If you have time and would like to try a new pattern and yarn, please give us a call (925-943-3994) or email (knitress (at) fashionknit.net).

$50 if you register by May 8. To register, visit the store or call us at 925-943-3994. You must act fast to get this discount.  See our class schedule for all pricing details:  Spring & Early Summer 2012 classes

Lorna will be at fashion knit on Saturday, August 18.  This was a sold out class at Stitches West 2012, so this is your chance to take her  in a much smaller venue.    Learn how to knit her “Meets in the Middle Top” a bias – knit top designed to fit any body and any size.  You will learn about gauge options, sizing and the overall versatility of this pattern.

Lorna Miser started Lorna’s Laces in 1986 &  sold the company in 2003.   Lorna continues to work with hand-dyed yarns and designs for a number of companies.  Learn more about her patterns and Lorna at her website.

Joan McGowan-Michael will be teaching a 3-hour workshop on Saturday, June 16 – Whip Your Knits into Shape!

$50 if you register by May 8. To register visit the store or call us at 925-943-3994. You must act fast to get this discount.  See our class schedule for all pricing details:  Spring & Early Summer 2012 classes

As Joan has said, ““Adding designer shaping touches to your knitted garments is easy once you know a few simple rules and how to apply them. Flatter your figure by shaping any garment as you knit it. Darts, ease, and short row shaping are all important elements for a custom fit. Learn which ones to use to play up your specific body type to it’s best advantage.”

Mother’s Day is coming soon & this would be an excellent treat for any special knitters in your life.

Learn more about Joan and her company, White Lies Designs by visiting her website: White Lies Designs.  Joan also has an fun blog where she talks about fashion and knitting.

Spring & Early Summer 2012 classes

Healing Hands To Health – Workshop

Guest Instructor:  Victoria Bryant

Saturday, April 21                                                           1:00p-3:00p

Cost:  $50 (no equipment or supplies necessary)

Are your hands hurting after knitting or crochet?  Is all that sitting and knitting and driving and computer-ing giving you a pain-in-the…?   In body language your hands are doing most of the talking: numbness, weakness, tingling, aching and just plain painful; maybe even your elbows, neck and shoulders hurt too? Human beings were not designed to sit.  Real solutions are offered through self-help techniques that address and teach:

• Ergonomic Techniques Through Postural Awareness

• Exercises to Strengthen and Stretch the Body

• Techniques for Carpal Tunnel Cure

Join us on Saturday,  April 21 from 1pm to 3pm for serious fun and fixing your troubled body by addressing the causes as well as the pain.

Victoria Bryant is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Pilates Instructor and Massage Therapist. Her uniquely specialized orthopedic massage therapy and touch modalities combine deep tissue massage with Shiatsu, acupressure and mobilization through Pilates techniques. Her background as a pianist, ballet dancer and psychotherapist create this holistic approach addressing: personal and sports injury, trauma, post surgery issues and pain through postural dysfunctions, carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica. In addition, she teaches how to manage gravity efficiently using stress management and self-care skills through movement and postural awareness.

MFT LICENSE #32887 • MT CERTIFICATION #139730

Finishing Your Felted Purse

Guest Instructor:  Carrie Besso

Saturday, April 28                                                       11:00a – 5:00p

Cost:  $75.00 (materials not included)

Add to your “finishing skills” by learning to make a perfect purse lining for your felted bags with guest instructor Carrie Besso.  Carrie is an experienced instructor who teaches many hand sewing classes at Stone Mountain and Daughter in Berkeley.   You will start by making a small, felted bag that you will then use to learn how to hand sew a purse lining.  Learn how to make a beautiful lining for any felted bag.   This 5-hr workshop will cover everything from making a pattern and learning the hand sewing stitches needed to put the lining together.  Once you complete your lining, you will learn how to insert the lining into your felted bag.  If you have struggled with how to finish your knitted and felted purses or have been intimidated by finishing your felted purses, this is the perfect class for you!

5 hour workshop (with 1 hour break for lunch)

Homework required

Short-row Shaping             Guest Instructor:  Brenda Patipa

Saturday, April 21                                                       11:00a – 1:00p

Cost:  $30.00 (materials not included)

Brenda Patipa, knitwear designer, will present a class to help you learn how to use short-row garment shaping.  Short-rows are truly an elegant way to add shaping into your knit projects.  Brenda will de-mystify this technique by teaching to how to incorporate short-rows to shape an armhole.  By the end of this class you will apply your new skills by starting the Twist & Lace scarf, a pattern using both short-rows and lace at the same time.  Homework required.  Prerequisites:    basic knitting skills:  knit, purl, cast-on, and bind off.

Thursday, March 29                                                     6:00-8:00pm

Thursday, April 12                                                        6:00-8:00pm

Thursday, April 26                                                        6:00-8:00pm

Don’t miss out!  Bring a project and join us for a creative evening moderated by Brenda Patipa.  Knit Night is free to everyone.  The purpose of our Knit Night is simply to get together with other like-minded fiber addicts and enjoy a relaxing evening of creativity and camaraderie.  Feel free to bring a snack, drink or whatever you like.  No registration is necessary.  Knitters and crocheters of all skill levels are warmly welcomed.

Join us Thursday Night:  Thursday, March 1 at 6-8 pm

Knit night’s  have been a great success and we have had excellent turnouts!  Don’t miss out, bring a project, and join us for a creative evening moderated by Brenda Patipa.  Knit Night is FREE!  The purpose of our Thursday Knit Nights is simply to get together with other like-minded fiber addicts and enjoy a relaxing evening of creativity and camaraderie.  Feel free to bring a snack, drink or whatever you like. No registration necessary. Knitters and crocheters of all skills are warmly welcomed. Next knit night is Thursday, March 15th.

Limited days left to  drop off Stash! The Yarn Garage was such a success last year that we have decided it’s time to do it again!  Let us help you resolve any “stash guilt” you may be experiencing.  As fiber artists, we need to have more of we really love – beautiful yarn!  The Yarn Garage will be an annual tradition here at fashionknit that is all about helping you clear out your unwanted stash and getting more of what you love!

Key Dates

Feb 20 – Mar 1     Drop off your stuff

Mar 2 – Mar 4

AND                   FashionKnit Yarn Garage Sale –                               Come to Shop!!

Mar 9 – Mar 11

How to participate?

If you would like the forms emailed to you directly, send a message to knitress@fashionknit.net

Click to download: FashionKnit Garage Sale Form

Go through your yarn stash and evaluate what you would like to try to sell at the FashionKnit Yarn Garage.  We will accept knitting, crochet and spinning related items.  Bag your yarn and other appropriate items in  clear, recloseable, zippered bags.  Make sure to label every bag following the Garage Sale labeling guidelines.  Price your items and fill out the Consent form along with the detailed Itemized List.  See link to print out a copy of all the rules, Consent Form and Itemized List.  We prefer that you print out a copy of your list.  Please make sure all your labels are legible and securely attached.  You set the price you want to receive for your stuff.  We will not negotiate with potential buyers.  Whatever you set as your asking price, make sure it is clearly noted on your identification label.  We hope that you will offer your items at a discount off retail price.  Use Ravelry and Yarndex.com as resources in determining your asking price.

Click to download: FashionKnit Garage Sale Form

Why participate?

Whatever you sell at the FashionKnit Yarn Garage will earn you “FashionCash” – this is a special credit voucher for you to use here at the store.  For example, if your items sell for $100 at the sale, you will earn $85 as a “FashionCash” voucher.  Why the difference?  An “Administrative Fee” of 15% will help us cover store expenses in running this event.  You will receive 85% of your selling price for all sold items, excluding sales tax as your “FashionCash” voucher.  Use your “FashionCash” to buy something you really want!

When completing your Yarn Garage consent forms, let us know what you want to do with your unsold stuff.  You can have it returned to you, or you can clear out space and donate your items to a local charitable organization that will appreciate your yarn and put it to use.  Unsold, unclaimed garage sale items will be donated.  If you know of or are part of a charitable organization that needs yarn, please let us know.  We will donate unsold yarn, other items to local hospitals, homeless shelters, womens services & church organizations.

Come Shop – Mark your Calendar

Even if you don’t have yarn or supplies to be sold at the Yarn Garage, we would appreciate your support by coming to shop at the Yarn  Garage.  We will be set up on Friday, March 2 to Sunday, March 4 AND Friday, March 9 to Sunday, March 11.  What makes this event such a success is that we have both Sellers and Shoppers!  Clear out unwanted stash and come find new treasures for you!

Both of us participate in this amazing education that has allowed us to produce many extraordinary results in many areas of our lives and we really want to share this with you and we value you.

Introduction Video