March

Hello, knitters!

I am currently "recovering" from a very full and very joy-filled weekend teaching at STITCHES West in Santa Clara, CA. After each year's event, I choose to stay in California a few days longer, in order to soak up some warmth and sunshine before returning to cold, snowy (or WET, this year) Michigan.

So I'm hanging out in Berkeley, CA, with no agenda. I think this is what people call "vacation," but I'll have to do The Google to see if I'm doing it right. Yesterday I had the opportunity to hang out in a local quilt shop, New Pieces (where I bought a little sashiko dishcloth kit so I can practice some hand sewing), and I visited my first ever Blick Art Materials (where I lost myself in the aisles, and found myself wishing for more time to do ALL THE THINGS).

Most of us do more than one crafty thing. The fine folks at XRX recognize this, and that's what STITCHES United in Hartford, CT, is all about. That's where I'll be traveling to next (March 22-25), and I'll be introducing three new-to-me (and you!) classes, all based on different aspects of the Jean Frost method of designing Chanel-style jackets (although it all applies to most any other knitted garment, too), including measuring for a perfect fit, sculpting easy (but flawless!) set-in sleeve caps, and lining!

I've also got a new design class coming up soon at Woven Art in East Lansing, MI: Seamed Custom-Knit Shell. It's an easy-to-knit sleeveless shell that I'll help you design to FIT — and you should have it done in time to wear this spring! Details are on the shop's class page (linked above). Four sessions — March 11 and April 8, 22, and 29 (Sundays) — from 1:30-3:30 pm. Call the shop at (517) 203-4467 to register!

Also at Woven Art: Toe-Up Socks! I'll help you work through a full-sized custom-fit sock from the toe up. Three sessions — March 6, 13, and 20 (Tuesdays) from 1-3 pm. Call the shop at (517) 203-4467 to register!

OR, you can take one or both of my upcoming sock-knitting classes at the Interlochen College of Creative Arts in beautiful Interlochen, MI! On Friday, April 13, learn to make a full-sized sock (a footie, actually) from top to bottom in Knitting Socks From the Cuff Down. On Saturday, April 14, learn to make a full-sized sock from bottom to top in Knitting Socks from the Toe Up. If you take both classes, you'll leave with a "matching" pair of footies! 9 am to 5 pm each day. Details and registration information are on each class page.

I'm returning home from California on the first Thursday in March, so that means Knitter's Choice will be bumped a week to Thursday, March 8, from 1:30-3:30 pm or from 6:30-8:30 pm (your choice!). As always: Please RSVP if you're coming so I can save a chair for you!

My February Preventing and Fixing Mistakes class at Woven Art was SOLD OUT. Since I had a few names on the waiting list, I'd like to schedule another one on another Sunday afternoon SOON. If you're interested, it wouldn't hurt to call the shop at (517) 203-4467 and let them know you'd like to be added to the waiting list…

If you've made it all the way to the bottom of this month's newsletter — THANK YOU! You're officially my favorite knitter ever! :)

I hope to see you soon!