Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you had a great day with family and friends. Our dinner was great. Beth and I hosted. It was a small gathering this time - only 14. Aunt Barb brought the turkey, gravy, stuffing and pies. All the hard stuff. Beth and I did the rest. We had a great time but now I'm tired.

Dad brought over their Sjoelen board. What you ask? It's a dutch version of shuffleboard. Here are the rules to the game... 

Our families are very competitive and any game is win at all costs. Beth and I had a few practice rounds before our guests arrived. Pucks were flying, mostly during my turn. We piled pillows in front of the window - just in case.

Roko's tired too. Brynn and Blake ran him and Lucy around the yard all afternoon. They played with tennis balls, golf balls and frisbees. I think we're all ready for bed.

Tomorrow is a big day. I'm golfing with Beth. Last summer I golfed 9 holes and I haven't golfed yet this year. It'll go one of two ways. I'll golf the best round of my life or like I haven't met a golf club before.

A bit of knitting (since it's a knitting blog :) ). I've finished another chart repeat. I'll do a few more rows tonight while I watch the end of the baseball game. Then a good night's rest.

Chart Trick

I'm enjoying Espe. The patten is very intuitive. After a few pattern repeats you can see where the lines are going and you know right away if you have made a mistake. The other great thing is that the wrong side rows are purled. You can relax on that row.

It is worked from charts that are easy to follow. Here is a little trick.

I write the number of knit stitches between the yarn over and decrease so I don't have to keep counting squares. I have them all over the chart. I couldn't photograph the whole chart because that would be giving away the pattern.

After I have marked up one chart with numbers I make many copies (10 to be exact because you repeat this chart 11 times). Then I can cross off as I do every row. The pattern is intuitive but I still mark off the rows. That way I know where I am if I put it away for a day or two.

We had to say goodbye to Melo this morning. He's been having a hard time walking and there were a few other health problems. He wouldn't take cheese or cookies from me before I left for work and we knew that it was time. There have been some tears but it was for the best.

Espe

Linda came in wearing her Find Your Fade. Oh my goodness. I love the colours.

It's perfect for a cool summer evening. It will be fantastic in the middle of winter over black, grey or jeans. What a way to add some happiness to a cold winter day.

Linda used Hedgehog Skinny Singles. Our stock is a bit low right now but that should change next week - there are 2 large boxes at Canada Customs.

We get asked all the time about how to decide which size sweater to knit. Especially when the pattern says something like 'meant to be worn with 2" positive ease'.

The newest Twist Collective is out and there is a great article about Ease. I did a bit more searching about Ease and came up with another article from a previous Twist Collective.

Of course I purchased a pattern while I was flipping through the magazine. There are many great patterns in this issue.

Inspired by the spectacular colors of the Colorado aspen groves in autumn, this wrap uses lace leaf motifs that let the beautiful colors of the gradient yarn take center stage.The shawl is worked in one piece, side-to-side, from a tiny six-stitch cast on, and it increases along one edge forming a practical, elongated triangle. A simple yarn over edging is worked along the two longer sides; this can be used for finishing since the blocking wires can be easily threaded through the yarn overs.

Pattern: Espe (purchase on Ravelry)
Yarn: 2 balls of Freia Shawl Ball. I like the new colours Mist but I could change my mind tomorrow :)

Well, it's a few hours later and I've been watching baseball. I love the post season. I decided to knit Espe in Arranmore Light from The Fibre Co. The yarn is awesome. Beth commented that it is boring but not everyone wants a wild coloured shawl. It was a great way for me to try the yarn. I really like it. The wool/cashmere/silk blend feels good in your hands. The pattern is easy to follow. The project gets two thumbs up so far.

Group Effort

Coming in November - Urth Yarns.

Urth Yarns is a family owned yarn brand specialising in hand dyed natural yarns. We value the time and emotional investment that go into hand knitting; therefore appreciate your demand for a stimulative feel and yummy colours. Developing and employing innovative dyeing techniques, we aim for a love at first sight or touch, every time. 

We will have a fingering weight and a super bulky coming.

The colours look great in a skein and knit up.

Spoiler Alert. Alex is working on Speckle and Pop! and I have a picture to share. It will be at the end of the post if you don't want to see how the first clue knits. I still haven't cast mine on yet. I'm trying to get some projects finished for the Fleece Festival.

Don't forget that our Friday hours are now 10-5:30

Ms. Canada Post brought in a box from Friea Fibers yesterday. I love the new colours of Shawl Ball.

We have the colours for Fletchling (pattern purchased on Ravelry)...

...and Archer (pattern purchased on Ravelry)

The Caledonia Cowl is finished. Beth started it. I finished the knitting. Alex cast off, sewed the seams and put in all the ends. It was a group effort.

I had the cowl on and it felt really nice around my neck. If you're looking for something other than wool, this is for you. The yarn is Worsted Cotton from Blue Sky Fibers.

Alex just finished a baby blanket for a friend.

Pattern: Hexa Hap (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: tosh merino light - 2 skeins of the main colour and 1 skein of the contrast
Needles: 3.75mm

Don't forget that we have new store hours

Monday-Friday 10-5:30
Saturday 10-4
Sunday Closed

Spoiler Alert
Here is Alex's Speckle and Pop! so far. The main colour is Bounce Sock from Long Dog Yarn and the contrasts are from her stash.

Barn Full of Animals

We're getting ready for the Woodstock Fleece Festival. We love this show. It started out much smaller than the Knitter's Frolic and Knitters' Fair but it has grown to their size. You will see fibre for knitting, spinning, weaving, rug hooking, felting and dying. There is a barn full of animals. And I am told that the lunch is amazing!

Our neighbours at the show always have the neatest fibres. It makes me want to spin but I can't knit fast enough with the yarn that I already have.

Sericin Silk is worth a visit at the show or in Tabi's Etsy shop...

Visit the Fleece Festival website for more information...

At the show we will have many shawls on display designed by Ambah O'Brien. These shawls all take 3 skeins of fingering weight yarn. There is one colour for the lace section and then the garter stitch section has two colours. Today we are making kits in various yarns and fun colour combinations.

tosh sock

tosh merino light

Mrs. Crosby Train Case and Lorna's Laces Solemate

tosh sock

tosh merino light

The Caledonia Cowl is growing. Remember me mentioning that Beth didn't have the pattern in the bag. It got worse. She didn't wind all the balls. I had to wind two to finish. I think she should have offered if I was good enough to complete it for her.

I'm enjoying working with the double strand of cotton. It is knitting up quickly on the big needles. Tomorrow we're going to make some kits for the store and the show.

Now back to my knitting (just four rows to go) and TV. We're watching The Great British Bake-Off and it's time for the show stoppers.

Happy Birthday

Roko is 12 years old. He's slowing down but if you want to throw a ball he is more than willing to chase it. And you better get out of the way if you mention a cookie. He will knock you over getting to the kitchen.

Our friend Ambah has a new pattern.

Pattern: Zarya Shawl (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: Adelaide from Primrose Yarn but you can use any fingering weight

Zarya is worked in delicate fingering weight yarn and one skein in each of two colours is all you need to knit up this easy yet interesting piece.  

Simple lace in alternating colours is paired with a slipped-stitch pattern that adds drama to colour changes. Choose high-contrast yarns for a bold piece, or lower-contrast skeins for a more subtle look. The asymmetrical triangle shape is formed with increases and decreases and results in a wearable, substantial shawl.

My mom hasn't seen our new table yet so here are a few pictures for her. There is a sheep theme happening.

I have the pattern for Beth's cowl so I can get going on that tonight. The baseball postseason is starting and it should be interesting. We have a lot of good teams this year and any one of them could win the World Series.

Beth's Knitting

Beth finished a cowl last night. I'm pretty sure she is going to ask me to block it for her. And sew in the ends.

Pattern: Cara (purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: Independence from Spincycle Yarn

This slipped stitch polka dot pattern is a simple way to add a beautiful texture to Stockinette stitch. Knit in the round, the finishing couldn’t be more simple. Enjoy the color play as you watch this pattern unfold.

She enjoyed it so much that she wants to knit another one. I don't have any more of the yarn (it's on the way) so she is going to make up her own pattern using tosh merino.

I've hit a stand still on my Find Your Fade. The first three colours are finished and I'm very happy with how it looks. So far. The next four colours aren't to my liking. There is a shipment on the way from Hedgehog Fibres so I'm waiting to see what's in the box. In the meantime, I'm going to finish a project for Beth. She's liking her slip stitch knitting more than garter stitch.

Pattern: Caledonia Cowl (available in the store or can be purchased on Ravelry)
Yarn: Blue Sky Fibers Worsted Cotton
3 skeins of the main colour and 1 skein each of 3 contrast colours

Worn long or doubled up, this versatile cowl will become your new favorite accessory. Quick to knit and beginner friendly, you simply cast on with two strands of our super soft Organic Cotton and knit garter stitch back and forth lengthwise, sewing it up when it’s done. Easy color changes gives Caledonia a modern marled look.

I'm not really happy with her right now. The pattern isn't in the bag with the yarn. I can figure out the stripe sequence from what she has knit so far but that is beside the point. Keep the pattern in the bag. :)

She tried to make a deal with me so that I would cast on for her. I was a very nice person and her stitches are on the needle and she's knitting away.

I spent some time today working on the website. (Too much time, my eyes are blurry from staring at the screen for too long.) The yarns from Long Dog Yarn are finally listed.

Now it's time for bed. I have an early dentist appointment. YUCK!!