Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Happy Holidays to Everyone

                                 
wednesday
10 am - 3 pm
THURSDAY & Friday
10 am - 6 pm
Saturday
10 am - 5 pm
CLOSED
Sunday, Monday &
TUESDAY
And the following holidays

·         New Year’s Day - January 1
·         Independence Day - July 4
·         Thanksgiving
·         Christmas Eve at Noon
·         Christmas Day - December 25
·         New Year’s Eve - December 31

It is always a good idea to call before coming to the shop, especially if you are traveling from a distance.
(765) 569-2953



New hours will begin January 1, 2012.

Weekly groups at The Fiber Closet are:

Thursday:
10 AM - 12 PM  Weaving
1 PM - 3 PM Spinning
3 PM - 6 PM Knitting

Everyone is welcome to join any of the FREE groups. 









Thursday, September 29, 2011

Festival Time In Indiana

The cool damp weather of fall has arrived in west central Indiana setting the stage for two local annual events:
  • The Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb  is Friday, September 30th, through Sunday October 2nd.  This event is sponsored by the Newport Lions Club.  The Hill Climb with its classic vehicles is about everyone in the family having a good time.   Come watch the cars climb the famous Newport hill.
  • The Parke County, Indiana, Covered Bridge Festival runs for 10 days, October 14-23.  This is a county-wide festival that is headquartered at the courthouse square in Rockville, Indiana. From 9 am to 6 pm,  on the square in Rockville you will find many crafters and food vendors.
The past two weeks at The Fiber Closet I have had many visitors in the classic cars.  Some are here for the Hill Climb and others are with a classic car group that is having a get together here in Parke County to tour our historic county with all of it many covered bridges. Many are staying at the county fairgrounds with their RV's, campers and cargo trailers and  in the local motels. 
One of the ladies purchased a knitted hat that had a large knit flower on it.  Later, in the day, I saw her and her husband touring the town in their classic car and she was wearing the hat.  It really fit in.  She was warm in her hat in that open air car.  It made me feel good. 






Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Knit Happy Club

The Fiber Closet has teamed up with Knit Happy to bring you the Knit Happy Club.  Following is a list of Questions and Answers you might have about the Club.

What is The Knit Happy Club?

It is a Members Only Club that will be meeting once  a month from September 2011-May 2012.  The club is designed to bring knitters together to learn a new technique each month, encouraging fun, community and education for all members.

When and Where will The Knit Happy Club Meet?

The Knit Happy Club will meet at The Fiber Closet located at 301 West Ohio Street (US 36) in Rockville, Indiana.

The Knit Happy Club hours are 3 PM-5 PM on the following dates:

  • September 10

  • October 8

  •  November 12

  •  December 10

  •  January 14

  •  February 11

  •  March 10

  •  April 14

  •  May 12

What are the benefits and Why join?

Each month you’ll have lots of fun, receive a members only newsletter,  learn a knitting technique,  get a yummy recipe and a free knit pattern that uses that month’s technique.  Memberships paid  by the first meeting will receive the exclusive Knit Happy Tote.

A Featured Item Discount for Members Only each month. It might be a featured yarn, books or notions~even an exclusive offering from the Knit Happy.

How do I join and what is the cost?

Sign up at The Fiber Closet, online,  telephone at 765.569.2953 or mail in the attached PDF flyer coupon.

The cost is $90 for the entire 9 months.  To insure that you are eligible to receive all of the goodies, membership must be paid in full by August 27th.

Will these patterns, newsletters, recipes, techniques be available for non-members?

No, as a shop owner I  pledged to keep the materials sent from Knit Happy for club members exclusive.  They are for members only. This will include patterns, merchandise and classes.

Will there be other dates available? 

Saturday’s aren’t good for you?  Contact me and I will certainly give additional dates a consideration.

Share this info with your friends. Click the following link for a PDF of our flyer.  Please feel free to print this flyer and distribute.

The Knit Happy Club Flyer

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Lace Knitting

The middle of May, Gina Mitchell and myself decided to knit the Summer Mystery Shawlette  with other knitters at Wendy Knits.   We received the first clue on May 15th and the last clue on June 2nd.  There were five clues:



All we knew were the dimensions and that it was a shawlette.  What fun we had.  The shawl is so addictive.The last clue became available while we were at the Hoosier Hills Fiber Arts Festival   so we downloaded the Clue to our phones so we could continue knitting.    Gina and I are both knitting a second one.  Sharon Harmon of our knit group has knitted one and several others have started knitting, too. 

The shawl begins by casting on the largest number of stitches you will have to knit and decreases every pattern row provide the shaping of the shawl.  It was advertised as a top down shawl but I think it is better described as an "outside in" shawl.  The last few stitches you bind off actually are the center of the top edge.  

There is an active "thread" on this shawlette at Ravelry

This shawlette has been so motivating and inspirational that Gina is now designing lace shawls.  Can't wait to see what she knits up. 

The Summer Mystery Shawlette designer, Wendy Johnson, has a book "Wendy Knits Lace: Essential Techniques and Patterns for Irresistible Everyday Lace [Paperback], scheduled for release August 23rd. 

I have already pre-ordered my copy.

Upcoming Activities at The Fiber Closet
Dyeing Sock Yarn:   August--Yes, we are going to play with dye. 

Card Weaving:  We have been re-exploring this ancient weaving technique.

Knooking:  We are also having fun with this technique.

Before I stop blogging, I would like all of your to think about the 3/50  project.  Finances are tough for everyone and we all need to support each other. 


Saturday, July 9, 2011

Card Weaving

This week at the Fiber Closet we worked on  some of the basics of the ancient craft of card or tablet weaving.

The bands woven with cards can be used for belts, dog leashes, decorative accents and more.

Card weaving can be incorporated into loom weaving for a beautiful embellishment.

We will be working more with cards in the future.  TZ5RFH5K785H

Monday, June 20, 2011

TNAA and The Fiber Closet Online

TNNA Summer 2011 in Columbus, Ohio. 

What can't I say about this wonderful experience.  I attended this year's event with Gina Mitchell and my husband, Mike.

We saw many designers, authors, yarn suppliers and more. Cat Bordhi pulled Gina into the publisher's booth to try on a swirl jacket.  Gina also got a hug from the Crochet Dude who was filming in the TNNA booth area.

We also saw Jaala of Knitcircus.  Jaala was hard to miss with her bright pink hair. You should seriously consider subscribing to Knitcircus.  It is an online knitting magazine.

Oh, in case you didn't see our picture on Facebook, I met Debbie Macomber and received an autographed copy of her latest knitting book, BLOSSOM STREET COLLECTION BOOK 4, scheduled for July release.  

We met the Ravelry  crew.  They featured different designer trunk shows throughout the event.  We met WoollyWormhead.

Designers we talked with include:

Michelle Miller, The Fickle Knitter, who designs lace and other knits that use just one skein.  I bought one of her kits and her design binder.

Jennifer Larsen, The Stitch Diva.  I first met Jennifer about 5 years ago.  She has brought Tunisian crochet to the forefront.  She has elevated crochet to the upper levels.  It is not your granny's crochet.  Her designs are exquisite.

Maggi Jackson, Maggi Knits, a Traditional Irish Knit Designer.  I love her designs and kits.

Stefanie Japel -she organized a knitting circle at Bar on 2 at the Hyatt.  Gina and I had already gotten ready for bed and I saw pictures of it on Twitter and sent msg to Gina.  Next thing I know, Gina is texting me from 2 saying come on down.  I did.  There were so many designers there on the floor.  Yes, on the floor.  Knitters just sat on the floor knitting, chatting and enjoying their libations.  We left at midnight and they were still going strong.

We (Gina) kept reading Twitter comments about an ice cream from Jeni's Ice Cream.
On Sunday, we walked the 2 blocks to the North Market.  Oh, if only we had gone there 2 days earlier.  Gina and I had wonderful sandwiches and ice cream.  North Market has all sorts of fresh meats, vegetables, flowers and other neat stuff.  We ran into Martha Crossen of River Wools as we were entering the North Market.

I could go on forever about TNNA.  There were a lot more people we saw that I didn't mention.  But, if you read any of the blogs posted by some of the people I have listed, they talk about them, too.

FREE PATTERNS 

Yeah!  I have figured out how to link free patterns on the website.  I am trying to associate a free pattern with each brand of yarn that I put on the site.  Check out what I have so far at:  FREE PATTERNS.   I am working on putting a tab in the Menu bar put can't quite figure it out.  New site builder doesn't have a link in that bar. 

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Knitting Needle Reconnaissance and Recovery Operation (KNRRO)

  It all started with my knitting the Headband Earwarmer with Flower.  The pattern was so fun and knitted up so quickly my mind started clicking.  You know, planning ten different projects when you haven't finished the current.   I decided that I wanted to use a smaller yarn and smaller needles and create a narrower headband for fashion and not necessarily warmth.  The yarn I chose was Beroco Lumina and Size 7 bamboo needles.  The yarn I did get from The Fiber Closet but surely I have size 7 needles in bamboo in my stash.  I found several single Size 7 needles (different materials and different lengths) but not their mates which brings me to my CHALLENGE.  I challenge all of you knitters to go on a "Knitting Needle Reconnaissance and Recovery Operation (KNRRO).  Hunt out and recover those needles sadly stuck in some long forgotten project.  Either finish the project (good luck on that one) or, if you really like the project but it's just not the time to knit on it, insert a piece of waste yarn tagged with the needle size, etc., and recover those needles.  If you have fallen out of love with the project, yank those needles out and recover both the yarn and the needles.

Post your Recovery results on this blog post.  I think it will be fun to see how many pairs of the same size, length, etc., that we all find.  I know I have lots of Size 8 straights stuck in neglected projects.

While digging out those needles would be a good time to get all of your circulars, straights, and double points organized.  For now,  let's just find those darned needles!!



The Sylvania wireless headphone is my new best device.   I use it all of the time.  I was always jumping up with my headphone attached to one of my listening devices and knocking the device on the floor and/or ripping the earphone out of my ear.  They have a range of 100 feet.  I can leave my computer or Kindle in the sitting room and run out to The Fiber Closet without a second thought.  You just plug the supplied audio cables into your listening device  and into the little radio transmitter and you are all set.  It works on 4 AAA batteries (not included, of course).  The headphone has a built-in FM radio with auto scan, too.  I love, love it.  Now, I can sit in the same room with Mike and enjoy my computer or Kindle and not be tethered while he watches his sports on  the TV.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Trending on The Fiber Closet Online

Did you ever wonder what other fiber artist's are buying?

Here is a list of recent items purchased from The Fiber Closet Online Catalog   
 
BOOKS
Book of Weaving for Knitters
Knitting Lace Triangles       
Too Cute Crochet
Yarn Girls Knitting Journal
       
EXCLUSIVELY YOU
Silver Swivel Clasp
       
MAGAZINES
Beadwork March/April 2000   
Interweave Knits Winter 2007
Knitscene Fall 2009
Vogue Knitting Holiday 2005
       
PATTERNS
FT-66 Origami Pullover
Peruvian Hat and Matching Scarf
   
SPINNING
Kiwi Drive Belt

WEAVING
Cricket Loom

YARN   
Berroco Pure Merino DK 4576
Ella Rae Jaspe Wool 2
Ella Rae Jaspe Wool 8
Ella Rae Lace Merino 108
Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn 258
Noro Silk Garden Yarn 270
Opal Harry Potter Sock Yarn Harry & Ron
Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo 134
Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo 135
Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo 137
Step Wellness Cocktail 119
Sundae 8712
Sundae 8717

If you cannot stop buy and shop in person, don't forget that most of  The Fiber Closet is available online.  

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year



2011 has arrived!  Where did 2010 go?  I don't know about you, but it just flew by for me.  I know I had a lot of fun with all my knitting friends and met a lot of great people at the fiber events and knitting events that I attended.  I am looking forward to meeting even more knitters/spinners/weavers this year.  I will be vending at several events this year.  I will be posting an event calendar so you can come and visit.  I also plan to go to more trade shows if time and budget allows. 

Today, I worked on my website some more.  Decided to give Paypal another go and added an Affiliate link.  You can now sign up to receive $$$ for referring your friends to The Fiber Closet online catalog.  If they make an online purchase within 72 hours of their visit, you earn money.  The link for signing up to be an affiliate is located below the categories on the the left site of the pages on the website.  I appreciate all of your referrals.  I also put some yarn on E-Bay.  My website has Quick List capabilities so I thought I would try it out.  The items on E-Bay also show up at the bottom of my website pages. 

I have a new Kindle.  It reads to me and as internet capabilities.  Boy, has the price on the Kindles really came down since I bought my first one several years ago.   There are several models now.  Mine is white and is both 3G and WIFI but they also have WIFI only.  There are lots of free e-books you can download but I love the knitting related mystery novels.