Workshop Announcement

Lace Workshop

April 14

1-3pm

Smoky Mountain Spinnery

Gatlinburg, TN.

I am so excited to invite you our Lace Workshop.
Whether you are familiar with lace or have never tried it before there will be something for you
in this workshop.

All the basics will be covered and you will begin a beautiful lace scarf.
This scarf will give you the opportunity to knit with a Royal Alpaca, Cashmere and Silk yarn.
It's divine!
All Supplies with be provided and covered in the cost.

For further information and to RSVP call or email.
(865) 202-9865
(865) 436-9080

knittingsatori@gmail.com

Smoky Mountain Spinnery

Springtime in a Knitters World

It's been beautiful here in the Smoky Mountains. Spring has blessed us a little early with warm weather and beautiful views of the mountains. This weekend the Dogwoods have started to bloom and they have added just a touch of color to the mountain sides and along the road ways. This is truly a beautiful place to live.

It's also an amazing place to be involved in the Arts. Recently in the area there was the huge Quilt show that happens every year, and the Fiber Arts Festival in Townsend. Many of the attendees to these shows came to the Spinnery. We had customers from as far away as Massachusetts. It was a pleasure talking with them and finding out what the fiber world is like in their area.

On the home front, I have been really working on a schedule for weekly classes and a monthly workshop for the Spinnery. Right now here is a list of the weekly classes. (remember I don't have dates yet, that will be coming soon)

• Knitting (right now I have a Beginning Knit class on Wednesday mornings 10am but if you are in town you are welcome to come.)
• Knitting all levels
• Continental Knitting
• Magic Loop
• Crochet for Knitters. (edging, yokes, trim, cast ons, etc)
• Fair Isle (2 hand method)
• Drop Spindle
• Private Lessons

Workshops are going to be monthly. The April workshop will be the 14th, 1-3pm and the topic is LACE. I think Spring time shouts light lacy shawls and scarves, so I have a pattern that will be perfect. If you are in Gatlinburg on the 14th, please come and take the class it will be a lot of fun. Email me for further information.

Personally, I'm still living with what seems to be 100s of irons in the fire. But I'm coming to the belief that, this state I'm in is my "normal" I've always been a  person with a many things going on, that's why I've always been a knitter/spinner. It's my get away, my healing, my counselor, my therapy, my best friend at times. I'm truly blessed that I can be around it all the time. If being involved in with knitting, spinning, crafting, etc has done anything for you like it has me, you know what I'm talking about.  Now I'm finding that same feeling with designing. I'm currently working on a baby blanket that I'm going to call Celtic Butterfly. (Just have to get that Scottish touch in there LOL). The pattern is coming a long really well, and my goal is to have a couple of test knitters work with it by mid April. Cross your fingers.

I want to close out today with a thought.
Remember that there are always two sides to every story, before you come to a conclusion. This way you don't let other people form your opinions. You are one of a kind, so don't think like everyone else.

Guess what's now available? Yes, my little bag. Let me introduce you to

Spinning Wheel Goodie Bag

I am curious this morning to find out how many of you are like me. Great intentions but leave very little grey room for things like the 40 other irons you have in the fire. I have to admit that not only the blog, but there are friends and other important things that have had to take a back seat this past month to all that's been going on.  We've all been sick, including my Great Dane, and it seems like the more I want to have a normal routine that just doesn't seem to be in the cards. So the fingers are crossed and here's hoping for a little calm. :-)

Let's talk about fiber things. Those wonderful projects that bring us hours of fun.

Feb. 18th I taught a class at Smoky Mountain Spinnery on 2-Handed Fair Isle. It was so much fun. We had a great time and all the ladies enjoyed taking their knitting to a new level. For those who are interested here is a link to get you started. 2 Handed Fair Isle. Learning this technique will open up so much for you in knitting. Here is what we made. (and it didn't hurt that we used Mochi Plus and Solid Mochi where were a dream to knit with). We have had such a good response to this class that I'm actually scheduling private lessons for it. How cool is that?

Then of course I've been spinning. I finished spinning the Sea Mist Merino/Silk and have been knitting a shawl. There is something exciting about knitting yarn that you have spun yourself. I highly recommend it. Whether it's a drop spindle or a wheel. You just got to try it. Here is the pattern I picked for my handspun, the  Waves of Leaves shawl. (the link is to the Ravelry page. ) Here is a pic of what I have gotten done so far.



I am really loving this pattern, it's written very well. Try it, you will like it.

One afternoon while I was spinning, I was dropping everything I picked up. So I went to Ravelry and found a little bag to knit and felt to hang on my wheel. It turned out cute, but you know me I wanted to make it a little more customized. So I wrote a pattern for the Cutest Little Spinning Bag. It takes no time at all to make and uses about half of a skein of Lamb's Pride worsted.

One of the changes I made was to make it a little thicker and more sturdy. I don't know about you but when I use something a lot it gets worn quickly, and I also thought that the bag may also get used for other things.

If you are interested in my pattern please let me know I'd love to share it with you. I have it available at the Spinnery, and not sure if I will put it on Ravlery.

Well it's time to head out. Gunther has to be fed, kids taken to work, call and check on mom, maybe go over and check on her, house cleaning, laundry and a run to the store to get something for dinner. Does this sound familiar?

Be Blessed.