Get it? That's STITCH in my icon. Get it?
Monday, when walking from HoneyHole Sandwiches (yummy vegetarian BLT) to Belgian Frites (even yummier frites) with Miss Maggi, we happened upon a strange and wondrous establishment. Stitches is a new fabric arts store on Capitol Hill. They've got gorgeously hip fabrics, delicious yarns, neat notions, and tables in the back where you can come work on your projects if you don't have space at home (hear that Meredith?). I asked about classes and the owner said they might get started in a few weeks. Little did I know I'd get an email about it today. RAD!

This is what the email said:
Hi there,

Great news, Stitches now has a class schedule (see below). Be sure to sign up early as class size is limited. And, let me know if you have any questions.

Happy Stitching!
Amy Ellsworth
Stitches
711 E Pike St., Seattle
(206) 709-0707

Beginning Knitting
June 2 & 9 6:30pm-8:30pm
Come rediscover what your grandmothers knew - knitting is relaxing, challenging, and fun. In this class, you'll learn the very basics to get you started on your very first project, a sassy backpack. You'll learn casting on, the knit and purl stitches, how to yarn over and slip stitches, how to bind off, how to read a basic knitting pattern, and some basic crochet stitches essential for knitters.
2 two hour sessions (Wednesdays, June 2 & 9 6:30pm-8:30pm) Fee: $20
Materials needed:
            size 10 knitting needles (straights)
            approximately 200 yards of chunky weight yarn of your choice
            large eyed, blunt needle

Intermediate Knitting
June 16 6:30pm-8:30pm
Feel comfortable with knit, purl, cast on and bind off? Then you're ready to come master the challenges of shaping, increasing, decreasing, two color knitting, and garment construction. Together, we'll start on two-needle mittens (get a jump on holiday gifts!).
One 2 hour session (Wednesday, June 16 6:30pm-8:30pm) Fee: $10
Materials needed:
            Approximately 200 yards of chunky yarn of your choice (split between two colors)
            Size 10 and size 8 knitting needles (straights)

Beginning Crochet
June 23 & 30 6:30pm-8:30pm
This is not your great grandma's crochet! Come learn all the basics you'll need to start making your own hot accessories and clothing. In this fun and supportive environment, you'll learn how to start a foundation chain, form the stitches that make up the basis of advanced projects (single crochet, double crochet, and slip stitches), and how to read a basic crochet pattern, all while working on your very first project – a sassy backpack.
2 two hour sessions (Wednesdays, June 23 & 30 6:30pm-8:30pm) Fee: $20
Materials needed:
            Size J crochet hook
            Approximately 200 yards of chunky weight yarn of your choice
            Large eyed, blunt needle

Intermediate Crochet: freeform
July 7 & 14 6:30pm-8:30pm
Feeling comfortable with the techniques of beginning crochet? One of the greatest pleasures of crochet is its great versatility with free-form, "design-as-you-go" projects. Together, we'll learn the techniques of planning a design and some of the more advanced crochet techniques to get you there.
Two 2 hour sessions (Wednesdays, July 7 & 14 6:30pm-8:30pm) Fee: $20
Materials needed:
            Paper and pencil for sketching
            Yarn and crochet hook of your choice

About the Instructor:
Caren is an obsessive fiber junkie. Knitting since 2000 and crocheting since she was four, she is passionate about getting others to pick up the sticks and create. She also teaches literature and cultural studies at Cornish College of the Arts, is the author of two works of fiction, and performs regularly with Glitzkrieg. Full details on her exploits can be found at www.carengussoff.com.

I'm extra-super pumped because Meredith will be teaching me knitting (again) on Wednesday. I'm dying to start making stuff with my hands again and there's something about knitting that makes my brain kick into high gear. Plus, I want to have a project to take on the plane. Yay yay yay for being creative!