You Can Leave Your Hat On

One thing about knitting is that you can choose big projects or small projects to knit.  Depending on how much time you have, will depend on what project you want to tackle.

One thing that is an easy project with quick results is a hat.  Everyone loves a cozy knitted hat and they can be made with all different types of yarn and in many different patterns. 

The Knitting Basket has a few of the SIRDAR Head Start Kits left.  Look how fabulous they look and so easy to knit and it even includes the furry pompom.  Now don't worry, if a furry pompom isn't your thing, just leave it off .  The yarn is a blend of Acrylic, Polyester and Mohair, we have two colours in stock, grey with a blue pompom and beige with a lilac pompom.  Pick up your kit before they all go! (did you see the basket of Lang Yak, peeking out behind the hat kits?)

Another brand of yarn we stock is Lorna's Laces, which is a hand dyed yarn, that is 70% Super wash Merino Wool, with 30% Outlast viscose, which wicks away the moisture.  They come in 100 gram balls which is perfect for a pair socks, but for those of you who don't knit socks, how about knitting a hat or mittens with it?   The hat in the photo below was knit using Lorna's Lace yarn and using this simple pattern.

Look at these stunning colours:

Of course The Knitting Basket carries many more brands perfect for knitting a hat.  Why not pop into The Knitting Basket and have a browse around the store and pick up some yarn then sit yourself down and make a start on that hat during one of our knit and sit sessions!

Tuesday knit and sit 10:30 am to  2:30 pm

Thursday knit and sit 10:30 am to 2:30 pm

Friday knit and sit 7 pm to 9 pm

Saturday knit and sit 1 pm to 4 pm

Socks, socks and more socks

In the past few weeks I have mastered the art of Magic loop ! (Magic Loop is the popular name given to the technique of working in the round by using a single, long circular needle, in place of a short circular, multiple double-pointed needles, or two circular needles.)  I must admit there is something very satisfying about knitting a "pair of socks" all at once.

My recent project has been baby socks the pattern is easy as can be by Liat Gat and before you know it there done. On to the next. :)

I think this is a good project for many reasons - it's not overwhelmingly big to start out trying magic loop.  It's not a huge wallet buster to invest in yarn for; truly the opposite, it's a good way to use all those dribs and drabs of yarns that are to big to discard but not big enough for mitts or a hat.  If you ever wanted to try socks, these baby socks would fit the bill. Build up your confidence to tackle the real mc coys! Oh and did I mention they are super cute!!

The Knitting Basket will be holding classes in the fall.  How to knit socks will be one of the classes.  Please call The Knitting Basket at 705-434-4255 to see what other classes are available, as they can be customized to suit your skill level.

As mentioned above The Knitting Basket has sock yarn on sale until the end of May. Here is a small selection of what is in stock.

“ It is a peculiarity of knitters that they chronically underestimate the amount of time it takes to knit something. Birthday on Saturday? No problem. Socks are small. Never mind that the average sock knit out of sock-weight yarn contains about 17,000 stitches. Never mind that you need two of them. (That's 34,000 stitches, for anybody keeping track.)

Socks are only physically small. By stitch count, they are immense.” 

― Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much