Ewe-Nique Knits Blog

Socks always seem facinating to knitters, and yet, it seems interest often wanes after that first sock. Are you one of the many who don’t like doing that second sock advance cash fast loan paydayadvance cash loan loan paydayfree casino game downloadvideo poker gamesfree slots and video pokerfree cash casinocraps rulesonline casino blackjack,play blackjack online free,blackjack onlinecasino gamesplay blackjackcasino link online suggestblack jack betting strategyonline virtual casino gambling,virtual online casino,virtual casinobest casino bonusfree online casino game,casino free gambling game online,play free casino game onlineduces wild video pokergambling casino online bonusplay free roulettecasino on line,las vegas on line casino gambling,free on line casino gamblingcasino 10 euroblack jack casinojeux casino pour le funjeu de casino gratuitsblack jack innjeu poker casinoonline gamblingcasino en ligne bonus gratuitesjeux blackjack gratuitescasino supermarché en lignecasino gratuites en francaisblack jack betting,black jack,black jack bootsjack black moviesjeux flash roulettecasinos francais en lignejeu de la rouletteloterie en lignesalles de jeuxtélécharger jeux de casinosgamme com jeutelecharger video pokerwww casino de parisjeux roulette russetelecharger jeux casino gratuitesjack black school ofblack jack bootsregole black jackjeu keno en ligneplay keno onlinecasino gratuites sur internetroulette gratuit and have a collection of onsies in you UFO bag?  We’re planning a solution for you in January.  Pat Oakley will teach “Doing Two Socks On One Needle”.  

 Have you heard about Toe-Up socks, but don’t know how to do them?  Deb Oakley (no relation to Pat) is going to teach a sock pattern that begins where others end.  Felted Clogs class will again be offered this winter.  It is a wonderful class for folk who are new to short rows, decreasing and felting techniques. 

Deb Oakley is such a talented knitter and teacher she even designs her own mittens.  She is designing a textured flap mitten pattern and will teach the class beginning in Februrary.

Please check the newsletter due out the week after Christmas for details concerning these classes.

So….this is what I’ve come up with…..Do you have any ideas for classes or workshops?  If so, please let us know.  We are always looking for new things to offer our customers.

I sent my oldest off for his first year of college last week.  It made me reflect on the years of raising Joe–what was challenging–what was rewarding?  I spent quite a bit of time thinking about all the talks we had about “reaching beyond yourself” to help others.  One doesn’t need to be young to reach beyond oneself.  In fact, there are many, many ways  knitters contribute to community and the world.

Last year, Betty Christiansen wrote a book called, “Knitting for Peace”.  She recognized knitters meet willingly at churches, guilds, yarn stores and other venues to do charity knitting for many local, national and world projects.  Knitters have knitted throughout the generations for soldiers and persons of all ages in need.  Countless caps  and socks for soldiers, baby blankets, and preemie hats have been clicked off needles.  Christiansen challenges those willing to find a project and “create a new excitement for the future of humanity” stitch by stitch.  In her book she discusses fair trade companies raising the living standard of their employees by paying fair wages, as well as, listing and discussing charities who receive knitted items.  Her book is available in our shop.

On Wednesdays, a very small group meets at Ewe-Nique Knits to knit hats for the Window in Goshen.  The Window is a social service organization reaching out to homeless and low income persons and families.  Shirley, Katherine and others show up at the shop around 1:00-1:30 and stay several hours.  They aren’t always working on chairity pieces.  Sometimes they work on personal projects until they have enough waste yarn to make another hat or pair of mittens.  Sometimes other knitters give them yarn from their stash.  They put the fininshed charity projects in a basket and when it is full, torque down the street to the Window with their contributions. 

I would love to see this group grow.  If you have an itch to do a bit of charity knitting just show up around 1:30 on  a Wednesday with some needles and maybe a pattern and these ladies will get you started. 

Quoting Christensen, ” We can, stitch by stitch, inch the world in a more positive direction.”

I hope to see you.

Sher

This week has me working on the fall class list then, the newsletter. The classes we are offering this fall are exciting and fun. Look for the class list in the newsletter arriving either in your postal or email boxes in the coming weeks.

Though I have some classes for winter in mind, I am always looking for new ideas. If you have suggestions, or want a specific class offered, make sure you make your suggestion known either by leaving a blog entry here, or stopping in the shop and mentioning it to one of us.

One class I am especially excited about is the Christmas Stocking class on September 29th. This will be a full day “workshop” style class. Marcia Baily, who taught our Pattern Alteration and Finishing Techniques classes, will be the teacher. She will be teaching us the Philosopher’s two hand Faire Isle Technique. The kit cost is $35.00 and has three pattern choices and enough yarn for two stockings. The class fee still is $75.00. This is a great class to learn a new technique for colorwork, and get a start on Christmas decorations/gifts. I hope you will consider joining us for what will be another fun-filled day.

If the Christmas Stocking class is not for you at this time, consider the other classes soon to be published and ready for sign-up.

Till the next time,

Sher

Ever think bus trips are long and boring?  Think again, my friends.  The bus trip we took was wonderful.  Fifty-six women from the Ewe took Stitches Midwest by storm–at least, that is how it sounded on the bus and as the gals entered the convention hall in Rosemont, IL.   

We left Goshen at 8:00 sharp, picked up a crowd in South Bend.  Two lucky ladies each won one Daily Market Class of their choice during our “door prize” miles.  They both elected to take the “Felted Fun” class and reported it was very well taught and informative.  Eight door prizes were given away on the bus.  Arletta McDonald won a year’s subscription to “Knitters” magazine–and her niece won the “Knitters Handbook”.  All four of these doorprizes were donated by Knitter’s Magazine.  Borocco Yarns donated two craft gloves, and Tahki-Stacey Charles donated 5 pattern books.  We are very grateful to our generous vendors for making our trip all the more memorable.  We landed at the convention center with 15 minutes to spare until the Market Opened.  Those 15 minutes were useful as some gals took pictures with the Star War characters whose own convention shared the hall. 

 Our girls were within the first 50 persons to get into the Market and do their damage!  And damage they did if quantity of shopping bags were an indication of their activity!  There were over 160 booths of yarn, buttons, purse handles, needles and stuff….. I can’t remember it all.

We left the convention center at 4:30 and quite ready to do so–it was fun, but tiring and we were ready to hit the road for our next stop at Cracker Barrel and some good food.  Cracker Barrel was ready for us and we were all seated within 10 minutes of arriving.  The bus arrived back at Goshen at 9:00ish. 

Many have asked if we will do the trip again next year.  All I can say is, make your vote known to us and we’ll take it all into consideration :).

Making stitch pattern swatches is a great way to learn new stitches, increase your skills and learn new techniques, but sometimes it is like a chore or a bothersome bore.  BUT we have the answer–Our Pattern Club!

Last month we had a nice turn out for our first-ever Pattern Club meeting and we are expecting several new persons this month.  Since it was the first meeting I (Sher) filled the role of leader and introduced the ladies to three new stitch patterns.  As time and skills allowed– not everyone got to all the patterns before we dismissed, but it has been fun to hear how all are working on their swatches at home. Ami Venosky will introduce members to our new patterns this Friday evening–July 13th.  Club starts at 6:00 and we’ll meet till 7:30 or so…or sooo…..or soooooo……;)

For those of you who haven’t signed up, but are interested, here’s a few facts:

–The club is for all skill levels. –The group learns new stitch patterns every month of various skill levels. –The lifetime membership is $30.00. –Memberships includes a stitchinary.  –We meet on Friday evenings or if enough folk are interested in meeting the following Saturday morning (9:00 am) we can add that too!!  Just call the shop at 574-537-1414 and we will get you signed up!!!  Its is sooooooooo much fun.

Marcia Bailey from Lansing MI is coming Saturday, July 28 to teach two classes.  In the morning she will teach PATTERN MODIFICATION.  Ever wish the sweather was in YOUR size, or that the chest could be larger and the waist smaller–or visa versa?  This class will address these issues.  Bring a project or pattern you’d like to modify and by the end of class, you’ll be ready to make it fit perfectly for you!  The cost for this three hour class (9:30-3:30) is $50.00.

Marcia will teach finishing techniques in the afternoon.  This class includes topics such as ho to do steeps, button bands, neckbands, 3 needle bind offs and mattress stitch, and how to increase and stay in pattern.

Marcia is a highly regarded teacher and has taught many classes and workshops for the Kalamazoo Knitter’s Guild.  She will also teach a Philosopher’s Colorwork sweater class in September using the two-hand weaving Fair Isle meathod.

Hi,

Welcome to the “Ewe’s” blog.   I’m Sher, one of four owners for Ewe-Nique Knits.  Now that I’m here I hardly know where to begin. 

Let’s start by saying I’m anxious to hear what you have to say and know what it is you want to discuss.  I just ask you keep all comments respectful of others. 

Since this is very new to us, please allow us some grace as we get used to operating this medium.  While Rhonda knows her way around computers, I’m a computer repairman’s dream come true. Some folk should just stick to sticks and balls!  And yet….I’m looking forward to meeting new folk, learning from you, and sharing my knitting experiences.

Until the next time…

Keep clickin’

Sher

Welcome! If you are already a member of our blog, go ahead and log in.   If you are here for the first time and want to blog with us, please register under Meta Section to the bottom right of this page.  We’re looking forward to hearing what you have to say about knitting in general, our newsletter, or our shoppe.  Please, leave personal attacks and negativity for negativity’s sake off the page.