I am sure some of you have already heard that there are now two new online knitting magazines available to knitters. The first website is Twist Collective. This is not the tradtional knitting magazine website where knitting patterns are free. The patterns on this website are for sale individually. Some very impressive designers/knitters (Kate Gilbert, Pam Allen, Ysolda Teague, and Cat Bordhi to name a few) have collaborated to make beautiful patterns available to the knitting community.
The next ‘knitting magazine’ is Knotions. This website offers knitting techniques, yarn and book reviews as well as patterns. Knotions is fresh, with useful tips to knit smarter. The patterns offered are beautiful and well written.
Both websites are inspiring. Take some time to explore these websites and let me know what you think! Besides Ravelry, what is your favorite place on the web for knitting inspiration?
September 5th, 2008
Only Ewe is proud to announce that Donna Bilko will be teaching a Lizard Ridge class on Tuesday, Sept. 9th at 7:00pm in the shop. If you’d like to sign up, please call us at 770-740-0844.
The sample squares in the picture were done with Noro Kureyon. We have a great description of the class on our class page on the website. This promises to be a lot of fun AND you’ll enjoy the knowledge that Donna will share with you in this class.
The pattern is available from Knitty.com.
September 4th, 2008
Farmhouse Yarns “Lumpy Bumpy” has been a very popular yarn with which to knit the “Worm Scarf” from Coco Knits. We are proud to present this scarf in an array of colors knit by our Wednesday Chics With Stics group! This is a one skein project! As you can tell by the smiles on their faces, all the girls have enjoyed knitting this - and we hope you will, too.
Thanks Nicole for finding this pattern for us.
August 25th, 2008
I just want everybody to know how excited I am to be going to Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer’s (Heartstrings Fiber Arts) workshops that will be in Atlanta Sept 5 - 7, 2008. Jackie is being sponsored by the Atlanta Knitting Guild, and there will be 5 workshops over a period of 3 days. Info is available on the AKG website (atlantaknittingguild.org). Of course, I have signed up for all 5 workshops. Who knows if I’ll be able to get to all 5 (M.B. will do his best to substitute for me at the shop if need be). But I really need to know more about lace knitting, as I’m nowhere near as knowledgeable as I’d like to be. This is the perfect opportunity and it would be fun to see some of you there, also!
Jackie’s website is www.heartstringsfiberarts.com
She also is on Ravelry (find her by name)
And she has a great blog
Look her up and see why I’m excited. I think doing lace with multi-colored handpaint yarns is going to be great!
Let me know what you think about her website, patterns, etc.
Elyse
August 14th, 2008
What a perfect time to learn to make ear rings (and other wire wrap items from the Bead Bug). Just think - you’ll be ready for Christmas - all decked out - jewelry to match everything you knit or crochet! And these make great giftsl Mary (Bead Bug owner) will teach you wire wrapping on Tuesday morning @10:00, July 29th. THIS IS A FREE CLASS during our Christmas in July week!.
This wonderful pair of earrings is a kit of Swarovski crystals that is now in stock at the Bead Bug. While Mary does have these in stock, don’t wait. You know how fast things disappear - especially during our “Christmas on July” week!.
July 26th, 2008
Finally! I know I said on June 29th (my how time flies) that I would tell you this story the next day. I think I got busy. So, here we are 2 weeks later with the saga of Motha Beah, i.e. why M.B. is Motha Beah - it’s that protective instinct.
One Thursday morning, I was having my leisurely cup of coffee - you know, where you gulp it down because you’ve got a thousand things to do. The phone rings - it’s my good friend D.M. I thought she was calling just to say, “Hi”. On the other hand, she, her husband (M.M.) and older son (T.M.) left early that morning to go to T.M’s college orientation. SOOOOOO—-
D.M. said to me, “Elyse, I need to speak to Bill. I have an emergency”. So, I handed the phone to M.B. The rest of the conversation was one sided according to my ears. I only heard M.B. who said, ” I understand. I’ll be there in just a minute. How long ago did it happen. Is everybody ok?” Of course, here I am thinking they had been in a wreck!. So, M.B. hangs up the phone and says to me, “Wake Sam (our son who is T.M.’s best friend) up and tell him to come with me. Somebody broke into T.M.’s house (at 8:15am!). So off they go. Who knows what they’ll find!
I’m lagging behind, having to get dressed before I can join in the excitement. By the time I got to our neighbor’s house, the police were there. The 2 younger children had awakened when the alarm went off. The burglar fled - although, M.B. did check out the grounds around the house before he was satisfied (being the former Marine that he is!) The M’s teen son who was at the house was able to identify the truck in which the burglar fled (not that it’s been seen since).
SO, M.B. and Sam spent the rest of the day replacing the front door that was bashed in - remember, this happened in broad daylight at 8:15am.! Then M.B. spent the night at the M’s house in case the burglar should return.
And all was well - the kids were safe, M.B. and Sam replaced the door, and the M’s could enjoy the college orientation while resting assured that M.B. was on the job!!!!!!!!!!!
AND, when he’s not saving the neighborhood from burglars, M.B. can be found at the shop - taking care of business.
I’m sure there will be more M.B. stories to come. So stay tuned…………..
July 16th, 2008
Books and Reviews:
Pictured are just a few of the books we have in stock at Only Ewe and Cotton Too. From time to time, I will be doing book reviews and talking about designers and patterns.
Remember to join Ravelry:
www.ravelry.com
There is MORE information at your disposal than you can imagine. Go to www.ravelry.com and sign up. You can get info on yarns, patterns, books, designers, projects that people have done. It’s AMAZING!
Join Up!
I’ll tell you a few ways that I use it in the shop:
1.) a customer might come in and need a pattern for a bulky weight cardigan. If I don’t know of something right away, I can go to Ravelry and usually find something that will jar my memory of what I might have in stock OR we might see a free pattern that the customer can buy the yarn and go home and print the pattern from Ravelry if he/she is a member.
2.) we can see what kind of projects people have done with a particular yarn
3.) we can even see what issue of a magazine a pattern might have been in (if we know the pattern name).
4.) We can talk about books and what people think - hopefully, my customers will like what I have in stock.
The internet is great - and like I said - there is more info than you could ever imagine.
5.) If you see a yarn that you like, but don’t have ideas, we can probably find it on Ravelry.
Of course, our first priority is helping and satisfying our customers - Ravelry is only one of the tools we use to do that.
See you soon in the shop!
Elyse
June 29th, 2008
This is my husband Bill in a rare state of relaxation with our dog Opie! Bill also is known as Mutha Beah (mother bear); this is as a result of
Bill’s wonderful Virginia accent - and some stories that I will tell as we get to know Bill. Hereafter, I will mostly refer to Bill simply as M.B. (in the interest of time and space) in my blogs.
Bill is my support team. He does laundry, groceries AND Quickbooks!
What a guy.
You will often see M.B. in the shop at the computer AND socializing with the various knitting groups. He goes to the knitting guilds with me and enjoys the interaction with everybody.
M.B. is a woodworker, but doesn’t have time (even though he’s retired) because he’s so busy with the shop. He also loves spinning wheels and weaving looms. M.B. is the one who got me interested in spinning and weaving when we lived in Denver. Skyloom Fibers was a weaving shop that we frequented. I took the spinning and weaving classes because M.B. traveled a lot. NOW, I learned more about weaving than spinning (just ask Katey); but I’m working on the spinning (when I can).
I would like to tell you a special story about M.B. I think it’s the reason the name Mutha Beah “caught on”. When you read this story, you will see that M.B. is, indeed, like a mother bear - he’s very protective - must be his Marine Corps training!
SO - stay tuned for this story to appear later today or tomorrow!
Elyse
June 29th, 2008
I just wondered how many of you know about Knitting Daily?
Go to: www.knittingdaily.com and you’ll see what kind of wonderful treats are in store for you. If you sign up for their DAILY emails, you will receive great information (tips and techniques) about knitting. For instance, today Sandy (the editor) talked about different techniques for weaving in ends. I don’t always have time to read the emails on a daily basis, but the info is there if I want it. And lots of info appears on the web site!
Try it. You’ll like it.
Elyse
June 26th, 2008
It’s 4:00pm Monday (June 16) and I’m back in the shop.
I sent out an email about a week ago to let people know about our charter bus trip to SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair). Here’s the info if you didn’t get the email and want to sign up:
DATE and TIME: October 25th (Saturday), 7:00am - 10:00pm
We will leave the shop at 7:00am. The show is in Ashville, NC; so it will be about a 4 hour trip. We have space for 47 people. People who have already signed up are thinking about grouping together and bringing food for the trip (Only Ewe will supply water). Food vendors will be at SAFF, but you know we’ll be hungry on the way there and back!
COST: $65.00 for the bus trip. I believe there is a small entrance fee - maybe $3.00. I will heck on that.
CALL THE SHOP TO SIGN UP: $15 deposit is required. Full payment is due by SEPT. 30th.
770-740-0844 is the shop phone #
Look at the SAFF web site - www.saffsite.org and get the info about the day. I think it will be so much fun - lots of vendors: fiber, knitting, spinning, crochet and my favorite - the animals!!!!!!!! Classes are available, too. Demos will also be held throughout the day. And our own Katey Jackson won BEST OF SHOW in the novice spinning category last year!
Hope to hear from you soon
Elyse
June 16th, 2008
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