february 15 blog (late again)

i have been crazy busy with classes here at the shop, getting prepared for the upcoming pittsburgh knit and crochet show in march, and taking online felting classes.    also trying to keep up with the shoveling and today trying to knock huge icicles off the roof tops!

well, i got my maple trees tapped.  that's a relief because
 i missed it one year due to warm temps in january.  the temps have to be above freezing in the day and below freezing at night for the sap to be running. i will be collecting sap at least this upcoming week and if the weather turns cold again, i will have to get the sap cooked up before it starts to run again, as you can only store it so long.

most people don't know it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.  REAL syrup i mean - NOT pretend syrup.  now you know why its so darn expensive.  to me, it is worth every second of trudging through the snow twice a day to empty buckets and carrying full five gallon buckets that weigh at least 40 pounds back up to the house.  the best part is cooking it down, which needs to be done outside over an open fire, as it takes about an entire day for the water to evaporate and for it to cook down to syrup.  well that's probably more than you wanted to know.

back to shop business:  i'm really excited about the upcoming knit and crochet show.  please mark you calendars for march 14-16 and try to make your way to the 4 points sheraton north.  check out their website at pghknitandcrochet.com for more info as well as class information.  it is well worth the trip!

70 never looked so good!

lets start with second half february birthdays:
holly h (feb 16); cathy r (feb 17 a BIG BIG one);
trish f (feb 17 NOT a big big one).  cathy r was at
the shop for a knit along on the 17th, so we sang
happy birthday to her and had a little boston creme pie.











                                                                         
                                                                         
my first KAL (knit along)!

cathy, maia, ardis, and beth are working on a baby sweater pattern which is virtually seamless.
pictures in march when everyone's is complete!












WHAT'S NEW?
i just received a shipment of nicky epstein's "knitting in circles" hardcover book.  this book retails for $29.99 and sells on amazon for $23.78.  however, i am selling this book for $20.  this book contains 100 circular patterns for sweaters, bags, hats, afghans, and includes twenty of nicky's original designs.   you gain an understanding of the fun and possibilities a knitted circle can offer.

ALSO NEW is some luscious roving i received just today from the lavender fleece in michigan.  my friend, laurie ball-gisch, raises icelandic and leicester long wool sheep, which i am happy to say, i will be getting lambs from her this summer (one of each).  her well cared for flock produce a most luxurious wool.  pictured below:  the white in the back is a blend of icelandic lambswool, alpaca, and silk; the royal purple ball in the middle comes in leicester long wool as well as icelandic (laurie dies them herself); and the white with yellow in the forefront is icelandic lambs wool mixed with mohair.  they are so soft to the touch - they feel like a cloud.  all of these wonderful rovings felt like a dream!

cathy rosensteel's 'confident color' class was so
educational. we learned how colors work
together - what does and what doesn't go together and WHY!  this is a great class for all your knitters out there who have that problem.  cathy is going to offer this class again soon once the weather breaks and will be offering a sequel to the class as well having to do with design.  stay tuned for more info!

NEW CLASS COMING SOON:

FINISHING WORKSHOP*
at LONG LAST!  this class is designed to help those who have a completed garment but are afraid to finish it!!  OR you are afraid to start a project you will have to finish!  you will learn to give garments a professional seam, how to pick up stitches, gauge, blocking, and more.
instructor:  nancy premoshis
cost:  $25
materials:  complete list will be given at registration
when:  wednesday march 26 OR wednesday april 2 from 1 to 4 (choose ONE date)
where:  raggz

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:
wednesday feb 19 class:  on again/off again*
wednesday feb 19 close knit girls meet at panera
thursday feb 20 purlin girls meet at the bean
tuesday feb 25 1-6 knitters anonymous at the shop
wednesday feb 26 1-4 class:  from wool to wonderful felted lights*

*as always pre-registration and prepayment is required to hold a space in the class.

this is a picture of a beautiful vest monte made for her beautiful daughter, wendy, in colorado.  monte knitted it with Brae Tweed yarn by Knit One Crochet Too.  it is so lovely and is the same seamless vest pattern most of the purlin girls were using with the plymouth bonsai.  but of course monte had to add her own flair to it.  i'm sure wendy just loves it!

just to give you a heads up, due to the frenzy i figure i'll be in getting ready for the show - what to take, how to display what i take, packing, pricing, etc etc etc, the SHOP WILL BE CLOSED MARCH 1 and will reopen friday march 21st.  i hate to miss out on two fridays and a tuesday afternoon, but i will be using my dining room area of the shop as a prototype for my 10x10 set up at the show.  you are welcome to give me a call and pop in if you need something but we just won't be sitting around the table as we usually do on fridays.  sorry for any inconvenience but we'll get back on track on the 21st hopefully.  i hope i have sold soooo much that the shelves will be bare and i will be busy re-ordering!  (wishful thinking).

below are a few photos i wanted to share with you all of various happenings:

maia modeling diane's recently finished scarf with about a foot of yarn left over!!!!!!

marlene and another of her beautiful creations!  she said she is SICK OF WINTER and is hoping by dressing in springy clothes, it will coax winter to go away!

thea was nice enough to make a sample of Noni's Lipstick and Change kit.  isn't it adorable?

a tunic i made for myself.  i'm thinking of offering this as a knit along in the near future - this is a great spring project.  mine is knit out of JoJoLand Fantasia super wash and is very soft and comfortable and very washable!  

this is called 'upwolfing' and is a dutch method of felting.  i stumbled upon it and had to try it out.  check it out in person at the shop.  i am currently working on a few other samples as well.  very unusual!  i was so excited when i finished it and showed it to tom and he said 'what do you do with it?'  i had to laugh because i don't know!  i suppose it will be a wall hanging!  i'll figure something out…

ok that's all for now ladies.  please check out the class schedule on the website:  raggzfiberart.com

for more info.  looking forward to seeing you all very soon!  i hope the next newsletter will include photos of lambs and kids!

t

2.1.14

frost on the glass

so long january! i think most of you are breathing a sigh of relief now that the 'polar vortex' has subsided.  i enjoyed that cold weather because i didn't have to go out in it other than up to the farm.  i hate to admit that i may have been in my sweatpants seven days in a row!  we were up at the farm today and the critters were all out enjoying the sunshine.  no one looks ready to pop as of yet so i assume we won't see any babies for another month but you will see photos as soon as they are born.  but they all enjoyed the treats mary ann sent over friday.  the photo above was the back door at the shop which had been decorated by jack frost on one of those below zero nights.

the shop was on overload last friday.  thanks to all of you who came out.  donna is back and on the mend and a good time was had by all.

early february birthday wishes go out to:  linda l. on the 4th; donna w on the 11th, and carolyn f. on the 12th.  have a super day ladies and don't forget to come to the shop in february to redeem your $5 birthday gift certificate!

WHAT'S NEW YOU ASK?

hiya hiya double pointed needles in many more sizes and bamboo interchangeable kits.  they finally put out a new color case - beautiful purple!  but they are already gone from the shelves.  i plan on ordering more and will request the purple cases.

brown sheep lana boucle in solids and hand painted.  100% wool with a crimp; 180 yard skeins; worsted weight; 4 to 4 1/2 sts per inch on a size 8; new hand painted colors in burly spun; and yes -as with all brown sheep yarns, made 100% in USA in mitchell, nebraska.  and yes more seconds have arrived as well!

burly spun handpaints

lana boucle

darn good yarn new colors in the reclaimed chiffon ribbon. this yarn removes thousands of pounds of waste each year from landfills while helping women of india and nepal. it is beautiful to knit with and is also great for nuno felting and needle felting. the colors are fabulous and an 80+ yard skein is discounted to $8 here.

also NEW - wooden yarn swifts made by a local craftsman.  

every girl should have her own swift, seeing as not every yarn shop is nice enough to wind your yarn.  also when you order from the internet, they are not wound for you.  this way you don't have to have your husband sit with his hands out holding your yarn, or use a chair back, or ask your local yarn shop lady to wind yarn for you!

a BARGAIN at $25.00!  now you buy a plastic yarn winder and you're good to go!  i will be taking these to the pittsburgh knit and crochet in march and i'm certain they will be gone before the weekend is over so get one while you can.  supplies are limited.

january's prize winner is marlene barbe of the knit chicks!  congrats marlene!  come to the shop to see what you have won.

class updates:

laura mcguire's boot sock class started today and the girls are off and running making socks but this time on two small circulars size 6 and using a worsted weight yarn.  these socks will go much quicker than the size 1 needles with sock yarn the rest of us learned on.  will post pictures of the finished products once class is over.

still a couple of seats available for the broomstick lace class being held at the shop tuesday, feb 4 at 1 ($10); coming up at towards the end of the month will be the on again/off again class on feb 19 where you will learn several useful cast on and bind off methods ($20); and from wool to wonderful felted lights will be held feb 26 ($40).  just a couple of seats left in each of these classes so hurry.  they won't be repeated in the near future due to my busy schedule.  check website for more details and photos.

another new fantastic class:  

i am please to announce that nancy premoshis will be teaching the Inspired Embellishment Sweater technique here on two thursdays, april 10 and may 15th from 1 - 4.  cost of the class is $50.  

 nancy has been knitting for over 40 years and has taught at kathy's kreations, purl in the 

pines (flagstaff AZ), and at

the Pgh Knit & Crochet Fest! she

has won many ribbons at the county fair.

this sweater is absolutely stunning and can be knitted in cotton (shown), wool, or other fabrics.  if you purchase the materials from me, you will receive a 10% discount on the yarn for this project.

the first class nancy will get us started on knitting the sweater, then a month later at the second class, she will teach us how to put it together and do the embellishments.  class size is limited.  additional classes can be added if need be.  we already have three students so room for only two more at this time.  see website for details.

nancy has also agreed to teach a finishing class, which we ALL need.  date to be announced.

MY FIRST KAL!

three of our new grandma's are meeting here at the shop on wednesday feb 5th at 1 to make a baby sweater.  my sample is knitted out of dream yarn 'classy' in the red rush color way.  (70% super wash wool, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon).  i have not yet put the buttons on but the yarn is so soft to the touch.  all three new babies are girls.  cathy and beth are using a pink with purple hues and maia is using green.  

this pattern is described as 'an almost seamless baby hoodie' and i learned several new techniques myself in the making of this little gem.

anyone wishing to join along, let me know soon.  

dates to remember

tuesday feb 4 broomstick lace class 1-3 cost $10

thursday feb 6 purlin girls meet at the bean at noon

tuesday feb 11 knitters anonymous at the shop 1-6

wednesday feb 12 confident color class at the shop (FULL)*

saturdays feb 1, 8, and 15 craftique fiber art group 10-12

friday february 14 valentine's day (celebrate with us at the shop)*

fridays shop open 10-6

*cathy's class has reached its max but a second class can be added if anyone is interested

*all red and pink yarn discounted 10% 

i have exciting news!  i bought a skutt kiln!  i have been wanting my own kiln for many years and seeing as i have been making a lot of my own hand built pottery, i decided to bite the bullet and get one and get it setup in the basement at the shop.  the lady who taught me to do hand building (brigita) will be teaching here and we will be making wall pockets, buttons, dishes, platters, bowls, mugs - you name it!  i am so thrilled and can't wait to get it all set up.  will have to put lighting in downstairs but as soon as it is ready (some time late spring), i will be scheduling classes.  i already have five or six ladies signed up!  brigita is a wonderful, patient teacher and i have learned so much from her.

my first hand built mug

i have been ever so busy making samples for the yarn show.  right now i've been working on some of pagewood farm's gorgeous yarns.  my theme for the show, suggested by cathy rosensteel, is going to be:

"let the yarn do the work!"

half helix pattern featuring glitterati yarn

garden party yarn cowl

 beautiful yarns make beautiful products without any effort!

flora fina hat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i have been on a roll doing some wet felting lately and finally embellished my brown vest.  i really like it and can't wait to try more wet felted clothing.

this box was sitting at the shop friday and not one person asked me what it was for!  can you guess??? (ps its not for our wood burning stove)...

have a great month everyone.  hope to see you all soon.  thanks for your patronage - my shop has had two wonderful months -probably the best two months in the 2 plus years i've been open!!  i sooo appreciate your business.  special thanks to those of you who have been spreading the word about my shop and bring new customers to me!