Cabled Cowl Workshop

Sometimes a scarf is too much, and you wish, especially during Charleston's mild winters, for a little something to warm your neck. This cowl is the perfect solution! Knit with a combination of bamboo and wool, it's warm and soft and snuggly, without being heavy or long. Add buttons like my cute vintage ones, or just sew it closed for a continuous loop of cowl-y warmth. The cables are big and fun and really not that hard to learn (I promise!).

Come join us Saturday afternoon, Feb. 25 from 1:00-3:30 as we knit this scrumptious cabled cowl at The Charleston Museum.

Knitting Group a Go-Go!

After taking a long winter's nap of sorts, the knitting group formerly known as Monday Morning Knitters will meet again tomorrow, January 16, from 10:00 am till 11:30 am. Now there's a new name and a new location: First and Third Monday Knitters meet at the Panera Bread near the Tanger Outlet Mall. See the sidebar of this blog for the full 2012 schedule.

It's going to be a great year of knitting! I have lots of ideas for ways we can knit for charity and I'll be bringing that information with me, along with an unfinished project of two to work on--the hard part is just narrowing it down to one or two!

I look forward to seeing old knitting friends and meeting new ones. This group means so much to me and I've missed it over the holidays. Hope to see you there!

A word from our sponsor

Here's what I used to do before I spent a year trying to get a knitting business going. Enjoy!

Happy Knit Year!

Every late December I make goals for the upcoming year, and somehow the majority of these tend to center on knitting. I guess I figure if the Knitting gets done everything else will surely fall into place. So, for 2012, here's what I hope will happen:

1) Monthly knitting workshops and/or events at The Charleston Museum.

2) Increased enrollment in my classes at Michael's.

3) A daily interactive record of knitting, starting January 1, over on Facebook.

4) My son's Christmas gift will NOT be on the needles next year at Christmas!

5) Complete my Knitting Instructors Certification course by the end of April.

6) Pick a charity for our knitting group to contribute knitted items to. Red Scarf Project again?? Warm Up America?? Something else??

7) Host World Wide Knit in Public Day activities in June.

8) Attend the SC Knitting Guild's Knit Inn in February.

Happy New Year and Happy Knitting!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Stitching!

I knew I should have been knitting. I had unfinished gifts, samples for upcoming workshops, and even a nifty pair of fingerless gloves all on the needles. Still, I succumbed to the lure of the brightly colored floss and I found myself embroidering. It was madness, I knew, but I did it anyway. As you can see by the results, a little more Dr. Seuss than Gallery of Art, I should definitely stick to my day job. It was a fun diversion from my usual craftiness though and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm even proud of my funny little tree.

So, no matter what your hand finds to do this holiday, enjoy it, be proud of it, and live in the moment.

Merry Christmas and Happy Stitching from KnitOasis!

Ch-ch-changes...

As we approach the end of 2011, I look back and all I can say is, "What a year it has been!!" I have had the amazing privilege of teaching many classes and workshops this year, with still more being planned for 2012. I am grateful for the opportunities of the last 11 months and SO excited for what's in store in the future!

Highlights from this year...

* Hosted World Wide Knit in Public Day and two knitting workshops at The Charleston Museum.

* Began the Craft Yarn Council's Certified Knitting Instructor Program.

* Attended the SC Knitting Guild's Knit Inn.

* Taught a Sock Knitting Workshop.

* Began teaching Discover Knitting classes at Michael's.

* Hosted weekly Monday Morning Knit group.

* Sent 6 scarves to the Orphan Foundation of America's Red Scarf Project.

* Helped coordinate Two Huge Yarn Sales!

Coming up next year...

* Even more classes at Michael's.

* More workshops (and events!) at The Charleston Museum.

* Summer Sock Workshop.

* SC Knitting Guild's Knit Inn: Feb 3, 4, & 5.

* World Wide Knit in Public Day, June 9.

* Completion of Certified Knitting Instructor Program.

So what are these changes I mentioned? I'm glad you asked! Because of the steady increase in the number of classes and workshops, I will be making a change to Monday Morning Knitters.

Starting in 2012, Monday Morning Knitters will be held on First and Third Mondays. The location will also change to the Panera Bread near the Tanger Outlet Mall, 5070 International Blvd, Charleston, SC.

My hope is that our Monday group can continue despite my heavy schedule, so I'm counting on you all to continue to make it a success in the coming year! Come be a part of the exciting knit happenings as we carry on our quest to take over the world, one knitter at a time!

Monday Morning Knitters Holiday Schedule!

It's that time of year, Knitters, and as the holidays heat up, Monday Morning Knitters will be taking a few well-deserved breaks to celebrate with loved ones (and of course knit, wherever you are!).

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

We will meet on the following Mondays from 10-11:30 at the Atlanta Bread near CSU:

Nov. 28

Dec. 5

Dec. 12

After Dec. 12, we will be taking a break till Jan. 16. Check back here for more info on some exciting changes coming up soon!!

Also, SAVE THE DATE! Fair Isle knitted hat workshop at The Charleston Museum--Saturday, January 28!

Happy Holidays!!

Overflowing with Thankfulness: Red Scarf Project

In January of this year (OK, wow that was officially a long time ago!), I announced to my Monday Morning Knitters that I very much wanted to send a scarf to the Orphan Foundation of America for their Red Scarf Project. I explained what it was, handed out the guidelines from the website to any interested parties and that was that.

Today, I packed up SIX red scarves to take to the post office! I am overflowing with gratitude for the effort and hours of knitting that my generous knitting friends donated for this project.

For many years, I have wanted to participate in knitting for this, and my Monday Morning Knitters helped make it happen! Thank you all!

Autumn Knitting = Shawl Workshop!

There's something about autumn, isn't there? The way the sun slants through the trees at a different angle, the cooling of the air (only a little bit here in South Carolina, but we can tell the difference!), the changing colors of the trees, the cheering of football fans every Saturday; all these things help make autumn an enchanting time for me.

And with those first cool evenings giving us a taste of cold(ish) weather yet to come, I hear of more and more of my part-time knitter friends picking their needles up again after a summer's hiatus. Those of us who knit year-round also start searching for something warmer to knit. There's just something about autumn that reminds you about the mittens or scarf or hat that you wished you had made last winter.

Take, for example, the practical yet stylish shawl. Several years ago I made my first winter-weight wrap, and I realized why knitters down through the centuries have made and worn shawls for both warmth and beauty.

This November 12, coinciding with the opening of The Charleston Museum's new exhibit Coat Check, I will be teaching a shawl workshop featuring two different vintage patterns that have a timeless quality. It's that whole warmth and beauty thing, I think. See for yourself. Here is a photo of one of the shawls, a little number whose pattern was first published in 1864.

See what I mean? And it's warm and soft and cuddly, too. But, hey, you don't have to take MY word for it. Come join us November 12 from 9:30-12:30 and make your own. The only thing I have to warn you about is this: The second shawl pattern is also quite stunning and you just might have a hard time picking only ONE to knit!

I LOVE Yarn (but then you knew that, right?)