Give me strength

Dinner last night with the kids went great.  Sometimes you worry when there are eleven year old twins and a thirteen year old.  We decided to give them money for their birthdays.  Very big hit.  They love going shopping and picking out their own presents.  We forget that they are their own people and sometimes we try and buy a gift that they can all share.  It is amazing how different their likes are.

A cute story about the twins.  I can't tell them apart.  When they were five I commented to them that the twin whose name starts with a B should always wear blue to help us.  Since that day whenever we see the twins, B is always wearing a blue shirt.  Life is much easier now.  :)

Yesterday I mentioned that Silk Garden Lite was available again.  Here are the shades.  I have two cardigans in the yarn and love it!!

#2038 is calling my name.  I have shoes with those colours-it would make a great outfit.  :)

Here is a sample of Silk Garden Lite from Jenny Watson's Catwalk Two.

Silk Garden Lite
45% silk
45% mohair
10% lambswool

$11.95 a ball.

There were two new yarns in the shipment as well.

The vest is knit in Tanabata and the pattern can be found in the new magazine from Noro-#29.  Ann is going to knit it up as a sample for the store.

Tanabata

33% Cotton

27% Nylon

17% Rayon

16% Wool

7% Silk

80m on a 50gram ball

Suggested needle size 6mm

$11.95 a ball

The pattern for the Nobori vest can also be found in Noro #29.

Nobori

42% Cotton

31% Nylon

14% Wool

13% Silk

160m on a 100gram ball

$19.95 a ball

Many Visitors

My sock is progressing.  I didn't make it to the toe last night but I must say that it is looking good.

Since starting this post I have received a few visitors.

Mr. UPS brought in a box of Lamb's Pride Bulky from Brown Sheep.

Ms. Canada Post brought in a box from Prism.  More Saki including 5 colours in Laura's new Layer technique.

Colours, from left (we received the underlined colours): Mist, Mushroom, Straw, Prairie, Melon, Woodrose, Peony, Orchid, Plumberry, Deep Sea, Agean, Lichen

This method produces just that, layer upon layer of color that reads as solid from a distance, but reveals all of its subtle glory upon closer examination.

There were also 2 kits (different colourways) for the Athena wrap. This kit includes 8 colours of Merino Mia sock yarn.

Mr. CanPar brought in 4 HUGE boxes of spring Noro.

Silk Garden Lite was discontinued but is back again for spring in seven colours.

Taiyo has 6 new colours.

Taiyo Sock has 420m
100gram ball ($18.95)

50% Cotton
17% Wool
17% Nylon
16% Silk

The yarn is on the website (colour swatches coming soon).  A box is going out to Ann (one of my knitters) in the morning and I'm going to include a ball so she can knit up a pair of socks.

I need to get this done before leaving the store this afternoon.  Beth and I are throwing a dinner party tonight.  Our kids (okay, our friend's kids that we call our own) had birthdays this week.  Thank goodness for XBox to keep them busy.  :)

Entrelac

Over the next few weeks we have a new yarn and patterns arriving from KnitWhits.  I will talk more about them closer to their arrival date.

Why am I telling you this?  In the shipment there will be a pattern for an Entrelac hat.  I am going to teach Entrelac in April (more about that next week as well).

I have played with Entrelac in the past but wanted to know it inside and out if I am going to teach it.  How do I do that?  Knit something in Entrelac.

Here is my practice piece.

I learned something very important.  My cast on is way too tight.  I am knitting with 5.5mm needles and I should have cast on with 6mm.

After work I had an appointment with my chiropractor and then back to the store for class.  I did a bit of work on my sock.  The heel is turned and it should be smooth sailing the rest of the way.

Beth is upstairs yelling for me to hurry up.  There are many TV shows taping-Survivor, American Idol, Criminal Minds and the new Criminal Minds (I must learn the name of the show).  Can I get to the toe before bed tonight?

Type A Personality

Two new colours of Classic Elite Liberty Wool have arrived. Must finish my socks!

There are two new patterns as well.  These patterns are free when you purchase Liberty Prints.

Cable Flower Hat
A beret-style hat worked from the bottom up with a ribbed based and a cabled top. The crown decreases are incorporated into the cable pattern, which uses a variety of cable stitches to create a flower with six petals.
Liberty Wool by Classic Elite 

All sizes: 2 balls

Shown in:
7804 Painted Desert (print version)
7819 Orchid Pink (solid version)

Garter Stitch Wrap
An easy-to-knit wrap worked entirely in garter stitch from the bottom point up. The scalloped edge is a six row repeat and is made by casting on stitches at the beginning of the row.

Liberty Wool by Classic Elite 

5 balls 7802 Art Deco Wavelength

Blogger is trying to make me angry again.  I have formatted the information for both products exactly the same but one is coming out with a much bigger font.  Come on.  Please work with me.

I am a touch anal (yes-Type A Personality) about things like this.  It is taking everything in me not to erase this post and start again so that it all looks the same.

Here is a small story about me that most don't know.  There were many days in high school and university when I couldn't write fast enough (that was neat enough for me) to keep up with the teachers/profs.  I would take the notes down quickly and then go home at night and rewrite them.  My notes were so neat in high school that my teachers asked if they could have them after I graduated.

There hasn't been any knitting today.  It is 6 weeks until the Knitter's Frolic so I started working on kits for the show.  I can procrastinate on a lot of things (like my tax return) but I like to have everything for a show ready to be packed at least a week in advance.

Socks are progressing

Many customers ask me how I count my rows on double pointed needles.  Row counters won't stay on your needles.  A pen and paper?  That works until you can't find a pen and for some reason there is a pen fairy in my house who steals them.

This is a screen shot from my iPhone showing how I keep track of rows.  You can download the Vogue Knitting app to your iPhone or iPad.

The app also lets you keep track of the needles you own.  Great when you are in a yarn shop and don't know if you have the needles for your new project.

My socks are progressing. I'm not even bored with them yet which is saying a lot. I don't think there is going to be a problem knitting the second one.  :)

I really like the pattern and am going to ask Jane to knit a pair in the new Noro sock yarn that (fingers crossed) should be arriving today.

I like working with the 5" needles until it comes to the heel.  32 stitches on the 5" needle is tight.

This heel is called Eye of Partridge.  It is easy to do-you are working K1, slip 1 on the right side rows.  The only difference to the heel I usually do is that my slip ones line up and on this heel you are staggering them.

The Amazing Race last night was a bit unsatisfying.  I don't like To Be Continued.  Tell me who was the last team to arrive and has been eliminated!!

Celebrity Apprentice.  Those women sure are opinionated and if you don't follow their thoughts then look out.

Am I crazy??

Yes, I started a pair of socks last night.  I don't know why.  I love sock yarns but I'm not into knitting socks.  I wear a sweater to work almost every day so my knitting time is usually spent on garments.  Maybe it was the sock newsletter that just went out.  Maybe it was the shipment of Shepherd Sock.

-Circle Socks (free pattern on Ravelry)
-2.75mm (5" square needles)
-Lorna's Purple Mustang Shepherd Sock
-2-50gram skeins

So far the pattern is very easy.  If you have knit a pair of socks then you will have no problem making these.

For some reason I remember socks as being slow to knit but so far these are going faster than I had hoped for.

Heel from Soak has arrived.  Spearmint.

Heel is a rich, nourishing foot cream for feet worthy of hand-knit socks.

Our unique combination of ingredients restores the skin and soothes tired feet. Cucumber extract, vitamin E and the soothing powers of menthol work together to form a luxuriously rich treat for sock-worthy feet. Go ahead. Indulge.

Like Soak, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Cucumber.  I wonder how it tastes.

Scentless is available for those who are sensitive to smells.

It is time to get back to the knitting.  Now that I have started I don't want to stop.  :)

Double Pointed Needles???

I'm going to show you a few pictures and then head upstairs to watch CNN.  My thoughts are with the residents of Japan and their family and friends around the world.

I wound this ball before coming home.  It started out as a centre pull ball but somehow I made a mess of it.  When I go to work tomorrow it is going to be covered in dog hair.

Shepherd Sock in Lorna's Purple Mustang.

Yes, those are double pointed needles.

I'm going to let you think about this tonight.  :)

Cozy

For some reason I was up at 6:30 this morning. I thought about going back to sleep but when that happens I usually wake up with a headache. I dragged myself out of bed and got the day going.  An hour was spent on accounting.  My bank is balanced which helps start the day on a good note.  Then a stop at TD-Canada Trust on the way to work.  I can't believe the exchange rate right now.  I love getting more US $ than the Canadian I took in.

Lynda sent a parcel earlier in the week with a cute cardigan.

Pattern: Honeysuckle
Book:  Classic Elite Meadow (#9136)
Yarn:  Classic Elite Firefly
Sizing:  2XS-XL
# of balls:  4-7

Lynda did a great job blocking the leaf pattern.

Another parcel is off to Lynda today.  One of the projects is another Linen Stitch scarf.  Rhonda wore her's in and I loved the colours.  She brought me the labels and now Lynda is going to make one for me.  I am currently wearing the first one Lynda knit and it so soft and light.  You don't even know that you are wearing it.

A week ago Saturday a new customer visited the store from Toronto. Two days later she called me that she needed more yarn and I got it off to her.  Last night an email came through with the finished picture.  I love it.

Hi! My name is Annie and I’m a knitter from Toronto, Canada. I’ve been knitting for a long time. I usually don’t follow knitting patterns, but may take elements of them to use in my work. Or I may make a variation of the design. I’m partial to cables and texture, but will, on occasion try colourwork. 

The scarf is called Cozy.  I can totally see myself cuddling into it!!

The pattern is available for sale on Ravelry.

Annie has 8 other patterns available on her website that you can download.

There isn't much good to say about last night's Survivor.  It was sad seeing Russell go.  Most people don't like him but he is a fabulous competitor and he totally understands the game.  His team is going to regret throwing a challenge.  They could have had a tarp and blankets. Something that will make the nights easier.

When is spring coming??

What a yucky day.  Rain, freezing rain, snow.  I don't want to go outside so how can I expect customers to come out?  The only saving thing for today is that when I get home from class tonight I can watch Survivor and American Idol.

I did work a bit on Wild Saffron today.  Both shoulders are sewn and I have started working up the side seams.  For some reason I keep finding other jobs to do instead of finishing this.  I am not sure why.  I like the mattress stitch.  I can do it quickly.  Something is holding me back.

Why am I using black wool for the sewing??  I always sew my wool sweaters together with Loyal from Naturally.  The yarn won't break as I am pulling it through over and over again.  I had black at home when I started so I went with it.  When the mattress stitch is done properly it doesn't matter what colour you use.

I can't put the sweater on a mannequin to take a picture.  It is too big for the skinny minis who model sweaters in the store.  :)

Maybe I will get the other side sewn during class tonight.

Four Seasons Hats

These hats will make a great project to carry around with you.  Get a jump on your fall knitting!!

New from Tanis-these kits should be in the store any day.  The price is $40.

Each kit contains a quality colour copy of the pattern and enough of my Blue Label yarn to knit one hat. The pattern contains all four season's charts, and all colourways have enough yarn for any of the patterns. Like the Spring pattern, but want to knit it in the Autumn colourway? No problem! Select the Autumn colourway and have fun!

Autumn

In Tanis' quote she mentions Blue Label yarn. This is her soft merino/nylon fingering weight yarn.

Summer

I need to choose the colour that I am going to knit up carefully.  I am afraid that Beth is going to steal it once it is off the needles.

Spring

She does need a new hat and I am getting a bit tired of looking at her wearing Fake Isle.  It has been on her head for the past three months!  I guess that means I will be letting her wear it.

Winter

I really, really like the corrugated ribbing!!  We saw a lot of it on Rowan sweaters 20 years ago but it has disappeared.

What is corrugated ribbing?  Visit about.com

Origami

I am home now and my head feels great.  :)  Trish cut off a lot of hair.

Last Monday Jane took home a few balls of Katia Tul.  This is yarn to make a ruffles scarf for summer.  Two balls and eight stitches were used.  I really like it in the pure white.

Some knitting was accomplished yesterday. One front of the cardigan is done and I cast on for the second one.  I am not sure when it happened but I can no longer read a knitting pattern.  Row 1 and 2 were fine but row 3 stumped me. K6, *K6, yo, ssk* to last 3 stitches, K3.  I know, it is a hard row but I should have been able to do it.  When I got to the end I didn't have 3 stitches so I started ripping out.  Guess what?  I forgot the first K6 at the beginning of the row.  Seriously.  This is getting annoying.  I'm thinking that I will have someone read me the first few rows until I get the pattern going from now on.

In the newsletter that went out last week I talked about Berroco Origami.  There were pictures from the new magazine.  Here are a few free patterns from Berroco's website.

Johannes

Johannes is a flattering short sleeved cardigan knit in a waving openwork stitch pattern.

Basque

Basque's scoop neckline is edged with fluttering ruffles. This feminine hip-length tee is belted at the waist for a stately Grecian silouhette.

Concur

Brighten up your warm weather wardrobe with our easy tailored cardigan with horizontal rib accents.

I had hoped to fit a pedicure in this afternoon but it isn't going to happen.  There is something awful called accounting.  It needs to be done so that I can get my tax return done.  Some days it is hard to believe that I actually wanted to make a career out of accounting.  Maybe I will treat myself to that pedicure next Monday.

Hair

Today is my day. I am finally having my hair cut and coloured. Both my parents were grey at a young age and that passed that to Beth and I. I know that hair shouldn't be important but I love going to the hair salon.

There was lots of reality tv last night. Why don't people ask for directions on The Amazing Race? You are in Japan. Can you read the road signs?? Then Celebrity Apprentice. I'm not sure we can even call them B List stars. I watched David Cassidy in The Partridge Family. Yes there was a small crush!! We also saw him in EFX in Vegas. What happened? The years haven't treated him well. Richard Hatch is the same person he was on Survivor. I think Donald kept him because the bickering will make good tv.

Trish is done so I am going to post. There will be a knitting related post when I get home.

Knitter's Frolic

Mark your calendars.  The Knitter's Frolic (put on by the Downtown Knit Collective) is coming up soon.

Saturday April 30, 2011
9:00-4:30
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre - Toronto

There are also classes running on Saturday and Sunday.  You can read more about the Frolic and the classes being offered on the DKC website.

It is hard to believe that this will be the 14th year for the Frolic.  I think this will be our sixth.

I pulled out a few pictures of last year's booth. This will help me to remember what we had.

I don't like to duplicate too much.  New is always good (and we will have lots of new for this year).

On the DKC website they have a few tips for shoppers.  Here are a few from me
-If you don't like crowds then plan to arrive after noon.  It starts to thin out a bit and it is easier for you to get into the booths.  This could mean that you might miss out on some of the hand dyed yarns.
-Bring your own lunch. Why waste time standing in line when you could be shopping?
-Parking can be an issue so car pool if possible
-If you see something you like write down the booth number.  It is amazing how many people are running around at the end of the day looking for xyz and they can't remember where they saw it.

Newsletter

I just sent out another newsletter-we are trying something different. This week I met with someone on marketing and he suggested not making the newsletters so long.  Just feature one item.  Kind of like the Coach emails that I receive.  :)  I would like your feedback.

If you didn't receive the newsletter here is a link to it.

Would you rather see a short email like the one I just sent out or do you like the old format??

I picked up my knitting again last night.  A trip to the chiropractor yesterday and my shoulder/neck was feeling better.

I originally thought that I would be working with 5mm needles but I decided to go with 5.5mm.  This helps make the rows go faster!!

As you can see there will definitely need to be some blocking done when I have finished knitting.

The last few days have also been spent on the website.  On the Featured Patterns page I have started adding categories for certain yarns (i.e. Classic Elite Liberty, Spud & Chloe Fine, Sirdar Baby Bamboo).  This will make it easier for you to find patterns for the yarns that you love.

Thank goodness we had taped American Idol last night.  They could have told me the 13 contestants in 10 minutes, 15 tops.  The producers were so lucky to have had Jennifer's new video when the judges couldn't make up their mind on who to send home.  :)  The first five men where how I wanted it to go.  My judge's choice would have been Robbie.  The only woman that didn't make it that I liked was Lauren Turner.  It should be a great season.

Ondas

I will be doing a post later today but I just wanted to share that a shipment of Ondas just arrived.

76 Purple
78 Black and Grey
73 Turquoise/Dark Green
74 Fuchsia (the colour that is pictured)
72 Green
71 Beiges

What is DK?

Late yesterday afternoon Mr. Canpar brought in 2 boxes of Zara.

Zara is machine washable merino wool from Italy.

The yarn knits to a double knitting weight tension (22 stitches on 4mm needles = 4")

We have many, many colours in stock.  It is great for babies as well as adult garments.

I love knitting with Zara and hear comments from customers every day saying that the yarn is a dream to knit with.

The term double knitting (DK for short) confuses many knitters. They think that they must hold two strands of yarn together. Double knitting is a thickness-like 4ply and chunky.

Read an explanation on eHow.com.