Why should I have all the fun??

I’m going to have a sale while I’m away. The sale will start online Saturday afternoon at 5pm EST and run until Wednesday October 4th at 10pm EST. I’m looking forward to hearing my slot machine dinging and my phone beeping with orders.

Over the next few days I’m going to show the yarns that will be on sale along with pattern suggestions.

Please note that I won’t be shipping orders until I return so the shipping will be a bit slower than normal.

The sale pricing will not show up on the website until 5pm Saturday afternoon.

30% off

Spincycle Versus

Spincycle Trine

15% 

All Biches & Buches yarns

10%

Spincycle Dyed in the Wool, Dream State and Plump

Here is a link to Biches & Buches on the website

Here is a link to Spincycle on the website

Here are some patterns that use Versus.

Photo © Andrea Mowry

This is Andrea Mowry’s Metamorphic (pattern purchased on Ravelry).

Since my earliest days of knitting, I have loved to play with stripes! This little striped pullover lets the “wrong side” shine, because sometimes wrong just feels right! Faux seams adorn the center front and back of the sweater and encase the sleeves. Metamorphic fits like a classic, with details that make it anything but ordinary! 

This sweater is knit from the top down (meaning you can try it on as you go and add length to suit your own personal style!), beginning with the collar. The beautiful reverse stockinette stripes are created by knitting the sweater inside out so you can avoid all that purling! Slipped stitch faux seams encase both the sweater and the sleeves. The sleeves are returned to the needle after finishing the body, picking up stitches for the underarm for a totally seamless sweater!

You can use Versus for the main colour of the sweater. I made a chart showing the number of skeins that you would need.

Here are some colour suggestions from Spincycle using Versus and Dyed in the Wool.

Cloak & Dagger with Good Omen

Tobacco & Rye with Deep Bump

Slow & Steady with Mississippi Marsala

This is Cinnabar (pattern purchased on Ravelry) knit with Forgive & Forget Versus and Wololo DITW. I loved making this shawl and will make it again.

I didn’t make it to the end of Survivor last night. I was able to watch a bit more this morning and should be able to see the tribal council after work. Then onto The Amazing Race.

I didn’t get my ribbing finished either. Maybe tonight.

Thank you Lynn

Lynn came last week and worked getting everything ready for the sale. She was here yesterday putting the store back in order. Boxes are hidden and the store looks great. There is lots of room to move around. We have a few areas of the store that you don’t see and Lynn put those back in order for me as well.

Thank you Lynn!!!!

This is the day that Lynn met Jackson. Beth had to hold the leash really tight because we were afraid that Lynn was going to take him home. I don’t think it would take much to talk Lynn into a dog.

Diana will be in on Friday with a finished shawl and needs something to knit. I’m giving her the Killer Queen Cowl (pattern purchased on Ravelry). 

A generously sized, asymmetrical cowl worked on the bias with 3 different stitch patterns--a great way to show off a variegated colorway on a semi-solid background and add a bit of glam rock to your neck and shoulders. 

The neckline is even engineered to taper a bit towards the neck to reduce the amount of bulk at the neck but still fit easily over your head. 

There are 2 options for finishing the cowl: It may be sewn together at the edges, or you can add buttons and after-thought buttonholes with a crochet hook when the piece is finished. 
See this Video for the how-to after-thought button tutorial, an overview of the construction, and tips on how to wear it by altering the buttoning.

Choosing colours is hard. The cowl is knit in Malabrigo Rios and there are so many combinations that would look great. You need 2 skeins of the main colour (the solid) and one of the contrast (colourful).

Teal Feather and Piedras. This is the combination that the designer used.

Hollyhock and Arco Iris

Reflecting Pool and Queguay

Cape Cod Grey and Indiecita

Yerba and Tranquilo

Here is a link to the finished cowls on Ravelry that were knit with Rios. The combinations are awesome.

It’s time to move to the knitting chair. I’ve been busy since I got home and now I need to work on my ribbing. The Jays are on and then we have Survivor and The Amazing Race. 

Plane knitting

I’ve decided what I’m taking to knit on the plane. I’ve cast on and am working on the ribbing. I don’t like ribbing on the plane - it’s boring and then I don’t knit. If I get to the colours then I’ll be a much happier plane knitter.

This is going to be Andrea Mowry’s Tessellated Vest (pattern purchased on Ravelry).

The most frequent request I’ve received this past year, is for a vest. I thought - what better time to debut my first vest pattern, than at NY Sheep & Wool?? Perfect for layering, this mosaic vest is my new favorite wardrobe staple. I can’t wait to see how you style it!  

This vest is worked from the bottom up. The body is worked in the round until the divide for the yoke. The remainder is worked flat, and the shoulders are finished using the 3 needle bind off.

I’m using Dyed in the Wool Nicoya for the main colour and Ghost Ranch is one of the contrasts. The other contrast is Suri Silk Briar Rose.

Photos © Andrea Mowry

Dad, Beth and the dogs are heading the cottage in the morning so we’re busy packing groceries. We’re also trying to get everything settled for Thanksgiving Dinner. So far we have 33 confirmed but could have up to 39 for dinner. It won’t be our largest gathering but pretty close.

Now to my ribbing and The Voice.

New Patterns

Joji has a new pattern - meet the Granny Cardigan (pattern purchased on Ravelry). This would satisfy my want to knit to cables.

As you slip on this cardigan, you can’t help but feel a sense of warmth and security, like you’re wrapped up in a hug from your favorite grandmother. It’s a feeling that stays with you all day, reminding you of the power of love and the comfort of home. 

This cardigan is knitted from the top down. 
The construction starts at the shoulders, where you set up all the cables, and then you work all the way down to the underarms, where you join all the pieces together. 
The sleeves are picked up from the armholes and knitted in the round, seamlessly. 
The button-band is also knitted in one piece, allowing you to finish this sweater with minimal work.

Photos © Joji Locatelli

Caitlin Hunter also has a new pattern that you can purchase on Ravelry.

The Tutka pullover is worked seamlessly from the top down in the round. Short rows are worked to raise the back neck and improve the fit. Lace and bobble details and a loose gauge make this a sweet, lightweight sweater in spite of the heavier yarn used. The length of the body and sleeves is easily adjustable to your preference. 

I chose to use a brushed suri alpaca - held double for my sample which makes an extremely soft and lightweight fabric. This pattern is very adaptable to different yarn weights, as long as gauge is met there is so much room to play around with different yarns! 

The yarn that Caitlin used is the same base as Emma’s Suri Silk. We have quite a few colours in stock and there will be nine new colours coming next week. Out of stock colours are also in the order.

Photos © Caitlin Hunter

I had a productive day running lots of errands. I even managed a short nap. I was hoping to graft my second sleeve but I didn’t make it that far.

Now it’s time for knitting and football. 

The Day After

Thank you to everyone who visited yesterday. We had a great day. The weather was amazing and everyone was happy to be outside yarn shopping. You rehomed a lot of yarn 😀.

The first cuff is grafted. I didn’t want to start the second sleeve while watching football. That could be a recipe for disaster.

The dogs love tug of war with toys.

Now a bit of knitting. Tomorrow I’m running errands and getting ready for Vegas. Lynn and I will be back in the store on Tuesday putting it back in order and shipping orders.

Quadrangle Spires

Alex stopped in this afternoon with her knitting. She finished Stephen West’s Quadrangle Spires. It is amazing!!! Alex doesn’t like to be photographed so Lynn came outside with me.

I am so jealous - I want to knit the shawl but I haven’t had time. Alex offered to knit one for me. I really want the joy of knitting the shawl but I also want it finished now so having Alex knit it for me sounds like a great idea. I have some skeins stashed away for it.

The pattern calls for 6 colours of Dyed in the Wool but Alex used 3 - Midsommar, Big Sky and Love Spell. Her main colour is Practically Perfect Sock in Barbie Girl. These colours are so Alex - that girl loves pink!

If you don’t want to use Dyed in the Wool you can use Zauberball Crazy or Edition 3.

Linda finished her Alpine Bloomm and sent pictures. Another beautiful colour combination. Linda used Practically Perfect Sock (I think I need to shorten this to PPS) in Sea Me Now with Nostalgia Dyed in the Wool. Thank you for sharing Linda! 

Woolstock has been rehomed and it looks much better. It now lives in the hallway so it’s easy to find but it isn’t good for taking pictures. I really need a much bigger store. The website has been updated.

A two-ply yarn from the highest quality Peruvian Highland sheep. Extremely soft and rich in character with excellent stitch definition.

Lynn and I did a lot of moving around today and added lots to the Parking Lot Sale boxes.

Noro Tsubame and Kakigori are going to be $30 a ball. These are regularly $60 and $55 so it’s a great deal.

We knit ZickZack using one ball of Noro Tsubame. I really like Noro Tsubame. It is soft. It changes colours. It’s beautiful. Unfortunately we are having a hard time getting stock so it’s time to say goodbye. The colour of my scarf isn’t available but there are lots of colours going outside.

The pattern is free on Ravelry.

Here are the changes that I made to the pattern.

With 4.5mm needles cast on 72 stitches. You don’t need to change yarn every 2 rows. Continue working until you are almost off yarn. Cast off.

If you want a longer, narrower scarf then cast on 60 stitches

Lynn moved all the boxes to the front door. We have a lot of yarn. Please come and rehome it for me 😀. 

You might not hear from me tomorrow night. I think we’re going to be tired when the sale is finished.