Charisma and Bex

CharismaandBex040806
Originally uploaded by bex_at_hillcreek.

looks like a great and beautiful day! You ladies look like Fashion Models/ Supper Stars. Oh, how I love the picture!
(Chrisma wrote this)

Bex does Knit!

BexClass040806
Originally uploaded by bex_at_hillcreek.

This is me knitting while everyone else is on break during Merike's Patent Stitch class. I try to knit ahead so that I can help other people later.

Coming this summer!

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Originally uploaded by bex_at_hillcreek.

Daena and Wren will be here this July to teach workshops on creativity in the shop. We do have the books in stock. The second section of the book is "Knitting as a Metaphor for Life"

Bex is really going to do this!

Everyone I know that is into knitting and the internet (and that's a lot of people!)has been bugging me to get this blog going. My only resistance has been....the more time I spend blogging, the less time I have to KNIT! I've tried knitting and typing at the same time and it really slows everything down.
Soooo..here I am! I'm Bex Oliger. For those of you that have never heard of me (never been to Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe, Hillcreek Fiber Studio,or our web sites, Stitches, Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, Michigan Fiber Festival, Eastern Primative, Fort d'Chartres or Alifai River Rendezvous or any number of other events that we have been to in the last 25 years!) I run Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe in Columbia, Missouri. We have a large, and yet cozy and inviting store just 1/2 block off of Interstate 70.
My mother has owned and "toured" with Carol Leigh's Hillcreek Fiber Studio for 25 years. She teaches workshops in seven different types of weaving, including Traditional Navajo (Dinee) weaving, spinning, and natural dyeing. Growing up in that atmosphere, I had an instinctual love of natural fibers and hand dyed colors!
I started working fulltime for my mother (after earning Science and Ed degrees and having children) in 1998. At that time the knitting frenzy was just starting to resurface in the US.
Mom, not being nearly as interested in knitting as in weaving and dyeing, left it to me to develope the knitting side of things for the business. My best friend in Germany taught me to knit nearly 20 years ago, but I was rusty. I read every book available, took workshops with some of the now "BIGWIG" knitwear designers, I even did scientific studies on my swatches to really learn knit structure! Long story short, my knitting obsession and fanatic needle customers soon took over her home based studio.
Almost three years ago, Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe was set up so the knitters and crocheters would have their own place to call home!
More later...gotta knit! I'll get pictures of my latest projects up soon!

New Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool

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Originally uploaded by bex_at_hillcreek.

Marsha again!

Araucania yarn is new to the shop. We have Nature Wool, regular and chunky, 4-ply 100% Chilean wool. It's kettle dyed, with some subtle natural variagations, so make sure that you get enough for your whole project.

Here's the specs:

Yardage per Skein : 240 yd.
Weight per skein : +/- 100 gr.
Gauge : 18 st. / 4"
Needle Size : 5 - 7 US. / 9 – 7 UK.

Chunky:
Yardage per Skein : 132 yd.
Weight per skein : +/- 100 gr.
Gauge : 14 st. / 4"
Needle Size : 10 US. / 4 UK.

We have a few colors in stock, but there are many more.

See http://www.araucaniayarns.com/Wool.html for color card, garment care, and other details.

Merike Saarniit's visit to Hillcreek

Hi there! I'm Marsha, an occasional worker here in the shop, and the resident "geek" here. I've been blogging personally for a number of years, and have been encouraging Bex to get a blog for the shop. We have so much to share!

It's always a great day when Merike (pronounced Med-e-ka) Saarniit comes to town. She's my personal spinning guru. I tried to take drop spinning up years ago, and was both bad at it and I really disliked it. Over two years ago, Merike asked me to give her 10 minutes, because she was sure I would change my mind about spinning. Now alot of people know me around town as "that drop spinner," and I did pretty well at Maryland Sheep and Wool spinning competition last year. Merike, you've helped to turn me into a "fiber geek"!

This is Bex with Merike:



Merike Saarniit taught her Handspinning for Hand-Knit Socks class yesterday.

Erin's ready to start the class with her Babe wheel.



Merike starts the class...



That's the shop's non traditional fiberlicious Yule tree in the background, primarily make with a triangle-woven shawl.

Nancy takes a break to read the brand new edition (Spring 2006) of Spin Off. Merike has an article in this edition on spinning the perfect sock yarn.



Merike's looks very intent on her explaination...



Everyone said they really enjoyed the class.

There was additional merriment to be had, as I turned 29 again (and again, and again), so I was birthday-ed.



We all were full of lots of sugar in the afternoon, with the pretty big chocolate birthday cake. We have leftovers!

Our First Post!

Hello, World!

Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe now has a blog!

Our big news - Merike Saarniit of Liisu Yarns will be here Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - conducting workshops for us.

There are a few spaces left for each session. Call us now to reserve a place! (573) 449-5648

Merike's Workshop Schedule
Friday, April 7
Handspinning for Hand-Knit Socks
10:00am - 5:00pm

Saturday, April 8
Estonian Patent Stitches
10:00am - 5:00pm

Sunday, April 9
Blueberries & Raspberries (Estonian relief & texture stitches)
10:00am - 1:00pm
(break for lunch)
2:00pm - 5:00pm