The Fine Needle | Not just a shop, a community for knitters & crocheters

Block Party 2011

By graciem | Published January 17, 2011

Fine Needle's January block: Economy

Quilters, Quilters, Quilters!

This is your time of year. It is finally here …. BLOCK PARTY!!! The Block of the Month (BOM) program between three shops, Robinanne’s, The Dusty Attic, and us (The Fine Needle). Each shop offers a unique block kit each month for four months (12 different blocks total). While each shop started with the same collection of fabrics, not one shop’s quilt is the same. Stop in each shop to see them all.

Cost of each kit is $9 – or you can prepay for the four blocks for $32/shop. Program starts January 2011 and runs through April 2011. Blocks must be picked up by May 28, 2011. Finishing kits are available in limited quantity at each shop. Reserve yours for $25 non-refundable deposit.

Posted in Events, General Information, Quilting | 1 Comment

Tech Square Afghan

By StacyM | Published January 3, 2011

Build your knitting skills one square at a time.

This project will take place over the entire year of 2011 as a “Block of the Month” (BOM) program. Each month we will focus on a particular block following the schedule below. You can tackle the entire 12 block blanket, or pick and choose which squares you like to make a smaller project – like pillows.

Cost

Book alone – $13.50
Book plus BOM Membership (come to any Tech Square classes for no additional cost all year and 20% off yarn for blanket) – $30 BEST DEAL!!
Single Class – $10 plus supplies
Kits – vary from month to month

Kits for each square are available, but feel free to dive into your stash. Some of the blocks use small bits of yarn, but the majority of the blocks can be done using five main colors. You will need about 3000 yards TOTAL of worsted weight yarn. Pick a yarn that you love to work with – if you want to be able to machine wash the blanket, be sure to purchase washable yarn. Choose a yarn that will be available throughout the entire year (as opposed to a seasonal yarn, or one that might be discontinued).

Some washable yarn suggestions:
Classic Worsted by Universal (197 yards, 100 grams, 80/20% acrylic/wool) $5/skein – about 15 skeins needed ($6-7/month average)
Sensational by FibraNatura (90 yarns, 50 grams, 100% Superwash Wool) $7.50/skein – about 33 skeins needed ($20/month average)

Schedule:

January – Cables and Lace Square
February – Increase Square
March – Decrease Square
April – Forest-For-The-Trees Square
May – Pocket Square
June – Embellishment Square
July – Intarsia Square
August – Entrelac Square
September – Domino Square
October – Fair Isle Square
November – Slipped Stitch Square
December – Monogram Square

Miss a month? You can catch up at any of the monthly meetings on any earlier squares!

Posted in Knitting Classes | Tagged BOM, Knitting, technique | 1 Comment

January Calendar of Classes and Events

By StacyM | Published January 2, 2011

Happy New Year! We’re really looking forward to kicking off the new year with a calendar full of classes and events. You can download a schedule which includes a color-coded calendar (green for knitting/crochet, pink for quilting/sewing, and black for everyone!) and class descriptions.

You will notice that several of the classes are offered multiple times throughout the month. The way we work our classes is that you are paying for the project/technique you are learning. You may attend as few/many of the scheduled classes as you need to help you accomplish/learn the project/technique. For instance, the Fair Isle Hat class is offered three times. Cost of this class is $40 (includes kit), and you may choose to attend one, two, or all three of the classes. There is no cost difference between attending one or three – you are paying to learn to make the hat.

Stacy’s classes come with a lifetime guarantee. If you take a “Learn to Knit” class and then put knitting aside for a while only to want to start up again – you can come back and retake the class for on cost (you do need to sign up, though). Just need a refresher on casting off – pop in for a quick lesson during one of our knitting group or sit and stitch sessions.

To reserve your space you will need to pay for your class ahead of time. If you can’t make it to the shop before class starts, we can take a credit card over the phone to hold your spot. Cancellation policy: refund if cancel more than one week before class; credit if more than 24 hours before class starts; class fee forfeited if no show. We can refund class fee if we cancel class.

Here’s a quick run down of what classes are on the schedule in January:

Quilting:

Learn to Quilt (free) at Princess Anne library.
Star Quilt ($20, waived with purchase of book and fabric for quilt) – A great beginner quilt, but fun for experienced quilters too. No (or very little) seams have to match up!
Block Party ($9/month or $32 for all 4 months). Our joint Block of the Month with The Dusty Attic and Robinanne’s Quilt Shop starts this month!
T-Shirt Quilt ($20, plus supplies)
Pinwheel Party (book purchase required, kits vary in price)
Birthday Tablerunner ($35, includes pattern and kit)

Knitting:

Fair Isle Hat ($40, includes kit). Great project to learn the technique of Fair Isle. Confident beginner.
Tech Square Afghan ( $30/year or $10/month) Build your knitting skills on square at a time. New block each month. Book and kits available.
Fix Your Knitting Mistakes ($15) Learn to fix a dropped stitch, make a purl a knit (and vice versa), and other common errors that occur.
Leafprints Shawlette ($20, includes pattern, plus yarn – kits available) Lovely shawl features stockinette stitch base with an easy lacy leaf border. Great first lace shawl project – but fun for more experienced knitters as well.

Posted in Classes, Knitting Classes, Quilting Classes | Tagged classes, events | Comments Off

Video Newsletter: October 18, 2010

By StacyM | Published October 18, 2010

I’ve been a bit lax about posting to the blog -and about sending out newsletters! Simple solution: make a video! Click to watch and let me know if you like this as a way of conveying what’s going on at The Fine Needle. (Leave a comment below!)

Recap of what’s in the video:

Dates for the Grand Re-Opening are November 11-13, 2010. Mark your calendars! More info will be forthcoming about special events going on that week.
Long-arm Quilting Service is back up and running. Our turn-around time is less than a month, so there is plenty of time to get quilts quilted before the holidays. Kelly, our long-arm quilter, is available for consultations most Thursday mornings. Custom quilting turn-around is a bit longer than four weeks. Stop in and see Stacy or Kelly for details.
Dog Walking Hat classes are Wednesday, October 20 and/or Saturday, October 23 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Cost is $45 and includes kit with three skeins of Solace (alpaca/silk blend) and pattern. You’ll be ahead of the game if you pick up your kit and start on the ribbing before class. More details….
Advent Calendar class is on Saturday, November 6, 2010 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Cost of the class is $25 and includes your choice of Advent panel, batting, and backing. More details…
Kollage now has 24″ circular Square knitting needles with a FIRM cable. Other lengths will be coming in November (9″, 16″, 32″, and 40″!) You can pre-order and we’ll get them to you as soon as we receive our shipments.
Reminder about our hours: we’re open Thursdays & Fridays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 p.m. – 3 p.m. We will be closed the last week of October (28-30) as Stacy will be at Stitches East in Hartford, CT. If you are attending Stitches East, be sure to stop by and say hi – we’re in booths 218, 220, 222. We’ll also be closed for Thanksgiving and the day after. We will be open on the Saturday after T-day (November 27).

Posted in General Information | Tagged newsletter | 2 Comments

Advent Calendars!

By StacyM | Published October 18, 2010

Half the fun of Christmas is counting down the days, and what better way to do that than to mark the passing of time with a beautiful quilted Advent calendar. We currently have five different ones that will delight the young and old alike. Each one features a pre-printed panel that either has pockets, ornaments, or in one case both – all of which are also included. These are quick projects to make, and to help facilitate your holiday sewing, we’re having a class!

For $25 you get to choose an Advent calendar and backing, and we’ll walk you step by step through the process of bringing the panel to life. Bring your sewing machine, (including a walking foot if you have one), thread (we recommend green, red, golden brown, and/or off white – depending on the calendar you choose), and basic sewing supplies (scissors, seam ripper, etc.). You’ll walk out a little more ready for the Christmas season!

Call today to register for the class and reserve your panel! 410.632.0772

Can’t make the class? Order your Advent calendar kits today! Instructions for completing are included on all panels.

Good Tidings

Snowman: SOLD OUT

Sugar Cookies

Sleigh - SOLD OUT

Stack of Gifts

Order your kit today! Shipping is a flat rate of $5.00 no matter how many panels your purchase. (If Paypal charges you more, we’ll refund the difference!)

Posted in 100 Days 'til Christmas, Events, Quilting, Quilting Classes | 1 Comment

Dog Walking Hat (or Mittens)

By StacyM | Published October 13, 2010

Dog Walking Hat

What do you get when you combine a beautiful alpaca/silk yarn and a seed stitch? The Dog Walking Hat! Perfect for the crisp weather that we will one day be getting – and the hat is for you, not the dog! Class price ($45) includes kit with three skeins of Kollage’s new Solace yarn and the pattern. The resulting hat looks much more complex than it is – if you can knit and purl – you can make this hat!

We are offering this class on three dates in October – and you can come to one, two, or all three classes! The dates are: Saturday, October 16 and October 23, and Wednesday, October 20. We would love it if you can pick up your kit before class begins so that you can get started on the ribbing of the hat. Not a big deal if that doesn’t work out – but you’ll get a bit further if you’re ready to start the seed stitch in class.

You will need to bring 16″ US 8 (possibly a US7 or US9 if you are a loose or tight knitter). You will eventually need double points in the same size you use on the hat. We also highly recommend stitch markers and a darning needle.

For those that wish to make mittens instead (hat, mittens, and a scarf are all included in the pattern), you will need double points in a US 8 (again, possibly a US 7 or US 9 if loose/tight). Also bring stitch markers (they are crucial in the mitten). The mittens are “flip-top” so that your fingers can be exposed. If you wish to just make “regular” mittens, Stacy can easily adjust the pattern for you.

For those who wish to make both a hat and mittens – you only need to purchase one additional skein of yarn (the main color). We’ll have additional skeins available!

Posted in Events, General Information | 1 Comment

5 Holiday Gifts You Should Start Now

By StacyM | Published September 17, 2010

Have you made your list of gifts you want to make for the holidays? Here are five gifts you can make – if you leave yourself enough time:

A bed-sized quilt. Break the process down into manageable steps: cut all the pieces out one evening, begin block construction, assemble rows, etc. Don’t forget to leave enough time to get it quilted!
A sweater. Unless the sweater is for a newborn, it’s best to get started right now!
Socks. Remember, you have to make two! That first one may fly off the needles, but don’t fall victim to second sock syndrome.
Crocheted afghan. Once you get into the rhythm, it usually goes fairly quickly.
Group gifts. Making a tote bag for all your workmates? One may be a cinch to make, but when you are making multiples of the same type of gift (even if the fabric/yarn is different), the project often looses it charm and becomes a chore.

Need some inspiration?!

Four Seasons Wrap; Circles, Stars, and Medallions Quilt; Sonoma Socks

Four Seasons Wrap by Sandi Rosner. Features Kollage Fantastic (100% Merino Wool) or Kollage Glisten (75% Alpaca, 20% Silk, 5% Estelline). Kits are available starting at $130. Pattern only is $7.

Circles, Stars, and Medallions Quilt is from Karen Sievert’s book Better Together: Two-Block Designs for Dynamic Quilts. Available for $22.99.

Sonoma Socks by Sandi Rosner. Features Kollage Sock-a-licious (70% Fine superwash Merino wool, 10% Silk, 20% Nylon). Kits available for $25. Pattern only is $7.

Posted in 100 Days 'til Christmas, General Information, Knitting, Quilting | Tagged Christmas, countdown, gifts | 1 Comment

100 Days ’til Christmas Kickoff!

By StacyM | Published September 16, 2010

These next 100 days may be the fastest days all year! Many of us are just getting back into “school-time” routines, and summer has come to a close. The days are getting shorter (at least by hours of daylight), and time is more precious than ever. There is still plenty of time to get holiday decorations and gifts made!

I’ve prepared a series of posts which will get you geared up for the holidays – both for gifts to give and decorations for your home! There are tutorials, downloads, free patterns, and more. This series will run right up to the last few days before Christmas – because some of us will still need a few quick last minute ideas.

Are you ready to get started?! First of all, you need to get your list together – and I’ve created a download to help you (see end of post). It’s a simple chart you fill in with recipient (who), gift item (what), when you need it by, and a space to check off when you’re done. Don’t forget to add any decorations you’d like to make for this year. I added the “need by” column, because I almost always end up making teacher gifts at the last minute!

Your next step is to make a detailed list of what materials are needed to complete each project. Don’t forget basics – like thread and buttons, as well as more specialized supplies – like interfacing and pom-pom makers. Of course I made you a download for the project details too!

Now go and check your stash. Gather what you plan to use and organize it by project. Use shoe boxes, plastic bags, or small storage containers to keep supplies together. There are spaces on the project detail download to check off if you have the materials in your stash – and another space for adding it to your shopping list. Use the shopping list download to make a master list of what you still need. It’s a good idea to keep the project detail sheet with the project itself.

Are you all organized?! Me neither, but it’s a start. Over the next few days we’ll take a look at some fabulous decorations you can make as well as start investigating a few fabulous gift ideas.

holiday_gift_giving_list_PDF

project_details_PDF

shopping_list_PDF

Posted in 100 Days 'til Christmas, General Information, Knitting, Quilting | Tagged Christmas, countdown, crochet, downloads, Knitting, Quilting, sewing | Comments Off

These are a few of my favorite: Knitting Blogs

By StacyM | Published August 21, 2010

Some may say that I spend too much time on the web, but the gems of information and inspiration I find there – WOW! So I thought I’d take a few moments to highlight some of my favorite knitting blogs.* Some are written by “famous” knitters/designers; others are by regular stitchers like you and me who are exploring the possibilities with yarn.

*What’s a blog? It’s a web-log (like a journal). Each entry is called a “post.” What you’re reading right now is a post on the Fine Needle blog (we call it news). You can “subscribe” to a blog through a reader (like Google Reader) or sometimes via e-mail.

Brooklyn Tweed

Not only will you find exquisite knitting from designer Jared Flood, but his photographs are to die for.

Do You Mind If I Knit

A recent find, on my part. Delightful knitting blog of a young woman from the British Isles who is a children’s book illustrator by profession. Her blog is charming and witty.

French Press Knits

Designer of the famed French Press Felted Slippers. There is currently lots of “wee knitting” as the author is expecting her first child.

Knitting Knoobie

Susie lives in New York. She loves to knit. And visit yarn shops. And knit socks.

Mason-Dixon Knitting

The women behind the books have a blog. There’s lots of show and tell: knitting, quilting, Olive the dog, hysterical videos, and more.

Yarn Harlot

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee writes about knitting. Author of several knitting humor books (with tips on knitting), she’s sure to entertain and awe with her prolific knitting.

Do you have a favorite knitting blog you follow? Leave a link in the comments – and tell us why you follow that blog!

Posted in Knitting | Tagged blogs, favorites, Knitting | Comments Off

Yarn Crawl 2010 – two week countdown

By StacyM | Published August 18, 2010

Knitters, it’s that time of year again! Time to gather your friends and take to the road for the 3rd annual Eastern Shore Yarn Crab Crawl! This year there are ten, (yes ten!!), shops participating, including The Fine Needle.

Here’s how it works:

You purchase a membership at your local participating yarn shop for $15 (we have 4 3 left as I post this)
Your membership includes a special tote bag and a passport – you need to bring both with you when you visit the shops!
Visit the participating shops during the month of September and you get 20% off all yarn purchases
If you visit all ten shops in September, you are eligible for a grand prize gift basket valued at over $200 (be sure to get your passport stamped at each shop!)
There are weekly drawings in each shop for gift certificates
There are special events on weekends, and many shops have extended hours during the month
Learn more at the official ESYCC website.

For those who would love just to have information about the ten shops (and even a few coupons to use at some of them!), you can purchase a passport for $3 from any participating shop.

Here is the list of participating shops – from north to south:

We look forward to seeing you! Give us a call to purchase a membership or passport – or buy one now:

Passport of Yarn Shops ($3)

Posted in Events, Knitting | Tagged Knitting, yarn crawl | Comments Off