Everybody Loves Raymond

It is 8:02 on Monday night (less than an hour since I did my post) and I am starting my post for tomorrow.  My tangled mess has been rolled into a ball.  All of a sudden things started going smoothly and it took no time at all.  Don't know what I was worried about.

Beth can't get enough of the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. She can watch an episode that she has seen many times before and laugh like crazy at it. Why am I bringing this up you ask. I set a box in the laundry room with cans and papers for the recycling bin last week. Beth goes into the garage twice a day to get dog food and I thought she would take it out with her. No. The box then moved to the floor when I did laundry. It became a standoff to see who would cave and take that darn box into the garage first.  It reminded me of the episode with Ray's suitcase.  He went golfing in Myrtle Beach which didn't make Deborah happy.  In their house there are three steps going up to a small landing and then they turn 90 degrees to go up the rest of the stairs.  Ray's suitcase sat on the landing for weeks while they had a standoff to see who would take it up the rest of the stairs.  I can't remember who caved first on the show but it was me who caved last night and took that darn box into the garage.  Beth was very proud of herself!!

I'm at work on Tuesday morning with no internet connection.  We lived many years without the internet but now that we have it we can't live without it.  Thankfully I brought my cell phone cord today (normally it stays at home).  I can set up a personal hotspot with my phone so that my computer is connected.

Here is Rock Island.  All knitting is done and tonight I will be blocking.  I am happy with the shawl right now and I think when it is blocked it will be outstanding.

Mr. Canpar just came with a HUGE box of Frillseeker Precious Metal.  I need to find somewhere to put it all.

Untangling a mess

I got a little carried away knitting yesterday.  I kept thinking that I needed to post but I just couldn't put the needles down.

I am going to send these pictures to Jacqueline at Soak.  Here is another use for Phil.  Phil was sitting outside because I had washed a sweater and he was wet.  I didn't want to put him back under my sink so I left him outside.  With all the rain he has been wet for weeks.  Beth was throwing a ball to Melo the other night and it landed in Phil.  Melo thought it was great fun and wanted Beth to do it again.  Yesterday Beth set Phil in the middle of the yard and the dogs played.

Melo with his soccer ball.

Roko with two tennis balls.  He wants both in his mouth at once.  Getting his picture was tricky because he hates the sound of a camera.

 

Here is a picture of the shawl so far.  I tried taking a picture outside but the pattern didn't show up.  There is still glare in the house but the pattern shows.

I have a small big problem right now.  While winding the first skein of yarn I was walking around the store and helping customers.  All was going well for half the skein and then I dropped it on the floor.  Can you say mess?  I set the yarn aside and wound the second skein.  Now I need the first skein so when I am done writing my job will be to untangle the skein.  Wish me well.  I have no patience.

Into the home stretch

Beth just brought me a Red Velvet cupcake from the cupcake truck. Delicious!!  I hope that come back next Saturday.

I finished the Rock Island chart last night and am onto the home stretch.  The rest of the shawl is garter stitch.

The rows are getting shorter so it should move quickly now.

I didn't want to remove my centre marker for the picture. Not only is it marker the centre stitch but it shows the right side row. Decreases are done on that row and the wrong side row is just knit.

My dad just stopped by the store to drop off some stuff for me and commented that the black board outside was blank.  I cleaned it off this morning because the writing had run with all the rain.  I'm still deciding what to write. I told him that it looked messy and he told me that he had a solution to the writing running. He says with his sick laugh "you could use paint".  Thanks dad.  His ideas are amazing. People wonder where Beth and I get our sick sense of humour from. Spend a day with my dad and you will know.

Buttonholes

I was having a good evening watching the hockey and baseball and working on Rock Island.  There is a row and half left on the chart and then I am onto the garter stitch.  I will take a picture tomorrow.  I remembered that I hadn't finished my post so I grabbed my lap top.  I hit something and erased part of what I wrote earlier today.  Beth is asking me questions while I am trying to remember what I erased.  I want to scream.  Okay, hissy fit is over and now I am going to finish.

There is nothing worse that working on the button band of a cardigan and the pattern says to put in x number of buttonholes evenly spaced across the row.  If it is a free pattern I can give the designer a pass but if I paid for it then I expect them to do this for me.  However, sometimes they do give you the numbers and it just doesn't work out.  A customer had this problem last week and the more we worked on it the further we got from the designers numbers.  I can sit down with a paper and pencil to figure it out but there has to be an easier way.  Today I bought it for my iPhone.

ButtonWizard can be found in the app store.  You plug in your numbers and hit Calc.  You will then see

No more paper, pen, calculator and pulling your hair out.

I have no affiliation with the company and I don't get anything for showing this.  It's here because I think it is a great app that will make your life easier.

If you are in Ancaster tomorrow morning remember that Cupcake Diner will be on Wilson Street.  I want her to sell lots of cupcakes so she will keep Wilson Street in her rotation.

Cupcakes

Somedays boxes arrive and I just don't feel like unpacking them.  That happened yesterday with the three big boxes from Namaste.  I decided that instead of knitting today I would work on unpacking boxes, doing orders and straightening the store.  Wait, that is what I am supposed to be doing every day!!

Surprise-the Laguna bag is back.  We have stock of the four returning colours plus a few discontinued colours are still in stock.

While we are on the topic of knitting bags there are a few surprises coming from Offhand Designs.  I will post pictures when they arrive.

We finally watched the finale of Celebrity Apprentice last night.  I was happy to see John Rich win.  From week one you knew he was going to be in the finale.  He performed well in every task whether he was the project manager or not.  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is an amazing hospital dealing with children and their illnesses.  They will be able to do a lot with the money he raised.

We did not watch the final episode of American Idol.  The TV was switched to that channel around 10 just in time to see Scotty win. Again, I was happy with the results. I don't want to gloat but I did pick him during auditions.  :)

I'm home now and Beth was very excited when I arrived.  Mom told her about something new that is coming to Ancaster on Saturday.  Cupcake Diner-a cupcake truck.  The truck will be on Wilson St E (the store is on Wilson St E) Saturday morning.  I have to watch Twitter and let Beth know when the truck arrives and where it is. Hopefully she will be nice and bring me one.  

I know better

After getting home from dinner last night Beth and I went upstairs to watch the hockey and catch up on the DVR.  First we watched Big Break.  I was working away on my shawl when disaster struck.  I made a mistake and when taking back a few stitches I dropped one.  Beth was talking away to me and I not so politely asked her to be quiet so I could figure it out.  After a few minutes I got the stitch picked up correctly and all was good.  Yes, I apologized but it was a crisis situation.  When I finished the row I put my knitting aside for the evening. We then watched The Bachelorette.  Why?  I totally know better.  I didn't like Ashley on the Bachelor and don't like her any better now.  She just talks and talks.  There were a few good moments but really it was a waste of time.  Thank goodness we could fast forward through most of it.  What was with the guy in the mask?  Seriously dude.

Mr. Canada Post brought in two huge boxes from Namaste along with a box from Ann. Here is the Cascade Vest that I talked about in our last newsletter.

Pattern: Cascade Vest (free Ravelry download)
Yarn: Kauni-2 balls of EOC and 2 balls of EFL
Needles:  3.5mm circular

I really like how the colours came out. When you are picking two different colours with very long colour repeats you never know how they are going to work together.

It doesn't get much easier than this vest. You are working side to side in garter stitch.  2 rows from one ball and then 2 rows from the other.

I forgot to take a shawl pin outside with me but found the perfect one when I came back inside.

I have been working away on Rock Island today and am finished row 12-half way through this chart.  When the chart is done the shawl is finished with garter stitch.

The only way to get a better picture of the whole shawl is to slip half the stitches on another needle. That could be a disaster waiting  to happen. What happens if I miss a stitch? Now there are four ends that the stitches can fall off the needle. I will try and knit faster so that I can get a good picture.

The fun has started

I finished the border on Rock Island and have started on the body.  There are 11 rows of garter stitch before I start the next chart.

It is bunched on the needles right now but once I get more rows done it will be easier to show the whole shawl.

Every right side row four stitches are decreased so the rows are going to start going faster.

At the end of my day I have completed the garter stitch rows and then four rows of the chart.

A few people have emailed me with questions about the chart and I couldn't supply good answers until now.  They wanted to know about working the chart with markers.  It isn't going to work because there are so many yarn overs and decreases that the markers are going to continually move.

If you were in the store while I was knitting you would hear me saying "ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo" across the row.  I say it out loud and it helps me to remember the row and I don't have to keep looking at the chart.

Diamonds are being made when working the chart. I think after you work 4 rows of the chart you will see the pattern that is emerging.

To make the chart fit on one page it is fairly small.  I would suggest enlarging the chart to make the symbols easier to see.  I have also gone through the chart and circled all the ssk symbols.  This will help as well.

It is a busy sports night.  Jays at Yankees along with basketball and hockey.  Beth and I are going out for dinner to celebrate a friends birthday.  Hopefully we won't be late because I need to get back to my knitting.

Happy Victoria Day

I hope everyone enjoyed Victoria Day.  A holiday Monday-what do you think I did today?  Of course we went golfing.  Dad, Beth and I had a great afternoon on the course.

There was some major knitting done yesterday and a bit this morning on Rock Island.  The edging is done. I'm thinking of picking up for the body of the shawl when I am done writing but I am tired (the course was cart path only because of the wet ground) so it might not be a good idea.

Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2011 will be on sale the second week of June.

You can preview the issue here...

Watch a video of the garments...

This issue won't disappoint.

Melo really hates fireworks.  Really hates them.  He shakes and it is awful to watch. Sorry but I am hoping for rain tonight so that we don't have any fireworks in our neighbourhood. The last two nights they have been going until midnight. Please give us some rest.

Purple Label Cashmere

A few weeks ago I showed the cute baby patterns available from Tanis Fiber Arts. In case you missed it here is the link to download the patterns.

The yarn arrived yesterday afternoon.

Tanis Purple Label Cashmere Sock

Grape

Moss

Sweetheart

Lilac

Shadow 

Seabreeze

Spearmint

The colours are great and if you don't have a little one to knit for the yarn will make a great pair of socks.

It has been a productive day.  A newsletter has been finished but I'm not sending it until Tuesday.  There are too many people away for the weekend and I don't want it to get buried in their in box.  Two newsletters have been written for Beth as well.

The edging on Rock Island is growing.  I did pick it up while watching hockey last night but I was tired and messed up one row.  I took it out and all is well but I knew that it should be set aside until today.

The close up shows the subtle colour variations in the yarn.

I am almost at the halfway point of the edging.  I want it done so that I can get onto the fun part. There is part of me that thinks I might be able to get it done for TNNA in Columbus. We leave June 8th so I had better get going.

I think I have found my garment for the Knitter's Fair as well. It is a purple tone so it fits into Sarah's criteria. It's new so it fits into my criteria.  As you all know my mind will change many times before September about what I am going to wear.  There will be a new pattern that comes out or a brand new yarn and I will jump to it.

The hockey game is getting interesting.  I'm going to hit Publish and watch (okay listen) and knit.

Elegance

So I get upstairs last night and Idol isn't there.  So much for that.  I was happy with who was leaving.  It was a good thing I went upstairs because I totally forgot about Grey's Anatomy.  There were a few tears shed while watching Grey's which caused very puffy eyes this morning. When the mother showed up at the hospital to see her daughter and then when Meredith was in the house alone.  I don't want to say too much about the episode in case some of you are saving for the weekend.

John, my sales rep from Estelle Designs, just left. John has been my rep since the day I opened so it is part sales call and part catch up when he is here.

Estelle is launching a new yarn in September called Elegance.

It is unlike anything on the market and I have a few pictures to share.

Two balls will make a scarf and all colours will be here in the fall.

The yarn is a chenille with tufts of hair.  I just called Estelle to confirm that all parts of the yarn are synthetic.

Lots of interesting shades including a beautiful purple!!

I just cast off my Frill Seeker Precious Metal Light scarf. When I bought the yarn at the Open House last week John told me that it would take two balls for a scarf.  The scarf pictured is 8 stitches and only one ball was used.

The scarf is wrapped around the neck once and tied with an overhand knot.

I think that you could easily cast on 10-12 stitches and get a nice length scarf if you don't like them really, really long.

And as promised I started working on a Triana Lux scarf last night.  The yarn is very soft when knit.

I'm itching to get back to Rock Island.  My problem is that my knitting is done late at night while watching TV (tonight it will be baseball and hockey) so I am afraid of making a mistake.  A mistake in stocking stitch isn't so bad but ripping out lace isn't on my bucket list.

Have a great long weekend. Hopefully the weather man person will be wrong and we will see the sun until Monday night.

Knitter's Fair

I received my booth confirmation for the Knitter's Fair this week.  We will be in the same location as last year-Marshall Hall 1, 2 and 3.

Mark your calendar for Saturday September 10, 2011-Bingemans in Kitchener.  For more information visit the KW Knitter's Guild website.  I know it is only May but calendars fill up quickly.  Don't let anyone plan a wedding or birthday party for that day.  :)

In knitting class last night Sarah and Lynn decided that they are making matching cardigans to wear in the booth.

The Tea Leaves cardigan from madelinetosh

Sarah is using tosh vintage in composition book grey.

Lynn is using tosh merino in curiosity.

It is interesting that both are using purple shades.  They decided that we are all going to wear purple so I will have to start thinking about what sweater I want and what Wannietta is going to wear.  Thank goodness Wannietta likes purple.  :)

I'm signing off to watch last night's Idol before I find out who is going home.  A Triana Lux scarf is going to be started.

knit, Swirl!

Just as I was going to bed last night an email came through from Direct Air. Their 50% off seat sale was extended until Friday. I guess I should have read the email I got from them last week to know that there was a seat sale. I sent a text to Beth (she was just going into a theatre to see a movie) to ask if I should make a reservation. We are going to Myrtle Beach at the beginning of July for just over a week. The last minute things will be done-TV, phone and internet. I think those could be the most important things. Luckily the installer can come on our first day there. Sorry, back to the point.

Direct Air flies out of Niagara Falls, NY to some great destinations. If you are thinking of taking a trip take a look at their website. Promo Code is MAYFARE.

I heard about a new book today and got it ordered as quickly as I could. We should have it in stock in about two weeks.  knit, Swirl!

Within the lavishly photographed pages of knit, Swirl!, designer Sandra McIver presents 18 designs that flatter all figures, each based on the innovative one piece, one seam circular construction she calls a “Swirl”.  Using simple knitting techniques, she creates elegant sweater jackets in four dramatic silhouettes and three flexible sizes.  Swirls are fun to style and may be worn in a variety of ways—some even upside down!  Clear step-by-step pattern instructions and detailed schematics make knitting a Swirl a simple pleasure.

Read more about how the jackets are constructed.  I can't wait to see the book!!

The cover jacket is knit in Mountain Goat (A smooth non-fluffy mohair/wool blend that is excellent for doing colorwork and stitch patterns) from Mountain Colors and we have kits on the way.  There are 10 skeins (9 colours) with three colourways available-pinks and purples (shown), blues and teals and warm autumn shades.

It's time to run and get dinner so that I can be back in time for knitting class. I wonder if there will be any knitting tonight.

Happy Birthday Mom

Yesterday was my mom's birthday.  We don't mention the number any more.  She stopped counting at 50.  :)  I did remember to call her yesterday but I forgot to add it in my post.

Many have been asking when the new Kim Hargreaves magazine Whisper will be arriving.  I was told this morning that it should be here at the beginning of June.  From Kim's website

Minimal simplicity merges with edgy style, whilst shades of black and white offer a sharp contrast to pretty feminine designs.

Last night I worked on the Frill Seeker scarf but I had to keep taking my hands off the knitting to work the converter.  I managed to get through the three hour episode of Celebrity Apprentice from a week ago.  There was a lot of fast forwarding.  The best part of the show was the boardroom in the last half an hour.  I am so glad that Star is gone.  She really thinks highly of herself.

Normally Beth works the converter but she is in British Columbia for two weeks for her business.  The dogs are staying with my parents so I have a very empty house.

Ms. Canada Post just came in with a box of Saki from Prism.  There are four Layers colours.  From Laura

This method produces just that, layer upon layer of color that reads as solid from a distance, but reveals all of its subtle glory upon closer examination

In the basket are
-Plumberry (darkest purple)
-Peony (pink/purple)
-Woodrose
-Mist (in real life it is more periwinkle than blue but I have lost the charger for my camera and am using my phone right now)

I'm picturing two scarves (both Purl Diving patterns) made up in the new colours.

Calsada-one skein of Saki is enough

Amalia-the large version is pictured which takes two skeins of sock yarn. A smaller version is also on the pattern and you can make it with one skein.

While writing this I received word from Prism that they have a new laceweight yarn coming out.  The order has gone in and I will give you more details when it arrives.  If you like laceweight yarn you are going to like this one.  The colours are amazing!!!

Mr. Canpar just walked in with four boxes.  I better hit Publish and start putting yarn away.

Dainty Ruffles

Later this week we will be receiving Frill Seeker Metal-Frill Seeker with a touch of metallic thread.  It gets better.  The price will be the same as the original Frill Seeker.

While I was in Toronto yesterday at the Open Houses I saw Frill Seeker Metal Light.  Many bags came home with me.

The yarn is not as wide as Frill Seeker so I am calling it dainty ruffles.  Baby ruffles would also work.

I started a scarf yesterday.  8 stitches on 4.5mm needles.  I think that one ball will make a generous scarf.  It was hard to watch hockey, baseball and Survivor at the same time let alone try to do it while knitting.  The scarf didn't progress as fast as I had hoped.

It isn't as wide as the original Frill Seeker scarf but for summer a narrower scarf is nice.

The yarn is super soft.  I was afraid that the metallic might make it scratchy but you don't feel it at all.

The yarn is $7.99 a ball.  Think of the great presents you can start making.

Finally the person I wanted to win on Survivor actually won.  What kind of arguments were Phillip and Natalie making?  They handed the money to Rob.  Both admitted that without Rob they wouldn't have been in the final three.  It amazes me the questions some people ask and the comments they make at the final tribal council.  Julie went off on Natalie. Talk about sour grapes.  She sure would have felt differently about the game if she was in the final.  If you want to make friends and have everyone play a totally honest game then Survivor is not for you.

I am supposed to be writing a newsletter but hit a block.  It's time to get back to it.

Bitter Day Out

I am home again.  It is cold and rainy in Southern Ontario today.  The fireplace is on to try and take some of the bitter cold out of the house.

In between visiting suppliers I stopped at Yorkdale for a minute to go in Crate and Barrel.  Thank goodness there isn't a store in Myrtle Beach.  I would have done a lot of damage.  I love that store.  If you go upstairs they have furniture and most of the dining room sets were planked tables with chairs and a bench like we bought for Myrtle Beach.  It put a smile on my face that we picked something that was 'IN'.  I thought about walking through the mall but I really wanted to get to the other suppliers and then home.

Here are some pictures of the Noro we are expecting for fall.  Silk Garden, Kureyon and Hitsuji should be arriving in July.  Iro will be closer to September.

A new yarn for fall is called Hitsuji .  It is a chunky version of Kureyon.

Triana Update

There will be a shipment of Triana arriving on Tuesday afternoon.  We will have stock of all colours except the black/grey, beige/cream and solid black. 

Triana Lux is in the shipment as well.  Triana with a bit of sparkle.

I am going to move to the couch and watch the end of the golf. Recently I had golf on in the store and someone commented that she didn't think people actually watched golf on TV-it was way too boring.  There could be a nap but I am going to try and stay awake to knit on a new yarn I picked up today.  No pictures until I get some knit.  :)

Where is spring?

What is with this weather?  Hot and humid yesterday and this morning it is cold, damp and foggy.

Last night I finished another Log Cabin square.  Four done-sixteen to go.

Working on Rock Island at 10pm doesn't seem like a good idea.

I'm starting to think that watching Criminal Minds before going to bed isn't such a good idea either.  My dreams last night were weird.

Tomorrow I am off to Toronto to see more new yarn for fall.  Two of my suppliers are having Open Houses.  I will try and sneak a few pictures.  :)

I'm going first thing in the morning so that there is time for an afternoon nap.  I need to be wide awake for the finale of Survivor.  Come on Rob!! I want him to win but I don't think there is any way that they will give him the money.

Friday post two

As promised I have more to say today.

American Idol was very sad last night.  Seeing James standing on stage with the tears running down his face was awful.  I am not sure who is voting.  I picked Scotty during auditions so I was happy to see him stay but in my opinion James deserved to be a finalist.

Last night I was flipping between the hockey game and other shows so I didn't want to knit on Rock Island.  I worked on my Log Cabin square.

Here is Rock Island-I have done a bit on it today.  14 repeats are complete.

There is one other part of the pattern that can be tricky. You start the row with a yarn over and then knit two together.  I did two rows with the yarn over going in the wrong direction.  It isn't worth ripping back because when I pick up to do the body of the shawl you won't see it but I want to make sure that they are all the same for the rest of the border.

Here are two pictures I took (no it wasn't easy) of how I do the yarn over to start the row.

Put your knitting needle under the yarn.

Then insert the needle into the next two stitches to knit them together.

The yarn goes around your right needle to make an extra stitch.

Are you working on Rock Island?  If you have any tips that can help others (ME) please leave a comment.

I had thoughts of saving this and knitting for a bit in case I have more to add.  Then I gave my head a shake.  Do I really need to be losing a post again?

Rock Island has been started

Yesterday I wrote a post and didn't hit Publish because I was going to add another picture of my knitting.  Bad mistake.  Blogger went down and it just came back up.  My post is gone so I am going to try again.

It was time to get going on my Rock Island Shawl.  I was supposed to start on May 1 but life got in the way.  I rolled my ball of Shepherd Sock yesterday morning and cast on.

You start by casting on 12 stitches for the Lace Edging. There are 8 rows to the chart and it is worked 71 times.

There is one small thing to watch on the chart.  I probably wouldn't have noticed it but Sue told me to be careful.  On a right side row and wrong side row the same symbol is used but it means different things-ssk on one row and k2tog on the other.  I have gone through the chart and circled all the ssk symbols to make life easier.

Here is one pattern repeat done.  My border looks heavier than the picture.  Jared made the shawl in lace weight and I am using sock yarn for a bigger shawl.

And then later in the day this was the picture I took.  Six repeats done.