Crochet!

Looking for some fun crochet gifts or accessories for the holidays? There are still a few openings in these classes. Call the shop at 805-654-9500 to register.

Wild Flower Sweater -
A surprisingly easy-to-make sweater, with a variety of options to make it just right for you. We'll start with the beautiful back medallion, then you decide - cropped or long back; long, short or no sleeves; rounded or straight front; buttons, shawl pin or leave it open? This sweater uses basic crochet stitches and has step-by-step directions. A perfect choice for your first crocheted garment.

Four Sessions-Wednesdays, October 16 (6-9pm), October 30, November 13 and December 4, 6-8 pm; $80, supplies not included.


Beaded Wrist-itts - 

Elegant or funky, depending on your yarn/bead choices, these wrist-itts are fashionable, functional and fun. Make them into wrist-warmers or fingerless mitts; long or short, beaded or not; the choices are all yours. This is a great project to learn, or practice, beading techniques; simple ribbing; and working in the round. You'll be surprised by how easy these are to make - and how little yarn they use! 

One Session-Saturday, October 19, 12:30 to 3:30 pm; $30, supplies not included. 


Cotton Market Bag - 
Practical doesn't have to be boring. This market bag will stretch to hold your shopping treasures and look great doing it. And it's easily customized - change the width, length, color(s), handle size and more. Oh, did we mention it makes a great gift? So practical.  

One Session-Tuesday, October 29, 6 to 9 pm; $30, supplies not included. 

Star Bag -

Thick yarn, large hook, interesting stitch = quick-to-finish bag that will look great carrying your latest yarn project, toting your everyday essentials, or giving as a gift. Worked in the round, using a vintage "star" stitch, this bag is easily customized for size, handles, color and more. 

 

One Session-Saturday, November 9, 12:30 to 3:30 pm; $30, supplies not included.

 

Two Great Classes

I have 2 neat things to share with you. One starts tonight, Friday, October 3. And, the second begins tomorrow afternoon.

The first one is the shawl, Dinner in the Eiffel Tower by Jessie Dodington. That class begins tonight at 6pm. The Shawl Along series is a fun set of classes that usually results in many lovely finished shawls.
I made 2 samples, one in fingering(Anzula Nebula in Kelp) and one in DK (Madelinetosh in Iceburg).

The second class is the men's sweater, Ranger by Jared Flood. This class begins on Saturday afternoon at 4pm. In addition to its role as a class sample, it will also be a birthday gift for my oldest son. He turns 13 next week. As evidenced by my son's modeling job, it makes for a very handsome look.

Happy Needling,
Anne

Shawl Flies Off My Needles

Last week, the dragon came to nest at AFY. Dragon's Rest, a lovely shawl by Abigail Phelps, is now blocked and ready for you to fall in love with it at the sample table. This shawl is pretty easy, but still has enough going on to keep it interesting as you shape it into existence. It is written to give you the choice of lace, fingering, or dk weight yarns. I pushed mine to worsted weight in using Juniper Moon's Moonshine. So far, there has been as much pleasure in being wrapped in these wings' luxury as there was in knitting the item. Last note - this project is surely a must knit for any fan of Game of Thrones or The Hobbit (just to name a couple of dragons). The Shawl Along begins tomorrow, Friday, September 27 @ 6pm.

Happy Needling,

Anne

Dyeing with Food Coloring, part four

Here is my fourth project from my stash of hand dyed yarn. This project represents how  you could plan your stripes to stretch over an entire project. The pattern is Dipped in a Bit of Lace Cowl by Danielle Romanetti. The yarn is Manos Del Uruguay Rittenhouse in a light tan color (you can see the original color in one of the stripes).

Tomorrow, Saturday, Mar. 2, join me for a class in Dyeing with Food Coloring @ 12 pm. It is going to be fun and you will leave with a unique addition to your stash.

Happy Needling,

Anne

Dyeing with Food Coloring, part three

This ball was done more in my usual color choices - blues, purples, and greens. Following is the finished object from this ball of hand dyed yarn.

Choosing colors can be a little scary, but if you stick with what you know that you like, then you are pretty  safe from surprise. Surprises may still come but they are probably going to be in a realm that you are ok with. If you find safety is boring, then try something in opposition to your usual favorites.

The yarn is again Ultra Alpaca Light, this time in a light gray base. The pattern is Scallop Lace Hat by Leah Coccari-Swift.

So, if this yarn has peaked your interest, remember that you could join me for a Dyeing with Food Coloring class on Saturday, Mar. 2 for 12-3pm.

Happy Needling,
Anne

Dyeing with Food Coloring, part two

For a long time, yarn lovers have been deepening their fiber romance by learning how to custom dye or paint on their yarns. This exploration has given birth to some of the most gorgeous yarns, both available in the marketplace (Lorna's Laces, Madelinetosh, Baah, Misti International, on and on the list could go) and in private stashes made in one's own personal kitchen sink.

I had admired all of my coworkers adventures in dyeing and I resisted the pull of that adventure. I saw many knitters and crocheters on Ravelry.com showcasing their custom work and I still resisted. Finally, after a considerable period of temptation, I decided to try out dyeing with Wilton Cake Food Dyes. The fact that I could get exactly the type of color palette that I wanted (with room in my heart for happy accidents) was the final lure that caught me.

My first dye job was to make a warm fire palette to make the shawl Mordor by Ann Lundblad. My yarn was Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine. I loved every second of the process and the end result is a shawl that this Tolkien fan wears very often.

Happy Needling,
Anne

P.S. Join me for colorful fun @ Dyeing with Food Coloring on Sat., Mar.2 from 12 to 3 pm.

Dyeing with Food Coloring, part one

I have been having so much fun with dyeing yarn. I have been using Wilton cake dye (and Koolaid).

I am hoping to tempt you into joining us for this fun activity at my class this coming Sat., Mar. 2 from 12 pm to 3 pm. I plan on showing you what I am making from this newly colorful stash as the week blows by.

First, I have a set of fingerless mitts. The pattern is Camp Out Fingerless Mitts by tante ehm (pattern can be found on Ravelry.com). The yarn is Spud and Chloe Sweater. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the dye took to a 50/50 cotton and wool blend. My color palette has a clear inspiration, good ole Roy G. Biv. Pop into the store where the finished pair now resides. 

Happy Needling,

Anne

Start Your Year with Some Classics

Welcome to the new year! Are your busy fingers rested from the holiday festivities? Ready for something new to be on your needles?
This week we have two classes starting that are wonderful classic designs with unique constructions
For Wednesday evening, we have Elizabeth Zimmerman's Pi Shawl. This flirty circular shawl is worked from the center to the outside edge. It is just the right flutter to throw over your shoulders when the sun dresses reemerge or when the air conditioning gets too chilly.

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Pi Shawl, Wednesdays, Jan. 12, 19, and Feb. 2 from 6 pm to 8 pm
For Friday evening, we will be meeting to begin another brilliant Elizabeth Zimmerman creation, the Baby Surprise Jacket. This sweet baby sweater is worked as a single piece of fabric and, with a little bit of magic at the end, it folds into a cuddly, warm jacket. The completed blue sweater pictured was my second son's coming home sweater and the pink on will be his incoming little sister's home from the hospital look (I think I'll pack the blue one just in case the ultrasound was hiding something).

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket, Fridays, Jan. 14, 28, and Feb. 11 from 6 pm to 8 pm

For more dates of great classes, please check out our calendar on our main site.