September Classes and Knitalongs

We're running right into September, with its hints of golds and reds beginning to appear in the landscape, chillier evenings, and warmer projects being cast onto needles and hooks.

Over the past several months we've had some questions about our skill level definitions for classes and knitalongs and have found it's easier to simplify them.

The new terms are:
Rookie: You picked up needles and yarn recently, know knit and purl, and you're ready to add more skills to that knitting toolbox.

Apprentice: You're confident with knit, purl, basic increases/decreases, and have likely begun adventuring into knitting in the round, and have began creating shapes other than long scarf like rectangles.

Virtuoso: You're confident in your abilities and are looking for challenges, unique projects, and new tricks. There isn't much out there that you would shy away from trying as long as you were in love with the pattern teasing you on Ravelry.

Genius: You are a knitting master, nothing stops you, not even a bad pattern. You're looking for a challenge, continuing to master skills, and love projects with very complex construction and stitch work.

So what's on the schedule for September?

Well first, we can announce that you can still sign up for any nine sessions of the Building with Lace knitalong by Michelle "Knit Purl" Hunter for $45, as long as the book is still available for purchase at the shop. There's already been one round of books sold, and round two just arrived. Weekday sessions will be offered Wednesdays, 6pm-7pm beginning September 6 and carrying on through Wednesday, October 25th. Weekend sessions will continue on Saturdays, Noon-1pm until October 14th.

Skill level: All skill levels - this is truly a skill building knitalong, the book, associated videos, and the support of the rest of the knitalong participants will get you through if you're a beginner, and teach you a few more tricks even if you're a knitting expert.

There are also two more knitalongs featuring Michelle Hunter's patterns for September.

Hat season starts up towards the end of October in the south, mid-September virtually anywhere else, so it's time to start WIPing some up. Corkscrew Hat by Michelle Hunter, uses an interesting, yet easy to grasp two color technique that creates an almost braided appearance and unisex design. This pattern is also available in three sizes, baby, child, and adult.

Offering Type: Knitalong

Skill Level: Rookie/Apprentice

Techniques Used: Knitting in the Round, Multiple Colors, Shaping 

Price: $30

Dates: 10:30am - 11:30am, Saturdays, Sept. 16, 30, Oct. 14

Oh wait, glove and mitten season is coming up too! The second of Michelle's patterns this month is the Reciprocation Fingerless Gloves. These fingerless gloves will keep your hands warm and your fingers free for chilly weather knitting.

Offering Type: Knitalong

Skill Level: Rookie/Apprentice

Techniques Used: German twisted cast on, special design stitches, stitch pickup, thumb gussets 

Price: $30

Dates: 10:30am - 11:30am, Saturdays, Sept. 23, Oct. 7, 21

With September a few days away,
Halloween is right around the corner and we've got a couple of fun and spooky classes for you.

First up, these Spider Socks are going to be a blast. These will look great in a solid, or subtly variegated yarn, you want your handiwork to show through on these.

Offering Type: Class

Skill Level: Apprentice/Virtuoso 

Techniques Used: Top down construction, heel flap & gusset construction, mock cables, cable stitches, special design stitches

Price: $60

Dates: 1:30pm - 2:30pm, Saturdays, Sept. 16, 30, Oct. 14

The Counting Crows mittens will fit the bill for chilly, late October evenings with a few secrets hidden inside. These are a great challenge for someone wanting to increase their color work skills.

Offering Type: Class

Skill Level: Apprentice/Virtuoso

Techniques Used: Knitting in the round, color work and chart reading, shaping, stitch pickup, thumb gussets and finger construction

Price: $60

Dates: 1:30pm - 2:30pm, Saturdays, Sept. 23, Oct. 7, 21


It's also time to start working on those warm statement pieces for Fall and Winter. This scarf is the first of many showstoppers we hope to offer over the next several months.

Inspired by the Mesoamerican deity Kukulkan this scarf/shawl is striking. This is certainly one of those projects that will having people asking "where did you get that" and then it's up to you how you spill the beans about being an accomplished knitter. The unique shape and construction of this project, as well as the use of gradient sets should keep anyone motivated to finish this project before the fall chill really sets in.

Offering Type: Class

Skill Level: Apprentice/Virtuoso

Techniques: Color changes, short rows, stitch pickup, cast on mid-project, shaping

Price: $60

Dates: 3:30pm - 4:30pm, Saturdays, Sept. 23, Oct. 7, 21

And as always, we're available for individual instruction for brand new knitters and crocheters, and those looking to master new techniques.  Please contact the shop to discuss what you would like to learn and availability.

SEPTEMBER CLASSES, KALs & CALs

Corkscrew Hat KAL $30.00 USD Reciprocation Fingerless Gloves KAL $30.00 USD Building With Lace KAL $45.00 USD Spider Socks Class $60.00 USD Counting Crows Mittens Class $60.00 USD Kukulkan Scarf/Shawl Class $60.00 USD

SAFF BUS TOUR 2017

SAFF BUS TOUR 2017 $125.00 USD Option 2 $125.00 USD Option 3 $125.00 USD

What's New? - August 2017

Fall is right around the corner, and new yarns and products have been pouring in.

It’s almost time for sock season and Regia’s Pairfect yarns are our new fun, and funky favorite, with colorways designed by Arne and Carlos.  Pairfect yarns promise you a quick way to perfectly matched socks with their unique yellow indicator.  All you have to do is find the end of the yellow yarn, cast on, and knit your sock.  After you have finished the first sock, you pull the yarn until you find the next bright yellow indicator and repeat the process for your second sock.  Pairfect skeins have 459 yards and are 75% wool, 25% polyamide, machine washable in cool water, and dryer safe on low.

Baby Blossom Yarns have returned!  Our first order disappeared so quickly it had to be brought back for an encore.  This time we are offering it in DK and Chunky weights and more colorways.  These yarns feature long color changes and bands of instant flower fields. Both weights are acrylic/polyamide blends that are washer and dryer safe.  Baby Blossom DK has 362 yards. Baby Blossom Chunky has 170 yards.

We’ve found a new, buttery cotton with a huge palette of vibrant colors for you.  This may be your new favorite! Butterfly Super 10 is a DK weight, with up to 50 different colors.  If we don’t have your color in the store, we can get it for you.  This is a machine washable,  dye-fast, unshrinkable cotton with a subtle shine that won’t pill. Each hank is 250 yards.







Not all of our new items can be knitted or crocheted.  We have some other goodies too.

Love + Leche lotion bars and anywhere balm is here! These all natural

products are made with pure beeswax, coconut oil, almond oil, calendula flowers, and essential oils, that smell amazing.  The lotion bars are amazing for dry hands, feet, elbows, anywhere that can use some softening up.  The anywhere balm packs the same punch in a smaller tin perfect for tossing in your knitting bag for dry skin, and chapped lip emergencies.

You know all of us crafty folk are always looking for places to jot down quick notes while we work up our latest creation.  We have several notebooks and notepads featuring your favorite fiber art.

 If you're using your notebooks for tick-marks there may be a better solution.  How about a knitting abacus?  These handmade bracelets will keep you on track.  Adjust it to fit and then use the super-strong magnetic clasp to take it on and off.    

It’s also important that we stay hydrated during our long crafting binges.  Check out these reusable water bottles!

But wait, there’s more! These are the perfect wine glasses for those “stitch n bitch” sessions with friends.  A few of us are always at their Knits End.

We hope to see you soon!  Keep an eye out here, as well as the Yarn Rhapsody Facebook page for events and announcements.  We're planning an exciting fall for you. 

Calling All Knitters and Crocheters

Once in a blue moon a spectacular act of craftivism will pop up.  It’s our opportunity to break out our needles and hooks and bring awareness to causes we love and support.

Over the past couple of weeks one of these amazing acts of craftivism has popped up, and we’re joining the cause.

Click for Babies is a grassroots campaign that invites knitters and crocheters across North America to make purple colored baby hats that will be delivered to families in November and December to bring awareness to the period of purple crying.

What is the period of purple crying?  It is the time when a baby will cry more than other time in their life, and is difficult to soothe.  Some babies will cry more, some less, but all babies will go through this period of increased crying in early infancy.  It is during this time that children are at the highest risk of shaken baby syndrome.

Why make hats?  These little hats will be given to infants with instructional materials about purple crying and how to cope with this often stressful time period.  They are a physical reminder that the period of purple crying is normal, it's no one's fault, and it’s not going to last forever.

It is the hope of the Click for Babies campaign that bringing greater awareness to purple crying will lessen the numbers of children that are impacted by shaken baby syndrome.  In the United States, shaken baby syndrome is the leading cause of death in child abuse cases.  About 30 per 100,000 children under the age of 1 suffer from shaken baby syndrome each year.

Starting today and through the entire month of September we are encouraging our friends to join us in knitting and crocheting these amazing little reminders.  We are offering 30% off all purple yarns and free patterns for those interested in this act of loving craftivism, and are also inviting those that don’t know how to knit or crochet to join us, by offering free lessons to get you started.  Will you join us? 

For further information about the period of purple crying, shaken baby syndrome, the purple hat campaign, free patterns, and participating hospitals in your area can be found at clickforbabies.org.   For patterns only follow this link.