I hope that all your last minute running around has been successful and that you are done in time to celebrate with your family. For those of you already celebrating with family and friends, my best wishes to you for a wonderful time together. We are gearing up and only have a few last items to check on the list. I have to say - the boys are getting the idea of Santa this year and I love having him on my side. The tree has had only lost one ornament, the kids pretty much go to bed with just one threat of Santa watching and we’ve managed to keep the house a little cleaner - because “Santa needs to be able to walk through the house to get to the tree to leave the toys” and because “if Santa sees all these toys out he’ll think you have enough”. I just need to figure a way to stretch this into the New Year…. thoughts?

I got a lot of feedback from the freebie pattern for the wine bottle last week - if you made it up I would love to collect a few pics to share on our website. I think it would be a funny collection to put together. If you wish you could have knit that very cute set - take a class with us. The schedule is here.

We’re closing at 5 Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve and closed both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day - but Friday, Saturday & Sunday we’re having a little sale the details are below -

Have a wonderful holiday!

Annissa

Chill Chaser Sale

Friday, Saturday & Sunday December 26, 27, & 28th

Check out these deals - for three days only!!

50% off Blue Sky Royale
50% off Louet Euroflax
50% off Rowan Cotton Glace
50% off Farmhouse Bo Peep & Boucle
50% off Team Colors kits
50% off select outdated magazines
10% off all hard cover books

25% SWTC Bamboo
25% off L. Harding Kashmir Aran & DK yarns
25% off Noro Maiko
25% off All Pear Tree Yarns
25% off Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed
25% of Socos & Talinay yarns
25% off Cleckheaton Gusto
25% off Classic Elite Soft Linen

Here’s a quick post for you this week - think of it as an early Christmas gift (your real gift will be the awesome sale I’m having the Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Christmas). Two things - we are still on for the Last Minute Selling event Friday. I know they say snow but we’re still open so maybe we’ll get lucky and miss the bulk of it. The gifts will be here to buy if you can make it and I have asked the crafters to leave them over the weekend for those of you who aren’t ableto come tomorrow.

So, do you want to laugh? I got this Wine Bottle Hat & Scarf Pattern pattern today FREE from Nashua Yarns and just had to share it with you. It is attached and certainly worth a peek. If you gift it they can turn it into an ornament after. It is so cute! I also am attaching the newest updated class listing for January and February 2009, the website will be updated soon.

Enjoy your weekend and get to the food store now, before the masses descend.

Annissa

With less than 2 weeks left until Christmas I decided this was the perfect time for me to knit cute little Santa hats for the boys. Can you imagine the rush I’m in now? I finished one last night and will continue working on them - I’ll post a picture next week (I hope!). I made my own pattern up and used a mohair to add fuzz for the band and pom pom. When I email you the pic I’ll add the directions but there are a few good free ones online like these below (follow the link) they include an adult hat, a baby hat and an ornament:

http://slumberland.org/wp/2006/12/21/pattern-2-hour-santa-hat/

http://knittingwithmonkey.blogspot.com/2008/01/baby-santa-hat-pattern.html

http://www.craftsanity.com/project/files/project46.html

We have a few gifts to send your loved one or for them to get you something - or for yourself (you know - buy one thing for them, one thing for you). Last week we got in the newest Sheep Shop yarn - this one is for socks and it is great! The colors are awesome and it feels great. If you are on Ravelry check out “Helene”. You can also link here http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/PATThelena.html The beautiful kids sweater uses only 2 skeins of the Sheep Shop Sock yarn! The colors offered are great and we have all they offer. This would be a great first birthday gift. I guess if you can make a pair of socks between now and Christmas you could make this too.

We also have Soak wash that is perfect for washing all your delicate knit goods and delicate garments too. There are awesome shawl pins in pewter, brass, nickel and rhinestone. Pattern Tamers are also a great last minute gift. And, don’t forget gift certificates. If you need it - we can mail it!

We had a lot of calls and emails for the two cowls I talked about in the last email out. Chelsea imade a beautiful yellow cowl in Malabrigo Chunky (1 Skein) and I made one out of Di Fiamma (2 balls).

We are planning our fabulous, first annual Last Minute Shopping Party on December 19, 2008, we are almost done with all our decorations, and we’re gearing up for a fun evening of shopping. All the gifts for sale that evening will be hand made and you’ll meet the crafter! We’ll have fun and food but bring your own wine if you so please :).

And lastly, some of you have RSVP’d for our Twist Collection Fashion Show in January. We are excited to host this event on Jan 10 and hope you can come. After Christmas we’ll role out all the details - so stay tuned…

Until then - if the seasons gets you stressed - come hang with us at the Stitch House.

Annissa

• This Friday, December 5th is Sweater Club from 6-8pm
• Next Friday, December 12th is Quick Sew Club from 6-8pm ($10 makes a reversible apron)
• Sunday, December 14th is our Sweet Embroidered Buttons workshop
• Friday, December 19th is our Last Minute Shopping Party from 6-10pm
  

(Ed Note - this post is late due to technical difficulties)

The response has been overwhelming for the Sparkling Scarf made in Yang - we do have colors left (check out the picture below) if you want to get one made for the holidays or maybe a weekend party. It takes less than 8 hours and is a super deal for a gift or housewarming gift. I’m wearing mine this weekend to the neighborhood tree lighting.

Because of this response I’m going to start sharing my list of gifts I’m making this season for my friends and family. Maybe it will inspire you. Each of the next few weeks I’ll give you a few including the time I took to make them. I’m a fast sewer so you might need to add to my times, but in knitting most of you have me beat for sure. Don’t tell them if you know them but here’s the first installment:

my dad - another hat. I think he lost the one from last year and won’t tell me so I’m making him the Ann Norling Spiral Hat. I’m using Sheep Shop One and only need 1 skein. Last year I spent a few evenings (maybe 4 hours). 1 Skein plus the pattern will be $18. There also some great patterns online and free for simple one-skein hats.

my friend Lesley (her daughter Sophie was featured a few emails ago in a pumpkin hat) - an Amy Butler Bag. She loves Vera Bradley and has a new baby so I’m making her the Birdie Sling in Morning Glory/Coral and Geisha Fans/Olive. You really need to see them together to appreciate it. I need 3.5 yards of fabric ($35), some interfacing and the pattern ($12.95). I can re-use the pattern for a last minute grab gift too.

my aunt - the Odessa Hat. My plans for her hat is to use a yarn that doens’t need beading. Right now I have the Louisa Harding Ca’d'Oro (I need 2 skeins at $9 each) picked out. It has it’s own shimmer and shine to it and I love the knitting pattern in the Odessa (a free online download). Nicole has a shop model here if you would like to check it out.

I will email pics next week including work times on the bag and hat.

We do have a few classes in the next few weeks you might be interested in taking. As we gear up for the holidays we also have just the right events for you last minute folks. Sweet Embroidered Buttons - One-day workshop, Sunday, December 14 from 10am-12noon ($30, materials included) with Karen (aka SimplyJune on etsy.com)
Cross Stitch Ornament - Two night class, Tuesday, December 9th and Thursday, December 18th from 6-8pm ($30, materials included) with Danielle and then Drop In Cables with Maryann - all Tuesdays from 6-8pm leading up to Christmas for $20 you can start a new project or work on a quick gift (like a cabled coffee cup warmer). If you want to take the next few weeks to fulfill last year’s New Year’s Resolution and learn to knit, we have a class this Tuesday night for the next few weeks. Call to register!

On Friday, December 19 we’re hosting our Last Minute Gifts Party (I love hosting gatherings here) and I need your help to make it a success. I would like to invite my customers to sell their homemade crafts at my shop that night. If you make beautiful things and would like to share them with the world, and make a few last minute bucks, join us that night. Due to space limitations I need you to “apply” for a space so I can make sure we have enough space and a good mix of items. Our event will be from 6-10pm and will be a nice time to get your last minute shopping done AND/OR send in that someone special to buy you the perfect gift. So, if you would like a space contact us for details.

I wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving. I always love Thanksgiving because it is the one time we are forced to sit, eat and enjoy eachother’s company. Not that I don’t enjoy eating with my family, but rarely - between the kids, the shop and life- do we have one day that social and cultural expectations have forced us to get along! And, by golly, we like it. My side of the family comes to my house, and you can imagine the craziness with the kids and football and realizing the turkey isn’t really ready yet, and we sit and relax. We do this corny thing were we each have to publicly say what we are thankful for. We know what we are thankful for in our minds and hearts, but it adds so much more emotion when you have to publicly declare your gratefulness. I think many of you may agree. So you might think now is when I would say “I am thankful for my customers, and my shop, etc” but although you are all fastly becoming part of my extended family, I am most thankful for my husband Doug, my kids Douglas, Charlie, Kayden, Sam (especially Sam who was very sick at the begining of this year), my parents, Barbara & Ezzeddine, grandmother Anna, my aunt Stasha visiting from Poland, my awesome sisters Sonia & Sarrah and my in-laws, the Georges, who have had a difficult Fall. We all work hard in and out of the home. I enjoy my time at the Stitch House and tapping into my creative spirit. I thoroughly enjoy my time at East Boston High School working with some of the best kids this City has to offer. But, at Thanksgiving I want to sit back and enjoy my family, with no internet (unless I really mess up the green beans and need a last minute remedy), no knitting, a little football and a little parade. I am thankful for this time together.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Annissa