Spring is Here!!!

Look who came out to play today. I found many excuses to run errands. :) What a beautiful day! I'm taking Beth out to dinner (not sure where yet) just so that we can go for a drive.

I did it. Ishbel was finished last night before The Mentalist started.

There is a lot of blocking to do at my house in the next few weeks. I'm going to try the newest scent from Soak - Fig

Ripened with sweet fig and lychee, and crowned by dandelions, Fig has the delicious scent of fresh-picked clean

The new Poppins bag from Namaste will be available in June. My guess is that the price will be around $105 but it will depend on the US exchange rate at the time.

A couple of reminders

• we are now closed on Mondays until September
• I'm speaking at The Around the Bay Knitting Guild tomorrow evening

New Table

The sun room in Myrtle Beach is finished except for the table. Beth and I picked one out here but getting it to Myrtle would be tough. Last weekend I went to Pottery Barn while I was in Myrtle and found this table.

Prized for its durability and natural rust resistance, galvanized zinc is ideal for casual outdoor entertaining. We used this metal to top our dining table, designed with rugged functionality and eclectic style. The antique silvery blue finish provides a handsome contrast to the table’s solid eucalyptus X-shaped base.

Zinc naturally develops a patina over time and may accumulate marks or signs of wear with use; these inherent qualities contribute to the material’s distinctive character. 

This way we don't have to worry about people spilling or marks from glasses.

I wasn't buying anything without Beth's approval. She's going soon so I figured she could go look at it in the store. Mom and dad went and looked and they liked it. Beth looked on the Pottery Barn website and gave the OK so mom and dad bought it for us - our Christmas present. Now the next job is chairs. We need two for one side and one for the end. The window bench will be the seats for the other side and end.

I didn't make it to One of a Kind last night. It was cold, windy and they called for snow. Instead I knit and have been knitting all day today. Ishbel is almost done. 8 more rows. Long rows but I hope to finish tonight. The baseball season starts. The Amazing Race. The Mentalist. Hopefully pictures tomorrow.

I-Cord Bind Off

What happened to spring? I came to work yesterday with no winter coat. Not so lucky today. It's cold again. Seriously.

Yesterday I showed new colours of the Color Play Mohair Wrap. Here are new colour ideas for the Color Play Mohair Scarf. These are knit in Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

Royale
607-613-632-660

Have fun playing with color—glowing, silky soft Kidsilk Haze color! Watching what comes next is so much fun. For the scarf project, we mixed four solid colors—two at a time—to create shaded color blocking. Try mixing tonal colors for ombré shading, or cross the color wheel for graphic punch! It may be impossible to stop at just one scarf project.

Chocolate and Cherries
641-595-668-610

You'll be working with a double strand of yarn throughout. And remember, each scarf will be unique—simply splice in your new color anywhere in the row and notice that each one of your blocks will vary in length. It really is fun to see what blooms from your needles!

Eagle Harbor Fog
639-605-611-582

Hollyhocks
608-583-600-665








I just had a customer in who was finishing off a baby sweater. The pattern asked her to do an I-cord bind off. The instructions stumped her. This is a technique that a lot of knitters have never done before. Here is a You Tube Video that shows how to do it. In the video she does a knit 2 together through the back loop as her decrease. I personally do an SSK but that is just my preference.

I'm still deciding if I'm going to Toronto tonight for One of a Kind. It's cold and windy and I'm tired. By the time 4:30 rolls around I'm sure that I will change my mind and I'll be in the car heading to the show.

Artful Fiber Palette

An email just came through from Churchmouse Yarns. I erased most of the post that I already wrote - this is way better. New colour suggestions for The Color Play Mohair Wrap. I've already knit four but that could be five very soon...

While working our original 4-color, 8-section Color Play Mohair Wrap, certain 2-color sections kept catching our eye. Intrigued, we decided to try a whole wrap using just two colors of Kidsilk Haze Stripe throughout. The result is simpler to knit and requires less measuring. And, because each skein stripes differently, each wrap’s final look remains unique. 

Its luxurious size envelops your neck like an oversized scarf, or graces your shoulders with plenty of length left for a feminine drape in the front or the back. We think you’ll love the feeling of wrapping yourself in an artful fiber palette.

Amazing! Love it. I know what I will be knitting when I finish with the super secret yarn.

Avocado and Chestnut is pictured in the finished shawl.

Here are a few more suggestions from Churchmouse.

California Sunrise and Flaming

A more subtle color shifting revealed itself as we worked -- still gloriously unpredictable -- and more watercolor-like in the blending, without a noticeable beginning or end. 

Chiaroscuro and Mulled Wine

This is a combination that I love in two different wraps that I've knit.

Cool and Chiaroscuro

If you'd like to create your own combination, consider stretching your color horizons by pairing one Kidsilk Haze Stripe color that you wouldn't normally pick with one that's more familiar. You'll be amazed at how the resulting combination complements your favorite colors. 

This coming Tuesday evening I will be speaking at the Around the Bay Knitting Guild about CustomFit.

ATBKG Meeting Tuesday, April 1st, 2014.

Fortino's 
1579 Main Street West 
at Rifle Range Road, West Hamilton.

Guild business to begin at 6:30 pm. 

Cost is $2 dollars at the door.                                                 
Tea/coffee and light snack available.
Voluntary 50/50 draw. 
The Community Room is open at 5:30 pm for optional social/dinner and knitting.
No outside food and or drink is permitted; must be purchased at Fortino's. 

Elevator for ease of access to room; washroom on ground floor.
Guests must pay $10 at door.

Julie will provide presentation on 
"Custom Fit" from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. 
No prep or homework - bring paper/pen for notes; bring knitting. 
Bring your measure tape if you would like help to get some measurements.

Guild Blog... 

I'm home and now it's time to relax. College basketball is on. I have one team left, Beth still has two. UGGG!! I hate losing to her.

Ishbel

For some reason I think that I knit lace quicker than straight stocking stitch. Maybe I'm nuts but it seems that Ishbel is growing quickly.

For the lace edge there are five charts.

For the large size which I am making it is A, B, A, B, A, C, D, E.

I'm through A and B and almost through A again.

Nadine is downstairs with her class and I thought that I would get lots done tonight but so far nothing. Beth has Grey's Anatomy taping so there will be at least an hour of knitting when I get home.

Something hit me this morning (April is almost here and our hours are changing) so I quickly wrote a newsletter and sent it out. If you didn't receive it, you can read it here.

A box came today from Lynda with two more garments for the Frolic.

Color Affection - one of our favourite patterns.

Derecho - another favourite.

I'm home from the store and ready to knit. Roko is on the couch waiting for me. Knitting is so much easier with a 75lb dog sitting on you. His ear is doing much better. The incision still hasn't closed but it is getting there. I can't wait. They really need to be groomed but between his ACL surgeries and his ear they couldn't go. A couple more weeks and then they'll be handsome again.

Sneak Peek

From Laura Bryant of Prism Yarns

Chevrons and Euroflax Linen and Fibonacci numbers—oh, my! What more do you need for the quintessential Italian-inspired fashion statement? Our easy-fitting jacket begins at the shoulder seams. Eight contrasting colors are used in dynamic stripes for a piece whose flow is built in with needle size changes. Top off the over-sized body with narrow straight sleeves and a folded collar, and, voila!

Your joy will be increased when you realize that this seasonless fibre demands machine washing, and the more you do it, the softer it gets.

The kit for the Chevron Cha Cha Jacket arrived while I was away. We have one in stock in L/XL and a S/M kit can be ordered.

Euroflax Linen Sport Weight Yarn hand dyed by Prism. YUMMY!!

I finished the first lace panel of Ishbel last night. A sneak peek of one of the super secret yarns in colour. This is midnight aubergine.

I didn't think there would be any knitting tonight. We were supposed to have dinner with Sarah and her husband but Sarah came home from school with the flu. Bad news - we don't get to see her until next Wednesday. Good news - more knitting time. Survivor, Idol, CSI, Criminal Minds. I think that's it tonight. Last night was sad. Canada's Handyman Challenge finished. I think that they should start the next one right away. Love that show.

Moving Mud

A new book just arrived.

A collection of 16 fabulous colourwork designs knitted in a gorgeous selection of Rowan yarns. This book includes step-by-step illustrated tutorials and friendly text making mastering colourwork skills simple, satisfying and fun.

See all the patterns...

I keep forgetting to write about The Amazing Race from Sunday evening. Their road block was so easy. Sew a shirt. The pieces were already cut out - that is the part that I hate the most. The seams didn't have to be finished. I'm not even sure that they had to be proper seam allowances. They didn't have to sew on buttons. I was texting Beth to tell her that I would have done that challenge and we would have been out first. I would have killed it!!

Here is another finished garment for the Frolic.

The pattern is Imagine When by Joji Locatelli. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry or we have printed copies in the store.

I just talked with Sarina from Moving Mud.

Moving Mud is a truly small business.  Johnny and Sarina make, design, package and sell all of the product.  Scout, the littlest of the bunch, lends a hand in packaging quite often.

Living in Vermont provides us with a healthy lifestyle that keeps us busy.  On an average day we cook up a storm, tend to the generous garden, take care of chickens, throw in some kind of exercise, work on the torch, daily chores of course, and get together with neighbors.

Moving Mud uses the traditional glassblowing technique called lampwork.  Each button is made of borosilicate glass, which is pyrex.  The glass is melted and formed with a torch that combines oxygen and propane.  For added strength, all pieces are annealed.  Annealing is a strengthening process of slowly cooling glass to relieve internal stresses by using a kiln.

Shawl pins are leaving the US tomorrow and should be here next week. I don't know what colours are coming - it will be a surprise when we open the box.

More shawl pins. YAY!!!

Last night we sat down to watch TV and I was going to knit on Ishbel. I changed my mind because I was tired and afraid to start the lace pattern. Good thing. I pulled it out today to work on it and needed to do more rows before starting the lace. Counting obviously isn't my strong suit. Good thing I waited because I would have been mad to start the lace pattern on 200 stitches and get to the end of the row and find out I was off somehow. I'm on track now. A few more rows and then I can start.

New job for dad

My dad makes a very good breakfast. I won't eat eggs (that is a long story) but I will eat them if he makes them. I only eat the whites and he makes them perfect.

Bacon first

Once the bacon has cooked for a bit the eggs go on top.

Yummy!

We joked that he could get a job at a breakfast restaurant. He's totally up for that. He claims that he makes awesome pancakes too.

I'm not sure how they are going to get all the suitcases in the truck in a few weeks. Dad figures that they will fit. Good luck :)

I love my house but really hate getting ready to go home. It's nice to be able to close the door to your hotel room and not worry about anything. I've done the dishwasher, sheets and towels. The bed is remade and I think I'm ready now.

I was barely in the door (very uneventful flight and there was no wait at the border) when Beth set this in front of me.

She messed up the knitting on two hats. Her exact words "You are not allowed to go away again". The brown hat in the back was her project when I left. Then she decided that she had lots of yarn and wanted to make it more slouchy. Small problem. She'd already done a decrease row. She can rip back in stocking stitch but throw in decreases and all bets are off. If you're stuck on one project then start another. She was three rows from being done when she dropped a stitch.

All has been righted in Beth's knitting world. Groovy grew on the plane. The bad thing about a shawl - the rows keep getting longer. It's time to go back to Ishbel. I can't wait to see how the lace looks.

Sorry Mom

Beth and my mom are very happy. For some reason Dairy Queen did away with butterscotch dip for their cones but Myrtle Beach has it again.

And I need to apologize to my mom. I lied to her today. She asked me if I bought anything on my errands. I said no but I did buy a small pottery jug at Pottery Barn. They are all over the house.

Diana sent me a message on Ravelry

I have finished the ‘secret shawl’! I really enjoyed knitting it and it turned out well. Whatever this secret yarn is, it is awesome… easy to knit with, nice bloom and drape after blocking and very soft and cozy! I will have to buy myself some when the cat is out of the bag!!!

I can't wait to see it.

I've been knitting like crazy. Even out at breakfast with my parents.

 Groovy - the first 240 yard skein is done.

Ishbel. I didn't count the stitches when I took the picture but I'm getting close to 200 now. I need 221 and then I get to start the lace pattern.

The Amazing Race and The Mentalist are taping. It's time to get back to the knitting. Unfortunately I haven't trained the needles to work on their own.

So Tired

It's been a busy day. For some reason I was up at 6am. We went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast, then off to shop for a table for the sun room. We didn't find anything that worked. Mom says that I have very expensive taste. I told her it wasn't expensive taste but I know what I want. And it usually is expensive. :) We rushed home so that dad and I could go golfing. It was a great day. Warm weather. Sun. I beat my dad. The bad-I'm tired and sore. I'm not sure if I can knit. I might need to go to bed.

The pillows for the sunroom turned out great. We definitely need more. The fabric will be heading to Atlanta on Monday.

Many of us have had a long hard winter. It's been so cold and lots of snow. Here is a bit of brightness. This tree is in my front yard.

It's official. I'm too tired to knit so I'm heading to bed. It will probably be another early morning and I'll get some done then.

I'm Here

The flight was totally uneventful. I knit the whole way. Unfortunately I made a mistake last night and had to rip out 6 rows just before bed. I got those 6 rows done plus a few more. The rows are starting to get long!

We left a bit late but arrived early. Mom and dad picked me up and we had dinner on the way home.

My mom has been knitting like crazy. She is very proud of her work-she's going a great job. I show off every one else's knitting so it's time to share hers. This is the back and she's working on the front now.

The pattern is from Rowan (don't know the name off the top of my head) and she's using Naturally Loyal Tweed. The yarn really shows off the stitch pattern.

There were three parcels waiting for me
-kit boxes for the Frolic
-some clothes that I ordered online
-some super secret yarn

Dad offered to help me wind a skein (I miss my electric ball winder) but I was so tired that I just wanted to sit on my couch. Trying to decide if I'm going to wind one.

We have a big day planned tomorrow. Breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Then shopping for a table for the sun room. Then golf. I better get to bed soon so I'm ready to hit the ground running.

Ready to go

I decided that the best way to review the new Kazul bag from Offhand Designs is to take it on my trip this weekend. Which colour did I choose?

Hippodrome

It's tournament time - NCAA March Madness. (US College Basketball if you aren't a sports fan) 16 basketball games today. Does life get any better?? Yes, the TV on the store will be on today. I have Kansas and Michigan as my picks to win it all. Beth has Michigan State and Louisville.

My new glasses just came. Literally to my door. The fine ladies at Hanley's Eyewear brought them to me because I couldn't sneak out to pick them up.

Don't forget that One of a Kind is next week. If you are in Southern Ontario, I highly recommend going to the show.

We have houses from Mylene hanging in the dining room in Myrtle Beach. I'm worried because she has new houses for spring. I love the flowers. My houses don't have them. This can only mean one thing. An expensive evening in Toronto.

I'm home and trying to get everything in order. I think that the store is good to go. Everything should be priced for Cathy. All samples should have signs. Beth knows her chores while I'm away. There is a load of laundry in. I have clothes there but I don't think that I have pants for golf. Yes golf. Can you imagine? Sorry to rub it in. My knitting is packed. One project. A box is arriving tomorrow by FedEx with more super secret yarn. I've got many sizes of knitting needles with me but I have to cast some yarn onto them. Just in case the person at security tomorrow isn't happy with needles that are empty. All that's left is packing and adding my US talk/text package to my phone. I guess that means lots of knitting time tonight. Hell's Kitchen. Grey's Anatomy. Basketball. Coastal Carolina is playing tonight. Their campus is 5 minutes from my house. Now I need to get my bedroom in order. The cleaning company comes tomorrow.