Posted on Leave a comment

Loom Knitting

Yes, you read that correctly–loom knitting!  My first knitting loom experience was years ago with the big white plastic loom and a pick. Gauge was extra-large.  You had to double/triple your yarn. Mostly, they were for hats and scarves. Instructions were only for, what we now call, the e-wrap cast on and knit. An e-wrap knit stitch is a twisted knit stitch.

Baxter Cat in the Hat-Loom Knitting
Baxter Cat in the Hat

Baxter Cat in the Hat sports a hat knit with the e-knit stitch that I knit on a Knifty Knitter small round blue loom.  I never liked loom knitting because of that twisted stitch.

Well, times have changed. There are instructions for completing  proper knit and purl stitches, cables, ribbing, short rowing, yarn overs, knitting two together,  garter stitch, and even more.  There are looms in all gauges, shapes, and sizes. I am having fun trying them all out.  Loom knitting is gentler on the hands than traditional knitting.

Loom knitting shapes that I have been knitting on are:  round, rectangle, and oval.  There are specialized looms for afghan, hat, and sock knitting.  That’s right—sock knitting.  Actually, I have used fingering weight to worsted weight yarn on the various sock looms.  The sock loom even uses a short row turned heel.

There are lots of resources and patterns available.  Here is a list of knitting looms I found on Amazon: Knitting Looms

Ultimate Oval Loom Knitting Set

Leisure Arts has sent me their Ultimate Oval Loom Knitting Set to use and write a review. I have knit a lace cowl using the larger oval loom. Currently, I am working on my copy and photographs for the review.   My review of the Set is coming soon.

Posted on Leave a comment

Bulky Yarn is Category 5

Bulky Yarn Category 5

Bulky Yarn or Chunky Weight Yarn 5

Bulky yarn will help you knit hats, heavy sweaters, jackets, afghans/throws, scarves and other specialty items quickly.  Category 5 yarns are about twice the diameter of worsted weight yarn.  This yarn works great when Category 6 and 7 yarns are too heavy for your project.

If you are just learning to knit or crochet,  this yarn is great for your first projects because the stitches are easy to see and you get fast results.

Yarn types in this category are often made from wool, mohair, acrylic or wool/synthetic blends.

Knit gauge in stockinette is 12-15 stitches in 4 inches on US Size 7-9 knitting needles.

Biggo Yarn

Knit Picks Biggo Yarn is a Bulky Yarn and is a great knit for blankets, cowls, and mittens.

 

Next blog, we will discuss Category 4, Medium.

Yarn Weight Icons

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jumbo yarn weight

Posted on Leave a comment

What’s on the Needles

Cascade Yarn 220 Superwash Splatter

Cascade Yarn 220 Superwash SplatterLately, my knitting has been taking a backseat to the actual running of The Fiber Closet.  I just received a shipment from Cascade Yarns.  The yarn was irresistible so I searched for a pattern and started knitting.

Knitting Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Aran Splatter Diamond Splatters sweater designed by Lorna Miser.  Shade is Color 4, Denim. Using Knit Picks Flexible Stitch Markers .

The pattern is written for the sweater to be knit in pieces but I decided to knit it in the round.

The yarn comes in 12 different shades. If you are interested in buying the yarn, contact me.  It retails for $13.50 per skein of 100% Superwash Merino wool and is Aran weight at 150 yards per 100 gram skein.

Posted on

New Shipment of The Sock Ruler

Sock Ruler
Sock Ruler Shipment
Sock Ruler Shipment

A new shipment of The Sock Ruler has arrived.

Be one of the first in your sock knitting group to have this easy-to-use ruler.
Whether you knit your adult-sized socks from the cuff down or toe up, the heavy duty, yet flexible, plastic Sock Ruler displays both metric and imperial measures and works better than a soft tape measure as it lies flat inside the sock for easy accurate measuring.

Order yours today by one of these convenient methods:

Posted on

The Fiber Closet

Gina recorded a walking tour of the Fiber Closet.  If you can’t visit us in person, we invite you to take a 6-minute walk with Gina.

The Fiber Closet is ready for the 2014 Parke County Covered Bridge Festival

Posted on Leave a comment

First Annual Pajama Party

 

PJ Party
PJ Party 2014

Pajama Party Review

————————————————————
The first annual Fiber Closet Pajama Party was a huge success. We had a nice turn-out of some fabulous ladies. Games were played, prizes won, refreshments served and most of all, lots of laughter filled the shop.

This was a wonderful evening that we hope to repeat again. Let us know if you would be interested in joining us for the next one.

Events

  • We would like to welcome all area Rug Hookers to our creative family. There will be a Rug Hooking group meeting at The Fiber Closet on the 1st Tuesday of every month from 1-3 pm.
  • The first Saturday of every month (1-3), we welcome all rigid heddle weavers for 2 hours of weaving. Bring your  looms.  There will be a short tips/technique lesson &  show and tell.  If you don’t have a loom, but are interested in learning, don’t hesitate to come and sit and visit.
  • The third Saturday of  every month (1-3), we welcome all spinners and want-t0-be spinners.  Bring your wheels, electric spinners,  or drop spindles and come and sit and spin.  Show & tell items are encouraged.

Please join us and pass the news along to anyone you think would be interested.

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Craftsy Flash Sale

Don’t miss out on Craftsy’s Mystery Markdown Flash Sale!

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links

Don’t miss out on Craftsy’s Mystery Markdown Flash Sale!

Enjoy big savings on nearly 200 yarns/fabrics and project kits now. Limited supply, shop before it disappears! Hurry, offer expires Friday, May 17 at midnight PST 2014.

Posted on Leave a comment

Weather & Knitting

View the HTML Version
 
Weather & Knitting

View this email in your browser (http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=8ee4777a7df87868bd3d2ea92&id=321238a774&e=[UNIQID])

** Snow Days Ahead??
————————————————————

** Just a quick note to remind you that if the predicted weather actually materializes, The Fiber Closet (http://fibercloset.com) will be closed until it is safe to be out & about.
————————————————————

**
We want everyone to stay safe & warm. There is just something special about being snowed in and knitting by the fire. So if there is anything you might need for your knit or crochet plans, we suggest you come in Friday afternoon or sometime Saturday to pick up supplies.
————————————————————

============================================================
KAL News
If you need something to work on while the weather is bad….the
would make a great project. We still have some CoBaSi left. All you need are 2 skeins of CoBaSi & a 40″ circular needle in approximately a 2.5mm. (Your gauge may vary!) We just kicked off on Thursday so it’s certainly not too late to join us.

** Progressive Needles KAL (http://www.skacelknitting.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.55525/.f)
** unsubscribe from this list (http://thefibercloset.us6.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=8ee4777a7df87868bd3d2ea92&id=0e6a4bfbb3&e=[UNIQID]&c=321238a774)
** update subscription preferences (http://thefibercloset.us6.list-manage1.com/profile?u=8ee4777a7df87868bd3d2ea92&id=0e6a4bfbb3&e=[UNIQID])

Posted on Leave a comment

Happy New Year & Jan KAL

View the HTML Version
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE FIBER CLOSET
The Skacel (http://www.skacelknitting.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.55525/.f) /KnitPurlHunter (http://knitpurlhunter.com/) January Mystery KAL kicks off Jan 2, 2014.

** The Fiber Closet (http://fibercloset.com) is participating in the Progressive Needles Knit-Along with KnitPurlHunter (http://knitpurlhunter.com/kal/) .
————————————————————

** The first clue (http://knitpurlhunter.com/kal/) for this KAL goes live on January 2, 2014!
————————————————————

** Join us in 2014 as we return to sock knitting with a unique two at a time sock pattern. This pattern is suitable for men and women and features techniques new to the series. It is knit with CoBaSi (http://www.skacelknitting.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.111423/.f) by HiKoo®. CoBaSi (http://www.skacelknitting.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.111423/.f) is a completely machine washable wool-free sock yarn that combines Cotton, Bamboo, and Silk . The yarn is available in many fabulous colors at The Fiber Closet. Purchase yours in the shop or online (http://www.thefibercloset.com/) before they are gone.

Just a reminder, this is not a class The Fiber Closet is teaching. Everything you need to learn or know to knit along is available though videos, etc from KnitPurlHunter. We will have a short time at the beginning of Thursday Knit Group for all participants to share their progress, compare notes, etc. There is no pressure on you to finish the socks within a month unless you plan to enter the Progressive Needles Contest with Skacel. Otherwise, the clues will be available for you to work at your own pace.
————————————————————

**
————————————————————

** Clues will be released every Thursday from Jan 2nd through January 23rd. We sincerely hope you decide to participate. Several knitters have already picked up their yarn & are ready to tackle the first Mystery KAL of 2014. Remember to visit KnitPurlHunter (http://knitpurlhunter.com/kal/) on Jan 2nd to get your first clue. We hope to see everyone about 2pm on Thursday Jan 9th for our first chat session on the KAL.
————————————————————

**
————————————————————

** Dates to remember
————————————————————

** Jan 1 & 2 – Shop closed
Jan 2 – First clue released in Mystery KAL
Jan 3 – Shop re-opens with regular hours
Jan 7 – Closed for personal business
Jan 9 – 2-5pm Knit & Crochet Group
2-2:30pm KAL chat session

————————————————————

** *Please call first before traveling any distance to shop with us. We do occasionally close due to inclement weather & family emergencies.*
————————————————————

**
————————————————————

============================================================

** unsubscribe from this list (http://thefibercloset.us6.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=8ee4777a7df87868bd3d2ea92&id=0e6a4bfbb3&e=[UNIQID]&c=9a1f0c40f2)
** update subscription preferences (http://thefibercloset.us6.list-manage.com/profile?u=8ee4777a7df87868bd3d2ea92&id=0e6a4bfbb3&e=[UNIQID])

Posted on Leave a comment

Holiday News and Views from The Fiber Closet

View the HTML Version
 
Fiber Closet Events & News

View this email in your browser (http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8ee4777a7df87868bd3d2ea92&id=7d6eb47344&e=[UNIQID])

As you can see in the reflection, we are directly west of the courthouse
The Fiber Closet
(The Yarn Shop on the Square)
120 S Market St
Rockville, IN 47872
765-569-2953

**

Upcoming Events at The Fiber Closet
————————————————————

** Dec 24 – Closing at 2pm
Dec 25 & 26 – Closed
————————————————————

** Dec 30 – Final day for Stuff it Stocking KAL with Ewe Ewe Yarns
Dec 31 – Closing at 2 pm
————————————————————

** Jan 1 & 2 – Closed
Jan 6 – Announcement of new KAL
Jan 7 – Closed for a personal day.

Just a reminder that before traveling any distance to visit us, you might want to call first. We do close during inclement weather and for family emergencies.
————————————————————

Holiday Open House Goodies

** The Fiber Closet Holiday party was quite fun. We had lovely treats, punch & cookies, chili soup & hot cider. Attendees who brought goodies received a discount on their purchases that day. We had a visit from Mr. & Mrs Claus along with some of their elves. A wonderful time of sharing & visiting was had by all.

————————————————————

**
Reminder of Recent Changes at The Fiber Closet
————————————————————

** *Knit & Crochet group is on Thursday from 2-5pm.

*Charity Knitting has been suspended as we are now closed on Sundays. We will still collect donations but will not have a formal meeting time.

*All consignments will be ending Dec 31st. If you have had your eye on something, you should purchase it before the vendors pick up their items. Consignments will resume at the end of summer.

Vendors need to make arrangements to pick up their items soon.

*Watch this space for exciting news of what will fill the hallway soon.
————————————————————

** Stuff it Stocking KAL with Ewe Ewe Yarns (http://www.eweewe.com/blog/2013/11/8/stuff-it-stocking-knit-along)
————————————————————

** The Stuff-It-Stocking KAL through Ewe Ewe Yarns was a great success. Customers that purchased their kit from The Fiber Closet can bring their finished stocking in for a picture by Dec 30th and receive a 20% discount on their yarn purchase that day.

If you didn’t participate but are now wishing you had… we have a small amount of the yarn & the pattern left in stock. You won’t qualify for any of the prizes but you will have a beautiful stocking when you are finished.
————————————————————

** Cricket Loom for the Holidays
————————————————————

** The Cricket Loom is featured in the December 2013 Martha Stewart Living’s (http://www.marthastewart.com/) Holiday Guide
————————————————————

**
————————————————————

** We are featured as a retailer for the Cricket looms on the Schacht Spindle website (http://www.schachtspindle.com/) . We have a few remaining looms in stock. Hurry in for that last minute Christmas gift. With promotions from Martha Stewart & the Schacht company, we expect them to sell out quickly.
————————————————————

============================================================

** unsubscribe from this list (http://thefibercloset.us6.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=8ee4777a7df87868bd3d2ea92&id=0e6a4bfbb3&e=[UNIQID]&c=7d6eb47344)
** update subscription preferences (http://thefibercloset.us6.list-manage2.com/profile?u=8ee4777a7df87868bd3d2ea92&id=0e6a4bfbb3&e=[UNIQID])
** unsubscribe from this list (http://thefibercloset.us6.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=8ee4777a7df87868bd3d2ea92&id=0e6a4bfbb3&e=[UNIQID]&c=7d6eb47344)
** update subscription preferences (http://thefibercloset.us6.list-manage2.com/profile?u=8ee4777a7df87868bd3d2ea92&id=0e6a4bfbb3&e=[UNIQID])