Today is the last day to order tickets in order to have them for pick up at the shop prior to the game. If you’ve never been to Stitch & Pitch – it is a lot of fun. And this year Stephanie Pearl McPhee will be throwing out the first pitch. I’m going and I’m not even a ball fan but it is a lot of fun to sit with all the knitters and do a bit of watching, a bit of knitting and a lot of laughing. More info here
So call the shop at 519-662-3636 or email me quickly.
It’s late but I think I’ve finally got most of the kits ready for our Front Porch knitting promotion. With this hot, muggy weather, what could be better than a pretty bit of knitting on the front porch. We’ve all pondered and have made some picks of what we think would be good porch knitting. Some of the items were knit by us and some were knit by others but still fit the bill of porch knitting.
This week from Thursday to Saturday we will be featuring these kits at 20% off the regular price. There is a little bit of everything – from fairly simple to more intricate. From basic yarns to luxury. This list is not everything but will give you an idea of what we have.
First up is Katherine Matthews – we have been privileged to have her designs in the shop and also to call her a friend. Katherine has caused a bit of a stir lately with her Amalia. We have put together kits for the 2 sizes in Koigu KPM as well as some in Koigu Mori. You really have to see these to appreciate them. We are also offering another kit by Katherine – Takenoko is a shawl that uses Noro Sekku perfectly. And then there are the Lornas Laces Pearl kits. The Pearl is a gorgeous Bamboo & Silk yarn that comes with 2 patterns but Katherine had to do it better and she did. So the Pearl kit includes all 4 different patterns.
Then we have Janelle – another one of our honourary staff. I’m sure a lot of you have met her in the shop or taken one of her classes. Well she has been a little distracted lately with all kinds of designs swirling around in her head. One of the kits is called Gridwork using Sojabama – a yarn out of Soy and Bamboo. Janelle used a stitch from a stitch dictionary and totally finessed it. We are even doing a class with this pattern. The other kit is called Amplification. She used 2 different yarns that blended really well. Both of the yarns are a cotton and linen blend. Gorgeous Janelle – thats all I can say.
One of the joys of this shop is the people that have come into my life. Sue is always one of the first people to offer to help or to listen or just to be there. I love it when a customer turns into a friend. Sue’s pick for Front Porch knitting is a pattern by Joey’s House – the Sock Monster. This is a great pattern that uses Koigu or bits of sock yarn – and we now know where all our stray socks have gone. They are taken by the Sock Monster. We are hoping that Sue’s monster – Eig – comes to visit us this weekend. He is adorable.
Now onto staff picks for Porch Knitting. Cari has just finished a very, pretty little Flower Basket shawl out of Misti Alpaca Cotton and Silk. This is a gorgeous hand-painted yarn that is soft and silky. Cari has done the small version out of one skein but we have done the kits with enough yarn to do the full size shawl – picking the colours was the hardest part.
If you’ve been up to our booth at the St. Jacobs market there is a good chance that you’ve met Beth. She is our resident crochet guru and is always coming up with different ways to use yarns. We have an adorable teeny basket on the shop counter that Beth did out of a few scraps of Koigu, and then there are the little creatures – really cute. Beth has designed a scarf using Zauberball sock yarn after finding a stitch in a stitch dictionary. We have been asked about the pattern ever since she did it. And perfect timing – we got in a new shipment of Zauberball sock today.
Lynne – well, she’s been knitting up a storm to finish an adorable baby sweater. She chose South Pacific as her yarn of choice. This is a lovely soft cotton DK with a very touchable hand. This is one of those patterns that you will do over and over.
And then there’s me. I’ve got a couple of things on the needles that were going to be my picks but the patterns haven’t come in yet – so I’ve decided to pull rank. My Porch Knitting pick is the Strickwear kits. I love what the designer Candace Eisner Strick does with her merging colours kits. They are truly beautiful as you will see by the 2 samples we have done in the shop.
So come on out to the shop and lets see if we can find you something for lazy summer days of Porch knitting. Friday night we are hoping to have a Front Porch knit & chat but right now the weather forecast is not cooperating. We will still be having knit & chat this Friday but it may have to be inside. IF the weather makes us go inside then we will be trying for next week instead. Keep an eye on our website for info.
I was going to blog about the wonderful weekend we had with Anne Hanson of Knitspot but I read her blog this morning and she has said it all! Except for how much we have enjoyed getting to know her better – AND we are talking about a do-over next year! After all having Anne for my birthday seems like something we should do again. What do you think?
So, go over to Anne’s blog and enjoy. Knitspot
Guiness Record
Stephanie – the Yarn Harlot twittered about it but I can’t seem to get a pic to load so follow the link above.
Last summer I had the thrill of going to the first Sock Summit in Portland, Oregon. It was an amazing week and I posted about it here and here. One of the highlights was being in a room of 937 knitters all knitting at the same time – and we have just found out that we have the official Guinness World Record!
Sock Summit has just been announced for 2011 – I know my travel partner is already planning her holidays and I am seriously pondering … it was a blast.
The School of Yarn is in session every Tuesday, no matter what the weather map says. Today I’m going to talk about Avarice. (Not the deadly sin kind, though you would be forgiven for having lustful and greedy thoughts about this yarn.) Avarice is a very lovely, hand-dyed 100% alpaca yarn from Twisted Sisters. This company, run by two women who aren’t actually sisters but do profess to be twisted, specializes in monochromatic dyeing and short-run handpaints. They also design garments that make best advantage of their true, vivid colourways while looking very flattering on various body types.
Now, I know I’m just a girl who can’t say no, especially to a gorgeous yarn that batts its pretty lashes in my direction, but at $17.95 a skein, my budget can’t support a whole sweater’s worth of Avarice. But a few skeins?? Well, that’s exactly the reason someone invented the word “treat”, isn’t it.
I snagged these three luscious colours a few months back, and then began a search for just the right project to feature this soft, warm yarn. I’ve ended up choosing this yarn as my Knitting Olympics project, and am undertaking a pair of stranded mitts. Based on a pattern called “Swedish Fish”, from SpillyJane Knits (Ravelry link here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swedish-fish ), I’ve had to change the gauge and the pattern repeat, and have worked a completely different-shaped mitten with a gusset thumb and a longer, striped, ribbed cuff.
You may all point and laugh when I report next week that I tripped over my own skates and utterly failed to complete my project before the end of the Olympics on Sunday night.
We have a shop pattern for some dainty fingerless gloves that uses only one precious skein of Avarice, or a pattern for some cosy mittens that uses two. It’s cold and snowy outside … don’t you deserve a treat??
Sue’s comments on her update –
Well, I just finished row/lap 76 of Chart D whilst watching the men’s speed skating.
These laps/rows are getting longer by the minute! The lactic acid build-up in my fingers by the time I get finished a lap…brutal….what do these guys know about pain, I ask you? Sheesh!
Janet’s comments –
Out of the gate, lot of knitting happening. But has she peaked too soon? Will she finish . . .
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and as far as Tom's sweater - I'm just about to start the neck on the front - it may be touch & go to get down but we're trying.
I did some calculations yesterday and I had about 4 1/2 balls of the Ecological wool knit so far out of 13. So if I can knit a ball a day – I should be on track to get Toms sweater done for the Knitting Olympics. I have 2 sleeves done and are part way up the front now.
Sue & Janet came out to the shop yesterday and had both started Laura Chau’s Milkweed. Janet’s is teal and Sue’s is a lovely cream. We will post pictures as they grow. And don’t forget to send us comments or pics of what you might be working on as well.
I’ve been humming and hawing and procrastinating (which I seriously could take a gold in) about whether or not I was going to do an Olympic knitting thing. The Yarn Harlot is doing hers over here http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/ and Ravelry is doing theirs over here http://www.ravelry.com/groups/ravelympics-2010. I know the Waterloo-Wellington forum has a group and I’ve decided to jump in.
Now you have to keep in mind that I did the market today so I was up before morning and still going so reading the rules is like reading those cool knitting patterns in Japanese – should be do-able but…
So, the general idea as I understand it from either site is to give yourself a project that is pushing you a little, cast on with the opening ceremonies TOMORROW! And hope to cast off with closing ceremonies.
So I’ve been pondering, and thinking and pondering some more. I REALLY want to start something new but one of the categories is a WIP (Work In Progress) that has been on hiatus for a while. And thats the piece that is nagging me. I started a lovely sweater for Tom last year – both sleeves are done and it’s been on hold for a while. I think this is the one that I need to do. Charlotte is calling me but I will not listen to her siren call…maybe…just a little Koigu…that wouldn’t be bad would it?
So here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to post pics over the next little while of Toms sweater and I would love it if anyone who is participating would send comments or email us pictures and I will post them on the blog. Whatcha think?
Well – its here! Doesn’t matter if both socks are done or if you baked enough cookies – Christmas is here. I want to wish everyone a lovely, warm Christmas with family and loved ones. I hope you have lots of love and laughs.
We have the kids and grandkids and sister-in-law and all their dogs coming for the night. I think the cat will take up permanent residence under the bed, she is NOT going to be impressed! She thinks it’s bad enough having people in her house (she tolerates us) but DOGS!!! So for counting, we have Zena (Shih Tzu/ Yorkie cross) and my daughter is bringing Zena’s brother. My Son-in-law is bringing his Chocolate Lab. Sister-in-law is bringing her teacup Poodle. And then Son and new Daughter-in-law are bringing their new dog – Beagle/Jack Russel/Terrier cross. Yup, my life is going to the dogs.
But it will be great – I love jammie time with my kids all around – gives me warm smooshies.
And with 2 Grand-kids – hanging the stockings is very important. So to tie in with that we are going to have all sock yarn as our item of the day – both at the shop in New Hamburg and at the booth in St. Jacobs. Don’t forget the secret word “TURKEY” and you’ll save 15%
Have you counted the days yet? Scary how fast its coming but if you have any knitters on your list we have something to make them smile (or yourself). Della Q does needle cases in the most gorgeous silk. There is one in red that is so beautiful it just makes me happy. We have cases for interchangeable or just your regular circulars as well as one for sock needles or for accesories. Truly beautiful and organized at the same time – how amazing is that?
And when you come in to get one (or call us) don’t forget to day “RUDOLPH” and save 15%
