Black Dog

There’s a new project that’s taking ThreadBear by storm. It’s the Omega Wrap by Chris Bylsma, and it’s also the topic for a fun Stash Bash! workshop we’re doing all day on Saturday, April 10th (cost is just $15, and that’s basically to cover your lunch and snacks, provided by me from my wonderous kitchen). Marcia and Helen will be there to help you with color and texture selection as well as the details of working with the pattern (from sizing to casting on to yarn rotation and more). This is the PERFECT EXPERIENCE for newer knitters and experienced folk alike–and a great way to USE UP YOUR STASH (which we encourage you to bring with that day). But let’s look at what I’m talking about.

Friday, Helen dropped by to meet a friend of hers who plans to take the STASH BASH workshop next month. She started working out a color story for Joan

and winnowed it down to some amazing yarns with great color play and fun texture. Joan will have a blast working with what Helen assembled, for certain. Then I had her work on the bag of potential yarns for the version I’m working on as a model for the workshop.

As I don’t wear too many shoulder wraps, I asked my awesome store manager Sabrina to bring in an assemblage of her own red yarn stash and I would knit it up for her myself. Helen weeded and feeded (not a word!) the pile and we came up with a GREAT combination of shades, colors, and textures (including some of Sam’s own handspun!) that I’m working with. Check out this bag of fun

that’s working up into a BEAUTIFUL Omega Wrap that will soon reside in the shop (and eventually around Sam’s shoulders)

I couldn’t be more pleased with the finished product (it’s about half completed as of this writing). It’s got lovely colors and textures that are mixing very well and the project has been a breeze to knit. It’s also been very alluring, as now Helen is working on her own (first of many, she says), and Betsy found a bag of goodies of her own on Sunday (based on a single skein of STUNNING sock yarn and moving forward from there–and all she had to purchase were two SMALL skeins of yarn, as the rest came out of my own stash and the store’s stash/leftovers plus something of hers that Helen tossed in for good measure). That’s the beauty of this project–the largest one requires a total of 560 yards of yarn, but you need small amounts of each, so leftovers and single skeins and clearance yarns are PERFECT for use in this one!

I also managed to do a little swatching over the weekend……using the yarn for the first pair of socks that I will be making for Bill (if you don’t know who he is and are curious, that’s all chronicled over here)

out of Prism Saki in the colourway “Smoke”. STUNNING fabric, as it’s predominantly black with small shots of a rich blue and a deep purple. All I’ve done since the swatching is to tear it out–they are not even cast on yet (I haven’t even figured out the cast on number….BAD ROB!). I’ll be sure to catch you up on them soon, but first I will finish Sam’s Omega Wrap. Hopefully in the next couple days.

I had an amazing day off today (Tuesday) which I recapped over at my personal blog for those interested in reading over there. I am blessed with an amazing life, wonderful and supportive friends, and my own good health (despite abusing my body for the past 15+ years). Thanks for reading and thanks for being there for me! Y’all mean the world to me….near and far, fiber-heads and not.

Sunday was a day with two distinct personalities–the morning was restful and slow paced, spending time on things I enjoy. The afternoon was distinctly different, as when I pulled into the parking lot at the shop, I counted 31 cars (including mine and three other staffers’ vehicles), and we’re the only business open on Sundays in our complex. Suffice to say that the joint was rockin’ ! We had three different groups meeting (Entrelac Scarf Along, Miss Marcia’s Finishing School, and Our Lady Of Perpetual Fiber Sunday services), along with several folks just there to take in the scenery and shop. What a great day!

That morning, I had decided to clean out my knitting bag. Not because I didn’t know what was inside (tho I did find a couple surprises, like a caramel that went AWOL last week–still wrapped, still tasty!), but because it had gotten tangled and out of control. Here’s what all came out

Yes, all of that gets lugged back and forth to work with me everyday, and to many other places that I roam as well. Let’s do a quick body count on the contents

Well, maybe not on Monday, as all I really did today was go to my weekly counseling session, work all day at the shop, and then come home and chill on the couch for awhile. I’ve pulled myself off of said furniture because I cannot stand any more of “Kell on Earth” (I tried to watch it, but they’re just so damned MEAN…and I don’t need that negative energy in my life, honestly). So you win out, my loyal readers!

Sunday morning was spent catching up with me, as I popped on “CBS Sunday Morning” and started knitting on a great hat design found in the Winter ‘09 issue of Knitty.com called ’shroom. Using super-bulky yarn and bigger needles, I knew it would work up quickly. Ribbed band–about 60 minutes. Hat crown–maybe 2-3 hours (with fooling around at the shop). Finished in no time

and made with a single hank of Cascade Magnum (just $18, as the pattern is a freebie!). Great fun…great hat!

One thing I also did on Sunday morning was to clean out and organize my knitting bag (aka my purse). I was shocked that all of this

was in my knitting bag. Sadly, it all went right back in there, organized and semi-sorted. That’s a lot of crap! But I never know what I’ll want to knit on (despite there being three different sock projects–maybe that’s excessive!), so I carry all of it with me everywhere.

Today was a productive day at ThreadBear, as it was slow due to the inclement weather. We finally wrapped up this project,

which was to re-hank the last of the yarns that I dyed on Thursday of last week. They’re all named and ready for sale at the shop and will be on display here on Tuesday (2/23) as soon as I get back from my morning walk. I was flattered to find out how many sold over the weekend, which means I’m hitting the right color combos for folks (I feel like I’m doing a good bit of really BRIGHT stuff of late–echoing my HAPPY mood of late). So, if you’re interested in seeing how they came out and what’s left, do drop by on Tuesday, in the shop or online.

That’s about it for today……more soon. I’m going to get back to work on my new project!

I’ve been around, for certain, as evidenced by things posted on my other, more personal blog. I’m sorry for ignoring this venue, and I’ve decided to make sure I attend to it on a regular basis, as I miss having a voice over here as well as sharing my knitting goodies and other tidbits wtih you.

As chronicled elsewhere, I’ve really rediscovered several parts of my personality that had been shuttered or stuck away for the past several years. I’ve rediscovered cooking

with a vengeance. I’ve really enjoyed the fruits of my efforts, including resurrecting some amazing recipies

like my mom’s veggie soup (first photo) and Posole Theresita (look in the December 27th entry for the recipe), one of my favorite cold-weather comfort foods.

There’s been quite a few finished projects in these parts, some of which were given as gifts (I saved photos to share with you), and just this week I wrapped up a Baby Surprise Jacket

out of Baby Marble DK, a great easy-care yarn that works up in that fun, subtle stripe pattern. Right now we have these shades in stock

Those are BM2, BM4, and BM3, left to right. At just $5.99 per skein for 293 yards, it’s a GREAT option for kid/baby items.

And of course, there are some personal life developments as well,

but not enough that I care to divulge to much right now. Deets later, as time and decorum permit!

One thing I always say is that I’m not going to get caught up in the whole “MUST…….KNIT…..FOR……CHRISTMAS” nonsense. I see too many customers at the shop freaking out about hitting specific deadlines for the holidays and really losing their sh#t about being behind schedule.

And low and behold, this year I took on some gift knitting. Yeah, I’m a bright one…..

My good friends Joe and Gordy (saviours in my personal life….trust me on that one) asked about a scarf for Joe’s brother’s girlfriend, and I thought maybe we could get him connected with someone to make it for him. They came by the shop last Saturday (the 12th) and found a skein of hand-dyed foofie yarn (Great Adirondack POOF or FLUFF, I forget which) that was perfect. I cast on and whipped up a scarf in no time

Even Marcia helped with a few rows, cuz she loves “the boys” as well (and knows how important they’ve been in my transition this fall). So, gift knitting #1 out of the way. (UPDATE–I just heard that they exchanged gifts and “brother’s girlfriend” LOVED LOVED the scarf….awesome!)

Enter #2–a special project for a special person that I decided I just MUST MUST MUST finish in time for holiday gifting. Progress as of Tuesday evening

That’s something I started in November 2008, worked up about 12″, and promptly put back in a bag and buried it under crap in my office. I found it about two weeks ago, decided the intended recipient MUST have it for this Christmas, and got busy ASAP on it, almost non-stop. And here it is, as of Thursday about 10 p.m.

That’s nearly EIGHT FEET of finished fabric! There’s drama, however……..I had darned in all of the ends and was inspecting things, making sure it looked right, so I could wrap it up and mail it off on Friday morning (so it would arrive Monday or Tuesday at the home of the intended recipient). I found a loop on the back side that I thought was a poorly-hidden end, so I started tugging on it. The yarn is a woven merino ribbon and quite lovely. I pulled and pulled and pulled before I realized that the fabric was “condensing” and that it wasn’t an end, but a loose stitch that I was yanking on. I gave it one more tug and SNAP–the yarn broke and the entire “condensed” section unraveled for about 6″ of horizontal space, clear over to and including the edge.

I said a couple fairly nasty words. And I called Marcia for help.

She and I talked of putting it back on the needles, and possibly grafting the pieces back together. I did investigate that and thought it might work, briefly. But closer inspection revealed major damage (edge raveling, lace pattern kaput, etc.).

I said a few more nasty words.

And began to unpick the bind off edge, as the damage was about two feet down from the finish.

I unraveled yards and yards (and hours and hours) of knitting into two piles–one larger one and one smaller one. And I got the project back on the needles, figured out where I was in the repeat, and commenced forward progress. I wouldn’t go to sleep until the larger pile was gone, so I turned in at 2 a.m. that morning. And got up at 8 a.m. to finish, which I did at about 11 a.m. Yes, I power knitted about 1/4 of the project in the span of about five hours. I was booking on the project. It got wrapped and posted and should arrive tomorrow (Monday) or Tuesday. But there’s other drama, too.

Saturday of last week I went home from the shop and put my knitting bag in the back seat, but when I got home to work on the stole, I pulled out the piece and found a stub where about 2/3 of a skein of yarn should be. I chalked it up to having fallen out of my bag and figured it was strewn down Waverly Road (northbound) and gone. Imagine my surprise when I pulled into my usual parking spot and there was the skein of yarn, iced over and unharmed, in the parking lot (we had sleet and freezing rain that night). The project, while imbued with love, healing thoughts, and good vibes for the intended wearer/recipient, was not without its own issues. But it’s done, it will suit her perfectly (she loves wraps and loves neutral colors) and I hope it’s received with the love and well wishes that it was sent with.

Speaking of silly things we do in a holiday gift-knitting rush, one of my staffers at the shop was making a beautiful family heirloom stocking for a new grand-nephew……finished the personalizing, held it up, and showed me this………

The child’s name is FORREST. I asked her to run spell check.

She said a naughty word or two.

It turned out fine, two hours later (she’s not a fan of duplicate stitch)

and it will be well loved by the family for years and years.

Remind me again why we knit for the holidays, especially when they’re under a week away???

And remind me why I’m about to log off and cast on for a gift for my mother yet tonight? And why I’d like to knock out a pair of socks for a special someone after that? And also remind me why none of you, my gentle readers, have called the folks from the looney ward on me?

Probably because I dye pretty yarn

and you know that it takes a mental case to make pretty artsy-fartsy things. Yeah, that’s it……off to go cast on (we don’t need no stinking gauge swatches!)

I’ve had a busy couple of weeks in these parts, between my parents visiting for Thanksgiving (they stayed a week–it was an amazing visit and I was sad to see them leave, even after that duration), my continuing to settle into my new place, and the goings-on at ThreadBear. It’s been fun getting settled in at my new home, for certain. That’s where most of my time has been going, now that my folks returned to Missouri.

But before they left, we did do a little furniture shopping, and it arrived on Wednesday of last week. It’s all in place, the tables are assembled, and the living room looks (and is) comfy and cozy. See

And you get to see into my dining area (just behind the love seat–you can see fresh flowers on the table) and into my kitchen (off to the left). To the right of the dining room is my bedroom, with on-suite full bath (and huge windows!) and to the left of that mirror on the wall is the hall closet, another full bath in the hallway, and the second bedroom (where I sit right now, working on the computer). Here’s the other perspective

standing in the dining area and looking towards the sliding glass doors to the patio out front. Honestly, I don’t think I could be any happier with my physical living situation. It’s clean, bright, comfortable, cozy, homey, and MINE. I enjoy coming home now (versus avoiding heading to the house in years past) and revel in the opportunity to enjoy a nice meal at my clutter-free dining room table, relax in my living room with either tv or music playing, and sink into my ultra-comfy bed at the end of a long day. Sure, this would all be great to share with someone special, but that’s VERY premature right now. I’m enjoying having the place to myself, honestly, and any discussion of a significant other is WAY off base. I need to re-discover myself first, and then work on making myself a better person once again.

So, I did promise some knitting! Emma, a LONG TIME reader and LONG TIME mail-order customer from “over the pond” asked about knitting content over on my “personal blog“. That space is more for me the person, versus me the knitter/shopkeep, so the knitting will be over here (for those that want to see it) and the personal stuff will be over there (for those that don’t want it mixed in over here). If you wanna keep tabs on me, the human, that’s over here. On to the fiber….

We’re hosting a great big trunk show of Black Forest Naturwolle at the shop this month, including over 1,000 hanks of the yarn, around 30 model garments, and other tomfoolery. This past Saturday was the kick-off, including an in-store appearance by the local sales rep and tons of German food (including Christmas stollen, purchased at an amazing bakery in Rochester). Sharon (the rep) had a quick, one-skein scarf on that day that she had devised, and I thought it was not just attractive, but also a great way to get to use a single skein of this amazing hand-spun yarn.

I snatched a pretty skein Saturday evening and wound it into a pull-skein and took it home with me that night. I didn’t get started on it until Sunday morning, but it worked up quickly and was finished later in the afternoon

I’ve taken Sharon’s notes and turned them into a pattern that we’re offering FREE with the purchase of a hank of the Naturwolle to make it. Pair it with your favorite shawl/scarf pin or brooch for a great little accent that also keeps you warm! My chosen colourway is Wilde Rose, but there’s dozens upon dozens of other choices, too! And given the speed with which they work up, they’ll make GREAT holiday gifts (or something nice for yourself……be greedy, too!).

I’m nearly finished with “Tie One On” (no pictures, sorry), as I bound off the body portion last night while watching tv and just have the two ties to work up. It should be finished this week some time, and I’m very pleased with how it’s coming together, also. Another great project coming to a close, so I’m on the hunt for what’s next (I think it’s a shawl out of Urban Silk by Skacel, but I’m not sure–I’m also shopping for a sweater pattern, as I’m itching to make a garment after several accessories in a row). Stay tuned!

There’s a sock on the needles right now, but it’s just a couple rows past the cuff and not that interesting yet. I did finish some other footwear recently

and

Those are “Guest Socks” made with Jarbo Raggi, an aran-weight yarn that’s a superwash merino blend that comes in a wide array of choices–rag wool/marled, patterns, printed, solids, and more (the child version is made with one of their two holiday-themed designs). The pattern is fantastic and works up quickly and they’re uber-useful (like I want a pair to wear around MY home–ASAP!). The child and small adult sizes take just one skein (so under $9 to make) and the large adult is two (with plenty left over) and still just over $15 to make. The tradition in Norway (and much of Scandinavia and Eastern Europe) is to have a basket of these by the front door for visitors to use (thus the garter stitch on the heels for expandability for various foot sizes). GENIUS! I need a basket full of them!

And we’ll close with a quick and hearty THANK YOU to a certain reader out there who strikes again….

Behold the new neckwarmer/scarf that I am the proud owner of–it’s not only seasonal, but topical, too! And yes, this is from the same creative and fun mind that whipped up the cowboy and fireman pillow cases that I enjoy every now and then. Thank you, Bonney–you make me laugh aloud yet again, and I smile every time I see it in my bedroom, draped over the chair. I may just have to wear it someday soon (she suggests it is to keep me warm on my walks along the river…..hehehe). I am truly blessed with some of the most amazing friends out there. THANK YOU!!!

I have much to be thankful for, but since I’m trying to “keep it light” over here, I’ll recap that over at my personal blog. Suffice to say that I’m looking forward to an amazing year in 2010, as the latter months of 2009 have been months of change–lots of good change.

Speaking of change, it’s time for a change of projects in these parts. That would mean that Multnomah is completed!

Never mind that it took me over three weeks to finish it–that in NO WAY speaks to the difficulty of the project (it’s actually very easy to knit and a well-written design). Molly blocked it for me (THANKS, Molly!) and Betsy wore it all night long on Wednesday while she worked. It’s larger than a scarf and smaller than a shawl, but it’s the perfect over-the-shoulder, on-top-of-the-coat sort of project (I see many women wearing them this way–very stylish!).

With that one completed, I did cast on and start Tie One On earlier this week. There’s only about three inches of fabric so far, and I’ll share that shortly. I was briefly (one evening last week) distracted by the Magnum One-Skein, One-Evening Scarf

that–yes–is made with a single skein of Cascade Magnum, some US 19 needles, and a free pattern from us when you purchase the yarn. I’ve already seen at least three others start and finish this scarf in a SHORT time (one woman knitted one over the course of the evening at the shop last Saturday). So it’s not a great excuse (just an evening of distraction), but I’ll take it!

I was tempted to pick up my Lady Eleanor Stole, recently discovered on the archaeological dig that we call “unpacking the spare bedroom” this past Tuesday.

as I’m teaching a class on it in a couple days. While it was tempting, I put it on the back burner for now–but I know where it is. And yes, that’s the original yarn (La Lana Forever Random) that I’m using. And yes–we have a couple kits at the shop for sale, in the original color (seen above). They’re a little pricey ($300, I think) but for a hand-dyed, hand-spun yarn and an amazing finished result, who can argue???

I did grab a skein of Jarbo Raggi on the way out of the store last night. We had a HUGE shipment arrive on Wednesday, along with a cute pattern for “Guest Socks“. I cast on this morning and I’m already finished with the back portion and about to work on the foot part (instep to toe). I predict an evening finish later today, as it’s a quick knit.

Beyond that, it’s a quiet day around the house with my parents, who came in on Tuesday for a visit for the holiday. It’s been great to have them here this week and I’m thrilled they made the trek from Southwest Missouri to be with me. Dinner tonight should be great, with turkey and all the trimmings and family specialties. What a perfect way to break in my new home!

Yup–lots has happened since we were last together, two weeks ago. Much of it is recapped over at my personal blog, so if you’re interested, head over there. This blog is for fun and games and other happy stuff.

What makes me happy? This, without question

Yup–that’s a photo of Sabrina (ThreadBear store manager), which must mean she’s back from the nearly-dead nether regions of the H1N1 flu. Poor thing–she had the worst case of it that knocked her down for over a week. Still not 100%, she comes in and works short days while she regains her strength (I say she should be recuperating at home, but she will NOT have it!). I’m just glad she’s back among us–we TOTALLY missed her!

Otherwise, things have been good. My move went well (chronicled elsewhere) and I’m getting settle in to my new home and my new life. I’m really enjoying the new digs as well as the process of transforming it into my personal sanctuary. It will be awesome to have a restful, home-y abode to return to after busy days at the shop. Plus I’ve set up one (with at least one more planned) knitting corner for myself. Not that I’ve had that much knitting time–I’m ***STILL*** working on Multnomah (the shoulder scarf/mini shawl depicted here previously) and that’s about it. No intervening projects. No further progress on my “grandmother pullover” (for myself). No progress (not even started) on the multi-fiber shawl in Habu yarns. NO KNITTING TIME! (sniff sniff…..but soon!).

But I do have more boxes unpacked! That’s important because my parents are coming in under a week for the Thanksgiving holiday (or at least at last report, which was last night). I look forward to seeing them, as it’s been a couple years and I want them to see my new place. That’s why the five boxes I managed to unpack today are important….with more to come!

Sunday was my birthday, and I have to say it was one of the best I’ve ever had (and definitely the best I can remember in a LONG time). Big thanks to everyone

who helped celebrate

my special day

with two kinds of cake

one of which was your standard, delicious birthday fare, complete wth Tigger and Pooh

(Dad called me Tiger and Tigger growing up, and then I went to the University of Missouri for my education…..mascot? TIGERS!), while the other was a delicious tiramisu

Gordy pulled out all the stops and made this AMAZING treat for me for my birthday, and he and Joe were fun additions to the celebrations around the shop. Thank you to EVERYONE who made it such a special day! Gifts, cards, friends, cakes, knitting, surprise visitors (you know who you are!), and so much more. If this is what growing old is all about…SIGN ME UP!

I’ve been bad and I am cheating on my pullover out of Naturwolle. Yes, it’s true….my eyes were captivated by something new

It’s called “Multnomah“, a fun pattern that I included in our freebies section of the newsletter last week (it went out on Friday, the 30th). That very day, Marcella came in to shop over her lunch hour and she was wearing THAT VERY PROJECT! Joking with her, I said “wow, you knit that up FAST”. Turns out she had made it previously (DUH) and coincidentally had it on that day. Inspired by hers, I pulled out the Alchemy Juniper (two hanks) in their amazing colourway “Hidden Place” (oddly, it’s very similar to the picture on the pattern….but a different yarn). It’s coming along well, but I’m also seduced by another project

a collection of fibers from Habu Textiles, which have always intrigued me but that I haven’t worked with much, despite them being available at ThreadBear for a couple years now. Well, if I have my way, these three fibers (Tsumugi Silk, Paper Moire, and Silk Mohair) will be combined into lovely fabric to make this

It’s called “Tie One On“, a fantastic pattern from Knitty.com, one of my favorite pattern sources. Several locals have made this, including at least two of my staffers and it’s a GREAT project, in a wide range of yarns. No one has used what I intend to use, so I look forward to seeing the fabric develop. The top skein (the poofty stuff) is Tobi Moire, and I may or may not use it (see the green version, which has texture blended into the fabric, for an idea of how I would incorporate it….maybe). We’ll see how the fabric looks with the three yarns, and I may swatch with the fourth used randomly. You KNOW you will see pics here, as progress develops.

Off to hit the shower and head into the shop…there’s PLENTY to be done there today as well as the second session of my “Intro To Socks” class to lead at 6:30. Plus our “Santa’s Workshop” knit night (come knit/crochet/spin on your holiday gift things, away from nosy family and prying eyes!) is tonight, and I made one of my tasty standard recipies (Festive Apple Bread) as a snack for those showing up. Every Friday, between now and Christmas, there will be treats and a safe haven for creating. Come join us!

The back,

she is done. Details in my next post……….and more good stuff to share, too!