Countrywool News
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Your local and internet knitting and spinning shop
Countrywool
59 Spring Road * Hudson * NY * 12534
(518)828-4554
need directions to the shop and hours??? click here
Late August 2010 summer & fall shop hours Monday 4-8 knitting & spinning every Monday night 6-8...come and join us! Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 12-6 Thursday 12-8 Sunday 12-4 closed Tuesdays Claudia's Late Summer Checklist
| - Back to school knitting list
- Socks for the fall
- Winter sweater plans
- Wash all woolens
- Stash rotation
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So, how do you greet the coming of Fall? Around here it is cause for rejoicing, as cooler temps have me reaching for....wool. The changing light colors everything in a new way, and those tomato reds, avocado greens, warm golds and russet browns call out to be incorporated in some knitting. I am currently knitting a TOMTEN for our Knit-A-Long in this GREAT oregano-avocado green:
The TOMTEN is a fun knit in garter stitch with very few rules, and yields a hooded (or not) jacket. We are banding together on RAVELRY to keep each other going, and I will be knitting on this garment every MONDAY KNIT NITE.
In late August, I like to
Wash all my winter woolens: Give them a soak in warm sudsy water, and a rinsing soak in warmer clear water, and then they all get some sun to dry out under. Then I pack them away for the chill of September and October, knowing I can count on them when I need them. This is a GREAT time to work through removing any pills that have accumulated on any knitted surface, using sweater stones, de-fuzz its and scissors.
Assemble a Back-To-School knitting list: I spend a chilly morning pondering the coming cold weather and what projects I'll need to make to add to what's available. I love having two shelves of mittens, hats, headbands and slippers to loan to family and friends when the cold gets to them. Sometimes the mittens and hats come back to the shelf, and sometimes they move in with someone else. My sock drawer gets Special Attention, and I plan the next socks I'll want/need.
Dig through my stash and reorganize what yarns I will be using with the projects I now have in mind. I keep a collection of baskets that get emptied as projects are finished, and I use them to arrange pattern and yarn together. Then I prop them on my stairway and in the hall so I can look at them every day.
Berroco Sox
| Socks yarns here at Countrywool:
Heritage
Ultra Alpaca Fine
Berroco Sox
Bearfoot
Durasport
DEAL FOR AUGUST: stop at KNIT NITE on Mondays (only one left!!!) between 6-8, buy any skein above, and get a free BEGINNER THINNER sock pattern. We'll hold your hand through the knitting of your sock when you come back to KNIT NITE on Mondays.
Want to spend an entire weekend knitting socks? The CAPE ANN One, Two & Three Skein Knits Retreat will feature CAPE ANN SOCKS, with yours' truly teaching the details ALL COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND in October. Come for 1, 2 or all 3 days and knit (and eat) on the beach with us! |
classes this month (and in September)...
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knitters: Percentage Sweater Class group on Ravelry last class: Thursday, August 26
at 5 pm. CIRCULAR SWEATER FINISHING!
Coming In September:
SPINNING YARN: Thursday, September 9, 5 - 8 pm.. Learn to use a spinning wheel or drop spindle to draft and twist clean wool into a fine yarn.The ASHFORD BOOK OF SPINNING (not required) by Anne Field ($29) will be followed. A spinning wheel or drop spindle is required. Wheels are available for rental: $15 for the class; call to reserve. The book will be available for purchase from the instructor, but is not required.) Additional materials needed: prepared wool roving ($8), may be purchased at the class. Students may return each month to learn more spinning techniques of interest. Preregistration required at CGCC (518)828-4181, ext 3341. The fee was 39.00 and is set by CGCC.
KNITTING WITH WOOL: Thursday, September 16, 5 - 8 pm. For those of you new to the craft, this class will teach the basics of knitting. Topics to be covered are: casting on, knit stitch, purl stitch, garter stitch, ribbing stitch, joining yarn, casting off. Continental, English or American knitting will be taught with full support for any method. Students may return each month to learn more techniques of interest. A materials packet with wool yarn, instruction booklet with many patterns, bamboo knitting needles, darning needle, gauge ruler, markers, crochet hook, and cable stitch holder will be available for purchase at class for $42. Preregistration required at CGCC (518)828-4181, ext 3341. The fee was 39.00 and is set by CGCC.
ANGORA RABBIT CLINIC: how to love, raise and shear fiber bunnies: Saturday, September 18, 1-4 pm. Bring your rabbit and pick up a few tricks of the trade, including how to clip off bunny's coat slowly and carefully, maintaining maximum fiber length.$40. Prepayment required.
Materials needed
- short (5") sewing scissors that feel comfortable to you
- fingernail or cat/dog nail clippers
- plastic drop cloth/tablecloth
- rabbit in an escape proof cage!
Rip Van Winkle SPINNING FOR SWEATER YARNS RETREAT: woolen and worsted, September 24, 25 & 26. Want to experience it all in 48 hours? Love to spin but need help with some of the finer points? Want to learn from scratch in a supportive environment where we make miles and miles of HAND SPUN YARN? This is the weekend for you. Relax and be fed at the WINTER CLOVE INN. Sleep in the mountain air and wake to squirrels and bunnies outside your window. Dye wool, card it, spin it, ply it and knit it until you are happy. Sample yarns with a sweater in mind and go home with a seamless circular sweater pattern designed JUST for hand spinners. Spinning wheel, hand cards (or drum carder) lazy kate, niddy noddy required (limited supply available for rent).
Class prepayment required:($175 payable to COUNTRYWOOL). Early Bunny Discounts and Group Rates available.
Hotel/meal fees (for 2 days/nights: approximately $216 + taxes/tips) payable to WINTER CLOVE INN.
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