Well this will be the last weekend before the real craziness of the holiday seasons gets to us. I know a few of you are already done shopping and all the plans are made - well good for you! But for the rest of us… this is the last moment of peace. I hope you can start this season off with us at the Stitch House TONIGHT for our first annual Thanksgiving Pot Luck & Toy Drive. This evening (Friday, Nov 20) from 6-9pm we’re hosting an evening of fun and music and food and hopefully collecting toys for our local police department’s kids Holiday Party (they lost a major supporter this year and I hope we can help out). Join us regardless but if you can please bring a toy valued between $15 and $25 (or a gift card in that amount) and I will extend a 10% discount for your purchases tomorrow night. I think this is a great way to help out, hang out and eat! Let us know if you can bring a food item and we’ll add it to the menu. A few delights to wet your appetite include Eggplant Parmesan, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Wine and of course Pecan Pie!

We have some classes starting up over the next few weeks and into the holiday season. A few to consider now are:

SUNDAY Beaded Shawlette Workshop - This one-day workshop will teach you how to incorporate beads into your knitting to add a little extra glamour! Make your very own fancy scarf using crochet hood bead technique and a simple stitch to produce a beautiful accent piece to add to your wardrobe. Come in to Stitch House to see the shop model! Class is $30 and offered on Sunday, November 22 from 12-4pm. Materials not included.

TUESDAY Bella Mitten - Free Mini-Lesson - So many people have been raving about the Bella Mitten by Marielle Henault (www.subliminalrabbit.com) posted on Ravlery. To really get you going we’re holding two Bella Mitten nights - join Claire to work on your mittens on Tuesday evening November 17 and/or November 24 from 6-8. You should know how to knit and purl but we’ll teach you to cable the design in this mitten pattern - we just ask you buy your yarn from us and the mini lesson in cabling will be free!

DEC 1 & 8 Introduction to Sewing: Butler Bags - Amy Butler is the designer of beautiful fabrics and patterns. Using her patterns and fabrics in just two sessions you’ll have a great new tote or bag to show off to all your friends! This class will give you experience in the basics of sewing so that you will have the knowledge and confidence to undertake projects on your own. You will learn how to understand and follow pattern instructions. All materials for this class are available at Stitch House. This class will be held 2 Tuesdays, December 1 and 8 from 6-9pm for $60.

DEC 5 & 12 Saturday Sew Intensive for Beginners and New Sewers - So you want to learn to sew or continue developing your skills? Pick your own project and get started. You will learn how to read and follow pattern instructions, cut out patterns and make minor pattern alterations for a better fit. We start sewing the first week so come with a pattern and fabric ready to go. This class costs $75 (does not include materials) 2 Saturdays December 5 & 12 from 10:30-2:30. Light lunch provided.

We have a ton of new clearance yarns too! All Jo Sharp stock is NOW $2 a ball - yes! I said $2 a ball. It is fabulous and I can’t order it anymore so it is that cheap. We’re also clearing out of Debbie Bliss Aran, Classic Elite Bazic & Four Seasons, Louisa Harding Grace, Cleckheaton Country and Noro Maiko. They are all 50% off! This week we got Madeline Tosh yarns and new Rowan and more colors of Magnum… so we needed room. Come in and check out what’s on sale and what’s new. All will certainly please the pickiest of knitters!

We are also planning our 2nd Annual Last Minute Shopping Party featuring all handmade items. If you are interested in having your items on display for sale at this event please let me know and I will forward you details. The only requirement is that your crafts are made by you! We had some great things last year… we just got whacked with an early snow storm. This year will be bigger and better - join the night!
And last, but certainly not least… we want to make sure your loved ones get you what you want for the holidays. Let us know what you want them to buy you and we will be happy to put it aside, email them the info - even wrap and ship it… Shoot - just buy yourself and send it to your self from him… I mean them I don’t mean to insult my wonderful guy customers… you men just have a way of not knowing what to get us so I’m offering you a hand. Let us know!

Oh! I almost forgot - - the Mitten Contest. I can’t wait to see all the great mittens people have been planning. Get knitting and get creative! If you want to enter call or email and we’ll get you the instructions (basically - make a pair out of our yarn - and plan on winning!).

I hope to see you tonight!

Annissa

I haven’t done this in a while so here it is - - I attached a pattern this month to promote our current contest - Mittens! So many people have been raving about the Bella Mitten by Marielle Henault (www.subliminalrabbit.com) posted on Ravelry so here it is - get knitting and enter our contest. All you have to do is purchase our yarn and put your mittens on display for the month of December and you can win a great prize. All contestants get a small gift and the winner gets even more. To really get you guys going we holding two Bella Mitten nights - join Claire to work on your mittens on Tuesday evening November 17 and/or November 24 from 6-8. You should know how to knit and purl but we’ll teach you to cable the design in this mitten pattern - we just ask you buy your yarn from us and the mini lesson in cabling will be free!Once you get a pair done - I know you’ll want to enter them in our contest - and then make another pair for a gift.

Speaking of gifts…(note the smooth transition, thanks) we just got in a ton of new Amy Butler fabrics to make some beautiful, sewn gifts. In fact I have a friend who is having twins! and getting TWO lovely quilts (saying it out loud will give me the strength to get them done in time) and anything Amy Butler comes out fabulous! We also have very cute kid craft sets for boys and girls and for young ages as well. We will only get this one shipment in and they are a great gift for the aspiring little crafter in your life.

Tomorrow, November 13, is our monthly Quick Sew Club from 6-8pm. We’ll be making a vintage half apron in Amy Butler fabric in preparation for our Thanksgiving Dinner NEXT Friday, November 20. We’re hosting our First Thanksgiving Pot Luck dinner here at the Stitch House. I am so complimented by how many of you think of the Stitch House as your home away from your real home, and I want to do what families do - celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with you. Join us from 6-9pm and bring a side of your choice. If you will be coming please let us know what you would like to bring and we’ll start up a list so we don’t have too many mashed potatoes (or whatever - you get my drift). During this event I would also ask you bring a toy for our local police station’s toy drive. They host several hundred kids every year for a Christmas Party and this year they lost some funding and are short on toys. Please bring an unwrapped toy valued between $15 and $25 or a gift card and get a 10% discount on your entire purchase that evening.

Other classes starting in the next week include:

Bill’s Bootie Workshop Bill is our in-house baby bootie expert. We’ve designed three 2-week workshops, each session increasing the difficulty of the booty design. Participants should expect to complete the bootie pair in each session. Each session is $30 and includes the pattern and a ball of yarn for the booties (needles are not included) and runs for 2 consecutive Thursdays from 6-8pm. November 12 & 19.

Kid’s Quick Sew - For kids only! Ages 8-12 are invited to learn to sew or refine the skills they learned in one of our summer camps. This class will teach you the basics and together we will create something small, manageable and fabulous. Not only will you leave with a finished project, but you’ll have the motivation and the tools to keep sewing! After this class they’ll have the skills to make great gifts for all their friends. Kids will learn how to understand and follow pattern instructions, cut out patterns, and use basic machine functions. Two consecutive Fridays, 3-5pm, November 13 and 20, $30.

Fix-It Class-Learn how to fix mistakes in your knitting! From picking up a dropped stitch to changing a knit stitch to a purl, learn some valuable tips from Katie that can help rescue your project and sanity. Class is $15 on Saturday November 14, 2-4pm.

Beaded Shawlette Workshop - This two-day afternoon workshop will teach you how to incorporate beads into your knitting to add a little extra glamour! Make your very own fancy scarf using crochet hood bead technique and a simple stitch to produce a beautiful accent piece to add to your wardrobe. Come in to Stitch House to see the shop model! Class is $30 and offered on 2 consecutive Sundays, November 22 and 29th, 12-4pm. Materials not included.

There are two local events you might like to drop in on this weekend. First is the Holiday Craft Fair at Dorchester’s First Parish Church on Meetinghouse Hill from 10-4 on Saturday, November 14. The other event is a Girls Night Out Shopping Extravaganza on Saturday, November 14 from 5-9pm at Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy in Neponset (formerly Saint Ann’s School).

Also,This week’s Crochet Club is ON but Nicole won’t be here so come in and join your fellow crocheters - but no instruction this month! Nicole will be back next month…

Last, but not least, thank you to all that attended this weekend Noni Design Workshop. We had so much fun - - and did a lot of knitting. I hope you’re all ready to show off on Friday, November 20 at our Pot Luck Dinner. Call us or stop in if you need help!

Talk soon,

Annissa

Mitten Knitting Contest Rules & Directions

For all levels of knitters – put your needles to work! Make a fabulous pair of mittens, from the easiest to the most detailed and win a fabulous prize! Purchase your yarn between today and December 1 and display your mittens during the month of December. Customers vote once per visit and their votes determine the winner! The winner will be announced at a special event in January. All participants will get a cool gift and the winner walks away with a Stitch House Gift Certificate, T-Shirt, collectible Vogue Knitting book and bragging rights.

o Buy your yarn between November 1 and December 1

o Complete Entry Form

o Display Mittens between December 1 and December 31

o Winner announced in January 2010

Our numbers were low for registrations for this weekend’s awesome workshop planned with Nora Bellows of Noni Designs. I couldn’t let so many people miss out on what I think is going to be a fabulous time… so I invite ALL of you to join us for no charge! Please come but let us know so we are prepared with snacks and chairs. Nora will be here Saturday and Sunday from 10-4 and you are welcome both days or pick your favorite. We are also hosting a welcoming party Friday evening from 6-8pm. This is a great opportunity to meet a wonderful designer and very creative knitter! Get inspired by her and all the samples of her designs on display at Stitch House.

Marie is also here next week, Wednesday, November 11 for picture day. There are times available throughout the day and it is a school holiday in observance of Veterans Day. Use this time to get a jump start on your holiday pictures for cards and gifts. Call us to arrange for your time with Marie.

We got some new yarns for late Fall and Early Winter this week. Check out Rowan’s Cocoon and Grand Opera, Cascade Chunky Baby Alpaca, Debbie Bliss Rialto DK, Marble Chunky (very fun!), Noro Kureyon Sock, and a ton of new regular stock. I am more excited about the newest Amy Butler Fabrics in stock. We doubled our original offering - and these are beautiful cottons in quilting/garment and home decorating weights.

There are also classes starting tonight and this coming week. They include:

Cabling Mini- Workshop If you are ready to learn cabling techniques but don’t want to commit to a four week class –we have the perfect one-skein project for you! In one session you’ll get at least one repeat done on a cabled neck cozy (one of our favorite things to make) using one skein of chunky yarn. Imagine, learning to cable and leaving with a completed cable pattern repeat in just one night! Participants should be familiar with knitting and purling. This mini-workshop is $20 and includes the pattern and a ball of yarn for the cozy (needles & buttons are not included) and runs Thursday, November 5th from 6-8pm. THIS CLASS IS TONIGHT!

Bill’s Bootie Workshop Bill is our in-house baby bootie expert. We’ve designed three 2-week workshops, each session increasing the difficulty of the booty design. Participants should expect to complete the bootie pair in each session. Each session is $30 and includes the pattern and a ball of yarn for the booties (needles are not included) and runs for 2 consecutive Thursdays from 6-8pm. November 12 & 19.

Introduction to Sewing - “Learn to Dress Yourself” This four week class will give you experience in the basics of sewing so that you will have the knowledge and confidence to undertake projects on your own. You will learn how to understand and follow pattern instructions, cut out patterns and make minor pattern alterations for a better fit. In addition you will learn clothing construction fundamentals such as seams, darts, waistbands, zippers, buttonholes and hem techniques. Students are also welcome to sew a Butler bag or garment or simple patchwork quilt in this series. Pick from one of two sessions: This class is offered for the next 3 THURSDAYS for a reduced rate of $60 - THIS CLASS IS TONIGHT!

I hope to see you this weekend!

Annissa