Charity stitching

A little side note to the last post. We will be creating wonderful crochet items also. Found some great free charity crochet patterns to use. Love crochet baby blankets!

Great things to come... Giving back... Stitch for Babies

A few of us got together to brainstorm how we could give something back to our community. Many of us have knit hats for chemotherapy patients as well as hats for soldiers but we wanted something that would benefit the community locally. One of our new favorite customers delivered a baby boy, 8 weeks premature. She came in to pick out yarn to knit for her tiny baby to make him look more "baby" than the hospital linen. LIGHT BULB! Who can resist a baby? Not any of us!

We will be knitting preemie and newborn hats, booties and blankets (the size of a nice hand towel)for sick and premature infants at Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton, MA. There is a real need for all those infants who stay past their mothers' stay to be seen as babies as well as us wanting their families to see them as babies, not just connected to tubes and monitor leads. There is a huge appreciation from the families that receive these small gifts.

We will have free patterns for all to select or knit up your own. Join us any Thursday morning from 10 to 12 to sit and stitch (free) and work on these projects or join us the first Saturday afternoon every month, our first meeting will be February 6, from 1 to 3 in the afternoon to stitch for babies!

Please use a yarn that can be machine washed and dried since we all know babies can be spitty or accidentally wet their bedding. Ask us at the store how you can get a special offer on Berroco's Comfort yarn to use for these projects.

All donations are greatly appreciated! If unable to join us at one of the stitch times, donations may be dropped off at the store any time. Debbie will package and deliver the items to the Special Care Nursery personally once a month. Please place your name in with your donations so we can thank you! We will have pictures soon.

Fun, warm, fast keyhole scarf

Wow. This was an awesome project to work on and the Brown Sheep Burly Spun Yarn was divine to work with. We'll be offering this as a workshop in February. Watch your email for info.

Norah Gaughan Men

Another recently completed project by a store employee is the Wilson Hat from the Norah Gaughan Men pattern book. Knit by Kirsten as a belated Christmas gift for her father, this was a quick knit with an easy cable pattern. The Berroco Peruvia was a dream to work with and the pumpkiny-spice color really showed off the pattern well. This book has tons of great patterns and we carry a wide range of the Peruvia, as well as the Ultra Alpaca, among others. Stop by and see for yourself!

What's on your needles?

This is a question that is asked often to those of us who knit in the store. We promptly pull out the projects (yes, sometimes many to one knitter) and show them off, telling all where the pattern came from and what yarn we are using. it is like parents showing pictures of their babies!

One of the current projects on Debbie's needles is a pair of angora/merino blend gloves for a gift for a family friend. I am down to the last 3 fingers on the last glove. Love those 5 inch double point needles!

Monthly Book Club

Our monthly book club will be meeting Wednesday, January 6th from 6:30 - 8:30pm. We will be discussing The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. A captivating read set in Salem, MA - knitters and crafters alike will find themselves drawn to the history of Ipswich Lace and the women who have the mystical gift for reading the lace. Rich with local history this is sure to be a read that will provide us with plenty to discuss.

A $10.00 fee is charged for each meeting of our book club. This fee includes tasty refreshments and a night of knitting and crafting along with good conversation. A great reason to venture out of the house after all of the snow we have been having!

Welcome to our store!

The Iron Horse shop recently moved from Sherborn, MA to downtown Natick. Our new space is located at 3 Pond Street across from Bakery on the Common. We invite you to come check out the new store and all of the new classes, yarn, fiber art supplies, and handcrafted gifts we have to offer. There is something for everyone!

Check out a sampling of some of our upcoming classes. To sign up for any of these classes, please contact us at (508) 647-4722 or visit our website to download a registration form. We hope to see you soon!

January & February Workshops and Classes

Beginner Knit Workshop
This 6-week workshop is designed for the people who have never knitted before or need a refresher course. In this 6 week class the objectives will be to learn to knit, purl, read a pattern and make a project of your choice. Materials are not included in fee. First night we will discuss projects and get you started with pattern selection, yarn and beginning.
Level: Beginner or basic refresher

Limit of 6 students

Dates: Tuesdays, Jan 5, 12, 19, 26, Feb 2, 9, 2010

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Fee: $125.00 materials not included

Instructor: Debbie Smith

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Advanced Beginner Knitting Workshop

A 6-week workshop for those who are ready to move on from beginner basics of learning to knit and purl. Suggested patterns and yarns will be available in the store (as of January 2) prior to the workshop.

Level: Advanced beginner
Limit of 6 students
Dates: Mondays, January 18, 25, Feb 1, 15, 22, 2010 (no class Feb 8)
Time: 7:00 to 9 :00 PM
Fee: $125.00 materials not included
Instructor: Kirsten Fournier

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Crochet Chain Bracelet

In this class you will learn to crochet a basic chain and add beads to the chain. These two simple skills will allow you to create a delicate, multi-strand bracelet using wire and various types of beads. The skills that you will learn can be applied to making necklaces as well.

Level: Easy - previous crochet experience not required.

Limit of 5 students.

Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Fee: $35.00 A kit including all needed materials will be provided at a cost of $20 to be paid to the instructor the night of the class (cash or check only)

Instructor: Joan Sebastian

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Crochet Spiral Bracelet

Learn to crochet a spiral tube with seed beads and turn the tube into a bangle-style bracelet. (Only very simple crochet stitches are used.) This bracelet will be finished with a focal bead. The techniques that you learn can be used to create necklaces as well. Seed beads are small, so (if needed) please bring eyeglasses/ magnifiers to see your work more clearly.

Prerequisite: Knowledge of basic crochet is required.

Limit of 5 students

Dates: Wednesday, Jan 20, 27 & Feb 3, 2010 (3 Sessions)

Time: 6:30-8:30 PM Fee: $85.00 plus a kit including all needed materials will be provided by the instructor at a cost of $20 to be paid to the instructor the night of the class (cash or checks only).

Instructor: Joan Sebastian

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Learn How To Spin

Learn how to spin wool and wool blends on a spinning wheel. The workshop will introduce the student to the wheel, how it works, how to maintain the wheel and how to spin and ply. If spinning from the student's wheel please talk to us before the first session. Wheels are available purchase or on a limited basis for rent. Spinning materials not included. May be purchased at the workshop.

Prerequisite: Own or rent a wheel. It needs to be in good working order.

Limit of 5 students

Dates: Thursday, January 7, 14, 21, 28 (4 sessions)

Time: 6:30-8:30 PM Fee: $125.00

Instructor: Debbie Smith