In The Loop Part 2

We know that Sarah can knit but she had her mom make this cowl for her. Cathy knit In The Loop (pattern free on Ravelry) for herself and then she made it again for Sarah.

This pretty, graphic cowl can be worn long or doubled, revealing both sides of the striped fabric which features 2-row repeats on the outside and 2” repeats on the inside. The pattern calls for five colours of Rowan’s soft and fluffy Alpaca Classic. 

The cowl’s outer loop is knit with smaller needles than the lining. Although this seems counterintuitive, it will ensure that the whole piece is soft and stretchy and that you make the most of your yardage.

We have lots of colours of Alpaca Classic in stock.

I am working on my The Throwback. My Nightshift is almost finished but I might need a bit more of the colour Salty Dog because I added a few rows by mistake. I am using Salty Dog in The Throwback so after I am finished the yoke I will know how much extra I have to finish Nightshift.

I wish there had been more knitting this afternoon but I had a bit of an accounting meltdown. I was doing my T4s and it said that I owed a lot of money. Not possible. I made all the monthly payments. I printed out a lot of papers and checked and double checked and it should have been correct. I filled out the T4 Summary wrong - I mixed up CPP and UI. Yes, there were some really bad words flying around the house. It's a good thing it was just Roko and I. Everything is done now and I can spend the evening playing with yarn.

Be safe if you are out and about. The wind is crazy. I'm watching the snow blowing across the open field behind our house. Roko won't go out. I have my phone charged. Flashlights are on the counter just in case. I keep boiling the kettle so I know I will be able to have one more tea if the power goes out.

Weekender

Sarah has another finished sweater. This is The Weekender (pattern purchased on Ravelry). Sarah purchased the yarn years ago for a cabled sweater but she didn't get very far on it. She already knit The Weekender and knew this was the perfect sweater to use up some stash.

This drop shoulder sweater is my most favorite addition to my handmade wardrobe! When Brooklyn Tweed came out with their line of marls for Shelter, I knew I needed a marled sweater. I combined my favorite attributes - texture, faux seams, drop shoulder, and some positive ease to create this versatile, flattering sweater! No matter your body type, it is perfect for wearing to the office or out on your weekend hike in the woods. I’ve already knit a second version, leaving off the sleeves so I can wear it in warmer weather or layered over a long sleeve tee!

I'm looking at Lynn while I am writing and she is wearing her The Weekender that she knit in Rowan Hemp Tweed.

Any worsted weight will work. We have a feature on the blog where you can sort yarn and I am trying to enter the thickness for each yarn. You can see all the worsted weight yarns here. We have more in the store that haven't made it to the site yet.

I got home from work and started knitting. It's 11:30 and I figured it was time to give my hands a rest and go to bed. All of a sudden it hit me that I hadn't finished my post. I have more pictures to share but I'll save them for tomorrow.

Another Hipster

Lynn finished her Hipster. The colour is perfect!

She used 3 skeins of Tosh DK in the colour night bloom. Have you looked at the tosh shade cards on the new website? All the colours are in alphabetical order. Oh my gosh - it is so much easier to find the colours.

I am going to Chicago at the beginning of April for a presentation from Rowan. They will be introducing Fall 2019. I have Rowan winter garments but nothing spring. Diana picked up Cotton Cashmere yesterday to make Fontana.

A box is on the way to Lynda and she is going to make me Odyssey from Joji (a free pattern on Ravelry) in Rowan's new Denim Revive.

Food donations are coming in.

Prizes are coming in too.

Knitting Fever is sending a Lykke Interchangeable Needle set in Indigo. What a fabulous prize!!

They are also sending a bag of Noro Kiri and a bag of Noro Kumo. I don't know the colours but who cares - it is Noro and they will be fabulous.

Noro Kiri

DK weight

47% Silk
39% Wool
14% Mohair

382 yards on a ball

You will have enough yarn in the bag to make 2 sweaters - this takes 4-5 balls. Or one beautiful throw.

Noro Kumo

41% Viscose
35% Cotton
12% Silk
12% Wool

DK weight
393 yards on a ball

This cardigan takes 5-6 balls of Kumo. You'll have enough to make a shawl as well.

Here is the updated list of the door prizes so far and more are on the way.

With the new website we had to play with my email. I think I have it all worked out. I need to add the new email to all my devices - iPhone, iPad mini, iPad Pro, MacBook and iMac. I need to set up the iPad in the store tomorrow. That was the least of my worries tonight. I knit 10 too many rows on my shawl. I should have changed colours but I was happily knitting along thinking I knew what I was doing. I decided to keep going. My shawl might end up a bit longer. Or the last section might be shorter than it was supposed to be.

Beth has arrived safely in Myrtle Beach. Once they call that they are home I'm heading to bed. My head hurts.

Uneek Worsted

Alex blocked and sewed in the ends on my Nightshift. For this one I used Uneek Worsted. 2 skeins each of colours 4006 and 4009.

The yarn was really nice to work with. It is super soft and it feels lighter than the shawls I knit in Noro Ito.

Alex's Nightshift in Akari. She hasn't finished yet but she's close.

My Nightshift in Dream State. I climbed through snow banks to get to the fence.

Donations are starting to arrive for our Food Drive gift baskets.

Blue Sky Fibers is sending a skein of their Eco-Cashmere (the colour will be a surprise) along with the pattern to make the Lyle Hat.

100% cashmere made in Italy and composed of a blend of recycled cashmere and virgin cashmere, Eco-Cashmere is sustainability crafted, luxurious, and light-weight with a unique lofty spin.

They are also sending a kit for the Ski Trio Hat.

We have some books from Rowan. These 3 are from last fall.

We also have the complete set of Rowan magazines from this spring. They are nicely sealed in a bag - no one has opened them.

Our store sign was in a bit of disrepair but it's as good as new now.

I have been outside trying to get rid of ice on the driveway. We have a beautiful aggregate driveway but you have to be careful with salt so the ice has built up. Thankfully it is supposed to be warm for the next few days and it should melt.

Now it's knitting time. A few more days and I'll be back to working on my Throwback.

More Shopping - I think I have a problem

My credit card took another hit today. And since I started my post I bought more.

Yarn is on the way from Hedgehog and we should see it next week. Skinny Singles, Sock and Merino DK.

I can't wait to see the new colour DRK. There will be three Potlucks in Skinny Singles and one in sock.

I also put down a deposit on yarn from Uschitita. Fingers crossed this will be arriving in April.

What colours are coming? We don't know. I have requested colours but it depends on what Steffi feels like dying. Here are a few of the colours that I asked for.

Enamel pins will be arriving in March. 

Glam up your knitting, jacket, or project bag with our unique pieces of fiber inspired flair!

Progress keepers/stitch markers are coming too.

We (Cathy, Lynn, Alex and myself) use Soak when blocking our knitting projects. We are running low on stock and more is on the way.

Soak is modern laundry care. It’s perfect for washing your laciest lingerie, softest sweaters, swimwear, workout wear, quilts and all the delicates you care about most. 

Made in Canada, Soak is the best, easiest to use, most deliciously scented no-rinse laundry product anywhere. Our eco-friendly wash cleans beautifully, and is ideal for hand or machine washing. Show your laundry (and the planet) some love, with Soak.

I spent a lot of time today on the website so I think it's time to close up my computer and knit. Survivor starts tonight. And the Masked Singer is on. A great TV evening.

Yarn Bombs

Yarn Bombs from Friea Fibers arrived this morning. These balls have 780m/860 yards which is more than enough for a shawl.

We used one ball to make Espe (pattern purchased on Ravelry).

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.

The new website launched late this afternoon. All colours of Yarn Bombs are on the site. 

Cathy finished her Nightshift in Noro Ito. She used colours 3 and 10. We took quick pictures this afternoon but I hope John and Sarah will do a photoshoot for us.

My second Nightshift is finally blocked. Thank you Alex. I used 6 and 8.

I did a few more rows of this Nightshift last night. I love working with Dream State.

As I mentioned, the new website is up. We still have more yarns, books, needles, accessories and bags to add but I wanted the change to happen. Korey and I will keep adding and adjusting the site to make it easy to navigate.

Dad and Lucy are enjoying Myrtle Beach. Beth is flying down Friday afternoon to spend the weekend with them. I think Roko is missing Lucy, especially at meal time. Lucy gets table food with her dog food. Roko doesn't get that now that Lucy has left. Lucy likes to drop food on the floor as well and Roko cleans up for her.

We are supposed to see more bad weather tomorrow.

Freezing rain late Wednesday afternoon and evening. 

Freezing rain is expected as a low pressure system developing over the Southern Plains moves toward the Great Lakes. 

Precipitation will begin as a brief period of snow Wednesday morning, followed by a quick transition to freezing rain late Wednesday afternoon. Freezing rain or freezing drizzle will change to occasional rain or drizzle Wednesday evening as temperatures rise above the zero degree mark.  

Untreated surfaces may become icy and slippery. Travel may be affected.

I don't mind snow but really hate freezing rain!! Drive safe if you are out and about tomorrow afternoon.