Blue Ribbon Stitching ...

A summer is just not complete until you've attended a local fair. The food, the games, the rides -- and what's that? A ribbon for your crochet project? A ribbon for your knit project? Well, let me be the first to congratulate you!! J

As KT's Crochet Teacher, I know just how hard many of you have been working! Learning new stitches, trying new techniques, playing with new fibers, mastering gauge ... while learning how to read patterns! So why not show off your work?!!

Consider entering your item, no matter what your skill level, into a local fair! You'll accomplish two things when you do:
1. You'll be promoting the Fiber Arts. It's always a great feeling knowing that you possibly encouraged someone to pick up a crochet hook (or knitting needles) for the first time!
2. You just might win a ribbon for those beautiful stitches you created! (And let me tell you, that's a wonderful feeling!!)

Visit www.ctfairs.org and see if there is a local fair near you and then inquire if they have a competition you can participate in. Usually there's no fee to enter -- but it does require some preperations:
A. Ensure all your ends are properly woven in.
B. Ensure the piece is clean AND blocked properly.
C. Ensure you have it entered into the right category & department.

And if you really want to increase your chance for winning a Ribbon, ask yourself if the piece looks "homemade" or "handmade." There is a difference and it's all in the finishing touches --and we at KnitTogether can certainly help you learn that difference.

We have Stitch'nChat classes, and semi-private lessons available to help you. If you need help in learning the proper technique of weaving in your ends, blocking, or taking your work from "homemade" to "handmade" we're here to help! Inquire!

Then tell us where you've entered your work so we can root for you!

~Dee Stanziano
KT's Certified Crochet Teacher

July 29

Liz: For a hot day, there were a lot of people in the store today. Lots of buzz about the recent newsletter (Pam did a great job!) and interest in the Jane Elliott workshop in October. And people actually thinking about knitting sweaters and Christmas presents! Clea did a lovely class in learning to read patterns. She is such a good teacher! The new Cascade order should be in this week with some new colors for Cascade 220 and Fixation, a new (to us) sock yarn that is veeeery stretchy.

Home for a little R & R before the new week brings new things.

July 28th

Pam:


During the Beyond Scarves Tank class, Michelle modelled two completed tanks(shells).

The purple tank was made with Artful Yarns Regal Silk in Iris Schreier's Pattern, Diagonal Triangle Tank. It entails multidirectional (modular) knitting and was a great learning experience (for both of us!). Her tank is absolutely gorgeous; the silk knits up beautifully and was a pleasure to work with. I made one as well and love it. Iris Schreier is the author of Modular Knits.



This is shell is basically two identical rectangles. It's made with Tango ribbon yarn, a yarn Michelle got at our sale in May. She even made a cute curling scarf in the remaining yarn.

Both shells came out really well. Now we're contemplating our next projects!

Pam

Celebrating Friendships

Friendships are what make our daily adventures so worthwhile. Think of your best friend, male or female, and then think of the last time you RAK'ed them -- or perhaps he/she RAK'ed you! (RAK means "Random Act of Kindness") Has it been awhile? Do you remember the last time you spent quality time together? Our busy schedules have a way of getting in the way of fun, but it doesn't have to be that way!

The beauty of the fiber arts is that they're friends too. Crochet & Knit. They share a common bond -- besides yarn! Both create stress-free moments to allow friendships to reconnect; moments to cheer each other on; moments to share & cherish.

Sounds good doesn't it? It's no wonder then that here at Knit Together many friends enjoy taking classes together! On August 1st is National Girlfriend's Day. I'd rather call it National Friendship Day and encourage everyone to celebrate it all month long!

What are you waiting for? Create that moment and RAK your best friend by signing you both up for a crochet or knit class (or both?! Now wouldn't that be adventurous?!) and enjoy reconnecting. And if you have a lot of best friends then book an entire class and make it a wonderful way to celebrate!

Visit our website, www.KnitTogether.com, to check out our latest class schedule. Then stop in the store or call us to register. We offer Gift Cards too!

~Dee Stanziano
KT's Certified Crochet Teacher

Show Your "Pursenality" Contest

Pam:
Martingale & Company is having a contest for purse designs based on or inspired by patterns from the following books: Pursenalities; The Little Book of Crocheted Bags; and Pursenalities Plus. Click the link to their website (to the right in the sidebar) for an official entry form. Entries must be received by October 31, 2006.
Pam

Finished Products by Ktog Customers

Pam:
Jill's Baby Sweater.

Felted Bubble Bag from this summer's Fabulous Felting Class.













AUGUST





This was done by Barbara and the pattern is from Vogue Summer. It was very complicated. Kudos to Barbara for her perserverance. The sweater is trly a work of art. We all learned a lot in the process.
























Tank Class
Michelle made this tank from the Iris Schreier Patter "Diagonal Triangle Tank". It's made up of short rows to create the different triangles. Michelle made hers out of the Regal Silk which is just incredible and has a wonderful drape. The second tank was made of of a ribbon yarn. It's two identical rectangles, no shaping, with an adequate neck opening. It came out great and Michelle had enough yarn to make a matching "potato chip" scarf.















Sara's Baby Sweater

Sara's success is very special to me. She came at the beginning of the summer to learn to knit and was determined to make a baby sweater for her first project. She practiced her knit and purls with encore worsted to get her stitches consistent and then proceeded to make a beautiful baby sweater in Zara Plus. She came in weekly for Stitch 'n Chat (where we have a lovely group growing). Now she's onto a baby blanket with Reynold's blossom (which knits up really soft for a baby blanket).

Stitch 'n Chat

Pam:
I had a great stitch n chat today; five people came.

Sara, who only learned to knit one month ago, is nearly done with her first project. She chose to make a baby sweater for the baby she is carrying and she's due in September! You could never tell she's a beginner by looking at the sweater she's knitting. I admire her confidence in choosing a sweater for her first project. She has come in weekly to learn each new technique and I'm really proud of her achievement.

Michelle P., also a new knitter, has completed one scarf and is in the midst of two others. One of them she did in Berroco's Lullaby yarn. I would not have believed how soft and lovely this yarn knits up had I not seen and felt Michelle's scarf. She's started a new scarf, knitted lengthwise (different concept). Today she picked out a kid's poncho pattern to make (also in Lullaby). This poncho will offer her the opportunity to learn several new techniques and certainly extend her confidence in her knitting abilities! It's going to be adorable.

Jill came in last week with a beautiful baby sweater (not yet sewn together) and asked if we would finish it for her or send it out to be finished. I told her that I would be happy to teach her how to finish the sweater, and that we did not offer finishing sweaters as a service of the store. Well, she was afraid that would be the answer! She learned to sew seams in a way that makes it look seamless and how to pick up stitches around the neck for the ribbing! The sweater is really special. She's very pleased with what she learned and is now moving on to her next project.

While Jill was sharing her finished sweater with Liz and recanting her tale, another customer became inspired to make her first sweater and chose Lullaby yarn after seeing Michelle's scarf. (It really knits up to a very soft texture.)

I love when things like that happen; it reminds of what a warm community of knitters/crocheters we have here at Knit Together. It's great when people take new steps because of someone else's successes or trys out a new yarn having seen someone in the store working with it.

Pam

Welcome

Welcome to the KTOG BLOG. This is the site that talks about knitting and crocheting, yarn and the store Knit together (Ktog)! We will have pictures on projects that the staff and customers make. We look foward to your future postings and comments! We hope you enjoy our site and it helps you in your knitting or crocheting experiences!
From,
The Ktog Blog and our technical advisor, Leigha.