Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn

A Great Friend's MOM!

Dona's son graduated high school in May.  Since January, she has been knitting afghans for all of his friends in the colors of their college choice!  She has knitted 11, gave 3 away already (and they say they are using them in their schools already) and has 2 more to knit... The two are for her son and his roommate (you know, the cobbler with no shoes)!  She has knitted for various schools, most of which are in Virginia... UVA, VA Tech, Hampden-Sydney, William & Mary.  Other schools outside of  Virginia include Princeton and U of SC.  All of the afghans are knitted double stranded worsted with a size #17 needle.  She used machine washable yarn (mostly Plymouth Encore and Darkhorse Fantasy).  They are all soft and cuddly and I am sure that will come in handy with all of these guys away from home, some for the first time.

WOW, Dona!  Many of us have watched you to knit all of those loving stitches.  The boys must be so pleased with their gifts and you sure taught us that once you set your mind to do something, YOU will get it done!  I just can't understand why you decided to knit socks next - going from size 17 needles to #1must be painful!?!?!

Silk Rhapsody Zig Zag Scarf

Oh, my my!  Modular knitting is addictive! AND, Silk Rhapsody is the absolute most luxurious!!!  This is an Art Yarn.  To be honest, we have tried to duplicate the yarn using some existing yarns, but to no avail.. It didn't even come close.  This is a silk dk and kid mohair dyed together and WOW!  I have one color showing on our website at http://www.eweknitkits.com in the yarn section under Art Yarn (that's because that is all that is left from a rather large order).  More is coming in!  We have ordered the Silk Rhapsody, Cashmere, some more colors in the Ultramarino Sock yarn.  The owner of the company, Iris, is the author of "Modular Knits".... Kelly, one of our regulars, is knitting some models for her and her yarn representative.  She will also teach some modular classes here at the store beginning in Sept.!  If you are interested, please let us know so that we will know how many classes to prepare.  This is all so exciting!!!

AND, don't forget to read about Jane Slicer-Smith (2 blogs down) who will be coming to Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn on Oct. 30 and 31, 2006.  Sign up TODAY!

Triple anyone?

So, if you can put 2 on one needle, why not 3.... or 4.... or MORE!  I was knitting along, comparing Claudia Handpainted Yarn (middle)to a "NEW" sock yarn that we will be carrying from The Purled Llama (right), when I realized that the new yarn in the color Bear Claw (which is much more purlple than in shows)is a bit thinner.  Both are considered sock weight and it is close to the same gauge, but my thoughts are that it is more like Lorna's Laces Superwash Sock Yarn.  So, of course I had to try this.  It is not a problem knitting this way if you can do 2, but I just don't like all the yarn twisting and the fact that I can't see results on a sock "yesterday"!!! LL seems to be twisted tighter than The Purled Llama.  Otherwise, all 3 above are soooooooooo soft and wonderful!! LL is the only one with a little nylon.  The other 2 are 100% Merino Superwash.  I have washed a pair of the Claudia and will show them to you shortly!

These are my 3 most favorite yarns for socks (along with Artful Ultra sock yarn, Trekking, Regia Silk and Regia Bamboo)!!!  Will probably have more favorites as soon as they are "created", but this is fun working with so many at the same time!  You must try them if you haven't already!  We have most colors of the Claudia that are shown on our color card with more colors coming in early next week.  We will be getting a dozen of The Purled Llama colors in on Monday (Bear Claw included)and we always have most of the Lorna's Laces colors in stock at all times. We will also have ALL of the Regia Bamboo colors in stock next week as well! 

I will be taking Liberty off the needle and putting it by itself to finish after I have shown some right handed knitters how to pick up stitches for a gusset.  I am doing a tutorial on knitting 2 socks at the same time on the magic loop.  Please join us at http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=11596730&uid=165500 if you would like to take part!

AND, please don't forget that Jane Slicer-Smith will be joining us at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn on October 30 and 31, 2006.  Please read information on the next blog down for details!!

Jane Slicer-Smith

*Fall Special Event*

Jane Slicer-Smith, Famous Designer from

Australia

Jane Slicer-Smith is going to be in the

United States

.  Her designs are sold both in the United Stated and

Australia

and around the world.  If you have ever knitted one of her patterns, you would not forget the experience.  We have many of her patterns for sale here at

Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn

.  There is one model of a mitered shawl at this time and there will be more models soon.  She was supposed to teach at Stitches East and they forgot to put her name on the registration… Their loss, our GAIN!  She has decided to teach at

Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn

instead!!  Please look at her website to learn more about her and her Signatur Collection:  http://www.sigknit.com/About_Jane.htm

Dates: October 30 and 31, 2006 (Monday and Tuesday).
Location:

Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn

Classes: Monday AM: Mitred Knitting -

"I have completed quite a few designs in Trendsetter yarns, using Mitred squares. Mitre squares take garter stitch into amazingly wonderful and colourful creations, by simply working colour stripes. Technique wise this teaches the basic of picking stitches and a simple decrease, I also teach how to work ends into the wrong side of the garter, keeping colour joins under control. These designs vary from the Mitre Vee Capelet to an A line Coco Jacket, or the Coco Throw. I teach this class by knitting a small purse."

              Monday PM : Textured Knitting - "I design my classes to take knitters from the basics into either colour or texture. Textures are moss stitch to basket stitch, bobbles & bells to cables. This helps new knitters to understand knitting, count rows and stitches, increase and decrease with bobbles, working from both written instructions and graphs. The quicker and more experiences knitters who are speeder will also work ‘traveling stitches’.  I apply this term to Aran stitches when a cable needle is used to move knit stitches across reverse st-st, forming zig zags and diamond patterns."

             Tuesday (All Day): Intarsia

"I love Intarsia, this is for the lovers of colour ready to step into an adventure. This can also be called picture knitting, using a length of yarn per area of colour, unlike fairisle when the yarn is worked across the back of the knitting. Students will learn techniques from joining yarns, colour joins without holes to following graphs. We also cover the fairisle technique of carrying and weaving in the carried yarn, as this same technique allows us to position our yarns for Intarsia. I use a lot of Intarsia in my knitting kit collection, learning the basic principles allow knitters into a whole new world!" 

The Monday classes will be either 3 or 4 hours each depending on the size of the class.  Intarsia is a 6 hour class. Jane is known for her fit and design and all of her classes have information on these topics as well.  There will be no more than 18 students per class. Skeins classes usually have 30 or more students and they are more expensive!

Our Price: $190.00 for both days and ALL classes
                   110.00 for one full day
                    60.00 per class on Monday.

There will be a lunch break.  Once we know the enrollment size of the classes, we will know the exact times of the classes.

Please register NOW!   Please call the store to register or email us as we do not have anything listed on the website yet.  We will accept cash, check, or all credit cards.   I would hate for you to lose out!

We look forward to having you join us for this most spectacular event!

Noro Yarns are back at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn!

This is one full skein of Silk Garden #244.  It gives you an idea of all the colors this wonderful yarn has in one shading!  We are beginning to get shipments of this wonderful yarn and it's partners, Kureyon, Iroh, Kocharan, Silver Thaw and more!  Please look at our website and see the colors we have in the Silk Garden and the Kureyon... http://www.eweknitkits.com then go to Yarn and then Noro! 

We are getting many new yarns in daily... Call or come by if you think we might carry the yarn and we will be happy to help you!

We are having a Tutorial!

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=11596730&uid=165500 This is my PictureTrail and I am doing a tutorial on two socks at once using the Magic Loop.  I have already posted Steps 1 - 5 and you can start at any time.  This will be ongoing until the socks are complete and it might take some time as I have many projects going at the same time.  If you are confident to go ahead, please do so and catch up later if you get "stuck"... Sometimes my words are not the greatest.  Sometimes you might have a better way to do something.  You are more than welcome to correct me or ask questions.... bobbiereich@cox.net . 

We have a Winner!

Robin is our winner of this first contest from Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn.  This is Pat and she picked the lucky winner of a beautiful Sweater Kit here last evening!  We had about 50 entries.  Some even did research to find out that Peggy's Cove is in Nova Scotia.  It's a beautiful fishing village outside of Halifax, the nation's capitol.  We visited there 38 years ago and went back a few weeks ago.  That is one place in the world that has NOT changed!!  It's beautiful, it's quaint and your are sure to fall in love with the place!

Thank you all for emailing me!  We are sure to have more contests just because everyone was so excited about this one...... AND, we just love excitement!!!

Claudia Hand Painted Yarns

What can I say!?!?!?  I found another yarn that is one of my favorites!!!!!  I met Claudia at the TNNA Convention.  I was immediately attracted to her colors and ordered enough to make a pair of  socks - Spring Break.  Her yarn was the first to be delivered of the things I ordered at the show and this sock was finished in record time.  She does short strands of color and combines absolutely gorgeous shades.  As soon as my "sock" customers saw the yarn, they ran to her website and told me what colors to order.  If you look at Claudia Hand Painted Yarns on the Yarn page at http://www.eweknitkits.com , you will see what has arrived already.  I have since sent in yet another order of this fantastic yarn!!!!  She also sells, sport and worsted weight of the same Merino and many other yarns, all in her wonderful colorways.  It looks like I will be getting some of the "other" yarns as well, since it is making such a hit at the store :o)))  AND, look at my last BLOG before this... The contest is still going on:o))

Vacation!

Just got back from a week away and did we have a great time!  Here is the deal.... email me at bobbiereich@cox.net and tell me where Peggy's Cove is located.  If you are right, your name will be placed in a bowl and we will draw a name for a WINNER of a Kit from Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn.  The drawing will take place on Wednesday, July 12, 2006.  Please make sure you include your name in the email.

Sydney Socks

AND, why would I call these socks "Sydney" socks?  Sydney, my new and FIRST granddaughter, was born on June 1 and I was knitting these through labor and delivery:o))  The yarn is Regia Silk and WOW, how nice to knit!  I knit them together with Magic Loop and enjoyed the process.  Usually, I knit one at a time, but lately, with sooo much knitting going on, I was afraid to do only one and never getting to the second. 

In honor of Sydney's birth and of my completing these socks, the Regia is on sale on our website.  All colors posted are available!  Check out http://www.eweknitkits.com Go to yarn and then Regia.  ENJOY!