I lived through the CreativFestival

Just a quick note to say that I made it through the CreativFestival. This is 5 long days (4 for the show and one setting up) of commuting to Toronto. The show went well and we got our name out to lots of people who didn't know we existed.

Congratulations to Wannietta who won the title again as 'Canada's Fastest Knitter'. She really killed the competition.

I spent this morning making our class schedule for November. Tonight I am going to start knitting a Moebius. Since I am going to teach Cat Bordhi's cast on I should know how to do it in my sleep.

There is still no sign of my Expedition. Over the weekend I put nearly 1000 km on the loaner!! I don't think they are going to be happy.

I have a vehicle

This is a wild scarf I made yesterday afternoon while watching football. It is made using a 'Loopa'-something new from Sirdar. It is a small frame that makes the great loops. No knitting required. I used Yosemite from Trendsetter and the scarf took 2 skeins.

I have a vehicle. Not my vehicle but a brand new Expedition to drive until mine arrives. It has all the toys that mine has so I am getting to play.

This is the map on the navigation system pointing me to home.

This is the Sirius satellite radio-tuned to the '80s station of course.

Lizard Ridge has been put on hold for a bit. 7 squares are complete but 1 won't work in the finished afghan. The colours are too pale and it looks out of place with the others. I steam blocked one square last night and it is lying perfectly flat. The others will be done tonight and sewn together so I can show what it looks like so far.

I have been busy getting ready for the CreativFestival this weekend in Toronto. I haven't done the show in a few years so it will be interesting to see what sells. If you are at the show, please stop by. I am in booth 729/731 with Village Yarns.

Saturday night Beth and I went to the Leaf game with our friend Andrea. The game was good except the wrong team won!! It is unbelievable how expensive everything is at the ACC. A medium draft beer was $9. A Smirnoff Ice was $7.25. I can buy a case of 4 for $8 at the liquor store!!

Lizard Ridge

I am finished 4 squares and the 5th is almost done. So far I have ripped out one finished square because the colours didn't work out. Now I am going to rip out half a square because there was a knot in the ball. Of course they didn't join the same colour!! For those of you who know me I don't like to rip out.

If you are working on Lizard Ridge here is another tip. Roll the balls before you start. I am going to roll 2 small balls and this way I will find any knots and can adjust the colours accordingly.

How about the baseball playoffs? The Yankees are out!! I always root for the underdog and whoever is playing the Yankees. Maybe George will learn that you can't buy a winner.

I have decided to do the CreativFestival in Toronto at the end of the month. You might know this as the Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival-they have changed the name to allow more crafts into it. I haven't done the show in many years but with all the new knitters out there it is important to let them know about my store.

Jane Ellison will be teaching in the store after the Festival (Wednesday October 25). So far she hasn't given me a description of her workshop so I sent her a proposal.

A workshop about working with self-striping yarns

-how Jane comes up with your ideas for a sweater and deciding which yarn to use

-what stitches look good in a yarn-we could have balls of Noro there for people to play with and do different stitch patterns, for example some lace, cables, knit and purl patterns

-talk about felting the Noro yarns

Done

Color on the Side is finished. I have even sewn in all the ends!!! I will take a picture of Sarah wearing the jacket on Saturday-it looks much better on a human.

Here are a few of my squares for Lizard Ridge. I have the pattern memorized so I am a bit bored with it. Luckily every square is a different colour to keep me interested. I have decided to use any colour that includes browns or greys.

Off to another night of knitting class. Then Survivor!!

New Project

You are probably saying that I mentioned a new project a few days ago. I am not knitting the Jane Ellison sweater-Jane is going to knit it for me.

Color on the Side is almost done. I was finishing the sleeve last night and ran out of yarn. It is a long way to the yarn store (okay, just downstairs) but I didn't feel like going so I set it aside. Hopefully tomorrow. Here is a picture as I was starting the sleeve.


This is my latest project. You can find the pattern at knitty.com. It is called Lizard Ridge and I am using Noro Kureyon but in earth tones instead of the bright colours. You knit 24 squares and sew them together. The square is knit from both ends of the ball to give the striping pattern.

I had to rip out my first square after it was finished. One thing the pattern doesn't state is that you need to make sure that you don't have both ends starting with the same colour. There is more yarn in a ball than needed to make a square so you can cut away some at one end so that your striping works out. You need to be careful if you are going to do this. The pattern calls for 21 balls but I would suggest 24 and then you don't have to worry about the striping. Another word of caution about the pattern. You are doing wrap and turns (not my favourite because they never look neat). The pattern reads

Working Wraps Together with Wrapped Stitches:
Work the "wraps" at the turning points of the short rows, together with the stitches they wrap, as follows:
When working a RS row: Knit to wrapped stitch. Slip next stitch from left needle to right needle (ADD-LIKE A PURL), use tip of left needle to pick up "wrap" and place it on right needle, insert left needle into both wrap and stitch, and knit them together.
When working a WS row: Purl to wrapped stitch. Slip next stitch from left needle to right needle (ADD-LIKE A KNIT), use tip of left needle to pick up "wrap" and place it on right needle, slip both wrap and stitch back to left needle, purl together through back loops.

We had a very long weekend with little sleep. At 3am Sunday morning I heard a huge crash. I ran for the phone and was dialing 911 while looking out our front window. Someone wrapped their mini-van around a tree across from our house. Beth went to see if the person was alright-I couldn't go because I don't do blood well. The man was alert and Beth talked to him until the police/ambulance/fire trucks arrived. They had to totally cut the mini-van up to get him out. First the doors, then the sides then the roof. They took the seats out and then slid him on a spine board. From the time I dialed the phone until he was in an ambulance took 2 hours. It was another hour before the tow truck left and had the road cleaned up. I got back to sleep around 7am and slept until football-not a good subject-our fantasy team SUCKED this week.

Off to watch Vanished, CSI Miami and the football game.

Quick post

I wrote a long post yesterday but for some reason Blogger isn't showing it. I am hoping that by making a quick post, no pictures, yesterday's will show up.

I am finished knitting Color on the Side. I am now doing the edging and should have that done tomorrow.

Off to knitting guild.

Sports Celebrity Dinner

My dad will be going to Honduras again in December for another mission trip. To raise money for the people in Honduras the group holds a Sports Celebrity Dinner which we attended last night. There is a silent auction before dinner and following dinner there is an auction plus guest speaker. This year the speaker was Jesse Barfield. Remember back to the '80s Toronto Blue Jays and you will find Jesse roaming right field. Other guests at the dinner were Damon Allen (QB for the Toronto Argos), Perdita Felician (Canadian track start) plus members of the Toronto Argos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and former Toronto Maple Leafs.

Members of my family (sister, father, my dad's cousin) as well as friends got into the spirit of the auction. Beth won the auction for an autographed Damon Allen shirt as well as a football autographed by the whole Argos team. She also won the auction for the Jesse Barfield signed shirt and bat. My name is on the shirt and hers is on the bat. I can't list everything dad got at the silent auction but lets say the people in Honduras will benefit greatly.

Both Jesse and Damon are amazing people who took the time to talk with anyone who approached them. They stayed right until the end, leaving after almost everyone else had left.

We rushed out of there to catch Survivor at 11 from the west coast. More twists in the game. The new tribes are going to be interesting. Why do they have to make alliances so early? This usually blows up in their faces later on. Haven't they watched previous seasons to know this?

I am making progress with my knitting. Partway down the sleeve-I hope the store is slow today so I can finish by tonight!!

Very busy Sunday

Yesterday was spent sitting, knitting and watching tv. The Ryder Cup started at 7am. It finished just in time for Nascar and football. The evening finished with the Amazing Race and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

The Ryder Cup was amazing. I am happy any time that Tiger loses. Football wasn't so great. We are probably going to lose this week at Fantasy Football. I hate losing!!!

As always, there are some real idiots on The Amazing Race. Do you really think it works to yell at your girl friend? Is it going to make her move faster?

We missed the first week of Studio 60 but it didn't affect us knowing what was going on in the show. I would suggest watching the show-it kept me interested for 60 minutes and I can get bored easily.

Here is Color on the Side. I am over 1/2 way done. The first picture shows the colours very well. The darker picture is the sleeve and front, the back is done and lying behind the front. I am now working on the other side and will be working down the sleeve by tonight.

Another good night of tv. Vanished is a must see show. Then the season premier of CSI:Miami. I didn't watch this at the beginning (not a fan of David Carruso) but am now totally into the show. It helps that there are reruns on all the time!!

The store is almost back in order which means that I have to start moving things around again. We just received our fall shipment of Louisa Harding yarns. She has 4 new books and 2 new yarns. The Noro also arrived. Well, the books came and a few new colours. There is a new yarn called Silk Mountain. There are great patterns but unfortunately only one colour arrived.

Off to knit. I want to get the jacket done so that I can start something for myself. This is the cover sweater (mine will be a touch longer though) from the new Jane Ellison book Noro Unlimited. Jane will be in the store on Wednesday October 25 doing a workshop and it would be nice to be wearing one of her designs . You can read more about Jane on her website.

Also, before I go-Happy Birthday Wannietta!!!

Color on the side

I have most of the store in order so I sat and knit today. I really want to get this jacket done. I think it will take 13 balls and I am on ball #4. I used the provisional cast on when adding the body stitches. When done I can put the stitches back on a needle and do a 3 needle bind off for the side seams-much easier.

The colours are a bit brighter in person than they show here.

There is still no sign of my Expedition. Ford is now searching for it. How do you lose an SUV? I have decided that I am giving them until a week Monday. If it isn't here by then I am going to pick a different vehicle (not from Ford).

New project

I needed easy knitting while away at the retreat so I started a new project. Fiber Trends has a new pattern FT-459 called Color on the Side. I am using Naturally Vero Tweeds in a great navy, purple, green, magenta colour (#1). I am finished the sleeve and about to cast on for the body. Hopefully there will be pictures tomorrow.

You start with a provisional cast on so that both sleeve cuffs are cast off. I always mess up my provisional cast on so I searched the web for an easier way. Check out the Knitting at KNoon website to see a video.

I spent last night lining up instructors for next year's retreat. Sally Melville will be joining us. With her great knitting books and amazing workshops she will compliment Barry Klein's project classes.

Back from a wild and crazy weekend

The knitting retreat was amazing. I believe everyone had a good time in their classes and Barry from Trendsetter has agreed to come back next year. Next year will be our 10th weekend and we already have some great things planned.

I have lots of pictures for you. A few other people took pictures (Patrick and Norma) and I am hoping they will email me some of them.

This is one of Barry's classes. They are doing a class called 'Diamonds are a girls best friend' where they are knitting a cute evening purse. The ladies are sitting quietly knitting.



Some of the ladies are lucky enough to have cabins to stay in. These cabins overlook the lake.


This is the lake. Beth decided to take a break and read outside in the beautiful weather. For the last 8 years it has rained on the Friday of the weekend but this year we lucked out with amazing weather.

This is during the student fashion show on Saturday night. Loretta knit an amazing coat from last winter's Vogue magazine.


This is Cindy's husband Ed in the same coat. We decided he needed a purple fedora and a big white cadillac and he would be all set.


This is Monica. Beth decided that the ladies needed to do a scavenger hunt. Monica took it very seriously and got everything on the list. The ladies who work at Bayview-Wildwood get involved in the scavenger hunt as well helping to find the hard objects. They have requested something challenging for next year.

I am off to unload the van. I can't wait to have it out of my driveway. The Expedition is still missing-I am hoping Mark will call me this afternoon and give me the good news that it has arrived.

As ready as I will ever be

Cathy, Jane and I have finished packing for the weekend. There are 2 mini-vans full of yarn and finished sweaters. Every time I turn around there is something else that needs to be packed.

The ladies are going to be surprised that there will be close to 70 finished garments for them to see-most are brand new for this season.

Barry flew in from LA last night and we had a great dinner out talking about life and the knitting industry. We are heading back to Toronto soon for dinner again with Bev G.

Have a great weekend. We will be having fun knitting by the lake.

Finally some pictures

Dylan-all done. Beth wanted to wear it at the Knitter's Fair but I wouldn't let her.

I went to the Canadian Open with my dad on Thursday and then again yesterday afternoon. It was nice to sit in the grass, relax and watch some great golf.

The Knitter's Fair was crazy busy. During the day over 1800 people went through the show. It is always a great day to see people that you haven't seen in a while. It is always interesting to see what sells. I think that something will be a hit and it doesn't move and then something else sells out.

We got the vans unloaded yesterday and this morning and are now repacking boxes for the Gone Stitchin' Weekend. The store is so full that customers can barely get in the door.

My Expedition still hasn't arrived. The dealership was going to rent me an Expedition to drive for the next week. Beth and I went to Enterprise to pick it up and they didn't have an Expedition but there was an Explorer for me. Unfortunately it isn't big enough to cart all my stuff up to the weekend so I had to switch to a Freestar. Trust me, I am not happy. If I wanted to drive a Freestar I would have bought one.

Barry from Trendsetter is coming to teach at our weekend and is arriving tomorrow night. We are having dinner with him to celebrate his birthday. Then, Bev Galeskas from Fiber Trends arrives from Seattle on Wednesday so another trip back to Toronto for dinner again. Enterprise isn't going to be happy with how many km are going on the vehicle this week.

Not sure that there will be another post until after the weekend. The next couple of days are crazy making up kits, packing boxes and making sure that I have everything for the fashion show.

Dylan Update

The knitting is all done. The shoulders are sewn and the neck is completed. Sleeves are in and one sleeve seam is done. Hopefully it will be completed tomorrow and I will have pictures.

Today was a very frustrating day. My Expedition still hasn't arrived. It was supposed to be Tuesday and I WANT IT NOW!! Suppliers were sending finished garments for the Knitters Fair but we are having shipping problems. One shipment won't be here in time. Another shipment is being held at customs for taxes and duties. I have orders that I am waiting on so that I can make kits. They are missing in transit-maybe tomorrow. For those of you who believe in this-tomorrow is a full moon which totally explains my day.

Tomorrow I hope to skip out of work for a bit to go to the Canadian Open. This year it is being held at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club which is actually in Ancaster around the corner from the store. Beth picked up Swiss Chalet last night and Mike Weir was in line in front of her. She got his autograph on her Swiss Chalet receipt.

Did anyone catch Big Brother last night? Can't believe they finally smartened up and voted off Will. It is going to be interesting who wins.

Busy Long Weekend

I finished casting off the last sleeve for Dylan last night. I hope to start sewing together this afternoon.

Yesterday was our football draft for Fantasy Football. Beth was golfing so I had to do it on my own. Very nerve racking. My first solo draft and I didn't want to look stupid in front of the guys. I think we have a good team but time will tell.

Last night I went to the Tiger Cat game with my dad. He suggested it Sunday afternoon and my initial response was no. The team is awful and why put ourselves through it but he had a gut feeling that the game would be good!! The game wasn't good and we had to promise him that the next time he decides it would ge a good idea to go we remind him of last night.

Cathy, Jane and I are working this week to get all the kits made for the Knitters Fair. If you come to the Fair, please drop by the booth and say hello.

Half Done

I finished the back of Dylan in the store today. I remembered at 5:15 that I needed to take a picture which explains why I didn't hide the ends or try to make it lie flat.

The front is started-about 15 rows up.

I should be able to get it done for the Knitters Fair since I completed half in one week.

Gotta run. Big Brother and then Rock Star.

Dylan update and Lantern Moon Circulars

After I finished the sleeve I decided that I wanted to get Dylan done for the Knitters Fair. Not sure it is going to happen but you never know. If I don't get it done for that weekend I really need it done for the next weekend which is our Gone Stitchin' Weekend. There is a fashion show on Friday night where we preview close to 50 garments for the upcoming season. So far we have garments coming from Trendsetter, Nashua, Berroco, Naturally, Fiber Trends plus some that we have knit over the summer.

I forgot to mention that the Lantern Moon circular needles arrived. I usually knit with Addi Turbos but am using the new needles on the second half of Tempest. They are really nice to knit with. The join is great and the yarn slides easily over it.

I am in the process of deciding what to take to the Knitters Fair. This is always a tough decision because you don't want to take what everyone else has in their booth. I can tell you that we will definitely have the Knit Lites, Lantern Moon needles, Namaste Knitting bags plus some very exciting finished garments showing new yarns for fall.

I left at 7:45 this morning for a quick run to Toronto to pick up the latest Rowan and RYC magazines. Not sure how people fight that traffic everyday. Waiting for me was the new Rowan yarns Tapestry and Country. I spent most of the day helping customers and putting away yarn but I couldn't stop myself from starting Dylan from the new Country Escape magazine. The yarn is great to knit with. It is similar to Lopi in that it isn't twisted but much, much softer. The strands of yarn are different colours giving the tweed effect. You can't beat the 9mm needles either.

Here is one half of my Tempest. The chocolate brown doesn't show off the lace pattern at the bottom very well.

Big Brother and Rock Star tonight-can't beat that!!

Finally a picture

Here is a picture of Bettna finished. I did all the sewing myself, no help from Jane, Rhonda or Wannietta.

No, Beth did not get the battery charger yet. I figured out how to download from my phone. Eventhough there is a memory card in the phone, pictures aren't saved to that memory card. You have to upload them to the card and then you can download them to computer.

I mentioned that there were problems with my Expedition. I just returned home from thedealership and have ordered a 2007 that should be here in about 3 weeks. It is no longer blue but white chocolate. There are a couple of new options (Sirius satellite radio and a power liftgate) that are really cool so I am happy to be getting the new model. I am also getting the navigation system (I don't get lost very often but Beth does). Apparently it gives voice directions and can tell if you didn't follow them correctly. If you make a mistake it will take that into account and adjust the directions.

I am back to working on Tempest. I have 15 of the 30 inches completed on the second half.

Another quiz

This one came from Rhonda. Interesting since I don't knit with or wear mohair!!!

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Mohair.You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with others, doing your share without being too weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely refuse to change your position once it is set, but that's okay since you are good at covering up your mistakes.
Take this quiz!








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