StitchCraft - events

Betsy's Book is Here!!!

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:45:05-0700

Betsy McCarthy's revised book Knit Socks! has arrived. We have a number of copies in stock, so if you want to reserve one you can call the shop and we'll put it aside for you. The book has eight new patterns and includes instructions for knitting socks on double pointed, two circular, and one long circular needle(s).

StitchCraft is hosting Betsy's Book Signing on Saturday, October 9th from 1pm - 3pm.

Betsy is teaching two beginning sock workshops at StitchCraft this fall. Tentative dates for the workshops are:

Tuesday, October 12th, 9am - 4pm
Sunday, November 7th, 9am - 4pm

You're welcome to get on a wait-list for these classes. Just call us at 360-993-2200.

Here's Betsy's Today Show appearance with Jane Pauley from last March.

Rovaniemi Mittens

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:16:21-0700

This last weekend I went to a Madrona Summer Workshop with Susanna Hansson on Rovaniemi Mittens. This continues my study of Baltic and Scandinavian knitting techniques. This Finnish Lapland technique class combines intarsia knitting and weaving. The Sami are mainly weavers, but some knitting is incorporated into their native costuming. Here's a picture of the Sami people of Rovaniemi.

This type of colorwork is like nothing else I've ever done in my 35 years of knitting. First, there are bobbins, just like intarsia, and each color (besides the main color) is held on a long needle above your work. You work in the round in the main color, and add the bobbins as you need them, in a particular order determined by the colors you choose and the color pattern. In the photograph on the left, you see my work in progress and the bobbins being held above the work on a long, straight needle.

This method echoes the back strap weaving of the Sami people. Here is a photograph of a Guatemalan woman weaving backstrap method. I did not find a photo of a Sami weaver.

Here is a picture of Susanna at the workshop. She's a fantastic instructor and very passionate about her work.

We learned how to add braids to our knitting. Here are some examples. On the left, is my sample swatch. Middle and left are swatches Susannah completed.

We learned how to finger weave a cord. It's much more substantial that I-cord and I like the look better.

Here are some examples of finished mittens and wrist cuffs.

The gauge of the mitts we made were 8.5 - 9 sts per inch. Here's an example of gage that was correct and gage too large.

If you're interested in learning about these knitting techniques, I'm going to do a demonstration in October. The demonstration will be on Rovaniemi and Bohus techniques. Susanna gave me permission to hold a demonstration at StitchCraft. More information about the upcoming demonstration will be posted in our October newsletter. Please go here to add yourself to the newsletter email list.

Stitch 'n' Pitch

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:25:17-0700

STITCH 'N PITCH AT PGE PARK!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Portland Beavers vs. Reno Aces

7:05 P.M. (gates open at 6 P.M.)

The Portland Beavers invite you out to PGE Park for a fun evening of

two American traditions - Baseball and Needlearts!

Sit with family, friends and fellow stitchers
Free "The National NeedleArts Association" tote bag
Stitch for a good cause - Knit Caps go to Caps for Cancer!
$10 reserved tickets - $2.50 off the box office price

Call Andy McCulloch at (503) 553-5443 to book your tickets today!
Offer not valid at the PGE Park Box Office.
Deadline to order tickets is Tuesday, July 21 at 5p.m.

Independence Day Sale July 2nd and 3rd!

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:15:08-0700

We're having an Independence Day Sale yea! On Friday, July 2nd and Saturday, July 3rd, you receive 20% off of all crochet, knitting and cross stitch leaflet patterns, and 20% off of all cross stitch and punchneedle supplies. And don't forget, we still have quite a bit of yarn on sale for 20% to 35% off. Let's make room or fall!

Yarns on sale are:
Malabrigo Worsted, Malabrigo Silk/Wool DK, Zaol Cannon, Zaol Camelot, Rowan Wool/Cotton, Dale of Norway Harlequin, Lorna's Laces Organic DK, Manos Silk Wool DK (select colors), The Alpaca Yarn Company Swizzle, Online sock yarns, Sheep Shop sock yarns, and more!!!

Potpourri

Tue, 11 May 2010 09:32:59-0700

Well, a few things to mention in this blog. First, there are two classes that still have openings and they're both classes on baby booties. Do you know a little baby with cold feet? These will warm them up! For more information on classes, please go here.

Crochet Baby Booties
Friday, May 14th
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Prerequisites: Beginning crochet skills, chain, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet.
Instructor: Christa Kangas
Fee: $30

Double Knit Baby Booties
Wednesday, May 19th
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Prerequisites: Cast on, bind off, knit stitch, purl stitch, knitting in the round experience a plus.
Instructor: Nicholette Hoyer
Fee: $35

Second, our sale is still going on until all this stuff is gone!!! We need to make room for new Fall items to be delivered starting in July. Here are some pics of the HUGE sale baskets.

Lastly, our Farmhouse yarns are re-stocked. More Lumpy Bumpy, Trixie's Mohair and Cotton Blossom. We've got new colors too!

Our Big Anniversary Sale Starts Tomorrow!!!!

Thu, 06 May 2010 06:31:19-0700

We're celebrating two years in business!!!

There are raffles each day of the sale, so don't miss out. Select items are 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% off. On Saturday only, all books and patterns are 20% off. Some of the items on sale are:

Malabrigo Worsted
Malabrigo Silk/Merino DK
Zaol Cannon
Zaol Camelon
Cascade Rustic
The Alpaca Yarn Company Swizzle
Lornas Laces Organic DK
Manos del Uruguay Silk Wool DK (select colors)
Online Sock Yarns
Sheep Shop Sock Yarns
Select Totes and Needle Cases
Sewing Books 30% off
And more....

We're looking forward to seeing you. Our hours during the sale are:

May 7th - 10am - 5:30pm
May 8th - 10am - 5pm
May 9th - noon - 4pm

St. Patrick's Day Special and What's New

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:58:54-0700

On Wednesday, March 17th, all our solid green yarns and embroidery threads are 10% off. We're open St. Patrick's day from 10am - 6:30pm.

Right before the yarn crawl, this was the scene at the shop. Lots and lots of new arrivals. Below is a Manos del Uruguay order. We added many more colors. And, Manos has two fabulous throw books Shadows & Reflections and Geometry. You'll see one of the throws below come to life over the spring months. Two of our favorite throws are shown below.

One of our new favorites yarns in the shop is Mountain Meadow Wool. It's a soft-spun merino grown by sheep ranchers in Wyoming. You can trace each hank back to the sheep from which it came. 10% of all sales of this yarn goes back to the rancher. And, it's dyed in environmentally friendly dyes. It feels JUST LIKE hand spun. Even Carol, our old spinning instructor, couldn't tell it wasn't handspun. We have it in sport weight and in every color they make.

And the Winners of the Portland Yarn Crawl Are....

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:05:04-0700

StitchCraft's Friday, March 5th raffle - Book Knitted Socks East and West and Child's sock kit by StitchJones - Janelle LaRue

StitchCraft's Saturday, March 6th raffle - Blue Sky Alpacas Fingerless Gloves Pattern, Yarn and Project Bag - Michelle Johnson

StitchCraft's Sunday, March 7th raffle - Spud & Chloe Sock Pattern and Yarn - Leanne White

Yarn Crawl Basket, drawn Sunday, March 7th - Kathy Cina

Scavenger Hunt Winners - Susan Rognsuz and Tara Casper

Congratulations to all of you. We had over 300 people in the shop over the crawl weekend and we had a lot of fun!

Our Wonderful Betsy McCarthy

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:56:43-0700

Tomorrow between 8am and 9am PST, Betsy McCarthy, my mentor, very close friend and StitchCraft knitting instructor, is going to appear on the Today Show. Please watch! Betsy talks with Jane Pauley about her career change from hospital administrator to knitting instructor. The segment that Jane is doing right now is called Your Life Calling. It's about people making career changes and following their passions, later in life. Very applicable to our job market today. The complete interview with Jane will be available on the AARP website.

Here is the AARP "trailer" for the interview with Betsy and Jane.

http://www.aarp.org/money/work/your_life_calling/

And, Betsy has a new website:

http://betsymccarthyknits.com/

Betsy's book Knit Socks is going to be re-published in this summer. If you would like to reserve a copy of her updated book, please let us know. We're going to host a book signing too!

How exciting to have a knitter in the spotlight! I hope it inspires others to take up the art of handwork.

The Raffle Basket for the Yarn Crawl

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:16:00-0700

This basket is stuffed with knitterly goodness:

Three books, two of them new from publisher Stewart, Tabori and Chang. They are Comfort Knitting and Crochet Afghans, Knitted Socks East and West, and Knits Men Want.
Copy of Knitting Traditions Magazine
Imperial Stock Ranch Kit
8 balls of yarn
Takki Yarns Kit
Lantern Moon Circular Needle
Lantern Moon Basket
Lantern Moon Needle Case
Berroco Kit
Unicorn Wool Wash
Pocket Pals Pattern Booklet

Happy crawling (or running!) to the shops!

Portland (and Vancouver) Yarn Crawl March 5, 6, 7

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:32:58-0700

Just a note to tell you about the specials we're running during the Portland Yarn Crawl, if you're a crawl registrant. To read all about the crawl, visit the crawl's website; www.portlandyarncrawl.com. I've provided a link for you.

The crawl dates are March 5th, 6th and 7th. There is a scavenger hunt, and raffle baskets put together by major yarn companies and needle companies. StitchCraft has three separate raffles going on that weekend, one for each day. Here are more details of what we're providing people that register at our door during the crawl.

10% ONE TIME ONLY discount on your purchase of yarn.
Free ice cream to the first 40 yarn crawl registrants at Ice Cream Renaissance.
Three raffles, one each day of the crawl, for Blue Sky Alpacas fingerless gloves (pattern, yarn, project bag); Spud and Chloe socks (pattern, yarn); and StitchJones Child's Sock Kit.
Trunk shows on display by Blue Sky Alpacas and Spud and Chloe.
Cross Stitch Demos.

Click here for a link to the map of participating shops.

Our Hours during the crawl are:
Friday 10am - 5:30pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

StitchCraft
2110 Main St.
Vancouver, WA 98660
www.stitchcraft.us