Rugs and socks

Last Sunday we had a lovely get together.

I had asked the staff, regular volunteers, teachers and local suppliers to join me for a "Knit and Chat" lunch. The venue was booked months ago and the menu was set.

Then the venue went out of business and we had to throw something together at the last minute. And as these things usually happen, it turned out even better than the original plan.

The group ranged in age from early 30's to late 70's, all avid knitters except for our rug hooking teacher who is generally an all round fibre fan. And it was at this time that I was able to admit to her, and all the others at the table, that I've discovered that I LOVE rug hooking. I work with knitting and feel confident and secure in it; I really enjoy designing, writing and teaching; I run a business relatively well, but I LOVE rug hooking.

The piece pictured here (by the way, don't ever lose the usb cable for your camera. It's a major pain to work around or replace) is my first completed piece, which I literally drew freehand on a substandard piece of burlap that I had hanging around, and began working on just so that we would have a display to show customers what rug hooking was like. Well, it didn't progress very rapidly as I left the partially completed project hanging in the store for months on end, until I decided to take it home over the Holidays to give myself a different project to work on, and I got so into it that I finished it. Yesterday I bought some binding tape to sew on the back and I plan to use it as a table rug in our living room. The rust and gold are just regular Lopi yarn and the blue and aqua details are done of Briggs and Little "Super" 4ply wool.

Did I mention that I LOVE rug hooking. And it would appear that others are getting into it too. We are now carrying lovely designs on (fine quality) burlap which are becoming very popular and I'm having to reorder quite frequently. And the beginner's class in rug hooking, coming up on Feb. 14th, is already sold out and we're taking names for another proposed class later in the spring. I guess people just like the feeling of working with wool and playing with the fibres.

The other fun that I've been having lately is preparing the class in advanced sock knitting techniques using Cat Bordhi's book: "New Pathways for Sock Knitters." The lady is quite amazing: in an experience that was a lot like when Newton got beaned on the head with the apple, Cat discovered that it truly doesn't matter where you add stitches around the foot to accomodate the enlarged area around the heel and instep, and so has used this knowledge to play with possibilities that this discovery opens up.

This is my demo sock using the "Little sky sockitechture".

On a typical sock, the diagonal lines that return us to the original form of the foot begin at the ankle and work their way on either side to about the middle of the foot. Notice on this sock that that line begins at the top of the foot and goes down in a straight line towards the bottom of the heel. This gives some nice room for an interesting design on the top of the foot, or on the side of the heel.

There is still some room in this class that I'll be teaching on Feb 28th when we'll be covering toe-up techniques, different "expansions" to accomodate our 3 dimensional feet, custom fitting, knitting socks on (a) circular needle(s), and lots of other great features for sock knitters who want to go on to the open a whole new world of possibilities for themselves.

Faces of "Art"

"Not everything you do is going to be a
masterpiece, but you get art there and you try,
and sometimes it really happens. The other times
you're just stretching your soul."
by Maya Angelou

I love the wisdom of Maya Angelou.

This is a picture of a sock that I just started knitting one day with Cadenza from Estelle Designs. It's a wool and silk blend and I wanted to play with the colour spiral going opposite to the eyelets. My fingers just kinda took over and I really enjoyed the freedom of the whole experience. This was a sock design to play with, to see what would happen if...

Then about 3/4 of the way through the sock my disciplined self took over and I realized that in order to make this a practical exercise - timewise - that I should write out the pattern down and offer it on our free pattern website some month. So I finished the sock and loved it. Took pictures of it and began the 2nd one, dilligently writing out directions as I went along. I really didn't have any trouble until it came time to describe what to do at the gusset to incorporate the eyelet pattern, and then I was stumped.

I know that these are absolutely not difficult socks and writing the pattern really isn't rocket science, and I've certainly written more complicated patterns than this for myself, but I just simply ran out of time, energy, motivation, whatever else you want to add to this list to keep perfecting and reviewing the pattern so that I wouldn't be leading my lovely customers into a quagmire of knitting confusion.

This experience had me thinking about all the different levels of at which we can create and appreciate "art", and that each level has its value and each has its lessons to teach us. Writing a perfect pattern that is clear and rich in how it conveys the designer's intention is a work of art in itself, and one which I've always admired and I strive to work towards it. Needless to say, the spiral eyelet sock pattern was not one of my successes in this journey.

It is however in this way that I came to truly recognize the genius of Debbie New, one of the most truly awe inspiring knitting designers working today. Check out this website if you don't know her work: http://www.philosopherswool.com/Pages/DebbieNewCards.htm

Some of you may recognize her Madonna and Child, as we have a copy of the picture at the store. An amazing aspect of this piece is that it is life size, with Mary being about 5 feet tall. And from a knitter's perspective, an even more amazing thing is that the artist has woven in all of those ends (how many hundreds do you think that there are?) on the good side of the work, to amazing effect.
Very sensibly, I don't believe that Debbie ever published a "pattern" for this piece, but if you check out this site, you will see her award winning socks that defy the imagination of most knitters. http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0964639157/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link

Obviously, the challenges in creating these socks were many. Not only did she need to conceive and complete the design, which most of us can admit comes from another knitting galaxy, but by virtue of the fact that they would be published in a book the pattern needed to accompany the project. Debbie had to invent an entirely new system of knitting notation to explain how to "recreate" them for the bravehearts who would take on such a challenge.

Debbie is my hero, (along with Elizabeth Zimmerman, of course) for her commitment to her art, to the earth, to peace and to beauty - whether her work is comfortable for us to observe and reflect upon or not. (Please take a moment to look at her piece called "Dancing in Chains" from the 3rd set of cards on the Philosopher's Wool Site, linked above.)

Important news re the Kingston Knitting Circle meeting in January

Please excuse the woefully inadequate posting after such a long absence, but I promise that I'll be back to the keyboard soon.
I did want to let people know however that the January's meeting of the Kingston Knitting Circle is on the 3rd Tuesday of the month as usual, but unfortunately Chapters is not able to accomodate us this month (I'll keep you posted if this continues on to future months). So the details of the meeting are as follows:
When: Tues. Jan 20th. 7-9pm
Where: Isabel Turner Library, (behind the Cataraqui Town Centre) on the lower level. (The stairs are in the middle of the building, beside the elevator)
WHO: All are welcome. Please feel free to join us.

By the way, those who have come out in the past will remember that we each toss a twoonie in the pot when we meet. At the end of the year we look for a worthy cause to support, and this year we bought 24 pairs of warm socks and 8 hat/scarf/mitten sets and brought them to Martha's Table to be distributed over the Holidays.
Thanks to all who've come out.

A walk down Home Ec. memory lane.

So this morning I was browsing through the internet for a simple Spanish Coffee recipe to serve at a get together tomorrow evening when I found one on the FoodTV site, right beside the picture of this "Yule log" - as I've learned to call it in English.

When I was growing up in Quebec and going to French school we learned all about the folklore of this traditional Christmas dessert. We learned how to make it in a jelly roll pan, we learned how to wrap it in a lightly floured tea towel, to roll it and about creating pseudo-mushrooms with meringues that have had cocoa dusted onto them. The only thing that stumped me was when the heck was the plum pudding (with hard sauce, of course) going to be eaten, and why didn't any of my friends know the French name for plum pudding? Growing up English in a French community, it was not an uncommon thing to learn theoretically about traditions that we never got to practice at home, but the details that I retain of the importance of buttered hands when pulling taffy (la tire de la Ste Catherine), making maple poached eggs, and how to perfectly apply the icing to the Christmas "buche" to make it look like bark, are all fond memories that stay with me much as I remember the details of "Catherine's" bed chamber in Wuthering Heights: dear to me in an outsider's way.

Actually none of this has much to do with knitting, but what I did learn is how many interesting experiences one can have by following from one link to the next on the internet. Here is the address for the blog where the Yule log recipe is found: http://www.foodtv.ca/BLOG/archive/2008/12/01/12-days-of-holiday-treats-chocolaty-christmas-log.aspx and being a blog, they're are always links to other blogs. Well, go figure, who knew that there would be as many, if not more, obsessed foodies wanting to share their ideas and discoveries with their cyberfriends on food blogs (over 50 of them have links from that page.)

Now why would I find it odd that there would be so many food bloggers? I'm a big food fan myself. I guess I just don't hang around with people who are as passionate about food as they are about knitting.

Anyone who wants to take the "Sock in a day" class at the store in January had better "get their skates on" (as they say on Coronation Street.) We're already half full. Lots of other great classes coming up too. I'm really looking forward to it.

As promised, this is a picture of the tea cozy that I knitted, felted then needle felted for my oldest who really enjoys her tea. The scroll work along the bottom is just multi coloured roving as is the "I". The heart and the tea pot were made by using miniature cookie cutters that I got at the Bulk Barn. You lay them on the fabric to be embellished and fill them with fleece then start poking the heck out of it with a felting needle until it's nearly flat. If you want more high relief add some more fleece and poke the heck out of it again. Remove the cookie cutter frame and use your needle and accent/shading colours to work in the details.

It really is as easy as can be. But my advice is that it should be appreciated by all from a distance of not less than 3 feet. Like much art work it loses a lot of its magic when scrutinized too closely. If you haven't tried needle felting, it really is worth the $15 investment to have a real play time. Great way to distract yourself over the holidays.

Schedule of Winter and Spring classes

Don't be disappointed - sign up now!
Contact the store at 613-384-3951 or email us at wooltymekingston@gmail.com

Registration details:

-Classes must be paid for at the time of registration to hold your spot. (Materials can be paid for on the day of the class).

-Payment can be made in person using cash, cheque, credit card or debit card. Registration can be taken over the phone using a credit card.

-Participants who must cancel will only receive a refund if they call the store at least 48 hours before the class and if we are able to fill the spot. A credit for a future class will be considered in the event that a refund cannot be made.

Saturday, Jan. 17th:

Learn to make a SOCK-IN-A-DAY

with Anne Woodall
Go through all of the steps in knitting a sock in just one day. Also great for sock knitters who want to learn to adapt to any yarn/ foot size.

When: Saturday, Jan. 17th, 10am-???

Cost: Workshop $45. Includes all materials & handouts.

Saturday, Jan. 31st:

Embellishing your Knitting

with Deb White

Anyone can take knitted or crafted project and turn it into a work of art. Embroidery, needle felting, borders, finishing touches are all covered in this wonderful class that lets you explore the artist within.

When: Saturday, Jan. 31st, 1-4pm

Cost: $45. Materials provided.

Saturday, Feb. 14th:

Introduction to TRADITIONAL RUG HOOKING Part I

with Rhonda Kellett
Learn the basics of this traditional craft using wool strips, yarn and burlap as taught by one of the area's finest registered teachers of rug hooking. Kit provided to create a beautiful wall hanging/ trivet .

When: Saturday, Feb. 14th, 1-4pm.

Cost: Workshop $45. - Kit $45.

Also required: 14” hoop or scroll frame available at The Quilter's Choice and WOOL-TYME Kingston.


Saturday, Feb. 21st:

DROP SPINDLE for beginners

with Kim Parkinson.
The simplest way to discover the wonder of spinning fibres is with a drop spindle.Try your hand at it this age old craft .

When: Saturday, Feb. 21st, 1-4pm

Cost: workshop $45. Includes a spindle to take home and a selection of fibres to work with.

Saturday, Feb. 28th

Advanced SOCK TECHNIQUES

with Anne Woodall

Using the amazing sock "architectures" of Cat Bordhi as a starting point, learn how to

a)create ANY of the beautiful, perfectly fitting socks pictured in the book.

b) master toe up and top down techniques.

c) use the book without loosing your mind (and your place).

When: Saturday, Feb 28th, 1-4pm

Cost: $55. - Includes Cat Bordhi's Book 1: New Pathways for Sock Knitters. ($35 for participants who already own the book).

Saturday, March 21st

FAIR ISLE TECHNIQUES for all

with Anne Woodall.

Learn the basics of stranding different colours of yarn to create beautiful traditional patterns, with some new and novel-old twists. 2-Handed fair isle knitting, using hand painted colours, steeks and (AHHH!) cutting your knitting, fair isle knitting on the purl side will all be covered in this class.

When: Saturday, March 21st, 1-4pm

Cost: $45. A small material list and preparation assignment will be provided 2 weeks before the class.

Saturday, April 18th

ENTRELAC KNITTING TECHNIQUES

with Deb White.

Entrelac is a beautiful knitting technique that has an amazing WOW-factor while being relatively easy to learn and adapt to many different projects. Join Deb, a long time knitting designer and teacher, as she shows you how to make the most of this beautiful technique.

When: Saturday, April 18th, 1-4pm

Cost: $45. A small material list will be provided 2 weeks before the class.

Saturday, April 25th

Learn to make a SOCK-IN-A-DAY
with Anne Woodall

The spring date for this incredibly popular class has been set. Go through all of the steps in knitting a sock in just one day. Also great for sock knitters who want to learn to adapt to any yarn/ foot size.

When: Saturday, April 25th, 10am-???
Cost: Workshop $45. Includes all materials & handouts.

Out of Synch

This is a flower on one of my clematis bushes. It lives next to an overexuberant clematis of another breed that is way too showy and cannot be tamed. This darker coloured clematis is the weaker of the pair and despite being the same age, is about 10% of the size of its neighbour, and produces about 5% of the flowers. It did however decide to put out one single flower during our warm spell earlier in the fall. Then it snowed . Isn't it pretty despite its lonely vigil over my abandoned front garden?

It's interesting to think of what we find beautiful. One of the sales reps for a major supplier was in the store yesterday so that I could check out the spring lineup and do some ordering. He was saying that it took awhile but that the design department had finallly figure out that knitters will drool over handpainted colours in any fine yarn, but that when it comes to the thicker yarns, they prefer the solid or heathered colours. I had to agree. And I always like to analyse responses, but darned if I can figure out our drool reflex in front a glorious skein of multi hued lace weight yarn and our gut response to a gorgeous skein of the purest colour of solid rich grey in Cascade 220; and conversely, how the opposite just doesn't say very much to us. (The obvious exceptions to this rule are all the Noro yarns and the Manos del Uruguay handpaints, which of course are just simply exquisite, no matter how thick they are.)

I'm working on the newsletter and had to take a break (I do believe that it's called "procrastination"). The other day I finished a great felted tea cozy on which I needle felted the cutest details. This is for my oldest daughter for Christmas. When I get the battery charged in my camera, I'll have to show you a picture if you promise not to tell her.

Last night I finished these thrum mitts. The colour in the picture is a bit bright but they are in fact burgandy and gold, which I beleived to be her school colours. I did have a nagging suspicion however that this was not completely accurate as I had just heard of the school colours through her, followed by the disclaimer: "I think". So this morning, as I was getting ready to put them with the other gifts that I've finished, I looked it up on the internet, and sure enough, the colours for her University are in fact burgundy, gold AND BLACK.
Now I certainly could have looked this bit of information up the same way, and in the same 10 seconds worth of time investment, a couple of weeks ago when I began them and I could have included black with the yellow thrums instead of burgandy and yellow ones. But that is my nature; for some reason I feel that it's more important to get on with the job at hand and tidy the details, if necessary, later on.

In this case, I'll probably do a bit of duplicate stitch to add some black around the cuff. It's not the end of the world, but it certainly is a good thing that I'm not a perfectionist or a slave to the sequential order of things.

P.S. As if to further illustrate my need to get on with the job and worry about details later, when I published this post originally, I looked at the page as it showed up on my screen and couldn't figure out why it looked so different from my other blog posts, until I realized that I had written it in our Free Pattern website: www.wtkpatterns.blogspot.com This goes to show that I've become really good at fixing problems as it's only taken me another 5 minutes to move it over here. I've also learned a lot about serenity in my life, and how to keep from hitting my head against a wall when I make a mistake.

A busy week at the shop

This is what running a yarn store should be all about. It's been a week of beginnings, firsts, great sales, great people and interesting knitting puzzles that I get to play with in my head.

We began last weekend with our first class on intarsia techniques, which is the technique involved in producing a picture or any blocks of colour into your knitted fabric. We used Dora here as an example of how easy it is to find pictures on the internet then trace them on to the graph paper that we can supply at the store that is designed to reproduce just about any knitting gauge that you can come up with. This custom sized graph paper is just one of the freebies that we are glad to offer our customers who have taken on the task of pleasing a young fan who needs to have their favourite character or logo on their sweater. (Don't forget that any licensed designs can generally be reproduced for your grandchild's sweater but not to sell at a craft show for your customer's grandchild.)

Then on Tuesday we welcomed Alana as our newest staff member. Alana is new to Kingston, extremely knowledgeable, and a calm and patient helper to all knitters with questions. Please feel free to pop in and welcome her to our knitting community.

On Wednesday we received our first shipment of patterns for traditional rug hooking. These are beautiful pieces in all sizes, from small samplers for the novice who just wants to try this new craft out, to this beautiful "Wee Patch of Sunflowers" which measures 15"x25" and would make a gorgeous rug or wall hanging. It's nice to be able to offer a wider variety of crafts, using our great selection of yarns to customers who are looking for new fibre areas in which to branch out.

And speaking of new fibre areas, on Thursday I picked up a new batch of hand dyed fleece in so many vibrant colours. These bags have become so popular for needle felting, embellishing and to add vibrant colours to thrum projects that where as I used to replenish our stock about once a season, now I'm visiting the supplier about once a month. It's a joy. By the way, we hope to be offering an intro class to all types of felting in the winter. Stay tuned for our new list of winter classes which should be out early in December.

A couple of weeks ago I got to go on a yarn buying trip to 2 of our major suppliers' in Toronto and came back with a mountain of deals for every taste. We have soft and fluffy, lacy, shiny. I was amazed at all the great deals to be had and am so happy to see it being gobbled up by savvy knitters. Come and check it out; there's still a great selection for all of your Christmas gift knitting.

Finally yesterday, Saturday, was a great day: busy, fun, with many interesting aspects to it. First I had a lady and 3 lovely girls who arrived to tell me that they had suffered a major crisis in their house. One of the girls who was 8 years old, had just finished her first hat and the dog, Pippen, had liked it so much that he decided to show his appreciation by chewing on the hat, causing a looney sized hole at the back. Now this was no ordinary hat: the ribbing was perfectly executed, the body part of it was in a lovely lime green merino wool with a beautiful band of fairisle zigzag knitting around the middle, with perfectly placed decreases that led to a great shape at the top. Did I mention that the knitter was 8 years old! and she really knew what she was doing as she explained each procedure to me.

Thank heavens, I was able to repair it and Pippen was let out of the dog house, and each of the little girls went off with a project in one of our biodegradeable bags. All is well with the world. Wouldn't it be nice if all major crises could be taken care of with $1.55 worth of tapestry yarn and a few well placed stitches.

Later in the day I met with Tanya White and her mother/knitter. Tanya is a 4th year fashion design student at Ryerson who is producing her final project: a men's spring collection which is to include several hand knitted pieces that she has designed. They were needing some ideas and advice on yarn selection and execution techniques. What fun! Like a family doctor who spends his/her day looking at infected ears and inflamed throats, it must be fun to get an interesting rash now and then. In the same way, daily we answer questions about the meaning of SSK, or how to get stocking stitch to stop curling (you can't,) that it was a pure delight to figure out how to make Tanya's concepts become reality. We're hoping to show pictures after her presentation in the New Year.

Hoping that the rest of your November (the dreariest month of the year in my opinion) is full of fun knitting ideas in preparation for the Holidays. (I just finished a tea cozy which I'm going to felt today for one of my daughters, and a University colour appropriate sweater and leggings for a naked teddy bear who was brought to school by my youngest daughter when she left home in September. But don't tell them about these things. It's a surprise.)