Fifty One Shades of Truth

Here it is. The project that I am going to have done before I leave for TNNA.

All the Shades of the Truth. I'm using the Fifty Shades of Grey colours of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. There are five skeins and each skein has ten shades of grey. The last shade is the solid grey for the borders. I'm calling it Fifty One Shades of Truth.

Laura Aylor is the designer. This is
her All the Shades of Truth. You can
purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

The pattern calls for five colours and I have six so I decided that I am going to use the colours in whatever order I want.

When I got home from work the dogs took me outside to play.

Mr. Melo has a new ball.

Mr. Roko lost his frisbee in a snow bank.

He was very happy when he found it.

I've been home for two hours and the knitting hasn't come out of the bag yet. That isn't going to cut it so I'm doing a short post and then get the needles out.

Happy New Year!!

Pucks N' Purls 2013

When I got home from work last night I fell into bed for a nap. When I woke up Beth and I continued on with Homeland. Three more episodes watched. I wanted to watch more but Beth didn't nap so she was tired. Tonight!! It's one of those shows where you want to watch episodes back to back to find out what is happening. You think you have it figured out and then they throw a curve ball at you.

It's that time of year again. Are you having hockey withdrawal??

Buy tickets online at www.marlies.ca/PucksNPurls. These centre ice tickets, behind the Marlies bench, are $21 (face value $33).  For groups 10 or more, of for special needs, call Marc Lira (Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment) at (416) 263-3926.

It's time to get my fingers working. I have a new project to show you tomorrow. It is a rush-I want to wear it to TNNA at the end of January.

New Samples

Ms. Canada Post was busy carrying in boxes this morning.

The first came from Lynda with two shawls.

Pattern: Derecho (pattern purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: tosh sock
Colours: whiskers, steamer trunk and fig

A triangular shawl knit modularly in two directions to produce a pattern of interconnected stripes. Two circular needles are used to knit on one side at a time while keeping the other side’s stitches live.

There are many ways to wear the shawl. I was in a bit of a rush or I would have taken out a shawl pin.

Every time I look at the shawl I think that there are four or five colours-the striping makes it look like more than three.

Pattern: Cameo (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: tosh merino light
Colours: norway spruce and composition book grey

I would like to say that I picked these colours (they look amazing) but it is a colour combination that I saw on Ravelry.

With the green merino light we were a smidge short for the shawl. Lynda and I discussed adding a second skein of norway spruce but then there would have been a lot left over. When the norway spruce was done she started the border in composition book grey.

Then two boxes from Lorna's Laces full of sock yarn. We were running low on the 50 Shades of Grey colours in Shepherd Sock. We received these. Then there were lots of colours of Solemate including 50 Shades of Grey.

Beth and I started watching Homeland last night. We are two episodes in. So far we are really liking it. It was hard to stop but then I wouldn't have made it to work today. There is one problem-you need to pay attention so no knitting that requires reading a chart or counting. I did a few rows on my Churchmouse poncho but I found myself putting it down to watch the show. Maybe another episode tonight.

Lots of Snow

Done. Ends sewn in. The pattern was originally made for someone making scarves for the men in her life but I would/will definitely wear this.

Yarn: 4 balls of Rowan Alpaca Chunky
Needles: 10mm

I was up early to start cleaning off the cars. When I got outside they were shovelling our driveway. I didn't get a picture before I started with the brush. You can see how much snow is still on the roof. I'm a bit too short to reach all the way.

Beth's truck-I cleaned it for her because if I'm too short she is really too short to get the roof.

This is our front yard after they shovelled. The pile is at least 3 feet tall.

We're almost through the first season of The Mentalist. I really like that show. Beth isn't into CSI or Criminal Minds but she is watching this with me. They don't show much of the crime. It's more about solving the case. And the crimes aren't nearly as disturbing as Criminal Minds. It was supposed to be for plane watching at the end of January-I will be into the second, if not third season by then.

Beth asked me to download another show last night-Homeland. She has heard many good things about it. I'm sure we will start watching tonight.

Boxing Day

I hope Santa was good to you. He brought me an iPad Mini. Thanks Santa. He does pay attention!

I'm doing my post on it and used it to take pictures yesterday and today.

It didn't take long to set up. Everything transferred very fast with my apple ID.

The cake that Beth made for dessert last night.

I made chocolate chip cookies.

We do a gift game at Christmas dinner. Here is the first gift that Beth wrapped. If you can call it wrapping.

She wanted to make the second gift really different. She spent half an hour downstairs trying to find something to wrap in.

She started screaming Ernie Els.

The life size poster in our basement.

We taped the gift on the back.

It took three full rolls of wrapping paper plus a bit.

I wouldn't let Beth use the really good stuff.

Of course I was going to have a matching gift tag and bows.

We had a great time at Christmas dinner. Lots of kids. Little kids and they were all great. No crying. The food - turkey and lasagna. Doesn't get any better than that.

Some of the boys were very jealous of Kim because she got the Ernie Els gift.

When we got home there were a few episodes of The Mentalist and knitting. The Alpaca Chunky scarf is finished. I will sew the ends in tomorrow. And get a better picture. It is very long and very soft.

That is Melo walking by as I was taking the picture. They decided it was play time in the house.

Today I pulled out an older project. I'm making the Churchmouse Easy Fold Poncho

In Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed Chunky. I could have gotten further but ran out of yarn.

I did a few rows on the Groovy Scarf while we got caught up on Grey's Anatomy. How many weeks are we going to have to wait for the next new episode??

I needed to figure out how far I was and how much yarn I need to finish because the yarn is going on sale tomorrow. I don't think I will be happy if I sell all of the colour and can't finish.

Dinner is almost ready so I better get going. Beth is picking a movie to download. I think I will work on the Linen Stitch scarf. I'm all over the place with my knitting today. :)

Merry Christmas

I hope you are having a great day with family and friends!! Beth and I are off to have dinner with Aunt Rene, Uncle Bob and the gang. Lots of laughs. Really good food. Can't complain about an afternoon like that.

Our Holiday Hours

Tuesday Dec 25 Closed
Wednesday Dec 26 Closed
Thursday Dec 27 10-5:30
Friday Dec 28 noon-7
Saturday Dec 29 10-4
Sunday Dec 30 Closed
Monday Dec 31 10-2
Tuesday Jan 1 Closed
Wednesday Jan 2 10-5:30

Boxing Week

Are we doing anything special?? Take a look at our last newsletter.

We'll be back in the store on Thursday.

Welcome Home Sarah

Cathy and Sarah dropped in this morning. It was great to see Sarah again. Life in England is agreeing with her! She brought me an amazing shawl pin that she bought at a knitting show in England. It is perfect for Kilcar!! I know what I will be wearing to church in the morning.

I've been packing projects to take home. I won't be back in the store until Thursday so I need to have all my bases covered. :) And there is supposed to be snow on Wednesday. Lots of it. What if they are wrong and it comes on Thursday and I can't get to work? I need to have something to do while I'm at home.

I didn't get as much knitting done over the weekend as I had hoped/planned. Here is the Linen Stitch Scarf so far.

When I got home from work I laid it on the deck to get a picture in natural light.

The dogs decided it was play time. That didn't last for very long because it is getting really cold out there. I know that some of you are suffering from really cold weather and I shouldn't complain.

I just talked to my dad-my parents are in Myrtle Beach. It is 16 C there today and he just finished golfing. I think he called to rub it in. :) He has a small problem though. He went into our house and didn't put the security code in correctly. The alarm went off and the security company called. Unfortunately none of us know the magic code the security company needs so he is now waiting for the police to arrive. I don't think he will ever make that mistake again. I better give them a call after Christmas and get that magic code.

Hope you are having a great afternoon with family and friends or maybe an afternoon with your knitting/crocheting.

Earth Stripe

Kim came to work this morning wearing a beautiful wrap that she knit. I tried to 'borrow' it from her but she wasn't going for it. :)

pattern: Earth Stripe Wrap by Kaffe Fassett
yarn: Kidsilk Haze knit double strand

From the book Rowan's Greatest Knits and Rowan magazine #42

I started the new Linen Stitch Scarf last night. This is 3 hours of knitting. Casting on and just over 1". Using these numbers it will take about 27-30 hours to make the scarf.

The picture below is closer to the colours of the scarf. I wasn't sure about them after the first few rows but as I get more done I'm starting to really like them. It isn't as constrasty (I know it isn't a word but I like it) as my madelinetosh and Noro Linen Stitch scarves. It's closer to the Shepherd Sock kits that I put together.

I knit the last row onto a much longer needle so that I could show the colours. I have to go back to my other needle because this one is one size smaller than I am supposed to be using-it was the only one I had that was long enough.

Are you ready for some football? Beth and I lost our fantasy football last week so we are playing for 3rd place this weekend. A Saturday night game is great-especially since we don't have any hockey to watch.

The fireplace is on and I'm going to sit by it and knit. Hope you are warm and cozy this evening.

Enchanted and Quirky

Mr. UPS came in yesterday afternoon with two Kim Hargreaves books

Kim Hargreaves never disappoints. Amazing patterns again.

A few designs from Quirky

 Harriet in Rowan Felted Tweed

Poppy in Big Wool

Emmy in Cocoon

And this morning Mr. Canpar brought in the Rastita.

These colours are screaming Linen Stitch Scarf. The skeins came home with me. Do you think I can convince my sister that she needs to roll them for me??

When I entered the yarn name into Ravelry I found a one skein triangular scarf that looks really cute.

Of the Moon..

Here is a little project I started yesterday afternoon. A simple ribbed scarf in Rowan's Alpaca Chunky. A customer did this scarf and I keep suggesting it to others but thought it would be best to make a sample. This is one ball knit and the scarf will be four balls in all. 10mm needles so it is a quick knit.

I started watching Season 1 of The Mentalist. Maybe a few more episodes tonight to go with my knitting.

New yarn and a bit of tech advice

Last night I started thinking. That is always a bad thing.

TNNA (the trade show I go to twice a year to buy yarn) is at the beginning of February in Long Beach California. Do you know where you fly over to get to Long Beach? Vegas is the correct answer. I have a flight booked into Vegas and will be staying a few days. Then I fly into Long Beach airport. It isn't much bigger than my store. The luggage carousels are outside. Amazing place to fly into. I will be at the show on Saturday and Sunday. Monday morning I fly back to Vegas and then home to Toronto on Tuesday. I started questioning why I wasn't leaving a day earlier for Vegas. This morning I spent 45 minutes on the phone with Air Canada and got my flight changed. It was an expensive 45 minutes. Not with Air Canada but because an email came through about a new yarn from Malabrigo. It took 2 minutes to do my order.

Rastita

Pure Merino Wool. 310 yards per skein.(285m)Single. 100 grams per skein. Slightly felted Needles US 6-7 Gauge 20 to 22 sts = 4 inches Hand wash, dry flat

This exquisite new yarn is just as buttery soft and delectable as its heavier gauge cousin, Rasta.

The following amazing colours are coming. We might get them tomorrow but I think probably on Monday.

The skeins will retail for $23.95.

The first thing that popped into my head when I saw this was Linen Stitch Scarf.

I can't wait for the yarn to arrive!!

Yesterday afternoon Cathy sent me a text with a tech question. She reads my blog on her iPad and for some reason it has changed from the standard view (like you see on your computer screen) to a mobile view that you would see on your cell phone. She wanted the old view back but didn't know how to do it. Did I know? I didn't but now I do. Sorry-there are lots of pictures but it makes it easier to describe what to do. As you can see I did this at 5:50 this morning. :)

This is the mobile view.
Look at the top in the address bar. It says areallygoodyarn.blogspot.ca.... and it ends in a 1. We need to change that to a zero.

 Changing to zero brings you back to the regular view.

At the top of the screen hit the arrow and this pops up. Hit Add to Home Screen. Then you don't have to change the number every time you go to my blog. Or any blog that you read.

Put in the blog name so that it shows up on your screen

Now there is an icon on my screen that I can touch and the blog comes up.

I hope this makes sense. I understand what I want you to do :)

This post is definitely long enough now. I'm going to sign off and get back to Drop City. There are only a few rows to go and then I will be at the halfway point. I can't wait for the decreasing to start-the rows will be getting shorter which means it will go faster.