Perfect TV Knitting

We are often asked to recommend an easy shawl. Not too much thinking. Not too much counting. Auburn Wave (pattern purchased on Ravelry) is perfect. All you need to know is knit, knit 2 together, yarn over and cast off.

It's easy to knit and it looks great.

Our sample is knit in Train Case from Mrs. Crosby.

This curvy crescent shaped shawl is worked sideways, mainly in garter stitch, with a few eyelets rows to keep it interesting. 

Both sides look good even if different, and the lace border is very easy to memorize, making it the perfect TV knitting!  

The rolled hem adds a really neat finishing touch. 

Once finished this shawl looks like a giant curly wave with foam on top… 

Pattern is available both in French and English, all written instructions. (You’ll need 2 skeins of fingering weight yarn.) 

This shawl can easily be made longer or shorter by simply adding more or less repeats or shortening the lace border. You can also work it in more than one colour, add a picot bind off, it’s a very adaptable pattern. I hope you’ll enjoy it :)

Auburn Wave looks great knit in a self-striping yarn. We used 2 balls of Freia Shawl Ball for this one.

I have knit the shawl in many different fingering weight yarns. I've also knit it in sport weight which makes a slightly bigger, slightly thicker shawl.

Then I went crazy and used tosh ASAP on 15mm needles. You can see my pattern modifications here.

Auburn Wave is perfect for a new knitter as well as experienced knitters. It's a great way to showcase a special hand dyed yarn. Remember this when you're shopping at the Knitters Frolic - 2 skeins is all you need.

A new Auburn Wave

There was more fun in the box from Freia Fibers. Shawl ball has arrived.

Meet Neon

The yarn is spun and handpainted in the US.

There are 393m/430 yards on a ball.

Xenon

Krypton

Hellium

I brought a few balls home from TNNA and Diana knit us a shawl. We did the old favourite, Auburn Wave, because I love the pattern. The shawl drapes well and you can knit until you run out of yarn. Two 100gram balls make a great size.

Our sample colour didn't come in this shipment but here are the great colours that we do have.

Here are a few pattern suggestion:
Stephen West's Dotted Rays
Stephen West's Briochevron Wrap. This shawl is really calling my name. And some of these bright colours mixed with a black background would be amazing!

Choose a colorful array of fingering weight yarns and knit this large wrap in two-color brioche. The main color is a black and white marled yarn while bright color pops from Hedgehog Fibres decorate the striped background. Increases and decreases form the graphic chevron lines and the fabric length is customizable.

If you don't want to make a shawl, a really cool scarf would be ZickZack. I've knit the scarf and think it would look awesome in two neon colours. Xenon and Krypton. Wow. Somehow I need to find more hours or more arms or something that lets me knit faster.

Spring Cleaning

There are many new yarns coming for spring. Small problem - we need room in the store. The solution - we're marking down some bulky yarns.

The Thick 'n' Thin feature of the yarn gives the knitted fabric a unique textured finish, made from 100% wool this fashion yarn is ideal for winter accessories, but will equally add definition to any knitted sweater.

Regular $9.99 a ball

Sale $6.99 a ball

See what we have in stock - don't delay because once it's sold we won't have any more until next fall.

A free pattern from Rowan - Lassan

Knit this accessory cowl, available as a free pattern to download. Designed by Heike Kruessel using the beautiful yarn Thick 'n' Thin (wool), this ribbed cowl can be knitted as either a narrow or wide version.

Keep checking back - we have more yarns to clear out.

Speaking of new yarn

The yarn is called Degrade.
100% wool made in Italy
120m on a 200gram skein
$29.99

I quickly made a cowl over the weekend.

One skein and 15mm needles. We put a twist in the cowl for a different look. The pattern will be written up tonight and we will give it to you with the purchase of a skein of Degrade.

I'm almost finished another shawl. Very close. Lynn is actually casting it off right now. Why? To make her sit down and rest for a minute. She's been on the go since 10am and won't sit down unless you make her. The second reason - I'm teaching her a new cast off.

Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off as explained by Ysolda Teague - watch the video. A great edge for a shawl - it is stretchy so when you block the shawl you don't have a cast off edge that is pulled too tight. Lynn has almost finished the cast off and exclaimed that she has enjoyed doing it. It doesn't take any more time than a regular cast off.

Pattern: Auburn Wave
Yarn: 2 skeins of Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Silk Single
Needles: 4mm

Remember my Resolution
-I am going to knit 4 garments this year
-every month I am going to finish a project that has been started and sitting around the house

Auburn Wave is the second project that I finished in January so I'm holding it over until February :)

Oh yeah - a finished project so I get to start something new. I'm waiting a few days for a box to arrive from Prism.

The Hole

Cathy just left with her colours for the Stephen West KAL. It's going to look sharp.

I can't wait to see every one's colour combinations once the knitting starts.

This morning Mr. Canada Post brought in a box from Lynda.

Pattern: Auburn Wave
Yarn: 2 balls of Freia Fingering
Needles: 4.5mm
Alteration to pattern: Lynda did 3 eyelet patterns instead of 4. Then she knit the lace pattern at the end until she ran out of yarn.

Cathy left a very special present on my table. YUMMY!!

After work Beth and I went for a drive. We went to see our hole. It wasn't just a hole.

There are lots of pictures because Mom and Dad are in Myrtle Beach. I think it's killing my dad that he wasn't here to see them start.

Our neighbour's house. They're already in and I'm sure they will be happy when our house gets finished. They also started the house on the other side of them.

Survivor tonight. How do you run out of rice already? I wonder what Jeff is going to make the tribe do to get more. Oh yeah. Game 7 of the World Series too. Knitting time!!

I love this colour!

It's Thursday evening, the football game is on and I'm writing tomorrow's post. I don't know if I will feel like writing tomorrow night after we set up the booth.

Diana came in this afternoon with Auburn Wave. I wasn't expecting it for the booth but am extremely happy that she finished it.

Pattern: Auburn Wave
Yarn: 2 skeins of Mrs. Crosby Hat Box in Sunset Regatta
Needles: 4mm

The colour is amazing!

We've shown many Auburn Waves. This scarf/shawl is awesome. There are so many ways to wear it and you can make it as big or as small as you want. There are many, many, many yarn options. I haven't seen one yet that I haven't liked. My third one is almost to the lace section and there will be another one started sometime soon. I have 2 balls of Freia Fingering hiding in my bedroom :)

Since I took all the Mrs. Crosby yarns off the shelf for the Knitters' Fair I thought that I had better fill them up with something so that the store didn't look really empty for Cathy.

Lots of bulky and super bulky yarn. Thinking of starting on Christmas gifts? Stop in soon while we have lots of stock in many colours.

Another Auburn Wave

We've been having Internet trouble in the store for the past few days so a Bell technician was coming out this morning. Sometime between 8 and noon. Thanks. We don't open until noon so I could be sitting here for a while. Luckily he was here at 8:30 and it should be fixed now.

I came to work with the top down and left it down when I got here. We have one heck of a storm right now. I didn't get the top up in time and the inside of my car is soaked. I am SOAKED. The plus side. I thought I was going to have to water the flowers this morning before the afternoon heat wave. Now I have two hours to get everything in order for next weekend.

I'm home and the storm is about to hit. It looks ugly outside. The store Internet isn't fixed. It comes and goes. I think it is someone telling me that I spend way too much time online. What do you do it you can't surf Ravelry all day? You finish a shawl.

Pattern: Auburn Wave (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: 3 skeins of Lorna's Laces Hat Box
Needles: 4.5mm

There wasn't much yarn left. I was crossing my fingers while casting off.

I was going to talk about the next KAL and announce winners from Itineris but the storm just hit and Melo is having a meltdown. I need to sign off and sit on the couch so that he can sit with me.

Two Days

Here is the post that I started yesterday. I got working and then had a nap. Then watched TV and knit and totally forgot to post it.

Monday's Post - Happy Labour Day

That's a fitting name for today. I'm busy working on a few projects
-laundry and cleaning out my closet
-blocking finished projects
-working on Camp
-placing orders

We just ordered more bags and accessories from Namaste.

The Bigga' Buddy case is an oversized version of our Better Buddy case; it features hidden magnetized interior walls to keep your metal items in place, a removable interior divider, and is made of vegan animal-friendly faux leather. Perfect for quilters, crocheters, knitters, and general Namasterians alike! Contrast stitching, solid construction, and snap button closure; when size matters- you need a Bigga' Buddy! 
COLORS:
Caribbean Blue, Pumpkin Spice, Raspberry, Red 
MATERIALS:
Animal-friendly faux leather
SIZE:
9" L x 4" W x 2" H

The Harlow bag will be coming in Raspberry and Slate Gray.

The Harlow bag is vintage inspired, constructed of luscious vegan material and offers ultra organization and serious style. Features include microsuede recycled lining, loads of exterior compartments & pockets (2 drink compartments, 2 flap top pockets, 1 fiber-friendly pocket, 1 zipper pocket), strap buddy for shoulder strap placement, and dual detachable handles for added versatility. Interior has a zippered top and features 2 open top pockets, 1 zipper pocket and plenty of space for activities! 
COLORS:
Canary Yellow, Caribbean Blue, Eggplant, Espresso, Raspberry, Red, Slate Gray 
MATERIALS:
Exterior: PVC-free, vegan faux leather 
SIZE:
L: 14" at bottom, 16" at top
W: 6" at bottom, 3" at top
H: 13"
Handle length for small handle: 9 inches from top of the bag to the top of the handle.
Handle length for long strap: 27 inches in smallest position, 49 inches in longest position. 

Of course I'm watching the CFL. Go Cats Go!! Right now Chris Berman and John Saunders from ESPN are in the booth. Two of my favourite ESPN announcers.

Tuesday's Post - Back to Work

Skeins of yarn for the Dream Club. The colour is amazing!

The kits are piling up. Above is for Camp and below is for the Knitters' Fair.

Now I'm back to my Auburn Wave in Mrs. Crosby Hat Box. The final stretch is here - I'm at the lace edging.

There was no sense going outside for pictures. It's dark and dreary right now. We had torrential rains earlier. I won't have to water the plants for a few days :)

New Clothes

We have another Elder Tree Shawl (pattern free on Ravelry) in the store. This is knit out of 5 skeins of Mrs. Crosby Steamer Trunk in the colour Northern Parula. Diana knit the shawl on 5.5mm needles. I love the colour and the shawl is huge. Perfect to snuggle up in on a cold evening.

I ran out this morning to do some shopping. My ladies needed new clothes. It's time to put away the summer clothes and dress my friends for fall. We have some clothes in the store but it's always nice to have something new for fall.

The shawl now has funky cords.

The 'no knitting' has become 'slow down on your knitting and work with a bit bigger needle'. I've pulled out Auburn Wave, knit in Mrs. Crosby Hat Box on 4.5mm needles. I just finished the fifth eyelet repeat.

I thought about taking a mannequin outside but it meant taking a sweater off someone that we just put a sweater on.

Do you live in the Hamilton/Ancaster/Dundas area and want to get together with other knitters? Why not join the Around the Bay Knitting Guild? From their blog

Around The Bay Knitters’ Guild is where people from the Hamilton area meet to knit together, hear speakers, and plan interesting outings related to knitting.
Our next meeting is on Tuesday, September 2nd, beginning at 7 pm. We will be meeting in the 2nd floor Community Room of the Fortino’s store, 1579 Main St W,  Hamilton,  L8S 1E6 (off Rifle Range Road).
Looking forward to seeing you there!

Please note the following additional information: rental of the Fortino’s Community Room is not entirely covered by our annual membership fee. Please bring $2.00 in cash with you, as a door entry fee, whenever we meet at Fortino’s.
Membership: Membership dues will remain at $25.00 for the next year in addition to door entry ($2 per meeting). Guests are welcome to attend one regular meeting for free. Otherwise, guests are required to pay $10.00 for a meeting with a special speaker or lesson, and $5.00 for the second and subsequent regular meetings. Guests are not eligible for the door prize draws. Presentation of membership card has history of 10% discount at various knitting shops; confirmation of participating shops is annually reviewed.  
Location: Regular meetings (first Tuesday of each month from September to June) will normally take place at Fortino’s Main Street West. ***Due to room availability, OCTOBER MEETING DATE is changed to October 14***. Check BlogSpot for meeting dates, particularly during inclement weather. atbkg.blogspot.com