Dorie stopped by the shop on Wednesday to show me her finished and blocked Wisteria Arbor Shawl (designed by Carla Kisielnicki) from Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders.
She used the yarn from the June Scarf Saturday, A Good Yarn HC, which is 50% merino and 50% silk.
Isn’t she gorgeous? I loved when she told me that she had the confidence to tackle this project because of Knitting Boot Camp and Kara’s beginning lace class! Want to make one for yourself? The book and yarn are in-stock in the shop.
On Tuesday, December 13, the shop was hopping! Benita Story joined us for the first of her monthly Beginning Spinning classes (second Tuesday of each month, 6-8 pm). She shared some of her handspun, including some of her first yarn, and got everybody going with their drop spindles.
Benita shared the basics of S and Z twist, drafting, and even a little plying. By the end of two hours, everybody was feeling more comfortable with the drop spindle and had even had a chance on the wheels. Doesn’t it look like Beth knows what she’s doing?
We worked with some corriedale that was very nice. In fact, if you’re a member of The Fiber Binder Club, you might recognize it!
Getting feet and hands coordinated reminds me of learning to ride a bike. I even had the opportunity to spin on the Ladybug, and for the first time had the chance to ask an expert about the various tension adjustments I could make. Benita is a very patient and enthusiastic teacher. If you’re thinking about taking up spinning, I hope you’ll join us for next month’s class on Tuesday, January 10, 6-8 pm.
The second Tuesday of every month is also Weaving Open Studio time at the shop (6-8 pm). Barb took her latest scarf off the Cricket loom.
Laurie started on a new Swedish weaving project. (Look, Pat– one of your students is working on a SECOND project! She even prepped the monk’s herself!)
If you’re a weaver, I hope you’ll join us next month for Weaving Open Studio on Tuesday, January 10, 6-8 pm.
P.S. Roxanne also joined Open Studio time for a little crochet, but I didn’t take a photo of her or her project because she was working on a Christmas gift, and on the off-chance the recipient reads this blog, I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.
On Saturday, December 3, five students joined Patti Hodge for a nuno felting class, where they created awesome scarves.
There was a lot of water and rolling of pool noodles over the scarves, fiber, and screens involved. I kept hearing “now do 100 more times with lots of pressure!”.
There was some resting in the middle when our intrepid nuno felters and their projects took a break for lunch. That involved rolling up the scarves around bubble wrap and the pool noodles.
Even though you can’t really tell it in this photo, nobody could lift their hands above their heads by the end of the day because nuno felting is not for those with weak arms or shoulders. Their work turned out beautifully, don’t you think?
On Saturday, December 3, our second class of Knitting Boot Camp knitters (minus Judy, who will finish the last two classes when she gets back from Florida in the spring) graduated! These knitters completed eight classes, finished numerous swatches, and knit a teddy bear sweater. Along the way, they gained confidence, learned how to read their knitting, fix mistakes, and lots of other good stuff.
If you see Nancy or Mary, congratulate them! And if you happen to have a knitting problem while you’re sitting next to one of them, ask them for assistance. I bet they’ll know how to help.
I am SUPER PLEASED to report that the knitters and crocheters of Starstruck Cat Studio completed 38 scarves for the Glamour Gals Robin Run Mega Makeover event!
PRETTY!
As my friend Sheila would say, these faces are precious and darlin’! Thanks to all of you who participated in making these ladies feel very special and for supporting the great work Glamour Gals is doing. And stay tuned for more opportunities to participate in the future!
Look what appeared outside the front door of the shop today! A little known fact about my mom is that she used to have a small business arranging silk and dried flowers. In fact, when I was little, I remember her spending time out in her workspace in the garage putting together beautiful arrangements. Last week, I showed her a photo from a magazine, and today she came and installed her interpretation of it. It’s super sparkly, which I LOVE, and it’s a very nice greeting for everybody who comes into the shop. Come see for yourself!
I am SUPER pleased to share the news that Laurie has finished her purple cat rug! The last loops were pulled at last Tuesday’s Rug Hooking Open Studio, and she’s now on to her Tuscany rug. On Saturday, I finished my Lone Pumpy, but I forgot to take a photo, and the rug’s at the shop. And, really, it’s not a huge accomplishment considering it’s about one-eighth the size of the Purple Cat. Yay, finished rug!
Last night was the first Crochet Open Studio time we’ve hosted at the shop, and I am super pleased to announce that there were EIGHT crocheters (and George T. Cat) gathered around the big table!
Projects were shared (like Roxanne’s first crocheted bag), new yarn was tried, and problems were solved.
If you are a crocheter who would like to meet other crocheters, I hope you’ll join us next month on Tuesday, December 6, 6-8 pm, for Crochet Open Studio!
Oh, Halloween, how we love thee! We did a bit of celebrating of ye in the shop on Friday.
First, Ginger finished her first rug!
Doesn’t it look great?! She is also a painter, and she applied her painter skills to painting with wool. The design is a Starstruck Cat Design original, Lone Pumpy, which will be available shortly in the shop and the online shop.
There was a little bit of knitting at Open Studio:
Beth was finishing a scarf for the Glamour Gals project, Mary Ann was embellishing felted bags, and Renee was brave enough to join us at Open Studio for the first time!
There was also pumpkin carving. I’m the proud owner of a battery-powered pumpkin carving tool, but Laurie’s collection of tools completely put me to shame. She also makes the best sugary crack caramel corn you’ve ever put in your mouth! (In fact, after eating it for dinner on Friday, snacking on it most of Saturday, having it for dessert on Saturday evening, and then finishing the extra bags off yesterday, I made some for tonight. I followed the directions here.) If you ever want to have a pumpkin carving party, I suggest you invite her.
George supervised. (Do you love the Easter egg tablecloth? We’re all goofed up with our seasons around the shop.)
Laurie’s cat turned out great, don’t you think?
Cynthia’s ghost is darling. (Maybe a ghost shouldn’t be darling? He’s more friendly than spooky, which is how I like my ghosts.)
And my cat turned out well, too. (My apologies to all the kids and parents who were going to and from the dance studio next door while I was laying on my belly trying to get some decent shots of our pumpkins. It turns out it’s rather difficult to get a good shot of a lit jack o’ lantern.)
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
So last week was Fall Break, and I spent four days out of the shop. It was delightful to have a little break with my fellas and parents, but I got behind on the sharing of stuff here. Let’s start with Open Studio a couple of weeks ago.
Erin finished TWO projects, which is pretty much unheard of! That’s her first pair of socks and a felted bag.
Kara finished her blanket!
Laurie and Barb worked on their homework for Swedish weaving class. (I told you that they really did work on it, Pat!)
I finished my First Birthday Socks last week, but I can’t remember exactly when:
I am fascinated by how different the stripes worked out on each sock.
Last Tuesday, we had the second session of Swedish weaving class.
There was intense concentration, and George T. Cat supervised.
Barb decided on red monk’s cloth and white yarn. I really like how it’s working up.
Laurie went with white monk’s cloth and one of the new Cascade Cherub Multi in greens and blues. I also like how it’s working up, too.
Pat worked on the same pattern, too. She chose a red, green, and white variegated yarn on white monk’s cloth.
Pat had a bit of show and tell to share, including this piece she was working on 2×2 (aka “monk’s cloth” to rug hookers) with embroidery floss instead of yarn.
She also shared this AWESOME blanket she made using a purchased blanket. It just goes to prove that you can Swedish weave on any textile with an even weave.
I crashed their party and worked a little bit on my flag placemat, which I started at the Swedish weaving convention in July. Perhaps if I worked on it more regularly, I would make better progress?
Yesterday, we had a session of Knitting Boot Camp. This was the class where Joyce and Nancy picked up stitches and knit the neckband on the Teddy Bear Sweater.
It was also rug hooking open studio!
Laurie is getting REAALLLLYYYY close to finishing the purple cat!
Nancy worked on the stars on the chicken rug.
I worked on my pumpkin rug, which is the first in my series of beginner rugs. I’ll share a picture when it gets closer to done.
And look what I found last night! The shop got yarn bombed for Halloween!
If you’ve been thinking of joining us for an open studio time or a class, I really hope you’ll make time to do so soon. You won’t be sorry that you did!
Starstruck Cat Studio on Facebook
Starstruck Cat Studio on Twitter
Powered by Wordpress 
using the Hybrid Theme.
