By Kathy Strand

 

Christmas is just around the corner - at least for knitters!  Starting early helps in planning for the holidays.  I'm sure more than one of us has been known to be up at all hours trying to finish that last Christmas gift!

One of my favorite books with lots of ideas is "One Skein Wonders" by Judith Durant.  If you have a tea drinker in the family, the Tea Cozy on page 128 is a great pattern.  It's double lined and it really works.  I made several out of superwash yarn and they wash up beautifully.  The book separates projects by yarn weight and has a color photograph for each.  What a wonderful way to use up those extra balls of yarn kicking around your stash!

Another book with lots of ideas is "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson.  The hand/wrist warmers on page 66 were a big hit with my mother and daughter.  I wear them over my thin gloves for extra warmth when I drive.  Each chapter is divided by how long the project SHOULD take.  I ignore that!  There are patterns for hats, scarves, leg warmers, afghans, children's toys and clothes plus several felted patterns including the cutest set of bowls.  Several nice gift ideas.

"Knitalong" by Larissa Golden Brown and Martin John Brown, is a great gift book for a knitter on your list.  Not only does it have lovely patterns, but it speaks of the community of knitters. It gives the history of knitalongs, encourages you to join a knitalong either in person such as our local knitting groups at the shop, or join a knitalong on line.  I made the pinwheel blanket, Victorian baby bonnet and felted bird's nest from this book and have enjoyed each one.  The pinwheel blanket would make a nice blanket for tucking in that special little one for a stroll on a cool morning.

And, last but not least, who wouldn't love a pair of toasty socks for Christmas morning?  There are so many beautiful yarns and patterns to choose from.  Socks are such a great traveling project for all that holiday traveling too.

 

 

Happy holiday gift knitting!  And don't forget to knit something nice for yourself too!
 

By Janelle Masters

 

Have you ever wished that you could make a difference in someone's life?  What if you could help someone in need across the globe just by knitting?  With this goal in mind, the Dancing Ewe is putting together a charity knitting program to produce knitted items for babies and children in need.  We have selected two organizations to receive our knitted items.  Below you will learn a little about each.

 

The Rudensk Orphanage, in Rudensk, Belarus, is home to about 175 children, ranging in ages from six to 18 years old.  Some of the children have been there since birth; others have been removed from their families because of neglect, abuse, drugs or alcohol.  Some (but not all) have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, or other difficult physical or mental challenges. 

 
Several Dancing Ewe customers traveled to the Rudensk Orphanage with the group Children of Chernobyl.  They have seen the need first hand and know the impact we can make on the lives of these children.  In this photo, customer Donna Weisbeck poses with a few of the children at Rudensk on her last visit.  "Some people don't even know such places exist or know of the need.  Things are changing, but change can be slow and a long time in coming....and they need help now," Weisbeck says.
 
Winter is coming and the children at the Rudensk Orphanage need hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, slippers, socks, or toys.  The items may be knit or crochet, but they must be made from machine washable and machine dryable yarns.  The Dancing Ewe staff can suggest several yarns in our shop that would be perfect for your project. 
 
Donna Weisbeck has thoughtfully volunteered to take care of the mailing and postage. 

Please drop off your charity items at the Dancing Ewe anytime before Oct. 31st, 2008.  
  

Care Net Pregnancy Center of Kittitas County provides a safe, caring environment for women in our area.  Care Net offers pregnancy tests and accurate information on all options.  They specialize in compassionate care and abortion recovery support. 
 
Care Net would especially appreciate knit or crochet baby booties to be given to the women and mothers who seek their assistance and support.  Machine washable yarns are recommended.  
 
Knitting For Charity Events

 

Wednesdays 2-5pm at the Dancing Ewe

 

 

Knitting with Susie
Knit and felt a pumpkin!  Come make snowmen to decorate your home for the holidays!  Learn to knit Fair Isle Christmas stockings!  Susie provides an unstructured, project-oriented class for all skill levels.  The class meets weekly with students working on a project or projects of choice.  You will enhance your knitting skills, review basic skills, and learn pattern reading, shaping, and techniques as they present themselves.  Dropped a stitch, or two?  Confusing pattern?  Stuck on a "new to you" technique?  Bring your project and questions.  This class is ongoing, meeting for one to two hours per week. 
$10 per hour
Tuesdays 10:30am-12:30pm (Drop-In OK)
 

Starting Thursday, September 4th, Janelle will be offering two hour classes from 10am-Noon covering a wide range of knitting topics.  All classes are $20 per two hour session.  Additional sessions can be arranged if needed.  Pre-registration is requested.  For a more in depth description of Janelle's classes, give her a call at the shop (962-KNIT) or stop in and pick up a handout.

Beginning and Beyond - Knitting with Terry
Learn to cast on stitches, knit and purl, and bind off as you knit a sampler.  You will see how to hold the yarn for Continental style or for English style, as you prefer.  With ongoing study you may also learn how to increase and decrease, matching needles to yarn, types of yarn, abbreviations, yarn labels, etc.  This is an ongoing class that meets two hours per week.  No experience required.  This class is structured as a two hour initial session, followed by as many sessions as you feel you need.  After your initial session, future sessions are on a drop-in basis to work on further skills and problem correction.
$20 for first session, $10 per hour for additional sessions as needed
Thursdays 2:00-7:00pm (Drop-In OK) 

Beginning and Beyond - Crochet with Terry
This class will provide an introduction to crochet stitches and how to read a crochet pattern.  You will make a sampler dish cloth.  This is an ongoing class that meets two hours per week.  No experience required.  This class is structured as a two hour initial session, followed by as many sessions as you feel you need.  After your initial session, future sessions are on a drop-in basis to work on further skills and problem correction.
$20 for first session, $10 per hour for additional sessions as needed
Thursdays 2:00-7:00pm (Drop-In OK)
 
Private Lessons
Private lesson classes are available in a wide variety of areas including, but not limited to:  Beginning to advanced knitting, crochet, felting, spinning with a spindle or wheel, lace, color-work, and more!  Private lessons are based on instructor availability and cost $15 per hour.  For inquiries please call:  509-962-KNIT