color tips for knitting and crocheting

3/6/2021 0 Comments

Online - Special Event

Join us for a very special Knerdy Knitters online meetup.
We will have a special guest - Margaret Smith Holzmann, author of the book Geometric Knit Blankets.

YOU MUST RSVP FOR THIS EVENT. Members of the Knerdy Knitters will be allowed to register 48 hours early before registration is open to the public. If you are a Knerdy Knitters member, please check your inbox for more details.

This Special Event replaces our regular Thursday Meetup.

Click the link below to register via Zoom. If you RSVP via Meetup, this does not mean you are registered for the event, you must use the registration link below to get the zoom info for the event.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAudOCrqTwiHtZkpIgfE-Q03MbG120GtnNy

You can order Margaret's book here:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/081173868X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

She will present examples of the projects from her book, talk about her designs, and answer questions. You can submit your questions in advance by clicking on this link: https://forms.gle/tdHFdhTxQXamMBot6

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2/8/2021 0 Comments

Celebrating Artists

February is Black History Month. But it is also National Embroidery Month! Embroidery is my new favorite thing, and is the perfect companion craft to knitting and crochet. Like knitting and crochet, it is easy to learn, even though there are a lot of techniques to master over time, it is portable and the applications are endless. I thought that I would give you a little gallery of embroidery done by Artists of Color. Hopefully they will inspire you and jump start your own embroidery journey!

artist: @prettystrangedesign on instagram

artist: @vp_visualart on instagram

artist: @embellishedtalk on instagram

artist: @daofoofaa on instagram

artist: @createtheculture_embroidery on instagram

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1/7/2021 0 Comments

I miss Stitches!

I have to admit...I have been struggling this week. And not just because of what is happening in the capital.

Normally at this time of year I would be finalizing my travel plans and my shopping list for Stitches West. But sadly, it has been cancelled this year. I LOVE Stitches. It is a weekend away with my SIL and my knitty friends, it is a beautiful hotel filled with other like minded fiber freaks, and it is an overwhelming, wallet draining, drool-enducing marketplace.

But there is some good news, a compromise with the demon we call Covid...

Stitches Expo At Home! There are some workshops from Stitches this weekend and next, but only the 3-6 hour classes. But next month, the weekend of Feb 5-7, there will be all the stitches offerings we love. Classes, but also mini classes, lectures, demos, the marketplace. Even the famed pajama party! There are no details yet about registering, but keep checking back. I am definitely going to be checking in on the haps, and probably buying some yarn I don't need. I guess I do need to get my shopping list together afterall!

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6/4/2020 0 Comments

We can shop again!

But bookstores are not the only things opening up again, slowly but surely. We can go back to the yarn store! Most stores are limiting the number of people in at a time, the time you can spend in the store, and how much fondling you can do. But we can once again go in to judge colors in person, be inspired by a whole wall of perfectly twisted skeins, and interact (on a limited basis) with other people who share our passion for yarn.

Here is a list of places that are open so far in our area and a little farther out if you are looking for a bit of a drive:

Guys, I have to tell you what I did yesterday. I went into a bookstore. I walked around, looking at cover art, smelling the distinct smell of paper and ink. It made me feel a little more human, a little more like me.

The experience wasn't the way it used to be. I was wearing a mask, I didn't flip through books or read the back covers. I avoided touching shelves, displays, the handrails on the escalators. And I could not sit and read. But I was there.

Altered Stitch - Opening 6/9 - Tuesday-Friday 3pm-7pm, Saturday 12pm-4pm
La Knitterie Parisiene - Open by appointment
The Knitting Tree - Wednesday-Monday 11am-4pm
Jennifer Knits - Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 12pm-4pm
Make One Yarn Co - Tuesday-Thursday 12pm-4pm, Saturday 10am-4pm

In San Diego:

Yarning for You - Wednesday- Saturday 11am-3pm
Black Sheep - Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm - they are having an opening sale 10-50% off all merchandise

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5/6/2020 0 Comments

Support a LYS and Take of Your Mother's Day Shopping

The Altered Stitch carries some amazing products. They are offering curbside pick up tonight and Friday. Here are a few gift ideas...

The Altered Stitch is hosting a virtual trunk show — just in time for Mother’s Day — beautiful handmade jewelry from Dana Sullivan of Knotted Treasure! We know you’ll love the pieces as much as we do! These pieces are all OOAK, so don’t miss out!
Knotted Treasure uses natural stones, pearls and shells to create beautiful, organic, bohemian pieces that can be worn for any occasion. She only uses real, natural stones, sterling silver, and gold fill.

Intersect proudly donates 10% of their proceeds to the Pawsitive Change Program. Marley’s Mutts Pawsitive Change Prison Program is an innovative and progressive program that pairs incarcerated men with rescued dogs for mutual rehabilitation.

Ceramic yarn bowls, hand-glazed and decorated with love by PeaceLoveDogs Creations

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1/21/2020 0 Comments

Road to California

Road to California is a quilters conference and showcase. More than 42,000 visitors from all 50 states and several foreign countries come each January to view exhibits featuring antique, traditional, art and modern quilts designed by both national and international quilt groups. A vibrant vendor mall of over 225 nationally and internationally known retailers feature the very latest to see, try and buy in quilt making supplies, machines, notions, antique quilts and gift items. Classes taught by a distinguished faculty are geared to all levels of quilters, offering assistance with traditional to modern techniques, hand and machine quilting skills and the latest in surface-embellishment using paint, thread and embroidery. Join us at Road to California Quilters Conference in Ontario, California for a complete immersion into the quilting world.

Most of us who knit or crochet are eventually drawn into an ever-increasing spiral of related crafts. There are a lot of things out there to draw our attention and tempt us with new skills.

One of the things that I am fascinated by is quilting. I love the combinations of colors and patterns and the intricate stitchwork that brings it all together. It is one of my resolutions for this year to complete at least one quilt.

So, in the spirit of always wanting to learn, or for those of you who are way ahead of me and have been quilting for years, I wanted to tell you about a quilting event happening in So Cal this weekend.

The show is open Thursday thru Sunday at the Ontario Convention Center.

Show info including tickets and hours can be found here.
The stunning list of this year's vendors can be found here.
For some inspiration, check out their instagram.

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10/3/2019 1 Comment

Elizabeth has been a busy girl!

For those of you who have been knerds for a while, you probably know our former Secretary, Elizabeth. This past summer she moved to Tennessee. Once she got her new homestead set up, she got back to designing. And she has a new pattern out on Ravelry!

She has been experimenting with slipped stitch knitting, a new and exciting way to integrate colorwork into your knitting. Her new pattern is called the Striped Directions Scarf.

To celebrate the new pattern she is offering a coupon for her designs. Spend $15 and get $5 off with coupon code fallknitekb.

If you want to see more of what she has been up to, you can find her blog here.

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9/18/2019 0 Comments

Charity Knitting and Crochet Opportunity

Clara Parkes, knitter extraordinaire is asking Knitters and Crocheters to do what they do best - help others! The Maine Access Immigrant Network needs warm winter woolens for their newest asylum-seekers who are facing their first New England winter. Having fled their homes in the Congo and Angola and then traveled more than 10,000 miles, they didn’t exactly have time to stock up on warm winter woolens before they got here. This is where knitters and crocheters come in.

If your needles are idle and this speaks to your heart, take a look at Clara's instagram post to get all the details and help!

I want to thank Maridee of the Yarnover Truck for this post. I stole it from her!

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8/1/2019 0 Comments

Class Registration Is Now Open

Hello Knerdy Knitters!

Stitches So Cal is coming up in a couple months in beautiful Pasadena, CA, Stitches SoCal is November 14-17, 2019 at the Pasadena Convention Center. All of the info and a complete list of events can be found here.

Even though you still have a few months to make your shopping list and finish up a stunning project to show off, if you are considering taking a class, you should register now! There are a variety of classes on knitting, crochet, sewing, weaving, spinning and quilting! A complete spectrum of fiber arts!

These classes can fill up quickly, so don't wait too long to decide what new skills you want to add to your repertoire, or if there is something that you need a refresher in.

Stitches prides itself on enriching classes taught by front runners of our industry. Don't miss the chance to meet some very talented teachers and other fiber knerds like us!

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7/1/2019 0 Comments

Dresses that fit!

Our bodies are not the same, why should our clothes be?

I know that not all knerdy knitters are women, but the majority of us are. And this was too good not to share!

Have you heard of eShakti? It is a website full of adorable dresses that can all be custom made to your exact measurements and specifications. Not thrilled about your upper arms, have it made with 3/4 sleeves. Want to show off those calves? Have a maxi made into a mini.

They have dozens of cute designs in a variety of colors and fabrics.

As women, there is nothing standard about the way we are built. We are all unique and all beautiful. So why not have some clothes that embrace or individuality?

Dresses run from the mid 30's to 100+, and come in standard sizes 0-36. All of them are available for customization for only another $9.95.

I only wish I had heard about this sooner. I would be sporting a new dress for our cruise this weekend. But there is plenty of time for the holiday party!