Blue Moon Blog

General News

Saturday@Oregon Flock and Fiber

A very full booth right out of the gate. I love this part it just never ever gets old.  I love happy knitters and watching what you choose color-wise and how you do it.  And if I get to help you choose well...be still my little color heart.
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Meet Tuesday our best customer of the day and youngest.

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And her delightful mom who knit her such a cute dress with a rare gem.
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Patient...image and supportive.image

On your mark. Get set. Ready?  Okay SPIN!

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Uh Oh, it is 7:00 time to head out for day two and to visit my new friend.
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Isn’t he beautiful?  ( I think it is a he. hmm)

posted by tina

September 27, 2009

General News

Knot Hysteria

Friday November 13th (we don’t believe in bad luck) ST-1 (which now that Sock Summit is over, means ”Steph and Tina” rather than “Sock Team") are celebrating the formation of our new company “Knot Hysteria Productions” with a beautiful weekend of knitting, dyeing and fibre investigation in one of our favourite spots... Port Ludlow, Washington.  We really missed the intimate, intensive nature of real-time teaching at Sock Summit (we were a little busy) and one of our goals for this weekend is to enjoy the luxury having real time between students and teachers (that would be us, and you) that can only be achieved in a smaller group setting - with people who aren’t running a conference. (Apparently.)

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Level: Established.  Knitters attending should be comfortable knitting, purling, decreasing, increasing and be familiar with typical knitting instructions. (This means that if you’re a brand new knitter, you’re probably going to be overwhelmed in spots, unless you’re gung-ho and a fast learner. Some people are. If you’re a skilled beginner, don’t be put off.)

The weekend begins when you check in on Friday night, and we all have an opportunity to talk, hang out (maybe have a drink) get to know each other, and you’re assigned to one of two small groups. 

Saturday, Group one goes with Stephanie, for an all day exploration (9-5 with a break for lunch) of knitting and how to be really excellent at it.  We’ll look at knitting history, lever knitting, knitting for speed and efficiency, and problem solve knitting issues so we all walk out better knitters.  Why do you knit the way you do? What could you change to knit better or faster? What are the techniques and thoughts of the worlds fastest and most efficient knitters?  (Note: This class contains some of the same information as “Knitting for Speed and Efficiency”, but is expanded.  If you’ve always wanted to take that class, this one is close, and if you’ve taken this class and are wondering if you’ll learn anything in this one… you will.)

Meanwhile, Group two goes with Tina, to a big room with a floor covered in plastic and loaded with dye and yarn, where you will spend the day invited into Tina’s dye and colour world.  There are (almost) no boundaries and the only rule is an open mind.  Tina will talk with you about colour, how she sees and uses it and how that relates to dyeing, spinning and knitting.  You will explore what colour means to you and how you see it and then interpret it in your own fiber work.  You’ll spend time at the dye tables working through your own colour inhibitions, challenging what you think you like, and dyeing your very own colourways to take home.

Saturday night ST-1 gives a joint lecture on “How to tell if its good yarn, and what to do with it if it is” where we’ll talk about the properties of various yarns, how to pick the right ones for your project, how to care for it, and what choices you can make during knitting to make sure your project doesn’t droop, stretch or felt, and lasts as long as it possibly can.

Sunday, the groups reverse places for the day classes, and then beginning with dinner and going into the evening (until Steph and Tina get too tired or everyone leaves) we’ll have a group Q&A to talk about knitting, dyeing, fiber, philosophy and what we all think of it.
The price includes classes, fun, the joint lecture on Saturday night, and breakfast, lunch and dinner both Saturday and Sunday.  (We promise that there will be good vegetarian options.) Blue Moon Fiber Arts and Carolina Homespun will have a little store on site with a few things you might like, and Knot Hysteria will have a bookstore.

Accommodations are separate and you will arrange those on your own.  We have negotiated special prices with Port Ludlow, and there are some shared accommodations (condos and town-homes) if you’d like to come with your friends.
Simply call Port Ludlow and tell them that you’re with Knot Hysteria and the knitters, and they will help you get sorted with the special knitter price.  They are lovely and helpful people.

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Price for the two day/two class intensive with meals:
$615.00.  All Materials (except knitting needles) Included.
Gift bags, presents and surprises forthcoming.

(If you’re a vendor and you’d like to put something in those, just drop us a line.)

To register, simply send an email to and include your name, address and daytime phone number, and we’ll call you to arrange it. The first 40 knitters are in.

WE ARE FULL!! 

Thank you!

posted by tina

September 24, 2009

General News

Oregon Flock and Fiber

This weekend (September 26th-27th) is Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in lovely Canby Oregon.  I love this Fibery Festival. It is one of my favorites. I like that it is at the fairgrounds and we get to be in the 4-H building and right next to my buddies at Carolina Homespun.  We met here years ago when it was both of our first time there and have been booth mates ever since. I think that one of the lovely aspects of this show for me is the community aspect. 
It starts from the moment we pull up to unload and are greeted with gusto by the OFFF volunteers and all our fellow vendors and lasts until we put that last box in the truck say goodbye and head back to Scappoose.
In between it is chocked full of great people, awesome fiber and color and cute animals (remember Henry came from here), lots of good classes and fun for everyone. It is a very happy fiber event.

We hope to see you there. 
Because this year has been so full we are not doing a Barn Sale (sorry).  So what we have decided to do instead is have everything (yup everything) at our OFFF Booth (except Mill Ends) be 15% off.
Which makes it a BMFA 15% OFF for OFFF sale.

See you there!

posted by tina

September 23, 2009