We’ve got the old standby’s, the hilarious and crazy Funky Sock Monkey kits and pattern from Blue Moon:

We also just got Woolpets, these amazing little felted cute-thing kits, and one just so happens to be a traditional sock monkey:

And, harkening back to our post from last week, we’ve got Sock Monkey project bags from Flower Pie:

So come on in to Twisted and getcher Sock Monkey on!

Inga, aka Rockpool Candy, Jimbo and his insanely ginormous and record-breaking (whether or not the Guiness folks will recognize it) crochet hook, and Laurie from the Crochet Liberation Front are descending upon Portland, Twisted in particular, for an event of epic proportions. Jimbo’s bringing Dippy (Diplohookticus Jimbosei),

Inga’s bringing her artistic vision, and Laurie’s bringing her mad crocheting skills. The goal is to create a HUGE spider web, by first spinning, and then crocheting it. Please come on by, bring some fleece and your own hook, and create with us this Halloween weekend.

Thanks, Tree, for the link!

Parna and I were lucky enough to score tickets, though I hear they’re all sold out now. Also, anyone who has tickets for tonight’s screening will be thrilled to know that Twisted has a little contribution to the sweet swag bags they’ll be handing out.

Here’s the trailer:

When I started this post, there were still tickets available for the other screenings, but I just checked and it looks like all four showings are sold out! Ack. Well, I’m going to go ahead and post this so that you can still check out this great film, add it to your Netflix queue when it is released on DVD, etc. Who knows, maybe the museum will add another showing if enough people ask?…

Also, there are a whole bunch of related activities and programs and hands on fun you can get involved in. The deets are here. Have fun!

Hand Woven Greeting Cards

These pretty all-occasion cards are an ingenious way to use up your scraps of leftover yarn. You’ll use easy sewing techniques to build a simple loom right on the card, and then weave in two different styles. No prior experience in sewing or weaving is needed.

Wednesday, February 18. 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
with Diane Gilleland
$20, plus materials fee of $3.00 payable to instructor at class.
Materials: Scraps of leftover yarn in a variety of weights and colors
Provided: Cards, tapestry needles, handout, loom templates, assorted thread, paper and glue for backing the weaving
Skills learned: Simple weaving and sewing.

Spool-Knit Flower Pin

Spool-knitting is a very old craft, using a simple knitting tool built from a wooden spool. Even if you’ve never knit on needles, you can learn to knit on a spool. In this class, we’ll learn how to cast on to the spool, knit a length of cord, and then turn it into a cheery flower brooch, embellished with buttons. You’ll borrow the instructor’s spools in class, and leave with instructions for making your own spools at home.
Saturday, February 28. 11:30 – 2:30 pm.
with Diane Gilleland
$30, plus materials fee of $2.00 payable to instructor at class.
Materials: Sport-weight yarn in colors of your choice (scraps okay), decorative Buttons (one per pin), crochet hook size TBD
Provided: Spools, scissors, handout, pin backs
Skills learned: Spool knitting.

Intermediate Wire Crochet: Flower Pendants If you’re already comfortable making crocheted flowers in yarn, this class will teach you to transform them with wire for delicate jewelry. We’ll learn to crochet with fine-gauge wire in the round, adapt existing flower patterns for wire, join colors, and add beaded embellishments. Saturday, March 28. 11:30am – 2:30pm. with Diane Gilleland $30, plus materials fee of $3.00 payable to the instructor at class. Materials: 28 gauge wire in 2-3 colors, US size C steel hook, US size 5 steel hook, wire cutters (optional) Includes: Jewelry findings, beads, handout. Skills learned: Crocheting with jewelry wire. Prerequisites: No wire-crochet experience is necessary, but you should be comfortable crocheting in the round with yarn, and have made at least a few yarn flowers.

Japanese Temari

These thread-wrapped, embroidered balls are an ancient Japanese craft now made as tokens of luck.
Sunday, March 29. 11:30am – 2:30pm.
with Diane Gilleland
$30, plus $5 materials fee payable to teacher at class
Materials: 3-4 skeins DMC Pearl Cotton embroidery floss in assorted colors, and one skein metallic gold or silver DMC Pearl Cotton.
Provided: Thread wrapped styrofoam balls.
Skills learned: Basic embroidery stitches.

We had been given a head’s-up that new Portland transplant Star Athena had a pattern in the mag, and Tweeted about it yesterday. Some very sweet, very different, and very attractive little socks, made out of one of our favorite sock yarn stalwarts, Gems (sportweight).

We were all talking about how fabulously crafty our fair city is last night, when who should walk in but Cher with a huge grin on her face (and her gorgeous little baby on her hip), because she has a pattern set in the magazine, too! The Twisted Bridges Hat and Scarf, which are lovely, bulky, yummy, cable-y goodness.

Then there’s the newest issue of Knitty. Carrie’s got an article on dyeing. And Larissa’s got a sassy little necklace in the issue.

Our favorite Toe-Up on Two Circs sock teacher Chrissy Gardiner has a sock pattern in the Summer Issue of Interweave Knits. True to form, they are an amazingly gorgeous and fun pattern, and would work with any combination of a hand-dyed sock yarn (we have a few here at Twisted – heehee!), and the versatile Gems Fingering.

And last, but certainly not least, we made national knitting magazine news in the Fall issue of Knit Simple with the Bear Mitten project Emily and Jennie at the Oregon Zoo spearheaded. There’s even a photo of Emily and my dear sister Jessica sportin’ bear mittens, a copy of which I will leave you with today.

You go, Portland – HIGH FIVES ALL AROUND!!!

Diane, from DIY Alert, Crafty Pod, and the Church of Craft, and Susan, from West Coast Crafty, and author of the new book Bead Simple, are co-hosting the Portland bash here at Twisted, from 1-4pm.

Moxie will be on hand, too, demonstrating how she makes the adorable monsters on the cover of CRAFT 06. We’ll also have a hands-on craft table, where you can learn to make Pantyhose Flowers from the magazine. And we’ll have free snacks and door prizes!

So please come by, have some afternoon tea, and CRAFT with us! And please spread the word to other crafty types while you’re at it… Also, don’t forget that the March Crafty Wonderland sale is the same day, from 11-4, so you can hit both for a super fun afternoon out!

Sunday, November 11
3:00 – 6:00 pm
with Sheryl Kizer
$30
Materials: Basket kit is $25 (regularly $30). Optional tools kit including heavy duty shears, sanding egg, and packing tool is $15 with class (regularly $20). Or, you may bring your own scissors, sandpaper, and flat head screwdriver.

If you’re interested in registering, just give us a call at 503.922.1150!