North Island Sewing, Needle & Fibre Arts Show This Week-end

This week-end (Saturday, April 18th) is the North Island Sewing, Needle & Fibre Arts Show at the Campbell River Community Centre.

It promises to be a great show, with local vendors, artisans and community groups. There will be lots of demonstrations going on, including a very special 'sheep to shawl' demonstration organized by Fun Knits!

There are also seminars available all day (these are for a fee, but admission to the show itself is free), in fact Shelley is teaching one on Knitted Lace at 11:00am.

Also, there is a great show Friday night (April 17th). I know Shelley is getting a group of knitters from Quadra together to go to the show. There are still tickets available, $8 in advance and $10 at the door. You can purchase advance tickets at the Community Centre (250-286-1161) or the Sportsplex (250-923-7911).

“The Singing Quilter. A fabulous, fun concert with Cathy Miller from Victoria entertaining us with songs, stories and memories!” "A fabulous, fun concert for the whole family!"

We're looking forward to a fun week-end!

Eagle's Flight Socks

I've finished my KAL socks, and what a great pattern! I love them in the Opal yarn, as well. Lovely, soft yarn and great colourway. A number of people on the Ravelry group have finished their socks as well, and they all are wonderful. This is a pattern that lends itself to both solid and variegated yarns equally.

New Yarns In Store

A  few new yarns to tell you about.

Araucania Ruca:

This yarn is gorgeous! Made from 100% sugarcane, with wonderful drape and soft feel. Knits up to 5.5 sts/inch on a 4.5mm (7 US).    

Online Supersocke 6ply Relax: 

Another great thicker sock yarn for making boot socks or house socks. Comes in wonderful colour combinations and is 75% wool, 25% polyamide. Recommended needle size is 3 - 4mm.

Online Supersocke Summer Cotton Stretch: 

Perfect for summer sock knitting! Recommended needle size is 2.5 to 3mm. The yarn is 39% cotton, 40% wool, 13% polyamide and 8% elastic.

All these yarns are on the shelves now!

Fun pics......

Our friend (who will be knitting Sylvi) came in today wearing her completed scarf and bottom-laced vest.  This was her first attempt at lace - a perfectly knit, flattering and lovely design.  

She said she would be casting on for Sylvi "very soon" and would keep us all updated -- I imagine her knitting skills will fly as her 13 skeins of Briggs & Little Scarlet Atlantic become a sweater-coat.

Last week a bright young couple came into the store looking for hat patterns!  He was a beginning knitter (she had taught him) and he was wearing his very first hand knit project - a gorgeous gold and rust coloured scarf.  She was wearing a beautiful bulky blue/lilac hat that she had knit.  

We have a few male knitters on the island but this one is the first to let us take a photo - bravo!  

His and hers......

Also, Mary came into the shop on Thursday wearing another one of her absolutely exquisite sweaters - a traditional Scottish fair isle (her design) knit with her own handspun, hand dyed Romney/Hogget from Courtney, BC.

Beautiful details!

Today on Quadra Island there is sun (long have we waited) -- it is shining down warmly on us all and I'm thinking that many of the knitters I know will be setting their yarn aside to go plunge their tools and fingers into garden soil.

Happy digging!

Sideways Scarves

I have developed a love of sideways-knit (or lengthwise as it's also known) scarves. You can change the look so easily this way. Knowing how many stitches to cast on can be a bit confusing sometimes, but that adds to the adventure.

My latest sideways scarf was based on a scarf that I saw on someone's Ravelry projects. There was no pattern, but the scarf was a simple combination of garter rows and drop stitch rows, knit lengthways. The scarf I saw was done in Malabrigo and was so gorgeous I knew I had to make one of my own.

I used some left over Sweatermaker Sock Yarn, probably about 350m worth (two skeins' left-overs). I knit on a 4mm (6 US) and randomly added either garter rows or drop stitch rows. Some of the drop stitch rows were single wrap and some were double wrap. I also did a Russian join on this one - a new technique for me.

I am very pleased with the result, although it is a little long ... all part of the adventure :)

Greeting from Fibres West

I am at the Fibres West this weekend. It is a great show and if you are in the Lower Mainland you should stop by. I even want to buy yarn. There is so much to see and do. Here are a few pictures of us setting up and then the booth set up.

Sock KAL

This month we started another knit-along. In keeping with our sock month, we chose a great free sock pattern, Eagle's Flight, which we are using with permission.

It took me a while to decide what sock yarn to use, but I have finally started and am loving this sock.

The yarn I chose is Opal Rainforest, in the Frosch colourway. This yarn is wonderfully soft, and because it is a long colour repeat, it lends itself nicely to the pattern. I'm calling them Eagles over the Water in my Ravelry projects.

We have a nice group of knitters working along on this sock together. Please stop by if you are on Ravelry.

Happy Birthday Kate.....

....and Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Kate is all loveliness today dressed in many shades of green, celebrating her birthday, buying yarn, and eating pizza with Shelley and I (Shelley's treat from Lovin' Oven - truly yum).  Kate is wearing her beautiful green handknit shrug and scarf.  

Wonderful to see you today Kate! 

 

Below is another of Quadra Island's remarkable women (knitter, spinner, weaver) who seems to knit up a handspun sweater every month. Pictured is a beautiful lacey teal pullover.

This bright, beautiful woman is modeling her Noro Silk Garden hat Palindrome and glovelets  Fetchings

I think her tattoos are stunning -- an awesome match for Noro! 

And lastly, a joyous St. Pat's Day pirouette!

The Shawl in Triplicate

As promised, here are the three shawls knit by members of our local knitting group for the Kauni KAL.

We only wish Shelley could have been there for the photo shoot with her shawl!!

(Kate, Rona and Brenda)

What is the most fascinating is that we each knit the shawl out of less than 150g of Kauni. Yet look at the size difference on them ... it's all about tension and gauge!!

This KAL was so much fun, with lots of great knitters.

Now we turn our attention to a sock KAL, starting on March 15th. The details are on Ravelry, at the Fun Knits group.

A couple more fun bits.....

Below is a photo of Shelley's gorgeous Kauni shawl. Stunning work, Shelley!! Can't wait to see Kate's Kauni shawl too, and hear more about the Kauni KAL.


This lovely young woman (who claims to be a beginning knitter) decided to jump into the extreme deep end and bought 13 bright scarlet skeins of Atlantic Briggs & Little to knit herself the absolutely exquisite bloom-filled knockout called "Sylvi," published in Twist Collective Winter 2008. We will definitely keep you posted on her progress with this one!

A pleasant evening to each of you, and many delightful hours of knitting.

Socks, socks, socks

In March we are all about the socks!

We will be featuring lots of sock knitting info on the website, and will share some goodies here as well. To start off, the store has now got Fun Spun Socks kits on the shelf, and they are gorgeous. I'm hoping Deb or Shelley will spin a kit so I can see it ... I'll even knit them the socks afterwards!

This is just one of the gorgeous kits -- to see them all stop in at the store or check them out here on the website.

Stay tuned for more exciting sock news this month - including a sock KAL.

Store closed today

I hate to post over top of Deb's nice Kauni post but I need to mention the store is closed today. I have a medical situation at the group home which I need to deal with. Now go and read Deb's nice post below this.
Shelley

a quick post.....

As you know, Shelley and Kate and dozens of women (not sure if there are any male knitters on this KAL) from around the planet are simultaneously knitting their lovely kauni shawls.  Although I'm not knitting with them I thought I'd share a couple of kauni yarn photos I found in my Fun Knits photo stash. 

The beautiful garments below belong to Mary Tanti, a unique designer from Salt Spring Island.  She uses Kauni yarn to illustrate her love of geometric arrangements.

And below is a small slice of the Fun Knits Kauni wool section - a gorgeous assortment of deeply saturated colours.

Kudos for the kauni KAL knitters!

Back to regular hours

I am feeling a lot better and the store is back to regular hours. I hope that is the last cold and flu I get this winter. I am still working on my KAL shawl and it is nearly done. I will post a picture of it once it is done and blocked.

Still closed today

I am taking another day off to get better so the store will be closed again. Sorry for the inconvenience. I am actually feeling a bit better but certainly not good enough to spend the day at the store. I also wouldn't want anyone else to get this awful bug. I will be back tomorrow.

Fun Knits will be closed today I am way too sick

Sorry about this but I have a hideous cold and am really sick. I can barely see to type this for tearing eyes. I think this is the worst cold I have ever had. I can barely knit. I am working on my KAL shawl between coughing sleeping and blowing my nose.
Deb is away and Mom is busy so hopefully everyone can make it until tomorrow to get yarn
Shelley

Kauni KAL Progress

The Kauni KAL is so much fun! We have about 95 members in our Ravelry group. Some people are just starting, some are just finishing, and some are already thinking about doing a second one.

It is wonderful to see all the Kauni colourways being used, as it really gives me an idea of which ones I want to try next.

If you are on Ravelry but didn't opt to join in this KAL, come by and check out the projects anyhow. It really is a wonderful resource of lace knitting tips and Kauni tips. Plus there are lots of pretty pictures!

The KAL goes to March 8th, with prizes being drawn for on March 10th.

Valentine's Day YARN SALE......

Shelley's got a great YARN SALE happening on Valentine's Day, Saturday, Feb. 14th from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Fun Knits Yarn Shop at the Quathiaski Cove Plaza on Quadra Island.

Below are photos of some of the yarns to be reduced in price.
Here is a sampling of the huge Cherry Tree Hill skeins which will be discounted by 25% -- some gorgeous colour combinations.

Not photographed is the Emu Superwash  

*regular price $4.95   **SALE PRICE $1.50

Below is our Plymouth Stone Cotton   

*regular price $3.75 **SALE PRICE$2.50

The Gedifra is on sale as well (the "scrawl," appearing above the yarn, is Shelley's design and the pattern is in the 'free patterns' section of the Fun Knits blog)   

*regular price $7.95 **SALE PRICE $4.00

The soft, skooshy Bernat Denim Style  

*regular price $4.95 **SALE PRICE $3.00

The wonderful, create-anything-with,

Paton's Shetland Chunky  

*regular price $5.7    **SALE PRICE $3.50

Here is an amazingly soft wool called Ruthy's Fat Yarn 

(great for felting) in a vibrant variety of colours - must 

be seen and touched to appreciate it's full beauty. 

*regular price $12.95        **SALE PRICE $6.50

Also not photographed (sorry, didn't have time to 

take all the pics I wanted to) is the Gjestal (100% wool)

which is regularly priced at $6.50 

and will be going for $4.50 per skein.

Naturally Kid *regular price $8.95  ** SALE PRICE $5.00

Tona Valeria di Roma and Garbi Valeria di Roma 

both regularly priced at $5.98 

will go for a SALE PRICE of $2.50

A supreme sale on Baffo 

*regular price $16.75   **SALE PRICE $5.00

Also, Shelley will happily take orders by phone on Saturday if you are unable to make it into the store.  

For a complete list of all the SALE YARNS please go back and peruse KATE'S EARLIER POST on Feb 10th.  

And while you're browsing through our lovely Fun Knits Yarn Shop, and enjoying all things yarn, you are welcome to sit and relax on the couch and leaf through one or more of the many very splendid, colourful, inspirational pattern books we carry. 

Just a little yarn candy to leave you with - our delightful Kauni yarn display.

Wishing you all a fabulous Valentine's Day full of YARN SALE happiness!!!

Saturday Sale (Feb 14th)

This Saturday, February 14th, Fun Knits is having a fantastic in-store sale! This one can't be beat, as Shelley is clearing out yarns to make way for new stock. 

There will be boxes of sale yarn in the back of the store!

Here are some of the deals to be had on Saturday:

These are just some of the yarns that will be very reduced (to at least 50 - 70% of retail price). 

• Naturally Silk/Kid $5.00
  
• Sirdar Glacier Snowflake - $2.
  
• Emu Superwash $1.50
  
• Valeria de Roma Toni and Garbi $2.50
  
• Patons Shetland Chunky $3.50
  
• Bravo Crazy $2.50
  
• Sirdar YoYo reg $39.95 - on for $25
  
• A selected bin of sock yarn will be $4 for 50gram balls and $8 for 100gram balls
  

 

Also

• All yarns containing cotton will be 20% off
  
• All Cherry Tree Hill will be 25% off
  
• All other regular-priced yarn in the store will be 10% off

*If you see something you are interested in on the list but just can't make it over on Saturday, call the store and something can be worked out.

Shopping Bags

As of February 1st, Quadra Island is completely plastic shopping bag free! Island merchants no longer carry plastic shopping bags, instead customers can either bring their own bags or purchase one of the cool, re-usable Q bags for $1.25.

Of course, being a yarn store we have all sorts of ideas for making your own re-usable shopping bags! Be sure to ask about patterns and yarns that would be perfect for an all-purpose shopping bag.

If you would like to read more about the bag-free decision, check out this news report.