Stop! Ravelry Time!

Posted by sarah on November 7, 2012 / 1 Comment

There’s a good chance your brain is now currently in decompress mode, following the onslaught of election coverage it’s been subject to. All the more reason to offer it a crafty, scrumptious treat! By way of Ravelry!

In truth, we know many of you are firm supporters of the helpful/inspirational social media site that is Ravelry. That’s why we’re always happy to remind you to stay tuned to our Happy Knits page.

Especially because we love when YOU share your thoughts and personal projects with US, via the site! In fact, we’ve definitely begun posting more of our staff WIPs & FOs lately, and it’s left us eager to see what you guys and gals have been working on, as well.

In the meantime, check out the adorableness of the cowls Beth just posted…

We’ve also been sure to keep our page updated with announcements on new yarn, groups, classes and KALs, so if you ever have a question about any of these, it’s a great place to post an inquiry or comment. There’s also some terrific pics there, as we hope to inspire and motivate you crafters.

I mean, really – who wouldn’t wanna join the new KAL that will help you recreate this fantastic classic raglan sweater Kate just whipped up?!

So there you have it! Friendly reminder complete…and now’s as good a time as any for you to venture on over to Ravelry and see what’s happening at Happy Knits these days!

What classes can do for you

Posted by sarah on September 11, 2012 / Leave a Comment

With our fall classes ready to swing back into action, it was great to recently meet someone who the classes had already left a great impression on.

Anne Sherwood had signed up for the You Don’t Know Knit session in January after receiving a gift certificate from her husband and children for her birthday. “I like to learn new things, and they knew I was really interested in what knitting was all about,” she said.

This particular session of You Don’t Know Knit, led by Annette, helped Sherwood in that it was a small class, where she says she got a good amount of personal attention. Even though she didn’t have any past experience with the craft, Sherwood said she wasn’t intimidated to get started.

“It was frustrating at first, because I didn’t know what I was doing, but I never felt too nervous to make mistakes, because it’s just yarn,” she said. “And I was never wasting time as I learned, because I was knitting in my spare time.”

Since ‘passing the class,’ Sherwood has knit five hats, a two-color shawlette, one fingerless glove and will soon be finishing the Abalone cardigan. Not to mention 15 dishcloths, of which she says loves to make. “They’re great to practice on,” she says. “Like when I was learning to purl for the sweater, I could practice the technique on a dishcloth. I’ve also worked on yarn-overs this way, and can try out different yarns with them, plus I get great use out of the dishcloth!”

Upcoming projects for Sherwood include more sweaters, and plenty of winter hats for her family, especially since her sons have already been fighting over a certain hat she made for one of them. She seems passionate to continue her new craft, and offers encouragement for those yet to start.

“Knitting is amazing, and I plan to knit until my hands fall off,” she says. “It’s really easy, and you can knit just about anywhere – the bus, a plane. I love it! I find it very meditative. Sometimes knitting alone, in a quiet room, is the most relaxing thing there is.”

Sherwood’s advice for new knitters, and those considering classes at Happy Knits? “You have to really stay at it, and practice,” she says. “Finish your projects, because unfinished projects is bad mojo. And don’t buy cheap materials, like acrylic yarn, because you want to enjoy what you’re creating.”

Visit our website to investigate all the fun and different classes we have to offer this season, and feel free to let us know if you have any questions!

Multitasking.

Posted by Jolie on August 29, 2012 / 3 Comments

Recently I’ve discovered the perfect way to assuage my guilt. You know the guilt you feel when you sit down to knit and remember the six dozen other things on your to-do list that need to be done? Like laundry, unloading the dishwasher, replying to emails or thinking of a blog post, or…oh. Maybe that’s just me.

Anyways, the point is now I feel less guilty.

Because I can multitask.

Somehow, I’ve discovered the joy of listening to podcasts while I knit. It’s the perfect way to get more done at once. I can learn something new, or listen to a favorite classic book, or laugh. It’s perfect for those patterns where I want a little distraction, but can’t really talk and knit at the same time.

I love non-knitting podcasts like This American Life, or The Moth, because I love story-telling. But my new obsession is knitting podcasts. So I thought I’d share a few of my favorites with you.

First, of course, is the Knit Picks Podcast. Kelley is full of marvelous information and good ideas.

I also feel I must mention Cloudy with a Chance of Fiber, even though it’s been a little while since she aired an episode — Natalie is a regular here at HK and we love her.

And of course there’s the classic — Cast On. Brenda Dayne is from Portland, and though she lives in Wales now, her ties to the city are pretty strong. We also share the love of a terrific knitting bag — I carry my Swift everywhere. (tangent: please tell me  you know about the marvelous people at Tom Bihn!)

But my favorite is CraftLit, the podcast for crafters who love books. Heather Ordover talks and shares her favorite classics books. Gulliver’s Travels is currently playing, but I’ve listened to Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice several times. Her podcast is well thought out and fun.

Perhaps there’s something in these podcasts that will inspire you or at least help make your afternoons of knitting on the couch guilt-free, too.

Are there any I’m missing? What’s your favorite podcast?