Category: Crafts

January Goal: Spinning on a Spindle

Happy Belated New Year everyone! Hope you are enjoying 2012 so far. I didn’t get myself into any resolution-making, but every January I review the knitters’ bucket list to see how many items I’ve “checked-off” – I’m still afraid to try steeking 😉

Over the month of December, we stayed close to home (hubby was recovering from surgery), and I spent a great deal of time in my ‘studio’ (aka our finished attic space). I inventoried the ‘equipment’ – 3+ knitting machines, table loom, cowichan spinner, & 2 spindles. I’ve decided that I should actually start learning the skills to use those items…

So, this month, I’m trying spinning on a spindle – motivated by the lovely conversation & photo sharing on twitter by a few spinners/spindle makers. I’ve moved from a “thick/thin bulky yarn” (photo at right) to a “inconsistent thread w a few small nubs”. My goal is to spin on the spindle 15minutes per day (as per the instructions from Respect the Spindle“)

I’ll keep you posted – do you have Fibre-related goals this year? Please share them!

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The Westshore gets a knit night!

This woman is knitting at a coffee shop; altho...Image via WikipediaWe finally managed it! After teaching beginner and sock knitting classes through Westshore Parks & Recreation, there is a demand for a social knit night out here in the Westshore of Victoria. One of my beginner class knitters is an artist with the Coast Collective in Metchosin, and has asked on our behalf if we could use the classroom on Thursday evenings.

So, starting February 3rd, 2011, Thursday evenings 7:00pm ~8:30pm, we’ll be knitting at the Coast Collective 3221 Heatherbell Rd – http://www.coastcollective.ca/contacts.html

Hope to see you there!

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Setting up

A hanging flower basket on the street lamppost...Image via Wikipedia

Hello world!

We’re just setting things up, not quite ready for the world…yet…but are going to keep a log of our journey 🙂

Under Canada Post rules, we are in ‘Victoria‘, BC. However, anyone that knows the area, understands there are 13 different municipalities that make up Victoria. Right now there are 3 yarn shops in downtown Victoria (great walk between the three), and one in Estevan Village (10 min drive from downtown), and two up in Sidney (30min drive from downtown). On a map, you’ll notice there is ‘nothing’ in the western communities (25 min drive from downtown). However, its this area that is seeing the most growth and development resulting in more and more families moving out to the western communities. At the moment a quilt shop sells a few knitting items, and of course there are the two box stores (Walmart & Michaels – which also have other locations close to downtown). I’ve found there is interest in having knit nights out here, and classes. Currently people travel into town to buy their ‘nicer’ yarns.

So, at the moment, we are looking for space to share with a coffee place – the concept is very much like the Goudy branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library – which is co-located with Mirage Coffee – although we are looking for space that will be a little MORE open between the two spaces.

For now, we are opening accounts, placing orders for inventory, doing mail order, and selling through our classes. We have a Tuesday night class through Juan de Fuca Recreation, and will be hosting a drop-in knitting cafe on Saturday mornings in our front room (pending the studio being ready for the public). We’ll post drop in dates and hours soon!

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