Janet's Christmas Hats (crocheted)

two views of Janet's handiwork! These are the hats she crocheted, practically overnight, to bring to her family in California - lucky family members, eh?

Karulynn's Ballet Sweater

Needle Rock customer, Karulynn Koelliker knit this gorgeous pullover from Fiesta's Ballet Yarn (50% Alpaca, 50% Tencel) & using their pattern. We just LOVE the baubles at the hip & sleeve - F-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c~

Buster's Polar Knit Sweater

'Twas a bit tricky to get Buster to stay still enough to snap this photo - but you can totally see what a fantastic job his human, Valerie Franzese of Black Bear Trading Company, did on her re-entry to the world of knitting. We think Mr. Buster looks fabulously dapper in his new sweater!

Abby's Gorgeous Mountain Colors' Hat

Abby from Norwood models her new Mountain Colors Homespun hat. It was a bit challenging doing the decreases, but this new knitter conquered the task & has a warm head too!

Telluride Elementary School children (5th grade) came & sang a beautiful Christmas Carol for the Rockers @ Needle Rock on Friday. Recognize any knitters in the bunch?

2009 World Cup Snowboarding

Welcome to Telluride, Anke!
Anke Karsten from Germany is not only competing in the 2009 World Cup Snowboard Competition in Telluride this week, she is also crocheting up a storm with fun yarns from Needle Rock. Here she models her newest creation from Fiesta Fun yarn, a thick "n" thin wool of variegated purples.
Thank you, Anke, and best of luck!!

Jenny's Child Shopping Bags

Are these the CUTEST shopping bags? Customer, Jenny Sullivan created these bags for her granddaughters, adding ribbon bows here & there for originality. We know those little girls will be the smartest consumers to hit the New Year. Most excellent handmade gifts!

Amelie's Hat

Amelie came into the shop today to show off her new hat. She tried it on before completely binding off the crown & decided she liked it w/the circular needle in place! We like it too!

Jenny's Granddaughter Scarf

Jenny worked this up in Honeycomb Cable Stitch - a mock cable, as no cable needle was required. It turned out so soft & cozy that "grammy" is making an adult one for herself! Even the reverse side (WS) is gorgeous. A lovely project for the fairly new knitter who wants an item to look like it was challenging.

Baby Grande Alpaca - Little Girl Sweaters by PSR!

We simply MUST show off Peggy Sue's beautiful Baby Grande Alpaca sweaters for her 2 granddaughters - in the mail before Thanksgiving!!
What a snuggly gift from grandma.

Enter to win a Yarn Gift Basket from Berroco!

http://www.berroco.com/polls/poll_112509.html
Yes, this will add you to their email newsletter list, but you also might win a cool yarn gift basket. We have enjoyed their newsletter each week & even saved them for so many of the free pattern offerings.

Ann's Variegated Yarn Challenge

Will I NEVER learn? I absolutely adore working our Silky Malabrigo yarn, but I neglected to take my own advice. I always alert people to differences within a dyelot on a variegated yarn & here is proof. It's best to alternate between 2 balls of yarn every 2-3 rounds/rows. Send your tear stained kleenex to....

NYS Sheep & Wool Festival @ Rhinebeck

Ginger was fortunate to attend the New York State wool festival in Rhinebeck last weekend and was blown away by the hundreds of vendors and thousands of attendees. Her husband, Bob, simply couldn't believe the passion and enthusiasm of the fiber people.

The featured breed this year is the Leicester Longwool sheep. This breed was favored by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson in colonial times due to the sheen and brilliance of the wool. In the 1800's, it lost favor to the Merino and practically became extinct in North America. Thanks to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Longwool was re-established the breed and its popularity and numbers are increasing in the United States. Did you know that?

Maddie's Top Down Sweater

Is this the cutest baby, wearing the most darling sweater? Yep! She's Ginger's granddaughter, Maddie Mae, supported her by her mom, Sarah. Ginger knit this top-down sweater with O-Wool's organic cotton/wool blend, called Balance. It is a dream to work with & everso versatile (a customer also used it to crochet one of our market bags & it turned out great!) Do you remember your first jean skirt???

Francine's Raggedly Belle

Meet Raggedy Belle, created by Francine Cogan, a regular @ Needle Rock. What granddaughter wouldn't love such a labor of love with so much character. Nice job, Francine!

The Last Knit

http://www.youtube.com/v/M6ZjMWLqJvM?f=videos&c=ytapi-iLikeInc-iLike-1493oebb-0&d=wCbimU7eBiEcYo8V87e0x2D9LlbsOl3qUImVMV6ramM&app=youtube_gdata
Alert knitter, Cath Jett, sent along this link - it is a cute cartoon. Thanks, Cath

Ginger goes to Taos Wool Festival

Taos Wool Festival
Ginger traveled down to New Mexico for the Taos Wool Festival on a picture perfect weekend. The fiber experience was a rich one with much alpaca, wool, bison and yak fiber suppliers. The hottest item was the "mohair short and curlies" which are used for embellishments and fringe. Check out the cute headband and hat. Model is Needle Rock knitter Patti McNall from Ouray. Patti is also our local Tibetan yak herder!

Congratulations Sue & Amy - Winners @ World of Wearable Art

We couldn't be more thrilled to bring you this photo of our very own creative fiberartists, Sue Hobby & Amy Jean Boebel - you'll never look @ your window screens the same again! Congratulations gals!!

























Screen Play, Amy Jean Boebel & Sue Hobby, United States Screen Play, Amy Jean Boebel & Sue Hobby, United States

2009 Runner Up Wellington International Award & Commended Gen-i Creative Excellence Section, Theme: Fold

http://www.worldofwearableart.com/category/image-galleries/winners/2009-winners-0

Janet's Crocheted Hat

Crocheted in Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande - in an afternoon.

Robin's Blitz Scarf

Today in Needle Rock, Robin Blitz from Montgomery, Alabama, came in to show off her newly completed handknit scarf! We immediately took her picture and wrote her pattern. She made this beauty out of a beautfiul thick and thin natural colored wool. Don't you love it? Contact us at Needle Rock if you'd like the pattern and wool!

2nd Birthday Bash

Serious revelers!

Thanks Peggy Sue for such a fabulous cake!!

2ND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION INVITATION

PLEASE JOIN US ON MONDAY, Sept, 7: 4 – 6 p.m.
FOR THE CELEBRATION OF OUR SECOND BIRTHDAY!
THERE WILL BE
TREATS AND A DRAWING FOR SOME FUN KNIT KITS.

August Needle Rocket

Needle Rocket, August 2009
Telluride, Colorado
Greetings to all our fiber friends,
As you may be able to tell by the tardiness of this newsletter, summer is very busy up here at 8750 feet. These long summer days are lovely and warm and so full of fun mountain activities. We’ve kept knitting even as we hike and bike, travel and camp, and relax at the end of these active days. We hope you’ve been able to set aside some time for your handwork as well. As you know, it’s a great way to unwind and order your thoughts as well as create something beautiful and satisfying.
Although we hate to think of losing summer, fall is just around the corner. We’re getting new fall yarns in every week. Ultra Alpaca is back with a bang in wonderful new colors as well as the fall palette we’ve always carried. Have you checked out the “Autumn Leaves Scarf” pattern? We think you’ll like it. Another new Berroco yarn is Lustra, an alpaca/tencel blend with a lovely sheen to it in terra cotta, pine, charcoal, earth brown and royal blue. It has great pattern support as well.

Lustra Tupa
Another luscious new yarn is Mirasol’s Tupa which is a merino/ silk blend with everything you want…soft hand, wonderful shine and it is Fair Trade.



SOCKS!!!

Our sock yarns are overflowing in every corner of the back room. We have new yarns from Skacel, Done Roving, LoneSome Stone, and, of course, the Austermann Step with aloe vera. We’re knitting socks from the cuff down, toe-up, on magic loop, 2 circs and double-pointed’s. Come in and we’ll sock it to ya! (sorry)
Have you heard of the KNIT KIT? It’s a fab “TSA approved” gadget with everything you need on the plane to use with your knitting project. It’s the perfect gift for your favorite knitter (especially yourself!).
Attention Market Bag Crocheters and Knitters: Stay tuned for the hemp yarn coming very soon!! We’ll have natural in several weights and the colors in dk weight….perfect for bags, washcloths and even yoga mat bags.
Classes
Beginning Knitting Our beginning group classes are scheduled for August 13th (4-6pm) and Sept 10 (4-6pm). As you know, a private class can be scheduled at your convenience.
New on Wednesdays: K Square Come join us anytime on a Wednesday and learn a new stitch. For August and September, we’re sampling some cable stitches. This week we learned the “Hugs and Kisses” cable which looks like x’s and o’s…perfect for a baby project or corner of an afghan. Collect your squares for an afghan or throw. Upcoming cables: The Claw, Twisted Chain, Dancing Circles, Irish Twist, Classic Aran Diamond.
Magic Loop Tuesday, August 18th, 3-5pmLearn to knit a small circumference circle on one long circular needle with this ingenious technique. You can choose your project . $15
Heads Up! Thursday, August 20th, 4-6pm Knit a hat class. Work on double pointed needles or magic loop circular to create the hat of your choice. $15
Knit a sock on 2 Circs, Monday, August 24th, 3-5pm Join the sock knitting craze with this technique. $15
Get a leg-up! Tuesday, August 25th, 3-5pm Knit two baby leggings at once..$15
Heads Up Hat Class Thursday, August 27th, 4-6pm. $15
Beginning Crochet Monday, August 31st,3-5pm. $25
Events
Labor Day, September 7th, 4-6 p.m.: Needle Rock 2nd Birthday Bash. Join us for refreshments and a drawing for a Needle Rock Gift Certificate.
HEADBAND WEEK, September 7-12. Get instruction and help all week to complete a reversible headband for the upcoming cool weather. $15
MITTEN WEEK, September 14-19. Get instruction and help all week to complete a pair of mittens on straight needles or circular. $15
BLOCKING & FINISHING WEEK, September 21-26. Get instruction and help all week to block and finish your knitted or crochet garment. $15
FELTED HAT WEEK, September 28-Oct 3. Get instruction and help in knitting and felting a winter hat. $15


Thank you for making Needle Rock Telluride’s living room. We are honored to host a place for you to knit, visit and share your life stories. You touch us with your enthusiasm, strength and myriad experiences. You inspire us!
Ginger and Ann


Needle Rock Fiberarts
335 W. Colorado Avenue
P O Box 1963
Telluride CO 81435
970-728-3427

Needle Rock August Happenings
Monday, 8/3, 3-5pm: Crochet Market Bag $10
EVERY Tuesday, 7-9pm: Open Knitting Circle
Tuesday, 8/4, 3-5pm: Knit your next evening bag! $15
EVERY Wednesday, All Day: “K Square” Learn a new stitch, make a square
Thursday, 8/6, 4-6pm: Beginning Knitting Class. $25
EVERY Friday, 11-1pm: Open Knitting Circle
EVERY Saturday, 1pm: Knit Fix
Monday, 8/10, 5:30-7pm: Beginning Crochet Class $25
Thursday, 8/13, 4-6pm: Beginning Knitting Class $25
Thursday, 8/20, 4-6pm: HEADS UP!! Knit a Hat! $15
Monday, 8/24, 3-6pm: Knit a Sock on 2 Circs $15
Thursday, 8/27, 4-6pm: HEADS UP!! Knit a Hat! $15

Linda models her "demonic" shawl made from SWTC Bamboo. We're guessing that by "demonic" she means she probably won't knit up this pattern again anytime soon! Good job, Linda!

July - mid-summer Needle Rocket!

Needle Rocket, Summer!!! July 2009
Telluride, Colorado
Wild Iris, lupine, larkspur, penstemon, sticky geraniums, mules’ ears sunflowers, columbine, daisies, peonies, roses, petunias, pansies, blue flax…crystal blue sky, puffy white cumulus, brilliant green tundra

These sights are blowing our minds with beauty and inspiration. Our mountains are bursting with color and scents. We are gathering ideas for hue and texture for all our fiber projects. As you know, the planning of a project is just as much fun (if not more) as working and completing. We have SO much beautiful fiber to choose from for your summer project or early fall garment.
NEW!!!
MinnowKnits superwash single ply merino by Jill Eaton for bright knits for kids
Berroco’s Lustra..gorgeous Peruvian wool/ Tencel blend in earthtones
Ultra Alpaca is back…50% Alpaca/50% wool in good sized 215 yd skeins. 6 new colors
Comfort Sock is our first non-wool sock yarn for those of you who can’t wear it. Beautiful nylon/acrylic!
Fiesta La Boheme is an elegant wool, rayon, mohair perfect for classy scarves and shawls
Buttons, buttons, buttons….unusual and beautiful new styles, including carved bone frog closures & geodes.
Come in and see!!!

Needle Rock Happenings….Events and Classes
Every Monday in the Summer: 2 Socks on 2 Circ….The “user-friendly” method for knitting socks. 3-5pm $15 per session
Every Tuesday: 7-9pm Open Knitting circle…join us with your current project, visit, get inspired!
Every Friday: 11am- 1pm Open Knitting Circle…bring your lunch, if you want, and work on your fiber project at our table. All sorts of people drop in!!
*Wednesday, July 8: BABY HAT DAY!! Lots of ideas, new yarns and patterns for those baby gifts you need. We’ll help you get started!
*Thursday, July 9: 11:30 -1:30pm Beginning Crochet for Lefties $25
*Thursday, July 9: 4-6pm: Beginning Knitting Class $25
*Tuesday, July 14: 3-5pm: Evening Bag Knit. Bag patterns, fancy ribbons and yarns…CREATE! $15
*Thursday, July 23: 4-6pm Beginning Knit Class $25
Don’t see what you want to learn on our list? Call us up, and let’s create it!!!

The days are long, the weather is beautiful…but, don’t put your knitting aside…..keep a portable project with you and knit as you can!!
We’re here for you….Ginger and Ann





Needle Rock Fiberarts
335 W. Colorado Avenue
P O Box 1963
Telluride CO 81435
970-728-3427

Knitted Ferrari!

http://www.getknitting.com/ak_unusual.aspx
an alert knitter sent along this link - thanks Josie!

Knitting Circle regular, Meredith shows off her beanie hat, made with a combination of Alpaca Baby Grande & Karabella Chloe (cotton & angora) - she's ready to festivate into the wee hours now!

June Needle Rocket

Needle Rocket, June 2009
Telluride, Colorado
Happy Summer, Friends!!
We made it through the snow, wind, blowing dirt and road construction! Outdoor knitting starts today!! Do you have your summer projects in hand or least in your imagination? You’ll need projects for the airplane trips, road trips in the car, camping and even hiking breaks. Small portable projects easily fit that bill. We have “knit to go bags” that hang on your belt loop and carry needles and a ball of yarn. So, what are some small project ideas? My first answer, of course, is socks. They are small, interesting and safe to transport on one or two circular needles. Other ideas include hats, market bags, crochet or knitted purses, baby items or even FLIP FLOPS!!! Yes, we have a darling new pattern for felted flip flops.
Come check out our summer weight yarns in cotton, linen, cotsoy, cotton chenille, ribbon and a beautiful cotton/linen blend. We have some cute new patterns for people of all ages and sizes.
Our summer calendar is full of fun ideas. Here is a listing of most of them. Be sure, however, to check our calendar on the website, www.needlerockfiberarts.com, for updates and festival store hours. We are planning creative store hours for big weekends.
Classes
Mondays in June will “circle” around socks…specifically knitting a sock on two circulars. It is fun, efficient and easy. So join us one Monday or every Monday from 3-5pm and get into the sock craze. $15 per session
Tuesdays, as you know, are Open Knitting Circle nights. Be sure not to miss June 16th for our special FLIP FLOP KNIT. Kat Snip will be giving “petit pedicures” as we knit and gab. (Suggested donation for Kat is $15). Come in and get pampered and ready with you dancin’ feet for Bluegrass. Space is limited so please reserve your spot by calling us at 728-3427.
Wednesday, June 3rd: Magic Loop Class from 3-5 pm. If you are “looping”, this is the class for you. It is a wonderfully adaptable technique for knitting a small circumference on one long circular needle. You need only to know how to cast-on, knit and purl. $15
Thursday, June 4th: Beyond Scarves Knitting Class from 4-6pm. Learn how to increase and decrease, knit in the round, and just about anything else you can dream up. Basic knitting skills required. $25
Fridays from 11am to 1pm we have our lunchtime knitting circle. Bring a bag lunch, if you want, and we’ll sit out on the benches in the sun, knit and watch the people go by.
Thursday, June 11th: Beginning Knitting Class for all genders and ages from 4-6pm! Learn to cast-on, knit, purl and cast-off in this never-ever class. Bring your own supplies or choose from our fun stuff. $25
Monday, June 15th: Crochet 101 with Janet from 5:30 to 7pm. Learn to crochet from scratch. $25
Friday, June 26th: Knitting Show and Tell from 11am -1pm..Bring your completed projects for us to gush over…especially baby things we’ve made!

WWKiP Day 2009 Dates:
the 13th & 14th as well as the 20th & 21st of June
Join your Telluride Friends as we knit in public these four fab days in June! Knit in the park, on the gondola, on the street….anywhere
IN PUBLIC!
Bring us pictures of you “doing it” and we’ll post them on the Needle Rock blog.

How COOL is this?

Just in case you cannot think of what to crochet up next - here's an idea from Interweave's Knits!

International Year of Natural Fibers!

This just in from Interweave Press: did you know that 2009 has been declared the International Year of Natural Fibers by a United Nations resolution? Check out www.naturalfibres2009.org for more about this!

Knitting IS good for you!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4917058n
Gosh, mainstream TV is endorsing what we've known all along. Knitting/Crocheting/Handcrafting IS good for you. Reduces stress, prevents dementia, can even burn calories! Check out this short video from CBS News

Knit on the Mountain Day

Our first ever Knit on the Mountain Day was great fun. We sat around the firepit at Gorrono's on March 21st. We got alot of attention and had a blast together for almost two hours. We'll let you know when the next slopeside event occurs!

Needle Rocket, March 2009
Newsletter of Needle Rock Fiberarts
Telluride, CO
Looks like spring up here in the mountains. We can almost hear the snow melt, and we love the longer days. How are your winter knitting projects? We are trying to wrap up our winter projects and look forward to some summer knitting…..like brimmed hats, more socks and some silk projects. Sounds like fun, eh?
And, looking ahead to next fall…….afghans are back..with a vengeance!!
Check out the beautiful multi-fiber throw made by our own Peggy Sue

Take a look at our busy month ahead.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Mondays in March: 4-6pm Magic Loop Sock class. Come any Monday for instruction. $10 per session.
Tuesday Knitting Circle: every Tuesday evening 7-9pm.
Friday Knitting Circle: every Friday 11am-1pm.
Monday, March 9: 5:30-7pm Beginning Crochet Class with Janet. $25
Thursday, March 12: 4-6pm Beginning Knitting Class. $25
Tuesday, March 17: St Patrick’s Day Pajama Party, 7-9pm. Come knit in your pj’s and enjoy some green surprises!
Saturday, March 21: First Annual “Knit on the Mountain” Day. Let’s knit on the ski mountain – anywhere and everywhere. Then meet on the deck at Gorrono at 1:30pm to stitch together.
Monday, March 23: Broomstick Crochet Class. Prerequisite: must know how to cast on, single and double crochet. $25
Thursday, March 26: 4-6pm Beginning Knitting Class. $25
Friday, April 3: “around 4 or 5pm”, 2nd Annual Needle Rock Style Show at the KOTO street dance. Plan your outfit NOW for modeling your handknitted garments ….FUN, FUN, FUN!

***Please note: Needle Rock will close for Spring Break On Friday, April 3rd and reopen Monday, April 20th. Make sure you have your spring break projects and supplies.

NEW ARRIVALS:
We have several new yarns to tell you about.
Malabrigo Yarn from Uruguay makes stunningly soft kettle dyed 100% Merino Wool Yarn in worsted weight skeins of 216 yards. Kettle Dyed Colors are hand dyed and have slight natural tonal variation within the skein. Wonderful for scarves, hats, sweaters, and even for felting. You've got to touch this amazingly soft yarn to believe it!
We also have Gruesa, a kettle-dyed superchunky thick and thin yarn….fun and beautiful. Another treat is the Silky Merino: single-ply 51% silk, 49% merino yarn in 150 yard skeins…in solid and variegated colors. Check them out!

Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran is a lovely tweed of 85% merino, 10% silk and 5% cashmere. Made in Italy, this gem comes in handsome colors and is perfect for men’s projects. We have patterns for vest, cardigans and pullovers Let’s make something for our guys!

Mohair, mohair, and more mohair. Our back room has a brand new look with skeins of colorful mohair everywhere. Finally, an affordable and soft mohair to experiment with. We have many colors to choose from. We also have gorgeous textures in natural, undyed mohair which will make you drool.
We have a new serviice at Needle Rock: your WISH LIST. We will keep a list of your favorite things here to share with those shopping for you...fun, eh? Call us or come in to create your list!

Thank you for being such wonderful, supportive knitters. We are grateful to be your knitting store and salon. Know that you are always welcome here.
Come Knit with us !!!
Ann and Ginger

Extreme Knitting on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVRfVEONxJQ
this is quite fascinating to watch. Let it fully download before watching if you can.

February Needle Rocket

Needle Rocket
Newsletter from Needle Rock Fiberarts
Telluride
February, 2009

Greetings to all you fiber lovers!
Winter in Telluride is perfect for fiber enthusiasts…..plenty of snowy days and long dark nights to knit, crochet or weave. And you can be sure that we are doing plenty of these things in the midst of skiing, snowshoeing and enjoying the beauty. Let us tell you about our favorite yarns, new arrivals and upcoming classes and events.

Mirasol yarns continue to be very popular with our locals and visitors. Miski, 100% baby llama, is incredibly soft and lovely to work with. There are solid colors as well as “heathered” ones. It’s a favorite for hats, and the guys love it. Sulka, an alpaca/wool/silk single ply yarn, also continues to be a favorite for scarves and hats. It is a dream to work and gives great pattern definition for cables and seed stitch. Karabella’s Merino Superwash is another great yarn here at Needle Rock.

This Superwash has a lovely, soft hand and is perfect for baby and child. One of our new knitters, Theresa, made this baby blanket with the Karabella, and it is darling!

Mountain Colors continues to be a winner, and this winter’s hit is the multi-fiber throw which uses 5 different yarns from the same colorway to produce this luscious throw. Peggy Sue was kind enough to let us show hers off here in the shop. Stunning, eh?
Of course, we always have new arrivals around here that we get pretty excited about. Fiesta/Ironstone Fun yarn is a thick and thin variegated wool in an 80 yd skein. The colors are youthful and vibrant.

Mirasol sent us a gorgeous merino/silk blend two-ply yarn of fantastic jewel colors. Fiesta La Luz is a single-ply 100% Mulberry Silk in solids and coordinating variegated colors. Our other newcomer is Queensland Kathmandu Aran: a lovely, 85%merino, 10% silk and 5% cashmere tweedy yarn in 8 different colors. It’s perfect for men and women of all ages.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and we have some suggestions for your Valentine knitter. Darn Pretty Needles are gorgeous multi-colored wooden knitting needles which are handcrafted in the Green Mountains of Vermont. They are collector’s items which are a joy to use in your knitting. Fun Specs are kooky and cute magnifying glasses in all sorts of designs and colors. Each pair comes with a matching fabric case. There are also optional pendant holders to keep the glasses handy for detailed close work. We also have several new greeting cards to choose from: hand-painted, hand-knitted and some with yarn and knitting theme decorative pins. Come in and see, or call us and we’ll describe them over the phone!
Our project for the Valentine season and February is a preemie baby hat. We can send you the pattern so you can use ¾ ounce of your leftover sport-weight yarn. We’ll collect the hats by the end of the month and send them to the new Children’s Hospital in Denver. Join us here or knit at home in this charitible endeavor.

We continue to offer beginning classes in knitting and crochet several times a month. We will offer a Magic Loop class on Thursday, February 26th. Come learn this fun technique for knitting a small circumference circle on long circular needles. It is such a versatile and useful technique to have in your repertoire. Call us for more class offerings and updates.

Enjoy your knitting and crochet and keep those inspiring colors and textures close to you. They are truly food for your creative soul.


Ginger and Ann
Needle Rock Fiberarts
335 W. Colorado Avenue
P O Box 1963
Telluride CO 81435
970-728-3427