As If I Ever Needed ANOTHER Excuse to Knit...

I love knitting and yarn, thank god right, because that's my job. But seriously, Cara and I went into Flock, the only true yarn shop on Nantucket Island, and I totally had to rescue this defenseless ball of angora because of Cara's overwhelming desire to assault it. As you can see, Cara ended up buying it anyway.

Well, in addition to cute little balls of yarn that you want to take home and feed because they look like wee animals, my other love is wooden knitting needles. Sure I got really annoyed that I somehow managed to lose one needle of a pair size 19 massive needles. It reminded me of the time I was flying home from school and I got stuck in Detroit on a layover because Southwest Airlines had "lost our plane." Everyone was like how do you "lose" a plane? This was clearly well before September 11th. So yes I lost one of biggest needles, but upside was that I got to go buy a new set of WOODEN size 19 needles! Very exciting. Not the spending $$ part, but the new needle part.

Now I was on Twitter this morning, and what do you know that I found? COLORED WOODEN KNITTING NEEDLES. I didn't even realize that wooode needlses coudl ... get EVEN better!?!?! See I was so excited, I missplet all those words. I left them there intact so you could see the affect that colored wooden needles have on me. I have scoured the internet (a cursory glance really, as I am SO BUSY) to bring you my top 3 favorite kinds of novelty woodel neesdles.

NUMBER THREE:

So these aren't technically colored, they are just different types of natural woods, but the added rosebud at the ends made me love them all the more. You can find them at Winter Rose Needles.

NUMBER TWO:

Harmony Wooden Needles come in straight, double pointed and circular and look like gelato heaven on a stick!

NUMBER ONE:

This etsy seller, Tikimau, makes vintage needles into jewelry, but sometimes she sells the uncut variety. I bet if you asked her nicely she'd make a pair for you. She just seems like that kind of lady.

Honorable Mention:

These are actually mini shawl pins I found on Etsy, but if they were standard sized needles, they'd be AWESOME!!!

Happy Knitting!

x,

charlotte

Learn to Machine Knit!!

So many people have been wanting to learn how to machine knit and have been asking me when I can do it, WHEN CAN I LEARN!! Now!! Now is the time!! There are two courses starting NEXT WEEK!! If these times do not suit, don't hesitate to contact me for private lessons (at the same cost). Bring a friend and get a 10% discount on the total course cost. Email info@isobelandcleo.com to sign up or request more information.

Learn to Machine Knit!

Union Textiles Studio

2 Union St

Winner of the 2011 Emerging Designer competition at Charleston Fashion Week, former sweater designer for Free People and designer of isobel and cleo knitwear, Charlotte Hess, is offering machine knitting classes in a convenient downtown location!

Learn innovative striping techniques, jacquards and patterns, lace stiches, hand manipulated stiches and incorporate them in your own sweater designs! Pattern making skills are also included in the course.

Materials included.

Fee $295

Course Dates

Mondays & Wednesdays

July 18^th August 24^th

6:00PM-9:00PM

or

Saturdays

July 23^rd-August 27^th

10:00AM-4:30PM

Private instruction available, with flexible hours and locations.

Space is limited, sign up now!

info@isobelandcleo.com

www.isobelandcleo.com

Weave of the week.

Another busy day in the studio produces a magnificent sampling in the most luxurious fiber of all time... have a look at this weeks weave, a cashmere body wrapper available in two colors;

Rusty Red Bronco, macrame fringe (pictured) and Terracotta, raw fringe.

~Cara

Want to learn how to knit or weave?

Question:

How many of you have seen a fabulous MUST HAVE garment in a store only to look at the price tag and feel stomach churning disappointment? How quickly something turns from must have to can't have in a million years. Well, maybe you'd be interested in our textile workshops! Learn to make your own must haves and the season's it garments or treasured classics that you'll wear year after year. Charlotte offers machine knitting classes at the Union Textiles Studio to fit any schedule. Contact her for more information! Cara will be offering one on one weaving sessions in the Fall. Stay tuned for for more info or contact her to be put on the waiting list. As always, you're more than welcome to stop by the studio where you can commission work, purchase from a small selection of stock, arrange personal instruction, or just drop in for a wee chat!

Looking forward to seeing you upstairs at 2 Union St!

x,
charlotte