Retreat Update
Thank-you Alex for the slideshow from the retreat. After many attempts to put one in myself I admitted defeat and called in the expert! See the previous post!
This weekend was the 10th Annual Retreat for Mad About Ewe. Forty women, chatted, knit, and made new friends. Some even learned a few new things about knitting! The retreat was at the Kiwi Cove Lodge, just outside of Ladysmith on Vancouver Island.
Thank-you to all who participated and Happy Knitting!
Lynette
Mad About Ewe’s 10th Annual Retreat!
From “Magic” to “Magnificence” -
"Magic Ball" from "Knitting With Bits and Pieces"
Dorothy does it all! Dorothy has been knitting for many years now and has been working at Mad About Ewe longer than the rest of us here. Dorothy teaches some of our classes, most notably the continental knitting – she had to learn how to purl right handed – as she is a completely left handed knitter! And her “Knitting with Bits and Pieces” is another student favorite. Dorothy creates the most incredible sweaters, some are her own designs and others she “tweaks” to make the patterns completely her own. Lately she has been working with needle felting, using the technique to embellish her felted creations. This Spring Dorothy is teaching a class on needle felting your felt and another on 3-dimensional needle felting
One of Dorothy’s latest projects is a gorgeous Silk Scarf, knit in Handmaiden Lace Silk. A beautiful, subtle gold with the rich sheen of silk. Dorothy has a great eye for colour and her opinion is much sought after. You can see it in everything she creates.
Silken "Magnificence", Dorothy's newest project
Happy Knitting
Lynette
Sales is On! And Retreat is Ready!
Selection of Alterntives For the Retreat!
We are well into the sale and there are still lots of bargains left. From silks to sock yarns and everything in between. Come in and see for yourself.
The retreat is organized and almost full. If you are ready for a fun weekend, something to break up the winter “blues”, the retreat might be what you are looking for. There is still a spot or two left for those who don’t need to stay!
New yarns for the spring are also starting to arrive – one of my favorites is the new sock yarn Soja by Meilenweit. A 60% wool, 20% soy viscose and 20% poly, with great colours and a very soft hand.
Soja sock yarn for my New Sock Project!
Happy Knitting
Lynette
Old Friends Come to Visit!
I have taught a lot of classes at Mad About Ewe over the years and one of my favorite things is to see what knitters have done with what they have learned!
A couple of years ago I taught a class – a felted entrelac bag, called Fall Frenzy! Yesterday a couple of the students came to see me with their bags. I think that they turned out beautifully! What amazed me was the size of Arlene’s bag. Her washing machine, a front loader, did an amazing job of felting her bag! Check out the size, same needles and yarn as the original (greens) and as Connie’s (Blue). I love it, Arlene’s bag stands on its own it is felted so firmly and is so cute.
Never say that front loaders can’t felt!
Happy Knitting
Lynette
Spring 2010 Class Schedule
Spring Classes
Some New Techniques and Some Old Favorites!
3 – Session Classes – $50 + taxes and materials. 2 – Session Classes – $35 + taxes and materials.
Simple Lace Pattern for Shawl
Beginner II – Build on what you Know. 3 – 2 hour classses. For those who have taken the basics, or already have them. Learn about basic shaping with increases and decreases. Start to learn knitting “Jargon”. Start a simple lace project ( lace is increases and decreases in pattern) in the last class.
Tuesday Evenings 5:30 to 7:30 – Feb 9, 16, 23.
Thursday Mornings 10:00 to 12:00 – Feb 11, 18, 25.
Beginner Socks – 3, 2 hour sessions. Must have basic knitting skills. Lean to knit in the round and create the perfect gift for yourself or those special someone’s on your list. Skills learned, knitting in the round with dpn’s, short rowing for heels, shaping for gussets and toes, and grafting for finishing the socks. Patterns for worsted and 4-ply socks as well as grafting instructions are included with the class.
Monday Evenings 5:30 to 7:30 – Feb 15, 22 and March 1
Wednesday Afternoons 1:00 to 3:00 – Feb 17, 24 and March 3
Knitting With Bits and Pieces – 3, 2 hour sessions. Each class focuses on a different technique, designed to help you use up your left-over yarns and odd balls. Spiral sock knitting, surface weaving and “Magic” ball knitting. Play with your left-overs and create something new!
Thursday Afternoons 2:00 to 4:00 – Feb 18, 25, and March 4
Sunday Mornings 10:00 to 12:00 – Feb 21. 28 and March 7
Beginners Crochet – 3, 2 hour sessions. Learn the basics of Crochet and create a small bag as you learn.
Tuesday Mornings 10:00 to 12:00 – March 2, 9, and 16
Thursday Evenings 5:30 to 7:30 – March 4, 11, and 18
Brimmed Cable Hat
Cabled Cotton Slouch Hat – 2, 2 hour sessions. Learn to cable and knit in the round and create this summer topper (could also be knit with wool for the winter). Good class for the advanced beginner. Some homework.
Tuesday Evenings 5:30 to 7:30 – March 2, and 9
Thursday Morning 10:00 to 12:00 – March 4, and 11
Easter Egg – Needle Felting! – 2, 2 hour sessions.
Dorothy's Felted Pysanka
Something New! No (or little) knitting involved! Use needle felting techniques to decorate an egg for easter.
Thursday Afternoons 2:00 to 4:00 – March 11, and 18
Sunday Mornings 10:00 to 12:00 – March 14, and 21
Shape it Up – A continuation of Fear of Finishing! – 3, 2 hour sessions. Take your sweater finishing to the next step, combine short-rowed shoulders with 3-needle bind-off for a super shoulder finish, learn about darts and try out a few fancy finishes. Some homework.
Tuesday Evening 5:30 to 7:30 – March 23, 30 and April 6
Thursday Morning 10:00 to 12:00 – March 25, and April 1, and 8
Spring Bird – 3 dimensional needle felting! – 2, 2 hour sessions. Learn how to create 3 
dimensional creatures with rovings and needle felting tools.
Thursday Afternoons 2:00 to 4:00 – April 8, and 15
Sunday Morning 10:00 to 12:00 – April 11, and 18
Beaded Fingerless Mittens - 3, 2 hour sessions. Learn 3 styles of bead placement, all with pre-strung beads. Beaded cast-0n, beads between stitches, and knitted in beads in a scroll pattern. Mittens will be knit from the hand up with thumb shaping and gusset. For intermediate knitters.
Tuesday Evening 5:30 to 7:30 – April 13, 20 and 27
Thursday Morning 10:00 to 12:00 – April 15, 22, 29
Spring 2010 Workshop Schedule
Workshops
Skill Building Workshops For the Spring Season!
Let’s amp up our knitting and learn a new skill to take into the summer. The projects of the spring workshops will teach us new skills that we can apply to our other projects to personalize and make each item we knit unique.
Workshops will take place on Saturdays. These are full day classes that run from 9:30am to 4:00pm. The cost is $55.00 + taxes. This covers the class handouts, instruction, tea, coffee and goodies for a mid-morning break. Materials are not included. There will be a break for lunch, approximately an hour.
There will be 4 workshops this Spring.
X & O Socks - 2 colour version
X & O Socks – Fair-isle Socks – as simple or as complex as you like! – Feb 13 – Learn a little about colour usage and basic fair-isle colourworking techniques. This class is not for beginning sock knitters and there is some homework (ribbing) to complete before the class starts.
Our most popular workshop – Fear of Finishing – Feb 27 – This class already has a wait list, so book your space as soon as possible. There is a good chance that we will be running a second class if the interest is there. There is homework for this class.
1810 bag
Circles and knitting, not always an easy combination. Try wedge shapes and short-rows to create this unique project – The 1810 Bag - March 13 – This class is suitable for beginners and more experienced knitters alike. Knit the circular shapes entirely in garter stitch and short-rows, knit the strap and edge with I-cording to create a bag that is finished by felting. As a bonus, by the time you finish this bag you will be able to short-row like a pro. Some homework.
Bead on! – Burka Leaf Hat – March 27 – Learn 3 methods of applying beads to your knitting. A beaded cast-on as well as beads between purl stitches – both of these techniques require pre-stringing your beads. Learn as well, how to apply beads with a crochet hook. For intermediate knitters. Hat is charted and incorporates basic lace patterning. No homework.
Burka Leaf Hat
Happy Knitting
Lynette
How Did “It” Go!
Christmas is waning and the gift giving is over – I hope that your knitting and gifting went well! My gifts were well received, with a few minor glitches!
I got my son’s sweater finished, put together and ready for Christmas giving. There was one problem – I swear that the sleeves shrank when I attached them to the body of the sweater. They were at least 2 inches shorter. Note to self, when measuring son’s sleeves, do NOT stretch slightly, perhaps, I should subtract an inch or two as I measure so as not to underestimate the length of his arms. The sweater was received with great delight, the colour was perfect – the yarn was so soft and felt great – the body was perfect – but really, stretch them as he might the sleeves were at least 3 inches too short!! I’m going to be removing the ribbing and lengthening the arms in the next week. Want to learn how? Check out our Fear of Finishing Workshop in February.
My second knit gift was much more successful. A pair of socks still on the needles – a family tradition – at least one gift has to given still on the needles. This years recipient, Guy, was celebrating his first Christmas with us and a little bemused by this tradition. What exactly was he supposed to do with the yarn, needles and partially knit tube that he was receiving?! Guy was much relieved to hear that he was not expected to finish his socks. I was thrilled to find out that he liked socks with short tops and always folded over the tops of his sock – I went straight to the heel and got to work.
Serendipity and Christmas – two of my favorite things.
Happy Knitting
Lynette
It’s “That” Time of the Year!!
Christmas is Coming!
This time of the year is very busy for us knitters. We are inspired by the weather and the imminent (OK maybe it just feels like imminent) arrival of Christmas!! Are you looking for inspiration and idea’s we have a few, ranging from scarves to Christmas stockings and small bits of lace.
A new yarn from Schulana, a mohair and silk blend with a glimmer of sparkle has just arrived, perfect for a quick little scarf with a little Christmas Glitz. A new yarn from Classic Elite is on its way – Fresco, a merino, alpaca, and angora sport weight yarn that has a nice halo when knit.
Our classes have been rolling along and they have all started and/or finished and we are looking forward to the spring sessions. Dorothy and I have already started planning and designing some new classes for the Spring. Is there something that you want to learn? Please let us know, we’ll see what we can do.
Lace Poetry
This week we say goodbye to the Queen Anne’s Lace trunk show. What an inspiring display of lace!
Thrumming has taken over the store – what a surprise hit! We are waiting for more roving and I am working on a pattern for thrummed slippers – a much requested item.
First Thrumming Workshop - Busy Knitters!
Scarves and hats are still amongst the most popular Christmas Gifts. As are gloves, mittens, standard, thrummed and fingerless! Also any other small items. Anything bulky and quick to knit also works! Speed is of the essence this time of the year!! What is your last minute Christmas Gift solution? We look forward to seeing you and hearing your idea’s! If you have a fabulous Christmas present idea, come and share!
Happy Knitting
Lynette
The New “Kit” in Town
There’s a new needle felting kit in the store! And he has friends!
The New "Kit" in Town
The kits are created by Lorna’s Wool and include everything you need to create the neatest figures – felting needles, step by step instuctions and all the fiber. The kits are built around already felted woolen eggs.
You can create, pigs, bunnies, sheep, Santa’s, Gnomes, or do your own thing with the plain eggs and fiber kits that are available as well.
A Few of His Friends
Check our other needle felting idea and Dorothy’s upcoming class on felting and needle felting.
Happy Knitting
Lynette