The Knit Kit

The new Knit Kit has arrived. The Knit Kit was featured on the Martha Stewart Show March 9as one of Martha's Finds.

The Knit Kit 2010 is turquoise and has two added new features. A double sided crochet hook, especially for sock knitters and a darning needle for finishing work. The Knit Kit has whatever you need for knitting on the go. Great for traveling by car, boat, train or plane. The Knit Kit 2010 is turquoise and has two added new features. A double sided crochet hook, especially for sock knitters and a darning needle for finishing work. The Knit Kit has whatever you need for knitting on the go. Great for traveling by car, boat, train or plane.

New Hours at The Fiber Closet

NEW FIBER CLOSET HOURS

Monday-Wednesday: 10 AM-3 PM

Thursday: 10 AM-6 PM

Friday and Saturday: 10 AM-3 PM

Sunday: CLOSED

New weekly group times:

Tuesday:

Spinning: 10 AM-12 PM

Rug Hooking: 1 PM-3 PM

Thursday:

Crochet: 10 AM-12 PM

Weaving: 1 PM-3 PM

Knitting: 3 PM-6 PM

Fiber Closet Updates

Received:
Kollage Yarns-square circulars and double points, Delicious and 1/2 N 1/2 yarn and freeform bag kits.

Hazel Rose looms-2", 4", 6" and 2" x 4" multi- looms. Weave 3 different weaves with these looms, including the weave-it method.

Cherry burl shawl pins.

Schacht Spindle-Cricket looms.

Don't forget that The Fiber Event is this Friday and Saturday at Greencastle. We will be in our usual booth.

The Fiber Closet hours. We will be closed this Thursday the 8th thru Wednesday the 14th.




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Handi Tool has Arrived

The Fiber Closet received only 30 Handi Tools in today's mail. I know several of you have been waiting on them. I still have 90 on backorder.

Don't forget that if you want to insure you get one of these, you can follow the Title Link and purchase one. Just show "Will Pick Up" on the order form where it asks for shipping method and I will hold yours for you. No shipping charges are incurred on "Will Pick Up".

Thursday schedule has changed:

Crochet group--We have changed Thursday from 10 AM-12 PM to a crochet group. Feel free to come crochet with us every Thursday morning. Then 1 PM-3 PM is rug hooking and, of course, 3 PM until ???? is the Knit Group.

Miscellaneous Musings

The Fiber Closet attended two very successful shows: Kokomo and Portland. We met a lot of great people. The Kokomo show was very special because it was held in two great historic homes. Although it was primarily a rug hooking show, we found a lot of knitters, spinners and weavers. There also was some gorgeous jewelry and baskets. We demonstrated kumihimo and tri-loom weaving. At Portland, one Friday, school children attended. Most of us vendors demonstrated different fiber arts. There was sheep shearing and a petting zoo. Saturday was vendor day. Both days were chocked full of classes that were well attended. Some of the fiberarts represented were: basket making, colonial rug hooking, blending and carding of fibers, dyeing, knitting, spinning, lots of various types of weaving--rigid heddle, floor loom, rug weaving, tri-loom, inkle loom, and card weaving--jewelry making. We deomonstrated kumihimo and tri-loom. There was great food available at both events. My husband, Mike, helped at both events and plans to attend more events. After the Portland show, we visited his sisters and brother-in-law in Delphos, Ohio.

Our next event is the Fiber Event at Greencastle on April 9th and 10th.

Jay County Fiber Fest and Spin-In

Just a quick reminder that The Fiber Closet will be CLOSED March 11-13 so that we can participate in the Jay County Fiber Fest and Spin-in in Portland, Indiana.

The Fiber Closet will re-open at 10 AM on Monday.

We will NOT have knitting or rug hooking on Thursday, March 11th.

Sock Yarn on Clearance

Making room for more yarns. Sockotta sock yarn NOW ON SALE at $5.99 for 50 gram ball. Quantities limited. Color 18 is only $5.39 and there are just 2 balls of it.

Sockotta Sock Yarn
from the Plymouth Brand Italian Collection Collection
Yarn Content: 45% Cotton, 40% Superwash Wool, 15% Nylon
Yarn Gauge: 7 sts = 1"/US2 needle
Yarn Length: 414 yds/100g ball

Some of the yarn has a Fair Isle effect, some stripes, some jacquard and some are mutli-color effect.

Follow this link to see the yarns:

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/CLear1/-strse-Closeouts/searchpath/56373462/start/46/total/72/Categories.bok

Super Bowl XLVI's Scarf

The Fiber Closet is looking for knitters to help the 2012 Super Bowl committee achieve their goal of 8,000 knitted scarves.

We will be ordering the appropriate Cascade Yarn for the project. If you would like to participate, please let me know.

More details can be found by clicking on this post's title.

Changes at The Fiber Closet

Soon you will be seeing more of me at The Fiber Closet. Starting February 15th, I will be full-time in the shop. Shop hours will remain the same--Monday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm. All groups will remain on the same schedule.

Cathy and Barbara have been a big help to me in The Fiber Closet and have been greatly appreciated. Plans are that they will remain involved in teaching and demonstrating in the shop. They just won't be employees.

A lot of things went into this tough decision--insurance requirements, payroll expenses, etc.

Kumihimo

My first braiding attempt.



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Happy New Years!!!!

I wish all of you a happy and prosperous New Year. Where has 2009 gone??

Today, is our last knit group of the year. The group has started their second sock in the KAL. It is a toe-up sock using the Magic Cast On. We start a new sock every two months. Next sock pattern will be available end of February. It's not too late to join the KAL. Even if you can't join us for our weekly meetings, knit along with us. Just contact me at The Fiber Closet or leave a comment or request on this blog.

2009 has been an exciting year for both The Fiber Closet and myself.

• While a lot of retailers have been suffering, the Fiber Closet's sales increased by almost 40%. Thank you to all our customers. You all have become great friends.
• I became a new bride and have a wonderful new husband.
• The Fiber Closet participated in three successful Indiana fiber events and we plan to attend at least four in 2010. Our long range goal is to participate in one event a month March through October. We are on the waiting list for several events. If you know of any fiber events, please let us know.

We definitely will have our other weaving/craft room open in 2010. My husband, Mike, will also be setting up shop in part of the room. He is a well-know collector/seller of sports cards plaques and related supplies. He buys and sells sports cards and collections.

I am looking for new ideas for classes. Please leave comments and suggestions on this blog.

Have a great New Year's eve. Love you all.

Cheryl

Snow in Rockville

Yeah! I awoke to a small dusting of snow. It is just enough to get one into the spirit of the Holidays.

In the mail today, I received great News from Mountain Colors. They were inspired by a new book called Not My Daughter that is coming out January 5, 2010. In conjunction with this book, they have designed a new Colorway called Spring Eclipse. Working with the publisher, Doubleday, they have created special yarn tags that talk about the book and the yarn. I have a yarn sample of the Spring Eclipse and one of the tags. Check out Mountain Colors at http://www.mountaincolors.com/ and the author, Barbara Delinsky at http://barbaradelinsky.com/. Mountain Colors is also introducing a new sock yarn, Crazyfoot. Crazyfoot is a 90% Superwash Merino and 10% Nylon with lots of twist. Skeins are 440 yards giving you plenty of yarn for a pair of socks. I plan on ordering some of both yarns. Let me know if you need a certain colorway or amount so I am sure to have it in stock.

Today, I sent out a new schedule to all of you who have signed up for our Newsletters. The Fiber Closet has new social groups and new hours for some of our old ones. Every Tuesday is now going to be spinning and weaving day. Thursdays will be knitting and rug hooking. I added a new knitting session (10 AM-1 PM) and added an hour to The Sweater Girls (3-6 PM). Also, changed the Rug Hooking Group to weekly on Thursdays from 1-3 PM. We will be spinning every Tuesday morning and weaving in the afternoons.

Lady is still making great progress. I finished the fingerless mitts that I was making for Mike's sisters. I will post them on my Facebook album and on Ravlery. Mike is now retired and will be in Rockville more often. Yeah!

Sock KAL

Check out our progress.

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Sock KAL

The Sweater Girls AKA the Thursday Knit Group have almost completed their first sock KAL. Sharon is getting ready to kitchener the toes of her socks. Sharon is our left-handed knitter and has successfuly figured out how to knit two socks on two circular needles.

The group has decided that they want to do a toe-up sock on two circulars for their next KAL. The next pattern will be passed out the last week of December.

The Sock KAL is open to everyone. Only requirement to receive the pattern is that the yarn must be purchased from The Fiber Closet. Of course, we would all love for you to join us on Thursdays from 4-6 PM. Would love for you to post your sock pictures on this Blog or on our Ravelry Group, The Sweater Girls.

Thursdays from 4-6 PM everything is 10% off, unless it is already discounted. Remember books are always 25% off.

Black Friday Sale @ The Fiber Closet

One item 40% off. Does not include looms or wheels. Choose from Lots of luxury yarns, books, needles & notions.






Enjoyed a wonderful first Thanksgiving with Mike.-

Hope to see you soon.Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Arrivals Scheduled for This Week

addi Clicks

Jojoland Pattern Swirl

Jojoland Pattern Autumn

Serendipity 10" Knitting Needles and Scarf Pins should arrive soon.

Barbara's Sundae Best

When the shipment arrived, Barbara fell in love with Berroco's Sundae yarn. The picture shows her recent projects: Danielle Hood from Berroco #287 and Wrenna from the book, "French Girl Knits"

Thursday Sweater Girls Knitting

Join the knitting group at 4 PM this afternoon. We have started a sock KAL. I have chosen Crystal Palace Bamboo Cotton in purple for my socks. I think the solid color will help bring out the diamond design. I am knitting two socks on two circulars.

Brown Sheep Trunk Show at the Fiber Closet

Everyone is invited to come to The Fiber Closet and check out the new Fall 2009 designs now on display. The designs will be at the shop until the middle of November when they will travel to the next Knit Shop. There are vests, sweaters, cardigans, hat, scarf, children's clothes, etc., for your viewing and touching pleasure.

Why I Learned to Knit

My Mother was an avid crocheter. I attempted to learn crochet from her but I am sure that most of you can relate to mother/daughter learning sessions. It did not go well. I couldn't please her. Nothing I did was correct.

My Aunt Ione lived many miles away. She was a Navy Doctor's wife and a nurse. She was very classy looking. I always admired her. She would send us knitted items. In my farm girl mind, I thought that must be what the classy ladies do. They knit!

Maybe I should knit. Mom doesn't know a thing about knitting and, therefore, couldn't be critical of what I turned out on my needles. The next time we went to the big city and was in Sears, I bought a teach yourself to knit kit. Yes, 40 years ago Sears had their own brand of yarn and knitting supplies. The yarn was a gorgeous purple. It even had needles with it and a small accessory kit with markers, stitch holders, needle gauge, point protectors and pattern book.

I learned to cast on, knit and cast off. There was a pattern for a slipper in this Sear's knitting instruction book. I knit one slipper in garter stitch. That was IT! I was hooked. I taught myself to knit on circular needles. Yes, I did twist the stitch and ended up with a mess but I knew what was wrong. I started over and knit myself a skirt (lavendar) in the round. I made a matching vest. I had a thing for purples back then and, yes, I still do. I don't know where any of this first knitting is now more than 40 years later but it is all vivid in my memory.

Little did I know that some day I would be the owner a yarn store--The Fiber Closet. I have taught many others to knit. I have knitting needles in every size and shape.

New Look to Website

This week I finally launched a more user friendly website. I will be adding features/products. This week at the Fiber Closet, the Sweater Girls started cutting their steeks on their fairisle sweaters.