CLASSES

Whether you're a novice or experienced, we offer a full range of knitting and crochet classes and open knitting sessions at Strings & Sticks. If you're stuck on a project or looking for new ideas, stop in and see us. Class projects will include knitting, crocheting, garment construction, pattern reading, basic socks, beginning lace, felting, fair isle knitting, entrelac, domino knitting, and so much more! Classes are available days, evenings, and weekends (see schedule), and are updated monthly. To register for a class, pease call us at 706-698-KNIT (5648). Individual instruction is also available, upon request, at our hourly rates of $10.00/hour.

Strings & Sticks Yarn Shoppe
August 2008 Schedule 706-698-5648

Greetings and blessings! Wow what a summer we are having! I have been knitting non-stop to get the samples done for my classes and all the gals have been working hard to get ready for our up-coming OPEN HOUSE.

Speaking of OPEN HOUSE, let's talk about that now. On July 31st, from 6-8pm, Strings & Sticks Yarn Shoppe will be hosting you for CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST. Yes, that is CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST!!! We want to get you all motivated to do your Christmas Gifts early, and not have that anxiety of finishing late. A $5.00 cover fee will be charged, with $3 of it going to our African Boys Home. We will serve light food and treats and offer you the opportunity to see our gift ideas and purchase or sign up for instruction or kits. All of our staff feel that this is a great selection and very reasonably priced ideas for your gift needs. Come join our knitting community for fun and fellowship!! Put it on your calendars now!

Just a reminder about the July classes, Cathy will continue with the BASKETWEAVE SHAWL WRAP that you started in June. That class will be July 31st @1-3pm. She will also start the COLOR WORKSHOP on Aug 13. This is a 3-part intensive study on color and its use in any crafting item. It will be 1pm-3pm and will cover how to describe color, color wheel, undertones, neighboring and opposing color schemes in the part 1 class. Other classes Will be Aug 27 and then into Sept. The final class will be a project selection for application of what you learn. Cathy's classes are always fun and information packed. $30.00 for these 3 classes.

Cathy will continue her series on FINISHING PART 2 on August 6th from 1-3pm. This is a must for all stitchers. The expertise is in the quality of the finishing. So come and join Cathy for this finishing class. You don't have to have been in the Part 1 to attend this class. $15.00

Cathy will continue the Great American Afghan class on Thursday August 7th and 21st 1-3pm. You can join at this time even if you haven't attended the prior classes. $20.00 for both

On August 14th and 28th 1-3pm, Cathy will be starting a new block class for those of you that did not feel the Great American Afghan class was at your skill level. This 200 BLOCKS class will begin with Cathy and give you an opportunity to knit blocks for an afghan in any color or block combination that you like. Come get in on the beginning of this new class. $20.00 fo! r both

Last class offering for Cathy in August will be a workshop on THE BLING BAG. This is an easy, sassy bag made with "fancy" yarns and is a great gift item. $15.00

In August, Karen will continue to offer Basic Socks on Monday afternoons from 1-3pm. This is the beginning sock class and will run for 4 consecutive weeks. Must have prior knitting and be able to knit to gauge and know SSK, K2TOG. We will be working on 1 long circular needle. $40.00

Karen will also be teaching the OBLIQUE SHAWL from Aslantrends. This new vendor for us has a great pattern booklet that offers this unique shawl with a keyhole closure. It really stays on and is comfortable to wear. Come in and see the model! Great item for you or a loved one. Classes will be a total of 3 2-hour sessions. We will meet on Aug 4th,11th and 25th from 10-12noon or Aug 5th,12th, and 26th.Come and join us for this class. We have already had exceptional response to the sample in the shoppe. Only have one space on both schedules. If we have more to schedule, we will open another day. $30.00

Just for a look at what we are working on, Karen is working on a linen skirt that is simply beautiful. Some of the yarns are in stock now and we have had immediate response to the pattern and yarns. Come in and see if this is something you would like to do. We will be doing it as a Sit N Knit item on Wednesdays from 12-4pm. Great for all figures. Janice and Karen saw this in market!!!

Cathy is doing the ROUNDTRIP JACKET from a Noro Silk Garden colorway that is simply wonderful. This is a future class.

In her spare time, Karen is also working on the Einstein Coat! Out of Mirasol's Sulka, it is a luxuriously soft garment and will be a warm winter coat replacement in our Ellijay climate. Come and see and pick your color for the Sept/Oct class.

I also wanted to share with you my Market Notes. You haven't heard from us about market unless you have been by the shoppe. It was a great trip and very productive. Berroco looks great this season and we have gotten most of their new yarns in stock now. Their patterns are exceptional and we believe you will enjoy knitting most anything from this yarn company's offering. We also picked up a new yarn company that is from Australia. They produce mohair yarns from their mohair goats and have the most complete selection of colors I have seen. Exceptionally large skeins and many weights of fiber, makes WAGTAIL YARNS a great addition to our assortment. We have planned a couple of garments from this fiber for classes in the near future. Of course, we also have or will be having new yarns from Plymouth, Tahki/Stacy Charles, Noro, Cherry Tree Hill, Schaefer hand-painted yarns, and many others. As mentioned earlier, we added Aslantrends to our selection and have some of their products in stock now.

As for trends in the market, there were three or four very distinct trends. Sweater coats, Shawls(shawls,shawls,shawls), and more variations on modular knitting. Tweeds are also a very big part of the fall fiber selection. Natural fibers continue to be important and socks just keep going! At Strings & Sticks Yarn Shoppe, we feel we have pulled together a great selection of what we saw at market. Come in and see for yourself and make your picks for your fall projects.

We appreciate all of our students and customers. Let us know how we can serve you better!