Elder Tree Shawl

Kim brought in her latest project today.

Pattern: Elder Tree Shawl - free on Ravelry
Yarn: It's still a secret

The shawl is beautiful!!

I'm really starting to like the black and white pictures. Sometimes knitters are swayed by the colour of a garment - whether they are seeing it in person or in a picture. If they don't like the colour they will pass it by. In the black and white pictures you are looking at the stitch pattern and shape of the garment.

Not coming to the Frolic? No worries. The yarn will be in the store after the show (we're having nightmares about how we are going to fit it in). It will also be available on the website.

It's a busy TV night. Survivor. Idol. CSI. Criminal Minds. I think that's it. The best part. Lots of knitting.

Super Secret

September Circle is done. Just needs to be blocked and the ends sewn in. I brought it to work today and when I was by myself I would pull it out to work on.

Why is the picture in black and white? The yarn is super secret. We will be debuting it at the Knitter's Frolic. I can't tell you anything about it yet but as soon as I can I will start sharing.

Every time I heard the door open I would jam it back into my bag. And a very fancy bag it is. :)

The next project has been started - Groovy. Unfortunately it's going to be started again. I'm using a 4mm needle but I think that it will knit up nicer on a 4.5mm.

Now I'm going upstairs to sulk. I'm not a good rip it out, start again kind of person. Thankfully it's only 15 rows and not that many stitches.

Prism

From Laura Bryant - the mastermind behind Prism Yarns

Worked with three strands of Delicato held together, our Impressionist Jacket is a true blank canvas for playing with color. One set of colors is more prominent and moves through four shades, while the graceful pleats open to reveal a darker color that is consistent throughout. Shaping is achieved through short rows but the knitting is very simple. Flattering to all.

The Impressionist Jacket kit was in the shipment that Mr. Canada Post delivered today.

Delicato is 100% Tencel.

This lovely lace yarn is a terrific substitute for more costly silk. Lustrous, smooth and silky, the hand is superior with beautiful stitch definition and blocking retention. Tencel® is ten times more absorbent than cotton, stretches less than rayon, and is environmentally friendly (made from sustainable trees and in a closed-loop system that re-uses all chemicals).

There are 2 new colours of Saki as well.

75% merino wool
25% nylon

Platinum

Prism searched high and low for this excellent sock yarn. Fine super wash merino is intimately blended with nylon for strength, resilience, color retention and wearability--not to mention washability! One skein makes a generous pair of socks. Saki is also excellent for any light-weight projects, especially skirts!

Shale

Plume (Prism's fur type yarn that looks and feels like fur but it isn't) and Stuff were in the box as well. This led us to redoing the Prism corner in the front room. 

News from Soak - there is a new scent coming later this week.

Fig

Ripened with sweet fig and lychee, and crowned by dandelions, Fig has the delicious scent of fresh-picked clean. Fig is now available in 12oz and 3oz Soak.

Nadine is downstairs teaching and I'm going to get out my knitting in a minute. My current project for the Frolic is September Circle. I hope to finish tonight. After class I will be watching Master Chef Canada, Top Chef Canada and The Blacklist. Pictures will be coming on Saturday, April 26.

Kaffe

These are the Kaffe Fassett fabrics that I bought yesterday. I don't know what they will be used for yet. Just stashing.

Maybe this? It's a free quilt pattern.

Some of you might be saying that you don't quilt. Here are some Kaffe Fassett throws that you can knit. The bonus - the patterns are free!

This throw is an adventurous project designed by renowned textile artist Kaffe Fassett. The structure of repeating these boxes and the colours moving diagonally up the work, make it a compelling knit.

3D Blocks Throw pattern... 

This throw is relatively easy to knit and has been designed exclusively for the web site, by Kaffe Fassett.

Madras Throw pattern... 

A large project that can be memorised leaving you free to concentrate on the colour. This throw has been designed exclusively for the web site by Kaffe Fassett.

Venetian Throw pattern... 

Kaffe has designed this throw in his own unique and inimitable style, exclusively for the web site using Purelife Revive and Cotton Glace.

Heatwave Throw pattern... 

You don't want a throw? How about a sweater.

To celebrate our 30th Anniversary, Rowan designers were asked to choose one of their favourite designs from the archives and re-work it in current yarns. Kaffe Fassett chose Stone Circles which was originally featured in Magazine 28.

Stone Circles pattern... 

Kaffe has been a huge inspiration in my knitting and quilting life. HUGE!! I never get tired of looking at his work.

Many, many boxes

Dad - we miss you. The back yard is full of boxes. By the time you get home the snow should be melted and you can get into the yard. Definitely more than one trip to drop them off where they are recycled.

We're doing a bit of straightening today. Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk is a mess. The skeins are very pretty but once you touch them they come apart. We've been debating what to do. We could hang them but they still undo.

Something hit me.

They are looking much prettier in their baskets now. You might not see the difference in the picture but we knotted the skeins and now they sit much better.

Kim came in wearing a very pretty new shawl.

Pattern: Browned-Eyed Susan from the book Juju's Loops. We have the book on order and it should be here in a couple of weeks.

Yarn: tosh merino light

After work Beth and I made a trip to Red Red Bobbin in Brantford for more fabric. We don't have enough pillows in our sun room in Myrtle Beach and we wanted to get the fabric before it is gone. Now I can take the fabric with me and mail it to Atlanta. Of course I bought some more Kaffe Fassett fabric while I was there. Now I really need to start quilting again. Once the Frolic is done I'm going to get back to it!

Now it's time for Damages and knitting.

Spring is in the air

Spring is here (at least it feels that way today). It's time to start thinking about some lighter weight knits. On Facebook I kept showing cowl patterns and was told that I needed to stop and to start showing spring/summer things if I wanted winter to end.

Here are some pattern suggestions for you - all were purchased on Ravelry

September Circle - top left

Made with 420 yards of fingering weight yarn.

Self-striping. Hand dyed. Solid. The possibilities....

Brickless - top right

Berlin in Winter is colder than most other big German cities – when travelling there, a big, cozy shawlette like this will come in handy! The beautiful colors are reminiscent of bright city lights in dark winter nights. The shape of the shawlette is an asymmetrical, long triangle, formed by rows that are getting longer and longer as you go. They are worked in different simple, but very effective patterns that make them look a little like a skyline of tall houses. These skyscrapers are not built with bricks, but concrete and steel – hence the name, "Brickless". And also: No more bricks in the wall that used to divide Berlin.

 knit in 560 yards of worsted weight yarn

Jet Stream - bottom

Combine: 1) beautiful yarn, 2) plenty of stocking stitch, 3) interesting (but oh-so easy) sideways & short row construction, and 4) eyelets, and you get a pretty shawl that’s soothing to knit and luxurious to wear!

You will need 2-100gram skeins of fingering weight yarn

I'm writing early because after work I am going out for dinner. Our cousin Aaron is getting married in April (the Saturday of the Frolic) and Beth is one of the MCs. She needs to figure out what she is going to talk about. Actually, the first thing she needs to know is how far she can push things. Funny or serious? What stories are appropriate? She doesn't want to upset the parents and grandparents :)

Heys

I've been talking a lot of the super secret yarn. It's still super secret but here is a small taste.

Beth and I have been knitting with the brighter colours. Lynda, Diana, Wannietta, Kim, Lynn and Lorraine are knitting with more muted colours.

Ms. Canada Post brought me a very large box this afternoon. Bad things happen when you watch The Shopping Channel on the day that they are doing Heys luggage.

My smallest suitcase (that I can carry on) has one wheel that keeps falling off. My largest suitcase was stepped on by someone and there is a huge crack in it.

Really, I can justify the purchase of anything :)

The box came just in time. I'm flying to Myrtle Beach next Friday to visit mom and dad for the weekend.

It looks like Saturday is going to be nice but the weather forecast in Myrtle changes hourly. It should be fairly warm when I get there. Hopefully I won't need a coat :)

When Beth and I arrived at the chiropractors tonight, these were waiting for us. Mrs. Smith (the receptionist) made them for us. We aren't supposed to call her Mrs. Smith. We're supposed to call her Mary. Everyone else does. But we've known her since we were very young (probably 5 or 6) so she's always been Mrs. Smith. It's a joke in the office.

Mrs. Smith loves baking for holidays. Any holiday. Thanks for remembering us Mrs. Smith.

Snow Day

I was up early and got ready for work. The snow is getting worse outside. I took Beth's truck for a trip around the neighbourhood to see how the roads were. They aren't good. We discussed it (and have been watching the Weather Network and CHCH news and looking at the closures around Hamilton and Ancaster) and it doesn't look like it's going to get better. Probably worse with the blowing. The conclusion - we aren't going to open today.

If you have to go out, please be safe.

It's been half an hour since I posted. The truck was clean then - not now.

The snow is coming down fast. I just spoke to my dad in Myrtle Beach. He is watching the weather channel and they showed Hamilton and talked about the winds and snow that we are getting.

Anemone

The newest Knit Kit has arrived.

There are many great features on the Knit Kit. The back compartment of The Knit Kit nicely houses sturdy, TSA Compliant, collapsible scissors as well as point protectors, darning needle, needle gauge and two different sized stitch markers.

And it's purple. :)

At home I've been working on samples for the Frolic. No questions please, it's still a secret. I can tell you that Diana has finished her shawl and said the yarn was yummy to knit with. 

In the store I've been working on my CustomFit cardigan. I'm almost to the armhole shaping on the first sleeve. I was going to get a picture before leaving work but I got a phone call from Hanley's Eyewear. I wanted to order a new pair of glasses with transitions lenses before going to Myrtle Beach. They could stay after closing for me so I had to hurry. Sorry no picture.

Beth is very excited about her newest project. She is going to make an Anemone Hat for the Frolic. Cat Bordhi has an easy to follow video for making the tendrils.

 

It was beautiful today. 11C when I went for a tea at 3pm. So much snow has melted in the parking lot. Apparently we are going to get 15-25cm of snow tomorrow. Who knows if the store will be open. You might want to call before heading out.

These pictures are for my parents. They are in Myrtle Beach right now. The snow and ice is all gone at the door. And we can see grass in the parking lot.

My knitting calls. Actually, the student upstairs is calling me because she needs a longer cord for her interchangeable needles. Can I bring it to her?

Liberty

It's been a long day and I just got home from work. I haven't thought about a blog post today. No deliveries today. No knitting today. What am I going to write about? I have absolutely no clue. I looked at some of my pictures. Didn't help.

Then I remembered that we will be getting two new colours of Liberty Wool from Classic Elite. They might be here on Friday and if not, then on Monday.

7851 Meteor

7852 Magenta Masterpiece

There will be two patterns as well.

Dinky Hat

This seeded rib hat is the perfect default hat pattern – the simple pattern of knit/purl stitches is easy to memorize, including the crown decreases. 

Seeded Rib Vest

This simple vest is worked in pieces in a seeded rib and finished with a solid ribbed edging around the v-neck and armholes.

Then I remembered something else. A box should be arriving from Prism any day too. There are two awesome kits in the box. These are technically for me but if someone wants them I'm willing to sell them and reorder for myself.

Impressionist Jacket knit in double strand of Delicato

Chevron Cha Cha
Knit in Euroflax Linen

It's time to sign off. Beth is tapping her foot. Master Chef Canada and Big Break have been taped. It's also 10pm and time to relax if I'm going to get some sleep tonight.

CustomFit

CustomFit makes custom patterns for hand-knit sweaters. It takes your choices, your body, and your hand-knit fabric and produces a pattern perfectly suited to you.CustomFit makes a sweater that is the correct size. From hem to neck, and everything in between.

We're ready to go. I've finished my first CustomFit sweater and am almost finished a cardigan. Now it's your turn. I'm offering evening sessions and Friday morning sessions for you to come in and be measured. The store is closed on Mondays starting in April so I can make Monday appointments as well. We will also talk about yarn choice and your swatch.

The price ($40) includes

• a 45 minute personal session to have your measurements done
• your first CustomFit pattern
• 10% off coupon towards the yarn for your CustomFit garment

You can set up your own account at home if you want. Just remember, you need someone to help you with your measurements. Please do not take your own measurements. Also, I've made patterns, spent time with Amy and have had a conference call with Amy on CustomFit. There are a few tricks that you might not catch until after your pattern is generated. My first pattern I had the V-neck starting in the wrong place. I can help you with these.

Once your measurements are done it doesn't take long to make a pattern for you - about 10 minutes. Just call to make sure I'm in the store and bring me your swatch. The pattern is $15 and we will give you 10% off the yarn to go with that pattern.

CustomFit is Not Just a Sweater Pattern Generator

When we put on clothes that don’t quite fit, it reinforces the ubiquitous message that there’s something wrong with our bodies. Since this is a daily occurrence for most women, the notion that we’re wrong is deeply and subconsciously held. Custom designed clothing is a wonderful antidote to all of those feelings. Since it’s created for us personally, it gives us the message that our bodies are right. As knitters, we technically have the ability to make great custom clothes... ...but we are often too intimidated. CustomFit changes that.

CustomFit is about helping knitters everywhere get clothing that makes them feel amazing. We knit for lots of reasons: It’s relaxing, the feel of the yarn running through our fingers is fantastic, it keeps our hands busy......but once the intimidation is taken out of the process of knitting a sweater? We can get the knitting experience we want, and the best-­‐fitting clothes we’ve ever had.

If you don't want to customize a garment, Amy has 6 patterns ready to go.

We enter your measurements and the dimensions of your tension swatch. In about 15 seconds we can hit print and you have a pattern.

These are the easiest garments to create. We can customize garments as well. The possibilities are endless.

• neckline - narrow, average, wide
• sleeves - tapered, straight, bell
• sleeve length
• hem length
• width of borders

I suggest that you make your first garment in plain stocking stitch. A bit boring but this lets you understand how the program works. You see how the shaping happens. Then on your next garment you can add in a cable or lace or stitch pattern.

Questions? Come by the store or give me a call.