June is for.......

Men Who Knit & The Woman (and store)  who Love them! 

That would be us - all  the women of Knitty City.  So much so, in fact, that we've decided to devote our June windows to        "Men Who Knit".  We thought it fitting, what with father's day being just around the corner and our knowing so many neat men who knit.. We take great pleasure in hosting a really great men's group at the store so our interest in the point of view that men bring to the craft is strong.   Every Wednesday, from 6-8 pm, men who knit meet up and join forces to learn ( and occasionally unlearn) about the craft.  There is really nothing at all unusual about males knitting.  Some of our schools teach it to their students, both boys and girls, to facilitate small motor coordination, and the learning of basic math principles.   For generations before sexist nonsense about "women's work" intervened, fishermen knitted - whether it be in service to their nets or as part of a cottage industry that helped them get by during the months when fishing was not possible. Our Knitty City Men's Group has become very popular.  We even rated a story in the Wall Street Journal not that long ago, which you can find here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303339504575566590405897032.html

With all that in mind, then, we thought that focusing  our monthly  profiles on one of the men with whom Knitty City has a strong relationship made sense, so here goes:

JUNE PROFILE

ALPHONSE POULIN

We first came to know Alphonse when he graced our store with his kind personality and prodigious talent quite a few years back.  From the outset, it was obvious that he was a master knitter with a great grasp of color, technique and design.  Such ability usually comes from years of experience, as was the case with him.  We instantly fell under his positive spell, and in short order Pearl asked him if he would lead our men's knitting night group.  The day he agreed was a good one for our stalwart group of male knitters, as well as the rest of us, since he's proved to be as generous as he is talented.  Always ready to share his knowledge, he is as quick to praise and appreciate the work of others.

Alphonse Poulin  learned to knit at the hands of a parochial school nun when he was 10 years old.  Almost immediately, he felt an affinity for the craft but put it aside until he was l8 and began studying at the Boston School of Ballet, where he had won a scholarship.    There he noticed that everyone knit - a really valuable way to use time while waiting to practice and perform.  It was also a way to make needed garments for rehearsals, so its practicality and portability added to his attraction to it.   

His success in the dance world led to many trips touring with the Boston dance company and those trips proved instrumental to his learning a variety of techniques, dance and craft-wise.  .  Every time he and the company visited a new city or capital, Alphonse would use free time to seek out the best knitting stores.    Marriage to another dancer also increased his repertoire of knowledge since both she and her mother were accomplished knitters.  His success as a dancer and choreographer took him to multiple cities in countries such as Portugal, Brazil, and  Switzerland where he worked with the best contemporary dance companies in Europe. He spent a number of years in Geneva, where he served as the Dean of Dance in the Conservatoire of the Geneva School of Ballet.

During one of his dance related sojourns in Scandinavia, Alphonse met Inge Fredholm (in a knitting store, of course), whose exquisite work in Scandinavian stranded knitting led to her authorship of a knitting book classic, "Knitting with a Smile".  Alphonse was instrumental in the production of the book, translating editorial into English.  All those years of travel had led to  fluency in multiple languages as well as multiple knitting techniques.

In the late 90's, he came to NY in response  to a job offer from Juilliard.  The shock of settling into a new community, country and culture was leavened by his knitting and the books he has collected over the years (Current count:  approximately 600).  Gradually he became acclimated to the pace of New York and credits his interest and abilities in knitting as being a valuable gateway.  When asked his favorite titles and types of projects, he cites, first:  The Principles of Knitting by  June Hiatt, and Elizabeth Zimmerman's titles. He's studied with Shirley Paden and greatly admire her recent book:
"Knitwear Design Workshop"   His knitting of choice is fair isle and lace, but laments the fact that he doesn't have the opportunity to do much lacework.  He likes working with Scandinavian yarns and classic  knitter's yarns such as Jamison & Smith.  When asked if he had a particular philosophy that informs his daily life, his response was " I Never Go a Day without a Stitch".   As you can understand, we like his philosophy as much as we respect and like Alphonse and we consider ourselves privileged to have him be a part of our world.  He'll be taking off for his home in Maine for a part of the summer, but he will continue to lead and instruct our men's night workshops.  If interested in partaking in the men's night meet-ups, call the store to see what's happening and when.

....One more thing:  We are planning to display the work of our male knitters in the window.  If you would like to contribute something to display  for the month of June (we promise to take good care of it and return it), we ask that you bring it to the store this week.  Our window wizard (Melissa) will be creating the June window this coming weekend.

 What's Happening In June

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

         x

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Spring & Summertime Projects at Knitty City

In the "olden days"  the owners of the popular yarn shops would call the spring and summer months the "slow season".  Well, no more.  Thanks to  versatile yarns, a variety of weights and  projects now available in multiple formats,  knitting and crochet are year-round. Witness these new magazines just in!  We had to order Vogue Crochet twice so far - it's fairly flying out the door and their Spring Summer Issue offers some of the lovliest shawl and summer weight knits we've seen in a long while....and the other day,  Interweave's Summer issue glided in over the transom. You just might want to start planning your take-along projects - but come on in soon - everyone has the same idea, it seems

May  Profile

Susan Haviland

We have known Susan Haviland for quite some time now - and the same can be said by many of the top yarn companies and magazines as well as most of NY's experienced knitters.    Susan is one of the most proficient and admired kntting  and crochet teachers and designers in NYC.  Susan has been knitting for most of her adult life - a skill she picked up while still in college at Sarah Lawrence, where she majored in Theatre and English Literature.  In a marvelously synchronized way,  her love of  these subjects dovetailed with her needlecraft skill and resulted in more than one talent.  In addition to acting for over 12 years in off Broadway productions, she also had an interest in and appreciation for theatrical costuming - a skill that lent itself nicely to her interest in textiles and fabric construction for the body. 

In her early years in Manhattan, she led the typical "struggling young actress" life -- starting out in the East Village with multiple roommates and multiple jobs..  As a  founding member of an acting troupe, her work directing dance and theater productions  enabled her to understand how the body works and how design must accommodate freedom and expression in movement.  Like many artists, she found the financing  of her career to be a huge challenge, and for awhile worked "full time" for a hedge fund - for very practical reasons.  During that intense period of her life, she began furious knitting (her words) as a means of self-expression and for the meditative benefit  that so many of us  love.  

In due time and after enough exposure to the pace of the financial world, Susan acted on her desire  to return to her original fascination with design. Thus, a new chapter in her career opened when she went to work at the Knit Resource Center, a knitting company that serves the garment industry..  It was there that she developed knit  samples for well known 7th Ave. designers, an invaluable experience.  Simultaneously, she  began to teach  at FIT and The Museum of Folk Art  and became  one of the founding members of the Big Apple Knitting Guild and  created  designs for popular knitting magaines, including Vogue Knitting.  Most recently, in addition to  her on-going design work, she was working, part-time, at Knitty City where we were proud to have her as a teacher. 

Susan  cites  teaching  as one of her major enjoyments, saying that the variety of students and the encouragement of talent has been enormously satisfying.  As any one of her students is usually quick to say, Susan is one of the best needlework teachers in New York. She has  kept her hand in the design and fashion world, and has recently returned to full time employment  with the prestigious Oscar de la Renta design studio, where she is  working directiy with knitwear designers in the creation of knit fabrics and garments.   

Due to her magnanimous personality and capabilities , Susan has touched many lives in NY..  We were sorry to see her leave Knitty City but thrilled that she iis working with one of the best designers in the industry.  We see it as a win/win since Oscar's design firm is  getting one of the best, too.  (Fyi:  She's promised to come back  to  visit and teach -  we'll let you know when.)

Beautiful New  Yarn

 Linea Pura Cash Silk

A unique blend containing  cashmere, silk and bamboo, this new yarn from Lana Grossa, is sure to knit up like a gentle dream.  Suggested needle size is 8-10 which means it will fly and so will your imagination when you touch it.  We currently have it in stock in red, grey (see above), and white.  More colors due in soon.

Yarn of the Month@Knitty City

All ArtYarns are on sale for the month of May at 10% off.

Specail Promotion of the Month@Knitty City

SPECIAL BAG SALE DURING THE MONTH OF MAY:
Bags & Purses (exception: Blue Q & Walker) are 25% off

Incredible New Book@Knitty City

Knitters of all skill levels will love the projects and inspiration talented Nordic knitter Britt Marie Christofferson  presents in the aesthetic masterpiece,  Pop Knitting.  This incredible book  will have the most advanced knitters eager to experiment.

Bright color dominates throughout, making simple patterns stand out. Discover vibrant color, in-depth instruction, and artful inspiration that have ruled Christoffersson’s work and life. We have already ordered this book twice, after watching it it sell out as soon as it came in the first time..  Don't hesitate if you don't wish to wait til we order it a third time.  

Fun Things to do @ Knitty City

Knitty City is hosting a KNIT-A-LONG involving any one of the wonderful shawl creations of Veera Valimaki.  Come to the store on Thursday evenings in May and  join in by knitting one of Vera's beautiful shawls. You can find examples of her work and shawls here:http://www.ravelry.com/designers/veera-valimaki    At the end of May, we will host a party so that everyone can share and show-off their FO's.

Dates to Remember 

Knit In Public Day on June 10
Join Us and your fellow NYC knitters for an afternoon of yarn celebration.
All levels of knitters and/or crocheters are welcome! Come & bring your knitting.
Beginners can learn!
Hours: 2 – 4:30pm
Bryant Park @ 6th Ave. & 41st St
Event will kick off our free lessons in Bryant Park, beginning June19
Presented & supported by Knitty City, the Big Apple Knitters Guild, the NYC Crochet Guild, and Harlem Needle Arts

Please Don't Forget:

Knitty City will be closed on Mother's Day, May 13 and on Memorial Day, May 28.