Apr
Free Fiona Ellis Lecture
Posted by Shannon in events
Mark your calendars and give us a call to register for an exciting lecture at Twisted on Friday, May 9, 2008, from 7-9pm. Fiona Ellis, the amazing designer, will be kicking off a whole weekend of classes sponsored by Blue Moon Fiber Arts (the Socks That Rock goddesses), with a free lecture at Twisted. The rest of the weekend’s events will take place up at the World Forestry Center, and if you want to register for those, please go to Blue Moon’s website. If you just want to come to the lecture at Twisted, give us a call at 503.922.1150 to register.
Apr
Photo Gallery
Posted by Emily in the shopWhat do your Twisted purchases become when they grow up? Show us your creations and check out everyone else’s in our new Twisted customer photo gallery. It’s a flickr group where you can show off the finished objects that started their lives on our shelves.
The little button/badge/thingamagig to the right in the side bar shows ten recently-added images from the gallery. You can click on them to go to the original Flickr image and see more details about the project. Or, click here to see all the photos, or to join the group and add your own!
If you want to see when others add photos, subscribe to the RSS feed.
We’d love to see what you’ve made, so when you have a moment please join the group and share your wonderful creations!
Apr
Rusted Root Mania
Posted by Emily in classesJump on the Rusted Root bandwagon! This is definitely the hottest summer shirt pattern we’ve been selling lately. Shannon did it in Cathay. Parna’s got it in progress in Pure Cotton. I’ve got it queued in Euroflax… wait Prima… wait Soya Cotton… errrm…
Anyway, whatever yarn you knit it in, the pattern’s written by Portland’s own Zephyr Style gals. It’s knit from the top down so there’s, say it with me, no seaming. And you can try it on as you go so the fit is sure to be perfection even if your gauge isn’t. The break between the second and third classes gives you plenty of time to work on the body. If you’re feeling up to it, there’s a lace panel down the front. If you’re looking for something simpler, you can just go with the plain white (or orange, purple, green, etc.) T look.
Sundays, June 1, 8, 29, 3:00 – 5:00 pm.
with Parna Mehrbani
$60
Materials: Worsted weight yarn (5 sts/inch), 24” circular needles in size necessary to obtain gauge.
Includes: Zephyr Style Rusted Root pattern.
Skills learned: Raglan sleeves, basic lace if desired.
Apr
Leethal’s short row wavy hat
Posted by Emily in classesLocal blogger, indy zine author and all around crafty chica Lee Meredith is joining our teaching roster in May. She’ll be teaching a two-part class on her very own hat pattern called Leethal’s Short-Rows Wavy Hat.
If you thought hats were boring think again! Lee’s hat is knit flat from side to side (not bottom to top) using short rows for shaping and increasing and decreasing to create spiraling stripes. We have it listed at the intermediate level, but it would be appropriate for an adventurous advanced beginner, too. The dates to mark your calendar for are May 4 and 11 from 2:30 - 4:30 pm. $40. Give us a call to register - 503.922.1150.
Apr
Happy Earth Day!
Posted by Emily in classes, crochetOur gal Michelle came in the other day with a great class idea, that is just perfect to announce on Earth Day. It’s a purse crocheted out of old grocery bags!
The class is a “beginner” level since it requires only minimal crochet skills - single crochet, increase and decrease only. You’ll learn how to cut up plastic grocery bags and connect them together to make “yarn,” as well as how to follow a simple crochet pattern. The class is Sunday, July 20 from 2:30 – 4:30 pm and costs $20. Materials are 30 plastic grocery bags (BYO) and a size N plastic or metal crochet hook (not wood).
Apr
Silk Mountain Madness
Posted by Emily in yarn, sale|
So, here’s the thing. We cannot resist a sale. We saw a good deal on some Noro Silk Mountain and, well, we bought it. A lot of it.
The fiber content is 65% Wool, 25% Silk, 10% Kid Mohair. It’s a bulky weight boucle - 3 stitches per inch on US 10 needles. A 55 yard ball usually sells for $11, but we’re putting it right out into the sale area for $8. So come get some while it lasts! |
  
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Apr
Cast on
Posted by Emily in classesSo, are you busy tomorrow? No? Well, perfect then. We still have a spot open in a neat new workshop with our gal Parna Sunday from 2:30 - 4:30.
The subject is casting on. There are about as many ways to cast on as there are dog breeds. And, when you think about it, you’re only casting on once a project, so there’s just not as much chance to practice as there is with other aspects of knitting.
Long tail, backwards loop, knit, cable, provisional… Have you ever seen these terms and not known how to do them? Or wondered when to use one over another? Well then the Casting On workshop is just the ticket! You’ll learn a few of the most common cast-on methods and their pros and cons.
If this sounds up your alley, just give us a call at 503.922.1150 to sign up!
Apr
Yarn Harlot visit
Posted by Emily in contests, books, events, charityJust in case you haven’t already heard, the Yarn Harlot is coming to Portland, courtesy Blue Moon Fiber Arts, and fun is sure to be had.
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, the beloved Yarn Harlot herself, will be at the World Forestry Center (Miller Hall) on April 22 at 7:00 pm. She is sure to keep us laughing and knitting as she shares her knit wisdom and wit. We are celebrating the arrival of her new book, Things I Learned from Knitting…Whether I Wanted To or Not. She will be signing this book and her other titles. Doors open at 5:00 pm for book sales and seating. There will be plenty of room and books so, no worries, reservations are NOT needed. A very special Socks that Rock lightweight will also be on sale! All profits from book sales go to Knitters Without Borders.
In addition, BMFA has put together an “Inexplicable Knitting Behavior Scavenger Hunt” to celebrate the Harlot’s visit and, since Earth Day is April 19, the Earth. Click here to see all the details of the Scavenger hunt. It is a printable pdf. Basically, on either Saturday 19th (Earth Day) or Tuesday 22nd (the day Stephanie is speaking) you and some knitting buddies are challenged to run around town taking pictures with a sock in progress at assigned locations. It is sure to be a blast and, for participating, you get a cool pin custom made for the event.
Apr
the ga-new ga-newsletter is up
Posted by Shannon in newsletteras i was trying to think of a clever title for this post (yeah, i know, folks, i came up short on that one), i was thinking about alliteration, and what popped into my head, but a phrase from my childhood:
remember that? from the Great Space Coaster? Gary Gnu pronounced all ‘n’ sounds with a ‘guh’ sound. so the phrase above was actually ‘no ga-news is good ga-news with gary ga-nu.”
and that leads us to the actual reason for this post. no, not to remind you to file those taxes by midnight, but to let you know that our ga-newest ga-newsletter is done! click this link to read it. it’s chock-full of fun stuff - ga-new classes, ga-new events, ga-new contests, this ga-newsletter has a little bit of everything!
Apr
Think Outside the Sox
Posted by Emily in socks, contests, knittingHave you heard about this yet? Knitter’s Magazine, XRX Books, Skacel, Cherry Tree Hill yarn, Addi Turbo needles, and many other sock-yarn-related companies are coming together for a great new contest – Think Outside the Sox! If you’ve always wanted to be a sock designer, then now’s your chance.
The contest started in February at STITCHES West 2008 and will run until January 1st, 2009 (just before STITCHES West 2009). There are a bunch of different categories for different yarns, techniques, and styles. The sponsors have contributed over $20,000 in prize money, with the grand prize worth $6,000! Imagine how much totally guilt-free sock yarn that could buy! The winning sock designers are going to win prize money AND get the chance to be featured in Knitter’s Magazine as well as in an upcoming book from XRX Books. Big time, baby!
So, long story short, come on down to Twisted and pick up an official contest entry form, or check it out at the Think Outside the Sox website. As an official Sox Hot Spot, we’re here to offer you help designing, knitting and entering your sock in the contest. Portland is waaay crafty enough to have at least one, probably more, winners hail from our fair city, so start swatching, folks.