Don't try this

Well I made it home last night but it was a bit of a scary drive.  When I landed in Buffalo it was snowing but I didn't think it looked that bad.  The drive to the border was slow.  Of course there were the idiots doing 60mph but I wasn't one of them.  When I got to the border the agent asked one question-what did I have?  Not where have I been?  Not how long?  I guess he wanted to get everyone moving.  Just as I was paying the toll four snow plows were turning around ready to head down the highway.  Yes, I got caught behind them.

I did something silly and the picture is a bit fuzzy but I took this while following them. For the first bit it was okay but then their lights became blinding. They turned off and the slow drive continued. Beth had told me that it wasn't snowing at home so I knew that somewhere along the way it had to stop.  Once I reached Jordan it was like someone threw a switch.  The roads were totally clear.

I haven't shown any knitting pictures in a while so here are some.

My hitchhiker that I worked on while away.  It is a great pattern for traveling.  My colour is Thunderclap.

Before I left I showed pictures of the new patterns from Classic Elite. Here is the tam that I am working on.  I like fair isle knitting and am glad to be working the chart.  There are 24 rows to the pattern and I am on row 5.  These rows keep getting shorter as I decrease for the top.  Happy Dance.  The rows are going to start going much quicker!!

I have changed the setting on my blog so anyone can post.  It isn't necessary for you to have a blog or a google account.  Before any posts show up on the blog I do moderate them (don't worry that your comments aren't showing up right away) because I was getting spam comments for a while.  Who spams blogs??

Homeward bound

I am in the Charlotte airport again on my way home. There is half an hour until boarding. I am praying it isn't snowing in Buffalo when I land. If the weather is bad I will grab a hotel room for the night and make the trip in the morning.

The weather today was not very nice in Myrtle. Pouring rain. Glad that there wasn't a golf game booked. My trip was way too short for my liking. Maybe I can squeeze a few days in again soon. :)

By the way, I have knitting needles in my purse again. No questions asked.

I am going to run and grab a tea before boarding. Have a good night!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunny day

I am sorry to tell you that it is a beautiful sunny day in Myrtle Beach today.

My time with mom and dad has been fun. We ate at Golden Corral last night. I am not a buffet person but their buffet is really good. Mom and dad know everyone who works there. This morning we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast before church. Mom and dad don't even need to order-the staff knows what they are having. I think they might eat out a bit too much. Or else they spend too much time in Myrtle Beach.

We are going to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner before heading to one of the neighbors for a Superbowl party. Go Packers!!!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Early morning

I am sitting in the Charlotte airport with free Wi-Fi so I am going to get a quick post done.

My alarm went off at 1:45 this morning and I was on the road at 2:34. My car pulled into duty free at The Peace Bridge at 3:34. I crossed the border, drove to the airport, was parked, in the terminal and checked in by 4:21. My flight left Buffalo at 6:25. I was WAY too early. Any part of the trip could go wrong and I didn't want to miss my flight.

Thank goodness for my knitting. Yes, I got through security and onto an airplane with needles. What am I knitting? Hitchhiker again but I forget the colour name. Beth wound the ball at 2am for me.

The gate next to me is going to Dallas. (Superbowl if you didn't know). There are a lot of rowdies wearing black and gold.

When I checked in with my parents my dad had our day planned until dinner. No nap for me.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Not enough time

I am rushing to get parcels packed so that I can grab a few hours sleep before heading to the airport.

Cathy met me in the store this morning and we washed the floors.  The day was crazy from there.  I wanted to get out all the Debbie Bliss yarns and most of them have found new homes.  Sarah and Cathy are going to be surprised when they see what I did.

I started a project last night but didn't get a picture.  It is a new pattern from Classic Elite for Liberty.  I am using the same colours as the tam on the left.

With the purchase of the yarn we will give you the link to the pattern on Classic Elite's website.

There are two new colours in the store.

Purple in both-how can that be a bad thing? Thank you Classic Elite.

A scarf pattern is also available.

I used Liberty for both of my Aldred scarves.  It is a great yarn to knit with.  The colour changes are addictive-you can't put down your knitting because you want to see what is coming next.

While doing a Rowan order this afternoon I went to their website to look up a colour number.  Here is a great poster for the new yarn Savannah.  It hasn't arrived in the store yet.  I will know on Monday when we should be expecting it.

I need to sign off now and get my suitcase packed. The clothes are in along with one (yes that says one and only one) pair of shoes but I need to get my makeup, etc packed.

Debbie does it again

Mr. Canpar came today with four boxes of goodies.  I didn't have time to go through the magazines but here are the covers.  This will be my job before I open tomorrow-after washing the floor.

The spring/summer 2011 Debbie Bliss magazine.  All designs in the magazine are new-they are not in other pattern books.

Debbie Bliss Eco Family using Eco Cotton and Eco Baby.

Bella is a new yarn from Debbie.

85% Cotton
10% Silk
5% Cashmere

Double knitting weight
22 stitches = 4" on 4mm needles

$9.95 a ball

There is a beautiful sheen to the yarn.  I was afraid that there could be some pilling with the three different fibres mixed together but when I rubbed my fingers over the yarn it looked like I was wrong.

Six vintage inspired patterns using Amalfi, Prima and Rialto 4ply.

There were many bags of yarn too.  New colours of
-Prima
-Amalfi
-Eco Cotton
-Eco Baby
-Cashmerino Baby

The latest Noro book was in the box as well.  I definitely couldn't go through it because yarn would have come home with me.  :)

The new colours of Noro should be arriving later in February.

RUFFLES UPDATE

Ondas
75 Red and 77 Blue arrived.

Triana
49 Black and 47 Turquoise were in the box.

I started packing for my trip on Saturday morning.  It doesn't take long to pack when you are only there for two nights.  The problem will be what knitting to pack.  I don't think my dad is going to let me sit and knit but I have to take some just in case.

It's a good TV night.  Idol and finally a new Grey's Anatomy.  I will be knitting-I don't see my chiropractor until next Wednesday so she won't know.  :)

Lots of Snow!!

It has been a snow day for me and I am taking advantage of it.  This means I haven't accomplished anything yet today except for a nap.

For the next hour I am working and then my knitting will come out.  A newsletter just went out.  A cheque has been written for my booth at The Knitter's Frolic (April 30, 2011 9am-4:30pm).  A few orders have been placed.  It really is time to knit!!

I was up at 5 this morning (I think I wanted to see if it really was snowing) and then again at 8.  When you look in our back yard it looks like we received absolutely no snow.  And then we you look in our driveway there is a lot of snow.

This is before we went out and cleaned off the cars.  The snow cleaning crew is in our complex.  We have them clean out the front of the driveway and the we move our cars to visitor parking so they can get our driveway really clean.  There are currently two problems
-Their snowblowers have died
-It is snowing again.  Huge flakes.  Our cars are covered again.

Beth decided to make us brownies.  She has a Perfect Brownie Pan and it does make great brownies.  Small problem.  We didn't have any eggs.  Beth had to go knock on the neighbours door and beg.

I am taking my brownies and going to sit on the couch.

For those who are out and about today have a safe drive.

The weather outside is frightful!!

It looks like I will be working from home tomorrow.  Right now The Weather Channel is calling for 40cm of snow in Hamilton.  I have two different projects packed.  Just in case I get bored with one.

I have been writing a newsletter for a month and finally finished it this afternoon.  It has been sent to Beth for her to proof read it and then hopefully it will go out in the morning.

Much of the day has been spent getting things in order in the store.  Some of the price signs in the store were starting to look a bit ragged and now they are nice and fresh.  I moved yarns around as well.  Room was needed for yarns arriving.

Shepherd Sock is hanging again.  This shows the colours much better than when it was on the shelf.

I wrote most of this post while in the store and now have time to finish it.  After work I ran to have my nails done. Two were broken and they looked disgusting.  I brought dinner home and then made a phone call to our friend Oliver in New Zealand.  We usually get to see Oliver at the trade show in January but he couldn't make it this year.  There was lots of catching up to do.  An hour and a half later I got off the phone.  That isn't going to cost too much.  :)

The weather outside is crazy right now.  The wind is blowing and the snow is swirling.  I'm predicting a day at home tomorrow.  Hopefully you will be getting one as well.

I LOVE CABLES

I am watching the Bachelor while writing my post.  I know-there has to be something a bit better on TV but it is like a train wreck that you can't stop watching.  The women get so upset that Brad is kissing them all. What did you expect when you came on the show??  Some of these women have a very big ego.  "I am beautiful and fun".  Really?  This week they are are in Vegas staying at Aria in a huge suite.  Totally jealous!!

It was seriously cold out today.  I know that for many of you this is your normal winter weather but I don't like it.  Right now it is snowing and blowing in Ancaster but this isn't the storm.  That is coming tomorrow.

Michelle posted pictures on her blog of an amazing cardigan she is knitting in Rowan Felted Tweed Aran.  I LOVE CABLES and these are outstanding.  It is so beautiful that I bought the pattern and will be asking someone to knit it as a store sample (Rhonda are you up for some cables?)  Come fall I will definitely be thinking about knitting one for myself.

As you know I can't do a post without pictures.  I don't have any pictures of my knitting (my chiropractor has limited my knitting time) so here are some of the garments from Classic Elite.  We will have the yarn and patterns next week.

We already have some colours of Firefly in the store (along with a scarf from last summer's book) and there are five new colours coming.

Firefly is a warm-weather yarn with a subtle sheen and wonderful hand. The juxtaposition of the linen with a light-catching sheen gives it a distinctly feminine look. Firefly drapes wonderfully at a wide range of gauges - knit loosely for elegant lace or more tightly for stockinette fabrics.

These patterns are from book 9136 Firefly.

Clover scarf

Meadowsweet

 Honeysuckle

Chicory Cowl

It is time to defy my chiropractor and do a few rows of knitting before bed.

Just in time for the rose ceremony.  :)  I love watching the tears.

Little Road Trip

My parents called during the week that they needed some things from their house in Ancaster-they are in Myrtle Beach.  Instead of sending them by courier I am taking them down on Saturday.  I leave Buffalo early Saturday morning and will land again in Buffalo late Monday night. Unfortunately there won't be any golfing this trip-my chiropractor wants me to wait a few more months before swinging my clubs.  My mom is excited because she can rest while dad drags me around doing errands.  This trip is going to be a first for me-no checked luggage.  I am taking carry on only.  The thought is scaring me.  :)  I can only have the pair of shoes on my feet.  Luckily there is a washing machine in their house. 

There are some more Rowan books expected any day including Purelife Classics.  The book is a collection of 12 designs from Martin Storey using Revive and Organic Cotton.

Repton

Wisley

Lambrook

Hestercombe

Rowan books are amazing-great garments in pretty pictures.

Another Scarf

Emma brought Calsada in earlier today.  The yarn is so soft!!  I'm thinking that this will definitely be MY scarf.

I switched it around and added a pin.  I love the colour but there isn't a colour from Prism that I don't like.

Beth and I went to Chapters when I got home from work.  Beth loves to read and once she starts a book she doesn't put it down until finished. Cathy gave her a book by Lee Child for Christmas and since then she has finished six of his books.  Tonight she bought three more.  While she was looking for books I spent my time in the magazine section going through knitting magazines.  Wow.  There were a lot of magazines available.  I bought knitscene-winter/spring 2011.  From their website

Simple-but-clever knitting can lead to really cool results. The newest issue of Knitscene exemplifies this philosophy with 26 projects that will entice crafters of all skill levels—from stockinette to basic Fair Isle to quick one-skeiners with sparkle. The silhouettes are interesting and modern. The yarns are on-trend and fun to work with. The style is free—because you’re a free spirit. 

I like the belvedere cardigan, paperboy cardigan, camellia shrug....

There were no books for me but I did download the newest Jilly Cooper book onto my iPad when I got home.  This will keep my occupied for some time.

No knitting was accomplished last night.  I was in bed by 9pm.  On a Friday night.  How pathetic!!!  I am going to pick up my needles now and watch a few episodes of Criminal Minds.

Finished projects x 3

Things got away from me yesterday and it was bed time before I realized that I forgot to post.  To make up for it I have lots of pictures today.

Emma posted this on Ravelry yesterday and gave me permission to show the picture

I finished blocking Calsada today. This is a really easy scarf pattern, you knit the edging first and then the short row body of the scarf. It is an interesting construction, although I found that I needed to go down two needle sizes as it was going to be massive. It took me a while to figure out how to block it, but it turned out nicely. Here is a pic of it blocking:

Calsada is a design from Katherine Matthews (Purl Diving).  I really wanted this scarf but knew that Emma would knit it faster (and do a better job) than I would do.  The yarn is Prism Saki in the Cabernet colourway.  It is funny that Emma is bringing the scarf in tomorrow-a box just arrived from Prism with 10 different Saki colourways.

A parcel arrived from Lynda this morning.

Pattern:  Valentine Cardi designed by Laura Chau. Pattern from Spud & Chloe
Yarn:  5 skeins Spud & Chloe Fine
Colour:  7819 Orangutan
Size:  Medium

I really wish I would remember to send buttons to my knitters.  I didn't have time to sew any on today so I have used a shawl pin from Romi.

Take a look at the scarf!!

It is finished (even the ends are sewn in)

Pattern:  Hitchhiker Scarf (you can purchase this pattern on Ravelry)

Yarn:  1.5 skeins of Prism Saki 

Colour:  Portofino

Needles:  3.25mm

And a close up.  I really like how the colours came out.

A finished project means that I can start something new!!  I am going to show some restraint though and try and get another project finished over the weekend-the tosh pashmina scarf I am knitting.

Blast from the past

There were lots of visitors in the store this afternoon.
Ms. Canada Post brought a huge box from madelinetosh-merino light and vintage
Mr. Canpar brought another huge box that was full of Katia Triana and Ondas
Mr. UPS came with two boxes from Rowan-Kim Hargreaves magazines and yarn for the shelves

Now I need to find out where I am going to put it.

For the past two weeks I have been saying that the Hitchhiker Scarf is almost done.  It is still almost done.  When I get home at night I think that there will be time to sit and knit.  Either work gets in the way or I am too tired to pick up the needles.  Maybe tomorrow??

I talked about sending parcels to Ann and Lynda.  Lynda will be knitting with Noro Taiyo in colour 18.  I have to think before I send out parcels to my knitters.  Ann can't have Noro.  It always takes at least an extra ball because she needs to match up the stripes.  Not me (and hopefully not Lynda).  I have no problem with fronts of a cardigan that don't match.

This cardigan is from Noro Flowers (last summers book from Jenny Watson).  A few customers have knit this (Karen, Kathy and Sandra) and it looks great so I am having it knit for the store.

Ann is going to knit with Berroco Origami.  Salvador is from the new book for spring (#305)

A gorgeously unique dolman sleeve cardigan, Salvador cinches closed with a simple twisted tie.

Dolman sleeves. Wow. A blast from the past.  Think about the sweaters you knit years ago and have stuck in the back of the closet.  Now you can bring them out and wear them.

Triana and Ondas??
In Triana we have
42 Harvest
50 Sea Green and Blue (the colour on the pattern)
45 Fuchsia
46 Violet
40 Cream

In Ondas we have
78 Black/Grey
70 Greys with brown and beige
76 Violet

I am going to try and get an hours worth of knitting in before bed.  :)

Shades of Summertime

I thought about going to bed at 8pm but then got working on my HST return.  All of a sudden it is 10pm and I still need to do a blog post. There isn't much news today.  The weather in Ancaster was much nicer. Right at freezing.  Beth and I went out for dinner (we cooked at home for 4 nights in a row and the dishwasher was asking for a break) and I had on a turtle neck and sweater shirt.  No ski jacket for me today!!

This afternoon Mr. UPS brought me two boxes yarn from Berroco including the new yarn Linsey

Available in solid colors as well as gently shifting multicolor shades, Linsey™ is an ultra soft yarn for summer. Cool, comfortable and colored in the sun-weathered shades of summertime, this yarn is eminently wearable.

64% cotton
36% linen
20 stitches = 4" on 4.5mm needles

Here are a few pictures from pattern book 307

Bayarri  

Striking in its simplicity, this cardigan is greater than the sum of its straightforward parts: two shades of a gorgeous self-striping yarn plus basic intarsia equal a dazzling kaleidoscopic swath of fabric.

Turia is a lightweight version of a winter classic. Instead of complicated color work, this pullover makes judicious use of the naturally occurring color changes at play.

Palau 

Summertime and the knitting is easy! This stripy vest is comprised of mostly rectangular pieces with a slim contrast color edging.

Multi-coloured yarn makes me very happy.  It keeps me interested while knitting with it.

Now I need to go and do my mailing for the morning.  Both Lynda and Ann have finished projects and I want them to get more yarn before the weekend.  Don't want them sitting around with idle hands.  :)

A bit of spring for a cold day

It is almost going home time and I am just starting my post.  Most of my day was spent working on the website.  I am on a mission to get it as current as possible.  Korey has a huge to-do list and hopefully will  get his work done this week.

I worked a bit on the Featured Patterns page. Korey and I keep playing with this trying to make it easy for you to navigate. There are still a few ideas that we are kicking around but everything can't happen overnight. We had a category called Blue Sky Alpacas and I have divided that into the different Blue Sky yarns that we carry. Same for Spud & Chloe, Noro and Sirdar.

Rowan 49 arrived today and I have it on the website.

I have it packed in my bag so that I can go through it thoroughly tonight with a cup of tea.

After work I visited my chiropractor and then came home to have my dinner-Beth had it ready for me.  :)

Here are a few more pictures of garments from the magazine

Ghost (the open texture swing) knit in Siena 4ply cotton.
I like the flare in bottom of the sweater and sleeves. There is a slight variation in the stitch pattern-no changing needle size or decreasing the number of stitches.

Pimpernel (the mesh hankerchief) from Martin Storey knit in Kidsilk Haze

Another small shipment of Triana arrived today-more of colour 46 Violet.  I have been told by my distributor that all the colours should be here within the next two weeks.

Beth and I are totally up to date with the Y&R right now. Sharon arrested for murdering Skye.  Beautiful.  We think that Jack and Adam are going to work together to get Victor. Will the Evil One finally get his?  It is time to move upstairs and watch today's episode and get some knitting done.

Noro Flowers 2

I am so excited about this new book from Jenny Watson.  Jenny has turned into one of my favourite designers.

We don't have a delivery date on this book yet.  Fingers crossed it is soon!!

Aya came out last year and there will be more colours coming for spring.

I think I want.

Are you looking for a fine/lightweight cardigan? Knit in Noro Sekku.

Furin

Silk Garden with beads

Taiyo

Kureyon Sock

Sekku

Furin

Silk Garden Sock

Taiyo

Kureyon Sock

Aya