HRYC

Has it really been that long since we last posted? Whoops! We've been all over the place since then...

Tash went up to sunny Napier for Knit August Nights...

With the lovely Matt of Wabi Sabi Fibres (who got a little excited by the Skeinz yarn bin)

Knit August Nights is always a blast - so much good food, great wine, excellent company and lots of knitting. If you're interested, keep an eye on the Ravelry group or the website. Just a word of warning - you may want to start saving for yarn purchases now. There was WAY too much temptation this year!

Jem and Tash had a ball doing up the new shop window (take one!)

We're also plotting some really fun events! Watch this space...

The Hutt Knitter's group was pondering a way to get the chat back in our Ravelry thread recently, and one smart cookie suggested a KAL. Everyone is busy, though - so what to do? And then, on Wednesday night, we struck gold: A Beekeeper's Quilt.

Image from The Beekeeper's Quilt project on Ravelry

It has all the necessary parts: quick, easy, uses small amounts of yarn, and we can collaborate! Our favourite kind of project!

And because we love helping others out, it has quickly morphed into a fundraiser.

The plan:

• Anyone that would like to be involved knits as few or as many hexipuffs as they like
• Hexipuffs can be knit at Holland Road with yarn provided
• Hexipuff(s) delivered to the shop (or posted)
• Tash/helpers stitch the quilt together hopefully we will get enough hexipuffs to make 2 quilts - one to auction off (maybe on trademe??) with the proceeds going to charity KidsCan
• the second quilt will be donated to Ronald McDonald House, Wellington to go on display in their new house

We'd love to see just how many hexipuffs we can get - let's go nuts!

Of course, being a KAL, there will be prizes! They are yet to be confirmed, but there will be something from the shop, something from Knitsch Yarns, and something from Tiny Owls Knits. Every single hexipuff you contribute will get you an entry into the prize draw.

You do need to buy the pattern - but each hexipuff only takes about 13m of 4ply yarn. We will have a basket of yarn you are welcome to use if needed, and we will likely host some special hexipuff, cake and tea knitting sessions in the shop.

We have just 4 spots left in our Merry Go Round class on Tuesday night - would you like to join us? To book, drop into the shop, call (04)8910760 or email tash@knitschyarns.co.nz

Merry Go Round
7 – 9pm, Tuesday 23 August, Cost: $20

We will cover joining in the round, circular needles, magic loop and double pointed needles. Lots of tips and tricks to make you life easier!
Requirements: You need to be able to cast on, knit and purl with reasonable confidence.
Materials required: 4mm circular needle with 80cm cable, any size set of 4 double pointed needles, 8ply (DK) yarn (all of which will be available to purchase on the night).

We're also adding a second simple sock class to the schedule, as the first is already sold out!

Simple Socks
7 – 9 pm, SECOND CLASS Tuesday 27 September, Cost: $20

Come along and learn the basic techiniques of how to knit socks. We will cover magic loop, and make a mini sock so you can venture forth into the wonderful world of knitted socks.
Requirements: You need to be able to cast on, decrease, and be confident with knit and purl.
Materials required: a 2.5mm/80cm circular needle. Yarn will be provided.

It's such a treat to arrive in the shop after a day's yarn dyeing and find huge piles of new goodies to play with! Once we finally stopped rolling around in it, we stopped to snap some pics for you...

Gorgeous Endare 4ply from Rare Yarns - 70% alpaca 30% merino mmmmmm

Our Endare colour card

Bright and cheerful Happy Go Knitty hand-dyed cotton

More Scrumptious Lace! Hooray! We're hoping more Scrumptious sport will arrive very soon.

The shop is chock-a-block full of yarn at the moment - it's so wonderful to be surrounded by such gorgeous colours and textures. We're in the midst of putting together a really lovely, feel good collaborative project - something that will hopefully bring some joy to everyone involved. Announcement soon! x

About time for another Knit Nation post, yes? This one has been pushed forward for the plain and simple reason that Tash got to star in Harry Bollasockyarn's first Knit Nation report. Hooray!

Franklin is one of those people that you meet and are instantly struck by how pleasant they are. He was seriously, honestly, nice. And crazy talented. His illustrations feature in Twist Collective, he's written and illustrated books, he is a STUNNING yarn photographer, lace expert and designer....and is the most down to earth, great person. It was such a joy to meet him and have a couple quick chats in between his classes.

So thanks to Harry, Franklin's ball of sock yarn, here are some moving pictures from Knit Nation. Enjoy! Tash is right near the end at 12 minutes 20ish - excuse the tired look, a hangover may have been involved...