SPRING 2016files.ctctcdn.com/84420a79001/1e1695f7-fd13-46ed-8d1e-b... · 2016-04-14 · 118 M A DRON E L A N E, BA I N BR IDGE I SL A N D, WA 98110 T E L E 2 0 6 .78 0. 2 6 8 6 C

118 m a d r o n e l a n e , b a i n b r i d g e i s l a n d, wa 9 8110t e l e 2 0 6 . 7 8 0 . 2 6 8 6 c h u r c h m o u s e y a r n s . c o m

SPR ING

2016

Open Sunday–Saturday 10–6. thurSdayS ’til 8. ClOSed FOurth OF July.

“More grows in the garden than the gardener sows.”

– SPANISH PROVERB

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a quick

NOTE

Spring on our little Island can begin at any time. Sometimes even when the rest of the continent’s northern

regions are still deep in winter (I’ve seen daffs here in January!). And sometimes she withholds her lovely warmth well into April or May. This capricious spirit can make it challenging for a merchant to know just what to do. But we keep faith, knowing that spring can also be a state of mind. Although the Northwest is largely green all winter long (evergreen, that is), there’s still something precious about the luminous green of the first new shoots and buds, the tentative colors of blossoming fruit trees, and the showy brightness of bulbs in bloom. This is the time our penchant for grey-on-grey-on-more-grey seems to fly out the window! As we were planning for spring in mid-winter, the thing that inspired us most was a book of vintage botanical illustrations that Gregory discovered in Found, a favorite vintage shop in neighboring Poulsbo. The slightly faded brightness of the blooms piqued our color ‘tastebuds’. As we began to explore, we found that the most compelling explorations of the botanist’s eye were those that celebrate imperfection: Ragged edges. A snail hole in the leaf. The wistful reflection of a plant’s life cycle. The bitter with the sweet. As knitters, crocheters and stitchers, we’re familiar with trying to balance the

smallest details—after all, we proceed stitch by stitch by stitch—with the allure of our vision for the finished piece. Every project, no matter how small, has a beginning, a middle and an end, and we skip one of these at our peril! As Alfred Austin reminds us, “There is no gardening without humility.” The same might be said for handwork! In this issue, we introduce a new segment,

‘Always Learning’, on page 10. We share our approach to growing our skills and offer a couple of tutorials you might find helpful. Our buyers, Freshy, Gregory and Erika, have found special treats for spring, and continue to

source treasures for summer. Laura Mc, our projects developer and Becky, our publishing manager, continue to find and create new designs to tempt us. And our customer care teams in the store and online are ready to shepherd you into the new season.

Warm regards,

P.S. May is a lively month, what with our Churchmouse Classics Spring pattern launch, the ‘Knitting with Company’ designer meet-and-greet in the shop, and the annual Puget Sound ‘Fiber Love’ LYS Tour (28 shops, 5 days). Whew! (Details, page 15.)

Kit Hutchin

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thank

GOODNESS

Spring is like opening a window and breathing in the

future, tinged with a whiff of nostalgia. We’re always

grateful for the little things that make life good.

Nature’s Pressed Flowers, a thirty-year-old Utah company, makes

sturdy leaf and flower presses that take us back to childhood

and our ‘budding naturalist’ efforts with waxed paper and

encyclopedias (remember those?!). Crafted

with Baltic birch plywood and high quality

blotter paper, they’ll have you strewing cards,

journal pages or your tea table with eternal

blossoms. • Emma Bridgewater’s latest half-

pint mugs (see page 7 for more on Emma)

are inspired by a new garden in the Stoke-on-Trent factory’s

courtyard. You’ll find blog entries on Emma’s UK site detailing

how young gardener Arthur Parkinson was handed the baton

(or is it the trowel?). • The newest in our series of bejewelled tea-

leaf stitch markers by Portland maker Dana Herbert features a

luminous spring-green crystal. • Perfect for snipping

blooms or threads, these diminutive 4" botanical

scissors are charming replicas of knife-

sharp Bonsai shears. Take a spring

walk with your little snips tucked into your

garden trug or rucksack.

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we’re

M AK ING

Susan’s knitting our cushy garter stitch ‘Picot-Edge Throw’ in Berroco Ultra Alpaca held with brushed alpaca Andean Mist. Perfect for chilly mornings on a garden bench, the dramatic black she’s chosen suggests splashy floral toleware.

Traveling light: Gregory’s packing small projects for his spring trip to Mexico City

and Tulum. Inspired by ‘writing with thread’ on Pinterest, he’s bringing a Letters on Linen kit with him and Laura Mc’s been coaching him with needle and thread. He’s also packing coloring books with motifs from Japan and India for inspiration. His entire travel ‘costume’, including a Churchmouse Classroom ‘Crocheted Beanie’ in cotton Shibui

Rain, is in black. “I know I’ll find color at the local markets when I get there!”

Unwrapped: Sally, who has more style in her little finger than most of us put together, just finished her own clever adaptation of our ‘Modern Wrapper’ pattern. Using three strands of black Isager Alpaca Merino 2, she omitted the sleeves and didn’t even sew up the side seams for an elegant transeasonal ‘ruana’. Once again proving less is more.

Garden afternoons: Laura A is mixing Rowan Kidsilk Haze with lightly sequined

At this time of year, we share the creative urge with all of nature—our project bags overf loweth. We’d like to let you in on what we’ve just finished, or just started, or simply what has us inspired!

A spring in their step: We all love to have sock projects on the needles for those precious few moments between tidying up the garden, scrubbing the hull and spring cleaning. Alicia’s abbreviating our ‘Basic Socks’ pattern in bright turquoise Socks That Rock. She’ll add tiny retro pom-poms to the 1" anklet cuffs to keep them in the heels of her grey sneaks. Pam’s knitting our ‘Simple Toe-Up Socks’ in a self-striping Regia Arne & Carlos yarn from her stash. She says, “I’ve been knitting socks with Regia for over 20 years and I still get excited every time I cast on.”

Flights of fancy: ‘Alexandra’s Airplane Scarf’ continues to compel us with its seasonable lightness and simplicity.Samantha’s knitting one in creamy, light-as-air Isager Alpaca 1. Gretchen and Kate both fell for the slubby crispness and light halo of silk/merino/cashmere Shibui Pebble—two preparing for take-off!

Spring snuggling: Because you never know when the season will ricochet,

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Julie and Julie: We all love a knitted tee and Julie Hoover is the master of this simple shape. Pam (our resident ‘multiple knitter’) has Julie’s raglan-shouldered ‘Insouciant’ tee on the needles yet again, this time in Shibui Rain. She has one queued up in Pewter Louet Euroflax, too. And Megan has one on the go in Fjord Shibui Linen. Carol’s knitting the relaxed, slouchy ‘Leonie’ tee designed by Cocoknits’ Julie Weisenberger, using new Lang Corso, a thick-and-thin 100% cotton

tape that’s been printed and washed for sun-faded shimmer. As Pam says, “Both Julies have a great eye for designing simple, elegant and comfortable garments that I actually want to wear!”

Seasonal Shelter: With its airy spin, Brooklyn Tweed’s light worsted Shelter makes the perfect lofty sweater. Kate’s finishing up feminine

detailed ‘Coda’ (far left) from the Olga Buraya-Kefelian ‘BT Capsule Collection’ in Faded Quilt. And Mary Jo’s just seaming up Michele Wang’s ‘Alloy’, a textured pullover in Snowbound with shapely charcoal side panels.

Ssshhhh: We’re bursting to tell you all about the projects we’ve been knitting and crocheting for the LYS Tour May 18–22 (see page 15) and our new Spring pattern launch May 7th (see page 15) but we can’t! Suffice it to say, our design team had their needles clattering right up to the photo shoot, and the rest of the crew started projects even before they went to press, especially the. . . Oops—that was close!

lace-weight Lang Stellina Paillettes for our ‘Mohair Bias Loop’. Perfect over the shoulders of a spring frock. Beth is bejewelling the edge of a ‘Racing Raindrops Scarf’ in Manos Serena (Featured Fave, page 8) in soft sunshine-yellow Lemonade. Our Raindrop beads sparkle like droplets on a tall, cool glass.

Wrapped in spring: Laura Mc just wrapped up Shannon Cook’s newest shawl pattern, ‘Amberle’. The wrapped cluster stitch was fun to knit and Shannon helped us put together fun two-color combos of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter. High contrast? Cross the color wheel? Subtle tonals? How to choose? Kit revisited a long time favorite from Rowan, the ‘Birch’ triangular lace shawl, in juicy orange Kidsilk Haze. It starts at the long edge so it picks up speed as you near the end—making it very tempting to start another one. Or two. Or three.

On the steppes: Imagine the coolness of cotton blended with clouds of downy yak fiber. Now add a touch of nylon and chainette construction for gentle springiness, and you’ve got Rowan’s new Softyak DK. Pam’s knitted ‘Nambu’ (above), a relaxed open cardigan with cream and rose color blocking. And Carol’s made ‘Ketu’, a fitted Henley-neck pullover in smoldering grey. Both designs are from the Rowan Softyak DK collection, 12 relaxed styles by Marie Wallin. And Megan loved knitting our ‘Walking Rib Cowl’ in Softyak DK sooo much that she pretty much wants a wardrobe in it.

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and Rooibos Evening). Pop on a pretty tea cozy (especially if you’re taking it outside). Add a plate of lemon slices. If it’s an especially fine day, consider a pitcher of iced tea (see recipe below). Keep the menu simple. Make your favorite savory sandwich: cucumber or radish with salted butter, egg salad with cress or spinach, spring asparagus with cream cheese . . . you get the idea. Cut off the crusts (after filling) and cut into four to six dainty pieces. You’ll find more ideas and recipes in two new books on our shelf, ‘How to Make Tea’ and ‘Steeped’. For an even simpler savory, try Rustic Bakery’s buttery, lightly spiced Cheese Coins with a bit of chutney. For sweets—again, simple does it. Break out a packet of biscuits from Shortbread House of Edinburgh or Elegant & English. If you’re feeling ambitious, embellish with a lick of Thursday Cottage Lemon Curd. It’s just that easy!

Let us set the scene for one of life’s simpler pleasures—afternoon tea. While it can certainly lean to

starched linens, silver service and raised pinkies, we particularly love a simple, casual, impromptu tea. In fact, we like to keep it simple enough that it can become a reassuring daily ritual. First, grace a tray with a favorite tea towel or bit of floral fabric from your stash (just pink the edges!). Now any table (or desk or bench) can be a tea table! Stack a couple of pretty tea plates with an upturned glass to sort your sweets and savories. Add your favorite mug (two, if you’re sharing). It’s so much more cheerful if nothing matches and the teaspoons are a little tarnished. Plunk a few forget-me-nots into a tiny jug. Now fill a pot with your favorite tea—perhaps one from the refreshing second season of our Spring Tea Taster’s Quarterly (Darjeeling, Sencha

taking

TEA

Bring 6 cups of freshly drawn cold water

to a hot, but not boiling temperature (175

degrees) and pour over 6 heaping teaspoons

of Jasmine tea. Steep for 2-3 minutes. Strain

into an iced tea pitcher and add Didi Davis

Orange-Ginger Sugar to taste (we used 3½

Tbsp—not too sweet, just right!). Allow to

cool slightly, then place in the refrigerator

overnight, or until chilled completely.

Tea may become cloudy if chilled too

quickly. There’s nothing wrong with the

tea, it is simply the way the microscopic tea

solids react when cooled quickly. To clear it,

pour in a splash of boiling water.

Pour into a tall glass filled with ice and

garnish with a slice of orange. Perfect as is,

but feel free to add a splash of soda water or

prosecco if you’re feeling frisky!

Iced Green Jasmine Tea with Orange Ginger Sugar—was this the nectar of the Greek gods?

JASMINE COOLER

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‘Ajiri’ means ‘employ’ in Swahili and that’s what these kind and savvy young women do, creating a sustainable village economy and investing all profits back into the community. Their local makers have gone from strength to strength.

Baa Ram Ewe: Impish whirlwind Verity Britton has a master plan—to return Yorkshire to its former glory as a center of local wool production. If you met Verity at our shop in January, you know she’ll get this done! Her first two Yorkshire-made yarns, Titus and Dovestone DK,are a brilliant start. And her latest book, ‘Dovestone Small-holding’, has

us knitting a farmyard of woolly friends.

Steve Smith Tea: We still remember the beatific look on Steve’s face as he described working on a tractor in the Oregon peppermint fields in his youth. The No. 45 Peppermint Leaves Herbal Infusion (in sachets or loose) makes us feel like we’re riding with Steve! Cool and creamy with an intense finish, you can brew it alone or add a pinch to your favorite tea. Or infuse a mug of hot milk for a bed-time calmer.

exploring

ORIGINS

One of a merchant’s most rewarding challenges is seeking—and finding—wonderful creations to share. We get to meet or learn about inspiring makers in our own backyard and across the globe.

Emma Bridgewater: We’ve loved Emma’s ‘kitchen dresser’ vision for a long time—from her ever-evolving iconic typographic Black Toast creamware to her limited edition collectible flower, bird and animal mugs. All of Emma’s designs mingle easily. Like many entre-preneurs, Emma started at her kitchen table and today she has saved one of the few remaining local potteries in Stoke-on-Trent from obsolescence, safeguarding livelihoods and timeless skills. Every Emma piece is still made by hand in England.

Ajiri Tea: We met young sisters Sara and Kate Holby at a tea expo. We were smitten with their story and one-of-a-kind packaging; each box is decorated with hand-cut banana leaves. This award-winning Kenya tea is delicious, full bodied, bright and fresh (we’ve added mango and lemon flavors for spring).

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featured

FAV ES

With its balance of cotton coolness and woolly warmth, Serena is perfect for our capricious climate and transitional seasons. Freshy knit the ‘Hushed’ cropped cardigan from Kim Hargreaves’ ‘Still’ collection twice—once with long sleeves in sunflower Gold and once with shortened sleeves in Hummingbird pink. She’s going to make “five more” this spring! Alicia’s warming up to another ‘Audrey in Unst’ cardi by Gudrun Johnston—as soon as she can zoom in on a color! Will it be one of the weathered shades (Pearl, Smoke, Sea Urchin, Fig...) or a more vivid one (Sapphire, Cranberry, Ivy, Lilac...) Our one-skein gloves on the next page are a perfect way to play with colors. Our Featured Fave tea through June is our Churchmouse loose-leaf Jasmine. If you’re not a green tea afficianado yet, this is a lovely place to start. Using water that’s not quite boiling, steep 2-3 minutes; if you find it bitter, you’ve brewed it too hot or too long. It’s nice iced, too (recipe, page 6). Our Featured Fave accessory through June is the sturdy 12 x 14½ x 7" canvas tote made especially for us by the 95-year-old Steele Canvas company. We spec’d handles the perfect length to slip over one shoulder, a khaki base that’ll hide daily smudges, an inner pocket, and a loop of our Churchmouse ribbon to keep keys or scissors handy. At the 20% off Fave price, some of us are buying multiples for handsome stash storage.

This spring, our Featured Faves are 20% off through June and our summer Faves (details TBD—stay

tuned online) will be 20% off mid-June through August. (Notice there’s a nice bit of overlap for the last two weeks of June—when two items in each category will be 20% off. Hurrah!) These Faves are not ‘on sale’ items we’re clearing out—they’re some of our most beloved items that we hope you’ll give a try and love as much as we do. Our Featured Fave yarn through June is Manos del Uruguay Serena Solids, a luminous baby alpaca and cotton blend. Created by one of the first fair trade yarn collectives in South America, each skein is kettle dyed for subtle stonewashed shading. Labeled sport- to DK-weight, Serena actually has a very versatile gauge range. You can open it up to 4½ stitches per inch and give it a good press for a supple,

drapey hand. Or knit it down to 7 stitches per inch for a nice firm finish. Serena’s great for crochet, too.

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DAISY STITCH FINGERLESS GLOVESSpring is in the air and we’re in the mood for something flowery and frilly.

Size: Small, 6"/15cm around, fits up to 7"/18cm palm; Large, 7"/18cm around, fits up to 8"/20cm palm. Directions given for small size; large size in parentheses ( ).

Yarn: 1 skein Manos Serena (170 yds/155m), or approx. 85 yds/78m (100 yds/91m) of an equivalent DK-weight yarn.

Notions: US 5 (3.75mm) needle, or size to obtain gauge; US 3 (3.25mm) needle or two sizes smaller than gauge needle for twisted rib edging; darning needle.

Gauge: Approx. 32 sts = 4"/10cm in daisy stitch.

Glossary: K = knit; K3Tog = knit 3 stitches together; M1L = make one, left-slanting increase (with tip of left needle, lift strand running between needles from the front; knit into the back of it); P = purl; St(s) = stitch(es); TBL = through back loop.

Gloves are knitted flat then seamed, leaving an opening for the thumb.

Cast on: With larger needle, using long-tail cast-on method, cast on 87 (101) sts. Note: Start with an extra-long tail ( 2 yds/m will be plenty) for sewing up later.

Scalloped edging: Row 1: Purl. Row 2: P1, K1 *K1, slip st back to left needle, with right needle, lift next 5 sts one by one over knitted st, YO, knit same st again, tighten firmly, K1, M1L*; repeat between * * to last st, P1. [51 (59) sts; 12 (14) scallops]

Daisy stitch (multiple of 4 plus 3): Row 1: Purl. Row 2: P1, *K3Tog but don’t drop from left needle, YO, knit into same 3 sts again dropping them off needle, P1*; repeat between * * to last 2 sts, K1, P1. Row 3: Purl. Row 4: P1, K1, P1, *K3Tog, but don’t drop from left needle, YO, and knit into same 3 sts again dropping them off needle, P1*; repeat between * * to end. Tip: P1 from two rows below centers under ‘K3Tog’. Repeat these 4 rows 8 (9) more times, or to desired length, ending with Row 2 or Row 4. Change to smaller needle before you begin twisted rib edging.

Twisted rib edging: Row 1 (wrong side): P1, *P1TBL, K1TBL*; repeat between * * to last 2 sts, end P1TBL, P1. Row 2 (right side): P1, *K1TBL, P1TBL*; repeat between * * to last 2 sts, end K1TBL, P1. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 five more times or to desired length. BO loosely in pattern. Cut yarn, leaving 12"/30cm tail for seaming.

Finishing: With bind-off tail and using mattress stitch, sew seam from ribbed edge for 2"/5cm. With cast-on tail and mattress stitch, sew seam from scalloped edge to within 2"/5cm of first seam, leaving about 2"/5cm for thumb opening. Before weaving in ends, try glove on and adjust thumb opening to desired size; secure with a small stitch; weave in ends. Repeat for second glove.

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always

LEARNING

As a staff, we have collective centuries of knitting, crocheting and stitching experience. But even those of us who have been at it for more decades than we care to say, continue to learn every day. Sometimes it’s the smallest tip that makes the difference! [These tips are adapted from our Churchmouse Classroom Learn-To-Knit or Learn-To-Crochet Companions.]

S Q U A R I N G U P T H E F I N A L S T I T C H F O R C A B L E C A S T - O N

You may have noticed that when you use the cable cast-on method, your last stitch sits at quite a slant and is a little difficult to knit into on the first row. After you’ve created the final stitch on your right needle and pulled it through, bring working yarn to the front between needle tips (Fig. 1) before you place that last stitch onto the left needle (Fig. 2). There—a nice square corner! (We learned this little trick from Meg Swansen at a knitting retreat).

Right after you join chain stitches into a ring with a slip stitch (Figs. 1 & 2) to begin working in the round for a circular motif or disk, you can begin ‘finishing’! As you begin your first row in the round, insert your hook into the center of your ring under your tail (Fig. 3); continue to catch your tail under every stitch in your first round. Later you can pull on the tail to tighten your inner circle and trim the end. No tail to weave in! (This’ll come in handy for our new LYS Tour crochet pattern launching May 18th—top secret!)

B U R Y I N G A C R O C H E T T A I L A S Y O U B E G I N A C I R C L E

1 2 3

1 2 3

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‘DROP IN’ CIRCLES: Help With Your Project(s) When You Need It

MONDAY MORNINGS 10:00am–12:00pm with Wendy Swords No circle 7/4.

TUESDAY AFTERNOONS 2:00–4:00pm with Kathy Connelly

WEDNESDAY MORNINGS 10:00am–12:00pm with Mary Jo Blazina

THURSDAY MORNINGS 10:00am–12:00pm with Mary Jo Blazina

FRIDAY MORNINGS 10:00am–12:00pm with Mary Jo Blazina

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS 1:00–3:00pm with Kathy Connelly.

Maximum: 6 students. $16 for 2 hours; $8 for 1 hour (second hour only, please) or $64 for a card of 10 prepaid Circle hours.

OPEN TABLES FREE!

TUESDAY & SUNDAY MORNINGS 10:00am–12:00pm

THURSDAY EVENINGS 6:00–8:00pmBring your knitting, crocheting, or stitching for a chance to hang out in good company. It’s not a formal class but a chance to gather with like-minded fiber fans; you’ll be surprised at what you can learn alongside your neighbors!

CHARITY CIRCLE FREE! ALL LEVELS WELCOME

Third Thursday afternoons 1:00–3:00pm 4/21, 5/26*, 6/16 with Carrie Trapp

*May circle moved to 5/26 due to LYS Tour.We meet the third Thursday of each month for charity knitting, crochet, and conversation. This spring we’re knitting warming accessories for local people in need—we can find a good home for any project you’d like to tackle. Won’t you join us?

K I D S A R E K N I T T I N G !

KIDS KNITTING: Learn to Knit or Pick a Project with Jennifer Burlingame

Wednesdays 3:30–4:30pm 4/13, 4/20, 4/27 (3-session workshop)

Wednesdays 3:30–4:30pm 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 5/25 (4-session workshop)

Wednesdays 3:30–4:30pm 6/1, 6/8, 6/15 (3-session workshop)Parents: Please arrive 15 minutes early to purchase supplies for first class. Miss B has a collection of patterns for great projects: everything from scarves to hats, and teapot or iPod cozies. If you’ve never knit before, come learn! If you have unfinished projects, bring them to finish up so you can start something new! Ages 7 and up. Maximum: 7 students $30 (3-session workshop); $40 (4-session workshop)

STUDENT DISCOUNTS Receive a 10% off coupon when you sign up for any class (excluding circles).

S P R I N G 2 016

IN THE CLASSROOM

{ 12 } TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES, PLEASE STOP BY THE SHOP OR CALL 206.780.2686

A S T R O N G F O U N DAT I O N

LEARN TO KNIT, STEP ONE: Fingerless Gloves

Monday evenings 7:00–8:30pm 4/25, 5/2 and 7:00–8:00pm 5/9 with Laura Alonso

Monday afternoons 1:00–2:30pm 5/9, 5/16 and 1:00–2:00pm 5/23 with Wendy Swords We wrote our Churchmouse Classroom patterns with the brand-new knitter in mind! These little handwarmers let you practice the basic stitches as well as learn a few finishing techniques to boot. You’ll learn: Cast on, bind off, knit and purl, garter stitch, stockinette stitch, ribbing, and mattress-stitch seaming. You’ll make: A stylish set of fingerless gloves (worked flat), and you’ll have the skills you need to make a scarf to match! No previous experience required. We’ll provide: Churchmouse Classroom pattern and some in-class practice materials.Maximum: 4 students $45 (3-session workshop)

LEARN TO KNIT, STEP TWO: Ribbed Hat

Monday afternoons 1:00–2:30pm 4/25, 1:00–3:00pm 5/2 with Kathy Connelly

Monday evenings 6:30–8:00pm 6/6, 6:30–8:30pm 6/13 with Susan CoonanIf you’re already comfortable with the basics of knit and purl (or you’ve come to our ‘Step One’ class, above), you’re ready to knit in the round. You’ll learn: Joining in the round on a circular needle and how to work with double-points (for smaller circumferences like socks or gloves). You’ll make: A cute ribbed beanie (for him or her, or both) and you’ll have all the skills you need to make handwarmers to match! We’ll provide: Churchmouse Classroom pattern.Maximum: 4 students $40 (2-session workshop)

LEARN TO CROCHET, STEP ONE: Sampler Handwarmers

Wednesday afternoons 1:00–2:30pm 5/4, 5/11 with Karen AlfkeOur Churchmouse Classroom patterns are great for knitters wanting to learn to crochet, as well as those brand-new to fiber or looking for a refresher. Here is a simple little set of handwarmers to help you learn and practice the three fundamental stitches that are the basis of crochet. You’ll learn: Chain, single, half-double, and double crochet. You’ll make: A pair of handwarmers, and you’ll have the skills you need to make the matching scarf! We’ll provide: Churchmouse Classroom pattern.Maximum: 4 students $35 (2-session workshop)

{ 12 } TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES, PLEASE STOP BY THE SHOP OR CALL 206.780.2686 ASK FOR SUPPLY LISTS, HOMEWORK AND DISCOUNT CARDS WHEN YOU SIGN UP { 13 }

M O R E C L A S S E S

CONTINENTAL KNITTING: Teaching Throwers to PickSunday afternoon 3:30–5:30pm 5/1 or 6/12 with Kathy ConnellyKnow how to knit American-style (‘throwing’ or right-hand carry) but want to learn the Continental method (‘picking’ or left-hand carry) for colorwork or just to challenge your synapses? Kath will show you how to knit and purl the ‘other’ way, comfortably and efficiently. Maximum: 6 students $20 (1-session workshop)

OOPS! (or The Anatomy of a Stitch)Wednesday evening 6:30−8:30pm 5/4 with Karen AlfkeHolding on tight so you won’t drop a stitch? Relax! In this class you’ll learn to see the structure of a good stitch so you’ll know what to do when one goes wrong: how to pick up, un-knit, and rip (and a few tricks so you won’t need to). Free yourself from fear of your knitting! Basic knitting skills required. Maximum: 6 students $20 (1-session workshop)

GET IT TOGETHER: Seaming with Mattress StitchSaturday afternoon 1–3pm 5/14 with Mary Jo BlazinaDo your projects sit in a basket when the knitting’s done because you’re intimidated by seaming? Mary Jo can show you the ‘ins and outs’ of mattress stitch so you can start wearing those ‘FO’s (‘Finished Objects’). You’ll learn: How to seam stitches to stitches, rows to rows, and stitches to rows with mattress stitch. We’ll provide: Practice materials. Maximum: 6 students $20 (1-session workshop)

GETTING GAUGESunday afternoon 3:30–5:30pm 5/15 or 6/19 with Kathy ConnellyKnitting a swatch can actually save you time! You’ll learn: The benefits of swatching, how to build a good swatch, how to read your gauge, how (and why) to block and label your swatch, and what your options are if you don’t get gauge.Maximum: 6 students $20 (1-session workshop)

SIMPLE TOE-UP SOCKS with Becky ffitch Wednesday evenings 6:30–8:00pm 5/25, 6/1, 6/8Seasoned and newbie sock knitters alike will love learning to knit socks from the toe up with the help of our thorough Churchmouse Classics pattern. You’ll make: A pair of sport- or DK-weight socks, starting with a special cast-on and toe increases, moving to the afterthought heel, and a cool, very stretchy bind-off. Basic knitting skills and some prior experience with double-point needles required.Maximum: 6 students $45 (3-session workshop)

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new

FACES

We’re so glad Maria Tusken answered our call for resumes on our website last year. New to the Northwest from Bozeman, Montana (where she spent seven years as a

professional silk screener), Maria now calls Bremerton home. “I love evenings at home knitting with my cat, but Bainbridge is a little sleepy for a single girl.” Having spent a year at college in Scotland, Maria developed a taste for “woolly wools” and “anything Celtic!” A budding dyer and designer (see her ‘Graham Street’ cardigan on Ravelry), Maria is usually a “monogamous sweater knitter” but she’s been knitting more socks and small projects since we’ve begun taking more of her time! In our online department, Maria loves making packages “all pretty” for our customers and answering their questions on the phone. She gets a vicarious thrill from seeing the projects and combinations they put together.

Jan Weber, a retired mortgage banker, moved to Bainbridge Island (where she had summered with aunties as a girl) from Louisville, Kentucky last October. Her 15-year-old rescue terrier Popcorn

says “Kentucky was just too d*@# hot!” Jan soon discovered that once she’d feathered her new nest, she had energy to burn and was ready to connect into her new community. She started this new adventure by visiting all the small businesses in Winslow, looking for like-minded people.

A long-time knitter with a penchant for architectural Japanese style and simple fabrics, Jan offered us her services and we’re glad she did. Jan takes care of our online customers—and the rest of us—with classic Southern hospitality. Her generous baking talents are having a rather expansive effect on us.

Kingston resident and Bainbridge High School rowing veteran, Samantha Pelliciotta (on hiatus from college) jumped off the deep end with us in the shop on Black Friday!

A knitter from the age of six or seven, Samantha continues to impress us with her knowledge and ability to solve problems. She loves helping customers get to that creative “lightbulb moment” when they discover “Hey, I can do this project with this yarn!” Having grown up on a sheep farm, Sam shares our fondness for classic wools but she’s looking forward to trying lightweight cottons and linens this spring. She brings a fun, youthful style to our team. Watch for her in our new patterns, launching May 7th, where she makes our designs look as ageless as we had hoped!

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On Saturday, May 7th, we’ll reveal five new and exciting Churchmouse Classics patterns, photographed in a spring squall by Jared Flood.

To celebrate Launch Day, we have a wee gift for you: one free new pattern of your choice with purchase. Here’s how to claim your gift:

Online Shop. All day Saturday, May 7th, from midnight to midnight Pacific time, ask for one new Churchmouse Classics pattern of your choice when you make a purchase. Just look for the prompt when you check out.

Island Shop. If you get to our Bainbridge Island shop on Launch Day, ask for one

new Churchmouse Classics pattern with purchase. Just tell us your choice when you’re checking out. Our doors open at 10am and we’ll be there until 6pm.

In either shop, this is a Saturday-only event, so mark May 7th on your calendar and don’t miss out!

As with all our patterns, we did our best to make these five new designs—three garments (one for men!) and two accessories—easy to make, fun to wear and a joy to give.

pattern

L AUNCH

WON’T YOU JOIN US?

May 7th, Saturday, all day CHURCHMOUSE PATTERN LAUNCH (see above)

May 13th, Friday, 7:00-9:00pm. ‘KNITTING WITH COMPANY’ DESIGNER MEET & GREET: Four talented designers will be in our shop for one evening. Say hello to Catherine Lowe, Julie Hoover, Michele Wang and Jared Flood.

May 18th-22nd, Wednesday-Sunday. LYS TOUR: Five days of fiber fun at 28 Local Yarn Shops. Discounts, free patterns, prizes! See lystour.com for info.

June 11th, Thursday, Noon to 3:00pm. SA TEA TASTING: Enjoy Japanese teas from the Sugimoto family who grow and hand-process teas using traditonal methods. Your tea maestro: Nick Yamada.

June 18th, Saturday. WORLD WIDE KNIT IN PUBLIC DAY. Show your skills!

July 19th, Tuesday, 7:10pm. STITCH ‘N PITCH: Join 3,000 stitching friends to watch the Mariners take on the White Sox. Discounted tickets will be available in our shop while supplies last.

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