Handpainted Linen

We have a new yarn from Trendsetter - Recycled Linen Handpaint. The colours make me think of spring.

84% Recycled Linen
16% Linen

135m/150 yarns on a 50 gram hank
24 stitches = 4" on 3.25mm needles.

I am flying down to Myrtle Beach to see my dad on Wednesday so I might take a few skeins with me. Right now I'm thinking an easy, lacy scarf. Nurmilintu might be the answer. It is a free pattern on Ravelry...

The yarn is handpainted by Lorna Miser who was the original owner of Lorna's Laces.

We received an order of Addi FlexiFlips with a small quantity of each size.

2mm
2.25mm
2.75mm
3.25mm
3.5mm
3.75mm
4mm
5mm

I have a lot more on order and as they are available my supplier will be shipping to me.

New colours of tosh dk arrived on Friday so I played with combinations for the Comfort Fade Cardi (pattern purchased on Ravelry).

Beneath the Waves
Moonstone
Heuchera
Fate

I'm torn. I love the purple but the denim is calling me as well.

Aura
Mockingjay
Rainwater
Antique Moonstone

Now I need to play with the Linen. Lynn rolled a ball for me before we closed the store.

Win Some Yarn

One of my suppliers, Estelle Yarns, is having a contest. Here's your chance to win some pretty Urth Yarn to make the Butterfly shawl.

The Papillon Shawl calls for a fingering weight yarn with a long colour transition and we think Urth Yarns Uneek Fingering is the perfect fit! Each and every skein of Uneek Fingering is truly a work of art with its rich, vibrant colours, its earthy feel, and the exceptional softness in every skein. This outstanding 100% Superwash Extrafine Merino has sensational hand and comes in a true kaleidoscope of colours.

Pattern: Butterfly / Papillon (purchased on Ravelry)

Read how to enter on their blog...

We have a sample hanging in the store and the shawl is beautiful.

I promised pictures of Starting Point. There are a few ends to sew in. I was sure that I was going to run out of yarn but I made it.

I've been knitting on my Prism Shawl. Mitred squares are fun. There could have been more knitting today but I did a bit of cleaning. All the bedding has been washed. Mr. Roko is fine but he had a small accident today and ripped one of his dew claws. We had blood everywhere. Beth took him to the emergency vet and they cleaned it up and put a bandage on him. While they were gone I washed the floors. Unfortunately the blood went through the bandage and I had to wash part of the floor again. It's all good - he's sleeping like a baby right now. Once I hit Publish I'm sitting down with a tea and picking up the needles.

Three Winners

Mr. Canada Post delivered a big box from Prism Yarns yesterday morning. Triple Treat is a new kit. A bit of sparkle but not too much.

There is enough yarn in the kit to make one of the great shawls.

Radiant Petite Madison - 73% merino, 7% cashmere, 10% silk, 10% sparkle
Shimmerati - 65% merino, 35% silk with sequins
Petite Madison - 75% merino, 15% cashmere, 10% silk

Laura Bryant (the owner of Prism Yarns) put together fabulous colour combinations for us. There are 9 different colourways available. Here are three.

I wanted a bit of fun so this is the shawl that I started last night. It is mitred squares mixing Stuff with Symphony.

It's fun to work on 5.5mm needles after using 3.5mm, 3.75mm or 4mm for the last four projects.

Thank you to everyone who donated to the Food Drive. We raised $1225 plus a lot of food - the back seat of Beth's truck was full.

Mrs. Lukas was a teacher at Ancaster High when we went there and she is a committee member for the Food Drive. This is the text that Beth send after giving her the envelope of money and the food.

This is what the room looked like when Beth got there. Not a lot of food in each category.

There are a lot of people working inside to sort the food. Beth felt very safe, she said that there was at least 20 police officers in full uniform helping.

Thank you again to those who donated. And thank you to all my suppliers for their generous gifts.

Anzula
Blue Sky Fibers
Estelle Designs
Freia Fibers
Hedgehog Fibres
JUL
Knit One, Crochet Too
Knitting Fever
Lorna's Laces
Madelinetosh
Mrs. Crosby
N. Jefferson
Regia
Rowan
Sally Melville
Soak Wash
SweetGeorgia Yarn

At 3:30 we did the draw for the winners. We asked a customer to reach in and draw three names.

The baskets will not be ready for a few days - we are still waiting on something items to arrive.

Congratulations to 
Carolyn Bouwman
Karen Wood
Laura Finsten

I will be contacting you next week to arrange pick up.

Now it's time for some knitting. Maybe Homeland. We have a few episodes of the new season taped.

Almost Finished

Diana stopped by this afternoon with her almost project. She is making Brickless (pattern purchased on Ravelry) with one ball of Girandola.

It will be blocked tomorrow and we'll have it in the store next week.

Diana used 3.75mm needles. She started on 4mm but found that it was too flimsy.

I'm very happy with how the yarn knit up and how it feels around your neck.

The new colours of tosh merino light are amazing. Two large boxes arrived today.

The baskets arrived today as well. I had different pictures for the blog and then someone bought that basket so I picked a different one.

The colour of this basket is a pale pink with a touch of grey.

I wanted to show how big it is - I threw in 2 skeins of tosh dk.

12 skeins and there is still room for more.

This is the small Apple Green. It has 5 skeins of yarn with lots of room left for more.

I ordered needle sets today that will be arriving in May. Perfect for sock knitters! This will be our first time carrying Chiaogoo Needles. I have heard great things about them and I know this is a must have.

TWIST "SHORTIES" Interchangeable system contains both 2" (5cm) and 3" (8cm) tips allowing knitters to make short circulars 9" (23cm) through 14" (36cm) long, including differential circulars!  A must have kit for sock knitters! In fact, we would be surprised if your customers haven't already been asking about TWIST "SHORTIES".

12 different sets of stainless steel lace tips in sizes  2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, and 3.25mm (US 0, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3) are included with the set. The tips are solid and have a tightening hole near the threads. This set comes in a compact, red nylon, zippered case and includes a tip sleeve that securely holds all 12 sets of tips. Also included are end stoppers, stitch markers, an adorable mini needle gauge and three different length cables, 5" (13cm), 6" (15cm) and 8" (20cm). 

I finished Starting Point after dinner. Pictures tomorrow. Then my blocking whiz will finish it for me (I hope she says yes when I ask her). That's four finished projects so far this year. You know what that means - I get to start something new. An order arrived today from Prism and a kit came home with me.

Winter is back

Kimba is blocked with all the ends sewn in. I'm very happy with the finished shawl. If I were to make the shawl again, I would change the needle that you start with. The first section is all garter stitch and I would go down one needle size for it. Then I would go to the size that the pattern asks for when doing the lace section.

Knitting Fever has donated 3 Lykke 3.5" Interchangeable Needle Sets for the Food Drive Gift Baskets. Oh my goodness. This is amazing!

I did get a bit of knitting accomplished while watching Survivor last night. It's not the easiest to photograph right now. It is huge!

I was just tracking some packages online and it looks like the new baskets as well as our madelinetosh order will be arriving tomorrow afternoon. Or they should be. It will depend on the weather.

Speaking of the weather. As of 6:30 there wasn't a snowflake to be seen. Now it's crazy out there.

We'll be shovelling before bed.