In this newsletter:

Calling all Ravelympians
Afghans for Afghans-August 17
Knit Night
Class Schedule

Calling all Ravelympians: Anyone out there joining the Ravelympics? Or just looking for a challenge this month? So are we. Just like the Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics, the rules are simple:

1) Choose a project that will challenge you and that you think you can complete by the end of the Olympics.
2) Cast on during the Olympic opening ceremonies on Aug 8th and finish before the Olympic flame is extinguished on Aug 24th.
3) Come celebrate your hard work with us.

You may choose yarn, swatch, chart, pray. Feel free to come work on your Olympic project in our special Olympic venue (aka the Couch) any time we are open. On Weds Aug 27 we will have a special knit night potluck celebration, (or commiseration depending on how it goes for you) of our efforts.

The participating Stashettes will be tracking our progress on the Stash Ravelry group "Berkeley Stashers". Ellen and Nicole are making the February Lady sweater. Ari is knitting Soft linen Hoodie by Pam Allen. Christa is making the Japanese feather and fan shawl (See the Berkeley Stashers group-It's a knitalong). Rebekah is making "Hey Teach" from the Knitty summer issue and Anastasia is making "nice, complicated pair of socks"...maybe. What are you making?

For those of you not on Ravelry (get on ravelry at www.ravelry.com) it is not required to join in the fun but it's a great site, it's a lot of fun and it's free.

Afghans for Afghans: Aug 17th, from 2:30-4:30, at Stash
On the third Sunday of each month from 2:30-4:30, Stash welcomes the afghans for Afghans knitting/crochet group on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Long-time participants and new-comers are all welcomed!

Afghans for Afghans is a humanitarian and educational people-to-people project that sends newly hand-knit and crocheted blankets and garments to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan. In partnership with the San Francisco office of the American Friends Service Committee, the afghans for Afghans project started in late 2001 in response to the war that started after 9/11. After six years, our handmade wool garments and blankets are still needed in Afghanistan.

The Sunday Stash group's purpose is to knit for Afghanistan, to work on some of the incoming donations that need fixes (to comply with the needs in Afghanistan), and to hang out and enjoy each others company.

The afghans for Afghans project is currently in the middle of their campaign for *rectangle* wool shawls for Afghan mothers. You can find the guidelines and programs details here on their website -- www.afghansforafghans.org/rectangleshawlcampaign.html

Please join us on the comfortable sofa and chairs in the back. Feel free to bring a friend. The more, the merrier.

Knit Night

Come join us for a respite from the over-planned, over-scheduled lives everyone seems to be living these days. Every Wednesday night we get together to socialize, knit, chat, show off our yarny triumphs, get sympathy for our yarny disasters, and basically just hang out. So please join us on Wednesdays @ 6:30pm- 9pm -- and bring your knitting! As always, Knit-Nights are free!

Classes

Class Policies

Register for a Stash Class and get a 15% discount on all regularly priced class materials and purchases made during the class. Due to the popularity of some classes, we can't hold a spot for you without payment. (But you needn't come to the store to pay, we're happy to process your payment over the phone!)

Class Schedule

Project Quick Start: August 16. 2-4pm $20
Do you have a project you are stuck on? Need some help getting going on that UFO (unfinished object)? Bring your project in for this small group class and let us help you get back on track. Class size is limited to 6 people so sign up early. Basic knitting skills required .

Beginning Knitting: 3 Saturdays 10am -12pm . $60.00 Aug 16, 23 and 30th
Learn to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off. Take this class -- and you'll officially be a knitter!

Steeks!: Saturday August 23rd 2 - 3:30 pm $25
Come and learn how to cut your knitting and live to tell the story... Bring a swatch measuring 5" wide by 8" long and an appropriate size of crochet hook for your yarn. We will stabilize the knitting with crochet and then cut it in half; now you can knit everything in the round! Rebekah will be steeking her Fylingdale cardigan knit in the round out of Nature's Palette Green Sheep yarn.

Quick Classes
1 hour drop-in classes on Saturdays from 1-2pm. Students will be shown 1 or
2 basic knitting skills No need to register ahead of time--just show up with yarn, needles, and 10 bucks, and we will take it from there. Saturdays 1-2pm $10.00

Quick Class Schedule:

8/16: Finishing
8/26: Magic Loop knitting
8/30: Increase and decrease

Coming next month:
Basic sweater class and
Time to think about holiday knitting projects

New Summer Hours:
11am - 7pm Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
11am - 8pm Wednesday (Knit Night)
10am - 6pm Saturday
12pm - 5pm Sunday

Closed Monday

Happy Knitting!

Ellen & Nicole