Beach Basket Yarns

Wanna learn to knit socks?????

2011-03-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

Come on out to the Beach Basket on Saturdays from 10am to Noon to learn sock knitting.

Pick your needles. If you would like to learn double point needles, 2 circulars or one circular (also called Magic Loop).

Call the shop or come in to sign up and get a materials list

Cost $20.

Classes will begin on Saturday April 2nd.

More Classes!

2010-09-02T22:04:00.000-07:00

We've got another class underway!

Retro TV Slippers
Learn to make a fun pair of TV slippers from the original 1956 pattern. You will need 1-2 balls of either 2 strands of worsted or 1 strand of chunky weight yarn and a US Size 8 to 10 needle. Finished off your slippers with a pom pom for an extra punch of cute!

When: Saturday September 4th 10:30am-2:30pm
Cost: $20
Skill Level: Easy: basic knitting skills required

Summer Sizzle Sale in Progress!

2010-07-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

Our Summer Sizzle sale is going on now! 35% off all books and yarn, now through July 8th. Been planning a big project (or two)? Now's the time to stock up on yarn!

Also, we will be open on July 4th, in case you have any yarn emergencies. Come out to Birch Bay for the day, the 4th of July celebration started Thursday night out here with Canada Day and the whole city is like a wild 4-day 4th of July bash! I couldn't believe with the number of fireworks going off last night. It was Friday the 2nd, it felt like the 4th already!

July Classes

2010-06-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

Oh boy! We just scheduled the July and August class schedule:

JoJoland Swirl Scarf
Come learn how to knit this unique scarf/shawl. This pattern has been so super popular in the shop we decided to turn it into a class. Come learn the basic techniques of knitting this interesting piece.

When: Saturday July 10th 10:30-4:30
Cost: $35 includes pattern+3 balls of yarn
You will need: 1 set US size 6 double pointed needles (or to attain gauge)

Basic Lace Class
Isn't lace knitting gorgeous? Afraid of tackling lace on your own? Come sign up for our basic lace class and learn more about lace knitting, including how to read a chart.
When: 2 Saturdays 7/24 and 7/31
Cost: $50 includes yarn and pattern
You will need: Your own needles to attain gauge

Learn to Knit
Do you know someone or are you nterested in getting started knitting yourself? Learn how to knit in this fun 3 week class. We will make three wash cloths in cotton yarn.

When: Saturdays 8/7, 8/14, and 8/21 10:30-12:30
Cost: $35 includes yarn and needles

Hurry in and sign up today!

World Wide Knit in Public Day

2010-06-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

Today we are celebrating World Wide Knit in Public Day in the shop. We will have chairs set up and will be encouraging folks to sit outside and knit. Space will be limited, so if you plan on coming you might want to bring a chair.

World Wide Knit in Public Day was started in 2005 to get all of us solitary knit out and knit together, but I think it is also a great way to teach others about the magical world of needle arts. You can find out more about World Wide Knit in Public Day on the website: http://www.wwkipday.com/

We are also doing a great, quick, "Tips and Tricks" workshop today for only $5. Starting at 10:30, we will be showing different ways of taking your knitting to the next level, including when to slip stitches, different ways of joining/working in the round, joining in new yarns, and more.

So, hurry on into the shop today for a full day of fibery fun!

Learn to Use A Drop Spindle!

2010-06-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

We've had an extra class added in for the end of the month!

Have you ever wanted to learn how to use a drop spindle to spin your own yarn? Katie will be teaching a class on everything you need to know to use a traditional drop spindle!

When: Sunday June 27th from 2-4pm
Cost: $50 (includes all supplies)

Hurry on in to the shop to sign up!

It's Hip To Be Square

2010-06-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

We just got some Kollage square needles in the shop and I am totally excited about them!

Image from KollageYarns.com

One of our customers came in a couple months ago and showed them to us. I played around with them for a couple minutes and decided to go out and get a set and give them a try. Much to my surprise and delight, I love them! I knit a lot. And by a lot, it is more like A LOT. Between writing patterns, helping out at the shop, just finishing writing my first knitting book, and trying to get projects in for me, I knit upwards of 10+ hours a day. I was a little worried earlier this year as I was finishing writing my book because my hands and wrists were in serious pain. I grabbed a pair of those stress relief gloves we carry (which I call knitting superhero gloves since they are BRIGHT blue), which helped to some extent.

So, when I saw the claim that these square needles were easier on your hands, I thought it was worth a try. Sure enough, they really work amazingly well. I have no more hand/wrist pain when I work with them (I still do with normal round needles) and I agree my stitches look more uniform. In other words, I love them, and I am delighted they are in the shop for others to try as well.

If you are like me and have hand/wrist pain from knitting, I encourage you to stop in and give a set a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised how nice they are!

New in the Shop!

2010-06-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you who headed out, despite the miserable weather, to join us for Fiber Fest on Saturday. The day flew by for us and every one had a great time!

One of my favorite parts of helping out in the yarn shop is seeing all of the new merchandise come in. On that note, I thought I would take minute and let you know about one of my new favorite books that has come in in the last couple weeks.

Image From Berroco.com

I am in love with all of the patterns in this book! I am already a big fan of Berroco's Comfort lines of yarn (and Berroco in general), but I am really pleased with what they have come up with for patterns to highlight such a great, reasonable, awesome yarn. The book features both knit and crochet patterns, and I think that any of the projects would look equally lovely knit up in any number of other yarns than those recommended in the patterns. Find out more from the Berroco page, and more about Comfort here.

Plus, it couldn't come out at a better time! There are so many reasons to give afghans for summer events-- weddings, house warmings, new babies, kids heading to college, and more-- the patterns in this book are ideal summer gifts. Hurry on in and pick up your copy today!

Fiber Fest is TOMORROW!

2010-05-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

I hope you all have made plans to come to our annual Fiber Fest, which takes place tomorrow! We will be taking over the area outside of the shop with booths featuring local vendors and we will have the grill fired with lots of yummy food. If that weren't enough to entice you, in the shop we will be having a draw-for-a-discount sale.

The festivities start at 10am tomorrow (May 29th) and we can't wait to see you there!

Who's Ready For Some Summer Classes?

2010-05-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

May is a month filled with events here at Beach Basket! We are in the middle of the LYS Tour I told you about yesterday, plus next weekend we will be having our annual Fiber Fest, which is always lots of fun. Even with all the excitement around the shop we managed to sit down and get June's classes planned out, too!

Make A Market Bag!
Get Farmer’s Market ready with a fun market bag! We will make a lovely cotton market bag that stretches to fit your purchases. Learn basic lace and knitting in the round techniques.
When: Saturday June 5th 10:30-2:30pm
Cost: $30, includes your yarn and pattern
You Will Need: A 16-20” Size 13 Circular Needle
Class Skill Requirements: Basic skills: knit, purl, casting on and binding off

Danger Crafts Workshop
Learn to knit any of the Danger Crafts toys in this fun workshop! Rebecca Danger will work with you on your choice of any of her patterns to give you the skills you need to knit toys with confidence.
When: Saturday June 12th 10:30-4:30pm
Cost: $30, includes your choice of pattern and 2 skeins of Cascade 220
Class Skill Requirements: Basic skills: knit, purl, casting on and binding off, basic in the round knitting, holding live stitches and coming back to them later

Tips and Tricks Workshop
Want to improve your knitting? Come to this fun workshop to learn all kind of tips and tricks to make your hand knits from “handmade” to “heirloom.” We will cover things like weaving in your ends, when to slip stitches, different ways of joining, and more!
When: Saturday June 19th 10:30-12:30pm
Cost: $5
You will need: Yarn and needles, your choice
Space is Limited, Sign Up Today!

Moebius Workshop
Ever wanted to learn the unique and enigmatic Moebius knitting technique? Now’s your chance! We will make a lovely Moebius cowl from a yummy bamboo blend yarn. Spice up your knitting repertoire; sign up to learn Moebius knitting today!
When: Saturday June 26th 10:30-4:30pm
Cost: $40, includes yarn and pattern
You will need: A 47” or longer Us Size 7 circular needle
Class Skill Requirements: Basic skills: knit, purl, casting on and binding off, comfort knitting in the round

It's going to be a fun summer! Hurry in and sign up for classes, they fill up fast!

Are You Ready For The LYS Tour?

2010-05-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

Who's getting ready for a whirlwind of fiber fun the next 4 days? We here at Beach Basket are taking part in Destination: Yarn! the Puget Sound Local Yarn Store Tour. Check out their website for more info: http://www.lystour.com/

Come in today and grab a passport to all 24 shops! This fun event includes a unique LYS Tour project at every shop which is a free one-skein pattern, plus you get 10% off the yarn for the pattern. Not only that but there are all sorts of prizes, totaling over $1500!

So grab your girlfriends and hit the road! We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Featured Yarn!

2010-04-24T08:32:00.001-07:00

You what the most exciting part about getting this blog going for Beach Basket Yarns is? We get to offer you special deals only available to blog readers! Cool, huh?

To start off our featured yarn of the week we are excited to offer you Mirasol's Hacho for 15% off, this week, 4/24-4/30 only!

Hacho is a soft, versatile 100% Merino Wool that comes in a bunch of great colorways.

Image from knittingfever.com

Hacho knits up at 5.5 stitches to the inch on Us Size 6 needles, making it an easy to use DK weight yarn that is ideal for all sorts of projects. Although it is perfect for accessories:

Image from knittingfever.com
Pattern from Mirasol Book #3 by Jane Ellison

It's softness also lends itself to wonderful baby items that will be cherished for years:

Image from knittingfever.com
Pattern from Mirasol Book #3 by Jane Ellison

So hurry on in this week and grab some Hacho at 15% for your next project. Just mention this post at the counter to receive your discount!

Clapotis Knit-A-Long

2010-04-17T09:23:00.001-07:00

Classes are in full swing here at Beach Basket. My favorite right now is the Clapotis Knit-A-Long. Last week was great: we got cast on, worked a few inches, got comfortable with the pattern, and talked about dog training tricks. I worked a bit more over the last week and am excited to be heading back today to get more done!

If you are interested you can still sign up today and get in on the next three weeks! We start today at 2:30.

Interested in a different class? Our Basic Sock Knitting class starts next Saturday at 10:30 am! This is round 2 of the basic sock class since it was so popular last time. My students have been in to show me they are wearing the socks they made, they all love the final product!

April Classes!

2010-04-01T16:25:00.000-07:00

Yeah! We just put together some new classes for April. Here's what's going on:

Image from the Farmhouse Yarns Website

Basic Hat Class
Learn to read a pattern and work in the round in this basic hat class. We will make a cute, practical hat, with or without ponytail hole. Have fun and learn a new skill! You can either make your hat in the Lumpy Bumpy shown, or in Fat Sheep wool.
When: Saturdays April 10th-May 1st 10:30-12:30
Cost: $50 for 2 weeks: Includes your yarn and pattern!

Image from Knitty.com

Clapotis Shawl Knit-A-Long
Work through the super popular Clapotis shawl pattern with a group! This 4-week workshop will provide support and instruction on the pattern in a fun group project setting. Plus, get 10% off all class supplies! Pattern uses any sock yarn, check out our gorgeous selection!
When: Saturdays April 10th, 17th, 24th, and May 1st 2:30-4:30
Cost: $20 for 4 weeks: Get 10% off all of your supplies

Sock-It-To-Me! Basic Sock Class
Knitting socks is so much fun! Learn to how to knit socks from cuff to toe in a comfy, stretchy cotton yarn in this 3-week class. Starting with the cuff we will focus on a different part of the sock each week.
When: Saturdays, May 1st, 8th, and 15th 10:30-12:30
Cost: $50: Includes Yarn and Pattern

Call or come on in and get signed up for any of our classes. Spots are limited and spaces fill up quick! (360)371-0332

Yarn Sale!

2010-03-27T10:14:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say we have lots of yarn on sale in the shop! Stop in to see 30%, 40%, and even 50% off select items! We have lots of great yarns on our sale self including Lana Grossa self striping sock yarn, Urban Silk (100% silk), and Bambou Soft (bamboo and merino, and one of my personal favorites), plus many more.

Success!

2010-03-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

The grand re-opening was a huge success on Friday! Thank you to every one who stopped in to say congrats and take advantage of the sale, it was a blast. Though we were swamped I did manage to get a few photos snapped:

Since the shop has officially "settled in" to the new space, I decided it was time to start shaking things up and moving stuff around this weekend! We have had a chance to see what was working, what was not, and here comments and suggestions from our customers, and now we are all working together to try and streamline yarn, books, and needles to make for a truly wonderful shopping experience. I'll be sure to post photos this week as it all comes together.

Oh, and the Boss and I are discussing next month's class schedule tomorrow afternoon, stay tuned for that later this week!

Grand (Re) Opening Celebration!

2010-03-10T11:52:00.000-08:00

I know I mentioned yesterday that Beach Basket Yarns has moved next door to a new and improved, bigger and brighter space! It was a long process through February, but it is starting to look and feel more like "home" each and every day.

To celebrate, we are throwing a big Grand Opening Celebration this friday, March 12th, from 3-5pm. Come on in and see the beautiful new space, share some wine and appetizers with us, and enjoy 25% off ALL BOOKS AND YARN! Yeah! There is not a knitter that I know that can resist yarn on sale, so make sure to mark your calendar.

We look forward to seeing you Friday!

Note: Sale excludes needles, consignment items, and already discounted items.

Welcome!

2010-03-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

Hello! I'm Rebecca. If you have been into the shop in the past few weeks you might have seen me working there. I started helping out in the shop and teaching some classes this February after the big move.

Since I started last month I have realized that we have so much great stuff going on in the shop that I would like to send out a mailer to our mailing list every day. But, since I hate to inundate you all like that, I suggested to Mary ("the boss") that I start a blog instead. Great idea, huh? You must think so since you are the one reading this!

So, bookmark this site and start checking back often! I plan to update here several days a week with all of the haps in the shop: new yarns, projects, classes, and other events. In the mean time if you would like to find out more about this crazy person writing this (and all other) posts, you can check out my own blog here, or stop in the shop!