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February 5th 2006 - Issue # 6

We're still in the depths of Winter here in Colorado. We've had snow every week for 7 weeks running and are expecting another bout this weekend. Wish us luck?

Anyway - on with the newsletter...

Needle Felting Classes At The Creative Festival

We were booked in for 4 classes (3 of which were needle felting classes)- I was so excited! We dashed around scouting the place in the first hour. My friend Marlaina (who has a knitting blog) bought some sock yarn in case it wasn't there when we came back, as it was crazy busy.

I hadn't been in there 5 minutes when someone complimented me on my felted purse. No - the pattern's not available just yet, but it will be. I'll keep you posted!

Our first class was for fairisle knitting, taught by Ann Bourgeois of Philosphers Wool fame. (I've done fairisle knitting before but not with a yarn in each hand, so I was fascinated to find out how it was done). What a blast - we just wanted to stay & knit all day, it was so easy. After the class we were like groupies asking for photos & buying her book & having it signed. (Philosophers Wool sells 100% wool yarn in some beautiful colors).

We almost were late for the next class by Barbara Crawford. She was to show us needle felting. Again - I had done some before, but wanted to see how she would teach it. She was so entertaining - we had to needle felt a flower pattern of our own design. Everyone had to hold up their work at the end of the class & she said that mine couldn't leave the classroom, as she had to make money on patterns. What a compliment!

We had an hour before the next class to have some lunch - good thing we did have an hour as we just got done eating in time to hit the next class. It was Barbara Crawford again, but this time it was about applique. This class wasn't as I expected - I like to "do" rather than just "see" - and she just displayed some of her designs & talked about them, so I was a little disappointed.

After that we had another hour to try & see some more stuff. I ended up indulging by buying some luscious hand dyed Merino/Mohair blend in a lovely deep purpley-blue and some fantastic 100% mohair - again hand-dyed in what I would call 'marine' shades - very pretty. Oh - how divine! No - I don't know what I'll be doing with it yet, but do we ever? We impulsive yarn-junkies?

Anyway - the last class was again with Barbara Crawford - dimensional needle-felting. This also was fun as it was hands-on. We each made a 'bug'. Some folks got picked on a little due to their choice of fiber color and the shapes they produced (all in good humor).

So - as I'm sure you'll agree it's about time I started getting some needle felting information on site. It's really easy - anyone can do it. You're basically just using a barbed needle to poke fibers into a base fabric, but I'll tell you more about it in the coming weeks.

End Of Design Contest Looms

For more info see the Needful Yarns website.

Reversible Cross Stitch??

For more info on how to work this ingenious feat check out Needlework Tips and Techniques.

Also - for some very reasonably priced cross stitch designs you might like to browse X-Calibre Designs. There are many, many patterns there - just click on any of the headings down the left side & you'll see for yourself! Let me know what you think here.

New Pattern for January was...

If you haven't already checked it out I've had some great comments about it already. A ribbed neckwarmer - it's really easy (though it may not look it), very cosy, and it's unisex!

Yes - work it in camo or a darker color & the guys will love it too. Very quick & easy - takes only about a half skein of worsted weight yarn. Make up a few as quick, inexpensive last minute gifts for those hard-to-buy-for folks.

My next free pattern will be for crochet gloves. You can either work them half fingers or full fingers. Look out for that new pattern to be on site in mid-February.

Happy crafting, and please drop by regularly to see what fun new ideas Woolcrafting has in store for you.

Now grab that hook and go, go, go....

Best Wishes
from Jill Wright
http://www.woolcrafting.com