hearthstoneyarns.com

Magic Loop Socks - One Sock at a Time

Tuesdays:  9/22, 11/3, 11/10;  6:30-8:30 p.m.

Instructor: Georgia      –       $50 + materials       

This technique for knitting socks with one circular needle is for anyone who wants an alternative to double-pointed needles.  This is our most popular class, so don’t wait to sign up.

Slip a Color Hat

Tuesdays:  9/29, 10/6, 10/27;  6:30-8:00 p.m. 

Instructor: Georgia       –      $40 + materials

Learn how easy it is to knit in the round and to work a two-color slip stitch pattern.  These make great Christmas gifts and can be great stash-busters for worsted weight yarns.  Besides - they’re fun!

Toe-Up Magic Loop Socks

Tuesdays:  10/13, 12/1, 12/8;  6:30-8:30 p.m.

Instructor: Georgia         –       $50 + materials

Toe-up construction is an excellent technique to have in your repertoire.  It=s a choice option when yardage is short or when you want to try on the socks as you knit or want the color pattern to match perfectly on the toes.

Knit 1 Below Scarf

Tuesdays:  10/20, 11/17;  6:30-8:00 p.m.

Instructor: Georgia     –     $35 + materials

This technique is enjoying a lot of popularity these days.  Learn how easy it can be and what a great look it creates.  This scarf will be your first of many!

To sign up for a class, call or come by the shop.  Class fees are due at time of enrollment, and material lists will be provided at that time.  Class size is always limited, so don’t delay!

Saturday I finished my “Sox Appeal” presentation to the Greater St. Louis Knitters’ Guild.  Thanks to everyone who attended, and I really appreciated your support and your generous comments after the meeting.  Wish I could attend more often!

This weekend I’m working on our fall class offerings.  I’m having a difficult time deciding what to offer this time.  We always have requests for Magic Loop sock classes, but there are other ideas and techniques I want to cover as well: knit 1 below, berets, Furry Flats (I’ll blog about them in a day or two. Stay tuned!).  I’m considering a regular class schedule for the sock classes and mini workshops for the knit 1 below, Furry Flats, and such.   Hmmm…..

MAGIC LOOP SOCKS - ONE SOCK AT A TIME

Wednesdays: 7/8, 8/5, 8/12; 6:30-8:30 p.m.                          $50 + materials

This technique for knitting socks with one circular needle is for anyone who wants an alternative to double-pointed needles.  This is our most popular class, so don’t wait to sign up.

FEARLESS FINISHING

Wednesdays: 7/22, 7/29; 6:30-8:30 p.m.               $40, homework required

More of our customers complain about their finishing skills than any other aspect of their knitting.  This class will cover seaming, hiding ends, 3-needle bind off, picking up stitches, and buttonholes.  Each student will need to knit swatches in advance of the class.

CAP IT OFF: DESIGNING A CAP FOR A SET-IN SLEEVE

Wednesday: 8/26; 6:30-8:30 p.m.                            $35, materials included

No more poorly fitting sleeves or caps that don’t fit the armhole!  In this class students will learn to design a beautifully fitting set-in sleeve cap.

To sign up for a class, call or come by the shop.  Class fees are due at time of enrollment, and materials lists will be provided at that time.  Class size is always limited, so don’t delay.

Now that life has returned to normal I’ve been planning classes for the shop.  I finished the models for my class projects yesterday, and tomorrow is “Photo Day” before I come to work in the afternoon.

Christmas is only 10 weeks away, and already people are coming into the shop to start working on gift items.  Everyone is very cost conscious in this economic climate so  we’ve worked up several sample gifts that cost $20 or less to make.

Three of these will also be available as classes.  Make your first gift as part of the class to get started, then you can make several more on your own.

I’ll post all the info tomorrow after my photo shoot. Tune in then!

MAGIC LOOP SOCKS

• Tuesdays, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, June 24, July 15 & 22
• Instructor: Georgia
• $50 + materials
• If you want to knit socks but have a fear of double-pointed needles, this is the class for you! Magic Loop technique uses one longer circular needle to work in rounds. We’ll discuss other applications for this knitting technique.

SOCKS ON DOUBLE-POINTS

• Wednesdays, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, July 9 & 30, Aug. 6
• Instructor: Joan
• $50 + materials
• This is the “traditional” method of sock construction and still the preferred technique for many, many sock knitters.

TECHNIQUE DU JOUR SERIES

• Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Instructor: Georgia
• $20 each + advance preparation
• Build up your skills by taking some of these single session classes. For each class you will need to begin a swatch before class in order to go directly to the technique of the evening.

• CABLES
  • June 17
  • Don’t be intimidated! Cables are much easier than they look. Learn to follow cable directions and/or charts with ease.

• SLIP STITCH COLOR WORK
  • July 8
  • There’s only one color in each row, but you’d never guess that from the appearance of the finished fabric. It’s very simple.

• FAIRISLE
  • July 29
  • Two colors are used throughout the row in the tradition of those gorgeous Scandinavian sweaters. Learn to control floats on the back and try two-handed fairisle.

• INTARSIA
  • August 12
  • Also known as bobbin or picture knitting, this technique deals with distinct areas of color in a fabric; for example: argyles, a single heart or flower.

• SHORT ROW COLOR BLOCK
  • August 26
  • This is a fun way to add areas of color by knitting one sector at a time.

Lists of materials and any required preparations will be provided at time of registration. Prerequisite knowledge for all classes: must be able to knit, purl, increase, and decrease. Previous experience working in the round is helpful for sock classes. We keep our class sizes small, so be sure to register early! (more…)

At long last Noro Kureyon Sock yarn is back in stock!!! We’ve received 5 gorgeous colorways, and we can’t decide what to knit first! If you haven’t had a chance to catch this yarn in person, be sure to check it out. Like it’s older siblings Kureyon and Silk Garden it knits up in wide bands of fabulous colors. Georgia’s Seed Stitch Stripe Socks pattern is free with any purchase of Kureyon Sock yarn. This yarn is hard to resupply, so don’t wait to get your favorite colors.

A new Knit-A-Long begins Thursday evening, May 1st. So many of us have fallen in love with the cute summer cardigan on the cover of Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer ‘08 that we’re going to work on it together. It is knit sideways on the bottom, and the yoke is picked up from the body and worked upward. Although it’s not as confusing as it sounds, many of you wanted company on this knitting journey so we’re all traveling together. This topper comes in finished sizes 37½”, 45″, and 52½” so there’s a size for almost everyone. If you’d like it longer, a couple of us will be lengthening it and will be able to help you make that change. We have several yarns that are perfect for this project including Plymouth’s Jeannee, Berroco’s Linen Jeans, and KFI’s King Tut. As always with our Knit-A-Longs we ask that you use a yarn purchased at our store. Join us 6-8 p.m. beginning Thursday, May 1st, and get started.

Tell us what classes you would like us to offer next. A new round of classes will begin in late May or early June, and we strive to offer the topics you most want. Give us a call, drop us an email, or mention it the next time you’re in the shop. We want to hear from you, and any suggestion is welcome!

Have you checked out the book titles we have on sale?  Many of our in-stock titles are marked down. These make great gifts and a bargain way to stock your own library. Be sure to check it out!

P.S.  Don’t forget to buy your Stitch N Pitch tickets!

We’re constantly asked for classes in various sock knitting techniques, so this spring our classes are covering the most popular.  Socks are for everyone — even those who are wool sensitive.  We have sock yarns that do not contain wool, so be sure to ask us to point them out.

Socks on 2 Circular Needles [Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m., March 11, April 1, and April 8; Instructor - Georgia; $50 plus materials]  People are curious about this technique.  Once you’ve tried it you’ll find many uses for it besides socks.  If you can’t make friends with your double-pointed needles, this class is for you!

Toe Up Magic Loop Socks [Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m., April 9, 23, and 30; Instructor - Georgia; $50 plus materials] This class is for the experienced sock knitter interested in expanding her options or for the confident knitter who is a “newbie” to socks.  Magic Loop technique uses one long circular needle to work in rounds.  We’ll discuss other applications for this knitting technique and the advantages of working socks from the toe up.

“Falling Hearts” Lace Scarf [Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m., April 15, April 22, and May 13; Instructor - Georgia; $50 plus materials] This project is a wonderful introduction to lace knitting.  The yarn in fingering weight, making it easier to see and manipulate.  The pattern is written in chart form but also includes row-by-row verbal instructions, so it’s an excellent vehicle for learning to understand charted lace.  Additional techniques include a provisional cast on and a picot bind off.

Super Seams [Tuesday, May 6, 6:30-9p.m.; Instructor - Georgia; $20 plus advance preparation]  Mattress stitch is the key to beautiful seams.  In this class we’ll practice seaming on garter stitch, ribbing, stockinette, and reverse stockinette.  This class will give you confidence no matter what fabric you’re seaming.  This class requires knitting several swatches in advance of the class. 

Lists of materials and required preparations will be provided at time of registration.  Prerequisite knowledge for all sock classes: must be able to knit, purl, increase, and decrease.  Previous experience working in the round is helpful.  We keep our class sizes small, so be sure to register early!  Contact HearthStone Knits at 314.849.YARN(9276) or visit our shop at 11429 Concord Village Ave., Saint Louis, MO 63123, on Tuesday-Wednesday-Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.