Knit.Spin.Weave

Not Nagging, Just reminding.

To hear the latest from the folks at the Wab, join us on Twitter. We're Wabisabiyarn.

Meet the Knit Wits

Yupe that's right, Carol and Lesley are taking part in a bowl-a-thon for Ten Oaks Camp

And they're the Knit Wits. They've enrolled the help of their children and local knitter, Heather Ling & her children as team mates. ( Hey, we're all knitters we're bound to be great bowlers, right.) But we need sponsors for the big event on Saturday March 5th. If you're interested you can sponsor us online or drop by the shop. 

We'll be sure and let you all know how we do.

Great Knitting, Barb

Barb Irving originally knit this version of Sally Melville's Classic Shirt in off-white and brown striped mohair but she wasn't keen on the colour. Carol helped her select a dye, (Chocolate Brown) and look at it. It's wonderful. Thank you for letting us share your work, Barb.

Animal Patterns For Earth Day

Looking for something to knit for CPAWS? I haven't found a pattern that exactly suits their mandate but I've found some good patterns I feel could be easily adapted. My first is an owl that could be fiddled with to look like one of those listed. He's very cute.

I also found a blue bird I think with some imagination he could become a Jay. I found another sweet bird from Purl in NYC.  I didn't have much luck with fish but I found these felted fish that also could be experimented with.

For more inspiration check out Knitting Pattern Central

Wabi Sabi Shows off

We love hearing from you, especially when you say lovely things about us. It makes us feel really good about what we're doing. After all we're aiming to be more than just a yarn shop,we want to be your-home-away-from-home, a place where knitters, felters, spinners and weaver--everybody feels comfortable.

This week we got two lovely letters.  So we're going to do some showing off. 

This is what one knitter wrote:

"I had a great experience at Wabi Sabi last week, buying a few skeins of Cascade yarn for a felted slipper project (that I’ve almost finished!). I was really appreciative of the help offered, and that you ‘balled’ the yarn for me, esp. as I had my year-old daughter in tow."  

Never worry about bringing your kids into the shop. We like kids. We have some of our own. Plus, we try to keep a lot of stuff in the shop to entertain them. If you have kids 6-and-up we offer Friday afterschool classes for them.

Yes, I'm going to brag again. I can't help myself.

"Hello Folks at Wabi-Sabi!
Just a quick email to say how much I enjoyed my visit to your shop lastweek.  I have the opportunity to travel a fair bit, mainly through my workand at every opportunity, I check out yarn/fibre shops.  The interior ofyour shop is just lovely and your inventory is beautiful.  I have to say,W.S. is one of the most delightful shops I've visited - and that includesmany that I've seen while living overseas.
Looking forward to my next visit to Ottawa and spending more than just alunch hour at Wabi-Sabi."

Thank you so much for your thoughtful letters. They make us so happy. Don't forget we love to show off on your behalf so please send us photos of your wonderful creations.

Free Classes At The Wab

Now that I've got your attention, ha-ha. Seriously though, we're teaming up with the folk at CPAWS to raise awareness about the diversity of the Ontario Wilderness through craft.

What does this mean? Join artist Stephanie MacNeill on March 5th 10-12pm and learn how to needle-felt a woodland animal. Donate the animal to CPAW'S 2011 eath day event and the class is free. The animals will eventually be auctioned off to raise money for CPAW's. Keep your animal and donate twenty dollars to the cause. It's a win-win situation.

But that's not the only class. Help set the scene for the CPAW'S woodland display. Artist, Karen Straniky will guild you through this woodland adventure.You'll use Uupcycled sweaters, a bit of sewing and lots of creativity. March 3rd  from 6-8 pm  

 

Introducing Our newest Fibre Artist Extrodinare, Maureen Ballagh

Maureen is an Ottawa Artist and teacher enthusiastically indulging her senses in the medium of fibres. Multi disciplined in knitting, felting, embroidery, spinning, dyeing, weaving, quilting and painting, drawing and printing on fabric. Continually satisfying an obsession with colour, texture, transparency, light, asymmetry, negative spaces and quality. Indulges the habit for organization, control, perimeters and the seemingly contradictions of experimentation, risk and the random. Has an overwhelming need to observe and re-create the patterns, repeats and language of her visual environment. Will never stop being amazed at her paradoxical capacity to observe, be absorbed and changed by, or be oblivious to self, humanity and circumstance.

Join Maureen to create a felted coloured bowl.

Achieve and be comfortable with techniques of circular and stranded colour knitting (fair isle, Nordic, Turkish etc.) Work with knitting worsted wool, simple repeat designs and an array of colours to create a beautiful patterned bowl. Watch and feel felting transform a flexible knit into a solid fabric structure. 

 Intermediate Knitting skills required. March 5th, 12th & 19th   Time: 3-5 pm   Cost: $65.00

Also with Maureen

Knubby knit n' felted wrap.

Using the simplest of knitting stitches, and a little felting, and luxuriously textured coloured yarns create this dramatic wrap.  April 2nd & 16th   Time: 2-5 pm   Cost: $70.00

And last but not least... Design and knit a comfortable and fetching neck warmer.

Explore the fundamentals of cable knits and learn to read patterns, charts and symbols. Enjoy working with a soft yarn, variety of cables and your own ascetics to create your own essential winter accessory. 

April 30th, May 7th & 14th   Time: 2-4 pm   Cost: $65.00

Prefelt Magic

You'll be the envy of all wearing this scarf. Learn how to use prefelt to make your own original piece on April 26th from 1-4pm. You'll love it.

Look What Tonia Made

Make Your Dream Sweater

Do you dream of sweaters? Have you always wanted to make one? Let Carol guide you through the joys of sweater making in the Top Down Sweater Class. You'll love using bulky Magnum Cascade Yarn to create the perfect sweater. This three part workshop begins March 31rst. Check out our site for more details. Don't delay spaces are limited.