First Day of Spring

Can you believe that it is the first day of spring? Someone commented that it was hot on the first day of spring last year. Then I remembered that Beth and I did golf during March break last year. I just looked through my old blog posts and on March 19 Beth and I visited Copetown Woods for 18 holes and if I recall it was hot out. Where is that weather?

Kim came into work this morning wearing her new Inspira Cowl. It looks great.

This picture doesn't do it any justice but none of my girls would go outside for a picture. They said it was too cold. Kim used 2.5 balls of Noro Aya.

I just talked with the ladies at Dream in Color and the yarn is being shipped today which means maybe Friday, maybe Monday.

Here is a free pattern for the Smooshy with Cashmere-14 colours are in the shipment.

Download on Ravelry...

Last night Beth and I visited a quilt shop in Brantford. Red Red Bobbin Quilt Shop. Louise and Jim were amazing. The shop is in their house (I think you might say it has taken over their house) and there are many rooms of fabric. Kaffe Fassett. Tula Pink. More Kaffe Fassett. Brandon Mably. Philip Jacobs. And many, many more designer fabrics.

Their website is redredbobbin.com.

They have two Longarm machines-this is the small one. If you aren't a quilter then you might not know what Longarm quilting is. From Wikipedia

Longarm quilting is the process by which a longarm sewing machine is used to sew together a quilt top, quilt batting and quilt backing into a finished quilt. The longarm sewing machine typically ranges from 10 to 14 feet in length (or, 3metres to 4.25 metres). One typically consists of an industrial sewing machine, a 10 to 14-foot table, and several rollers on which the fabric layers are placed.

We had to walk through the shop a few times because there is so much to see.

 Lots of finished quilts on display.

If you are a quilter then I would highly recommend visiting the store. Jane has been talking about it for awhile. You won't be disappointed.

 We bought the fabric for the pillows for the sun room. Now the colour of the wall has to change.

From Tula Pink's Nightshade Collection.

Nightshade captures the spirit of Halloween with a sinister kind of elegance. In classic Tula Pink fashion this is no ordinary Halloween collection. You may stumble upon a little midnight magic, the occasional raven concealed in a tangle of lace, rows of apothecary jars filled with mysterious concoctions or a garden of flowers that may be just as deadly as it is beautiful. Along the meandering path of Nightshade nothing is what it seems and every turn holds a new possibility. 

I knew that I wanted the two purple shades. Not for the sun room but for me. When Beth saw them she said she liked them. I didn't twist her arm. When I laid out the two greens she was sold. I didn't twist her arm. But I was very happy inside.

Now you can see that the yellow won't go. The bench cushions are going to be a light aqua colour that is in both the purple and green flowered fabrics.

It is going to rain all weekend in Myrtle which will give us time to run errands. Picking out tiles will be one. Now that we have all the other colours decided it should be easy. LOL! I'm going to pick the really expensive tiles and Beth will veto me. Then we can pick the paint colour. We're thinking almost white with a touch of the aqua. Not much. This can change by Saturday afternoon.

Survivor tonight. From the commercials I see that they are switching up the teams. More drama I hope. :)

Quilting

Small problem before I could plug in the sewing machine last night. I needed to figure out where I was on the quilt. It is from a Kaffe Fassett book and I am following a chart - It is made up of many different sized squares. I didn't make any notes so I wasn't sure where I was and it took about 10 minutes to get back on track. (I tell knitters to leave notes in their knitting bags so when they pick up a project that has been sitting for awhile they know where they are in the pattern. HELLO! Follow your own advice.) Then I needed to cut some more squares. I hate that part. If someone would cut them out for me I would be happy just to sew. I got some squares joined and all was going well. Then it wasn't going so good. Something happened with my bobbin and the machine starting jamming. I didn't touch anything so I was stumped. I tried to fix it but just got frustrated. I unplugged the machine and moved onto knitting. I guess someone was trying to tell me to get my scarf finished. Maybe I can figure it out tonight. Here is the quilt so far. This strip will be a few squares longer and then there are two more strips.

My work would be going quicker if I cut the squares in the numbers that Kaffe asked for and then I could follow the chart. Instead I have many more fabrics so I'm putting colours wherever I want. I like the look but it means more planning to make sure that colours are evenly distributed.

I talked with my mom and she has an extra machine. Beth is bringing it home for me so I can finish the strip tonight. I did a bit of measuring and Kaffe only asks for three strips. If it is going to go on my king size bed then I will have to add in another strip. 

Here's a little teaser of some yarn that should be coming soon from Dream in Color. Smooshy with Cashmere. Great for socks but you can also use it for a scarf or shawl.

With its luscious blend of luxury fibers, Smooshy with Cashmere is opulence in a skein. The smooth, plied base, combined with our unique dyeing process, gives Smooshy with Cashmere its deep and lushly-shaded tones. And, 20% cash­mere makes this yarn divinely next-to-skin soft, while 10% nylon lends a durability that means Smooshy with Cashmere is equally at home in socks and open, airy lacework.

70% superwash merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon
4 oz. & 400 yds.
7.5 – 9 sts. inch
U.S. 0 to 2 needles

These are just a sampling of the colours. I believe that there are 14 or 15 coming in total.

Look who came to work today. Eos. I'm making progress. It was way too cold and windy to go outside for a picture.

Mr. UPS just brought in some boxes from Rowan including 3 new colours of All Seasons Chunky (wouldn't my sweater look great in the fuchsia??)

And Rowan Studio 28

Inspired by the 1960's 'Mod' look, this collection features strong graphic patterns and bold stripes. The designs predominantly feature our Rowan Kid Classic yarn with the addition of Kidsilk Haze to some designs to emphasize the trend for thick and thin textures.

I'm going to sign off and get back to Eos. Maybe I can get the back done today.

Lots of pictures

I was at work early this morning. The satellite dish in the store keeps cutting out. It is annoying when someone is about to hit a golf ball and I miss the shot. I called them on Thursday and someone is coming today between 8 and 5. I didn't want them calling to say they would be here at 8:30 and I was still in bed.

It gave me time to get some pictures outside.

The Kaw Valley Wrap is beautiful. Diana did an amazing job.

The ladies at Mountain Colors have come up with a new kit colour for the Knit Swirl cover jacket. This colour way is called Clematis. You can't go wrong with a purple jacket!!

Now I need to get a sample knit up for the store.

Dad was at the store when I got here this morning picking up all the boxes in the back yard. They accumulated while he was away. He also changed the flags out front. Very spring like. Mom and dad have a great time visiting the flag store in Myrtle Beach.

I worked on my Kaffe quilt last night. I was happily sewing away when I got lazy and didn't pull a pin out. Big problems. My needle hit the pin breaking my needle. I hope mom has some extra sewing machine needles. Just talked to mom and she does have extra needles. Thank goodness-there is going to be time tonight to quilt.

When I couldn't sew anymore I decided to start cutting the border pieced to my Amy Butler quilt.  The quilt is going to be bright!

I would love to have a cork wall in my sewing room to pin my pieces on but until that happens I borrowed mom's quilting screen. It is a frame with white fabric that I can pin my pieces on.

I'm set up for a day of sports. Curling is on right now. Golf starts at 11:45 on my iPad and then later on TV. There will be baseball this afternoon as well. Knitting time for me. :)

Gnarled Oak Part 2

I was in such a hurry yesterday with my post that I didn't give it a title. It was the first thing I did today.

It is very early in my world. Last night Beth went to have a sleep study done. I have been telling her to do it for a long time and she finally listened. She came through the door at 6:30 this morning. The dogs were extremely excited to see her. I was happy because she brought a tea and muffin for me.

Sarah emailed me a few pictures last night. Her Gnarled Oak is done. I love the pictures. They look like something from a magazine.

In case you don't know Sarah here is a brief history. Sarah and her mom Cathy (yes, the Cathy who helps out in the store-the one who keeps things in order) started coming to the shop 8 or so years ago-maybe longer. They then joined my Wednesday night knitting class. We hit it off and Sarah started helping out in the store. She went off to teachers college which meant less time in the store but she still came in on Saturdays and helped out with the shows.

Sarah and John got married a few years ago and John just took a job in England. It's sad for us here but Sarah is having a great time. You can follow her adventures on the blog she started. If you look on the right side of my blog it says My Blog List. Sarah is go go little red.

When Coastal Knits first came out Sarah decided that Gnarled Oak was going to be our garment for the Frolic. She picked a colour and helped Lynn with hers. I decided to join in so we would all be wearing the same thing. Sarah won't be here for the show but I hope she wears her Gnarled Oak on April 28 to show support. :)

She is coming home for Easter weekend and we hope to see her in knitting class on Wednesday night.

I did a bit of knitting last night but it is hard to knit with a 75 pound Golden Retriever named Roko in your lap. He was upset because he mom left him so I was the next best thing. The back of the Trendsetter vest is done and I am almost done the first square on the front.

Here is the second piece of my quilt.

It's amazing what you can accomplish when you get up early. A load of laundry is in-mannequin clothes. The ladies are going to be redressed for summer and I thought it would be nice if they had freshly washed clothes. Cheques have been written and I'm just finishing up mail orders.

Then its off to see Lucy at the Quilt Rack. I hope she has colours that will work. Friday we are closed for Good Friday. Church in the morning and then an afternoon by the sewing machine.

I started this post yesterday and totally forgot to publish it.

Last night (Friday night) we had a couple of hours of snow. Here are our poor flowers. They were shivering when I got home from work. Thankfully the snow is starting to melt. I'm ready for spring.

Mom and dad made it home safely from Myrtle last night. We talked to them about 1/2 an hour from Buffalo and they were getting rain but no snow. Even when they crossed the border it was still warm and then the snow hit them. Dad was complaining about the cold-it was warm in Myrtle last week. Welcome home! Beth took them dinner but they hadn't unloaded the van yet. I want my fabric. :)

Elizabeth asked what booth I got the sheep set at while at One of a Kind. It is Colours by Chris. They don't have a website but I have their phone number. I don't want to put it on here but if you contact me I will give it to you.

It's Sunday morning. I'm a bit tired this morning. It was a late night quilting. After work I stopped at The Quilt Rack (a great quilting store just up the street from us) to get some thread. Here are a few quilts that Lucy has hanging on the wall.

Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

Lucy does lots of quilting classes-she has one for each of the quilts that I have shown.

After seeing Lucy's Kaffe quilt I came home, went upstairs to got though my Kaffe pattern books and pick a pattern.

Then downstairs to pick out fabric. There is a lot of cutting in a Kaffe quilt. 3.5" squares, 6.5" squares and 9.5" squares. It hit me around 12:30am that I am going to need more fabric. I'll be back to see Lucy on Monday. I have lots of fabric but not the colours I want. 

I don't want to keep going on this piece. If I get too far and start adding in colours it will look funny. The quilt is three strips so I am going to start on strip 3 (from the bottom) and then the new colours will work in.

The more squares I add, the more I like the colours. I keep picking out colours that I don't think go but Beth keeps reminding me that this is a Kaffe quilt. The more colour the better and things don't have to match.

There is a pattern where he asks for certain colours in certain spots. That is way too much work. I'm using his layout for the size of squares but just picking random colours.

There was no knitting yesterday but it's sitting in front of me. I will be knitting this afternoon while watching the Nascar Race. Then there is The Amazing Race and Celebrity Apprentice. The back is almost done on the vest. Then six more squares for the front. I shouldn't have any problems getting it done for the Frolic.

Spring Flowers

I took this picture before leaving home this morning. The flowers in front of our house are starting to bloom. They must be wondering what they are doing waking up so early.

My mom called this afternoon to tell me that one of the quilt shops she receives newsletters from has the new Kaffe Fassett quilt fabric for spring in. I looked and it was very hard but I decided not to order any. There is a package in Myrtle Beach that mom and dad will be bringing home for Cathy. She is finishing a quilt and needed the fabric for backing. She couldn't find the fabric locally (she did look in her local quilt shops) so we ordered it and had it shipped to Myrtle. We had to spend a few more dollars to get free shipping so there is some Kaffe fabric for me in the box. I need to go through what I have before I order anything new.

There is another reason.

I can't believe I don't own this pattern. I love these. Sarah found the pattern for me in England and will be bringing it home over Easter.

Then I started thinking that Amy must have new fabric for spring. There aren't new fabric patterns but her original fabrics are coming back. I didn't know Amy when these were released so they are new to me.

Gypsy Caravan is being released in April

There could be some Gum Drop Pillows in my future

The vest is progressing. I should have been paying closer attention to my knitting and not to quilting fabric though. I started another square and it ended up going in the wrong direction. Lucky for me I could rotate my squares and start working in another direction and no one will ever know.

Customers ask if they have to block your work. Take a look at my vest-I will be blocking it so that the squares are square. When the blocking is done it will look like I am a perfect knitter. Don't tell anyone that I'm not. :)

There is a long night ahead of me. The ladies should be arriving for class soon. Then Survivor and American Idol. Fingers crossed there will be new Revenge and Criminal Minds as well.

Two Day Post

Kate sent me an email and asked me where she could find the link to the classes on my website because she was doing a blog post. They aren't on the website yet. Please don't get me started on that-the web guy has them but hasn't done it. I decided to save this post for Saturday and do a post just about Kate. Don't miss out on taking a class with a fabulous teacher.

From Friday

It has been crazy weather in Ancaster this morning. Sunny one minute and then white out snow the next. Right now it is sunny and a beautiful day.

We have a new Noro yarn.

Ayatori
60% wool
40% silk
22 stitches = 4" on 4mm needles
142m on a ball

The colours are pastel-very summery. Me wants some. :)

The new Noro books for spring haven't arrived yet. There will be one from Noro and I believe that Jenny Watson is doing one as well. If you are like me and need to start with the yarn right away then you can choose any double knitting pattern.

Check out a cardigan called Pretty in Pink on Ravelry. This will look great in the Ayatori.

Ms. Canada Post made her daily visit with a box of patterns. Westknits 3 from Stephen West is here.

Thendara
Knit in tosh pashmina
I WANT!! (I'm being very greedy today)

See all the patterns from the book...

I'm writing away and looking out the window to lots of snow. It really can't make up it's mind.

It's Saturday

I have been working away on Gnarled Oak. Okay, that is a bit of a stretch. I worked on my quilt Thursday evening. All 16 squares are done. Now they need to be trimmed. Okay, I need to press them properly and then trim them. Then it is time for the borders. Gnarled Oak has proceeded past the second decrease row. I have another 3" (which includes two decrease rows) to do before I can start on the yoke pattern.

There were more patterns in the box with the Stephen West books including

Scalene by Carina Spencer
We have the scarf knit in the store in lace weight and I have knit it in Liberty. You can also knit Scalene in fingering weight (think of the possibilities).

I'm looking forward to a day at home tomorrow. Knitting and quilting mixed with Nascar, golf, The Amazing Race and Celebrity Apprentice.