Brioche with Anita Osterhaug, Saturday, 6/15
We have a date!
Yarn Folk is delighted to welcome Anita Osterhaug for a three hour brioche workshop on Saturday, June 15, from 10a-1p. Anita is an editor emerita of Handwoven magazine, and has broad knowledge of (and abiding enthusiasm for) the fiber arts.
This workshop will include casting on for brioche, how to knit single-color and two-color brioche, how to make neat edges, finishing techniques, troubleshooting, and some tips for color planning. Even though the technique uses only 1-2 colors at a time, this class will present you with the opportunity to consider how to combine multiple sections to expand your palette.
Anita is also the author of the recent book Nordic Hands: 25 Fiber Craft Projects to Discover Scandinavian Culture, a beautiful exploration of Scandinavian values as they are expressed in the fiber arts. (It's a gorgeous collection of patterns and supporting photography, and we will have copies available for purchase soon.)
Enrollment is limited for this opportunity--we recommend reserving your spot right away! Find the enrollment page here.
…mark your calendars
Social Stitching
Every Saturday, 2-4pm
Bring your current project, and spend some time with others who really vibe on yarn!
Knit Or Crochet Every Day in May
Back again for our third year! Get your tracker here. All finishers get a coupon for a purchase in June or July, and will be entered in a end-of-challenge prize drawing.
May 23
Pattern pre-order for this year's 4 Day KAL with Marie Greene 🥳
June 15
Book signing and brioche class with Anita Osterhaug, author of Nordic Hands, and editor emerita of Handwoven magazine. Details and enrollment here.
…new in the shop
Need a quick and adorable baby gift? The Madelinetosh Baby Raglan is fast, easy, and CUTE on a baby. The pattern contains three sizes--6 months, 12 months, and 24 months, and takes 1 (2, 2) skeins for the short sleeve option, and 2 (2, 3) skeins for the long sleeve option. Purchase the relevant quantity of Madelinetosh Wool + Cotton, Tosh DK (including our specially-priced one of a kind skeins, or Farm Twist, and we will send you a free PDF of the pattern!
Making this sweet sweater for wear right now? Try the short sleeve option in Wool + Cotton. It's so nice to knit with, and the 50/50 superwash Merino wool / Pima cotton is easy care, cool, and breathable.
…to inspire
Mental Health America established Mental Health May in 1949.
This year’s theme for Mental Health Month is “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World.” In a world that is constantly evolving, it can be overwhelming to navigate the various challenges and changes happening around us. The pressures of work, relationships, and societal factors, like politics, climate change, and the economy, can significantly impact our mental well-being, sometimes even more than we realize.
While society is getting more comfortable discussing mental health, it can still be hard to know “Where to Start” when these pressures are impacting your daily life — what do you do when you think you might be experiencing signs and symptoms of a mental health condition?
When fiber arts and other types of crafting appear in the news, it's often good news--reinforcing what we instinctively know: that these pursuits have positive cognitive and mental health benefits. The New York Times article from March 28th, "Working With Your Hands Is Good For Your Brain," examines some of the recent research on making, and specifically hands-on creation. It's an interesting piece, you can read it here. (The article is gifted, so you shouldn't encounter the paywall.)
...currently stitching
It's swatching season, where I audition new yarns, often at a variety of gauges. A couple of them will be making their way to our shelves soon, others are very enticing, but we'll have to wait until fall. Excited to continue swatching, and I can't wait until you can get in on the fun, too!
