As you can see above, even while continuing to work on Yarn Folk, I have been home almost exclusively. In light of Washington’s “Stay Home and Stay Healthy” order, it is pretty clear that while some may disagree, selling knitting and crochet supplies is not considered essential. I will be shipping (for free) until Wednesday afternoon, when the order takes full effect for businesses. I will not be doing any curbside pick up until the order is lifted.

After Wednesday afternoon is up in the air, and I will be seeking clarity on the acceptability of working alone and interacting only briefly with a federal agency (USPS) that is still operating. I’ll do my best to keep you informed. Yarn Folk will not reopen to the public before the order is lifted. I will continue to make every effort to be available by phone and email.

Please take a look at the beginnings of an online store (details below). If you order and I do anticipate a shipping delay, I will keep you advised.

Your patience and support are so, so appreciated, and I hope that all of you and your loved ones are well.

…to learn (and do)

Social Stitching via Zoom

March 26, 4:00-6:00pm

This will be an experiment… I was able to hop on a Zoom event without any trouble; hopefully if you’re interested, you’ll find it easy to do. You do need to download the Zoom app on your computer or phone at https://zoom.us/support/download

The meeting ID is 973-985-436 or you can join via https://us04web.zoom.us/j/973985436. I won’t be able to answer many questions about how this works ahead of time, and it may be a little rocky, but let’s give it a try! If it’s successful (or at least worth attempting again), we’ll schedule additional sessions.

We have our fingers crossed with respect to holding the classes below. Stand by.

Introduction to Lace Knitting: Kindness Shawl

May 2 & 9, 10:00am-12:00pm | Instructor: Lynn Bethke | $40 + materials

Learn the essentials of creating lacey knitted items in this project based class! We’ll explore the basics of lace knitting, how to read a chart, and tips and tricks to promote your confidence and success.

Pre-requisites: Able to knit and purl, cast-on and bind off. Some pattern reading experience.

Advanced Tink

May 16, 10:00am-1:00pm | Instructor: Michele Lee Bernstein, PDXKnitterati | $40 + $3 materials fee

Join Michele and learn how to fix common mistakes in your plain and lace knitting. You’ll play with a cable, too! Class will focus on reading your knitting, unknitting stitch by stitch (tinking), adding or removing a decrease, tearing out rows at a time (frogging), and other common lace mistakes.

Prerequisites: For this intermediate class, you should know basic increases/decreases and have the ability to read and work from a simple chart.

...to anticipate

It’s just a start, and I don’t anticipate listing everything in the shop, but my web designer Sara walked me through setting up a space where I can offer some kits and other items while I’m not able to offer an in-store experience. I will also be able to use this feature to assemble special orders that you request (now and in the future), giving you an online payment option easier than phoning me with your credit card. Sales tax is included in all prices, and until we return to more normal operations, I am offering free shipping. Thanks for taking a look! https://www.yarnfolk.com/shop (It’s also linked at the top of the Yarn Folk home page.)

…to inspire

Honestly, I was planning to just buckle down and work on existing projects. (And I have—see below.) But when I saw the Everyday Cardigan pop up on Ravelry—free until March 31st, I brought home yarn for a new sweater.  The Everyday Cardigan was the first full sweater I knit, and I used Peace Fleece Worsted in Ancient Fern. It is such a warm, cozy sweater, and one I’ll wear again, as soon as I mend a worn cuff. For this new version, I’ll use the instructions for DK weight yarn, and I’m using Blue Sky Fibers in Cast Iron—a nearly-black charcoal. This sweater is the most basic of basics—it’s pretty boxy, with dropped shoulders, mostly stockinette, with simple ribbing for the trim. It’s knit flat in pieces, from the bottom up. Sometimes you need a zesty challenge, but other times, like right now, something familiar and nostalgic seems about right.

...to stitch