Off the Needles

We have all our samples knit for the Frolic so it's time to start on fall garments and Camp. Diana dropped by this morning with this awesome shawl. I love the colours. And it's one of my favourite yarns.

Pattern: Nahant (free on Knitty.com)

Knit on the bias, it resists curling. Use any weight yarn (just choose the appropriate needle), and make it as wide or as narrow as you like. Length is flexible too.

Yarn: Classic Elite Liberty Wool in the colour 78104

Liberty Wool is a super-soft, washable wool available in solid and printed colors. This yarn's balanced twist will make all stitch combinations pop. 

With all the great qualities of wool and the ease of machine washability, Liberty Wool knits at a gauge that suits many designs and is ideal for children's pieces as well as those for adults.

Number of Balls: the pattern calls for 6 balls but we used 8 for a longer shawl

Look what came off the needles today.

It's in need of a good blocking and someone to sit and sew in a lot of ends. I'm not worried. I have close to a month to completely finish it and my New Year's Resolution for April is done.

Beth started a new project today. I saw the pattern on Ravelry and it's free for another week. She offered to knit it up for the store to show a new colour of Santorini that we received yesterday.

Pattern: Let it go! (get it on Ravelry)
Yarn: 2 balls of Classic Elite Santorini
Needles: 5mm

It's time to sign off and get to my knitting. My wish is to have Ley Lines (the second) finished in time for the Frolic.

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 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.

New Year's Resolution

Following Seas Cabled Scarf by Churchmouse Yarns

The expression “fair winds and following seas” got us thinking a little differently about cables. Our simple 9-stitch braid cable goes with the flow, working twists on alternating sides for complete reversibility.  

The scarf features wide columns of stockinette and reverse stockinette, which gain a softly braided texture by alternating the direction of the cable twist. Keeping the design simple and symmetrical means that the rows are easy to follow, whether you're reading the text or following the chart.

The scarf is knit in 2-3 balls of Rowan Felted Tweed. We have many, many colours in stock. It is $12.50 a ball - under $40 for a great scarf. You can start on gifts for next year.

The pattern is free from Churchmouse Yarns. Add the PDF to your basket and then check out.

Lynn and I did some rearranging today. We have many, many cowls in the store so I made a small display at the door. Over the next few days I need to find wall space to hang more.

Yes, it's the 'I'm going away so I want the store in perfect shape for Cathy' time. It happens before every trip. Are there signs on every garment? Does Cathy know how much yarn each sample takes? Does Cathy know what madelinetosh is in storage? Can Cathy find......? Are all the patterns printed out for the Dream Club? We are short on a some yarn and needles that were sold over the holidays so orders have been placed. I think we're ready.

We need to show off some new samples as well. Now you'll see them as you walk in the front door.

Here is my New Year's Resolution - if I write it down then I must follow it

-every month I will finish one project that has been started and put away

-I will knit 4 sweaters for myself during the year

Why/how did I come up with this? There are many projects almost finished in my house. This will get them done. The new sweaters is to motivate me to knit something bigger than a cowl. :) I'm in a sweater every day in the store so new sweaters are a must.

Now I need to pick up my needles. There is a resolution that has to be kept!