We don’t mean to do it, really, but sometimes, it just happens that way.  You know — we focus on one thing instead of another.  Like knitting.  We get very focused on knitting on this blog, and it really isn’t intentional.  Today, we would like to change that a wee bit.

Yesterday, Jen came in for a visit, and was wearing a beautiful vest that she had made.   It was one of the most beautiful pieces of crochet that we had ever laid eyes on.  Here, have a peek:

It’s cute.  It’s flattering.  The color is great, and the little stripe of green at the bottom?  That is just a beautiful detail on an already gorgeous vest.

This cute little choker is actually a class that is being offered by Annette.   It is the Lacy Triangle necklace.

Annette actually offers many crochet classes — everything from beginning crochet to flowered headbands, amigurumi animals to crocheted socks.  If you’re a knitter, it’s not a bad idea to have a little crochet in your repertoire.   A basic chain stitch for a crocheted cast on or bind off, single crochet for an edging to a neckline or a blanket can add so much, for so little effort.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed this wee foray into the world of crochet, and hope that we’ve given you something to think about!

Monica’s Little Arrowhead Shawl knit in All Hemp, from Interweave Knits Accessories

Lee’s Lavalette in Jade Sapphire laceweight.

Anna’s Haruni in Abstract Fiber Super Sock

Judy’s Springtime Bandit in a Classic Elite Cotton-Tencel blend

There’s still over a month left in our Summer of Socks and Lace contest! Stop by the shop to join in the fun.

In our Ravelry group, we mentioned that we were doing an (unofficial) KAL of the Haruni and Bitterroot Shawls, sparked by David’s Haruni in our last newsletter.  Both of these shawls are free patterns and are perfect for that next step in lace knitting. Haruni’s interesting border takes the advanced beginner past a simple triangular edging, while Bitterroot challenges the knitter to incorporate beads.

Kelli’s Haruni in madelinetosh sock in Malachite.

Yvonne’s Bitterroot begins in Malabrigo Lace. She’s doing the large version!

Anna’s Bitterroot (the shawlette version) in Dream in Color Smooshy.

As you’ll recall (because we’ve talked about it enough), back in May we began the Stora Dimun knit-along.   While many of us have finished shawls…

(Yvonne’s Stora in O-Wool DK in Rust; Pat F.’s Stora, from Tosh Sock in the Norway Spruce colorway, and Steven models Diane L.’s Stora, knit of Smooshy in the Butterpeeps colorway).

…we know that there are some of you out there that haven’t.  (Not naming any names here but two employees of this store are still trudging through this knit-along).

For that reason, we are announcing another STORA SATURDAY!

The weather is going to be hot, with temperatures predicted in the high 90′s.  Our store is going to be cool (as long as the air conditioning holds out — we’re shooting for a balmy 70°).  This would be a great time to work on any of your projects for the Summer of Socks and Lace, which ends on September 5th, the day before labor day!

We’d like to remind you to please submit your entries before then, if at all possible, just so there isn’t a lot of last minute scrambling for weigh-ins.

Also, please mark the date:  Friday, August 27th, we will be having a special guest:  ADRIENNE MARTINI, author of Sweater Quest, will be stopping by to talk about her “mission to knit the Holy Grail of sweaters while illuminating larger issues of perseverance and purpose, relationships and obsession.”  Keep checking the blog for further details!

Remember to stay hydrated, and keep your pets hydrated, during these “dog days of summer.”   Hope to see you soon!

This week, we combine the Recipe Box with the Color Choice Basket to celebrate the season premiere of my obsession, Mad Men. The colors here invoke the stark minimalism of the show’s opening sequence. The recipe is for a drink my husband devised when I said I wanted to drink something appropriate to the 1960s setting of the show, but I don’t like the rye that is typical for Manhattans. This drink is a hybrid of Old Fashioneds and Manhattans.

• 2 parts Bourbon
• 1 part sweet vermouth
• Dash of bitters

Combine with ice in a shaker. Shake and pour into glasses. Add a maraschino cherry (and if you want it sweeter, add a splash of the juice in the cherry jar).

And of course, unlike the characters of Mad Men, drink responsibly: stay at home to watch the premiere or have a designated driver!

Recycled Grocery Bag – $25 2 Hours

Make a grocery bag by recycling old ones! You can learn how to make “yarn” from used plastic grocery bags and will then start crocheting a simple bag made with it! Good for the environment *and* lots of fun! Easy to customize the bag to suit your needs and wants—make it as big or small as you desire! Students will need to bring their own plastic bags for yarn-making.

The Recycled Grocery Bag class will be held on Saturday, August 7 from 3:30-5:30 PM. Please stop by or call the shop at 412-441-4410 to register or for more information.

In the May issue of our newsletter, we debated the merits of knitting socks toe-up vs. cuff down. Now we’re going to discuss the methods of knitting socks: on double-pointed needles (DPNs), two circular needles, or one long needle for Magic Loop.

Anna: I do Magic Loop for two reasons. First, when I used DPNs, even when I used five needles, I was plagued with ladders in my circular knitting. Second, I had a very bad tendency to lose DPNs, and with the one needle method of Magic Loop, there’s nothing to lose (except for, of course, the project itself).

Annette: When I knit socks, I much prefer DPNs.  I like having the multiple needles and feel more in control of my knitting. Also, with the DPNs I don’t have cables everywhere that annoy me. (also, I hate to admit it, I think it looks kinda bad-ass to have so many pointy needles going at once). The only time I’ll not use DPNs is if the pattern makes it toodifficult (like when I was making my Entrelac Socks–the entrelac pattern made it way too easy for the stitches to slide off the needles) so then I’ll use Magic Loop. I did the 2 circs method once just to try it and just didn’t like it.  DPNs are the way for me!

David: I am partial to two circular needles – only because I first learned to knit socks that way.  I haven’t knit socks in over a year now and would like to make at least one pair before the close of 2010.  In keeping with this year’s knit outside your comfort zone theme, I would like to tackle sock making using DPN’s (using the new Kollage square needles?).

Monica: Magic Loop, hands down. I love that you only ever have to deal with the 2 needles tips. My second choice (ironically) would be DPNs, that’s how I first learned and it’s a comfortable knitting style for me… go figure.

Nora: Although I do not knit socks…I once knit a pair of toes for a pair of knee socks on one long circular needles using magic loop and one man’s sock using DPN.  I like both DPNs and magic loop depending on the knitting situation! The toes—still on the needles—were a Turkish cast-on and are perfect.  The yarn would make a great shawl but I cannot bear to frog them.  Someday I might change my mind and finish the socksJ.

Yvonne: I use all three methods.  I love magic loop.  I enjoy working with DPNs because I feel a “connection” to all of the knitters who have gone before me, knitting their socks on DPNs (also, I’m very partial to those new square Kollage DPNs we carry, so that’s just a bonus!). I also like to do two circulars, but of the three methods discussed, I would say it is probably my least favorite.

Want to learn more about the different methods of making socks? Check out Carla’s Power Knitting Socks Class. Her description:

Been knitting one sock at a time and battling “Second Sock Syndrome”? Then this class is for you. You will learn to make 2 socks at one time on either 2 circular needles or with the Magic Loop method. We will also work them top down and toe up. This way when you are finished, you are finished with the pair and don’t have to start all over again to make the other sock. Bye, bye Second Sock Syndrome! We will also discuss alternate heel and toe methods. Please note: This is not a ‘Learn to Knit Socks’ class. It is for those who have knit at least 2 pairs of socks by any method already and want to move on to knitting socks 2 at one time.

Carla’s class is scheduled for July 12 OR August 10. In just two hours, your mind will be blown with all the methods you will learn.  Call the shop at 412-441-4410 to register!

Yes, really — store demons.  We sometimes will open the store and discover yarn lying in the middle of the aisle.  We’re not sure if the yarn is trying to make a run for it, or if there are gnomes or, well, demons in the store flinging things around.  That, however, is not what we want to talk about today.

What we want to discuss is the Stora Dimun shawl, a pattern from Cheryl Oberle’s Folk Shawls.  It wasn’t so long ago that a group of us decided to cast on 449 stitches and knit miles of garter stitch.  Since the May 3 cast on, we’ve had many of completed shawls parade through our doors.

This is Sarah L.’s Stora, knit from Aktion Jawoll sock yarn.

This is David A.’s Stora, knit from Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport.

As of this writing, we also have completed Stora’s from Karen L., Carla, and myself.  We are hoping to host a “Stora Trunk Show,” where the completed shawls will be on display.   Keep an eye on our blog for further information!