Day: July 21, 2020

I have added a few new workshops to the class calendar including Gauge Tricks, Yarn Substitution, a new fun sock, and a second Bolan sweater class for those that missed out on the last class.

Yarn substitution has been a huge topic in the fiber community recently with some new gorgeous pattern releases that collaborate with drool-worthy, indy-dyed, higher end yarns. I want to impart the gift of knowledge to my fellow knitters to help you complete these beautiful designs using yarns that are in your budget.
All patterns can be made substituting yarns at all price points, and turn out gorgeous!!

July

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Brioche Workshop – online

4 hours – 2 sessions
$40 + Supplies as listed in the pattern available through Ravelry
Dates:
Thursdays, July 23rd + 30th 6 – 8 pm

Learn the ever-so-popular brioche stitch technique in knitting; flat and in the round using two high contrasting colors.
You can choose from a cowl or infinity scarf, directions are given for both in the pattern available on Ravelry.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chevelle-ss-brioche-cowl-infinity-scarf

*Intermediate Level Knitters

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Finishing Workshop – online

3 hours
$25 
Date:
Wednesday, July 29th, 5:30 – 8:30 pm

Yay! The knitting is done!
BUT…
…there are all those ends and seaming, and picking up stitches, blocking, and, and, and…

Let’s talk about the finishing touches, simple habits to form to give you a lovely, completely finished project you are proud to show off!

*Advanced beginner

August

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Gauge Tips – Online

3 hours
$25
Dates:
Saturday, August 1st, 1 – 4pm

Learn the how + why of gauge!
How do you make swatches, how do you measure gauge, how do you interpret gauge?
Why even do a gauge swatch, why worry about half a stitch, why is the fabric important?

Supplies:
– light color worsted weight yarn
– US 8 needles, dpn or 16″ circ
– a swatch or two from previous projects, if you have them

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2@ATime Socks – online

5 hours
$45 + Supplies
Date:
Wednesdays, August 5th, 6 – 8 pm + 26th, 6 – 9 pm

Two-at-a-time Socks:
– Cuff down
– Magic Loop
– Afterthought Heel
– Wedge Toe 

Supplies: 100g sock yarn, split into two balls
– your favorite sock needle size in a 40″ circular needle

*previous SOCK KNITTING a must

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Lady February – online

8 hours
$60 + Supplies as listed in the pattern available through Ravelry
Date:
Thursdays, August 6th, 20th, September 3rd + 17th, 6 – 8 pm

This classic knit cardigan is a great first-time lace garment for advanced beginners as well as advanced knitters.
Easy to modify the sleeves for a more tailored fit and length, plus it works well with numerous weight yarns, all at the same required gauge, this is a really fun knit!

Pattern + Supplies list, plus a million project samples, available on Ravelry,  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/february-lady-sweater

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Yarn Substitution – online

3 hours
$25
Date:
Saturday, August 8th, 10 am – 12:45 pm

You don’t have the yarn called for in a pattern?
Not sure if the yarn you want to use will work?
How do you go about choosing a different yarn for a project?
Can you substitute DK weight for a Worsted weight?
Can you use a cotton instead of a wool?
There are some simple things you need to know to help you substitute yarns in a project.

Supplies:
– Notebook
– pencil
– any patterns or yarns you may have questions about

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Bolan – online

3 sessions
$70
Dates:
August 22nd, September 12th, + 26th, 10 am – 12:30 pm

Skills required:
– advanced beginner knitting including pattern reading
– chart reading helpful
– lace knitting experience helpful
– solid basics of reading your knitting and fixing mistakes

This sideways knit and seamed summer top will be a great addition to your wardrobe! Simple lace design in a drapey fabric is flattering for all.
You must purchase the pattern, available through Ravelry.

Bolan on Ravelry
by Leila Raven
Published in Sparrow 2018Quince & Co.
Suggested yarnQuince & Co. Sparrow
Yarn weight Fingering (14 wpi) ?
Gauge 20 stitches and 29 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, after blocking
Needle size US 4 – 3.5 mm
Yardage 840 – 1680 yards (768 – 1536 m)
Sizes available 43 (48½, 54, 59½, 65, 70½)” bust circumference

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Turkish Bed Socks – online

5 hours – one session with a 30 min break
$30 + Supplies as listed in the pattern available through Ravelry
Date:
Saturday, August 29th, 10 am – 3:00 pm

These socks by Churchmouse Yarns are perfect to wear with your clogs, Vans slip-on, Birkenstocks, just about any shoes that need a lower profile. I have not had them slip down and bunch up under my foot, which is a huge deal for me!
In this one day, live online workshop we are going to modify the pattern to make it seamless and the perfect fit for you!

Pattern available through Ravelry, https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/turkish-bed-socks
Supplies: – US3 DPNs or size to obtain gauge in pattern

– 50g heavier fingering weight/sport weight yarn, eg Koigu KPPPM or view all used yarns on the Ravelry pattern page here, https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/turkish-bed-socks/yarns

– removable markers, markers, scissors, etc
Sample sock knit on size US 3 needles, 8″ circumference foot, using Crystal Palace Panda Soy yarn

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CALL OR EMAIL TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT or REQUEST A CLASS
316.351.8515
firebrunetteknits@gmail.com

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I am sitting here in my jammies, at almost noon on a Wednesday, my husband asleep in his chair next to mine and I am feeling so grateful for the knitting world.

Specifically, I am thankful for the life long friends I have made through yarn. Of all things, yarn has brought me more deep friendships than I ever imagined. When I started going to knit groups & meetups almost 10 years ago there were only a few blogs on Knitting & Crochet Blogrings, a few good online yarn shops to shop at, and just the smallest group of hard to find indie dyers & spinners.  Blogrings were fun to peruse but it took a lot of work to hunt down patterns and the books or mags that patterns were referred to on people’s blogs.
My local knit group had started to meet weekly and we grew. That group of women will never be able to be replaced and no group will ever compare. Moving away from Santa Barbara wouldn’t have been so difficult if I hadn’t lost that group as well. We still keep in touch, mostly facebook and some on Ravelry, but it will never be the same as a weekly sit down over amazing coffee and food.

Ravelry. I was lucky enough to get an invite and be one of the first 400 users.  Just what was available that first couple of months was mind blowing! Sadly, it did cause my blog reading to decrease dramatically and my blog lost a lot of views but it was worth it.

Then, the forums started booming. Through the different friend connections and forums I started making friends. The Caffeine Addicts group, my own SBKnitters group, and just over the last 2 years the Alina Shea Creations group, have all been life altering for me. To find friends, companions, sisters that are spread all over the world yet bonded through some string is amazing to me.
With the loss of my former life in California, my disease taking over my body and mind, my new love, my renewal of my body, my new marriage, our new life in Kansas, our family, the loss of our son, the grief, and now the restructuring of my immediate future, I have found SO much strength and love through old and new friends. Women (and men) that have shared their struggles, their life, their ongoing commitment to overcome obstacles set before them with grace, humor, dignity, compassion. Those are just a few things I have learned from my friends.

It’s funny to feel so weak, in body and spirit, and be told by those that you adore and admire that you are strong. That you are an inspiration to them! How in my weakness and self pity can I be showing strength? I don’t know, I just know I am told that I am strong and it gives me that shove to keep going. I don’t worry about letting people down if I feel weak. I feel what I feel and until someone looks me in the face (either in person or virtually) and tells me I am giving in to weakness and not doing what is called for then I will continue to be what I am.

I believe I am surrounded by people that will force me to look at myself when I need to evaluate things and I will be able to honestly see what I need to change.  It has happened, and it will happen again I am sure!
That is what friendship is. Honesty, being open to the loving evaluation, advice, influence of your friends and family….and knowing that when you CHOOSE not to listen or take it they will love you just as much anyways!!

Now, back to my hooks, sticks, & string!

Oh how exciting! Cloth diapers and the perfect box of checkerboard socks! Thank you so much Cheryl! Sure is a great start!

Green/ blue for Sadie
Purple for Mom

I have decided I want to post pics daily of my shoe choice. Vans baby.

This shawl started out as the Eliina, I went too far in the body trying to use all of the yarn and decided to abandon the pattern all together. I just finished off with a garter ruffled edge. I haven’t measured it but it is bigger than I expected!