Hipster

We are going to have a mini LYS Day on Saturday for those who can't make it to the Frolic and didn't make it in last Saturday.

This is the Casapinka Design for LYS Day. If you visit the store on Saturday and purchase yarn to make the shawl then Cathy will give you a download code (we have 16 left after last Saturday). You must download on Saturday or Sunday. After that it will be a paid pattern.

“Magical Thinking” is a pullover shawl - NOT A PONCHO! This is an important point as I have a 15 year old daughter and cannot cause her social annihilation by designing a poncho, so please follow this rule of nomenclature - and make my life easier. It is the size of “All Points South.”It fits everyone and ruches up more for those who are bustier.

Finally, consider wearing it with the point off to the side rather than towards the “Lady Bits” - it just makes my heart sing when people style it to the side!

Materials 
3 skeins of fingering weight yarn, 400 yards each (for both sizes).

Yarn suggestions

1. 3 tonals or 3 solids
2. 2 speckles and one of the above
3. 1 variegated and a mixture of 2 and 3. More than one variegated is contraindicated in the knitting of this pattern.

We have some skeins left of Frabjous Fibers LYS Day colour as well as the special colours that Mrs. Crosby dyed for LYS Day.

There are green signs around the store marked LYS Day with special prices.

So I thought I finished my blog post last night but see this morning that I forgot to hit Publish. (I back dated it so it looks like I did it late last night) There was a bit of crazy last night. Our cousin Tim arrived at our house in Myrtle Beach and I messed up his alarm code. You enter the code on the front door lock and it opens the house and turns off the alarm. His code didn't work so he used a key. We didn't know the key would still work. Yikes. The alarm went off. And it is loud. I am sure everyone heard it and came outside to see what was happening. We got it turned off and then the alarm company called to see if they needed to send the police. YIKES. What a start to their vacation. A pregnant wife, two young kids, 10pm and the alarm going off.

I was upset (for them and for forgetting - I don't usually forget things) and couldn't get to sleep. I laid in bed and watched the end of the hockey game. Double overtime. Wow. What a game.

I received this text from Tim today.

I guess they're having fun.

Diana rushed to knit us a Hipster for the Frolic. The shawl will be back in the store on Tuesday. It is awesome. The Vintage DK from Primrose is so beautiful when knit up.

We left Cathy a few skeins of each colour of Vintage DK.

I came home from work early and had a nap. Sort of. We're watching The Amazing Race and then I'm heading back to bed.

Magical Thinking

I totally forgot to share the last 5 colours that Hedgehog has introduced for spring. Let me introduce
Dew

Cool faded green, soft and fresh. 

Dune

Warm dusky pinks and browns, with a hint of blue. 

Echo

Pale gray, with green, purple and brown speckles. 

Kelp

Antique gold with a green undertone. 

Ozone

Light tonal blues, with lots of subtle speckles. Clean and pretty.

There are 3 discontinued colours
Medusa
Hula Hoop
Bollywood

We are ready for LYS Day. I think.

I borrowed this from Casapinka' Instagram feed. If you purchase the yarn on Saturday April 20 (our LYS Day) we will take your name and email address. We will email you your code as soon as we receive them.

Here is a sneak peek of “Magical Thinking,” a new pattern that will be FREE at participating yarn stores when you buy yarn to make it on April 27 and 28 for @tnnaorgLYS Day. There is a list of LYS’s in my Ravelry group that are participating in this giveaway The pattern requires 3 skeins of fingering weight yarn for both sizes (which fits everyone) and is a “pullover shawl” - not a poncho! It is the shape of my design “All Points South” - more details next week! “Magical Thinking” will be available for sale on Ravelry the week after LYS Day. This is a good pattern for beginners as the stitches are simple, the knitting goes quickly, and the yarn does all of the work!

My Throwback is blocked and I am ready to pick up the front bands. We watched The Amazing Race tonight and that isn't the best show for picking up stitches. You need to watch not just listen. I'll pick up tomorrow afternoon. It will be a good break from cleaning the house.

Susan called yesterday and Cathy texted me today with a question about the blog. When they are opening the blog on their phone (or iPad) it says that the site is not secure? It wasn't coming up on my iPad but I did find this article about it.

It was still bothering me so I did a bit more checking. Above is a screen shot if I typed in areallygoodyarn.blogspot.ca

This is what came up when I typed in areallygoodyarn.blogspot.com. It's weird (one is secure and one isn't) but according to the article it isn't anything to be worried about. You aren't entering any personal information. I get the Not Secure when I look at ESPN.com as well.

Now it's time for bed. The next week and a bit are going to be very busy.

LYS Day Colours

Here are the next five colours from Hedgehog Fibres.

Liebling

Pinky gray base with lots of speckles - orange, brown, mauve. Subtle yet stunning.

Rosewood

Reddish brown semi solid, very versatile and wearable. 

Purr

Soft dusty purple, Beata's favourite at the moment! 

Serengeti

Muted greens with a ton of speckles, great transitional colour for fades!

Bloom

Soft pink peachy base with green, mauve, blue speckles.

I put on my technician's hat today and set up Google Home WiFi in the store. Because we are in a 240 year old house the walls are very thick and the WiFi doesn't always make it into every room. I'm hoping this will help. So far so good.

I must say that it was super easy to set up. Beth and I have it in our home as well. Beth swears that the WiFi is better.

Enjoy Wi-Fi throughout your home, on your devices. Google Wi-Fi is a home Wi-Fi solution that works with your modem and Internet Provider, so that you can stream, download and share without missing a beat.

Hello Mrs. Crosby Train Case. These two colours are specially dyed for LYS Day. We will have skeins in the store on Saturday. If there are any skeins left after Saturday we will add them to the website.

We are now carrying Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino.

Baby Cashsoft Merino is the perfect yarn blend, soft to the touch and gentle on the skin. Great stitch definition and an appealing palette makes it ideal for babies, kids and adults alike. 

The pattern for Mia is free on Ravelry.

Oliver is a free pattern on Ravelry.  Rowan combines cream and camel for this outfit. Camel will be in the store on Tuesday.

My Throwback is blocking so I took Hipster out. Rowan Softyak is beautiful to work with. I just completed the pattern row and it took forever. I'm flipping between two hockey games. Now I'm onto plain rows again. Thank goodness.

Our shirts are ready for the Vegas game. Of course mine is purple - it is the Hockey Fights Cancer jersey.

During Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month, every National Hockey League team joins the hockey family's fight against cancer by hosting their very own Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night - a night when players, fans, team personnel and partners come together to raise money and awareness for hockey's most important fight. 

Beth and I were in Vegas for their Awareness Night. Beth bought me a shirt for my birthday.

I bought Beth her shirt last May when I was in Vegas for a playoff game. Getting an authentic shirt in Vegas wasn't easy. Everyone wanted one.

Now I need to get back to the TV.

Making Progress

Yesterday was spent knitting. My sleeves are finished and I'm onto the collar. A few more rows on the collar and then it's time to block. After the first blocking I will do the front bands. Then it will be blocked again.

I received an awesome email this morning. Hedgehog has released new colours. 15. I am going to show a few every day.

An order has been placed for Skinny Singles and Sock. We should see these in about 8 weeks.

Another order will be made in a few weeks. We are taking Merino DK to the Frolic. My order will top up our current colours of Merino DK and add new colours.

Plume

Deep maroon, with muted multicoloured speckles. A real stunner! 

Cedar

Deep cool green with a gray undertone. 

Zenith

Grays and warm golds with pink, brown and orange speckles. Great transitional colour for fades! 

Clay

Warm pinky brown, very flattering shade. 

Brigid

Grays, rusts and subtle blue undertones topped of with subtle speckles.

If there is a colour you need to have, please send an email to preorder.

• Hedgehog Sock
• Skinny Singles
• Merino DK
• Kidsilk Lace
• Twist Sock 

I spent time in the store this morning quickly washing the floors. Then it was off to order cupcakes for Saturday. They won't be in the store until 11:30. I tried for earlier but Cupcakes doesn't open until 10 and we have to give them time to prepare.

It is definitely worth the wait.

It's less than two weeks until the Frolic. Here are a few tips for those coming to the show.

- trust me, there is lots of yarn. If you don't like lines or crowds, wait until noon to come. There will still be lots for you to see. If booths sell out of something, most are more than willing to ship it to you after the show
- bring lunch with you. Then you don't have to stand in line.
- The Science Centre is very close to the Frolic. You can send your family for an outing and it will let you shop for a while.
- wear something that you have knit. It's always fun to see completed projects.
- if you see something you like, mark down the booth you saw it in. I can't tell you how many times we get frantic people at the end of the day because they forgot where they saw something
- go through your Ravelry library and make notes of yarn that you are interested in. If there is a certain pattern, print that pattern and bring it with you. Also bring information on the yarn. What it's made of. Tension. Yardage. That will make it easier for me and other booths to help you substitute. When you come in the store I can do it on the computer but we have limited Internet access at the show.
- please have patience.
- the Frolic isn't just for knitters. It is put on by a knitting guild - hence the name. Crocheters please come to the show. There is lots of fabulous yarns that you and your hooks will have fun working with.

It's only 2:30 and I'd really like to have a nap but I'm going to sit in front of my computer a while longer and do some accounting.

Hue Loco

I love my Double Your Pleasure Wrap from Prism Yarns. Cathy and Sue visited from Buffalo on Friday and have both knit the kit. They are each going to knit it again because they love it so much. The great thing about the wrap is that everyone can wear it. Cathy is petite and Sue is tall. Both ladies commented that whenever they wear the wrap everyone raves about it.

The Double Your Pleasure Wrap can be worn multiple ways and with either side out, for a very different look. Inspired by a Stephen West design, Prism's version is very easy to knit with short rows and stocking/reverse stocking stitches.

I started to take pictures of the kits on Friday and then it got busy. I'll photograph the rest tomorrow. Those that were photographed are on the website.

We have exciting news. Our order from Hue Loco will be here in time for LYS Day. 

This is Dirty Talk. There will be 29 colours in all. 9 skeins of each.

I chose Phyllis Sock as the base.

75% Superwash Merino

25% Nylon

420m/460 yards

100gram skein

Grocery Girls

Hoarfrost

Rowdy Mermaid

Mermaid Tail

After LYS Day we will divide the skeins and part will stay in the store and part will be packed for the Knitters Frolic. If any skeins are left after the Frolic we will add them to the website.

Madelinetosh has discontinued a lot of colours. I have decided that we are going to start selling these off. For now these discounts are available only on the website (we are still working out the logistics of this in the store).

Twist Light - buy one skein and get another 50% off.

If you live in the area you can purchase on line and pick up in the store. We have added this option to our checkout.

Keep watching the website as more tosh yarns are added.

What happened to spring?

Our friend Brian Smith has a new shawl pattern out. His colours are shouting Spring. Unfortunately spring left us today. It is cold and rainy and we have a chance of snow tonight.

This top down half circle shawl has panels of reverse stocking stitch separated by lines of slipped stitches. A bright pink wavy border stands out from the crowd. 

Meet Sapinka. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Brian used Skinny Singles - one skein each of Villain and Jelly.

Here are a few more colour suggestions in Skinny Singles

Hush
Beach Bunny

1790
Wish
(This would look with Graphite as well)

Oracle
Graphite

I pulled a few skeins from our latest GarnStories order for the shawl.

Pesto
Chasing Birds

Coachella
Pesto

Yes, I'm a bit obsessed with Pesto.

LYS Day

If you purchase Woolstok we will give you the download code for this sock pattern.

Knit from the top down in Woolstok; a 100% Highland Peruvian Wool, the Sanborn Socks are extremely soft and warm on your feet. This intermediate pattern is written for both women’s and men’s sizes. Pick your two favorite colors and cast on.

The sock pattern comes in men's and women's sizes. They are knit on 3.25mm and 3.5mm needles.

If you spend over $100 on LYS Day we will give you a travel size bottle of Soak.
90ml (3oz)
18 washes

What is it: Soak is modern laundry care. Clean up with Soak’s eco-friendly formulation. Developed to be as easy on the environment as it is on your clothes, it’s the no-rinse clean you trust and love.

Soak is perfect for your laciest lingerie, softest sweaters, baby clothes, quilts, swimwear, workout wear and all the laundry you love. love it. wear it. soak it.

It’s great for travel, gifting or guests.

How it works: Just Soak and squeeze. No need to rinse. Lay knits flat to dry. Wash sets (like lingerie) together. Test fabric for color-fastness.

• made with plant derived and renewable ingredients
• biodegradable, phosphate-free, dye-free, sulphate-free
• safe for hand or machine washing (including HE)
• flight friendly

Purchase 3 skeins of fingering weight yarn we will give you the code to download Casapinka's LYS Day shawl pattern. I don't have pictures yet but here is a link to her Ravelry page to see the shawls that she designs.


I have created a page for LYS Day and will be adding as we add.

At the top of the blog you will see LYS Day - Saturday April 20. Click on this for updates.

I am now 7" past the armholes on my Throwback. I'm signing off to get more knit tonight. There won't be much knitting tomorrow. Aunt Rene and Aunt Barb are coming over to make lasagna and freeze it for Easter dinner. Beth and I are hosting and we decided that turkey was way too much work. And everyone loves Aunt Barb's lasagna.