Understanding & Using Charts   Class #6170 Thursday May 17th from 7-9 pm Being able to comfortably read a knitting chart is one of the critical steps to advancing as a knitter. Cable knitting, color patterns and lace all rely on charts to lay out the pattern for each row of knitting. If you have felt overwhelmed by charted knitting then come join us.  In this two hour class we will review the methods for reading a chart, how to eat the elephant a bite at a time, and how to overcome symbolitis. 

Tunisian Crochet Socks Class #6168 Saturday  May 19th  9am to 1 pm  Prior experience with Tunisian Crochet Simple Stitch is required.  This 3 hour Tunisian crochet class will complete a sample sock with two contrasting colors of dk weight yarn. We will learn to use a double ended crochet hook, how to do a chain cast-on, change from Tunisian simple to Tunisian knit, and decrease to shape the heel and toe.       

TAT-A-LONG Sunday May 20th from 1-3 pm Bonnie & Karen will be teaching us how to tat flower earrings.  Please call ahead to reserve space at 703-763-3285.  No cost to participate.  Prior experience with tatting is required.  

Now to the good stuff.  This week I gave myself permission to get some CPE by attending the Brenda Dayne workshops that were held at Fibre space.  Brenda has been part of my life for almost 7 years since I've became a loyal listener of her podcast "Cast-On" and we have emailed back and forth as she has said things that touched me.  For the next seven weeks she is touring the United States and Canada sharing her designs.  This week she gave great workshops on the Sherman toe and heel, knitting a beautiful beaded wrist warmer and learning how to construct a top-down raglan that will always fit perfectly. 

I also had the privilege of having lunch with Brenda and Heather Ordover from Craftlit (another fab podcast). Craftlit focuses on the reading of classic literature with craftiness thrown in.  (Heather is into all sorts of crafts)  I have been listening to Craftlit almost as long as Cast-on.  Heather's last book "What would Madame DeFarge Knit" is a focused compilation of knit and crochet designs inspired by beloved characters from classic fiction and includes some of Brenda's designs.  I hope you'll check out both of these podcasts and the book. These podcasts kept me company - made me laugh, and cry, and just feel like I always had a friend with me, during my 2-1/2 commute to work every morning/evening before I retired from federal service.  Heather has agreed to come and teach at the shop, we're working on the details now.  Stay tuned............

Here's a picture of Brenda and I at Fibrespace after the first class. 

Shop News: This weekend I'm actually closing the shop on Sunday.  My hubby and I are heading to Maryland to experience the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.   I'll be looking for new local fiber artists to add to the shop.  Is there a special local fiber company you would like to see in the shop?  Currently we carry Cestari, Unplanned Peacock and Blue Ridge Farm yarns.

Speaking of the shop, the Yarn Cloud has been approached to sponsor a new weeknight crochet group which we hope will morph into a Crochet guild.  If you have suggestions or experience with setting up either of these, please leave a message here or at the shop.

The new raffle bag by Karen W has arrived in the shop. Beautiful peacock colors 11" x 12" with a braided handle. Come by, see the new shop fiber, notions, books, and Laurel Burch bags, and fill out a ticket for your chance to win.  Remember no purchase is necessary.

So what's on my needles this week?  I'm trying to finish the sample for the Brioche class using Plymouth Ashton and the pocketbook to show off the new trendsetter yarns using Dune and Zarina Chine. And I now have two more starts from Brenda's classes. Uh-oh, I think I'm falling in the dark abyss..... I see UFO's in my future unless I can figure out how to grow more hands or work less hours.  

Challenges faced and (I hope) overcome:  Yesterday, Gay, a customer, came in the shop horrified to discover that she had reversed a pattern by accidently knitting one extra knit row.  She is using one of the Schaefer Memorable Women yarns and the feather and fan lace pattern.  Gay chose the perfect pattern to show off the colorway but wanted help ripping out all the offending rows.  When I looked at her scarf, now about 10 inches long, it looked magnificent, the colors picking up the light like jewels in the sun.  We identified where she went wrong but because she had knitted an extra knit row the pattern now appeared on both sides and an unintended effect was now the scarf was now reversible. You know what I said "It's not a mistake, it's a new design element !!!! Let's just figure out what the repeats are and keep doing it."  She looked at my like I had grown two heads and her response was "but it's not what the pattern calls for".  Gay just needed some convincing to step out of the pattern box and into the world of design.  And of course I wanted to point out that our store tagline is "where nature meets imagination".  So we worked on the elements of the new pattern she had knitted, wrote everything down and she went home to knit.  I can't wait to see how the scarf turns out.  I'll include a picture if Gay brings it back when it is completed.

Until next time,

Robyn & the Wooley Yarnmeister

• Sweet Shawlettes-25 Irresistable Patterns for Knitting Cowls, Capelets and More by Jean Moss
• Debbie Bliss Baby and Toddler Knits- 20 gorgeous jackets, sweaters, hats, bootees and more
• The Lace Knitting Palette by Leisure Arts
• Custom fit Knit Jackets- Casual to Couture by Jean Frost
• Lovely Knits for Little Girls - 20 Just-Right Patterns, Just For Girls by Vibe Ulrik Sondergaard
• 2012 Award Winning Tunisian Afghan Designs
• Interweave Knits - Spring 2012 with 18 crisp knits including lace and graphic patterns

• Simply Crochet by Robyn Chachula.  22 stylish deisgns for every day
• Textured Stitches by Connie chang Chinchio.  Knited sweaters & accessories with smart details
• Folk socks by Nancy Bush (revised).  The history and techniques of handknitted footwear
• Entre to Entrelac by Gwen Bortner.  The definitive guide from a biased knitter
• DVD - Entrelac Knitting Hats & Bags Felted or not! with Nenah Galati.
• Interweave Crochet - Winter 2011
• Crochet World - February 2012
• Creative Knitting - January 2012