Dozens of times over the years people have showed me handknit sweaters purchased in Ireland.  Almost all of those sweaters have looked like the very same sweater:  honeycomb cable up the front and a larger cable framing the honeycomb panel.  I began to fear that the knitters in Ireland had forgotten the richness of their own traditions which included many more stitch patterns and many more ways to arrange those stitches into beautiful sweaters. 

We are so grateful to our good friend and customer Carole, who introduced us to Rosaleen Hegarty.  Rosaleen manages Cranaknits, located in the town of Buncrana, in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland.  She manages a group of cottage knitters who take wool home and knit sweaters.  The knitters bring their work in to Rosaleen’s factory where a group of highly skilled women assemble and finish the sweaters, make corrections as needed, and ready the sweaters for shipment to stores.  Our staffmember, Debbie, has visited there and witnessed these women correcting mistakes on cable panels with incredible speed. 

Rosaleen also had a bag of sweaters with her that proved that Irish knitting has not devolved to one sweater with a honeycomb cable up the front.  Rosaleen’s knitters knit many different styles–most of which are Rosaleen’s original designs.  In fact, the Irish government has hired Rosaleen to teach throughout the country to keep up standards and to encourage innovation within the tradition.  The European Union has also recognized her as a resource on this type of knitting and has hired her to record information that can be archived for future generations. 

 Join us for an evening with Rosaleen on Friday, April 25th, 2008, 6 to 9 pm.  We will do some cable knitting in genuine Irish aran wool.  We will hear some of her remarkable story, and we will get to see that beautiful bag of finished sweaters, some of which will be for sale that evening only.  Cost for the evening will be $25 which will include approximately 2 ounces of Irish wool.  Supplies needed will be size 8 needles, circular or straight.  Call 219-462-1700 to register. 

Maggi Jackson has made a life in designing high fashion knitwear.  She works in the traditional linens and wools of her Irish homeland, but her design style is definitely not traditional.  You are invited to join us for an evening of knitting inspiration and Irish humor. 

Friday, April 4
7:00  pm
Fashion Show
The energy and excitement of a live Maggiknits fashion show will keep you inspired and motivated in your knitting for months to come.  You will be able to try on fashion show garments after the show. 
Fashion Show Fee: $15.00
(may be applied to class fee for Saturday or Sunday)
A drawing will be held for a free class with Maggi

 

 

Saturday, April 5
10 am to 4 pm
Beginning with Maggi
Newbies to Maggi’s style of knitting will learn the signature stitches from the master herself.  Your class piece can become décor (pillow top or table runner) or the beginning of a scarf. 
Class Fee: $80 includes lunch
$20 yarn pack fee

 

Sunday, April 6
10 am to 4 pm
Ireland to Spain
Matadors, flamenco dancers, and rows upon rows of olive trees—Maggie shows how Spanish influences inspired her new stitches. Discover what you can create just by looking around you. Work samples in 2-colored frilled tubes, colored bobbles, twisted split, and picot tubes, then use your pieces in a shawl, pillow, purse, wall hanging, or as attachments to a sweater. Think outside the box!  This class is intended for knitters with previous Maggi knitting experience. 
Class Fee: $80 includes lunch
$20 yarn pack fee
More about Maggi Jackson at
www.maggiknits.com

 

 

March 24 through March 31

8 sample pieces from the book, Bag Style, edited by Pam Allen and Ann Budd of Interweave Press will be on display at the Sheep’s Clothing. 

 

 

Amanda began her youthful knitting adventure by knitting the pig on the left.  Tracy, our talented staff person, knit the pig on the right.   Amanda’s pig helps us remember the joy we felt when we first learned to make something.  Tracy’s pig helps us remember that however sophisticated we become in our craft, we can still enjoy simple, clever projects. 

Amanda Helmerich and her twin sister Sara have astonished us with their knitting and crochet output.  We are celebrating their accomplishments with a show of their combined works, which will be on display at the shop from Saturday, October 20, through Saturday, October 27.  You can meet Sara and Amanda at our opening celebration on Saturday, October 20, from 10:00 am to noon. 

Tails of Two Pigs

 

3 large boxes full of Maggie garments have just arrived.  They will be here through Wednesday, August 8.  It is the perfect opportunity to plan your fall Maggie knitting project.  Come look to your heart’s content and try on anything that you like.  Our mannequin is wearing the cover piece from Maggie’s Fall 2007 collection. 

Join us Friday, 7:00 pm, July 27 for the first meeting of Night Owl Knitters.  It’s the evening version of EBK: Early Bird Knitters.  Knit or crochet with old friends and soon to become friends.  Sheep’s Clothing staff will be available for help with your project. 

Night Owl Knitters will be meeting two Fridays per month. 

Admission:  FREE

Maggie will teach Wearable Art this Saturday, 10:30 am to 4:30 pm. Knit an asortment of squares in some of Maggie’s signature stitches: tasselled square, single ridge stitch, ruffle stitch with tubes, lacy stitch, knotted yarns square. Maggie will take you through her design thought process as you sew together squares in ways that are definitely not flat and linear. Assemble squares into wearable, drapeable shapes to form wraps, shawls, skirts, yes, and even scarves. Bring USA size 7 or 8 needles to class. Short single points, bamboo or wood preferred. Class fee of $85 includes yarn kit, lunch, and Irish jokes.

More about Maggie Jackson at www.maggiknits.com. Call 219-462-1700 to register.

Friday, May 4: Fashion Show, 6:30 pm

Saturday, May 5: Knot It — Knit It, 10 am to 4 pm

Sunday, May 6: Get Purse-on-L, 10 am to 4 pm

Maggie Jackson has taken the natural linens and wools of her native Ireland and created a look that is easy to knit and fun to wear. She makes the world of high fashion available to every knitter. She is inspiring, funny, and a master teacher. She will have your fingers itching to knit a Maggiknits design for yourself.

See a selection of Maggie’s designs at www.maggiknits.com
Friday, May 4, 6:30 pm
Fashion Show
Experience the energy and excitement of a live Maggiknits fashion show.
Fashion Show Fee: $15.00

Saturday, May 5, 10 am to 4 pm

Knot It – Knit It
Create your own yarn with different weights of fibers, feathers, and leather. Your class project will include a lace stitch, short tube, ruffle, and loop stitch. Your class project can become a scarf, wall hanging, purse, table-runner, pillow, etc. Maggie will teach you to think outside of the box with this new way of creating a fabric.

Class Fee: $85 includes yarn kit, lunch & mini fashion show

Sunday, May 6, 10 am to 4 pm

Get Purse-on-L
Knit a purse suitable for day or evening. Purse will include a picot hemmed tube, a twisted split, bobbles on a split, and a simple lace stitch. Class Fee: $85 includes yarn kit, lunch & mini fashion show

Call Sheep’s Clothing at 219-462-1700 to register