The new year starts here in the shop with an exciting field trip and fun new theme.

First, the field trip. Ellen and I will travel to beautiful Long Beach, California to The National Needlework Association (you'll hear us say TNNA) trade show. Here we'll get to preview vendors' latest and greatest new stuff for the year. Everything from delicious yarns to fun new gadgets and bags and things. We'll be scouring the market for the best to bring you at the best prices. We're especially on the lookout for organic yarns, naturally dyed yarns, recycled yarns, anything that treats the earth (and us) with special respect. It is slowly becoming less costly to do, so we are hopeful.

And then the new theme. We're excited about this one. January will be sock month at k2tog. Drop by to see all kinds of samples of socks. Socks knit from the top down. Socks knit from the toe up, and sock knit every which way (thank you Cat Bordhi). We'll have a toe-up sock class taking place over three weeks of the month. Jump in and join the fun of sock knitting. (Warning it can be addictively satisfying.)

And on the knitting front, after a few rough lace rows I'm into clear sailing on the Hemlock Ring big lace blanket. I've taken care of lots of little holiday gifts, and find myself ready to take on some new projects. I plan to resurrect something from the stash as well as start something new. Something new might just be a pair of socks from a yarn I haven't tried yet. Cascade's Sassy Stripes or the Rio de la Plata sock yarn maybe. (I've already started using our new yarn Wick from Knit One Crochet Two. This is the one that's part polypropelene and wicks moisture from the skin. Easy and fast.) From the stash I'm looking at another moebius shawl or a vest that's almost done ... heck, you know I'll (re)start both.

Ellen has just completed a moebius shawl in Misti Alpaca chunky handpaint. If you haven't seen it on her, you've been away too long. It's lovely. (We're waiting impatiently for the rest of our order of this yarn!) Ellen is also working on a design of her own in Cascade's Venezia worsted weight. It will be a sweater in a gorgeous red with stockinette on the body and lace on the shoulders and sleeves. Ask her about it. I will be trying to carve out some time for her to write up the pattern for all of us!

Check out the calendar to see all our new class offerings. In January we have the toe-up sock class Sweater Math, Fixing Mistakes, and Slip Stitch Knitting. Also every Saturday at 1:30, Ellen will present a Quickie Class on a current topic. And in February and beyond we'll be looking at various ways to put color into our knitting from fairisle, to intarsia and beyond. Join us!