Tucked away at the end of a strip mall and the bustle of Greenwood, Indiana is Starstruck Cat Studio, a haven for fiber artists. It's located on Meridian Park Lane, behind the Kroger store on Highway 135 (to those of us out-of-towners).
If you knit, crochet, weave or hook rugs you will find all the supplies you need there. The knowledgeable staff will assist you with your purchases and can advise you on your next project.
Customers are encouraged to sit and chat together in a cozy corner dedicated for learning and sharing.
I visited Starstruck Cat Studio while on a recent yarn crawl, Roving Indiana. I immediately noticed a wonderful selection of notions, needles, books and bags. (They had me at hello.)
So when Susan, the owner phoned me to request I bring a trunk show to help celebrate their 4th Birthday this weekend, I jumped at the chance. After all, a yarn shop seems my natural habitat and who could resist hanging out with fellow fiber artists for a couple of days?
After dodging potholes, a couple of traffic delays and more than a few impatient Friday afternoon drivers, I arrived at the shop with a trunk full of yarn, patterns and baskets of shop models.
I was greeted by Heather, the store manager (and a great asset to the studio, I might add) who helped me settle in. The next few hours were spent talking with customers who eagerly shared my enthusiasm as they tried on the models I brought and chose Alpaca With A Twist's Baby Twist, Socrates, Fino and Surino yarns for their next project. A few decided to join our next online KAL which begins in a couple of days. (Contact cathi@alpacawithatwist.com for more information)
Others just couldn't resist the beautiful colors or luxurious feel that is un-mistakable alpaca.
Even better, a tempting discount for all purchases if you buy a project bag (at a discount, of course). It's a gift to the loyal customers who make Starstruck Cat Studio such a nice little corner of the world!
So it is with eager anticipation I look forward to spending today with new friends and folks who are as passionate of their craft as the staff of Starstruck Cat Studio...and no, I did not see a cat sleeping in a basket of yarn, on a sunny window ledge or anywhere else in the shop. Makes me wonder how they got the name...
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Surprise!! A new KAL and Spring!
There are two kinds of people, those who love a surprise and those who abhor them.
For the fan of surprises, a mystery knit a long is a great adventure. Those folks quickly sign up and wait impatiently for the first set of instructions to hit their inbox.
While still others think "Heck, no way!" and "What if I don't like it?" or "What if I can't do it?"
It's been a long winter here in central Indiana and having a little mystique might just get us through the next few weeks. To celebrate the arrival of spring 2014
Alpaca with a Twist is hosting a Mystery KAL. It is a fast knit, it's fun and best of all, it's free!
All you need to do to join us is send your email address to cathi@alpacawithatwist.com by March 20. Your first set of instructions will arrive on the 21st, along with a few of my favorite knitting tips.
If your heart is pounding and you are now skimming this post...go ahead and sign up....You won't be sorry.
If you are beginning to chew your fingernails and are trying to justify why NOT to sign up, let me encourage you to join us. If you can knit and purl you can do this and will enjoy not only the finished product, but I suspect will look forward to each new post.
Our last KAL was so much fun and everyone loved their sweater. (A hint now) This is NOT a sweater and we don't have to worry about gauge or size, and that is exactly why I chose it. You can do this, yes you can!
All you will need is a jumbo hank of AWAT Baby Twist yarn, a size 10 32" circular needle and a couple of stitch markers. But don't forget! Contact me: cathi@alpacawithatwist.com and just leave your name and email address.
Looking forward to meeting some new folks along the way!
For the fan of surprises, a mystery knit a long is a great adventure. Those folks quickly sign up and wait impatiently for the first set of instructions to hit their inbox.
While still others think "Heck, no way!" and "What if I don't like it?" or "What if I can't do it?"
It's been a long winter here in central Indiana and having a little mystique might just get us through the next few weeks. To celebrate the arrival of spring 2014
Alpaca with a Twist is hosting a Mystery KAL. It is a fast knit, it's fun and best of all, it's free!
All you need to do to join us is send your email address to cathi@alpacawithatwist.com by March 20. Your first set of instructions will arrive on the 21st, along with a few of my favorite knitting tips.
If your heart is pounding and you are now skimming this post...go ahead and sign up....You won't be sorry.
If you are beginning to chew your fingernails and are trying to justify why NOT to sign up, let me encourage you to join us. If you can knit and purl you can do this and will enjoy not only the finished product, but I suspect will look forward to each new post.
Our last KAL was so much fun and everyone loved their sweater. (A hint now) This is NOT a sweater and we don't have to worry about gauge or size, and that is exactly why I chose it. You can do this, yes you can!
All you will need is a jumbo hank of AWAT Baby Twist yarn, a size 10 32" circular needle and a couple of stitch markers. But don't forget! Contact me: cathi@alpacawithatwist.com and just leave your name and email address.
Looking forward to meeting some new folks along the way!
Friday, February 21, 2014
Come On! Let's Knit!
The 2014 Winter Olympics will soon be a memory, the days are getting longer and we are all longing for warm, sunny days.
Why is it? February is the shortest month of the year, yet it seems March will NEVER get here! The weatherman insists we have more winter weather to endure, after all it is four weeks until Spring officially is here ~ But I have some great news for my winter weary friends and fiber artists. We at Alpaca With A Twist are planning our second online KAL and you will want to watch for our announcement next week...It's our celebration of the arrival of March Madness, (Hoosiers know what I'm talking about), the first day of Spring, daylight savings time and spring break! There is no charge to knit along with us. As before, you only need to sign up and your pattern will arrive to your inbox with some tips and quips.
The project is perfect for the time of year and such a great knit. Here's a hint ~ only one ~
Better browse around for your favorite spring color of Baby Twist, because you will want to begin with us on March the 21.
Alerts on Facebook and Ravelry will help our KAL community stay connected and questions will be answered in timely, personal manner via email.
So grab a friend or two and join us on a new knit adventure. You will be glad you did!
Questions? Email me at cathi@alpacawithatwist.com
Have you liked us on facebook? Please do for updates and breaking news!
Why is it? February is the shortest month of the year, yet it seems March will NEVER get here! The weatherman insists we have more winter weather to endure, after all it is four weeks until Spring officially is here ~ But I have some great news for my winter weary friends and fiber artists. We at Alpaca With A Twist are planning our second online KAL and you will want to watch for our announcement next week...It's our celebration of the arrival of March Madness, (Hoosiers know what I'm talking about), the first day of Spring, daylight savings time and spring break! There is no charge to knit along with us. As before, you only need to sign up and your pattern will arrive to your inbox with some tips and quips.
The project is perfect for the time of year and such a great knit. Here's a hint ~ only one ~
Better browse around for your favorite spring color of Baby Twist, because you will want to begin with us on March the 21.
Alerts on Facebook and Ravelry will help our KAL community stay connected and questions will be answered in timely, personal manner via email.
So grab a friend or two and join us on a new knit adventure. You will be glad you did!
Questions? Email me at cathi@alpacawithatwist.com
Have you liked us on facebook? Please do for updates and breaking news!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
It's A New Year!
You never know what the next five minutes will bring, let alone a whole year ahead, so why all the celebration and good wishes? It's that age old desire to start fresh, have a clean slate, and sometimes we just need a "do over".
So it's January 1, 2014 and once again we get a "do over". Whether you choose to make brand new resolutions, new goals or seek out new opportunities do it with gusto and include a friend or two and just make it fun. To enjoy what we do can make or break our resolve.
That got me thinking about why fiber artists do what we do...frankly, most of us enjoy the creative outlet and the satisfaction a project gives us. Some of us enjoy the process as much as the finished product, some treasure the end product more than the process. Neither way of thinking is wrong, it's part of our personality.
That brings me to my main question. Is your yarn stash taking over your closet/your life? Do you feel guilty seeing all that fiber in wait? Stuff bogs me down. Clutter makes me grumpy. You have heard it said, "one man's trash is another man's treasure", so with that in mind I often take inventory and find a home for those balls of yarn that I have grown weary of, or can't seem to find a project to my liking.
In 2008 our town was flooded and pretty much everything that was stored in our basement was lost.
That incident has changed my thinking. At a time when so many had lost so much it was easy to give whatever "extras" we had, be it food, furniture or resources and energy. I instantly lost any inclination to save things for later. If someone else could use it, or enjoy it, "It" was out of my house. And know what? The freedom from stuff was a gift from that whole episode in my personal history. No, I am not wishing a natural disaster for anyone, but perhaps this will encourage you to take a new look at some of your old stuff and bless another with it.
Back to the yarn stash ~ Our pattern called Use It Up might encourage you to dive into your closets, bags and drawers to find materials to knit a few of these scarves and purge the stuff you no longer want.
It's our gift to you along with best wishes for a joyful New Year!
So it's January 1, 2014 and once again we get a "do over". Whether you choose to make brand new resolutions, new goals or seek out new opportunities do it with gusto and include a friend or two and just make it fun. To enjoy what we do can make or break our resolve.
That got me thinking about why fiber artists do what we do...frankly, most of us enjoy the creative outlet and the satisfaction a project gives us. Some of us enjoy the process as much as the finished product, some treasure the end product more than the process. Neither way of thinking is wrong, it's part of our personality.
That brings me to my main question. Is your yarn stash taking over your closet/your life? Do you feel guilty seeing all that fiber in wait? Stuff bogs me down. Clutter makes me grumpy. You have heard it said, "one man's trash is another man's treasure", so with that in mind I often take inventory and find a home for those balls of yarn that I have grown weary of, or can't seem to find a project to my liking.
In 2008 our town was flooded and pretty much everything that was stored in our basement was lost.
That incident has changed my thinking. At a time when so many had lost so much it was easy to give whatever "extras" we had, be it food, furniture or resources and energy. I instantly lost any inclination to save things for later. If someone else could use it, or enjoy it, "It" was out of my house. And know what? The freedom from stuff was a gift from that whole episode in my personal history. No, I am not wishing a natural disaster for anyone, but perhaps this will encourage you to take a new look at some of your old stuff and bless another with it.
Back to the yarn stash ~ Our pattern called Use It Up might encourage you to dive into your closets, bags and drawers to find materials to knit a few of these scarves and purge the stuff you no longer want.
It's our gift to you along with best wishes for a joyful New Year!
Use It Up Scarf by Alisa Winsauer
Measurements: approximately 44" by 3.5"
Materials: 4 different balls of Baby Twist by Alpaca with a Twist (DK weight): Colors A and C will be on one side, Colors B and D on the other side.
US size 6 (4mm) long circular needle (to provide enough room for all the stitches)
Gauge: 5.5 sts = 1" in stockinette
Instructions: In Color A, cast on 230 sts loosely - use either a larger needle or cable cast on, or both.
Row 1, 3 and 5: Knit all stitches
Row 2 and 4: Purl all stitches
Change to color B and repeat rows 1-5.
Change to color C and repeat rows 1-5
Change to color D and repeat rows 1-5
Repeat these 4 stripes of color stockinette 2 more times.
You should get 3 repeats of each color. With the last color bind off loosely - use a size larger needle.
Work in tails and gently wash your scarf. Lay the scarf "flat", you will want to shape the ridges so they remain crisp, and let the scarf dry. Enjoy.
***Use it Up Scarf can be knitted with any yarn, but take into consideration the correct needle size and weight of yarn will determine the size of your finished project ~plan accordingly.
If substituting yarn: 440 yards***
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)