Holiday Tingles?
Anyone starting to feel the holiday spirit? Have you heard your first Christmas song on the elevator?? Maybe now’s the time to start thinking about how you want to treat yourself over the start of the colder months…
Baaad Anna’s is proud to launch our 2019 edition of the 12 DAYS OF KNITMAS knitty advent calendar!
The 2019 Baaad Anna’s 12 Days of Knitmas advent calendar has all new items and includes a focus on local this year with TWO full skeins of Canadian hand-dyed yarn. The rest of the gifts are yarn tools, quick craft kits or whimsical knit related items curated for the yarn lover, by a yarn lover.
With 12 presents for the yarn enthusiast, this is a great way to treat yourself or a loved one to a hand-wrapped collection of specially designed and picked yarn-lover gifts. Curated by staff at Baaad Anna’s this will include knit /crochet tools, yarny surprises (including two full skeins of some of my favorite Canadian yarn!). Only a limited number of these will be available, so spoil yourself before they are gone! Great for a holiday gift, but savvy-loved ones have been known to purchase these as b-day presents, anniversary gifts or I-finally-found-the-perfect-something somethings for the yarn lover in their lives.
The 2019 Baaad Anna’s 12 Days of Knitmas advent calendar has a limited run, and will be available both in-store and online. And as our online store has free shipping for all orders over $200, you are on your way to getting your holiday shopping done in one browse through our online store!
If you want to peak at what was included in our previous year’s 12 Days, check us out on Instagram at #baaadannas12days or check out last year’s post here. These are ready now for immediate shipping or in-store pickup.
This year you can choose between NEUTRAL, BOLD or SURPRISE ME colourways.
PLEASE NOTE: Any pictures of open advent gifts are from the 2018 and 2017 advent calendar; this year’s calendar includes a completely new set of gifts. Check out last year’s reveals on IG #baaadannas12days
Happy Remembrance Day
Happy Remembrance Day. Please spend the morning with those you love knowing the sacrifices made by fellow Canadians. We are only open in the afternoon from 1-6pm on the 11th.
Knit For Others This Sunday and FREE Knit Machine
Come knit or crochet with us this Sunday Nov 10th from 1:00 to 3:00pm for our craft for others monthly GIVE BACK SUNDAYS event.
This free of charge craft circle will offer yarn and snacks for anyone who is interested in starting on a project to donate to someone in need. You can choose hats, mitts, cowls for the downtown east side, sock for our Modular Housing donation, or whatever philanthropic project you fancy.
We also have a donation of a knitting machine that is up for offer to a loving home. We know nothing about how it works, but if you want to give it a whirl now’s your opportunity. Pick up any time in our regular hours on a first-come basis.
NEW YARN: Poppy Yarn
True to the spirit of this week, today I want to present to you another new addition to our Fall lineup that we are pretty thrilled with. You may have come across Poppy Yarn and Fibre at their Knit City booth over the past few years, and we have been smitten at first sight. Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, this proudly “Mom-Made business” creates yarn with warmth and depth on quality bases. We picked up two bases to add to our Fall lineup: Shetland Fingering and Revelstoke Worsted.
The balance of depth and saturation makes these Revelstoke Worsted dreamy to work with.
Describing her artistic roots, yarn dyer Denise says:
Whether it’s already spun into yarn when I meet it or still pillowy fibre, I love wool and fibre. I enjoy both the feel and the smell of it while dreaming about what colours would shine on it. Because of this, I put my love and passion into every item I dye. Like many dyers came to dyeing as a natural progression of my fibre obsession. I will only ever offer my customers a product I would be happy to use myself to create an heirloom finished project. To be honest, I am recharged after any long day by escaping into a world of colour and texture with wool and my dye pots. I hope you enjoy knitting and spinning my products as much as I enjoy creating them!
Check out how these the colours of the soft rustics of her Shetland Fingering base dreamily play well together. This is a non-superwash base perfect for colourwork or Fair-Isle style knits, such as can be found in the new Saltwater Classics book of patterns from Newfoundland designers Christine Legrow and Shirley Scott.
Here’s the yarn specs:
Poppy Yarns Shetland Fingering:
Fibres: 100% Shetland Wool
Gauge:
Needles:
Weight: 2-ply Fingering (1)
Length: 100 g / 350 yards (320 m)
and
Poppy Yarns Revelstoke Worsted:
Fibres: 100% Superwash Merino
Gauge:
Needles:
Weight: 4-ply Worsted (4)
Length: 115 g / 205 yards (187 m)
November Classes and Workshops
In addition to our Learn to Knit on Tuesday nights starting Nov 5th, and the new Kids Learn to Knit classes on Thursday nights starting Nov 7th, we have a few amazing workshops happening in November to help you get your fibre crafts on! Check these out!
To register visit us in store, call 604-255-2577, or reserve your spot online!
FINE FINISHING Technique Series with Holli Yeoh
Uplift your knits from “homemade” to “hand knit” by learning fine finishing techniques that rival commercially made garments. In this series of 3 skill-building workshops, we’ll work on cast ons, seams, full-fashioned increases and decreases, grafting, weaving in ends, and more. You will feel a sense of pride and confidence in your finished projects!
Part I: Fine Finishings – Beginnings
In the first class, we’ll work on cast-ons, selvages, fully fashioned increases and decreases, and bind offs.
Materials needed:
- Worsted weight yarn in a light to medium colour
- 4.5 mm (US 7) knitting needles
Materials can be purchased at Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store.
DATE: Saturday, November 23, 9:30am-12:30pm
COST: $55 each (or $125 for all 3 classes)
Part II: Fine Finishings – Endings
After all the pieces of your project are completed, you’ll want to prepare them for assembly and wearing. In the second class in the series, we’ll cover blocking, ends, applied edgings and if time permits, buttonholes.
Materials needed:
- Worsted weight yarn in a light to medium colour
- 4 mm (US 6) knitting needles
- Homework swatch
Materials can be purchased at Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store.
DATE: Saturday, November 23, 1:30-4:30pm
COST: $55 each (or $125 for all 3 classes)
Part III: Fine Finishings – Seaming
Make sure to give your knitting the attention it deserves when seaming your garments. You’ll have a chance to try your hand at mattress stitch on both stockinette stitch and garter stitch as well as false grafting. We’ll discuss the merits of reinforced seams and cover other seaming techniques as time permits.
Materials needed:
- Two colours of Worsted weight yarn in a light to medium colour
- Three 4.5 mm knitting needles
- Darning Needle
- Homework swatches
Materials can be purchased at Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store.DATE: Sunday, November 24, 9:30am-12:30pm
COST: $55 each (or $125 for all 3 classes)
INSTRUCTOR: Holli Yeoh, of Holli Yeoh Designs
BUILDING BLOCKS beyond the basics WORKSHOP SERIES
Have you completed a beginner knitting class and enjoy participating in our learning community? Have you been knitting for a while and want to expand your skills? This class is for you. Using the Building Blocks book by Michelle Hunter, you will practice beginner-to-intermediate knitting techniques on twelve unique squares, which can be combined into a lap blanket.
We suggest you take the Knitting Refresher Workshop before enrolling in Set A or B. You may enroll for the beginning of set A or set B after completing the Knitting Refresher.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
• Worsted weight yarn (we recommend Sugar Bush Bold)
• 5mm knitting needles (we recommend 60cm/24″ circular needles)
• Building Blocks by Michelle Hunter (available for 50% off regular price with registration at Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store)
Set A Class Description
During set A—offered September, November, February, and April—you will learn how to knit one or two squares every week.
✩ Week one: Yarn Over and Bobbles (square 3)
✩ Week two: Cables, Slip Stitch (squares 5 & 8)
✩ Week three: Left Twist, SSK (squares 9 & 10)
NOVEMBER DATES: Thursdays, November 14, 21 & 28, 6-8pm
COST: $90+tax.
Set B Class Description
You may enroll for the beginning of set A or set B. During set B—offered October, January, March, and May—you will learn how to knit one or two squares every week.
✩ Week four: Simple Decreases (square 4)
✩ Week five: Right Twist, Mock Cables (squares 6 & 7)
✩ Week six: Make One, Advanced Decreases (squares 11 & 12)
During each class, practice your new stitches on a swatch before you continue on your next square. We suggest you begin a swatch plus the bottom border for each square covered in that class. You might decide to bring as many as three separate knit pieces, with three balls of yarn, if we are working two squares in a class. Otherwise, you could practice and unravel with a single ball of yarn. See below for a hint about holding stitches.
DECEMBER DATES: Tuesdays, December 3, 10 & 17, 6-8pm
COST: $90+tax.
Additional Classes
We include two more classes in the Building Blocks course. You may register in advance or drop in—we hold a 2 open drop-in seats for additional participants.
✩ Ask a Teacher: your chance to review anything you learned during the course or ask other knitting questions.
NOVEMBER DATE: Thursday, November 7, 6-7:30pm
✩ Put it Together: learn to join the squares you have completed, using Mattress stitch (vertical seams), Overcast stitch (horizontal seams), and Slip stitch (crocheted seams).
DECEMBER DATE: Sunday, December 15. 1-2:30pm
INSTRUCTOR: Barth Siemens
INTRO TO WHEEL SPINNING
This is a two day beginner spinning class using an Ashford Kiwi Wheel, and includes equipment rental for a 10 day period. Participants will learn how to set up and use the equipment. All materials included ($40 reduction in cost if you have your own Ashford Wheel). Minimum 2 and maximum 4 participants.
Materials (INCLUDED): Participants will receive a three week rental of an Ashford Two Treadle Kiwi Spinning Wheel and 100 grams of Corriedale wool in two colours of your choice.
NOVEMBER DATES: Saturday, November 23rd & 30th. 9:30-11:30 a.m.
COST: $135 (+tax) plus $80 deposit on the Spinning wheel
INSTRUCTOR: Ruth Griffiths
To register visit us in store, call 604-255-2577, or register online here to reserve your spot!
Happy Halloween; Treat for Kids
From all of us here at Baaad Anna’s; we wish you a rockin’ Halloween! And have we got a treat for the kids…
The protagonists in my life story, all ready for Halloween.
We are proud to be able to host Amanda Kaffka from The Crafty Jackalop to once again teach her Kids Learn to Knit class at Baaad Anna’s starting next Thursday Nov 7th. Visit the store, or call 604-255-2577 to register over the phone today.
**NEW** KIDS LEARN TO KNIT
Hey Kids! Come and learn the basics of knitting with a fun and engaging group of knitters & friends! This is a hands on class where you will learn how to start a project and the basic stitches so you will feel confident continuing on your own.
In this class kids between the ages of 5 to 12 are invite to come learn how to knit—if you don’t already know—and/or learn new techniques while working on cool and simple projects like scarves, cowls, fingerless gloves or toys. Each kid knits what they want based on interest and skill level while being guided in a fun and engaging group of knitters and friends. All levels welcome.
An interactive welcome booklet will be provided for each student at the beginning of the first class. Patterns/project ideas will be supplied for students based on their skill level & interest.
Materials needed: One pair of straight knitting needles—5 mm (US 8) to 8 mm (US 11)—and yarn—worsted to chunky weight. Materials can be purchased at Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store. Amanda will be available to help 30 minutes prior to the first class.
Scissors & tapestry needles will be provided for class time use.
NOVEMBER DATES: Thursdays November 7, 14, 21, 28th from 4:30 – 5:30pm.
COST: $60 (+tax)
INSTRUCTOR: Amanda Kaffka, from The Crafty Jackalop
Min 3 and max 8 participants for students from Kindergarten—age 5—through Grade 7.
Visit the store, or call 604-255-2577 to register over the phone today.
NEW 2019 Advent Calendars Now Available!
Baaad Anna’s is proud to launch our 2019 edition of the 12 DAYS OF KNITMAS knitty advent calendar!
The 2019 Baaad Anna’s 12 Days of Knitmas advent calendar has all new items and includes a focus on local this year with TWO full skeins of Canadian hand-dyed yarn. The rest of the gifts are yarn tools, quick craft kits or whimsical knit related items curated for the yarn lover, by a yarn lover.
With 12 presents for the yarn enthusiast, this is a great way to treat yourself or a loved one to a hand-wrapped collection of specially designed and picked yarn-lover gifts. Curated by staff at Baaad Anna’s this will include knit /crochet tools, yarny surprises (including two full skeins of some of my favorite Canadian yarn!). Only a limited number of these will be available, so spoil yourself before they are gone! Great for a holiday gift, but savvy-loved ones have been known to purchase these as b-day presents, anniversary gifts or I-finally-found-the-perfect-something somethings for the yarn lover in their lives.
The 2019 Baaad Anna’s 12 Days of Knitmas advent calendar has a limited run, and will be available both in-store and online. And as our online store has free shipping for all orders over $200, you are on your way to getting your holiday shopping done in one browse through our online store!
If you want to peak at what was included in our previous year’s 12 Days, check us out on Instagram at #baaadannas12days or check out last year’s post here. These are ready now for immediate shipping or in-store pickup.
This year you can choose between NEUTRAL, BOLD or SURPRISE ME colourways.
PLEASE NOTE: Any pictures of open advent gifts are from the 2018 and 2017 advent calendar; this year’s calendar includes a completely new set of gifts. Check out last year’s reveals on IG #baaadannas12days
Project of the Month: Wenlock in Leizu DK
Going along with the theme of new yarn in the store, we have recently picked up a selection of Julie Asselin’s Leizu DK. We loved this yarn in the fingering weight version, and as we needed to beef up our mid-weight yarns at the moment we chose to bring the DK version for slightly quicker finished objects. With a combination of 90% merino and 10% silk, this is a luxurious blend from a very talented Canadian dyer.
Our Store Manager, Sarah knit up this stunning masterpiece in a combination of the Leizu DK (in the beige Birch colourway) and a purple Leizu Fingering minis set held double. Holding yarn double may sound daunting, but with a bit of practice, and trial and error cause all yarns/knitting styles may behave differently, it opens up your yarn choice world! Experimenting is encouraged!
Leizu (Chinese: 嫘祖; pinyin: Léi Zǔ) was a legendary Chinese empress and wife of the Yellow Emperor. According to tradition, she discovered silk, sericulture, and invented the silk loom, in the 27th century BC. Leizu discovered silkworms while having a midday tea, and a cocoon fell in her tea.
According to one account, the silkworm fell into her tea, and the heat unwrapped the silk until it stretched across her entire garden. When the silk ran out, she saw a small cocoon and realized that this cocoon was the source of the silk. Another version says that she found silkworms eating the mulberry leaves and spinning cocoons. She collected some cocoons, then sat down to have some tea. While she was sipping a cup, she dropped a cocoon into the steaming water. A fine thread started to separate itself from the silkworm cocoon. Leizu found that she could unwind this soft and lovely thread around her finger.
5.0 to 6.0 sts/1 inch on a recommended US 4 – 6 or 3.5 – 4mm
Purple Hat Mandala
If you ever wanted to know what 120 baby hats look like, wonder no more…
I am absolutely in awe that we broke last year’s purple hat record of 90 hats knit… with a new record of 120 hats collected to donate to the annual Purple Cap Campaign. This is a fantastic initiative put on by Click for Babies. Their goal is to give out a tiny purple hat to every baby born in the province of BC during the month of November which helps to raise awareness about the Period of PURPLE Crying and prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Off these now go into the world to welcome the newest of humans; thank you to everyone who participated and we will continue collecting any outstanding purple hats in preparation for next year’s campaign!
NEW YARN: Ancient Arts Lascaux Fine
Packing up from Knit City, sometimes it feels like we are coming back with more yarn than brought to the event. This is the first of many of the new yarns we acquired to fill up the shop for the Fall knit season.
Ancient Arts has sourced and hand-dyed a beautiful non-superwash unique breed yarn from the UK and Peru that is perfect for fair isle or colourwork figuring-weight projects. A rather soft rustic that is bouncy in ply, we brought in 50g colours and 100g neutrals to encourage the brainstorming of projects with as much interaction of colours as possible!
Lascaux Fine is a perfect combination of Old and New World wools, incorporating the bounce, spring, and cushiness of Manx Loaghtan Wool (old breed sheep) and the drape and lustre of Punta Arenas (modern breed). Lascaux Fine is perfect for all garments including sweaters, shawls and accessories (although we don’t recommend it for socks) and is idea for colour work and lace thanks to its structure. This yarn keeps you warm and cozy, while still feeling great against your skin!
These are available as 100 gram skeins of Lascaux Fine 100 or 50 gram skeins of Lascaux Fine 50.
Fibres: 75% Punta Wool / 25% Manx Loaghtan Wool
Gauge: 27 – 32 sts = 4” (10 cm)
Needles: 2.5 – 3 mm (US 1½ – 2½)
Weight: Fingering (1)
Length: 385 yards (352 m) per 100g
$17.95/50g
Hand Wash Cold. Lay Flat to Dry.
Hand dyed in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Milled in Italy. Wool from Peru and UK.
