Around and Around

We have a new sock book in the store.

They are fun to make, quick to finish and always needed — no wonder so many knitters love socks! 

52 Weeks of Socks, Vol. II offers even more inspiration for all sock enthusiasts. It is a colourful and abundant collection of patterns from a diverse group of interna­tional designers. Using a variety of different techniques and yarns, the book has something for both beginners and advanced knitters.

Here is Andrea Mowry’s Tessellated Sweater. Kits are available on the website. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

I’ve looked at finished projects on Ravelry. Here are some observations

-Fingering weight yarn will work.

-There are some knitters who left out the fluffy yarn. One knitter used a solid colour for the ribbing and then two multi-colours.

Take a look at Illana’s sweater on Instagram. She used one multi and one solid. I really like her version.

Not everyone wants to used Dyed in the Wool. You can use Zauberball Starke 6 or Edition 3 for the multi-coloured yarn.

Here are pictures of the Tessellated Vest (pattern purchased on Ravelry). My sweater observations will also work for the vest.

Photos © Andrea Mowry

I took a quick picture of my sweater. The colourwork is finished and I’m knitting around and around. You can see that blocking will be required.

Alpine Bloom KAL

Thank you to everyone who visited today. It was great being back in the store. I’m tired but that’s okay. Everyone was patient with me when I was slow.

Janice emailed more pictures of her Alpine Bloom. The colours are amazing! Janice has a good contrast between her main colour and the flowers. You don’t want the colours too close or you will lose the flowers. Just my opinion but if you are going to put that much work into the sweater you want the flowers to stand out.

People are going to stop her when she is wearing this. 

You still have time to join the KAL. Here is a link to the guidelines for joining. We are sold out of some of our kits but more will be available at the end of the month.

Andrea shared a picture on Instagram. Test knitters are posting photos of their sweaters and vests. Take a look.

Vest

Sweater

I will put together more combinations tomorrow after I purchase the patterns.

I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes open. It’s going to be an early night.

Back to Work

I finished my colourwork last night just as Vladdy won the HR Derby. I have a few rows to knit and then I can divide for the front, back and sleeves.

I made a few more combinations this morning when I was in the store.

Finally some colour in my garden.

Now a few more rows of knitting while I’m watching the All Star game. It’s a big day tomorrow - I’m back to work.

Combinations

In yesterday’s post I mentioned that I was waiting to see the yardages before I could make kits for Andrea’s new patterns. Someone kindly shared a link with me and now I am making kits.

These are with Madelinetosh Woolcycle. I don’t want to use fingering weight until I see the actual pattern on Thursday.

Here are the kits so far for the Tessellated Vest. I will be using the same colour combinations when I add the sweater kits tomorrow.

Dad let Lucy out to do her business this morning and then she went right to the boat. Beth said she had the ‘hurry up’ look on her face.

This is from Saturday. She wouldn’t get off the boat. Dad stayed and tried to nap there to keep her happy. The world does revolve around Lucy!

I’m on the second to last colourwork row. I’m not going to bed until they are finished.

Happy Sunday

I’m happy to start a new week. I’m feeling much better and will be in the store tomorrow shipping boxes and waiting for Mr. FedEx (more on that later in the post). My Alpine Bloom Tee last night. After some knitting this afternoon I have 7 rows to go in the colourwork. Unfortunately the rows are getting really long.

This is the start of Janice’s top. She is using Madelinetosh Twist Sock (Elizabeth Taylor) with DITW Dream World. The colours look great!!

Mr. FedEx should be visiting tomorrow. He will have a box from Della Q with the new Maker’s Mesh Tote. These are available online.

The Maker’s Tote in orange is in the box as well. I love this colour!

Are you following Spincycle on Instagram? They showed some pictures of Andrea’s new patterns (yes, two) coming out on Thursday. The main yarn is a heavy fingering/light sport. Similar to Dyed in the Wool.  The second yarn is Dyed in the Wool and the third yarn is something fluffy. One of the fluffy yarns is exactly the same base as Emma’s Suri Silk and the other knits to the same tension as Suri Silk.

Heavy fingering/light sport - what does this mean? I’m leaning towards Hedgehog Fibres Twist Sock, Madelinetosh Twist Light and Sweetgeorgia Tough Love Sock. 

If you want to use Sport weight then look at Patagonia from Juniper Moon or Woolcycle from Madelinetosh. 

I don’t know the yarn requirements so I have no clue the yarn distribution. I am going to take some pictures tomorrow if possible so that I am ready when the pattern releases on Thursday.

Happy Sunday!!

Happy Birthday Beth

I’m feeling very good after resting today. If I feel like this in the morning I will be opening the store at 11am. I can’t guarantee that I will be there until 4 but I will try.

Melanie Berg has a new pattern that is stunning. The shawl is called Beachy Keen and you can purchase the pattern on Ravelry. 

Lose yourself in this shawl’s gentle waves of sand and surf, where textured bands of ocean blues and sunny oranges alternate against the smoky gray garter stitch background.

Beachy Keen is all about those easygoing summertime vibes!

Melanie used two full skeins of fingering weight (one skein each of two colours) and six mini skeins for the shawl. I will put together some combinations tomorrow if possible. If not on Monday.

Here is Doreen’s Alpine Bloom. She is using Practically Perfect Sock After Dark with Cold Comfort. When she started the colourwork Doreen emailed that she wasn’t sure about the colours but now she is happy with how they are coming along. I love them!

This is the largest of 6 fish. My dad looks so happy.

It’s hard to see but my dad is holding up a fish. Boscoe really wants it.

Today is Beth’s birthday. Buying her a present is hard because she never tells us what she would like. I had some great things planned for our next Vegas trip (golf and hockey/football) but she announced on Wednesday evening that she wanted a paddle board or kayak or canoe. Dad called me yesterday to ask where he could get her a paddle board. I told me that he couldn’t buy her one. She had to pick it out. Then he asked where they could buy one on the way to the cottage. There is a store 15 minutes from our cottage called Swift Canoe & Kayak. Dad was happy with this plan. They stopped this morning and after asking lots of questions they loaned Beth a board for the weekend. Beth played this morning and again after fishing. They are going to buy a board tomorrow.

Boscoe loved the board. Jackson not so much. Dad took this picture which is a miracle. He has a flip phone so using an iPhone is foreign. 

Now a bit of knitting while watching the beginning of the Jays game. Then a good night sleep!!

Thanks Lynn

It was amazing having Lynn in the store today. She packed my boxes so I didn’t have to bend over and tape. All orders placed by 10am today went out so I’m relieved to be caught up. I try hard to get all orders out right away and this week I was way behind. 

Then she unpacked boxes.

We are well stocked on Gleeners.

There are brand new books from Laine. I hope to have these online tomorrow.

I sat down after dinner to knit and realized that having my Maker’s Board would be helpful for the colourwork chart. I have two at home and can’t find either of them. 👿. They could be in a bin with yarn but I don’t want to start digging.

I’m feeling better everyday but I did a bit too much yesterday and today. I’m going to stay home tomorrow and rest. My biggest complaint is that I’m not sleeping. Sleep isn’t normally a problem for me but I had to change the blanket on my bed. I sleep with a Hush weighted blanket. It is a cooling blanket that weighs 35 lbs. I am not supposed to lift anything over 20 lbs. Trying to throw it off to go to the washroom wouldn’t be a good thing.

Dad, Beth and the dogs are off to the cottage tomorrow. I will have a few days of peace and quiet.

Back at it

I went back to my Alpine Bloom Tee this evening. I’m off all my pain meds and figured it was time to pick up the sweater again. 

Do you follow Andrea Mowry on Instagram? She has photos of new patterns coming next week. Yes, there are two new patterns.

My gardens are going crazy. I haven’t seen them since Thursday afternoon.

I might have another row in me and then it’s bedtime. I’m meeting Lynn at the store tomorrow. She is coming in to pack boxes. I was in the store today for a short period of time and picked orders. I’m going to let her play with the tape gun. Then she is going to unpack boxes for me. There are new books (that box is way too heavy for me to touch) and then this morning we received an order from Gleener. If you need something she will be in the store from 11am-4pm. 

Rainbow

We had crazy rain at dinner time and then a beautiful rainbow. Beth said it was out front as well. 

The new Della Q Maker’s Mesh Tote should be arriving next week.

Not too big and not too small, the new della Q Makers Mesh Tote is the Goldilocks bag of their ever-growing Lotus Collection!! Half Tote, half Rucksack the Mesh Tote was made to be fully transparent so you can always grab a glimpse of your project while on-the-go!!

It comes standard with a matching clip-in Scissor Pocket, exclusive canvas Oh Snap, and adjustable strap. It can be worn a variety of ways (hey, hey crossbody or shoulder bag!). If you're looking for a larger sized bag, great for warmer weather making, the Mesh Tote is the bag you've been searching for!

I will get these online at the beginning of the week.

I am definitely feeling better. I was allowed to have a shower today which always makes you feel better. However, I know that I won’t be able to work tomorrow and not sure if I will make it through a full day so as a family we made the decision to close the store this week. I have put it on Facebook, Instagram and my website.

The store will be closed this week due to my surgery. There is a possibility that I am feeling better on Friday or Saturday. Please call the store to see if I’m there before visiting. (905) 648-1994. Sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. Any orders that have been placed will be shipped on Thursday. Orders placed on Thursday forward will be shipped on Monday.

Now I’m going to try and knit a few rows and then bed.

Crazy Beautiful

Meet the July 2023 Crazy Beautiful Color from Emma’s Yarns.

I’m feeling better. Not good enough to work tomorrow but I was able to sit up for part of the afternoon and knit. That’s progress. Everyday things will get easier.

I will try and write a longer post tomorrow. 

Home Again

Thank you for all your texts, emails and comments. I’m home again minus my gallbladder. I’m sore but I’ll make it. Beth is looking after me. 

I’ll try to sit and write tomorrow.