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Update!  See finalized workshop dates below!

GREAT NEWS!!  WE HAVE BOOKED CAT

BORDHI FOR FEBRUARY 19, 20 AND 21, 2010!! 

Choose from the workshops she offers below, and call us to get your name on the list for the most fun and exciting knitting workshop teacher you will ever meet.

Cat Bordhi Workshop Information 2009-2010

Cat Bordhi’s mission, according to Stephanie Pearl McPhee, “is to make you a more creative, freethinking knitter who problem-solves and experiments with vigor and fearlessness. The best part?  She can.” Cat teaches and inspires more than a 1,000 knitters a year in her classes and retreats all over North America. Her Youtube knitting tutorials reach many 1,000’s more, and her innovative books, Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles, A Treasury of Magical Knitting, A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting , and New Pathways For Sock Knitters have reached well over 100,000 knitters.She is also the author of an award-winning novel, Treasure Forest. Her newest book, Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters,  is now in stock. For more information, visit www.catbordhi.com.  We have all her books, by the way.

New Pathways for Sock Knitters – Sunday, Feb/21/10 $100 - 6 hours, 10-5PM with minimum of 14 Students, includes lunch, door prizes, limit 24 students

Description: This class takes you “backstage” to see and understand how the new sock architectures in my book, NEW PATHWAYS FOR SOCK KNITTERS, work. In fact, my goal for the class is that you won’t need my book, unless you want to follow a particular pattern. So if you’ve been hankering to create your own original designs, or maybe just add stitch patterns with confidence, this class will empower you to be a sock designer and a better all-around knitter. You’ll knit one very small sock to gain a fluent understanding of the elements underlying all the architectures. Then you’ll be ready to design within any of the architectures,even to create new ones! We’ll explore ways to integrate stitch patterns, texture, elasticity, durability, and color to help you create beautiful, well-fitted, and original sock designs. Our day together will be chock full of sock-knitting “ahah!” moments and deeper and deeper understanding of how to cover the foot with a continuous strand of yarn in charming and clever ways.

Class supplies and homework: In addition to the usual knitting supplies: excellent quality (absolutely no acrylics please – it is the least cooperative of all yarn), light-colored (so you can clearly see your stitches) sport to worsted weight wool for the exploratory baby socks, with appropriate sized needles; and several choices of sock yarn for making full-size socks, with appropriate sized needles. Needles may be dpn’s, 2 circs, or 1 long circ; bring a variety of sizes so you can swatch to get a gauge that makes good sock fabric. Please watch Cat’s Youtube tutorials on wrapping and turning stitches, and then concealing the wraps, as well as her tutorial on Judy’s Magic Cast-On, and practice the techniques before coming to class.

Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters–

Saturday, Feb. 20/10 $100 - 6 hours, 10-5PM with minimum of 14 Students, includes lunch, door prizes, limit 24 students

(confident beginner to advanced; prerequisite skills include knit, purl, kfb, k2tog, plus fluency and confidence knitting in the round using your choice of dpns, 1 long circ, or 2 circs. A cast-on and elastic bind-off will be taught.)

Description: In 2008 I set myself the challenge of developing a sock knitting process that would be as simple as humanly possible without sacrificing fit or design possibilities, and I believe I’ve met my goal. Insouciant describes “that cheerful feeling you have when nothing is troubling you,” and this method really will make you an insouciant sock knitter.  During class your feet will guide you to create a portable Personal Footprint which will carry all the information you need to knit yourself perfectly fitting socks anywhere you go. There are no short rows, no stitches to pick up, no gauge calculations, no gussets, no heel flaps, and no grafting. The method is described in detail in my new book, Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters which also includes about 25 original designs. In class I’ll also show you how easy it is to integrate designs into your Personal Footprints socks, and for those who arrive in class already versed in working with their Personal Footprint, I will teach more advanced design approaches.

Class supplies and homework: For learning the toe start: About 5 yards of worsted weight, excellent quality wool and your choice of dpns, 1 long circ, or 2 circs in a size that makes it easy to work with your yarn.  For your first Personal Footprint sock: Pencil and eraser. A piece of cardboard large enough to trace your foot on (like the back of a cereal box), and scissors for cutting it out. Excellent quality sock yarn in a weight you expect to use often, with needles in a size that give you good sock fabric (dense yet elastic). Beware: the suggested gauge on ball bands is usually too loose for socks. Bring several sizes of needles (dpns, 1 long circ, or 2 circs ) so you can adjust if necessary. If using dpns, you will also need one 24” or longer circular needle for trying the sock on and opening the leg; it can be the same size or smaller than your dpns.

Magical Moebius Knitting – Friday, Feb. 19/10 $100 - 6 hours, 10-5PM with minimum of 14 Students, includes lunch, door prizes, limit 24 students 

(advanced beginner to expert) 

Description: Learn Cat’s Moebius Cast-On and the tricks of knitting along the ”Moebius highway”, and then the thrill ride begins! For utterly carefree knitting you may make a scarf, or if you’re feeling adventurous, decide how and where you’d like to open up this single-surfaced, single-edged stream of knitted grace. Your opening can give birth to a basket (a great first project) or a bag. Other possibilities you’ll be encouraged to imagine and design for yourself are a sweater, a skirt, or even an evening wrap with sleeves ending in gloves! Moebius knitting is unlike any other kind of knitting because of its innocence, grace, simplicity, peace, beauty, and willingness to head in a sophisticated and complex direction if that pleases you.

Class supplies and homework: In addition to the usual knitting supplies: bring good quality, cooperative dk or heavier weight yarn (absolutely no acrylics please – it is the least cooperative of all yarn) suitable for a scarf, or for a basket, about 135 yards of a worsted-weight felting yarn and a few yards of a smooth yarn in a contrasting color to your project yarn. You’ll need either an interchangeable needle kit with a long cord (for a needle that measures between about 44” to 55” tip to tip) or a 47” needle in a size suitable for the yarn(s) you will be using. Needle size should give you a nice drapey fabric if you are making a scarf, or a very loose fabric if planning a felted project like a basket. You’ll also need one conspicuous marker, as well as a supply of plain markers if you choose to make a scarf with a lace repeat. Please refer to either of my Treasuries of Magical Knitting for more information or to choose a project. Please watch my Youtube video on Moebius knitting and practice the caston:

Dec.15/09.  OKAY, WE HAVE 6 COLOURS TO START OF BRIGGS & LITTLE COUNTRY ROVING FOR YOUR COWICHAN AND OLYMPIC STYLE KNITTING!!  LOTS OF PATTERNS TOO. 

We have lots of new books, check out the list in our newsletter!!

Go to the catalog and see all the needles we can supply you with, or let your local yarn shop know that you want these needles, including the latest and greatest version of the Addi Clicks, (see note below Cat's workshops) now including 3.75mm, and you can now buy them individually, plus we have Addi turbo circs, sizes 2, 2.5, 3, 3.25, 3.50 and 3.75mm in 8"!! YES, WE HAVE ADDI CLICKS IN STOCK!!  PLUS ADDITIONAL NEEDLES AND CORD SETS

Thought we should tell you, along with all the other yarns we have in stock, we have every colour of Rowan Colourscape by Kaffe Fassett, plus every colour of Rowan Purelife Cotton and ditto the purelife wool, both of the latter dyed with natural dyes, perfect for babies.  We also have every colour currently available of Noro Silk Garden and Silk Garden Sock.  

We also have more 1824 wool stock in, colours 01, 05, 11, 16, 22, 3 bags.

Wool & Wicker is now the Steveston area's depot for Padraig slippers!  We have newborn  up to Men's large with lots of colours to choose from.  Get your Holiday Gifts now while you can get your choice of size and colour!  See the story at www.padraigcottage.com

Jean's next Cowl Wrap workshop will be 7-9PM March 11, 18, 25/2010 at $100.00 for 3 sessions of 2 hours each,  it uses 800m of a drapey dk weight yarn for the small size.  We have lots to choose from!  The sample is in the store right now if you wish to see it.  Wish I could show you a picture, but she doesn't wish it out there on the web!  Can't blame her, too much piracy going on. 

Don't miss the new "Zauberball" and "Zauberball Crazy" sock yarn, flying out the yarnshop doors right across Canada!  We also have a few "Addi Clicks".

August 10/09, we have received most of our Berroco order, which consists of lots of colours of Ultra Alpaca regular weight, light and fine which have all been super popular, comfort sock and Berroco Sox, Jasper, Inca Gold, Blackstone tweed and every colour of Lustra, along with all of the booklets.  Look for lots of new samples as well.  For the fall/winter 09/10 season, there are new colours in Schulana's Angora Fashion and Cashmere Trend and Cashmere Fino, Grande Solids (watch for a fabulous selection of 1 ball hat patterns),  lots of new colours in the fabulous Kid Seta range, new colours in Merino Cotton 90 and 135, Mosco, nimbus Multi, Sumerino Print and Sumerino solids, (started a sample with this fabulous springy, cloud soft merino) Zitron Trekking 6 ply sock, New yarns are Zitron's Trekking Maxima,  a new updated colour range of 10 colours altogether, a new Schulana Kid Seta Melange with 4 colours to start, both Schoppel's Zauberball Crazy and Zitron's Trekking Handart coming in a Missoni like colour range, Schulana's Cortina and Cortina Nuvole, Zitron Fundus and Zitron Opus 1 (scrumptious aloe and jojoba infused chunky merino, 1 ball does a very slouchy hat or scarf) and Schulana Pacolana, (148 yds of alpaca, wool and nylon chunky blend) and lastly, but not leastly, the new limited edition sock flats, Socken Klecks.  Check all these out on skacelknitting.com!!

Your non knitting significant others will be happy to join you in the store now, we have a TV they can watch while you leisurely pick out your fall/winter and Christmas projects! We have also built a colour wall of multicolour yarns for your eye candy pleasure.

Here is one of the latest irresistible projects I just had to knit for one of the little ones occupying my mind these days.  This one was inspired by the colours and texture of the new Noro "Taiyo", a lovely blend of wool, cotton and silk in the fabulous colourways only Noro seems to come up with.  My idea was to knit a long coat first granddaughter 2 1/2 year old Camryn could wear this fall/winter, and then hand down to her next in age year old cousin Hennessey, then on to the youngest girl, 4 1/2 month Sidney.  When I finished 3 balls, we had a coat which would fit Hennessey now, with a collar.  Camryn's mom (our youngest child, Monique) asked that I make it larger, with a hood and pocket, so I added the front bands, hood and pocket, which made it a perfect fit for Cammie, with lots of extra arm length, taking 1 more ball.  The next size up will take 5 balls.  I think it is the perfect knit for my fellow crazed grandmas out there, so I am presenting my design here for to tempt you all, you know who you are!  Smallest size, or a medium size jacket, (8", instead of 14" to armhole from bottom of coat), 3 balls and pattern $55; medium size, 4 balls and pattern, $73; largest size, $90.  We have colours 7, 4 and 5. 

See new books below.

Crazy Lace: An Artistic Approach to Creative

Crocheted Gifts: Irresistible Projects

Haiku Knits: 25 Serenely Beautiful Patterns

Itty Bitty Nursery: Sweet Adorable Knits

Knitted Socks East and West: 30 Designs

Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater that Grandma Made

Hattitude: Knits for every Mood

Destination Alchemy

Alchemy of color knitting

Alchemy Lost and Found

Knitting in the Sun

Freeform Style - Prudence Mapstone & Jonelle Raffino

The Harmony Guides: Cables and Arans

Knitting More Circles Around Socks - Great! Back in

Boutique Knits is back in!

Breeze by Kim Hargreaves

Socks From the Toe Up back in

Nicky Epstein Knitting in Tuscany

Pursenalities and Pursenalities Plus

Vintage Baby Knits

101 Designer One Skein Wonders back in

Alchemy Lost and Found back in

The Knitter's Manual

Debbie Bliss Baby & Toddler Knits

Iris Schreier's Reversible Knits

Mother Daughter Knits: 30 Designs - Melville and daughter

Pints and Purls

Shetland Lace - original designs from Jamieson & Smith

Aran Knit - Japanese

Crocheting in Plain English

Fiber Gathering

French Girl Knits - back in - don't miss this one, I would make almost everything in this book!

It Itches

Knitters Handbook - a must for every knitter

Magic Loop

Pipsqueak Knits

Romantic Handknits

Rowan Junior

Simple Style

Sensual Crochet

Simply Shetland #5

COMING SOON:

Stitch N Bitch Superstar

Knitted Gifts: Irresistible Projects to Make & Give

Natural Nursery Knits

Knitting for Dummies Revised Edition

Big Girl Knits soft cover

"Socks a la Carte" Pick and Choose Patterms to Knit Socks Your way

Itty Bitty Hats