Jane Ellison

We just received the new magazine from Jane Ellison called Queensland Collection Book 9. This is an amazing book of patterns for men-vest, sweaters, cardigans, scarves and hats. Here are a couple of pictures from the book.

Darn Pretty

I forgot something in yesterday's post. We received a shipment of Darn Pretty Needles. The Original Darn Pretty™ Needles, crafted in Vermont from Vermont wood products, offer exceptional strength and durability. Available in a wide range of colors and color combinations.

Darn Pretty™ Double Point Needles by Grafton Fibers are not just the prettiest needles available, they are also the strongest, smoothest wood needle on the market. Hand crafted from Vermont wood products that are dyed and laminated, creating a more stable product, the needles are a joy to use.

I haven't knit with these yet but I think I will now that the circulars have arrived. They are beautiful.

Kim Hargreaves

I have been busy all day but it feels like I haven't accomplished anything. I did however finish writing three newsletters, got seven packages to the post office, did two loads of laundry and went grocery shopping. In my running around I stopped by the store with lunch for Jane and taught somehow how to do short rows. While there a parcel arrived with Rowan magazines and yarns.

Kim has always been one of my favourite designers. She is now producing her own magazines using Rowan yarns. Thrown Together features fabulous designs for fall.



Nectar came out in the summer and we have copies back in stock.
Beatrix and Kim are from Thrown Together.

Both designs are knit in Felted Tweed.

I have been putting this off but now I must go and finish doing my GST return. It's something I hate doing but it is for the government and I don't want to be late with a payment to them. Bad things can happen to you if you are late.

More Log Cabin squares

The weather has turned cold which means it is incredibly busy in the store-no complaining from me. :) I didn't get any knitting done in the store on Friday or Saturday but did sit and knit Saturday night and Sunday. Here are squares 13, 14 and 15. I have put a link to the left under websites to visit called Log Cabin afghan that will take you to the pattern.

The fall knitting class schedule is up on the website now.

Jane is in the store today but I have many things on my to do list so I had better get going.

Fall is here

Wow, the weather has turned cold here. The great thing is that I can get my sweaters out and start wearing them.
I have been knitting like crazy on my squares. Here are squares 11 and 12.
I really want to get the afghan done for many reasons
1. The squares look great and I can't wait to see it finished
2. It is going to look amazing hanging on the wall in my living room
3. I want to start Landon from Jordana Paige

It is rearranging time in the store again. Dream in Color Classy is now at the front door. We have every colour in stock right now.

This is just the start. Berroco Jasper has a new home (sorry no pictures because it is dark out and the colours aren't showing up well). Now I need to find a new home for Tonalita because it used to live at the front door.

I think that the number of posts this week should keep my mom happy. :) Gotta run because my knitting class should be arriving any minute and I don't have the class room tidied. Can't wait to get home to watch Survivor.

New Jordana Paige Design

You might not know that Jordana Paige designs garments as well as knitting bags. This is her latest pattern-Landon. It is available today from her website. I will be ordering it and looking to knit it. The yarn will be a decision-Jo Sharp Aran Tweed, Berroco Pure Merino or Tahki Donegal Tweed. What do I use?

Christmas is coming-time to think of gifts

I spent today making up kits (8 done with 4 to go) in fabulous colours for this afghan. I combine hand dyed yarns from Fleece Artist with yarns that we have in the store including ribbons and eyelash. Wannietta designed the afghan for me-I handed her a bag of yarn and told her to get busy.

Ball winders are now in the store. This is the JUMBO ball winder. This can hold up to 500 gram skeins-perfect for large hand painted hanks and delicate yarns. We also have the regular ball winders as well.

Jane was busy yesterday unpacking a box from Dream in Color. We should have every colour of Classy in stock now.

It's an epidemic

Everyday we have people in the store needing to knit baby garments.  It seems like everyone is pregnant right now-must be something in the water.  :)  

Here are some pictures from Sublime's new magazine 612.  Sublime is a division of Sirdar meaning great yarns and patterns.  The yarn is called Baby Cashmere Silk Merino DK (a blend of 75% extra fine merino wool, 20% silk and 5% cashmere.  The colour range is great and we have them in the store.

Present for Beth

I did find a picture of the ninth square that isn't as fuzzy as the one in the last post.

On my way to the Ball's Falls Conservation Area last week the traffic was stop and go.  I was stopped in front of this house and couldn't resist taking a picture.  Mom, I am looking after Beth-look what I found for her.  :)

The blog is not broken

Mom called me from Myrtle Beach last night and asked if the blog was broken. I asked her why she would think that. Her response was 'You haven't posted in so long so I thought it might be broken.' Sorry mom-here are some pictures for you.

Square 9-I didn't realize the picture was blurry until I was posting it here-sorry-I don't have another one on the camera.

Square 10.

My Edie is almost done. I just need to block it and sew in the ends.


This is Jane wearing her new cardigan from Kim Hargreaves book Nectar. The pattern is called Favour and it is knit out of Rowan Denim.  The book should be back in the store this week (Jane sold all the copies last week while wearing the jacket) along with the next magazine from Kim called Thrown Together.

Did anyone watch The Amazing Race last night?  Beth and I would have kicked butt on that episode.  We have been to Gulf Harbour and Mount Eden.  Kelly and Christy missing the entrance to Mount Eden is understandable-it is almost impossible to find.  The Skytower was one of our homes while in NZ (the casino is there) and Bev stayed at the City Life Hotel so we visited it often as well.  It was unfortunate that the show didn't show the drive from Auckland to Kiwi 360 (we visited here as well).  It made it look like they were close together but they weren't-it is actually over 200 km and takes over 3 hours to get there.  New Zealand doesn't have major highways like we do-it is like driving country roads everywhere you go.

Okay, now that mom should be satisfied for tonight I am going to get back to work.

needleemporium.com upgrades

I posted yesterday that Korey and I had made some neat changes to the website. These have disappeared temporarily. Korey needed to change servers today. The site was running slow with our large database-hopefully this will make it run much quicker. With the change, all of my updates need to be uploaded again. This might be done today-otherwise keep checking back this week. Sorry about this but in the long run it will make the site much better. :)

I went the Balls Falls craft show this morning. It took forever to get to the Conservation Area. I guess everyone decided to go because the weather was so nice. By the time I got into the show I was so tired and irritated that I looked around quickly and then came home empty handed.

Here is square number 8. Football, baseball and The Amazing Race gave me lots of time to knit. Speaking of the Amazing Race-Mark and Bill comment that they are not a physical team so they will need to use their brains. I think that includes reading the clue properly. When will people learn? Read the clues before you start running around like a chicken with your head cut off. It only takes a couple of minutes and it could mean the difference between winning and going home.

I've gotta go. I'm playing poker and should be concentrating on my game (as well as knitting square 9)

More squares

I am totally addicted to my Log Cabin Afghan. Here are squares 6 and 7. Since it is Sunday afternoon I am sitting on the couch watching football. Square 8 is on the needles and will be done later today. I might even get square 9 started during The Amazing Race. I am not sure who I am rooting for yet-I think it might be the mother/son team.


I am speaking at the Kitchener-Waterloo Knitter's Guild this Tuesday night. It is always fun to go to their guild meetings-they are a huge guild with enthusiastic knitters.

Korey and I have been working on the website. We have a new section called Featured Patterns-this was called Kits and it wasn't easy to navigate this section but I think we have found something much easier now. Please let me know what you think. Take a look at Laura and the other pattern names that have a star in front of them. This also lets me show some of the designs from the new magazines.

My couch is calling. Have a good Thanksgiving. I might spend my holiday Monday at the Ball's Falls craft show. The weather forecast looks good and the crafts there are always great.

Another square done

Square number 5 is complete. I am having fun knitting the afghan. The squares are mindless knitting-a great project to keep in your purse.

The angels. Melo loves to lay on the couch and Roko decided to join him tonight.

Home Again

Life can now get back to normal. We arrived home from Gone Stitchin' late yesterday afternoon. Our time away was great. The weather was cool with touches of rain but we all had lots of warm sweaters to wear. The food was great as usual. Barry has taught at retreats all over the US and claims the food at Bayview is better than anywhere else he teaches. Fiona's and Barry's classes were phenomenal. Thursday night Beth hosted Family Feud. I can't say anything else about that because what happens at Bayview stays at Bayview, however, if you ever meet Barry, make sure to ask him about his wives. Friday morning we held our fashion show with over 50 garments that are new for fall. Friday afternoon the ladies had a class and then Friday night I gave a talk about tips and tricks for knitting. Saturday there were two more classes and then Saturday night the students showed off their knitting in the student fashion show. After Sunday mornings class everyone started their trips home.

I worked on my fall class schedule this afternoon as well as a newsletter. Hopefully both will be finalized tomorrow.

This was taken Thursday afternoon after a rain shower. The amazing rainbow didn't come out in any of my pictures. Just imagine it. :)
Beth told everyone that Saturday was her birthday. Betty Lou and Sue made her a present. Sue is holding a small gun that shoots confetti into the air. The resort is going to hate us because there is confetti everywhere on the carpet.
Sunday morning in class.
More Sunday morning class.
I did get a bit of knitting done. Two more squares on the Log Cabin blanket.

Now I am going to lay on the couch and watch baseball.

I am back

These past two weeks have been so busy that I don't know if I am coming or going.

Here is the second square of my Log Cabin Afghan. I have started square number three. I am almost done my Edie cardigan. There are about 45 rows to go on the second sleeve. Hopefully I can get it done tomorrow and block it tomorrow night.

Last week was the Sports Celebrity Dinner to raise money for Honduras. Pinball Clemens was the guest speaker-if you get the opportunity to hear him speak I recommend you take it. Johnny Bower was there. Beth and I ate dinner with Damon Allen. Ask your husband or father if these names don't mean anything to you.

Gone Stitchin' is this weekend. My poor printers (one in the store and one at home) are worn out. I just finished the welcome packages. After spending an hour trying to print the name badges I gave up. If they won't print tomorrow in the store then I am going to print them by hand. Beth and I have been working on door prizes and goody bags for the past week. I have a major problem with the goody bags-they are so good that I don't think I will be able to match them in the future. We also have great door prizes for everyone.

Now it's time for bed.

Knitter's Fair

We made it through the fair. The day was busy so if I missed you I am sorry. People said hi to me and then later in the day I couldn't remember talking with them.

Beth and I drove to Kitchener on Friday afternoon to set up and I was back in Ancaster around 11pm. The drive home was very slow because of fog. I was back on the road at 6:30 so I could get the booth finished before opening at 9:30. This year there were two halls used so the booths could be spread out a little more. It was great. WIDE aisles so you didn't feel crowded at all. The show ended at 4:30 and we loaded the vehicles in the pouring rain. We were soaked to the bone for the drive home. Thank goodness none of us ended up sick.

I didn't get any pictures of the booth. We were busy right up until closing. Here are some of the garments that my knitters finished for the Fair.

Brooke's lace shawl. I thought it was stunning when I saw the pattern picture but it is incredible in real life. I am sorry that I didn't get a picture of Jane wearing this-it looked like it was made for her. Wannietta did an amazing job. She was a couple of yards short for finishing the collar so she sat in a corner at the fair and finished it for me.

Jeanie knit in Rowan Cocoon from the new Rowan Cocoon magazine. Rhonda ran short of yarn for the collar and sat in the store to finish it on Friday night for me. I know that she didn't get a finished picture of it but I will get her a better one at Gone Stitchin' with it on a human body.

Lynda delivered this to Kitchener on Saturday afternoon. I have been talking about Edie that I am knitting-here is the store sample. (I have picked up and started my first sleeve-the end is in sight.)


In my last post I talked about a fabulous afghan knit out of Noro Kureyon. Here is square one of my afghan. Beth has decided that it will look good in her bedroom when it is finished.

Knitter's Fair-this Saturday-mark your calendar

If you are at the Knitter's Fair on Saturday, please make sure you say hi when you come to the booth.

No knitting to report except for a multi-directional scarf knit out of Silk Garden Chunky to display shawl pins on at the Fair. Sorry-no pictures because when I left today Jane was sewing the ends in for me.

On Ravelry tonight I found the coolest pattern for an afghan knit in Noro Kureyon. Take a look here for pictures and the pattern. I should send KathyMarie an email to see if I can use her picture here but I want to get this post done since I have been slacking and I am in front of the computer right now.

I have been locked in the basement for the past 2 hours winding yarn for the Tulip cardigan. Thank goodness for my new wool winder. If you email me and ask me the price of it I can't tell you right now but I will find out next week. There is a motor arriving next week as well for it so my arm and shoulder won't be quite so sore. :)

This is my sewing table. I haven't set up my sewing machine yet but maybe after Gone Stitchin'. As you can see it is being put to good use right now.

I think Memphis blew it last night on Big Brother. Both Dan and Keesha would have taken him to the final 2. He could have sat back through the last HOH and ended up the winner of $500,000-he would have beat both of them.

I was glad to hear who won Canadian Idol. I forgot it was on and Beth told me when I was done winding.

It's bedtime now. I had a stressful day-hair and nails all in one day.

Now in the Store

The store has been crazy again. Lots of new yarns arriving including the new Kaffe Fassett sock yarn. The colours are great. I haven't done any knitting-stocking shelves and moving yarn around while in the store and making kits while at home. We will have a great assortment of the Baby Tulip jacket at the Knitters Fair.

Speaking of the Knitters Fair-one week to go. Make sure you read my upcoming store newsletter before going to the fair.

Vienna is one of the two new yarns from Naturally. 67% Wool and 33% acrylic that knits to a worsted weight. The colours are great-we have them all.

Aspire DK is 70% NZ wool and 30% alpaca. One of my knitters is working on a store sample right now.

Como is Debbie Bliss' new yarn for fall. We have the yarn and the magazine is expected next week.

Just arrived

A new publication from the U.K.’s favorite knit-wear designer. More than 30 signature designs highlighting new baby, home-décor and fashion patterns you’ll sure to love.
Best known for her luxurious yarns and chic patterns, renowned British knitwear designer Debbie Bliss launches Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine. Published for new and accomplished knitters who gravitate toward the unique story and personality behind the products they love, Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine showcases Debbie’s fresh sensibility, charming wit, and modern designs.

On the TV front
Big Brother-Jerry in the final 4-who would have believed it.
Canadian Idol-Mitch in the final-who would have believed it. I like Mitch but I think there were others who were much better.