Book a lesson with us!

One of the most frequently asked questions we hear from new customers is, "Do you give classes?" So for those of you who aren't familiar, we thought we'd remind everyone know how our lessons work.

We've experimented with a few different teaching styles over the years, but individual lessons turned out to work best for both student and instructor. With an individual lesson (unlike a group class), we can go at the student's pace--you don't have to worry about trying to keep up with other students or getting bored while you wait for others to catch up with you.

And when we say "individual" lesson, we truly mean individual. When you book a lesson with us, how we use that time is completely up to you. For a total beginner, we'll start with the basics. For others, maybe there's a special skill you want to learn. Or perhaps you want help understanding a complicated pattern. Sometimes, people just need the boost of confidence that comes from having a teacher watch them work on a project and let them know what they're doing right or wrong.

Here are a couple of projects that came out of recent lessons. Jane is wearing her very first hat, and Ann is sporting a cabled cowl that Stacy helped her with. Great work, ladies!

Individual lessons are $25 for one hour, or $40 for a two-hour session. Our scheduling is quite flexible, so give us a call at 404-377-6875 and we'll get you on our calendar!

Winter Games Challenge winners

Well, the Olympics are over and that means the Sheepish Winter Games Challenge is, too. Big thanks to everyone who participated! We hope you all had as much fun as we did.

And now, without further ado, let's reveal the winners (selected by random drawing). First up, in the Sock category, the winner is...Hanh Vivian Ngo-Vu! She made these fabulous socks with Olympic rings on them (out of Fortissima Socka), and wins a $20 Sheepish gift certificate.

Then, in the Small Project category, the winner is...Sarah Miller! Here she is modeling her Perfection cowl. Sarah also wins a $20 Sheepish gift certificate.

We didn't have any entries in the Large Project category this time around. Something to think about for the 2016 Summer Games?

Congratulations, Vivian and Sarah!

Introducing Tapas

Kraemer's Perfection is pretty much our best-selling yarn, year-round. And why not? It's soft, machine washable, and comes in an amazing range of colors. Its only drawback has been that it only came in solid colors...

...until now. Say hello to Perfection's variegated sibling, Tapas. Like our classic Perfection, this is a 4-ply worsted weight blend of superwash merino and acrylic. With one variegated ply twisted with various base colors, Tapas is designed to coordinate with the solid colors of Perfection. And like Perfection, it's easy care, making it ideal for afghans, baby items, and whatever else you can dream up.

Tapas comes in a 200-yard skein for $7.50

Lighten up with Silky Alpaca Lace

This weather is crazy. Hard to believe, but this time last week we were closed because of ice and snow. Today it's 73 degrees and we're thinking about SPRING!

If you're ready to shed your winter layers and start planning some lighter projects, we have some suggestions. Check out these beautiful colors of Silky Alpaca Lace from Classic Elite Yarns.

This 70% alpaca/30% silk yarn is wonderfully soft and airy, making it a great choice for the change of seasons. Here are some patterns designed specifically with Silky Alpaca Lace in mind.

Honeybun by Tonia Barry, a scarf that twists into spirals with a picot edging detail. Its stockinette fabric would make a lovely blank canvas for a variegated colorway.

 

Moonraker shawl by Lakshmi Juneja, the perfect thing to wrap around your shoulders on a chilly spring day.

Dune by Jennifer Dassau, a fitted sleeveless tunic. The smallest sizes only take two balls of Silky Alpaca Lace.

All of these patterns are available at Sheepish through our Ravelry pattern sales program, so you can buy them from us and receive credit toward your Reward Points.

Treat yourself to some Silky Alpaca Lace and you'll be ready to greet spring in style!

Winter Games Challenge progress

How are y'all doing with your Winter Games Challenge projects? We hope you got the chance to make a lot of progress during the snow days this week. Here's how things are coming along for us.

This is Carrie's amazing Null Hypothesis scarf. So far she's completed one and a half charts (out of seven). Carrie says, "I love double knitting for the same reason I love fair isle: knitting with both hands engages both sides of your brain!"

And here's the latest bobbin of wool Stacy's spinning toward the ultimate goal of knitting a handspun cardigan. Love this bright, heathered green. It will later be plied with a multicolored wool. There are some bobbins of orange, too. This will be a very colorful sweater!

The Winter Games Challenge ends on Sunday night, Feb. 23, when the Olympic flame goes out during the NBC primetime broadcast. Meanwhile, feel free to post your progress pics on our Facebook page or email them to carrie@sheepish.biz.

Keep going, everybody!

Sheepish Winter Games Challenge starts tonight

Is everybody ready? Tonight's the night! (If you don't know what we're talking about, or need a refresher about how this works, read this.) NBC coverage of the Olympic opening ceremony starts at 7:30pm. Of course, the ceremony will actually already be over by then. The time difference makes it tricky, but just use your best judgment. This event is pretty much on the honor system. :)

What are you all doing for your challenge? Here's a look at what your friendly Sheepish staff will be working on.

Carrie plans to dive headfirst into this double-knit colorwork adventure: The Null Hypothesis by Katrina Elsaesser. The Ravelry description says, "A six-foot long double- knit scarf with a non-repeating Mad Science themed pattern - but you don’t have to be crazy to knit this (or do you…?)." Hmm...we'll refrain from answering that question for now!

Meanwhile, Stacy will be tackling a spinning project. She started spinning this wool circa 2008 (!), with the idea of using the resulting yarn to knit a cardigan. She didn't get very far before life got in the way and the project got pushed to the far back burner. It's time to get back to this longstanding UFO and finally make it happen.

Let us know what your Winter Games Challenge project is! You can show us your progress by posting photos on our Facebook page.

Misti Alpaca Chunky is a hit!

When we decided to stock Misti Alpaca Chunky, we knew you'd love it, but we had no idea how much you'd love it. We won't name names, but we have a few customers who are downright obsessed with this stuff. Why not? It's super soft and, well--just look at it.

Pretty much irresistible, right?

In case you haven't jumped on the Alpaca Chunky bandwagon yet (or if you've stashed a ton of it and haven't quite decided what to make with it), here are a few project ideas. All of these patterns are available for purchase from us through our Ravelry in-store pattern sales program.

 Salt by Andi Satterlund

 Arctic Circle by Antonia Shankland

Early Morning by Taiga Hilliard Designs

Grown-Up Cozy by Justyna Lorkowska

These are just a few ideas. Stop by the shop to see the latest shipment of Misti Alpaca Chunky, and we can help you add more projects to your queue. :)

Dream Club: February 2014

This month marks the final installment of the 2013-14 Dream Club. We hope you all have enjoyed it as much as we have! The Club will start back up in the fall.

February's yarn is a pretty pinky red that will brighten up these drab winter days and carry you into spring. The base yarn is Perfectly Posh Single Ply, a luscious fingering weight blend of 70% Wool, 10% Mohair, 10% Silk, 10% Cashmere. 360-yd. hank/$30.

The pattern that accompanies this month's yarn is called iLuv Ruffles. It's a keyhole scarf by Jessica Correa, who frequently designs for Dream in Color.

This scarf has a unique in-the-round construction and would be a great opportunity for those of you who've been wanting to try the Magic Loop technique. A perfect Winter Games Challenge project, perhaps?