14
May
Claudia Handpaints
Posted by Shannon in the shop, yarn, socks, patternsPeace, Love, Comfort, Joy…that is the mantra that Claudia of Claudia Hand Paints lives by. And it comes through in her lovely, bright, and cheery colors. I was lucky enough to open up a box of Claudia Fingering and Silk Lace yesterday, and experienced all four emotions looking through, fondling, and finally putting the yarn on Twisted’s shelves. Take a gander at these photos, and tell me you don’t need to make socks out of some Claudia Hand Paints!
If you’re really up for a commitment, you can make this gorgeous sweater and cowl set with just two hanks of Claudia’s Silk Lace. Many many yards of stockinette, but an easy, mindless knit, and what a payoff!
13
May
Golf Cap Knit-a-long
Posted by Emily in blogging, events, patterns, knittingNow that Mothers’ Day has past, it’s time to start thinking about (and knitting for) Fathers’ Day. This year it falls on June 15th, which gives us a month to work on our gifts…
With this in mind one of our talented teachers, Dawn, is starting a knit-a-long of the knitted golf caps from her pattern line Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design.
The knit-a-along will officially start on May 15th, and Dawn has set up both a Yahoo group (FiberRhythm_KAL) as well as a Ravelry group (Fiber Rhythm KAL) for you to follow along with. Sign up on one of the two and get started!
Dawn will be knitting a pair of the Aran Golf Caps - one for her mother-in-law (her birthday is the end of May) and one for her father-in-law. For those who aren’t ready to do all the cables (or the intended wearer wants something less fancy), the Fabric Stitch Cap can be used instead.
The caps take around 200 grams of worsted weight yarn. We have the patterns and lots of yarn choices (Louet Riverstone comes to mind) waiting for you at Twisted.
11
May
Upcoming classes
Posted by Emily in classesThere are three very cool classes coming up next week that still have spots open in them!
Altering Patterns, taught by the lovely and talented Kate, is next Thursday, May 15 from 6-8pm. This class will cover adjusting patterns to do all those things we knitters find ourselves wanting to do - like use a different weight of yarn than the pattern calls for or to accommodate a larger bust size, for example. It’s a little bit math, a little bit creative flair, and a little bit rock-and-roll. $20.
Crochet Flowers, taught by debonair Dr. Elaine, is a learn to crochet class that will get you started in the craft by making adorable little flower embellishments. No prior crochet knowledge needed - covers chain, single and double crochet. Come check it out next Saturday, May 17 from 12-3pm. $30, plus $5 materials fee.
Entrelac, taught by Dawn from Fiber Rhythm Craft and Design, is your entry into this looks-harder-than-it-really-is technique. Best of all, the class project can be used to make a cute purse. Sunday, May 18 from 2:30 - 5:30pm. $30.
10
May
Why I Knit Event on Sunday
Posted by Shannon in the shop, events
Just a reminder that for Mothers’ Day on Sunday we’re having an event that asks people to share “Why I Knit.” On Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, our friend Laurie Ann Greenberg will be here, video camera in hand, to hear what motivates you to knit.
We’ve had a journal in the shop for the last month or so, and have had lots of people contributing their answers. Laurie Ann has been talking about why she knits on her blog. For this event, on Mothers’ Day, we’re hoping moms and daughters (and sons) will come in together to share how they got started in the craft and what it means to them.
We also want to continue to encourage you to share your Twisted Knits with us at our Flickr Gallery. It’s so exciting to us to see what our customers have been creating with the yarn, needles, and patterns they leave the shop with. We also have a group on Ravelry, the Twisted B*tches, which is much more benign than it sounds. If you are a Ravelry member, please join our group!
9
May
Closing early today
Posted by Emily in the shop, eventsHi all. Just a reminder that we will be closing at 6:00 pm today in order to prepare for tonight’s Fiona Ellis lecture! We’ll reopen the doors at 6:30 pm ONLY to people who have pre-registered for Fiona’s talk.
Frankly, this gives me a giggle fit every time I think about it. Because essentially it means we’re going to have a bouncer checking names off a list like some schwank LA club or something. Pretty funny. Also, that bouncer could well be me, which is especially silly as I am 5′3″ and mild mannered even on a good day (or would that be a bad day?). Watch out though, I am scrappy and will be wielding Addi Turbos…
8
May
What a week!
Posted by Emily in eventsThis is a big week at Twisted!
Tonight, of course, Larissa Brown and Sarah Gilbert are joining us to celebrate the new book Knitalong (read more about it in yesterday’s blog post). This is a perfect opportunity for friends, fathers, and kids to make a wonderful Mothers’ Day gift for their favorite knitter. Join us from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.
Tomorrow night, another talented author and designer, Fiona Ellis, will be joining us for a lecture from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The topic of Fiona’s lecture is “The Knitter’s Muse.” As her website says, the world is full of inspiration, from exotic travels to everyday scenes. Fiona will talk about what inspires her and how she uses this as a springboard for her knit designs. This hour-long presentation may even change the way you look at the world.
Please note: To make room for this event, Twisted will be closing early at 6:00 pm, then reopening at 6:30 pm ONLY to people who have pre-registered for Fiona’s talk. If you’re interested in attending, give us a call at 503-922-1150.
Finally, for Mothers’ Day on Sunday we’re having an event that asks people to share “Why I Knit.” On Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, our friend Laurie Ann Greenberg will be here, video camera in hand, to hear what motivates you to knit.
We’ve had a journal in the shop for the last month or so, and have had lots of people contributing their answers. Laurie Ann has been talking about why she knits on her blog. For this event, on Mothers’ Day, we’re hoping moms and daughters will come in together to share how they got started in the craft and what it means to them.
7
May
Knitalong Mother’s Day Event
Posted by Shannon in the shop, books, eventsThe uber-talented Larissa Brown and Sarah Gilbert will be here at Twisted tomorrow (Thursday) night for a book-signing and Mother’s-Day-gift-making extravaganza! Larissa and her hubbie, Martin, wrote the most amazing book, Knitalong, which is filled to the brim with interesting stories of knitting as a community, both a physical community and a cyber one. Both Larissa and Sarah not only shared their knitting, writing, and photography talents, but their children, as well, who can be seen modeling many of the projects in the book, and for that, we are grateful, because they are so darned cute!
Larissa will be signing books and leading a Magic Yarn Ball project - perfect to give as a Mother’s Day Gift. You can buy the yarn and all the little gifts to go inside here at Twisted. Designer and photographer Sarah Gilbert, who has one pattern and many photos in the book, will join her.
Dads and children, this is your opportunity to get a great knittin’ gift for mom, a signed book and a Magic Yarn Ball!
At Twisted on NE Broadway, Portland, Oregon. May 8. 6 pm.
4
May
knitting and walking
Posted by Shannon in eventsAre you regretting letting go of your New Year’s Resolution to get in shape? Are you looking for an excuse to see the beauty of Oregon at a slower pace? Well, Chrissy Gardiner, the insanely talented local designer and Twisted Toe-Up Sock Class Teacher (among many other talents), has just the cure for you.
She’s trying to get a team of knitters together to do the Portland to Coast relay walk on August 22. We’ve got three and need 9 more. Entry is $71 and each walker would do two 5-6 mile legs. More info at the website. Download this document for all the pertinent info. If you are interested, please email Chrissy at cgardinerATgardineryarnworksDOTcom (replacing the AT and the DOT with the correct things, of course).
No word yet on whether or not Chrissy will be knitting as she’s walking, or waiting until the walking is over to knit her celebratory sockies.
3
May
oooh, la, la
Posted by Shannon in the shop, yarnWe’ve got something super exciting to share with you all - new SOCKS THAT ROCK!
Yeehawww!!
We received a partial order, and will be getting some more in the next week. We are so madly in love with what we have that we weren’t quite sure we’d share it with you all. But, we decided that we are, after all, in the business of selling yarn, even though we’d just love to enhance our personal stashes by a hundred (or thousand)-fold with this new STR infusion. As always with our Blue Moon yarns, it’s a first-come, first-served kind of thing, with no holds, no shipping, no special orders. And remember, doors open at 11am.
Today, also, is the Tigard Knitting Guild Shop Hop, and we hear these ladies and gents are CRAZY. They’ll be at Twisted from about 2:30 until 3:30 or so, and it may be a bit hectic, so think about coming before or after that for your fix.
2
May
New Newsletter, highlighting May events!
Posted by Shannon in the shop, eventsJust a quick post to let you know that our new newsletter is now up! The May Twisted Newsletter is all about the happs - we have tons of fun events coming up this month, folks - hope you can make one, or three, or all of them!