Woodstock

Meet Woodstock. Another new tosh colour. Not exactly the colour that I think of when you say Woodstock (tie dye seems more appropriate) but it is a really great colour. There is a touch of rusty gold and yellow green.

I came to work early to water the flowers and I'm totally soaked. Thank goodness I have an hour to dry off before we open. That was my first OOPS of the day. The next is that I forgot my knitting. And there is no knitting started in the store. I know that I mentioned something new but I wasn't prepared for it today.

It's later in the day and I found something to knit. No, I didn't start anything new. I had some yarn for my CustomFit cardigan here so I started the back. I don't think there is anyway that I can get it finished in two weeks for TNNA but I will have it ready to wear this summer.

National Sweater Day

From the WWF website...

Since 2010, over a million Canadians have participated in National Sweater Day. Be sure to follow our blog for tips and stories as fellow knit-clad Canadians celebrate across the country.  

National Sweater Day is a fun way to learn about the importance of saving energy, and inspired you to use less heat all winter. Heating accounts for 80% of residential energy use in Canada, and is a significant source of emissions. If all Canadians lowered their thermostats by just 2 degrees Celsius this winter, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 4 megatons – equivalent to shutting down a 600 mega watt coal-fired power station.

This morning Beth and I went through the new house.

 The tile in my shower is finished.

The floor is down. They just finished it and were trying to wash it when we came in. Hence the footprints in the next picture.

 Going up the stairs.

What happens when you forget to bring knitting to work?

I cast on another CustomFit cardigan. Bella Lino from Classic Elite held double. This is the same cardigan that I wore at TNNA and I love it.

Coming Soon

Spud & Chloë Stripey Fine takes color inspiration from our solid palette in the Fine collection and mixes them together to create seven new yummy ice cream colors. Stripey Fine is a beautiful blend of 80% superwash wool and 20% silk that’s absolutely ideal for shawls, cowls, baby knits and some pretty fancy footwork.

The yarn will retail for $20.50 a skein.
175m on a 50gram skein

The colour names are making me hungry.

Here is my CustomFit cardigan so far. One front finished and the second cast on. Knitting on 8mm needles helps it to grow faster :)

The colours are truer in this picture. I normally wouldn't post the big picture but I wanted to prove that I did do some knitting while I was away.

There were a few phone calls back and forth between madelinetosh and myself today. A huge order is about to go into production for us. Lots of everything except pashmina and ASAP. We hope to have it in the store by the middle of February.

Hello from Phoenix

It was cold when we got up at 3:30 yesterday morning to get ready. The ride to the airport was slow and snowy but we made it okay. Thanks dad.

Our ride to Phoenix.

We got here around noon, picked up our car and headed to the hotel. Our room wasn't ready so we started on errands for the Yarn Group Lounge on the trade show floor. Beth and I are in charge of the Lounge - furniture, posters, decorations, banners... All errands are now complete! This was in front of one of the businesses that we had to stop at. The cacti are so cool

Our ride for the week. Long story but we got this BMW at the same price as a Ford Edge. There really wasn't much thinking involved to make that decision. It's been a learning curve. We finally have the navigation system figured out.

 Our hotel room has a small balcony that overlooks the convention centre.

My knitting. I accomplished quite a bit on the flight. I'm 2/3 of the way to the armhole shaping on one front.

Now I need to get myself ready. We're golfing soon. It's nice here today. OK, nice by Canadian standards. The people working valet are in hats and coats. 61 and a bit of a breeze is cold to them.

Packing

After I finished my post last night I started to pack. I'm making a list and checking it twice. Boy do I have a lot of clothes packed. Two days of golf. Four days of trade show. Two days of flying. Fashion show on Friday evening. My biggest problem - what shoes do I take? I really need about 6 pairs for the clothes I'm taking but I'm trying to cut that number down. But I don't really want to :)

I started a new project this afternoon - my plane knitting. And it's a cardigan. One of the four garments that I have to knit this year.

Another CustomFit pattern. The yarn - tosh vintage double strand on 8mm needles. This was a bit of a cheater. I have already knit a sweater in vintage double strand. Therefore I have already swatched with vintage double strand. I didn't have to swatch before starting my cardigan. Cast on and go!

We fly very early in the morning so I need to sign off now to finish packing, clean the house and get some sleep. I hope to post tomorrow night from Phoenix but it could be Thursday.

The Resolution - January

It's only the 4th of the month and I have completed my required 'finish a project that was already started' for the month of January.

My CustomFit cardigan in Classic Elite Bella Lino. I double stranded the yarn to make it go faster. It was fast and then it sat for a year needing to be finished. Now I can wear it at TNNA next week. I'll have Beth take a picture of me wearing it at the show.

Bella Lino is a lightweight yarn that creates an airy fabric with long, harmonious stripes. The palette of summery shades each have a linen-hued base. 

58% linen
26% viscose
16% cotton

I really liked knitting with the yarn. It is lightweight, even knit double strand.

Want an easy summer scarf?

Diagonal Summer Scarf (the pattern is free from Classic Elite)
4 different colours and 3.25mm needles

Cathy made this scarf and the sample is in the store right now.

There will be new colours coming for spring as well as new patterns from Classic Elite.

It's been a busy day trying to get everything ready for Wednesday morning. There are a few things left  to do (what shoes am I taking?, what am I taking to knit?...) but I think I'm pretty much ready to go. Now it's bed time. I'm seeing Trish early to wash the grey out of my hair and then errands before going to the store.

Featherweight

Yarn is on the way to Wannietta. She's going to make me the Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig.

Hannah Fettig's extremely popular Featherweight Cardigan is now available via CustomFit! 

Featherweight is an easy and versatile knit, making it a great first sweater for beginner knitters. The CustomFit version of Featherweight is a set-in sleeve, pieced garment that can be made with a variety of sleeve and hem lengths. Each CustomFit Featherweight pattern has been crafted especially for your body, using your own gauge numbers - so not only can chose your sweater's body and sleeve lengths, you can work it in any gauge you like, too! 

To achieve the lighter-than-air style of the sweater shown, use any lace-weight or fingering yarn. The original Featherweight was knit using lace weight yarn knit at 6 sts per inch / 24 sts per 10cm. Also, the original sweater is worked with a 3/4 sleeve length and a high hip length, but both of those options can be customized to suit you!

CustomFit patterns are perfect for Wannietta. She is an amazing knitter. You'd think that she makes her garments on a knitting machine. One small problem. Sometimes Wannietta has a hard time achieving the tension that the pattern asks for. This way we are writing a pattern to her tension. Now she doesn't have to swatch and swatch and swatch. One swatch and if we like the fabric she can start knitting.

You can purchase the original Featherweight Cardigan pattern on Ravelry...

What yarn did I choose? Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in a very special colour - Sparrow Lake. This colour was dyed for us and no other store in the world has it.

After work we went for a drive. Dad had been out twice today and called with exciting news - the walls are going up. He went once at noon on his way home from work to take mom to the doctors. Then he took her out to see. It was very dark and rainy and muddy when we got there. Beth took pictures from the passenger seat of the truck.

Then we went to Denningers for dinner. Look at our Advent calendars. I don't eat chocolate so Beth is very excited to have two. :)

Now I need to go and knit. The next Mystery KAL clue is out!

Happy Sunday

I was up early this morning - when you go to bed early that happens. There was lots to do today. Beth called me last night from the wedding (I couldn't make myself get dressed up to go) that she was leaving her truck there and getting a ride home. She had a really good time :) We had to drive past Stoney Creek to get it this morning. Then unload the van and truck, quickly count the yarn that was left, update the website, get more ordered and then a nap.

Now it's time to get onto my next project.

My CustomFit cardigan. We leave early Thursday morning for Indianapolis and no one is going to finish it for me. I need to have all the sewing done tonight so that I can start the front bands tomorrow.

Beth and I keep telling ourselves and each other that one more weekend and then we can rest.

I'm trying to talk her into a quick trip to Vegas in a few weeks. She isn't going for it right now. If I can't talk her into that then maybe Myrtle Beach.

Truck of trunks

It's finally left and on it's way to us. There were many phone calls today and I'm a bit worked up but it's coming. It was supposed to be picked up on Friday but the driver showed up late and the company was closed. Anyway, all is good and I should be seeing it on Wednesday.

I'm going to show a couple of colours a day until the Frolic. You had to know that purple would be on day one. :)

Mom and dad have crossed the border. From what I understand the box of the truck is very full of trunks and suitcases. Beth said it was like a puzzle to make everything fit. They had out tape measures and made it work.

Beth just met them with groceries. There are suitcases and hat boxes inside of trunks. Clothes and other things as well.

My CustomFit cardigan soaking.

It's now lying out in my bathroom to dry. When it has dried out a bit more I will lie it out properly to block.

What am I knitting now? Clapotis in tosh pashmina worsted has come out of hiding. I really, really thought about starting another Color Play Mohair Wrap. The yarn came home with me but I decided to finish up some projects. It's a good thought and will last a few days. Then I will start something new. Why kid myself??

CustomFit Cardigan

The first sleeve of my CustomFit cardigan is done. I put it out on the deck and Melo came running over. He laid down wanting in on the pictures.

These pictures came through this morning.

Beth and the guys went golfing on Wednesday morning. She knit in the car on the way there. Carl thought he would try his hand at knitting too.

Beth's Master's ticket.

Dad napping in the sun room this morning. The table was being delivered and they were waiting.

We had more pillows made for the room. I'm glad that we did. I think the room needs lots of them.

The table arrived. It looks small but Beth assures me that it isn't. The room is really big. Now the chairs. When I see how much room is left I'm thinking big wicker chairs.

Beth hasn't been to Myrtle Beach since the room was finished. She was very excited. She says that a fridge and TV will complete the room. Then she will never have to leave it. She loves to do puzzles and the table is perfect.

I've been at home for part of the afternoon with the dogs. OK, looking after the dogs and watching golf. I did get some work done. The super secret yarn has been added to the back end of the website. It will go live the day of the Frolic.

Beth is home and the dogs are happy. I'm happy because I will only have one dog in bed tonight. Roko lies right against me and I can kick and move and he won't budge.

If I'm going to get my sleeve done tonight then I had better sign off and move to the couch.

in threes the second

I finished in threes last night. That's the second one in five days. If you need an easy (and super cute) girls gift take a look at the pattern.

It's Monday morning and I'm working at home.

Don't forget that Spring/Summer hours have started and we are closed on Mondays until September.

It's accounting, blocking and sewing in ends day. The Nascar race was postponed yesterday and starts at noon. The Yankee home opener is on at 1pm. There is lots to keep me busy this afternoon. Two laptops are sitting side by side and I'm moving between them. It's later in the day and I'm sick of looking at numbers. I'm closing the accounting until later tonight. Or maybe tomorrow.

An old friend has come out.

My CustomFit cardigan. My goal is to finish the knitting this week.

Did you know that Rowan is selling patterns on Ravelry? These are popular patterns from magazines that are no longer in print.

This is Chamomile in Summer Tweed.

Flourish in Cotton Glace.

Martha in Felted Tweed.

See all the patterns...  Keep checking back because more are being added all the time. Like since I started my blog post. There are some kids/teen patterns that weren't there earlier today.

I have a few chores to do before basketball. Dishwasher. Laundry. Water the plants. Check on my blocking...

CustomFit

CustomFit makes custom patterns for hand-knit sweaters. It takes your choices, your body, and your hand-knit fabric and produces a pattern perfectly suited to you.CustomFit makes a sweater that is the correct size. From hem to neck, and everything in between.

We're ready to go. I've finished my first CustomFit sweater and am almost finished a cardigan. Now it's your turn. I'm offering evening sessions and Friday morning sessions for you to come in and be measured. The store is closed on Mondays starting in April so I can make Monday appointments as well. We will also talk about yarn choice and your swatch.

The price ($40) includes

• a 45 minute personal session to have your measurements done
• your first CustomFit pattern
• 10% off coupon towards the yarn for your CustomFit garment

You can set up your own account at home if you want. Just remember, you need someone to help you with your measurements. Please do not take your own measurements. Also, I've made patterns, spent time with Amy and have had a conference call with Amy on CustomFit. There are a few tricks that you might not catch until after your pattern is generated. My first pattern I had the V-neck starting in the wrong place. I can help you with these.

Once your measurements are done it doesn't take long to make a pattern for you - about 10 minutes. Just call to make sure I'm in the store and bring me your swatch. The pattern is $15 and we will give you 10% off the yarn to go with that pattern.

CustomFit is Not Just a Sweater Pattern Generator

When we put on clothes that don’t quite fit, it reinforces the ubiquitous message that there’s something wrong with our bodies. Since this is a daily occurrence for most women, the notion that we’re wrong is deeply and subconsciously held. Custom designed clothing is a wonderful antidote to all of those feelings. Since it’s created for us personally, it gives us the message that our bodies are right. As knitters, we technically have the ability to make great custom clothes... ...but we are often too intimidated. CustomFit changes that.

CustomFit is about helping knitters everywhere get clothing that makes them feel amazing. We knit for lots of reasons: It’s relaxing, the feel of the yarn running through our fingers is fantastic, it keeps our hands busy......but once the intimidation is taken out of the process of knitting a sweater? We can get the knitting experience we want, and the best-­‐fitting clothes we’ve ever had.

If you don't want to customize a garment, Amy has 6 patterns ready to go.

We enter your measurements and the dimensions of your tension swatch. In about 15 seconds we can hit print and you have a pattern.

These are the easiest garments to create. We can customize garments as well. The possibilities are endless.

• neckline - narrow, average, wide
• sleeves - tapered, straight, bell
• sleeve length
• hem length
• width of borders

I suggest that you make your first garment in plain stocking stitch. A bit boring but this lets you understand how the program works. You see how the shaping happens. Then on your next garment you can add in a cable or lace or stitch pattern.

Questions? Come by the store or give me a call.