Soaking

Once I hit Publish on my post last night Beth requested that I cast on for her. I thought about saying no but then I remembered that she winds my skeins for me so I cast on and did the first row for her.

There was some Soaking happening too. Fig was the scent of choice last night.

This is in black and white because it's a super secret project. I can share in a couple of days.

We received many boxes from Filatura di Crosa today. Charly Print Melange and Zara Print Melange are in stock.

The colours are awesome!

I had a helper today making kits for the Fleece Festival. If they called and said that the show was this Saturday we'd be ready to go.

I told her that she could sit on a chair but she likes the floor.

New colours of Opal sock yarn will be arriving sometime next week. Sweet and Spicy 2.

I should be cleaning the house but all I want to do is knit. What option will win??

New Samples

So I decided that I wanted some new samples for the Fleece Festival.

Another Inspira Cowl in Liberty from Classic Elite. This time I'm doing a solid with a multi.

I brought home two colours for Beth to make one as well. I thought about having a challenge with her but I got a good head start and I don't think she'll go for it. I have a feeling she will request that I cast on for her.

The Cane Bay Wrap is finished. Blocking tonight. The yarn is Extra (a new yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas) that was awesome to work with.

The view from my car when I was leaving the store. I love it when leaves start changing colour.

From my back deck.

I had a stack of paper work to do and that is finished. Guess it's time to knit. :)

Fleece Festival

Now it's time for us to start thinking about the Woodstock Fleece Festival.

Saturday October 18

9am-5pm

Woodstock Fairgrounds

This is a fun day for everyone. Lots of animals to see. And kids under 15 get in for free.

This show is all about fibre. Knitting, spinning, weaving, rug hooking, needle felting... 

Visit the Fleece Festival website...

Our 2013 booth.

Fibre from the vendor beside me. I hope that Tabi is beside us again this year. If only there was enough time to learn to spin.

I'm hoping to get some new samples knit before the show. My fingers are going to be busy!

A lot of knitting

When you get up at 3:30am to watch a sporting event, you can get a lot of knitting accomplished.

Here is my wrap when I got to work.

My computer stayed in his bag today and I knit while I was in the store. I don't normally do that because there are chores to be done but I was tired and knitting kept me awake. The wrap is growing.

My Rowan supplier informed me that the new colours of Kidsilk Haze Stripe won't be in the store until the end of October or beginning of November. I wish they'd get here sooner but it's out of my control.

After work I had a long nap so now I'm wide awake. A new show premiered this week and we have it taped - How to get away with murder. It is from the creator of Grey's Anatomy. We're going to watch in a bit - more knitting!! It's safe to say that I'm obsessed.

It was for a good cause

The dinner went extremely well last night. Of course we came home with a van full of goodies. My family has never met an auction (live or silent) that we haven't liked.

Beth and I have a 65" TV for the new house. It's going to live in my parent's basement until moving day. We're afraid that dad is going to open the box and move it into his living room.

There were two amazing planters and I came home with both. One is at the store and the other at my house.

Some pottery.

Two different sets of hockey tickets - one for a game in Toronto and one for a game in Buffalo.

My dad went crazy in the baking section going home with a dutch treat that I can't spell, a lemon pie and a carrot cake. He is on a bit of a sugar rush right now.

Another surprise came in today - a new set of Karbonz interchangeable needles. These are a special set with short tips to make 40cm (16") circulars. The needle sizes are 3.5mm-6mm.

Special Tips are designed to produce circulars in 16'' (40cm) length. Each tip measures 4'' (10cm) and is to be used with cords provided in the set

• A revolutionary product!! New-age needles made from High-Tech carbon fiber with tips in nickel plated brass!
• Combination of two versatile materials - light bodied carbon fiber & sharp brass tips - is guaranteed to provide an unparalleled knitting experience!! No other knitting needle comes closer to this!!
• Carbon fiber is one of the most versatile material used in manufacture of the new generation aircraft, space ship, automobiles, etc.!!
• Shiny, smooth brass tips comes in perfect points, flawlessly tapered - Ideal for all types of yarns and for every project
• The needles have high tensile strength, are light weight with lot of flexibility
• Surface made of carbon fiber helps the stitches move smoothly on the needle!!
• Resilient, flexible cords lay flat, with no kink or twist – easy to store
• Warm to touch & gentle in the hand
• Available in a convenient packing of the seven most used sizes
• The set includes 2 cords to produce circular needles of various lengths
• Available in an attractive black and grey fabric case with see through vinyl for safe storage

There hasn't been enough knitting lately. Here is the shawl so far.

I'm almost ready to join in another colour. The Ryder Cup started this morning. The plan was to wake up at 2:30 to watch but I was so tired that I couldn't do it. I had it on in my room but I kept falling asleep. I'm going to bed early tonight and will get up early tomorrow morning. More knitting time!

Technicolor Cowl

The Technicolor Cowl from Dream in Color has been a huge hit. Many of the colours have sold out.

It takes 8 mini skeins of Dream in Color Classy to knit the cowl. Great news! There are new colours on the way. I'm hoping that they will be here by the beginning of October.

The original colours will also be in the order. 

I don't know if we will be able to order more inventory after these sell out so don't delay. The cowl is quick to knit (all you need to know is cast on, cast off, knit and purl) and will make great Christmas gifts.

Every fall my dad goes on a mission trip to Honduras. Tonight is the big dinner to raise money for the trip. Everyone who goes pays their own way-all money raised tonight goes to the people of Honduras. I'm not sure what the 'job' is for this trip. Past 'jobs' have included building a community centre, digging trenches to get water to a village, pouring floors in people's homes (many have dirt floors) and digging wells for a village. There is a silent auction and live auction at the dinner. I wonder what we will be coming home with this year?

September KAL

Don't forget about our September KAL. You still have time to join.

• From now until October 15, 2014, the KAL is your choice. 
• Pick a shawl or wrap that you want to knit. Fingering weight or bulky. Your choice. If you can finish more than one then you will have more entries into the draw. We ask that this is a new project. Please share pictures. I love pictures :)
• The prizes so far (more will be added)
• A Soakbox of your choice from the great selection we have in the store.
• 2 skeins of Rowan Fine Art - you choose the colour
• Everyone is welcome but we can only ship prizes within Canada.

Please post pictures of your progress in our Ravelry group.

Dana has finished her project and it looks great!

Pattern: Palmyre (purchased on Ravelry)

With its little touch of « Art Nouveau », Palmyre is a very cosy shawl, that will soon become a ally of choice against the temperatures sometimes a little fresh in midseason, or for the long summer evenings. Built in a crescent shape, with a large part of stocking stitch and just a hint of lace to finish, this is a simple pattern, rather quick to knit, that will appeal to beginners as well as more advanced.

Yarn: double knitting weight - you have many, many choices

If you'd like to share your finished project for the KAL, please email pictures to me. I'm always happy to share other knitter's projects.

I got a bit crazy with the knitting last night. And I should get a big chunk done tonight. New Survivor and the finale of Big Brother.

But not as crazy as I'm getting in the store. If I'm unpacking then I might as well rearrange. I might regret that tomorrow when things still aren't back in order. It's been a bit of one step forward, two steps back.

The Color Play Mohair Wraps have a new home. They all live together now.

Yes, I am obsessed with these.

It's knitting time!!

Number Five

The new Marblz interchangeable needles arrived last week while I was at Camp. All Knitter's Pride interchangeable needles work with the same cords so if you have a set of the Dreamz (wooden) or Karbonz needles then you can try these tips. If you don't have a set we have individual cords in the store.

• Range of eye catching colors
• The hand-crafted colors and patterns have been developed in a special way by a group of skilled workforce – so each needle appears exclusive and different than the other
• A great aid to simplify the difficult part of knitting!! MarblZ needles provide the right ‘grab’ that allows for easy handling of slippery yarns, picking up stitches in a fast manner and helps in controlling those difficult stitches!
• Sharp and Gradually Tapered Points are ideal for all knitting projects
• Lightweight, smooth, with the right flexibility – yet exceptionally strong & durable
• Warm to the touch and gentle in the hand

8mm

4mm 

 4.5mm

6mm

I can't wait to try them. We started with a few sizes because I purchased them without even seeing them. If you and I like them then we will be adding more sizes.

I'm almost unpacked. Then I need to rehang garments. I had enough of my chores this afternoon so I sat down to knit. The Color Play Mohair Wrap is growing.

I was almost to the lime when I went to bed last night. I was tempted to stay up for a few more rows but I knew that I wouldn't get out of bed this morning. The wrap is so addictive. 

Back to work

Today has been about unpacking boxes and trying to get the store in order. I can say that I didn't do a good job of it. Maybe tomorrow the store will look better.

Getting ready for work this morning was difficult. It was bothering me that no one was making me breakfast. I was going to have to fend for myself. And then when I get home my bedroom and bathroom will look the same as when I left them.

Kate Atherley has a new pattern on Ravelry and it's free until the end of the month. Can we get it to the number one spot on the 'hot right now' list?

We received a shipment of Freia Fingering a week ago but I didn't have the new shades to show you. Here they are.

Autumn Rose

Espresso

Metropolis

Neapolitan

South Beach

I really want to use Autumn Rose to make another Auburn Wave.

Debbie took many amazing pictures during the Student Fashion Show at Camp. Thank you Debbie! I will be sharing them on the Knitting Camp blog later this week. This is Kelley with her Dragonfire shawl (pattern purchased on Ravelry) knit in 2 skeins of Freia Fingering.

The shawl looks great in the picture but it is really cool when wrapped around your neck.

Here are a few more suggestions on Ravelry
Loverly
Knockout Round
Nautica
Arccos

How about the finale of The Amazing Race Canada last night? I won't mention the winners in case you haven't watched yet but I was very happy!

The new TV season starts tonight. The Blacklist. What is Red going to do now? I'm glad that I have easy knitting so that I can pay attention. There is also a football game. It's time to knit. The Color Play Mohair Wrap has been cast on and I'm 4 rows into the edging. I need to get going so I can see how the new colours play out.