Available until March 31st as our pattern of the month…

Pillar Socks!  These beautiful socks are my favorite kind of pattern…looks impressive without doing knitting acrobatics! A simple cable pattern runs down your leg and right to the toes to give a special flair.  Sizing is accomplished by changing needle sizes.  We are recommending Madelinetosh sock for this project, but you can get this pattern for free through March with the purchase of 100g of any sock yarn. 

This pattern is free through the month of March with purchase of suggested yarn.

**************Stay tuned for news about our big spring sale!*************

 Pocketed Scarf!  Useful and gorgeous, this pocketed scarf is a quick knit that will be just the thing for you when you are trying to leave the house without leaving essentials behind.  Just toss your keys, cell phone, maybe even an unfinished sock into those pockets and you will be ready to go!  You’ll need just 1 ball of Great Adirondack Obi Bulky for this project.  It is a shortish scarf though, so if you like to wrap, you may want two.  I made it slightly shorter to make it a one-skein project and also because over time, the stuff in the pockets will stretch it quite a bit.

This pattern is free through the month of February with purchase of suggested yarn.

Make a felted messenger bag in our new beginner class taught by Karen Chenausky! Karen has set up another run at this great class. Many of you have seen this bag hanging in the store and Karen created this bag for the purpose of teaching a well-rounded beginner class. Class will meet: February 3rd, 10th, and 17th (all Wednesday’s) from 6:30 to 8:00. The cost of this great class is $45 (not including materials…please purchase those prior to the first class at Island Yarn and you will receive 10% off your class materials). Stop by the store or email me at islandyarn AT gmail DOT com to sign up as soon as you can (spots will only be held for those who have paid in full by 1/31/10). Space is limited so sign up as soon as you can!

Stranded Mitten Class

On Tuesday, February 9th, 16th, and 23rd the colorwork phenom Irene Friedman will be giving another class for beginning stranded knitting. As the first filled up so quickly, she offered to do it again for anyone who may have missed out. Everyone will be working on a pair of mittens, but you can choose your own favorite, just make sure they are stranded colorwork mittens so you can make the most of this class. Irene suggests using a worsted weight mitten pattern and there are many available on-line. Each class will run from 5:30-7:00. Cost $45 (not including materials…please purchase those prior to the first class at Island Yarn and you will receive 10% off your class materials). Stop by the store or email me at islandyarn AT gmail DOT com to sign up as soon as you can. Space is limited…so sign up asap! Please bring your pattern in before the first class and we will help you purchase all your materials. Spots will only be held for those who have paid in full by 2/6/10.

Finishing Class

On Saturday, February 6th, Rochelle Zohn will be having a finishing class from 10am-12n. If you are worried about seaming, edging, picking up for button bands, and making all those languishing UFO’s have that special finishing touch, this class will help you learn to finish your items so that they look handmade, not homemade! The cost of this class is $20. No materials are included as you should bring materials you wish to finish. If you have an unfinished object in pieces you can bring that to work on. Otherwise, please bring along, 4- 4″x4″ stockinette squares for practicing seaming techinques. Stop by the store or email me at islandyarn AT gmail DOT com to sign up as soon as you can (spots will only be held for those who have paid in full by 2/2/10). Space is limited so sign up as soon as you can!

Stranded Vest/Steeking Class

This is a great 5 week class for those of you who have worked through some smaller stranded projects, but want to move on to the bigger items like sweaters and vests that need to be steeked.  Two of our great teachers Karen and Irene are double teaming this class to provide you with a greater depth of experience and knowledge.
The first class, held on Tuesday, February 2nd, 7-8:30 Karen will guide you through adapting flat patterns to round patterns with steeks.  Quicker to knit and really not too terrifying, learning to convert patterns to steeked patterns may become your go-to-technique.  This class is an optional addition to the steeking class. 
Classes 2-4 on Tuesdays, February 9th, 16th, and 23rd, 7-8:30 will be held by Irene to guide you through a steeked colorwork vest pattern.  Your choice in pattern…just do a search and choose what suits you!
Class 5 (otherwise known as BYOWine class) on Tuesday, March 2nd, 7-8:30 will be the steeking class.  Both Karen and Irene will be available for anyone feeling faint of heart to help you cut your steeks and pick up stitches for neck-bands and armholes.
Cost for classes 1- 5 is $90 (not including materials…please purchase those prior to the first class at Island Yarn and you will receive 10% off your class materials).
If you prefer to not participate in Class #1, cost for classes 2-5 is $75 (not including materials…please purchase those prior to the first class at Island Yarn and you will receive 10% off your class materials).
Stop by the store or email me at islandyarn AT gmail DOT com to sign up as soon as you can. Space is limited…so sign up asap! Please bring your pattern in before the first class and we will help you purchase all your materials. Spots will only be held for those who have paid in full by 1/31/10.

Available until January 31st as our pattern of the month…

 Reversible Brioche Hat!  Many of you have probably seen me wearing this hat around the store over the last month….I found it difficult to take it off once I had it on!  It’s super squishy and warm and very fun to make.  You’ll need just 2 balls of Ironstone Color Changes to make this great hat.

This pattern is free through the month of January with purchase of suggested yarn.

Available until December 31st as our pattern of the month…

Mandala Mitts and Hat!  After our stranded mitten class was such a success, I felt a little inspired to keep the stranded ball rolling!  Based on a mandala sketch, this set is very fun to make and in the end will fit any women’s mediumish head and hands.  The pattern requires about 1 skein of Great Adirondack Superwash Merino and 1 Skein Cascade 220 Wool. 

 This pattern is free through the month of December with purchase of suggested yarn.

Love cables….love glittens!  And here they are together in our November pattern of the month.  If you aren’t familiar with glittens, the mitten top pops off so that you can have use of your fingers.  The Alpaca suggested for this pattern turns them into instant hand-heaters!  The pattern requires about just 1 skein of Cascade Pure Alpaca or Eco-Alpaca. 

 This pattern is free through the month of November with purchase of suggested yarn.

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Our new knit-a-long is also starting Thursday, November 5th.  We are all gong to be working on that fabulous mohair jacket that you may have seen Rochelle wearing the the store. 
 It is a adaptation of the Lily Chin Convertible Jacket and patterns will be available in the store.  It’s so light, beautiful and super warm, and even better than that?  It’s reaaaally easy!  Great group knitting! 

(Btw…we are stronly recommending mohair for this project as it isn’t an item meant to touch the skin, but if you have an allergy to mohair, we can help you find an alternative.)  As always, knit-a-longs are free, but we do require that you buy yarn for the project at Island Yarn.