Shawl that Jazz

I haven't mentioned my knitting lately in my posts. There is a bit of knitting going on but not much. I am working on a shawl called 'Shawl that Jazz' by Samantha Roshak. Take a look at some of the finished pictures on Ravelry-very nice. It is an easy pattern to knit but I'm not moving quickly. I chose Aspire DK from Naturally-a wool/alpaca blend.

Every row of the shawl you knit one stitch less-the edge stitches are left for the ruffle. I am finally down to the part where the rows are starting to go quicker. You can't really see the stitch markers (sorry I chose pink) but the stitches lying flat on the chair are the live stitches I am still working with-these will continue to decrease down to no live stitches and just the stitches left for the ruffle. When done the body of the shawl you work all stitches on the needle and end up with a great ruffle.

We received in two shipments of Shawl Pins yesterday. Original Artworx are Fimo (clay) pins made in Florida. Moving Mud are glass pins made in Vermont.

When you visit the store you will notice shawl pins in many vests, cardigans and jackets. Shawl pins are much easier than making buttonholes and much neater. They are like jewelry-they add something to your garment. You can change the shawl pin depending on the occasion as well-dressy or casual depending where you are going.

More spring preview

My day started early yesterday. I was off to Toronto to one of my suppliers to see the new yarns for spring.

The three yarns I wanted to see were Noro, Debbie Bliss and Sirdar. There were many more that I will see when my sales rep comes to visit.

We carry a lot of Sirdar Baby Bamboo in the store because it is a great yarn and it sells well. There will be four new colours for spring-Yellow Submarine, Limey, Sailboat and Rinky Dinky Pink. There will also be a new pattern book.

Debbie Bliss has two new yarns for spring. Eco Baby (Eco Cotton came out in Aran weight last spring) - I think it is the same thickness as Cashmerino Baby. Of course there will be a great baby book to go with the Eco Baby yarn. Amalfi is 70% cotton, 15% viscose, 10% linen and 5% silk. The colours are muted and very pretty. A pattern magazine will come with the yarn but I didn't see it. There will also be a new Debbie Bliss magazine for spring. Unfortunately there weren't any pictures.

You know that I don't like Noro but I did take notes for what is coming. There are 4 new yarns-one will be a lace weight. Taiyo and Cherimen (both from last summer) have 6 new colours each.

Jenny Watson is one of my favourite designers and she has a new book for Noro-Catwalk 2. I have a copy of the magazine and scanned a few pictures in to show you. I am hoping to have the actual magazine in the store soon.

Silk Garden Lite, Taiyo, Kureyon, Silk Garden, Silk Garden Sock and Kureyon Sock are featured in the magazine. The cover jacket is knit in Taiyo.

I love this jacket (knit in Silk Garden) -might make it for myself but will definitely be adding some length.

Kureyon Sock. This will definitely be going to one of my knitters to make. The hardest part is going to be deciding on the colour. This looks great but I always try to use a different colour than the book.

I love this cardigan as well. It is knit in Kureyon.

Lots and lots of knitters

Our day started very early yesterday. The DKC bus was arriving around 9. I was in the store at 8 to make sure that the store was in order. Everything had price tags. Floor was swept. Sweaters were hanging everywhere. Cathy, Sarah and Beth came about 8:30.

I'm not sure if Vic was lucky or not to be driving around 54 women :)

There wasn't any extra room in the store once they arrived. And they came to shop!!! We had it planned that I would do the cash because I know the price of the yarn off the top of my head and it would go much quicker. I have a wireless visa/debit machine for shows and we had it in the store so two customers could be processed at once. Unfortunately it decided that it was taking the day off yesterday. The line moved a bit slower than I would have liked but it didn't affect the ladies. They were happy to be chatting with other knitters and showing off what they were going to buy.

The ladies left the store just after 11 and were heading to lunch before visiting another yarn shop in the afternoon.

Thank you to everyone who visited. It was a great morning.

I sent Joan yarn last week and she brought my finished Waves of Leaves shawl (free pattern on Ravelry) with her. This is a smaller shawl which makes it great for wearing wrapped around the neck. 2 skeins of Merino Mia from Prism were used. Laura Bryant (owner of Prism) is one of the top yarn dyers in the US. Her colourways are amazing!!

Pictures from the past

We are going to have some visitors in the store tomorrow. The DKC (Downtown Knit Collective in Toronto) are coming on a bus trip. 54 knitters are arriving at 9am. Sarah, Cathy, Beth and I will be waiting with goodies. Cathy worked yesterday to help me get ready. The shelves are straightened. Model garments are hanging everywhere.

I needed to find a few patterns on my Mac this morning. While searching for the patterns I scrolled through my pictures. Here are a couple that I really like.

Roko as a puppy. He was so cute back then. He was so well behaved back then!! Roko loves sleep and can fall asleep anywhere-obviously-his head is in the water bowl.

Roko has recently discovered his voice. He doesn't bark but he likes to talk.

My Silk Garden Multi-Directional scarf. I love the colours. The scarf is hanging in the store but you might not recognize it because it is covered in shawl pins.

How about Survivor? Erik getting voted off was amazing. He was so arrogant at tribal council!! I hope that Russell playing his immunity idol will pay off. The previews show him in trouble next week but I don't buy it. The show will be very boring with him voted off.

I showed pictures of the new red bags from Namaste-Laguna and Zuma. They are here!! I don't need another bag but...

It's time to set off for work. Have a good day-it is bright and sunny in Ancaster today.

Spring Rowan

This morning I ordered Rowan for spring. I am not allowed to show any pictures (I would if I could-you know I love pictures) so please don't ask.

There is one new yarn called Revive DK in the Purelife family. 36% recycled silk, 36% recycled cotton and 28% recycled viscose. 8 colours are available. I really liked this yarn and ordered lots. There will be a magazine called Purelife Recycled.

Magazine 47 is using all of our favourite Rowan yarns-Cotton Glace, Handknit Cotton DK, Summer Tweed, Lenpur Linen (cover sweater), Milk Cotton (DK and 4ply), All Seasons Cotton and Kidsilk Haze. The section of designs by Kaffe Fassett are amazing. 6 pillows and 4 throws in Summer Tweed.

There are 3 more magazines as well-Crochet, Miniature Classics (baby) and Rowan Kids.

It is just after 8 and Beth is yelling. There is poker on TV and Survivor has started taping. Hurry Up!!

RUN to you nearest hardware store

UPS emailed me a notification yesterday that my latest parcel from Namaste is on it's way. The shipment includes the brand new red Zuma and Laguna bags.

We had a bit of trauma in our house last night. Beth and I went to dinner with our friends John and Lynda. We made John drive and that meant that the girls could have a drink. Yes, we were very loud at dinner. The conversations got very spirited. The taunting phone call to my mom from John and Lynda was quite funny-Jeter is going down!! When Beth and I walked into the house there was an awful noise 'the batteries are your smoke detector are low'. This was being repeated every 15 minutes. Melo who is afraid of everything couldn't care less but Roko was freaking out. Shaking, crying, more shaking and more crying. We looked in the drawer but there weren't any 9 volt batteries. Neither of us could go out (because we had a drink with dinner) so we had to live through the noise and crying for an hour. Around 10 (two hours after my drink) I figured I was okay to drive so I set off to Sobey's. Nope, they didn't have any 9 volt batteries. Maybe the gas station. Nope, not there either. I ended up driving to the variety store beside my store and luckily they had one-only one because I would have bought two. Roko was having a complete melt down when I got home. We got the battery changed and he shook and cried for another hour before he started to settle down. My advice to everyone (Beth did it today)-run to your nearest hardware store and have an extra 9 volt battery on hand jut in case. They are not easy to find when you need one!!!

Another finished project

Julie Ann came in for a visit today. She brought a finished garment to show me-KnitWhits Edie Spring Time Cardigan. It is knit from side to side in Kureyon and Kureyon sock. I love her colours!!

I received a bitter phone call from my mom last night. 'Why won't I knit her a bag like Ann made for her mom???' That was the start of her call. Then she was very upset because Derek Jeter was losing the ball game. My mom has been around baseball for years. Beth and I started playing at a young age and played through our teens. Every summer night and weekend were spent at the ball park. She knew the rules but I don't think she really liked the game. However, Derek Jeter plays for the Yankees and she has been glued to the TV during the playoffs. Heaven forbid you call her while he is up to bat. She then called me back later in the night to say she was going to bed because Jeter was losing. Not the Yankees but Jeter!! I am going to catch heck for this tonight but the truth is the truth.