A New Class Schedule for the New Year!

Hello again! Everyone feverishly knitting and crocheting those last minute gifts!? I certainly am! In fact, I was up past midnight last night finishing one of those fun ruffley scarves. In just a couple of days it will be over and done! We will all hopefully go back to our normal knitting/crocheting schedules ;) Not that I don't love the holidays, it it my favorite time of year! I just don't enjoy deadline knitting....it makes me crazy!

We do have some fun things planned for the new year! Our new class schedule is out!! Of course, we always have our Beginning Knitting classes on saturdays. These classes are for beginners, but they can be tailor-made to suit the individual depending on what they would like to learn. I do only teach 2 people a at time in our beginning classes to ensure each student has all the help they need to succeed with their knitting or crocheting (yes I can teach crochet too!)
We also have our ever-popular Fixing Boo-boos class. Learn extremely useful techniques that will help you gain confidence in your knitting! Our Finishing class is also back on the schedule. This class will give you many helpful tips on seaming, blocking and other hints to make your projects come out looking professional!
There are 2 new classes on our schedule as well, taught by the famous June McKnight! The first is a Bead Embellishment class, where you learn many creative ways to use beads in many different projects, whether it be on your needlepoint, sewing, or knitting! I will be there to share 2 different ways you can add beads to your knitting.
The 2nd class is Silk Ribbon Embroidery. This one I am so excited for! I might need to sit in on this one ;) This class you will learn how easy it is to embellish your quilting, sewing, knitting, or crochet projects with little flowers, leaves, or other details using beautiful silk ribbons!
Speaking of beautiful silk ribbons....we have just what you need! It's by a company out of Canada called Treenway Silks. We already carry some of their beautiful hand dyed silk fibers for spinning/embellishment. The silk ribbon is hand dyed and sold in small amounts (little 5 yard cards) and are available in 7mm thickness, and 3.5mm thickness. Just look at the color selection.....

So pretty! I can't wait to play with it! I just imagine a pair of hand knitted gloves or a hat with little embroidered silk flowers on them!!

All of us here at Monarch are also participating in Laura Nelkin's Kinetic Mystery KAL (knit-a-long). This Mystery KAL uses approx. 420 yards of a fingering weight yarn. There is going to be a beaded option for this,  either some beads or lots of beads (or no beads). There will be lace knitting involved. Thats about all we know......it is a mystery after all ;)  To find out more information, or to download the pattern to participate, you can click here. It will start January 13th with the first clue! We will be having a launching party for the KAL that day from 5:30 to 7pm. We will also have process gatherings for anyone who needs help with this Jan. 21st, 28th, Feb 4th, and 25th at 11:00am. I myself have never done a mystery knit along....I've always been a bit of a control freak with my knitting. This will be very exciting!! Can't wait to start! All of the staff here at Monarch will be participating. We have already picked out our yarns & beads! This is what Diane, Joan, and I have picked....

Joan hand-dyed hers out of Dye For Me "Happy Feet", it's so gorgeous! (the one on the top right) Can't wait to see that knit up!!

There is a new kit we got in this week. Its a gorgeous, hand-painted kit by Blue Heron. The kit makes either a vest, short sleeved tee, or a shawl! You can choose to add beads to it as well. The beads are not included, but we do have a nice selection of beads to choose from. Here is what the vest looks like. I love the beaded version! It looks so pretty fastened with one of our shawl pins too!

The kit includes the all 3 pattern options, and 2 big beautiful skeins of yarn! One of the yarns is a Rayon Metallic, the other a fine wool. The 2 yarns are alternated throughout the project. Here are some of my favorite colorways this kit is available in...

Soooo pretty!!! Love it!

That's all I have to share for now. We have alot to look forward to in the new year! New classes, new projects, and MORE YARN!! From all of us at Monarch, we wish all of you Happy Holidays! :)

Last Minute Scarves!

Hello again! I hope everyone is ready for the holidays 'cause here they come! This week we have some more last minute gift ideas for you...and some new yarns!! Are you all familiar with that really cool Triana yarn by Katia? The one that makes a quick, easy boa like scarf...

well this yarn has been such a hit around here, that we ordered some others like it by the same company (Katia). These new yarns are so, so awesome and different, I think you will like them just as much if not more! All of these fun, new yarns I'm about to share take only one ball to make a scarf! That is a beautiful thing :)  The first one is called Ronda. It is an acrylic ribbon that has little rectangle boxes on the top of it. When you knit using just those little boxes, it gathers and makes a pretty ruffley scarf like this...

So cute! I made this in one evening, sitting in front of my fireplace while watching "A Christmas Carol". I was so happy how it knitted up and how speedy it was, so I'm making a few for gifts! Even me with my busy schedule can fit this project in!

The next new one is called "Ondas". It's a "mesh like" ribbon yarn, and when you knit into it poking along the top of the mesh, it ruffles up like this...

Also very cute! Diane made this in, yes, one evening!! The Ondas has many color choices, and some of them have sparkles in them. Anything shiny or glittery always attracts me, like a raccoon. This is very simple to knit, a beginner can do it! The end result make you look like a genius!

Next up is another called "Park Avenue". This yarn is a fluffy soft knitted mesh that you knit by poking into one of the edges. The end result is stunning, and very fashionable I must say!

Of course, it only takes 1 ball to make! You are only working with 3 stitches on your needle! Super fast, instant gratification ;) There are 8 colors to choose from! I have been wearing this one around the shop for 2 days. It's been a bit chilly in here! Not only is it fashionable, it is also very warm. 

Those are our new scarf yarns! I hope you love them as much as we do. You still have time to make everyone on your list something special. We have many quick gift project ideas that will give you much bang for your buck!

Along with all those fun scarf yarns, we also got in some other pretties this week! For all you Noro lovers out there...we have new colors of Kureyon! Kureyon is 100% Wool that self stripes in many bright, stunning colors....

Ooooh nice full bin of yarn! This yarn is great for just about anything. It even felts up beautifully! Joan knitted a really cute hat out of one ball. I wish I has a pic, its not quite done yet. The pattern will be a free with purchase. 

There is also a new yarn by Debbie Bliss. It's called "Party Angel". It is just like regular "Angel", a silk & Mohair blend laceweight.....but now with sparkles! Yup, gotta love those sparkles! I made a pattern by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas called "Mohair Bias Loop" that everyone has just gone crazy over! 

Mohair Bias Loop!

I must make another....with sparkles!!!

Yesterday we got in a new yarn by Joseph Galler called "Asana". Its a bulky weight half alpaca, half peruvian wool. The fibers are plyed together into a super soft yummy to-die-for yarn! It kinda has a hand spun look to it, sort of thick and thin to make a very nice texture. The price is very good too for such a fab yarn! Only 11.99 per ball, with 140 yards per skien! I think this would make a really cozy scarf and/or hat! 

That's about it for this week knitting pals! Always more to come :)