New Colours

This morning a surprise email came from Namaste. More colours are coming!!

The Hermosa bag is coming in Pumpkin Spice and Caribbean Blue.
The Zuma bag was discontinued but will be back in Canary Yellow, Pumpkin Spice and Caribbean Blue.
The Harlow bag will be coming in Canary Yellow.

We are ready for Camp. There are boxes and bags all over the store.

Mr. Canada Post brought the Pollika shawl pins this morning.

I should have taken them out of the packaging but I was rushing. I will try and get some better pictures at Camp.

I thought I was ready for Camp but Beth and I are doing the last minute printing and packing.
-Josh's class notes
-door prizes
-suitcases
-wine (that is the one thing that we can not forget)

The last thing I need to do is figure out what I am going to take to knit.

Jubilee Throw

Today was a busy day. I saw my chiropractor this morning and then a trip to see Trish. The grey has been washed out of my hair. Nothing makes me feel better than a trip to the hair salon. A short nap this afternoon and then a trip to the nail salon. I can't go to Camp with ugly nails. :)

Mom and dad came home from Myrtle Beach tonight so Beth and I went over there with Swiss Chalet. My dad does all the driving and they do it in one day. They were both tired but happy to see us.

Pashmina Worsted from madelinetosh is on it's way to us.

Pashmina Worsted is a 4-ply yarn made up of 75% merino wool, 15% silk and 10% cashmere. This yarn is a heavier weight version of our very popular Pashmina base. A similar fiber blend to the infamous woven pashmina scarves. this machine washable blend is hand-dyed in small dye lots and knits up to create a soft fabric with great drape.

The colours in this shipment are

• tart
• mourning dove
• well water
• calligraphy
• composition book grey
• worn denim
• logwood
• wicked
• cove

Now I'm finishing the last printing we need for Camp. 

There are many notes being made-I hope I don't miss anything.

I was going through iPhoto to see if there was something to show and then I remembered an email I received from Jane. I am getting very excited about this. If you don't know what Jane is making it is the Jubilee Throw-a free pattern on knitrowan.com.

First panel sewn together. Still haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to line this. Thinking I may do it like a quilt...lots of pins and then sew in the ditch. Any other suggestions would be appreciated

Now I need to get back to Camp. The last decision is what am I going to take to wear??

What is behind the fence?

Roko and Melo are obsessed with the fence. Why?? The neighbours have new puppies. Two little black fur balls. Our dogs have toys bigger than these puppies. My dogs want to play with them. They run out the door to the fence and wait for the puppies to come outside.

Today was spent getting everything finished for Camp. It was a very productive day until I realized that I missed some garments in the fashion show. The brochure was done and printed. There were a few choice words being thrown around at my house. It's been redone and now I'm going to relax.

Big Brother and an NFL game. Doesn't get much better. :)

Lizard Ridge

Kate Atherley is in the store today teaching two workshops. This morning she taught Lizard Ridge. This is a pattern from Knitty.com.

I have some squares knit and seeing Kate's finished afghan has me motivated to pull mine out and get going on it.

The afghan in different coloured squares is the pattern from Knitty.com knit in Noro Kureyon.

The bright yellow/red/orange/lime afghan is knit in Noro Hitsuji.
Kate calls it Godzilla Ridge and you can see her revisions to the original pattern on Knitty's blog.

The ladies left class with a much better knowledge of short rows and wrap and turns.

This afternoon the ladies are doing a class on lace knitting. I don't want to interrupt them while they are concentrating.

Cathy and I spent the morning doing the last minute packing for Camp. We do a fashion show on Friday evening and my biggest worry is that we forget some of the finished garments. They are all accounted for. We also set up a mini yarn shop and I think we have kits for all the garments that will be on display. Now I just need to pack the little things like knitting needles, accessories (someone always forgets their cable needle or sewing needles) and bags. The last thing to do is figure out the order of the garments for the fashion show and do the program. That is my job this afternoon.

I just stepped outside for a minute and I'm loving the weather. It is much cooler-sweater weather is here!! 

Shawl Pins

I have fallen behind on my blog posts this week. If you have been in the store you know that I haven't been feeling well. Monday I was at the doctors and she ordered chest xrays. She was afraid I had fractured some ribs or had a collapsed lung. The xrays came back negative. I am still coughing like crazy so I went to see her again today. I am now on my fourth round of antibiotics and an inhaler. Hopefully this will cut down on the coughing.

Beth did the grocery shopping on Monday and felt sorry for me so she brought me home a plant. Phalaenopsis Orchid.
It is beautiful! Now I have to keep it alive. :) I don't have my Oma's green thumb.

There hasn't been any knitting. With all the coughing my chest and shoulder blades are sore. A couple of trips to the chiropractor and they aren't as sore but I'm trying to rest them.

A box of shawl pins and buttons are on the way from BC. They should be in the store on Wednesday morning. Just in time for Camp.

The shawl pins are made of wood and the colours are fabulous.

Think of that cardigan you are making. You are already dreading the button holes. Now you don't need to make them. Do plain bands and use a shawl pin.

We are almost set for Camp. Beth and I just finished making up the door prizes. My suppliers were very generous with their donations. It was very hard not to dip my hand in and take a few things. Now it's time for some football and then Big Brother. When will they get rid of Dan? He is going to win it all again.

Scarves

Mr. Canada Post brought a box from Lynda on Friday morning with the Modern Quilt Wrap. It is so beautiful that I want to share. Today was a great day for getting pictures outside.

The pattern is from knittingdaily.com

Yarn: 2 balls of Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe
Colour: 359
Needles: 4.5mm (straight or circular)

What could be more comforting than being wrapped up in the warmth of a colorful quilt? Very loosely based on the traditional Log Cabin quilt block, Mags Kandis worked this wrap/oversized scarf square by square in the easy and satisfying mitered-square method of color knitting. This is as effortless as working in stripes, but the results are far more impressive. As this project is worked one color as a time, it’s perfect for thinking about and playing with color.

Lynda commented that the colours were subtle. When looking at the scarf today I came up with a way to show the colours in a different way. I'm not complaining because I love the way it looks but if you want to show off more colour you can do one square from one ball and the next square from the second ball. Alternating balls might have been easier to write. :)

On Saturday Wannietta brought a scarf to the Knitters' Fair that she knit for me. It is the Yellowstone River Scarf kit from Mountain Colors.

The kit includes
5 skeins Mountain Colors Just One Ounce
-mohair
-mohair loop
-missoula
-wooly feathers
-merino ribbon

The knitting is done on 8mm needles.

Jane, Cathy and Kim will be laughing when they look at this picture. When we make kits in the store we try to have the labels facing in the same direction. Jane would call it 'A Julie thing'.

Jane unpacked the boxes from the Knitters' Fair yesterday in the store and today I started repacking for Camp. The biggest chore is my Friday night fashion show. I try to theme the garments - vests, colour, shawls, cables... I'm leaning towards colour this time-it is much easier. :)

I think it's knitting time! Groovy, here I come.

Lizard Ridge

Kate Atherley is coming on Saturday (September 15, 2012) to teach in the store. We have changed the morning session to

Lizard Ridge

10am-12pm $30

From Kate:
Looking for a great  block by block project? Enchanted by Noro? Intrigued or intimidated by the pattern for this stunningly beautiful, innovative afghan project? Learn all the techniques you need to tackle it in one 2-hour session. Master the ever popular Lizard Ridge blanket (as published on Knitty) adding a great new technique to your repertoire! This is a fun and impressive looking project for those looking to take a step up in their skills or just looking for a new pattern to play with.
class details: The pattern itself is complex to read - it prints on 5 or 6 pages. I spend some time going through the instructions and provide a cheat-sheet so that knitters feel confident with it. The basic block pattern uses a short-row stripe pattern - I teach all the required skills to be able to read and work it: wrap and turn, hiding wraps. And then I discuss how to block and finish the project.

skill level: advanced beginner/intermediate - knitters must be comfortable with knit and purl

materials required: bring straight or a short circular 5mm needle and a ball of Noro Kureyon

note: Kate has designer permission to teach this class, and distribute the cheat sheet she has created. 

I have started the blanket and it is fun to work with many different colours of Noro.

Kate will be bringing her version called Godzilla Ridge. Read more about it on the Knitty Blog. This intrigues me. We have the yarn in the store (even new colours for fall) and Kate has some great ideas on using different colours.

The afternoon session, Your First Lace Project, still has a few spots. Here are the details...

Are you ready for some football?

Beth and I just got home from unloading the van and truck. The yarn is in the store (sorry to Jane who gets to start sorting it tomorrow) and the fixtures are in the storage locker ready to be packed up for Camp. Camp-that's only 10 days away.

We were extremely lucky with the weather over the weekend. No rain while unloading Friday night, no rain while packing yesterday afternoon and sunny again today. Carrying boxes in the rain is not fun.

We had a great time at the Knitters' Fair yesterday. The day flew by. I'm sorry if I didn't get to say hi to you. It was crazy busy all day-not that I am complaining-but I am sure that there are people I missed.

Thanks to the ladies who came and helped me yesterday. From the right
Jane wearing the Cascade Vest knit in Kauni
Lynn and Wannietta both wearing the Bias Before and After Scarf and Easy Fold Poncho
Kim wearing the Lush Cowl from Prism.

Kim and Wannietta are also wearing mitts from the Soakbox kits.

We had a Soak corner. Jacqueline sent along a poster that looked great hanging in the booth.

The pictures are a bit fuzzy. I was rushing just as the door was opening to get pictures of the booth.

Thanks to Jane, Wannietta, Lynn and Kim for coming with me yesterday. Thanks to Cathy who was busy in the store and a great big thank you to Beth. I owe her big time.

I also want to give a shout out to the great volunteers of the Kitchener-Waterloo Knitters' Guild. These men and women work very, very hard to put on the show.

Today is the first Sunday of the NFL season. Perfect timing. I can sit all afternoon (relaxing like my doctor told me to) and knit on the Groovy Scarf. After being around so much yarn yesterday my fingers are itching to pick up needles.

Knitters' Fair set up

It's a pretty safe assumption that there won't be a blog post when I get home after the show. I'm writing this before heading to bed on Friday night. This way I don't have to worry about writing tomorrow.

The set up tonight went really well. Cathy and Beth did most of the work. It is a different booth than the past few years. We have had a corner booth that looked like the letter L. This year we have a long booth. Really long.

Here are a few pictures. The garments are hung when we get there Saturday morning.

 Namaste cases in bright new colours

 tosh pashmina

 Soak and Soakboxes

 Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe

Coat of Many Colors Kits

We forgot a few signs (and I have already printed them) and need a few baskets from the store in the morning. I think we are ready to go! See you at the Fair.

Waiting

My day has been planned down to the minute. Stop at the doctor's office, go to the store to meet the Mr. Canada Post, pick up the van, go to storage for shelving, come to store and pack, head to Kitchener. We are at the second item on my list and we are now behind. Mr. Canada Post is no where to be seen. He is bringing a box from Lynda with a finished shawl for the show and hopefully some yarn. Hurry!! I can't do anything until I get the van. 

While I am waiting I took a few pictures. 

The Catherine Cowl is done. 2 balls of Royal Petites (100% Alpaca) from Blue Sky Alpacas. The yarn is packed for the Knitters' Fair.

A new scarf yarn arrived yesterday from Filatura di Crosa.

Rumba (which is coming to the show as well)
It is like the scarf yarns we have been using-you knit in the big holes along the top of the yarn.
75% acrylic
15% wool
10% polyester
10 m on a 100gram ball.

It didn't take long to make the scarf. I put on 4 stitches with 5mm needles. 

I think if I was making this for myself I would use 2 balls and start with 6 stitches. The scarf would be just a bit wider and longer.

Hint-don't wind the yarn into a ball-wind it onto a paper towel tube.

Mr. Canada Post just left. My shawl from Lynda (which looks amazing) and two other boxes. It's time to get on the road. Have a good day and we will see you tomorrow at the Knitters' Fair!!

Packed

We are packed for the Knitters' Fair.

This is just a part of what we are taking. The other end of the store has many boxes and bags too.

I hope it all fits in the van tomorrow. :) It looks like a lot but when I look at my list of what we are taking I'm afraid we don't have enough to fill the booth. Dilemma!!

Mr. Canada Post brought in a box from Prism this morning. More Stuff and Plume. There was also a sample of the Lush Cowl. It is in shades of browns - absolutely fabulous. I quickly made kits and they are packed for the Frolic. Kim had the cowl on and it looked great on her. She will be wearing it on Saturday.

There are seven kits packed including these three colours of Layers Stuff. Layers Stuff is like Wild Stuff with lots of texture and glitz but without the eyelash.

 Slate

 Plumberry

Shale

This morning I was awake at 4am and couldn't get back to sleep. I checked my emails and someone had sent me an email about a tosh yarn. I looked on my phone and found something that I didn't know. If you look at the screen shot for my phone there are more madelinetosh and Rowan yarns than what you can see on the screen. On your computer you can scroll down the list but on the iPhone or iPad you couldn't. You could only look at what was displayed. I can now scroll on my iPhone. Just swipe in the box (i.e. Rowan) and it will let you see all Rowan yarns.

Korey (my web guy) and I had a discussion earlier today about the website. He wants to redo the whole thing. There are many new features that he wants to add. The site will be more user friendly and easier for me to change and update. Shade cards can be added easier, the news section on the front page will be updated quicker and I can update the yarn quantities faster. We are also going to change how we accept payment online. Right now we are using paypal but we are going to change-many people tell me that they don't want to use paypal.

Now I need to get back to the Catherine Cowl. Five more rows and I am done.

Tina and Jack

I really thought about posting yesterday but life got in the way. My cough is still lingering so I called my doctor to get an appointment but couldn't get in. They suggested I call the after hours doctor. I had a 6pm appointment but didn't get to see him until 7:30. Then half an hour at the drug store to get my prescription and I wasn't feeling like sitting down and writing. There wasn't much of interest to say either.

Today I'm feeling better. The coughing is much better-not sure if it is in my head or the new pills are working. I'm really tired but hopefully a good night sleep tonight and I will be running tomorrow. We are almost packed for the Knitters' Fair. Kim and I will finish tomorrow and Friday morning the van will be packed. I totally forgot to take a picture of the store-there are boxes everywhere.

I needed information on a Rowan yarn today and went to www.knitrowan.com. There are new free patterns.

Tina

Knit this women's moss stitch cardigan a free pattern download part of Rowan Studio 28 collection. Designed by Ruth Green and using the ever popular yarn Kid Classic (lambswool and kid mohair). With straight cast off sleeves, round neck detail and contrasting colour fronts, this knitting pattern is for the beginner knitter.

Download the pattern... 

Jack

Knit this men's fairisle slip over the members exclusive free pattern download for September. Designed by Martin Storey and using the gorgeous yarn Wool Cotton (merino wool and cotton). With a v neck detail and contrasting bands, this knitting pattern is for the intermediate knitter.

Download the pattern... 

Thank you Rowan for these great designs.

It's another busy TV night-thank goodness because I need to spend some time knitting on the Catherine Cowl to get it done for the Fair. The first game of the NFL season. Big Brother-will someone save themselves from the block? Beth is yelling at me to get upstairs. She is ready to watch Big Brother and is threatening to start without me. Wishing you and me a good night sleep!!

Jubilee Throw

Jane sent an email this afternoon with some great pictures. This is going to be another work of art. The colours are amazing and I love all the different patterns.

Here are a few pics of the throw. The first one shows how I block them. Pin them to a piece of styrofoam and put a WET towel on them. When the towel is dry..they are blocked. That may take a day or two. The second pic is of some blocked pieces.  Just for your info..I have not even got half of the squares done. This is going to take a while. Am pleased with the blocks so far

We had a great day on the golf course. I'm glad that I decided to go. For a while this morning I thought about staying home but that would have meant a day in bed. I think it was better to get out in the beautiful sun.

Kate Atherley is coming back to teach on Saturday September 15. If you haven't taken a class with Kate then you are missing out. You will learn a new technique as well as picking up lots of great tips from her. After her classes the students are always raving about what a great instructor she is.

Edited to add-this class has been changed to Lizard Ridge.

Cabling Without a Cable Needle 
10am-12pm $30
description: Speed up your cable knitting and expand your skills by learning to work cables without a cable needle.
class details: We work through a variety of swatches, starting with 2-stitch "mock cables", and knit-over-purl twists, and then move up to multi-stitch cables. Emphasis is on practising the technique. I also discuss yarn and project types that lend themselves to abandoning the cable needle, and those that don't (i.e. wool or yarns with some friction are better than fibres like silk).
skill level: Suitable for a newer knitter, but they must have worked one cabled project.
length: 2 hours
materials required: bring scrap yarn in a light colour and matching needles - worsted or aran weight and 5mm needles is recommended

Your First Lace Shawl 

1pm-4pm $40

description: Are you a newer knitter ready for a challenge? Are you looking to learn a new skill? Lace is the most beautiful work a knitter can produce. Start your lace knitting adventures with a triangular shawl in a traditional Shetland lace pattern. We`ll teach you the basics of lace knitting - including working from charts and written instructions, and get you working on your first shawl. We`ll also talk about how to identify, fix and prevent mistakes, and provide tips for making lace easier and more fun.
class details: I provide a set of basic lace patterns that we work through in small swatches, building skills to prepare for the lace pattern stitch used in the shawl. I start with repeats of yarnover-k2tog ssk-yo, then move to a cat`s eye, and basic lace motifs like leaf shapes and the traditional Cat's Paw, and then to the lace cable motif used in the shawl. I talk about how lace is constructed - the basic concept of position and slant of decrease as it relates to the corresponding increase. I show how to work from both written and chart instructions. I demonstrate the lifeline, how to fix missed yarnovers, and provide tips to reduce risk of mistake - counting sts, use of markers, keeping track of chart rows. In the second half of the class, students begin work on my `Modest Lace Shawl` design, and I show knitters how to work and read a full shawl pattern. And, finally, I talk about why and how to block.
skill level: advanced beginner; knitters must be comfortable with knit and purl and decreasing
length: 3 hours

materials required: 4.5mm needles - straight or short circular - and aran or worsted weight scrap yarn in a light colour; 4mm needles - straight or short circular, and 450-500m of sock/fingering weight yarn

Please note:
Class size is limited
You must pay the class fee in advance, either in person or over the phone
Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Now it is bed time. We have a lot to do this week and not a lot of days to get it accomplished.

Back to my knitting

I picked up the Catherine Cowl today (I need it done for the Knitters' Fair so I better get going).There is a lot of yarn in each ball. The first ball is finally done and I hope to get most of the second ball done tonight while watching Big Brother and the Nascar race.

I don't have much knitting to talk about tonight so here are some pictures of the dogs.

Beth was lying on the couch this afternoon reading. Roko decided that lying on top of her would be comfortable. Melo likes to lay on the floor.

Last night Beth went out so the dogs kept me company in bed. I got up to go to the washroom and this is what I came back to. They look very comfortable. :)

Tomorrow we are going golfing. I should be working on getting ready for the Knitters' Fair but it will probably be my last round of the year so I'm not going to miss it.

Have a great holiday Monday!!

Knitters' Fair

It's only one week away.

The room layouts are now available online so you can plan your shopping.

We are in the Marshall Hall-booths 1-4. Same location as last year.

Marshall Hall layout

Ballroom layout

My tips if you are coming to the Fair

-If you don't like crowds then plan to arrive after noon. It starts to thin out a bit and it is easier for you to get into the booths.  This could mean that you might miss out on some of the hand dyed yarns. 
-Bring your own lunch. Why waste time standing in line when you could be shopping?
-Parking can be an issue so car pool if possible
-If you see something you like write down the booth number.  It is amazing how many people are running around at the end of the day looking for xyz and they can't remember where they saw it.

See you next week!!