August is an exciting month for Vancouver crafters with a million crafty things going on (which we've got on our calendar) beginning tomorrow with the Craft Pride Procession at Thornton Park at Main and Terminal.  Bring your banners, decorated bikes and of course your knitting/crocheting/embroidery/rug hooking etc to celebrate craft!  KT Kilgour will be weaving a community tapestry with YOUR fabric - so bring some ;)

Next Saturday (13th) is the Knit Social Yarn Swap where you bring yarn, needles, hooks, books and whatever other yarn-related things you care not have, to trade or sell.  As they put it, "How you swap is up to you - straight up, three-way, or a little cash thrown in to sweeten the deal, it’s your choice".  There will also be local vendors there to make experience even sweeter if that is possible.  It all takes place at the Cambrian Hall and entry is only $4.

On Sunday the 14th Britannia Centre's outside arts market, Artful Sunday is hosting a knit-out from 12-5, so here's an opportunity to show off your newly swapped goods and chill with friends in the community - you'll most likely make new ones too.

Also don't forget about the August workshop series occurring on the Sunshine Coast.  It's not too late to plan a weekend knit-away.

Something to keep your eye out for in the future is the Knit Mobile by Knit Social where they will be hosting yarn crawls, knitting cruises and more all right here in Vancouver.  But of course you'll always have us to remind you :)

Wow, this town in becoming the most craft-savvy place I know!  Love it!

Happy August!

ox Janna

PS.  Baaad Anna's is turning two at the end of August, so mark your calendars for their anniversary sale on the 27-28th

Electrictree Yarns Knitting Retreat 
October 7 - 9, 2011 
Saltspring Island, BC


Included in the Electrictree Yarns Retreat
- Accommodations for Friday and Saturday night
- Breakfast Buffet Saturday and Sunday morning
- Snacks, coffee, tea
- Fair Isle Class Instruction and an information session and lecture on The History of Cowichan Sweaters from knitting expert Barb Brown
- An exclusive pattern designed especially for this retreat.
- Knitting neeedles, hand dyed electrictree yarn and a project bag for your project.
- A grab bag full of knitting and local goodies.Free time is centred around lunch time so you can  explore the ---Saturday Market and the many fine restaurants and cafes in the village of Ganges.  (We will also give you directions to the local yarn store)

Facing Fair Isle Fears with Barb Brown
Skills to be covered:  Carrying two colours using two hands, right hand and left hand.  Carrying more than two colours when desired. Steeks Corrugated ribbing, Carrying yarn over more than five stitches.  Options for finishing. 

Skills required:  Knowledge of knit and purl stitches and some patience.  Barb Brown will be providing an exclusive pattern that will debut at this retreat.

About Barb
Barb Brown is a designer and lifelong knitter, living in Alberta, Canada.  She has taught at Sock Summit and Vogue Live in L.A., various community colleges and gives classes to knitting  guilds and children's groups.  Her designs have appeared in Vogue Knitting, Yarn Forwar,  The Knitter (UK), A Needle Pulling Thread and several on-line news letters.  Barb's Rib Fantastic Socks  were included in Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn, by Carol Sulcoski.  She is the great grand-daughter of Jerimina Colvin, the Shetlander who, with her friends Mary Edwards and Sopia Percy, of the Cowichan Band, strived to make  the Cowichan Sweaters a quality product that would provide an income for the women of that community.  Barb's book Knitting Kneehighs:  Sock Styles from Classic to Contemporary was released in February 2011 by Krause Publications

About the Location
This retreat is located at the Harbour House Hotel on Saltspring Island,the largest of the Gulf Islands that is known around the world for it's artistically rich and culturally diverse lifestyles.  The Harbour House Hotel, Reataurant and Organic Farm offers  year round accommodation, dining and entertainment.  This eco friendly hotel is located at the head of Ganges Harbour, overlooking the marina and is just minutes from downtown Ganges.  The Harbour House team is proud of the Organic Farm where produce, herbs and  other ingredients are grown on-site and then utilized in the Chef's menu. including Maple Syrup!

Pricing
-Standard Room - Double Occupancy - $420 per person 

-Standard Room - Single Occupancy - $505 per person 

-Standard Room - Double Occupancy - 1 Knitter and 1 Non-Knitter - $630 per couple  

-Harbour View with Patio - Double Occupancy - $440 per person 

-Harbour view with Patio - Single Occupancy - $545 per person 

-Harbour View with Patio - Double Occupancy - 1 Knitter and 1 Non-Knitter - $670 per couple 

-Knitter's Honeymoon Package - 1 Knitter and 1 Non-Knitter - $745 per couple  

-Knitter's Honeymoon Package - 2 Knitters - $955 per couple 

SIGN UP


http://www.electrictree.ca/#!retreat

2-ply dog hair yarn and knitted swatches by Lisa Horvath

About a month ago I received an email from someone who was looking for a local spinner to spin her dog's hair into yarn.  It was somewhat of a strange request (but believe me not the strangest I've received via VY).  Actually, I've heard it is not uncommon for people to have their pet's fur or hair spun into yarn as a keepsake after their passing.  I'm not sure if this was the circumstance in this case, but in any case I found an eager and willing spinner, Lisa Horvath, who just happens to be the person that we featured as our monthly blogger this May.  Click here for more pics on her blog. Lisa has done other custom spinning orders like this one where she spun 2-ply yarn out of sewing thread thrums.

Janna