Flamenco

I just cast off the scarf.  I'm liking it-so much that I am starting another scarf tonight.  The sample scarf was knit starting with 8 stitches.  The new scarf will have 6 stitches-I want to see how long the scarf will be with less stitches.

Mr. Canada Post just came through the door with the missing order from Trendsetter so we are well stocked on all colours.

Here is a close up.

My next job for this afternoon is to get the Flamenco up on the website.

Mr. Canpar has already been here to day and there was nothing from Katia.  Maybe Monday?

It has been a bit of a busy week for me-three chiropractic appointments.  I don't usually write about not feeling well because there are many people who are way worse off than me. My back has been bothering me for some time as well as my shoulders.  It was time to look into the problem.  My back is a bit messed up and I will be seeing my chiropractor three times a week for the next month.  There is good news.  She tells me that she can already see an improvement.  I asked her how she can tell from me lying on the bed. When I first saw her a month ago for my consultation my right leg was 1/2" shorter than my left.  Excuse me??  After 3 sessions my legs are almost the same length.

Beth and I have been playing catch up with Y&R episodes.  Last night we saw Meggie trying to drug and marry Victor.  I called it that he knew what was happening and was playing along.  Nikki-what a stupid woman.  How can she hook up with Deacon?

It's time to get working.  Have a good night and stay warm!!

READ THE PATTERN

Yes, the title is capitals.  I am screaming at myself!!  Last night I was working on Aldred and did an hours worth of knitting that needed to be ripped out.  I hate ripping out.  All is on track now and I am loving the colours.  You will love them tomorrow when I remember to take a picture :)

Today an order arrived from Trendsetter.  This was the second order I placed-the first one is sitting in Canada Customs.  The colours of Flamenco look great.

I started with the scarf on the right-bright colours.  I am knitting in every hole but there wasn't enough Frill for me.  The holes in Flamenco are closer together than the holes on Triana.  I started another scarf going through every other hole.  This made the pink scarf Frillier-of course this is a word.  I am liking it much better.

Korey and I are always trying to make the website better for you and for me. Every time we added a new yarn company it went to the bottom of the page. The same for pattern companies and on the featured patterns page.  We can now sort these so today I started playing.  I can now add more categories as well.  This is a work in progress that will take a few days (okay weeks).  While going through I have found that yarns and patterns were missed so my chore tomorrow is to get everything on the site.

The couch is calling.  I want to get the Flamenco scarf done tonight and it is the final episode of the Apprentice.  My vote is for Clint.

Where are you?

Where are the ruffles yarns? I really want to know but I can't get an answer from anyone. The yarn that was shipped from Trendsetter last Friday has gone missing so more has been ordered. Hopefully we will have those on Friday. The Ondas and Triana-fingers crossed Friday as well. 

Frill Seeker from Estelle-three colours arrived today.  These are new colours that have just been added to the line.

Here they are knit up.

There are more colours on order and I hope they will be here soon.

Aldred take two. The border is done and I have started picking up the centre stitches.

The pattern is being modified just a bit this time.  I like a long scarf so I am starting with more border stitches than the pattern calls for. When working the short rows you continue working 3 stitches more than the row before but I am going to knit 4 more. If I don't do this then my centre will sit very high on my neck.

Merry Christmas to me? Larissa from Offhand Designs just emailed me that she has an order ready to ship and would I like to try her new Claudel bag?  This is a hand made leather bag. Are you kidding me? Of course I want one.  Pecan is coming.  I am willing to wait for another bag if you really need this one now.  :)

The bags can be special ordered and take 8-10 weeks.  Available colours are
Pecan
Cherry
Avocodo
Mango
Ocean

Claudel Features Sleek, secure closure - nothing can fall out Available in many soft, lusicous, leathers Has a wide opening, so you can see everything inside easily Comfortable handles stay on your shoulder Enough pockets to keep track of all your essentials and extras Claudel Details 16" spring-frame closure with magnetic snap 12"H x 16.5"W x 5.5D 6 inside pockets, zippered pocket, 1 outer pocket with magnectic snap closure 4 protective brass feet Faille lining Handmade in the San Francisco Bay Area

Survivor tonight. Are you ready??  Can you believe that Dan is still in the game? If people aren't careful he is going to make it to the final 3.  They keep voting out those who they think are a threat and he keeps sliding through.

Surprise

I opened a box of yarn from one of my suppliers yesterday and there was a surprise.  Noro Love by Jane Ellison.  I had no clue this was coming.

Here are a few of the designs in the book. The descriptions I am using are from Jane-she knows the designs better than anyone.

Read more from Jane

ESTHER
Is of many origins one of them being the name is derived from the Perisan Goddess of Love.
Here is my favourite stitch.  I love the way the stitch technique works with the variegated yarn to create a lovely effect.  And the best thing all we have to do is knit it, no complicated techniques or colour changes just sit back and away you go!

Knit in Kochoran.

MINA
Is of German origin and means love.
The cable in this design adds a little bit of detail that works so well with the striping.  The cable is supposed to look like it is holding on the the ribbing while merging into the background of the main body.


Once again Jenna is wearing the small size but it looked good on all figures from size 10 upwards.  It looked comfy and loose fitting on all of us!!

CARYS
Is of welsh origin and means love.
The Kogarashi yarn is a beautiful soft yarn, it inspired me to design a sweater that felt like it was giving a lovely luxurious hug to keep you warm and yet add lots of colour to the day!!  I used texture at the bottom of the sweater to play with the pretty Noro striping


The gorgeous Jenna is wearing the small size.

Philomena
Is of Greek origin and means powerful love.
This cable top adds texture and colour to any child's outfit.

Knit in Kogarashi.

It's done

Here is Aldred with all the ends sewn in.  I really like how the curved edge makes the scarf sit.

Liberty is a great yarn to knit with.  And there is a bonus-the yarn is superwash.

The edging is done on my next scarf and I will be picking up tonight for the centre.  This scarf is in colour 7893-Rainforest.

Ms. Canada Post came in with a few boxes this morning including the long awaited box from Namaste.  Very cute. Someone asked me if a passport would fit in the front pocket and the answer is yes.

It's knitting time and there is a great football game on tonight.

We have a winner...

For the past week we have been taking names of customers for a draw to celebrate 20 years of the store moving into the old stone house.

Last night the winners names were drawn. The accounting firm of Roko and Melo oversaw everything.

1st prize-$150 store gift certificate-Carla Pryde
2nd prize-Namaste knitting bag-Rita Sergalis
3rd prize-$25 store gift certificate-Cathie Weadick

Congratulations to all the winners.

I finished Aldred last night.  The ends need to be sewn in (not something I want to do at 11pm) and then I will take a good picture in the store.  I tried hanging the shawl on our back fence but the sun didn't want to cooperate.

There is another scarf on the needles already.  Aldred in another colour. Football is on and my needles are calling.  Enjoy your Sunday afternoon.

Knitting up a storm

I am on a mission with Aldred. The edging is finished and I have picked up for the centre of the shawl. This is done with short rows so I can't lay the scarf out for a picture. Tomorrow I should be able to.




The patterns will be here tomorrow afternoon so that you can start on one for yourself.

I love working with the Liberty from Classic Elite. There are four more colours in the store and I might need to pick another to work with. I really, really need to have many more hours in my day to knit.

This morning was spent at the License Bureau (or whatever it is called now) to get my driver's license, health card and the sticker for my car. There were 17 people in the line before me including a lady with a child screaming so badly that everyone let her go to the front of the line. Thankfully that chore is down now for a few more years.

The post is going to be short so that I can get back to my knitting. :)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Wilson St E,Hamilton,Canada

Winter Kids

I have been waiting for this book and it was worth the wait.  20 designs from Rowan for boys and girls aged 3-12.

Here are a few pictures from the book.

You can see all the images on Rowan's website.

Ava
Colourscape Chunky
age 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12
Where is the 40 something size??

Ella
Wool Cotton
ages 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12

Charlie Snood
Cocoon
one size

Jacob
Knit in Felted Tweed Chunky and Colourscape Chunky
ages 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12

Ethan
Colourscape Chunky
Double strand on 12mm needles

Ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12

A new ruffles yarn

We have a new scarf yarn arriving from Trendsetter.  The yarn was just ordered and could be here Friday afternoon depending on UPS and Canada Customs.  If it isn't here tomorrow then it will definitely be here on Monday.

The yarn is very similar to Katia Triana.

Barry wrote this in a newsletter that I received last night

We’ve added a new yarn called Flamenco which is a flouncy styled ribbon that when spread open, looks like a fisherman’s net. By knitting the top edge, it opens up to about 3” and creates beautiful openwork ruffles. Each scarf takes about 1 or 2 evenings to make on size #8,9 or 10 needles.  All of the colors are in stock and the patterns are ready to go in leaflet form.  In all cases, we’ve used 1 skein of Flamenco for each design and either knit it alone or worked it with Pandora or Tonalita. Flamenco can also be knit with Minestrone, Dune or any of your other favorite Trendsetter Yarns.

Flamenco worked with Pandora. I am liking this.  Now I need to dig out my basket of Pandora. The pattern will be in the shipment with the yarn.

These are the colours that are coming in.

The price per ball is $18.50 and one ball will make a scarf.

Honduras

Tomorrow night my dad will be returning from Honduras.  This is his annual trip with the Carpenteros.  I wrote this post before he left but Beth and I decided that it might not be good to post and let the world know that my mom would be at home by herself for two weeks.

Yesterday was my birthday.  I didn't want to make a big deal of it but I want to thank those who emailed, posted on facebook and ravelry and called. Last night we (John, Lynda, Lynda's daughter Jessie, Beth, Mom and I) went to dinner at Milestones in Burlington.  There were many laughs and people were looking at us.  :)

My kitchen looks like a florists right now.

Flowers from Jane.  Looks great on a cold winter day.

Jessie loves flowers.  When she was little she loved going to Fortinos and going into the cooler of roses.  She picked out my roses and had them add holly.  She was very proud of herself.

The best part of the day was a phone call I received.  Dad called from Honduras.  It was the first time I had talked to him since he left.  Mom talks to him every day but it was good to hear his voice and know he was doing well.  The weather is hot.  I felt really bad when it was blowing and snowing out my window as we were talking.  :)

And here is the post that was written two weeks ago.

He has been getting ready for some time.  While in Myrtle Beach my parents went to the Dollar Store to stock up on stuff to take-glasses for reading, colouring books and crayons and anything else that they thought he should take.  The bill was $200.  Think about going to the Dollar Store and spending $200-it would take a lot of bags to get it all out to the car.  There is also a suitcase of tools to take.  Hammers.  Screw Drivers.  Saws.  Anything small that they might need.  His luggage will definitely be over weight.  The ticketing agent usually waives the fee when they here where the group is going.

I went online to find a few pictures from previous trips.

My dad (left) loves visiting with the children.  This is graduation day at school.

He also loves the work.

There are only two things that my dad doesn't like about the trip.

The flight.  He doesn't like flying on the best of days.  When you are flying into Tegucigalpa (the capital city) it looks like you are going to fly into the mountains.  Then the pilot does a quick turn and sets the plane down very fast.  It is supposed to be one of the hardest air strips to land on and only the most experienced pilots make this flight.

The food.  He hates refried beans and tortillas.  You get them for breakfast and whatever is left is reheated for lunch.  It happens again for dinner.  He will have a case (12 boxes?) of Arrowroots with him so that he has something to eat.

We will be meeting him tomorrow night at the airport with sandwiches and a winter coat!!

A vest for me

Ann just finished a vest for the store and needed something else to knit.  I decided that it was time for me to have something new.  There were many possibilities.  I came to the decision that I needed something in Lima.  This is Hildy from The Lima Collection.  I am going to forget about the belt and use a shawl pin.

Lima is extremely soft and the finished garments feel light.  Ann should have the box today and hopefully it will be back to me soon.

The colour was the next decision. Since I don't have much red I chose La Paz-891.  It has quite a bit of purple in it which makes me a happy person.

From Rowan's website

This beautifully soft yarn is made up of 84% baby alpaca, 8% merino wool and 8% nylon.  

Touching Elegance from Kim Hargreaves arrived this afternoon. Absolutely beautiful!!

I want Lois!!  Knit side to side in Rowan Drift on 8mm and 10mm needles.  Do I knit this or send it to Wannietta?





RUFFLES YARNS

Many of you are waiting for Triana and Ondas.  I talked with the Canadian distributor today and there should be a shipment coming next week.  If all goes according to plan I should have it Thursday or Friday in the store.  I don't know which colours or how much are coming.  It will be a surprise when I open the boxes.

We also have a shipment of Frill Seeker from Estelle coming.  This could be here sometime next week as well.

I haven't talked a lot about my TV watching lately.
Survivor tonight.  It's getting close to the end.  When are some of these people going to wake up and figure out how to play the game?
Are you watching the Y&R?  I am way behind but we just saw Nikki being put into rehab.  Sean Young is very scary.  It is hard to believe that she used to be a model.  Who does her hair?

It's time to go home and we are heading out for dinner.  I am going to hit Publish now so that after dinner I can watch TV and knit.

One down and another started

Beth is watching Glee in the other room while I am typing. It is very distracting. I have only watched one episode but have listened to a few more. I keep asking for updates on who the characters are.  She is getting mad at me and told me to stop typing and come out and watch if I am that interested in the show.

Before starting my post I did a quick look on Ravelry to see if I was missing anything.  Here is a link to the complete preview of Spring/Summer 2011.

This afternoon I finished my Noble Cowl.  I am very happy with the finished product. Blocking is needed but I am going to display it in the store for a few days first.

The pattern said to cast off loosely so I used a 6mm instead of the 4mm the cowl was knit on. The cowl is on the mannequin upside down with the looser edge on the shoulders.

I love the idea of a shawl pin on the cowl and picked a nickel pin from Romi.

Now that the cowl is done I can get to work on a new project.  Aldred from Katherine Matthews.  The shawl/scarf is shown in Liberty from Classic Elite.

The pattern will be in the store next week.

I am also using Liberty. First the edging is knit and then you pick up for the body of the shawl. The body is worked in short rows that Katherine explains in an easy to follow manner.

I can not believe the song that they are currently singing on Glee.  Dirty Dancing. Seriously??

Dentist=bad day

I did not use my day off wisely today.  For some reason I thought it was a good idea to book a dentist appointment.  Two fillings had to be removed and replaced.  Children-don't eat candies or drink pop!!  My dentist is a 45 minute drive.  That is a long story but I like him so I won't change.  I was in the chair at noon and the freezing started coming out about 6pm.  YUCK!!!

My after dinner job has made my head spin.  Beth needed some computer work done and I got through most of it but now I need to relax and knit. Pictures tomorrow-I promise.  The pattern is from Katherine Matthews and we will have it in the store next week.

This is an exciting week in the store.  20 years ago we moved into the old stone house.  We bought the house 22 years ago and then had to do major renovations, put on an addition and have it zoned commercial.  December 1, 1990 was the big day.  I don't have pictures of the construction.  Back then I wasn't blogging.  :)  There is definitely a lot more yarn in the store now!!

In case you haven't read our latest newsletter

To celebrate we are giving away some prizes.

1st prize - $150 gift certificate for the store
2nd prize - Namaste knitting bag of your choice to be selected from current stock (don't worry-we have lots of styles and colours)
3rd prize - $25 gift certificate for the store

How do you enter?
During the week of November 29-December 4 you can earn ballots.  If you make a purchase in the store, over the phone or online of $50 (not including taxes and shipping) you will get a ballot.  If your purchase is $100 then two ballots.  $150=3 ballots....

On December 4 at 3:30 we will draw the winner's names and I will put them on my blog December 5.  

One of a Kind

Beth and I took off for the One of a Kind Show after the store closed yesterday.  Mom decided to stay home (more about that later).

The first purchase of the day was a new purse.  I know, I have many purses but there is nothing like a hand made leather bag.  This is a bag for traveling. Everything (including my iPad) will fit in it. The strap is long enough so that I can wear it across by body and it sits on my hip.  This is great for traveling when I am dragging a suitcase (or two).

Matteo Mio

The next purchase was a necklace.  Beth bought it for me for Christmas. Very cool.

klb

Then the big purchase.  Pictures for our dining room wall.  I have been looking at these for many years and we finally pulled the trigger.

This is the smallest piece.  The other two pieces are three times the width - 24" x 24". They are still in bubble wrap until dad can get here to hang them for us.

It is hard to tell from the picture but these are ceramic tiles.  I couldn't take my camera out because it freaks Roko out so I had to use my phone.

Marie-Joel

Mom decided to pass on One of a Kind because there was a craft show in Ancaster this weekend.  I woke up early this morning to take her.  She was so excited.  The last Christmas craft show we went to at Merritt Hall was great. Not so good today.  What a disappointment.  The show was supposed to be juried with 70 vendors.  I don't think there was anywhere near that many vendors.  We came away with some good cookies and that was all.  It took less than an hour to walk through twice-and my mom doesn't walk fast.  :)

No buttons for me

As you know I love shawl pins.  Buttons are a thing of the past and all my cardigans/jackets have a special pin.  The very first shawl pins we carried in the store were hand made in BC from wood.  We still carry them and another shipment just arrived.  I sent Dale a list of colours and he made me some beautiful pins.  I love them all.

This is just a sample-there are more!

Ms. Canada Post came in with many boxes today including a HUGE box of tosh Pashmina.  100 skeins!!

• Well Water
• Kale 
• Kelp
• Mourning Dove
• Norway Spruce
• Dahlia
• Moss
• Logwood
• Sugar Plum
• Boxwood

What colour to take home and what to use it for is my current dilemma.

Tonight I am teaching my finishing workshop.  The ladies will come away with lots of tips for easier finishing.  They will also learn to do the mattress stitch. And then they will do it some more.  I want them to be able to do it in their sleep.  Anyone who has taken my class is laughing right now thinking about how many times I ripped out their work and made them do it again.

After class it is home time-to the couch to knit.  My Noble Cowl is almost done.  8 more rows to go and then casting off.  The new couches are very comfortable.  It was hard to get up and go to bed last night.  I could have slept in front of the TV.

Sarah is working with me tomorrow and then Beth and I are taking mom to One of a Kind in Toronto.  It is great having mom (and her credit card) along.

Happy Thanksgiving

To all our American friends I hope you are having a Happy Thanksgiving.  I am very jealous that you are eating turkey today.

Jealousy aside I am celebrating with you.  Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this morning and football has been on my TV all afternoon.

I haven't finished my Noble Cowl yet but I am almost there.  Somedays knitting on 40cm circular needles hurts my hands.

The yarn (Mulberry from Louisa Harding) is very nice to knit with and the sheen of the silk is beautiful.

The other day I wrote that I couldn't find my hooks for the grid.  Cathy emailed me to tell me where they were hidden and I tried hanging my Lantern Moon needles.  The display didn't excite me so the needles came down and the Tosh sock went up.  Much better.

Tonight I am teaching the second week of Cables and then racing home. The new couches came this morning.  Last night we sat down to watch TV in the loft-I pulled the chair out of my office and Beth sat on the floor with the dogs.  Not comfortable!!

Saki

I have talked many times about my love for Prism yarns and their colours. Another box of Saki just arrived.  There are at least five skeins that I want to take home!!

I think that I am going to go with Portofino-pale shades of pink, mauve, coral and olive.  Now to find a pattern.  I think it will be one from Anne Hanson.

WAIT!  I must finish my cowl first before I can start another scarf.  That means I had better turn off the computer and pick up my needles.

I am home now, had dinner and doing some work.  We are looking after our friend's daughter for the evening.  Beth and Jess are playing Dance Central on the Xbox.  It sounds like there are elephants upstairs!!

Winter Wonder Mittens

Two posts in one day-it's a great time of year for knitters with new yarns and patterns arriving all the time.

A newsletter just came from Classic Elite with a free pattern for mittens. Absolutely beautiful mittens designed by Amy Loberg!!

The photos are from Meg Myers.

Knit in Classic Elite Fresco.

Fresco – 60% wool, 30% baby alpaca, 10% angora Fresco is a smooth and even 3-ply sport weight yarn. The plies are twisted together tightly enough to make a firm, springy yarn, but not so tightly that the yarn loses its lofty, soft hand. The fiber blend—wool (for warmth and strength), alpaca (for loft and sheen), and a bit of angora (to provide a soft halo)— makes a yarn that’s warm, soft, and slightly fuzzy

Pattern: Winter Wonder Mittens (free download from Classic Elite)

Yarn: Classic Elite Fresco-1 skein each of 2 colours

I love how the yarn fluffs.  Not enough fluff to come off on what you are wearing (think angora sweaters from twenty years ago) but enough to make pretty mittens.

Classic Elite newsletters come out once a week with great projects.  If you aren't receiving the newsletter you can sign up on their website.