State of the "Clicks" address ...

This is a copy of the message from Skacel, reprinted with permission.

State of the "Clicks" address ...
>
>  Let me begin by thanking all of you that have been patiently awaiting> your Click > order. Addi, the German company that manufactures the
> Clicks, has been working around the clock to increase the production
> of the Clicks to meet demand, while at the same time, maintaining
> their high quality, or in some ways, even improving on it.
>
>  Despite production continuing at a consistent pace, at this time,
> addi is unable to fulfill Click orders due to a packaging
> complication.  The estimate for the new packaging to be ready is 6
> weeks.  This means that we will not be sending any Clicks out until
> late June.
>
>  On a good note, addi is continuing with their production of the
> Clicks, so that when the packaging is ready at the end of June, there
> should be a large quantity that we will be able to ship.  I cannot
> promise that we will be able to fill all backorders at that time, as
> orders are continuously coming in.  However, I assure you that both
> Mr. Selter, CEO of addi, and I, are putting all our efforts into
> getting the Clicks delivered to you as quickly as possible, with the
> high standard of quality you have come to expect of us.
>
>  Thank you for your continued support.
>
>  Karin Skacel

Aeolian Shawl Knit Along

A lot of knitters are showing interest in making the Aeolian Shawl. I love the idea and want the competition, I mean, support to finish one. I will set a start date after I hear from a few more people. I know some of us want to dye the yarn ourselves so will need a little more lead time. I just picked up some lucious lace weight yarn from Anzula, our lovely local dye person. There is Merino Wool, Sea Cell/Silk and Linen/Silk. She also has more in the wings if anyone wants different colors than what I picked up.

New Classes Added to Schedule

We have added the following classes:

SWITCH YOUR TECHNIQUE
Come join your knitting friends for a great time! Everyone has a ball trying to learn the opposite technique. If you know Continental you will learn English and visa-versa. Having both types at your disposal will make Fair Isle knitting so much easier. Also, if one hand gets tired or sore you can switch to the other.
Date: Tuesday, May 12
Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Fee: $11.oo plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith

WOOL DYEING
Liz is not able to teach for us for a little while so we now have Mark, our newest dyer extraordinaire to teach you a new technique. You will be able to dye wool, mohair, nylon, silk and any other animal fiber. Each dye pot will accommodate one person only so we have to limit the class to 4 students.
Date: Saturday, May 23
Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm
Fee: $44.00 plus materials
Instructor: Mark Guardado

GRASSHOPPER SCARF
A lovely seed stitch background with easy lace medallions makes for a stunning scarf. This is a good way to take the next step in your knitting journey. It's not hard, it just looks like it!
Date: Tuesday, May 26
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Fee: $22.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith

ENTRELAC SCARF
Entrelac knitting gives you a cool woven look in your regular stockinette knitting. It is an intriguing technique and a great way to advance your knitting skills. You need to know how to knit, purl, increase and decrease for this technique. We will teach you the rest!
Date: Saturday, May 30
Time: 11:30am - 1:30am
Fee: $22.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith

ENTRELAC PURSE
Put you new found entrelec skills to work to make this cute purse. Using seed stitch and garter stitch and starting from the top down, you will learn a new way of shaping in entrelac. You can adjust the size of the purse by the size of the yarn used. One great button is used for the flap closure.
Date: Tuesdays, June 2, 9
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Fee: $44.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith

LACY MOEBIUS
It's time for an intermediate Moebius class! This one includes lace sections and then some easy garter stitch sections. It can be made in one yarn as in the original pattern or two or more yarns like Meg's. You will need Cat Bordhi's book, A Treasury of Magical Knitting for this project.
Date: Thursdays, June 4, 11
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Fee: $44.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith

BABIES AND BEARS

This is a really fun baby sweater. You start knitting at one cuff and knit across to the center, then knit another side and graft them together. The sweater size is determined by your yarn size; sport weight yarn will make a 0-6 month, worsted weight yarn can make anything from a 6-18 month size depending on needle size and bulky weight yarn will make a 24-36 month size.

Date: Saturdays, June 6, 13, 27

Time: 9:00am - 11:00am

Fee: $66.00 plus materials

Instructor: Meg Smith

DROP STITCH SCARF
This is a lovely scarf from Vogue Knitting Magazine's Spring/Summer 20009. “Laura Bryant’s summer scarf, in Prism Arts’ ‘Saki,’ is lighter than air in a dropped-stitch reversible basketweave. The multidirectional scheme relies on ladders created by dropped stitches, as well as on rows worked with extra wraps that are dropped on the way back.” You can use any sport or worsted weight yarn you would like but we will be ordering Prism Arts' Saki and Art Yarns Regal Silk for this project.
Date: Tuesdays, June 16, 23
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Fee: $44.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith

WAVY SCARF
"A simple wedge of 12 or 16 short rows sends your knitting off in a new direction. Use the wedges in multiples for a U-turn curve, or separate them with an odd number of complete rows to for a wave design." Excerpted from Scarves - A Knitters Dozen.
Date: Thursdays, June 18, 25
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Fee: $44.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith

Please email us at ancientpathways@sbcglobal.net or call 559-264-1874 to reserve your space.

May 2009 Updates

Just in time for last minute Mother's Day shopping, we have another great Trunk Show of handwoven baskets from Ghana. The show will be here until Saturday, May 26 but you will want to come in early as they go fast.

We will be open during Taste of the Tower so come on by and visit. It is happening on Thursday, May 14. More details are available at the Tower District website.


KNIT'N NOSH
Join us on Friday, May 22 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. We will be having a potluck and knitting, crocheting and spinning night. There will be a potluck on the 4th Friday of every month, so add it to your schedule and plan on a great time.

Please bring your favorite dish, one or several projects and your fun attitude. We will eat until we can't see straight and then knit the night away.

STITCH'N PITCH
Our night at the ballpark is coming soon. Stitch.'n Pitch with the Fresno Grizzlies is Saturday, May 16 and the game starts at 7:05pm. You can contact Freddie Dominguez at 559-320-2536 to reserve your seats.

Remember, we want to have a Magic Ball Exchange at the game. Everyone is welcome to play, not just Ancient Pathways customers. It takes approximately 400 yards of worsted weight yarn and you wind into this any treats that a fiber person might enjoy. Some examples of treats are buttons, tea bags, stitch markers, sticky notes, beads, needle tips or point protectors or tape measures. The only thing we think shouldn't be included are any edibles. (Chocolate in the summer with yarn...Not good.) Everyone who brings a ball will get a ball. The previous exchange was loads of fun; we couldn't wait to see what the next treat was going to be. None of us have finished a project faster.

SECOND SOCK SYNDROME CLUB
Anyone who has had trouble finishing that pesky second sock will find this club helpful. Bring your lonely socks to work on; if you're lucky someone else might have a sock to match and a pair is born! Come by on Wednesdays from 11:00am to 1:00pm to get some second sock syndrome support. All support club meetings are free so come on in and play.

NEW KNIT ALONGS
Meg has to crazy desire to knit a pair of socks on small needles! Come on Friday mornings from 11:00am to 1:00pm and knit along with us. The sock choice this time around is Polly Jean by MJ Kim. It is one of those "looks hard but not really" kind of projects. After Polly Jean is finished we will be working on Pomatomas Socks by Cookie A.

Come to the dark side, we have cookies.

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
Ancient Pathways now has a presence on a couple of the social networking sites. We are now on Twitter as ancientpathways and Facebook as Ancient Pathways. Join us and be a part of the fun!

Watch Cap

100 yds worsted weight yarn
Size 6 16” circular needles
Size 8 16” circular needles and double point needles

Small fits 21”-22” large fits 22”-23” Large is in parenthesis.

Gauge: 4.5sts and 7 rows = 1 inch in circular stockinette stitch on size 8 needles.

With size 6 circular needles, cast on 88,(96)sts and join into a round. Knit 2, purl 2 for 1 1/2 inches. Change to larger needles and work in stockinette stitch, (knit every round) for 6” total from beginning.

Begin decreases: Change to double point needles when necessary.
*K9, (14), k2tog*, rep between *'s, 8(6) times.
*K8, (13), k2tog*, rep between *'s, 8(6) times.
*K7, (12) k2tog*, rep between *'s, 8(6) times.
Repeat having 1 less st each round until you have 8(6) sts left.

Cut thread and weave through remaining stitches.
Weave in ends. Wear with joy!

Easy Fingerless Mitts

We are trying more new things on this blog so we can sorta replicate the old website. So here is the most requested pattern. Have fun!

Materials:
120 yds worsted weight yarn
Size 7 double point needles
3 Stitch markers

Sizes: kids, (womens, mens)

Gauge: 5 sts and 7 rows = 1 inch

Cuff:
Cast on 32 (36, 40) sts, place marker and join into a round. K2, p2 for 2”.
Begin knitting in stockinette stitch for 1.5” from beginning of ribbing.

Thumb shaping:
Rnd 1. K 2, increase in next stitch, place marker, k to last 3 sts of rnd, place marker, increase in next stitch, k2.

Rnd 2. Knit around plain.

Rnd 3. Knit to one stitch before increase marker, increase in next stitch, slip marker, work to second marker, slip marker, increase in next st, knit to end. 36(40, 44)sts

Rnd 4. Knit around plain.

Repeat rnds 3 and 4 until there are 46 (50, 54)sts.

On last plain round, knit around to last increase marker, remove marker, knit 3 sts, then begin bind off.

Bind off 14sts for all sizes, knit one more round and begin k2p2 for 2” or until mitt is as long as you like.

Bind off loosely in rib.

Use the tail to sew up the slight gap at the thumb join.

Classes for Spring 2009

SLIP INTO SOCKS
Cold feet? Learn to knit socks and have a project for those chilly spring evenings. In this class you will learn how to measure your foot, turn a heel, finish the toe and end up with a fantastic piece of knitting. Some experience with double point needles is good but not necessary.
Date: Thursdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Fee: $88.00 plus materials
Instructor: Jolene Meurer


EYE OF PARTRIDGE SHAWL
“This is a dead-simple triangular shawl that takes full advantage of eye-of-partridge stitch, creating a cozy double-thick fabric with subtle, elegant diagonals. Due to the alternating dramatically, and helps eliminate pooling.” Emily, the writer of the pattern.
Date: Saturday, May 9
Time: 9:00am - 11:00pm
Fee: $22.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith


ENTRELAC SCARF
Entrelac knitting gives you a cool woven look in your regular stockinette knitting. It is an intriguing technique and a great way to advance your knitting skills. You need to know how to knit, purl, increase and decrease for this technique. We will teach you the rest!
Date: Wednesday, May 13
Time: 9:00am - 11:00am
Fee: $22.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith


GET WIRED
Do you need a quick gift? We have something different in mind for you this year. We will be knitting bracelets using small gauge wire and beads. Another option is to make a wrap for votive candleholders or even larger pillars. You should be able to knit one or two in an evening. You will need to purchase the beads and wire before class. The supply list is available when you sign up.
Date: Thursday, May 14
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Fee: $22.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith


FROTHY GOTHY WRISTWARMERS
Very simple but incredibly pretty wrist warmers. This is a great project for advanced beginners; no thumb opening to deal with and just a little bit of lace.
Date: Thursday, May 21, 28
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Fee: $22.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith

INTRO TO CROCHET
Fun and funky is the new buzzword for crochet. We would love to help you learn or even relearn this easy technique. You just need the creative spirit, a hook and some yarn. We will help you with the rest.
Date: Fridays, May 22, 29
Time: 9:00am-11:00am
Fee: $44.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith


DRAGON SCALE MITTS
More holiday projects! Are you ready? Fingerless mitts are a great way to keep warm and still work on your projects or the computer. You will be making a new design of Meg’s. The original version uses beads but you can make them without for the men in your life. You will need to pick up the beads before the class begins. One container of size 8 beads will be enough for the project.
Date: Saturdays, May 23, 30
Time: 9:00am-11:00am
Fee: $44.00 plus materials
Instructor: Meg Smith


WOOL DYEING
Liz is not able to teach for us for a little while so we now have Mark, our newest dyer extraordinaire to teach you a new technique. You will be able to dye wool, mohair, nylon, silk and any other animal fiber. Each dyepot will accommodate one person only so we have to limit the class to 4 students.
Date: Saturdays, May 23
Time: 11:00am – 3:00pm
Fee: $44.00 plus materials
Instructor: Mark Guardado

SPINNING DAY
Join us for a fun afternoon of spinning, talking and relaxing. Any level of spinning ability is welcome. Bring your wheels and spindles and play!
Date: Saturday, May 23
Time: 2:00pm-5:00pm
Fee: none


A TASTE OF KNITTING
Come see what all the knitting excitement is about! This is a two-part class in which you will learn to cast on, knit, purl and bind off. If you have taken the class before and feel that you need a refresher, come on and join us again.
Date: Tuesdays, June 2, 9
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Fee: $44.00 plus materials
Instructor: Mark Guardado

SPINNING DAY
Join us for a fun afternoon of spinning, talking and relaxing. Any level of spinning ability is welcome. Bring your wheels and spindles and play!
Date: Saturday, June 27
Time: 2:00pm-5:00pm
Fee: none

PRIVATE LESSONS FOR KNITTING OR CROCHET
Do you need some quiet time for knitting? Can’t concentrate when the gang is in the store? Call to schedule your private lesson with Meg. We can meet in the morning or evening to work through your pattern or get you started again.
Fee: $20.00 per hour
Instructor: Meg Smith