Knit and crochet designer Leigh Radford will be here Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 31, November 1 and 2 for a book signing and to teach three classes. Leigh’s third book, Alterknits Felt, was released last month and is the basis for her classes.

Leigh was the Art Director of Interweave Knits for many years and often had patterns in the magazine. In 2005, she wrote her first book, Alterknits: Imaginative Projects and Creativity Exercises. Her second book, One Skein: 30 Quick Patterns to Knit or Crochet, was released in 2006.

The Circle and Stripe Bag

Leigh uses knitting, crocheting, felting, embroidery, beading, needle-felting and other techniques in her designs, often employing more than one in the same project. She is tremendously creative and adventurous in her work. I took a class with Leigh in 2007 and left feeling inspired and empowered to be more creative in my own crafting.

The Pleated Collar

I hope you’ll read the class descriptions and sign up for one of her classes. Not only is Leigh a lovely person who will inspire you, the timing is also great because so many of the class projects make wonderful holiday gifts.

Hazel and Maude Pot Holders

The projects shown here are a sampling of what’s in Alterknits Felt. The book is in the shop now and we’ll have copies on hand for her visit.

Needle Felted Pillows

I hope you’ll join us!

We’ve introduced several new classes this fall and have brought back some old favorites to get you knitting and crocheting for yourself and for others.

You’ll learn to knit a cardigan from the neck down and to knit lace in the February Lady Sweater class. This sweater is an adaptation of Elizabeth Zimmerman’s classic February Baby Sweater. It became an instant sensation when it was released last June; check it out and you’ll see why.

Elizabeth’s in-process February Lady Sweater

The February Lady Sweater class begins Wednesday, October 15 and meets three more times over the next four weeks. You’ll be able to wear your brand new cardigan to Thanksgiving dinner!

If the February Lady Sweater isn’t for you - or if you’re knitting for a man - then our Sweater Class is back just in time! Beginning Monday, October 6 and meeting every other week through December 1, you’ll get help selecting and knitting the sweater of your choice. Make a pullover or a cardigan, from the neck down, the bottom up, or in pieces - the choice is yours! Because everyone selects their own sweater, you’ll learn from watching your classmates in addition to learning from your own project.

Along with these bigger project classes, we have a number of classes with smaller projects that make great gifts!

The Swirl Shawl by Jojoland is knit from their beautiful Melody yarn. Learn how to make and connect these knitted motifs.

There’s also classes on mittens, socks, berets, and more. Take some time for yourself, grab a few friends, and sign up today!

Fall is the perfect time to pick up new knitting techniques–especially with the holidays just over the horizon. At Loop, we’ve got some great classes planned to help you wow your family and friends!

Our Toe-Up Sock Class is a great way to kick off your fall knitting. The class is suitable for a relatively new knitter, but advanced knitters can pick up a few new tricks as well. Our class sock is knit with worsted weight yarn, and a 40 inch US6 needle for the magic loop technique. It’s perfect for all of that holiday knitting we have ahead of us (you could make a pair for yourself to keep your toes warm)!

Toe Up Socks is a two week class, which runs on September 8 and 15, from 6 to 8 pm. Space is limited, give us a call today to reserve your place!

Scarves are the accessory to have this summer, but the perfect scarf is hard to find. When I saw the Lace Ribbon Scarf knit up in Koigu Mori I immediately reached for my needles. This is the Perfect Scarf.

We knit this scarf in just two skeins of Mori, which has quickly become the new favorite yarn around the shop. The wool/silk blend keeps the scarf light and has just the right amount of shine. The lace pattern is simple yet striking, making it a great on-the-go project that produces fabulous results.

If you want to make you’re own Lace Ribbon Scarf, we’re offering a class that starts on July 9. Give us a call to reserve your place!

On Saturday morning, Clara gave a class based on her book, The Knitter’s Book of Yarn. She’d made each of us a little booklet with holes punched to tie on the yarn and fiber samples she gave us.

(The class was held in our new fabric shop, Spool, in case you’re thinking the room doesn’t look familiar!)

We learned about fiber and different ways of spinning it, the advantages and disadvantages of various yarn types (2-ply, 3-ply, etc) and how to use the yarns to maximize the good and minimize the bad. It was new information for many of us and really changed how we’ll approach yarn selection in the future.

After class, Clara stayed in the shop for a few hours and helped the students and other customers choose yarn. She even did a little shopping herself (and I can tell you, she has a fondness for pink mohair!).

As always, the time passed too quickly. Clara’s at work on a second book (yeah!) and hopefully she’ll come see us again when it’s out!

Clara Parkes is coming to Loop March 21 and 22 to celebrate her first book, The Knitter’s Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn. Clara is publisher of the popular site KnittersReview.com and a contributing editor to Interweave Knits magazine. Join us for a cocktail party and book signing from 5 to 8 pm on Friday, March 21.

Learn about fiber and yarn with Clara on Saturday from 10:30 to 12 noon -

Take on a behind-the-skeins tour of our yarn world. Using the fundamental yarn facts presented in my book, we’ll walk through the flora and fauna of yarn, from the ways fibers get prepared for spinning all the way to how they are spun and the different ply scenarios you may encounter. I’ll share tips for “reading” skeins on the shelf, testing your swatches at home, and troubleshooting problems.

The class fee is $40. Space is limited and is filled on a first-come first-served basis - reserve your place today!

The Knitter’s Book of Yarn is the must-have encyclopedic resource book on yarn. This exhaustive tome contains chapters on fiber foundations, making yarn, and twist and ply. Fiber Foundations details a variety of fibers, including protein, cellulose, cellulosic, and synthetic. Making Yarn includes detailed information on mills and microspinneries, the top fiber festivals, common dye techniques, and the different ways fibers are prepared for spinning. Finally, Ply Me a River puts it all together with sections about single-, two-, three-, and four-ply yarn, as well as about several more complex types of yarn—with 40 patterns designed expressly for each type of yarn.

Clara has created a resource that you’ll refer to again and again. If you enjoy her book and her wonderful KnittersReview.com newsletters, you’ll enjoy meeting her in person even more. I hope you’ll join us!

If you’ve been thinking about knitting your first sweater, now might be the time. The new session of our Top Down Baby Sweater class begins next Saturday, February 16. We’re knitting a baby sweater because it takes less time and less yarn, and you still learn the techniques you need to knit a sweater for yourself or anyone you like! And if you don’t have any little ones to give it to now, you’ll have a beautiful hand knit sweater the next time a friend has a baby.

This is the sweater we’re making. It’s the Baby Sweater by Knitting Pure & Simple (it also comes in child sizes if you have an intended recipient). It uses worsted weight yarn, which we can help you select when you register.

This is also a great class if you’ve never knit a sweater in the round. Once they learn it, many knitters say it’s their preferred method. It might become yours too!

Beth Brown Reinsel patiently led us into new knitting territory last weekend.

We learned to knit English and to knit Continental, we knit with 2 colors, we purled with the yarn in back, we twisted and twined!

Beth guided us and encouraged us.

She demonstrated and explained. And explained again!

These are the in-progress hats from the Fair Isle Tams class. Look at those colors!

It was fun and challenging and frustrating and rewarding. And in the end, Beth was congratulating us on our accomplishments and we were thanking her for her guidance. It was good to stretch our knitting muscles, even if we were a little sore.

To all who asked - yes, Beth will return next year. Until then, keep knitting!

Start 2008 by improving your knitting with one of our great new classes and Loop Lessons. You’ll learn tips and techniques that’ll take your knitting to a whole new level! The full class listing is on our website; here’s a few of the highlights.

Baby Surprise Jacket - Elizabeth Zimmerman’s classic can be tricky the first time you knit it. Get guidance in this class and you’ll soon have a finished sweater and a new addition to your knitting repertoire!

First Socks - Sock knitting is a bigger and bigger niche of the knitting world every year. Get in on the fun and knit your first pair of socks. Warning: sock knitting can be addictive!

Top Down Raglan Sweater - Yes, you can knit a sweater! We’ll start at the neck and work one stitch at a time. Think how proud you’ll be to wear a sweater that you knit!

No time for a class, but would like to pick up a few tricks? Our Loop Lessons series of $6 fact-filled lessons continues in 2008. Learn to cable without a cable needle, use the Magic Loop, and more!

And for your friends you always marvel at your knitting, get them knitting in 2008! There’s the Knit Stitch Loop Lesson for a quick taste of knitting and Beginning Knitting for those who are serious about learning the basics.

Of course, if none of this fits your schedule, we offer private lessons for $20 per hour. You’ll have our undivided attention on the topic of your choice!

See you in class!

We’re happy to tell you that Beth Brown-Reinsel will be here January 26 and 27, 2008 to teach 3 classes. Beth is a master of traditional knitting techniques as well as an author and designer. She calls teaching her true love, and if you’ve taken a class with her, then you know her gentle, patient nature and her good sense of humor make her one of the best.

On this visit, Beth will teach Fair Isle Tams, a 6-hour class, along with Norwegian Purl and Introduction to Twined Knitting, which are both 3-hour classes. You can find the details on our Classes & Events page.

We had a wonderful time the last time Beth was here; I’m sure we will again. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn with one of the greats. (Maybe put this at the top of your holiday wishlist!) Call to register today!