My Summer Knitting

Baby it’s “hot” outside, but don’t neglect the urge to knit! There are plenty of cool and lovely summer fibers and trendy patterns to choose from!

I’m currently working on the Diminishing Ribs Cardigan using Panda from Universal Yarn. I love the drape and sheen of this 100% bamboo yarn!

I’m also knitting Something Red by Knit and Tonic for our Saturday Knit-A-Long at The Naked Sheep Knit Shop using Cable Cotton from Elsebeth Lavold. I love this super soft cotton yarn!

And I just cast on stitches for the Cable Sampler Scarf I'll be teaching this fall using Bambool from Elsebeth Lavold. Guess which color I'm using in this super shiny, squishy bamboo and wool blend?

Pick up those sticks and create! What are YOU knitting?

The Night Ride 2009

What an awesome ride we had last Saturday!!! Several of us from The Naked Sheep Knit Shop participated in The Night Ride. It all started at Union Station with costume judging. Then we traveled across the Broadway Bridge and up Interstate/Mississippi (this is where I caught up with our group)/Albina to Ainsworth and then along Willamette Blvd to the Peninsula Crossing Trail. There was entertainment all along the way, and lots of support and encouragement from the sidelines!

The first stop was at the beginning of the trail with Filmed by Bike movies and popcorn. Then we were off to the Columbia Slough Trail. This was the part of the ride that really freaked me out last year, but this year I was better prepared with more light (including one on my helmet) and my support team!









Jenn and Dan









Bunny and Craig









And Brad, of course!

Our second stop was a Disco Party and All-You-Can-Eat Candy at Schmeer and Vancouver. My favorite part at this stop were the girls with the glow-in-the-dark hoola hoops! Then up Vancouver and back to the train station for our final stop, All-You-Can-Eat Donuts!

Thanks everyone for a fun ride! And thanks for representing The Naked Sheep!

So many prizes, so little time...

We have received so many fabulous and generous donations from our vendors and neighborhood businesses! We have over $1500 in prizes to give away during our big 4th Anniversary Sale and Celebration at The Naked Sheep Knit Shop!

Make sure you stop by to see us this Thursday, July 2 through Sunday, July 5. Besides all the goodies you'll have a chance to win, we are having a gigantic sale! You do not want to miss it! Come CELEBRATE with us! We made it 4 years!

A great big THANK YOU to our wonderful neighbors:

Atomic Pizza
Beaterville Cafe
DiPrima Dolci Italian Bakery
Pause Kitchen and Bar
The Hop & Vine
Trixies Beauty Bar

And also much thanks to our generous vendors:

Bryson Distributing
Cascade Yarns
Knit, Sew, Purl, What?
Lantern Moon
R&M West Coast Enterprises
Stitch Jones
Universal Yarn
WoolPets

And thanks to you, for your support of the sheep; and for stopping by this weekend to help us celebrate our big anniversary!

Happy 4th Anniversary!!!

Happy 4th Anniversary to The Naked Sheep Knit Shop! It's been 4 fun and fabulous years, and we are ready to celebrate for 4 days!

EVERYTHING in the shop will be on sale; some things up to 75% off!

And we have TONS of stuff to giveaway! We'll be handing out incredible prizes everyday; and we'll have our big drawings at the end of the weekend.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Crock Pot Luck

Join us for Knit Nite and our first Crock Pot Luck, tonight at The Naked Sheep Knit Shop. We'll be knitting and eating and chatting from about 6-9pm. What fun!

Cute Little Cupcake Hat

Make this cute little hat for a special little someone...

Gauge
5.5 stitches = 1 inch

Materials
3 skeins Cotton Rich DK (brown, cream and red)
1 skein novelty yarn (if sprinkles are desired)
Size 6 16-inch circular needles and double pointed needle’s
Stitch marker
Clover 1” Pom-Pom Maker

Size
Newborn (about 14.5” finished head circumference)

Stitch Guide
Frosting Bobble = Using the knit-on cast-on, cast on 3 stitches. Immediately bind-off those same 3 stitches.
P2tog = Purl 2 together
2x2 ribbing = Knit 2, purl 2; repeat

Instructions
Knitting the Cupcake
Using brown yarn and circular needles, cast on 80 stitches. Place marker and join into the round, being careful that your stitches are not twisted. Work in 2x2 ribbing for 2 inches.

Knitting the Frosting
Change to cream and knit one round.
Next Round: *Purl 3, make a frosting bobble*; repeat between the asterisks until the end of the round.

Add the novelty yarn here, if sprinkles are desired. Continue to work in
reverse stockinette (purling every round) until hat measures 3 inches from the beginning, or desired length to crown.

Work decrease rounds as follows, changing to DPN’s when necessary:
Round 1: Purl 6, p2tog; repeat to the marker.
Round 2: Purl to the marker.
Round 3: Purl 5, p2tog; repeat to the marker.
Round 4: Purl to the marker.
Round 5: Purl 4, p2tog; repeat to the marker.
Round 6: Purl to the marker.
Round 7: Purl 3, p2tog; repeat to the marker.
Round 8: Purl to the marker.
Round 9: Purl 2, p2tog; repeat to the marker.
Round 10: Purl to the marker.
Round 11: Purl 1, p2tog; repeat to the marker.
Round 12: Purl to the marker.
Round 13: P2tog; repeat to the marker.

Cut yarn and thread onto a tapestry needle. Run the tapestry needle through the remaining stitches the same direction you would if you were knitting them. Pull tight and weave in ends.

Putting the Cherry on Top!
Using red yarn and Clover 1” Pom-Pom Maker, make a cherry for the top. When you attach the cherry, I suggest just tying it on with a bow on the inside, so you can remove it when you need to wash the hat.

Put on hat and enjoy!

Design by Cheri Clark, The Knit Wit ©2009

Summer Knit-A-Long at The Naked Sheep

I’ve received lots of positive feedback regarding doing some knit-a-longs this summer. Although only a couple specific sweater suggestions have been given…

One idea I received is to have 3 different sweaters to choose from, but not limit them to a certain month. Knitter A might choose to knit just one of the designs, and take all summer to do it…no problem! Knitter B might choose to knit two of the designs we’ve chosen…no problem! And Knitter C (you know who you are!!!) might just knit all 3 choices and be itching to start on a fourth before the end of August…no problem!

Let’s keep it informal and fun and as non-competitive as possible (although a little healthy competition is good for you, right?!)

We'll gather at The Naked Sheep Knit Shop every Saturday afternoon in June, July and August (anytime between 12 and 3pm).

So here are the sweater suggestions…

Imagine from the Spring Issue of Knitty.

Something Red from Knit and Tonic

Owls by Kate Davies (This is a free pattern on Ravelry)

You’ll receive a 15% discount if you purchase your yarn for the knit-a-long at The Naked Sheep.

Further comments and ideas are welcomed, and they can be left here. Not really interested in making any of these sweaters? Join us anyway with whatever sweater you're working on!