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IT’S A GO!! 2 Days until the iCT DeSTaSH SaLe

<<<GRAB YOUR SHOPPING BAGS>>>

We’re having a sale!

Friday Hours: 9am – 6pm
Saturday Hours: 9am – 6pm

LOCATION:

click for link to Google Maps

Map of 751 George Washington Blvd, Wichita, KS 67211
751 George Washington Blvd, Wichita, KS 67211

We have yarn, spinning fiber, notions, Cricket Looms & accessories, Jenna May Made markers & a few bags, YARN!!

Bring some crochet, knitting, spinning, or table loom and join us for some shopping & socializing.  There are limited chairs, so if you plan to come for an extended period you may want to bring your own chair.

Coffee and hot tea will be available for $1, bring your own mug and it’s free!

You can bring snacks, lunch, drinks with lids.

Thank you, sellers!!
This one was a close call at not having enough sellers, I am so grateful to each of you for prepping and participating.

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What’s On Your Needles (and YouTube)?

While I have had a lot of shop sample and class knitting that is simple, stockinette in the round I have found a few new video podcasts to follow.
Not only have I subscribed, I have binge watched hundreds of episodes (and they are NOT short episodes :o) ).

Let me introduce you to a few new friends:

Sockmatician – Brilliant, funny, chatty, interesting view on how knit stitches work together to make beautiful fabrics. Really fantastic tutorials!

Bakery Bears – I love this couple. Dan is a new knitter (not any longer, but when they started their video podcast) and Kay is a wonderful knitter human being that loves beautiful colors. And bakes. Yummy things!

Arne & Carlos – Scandinavian male knitters. Enough said. They are no-holds-barred up-front with their knitting and techniques. Great tutorials as well.

If you can’t tell, I am on a male knitter kick at the moment.

It’s all due to my dream of my husband and sons picking up fiber of some sort with some sort of tool to make something; spinning, knitting, crochet, weaving, I don’t care, just create something!

On my needles for the shop samples, and an upcoming spring class at Picket Fence Quilt Co, is the Anker’s Summer Shirt.

The Cascade Sarasota, a cotton blend, top is already up on a mannequin at the shop in a great denim color, and I love it!
The second version on my needles is using Cascade Llamerino in 3 of the natural colors; cream, tan, light brown. Because it is a winter blend 50/50 llama/merino wool I am doing a longer sleeve version. This yarn is absolutely wonderful to knit with, soft hand yet it has some nice body to it. I can’t wait to have it done and blocked!

One ongoing class I have right now is the Keeping Warm Sweater. We are on the long slog of the stockinette body in the round before we get to the super fun mosaic bottom border. I love knitting with the Mirasol Sulka Legato yarn. It is so soft and smooth on the needles, with the ChiaoGoo Twist tips I am really huming along (when I have a few minutes to work on it).

Oh, and Wichita Knitters’ Guild March meeting is in just 2 days; Friends, Frogging & Fixing is the theme for this month.
Bring a friend, bring something to either frog or fix! We’ll help you with your frogging and fixing, swifts and ball winders will be present.
If you bring a friend you will both be entered in a prize drawing, if your friend joins the guild then you both get a small gift and you both will be entered in the prize drawing. So fun!!
We are also finishing up the East vs West charity knit-off. Can’t wait to add up all the points for both sides!! Teresa, our past president, has been really gung-ho on this competition. And just so you know, I have a LOT of donations + knit/crochet items, all for the East side!

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Notice to iCT DeSTaSH SaLe Sellers

banner 2018

How to Prep Your Items For the iCT DeSTaSH SaLe

There are a few options for you on preparing your items for sale, here is a list of some suggestions, and the NECESSARY PREPARATION in red:

  • Mark items with your name or initials
    ie Chauntel Ensey or CE or FirebrunetteKnits or FBKnits
  • Mark items with the price you set yourself
    I do not have any say or control over the price you charge for your items
  • Sellers may choose to either leave single skeins loose and marked with a hanging tag, or put in a clear zip top bag marked clearly with seller name, and price
  • Multiple item sets: please put all together in a clear zip top bag marked clearly with seller name, number of items in bag, and the price
  • I do recommend that if you have multiples of one colorway that you sell as a lot, not individually
  • Pricing: You set the price on your items
    I generally recommend 50-75% of retail value.
    Rare and hard to find yarns, or yarns you just aren’t totally set on giving up, can sell in the 80-90% of retail range.
  • Be realistic in your pricing, try to look at the yarn and price as a shopper would.

Inventory of Items

  • I inventory all items you bring to me.
  • Before the sale you will receive an email of a spreadsheet of your items listed at their set price.
  •  When you come to pick up your items Saturday evening, I will go through and inventory what of your items remain. You may then choose to donate to charity (Wichita Knitters’ Guild, where they will be used for charity projects) or take your items all prepared for the next DeSTaSH.
  • You will receive an email with the figures of your sales and your item inventory within 48 hours.
  • You will then receive your payment as agreed; cash, check, Paypal

DISPLAYING ITEMS

In the previous space I rented for iCT DeSTaSH, I had use of lovely antiques in which to display everyone’s items. In this new space, I do not.

If you have some nice baskets or bins you would like your items to be displayed in, please bring the items in them.
I will make sure they are all marked with NFS (Not For Sale) tags.

Remember the more your items stand out, the more they will get shopped!
Of course, I will do my best to display everyone’s items in a way that they will be easy and fabulous to shop! Don’t you worry about that!

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Sunset Frost Shawl Class- Starting this Wednesday 2/28/18

There are still spaces available in the Sunset Frost Shawl class that starts this coming Wednesday, details on dates/times below.
There is prep to do before class, so get signed up first thing tomorrow, purchase the pattern, and contact me at 316.633.3217 so I can send you the class prep work and syllabus.

Purchase the pattern on Ravelry, CLICK HERE

Hope to see you there!!

Source: Sunset Frost Shawl Class

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Knit Sweater Math – Just a bit 

At our knitting retreat this past weekend I took a few hours to teach a couple of the gals how to take their measurements, how to do math for a different gauge for a sweater pattern, and then re-wrote an entire sweater pattern for the difference in stitches and rows, and adjusted for the knitter’s exact measurements; lengthen the body, lengthen the yoke (a full mosaic pattern), moved the decreases from the sides to the back to work with the shape of her bum and back.

Then, I come home yesterday and find that there is a new episode from The PassioKnit Spinner about the same thing!

Instead of fully posting a lesson here, I will happily share her great video. She is German so you’ll have to imagine she’s using inches, not cm. It’s all the same math, so no worries there!

Enjoy!!

 The PassioKnit Spinner Podcast – Bonus Episode “Sweater Maths” – YouTube

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Colorwork myth? Color Dominance, You Decide

When I first tried colorwork with multiple colors in a round I only knew how to knit Continental, with the yarn in my left hand. I didn’t have any idea that there was the option to hold yarns separate in right and left hands.
Then, I met someone that told me to correctly knit stranded knitting I should separate my yarns and hold in each hand. There are benefits; speed, catching floats invisibly, yarns not as tangled, etc.

Well, over the years I have changed solely to two-handed stranded knitting, and at times I struggle with my tension on those individual stitches. I do all the little tips and tricks I have read over and over about color dominance in stranded knitting.
I won’t link to those articles here, this is about the old school use of one hand for colorwork.
I have missed my usual weekly knit group that meets for Wednesday Lunch Bunch for just about the last 6 months. Work and life have taken over Wednesdays.  I guess this has been a topic, and I am intrigued.
Do I want to go back to single handed Continental stranded knitting?

I currently work double knitting with both colors in my Continental hold. I use a yarn guide to keep the yarns from twisting at my finger hold, why not just hold and tension the same way and switch to stranded knitting for my next big colorwork sweater?

Watch a few videos on the topic and enjoy the personalities (and their rather strong opinions)!

https://arnecarlos.com/why-there-is-no-dominant-color-in-norwegian-knitting-by-arne-carlos/

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Knitting vs. the World: 10 Things Only a Knitter Understands – NobleKnits.com

Non knitters just don’t get it. If you’re a knitter, then you’ve probably been subjected to stares, eye rolls, and the most annoying questions. Here’s a list of the top 10 GIFS only a knitter understands. Yes, knitter. It’s us vs. them. Pick up your sticks and be prepared. 1. Your need for enormous amounts of yarn via GIPHY 2. The ability to pull yarn out of any bag or purse and knit everywhere via GIPHY 3. The need to pet your yarn via GIPHY 4. Spending hours organizing your stash, WIPs, and FOs (and the fact you know what these abbreviations mean) via GIPHY 5. Sometimes you just want to knit in peace via GIPHY 6. Your demands are simple via GIPHY 7. That you add something special to everything you knit via GIPHY 8. That when you knit you get out a lot of anger and frustration via GIPHY 9. That you take knitting road trips with your squad via GIPHY 10. When knitting is lifevia GIPHYRead more knitting tips and articles like this

Source: Knitting vs. the World: 10 Things Only a Knitter Understands – NobleKnits.com

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Holidays & Stuff

While it’s still in the 60’s here in the Midwest the holiday decor and spirit are strong.
Knitting & crocheting warm, fuzzy things is in full swing, as well as finishing up the commission knits I have lined up.

A few Christmas gifts are on the needles and hooks, and I am sad not to have photos to post! When the knitting progress is almost all secret it gets a little hard to stay up on the social media postings.

But, there are some things coming up! The calendar for Jan-March knitting classes at Picket Fence Quilt Co is full! Beginner classes, next step intermediate classes, sweater, shawls, BSJ. I am pretty pleased with this next round of classes. As soon as they are scheduled in the computer they will go up under the Classes & Lessons tab.

A change coming up, the Wichita Knitters’ Guild is now meeting at the Wichita Central Library downtown. Same meeting day & times, just a more central location with media capability so we can use projectors for demonstrating and video. Super fun!
Guild board elections are in January so make sure you read the officer roles and nominate yourself! All positions are open, although I must admit, I am reluctant to give up the Treasurer position. So much work handing it over, the name changes on financials is always a pain in the butt. But, if there is a qualified member that wants the position, more power to them!

String Exchange has launched, we are closing orders out for the Spunky Eclectic yarns & fiber, but we are keeping a lot of the products open for ordering permanently and adding more items in the very near future.

For now, that’s all the news. I think…

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Announcing: The String Exchange

Winter 2017

Fiber & Yarn

Spunky Eclectic Targhee Fiber & Mountain Sport Targhee Yarn

View Fiber & Yarn »

Suggested Patterns

We’ve chosen patterns for sweaters and accessories that will pair perfectly with our yarn selections.

Shop Patterns »


What Is String Exchange?

We started String Exchange as an attempt to quench the thirst of fiber and yarn enthusiasts in the Wichita area. We may not quench your thirst, but we can keep you regularly hydrated!
Denise Renee of Filament Fiber Arts and Chauntel Ensey of Firebrunette Knits bring you quarterly special offers of yarn and fiber from amazing companies. We also provide pattern suggestions for each offering. This will give us all a chance to sample different talent, breeds, twist, and colorways.
Order the yarn, fiber, and patterns online or with one of us and we will deliver your order at our fiber meet up groups. We are not offering shipping at this time.


You will receive a 5% discount off retail.
Sales tax is included and there is no shipping charge.
The savings will be over a 10% discount in the end!


String Exchange Blastoff!

 
Join us on Small Business Saturday!!
November 25th
Bring your knitting, crochet, weaving, and spinning to spend time with other fiber folks ! We are featuring Targhee wool and yarn indie dyed from Spunky Eclectic. There will be yarn  and fiber to fondle in both of our 2 colorways, Merlot and Last Leaf. You can order at the gathering or in the comfort of your home on our website.

Location and time to be announced.

We are featuring Spunky Eclectic yarn and fiber this season, bringing in the warm colors of fall and the holidays.

Spunky Eclectic:

Amy King (aka ‘Boogie’) is the owner of Spunky Eclectic, a fiber studio that is both a brick-and-mortar and online store. One of the most dedicated and impassioned of the “younger generations” of handspinners, she has played a significant role in the spinning community for years. Known for her fiber prep and dyeing, she is acclaimed by spinners across the country as well as internationally for her fiber samples and innovative fiber club. The Spunky Eclectic shop is focused on spinning and weaving featuring a wide selection of wheels, spindles, looms, fibers, and handpainted yarns as well as instruction; everything a weaver and spinner needs to get going and keep going.
Yarn and Fiber

Yarn and Fiber (2)

FEATURED FIBER

Targhee: Notes from The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook

The Targhee sheep was born of practicality. In 1926, USDA researchers bred Rambouillet rams with Corriedale and Lincoln/Rambouillet eyes and back crossing the offspring with each other. They did this to make a dual purpose sheep, good for meat and fleece.This resulted in a fairly long wool that is fine with loft and elasticity, great for “making soft, cozy, resilient textiles that feel indulgent, yet wear well. Using a light touch in spinning will help keep the fibers flowing and Targhee also felts well.

Order NOW through December 1 – Deliveries in early 2018

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Suggested Patterns

Suggested Patterns (6)


We are also offering this discount on ALL fiber & yarn available at Spunky Eclectic.
In order to receive other items at the sale price you will need to compile your list of items and contact us through the Special Orders link on the Shop Page.
We will then send you an invoice that must be paid by the December 1st deadline for ordering.
Special Orders

Special Orders (1