Gina Brown's News

NEW SUMMER CLASSES

2009-06-03T20:43:00.009-07:00

Due to popular demand we are adding the following summer classes:

BEGINNER KNITTING
Learn to knit with a variety of small projects and a simple sweater. Learn basic stitches, pattern reading and finishing.

Tuesday July 7-28th
or
Tuesday August 4-25th
7-9 pm 79$

PICK YOUR PROJECT
Choose your next summer knitting project (you don't have to knit a bathing suit, but we will be really impressed if you do ;) ) in any technique. For those with basic skills, who want to learn more. This group has lots of fun!

Wednesday July 8-28th
or
Wednesday August 5-26th
7-9 pm
79$

Call 403-255-2200 to register today!

Attention Twitter Knitters

2009-06-02T17:54:00.008-07:00

As you can probably tell from the feed box on the right, Gina Brown's is now on twitter! Look for updates from me and the staff on when new stock arrives, new classes and class times and all other things yarn related.

Happy Knitting

Diana

Fuzzy Caterpillar Scarf

2009-04-06T20:18:00.003-07:00

Here is a fun knitting project that's a big hit this year. The yarn looks like multi coloured caterpillars with a few inches of yarn in between. You knit a total of eight stitches with fine needles, only on the yarn part and the "caterpillars" line up. Drop by and we'll show you how!

New Beginner Knitting Class for April has been added on Thursday evenings.
Call for details 403-255-2200

DAY AFTER BOXING DAY SALE!!!!

2008-12-16T17:59:00.006-07:00

Don't miss our annual Day After Boxing Day Sale with savings of 20%-60% off the entire stock.

Saturday Dec. 27: 9 AM-5:30 PM 20-60 % off
Sunday Dec 28: 12:00 noon- 5:00 PM 20-60 % off
Monday Dec 29: 10:00 AM- 5:30 PM 10-60% off
Tuesday Dec 30: 10:00 AM- 5:30 PM 10-60 % off

During the sale, we do not accept any returns, exchanges or price adjustments. We will be happy to take your returns for exchange or store credit after Dec. 31. All clearance items are final sale.

Thank you so much to all valued customers. Have a happy holiday, and we will see you all at the sale!

Winter/Spring Classes 2009

2008-11-23T19:52:00.004-07:00

KNITTING & CROCHET

KNITTING FOR BEGINNERS
Learn to knit with a variety of small projects and a simple sweater. Learn basic stitches, pattern reading and finishing
Fee includes yarn for first project.
Tuesday January 27-March 3
or
Tuesday March 10-April 14
or
Tuesday April 21-May 26 6 classes
7.00pm- 9.00 pm Fee $120

PICK YOUR PROJECT
Choose your next knitting project in any technique. For those with basic skills, who want to learn more. This group has lots of fun!
Wednesday January 7-28
or
Wednesday February 4-March 4 (no class February 18)
or
Wednesday March 11- April 8 (no class March 18)
or
Wednesday April 22- May 13
7.00 pm-9.00 pm 4 classes
Fee $79

MITERED BABY BLANKET
This technique is reminiscent of pieced quilting without any piecing. The self striping yarns give a spectacular look to this cozy baby blanket.
Monday March 16 1 class
7.00 pm-9.00 pm Fee $29

SOCK KNITTING 101
Learn the basics of sock knitting including how to knit on four needles and turn a heel. Hand knit socks- the ultimate luxury!
Monday February 23- March 9 3 classes
7:00 pm- 9:00 pm Fee $59

TWO SOCKS AT ONCE
These are the perfect socks for those who aren’t crazy about four needles. They are knit from the toe up and at the same time on one extra long circular needle. When you’re done you have a pair!
Monday March 30-April 20 (no class April 13) 3 classes
7.00 pm- 9.00 pm Fee $59

FINGERLESS GLOVES
Make a pair of cozy wrist warmers. Learn to knit on four needles with this easy project.
Monday February 2 & 9 2 classes
7.00 pm-9.00 pm Fee $39

TOP DOWN BABY SWEATER
Knitting from the top down is fun and practical for growing kids.
(You can easily add more length as needed)
Monday May 11 & 25 2 classes
7.00 pm- 9.00 pm Fee $39

FREE FORM KNITTING AND CROCHET
Loose the inhibitions! If you knit or crochet or both, this class will
have you thinking outside the box. Make a small piece to mount in a shadow box frame or something larger for a purse or cushion.
Thursday March 5-19 3 classes
7:00 pm- 9:00 pm Fee $59

PRAYER SHAWLS
Join us for an evening of mindful knitting. You will make a simple shawl that is based on the power of three. We will discuss how this relates to many different faiths and beliefs. A wonderful gift for healing and growth.
Monday March 23 1 class
7.00-9.00 pm Fee $29

BE YOUR OWN KNITWEAR DESIGNER
Create a simple shrug or sweater from squares and rectangular shapes. Fasten them with a shawl pin or a giant feature button. It’s this year’s hottest look.
Monday June 1-15 3 classes
7.00pm- 9.00 pm Fee $59

CROCHET FOR BEGINNERS
Crochet is hot again! Learn your basic crochet stitches and pattern reading. We will make a variety of small projects.
Thursday February 5-26 4 classes
7.00 pm- 9.00 pm Fee $79

CROCHET AMIGURUMI
For those with basic crochet skills and a sense of humour. These delightful crochet animals are all the rage in Japan and here too!
Thursday April 2-23 (no class April 9) 3 classes
7.00pm- 9.00 pm Fee $59

PICK YOUR CROCHET PROJECT
You can crochet, but need help with a new project. This class is for you. Try something new!
Thursday April 30- May 21 4 classes
7.00pm- 9.00 pm Fee $79

WEEKEND CLASSES

FELTED CLOGS
These slippers are comfy and warm. They are knit with pure wool and then felted in the washer.
Sunday February 1 & 8 2 classes
12:30 pm- 3.30 pm Fee $59

MULTI COLOURED SPROUT HAT
Make this colourful hat with ear flaps. You’ll learn both fair isle and intarsia-how to knit in the round, read charts and use the two handed technique to carry the different coloured yarns.
Sunday February 22 & March 1 2 classes
12:30 pm- 3:30 pm Fee $59

RETRO GRANNY SQUARES
Who knew that there were so many different granny squares? Your squares can then be joined to make afghans, scarves and bags.
Sunday March 8 &15 2 classes
12.30 pm- 3.30 pm Fee $59

LACEY KNIT WRAP
Make a romantic wrap with one of our new lace weight yarns and learn the basics of lace knitting. We’ll even show you how to add the all important “life line”.
Sunday April 19 & 26 2 classes
12.30 pm – 3.30pm Fee $59

FINISHING FOR KNITTERS
Learn all the tips that make your work look more professional. Bring a
Project in pieces and we’ll help you put it together.
Sunday May 3 1 class
12.30 pm-4.30pm Fee $39

CHARGE BY PHONE 255-2200

- Classes are limited in size so register early
- Registration is confirmed when paid in full
- No cash refunds unless the class is canceled
- Store credits or transfers must be made one week prior to starting date
- Fees cover instruction only unless otherwise stated
- Please arrive on time in consideration of teachers and class mates
- ALL SUPPLIES USED IN OUR CLASSES MUST BE PURCHASED AT GINA BROWN’S
- Your purchases allow us to subsidize the cost of our classes, so that we can offer quality instruction, in small groups, at an affordable price.

Kureyon Sock Yarn is Here

2008-04-08T13:07:00.003-07:00

It's finally here- the new sock yarn from Noro, and we have all 12 colours! Just like the ever popular Kureyon, this yarn features rich blends of self striping colours with the added strength of a bit of nylon in a new standard sock weight. Each 100 gram ball will make a pair of socks.

Open House with Jane Ellison

2007-09-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

Mark your calender for Friday, October 5. British designer Jane Ellison will be at our shop from 10am-4pm, as part of her Canadian tour. Jane is the designer behind many of the Noro books and her latest book,The Mirasol Collection.
She will bring the entire collection of sweaters from her new book. Drop by and chat and have a coffee and a goodie. Jane will be able to answer all your questions and tell us more about her Peruvian experience with Mirasol.
Gina Brown's will have plenty of Mirasol yarns on hand.You have to feel them to discover how soft baby llama really is. We will have all of Janes books available for you to purchase and get your copy autographed.
For more details on the Mirasol Project check out their web site at mirasolperu.com

Hand-dyed shawls for summer

2007-06-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

On the May long weekend, Kristina and I packed our bags and did a whirl-wind yarn tour of Vancouver. One of the highlights was meeting Jana and her adorable baby at the Hand Maiden studio. It was wondeful to be able to pick some colours right of the studio walls, (our little suitcases were full to the brim with silk by the time we left). As a result, we now have new coulours in bias shawls and shouler wraps in stock. These simple silk cover-ups are great summer projects for at the cottage or on the deck. The beautiful colours remind us of flowers from the garden .

New Summer Debbie Bliss

2007-05-12T06:49:00.000-07:00

Debbie Bliss has two new books and two new yarns for summer 07. The 'Summer Essentials' collection features lightweight basics in yarns like Cathay and Pure Silk. The simple shell featured bellow is one of our favourites. The Stella/Pure Cotton collection features aran weight patterns, like the cute little cardigan shown above, for her two new well-priced yarns Stella and Pure Cotton. They are both very soft to the touch.

BAMBOO YARNS ARE COOL

2007-03-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

The newest innovation in yarn is bamboo. Soft as silk, durable as cotton, and with a natural coolness to the fibre-- bamboo yarns are ideal for creating sumptuous spring creations. Bamboo is an ecologically sustainable fibre, and the yarns created from it have a natural anti bacterial quality. (This makes it a good choice for baby garments.) We now have bamboo yarns and patterns from Phildar, RYC, Sirdar and Madil. The sweater featured here is from Sirdar, in their "Just Bamboo". It's a soft bamboo ribbon yarn at only $6.99 per ball. This is a yarn that needs to be touched to appreciate!

The Best Source for Knitting Classes in Calgary for Over 30 Years

2006-09-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

There is still time to register for our Knitting and Crochet classes. Whether you are looking to learn from stratch, get some help with a tricky project, or master that technique you've always wanted to try, we have the class for you, just check out our current offerings below. Don't see a class that fits your needs? We are happy to book you a private lesson with our expert teachers at a time that fits your schedule for only 15 dollars per half hour. For all your knitting class needs in Calgary, call us today at 255 2200 and sign up!

Ruffle Scarf in 'Solo' by On Line

2006-09-30T18:07:00.000-07:00

Ruffle scarves are big, but previous techniques were just too hard and time consuming. However, this scarf is unbelievably simple to knit, and with just seven stiches to the row, it can be whipped up in a few hours. Made with On Line's new wool- blend tape, Solo, nobody will believe how easy it was to make. And since we at Gina Brown's strive to make your lives even easier, we've found away to simplify the 'special technique' used to make this sumptuous project. Just come on in and we will give you a free tutorial on the stitch with any Solo purchase. If you can make a knit stitch, we can teach you all you need to know about how to make this scarf in a couple of minutes!

NEW YARNS FOR FALL

2006-08-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

New yarns are arriving every day through out the month of August. So far we have the new Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK in a rainbow of wonderful colors and the new book to go with the yarn. This makes a total of five weights in this popular soft yarn. Shown here is a longer jacket with an easy cable pattern all over. Make it in a pastel or something deeper. If you love Debbie Bliss you are probably waiting for the new Rowan book. Yes it's here. Drop by soon and we'll show you all the new goodies.

MAKE IT and TAKE IT at the STAMPEDE

2006-07-07T21:17:00.000-07:00

Join us at the Calgary Stampede on Sunday July 9 and Monday July 10. We will have a display of new products from Canada's fabulous Fleece Artist, felted bags and patterns by Noni and a new line of luxurious and affordable rosewood knitting needles. You can learn to knit a flower from Nicky Epstein's new book "Knitted Flowers" and make it into an attractive pin to take home. The book will be available for a special Stampede price. It all takes place in Hall D of the Round up Centre 11am-8pm. There's lots to see in the Creative Arts and Crats area. Over a thousand entries and a new Art of the Western Boot display. See you at the greatist outdoor show on earth!

THOUSANDS OF FREE PATTERNS!

2006-05-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

This is just one of the great patterns available for free from garnstudio.com. They have put most of their designs from the Drops books on line. The plan is to have every pattern available soon. We have a color copy of the new books at the shop but the instructions are only on the web. We love our Garnstudio yarns including their ultra soft Alpaca, Vivaldi and Vienna mohair blends, silky Cotton Viscose, chunky wool Eskimo, and Salsa ribbon. The cardigan shown here is done with about 10 balls of Salsa. If you visit their site be patient, it's a bit slow but worth your patience. Select Ladies patterns and sort by Drops number to get the most current patterns first.

PURE SILK INDULGENCE

2006-03-29T23:11:00.000-07:00

Debbie Bliss has done it again! A new luxury yarn and a great book of fabulous patterns. Choose from five delicate colours. There are several must have shrugs as well as this stunning cable shell.
They say you never regret your small extravagances just your economies. This yarn will give you a classic sweater to enjoy for years.

New Spring Yarns!

2006-03-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

Fight the winter blaghs with a new spring knitting project. We love all the shrugs and boleros for a little cover up. This cardigan with bracelet sleeves is knit with Katia's "Arc en Ciel", a self- striping cotton blend.
New yarns are now in from Sirdar, Rowan, Phildar, Louisa Harding. More on the way!

78 DIFFERENT YARNS ON SALE

2006-01-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

We're making room for the new spring yarns. Our sale yarns include select Sirdar, Rowan, Debbie Bliss, and many more. Drop by soon and pick up a bargain. Shown here is Soft Comfort Mohair from the Queensland Collection,now at 30% off.

Mad about Marbles

2005-12-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

New this year from S.R. Kertzer is a yarn called Marbles. So far, it is flying off the shelves. A beautifuly soft dk, this self-striping variagated tweed is only $5.99 per 100 gram ball! The colour ways range from soft ocean tones to rich berry hughes. It has several cute patterns for children and adults, and at this incredible price, it is great for afghans. Our favourite pattern has to be this simple cardigan shrug. Knit it for less than $30!!*

* Size Small is made with 5 balls= $29.95, prices for other sizes differ.

Holiday Gift Ideas with Noro

2005-11-08T20:56:00.000-07:00

With the Holiday season fast approaching, everyone at the store is making lists of all the gifts we want to knit. Nothing makes a lovelier present than a cozy hand knit item, but with so many people on our lists, it's essential to find small special projects that are easy and quick to knit. No matter what age, everyone loves a nice warm scarf, (perhaps with a matching hat or pair of mittens if the recipient made Santa's nice list). To make these quick gifts extra special we like to use bright interesting yarns. A perfect choice are the yarns of Noro from Japan. Made of bright tufts of natural fibers like wool, angora, cashmere and silk that are spun together to create beautiful waves of colour once they are knit, these yarns will jazz up any small project. With Noro, simple scarves and hats will look anything but simple.These projects are all made with Kureyon, but can also be knit in Silk Garden or Silver Thaw. All three are available in-store in a wide range of colour combinations.

Popsicle Prism Hat

2005-10-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

The perfect sprout hat for our chilly winters. This easy project from Colinette knits up quickly and only requires 1 ball of Prism !!! The colour featured was insipred by the bright and cheery colours of those classic summer treats. Popsicles may cool you down, but this hat will keep you toasty all season. The matching mittens also only take one ball.

WILD COLOURS OF NEPAL

2005-10-02T20:18:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves this yarn! It's a self striping bulky weight wool that knits up in a flash with 7mm needles. This little jacket with asymetrical closure is like a bolero with a cosier collar and knit with just 6 balls of yarn! There is also a full length coat pattern and a selection of great kids patterns. From Katia of Spain, the new designs are fresh and modern.

Hot New Scarves From Handmaiden

2005-09-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

Today we received an exciting new shipment of kits from Handmaiden, all featuring handpainted exotic fibres. The company is an off shoot of Fleece Artist , of Nova Scotia and headed up by Katherine's daughter Jada. We have a great selection of the new scarf kit,Textures 2 featured here ,as well as new cashmere hats and delicate Angel scarves. With so many luscious color combinations, it's hard to pick just one!

WHAT'S HOT: Sweater Shrugs and Boleros

2005-08-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

This season, the hottest shape in knitwear is the SWEATER SHRUG, or the BOLERO. It's the perfect choice for those who want the comfort and the layering convenience of a cardigan with the streamline and sophisticated look of a shrug. New patterns are arriving daily from Sidar, Rowan, Noro and Debbie Bliss. Our favourite is this one by Debbie Bliss from her new book "SIMPLY SOFT". Shown here in her new yarn, CASHMERINO CHUNKY, which will be in stock any day now, this fabulous piece is quick and easy to make, and will add modern luxury to any knitter's collection.