Mark your calenders Everyone

If you don't regularly come to our Knit and Nosh, you don't realize, how much fun you are missing. We encourage you to come unwind with us after a stressful day at work, or just a stressful day watching the stock market. When is it?, you ask. Well, people, it is always the FIRST Friday of the month. This month it happens to be on Friday, April 3rd from 6-9pm.

This is a VERY, VERY special Knit and Nosh as we will be having a Nationally known author, instructor at our shop doing a book signing and trunk show. We are so excited to announce that we are the shop to kick off Lorna Miser's book signing tour for her new book, "Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting"

Lorna is an amazing woman that I met many years ago while working at a shop here in Sacramento called Nancie's Knits. I first came across Lorna and her talent while working on Mukkluk's using her gorgeous hand-dyed yarn for my two sons. They loved the colorways, and loved the durability of the suede slipper, which still allowed them to slide across the floor creating all sorts of havoc. Lorna is the founder of Lorna's Laces, a Designer,
Teacher, Author, Creative Director for Aurora Yarns in Moss Beach and the President of the Sacramento Chapter of the TKGA Knitting Guild, Camellia City Stockinettes. She is a fan of purple, and the owner of the most beautiful class car, a convertible Mustang.

Here's what's being said about her book, "Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting"

"Knitting has always meant comfort, sisterhood and caring. Now let knitwear designer Lorna Miser share the many blessings that knitting has brought to her life, through stories, patterns and memories. A lifelong knitter, Lorna's hobby has created much more than simple hats and scarves. By knitting wherever she goes, she has met interesting people, had amazing experiences and made wonderful friends. Her inspiring stories, each one evoked by an accompanying pattern, encourage readers to recognise the gifts they have received in life. Each tale, from the humorous (teaching a troop of Girl Scouts to knit) to the poignant (making a new friend while visiting a friend in hospice care) reveals how knitting can spread joy, lead to moments of connection and self-discovery and give all of us opportunities to share love and kindness."

We invite you to come join us from 6-9, to help celebrate the launch of what is proving to be a successful writing career for Lorna. If you would like bring a dish to share, your favorite project to knit on, and an open heart for fun, laughter, and great friendship. We'd love to see you there.

We are anticipating quite a crowd, so please do us a favor and drop us a line at Knitique@gmail. com or call the shop at
916.714.7719 to let us know you are coming. We need to anticipate how many to have enough books and seats for everyone. This book is a perfect gift, for that special knitter in your life, that special friend, or just for yourself.

FO Friday

Every one's favorite post day is back. I've got a ton of pictures to upload, so I'm going to limit myself to about five for those on the ancient, slower than molasses connections.

First up, this delicious multi-directional tank from the fabulous Iris, of Art Yarns. This beautiful tank top was done with one of my most favorite summer yarns, Sierra by Cascade. Check out all the beautiful colors here. Check out all the beautiful knitted garments done out of this deliciously soft, yet drapey, non-droopy cotton.

The specifications for this delightful yarn:

Fiber:
80% Pima Cotton / 20% Merino Wool
Yardage:
10 x 100g / 191 yds
Gauge:
5 sts=1" / #7
Wash:
Hand or machine wash gentle cold, tumble dry cool.

Next up, for those granddaughters of yours, the little girl inside of you, or those die hard Barbie collectors. A valentine ensemble from Sue D. She made the ginormous socks for Christmas for her size 14, nephew. She has taken the challenge and is knitting an entire wardrobe for her great-nieces Barbies. She's used one of my most favorite baby yarns, Baby Ull. It's 100% of the softest wool you'll find. I know there is great controversy about putting babies in wool, but I can't even begin to tell you how much wool we sell to make hand knit soakers. You'd be surprised what babies can tolerate. Plus you know the old saying that there are many, many different types of wools, and blends. Baby Ull is one of the softest baby yarns, in fingering, on the market. Plus if you've ever seen their books, their baby models have the chunkiest of cheeks. Super, super cute. Want to see some cute, cute finished objects? I think there are about 50 colors in the line. Check out some of them here and here. Sue's next adventure is to knit Barbie socks on #00 Addi Lace Needles... our favorite needle. Yes, Virginia, that's a 16 stitch sock.

Yarn specifications:

Brand:Dale of Norway
Made In:Norway
Yardage:180 yds.
Weight:50g
Yarn Weight:Fingering
Fiber Content:Wool
Texture:Plied
Gauge (st. /4 in.):32
Needle Size(s):1 US (2.25mm) , 2 US (2.75mm)

Care: Machine Wash & Dry Flat

Our next project is again by Sue. She did a family of slipper socks out of the Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2009. This magazine continues to sell out not just for me but for the company, year after year. It is chockful of wonderful projects. Some big, some small and some just right.

She's used a super easy care, super soft yarn that's a throw it in the washer/dryer. When you don't know how your recipient will treat things, this is the yarn to use. Berroco comfort. It comes in more than 40 colors, some variegated, some solid. Beautifully soft, and for those who worry about the babes, it's got not a drop of wool in it. You'll love it. It just so happens we got a shipment in this week, and an even bigger shipment will be arriving to grace our doors next week some time. Check out the colors, check out the projects. It's not just for blankets. This is one of two of my "goto" yarns for blankets. Check out this photo. It's a gorgeous example of the saturated colors you get with this company.

Yarn specifications:

FIBER:50% Super Fine Nylon,50% Super Fine Acrylic
BALL WEIGHT:3.5 oz / 100 g
BALL LENGTH:210 yds / 193 m
KNITTING GAUGE #1:4.5 sts = 1" on #9 US18 sts & 24 rows = 4" (10cm)
KNITTING GAUGE #2:5 sts = 1" on #8 US20 sts & 27 rows = 4" (10cm)
CROCHET GAUGE:3.5 scs = 1" on #8-H US14 scs & 18 rows = 4" (10cm)
NEEDLE SIZE: 8(US) / 5 mm9(US) / 5.5 mm
CARE: Turn sweater inside out. Machine wash on gentle cycle in warm water. No bleach. Tumble dry on low heat. Do not over dry. Do not iron.

Alright now, so here's the catch. Just so you have a time frame. This post took 47 minutes of dedicated time. And ya'all who know me, know how hard it is for me to get that much time. So do a fellow knitter a favor, and give me a shout out to let me know how much you like the post, links, picture, or just about anything. We all need a little feedback now and again. Post on here, or feel free to email me at knitique@gmail.com

Thanks a skein,

Danielle

P.S. Diane I was thinking about you with all the hyperlinks. Enjoy!

A Wee Bit of the Irish

This Saturday we are going to knit a lucky irish washcloth. Hopefully when we are all done there will be a pot of gold at the end of the This Saturday we've got our free washcloth class scheduled from 3-5. We brought in some gorgeous greens especially for this class, so you've got lots of great choices to make.

You'll need to give us a call at 916 714 7719 and reserve your spot. We've got a few spots left, so call while they are still available.

Come one, come all, and bring a bit of gold with ye.

And we're BACK!!!

Boy has it been crazy at the shop the last few months. Pair that with my home computer down, and the 2 littlest ones off track and what does that spell.....no posts.

We've got a fabulous class line up this month. A very popular class is the Liesl Sweater. You all know I never do the pattern as it's written, so in this class, not only will you knit the sweater but I'll give you all the changes I made, and why I made them. One of the best features of this sweater is you get lots of choices. High neck, low neck, short sleeves, long sleeves, cropped, waist and even longer. You get to choose any yarn between worsted or bulky, which really opens up the options. I'm using some yarn I had out of my stash. No labels, and hand-dyed. I've had to knit a row with one skein, switch to the 2nd skein for row 2, and then switch to the 3rd skein for row 3, then rotate. Which was a lot of work when knitting in line at Disneyland.

I'll post more pictures for finished object Friday. I've still been taking a ton of pictures. For me nothing inspires me more than seeing a finished project coming in the shop, and the bright smile of the person who finished it.

So, check out the schedule, you'll love the classes.