To follow up from our announcement about Franklin’s visit from the newsletter:

I have a question about the class!
When can I sign up?
Sign-ups start Monday, February 2 at 10:00 AM sharp.

How do I sign up?
Call us at 412-441-4410 to reserve your spot with a credit card, or stop by the shop on February 2.

How much is the class?
$40

How many spots will there be?
Per Franklin’s request, the class is limited to 20 people.

What do I need to bring?
We will send or give you a list upon registration.

Will the shop be open that day?
We will be closed to the general public all day on March 1 to accommodate the class. Students will be able to shop briefly before and after the class.

I have a question about the book signing!
Do I have to get my book ahead of time?
No! We’ll have a bunch of copies at the store.

Do I have to buy my book at Natural Stitches?
No! But those who have a Natural Stitches receipt (or have a record of having purchased the book in our system) will be first in line at the signing.

Is there a fee for the signing?
No, but if you’d like to be entered in our raffles for Panopticon sock yarn or copies of It Itches, it’s $5 per ticket, or one handknit donation for the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh for two tickets.

Do I need to RSVP?
Nope again! But if you’d like to be nice and let us know if you are coming to the signing, we’d really appreciate it!
Other questions? Just let us know via email (newsletter@naturalstitches.com) or in the comments here.

In the spirit of the “grab the nearest book” meme on Facebook, quick, grab your project bag. What’s the first WIP (work in progress) you pull out? What yarn are you using? How long has this been a WIP? Do you like this project?

Anna
What’s the first WIP you pull out? The Cobblestone sweater by Jared Flood that I’m knitting for my husband as part of the Man Sweater Slog-a-Long I wrote about in the newsletter.
What yarn are you using? Cascade 220. It’s a classic for a reason!
How long has this been a WIP? I cast on while watching movies at home on New Year’s Eve
Do you like this project? I like the idea of this project. I like that it’s mindless, but on the other hand, the stockinette is endless.

Charissa
What’s the first WIP you pull out? The Superior Sweater (The peplum pullover from the superior pattern book).  mmmmmmm. There’s a reason it’s on top.
What yarn are you using? Superior Cashmere/silk
How long has this been a WIP? It’s only been going for a few weeks.
Do you like this project? This project is HEAVENLY.

Carla
What’s the first WIP you pull out? My Owls Sweater-free pattern can be found here.
What yarn are you using? An unknown wool yarn in a pleasant green I had in my stash for the bottom (Two hoots for using stash yarn!!!) and Cascade Eco Wool in a soft gray for yoke where the owls are.
How long has this been a WIP? Working on it since Monday, January 19.
Do you like this project? I love this project!  Fast, easy to knit, and has great directions.  And it’s a top down seamless.  What’s not to like?  I have a great idea for the eyes of the owls.  If it works out as well as I think it will I’ll be happy to let everyone in on how I do it.

Carol
What’s the first WIP you pull out? Red Dog Redux Shawl
What yarn are you using? Ultra Alpaca Fine Color 1288 (Navy) for Main Color; Noro Sock Color S229 (blue/green/purple) for Contrast Color
How long has this been a WIP? a month?
Do you like this project? It’s the first time I’ve done this shawl in something other than my handspun, and I decided to switch the MC and CC colors to see what would happen. I like it!

Monica
What’s the first WIP you pull out? My Apres Surf Hoodie from the summer 2008 Interweave Knits.
What yarn are you using? I’m using Alpaca with a Twist Socrates (nom nom nom) in the Macaw (green) colorway.
How long has this been a WIP? Do you like this project? I started it on 10/28/08, and I love it. I’m almost done with the front and will be starting the sleeves sometime in the next week. With only the sleeves and hoodie part left, I’m still only on my 2nd ball of yarn..!

Teri
What’s the first WIP you pull out? What yarn are you using? Nancy, a thick/thin navy blue DK weight yarn I’m making into a square afghan in the round using seed stitch until I run out of yarn.
How long has this been a WIP? Currently on skein 11 of 46, anticipating 12 – 15 months to finish, started early November 2008.
Do you like this project? I don’t know about liking it, but it’s generally relaxing.

Your turn! What’s in your bag?

As I wrote in the newsletter, new spring yarns have been arriving all week. I am the first to admit that I am a terrible photographer, but these should give you an idea. (By the way, did you all know that our manager Melissa took all the photos that hang on the shop walls? Aren’t they amazing?)

The Louet Euroflax, Rowan Calmer, Rowan Lenpur Linen (and the old steadfast yarns, which are great, by the way):

Valentine Flat Feet in non-traditional and traditional colorways:

We also have a new Conjoined Creation book for Flat Feet with patterns for socks, mittens, hats, and an adorable baby layette.

I can spill the beans now. The special guest is FRANKLIN!

From the newsletter:

Franklin Habit, AKA The Panopticon, AKA Dolores’ alter ego, founder of the Fibertarian Party, collector of talking yarn, lace knitter extraordinaire & author of It Itches: A Stash of Knitting Cartoons will be joining us at Natural Stitches on February 28th and March 1st.

Starting at 4:30 on the 28th (a Saturday), Franklin will be signing copies of his book, chatting with customers, and all around just being fabulous. Then on Sunday he’ll be teaching a class titled Introduction to the History, Methods, and Styles of Lace Knitting on Sunday, March 1st at 11am. Franklin frequently posts about his lace knitting on his blog, but if you haven’t seen any of his work, here are some examples.

As Franklin describes his class:
In this three-hour session, learn the basic principles and techniques of knitting’s grandest tradition. Subjects to be covered include beginnings and endings, chart reading, lifelines, nupps and other fancy maneuvers, edgings, dealing with mistakes, blocking finished work, and more. Students will also learn about the great national traditions of knitted lace and what makes them unique. Class size is limited to 20. Participants should be familiar with the basic moves of casting on, knitting and purling.

Everyone is invited to join us on Saturday for the signing; books will be available for purchase at the shop. The class on Sunday is limited in size; pre-registration is required. The fee for the class is $40. Payment is required at time of registration and is non-refundable. Sign-ups begin February 2nd at 10AM. Class materials (a list will be provided upon registration) are extra and can be purchased at Natural Stitches.

We’re also using Franklin’s event as an opportunity for community service. On Saturday we will be collecting money and hand-knitted items (baby blankets, baby hats, hats, mittens, & scarves) for the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. Every $5 donation will be entered into a drawing for two skeins of Panopticon sock yarn from Lorna’s Laces or a free copy of Franklin’s book. Every hand knitted item will earn two entries.

We look forward to seeing you at this exciting weekend! Look for more details to come in the next few weeks. (Times are subject to change.)

Sorry for the late notice, but we will be opening at Noon-ish tomorrow due to getting our windows treated.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Martha

I know, it’s freezing out, but our spring orders are starting to arrive. Here’s what’s come in lately:

•    Berroco Comfort Chunky
•    Berroco Pure Pima
•    Cascade Alpaca Lace (okay, not spring specifically, but new and gorgeous)
•    Kraemer Saucon Sock
•    Louet Euroflax Linen
•    Rowan Calmer
•    Rowan Lenpur Linen
•    More books than you can shake a stick at, including the newest Rowan Magazine, an adorable children’s book from Rowan Purelife (look for Melissa to start knitting chickens and cows with large udders), and Interweave’s French Girl Knits (Ooh la la, look for Carla’s review in our February newsletter!)

All I can say right now is that we have a really special guest coming to the shop in February. You can find a clue in our shop window for the moment, and look for an announcement in our newsletter later this week.

There are times when our goal of having a cozy, friendly place for knitters and crocheters to gather backfires on us, particularly when a bunch of shop associates and customers cluster together in our “living room” and folks entering the shop don’t know who works here! We tried wearing buttons last fall, but it turns out that those are hard for people to see sometimes. Our solution? Aprons!

You can’t miss us now! Plus, check out the cunning pockets for us to put notions in.

Melissa and I had a lot of fun putting together this basket of Black and Gold yarn last week, and we are thrilled that we get to keep it up for at least another week.

As you can see, we have the Regia Nations sock yarn back in stock in the black and gold colorway. We are still waiting, albeit pretty impatiently at this point, for the Lorna’s Laces in Beestripe to come in. And there’s always the Steelers Flat Feet; we were tickled to get a call from a customer in Annapolis, MD on Monday asking us to send her two flats in the Steeler colorways!

New colors of Chameleon Colorworks arrived this morning in Bluefaced Leicester and Merino/Tencel!