Saturday, July 30, 2016

Back to School Crochet and Knitting Class Special

Back to School Special: Buy 3 knitting/crochet class sessions for $35! That's a $25 savings!

*Valid now through August 10th.

Find us on Facebook or email: intheloophartselle@gmail.com for more info

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

New Yarn from Universal Yarns has arrived!

Crochet fingerless gloves using Downton Abbey "Lady Mary" yarn

Downton Abbey "Lady Mary" yarn

Bamboo Bloom Handpaints yarn

Cowl pattern using Bamboo Bloom Yarn

Monday, July 25, 2016

2016 North Alabama Yarn Crawl

Guest Post: "Irish Crochet" by Kimberly Schimmel

Irish Crochet: A Brief Introduction

by Kimberly Schimmel

While some ancient crafts were similar to crochet, the modern form of the craft was perfected by French nuns in the sixteenth century. In the middle of the nineteenth century, Irish women took up crochet. They developed a unique style of crochet that imitated Venetian lace. Their Irish crochet became popular enough to sustain a cottage industry that kept many families from starvation during the famine.

Irish crochet is distinguished by its bold motifs--roses, leaves, shamrocks, etc.--connected by a crocheted mesh background. Motifs are usually begun by working over a round padding cord rather than a starting chain. After enough motifs are made, they are basted or pinned onto a traced pattern. The net for the background is then crocheted to connect all the motifs. The basting and backing are then removed, leaving a beautiful lace fabric. Borders may be added at that point.

All this magic is worked using the simplest of tools: balls of crochet cotton and a steel hook of appropriate size for the weight of thread used. Irish crochet makes wonderful lace edgings for pillows or collars. It can also be used to create entire garments, such as a christening gown or baby bonnet. A beginner may try making a single flower motif to attach to a stickpin or sew on a hat. Try a lace doily before tackling a tablecloth. Irish crochet is adaptable to many projects. Cotton crochet is also surprisingly sturdy, despite its delicate appearance.

Enjoy your own exploration of Irish crochet.

References:

de Dillmont, T., The Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework, 1996, Philadelphia, Running Press.

Lee Wards Complete Library of Needlecraft, Vol. 1, 1975, New York, Fuller & Dees.

"Sit and Stitch" begins tomorrow night!

Broomstick Lace Crochet Workshop with Libby

Beginning Needle Felting Workshop with Libby

Saturday, July 23, 2016

"Nectar Scarf" Knit-Along starts Thursday, August 4th

Knit-Along with Emily: “Nectar Scarf” ; Every Thursday @6pm starting August 4th-18 (Sessions are FREE with project yarn purchase, otherwise $10/session)

Crochet Flower Wall Art Workshop: Saturday, August 6th

Crochet Flower Wall Art Workshop: Saturday, August 6th @12pm. Cost: $25 (includes all supplies) *Must pre-register. *basic crochet skills needed.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Crochet Workshop using Handspun Yarn with Claire Cabe of Lucca Dot Yarn

August Crochet-Along with Libby: "Tall and Fast Flower Pillow"

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Guest Post: Colorful Latvian Knitting by Kimberly Schimmel

Colorful Latvian Knitting

As knitting spread around the world, cultures adapted knitting to suit their wants and needs. Northern countries such as Latvia favored stranded knitting as it created a warm, double-layered knit fabric. Stranding also enables a knitter to hold a different color in each hand, allowing for color work in repeating patterns without constantly joining new yarn and cutting old.

Latvian Mittens

In Latvia, mittens became one of the most commonly knit items. Instead of the rounded top commonly found in most mittens (rather like the toe of a sock) Latvian mittens are triangular at the top, coming to a point at the center above the middle fingers. Thumbs are also knit to a point. Instead of ribbed cuffs, Latvian knitters create gauntlet-like cuffs that flare a bit at the opening.

Mittens are worked in the round on double-pointed needles in color patterns worked from a chart. The hand and thumb are worked in one pattern while the cuff is usually worked in a different pattern using contrasting colors. While Norwegian knitting is often done in just two colors and in smaller patterns, Latvian knitting includes bolder, larger patterns and often many colors in a single project.

Skills Needed for Latvian Knitting

Before knitting colorful Latvian mittens, be comfortable knitting rounds on double-pointed needles and following a chart. A bit of arithmetic skill is also handy, since Latvian patterns often show only a portion of the chart, not the whole mitten, and it is up to the knitter to be sure the motifs are centered and the repeats come out even. If a pattern is a 20-stitch repeat, for example, the number of stitches in the mitten should be divisible by 20.

Knitting should be done at a firm gauge for a warm, wind-resistant mitten. Wool is a great yarn choice for the required warmth and light weight. If the knitter is proficient at both Continental and English knitting, i.e. can hold yarn in either hand, knitting will be faster as one color can be held in each hand. Be sure to keep the same color in the same hand through out, since small differences in tension between the two hands may be noticeable in the finished project.

Enjoy colorful folk art you can wear all winter. Latvian mittens are works of art.

By: Kimberly Schimmel, a.k.a. FiberFrau

Saturday, July 16, 2016

ALL Crochet and Knitting Classes are FREE during the month of JULY!!

Make sure to take advantage of our FREE Crochet and Knitting Classes during the month of July!

Crochet Class (all levels) every Thursday @ 6pm

Knitting Class (Beginner-Intermediate) every Thursday @ 7pm

WALK-IN'S WELCOME!

*supplies for classes must be purchased at In the Loop Yarn Shop