11 Willow St. Waterloo
519-725-9739
www.shallweknit.com
A New Year – what does that mean to you? Do
you make lots of New Years resolutions? Start the
year as you mean to go on with a clean house and
an organized work space? Or like a lot of us around
here start the year with selfish knitting cast ons? As a team we spend
a lot of time knitting samples for the shop and to get ready for the
shows we do, and then as we are coming up to Christmas we have to
put the brakes on those and work on our Christmas knitting. And yes
we are as bad as most of you and just keep starting”one” more
project.
So either on Boxing day or New Years day we cast on something for
the pure enjoyment of knitting. Quite often you will never see these
knits because we are using yarns that we have bought on holidays or
when visiting other yarn shops (yes we do that too) and we don’t
stock them in the shop. So it really is purely selfish knitting. My cast
on was the pattern “All the Shades of Truth” by Laura Aylor. Janelle
has done a lovely sample for the shop using Shalimar Breathless –
truly scrumptious! I’m doing mine in Spindrift that I bought a couple of
summers ago when I went to Schoolhouse Press camp. This is my
totally mindless project – will be perfect for a couple of roadtrips that
are coming up. The hardest part is deciding which of the many
colours I have to change to next.
I’m sitting here writing this newsletter on a Snow day from the shop.
Record setting cold temperatures and winds on top of the snow did
not make for a nice day to go out to go to work. So I pulled the boss
card and called it a Snow day. I have about a 20-25 minute drive to
the shop and if I didn’t want to make the drive, we certainly didn’t
want you out in it. I hope you got to spend a nice, warm and safe day
at home.
So I’ve been sitting here working on the newsletter and finishing
Tom’s Christmas sweater – actually it’s a vest (less knitting). For
Christmas I knit mostly hats for my kids, their partners and the grandkids. Toms vest was one of the few exceptions – and I’ll have you
know it’s hard to knit secretly for someone that you live with. And this
vest (Caldwell in Shelter by Brooklyn Tweed) is in one of those yarns
that we don’t carry – so couldn’t do much of it in the shop – even if we
had the time. Kids don’t understand if you give them a project on
needles but Tom does. It is almost done, just have to finish the bands
and sew on the buttons that I found in his Mothers button box.
We have lots of things planned for 2014 that we will tell you about as
we firm up plans. In the meantime make sure you mark on your
calendar the DKC Knitters Frolic in April and World Wide Knit in
Public day in June.
The way classes have been filling up already it seems a lot of you are
looking to increase your knitting arsenal. If there is a particular class
you would be interested in, please let us know.
Parking at Shall We Knit? I know parking at the shop
can be a little confusing and now that we have snow you
can’t see the arrows painted in the parking lot so let me
help. We share a one way wrap-around parking lot with
the travel agency next door. If you drive in his driveway and around
and behind the buildings, then all the parking spots will be lined up
the right way and will make getting around the corners much easier.
On Saturdays or evenings the city has 2 parking lots right around the
corner from the shop with free parking. The signs for permit parking
only are for week days.
Remember – please don’t park on the street, you might get ticketed.
In the Closet – January 14th – 18th The Closet is our sale
room – only open one week a month (usually the 3rd wk. of
the month) and when that week is done the door is closed
until the 3rd week of the following week. This is where end
of lines or dye lots go or it is a current yarn that we are moving out to
make room for new yarns in the shop. Just a reminder – there are no
holds for yarns in the Closet, all sales are final and once the Closet is
closed – it stays closed for the month.
So come on in for some GREAT SAVINGS!
Wish List – You know that we keep a wish list and
you can let us know what you might like for Christmas but
did you know that we do this all year? If you filled out a card
for Christmas, maybe you should come in and update it –
then we can let your family & friends know what you would like for
your Birthday or maybe just because it’s Thursday.
QR code – do you have one of our QR code buttons? We
were giving them out last year at the shows and we still
have a few of them in the shop – help yourself. These
buttons have a special icon on them, and if you have a
smart phone with a QR code reader or you type in the URL that is on
the edge – it will bring you to a secret spot on our website that can
only be accessed through this code. We randomly put up different
specials and gifts. The special needs to be printed out and brought
into the shop or show us on your phone, each code is good for one
item per person but you can get the next special and the next and
the…
Regular return policy - we are happy to take back
any unused extra balls of yarn that you didn’t need for
your project. We need the sales receipt and the
customer appreciation card that was stamped at time of
purchase. The yarn also has to be in original condition, free of all
foreign matter or odours.
We do not offer returns on patterns, books, needles or sale items.
Classes
***New class policy as of Jan. 1st.
All walk-in registrations will need to be paid at time of sign up.
All online registrations will be held for 48 hrs, must arrange payment
within 48 hrs of registrations or void.
All online registrations closed 48hrs before class, in person/phone
registrations only at that point.
Refund policy:
One week (7 days, 5 shop days) = full refund.
Less than one week = half refund (if you can fill your spot with a paid
someone else = full refund)
Less than 3 days = zero refund.
So if you have registered for any classes in 2014 please contact
the shop and we can do credit card over the phone or send you a
Paypal invoice. Or pop into the shop and we can do the old
fashioned way with cash.
Drop Everything...and Learn to Spin on
a Drop Spindle! With Tabi
Thurs. Jan. 9th & 16th 6:30 – 8:30 $40 plus materials
If you've ever been curious about spinning, drop s pindling is the
easy way to get started. Best of all, it's as portable as your knitting.
You'll learn the Secret of Twist, how to Draft, Spin and Ply on the
drop spindle, a little Ancient History, Global Perspective and Animal
Husbandry. I always bring some special fibers and spindles for the
second class including Turkish and Supported Spindles. You will
begin a whole new love affair with yarn.
Absolute Beginner Crochet Part 1 with Beth
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Sat.Jan. 11 10:00 – 12:00 FULL $20 plus materials
Sat. Jan. 11th 2:00 – 4:00 $20 plus materials
Absolute beginners will be introduced to the ABCs of hook handling
and to the single crochet stitch while working toward completing their
first project, Beth's "Mother's Little Helper" coaster.
Necessary skills: A willingness to try new things
Beginner Knitting Part 1 with Kerry
Guided “Any Project” class
$10 per 1hr. session
Tuesdays from 2pm – 3pm
OR last Thurs of the month – Jan. 30th 6:30 – 7:30
After many requests, we're going to offer a Guided Project class. This
is dedicated time when you can sign up, come with whatever project
you are working on, and get help. You can pick a single project and
get help with it each week along the way, or you are welcome to bring
a new problem to each class and get help with something new each
time. Guided Project class is a book as you go - you pay $10 for an
hour of guided time.
Call the shop to reserve your time(s). We welcome your feedback on
the class organization and timing. Please let us know what works for
you.
Square Dancing with the SWK team
New Class starting January 9th
Maybe folks have been confused by our "Square Dancing" tongue-incheek name, or maybe this is just the busiest time of year and
attentions are rightly focussed elsewhere, but this great class needs
some more students! The class is a once-a-month meeting for a year
- once you're signed up you can attend as many or as few as you
need. The class is a great way to build your skills with only a small
amount of knitting - a block - each month, and at the end of the year
you have an afghan. We work through skills including pattern reading,
swatching, basic charts, seaming, and blocking. And we learn how to
do simple patterns of purls & knits as well as cables, slipped-stitches,
mock cables, increases & decreases and even lace!
Another bonus of this class is that it is priced at half our regular class
cost. Only $10 per session, it's a great small investment in building
your knitting repertoire. (As the class is priced so low, we do ask that
you purchase your afghan yarn at Shall We Knit? Approximately 7
skeins of Cascade 220 or an equivalent are needed, and we will hold
your yarn for you and allow you to purchase it as you use it.)
Over the course of 2013, 13 students took part in some Square
Dancing. A few of them will lend us their finished afghans to put on
display in January in the Gallery. Come see what you can do with
only a few hours a month.
Sat. Jan. 11th 10:30 – 12:30 FULL
$20 plus materials
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OR Sat. Jan. 11 1:00 – 3:00 FULL
OR Sat. Feb. 1st 10:30 – 12:30
So you want to learn to knit? For the absolute beginner knitter, this
class will get you started with the basics of knitting. We'll start with
casting on and proceed to the knit stitch. Once we've mastered those,
we'll learn to purl, and then to cast off. We will be knitting mostly small
samples in class, with a pattern for you to take home to work on for
more practice.
Swatch- Only a 5-letter word (also a CF class)
Sat. Jan. 11th 1:00 – 3:00 $20
As yarn sellers we hear stuff like this all the time:
"I don't swatch, it's a waste of time."
"I always get gauge."
"Swatch - what is that?"
And then we also hear:
"Why did my sweater/hat/socks/insert-knitted-item-here turn out so
big/floppy/tight/shrunken?"
"I ran out of yarn."
"I don't make sweaters because they never fit."
Why do knitters seem so opposed to the swatch? It's a humble bit of
yarn, a small amount of time, that lets you figure out if the yarn is right
for your project and what needles to use. That's it. The answer to all is
in the swatch. Come. Learn why to swatch, how to swatch effectively,
how to measure a swatch and what all that means for your knitted
items.
If you're interested in making a Custom Fit sweater (see elsewhere in
the newsletter for Custom Fit information) this class is a one-time
investment that will help you make great CF sweaters for years, and
highly recommended if you've never made a sweater/never made a
sweater that fit/never swatched before.
CustomFit
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Thurs. Jan. 16 6:30 – 8:30
OR Wed. Jan 22nd 4:00 – 6:00
OR Sat. Feb 8th 10:00 – 12:00
$25
CustomFit is a clever bit of software that allows us to input your body
measurements, some information from a swatch, and your style
choices and then create a sweater pattern that is custom-made for
you. The CustomFit program needs three things to work: accurate
body measurements, specific details about yarn choice and stitch
counts from a swatch, and a list of decisions about the desired
sweater's fit, shape and style.
This class comprises three parts:
- "Fit", where SWK staff will take your accurate measurements to be
kept on file for all your CF sweaters;
- "Yarn", where we will talk about what is appropriate fabric and
stitching for your CF sweater;
- "Style", where you get to choose the important elements of your
sweater such as sweater type, neckline, sleeve style & length.
Swatching instructions will be given as a handout to be done as
homework after this class, before a CF pattern can be issued. If you
want more information about swatching or have never swatched
before, we strongly recommend you take the Swatch class listed
elsewhere in this newsletter.
It may seem like there are a lot of hoops to jump through before
getting to your first Custom Fit sweater, but accurate measurements
are really critical to getting a good result - they only need to be taken
once, unless your body undergoes some drastic changes (pregnancy,
illness, a large weight loss or gain). Once your measurements are on
file and you know what CF needs in terms of swatch and style inputs,
every sweater afterward only needs a few minutes of your time
(making and marking a swatch) and a few minutes of our time
(inputting your style choices) to pump out a new sweater pattern.
***Needed for this class:
-wear good foundation garments and close-fitting clothes (a tank top
or t-shirt, trousers that are not too baggy);
-if you have them, bring yarns you're considering using for sweaters;
-if you have them, bring swatches you've made;
-if you have them, bring a sweater or two that you really like the fit or
style;
-bring sweater inspiration, pictures of things you'd like to wear.
***Please note: we regret that we will not be able to take
measurements of anyone not wearing foundation garments.
Beginner Crochet - part 2 with Beth
Sat. Jan. 18th 10:00 – 12:00 $20 plus materials
Work on Beth's simply elegant Three-stitch Spa Cloth and learn a few
single crochet variations -- and build your basic pattern reading skills
at the same time. Elements of symbol crochet reading will also be
introduced. (You need not have taken ABC Part 1 to attend this
class.)
First Mittens with Lynne
Sat. Jan. 25th & Feb. 8th 1:00 – 3:00
$40 plus materials
Mittens are one of those great projects that can be made with a small
amount of yarn in a short amount of time. This class will knit a baby
mitten in a medium-weight wool, to get experience in all the
techniques with less knitting. Students will receive both a baby mitten
pattern and multiple-gauge teen & adult mitten pattern which we will
learn to use in class. Techniques covered will include casting on and
knitting in the round (using either DPNs or two circulars), gusset
shaping, picking up a thumb, and basic decreasing. Students must be
able to knit and purl independently, and be able to distinguish knit and
purl stitches in their fabric.
Intro to Ravelry with Lynne
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Thurs. Jan. 30 6:30 – 8:30 $20
New to Ravelry and wondering what all the fuss is about? Wondering
how to make the most of your new account? This introductory tour will
introduce you to the main features such as forums, groups, "friends,"
adding projects and stash, and using the search features. It’s our
most-used tool at the shop – a powerful database – come learn how
to make it work for you.
Requirements : students should have registered for their own Ravelry
account (free) prior to the class and come to class knowing their user
name & password.
- bring note-taking materials
Beginner Knitting part 2 with Kerry
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Sat. Jan. 18 10:30 – 12:30 FULL
$20 plus materials
OR Sat. Jan 18th 1:00 – 3:00 FULL
OR Sat. Feb. 1st 1:00 – 3:00
Have you taken our Beginner Knitting class but forgotten everything
or are ready for the next step? Or were you taught by Gramma years
ago and only know the knit stitch? Then this is the class for you.
A Taste of Tunisian Crochet with Beth
Sat. Feb. 15th 10:00 – 12:00 $20 plus materials
Already know a bit about crochet? Got a hankering for something a bit
different? Tunisian crochet is a variant of the craft that produces a
distinctive fabric that's acts like crochet but sometimes looks a little
like knitting. We will snack on four Tunisian stitches -- simple stitch,
knit stitch, purl stitch, and double crochet -- while making a coaster
or three.
Beginner Spinning with Tabi
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Thurs. Feb. 20 & 27 6:30 – 8:30 $40 plus materials
Learn how your wheel works, the Secret of Twist, how to spin a single
and ply using your wheel. You'll also learn about yarn construction
and different spinning techniques.
Students must have a wheel in working order. If you need help
makings adjustments to your wheel, please arrive early.
First Toe-Up Socks with Lynne
Thurs. Jan. 23rd & Feb.20th 6:30 – 8:30 FULL $40
Learn how to make the most of your sock yarn by starting your socks
at the toes, and knitting up until you run out of yarn! We will start with
a seamless toe made with a Turkish cast-on. In the second class we
will work through a wrap-and-turn heel and options for casting off a
stretchy sock cuff.
Beginner Crochet Part 3 with Beth
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Sat. Jan. 25 10:00- 12:00 $20 plus materials
Learn essential crochet stitches (double crochet, triple crochet, and
half-double crochet) while making your choice of either a stylish neck
cowl or a handsome table runner, both of which use Beth's "Stitch
Sampler Cowl" pattern. Class includes simple instructions on reading
crochet charts. (You need not have taken ABC parts 1 and 2 to attend
this class.)
Shop hours
Tuesday 10:00 – 5:30
Wednesday 10:00 – 5:30
Thursday 10:00 – 8:00
Friday 10:00 – 9:00
Saturday 10:00 – 5:00
Sunday & Monday Closed
Cuff down socks with Lynne
Thurs. Mar. 20th 6:30-8:00 & 27th 6:30-8:30& Apr. 3rd 6:30-8:00
$50 plus materials
After years of teaching only toe-up socks, Lynne is finally going to get
around to teaching the traditional top-down version. This class is
really aimed at those hundreds of students who have taken Lynne's
toe-up class and want to learn a different way to go, but is also open
to new sock knitters who meet the skills requirements (see below).
The class will work in fingering weight sock yarn and appropriate
needles and will be divided into three lessons. At the first class we will
discuss sock fabric, gauge and sizing, and will cover casting on and
knitting in the round, as well as the ribbing needed for the cuff.
Students will complete the leg portion as homework prior to the
second class. In the second class we will cover the elements of flapand-gusset heel construction. Students will complete the foot portion
as homework prior to the third class. In the third class we will cover
toe shaping and finishing.
***Skills needed: students must be able to knit and purl confidently
and independently, and ideally have experience with at least one
project knit in the round. Students should also have had some
experience knitting (anything) from a pattern.
Fixing Mistakes with Kate
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Sun. March 23 1:00 – 3:00 $30 plus materials
This class will teach you how to spot and fix mistakes in your knitting,
whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned expert. We'll share tips for
safely ripping out stitches and rows, for fixing mistakes without ripping
out, and for deciding when you don’t need to bother fixing at all. We'll
also discuss strategies for fixing mistakes in completed projects, and
addressing common mistakes that come up when working a pattern
like missing an increase or decrease.
Dates to mark on
your calendar
Continental Knitting with Kate
Sat. March 22nd 10:00 – 12:00 $30 plus materials
Want to knit faster? Are you ready to tackle colourwork? Knitting
continental style - with the yarn in your left hand rather than right - is
the key to speed, and also helps you enormously with colorwork.
Suitable for knitters who are confident with knit and purl stitch.
Colourwork Bootcamp: Stripes, Fair Isle,
Intarsia, Slipped Stitch Colourwork with Kate
Sat. March 22nd 1:00 – 4:00 $45 plus materials
Learn how to work with multiple colors in your knitting, in multiple
ways. We’ll start with stripes, tackling those frequently asked
questions: the issue of the jog when working in the round, whether to
cut or carry the yarn, and how to do those both. (And if you cut, what
to do about all those ends.) We’ll then progress to Fair Isle, showing
you how read the patterns and charts, and to handle two yarns,
whether you work English or Continental, one-handed or two. I’ll
demonstrate how (and why) to handle long floats, and how to make
sure your fabric is tidy and even. We’ll also tackle Intarsia and slipped
stitch colourwork, demonstrating the key differences in techniques
required for these other colourwork methods. Along the way, we’ll
cover chart reading, how to manage your yarns, and the role of
blocking – and how to do it.
skill level: knitters must be confident with knit and purl
June 14
And Heels and Toes with Kate
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Sun. March 23 10:00 – 12:00 $30 plus materials
In this session, we dive deep into different types of heels and toes
used in socks. Kate will talk through the construction and features of 6
or 7 different types of heel turns and a variety of toe shapings, for
both toe-up and top-down socks. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of
each, focusing on issues of fit and wear. We’ll discuss how they can
be used and adjusted to address specific fitting and size
requirements, with details on building a sock from the ground up and
adjusting existing patterns. Students will leave the class with a full set
of templates for custom-fit heels and toes and an expanded
understanding of sock construction. Technique requirements: Have
knitted a few pairs of socks.
Sally Melville coming to teach
Nov. 1st & 2nd