEW favorites!  That's why we're going to start mentioning them to you here, so that you can take advantage of our latest and greatest finds.  This week, some of Julie's faves:

Pickles Patterns (website and blog) -- these cute patterns are written by a woman in Norway, who has also translater her patterns into English.  We love her kids' patterns and her chunky, warm and cozy sweaters.

Photo courtesy Pickles

Marie Mayhew (designer) -- we are so thrilled to have Marie coming here on November 8 that she is a sure-fire favorite!  Her holiday decorations are creative, clever, and easy to knit up.  Please join us for a meet-and-greet from 6:00 - 9:00pm, and hear Marie talk about her designs, and additional ideas for embellishments to them!  Space is limited, so please call the shop to RSVP.  (Cost is $5, and we'll have refreshments!)

Photo courtesy Marie Mayhew, That's Woolly Something!

Marie Mayhew is Woolly Something

POSTED: October 24, 2011 by Lizz

Marie Mayhew has a wonderful imagination.  Her felted friends and decorations add a sense of whimsy to every holiday, and we love the friendly faces that appear on her snowmen, sheepies and gnomes. Her designs make non-knitters go "Ooooooh!!" when they see what you've been able to whip up with the help of your washing machine and some super hot water, and felting can be really fun.

Photos courtesy Marie Mayhew, WoollySomething

That's why we're really excited that Marie is coming to share some of her secrets and embellishment ideas with us at My Sister Knits!  On Tuesday, November 8, Marie will be in the shop from 6:00 - 8:00pm with a trunk show of her wonderful creatures and creations.  She'll talk for a little while about what it takes to create her designs, and share some other ideas for adding decorations as well.  It's only $5 to join in the fun, so be sure not to miss this one!  In the meantime, read up on what Marie is working on by visiting her blog and her Ravelry pages.

Sustainable Living Fair 2011

POSTED: September 15, 2011 by Lizz

We've all been hearing lately the importance of a sustainable living situation.  This can be anything from gardening to composting, recycling, donating, alternative transportations -- and, of course, crafting!  There are lots of way to make a difference ... even small things can add up over time.  That's why we're really excited about the Sustainable Living Fair taking place this Saturday and Sunday, September 17th and 18th at Legacy Park.

Organized by the Sustainable Living Association, the Sustainable Living Fair offers a weekend of solution-based, interactive family oriented events designed to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about renewable energy, alternative transportation, sustainable agriculture, green building, natural health, environmental & social responsibility, local economies and more.  The Fair features 250 exhibitors, 75 workshops, hands-on experiences, live music and entertainment, and a Real Food Market.  Our partners in crafting, Mama Said Sew will be there both days offering workshops and demonstrations in lots of different fabric-related activities.

Check the link above for the full weekend's schedule, or read below for the activities that Mama Said Sew is offering.  Please call Mama Said Sew for more information on their activities.  Hope to see you there!

Saturday, September 17th
10am - 11am: Kids Craft
11am - 12pm: Beer and Buttons
12pm - 1pm: Cyclist Pant
1pm - 2pm: Fashion Show! (Main Stage)
2pm - 4pm: Designer Meet-and-Greet
4pm - 6pm: Screenprinting

Sunday, September 18th
10am - 11am: Kids Craft
11am - 12pm: Cyclist Pant Restraint
12pm - 1pm: Beer and Buttons
1pm - 3pm: Fibers Workshop (Hands-On Tent)
2pm - 4pm: Screenprinting

One Bike, Two Bikes, Red Bikes, Blue Bikes

POSTED: September 7, 2011 by Lizz

Tour de Fat

This past Saturday marked a favorite event of ours, New Belgium Brewery's Tour de Fat.  This awesome bicycle parade is a chance for people and families to dress up and show their love and support for non-motor-vehicle forms of transportation.  We had some tasty treats, amazing weather and comfy seats for people to stop and watch the parade go by, and a few people even brought their knitting!

We made this photo large enough so you could see it's covered with knitting!  From handlebars to kickstand, it's knitted!  How cool is the cabled bike seat?  And the yarn-y tassels!  The kickstand is even covered!

There were tall bikes ....

And pirate ship bikes ....

And whatever kind of bike this is ....

All in all, a fun day!  We already can't wait for next year.  Were you there?

Cat Bordhi Information

If you are taking one of Cat Bordhi's classes this weekend (Sweet Tomato Heel is Sunday, September 11 and Really Personal Footprints is Monday, September 12), we have some additional information for you.  For the Sweet Tomato Heel class, Cat has requested that you watch her YouTube demonstration video before class.  Here's a link to the video.  It is also helpful if you buy the eBook for the Sweet Tomato Heel, available for purchase on Ravelry or through Cat's website (you can use a credit card or your PayPal account).  The eBook is not required for the class, but it will be helpful as there are no hand-outs for this class.

If you are taking the Really Personal Footprints, we will have a hand-out available for you when class begins.  Please call the shop if you have any other questions.  Happy knitting!

Bike One, Knit All

POSTED: August 31, 2011 by Lizz

Tour de Fat

This Saturday, September 3rd marks the Tour de Fat: the annual bike parade put on by the New Belgium Brewery.  This bike tour is a town favorite.  Families, college students, kids and grandparents alike dress up and ride their bikes (tricked out and not), beginning at Civic Center Park and traveling up and down Mountain Avenue.  Afterwards is a carnival that you can ride experimental bikes, hear some great music, and of course eat and drink beer to your heart's content. Trust us when we say if you're NOT dressed up in costume, you will feel out of place.  This is a family-fun event that can't be missed!

Join us at MSK from 10:00am - 2:00pm to watch the parade go by and get some tasty coffee treats from Espresso People.  Be sure to bring your knitting!

New In the Library

Elizabeth Zimmermann is a knitting icon.  She has taught endless people how to knit, and her books live on as staples in many people's knitting libraries.  Her patterns range from basic and simple to complicated and brilliant, and her construction techniques border on the mind-bending.  Her daughter, Meg Swansen, has carried on in the knitting tradition and still runs Schoolhouse Press (EZ's original knitting newsletter press) to this day.

EZ fans everywhere were thrilled when they found out that another book of her patterns would be published posthumously (she passed away in 1999).  This was to be a book that Elizabeth had been pushing for since her first book came out -- one solely dedicated to her favorite stitch, Garter.  EZ's grandson, Cully Swansen has reconstructed and gathered a collection of Elizabeth's garter stitch patterns and published them all in this posthumous volume titled Knit One, Knit All.

This is a lovely book, filled with patterns of Elizabeth's creation.  It contains socks, sweaters, hats, mittens, gloves and jackets -- patterns ranging from beginner to advanced, and all based around garter stitch (what she calls the "bread and cheese of knitting").  Supplemented with notes and diagrams drawn in EZ's hand, it also contains a few sketches and watercolors done by Elizabeth.

We also love this Sideways Glove pattern that comes with instructions to make a fingerless version as well.

Knit on!

Update on Cat Bordhi & Other Classes

POSTED: March 25, 2011 by mysisterknits

The Cat Bordhi classes on September 11th and 12th are filling. There are 11 spots left in Sunday's Sweet Tomato Heel class and only 6 spots in Really Personal Footprints for Rebellious Sock Knitters on Monday the 12th. The classes will be held at Edward's House Bed & Breakfast and registration includes breakfast and lunch. The cost of each class is $115, with a 50% deposit required upon registration. We have information packets at the shop. If you are not local we would be happy to mail out a packet to you.

While it is super exciting to be hosting Cat Bordhi in September, we have some other talented knitting authors visiting soon.

Vicki Square has an Adventures in Color class on Saturday April 2nd from 1-4pm. If you are afraid of changing colors in patterns and want to feel more confident in making your own color choices this is the class for you! The cost is $65 + supplies (there was a typo in the class schedule, sorry).

Donna Druchunas will be arming her students on Saturday April 16th with the skills needed to work multiple colors on one row of knitting without worrying about tangling yarns in Knitting with Multiple Colors. This class is from 11am - 4pm. The cost of the class is $65 plus supplies. Please bring your own lunch.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different ways to cast on and bind off? Ann Budd will be visiting on April 30th from 9:30 am - 4pm teaching at least 7 different cast ons and 6 different bind offs and when each suits a given project best. This is a class that is not to be missed! The cost is $65 plus supplies.

Sweater designer extraordinaire, Ann McCauley will be visiting Tuesday May 3rd from 5:30-7:30 pm teaching everyone how to fix mistakes. She'll be covering ways to correct twisted, dropped and split stitches as well as ways to safely rip back a stitch, a row or inches of knitting! This is another very valuable skill to have in your knitting repertoire. Class is $30 plus supplies.

With all these visitors, let us not forget all our local knitting talent!

Not on the formal class schedule is a Sock Monkey class being taught by Roz Cutler. The pattern is a free one from Red Heart. The class will meet three times, every other Thursday beginning March 31st from 6-7:30pm. The cost of the class is $35 plus supplies.

Tara Redman is teaching the wonderful Whispy Cardi, knit in Malabrigo Lace. It is seamless and lives up its name, making it a great accessory for spring and summer evenings. This class meets Tuesday evenings, April 5, 19th and 26th from 5:30-7pm. The cost of this class is $65 plus supplies.

Back with a host of classes for those of you who are just embarking on your knitting career is Julie Conway. On April 9th from 10am-12pm join her for Learn to Knit II where if you've got the basics down you can learn how to increase, decrease, slip stitches, join yarns, combine stitches, rib stitch and seed stitch for $30 plus supplies. Also on April 9th, but in the afternoon from 1-3pm you can join her for Knitting Skills - Knitting in the Round to learn all you need to know about knitting in the round. Again, the cost is $30 plus supplies. Don't worry if you're brand new to knitting Julie still has you covered with her Learn to Knit I class on Tuesday, April 12th from 5:30-7pm, $30 plus supplies. If these dates don't work for you, she'll be back in May with Learn to Knit I & II. Check the class schedule for details.

As always, you will receive a 20% discount on all supplies when the class is paid for. You may sign up for the classes at the store, or you may call us at 970-407-1461 and reserve your spot with a credit card.

The Makerie Retreat in Boulder

POSTED: March 10, 2011 by mysisterknits

Have you heard about The Makerie creative retreat being held at Colorado Chautauqua in Boulder, CO April 7th - 10th?

The Makerie is a weekend retreat packed with creative inspiration for everyone, no matter your craft of choice. There are workshops related to knitting, jewelry making, photography, block printing and mixed media; even yoga. Some of the outstanding instructors include Stephanie Japel, Flora Bowley, Alessandra Cave, Lizzy House, Jessica Hernandez and more!

With it being near by you can keep the cost affordable by registering for the Day package  which includes an all day workshop, 1 lunch and a goodie bag for only $189. But, registration ends soon - March 18th to be exact!

You can get all the details, including the list of workshops and sign up on their web site at http://themakerie.com/retreat/.

Even if the retreat is not a part of your budget, there is a curated market open to the public that is open from 7-10pm on April 9th and 11am - 3pm on April 10th at the chataqua community house that I'm sure is not to be missed!

Book Signing With Vicki Square - December 18th

POSTED: December 14, 2010 by mysisterknits

We are very excited here at My Sister Knits to be hosting a book signing with local author and knitwear designer, Vicki Square,  on Saturday December 18, 2010 11:30 am — 1:30 pm.

We'll be celebrating the recent releases of :

Tour de Fat Tomorrow

POSTED: September 3, 2010 by mysisterknits

Tour de Fat will once again be parading on Mountain Avenue in front of the shop, tomorrow, September 4th. You are welcome to bring your chairs, drinks and snacks and take in the show from our yard. It is a fun experience!

We will be open as well. Mountain will be closed though, so you'll want to park on the side streets - Lyons or Roosevelt. It'll be easiest to access those from LaPorte Avenue.

We hope to see you there! And if you're riding in the tour be sure to wave as you pass by!

Party in Pictures!

POSTED: August 31, 2010 by mysisterknits

Thanks so much to all of you who ventured out on Saturday for the anniversary open house. The energy and excitement was amazing!

Thanks also to everyone who baked goodies to share. We all enjoyed them, though I think patient husbands and kids the most! The coffee cart was wonderful as well. My Cocoa Krispy drink was a wonderful mid-morning pick-me-up - thanks for bringing that in Julie!

It was wonderful to see the trunk show for Classic Elite's new pattern book for the new yarn, Magnolia! While I was there a significant dent was made in the yarn on the shelves. I know I came home and queued a few pieces from the booklet.

The Danger Crafts trunk show was fun too. I love the imagination that goes into these creative creatures and can only begin to imagine the variations one could make.

A few other projects on display also caught my eye. Above left is the Cloud Chaser vest by Amy Swenson, knit here out of Blue Sky Alpaca. It seems like one of those garments you'd slip on regularly to chase away chills at the office or at home. Then there was the adorable Sam doll from the premier issue of St. Denis Magazine.

Then one of Julie's speedy knitters already churned out a gorgeous Cloisonne Jacket from the Fall 2010 issue of Interweave Knits. This one was knit in Madelinetosh Light.

If you missed out on the fun on Saturday, come in soon to check out those two trunk shows before they move on!