Tarpley Knits

Tarpley came into our shop early November with her Dad. Her birthday was coming up and Dad wanted her to have some knitting lessons. He knew the potential here. That very first Saturday Tarpley was enthusiastic about the color and texture of the yarns in the shop, and was inspired by many of the shop knitted samples. I knew the potential here, too.

I asked Tarpley where she first learned to knit. "I learned when I was 9 and living in France. My family and some other familys rented a chateau for a couple of months. My au pair's hispanic mother taught me to knit while my au pair translated into French for me." Now a wordly almost-13-year old, Tarpley was ready to take her begining knitting skills and leap headlong into the world of creative knitting.

Inspired by a pair of fingerless gloves in the shop, Tarpley decided to make a set of these for a friend. You see the results here.

Then she decided she wanted to learn how to cable. She brought in a 5" square of paper from a knit calendar showing instructions for a premie baby cap with cables. We modified the pattern to fit her head and she was off and running. The following Saturday she walked into the shop, beaming broadly, and showed me the finished gray and white cap knit with angora-like self stripping merino yarn. Cables perfectly aligned, tapering at the top of the hat into a beguiling pattern. Really impressive.

"I love cables," Tarpley announced. "They're not very hard. When you've finished them they look so cool." Now she wanted to make a pair of lacey armwarmers from the Rowan Knit Magazine. She used the same yarn she had made the cap with but added a silky gray sock yarn to meet the pattern's gauge requirements. Her eye for color, texture and style is right on. I have no doubt the next time I see her she will be sporting her new lacey fingerless gloves eager to move onto her next project. There is no stopping her. It's a good thing.

January 2008

January always feels like organizing to me. I guess it has to do with the tradition of making resolutions. I resolve to spend less, or I resolve to eat healthier, or I resolve to be more environmentally aware. The magazines covers are full of ideas on how to organize, label, pare-down everything. I could make a resolution to organize my yarn stash and gift the excess--and there is plenty--to knitters who could make good use of it.

I have promised many knitter-friends that this winter, beginning in January, we will do a Lace Knitting Workshop. So, in keeping with making good on resolutions:

Lace Knitting Workshop

Lace Knitting is a magical coalescing of knitting skills. It puts to good use the skills advanced beginners have already learned--knit & purl with ease, mixed with a willingness to lose yourself in the meditative rhythm of the stitches, and thereby painlessly commit to many hours of knitting stitches. Lace knitting is definitely NOT the big needle, big yarn quick fix. While it doesn't have to be worked with Size 1 needles and lace weight yarn, it does require a lot of stitches.

Dates...................................... Shop............Instructor
Thur Jan 10 5-7:30 pm .........Westville...........Toni

Tues Jan 15 5-6:30 pm ..........Downtown........

Wed Jan 16 5-6:30 pm ..........Westville...........

Tues Jan 22 5-6:30 pm .........Downtown........

Thur Jan 24 5-7:30 pm .........Westville...........

Sat Jan 26 3-4:30 pm ............Westville..........

Cost: $30 for up to two 1 1/2 h classes, additional classes (beyond 2nd) $10 each. (Materials extra)
Dates: flexible scheduling (as above), with classes offered in January & February (TBA) at either of our shops so you can come when you have time in your schedule.
Registration: by phone(776-yarn) or in person. Materials and pattern will be discussed at the first session. Bring yarn & needles for swatching if you have it. You may make a project with any weight yarn, but we feel worsted yarn and larger needles (8-10) will help you reach the goals of the class without unnecessary work. Choosing the appropriate yarn is always a part of successful knitting.

Skills learned:You will learn how to read charts, because that's really all you need in terms of instructions for lace knitting. We'll also take a look at "translating" charts into detailed written- out instructions. We'll also teach you to "read" your stitches--to look at your work and to understand where you are in the pattern. We'll talk about correcting mistakes in the most creative manner possible. One of the skills I have developed as a seasoned knitter is "creative correction". Only if all else fails will I rip out. Correcting mistakes empower us as knitters. Lace knitting, especially in a large shawl, is very forgiving. A Knitting Quality Control Inspector would be hard put to find "creative corrections" in a handknit shawl that is worn the way it is made to be worn--wrapped and draped gracefully.

During this workshop you will be knitting some sample lace swatches, just to get into the swing of things. Then you'll be ready to commit to a lace knitting project.

We suggest either a hat (worsted or bulky weight yarn) http://www.knitty.com/ Autumn 2007 issue or a shawl (worsted weight yarn) from GGG/Rebecca. The "Birch" shawl from Rowan Knitting & Crocheting Magazine Issue 43 is also do-able, but involves more knitting. And of course the summer shawlette from http://www.interweaveknits.com/ would be fine for those who want a challenge. Or bring a pattern you like and we'll take a look.

We like to keep the workshops small so that you can get the attention you require. We will have extra staff if numbers get too large, but if you don't phone ahead, we might have to limit class size to those who have called. Remember, we are a small personal LYS. In order to keep class fees low, we ask you to be patient with us.

........AND continuing during the winter months our Sock Workshop.

Cost: $40 for up to three 1 1/2 h classes, additional classes (beyond 3rd) $10 each.

Dates: flexible scheduling, with classes offered in January & February at either of our shops so you can come when you have time in your schedule. Judy is working on that as we "speak".

Registration: by phone or in person.

We like to keep all workshops small so that you can get the attention you require. We will have extra staff if numbers get too large, but if you don't phone ahead, we might have to limit class size to those who called. Remember, we are a small personal LYS. In order to keep class fees low, we ask you to be patient with us as we attend to other shop needs.

Don't forget about our Knitters/Crocheters Workshop. Held twice a month on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month from 5-7:30 pm in our Westville store. Here's the place for you to work with other knitters and to bring you knitting problems to our staff. The fee is $5, but this is refundable if you purchase anything during the workshop session that night.

Jan 10, Jan 24, Feb 14, Feb 28, Mar 13, Mar 27 2008 (schedule subject to change due to weather--if the schools are closed, we are closed) Call us just to make sure. 203-389-3369