Crochet is hot! In this comprehensive course, you will learn all of the foundation stitches as we work together on “make and take” sampler squares which you can then assemble into a baby afghan or a scarf. You will learn how to read patterns that use the stitches you will learn in class.
Skill level: Beginner/IntermediateDid you freeze your fingers off last year? Learn how to knit the warmest mittens known to knitters – thrummed mittens! Tufts of unspun fibre are knitted into the insides of your mittens and guaranteed to keep your hands warm should the Polar Vortex happen again. This technique can be used for ear warmers and socks or any other pattern to keep your other parts warm. A custom designed pattern will be available to class members.
This introduction to spindling (spindle spinning) class is a great way to learn how to make your own yarn. Learn to work with a variety of wool types and spindles and experiment on both top and bottom whorl spindles.
By the end of the class you will understand what makes a great yarn and be a more knowledgeable yarn buyer of both handspun and commercial yarns.
This is a project class, perfect for the “newer” knitter ready to increase their skill at cables or create their first wearable garment. Michelle’s sleeveless, cabled cardigan is the best kind of design – a quick knit in a bulky yarn, relatively simple to execute, but with striking visual features and great wearability. You will finish the class with a completed cardigan, new skills in cabling, and the confidence to tackle a wider range of garment projects.
Set-in Sleeves, knit from the top down
Skill level: Intermediate
A set-in sleeve knit downward has so many advantages over the alternative! There’s no sewing, you can try on as you go so no guessing the length, no sewing, you can perfectly match stripes to the sweater body, you’re able to try on and increase or decrease the sleeve circumference, AND there’s no sewing. Picking up around the armhole and knitting a tube doesn’t work – it’s too bulky. In this class, you’ll learn how to pick up and shape a sleeve cap into the armhole and then knit triumphantly down.
Learn how to knit an endless loop that technically has only one side – it’s amazing (but simple)! A moebius scarf starts with a unique cast-on and grows outward from the centre. And once you make one, it’s hard to stop. They make perfect scarves and shoulderettes in any weight of yarn.
We will knit a sock from the toe up using 2 circular needles. We will fit the sock to your own foot as we go and learn this unusual method of knitting socks which does not require any grafting, and turns the heel in an unusual way. Each class will concentrate on one of the challenging parts of knitting socks: the toe, the heel, and the cast off.
If you are looking for inspiration, Ravelry is the free tool for you. Join us to learn how Ravelry will change your knitting life! If you are already using Ravelry, learn a few of the myriad of tools available there, that you may not have yet found. There is always more to learn!
Most people hate finishing knitting projects. Instructor Trish Denhoed actually enjoys it! So come learn a few easy steps to make your garments look more professional.
Topics to be covered in class include:
Tvåändsstickning, also known as two-end knitting, or twined knitting, is a Swedish folk knitting technique that uses two ends of a single ball of yarn, twisting each strand around the other after every stitch. It makes a particularly dense, almost windproof, fabric, that is ideal for mittens, hats, socks, and outerwear. Highly decorative tvåändsstickning work features distinctive textured patterns made by bringing one strand to the front of the work for a variety of special stitches, and coloured patterns that can be worked by twining two different colours of yarn, by carrying a third strand of yarn for colour stitches, or by working a form of intarsia for small motifs.
This classes teaches all of the essential tvåändsstickning techniques, and all you need to know to knit a pair of well-shaped, well-fitting mittens.
Step by step, Michelle will walk you through the creation of a very basic, chunky weight fingerless mitt (one mitt of pair, both alike). This is perfect for the knitter wanting to make their first mittens, done in the round and with a simplified thumb gusset.
Skill level: All welcomeIn this short 1 hour class learn the basics of grafting in stocking stitch. This is the joining technique you need for: toes of socks, underarms, shoulders, tops of hoods and many other items.
We are delighted to announce a Fall yarn tasting event, showcasing some of Berroco’s Fall yarn collections.
We will have samples of new Berroco yarns, including the complete colour palette for several lines. There will be plenty of yarn for you to test and enjoy in the store, as well as a raffle for door prizes.
Creative Yarns will provide coffee and snacks.
This event is free, but registration is required to reserve a spot. Call now (416-331-8085) to reserve your place.
Skill level: Intermediate/Experienced
Date: Thursday, 19/Jun, 6:00pm – 8:30pm (1 session, 2.5 hours)
Instructor: Michelle Porter
Cost: $30 + HST
Do you struggle with knitting patterns for sweaters and other garments designed with set-in sleeves? You’re not alone. Many of us have unfinished sweater projects in the backs of our closets; projects that ‘don’t seem to be working’, but we’re not sure why, or what we would need to do to fix them. Perhaps the pattern is unclear, or poorly designed for different sizes, or we just need to make changes for our specific body measurements, and set-in sleeves can make it hard to understand how to read a pattern and modify it to fix specific problems.
Join experienced garment designer Michelle Porter for this workshop on set-in sleeves. She will be teaching the design aspects involved in creating the sleeve cap and the armhole of a set-in sleeve sweater. How the measurements and shaping of the pieces should correspond and come together to fit each other and the wearer exactly. This class is mostly theory, using measurements from our bodies and a tension gauge from a swatch.
The Amanda jacket is a lovely piece that can trace its roots back to a simple stockinette shrug in a similar yarn weight. This time, the shrug was knitted in a Mosaic stitch pattern, documented by Barbara Walker, which gives a dramatic texture to the piece. A wide Trinity stitch shawl collar was added, providing a lighter contrasting texture. The collar was “finished” with an i-cord bind off, a simple to knit that gives a polished look. The transformation from shrug to jacket was completed with the addition of ribbed sleeves finished with a stockinette curl. The construction of the jacket is deceptively simple since it is based on four rectangles with no shaping.
The store sample, knit in Bluefaced Leister yarn in Aran weight, is soft and lucious. The yarn is 100% 
wool from West Yorkshire Spinners. The company notes that the wool is “reared, sheared and spun in Britain”. More information about the yarn can be found here.
The jacket can be worn in the traditional fashion, with the shawl collar around the neck. But, for the more adventuresome, it can be styled upside down, with the collar as a band across the bottom of the jacket.
For further versatility, there is no need to make all sections of the jacket. If you stop at the first rectangle, you will have a gorgeous shrug with a textured stitch pattern. If you knit the shrug with sleeves, you will have a collarless jacket. The options are yours.
The pattern is available at Creative Yarns at no charge with purchase of yarn for the project.
Creative Yarns is now featuring four amazing Peruvian yarns from Americo Original. These yarns feel so soft and buttery and the colourways are so beautiful that they are a sensory treat for knitters. Americo has extraordinary pattern support for its yarns. You can see the fabulous garments and accessories patterns here. Patterns are available at no charge when Americo yarn is purchased for the project.
ABRAZOS: Abrazos is an interesting thick and thin lace weight yarn that is a mix of cotton and bamboo. It makes the most incredible wraps and garments. See a close up of Abrazos yarn here.
BABY LLAMA: This 100% baby llama, sport weight yarn is soft and luscious. There are outstanding patterns for sweaters, scarves, wraps and shawls for this yarn. See a close up of Dehaired Baby Llama yarn here.
COTTON FLAMME: Cotton Flamme is 100% pima cotton with a matte, textured finish. It is said to be a fingering weight yarn but works to a sport weight gauge, ideal fro wraps, sweaters and shrugs. See a close up of Cotton Flamme yarn here.
SEDOSO: Sedoso is a seductive mix of royal alpaca, cashmere and silk in a lace weight yarn. There are amazing patterns for sweaters, scarves and shawls. See a close up of Sedoso yarn here.
The new Berroco yarn, Folio, has been in the shop for a few weeks now. It is flying off the shelves.
Knitters love this trans-seasonal DK weight yarn with exceptional yardage. It is a luscious, superfine alpaca and rayon blend that feels as soft and luxurious as cashmere. It can be knit on many needle sizes to give the drape and flow your project requires. Folio comes in many wonderful colours that will remind you of Spring. More colours are being added regularly. You can see more information about Folio here.
Berroco has great pattern support for this yarn. Several of the projects shown here are photographs of their pattern book for sale in the shop. You can see the wonderful drapability in each piece. You can see additional patterns here and a free capelet pattern here.
There was lots of lively conversation and laughter as more than 24 enthusiast women gathered at Creative Yarns on Saturday (February 15) to join in the second “Yarn Tasting” event. They were there to “needle” or “hook” test the new spring yarns from Estelle. What a fabulous way for crafty people to spend a wintery afternoon – dreaming of their spring knits, over coffee and sweet treats. Our youngest participant, in her early teens, crocheted the small Granny Squares seen above as her taste test.
Estelle not only provided the 15 yarn samples from Manos, Lang, Cascade, Estelle and King Cole, they also generously donated amazing prizes. Norma, Linda and Evelyn were lucky enough to win draws for three special prizes – the yarn and pattern for a large project. Everyone else took home great prizes too.- a pattern and a skein of yarn for a smaller project.
Our thanks go to Estelle for sponsoring this event and to Cristina for hosting it. You can see Estelle’s full line of yarns on their website.
This wonderful, worsted weight yarn has made its debut at the shop. It is a soft, 100% wool yarn that is machine washable. And oh my – the colours. Creative Yarns has 31 of the 50 available colours in stock with more to come. The shades range from soft neutrals to bright jewel tones to sultry darks. The wide range of colours provide a wonderful palette for colour work in many forms: stranded techniques, intarsia or gradient designs. For Rowan’s full range of currently available colours and details about Pure Wool Worsted view the Rowan website here.
This will be a “go to” staple yarn for many knitters. It will be fabulous for any patterns including accessories, cardigans, pullovers, kid’s clothes and blankets that call for worsted weight yarn. For inspiration,check out these free patterns available from Rowan.