Knitnews #17: Clever Knits updates for April 2011

[Clever Knits]

Clever Knitters,

 

Spring is in the air! I prefer winter myself (it's much better sweater weather in sunny Southern California), but I'll confess that I am rather excited to be knitting on summery tops and lightweight cardigans. 

This is a month with a lot of news! So be prepared, this Knitnews is longer than usual.

Continue to follow us on twitter or facebook to be in-the-know. That's where we announce special sales and new arrivals, as well as any changes to our usual hours (e.g. closure due to illness - sadly, we've been struck by this one a lot in the past month, but hopefully things are looking up!). You can also see these updates at the top left corner of our website, just under the menu bar.

 

Contents of this message:

1. New Hours - slight changes to our schedule 

2. New Stuff - a few extra special somethings have arrived

3. On Helena's Needles - WIPs and FOs in anticipation of warmer weather

4. Patterns - new designs by Lexi; more in the works!

5. CAKAL - Crochet-and-Knit-a-Long with BEADS!

6. Classes - Schedules for April & May

 

 

1. New Hours 

We've made a slight change to our schedule - effective IMMEDIATELY, on Thursdays we will be open from 10am-4pm; and on Fridays, we will be open from 12-7pm. Our full listing of hours for reference:

Fri, Sat & Sun 12-7pm
Mon, Wed 12-6pm

Tues 12-10pm
Thurs 10am-4pm

We're closing 2 hours earlier on Thursdays, and one hour earlier on Fridays. Our Friday Night knitting group will continue to meet from 5-7pm; and you are totally welcome to come! Sometimes they stay later than 7pm, so do give us a jingle if you feel like stopping by and it's approaching 7. Sometimes knitting is too much fun to stop!

2. New Stuff!

A little something extra special from Helena's sewing room: Circular Needle Cases! $39 each

  

Other recent arrivals include:

• DELICIOUS one-of-a-kind, handpainted Superwash Blue-Faced Leicester roving from Holiday Yarns
• Queensland Collection Haze - handpainted cotton/corn blend, GREAT yardage, ideal for summer garments
• Berroco Ultra Alpaca Tonals - amazing semi-solids make this fabulous yarn even better

3. On Helena's Needles

A few of my recent Finished Objects and Works-in-Progress, in anticipation of warmer weather:

   

Helena's Watershed, Layered Ruffle Sweater, and Aegirina (left to right; all ravelry links). These are amazing transition pieces, since spring weather can be a bit too chilly for summer sundresses or linen skirts, but a touch of wool or silk warms them up just enough. 

I'm working on several designs for summery tops (these will be a few months in the making), and I just cast-on Happiness (from Norah Gaughan Book 4 - which we *do* have in stock!) in the MOST cheerful springtime colour of our delightful new cotton-corn blend, Queensland Collection Haze (left image copyright Berroco):

 

4. Patterns

Several new designs by Lexi were released this month - and we anticipate that several more will be released in the coming months!

 

  

From left to right, Baby Valentine Dress, Ruffles, Peacock Feathers - all available for purchase on Ravelry or on 

the Oink Pigments website.

All Clever Knits patterns can be found by clicking the 'Patterns' link at the top of our website.

5. Crochet-And-Knit-A-Long: BEADS!

In celebration of our Knitting with Beads class, we'll be having a BEAD-THEMED CAKAL in April & May. CAKAL meets Sundays from 1-4pm, but feel free to come by ANY TIME with your project (or any project at all - we love company, and there is never any charge to hang out & knit or crochet with us!). 

Please join our CAKAL to work on whatever bead-project most entices YOU. Our favourite bead store is Dancing Bear, just down the street from us, and we can highly recommend them for all your beading needs (they also have ADORABLE fabrics, if you are as tempted by those as we are!). Beads give that extra-special-something to your work, a little sparkle and decadence. With wedding season also in full swing, consider making a beaded stole for your favourite bride-to-be; in cream, or perhaps even more special in her wedding colours, so she can throw it over her shoulders after the sun sets to keep warm during the reception.

Here are a few of our favourite knitted bead projects:

Beaded Cuffs by Laura Nelkin, pattern AND KITS! available at Clever Knits

Tibetan Clouds Beaded Stole by Silvia Harding, free on Ravelry or printed in The Knitter's Book of Wool

Bitterroot by Romi Hill, free on Knitty.com

Abstract Leaves Cowl by Deb Mulder, free on Ravelry

or if you'd rather crochet with beads:

Bead Crochet Rope by Perle Sauvage, free on Ravelry

Morning Dew Scarf by Dora Ohrenstein, free on Ravelry

Lace & Pearls Necklace by Marta Costa, from Crochet Today! May/June 2010 issue

Crochet Beaded Cobweb Lace Scarf by Joan Barnett, free on Ravelry

6. New Classes & some Old Favourites, too

You can always find our full list of current class offerings on our website - just click the 'classes' link at the top of the Clever Knits website. You can even sign up online!

  

Knitting (or Crocheting!) with Beads

Sat, Apr 16th, 4-6pm

taught by Julie Beck

$25 plus materials

Materials: whatever project YOU want to make that uses beads. Bring all required materials for that project to class. Julie will provide instructions for how to add beads to your knitting by pre-stringing the yarn with the required number of beads, as well as how to bead on-the-fly with a tiny crochet hook, and will walk through examples of how to use both techniques in a few different projects.

See CAKAL section of knitnews for recommended projects

Knit Socks - NEW FORMAT!

Sat, Apr 30th, 12:30-4:30pm

taught by Rhonda Monarque

$45 / $65 if yarn purchased elsewhere

Materials: 32" or 40" needle size 0, 1, or 2; 100g sock yarn

Blocking Workshop

Sat, May 21st, 5:30-7pm AND Sun, May 22nd, 12-12:30pm

taught by Helena Bristow

$25 / blocking supplies provided

Materials: bring a shawl to block (optional)

Crochet 102

Sat, Apr 23, 4-6pm

taught by Helena Bristow

$15 / $25 if materials purchased elsewhere

Materials: 1 skein Cascade 220 or other worsted weight yarn, size H or I crochet hook, darning needle.

 

Knit 102

Sun, Apr 17th, 4:30-6:30pm

Sun, May 15th, 4:30-6:30pm

taught by Helena Bristow

$15 / $25 if materials purchased elsewhere

Materials: 1 skein Cascade 220 or other worsted weight yarn, size 7, 8, or 9 knitting needles, darning needle.

 

Knit 101 & Crochet 101
  

taught by Helena Bristow

$25 includes all materials

these are filling up FAST & new classes are added to meet demand - check the website for current offerings!

 

 

 

Warm (& sweatery) regards,

Helena (& Lexi & Rhonda)

Clever Knits
214 S. Indiana Ave, Vista CA 92084

HOURS:
Fri, Sat & Sun 12-7pm
Mon, Wed 12-6pm

Tues 12-10pm
Thurs 10am-4pm

FREE social knitting events:
Tues 6-10pm, Fri 5-8pm, Sun 1-4pm

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