Knits by Jani: Now on Ravelry Too!

I'm excited to announce that my Ravelry Design Shop is now open. To find me on Ravelry CLICK HERE. My username is KNITSBYJANI or look for Jani Fellows. I have added the first of a series of new popular designer patterns (see picture at left) and I am really excited to introduce them through Ravelry. Let's connect!

In Other Knitting News...

I recently heard from a workshopper of mine who is a Special Education teacher. Her doctor attributed her recent rapid and complete recovery from a bone-breaking fall to her constant knitting while in the hospital.

As a result of hearing that there is a research study about the positive meditative impact of knitting, she has taught her 26 special needs students to knit. She reports amazingly calming affects on her 12 Autistic boys.

So not only do we get wonderful knitted items from this art but a wonderful dose of serenity at the same time.

By the way, we are still in need of Hats for the Troops, which project (K4OT, Knit for Our Troops). we began almost two years ago and have sent more than 14,000 hats to our troops overseas so far. If you haven't participated in this program you can get info and pattern online at the library website.

Jani's Schedule

You can find me at these local shops this month:

Monday - Madame Lafarge's Knitting Salon at the Denver Public Library Main Branch, 5 pm to 7:30 pm.

Tuesday and Wednesday - Private consultation for projects, finishing and repairs (contact me below to set a time).

Thursday - Showers of Flowers 10 am - 6 pm (Help Workshop 1 pm -4 pm)

Saturday - Showers of Flowers 10 am - 5 pm.

JoAnn's Westminster -- various dates for classes, check my calendar or my posting about these classes.

Directions to the stores can be found from their links (left) or by getting their maps from my calendar below.

See you soon!

Keep Knitting Those Caps!

As I've mentioned on my blog before, for almost a year now, the Denver Public Library, through its Cultural Programming Department, has been running a project called "K4OT", Knit for Our Troops." The object of the program is to have local volunteers knit helmet liners for our troops in Iraq and especially Afghanistan, where winters can be pretty harsh. To date, the program has donated over 13,000 caps to the Rocky Mountain USO, who distributes the caps to families of soldiers deployed overseas.



I'd like to share with you a letter that Chris Loeffelmacher at the Library received recently from the wife of a deployed soldier:

"...My husband Mike is currently deployed to Afghanistan. I recently received caps for him, and 5 of his fellow marines from the Rocky Mountain USO. It is bitter cold in Afghanistan this time of year, and the one thing all of our Marines are asking for is something to help keep them warm. The caps I received will be a godsend to them, when they get them at just about Christmas time.

"I can't say thank you enough for the support and care that is being shown by the wonderful people who knitted the caps. Just know that the boys will appreciate them more than you will ever know! Thank you again for everything you've done, and God bless you!

"Warmly,

Betsy"

Chris would like you knitters out there to know that the program is still going on, and with even more troops being deployed to Afghanistan this winter, the need is growing! Chris said, "If you have an extra skein of washable wool and a free evening or two, we'd love to include your hat(s) in a shipment headed to our brave soldiers on overseas assignments. For a copy of the pattern or details about where to send/drop off caps, go to www.denverlibrary.org/capsproject."

Sale! Sale! Sale!

Sale News:

Strawberry Tree, a vintage Denver yarn shop, is closing its doors on August 31 and is selling its entire inventory at 35% off.

Showers of Flowers is also beginning a yarn sale on August 1st.

Happy Shopping (and Knitting)!

Knitting for Troops Honored by Denver City Council

Hi fellows knitters....sorry to have been mum for so long, I have been a little under the weather, but I'm back and rarin' to get back to knitting!

I want to start off by telling you about a very exciting happening in our local knit world. Last Monday, July 20, at the Denver City Hall, in the City Council Chambers (a beautiful room), Councilwoman Carla Madison submitted Proposal #34 citing the Denver Public Library and its Director of Cultural Programming, Chris Loeffelmacher, for our fabulously successful "Knitting for the Troops" program.

This project began with a class at the library, as part of its Fresh City Life program in July 2008. We produced a goodly number of hats and the idea began to spread to other shops and knitting groups. So, in January of this year, Chris created a statewide marathon on a Saturday, as Knitting For the Troops Day. Most of our local shops, Showers of Flowers, Lambshoppe and Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins opened their doors for the day to all knitters who wanted to spend their day knitting hats. In addition, Whole Foods grocery chain opened up their meeting rooms in 11 branches to hat makers. There were snacks and good feelings shared by all. Down at the Denver Main Library they even had some great entertainment. We are still receiving hats from all over incuding a box from London, England wishing us well. So far, as the proclamation stated, 13,000 hats have been sent to the USO and still sending.

By the way...thanks to Meredith Gabow, a real Fresh City Life advocate, who got the City Council involved. And thanks to all the knitters who contributed their time and talents to make this possible!

If any of you would like the pattern for the hat, it is available on line at www.denverlibrary.org/capsproject.

I'm so glad to be back and I expect to be bringing some informative and interesting things to you as well as patterns for new yarns!

Special Event this Saturday at LambShoppe!

As you know, I spend one day a week with my good friends at LambShoppe in Denver. This Saturday, May 16th, they are hosting a very special event:

A Day with ANN MCCAULEY

Colorado's own Ann McCauley, author of the newly published Together or Separate: Knitting the New Twinset and The Pleasures Of Knitting: Timeless Feminine Sweaters. Ann will be in LambShoppe to teach two classes on May 16th.

Ann will also have a Trunk Show and a Book Signing on May 16th. She can be seen in the Knitty Gritty episode known as Delightful Details. She teaches knitting locally and nationally at yarn shops, guilds, and large knitting events. Ann recently taught for Stitches West at the end of February. She has also begun to design for Louet Yarn Company.

I MADE IT AND I LOVE IT (AND IT FITS)
Ann's 1st Class! Learn ways to enhance your sweater knitting for a professional finish. Swatching, gauge, quality of knitting, measuring, fit, shaping, blocking, seaming and more! It's the small details that make a big difference.

ALIGN AND BALANCE WHILE KNITTING(aka Pilates for Knitters)
Ann's 2nd Class! Explore how your body alignment and comfort affects your ability to knit and do other handwork. Awareness, alignment, body mechanics, self-help hand-care and pressure points are just some of the topics we'll cover.

Contact LambShoppe at 303-322-2223 for more details and to register.

I've known Ann since she published her first book, and she is talented, creative, friendly and helpful. I'm sure you will enjoy the experience, whether you go for a class or just to get your book signed!

As a reminder, I offer workshops at LambShoppe every Tuesday afternoon and evening, so pick your pattern, and let's get started!

The Tenth of May is Mother’s Day

Whether you need a gift for your knitting Mom, or you are the knitting Mom, there is a wonderful choice of things to gift or be gifted with. Here are just a few ideas to help you make it a great Mother's Day this year.

Blue Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles Set

One of the interchangable needle sets in the last posting is a gift that will last a lifetime. The picture is of a Denise set in blue; they now make a pink set that has some of the purchase price going to breast cancer research -- a bonus! Denise makes a middle-priced set; sets by Boye are less and sets from Skacel are more (see my gift shop for these options).



Swift Yarn Winder - Large
Another option that seldom wears out is a yarn winder. A two-piece set, it consists of a tall spindle-like object with spokes (left, usually wood) that expand or contract to accommodate the size of the hank or skein that needs winding.





Yarn Ball Winder
The swift's partner is a ball winder that winds your yarn into a ball as you turn the handle. This tool is especially appropriate for knitters who prefer the more natural fibers that are less processed and usually come in skeins (as opposed to balls). The two partners are purchased separately and come in different sizes.

The choice of gorgeous yarns and fabulous pattern books is endless; any one (or more) of which we knitters love to receive.

Also if the knitting Mom also likes to read when she isn’t knitting, there are always the novels that are centered around yarn shops. "Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs takes place in a yarn shop in Manhattan, has been on the NY Times best seller list for months, and is now coming to the screen with Julia Roberts.




Knit One, Kill Two (Knitting Mysteries, No. 1)

If mom prefers mysteries, the series by Maggie Sefton in paperback takes place in a yarn shop in Fort Conner, Colorado (really Lambspun in Fort Collins, Colorado) - fun to read and each comes with a different knitting pattern and a free recipe.




Of course, if all these choices are too overwhelming, there is always the handy-dandy gift certificate, which everyone enjoys receiving. Remember, sometimes the giver is hoping for a knitted gift in return! Most yarn stores have certificates available in person, on-line or by mail. So happy gifting!