January Classes

Here are some classes I'll be teaching in January! All the classes listed below will be taught at Passionknit (please call 416-922-3832 to register).

I will be teaching some fun classes at Greenwood Quiltery in Guelph starting in the spring so keep an eye out for those! One I'm looking forward to in particular is drop spindle spinning!

Easy Moebius (Shawl, Hood, Snood…)
During this class you will learn how to cast-on using the provisional method and how to graft together a seam. We will be making a fun and funky Moebius out of Mirasol’s new chunky yarn - Ushya. A snuggly treat! (Peachy) Thurs. Jan. 13, 7 – 9pm. $30 plus materials.*



Absolute Beginner Knitting
If you are interested in learning the basics of knitting this is the class for you! This class is for those of you who have never knit before and want to get started. We will learn how to cast-on, the knit stitch and the purl stitch. We will talk about different ways of knitting as well as knitting terminology. (Peachy) Thurs. Jan. 20, 7 – 9pm. $30 plus materials.*



Learn to Knit on Four Needles
Don’t be scared! It’s easy and fun! Knitting on four needles allows you to make all sorts of small items in the round. In this class we will be making simple wrist warmers on 4 needles using a luxurious Alpaca yarn. Please know how to cast on, bind off, knit and purl. (Pinchy) Thurs. Jan. 27, 7 – 9pm. $30 plus materials.*



Passionknit Stitchers’ Night
Here at Passionknit we have been promoting the “Twist Collective Challenge”. Fiona Ellis, a renown knitwear designer and frequent contributor to TwistCollective.com will be joining for this special Stitchers’ Night! It’s not too late to participate! Come in to Passionknit and we will help you get started. This special Stitchers’ Night we’ll be doing a show and tell of our “Twist Collective Challenge” progress!
Wed. Jan. 26, 7 – 9pm (Free)

*Please bring your knitting tool bag to class:
needles, stitch markers, scissors, note pad, etc. Also, please roll any skeins into balls before class!

Please register in advance either by coming into the shop or calling
Passionknit at (416) 322-0688.

Crochet - how do I love thee?

I am so in love with crochet right now... it occupies my every craft thought. For me, it's the most versitile and fun way of making fabric. It's very easy to manipulate into sculptural shapes, there are so many amazing varriations, it has an amazing history and I feel cool doing it.

I have to really thank Cal over at Hodge Podge Farms for turning me on to crochet oh so many years ago! I thank Tamaralda for getting me back into crochet after a wee break.

Recently, Tamaralda had me over so we could teach ourselves some new crochet techniques... Broomstick Lace and Hairpin Lace. Both are crochet techniques using hooks and, in the case of Broomstick, a large knitting needle, in the case of Hairpin, a frame.

Broomstick Lace Sampler:



Tamaralda and I had a blast that day drinking Kilkenny and crocheting. We used resources from the internet and are anxious to apply both techniques to small projects.

Hairpin Lace Samples:



Please take some time to check out The Crochet Liberation Front!!

In other news, the elephant in my craft room (ie. setting up my actual craft room), has taken a great leap to being functional thanks to Boomer (see picture below of her using her handy-gal smarts to help clear off my work space).... a big tip of my crocheted cap to her! Now it's time to occupy the space with some crock-pots and messy dye stuffs and get this show rollin'....





Also, if you are in the Toronto area please check out the One of a Kind Craft Show... an amazing and huge yearly show of artisans from all disiplines that runs through December 5th. Stop by Jenna Rose's booth and check out her hand printed homewares!

December Classes

Here are the classes I'm teaching in December! They are all being taught at Passionknit:
(416) 922-3832

The Entrelac Technique

If you’re interested in Entrelac, this is the class for you! We will be going over the technique, and participants will complete a small sample from casting-on to binding-off. Please know how to knit, purl, pick up stitches and read a pattern. Entrelac Pillow kits will be available for purchase at the time of the class at a 10% discount. (Pinchy) Thurs. Dec. 9, 7 – 9pm. $30 plus materials.*



Absolute Beginner Knitting
If you are interested in learning the basics of knitting this is the class for you!
This class is for those of you who have never knit before and want to get started.
We will learn how to cast-on, the knit stitch and the purl stitch. We will talk about different ways of knitting as well as knitting terminology. (Peachy)
Tues. Dec. 14, 7 – 9pm. $30 plus materials.*

Beginner Knitting Hat
What a fun hat! It’s a great beginner project! You will learn how to cast-on, bind-off, shape a garment, read a pattern and sew up your project. It’s a quick knit with great results. Lofty and lovely! (Peachy) Tues. Dec. 21, 7 – 9pm.

$30 plus materials.*




Easy Moebius (Shawl, Hood, Snood…)
During this class you will learn how to cast-on using the provisional method and how to graft together a seam. We will be making a fun and funky Moebius out of Mirasol’s new chunky yarn - Ushya. A snuggly treat! (Peachy)
Thurs. Dec. 16, 7 – 9pm. $30 plus materials.*

*Please bring your knitting tool bag to class:
needles, stitch markers, scissors, note pad, etc. Also, please roll any skeins into balls before class!

Please register in advance either by coming into the shop or calling Passionknit at:
(416) 322-0688

I love Hodge Podge Farm and the Sheep and Wool Festival!

In Mid October I went to visit Hodge Podge Farm and attend the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck New York. I got to meet a bunch of new and amazing designers and yarn makers - Into the Whirled, Jill Draper and Hodge Podge Farm. I also met some amazing animals! Here are some photos...

We have the HPF chickens (Joan, Betty, Trudy, Grace and Midge) as well as the face of HPF - Gertie!



The festival:





Cal's Spinning Guild participated in a Sheep to Shawl competition:



We went to the Ravelry party!!!



We had fun around Accord, NY (sitting under Gnome Chomsky the World's Largest Garden Gnome):



AND I got a whole new Hodge Podge Farm wardrobe!!!

Mr. P I was Honoured...

My lovely friend Hanna who is very involved in all sorts of amazing art as well as all sorts of amazing animal rescue efforts has curated an amazing show for her gallery in Tokyo. I happily participated! The show is of artist designed T-shirts, the theme is cats and dogs, the proceeds of the show will be donated to an animal shelter that Hanna has teamed up with in Tokyo. All around a very great and fun project!



My t-shirt is dedicated to a very important cat in my life. I will say that I have learned many amazing lessons from animals that, for me, hold far more significance and poignance than lessons I have learned from non-furry beings.




Mr. P was an amazing cat. A big boy with beautiful markings and an air of intelligence and concern that was quite unlike any other cat I have ever met. He was not won over easily. It was very important for me to be his friend and he insisted it would be on his terms.

I love cats! On the street, at people’s homes, on TV anywhere – KITTIES! I want to squish them, squeeze them and smell their fur. Yes, I turn into a three year old when I see a cat. Most cats do not like this… Mr. P did not tolerate it at all…

“The Little Prince” has been a guidebook to life for me since I was very young. Much too young to understand most of the analogies, it holds a lot of weight and significance for me. Mr. P taught me one of the most important lessons in that book. The lesson the Fox teaches the Little Prince.

The Fox encourages the Little Prince to “tame” him. This takes patience, the building of trust and time. The reward is that once you have invested the patience, building of trust and precious time, you now have something that alters how you view life all because you now you have “tamed” this other being. I knew my reward had come when, after several months, Mr. P jumped into my lap and, looking at me directly in the eye, sat down.

The Fox and Little Prince's story goes a little further and so does Mr. P's and mine... In the book, the time comes for the Little Prince to leave. The Fox is sad because he now has a great love for the Prince. The Prince gets upset and asks, “Why did I bother, if it causes such pain?” The Fox sums it up by saying, “Wheat fields will never be just wheat fields to me anymore, they will remind me of the colour of your hair - then I will be happy.”

Mr. P had to leave. He’s been gone for over a year now, but I’ve taken so much from the lesson he taught me. Things have never looked the same again because I have seen through his eyes and I spent time and patience and built trust with him – that created a whole new entity of love and experiences that was ours. I value those new little entities that I create with others everyday that alter my ways of thinking and the paths I take. Little things always hold the most significance…




All that in a t-shirt!? Seriously – I put all that into the crocheted stitches in my t-shirt for Mr. P! Mr. P - I was truly, deeply honoured!


A message to Cal at Hodge Podge Farm – my next post will be about my visit to Hodge Podge headquarters! My Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival project is coming along wonderfully. Thanks to my “…into the whirled” roving. Here is a picture of my first skein:

November Classes!

Here are my class listings for November.
All classes are held at:
Passionknit 3355 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON
416-322-0688
Please call to sign up or for more details.

Class Rating:
Peachy = All Levels
Pinchy = Medium
Persnickety = Difficult

Easy Lace Triangular Shawl
Jill Draper is a Kingston, NY based designer who has graciously allowed us to use her pattern “A Little Something”. This wonderful and easy pattern is worked from the tip/bottom of the shawl up. It is an easy beginner lace pattern. In class we will be using the brand new Malabrigo Rios yarn! This is a fantastic opportunity to learn lace stitches and try out a beautiful yarn and pattern. More of Jill’s work can be seen at www.jilldraper.com. Please know how to cast-on/off, knit, purl and follow a pattern. (Peachy)
Wed. Nov. 3, 7 – 9pm OR Thurs. Nov. 18, 7 – 9pm. $30 plus materials.*


Absolute Beginner Knitting If you are interested in learning the basics of knitting this is the class for you! This class is for those of you who have never knit before and want to get started. We will learn how to cast on, the knit stitch and the purl stitch. We will talk about different ways of knitting as well as knitting terminology. (Peachy)
Wed. Nov. 10, 7 – 9pm. $30 plus materials.*


Beginner Knitting Hat What a fun hat! It’s a great beginner project! You will learn how to cast on, cast off, shape a garment, read a pattern and sew up your project. It’s a quick knit with great results. Lofty and lovely! (Peachy)
Thurs. Nov. 11, 7 – 9pm. $30 plus materials.*


Reversible Cable Scarf – “My Pet Scarf” Knitting using cables is very popular this season! “My Pet Scarf” is a luxurious, lofty scarf made out of wonderfully soft baby alpaca yarn and because the cable is reversible – there’s no right or wrong side. You will want one in every colour! Please know how to cast-on/off, knit, purl and follow a pattern. (Peachy)
Thurs. Nov. 25, 7 – 9pm $30 plus materials.*


*Please bring your knitting tool bag to class: needles, stitch markers, scissors, note pad, etc.

Passionknit Stitchers’ Night
This is a special night out for our Passionknit customers to come and socialize. Come join us to “unwind” the last Wed. evening of every month for a fun knitting night. The “Twist Collective Challenge” is still on (contact us for details)! At this meeting we will be discussing knitting related podcasts – wonderful and informative online programs to listen to as you knit!
Wed. Nov. 24, 7 – 9pm (Free)

Twist Collective Challenge and Fiona Ellis!

This Wednesday September 29th officially kicks off the "Twist Collective Challenge" at Stitchers' Night from 7 - 9pm at Passionknit (3355 Yonge St. 416-322-0688). For those who don't know, we are asking people to check out the wonderful online knitting pattern shop Twist Collective, choose and purchase one of the amazing-ly designed patterns, bring it in to Passionknit and one of us will help make yarn substitutions. Then we can all be working on our projects at Stitchers' Night and we'll have a show-and-tell at the first Stitchers' Night in January! I'll be documenting my progress as well as Tamaralda and Jaqual's joint progress....

We have been super duper lucky to have had some of Fiona Ellis' wonderful samples on display at the shop for the past month. We are also lucky to be having her pay a little visit to this Wednesday's Stitchers' Night!

I'm going to be working on the Aran Waistcoat by Megan Rogers. The original pattern calls for a DK weight yarn but I've done some swatching and I'll be using the lovely, soft Malabrigo Twist in Burgundy.



Tamaralda and Jaqual are going to be colaborating on Chartres by Fiona Ellis. They are excited because they both work at very different tensions so they have had to swatch, swatch, swatch! They are working at the same tension on different size needles! They have substituted Louisa Harding's Mullberry Silk for the original yarn the pattern called for (which was a cotton/steel mix - very interesting).

Here are some pictures of the shop and Fiona's samples. I apologize because the pictures didn't turn out as good as I had hoped...

Here are a few of the widow area:





Chartres:



Bonnie:



Rebecca:



Paula:



Pamela: