Pattern Download Link Now Available
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We are pleased to offer our free patterns online for you to download. You can click on the "Patterns" button from the Home page and download PDFs of the patterns you want. Click here to view our new pattern site and enjoy.
We are still adding patterns so please be patient as we try and create an easy way for you to access our free pattern library! |
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A Host of New Fall Classes!
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This fall Helen has come up with some great classes for you choose from
For students who want to learn how to knit AND for knitters who would like to learn a new technique.
Step into Fall by making a pair of socks. This is a class that YOU customize to your sock need. It is the class for you if you want to learn how to make a sock in the round on double pointed needles, or how to turn a heel, or even knit two socks at once using Magic Loop.
- Shifting Shapes Star Class
This shawl starts out with 9 stitches and then grows to over 500 stitches. It starts as a circle, then shifts into a hexagon, then shifts into triangles that resemble diamonds. Once finished you have a star.
This class will teach you the basic crochet stitches. During this class you will learn how to chain, single crochet and a half double crochet.
There are more - so click here to see full class details and check them all out!!! |
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Annual Hope Street Fall Festival!!!
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The annual Hope Street Fall Festival will be held on Sunday, September 12th from Noon to 4pm. The festival is hosted by Miriam Hospital and there will be lots of activities to enjoy this year. Note that the rain date is Sunday, October 3rd.
During the Festival Fresh Purls will supply yarn and sticks for you to make an "Ojo de Dios" (God's Eyes) and of course instruction on how to make these pretty yarn ornaments. The " Ojo de Dios" or God's Eye is an ancient symbol made by the Huichol Indians of Mexico and the Aymara Indians of Bolivia. In Mexico, the central eye was made when a child was born. Each year, a bit of yarn was added until the child turned five at which point the Ojo was complete. In Bolivia, "God's Eyes" were made to be placed on an altar so that the gods could watch over the praying people and protect them.
These are quick, fun and easy to make and have an interesting history behind them. So make sure to stop by with the family and see us.
We will also have a big sale on summer yarn. Other Hope Street merchants will also be hosting activities; and there will be entertainment along the street, so come up to Hope Street on Sunday, September 12th and enjoy some local fun! |
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Christmas in July....Oops August - Great Time!!!
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On Monday, August 16th, we had a great time with friends and sharing the new designs we created for everyone. Helen came up with some beautiful pieces that are fun to knit and beautiful to wear - if you missed the event we have the pieces and patterns available - and she also came up with yarn substitutions for the patterns - so you have more choices.
We had several people wear their "Cosmic Teleidoscope Vest"
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Question of the Month
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I have a stash full of beautiful vareigated yarns, but don't always want to knit socks, what else can I do with this pretty yarn so it looks great knit up and my time is worth the effort?
Well, look at the colors try and determine if choosing a stitch pattern will work, sometimes the yarn will overpower a pretty stitch pattern, such as a cable or lace work. So look into some of these techniques to utilize your yarn and enjoy the finished piece as well:
Entrelac
If you are knitting entrelac with a variegated yarn with short color sections the yarn will most likely stripe. If the yarn has very long color sections the entrelac pattern can create different colored diamonds with the colors changing randomly within the diamonds.
Bias Knitting
Knitting your piece on the bias with variegated yarn can create pooling that creates a different look than just straight knitting. A bias scarf would be pretty with your vareigated yarn.
Mitred squares
Mitred squares can be a great way to use your variegated yarns. Try matching solid colors to your variegated yarn colors to switch up your variegated yarn. You could also create stripes of solid and vareigated too!
Shortrows
By utilizing shortows to change direction in your knitting it can break up the colors and pooling will be different than just plain knitting.
The sky is the limit, experiment and try using some of the pretty vereigated yarn in your stash!!! |
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Tip of the Month
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Ooooh - That Yarn Smells Bad
After storing yarn for some time it may smell musty or the dye used causes an odd odor. Here are some ideas to help with the smell so you can enjoy knitting with your yarn:
- Try making a lavender sachet with lavendar buds in small muslin bag or use a few drops of lavendar oil on a cotton ball and put in a small plastic bag with some pin holes in it. You can use any scent that you like...but remember that lavender is a natural moth repellent. Drop your scent into your knitting bag - this should make the yarn smell better.
- You could also use scented soaps - again put in a small muslin bag or use a small plastic bag with pin holes and the musty smell should move on out!
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