Angora's wings

Remember the fabulous book that we did a reading for at SASI?? Well get ready for the sequels! Gary Scholar has written 2 new books based on that great bunny, and she's meeting new friends and getting into all sorts of trouble. In these books she's taught her friends how to knit and now they've come up with some patterns of their own.

Donna has created the new patters for Gary's book, including a pair of beautiful angel wings:
and a "turtle neck shell" for Shelly, Angora's turtle friend.

Keep an eye on this space for more information about the books' arrival dates and the website for readings and signings by the author.

Who says you can't knit with your eyes closed?

Sister-Arts Studio and the Chicago Guild for the Blind hosted a low-vision knitting class two weeks ago at the Guild.

Fifteen students enrolled and all learned to knit during the two 2 hour sessions. The students, with little to no vision, learned to knit from verbal instructions and one-on-one assistance from Donna Palicka (the owner of Sister-Arts) and Polly Abbot, Manager of Rehabilitation Services at the Guild.

To prep for the class, Donna taught her own husband John (who is visually impaired) to knit. She's been trying to get John to knit for years - as an architect he of course did a fabulous job, and was knitting within the hour. Pictures of his work to come... She is a bit jealous because his work was impeccable!! But she said he's always been a perfectionist!

The class was such a success that low-vision Crochet classes have been requested by the students. For more information on either classes contact Polly at polly@guildfortheblind.org or Donna at 773.929.7274!

Yarn Con

SASI had a great time at Yarn Con, and was delighted to see some of the Thursday knit-nite crew stop by and say hello! They biked the entire way togehter - can you believe it?? I'm glad the weather held out, it was a terrific day. Franklin stopped by the table to say hello! and I harrased him about coming to the store - he's pretty booked until the beginning of next year, but that's not too far away! Unfortunatly he won't be able to make the Anniversary party on Nov. 30th - but keep your eyes open for more details on that front!

Donna sent a small sampling of some of the favorites in the store including Be Sweet, Cascade Handpainted, Jewel and Niki, the new Toefootsies sock yarn and some others. We sold out of most of our Lanter Moon needles and felted kits, but stop by the store for more as we reorder.

As I walked around the store, I checked out some of the other vendors, and I have to say, I just loved the Pattern Tamers - magnetic place holders, to keep track of where you are in a pattern. Her design was great - they magnetically wrap around the paper so you don't lose your place, or the placeholder. A different Donna from My Small Wonders had some really pretty yarns and was wearing a beautiful shall - Did I hear that Bonnie picked up some of her yarn? I'd love to see pictures!

Piddleloop had neat little project bags, I loved the way the bags had a place for your DPN's inside the cases - and the fabric was just great too! I did jump a bit every time she hammered a grommet into the bag, but I thought it was pretty cool to give her clients that option. The Sedona Sandcape pictures created by Mary Hoyer of RikiWeave was just beautiful and inspiring, and the felted earrings from Biggie made me laugh, they were super cute! The ones on her website don't do them justice at all. And I really wish I had had more time to look through the Knitting America book by Susan Strawn, but we'll just have to find a way to get it in at the store and I'll put it on my wish list!