Booth set up

I am posting a few quick pictures before heading to bed. My plan is to be up at 5 and on the road by 6 in the morning.

The mannequins will look much better tomorrow when they are properly dressed.

We made sure there was lots of room for people to move around in the booth.

If you are at the Knitter's Frolic please stop by and say hello.

Another finished project

Today has been challenging.  I started dressing the mannequins this morning and a few have put on weight since the last show. Their clothes are a bit snug. The XS shirts had to be replaced with Small.

The button fairy did not come so I had to finish sewing buttons on my baby sweater. I got them on and all ends are done.

Pattern:  Easy Baby Sweater from Classic Elite.  It is free when you buy the yarn
Yarn:  Liberty Wool colour 7806 Reflecting Pool
Size:  18-24 months

The madelinetosh is still sitting in customs.  It has been there since the 20th.  Come on.  Let it go. I hope they aren't sitting there using my yarn.  :)

I don't know if there will be time to blog over the next few days. Tomorrow morning we pick up the van and need to get it packed and on the road by 1:30.  Fingers crossed we won't have any traffic on the way to Toronto.  Who am I kidding?  Friday afternoon.  There is going to be lots of traffic.  We should be home by 8 or 9 and then I will be doing last minute things.  Of course I will have forgotten a few items like a sign or a basket or a garment.  Saturday morning I will be on the road by 6am. There isn't a lot of time in there to write but I will if I can.

I believe that everything is in order and packed.  I am off to the chiropractor and then home to rest up for the big day.

Ebony

Today was crazy in the store but we are almost packed.  I have come to the realization that the madelinetosh yarns are not going to be here in time.  I just checked online and they are still sitting in Canada Customs. There is absolutely nothing we can do. There is no one to call. They work at their own pace. Don't worry though.  We will have lots of tosh dk, tosh merino dk, tosh pashmina and tosh sock in the booth.

Mr. UPS brought a package from indigirl today with patterns and two garments for the Frolic-Every Last Yard and Ravinia.  They are great. Kits are made for both in great colours.

A shipment of Kollage Square needles arrived this afternoon.  They are priced and packed.

The store is an absolute disaster.  I can't wait for Friday morning when it will be neat again.  Okay, as neat as the store can be.  :)  Cathy is working on Friday and Saturday so you know it will be in order.

Last night I took out my Ebony Lantern Moon Interchangeable needles and put them in my case from Offhand Designs.

Each slot has the size on it to make it easy keeping track of the needles.

There is an empty slot because the 6.5mm are in use.  It was a late night watching hockey so I cast on a scarf for Beth.  I am using Naturally Aran Tweed and making a linen stitch scarf. 400 stitches were cast on and three rows were done before the overtime goal.

I need to hit Publish because we have another overtime game.

Scarf Yarn Update

Mr. CanPar braved the cold/wet/foggy weather to bring us a box of Ondas and Triana.  Unfortunately it was a small box and many colours are still backordered.

In Ondas we received colour 74-fushica. This is the bright colour that is shown on the pattern that we give out with the yarn.

I was going through the pictures on my computer looking for my finished Triana scarf and found one of the Ondas scarf that I knit for my chiropractor. Here is a picture of colour 71 knit up.

In Triana we received
45-fushcia (pictured)
50-sea green/blue

More colours will be arriving over the next few weeks.

Sunnyside Baby Sweater Again

In yesterday's post I showed the Sunnyside Baby Sweater from Tanis. Sorry but I got the link to the pattern wrong.  Here is the link and I made sure that it works.

While I am showing pictures of cute baby sweaters here is mine in Liberty Wool from Classic Elite.  It has been blocked and I just need the buttons.  No, I wouldn't think of using a shawl pin on a babies sweater. Even I know that isn't a good idea.

Many customers ask why thy need to block their finished garments.  When I was done the cardigan the front bands curled in.  I couldn't take a picture they were so bad. Now after being blocked they sit nice and flat.

Blocking doesn't have to be a lot of work.  I soak the garment in Soak for 5-10 minutes.  Then I roll it in a towel to get out the excess water.  Now I lay it out to dry. If it is nice weather I lay it outside on the deck. It doesn't take much effort but can make all the difference in your finished project.

I'm have a bit of a freak out because it doesn't look like my madelinetosh order is going to make it in time for the Frolic.  Now I am redoing the booth.  I have the tracking numbers but it is up to Canada Customs and how long they want to keep the boxes.  Luckily we have lots of great yarn and samples from many companies so we will have a fully stocked booth.  :)

Sunnyside Baby Sweater

Today has been a crazy day of running around.  I left the house at 10am and didn't get home until almost 4pm.  Many errands were accomplished.  The most important one was hooks for hanging yarn at the Frolic.  During my errands I made stops at three different banks and a trip to the drug store for my mom.  No I will not pay 5 cents for a bag. I would rather walk out with my arms full.  Then there was a stop to buy printer ink and paper.

Since getting home I have been working on mail, tax returns and laundry.  Four returns are done.  Everyone is getting a refund but me. Not fair.  For the Frolic we need table coverings.  I use sheets and they were in need of a cleaning.  They are all pretty again (no Cathy I did not iron them) except for one sheet that has a stain in it.  I think it is from a butter tart.  Beth always makes us lunch and the highlight is butter tarts.

I decided to take a break and write before it gets too late.

Of course I have been checking Twitter while working and Tanis posted that she has a new baby pattern.  I'm not sure where Tanis found this sunny weather.  It is pouring again in Ancaster.  And it is cold.  Earlier today I drove by the driving range and it was jammed.  People-it is only April.  There will be lots of days to swing a golf club.

Sorry.  Back to the sweaters.  Extremely cute and you can download the pattern for free.   The yarn is her yummy Purple Label Cashmere Sock yarn-70% superwash merino, 20% cashmere and 10% nylon.  I have some in the store and will be ordering more tomorrow.  For those going to the Frolic, Tanis will have a booth there and you can check out the garments and yarn.

The Amazing Race was sad last night.  Jet and Cord were my pick to win.  They kept putting themselves in bad situations from the first episode and it finally caught up with them.  We didn't get to Celebrity Apprentice because the hockey was way to exciting to miss.  Maybe tonight.

I think that I have procrastinated long enough.  Now to finish the mail.

A Knit-and-Read Book

On Thursday afternoon we received a shipment of books including the new book Spud & Chloe at the Farm.  The patterns are extremely cute.

Thirteen knitting projects, accompanied by a read-aloud story, follow Spud, a feisty pet sheep, and Chloe, his perky owner, as they travel to a farm and meet the inhabitants of the barnyard-a farm dog, a pair of piglets, a mother hen and chicks, and more!

I just Soaked the Liberty cardigan and it is lying outside to dry. Being in a lazy mood today I didn't bother pinning it out to the proper measurements.  I just stretched it out on a towel.

While taking pictures Beth and Roko were playing Frisbee. This is Roko's favourite past time. He would play for hours if someone was silly enough to keep throwing it to him.

I love how green our back yard is. The artificial grass is still looking great.

As promised here is a picture of Dryad.  This will definitely need some blocking when it is done.

The pattern is well written and easy to follow. I highly recommend working from one of Jared's patterns.

The Frolic is less than a week away.  I posted these a few weeks ago but in case you missed them here are a few tips if you are attending

-If you don't like crowds then plan to arrive after noon.  It starts to thin out a bit and it is easier for you to get into the booths.  This could mean that you might miss out on some of the hand dyed yarns. 
-Bring your own lunch. Why waste time standing in line when you could be shopping?
-Parking can be an issue so car pool if possible
-If you see something you like write down the booth number.  It is amazing how many people are running around at the end of the day looking for xyz and they can't remember where they saw it.


And some more from the organizers of the Frolic

Tips to Make the Most of the Frolic
. Exact change for the entrance fee is appreciated.
. Bring cash and your credit card. There is no ATM on site. Note that a number of vendors will only accept cash.
. Please come prepared to carry purchased items in your own bags. Vendors must charge 5¢ per plastic bag (City of Toronto bylaw).
. Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking, looking at booths, going away, and going back again - maybe several times.
. There will be a café serving coffee and light snacks on site, sponsored by the Knit Café. Take a break and enjoy yourself.

Beth and I are on our way to Burlington for Easter dinner.  It is always a great day when we can get together with family and friends.  Dinner at Aunt Rene's is an afternoon of laughter mixed with great food.

Busy Knitters

Finally it felt like spring today.  Warmer weather and no rain.

There are two new samples hanging in the store.

This beautiful cardigan was in the parcel from Lynda that I received earlier this week. There should be one button on the cardigan but the button fairy didn't stop in this week.

Pattern: Sirdar book 398
Yarn:  Debbie Bliss Bella colour 09 Old Rose

The yarn is 85% cotton, 10% silk and 5% cashmere and shows stitch patterns very well.

Emma stopped by early today with the Kari Cowl

Pattern:  Kari Cowl from KnitWhits
Yarn:  Coastline colourway of Freia

The cowl is knit in the round and the lace pattern is easy to master.

I finished the baby cardigan I was knitting in Classic Elite Liberty.  Now it just needs to be blocked and have the buttons sewn on.  The blocking will be done tomorrow and the buttons are coming from Lantern Moon.

Last night I couldn't decide what to knit.  I pulled out a scarf that I was working on in tosh pashmina.  Small problem-I couldn't find the pattern. It isn't in my house (and when I got to work today I found out that all the patterns have been sold).  Then I pulled out Dryad, an amazing cabled scarf pattern from Jared Flood.  The pattern calls for 20 pattern repeats and I have 13 done.  It was fun to work on cables again.  I will try and get a picture tomorrow.

The third period is about to start in a 0-0 game.  I think it is time to concentrate.

Decorating

I started to do a bit of house shopping online.  When we go to Columbus for TNNA there is an amazing store called The Great Indoors.  They have anything and everything for the home.

I went to their website and found a shower curtain that I liked.

Mom and Beth decided to do the bathrooms in a light brown/beige/cream/?? colour.  It was easier to make the room neutral and then pick out fun accessories.

The hooks for the curtain.  Beth and I bought a shower curtain in the store a few years ago and we picked it because they have great matching hooks.

I had to have the matching bath rug.

The best part was that I picked these out last week and when I ordered them yesterday they were on sale. Then there was an extra 10% off this weekend.  Bonus!!

Late yesterday afternoon a box came in with a poster for a new Noro book.  I didn't know we were getting another one this spring.  I called the distributor and they knew nothing about the book.  Can't tell me when it is coming.  Can't tell me the yarns that are used.  All they can say is that sometime we will have it.

It is from Jenny Watson so I know there will be amazing designs.  From the colour combination on the cover jacket I am guessing it is knit in Silk Garden Lite.

Sewing in ends

My cardigan is finished.  I even sewed all the ends in. Last night Sarah modelled it so that you can see it on a human body.

Here is the link to it on my Ravelry page

Sarah says that she gets to wear this at the Frolic.  Her necklace matches perfectly so she figures that makes it hers.

When I knit the cardigan I worked two rows from one ball and then two rows from another ball. I continued alternating throughout. By doing this you can't tell if there is a difference in the skeins-they are hand dyed and the colours can be noticeably different. The only place I didn't alternate rows was on the front band and ribbing of the body and sleeves.

Lynda's scarf is beautiful. The ladies in class last night all liked it and I had to make sure that no one put it in their bag on the way out.  :)

Yarn:  Shepherd Sock from Lorna's Laces
Pattern:  Linen Stitch Scarf from Churchmouse Yarns

When you see the colours in the kit you don't think they will work together but the finished scarf is stunning. This will definitely become my scarf.

Ms. Canada Post came in this morning with two boxes.  One was Namaste bags that we were out of and the other was from Offhand Designs.

Many more pretty bags. Supercalifragelistic is a beautiful fabric.  We have a Zhivago with long velvet strap in stock.

My baby cardigan in Liberty is finished.  I just need to sew in the ends and add buttons.  My two favourite jobs in the world!!

Every Last Yarnd

I made a vow that I was going to blog every day and then this past week I have missed two days.  I think it is this weather. Is spring ever coming?  I am so sick of rain and cold and damp.

Now onto better things.  Last week I mentioned that Julie Ann brought in her Every Last Yard for me to see.  She kindly emailed two pictures last night to share on the blog.

Pattern:  Every Last Yard from indigirl
Yarn:  tosh dk in water well

Julie Ann said

I think I’d like to do another when you get your new colours in!  It was fun to knit top down.

And

the sweater is really cozy 

Julie Ann thought that the sleeves were too long and that she might rip out a few rows.  I love them that long. The lace pattern is amazing.

It has been awhile since I visited the Rowan website but thought I would check out the free pattern section today.

This looks warm and cozy.

The Alpine Shrug knit in Big Wool.

Download the pattern 

Ash is a great little cardigan knit in double Kidsilk Haze.

Download the pattern

I am going to hit Publish and get back to making kits for the Frolic.  It is just a week and a half away.  I am starting to panic. Normally by this time I am packed.

Where is spring?

Yesterday was a great day for knitting. The body and one sleeve are done. The second sleeve is well on its way. This should be done in the next few days. What to start next? Will I be able to finish something else for the Frolic?

My HST is done two weeks before it is due. That never happens. I am about to start my tax return. Now I am scaring myself.

What is with this weather? Snow yesterday and today. I sent a text to Beth in Myrtle Beach with a picture of the snow. She didn't believe me. Another was sent today as she was getting on the plane home. She thought about cancelling her flight.

An email just came through from Offhand Designs that more bags are on the way.

Scottie in Vintage Thunderbolt. The bag will have a leather handle.

Zhivago Weekender in Annie. Two bags are coming. One with a fabric handle and the other with a leather handle like the picture.

It is going to be hard to put these out for sale. Both are beautiful and they would look great in my collection.  :)

Love Sac

Many years ago, Beth, Bev and I went to The Mall of America for a weekend of shopping.  Love Sac had a store in the mall and Beth drooled for the weekend.  We were flying so there was no way to get the huge bean bag chair home.

You are probably lost so here is a picture of a LoveSac.  This is called The BigOne and it will seat three adults. It is 8 feet in diameter and weighs 95 pounds.  Can you imagine trying to get this on a plane?

Before Beth left for Myrtle Beach we were going over furniture for the house.  Then it hit me.  She should look online to see if LoveSac was still in business.  Yes they are and it cost her.

She ordered a PillowSac and it is being delivered to Myrtle Beach in a few weeks.

The most versatile Sac® made.  Not only does the PillowSac™ look entirely different than its Sac cousins, it outperforms them all.  The PillowSac is a giant rectangle of our most comfy shredded DuraFoam that’s the exact size of a double bed for a great guest rest.  It’s also designed to fit perfectly on top of a Rocker Frame to make sleek and sexy upright seating for two.  Without a Rocker, a PillowSac can be leaned up against a wall, laid flat on the floor, pinched into a “fortune cookie” shape or turned on its side and punched in on one end to make a “pea pod” – the most comfortable gaming chair ever, no exaggeration.  Whichever way you choose to use it, a PillowSac makes your pad a palace.

The fabric is called Fushia Berry Chenille. Purple and chenille together. This can't be a bad thing.

In Myrtle Beach the houses don't have basements. Our rec room is going to be upstairs above the garage and it is going to be decorated around the PillowSac.  Beth is quite pleased with herself.

Top Down Rocks

Time got away from me yesterday. I realized that I forgot to post around 11pm but by that time I was engrossed in a hockey game and wasn't thinking clearly to write.

Here is my baby sweater in Liberty Print.  It is knit from the top down which means no sewing.  I am just about to put the sleeve stitches on a holder.  The colours are great.  This afternoon I have baseball, hockey, basketball and a car race.  I don't know how much knitting will be accomplished because there will be lots of channel flipping happening.

Mom, dad and Beth had quite a shopping spree yesterday in Myrtle Beach.  When I was there in February I made notes of furniture that I liked.  Beth and I spent time online looking at it so she knew what they were looking for.  They bought bedroom furniture for three rooms, living room furniture and dining room furniture.  After a rest and dinner they headed back out and bought the bedding for the three rooms.  They also met with the painter to choose colours.  The painter's wife is going to be our cleaning lady and she is cleaning the house today so that the painting can start tomorrow.  I will be going in three weeks and my job will be the small stuff.  Kitchen accessories.  Cutlery.  Glassware.  Pots and pans.  And the list goes on.

There are many boxes of madelinetosh on the way.  Seven in all which means lots of yarn.  I have no clue where we are going to put it.  :)  We will have lots of great yarn in our booth at the Frolic!!

Every Last Yard is knit in tosh dk. The patterns should be arriving later this week.


Julie Ann brought her finished cardigan, knit in well water, to show me on Friday.  Stunning.  I wasn't thinking and forgot to take a picture of her wearing it.  Julie Ann-can you email me a picture?

tosh dk
well water
baltic
kale
byzantine
terra verte
vanilla bean
fig
clematis
amber trinket
copper penny
composition book grey

tosh merino
boxwood
well water
calligraphy
terra verte
curiosity
amber trinket
van dyke brown
clematis
cherry
logwood
byzantine
duchess
la vie en rose
stovepipe
mourning dove
thyme

tosh merino light
terra verte
curiosity
flashdance
vanilla bean
plaid blanket
vermillion
posy
calligraphy
boxwood
well water
byzantine
blue gingham
stovepipe
thyme
logwood

tosh sock
nebula
flashdance
mineral
copper penny
dahlia
clematis

tosh vintage
composition book grey
terra verte
flashdance
nebula
curiosity
dahlia
copper penny
moss
amber trinket
kelp
norway spruce
isadora
byzantine
stovepipe

Another project done

As promised I finished the cardigan.  Okay, I finished knitting the cardigan.  The ends still need to be sewn in but I wanted to get a picture before it was dark out. Everyone who saw it today in the store commented on how cute it is.

Pattern:  Summer Open Cardigan (#294) from Knitting Pure & Simple
Size:  Small
Yarn:  2.5 skeins of madelinetosh merino in Amber Trinket
Needles:  5mm and 6.5mm

A very large box arrived today from Lorna's Laces.  Lots of Helen's Lace (including Grand Street Ink) and Shepherd Sock.  There was a surprise in the box.  Four colours of Shepherd Sport-Kerfuffle, Chocolate, Cranberry and Douglas Fir.  The yarn is for the Ravinia Cardigan from indigirl. Amy says

Can I admit that this cardigan sprang, as if fully formed, from a heart-felt wish to find myself in the middle of one of those midwestern summer nights? It may sound overly romantic, but the design came from the idea of needing only a light layer, enjoying a candlelit picnic, and an hour or two of music.
If you’re from the Chicago area, you probably know exactly why I chose the name “Ravinia”. Ravinia is a unique summer-long music festival, and Ravinia is exactly what I will wear the next time I’m lucky enough to spend an evening under the stars.
The design begins from the neck down and is worked in a circular fashion to the bust line. The body is then knit from the hem up in an easy lace pattern and joined using a three needle bind off.

The pattern should be in the store next week.

Mom and dad have the keys to the house and Beth is on her way to Myrtle Beach.  She is doing a shopping spree tomorrow and then a quick round of golf on Sunday before heading back on Monday afternoon.  Thank goodness direct flights are now available.  In the past we flew Buffalo to Charlotte and then changed planes before continuing into Myrtle.

I will be watching hockey and baseball tonight and a new project is going to be started.  A few days ago I showed the new pattern for a child's cardigan from Classic Elite for Liberty Prints. My goal is to have it done next week.

As Promised

I finished my Linen Stitch Scarf last night as the final credits were rolling on Survivor.

Yarn:  3 balls Classic Elite Liberty Print colour 7804
Needles: 5.5mm

I cast on 30 stitches and worked in Linen Stitch until I ran out of yarn.

It is nice to have sunshine again.  My models prefer working outside.  They can be so demanding.  :)

Now I need to try and get the sleeve finished on the cardigan.  There are a couple things that are getting in the way.  Beth needs some computer work done and it is much easier and quicker for me to do it.

The sleeve isn't going to get finished before I leave today. I am about to start the ribbing. Six rows and the cast off to go. Maybe tonight?

Mindy

I just got home from teaching and we are watching Idol. This is going to be quick because Survivor is next and I need to concentrate on that. The NHL playoffs start tonight so there will be lots of flipping channels.

I am almost done my linen stitch scarf (my knitting at home) and should finish it during Survivor. There will be a picture tomorrow. The short sleeved cardigan for Jane, my store knitting, is also in the home stretch. The front band is done and I should have the second sleeve done tomorrow.

Yesterday I forgot something from the Lantern Moon order.


From the Lantern Moon website
Mindy Knit Case
Such sweet storage for our most diminutive tools! Perfect for our lovely rosewood and ebony cable needles and repair hooks. Shimmery taffeta in three luscious colors. Six sleeves. Magnetic closure.

(Repair hooks and cable needles not included)

4.5”h x 4.5”w open

Time to knit!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

My head is spinning

This is my table today.  There are piles of paper and I am trying to make lists for the Frolic.  This is actually the second time I have sat down to do this-the first set has gone missing.  What am I taking?  What do I have and what do I need?  Do I have enough hooks for the grid?  What yarn is hanging and what will be in baskets?  What patterns do I need? Do I have enough yarn?  What signs need to be made?  Where is everything going to sit in the booth?  I will end up doing the booth layout at least five times.  We get to the show and it never fits the way I want so we end up putting things where they fit.  I should take a tape measure and get the exact measurements of the booth but by the end of Saturday we are so tired we want to throw everything in the van and head home.

I received an order from Lantern Moon this afternoon with circular needles (rosewood and ebony) along with fun accessories.

Clam Shell Cases are available in five colours.  We currently have lime, blue and turquoise.

Three taffeta zip closure cases nested like Russian dolls. Lined in nylon.

Sheep Stitch Markers

Hand crocheted friends to mark your stitching. Set of 6.

I did not pick up my needles yesterday but did get lots done on Sunday.  The Masters (could have been the best golf I have watched in years), The Amazing Race (I wasn't sad to see Ron and Christina go) and Celebrity Apprentice (how does Gary Busey skate by every week?).  The linen stitch scarf is almost done.  There won't be any knitting tonight because I have a meeting.  I wonder if anyone will notice me sitting in the back corner with my needles?

Little Green House

I would like to introduce you to The Little Green House.

The Little Green House is on the same golf course as my parents house.  It overlooks the 14th tee of the Parkland Course.  Since the day it was built Beth and I said we were going to own it one day. Sometimes we should be careful what we wish for.  It is ours.  

The house went up for sale two and a half years ago and we thought about buying it.  It was about to go into foreclosure (that's when our offer was going in) when someone bought it.  At the beginning of January I received an email from the real estate office that it was on the market again.  Within a week we put in an offer.  Beth and I hadn't even been inside the house but my parents went through it and really liked it.

Here are a few pictures I pulled off the real estate office's website.

This was the reason for my quick trip to Myrtle Beach in February.  I didn't want to say too much about it until the deal was done.

My dad and I spent two days running to furniture stores and making notes.

We are going to be renting out the house which has to be in the back of our minds when we buy things. Sometimes things get broken. Sometimes a glass of wine might be spilled.

Beth and I were at Pier 1 on Saturday and saw dishes on sale for a great price.  Such a good price that we bought 3 sets just in case some get broken.  No, we didn't have the house yet but they were such a good price.  :)

Fingers crossed we will be closing the deal at the end of this week or the beginning of next week.