Fun Knits is Closing

Linda and I have decided we are both retiring from selling yarn. We have had fun over the last few years but know it is time to move on. We are having a great sale in store.

 Sale 30 % off everything - some yarns as much as 50% off

 All of the product will be taken off the internet as it will be too hard to manage accurate inventory counts. For internet customers please call the store for purchases 1-250-285-275. We will throw in a bonus for all orders over $75 - free shipping.

This month we are going to Fibres West March 18 -19 so the store will be closed while we are away as we will be taking most of the stock with us. We will be closed March 16- 20. This will be a great sale at Fibres West so if you are planning to attend don't miss our booth. 30 -50% off.

So come in or phone soon for best selection as the yarn will sell quickly at these prices.

As for the Sally Melville retreat  Sept 29 - Oct 2 . This is still happening and we look forward to seeing all of you who are coming. We do still have a few spaces left in this retreat.

Tea Towel Exchange on Ravelry

I participated in a tea towel exchnge on Ravelry. I made 7 towels and sent 6 of them to Sandra who organized this for Jane Stafford. Then I received 6 tea towels plus the one of my own I kept. So I know have 7 great tea towels. This was a fun exchange and I learned a lot about weaving as usual.

The towels I wove were tartan.

Yarn Kabobs Anyone

So what do you do with stray needles and yarn laying around and you don't know how to knit very well. Meika my 5 year old grand daughter has a solution. She made yarn kabobs. I thought I would share this so if anyone is really bored and tired of knitting they could try this. She had a great time making them

Meika proudly showing her 2 finished yarn kabobs

Meika making yarn kabobs

4 finished yarn kabobs

Very Fun Baby Knitting

I am having a lot of fun knitting baby sweaters. I knit this little sweater using a free pattern from Knitting Pure and Simple. I knit with 10 different colours of Malabrigo worsted yarn in random Fair Isle that I made up as I knit. This sweater is for Megan and Zach's baby who is due early March. We don't know if the baby is a boy or a girl but this sweater will suit either sex. The little store teddy bear is modelling it for the pictures. The close up pictures of the patterns show the colour more accurate.

Next I will knit sweaters for the twins a boy and girl. I talked to my son last night so I got an idea of what they would like for sweaters.

Store Winter Hours

Linda and I decided that we will have winter hours for the store. It is cold,dark and even snowy today so we think these hours will be great for us and for our customers. More knitting time.
 So until end of March we will be open
Tues - 10 - 4 - opening at the usual time to accomodate the spinners group
Wed - Sat 11 - 4pm
Shelley

Pink Ocean

Finished my pink ocean ripple wrap, and I do so love it. Sweatermaker Island Hues Lace, my own pattern (free on our website). Used about 575 metres, for a finished length of 72 inches after blocking.

A New Year and some New Knitting

Do you make resolutions? I don't make sweeping resolutions as a general rule, but when it comes to knitting I do have some goals for this year.

1. Freeform knitting. I am hugely inspired by Jane Thornley, and would like to complete some freeform knitting this year.

2. Knit a sweater for myself. Both of my guys have gotten sweaters in the last year, it's my turn for a nice new sweater.

3. A pair of socks a month. I was inspired by the Yarn Harlot's self-imposed sock club in 2010, and will be trying something similar (although I may not have 12 pairs worth of sock yarn in my stash). I always give my mum socks at Christmas, and it would be great to have some pairs already put aside.

4. Finish my blanket! Again, both of my guys have blankets that I knitted, and I have been working on mine for two years. Mr. Kate even had the audacity to mention he might be due for a new one!

In the meantime, I am continuing to knit up a storm, currently working on fingerless mitts (found a great free pattern from Ravelry - Camp Out Fingerless Mitts), the first pair of 2011 socks and my Ocean Ripple in Pink. I so love Sweatermaker Island Hues Lace!

What are your goals in knitting/fibre this year?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Linda, Deb, Kate, Susan and myself. We are going to be closed all next week to reopen Jan 4. so we can all spend time with our families and I can start knitting for all of my new grandbabies. We found out last week the twins are a boy and a girl. We had a nice Christmas here and more to come as family arrive home.

Here is a cute picture of Pumpkin on her first Christmas. I put a bow on her this morning and she has proudly wore it all day. Isn't she sweet.

Huge Boxing Day Sale at Fun Knits before Christmas

Linda and I thought for a long time how we could best say Merry Christmas to all of our customers and what a better way than with Boxing Day sale before Christmas. So here are the details of our sale.
Our Boxing Day Sale Dec 21 - 24.

The entire store will be 10% off. All worsted weight and bulky yarn and fleece will be 30% off, including amazing yarns like Noro,  Malabrigo and Lopi. All novelty yarn 40% off. We have discontinued yarn and fleece on for 50 % off. Come early for the best selection.
For more information email or call 250-285-2751.
We aren't posting this sale to the internet store as our program can't deal with multi % , but will happily honour the sale to all phone customers, just call 250-285-2751. Don't forget orders over $50. have free shipping. So a phone call to the store is nearly the same as shopping in person.

Our holiday hours will be open Dec 21 – 24 10 am - 5 pm and then we are closing until Jan 4, 2011.

Fun with Cables

I am really into cables right now. I designed this scarf called Fun Reversible Cables. It turned out great. I knit it with Galway 100% wool, forest green.  It is really fun to knit and goes quite quickly because of the changing cable rows. I designed it so it would flair out at the bottom and lay flat and then around the neck it would be narrower with just rib rows. It is very comfortable around the neck and everyone who has tried it on loves how it feels.
It is warm and stays in place. Has all the properties of a good looking functional scarf.

This scarf goes well with the Variations on a Theme Fetching Hat that is another free pattern just below the scarf. To complete the set you could knit the Fetching fingerless mitts that are so popular.
I knit this scarf for a friend but after Christmas I am knitting this for myself in red Malabrigo.  It takes 1 1/2 skein so you would have enough with 2 skeins for the hat or mitts. You would probably need a 3rd for the entire set. The scarf only took a few days to knit so you have time to knit this for a Christmas present for someone or yourself.

My Variations

I couldn't resist Shelley's new pattern, Variations on a Theme (pdf link). I didn't have a worsted that I wanted to use, so I pulled out a skein of Eco Wool. This is a DK 100% wool yarn. Because of the thinner yarn I cast on 10 stitches more. The resulting hat is a perfect fit (although it won't be for me).

Great pattern - I think the headband is up next!

Hats hats hats



I have been having fun knitting hats the last few days. With our sale all week of worsted weight yarns I have been inspired to design some hats.

Roll Brim Diaginal Lace Hat in Galway Paint

The first Roll Brim Diagonal Lace Hat is on our free pattern page and is a hat I designed for with Noro yarn but it looks great in Galway Paint. Galway paint has the subtle colour change within one colour range and looks great in this hat.



The second hat pattern  called Variations on a Theme which is also available on the web site and  is designed to go with Fetching fingerless gloves. I have made several pair of these and have always wanted a matching hat. So here it is. I knit this with Galway. I am knitting the matching Headband with Green Galway and will post a picture once it is complete.



Variation on a Theme - Fetching Hat knit in Galway



Today's sale yarn is Hayfield Aran a great huge ball (400gr) would make great hats scarves and mitts for the entire family with just one ball.



Did you notice we added another special - Free shipping to all orders over $50. for the month od December. A great time to stock up.





Anniversary Sale !!!!

Starting Tuesday Nov 30 Fun Knits is having a sale. This is to celebrate several anniversaries. It is Fun Knits Blogs 6th year here is the 1st post. The store opened Jan 2005. We moved to our new location and opened Nov 30 2006, The other anniversary is Linda and I became official partners a year ago 2009. I realize looking back at blog post that I never even blogged about that. ( I was totally burned out). Linda has saved Fun Knits. I was quite exhausted running the store and a Group home for special needs people and ready to quite the store when along came Linda. We talked about it for a while and she worked at the store for a few months and became invaluable. Now a year later after our official partnership I couldn't do the store without her, she is the best partner I could have imagined. She does all the things I do very poorly like the book keeping and so much else. I think we have a great partnership  -   Thanks Linda   -   Even this sale was her idea. So join us in celebrating our years of Fun Knits and hope of many more to come.

We are having a sale all next week. Each day there is a different yarn on sale for 25% off. This is for web orders and in store sales as well. Each sale will go for 24 hours starting at 10 a.m. one day till 10 a.m. the next.


The sale starts Tuesday, November 30th with Galway Paint. Great 100% wool and felts beautifully. Wednesday, Dec 1st is Tempo Worsted - lots of colours. Great for children’s sweaters as it can be thrown in the washer and dryer. Thursday, Dec 2nd is Hayfield Aran weight yarn. Friday, Dec 3rd is Briggs & Little Soft Spun. Great yarn from Canada. Sales finishes up on Sat, Dec 4th with beautiful Galway worsted weight - solids and heathers. Don’t miss this great sale for last minute Christmas presents or get a jump on yarn for your 2011 winter projects.

This is too cute

 Today I was working away at the store and my family came in. Meika had a surprise for me, an early birthday present. Look what it was. The sweetest little kitten I have ever seen. Meika named her Pumpkin. She is as sweet as she looks. In the past year at our house we have lost 3 cats and a dog so it was time for a new kitten. Christmas will be very fun with this little playful kitten around.







Me getting my new kitten



Pink Froth

I picked up this pink ball of mohair/silk blend at the store in the summer, knowing it would be perfect for my sister-in-law who loves pink. The yarn is Alessandra Filati Super Kid, and it is a lace-weight, 70% mohair 30% silk yarn. I knit the scarf on size 6mm needles to get a really airy feel.

I managed to use all but about 1.5 metres of the 212 metre skein, so it was the perfect amount for a scarf - a very pretty product for not a lot of price (love lace weight yarn for economical knitting).

I love the final product, even though knitting with mohair really does make me itchy. Dratted sensitive skin! I know my sister-in-law will love it.

Spring Retreat cancelled

We have decided to cancel the spring retreat at the end of April. We didn't have a guest presenter anyways. Linda and I both felt with my 3 new grand babies all due March and April I would be a little busy.  Sorry if this is dissapointing for anyone but the fall retreat with Sally Melville is Sept 29 - Oct 2 so mark your calendars and keep that weekend free. More details on this retreat in the next few weeks. I just know it will be a great retreat.

I am busily weaving for Christmas presents right now, and once Christmas is over I will start weaving baby blankets.
I have also been knitting lots of socks. I spent a lot of time in hospital with my sister before she died and got several pairs ( yes I said pairs) of socks finished.
After Christmas I need to make 2 more baby sheep sweaters and hats. I am just waiting for the next ultra sound of the twins to see if they are boys, girls or 1 of each.

A Sad Post

Many of you who know me, know my sister Judy has been battling a brain tumor for the last 8 years. She passed away yesterday peacefully. Judy used to love knitting scarves. She was the best customer of novelty yarn I think we ever had. She was 54 only 13 months younger than me. I will sure miss her but I am glad she isn't suffering anymore.

Spinning Retreat

The fun never ends at Fun Knits. This year we were invited to be the vendor for the North Island Spinning retreat held at Kingfisher Spa. It was so much fun. We spent the entire time there selling fibre spinning and eating fabulous food.  Lynne Anderson from Knitopia in White Rock came and gave a wonderful demonsration on spinning on various spindles. It was so wonderful and inspiring I bought a set of Russian spindles. Four of us bought these spindle sets and spent a lot of one morning leaarning how to work them. It is quite tricky but we all managed. Lynne also gifted me a wonderful little support spindle for spinning cotton. I love using it. It was great to get back to spinning as I haven't done much in the last year. Below are the pictures I took at the retreat. There was about 30 people there and lots of yarn was produced in the 2 days we were there.



Lynne teaching how to use many forms of spindles.



Linda plying her first handspun with the help of Vyvyan



We set up shop in the middle of the room.

My new Russian Spindle set and cashmere fibre

Even the spiders were in the spinning mood at Kingfisher

Maiwa Workshop

As many of you know I am learning to weave and I have taken several workshops with Jane Stafford but this workshop was the ultimate. I learned so much I don't know where to begin sharing this experience. Firstly the location. The Maiwa loft on Granville Island. We were in this room surrounded by one of a kind, hand woven, hand dyed, sewn, quilted fabric, wonderful wooden book cases full of every imaginable book on every form of fibre art, Trinkets - wooden block stamps, leather bags. It really set the mood for the course. There were 12 students and 12 looms in this room. It was fantastic to say the least.

Little displays of stuff everywhere you looked



We were surrounded by amazing fabric

Bookcases full of books from around the world about everything fibre

More trinkets

We spent a lot of time every morning examing fabulous weaving to see how they did it. This was so much fun

Finding your Zen
2/16 cotton 24 epi. 24ppi
this was an exercize in fine tuning our weaving

We learned how to make Double weave fabric with a horizontal join, Cording, Double width fabric, Fringe on 4 sides with an inlay and interior fringe, Denting with Elastic silk and Finding your Zen.

All of these are woven on 4 shaft table looms. We all wove samples of each of these weave structures.

I still have the fringe one on my loom to do at home as I didn't have time to finish it there.

For non weavers reading this post epi means ends per inch (the amount of ends of yarn on the loom in an inch) and ppi means picks per inch ( the amount of you weave in an inch).


Denting with Silk Elastic
12g Bamboo 20 epi, 20 ppi



Double width
2/18 Zephyr wool and silk
16epi. 16 ppi on each layer

Cording
2/60 silk
40epi, 40 ppi
My sample is 36 ppi



DoubleWeave horizontal join
12 g bamboo
24 epi, 24 ppi on each layer



                                                                                      

Hand-dyed Yarn makes me Happy

Seriously, dyeing yarn makes me very happy. I have finished my striped socks from the yarn I dyed in the summer, and I love them! The yarn is super comfy (80% merino, 20% nylon) knit up, and the colours make me giggle. Now that I've mastered the stripe - who knows what's next?!