Made it to the lace

Roko and Melo went to the hair salon on Thursday. It's been a long time. Roko wasn't allowed to go because of his leg surgeries but the vet gave the go ahead. Because it's been so long they had a lot of hair and it was a mess. The easiest thing was to shave them down. Roko is fine with his look but Melo isn't too sure. He's getting better.

Auburn Waves is growing. This is how far I got last night. The first lace rows are complete.

Mr. Canada Post brought in a box of patterns yesterday including juju's loops.

Gorgeous patterns from Juju Vail and Susan Cropper of Loop, London. Includes lace shawls and wraps, fingerless gloves, scarves, shrugs, cowls, a baby sweater, toy, blanket, hat and swing sweater.

We’ve used yarns that we love from the UK, Europe and the Americas made by indie-dyers such as Old Maiden Aunt, Juno, madelinetosh, Koigu, DyeForYarn, Viola and Handmaiden. As well as other fabulous yarns from Berroco, Malabrigo, Quince & Co., The Fibre Company and Misti Alpacas.

All patterns are both written and charted.

Sprinkle knit in 4ply (sock) yarn.

Kim's Brown-Eyed Susan knit in tosh merino light.

See all the patterns in the book...
These patterns are not available for individual download - the only way to get them is to purchase the book.

Dad came and did some repairs today. We have flags again.

Dinner is done (hamburgers on the barbecue) and now it's time for a drive. It's so beautiful out that I can't sit indoors.

I started

I was in the store until after 9 last night with knitting class but I cast on when I got home.

The yarn is dandelion (new from madelinetosh) and I'm working on 4mm needles.

The picture shows the right side facing. For the first few rows you need to pay a bit of attention if you are on the right side or wrong side. As you get going it becomes easier to see. If your knitting is curving to the right then you are on the right side. Now you don't need to count your rows.

Amazing

Cathy sent me an email last night with some pictures. She knit this for Sarah. I think that she should give it to me instead!

It is ridiculous beautiful!!

Pattern: Girasole by Jared Flood
Yarn: 23 balls of Filatura di Crosa Zara Plus
Needles: 6.5mm

Any day Mr. Canada Post should be bringing me a box from Blue Sky Alpacas with their new yarn.

Extra

55% baby alpaca / 45% fine merino

A beautiful blend of baby alpaca and fine merino wool. Extra is light, lofty, and a delight to work with. Each generously sized hank calls out for new knitting adventures.

details

• Weight: 150 grams
• Approx: 218 yards/199 meters
• Needle Size: 7-9 US / 4.5-5.5 mm
• Gauge: 4-5 sts per inch

care

Hand wash or dry clean. Wash in tepid water using a mild soap. Do not agitate or twist. Shape and dry flat on a towel. Store your little treasure neatly folded; after all, it may be a family heirloom.

The Cane Bay Wrap takes 2 skeins and the other patterns can be made with one skein. The patterns are on the website but are not in stock. They will be arriving with the yarn.

Here is my secret project (take 2) so far.

And an even more secret project. Mr. UPS brought in a parcel from England. Rowan sent yarn so that I can get a sample from Rowan Magazine #56 made up.

Knit A Long

I think it's time that we do a store Knit-a-long (KAL). There was some debate in my mind so I asked a few questions on Facebook. The overwhelming response was to have everyone make the same pattern.

My pattern choice is

In case you missed my post last week, here is Kim's Auburn Wave. She used 2 skeins of tosh merino light on 4mm needles.

She loves it so much that she is planning her next one.

Yarn ideas - this is an endless list but here are some suggestions. For the fingering weight (sock weight) yarns use a 3.5mm-4mm needle. For the sport weight yarns use a 4mm-4.5mm needle. The sport weight yarns will also give you a bigger scarf/shawl. If you choose a thicker yarn then you will need to adjust the needle sizes appropriately.

Mrs. Crosby

-Satchel

-Hat Box

-Train Case

Zen Yarn Garden

-Serenity Sock (20, Silk or Glitter)

madelinetosh

-sock

-merino light

-dandelion

-pashmina

-sport

Rowan

-Fine Art 

Prism

-Saki

Mountain Colors

-Bearfoot

Lorna's Laces

-Shepherd Sock

-Solemate

-Sportmate

-Shepherd Sport

Dream in Color

-Smooshy with Cashmere

-Everlasting Sock

Blue Sky Alpacas

-Metalico

-Alpaca Silk

Here are the rules 

-the pattern has to be purchased on Ravelry - we don't have printed copies of the pattern in the store

-anyone can participate but to win prizes (more on that as the KAL gets going) we ask a few things of you 

       -you are a resident of Canada

     -when you finish the shawl email me a picture of you or someone you love wearing the shawl along with the name of the yarn and colour that you used

     -I would like permission to show your pictures on the blog and I will include your first name but no other information about you

     -If you would like to share pictures as you go please send them to me

     -I will start a thread in The Needle Emporium group on Ravelry and you can post pictures there as well

-the start date is now and let's make the finish date Tuesday, June 30.

Warhol

Have you thought about becoming a hooker? I bet I have your attention now. :)

The classes are held in Ancaster - The Mount Mary Retreat Centre is almost directly across the road from the store.

There will be a huge box arriving next week from Zen Yarn Garden.
-Serenity 20
-Serenity Glitter
-Serenity Silk Single

The same 15 colours will be coming in all 3 yarns. I don't have pictures yet - 14 of the colours are One of a Kinds. The last colour is the newest from the Zen Yarn Garden Art Walk Series.

The tenth offering in our new ART WALK Series features a painting by Andy Warhol entitled "Ice Cream Dessert". From one medium to the next, artists express their use of colour. Inspired by Picasso, our dyer has successfully captured the vividness and subtlety of the colours of the painting.

It's late because I have been out shopping. Didn't buy anything but it was a nice evening to be out and about. I'm into the colourwork on the front of my cardigan. Pictures tomorrow. Now it's bed time. Melo has been waking me up at 6am this week. If it's light out then we should be up.

Mountain Colors

Mr. Canada Post brought in a box from Mountain Colors this morning.

 From Mountain Colors

This summer we're also releasing a new line of gradient color kits! Available in three weights. Trailwalk features the Perspectives kit in our new Superwash base River Wash Sport!

This is a simple Crescent Shawl/Scarf. It can be knit in one Colorway or it adapts nicely to our Perspectives kits. The color changes are included. This scarf is very elastic so blocking is important. You may want to stretch it slightly when measuring sections. 

The kits and patterns are in the store.

Trapper Park features new Perspectives Crazyfoot, a fingering weight kit with a total of 450 yards!

This lovely scarf or small shawl is quick to knit from the center top down to the easy lace pattern at the edge. Color blending makes the final result extra special. 

 

Finally, the worsted weight version of the Perspectives is on our Twizzle base! The Twirling cowl is an infinity scarf and cowl that can also be draped over your shoulders! The pattern includes directions on how to blend your colors perfectly.

The colours are awesome. There are 5 colourways for each yarn.

Here is a great pattern by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer.

Circular Perspectives - purchase on Ravelry

Through May 31, 2014, get 20% discount off the purchase price of Circular Perspectives at Ravelry with the following coupon code:GETPERSPECTIVESNOW
You will receive a Pre-release placeholder PDF that will be updated to the full pattern on June 1, 2014.
Circular Perspectives infinity scarf / cowl showcases the new Mountain Colors Perspectives yarn kit that includes 5 gradient colors of Crazyfoot yarn. To get maximum enjoyment from Mountain Colors Perspectives yarn, I’ve designed this pattern to use up almost every bit of all 5 mini-skein colors.
The stitch pattern is a simple, pleasingly reversible, lace to knit in the round. You can wear your creation as a single casually looped long scarf, or double-looped as a snugly cowl.

(These pictures are used with the permission of Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer)

New colours of Bearfoot. Socks or shawl???

Kim's Colorplay Mohair Wrap is growing. I love the colours so much that I sent them off to Ann to knit a store sample.

My knitting? Not really going yet. Still working on the rib. That is my job this afternoon. Get to the colourwork.

Properly read the pattern

So now that my really big swatch is done, I'm going to start on my jacket. Read the pattern!! That is my suggestion for the day. 4 days of knitting. Gone. Ugh!!

The red colour at the bottom is correct. The beige colour at the top is correct. The brown colour in the middle is wrong. I was supposed to use a colour number ending in 1 but I took the colour ending in 2. I read the pattern many times and kept reading it as 2. I didn't look at the picture of the finished jacket until the sleeve was done. Another dumb mistake. Maybe I could have caught my error much sooner.

I thought that I could leave it and that I would still love the jacket. I don't think so. I spent time looking at the picture of the original last night and I'm going to start again. That was the first problem. The second was that I was supposed to use 3.25mm needles for the rib. Nope. I used 3.75mm. I figured that out when I went to cast on again last night. I don't have the right size needles. I've been to the store today and now I have all my supplies.

Now the positive. My jacket will not be in the store at all times so now we will be able to show off the yarn with my swatch. The next time someone asks if I swatch, I can honestly say yes. :) Some people might like my new version better than the original. I think that I would really like it too if I didn't know how the other colour looks.

It's time to suck it up and cast on again. New Master Chef. New Bachelorette. The finale of American Dream Builders from last night. I'll be up for a while.

Poppins

The plan was to knit last night. I should stop making plans. Someone in our neighbourhood starting setting off fireworks. Melo got upset which got Roko upset. The best thing to do is go to bed and it gets them calmed down. This put me behind on my knitting but I've been at it since this morning.

The new Poppins bag is in our shipment from Namaste. I'm guessing they will be here in about a week and a half.

Introducing the latest in innovation and design from the Namaste sisters, The Poppins Bag! This bag will stun you with it's surprisingly spacious capabilities. With super strong, fiber-friendly magnet closures along the rounded top, The Poppins opens wide to reveal 3 tool storage slots, 1 interior zipper pocket, 3 open top pockets, and a key fob. You'll dazzle the crowd in this one for sure. The Poppins. Practically perfect... in every way. 

COLORS: 

Black, Caribbean Blue, Eggplant, all-new Raspberry and Red  

SIZE: 

7"W x 10"H x 16"L at top, 18"L at bottom 

Now it's back to my needles. Golf. Memorial Cup. Then tonight we have a Nascar Race and another hockey game.

It's Growing

I forgot how much I love knitting fair isle. The above picture was taken before work.

A few rows were completed at work.

A box is on the way to us from Namaste.

What's bigger than a Jemma Pouch but smaller than a Devin Wristlet? A Megan Pouchlet, but of course! This pouch just might change your world- it's got a removable wrist attachment and is the perfect addition to any handbag. Grab it and go with your cell phone, keys and necessary items only a zip away. The Megan Pouchlet. Woot!

COLORS:
Canary Yellow, Caribbean Blue, Eggplant, Lime, Pumpkin Spice, Raspberry, Red

MATERIALS:
Exterior: PVC-free vegan faux leather
Interior: PET microsuede in gray (made from recycled plastic bottles)

SIZE:
5.5" L (at bottom) x 7.5" (at top) x 4" H

I'm excited. I carry my Devin Wristlet everyday but sometimes you need something a bit smaller.

The hockey is on so I'm going to sign off and get out my knitting. My goal is to finish the current section tonight. Tomorrow I'll be onto the third section which means a new colour with the black.

Secret Project

My secret project. I can't tell you the pattern yet. Or the designer. Or the yarn. I will tell you that it is a Kimono Jacket and this is the first sleeve. The ribbing is on 3.25mm needles and the body is on 4mm.

I'm planning on going home and knitting many hours tonight. Right now you can't see where the pattern is going but I think that you will be impressed when I get further in. I gasped when I saw a picture of the finished jacket.

Mr. Canada Post delivered our Woolbuddy kits this morning.

Are you a fan of the lovable and fantastical Woolbuddys? Well, this is your chance to try making one of your very own! This Woolbuddy kit comes with all the supplies you will need to make your own handmade cutie. Happy Needle Felting!

This Kit Includes:

• 2 Felting Needles
• Felting Wool
• Step-by-Step Instructions with Photos

We also received kits for

• angler fish
• shark
• hippo
• zebra
• giraffe
• fox
• alligator

The kits retail for $25.

Mrs. Crosby made a quick stop at the store earlier today and delivered a trunk full of yarn.

The biggest decision tonight. Catch up on The Blacklist or Grey's Anatomy?

Noro Favourites

We just received a new pattern book from Noro.

Noro Favourites is a collection of 8 feminine designs from designer Claudia Wersing. This collection includes stylish multi-season garments and accessories that are knit in Taiyo Sock and Silk Garden Sock. Embrace Noro's gorgeous self-striping, light-weight yarns and make one of the beautiful summer sweaters for your very own!

And since I'm showing lots of colour, here are the new colours that will be coming very soon from Lorna's Laces.

I'm a bit tired today. Beth had a meeting last night so we were late starting Survivor. We had to watch last night in case someone spilled the beans today on who won. I won't say anything in case you haven't watched yet.

A while ago I made an Instagram account but have never used it. Today I loaded it onto my phone and logged in. If you want to follow, you will find me as needleemporium.



There is knitting class tonight so I should get some knitting done while Nadine and the ladies are downstairs. I started a secret project this afternoon. Pictures tomorrow :)