Gnana’s Visit

A few of my suppliers have been sending out emails about Gnana’s Visit. What??? This is the December Mystery Gnome event from Imagined Landscapes - Sarah Schira. Over the past year I’ve seen gnomes on Ravelry but I didn’t pay attention. Gnomes are a big thing.

It’s time for the family to visit Gnana for Longest Gnight! Or is it? 
A perplexed Gnana arrives at the family’s empty cottage, ready to visit them. The pantry is empty, the house is dark, and Gnana will need to find a different way to celebrate Longest Gnight. 

I love creating joy and anticipation during winter’s dark days. Preparing secrets for you makes me so happy. The December gnome countdown knitalong has become such a treasured part of the year!

The code “DecemberJoy” will take 50% off until Nov 9th!

How does it work?
You’ll get 21 updates during December from Dec 1-21. Some of those days you’ll open up the update to find a clue to knit. The other days will bring part of our charming story, special treats, or a recipe or two for traditional gnomish delights.

Emma has put together some kits and they have been ordered. These should be here in a few weeks. We’ll be able to ship these out so you have them before December 1st. The kits are available online to preorder. I will be making up more coloursways tomorrow. I’m home with the dogs while dad and Beth go to Owen Sound. I have a big bag of minis with me.

Each kit will come with wire glasses.

These are the Snow What Matters Gnomes from last December - pattern purchased on Ravelry. Sarah has incredible patterns and I’m sure this year’s gnome will be amazing.

Mr. UPS brought a big box from Emma’s this morning including the November Crazy Beautiful Colour.

Burnt oranges fade into glowy peaches and spots of berry pinks stand out among spots of winey purples! It’s firey and fabulous, and so perfect for fall!

Tomorrow I will get the rest of the order online. We have new colours of Suri Silk, Practically Perfect Sock, Super Silky and So Sporty.

It’s Hat Weather

When I got in my Expedition this morning the thermometer said it was 1C. It was cold and if I was going to spend anytime outside I would have wanted a hat.

This is Andrea Mowry’s Traveler Hat (pattern purchased on Ravelry).

As many of you know I love making the Traveler Shawl and Cowl. I’m wearing one of my cowls as I write.

I love the soothing rhythm of the Traveler stitch pattern, and wanted it in a small project I could cast on again and again for all of my loved ones! This pattern comes sized for the whole family in two different yarn weights. The Traveler Hat is knit from the bottom up, beginning with an extra cozy folded brim, and then transitioning into the super squishy texture of the Traveler patterns.

You have many yarn options. Knitters on Ravelry have used

• Rios
• Dream State
• Trine
• Woolstok
• Cascade 220 - original, Heathers and Superwash Merino
• Malabrigo Washted
• Tosh DK
• Tosh Vintage
• Noro Kureyon
• Noro Akari 

Any worsted weight yarn will work.

A customer came in this morning looking for Malabrigo Rasta to make the GAP-Tastic Cowl (pattern free on Ravelry). I totally forgot about this amazing pattern.

The GAP-tastic cowl is an easy knit you’ll want to make again and again! This fun cowl is a great beginner project for new knitters who want to practice knitting and purling, and it’s a fantastic mindless knit for experienced knitters. Either way, the GAP-tastic is a classic accessory that you’ll wear all of the time. It makes a great gift, too.

I used a now discontinued yarn but Rasta would work great. There are many projects on Ravelry using Rasta. Most knitters used a 9mm or 10mm needle. They suggest 121 stitches. Most knitters used 2 skeins but if you want a deeper cowl (like mine) you will need 3 skeins. 

Go Go Dynamo

Stephen West’s MKAL is finished and pictures of the finished shawl have been revealed. I really like the shawl. The construction is interesting and the shawl is wearable.

You can purchase the pattern for Go Go Dynamo on Ravelry.

Photos © Stephen West

Lynn was in with me today and did an amazing amount of straightening. She unpacked 4 boxes from Rowan and we are restocked on most yarns.

We finally have both colours of Rowan Felted Tweed Colour for the Jade Scarf. I love this pattern - yes I have it almost finished and it is packed away.

This deceptively complicated looking scarf, designed by Lisa Richardson, is worked in the round and uses just two shades of Felted Tweed Colour to achieve the beautiful graduated palette on the finished piece. worked in Fair Isle stocking stitch throughout, the completed scarf measures approx. 24 cm (9 1/2 in) wide x 216 cm (85 in) long.

We have kits available online 

While tidying Lynn found more Tosh DK that has been added to the website. Madelinetosh yarns will be on the website and in the store until Sunday November 24th. Then we are going to put the yarn in storage for our next outdoor sale. We need the shelf space.

I needed smaller mannequins to display some of our cowls. I found these on Etsy and they are so cute. Our Shift Display looks great!

Mr. UPS did not bring our boxes from Emma’s today. 

Hopefully I’m in the store at the time Mr. UPS comes on Monday. Otherwise I’ll see the yarn on Wednesday. I’m on dog duty on Tuesday so dad and Beth can go to Owen Sound to look at an arena.