Feather-and-fan Crochet scarf - January 2010

Karen will be teaching a feather-and-fan crochet scarf at the end of January. The feather-and-fan stitch is a classic fundamental in lace knitting, and this clever and elegant pattern brings the stitch to crochet as well.


image © Elisa Purnell

Registration: Come in, call 760-806-6744, or email cleverknits@gmail.com to register. Advance payment is required to guarantee your space in class. Refunds available only if we are able to fill your place in the class.

Cost: $24 plus materials ($36 if materials are purchased elsewhere)

Schedule: The class will span 2 weeks, Wednesday evenings Jan 27th and Feb 3rd from 6-8pm.

Limit: 7 students, advance registration is required (classes will be canceled and all fees refunded if we do not have at least 3 students signed up).

Note: This is an advanced class. Students must have already mastered the techniques covered in Crochet 101 before taking this course.

Materials required:

• Pattern (ravelry link) - please print and bring with you to the class
  
• 400-500 yards worsted or aran weight yarn; we recommend Skacel Urban silk (4 skeins) or Handmaiden Sea Three (2 skeins) for this elegant pattern
• Size G hook
• Darning needle

Crochet 101 - January 2010

January will be the month of 101 -- so tell your friends to make good of their new-year's resolution to learn a new craft. Studies show that fiber arts are as relaxing as yoga for the mind and spirit. A super-cute gift idea for a friend who has always wanted to learn: a skein of Cascade 220, knitting needles or a crochet hook, and a gift certificate to one of our knit or crochet 101 class -- under $25 for the whole package!

This class will go over how to do the basic stitches. This is the first class you should take if interested in learning to crochet -- and even if it's the ONLY class you ever take, you should be adept at making washcloths and scarves (and other square or rectangular objects).



Registration: Come in, call 760-806-6744, or email cleverknits@gmail.com to register. Advance payment is required to guarantee your space in class. Refunds available only if we are able to fill your place in the class.

Cost: $12 plus materials for the 2hr session ($18 if materials are purchased elsewhere)

Schedule: Three classes will be offered, you may register for any or all of them (though you should need just one class, some students benefit from repeating the course a second time):

• Saturday, Jan 9th: 4-6pm
• Wednesday, Jan 13th: 6-8pm
• Sunday, Jan 31st: 2-4pm

You will learn: (subject to change depending on the pace of the class) chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet, triple crochet, weaving in ends.

Limit: 7 students, advance registration is required (classes will be canceled and all fees refunded if we do not have at least 3 students signed up).

Materials required:

• 1 skein Cascade 220
• Size H hook
• Darning needle

Socks from the Toe Up - January 2010

By popular demand, our resident expert, Rhonda, will be teaching socks from the toe-up in January.



To enroll in this class, you should already be comfortable with the basics (knit/purl, circular knitting, increase/decrease). You do not need to be familiar with sock-knitting.

Registration: Come in or email cleverknits@gmail.com to reserve your space in class. Advance payment is required. Refunds available only if we are able to fill your space in the class.

Cost: $54 for three 2hr sessions ($74 if yarn is purchased elsewhere)

Schedule: The Sock Knitting Class will be held on three consecutive Saturdays from 1-3pm starting January 16th.

Jan 16th: Intro to toe-up socks, casting on, making the toe
Jan 23rd: Gusset and heel turn
Jan 30th: Finishing, additional questions, 2nd sock help

You will learn:
Magic Loop Method
Figure 8 cast-on
Heel Turn
Gusset
Toe Increase

Limit: 7 students, advance registration is required (classes will be canceled and all fees refunded if we do not have at least 3 students signed up).

Materials:

• Sock yarn (enough to make 2 socks -- for most sock yarns this is one 100g skein)
• Size 2 circular knitting needle, either 32" or 40"(if you plan on doing 2 socks at once in the future go with the longer 40" cord)
• Darning needle
• Stitch markers

Knitnews #4: Clever Knits Updates for December 2009

Clever Knitters,

The holidays are here in full swing, can you tell we're a little behind at the Yarn House? The month is half over and I'm finally getting this out to you!

Contents of this message:

1. Open Christmas Day! - Closed Dec 24, but open Christmas Day from 12-6pm. Come knit with us!
2. Shop Vista - spend $300 in the City of Vista before Dec 31, get $30 back
3. Holiday Knits - some ever-so-last-minute holiday pattern ideas
4. January Classes - Knit & Crochet 101, Toe-up Socks
5. Crazy Quilt CAKAL and Drawing - world's craziest barn-raising sock-yarn quilt
6. As always - knitnight Tues 6-10pm, Open Knit Sunday 2-6pm, free wireless, yarnstorm



1. Closed Christmas Eve -- but OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY!

No kidding! We will be open on Christmas Day from 12-6pm.

My family does the whole dinner-thing on Christmas Eve, so we're taking the day off on December 24th to be together and eat lasagne. However, we will be OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY from 12-6pm, in case you have any super-duper last-minute gift-getting to do for the knitter in your life. Or maybe you just need a break from the chaos of your own holiday festivities, come escape for an hour of knitting while the turkey is cooking. Or maybe you're itching to spend your Christmas Cash, and we're the only shop that's open. In any case, we've got you covered.



2. Shop Vista - get $30

The City of Vista is offering a Holiday Purchase Incentive Program, in which they are offering a $30 Visa gift card to each household spending $300 within city limits. Free money? Yes please! Stock up on yarn and put a little extra something in your stocking! Details can be found on our website at http://cleverknits.com/2009/12/shop-vista-get-30.html



3. Ever-so-last-minute Holiday Knits

I've been busy posting a few darling pattern ideas for last-minute knits, and some gift ideas for your knitterly friends on our website (I just started my holiday knitting last week, so my needles have been frantic):

* Gifts for knitters: http://cleverknits.com/2009/12/holiday-news-gift-ideas-for-knitters.html
* Re-create a $65 designer hat for under $25: http://cleverknits.com/2009/12/plural-of-moose-is-moose.html
* Some adorable last-minute holiday knits: http://cleverknits.com/2009/12/last-minute-holiday-knitting-ideas.html



4. Learn to Knit/Crochet in January

Knit/Crochet 101:
January will be the month of 101 -- so tell your friends to make good of their new-year's resolution to learn a new craft. Studies show that fiber arts are as relaxing as yoga for the mind and spirit. A super-cute gift idea for a friend who has always wanted to learn: a skein of Cascade 220, knitting needles or a crochet hook, and a gift certificate to one of our knit or crochet 101 class -- under $25 for the whole package!

KNIT 101 will be offered: Jan 6 (Wed), 17 (Sun), 25 (Mon) - details: http://cleverknits.com/2009/12/knit-101-january-2010.html

CROCHET 101 will be offered: Jan 9 (Sat), 13 (Wed), 31 (Sun) - details: http://cleverknits.com/2009/12/crochet-101-january-2010.html

Socks from the Toe Up:
By popular demand, our resident expert, Rhonda, will be teaching socks from the toe-up. The class will be held Saturdays, Jan 16, 23, and 30th, $54 plus materials for all 3 sessions ($74 if yarn is purchased elsewhere).
details: http://cleverknits.com/2009/12/socks-from-toe-up-january-2010.html



5. Crazy Quilt CAKAL and Drawing

We're STILL working on a wild crochet-and-knit-a-long (cakal?) -- the world's craziest barn-raising sock-yarn quilt. Everyone who contributes a square, rectangle, triangle, rhombus (whatever shape floats your boat) gets an entry in the drawing to win the final product! Pieces can be knit or crochet in any stitch pattern or needle size that tickles your fancy. We ask only that all contributions are made from Superwash Sock Yarn in at least 75% wool. We have a bucket full of scraps, and are still working on accumulating enough squares to have a big enough quilt.



6. As Always

knitnight:
We WILL have knitnight next Tuesday, Dec 22nd.

Our knitnight Tuesdays from 6-10pm continue to be an exciting and popular opportunity to come hang out and make new knitterly friends. All fiber artists are welcome (crochet, needlepoint, spinning, cat’s cradle, etc)! Feel free to come by even if you just need a stash-fix or a needle, or want to see what all the fuss is about – you don’t HAVE to stay, but you are more than welcome to.

We also have open knit/crochet on Sundays from 2-6pm, and the Oceanside Knitters (ravelry link) meet here on Fridays from 5-8pm (though you needn't be an Oceanside resident to attend -- they're a very open and friendly bunch, and most of them come Tuesdays and/or Sundays, too).

Free wireless:
Don't forget that we offer free wireless to our customers and their knitcomplices, so bring that laptop to browse ravelry or check a pattern on knitty, or whip out your iPhone and make use of our speedy fast connection to learn a new technique on youtube.

Yarnstorm 09:
There's still a chance to bring some yarn graffiti to decorate our ducts and GET 15% OFF your entire purchase that day! Swatches need to be 26 inches in length and anywhere from 4-10" wide, made of ANY yarn in your stash (they just need to look pretty). This offer is valid until the ducts are fully covered in yarn graffiti -- and they're nearly full!




Warm (& sweatery) regards,
Helena, Karen, & Lexi

Clever Knits
214 S. Indiana Ave
Vista CA 92084

open 12-8pm daily
FREE knitnights Tuesdays 6-10pm

http://cleverknits.com
cleverknits@gmail.com
phone: 760.806.6744

Holiday news & gift ideas for knitters

Let me start by saying that we will be closed on Christmas Eve (December 24th). My family does the whole dinner-thing on Christmas Eve, so we're taking the day off to be together and eat lasagne. However, we will be OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY from 12-6pm, in case you have any super-duper last-minute gift-getting to do for the knitter in your life. Or maybe you just need a break from the chaos of your own holiday festivities, come escape for an hour of knitting while the turkey is cooking. Or maybe you're itching to spend your Christmas Cash, and we're the only shop that's open.

In any case, we've got you covered. I'm also posting a delightful guide, sort of a Knitter's Wish List. We've also put together a couple of gorgeous kits in case of a need for last-minute presents.

Kits, priced from roughly $30-$80 depending on the kit:

O-Wool hat kit: includes O-Wool pattern, 1 skein O-Wool Classic yarn, and Crystal Palace size 8 DPNs.

This is one of the most affordable kits, and a great gift for an organic-friendly knitter (or any knitter really).

Cashmere mitts kit: includes Churchmouse Classics pattern, 1 skein Jade Sapphire cashmere yarn (needles can be purchased separately).

This decadent kit is a DREAM for any knitter, with cashmere yarn and an amazing, simple pattern.

Cashmere-blend Sock Kit: includes 1 skein Jade Sapphire cashmere-blend yarn, 1 set of sock-blockers, and 1 set of Lantern Moon Sox Stix.

Perfect for any sock-knitter!

Decadent scarf kit: includes wool, cotton, and mohair yarn, and size 11 needles (bag can be purchased separately).

Inspired by the Purl Scarf (ravelry link), a simple 1x1 rib hat becomes rich and decadent when 3 different yarns are held together.


Or if you'd like to put a kit of your own together, we have lots of lovely items that are likely to appear on many a knitter's wish list:

Beautiful Lantern Moon ebony straight needles and sox stix.


4-ply Cashmere -- a decadent sport-weight cashmere, one 55g/200yd skein is enough to make a gorgeous pair of fingerless mitts, or a beautiful cowl-scarf.


Silk taffeta bags in every color under the sun, perfect for a project bag, priced under $12, would also make a lovely gift bag for a special hand-knit item.


Shameless Knits handmade needle cases are a delightful fun way to store circulars.


And OF COURSE, Addi Clicks -- a beautiful set of interchangeable needles from Addi, makers of the perfect circular knitting needles.

The plural of moose is...reindeer?

I've been lusting over this amazing Olympic hat since I first saw it mentioned (I no longer recall by which of my favourite knit-bloggers/tweeters). But $65 is a bit of an absurd price-tag, even for designer knitwear. So I spent a cozy morning in bed with my cup of coffee and reverse-engineered the pattern from the photos. And a clever commentator on Ravelry pointed out to me, those aren't moose, they're reindeer! So, I am pleased to bring you the Olympic Reindeer Hat as a free ravelry download!

Shop Vista - get $30

The City of Vista is offering a Holiday Purchase Incentive Program, in which they are offering a $30 Visa gift card to each household spending $300 within city limits. Free money? Yes please! Stock up on yarn and put a little extra something in your stocking!

How to participate:

Spend a total of $300 or more at any retailer(s) - yarn shops, movie theaters, grocery stores, whatever! - in the City of Vista between November 26, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Gather up your receipts and bring them to the Finance/Cashier office at City Hall before January 29, 2010, and they will give you a $30 Visa gift card.

More information can be found at http://shopvista.biz.

Clever Knits is also offering 10% off any purchase to customers with a ShopVista Loyalty Card. These cards offer discounts from other Vista retailers as well, and can be picked up at any of three locations:

* Vista Chamber of Commerce at 201 Washington St
* Vista Village Business Association at 127 Main St
* Vista City Hall Cashier's Office at corner of Alta Vista and Escondido Ave

Last-minute holiday knitting ideas

The time has come for ever-so-last-minute holiday knitting. I just started my holiday knitting YESTERDAY, if you can believe it, and I am thrilled to find a healthy assortment of DARLING patterns for super-quick knits.

Of course, there are dozens of books and magazines, old and new, filled with one and two-skein patterns. I have in the shop Interweave's latest special issue on 'Knit Accessories' which is filled with fantastic quick-knit projects (and let us not forget Interweave's current rebate offering - $5 towards any Interweave product purchased here at your LYS).

But there are also many free patterns available for some darling little tidbits -- and here are two of my new favourites:

For starters, I have fallen MADLY in love with Flint Knits' new pattern for Elf Shoes. I made one men's shoe in a single day, so a pair of these could easily be whipped together in a weekend (or a single day if making a kid size). The pattern recommends size 10.5 DPNs, but since the project is felted to fit, and since I much prefer the magic-loop method, it could certainly be done on a long circular needle in size 10 or 11. AND it's in the favourite Cascade 220, an awesomely affordable felting wool which comes in a huge range of colours (I have an excellent and ever-expanding selection of them here in the shop).



This morning I met with my Crystal Palace sales rep, who showed me some of their darling new patterns, including the Mochi Plus Swirl Hat, which is not only quick but also quite simple, since it is worked as a scarf-like strip and then stitches are picked up for the crown.



Also free is my own pattern for Perfect Mitts, knit out of a single skein of chunky-weight alpaca (Cascade's Baby Alpaca Chunky is an excellent choice for this pattern). These are super-fast and make a lovely gift for typists, knitters, or anyone who uses their hands a lot in cold weather.

Sock yarn crazy quilt update

Our sock yarn crazy quilt is coming along beautifully -- I've tacked the squares together to see how it's looking, and I can not WAIT to raffle it off. But, it's not yet big enough even for a lap-ghan, so we need more squares!



I've contributed some new colors to our bin of spare sock bits, but I need some busy bees to knit and crochet swatches of various shapes and sizes. Large ones, long narrow ones, and oddly shaped ones are particularly welcome. If you have sock bits that you need to get rid of, I'm happy to put them in the jar.

As a reminder, all yarn used for this project must be machine-washable and at least 75% wool. Each square contributed counts for one entry in the drawing to win the completed blanket -- and I'm hoping to complete TWO blankets, so that I can hang one here in the shop, though we have a long way to go before we can reach that goal!