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I just need her to actually do something – like paperwork or cleaning. To be honest – we don’t let her sit on the counter but she was asking for some attention and it was too hot to cuddle. Counter has been wiped.

So do you get Canada off? Have plans for a picnic or fireworks? It looks like the weather is going to be perfect to be out and about and enjoying time with family & friends. In New Hamburg there are major things going on – all info can be found here.
The shop will be closed for Canada Day but the St. Jacobs Market is open – so stop by our booth there and say hi.

Sometimes you just have to go watch something just because.

What with all the getting ready for, and busy-ness of, the winter sale, our School of Yarn homework for this week didn’t get done and no one got assigned to write an entry. So we’re going to do what all *good* kids do when the teacher hasn’t shown up to class … we’re going to move our chairs around and talk to our friends.

I want to ask: what would be your “desert island” yarn? The kind of thing you’d wish to have with you if you were stranded for a time (with needles and notions, of course – we’re not savages!) and needed something to knit to pass the time until a rescue plane flew overhead.

If it’s something we carry at the store, then everyone can have a chance to check out your pick. And if it’s something we don’t carry, it might poke us into making an inquiry with a supplier.

I’ll go first (class loudmouth!). I’d pick JaggerSpun Zephyr. It’s a 50/50 wool & silk blend laceweight. It’s lovely, and incredibly durable for a laceweight. It would stand up to repeated knittings and reknittings, in case I was there for a while. It’s light and small, and 50 g worth can make a decent-sized shawl.

I have a “Kiri” shawl made from this yarn, and I used the leftovers to make a lace scarf for a beloved aunt. I have some in my stash. I guess I need to make this part of my carry-on for future trips.

So, now it’s your turn to lead the lesson …

Just in case you’re checking in, our annual winter clearance sale is indeed on at present. Because we’ve had some dicey weather with lots of blowing snow for all three days of the sale, we’re extending our sale into next week. Stay warm and watch the rest of the Olympics, and come visit our “island of savings” on Tuesday or Wednesday, March 2nd and 3rd. We’re open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days.

On our list of Knitters gifts that we’ve been showing you this month we have had a lot of tools to help with your knitting.  Well today we have something to help make your knitting experience even a little nicer.  These wineglasses and mugs are hand painted by Carolyn from Waterloo.  They are very pretty and if you say the secret word “FIREPLACE” you will save 15%

Cari here: In this neck of the woods, we are spoiled by our exposure to knitting genius.  We have our local superstars:  Debbie New and Sally Melville.  (Okay – Sally isn’t quite local anymore, but she is still attached to this area by deep and abiding friendships, and she does come to visit.)  Members of the Kitchener Waterloo Knitters’ Guild enjoy guest speakers and workshop teachers, including a recent visit from Cat Bordhi.  Cat also spent some time at SWK in May, and many of us got to meet her up close and personal.

While all this exposure has us spoiled, we are not jaded.   On Saturday, I was sitting at the desk at the SWK St. Jacobs Market booth, and looked up to see none other than Lucy Neatby.  In our booth!  Lucy Neatby.  Owner of Tradewind Knitwear Designs Inc.  Lucy Neatby.  Author of Cool Socks Warm Feet.  Lucy Neatby.  Goddess of the A Knitter’s Companion DVD series (and new ones just about to be released!).  Lucy Neatby.  One of the judges of Knitter’s Magazine’s  Think Outside the Sox Contest.  (Check it out in Knitter’s Summer 2009 issue.)  Lucy Neatby.  Amazing teacher – look her up on YouTube.  Lucy Neatby.  Booked to teach at Sock Summit 2009.  Lucy Neatby.

Yup – her hair really is pink and purple, and she is as lovely and gracious in person as she is in her DVDs and on YouTube.  Even if you are a scary rabid fan and you jump all over the booth with excitement when she appears.  Lucy.  Neatby.  Wow.

click on any of the pictures to see all the socky-goodness

Lynne and I had a lovely day on Monday.  We drove up to Durham and picked up a fresh supply of Koigu. 

This is a picture of Lynne’s Toe-Up Sock class tonight.  Everyone got up past the heel and there was no poking anyone with their circular needles.