First off, it was an amazing weekend, filled with friends and hugs, fiber and patterns

food and fun

and general frivolity. I had a wonderful time and caught up with so many dear friends, saw wonderful things for the shop (some of which have already started to appear), and made some great contacts (personal and professional). The personal stuff is always chronicled over here, versus cluttering up this space.

I did make substantive progress on Amherst

and completed the back (shown above, but only halfway done). I have now started the first front

but that project is on hold. While at the show, I also played with a couple new sock yarns

that will be joining the ThreadBear family in the coming months. The minty goodness is Kollage Sock-A-Licious (superwash merino/silk/nylon) and the stripe is a new Regia (World Ball) in honor of the world cup. Yummy stuff!

I can’t wait to get this delivery of fun sock-weight yarn from Aslan Trends

that should be headed this way already, or very shortly. It’s a great value-priced yarn that’s kettle dyed in South America, and these new colors should be popular.

I have been knitting on another project in the past two days. We needed something made out of the Baby Marble that arrived last week

so I was quick to grab a pattern from one of our favorite designers (Diane Soucy at Knitting Pure & Simple) and hopped to it yesterday (Tuesday) and got this far by the afternoon

before having to cover the last part of the day at the shop. I worked on it a little more after getting home around 9 p.m. and got almost the entire body done

before turning in (or more accurately, falling asleep on the couch with it in my lap).

But Sunday and Monday, I was distracted by crochet. It was our monthly crochet-along for the hex blanket, so I had to work on some of my own while visiting with the group

and I added two new units to my piece. Edie is doing hers out of Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend and Cascade Venezia Worsted (both are merino/silk blends) and it’s coming along SMASHINGLY

I’m envious, also, of her color combinations. I love the wild colors in mine, but her sophisticated palette is attractive to me!

Over the weekend, I did embark on something that enticed me during the trade show. The good folks at Denise Interchangeable (you know them for their knitting needle sets, but they also feature an interchangeable CROCHET set, too! and yes, we stock them) showed me how to use their products to do something called Tunisian Crochet. Personally, when I did it over 25 years ago, we called it “afghan stitch” and I made several afghans using it (my mother still has one, in all of it’s harvesty-gold glory….shudder….), so it was easy to refresh my hands and get crankin’ on some examples for the shop.

Behold a Tunisian Crochet bag, made with under 100 yards of bulky-weight yarn and a big hook

They’re cute and quick projects that are featured in an upcoming class (being announced this evening, via newsletter) and take a short amount of time and a small amount of yarn and minimal skill (NO PRIOR CROCHET EXPERIENCED NEEDED) to complete. I think they’re stinkin’ cute

and would make a great project bag for something small like a pair of socks, mittens, or even a scarf. Or just a quick bag to grab on the way out the door.

DING! that’s my timer…..gotta run! BE WELL!

That’s my version of the “Spring Baby Cardigan” by Kristen TenDyke (patterns available at the shop, of course). I made our model out of Classic Elite Classic Silk (the yarn used in the design), as it falls in the perfect gauge of five sts/inch. Sized from newborn to three years, it’s a versatile design that’s easy construction (the body is made in one piece; the sleeves attached; the bands worked up in just a couple rows) and goes fast. That little bit of lace at the bottom (just 12 rows) makes for a nice detail, too.

There’s been more progress on “I Put A Hex On You”

in the amount of it having DOUBLED in size at the end of this week (previous photo was 8 units; this one is 15, and one more was added today). It’s addictive, and I need to put it down, as I have a self-imposed deadline on another project

in the form of a v-neck shell made of Maggi’s Linen, a great blend of cotton and linen in a slightly slubby/thick-n-thin yarn that I just adore. It’s perfect for summer (or year-around) wear, so I’ve been cranking on it this week and am about half way up the body (it’s knitted in the round up to the armholes). The piece is three times the size you see in that photo, as of this afternoon. It may grow more tonight, too, depending on what I choose to do this evening.

I’m torn–I want to stick my toes in the social pool and possibly go out tonight. There are a few choices (there’s events at both a bar in the Detroit area and one near Grand Rapids, and there’s also a place to go here that’s kinda quiet/small), but I’m not sure I’m quite “ready” to go out and be sociable. Time will tell, no?

As introduced here in my last post, I have started a new larger project that I’ve called “I Put A Hex On You” (you have to name projects on Ravelry, and this one is appropriate…..). A certain someone sent me a link to a pattern she found that inspired her. Unfortunately, “certain someone” doesn’t know how to crochet–yet. She’s signed up for my class that starts on Saturday, May 1st @ 1 p.m. (and meets again on the 8th), so she will learn, soon enough. In the mean time, her inspiration has caused an epidemic in these parts…seriously! I know of at least five people that have either purchased yarn for or started one of these projects.

The very next day, I came to the shop with the intention of starting one out of Cascade Sierra, a lovely blend of pima cotton and merino wool, and wanted the help of Helen to figure out colors. It will serve as a shop model, so I wanted bright, cheery colors (plus it’s spring–bring on the color!), and we made a nice assortment of about a dozen hanks of Sierra. Then Helen went back to the Superwash 220, and she went bezerk

and found these twelve shades. I got going immediately

and whipped out two motifs on Thursday evening. It grew some more on Friday

and even more by Sunday afternoon

I haven’t worked on it since (my crochet hook went AWOL on Monday and I’m not 100% sure what size it was….I think I have a replacement here at the house, however). But trust me, it’s one of those projects that I can’t stop working on, much like eating potato chips or knitting entrelac! OOOH OOOH!! Just one more! just one more!!!

It will also be the topic for a crochet-along, starting at the shop sometime after the first of May. The FREE GROUP will meet monthly, most likely on Sunday afternoons. Details to follow, or keep tabs on developments via our Ravelry group.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed checking out the blog for the woman who wrote the tutorial on the hexagons. She appears to be a very prolific (and colourful) crocheter, and I really enjoyed her works. There’s not much in the way of crocheted things at ThreadBear, and I’ve always wanted to change that (I did learn to crochet first, and later added knitting; crochet around 4 or 5, knitting about a year later). Each yields a totally different product, but each has its place and is appropriate for different things.

I’ve been dyeing quite a bit of yarn of late, most of it chronicled over here. I really enjoy the creative outlet and the process, but more than that, I love the feedback/reactions to the hanks when folks see them and just HAVE to have one (or more) of my skeins. THANK YOU for the hearty reception!

I have been knitting……there has been a shawl

a baby cardigan

socks for Bill (he chose the yarn when he was here visiting me the first week of March; a second skein of sock yarn awaits at home, along with a pattern for a cardigan that will look amazing on him, given his build….boyfriend sweater curse be damned!)

and an Omega Wrap

all worked on and/or completed in recent weeks. Omega and the shawl are done, but Bill’s socks languish in my bag (there’s always something that MUST be done, versus me wanting those to be done), and the Spring Baby Cardigan just got knocked out on Sunday (thanks to Marcia for setting the sleeves and finishing the shoulders). I blocked it that evening and it’s drying at the shop right now, hopefully done by tomorrow for the newsletter.

So I’ve gotten stuff done, but not as much as in previous months. I enjoy the time I spend at the gym and the results are definitely motivating. Something had to be done about my weight and my lifestyle, and I took the first steps (literally) last fall with walking and eating right, and now this next chapter makes sense. I want to be around for a long time, and this is definitely going to help!

I’m completely entranced by this

and yes, it’s CROCHETED! I’ve been knitting, too, and I’m cutting this short tonight to get back to a baby sweater that I **WILL** finish this evening so I can block it tomorrow at the shop.

And to answer Lindy’s question–Roxy is Sabrina’s little mini chihuahua, and she’s adorable. You can typically find her at the shop on Tuesdays, as that’s Sam’s short day at the shop and Roxy comes along for the ride. I have photos (older ones) that I should share….next time!

Be well, and thanks for not giving up on me! More regular posting will be a priority from here forward, as I’ve finally settled into a routine after adding in more days at the shop as well as working out 5-6 times a week (again, go see more, if so inclined, over at my personal blog)

That’s Knitting Pure & Simple #264, and I promise not to follow in his footsteps–I don’t see me rockin’ the bushy ’stache any time in the near future (the goatee hides my quadruple chins!). It calls for aran/heavy worsted knitted at 16 sts/4 inches, but I wanted it to be my winter coat, so I’m using Maggi’s Tweed Fleck Aran, which knits at 4 sts/inch (instead of being drape-y, the fabric is nice and solid). Check out the huddled mass that is the shoulders

There’s far too much fabric crammed on far too short a needle, but I’m getting close to splitting for the arms/body, which will make it easier to knit, of course. Check out the extreme close-up of the fabric

I should be focusing on this, as it’s cold in these parts and it would be nice to have the jacket finished (and Matt can’t wait to have a “Burn, Baby Burn” ceremony with my current jacket, which has been dubbed my “Clothes Buddy”……granted, it’s old and a little worn, but I do love it!). I squeeze a few rows in here and there (three rows last night, over dinner with att at Taste of Thai in East Lansing), so it’s coming along. I’m just “distracted” by things that I feel I MUST be worked on, mostly for the shop.

Case in point………..I’m cooking up a fun project using these yarns

and have a range of other options stewing in my head as well

so hopefully I’ll make some progress swatching and the like on this today…..hopefully. Yet this little darlin’ continues to tempt me

That’s a kit for a scarf that I should be working on, as our first shipment of them left Maine on Friday and should arrive before the holiday weekend. The “official” launch for the kits is mid-December, but I have a tester kit NOW and there’s others already in transit for us to sell, so soon……….sooon…..you’ll see what it is sooooooooooooon.

And in reference to you Fresh Apple Bread folks………..I think I have the recipe already typed up and ready to post in a file that’s on one of the computers at the shop. If so, I’ll make sure it’s posted through a link here later today. If not, I’ll type it up and post the file via a link here tonight/tomorrow (depending on what’s on tap for me tonight). See–I promise!

Oh, and there’s a darling new display at the shop that went up on Friday.

Don’t miss out….more details about it over here, but you’ll want to see it in person,

I used to teach Business Communications when I was a university professor, and I enjoyed the two different levels I taught (an intro course offered to all majors in the college and a second semester that was required of majors in my home department). In the intro course, we focused a good bit on letter writing, and one of the types we wrote was the “bad news letter”. I typically likened the process to making and serving a sh#t sandwich–you open with generic or nice stuff (fluffy, soft bread), put the bad news in the middle, and then close with more nice stuff (the other bread slice). Today’s post is much like that…..

It’s been very much like fall in these parts for the past week, with daytime highs in the 50s and 60s (all temps in F) and nighttime lows in the low 40s. Great for sleeping, without question. Michigan State celebrated their homecoming this past weekend, which once again made me think of Mizzou (GO TIGERS! #2 in the polls!) and our homecoming, three weeks later, which in turn makes me think of mums. Here’s the same bush I showed you last time

in FULL splendor. The cool weather really makes those blossoms open up

I think some of that tranquility I pined for in my last post is on the cusp of being here (HOORAY!) and I’ve actually had some time to do some serious knitting and crocheting, in and around the classes I’ve been teaching. I also started and finished a sock,

made with Ty Dy Socks (just in last week), using my Broadripple pattern (which I make available at no charge, in sock weight, when you purchase any sock yarn to make it from the shop). I have a couple nice shots of the crocheted shawl I completed recently

and of the front,

We received a big batch of Cascade family yarns last Thursday, including this yummy stuff

That’s their Baby Alpaca Chunky Paints, a hand-painted bulky-weight baby alpaca that’s just heaven in the skein. I’m casting on for a one-skein project tonight, before turning in. And sometime on Tuesday (my day off), I hope to finalize what this will become

That’s some Superwash 220 Paint, in a very kid-friendly colourway that will be some sort of cardigan for a little one. And with that, we end our first slice of bread.

I try not to be overly political or religious in this sort of public space, but I can’t hold back any longer…….

Here’s where the middle of the sammich comes at you…..look away (or scroll down to the other “bread”) if you are a McCain/Palin supporter. NOW. If you’re going to continue reading, open wide….

Last Thursday, I listened to the VP debate in the car, on the ride home, because I taught the first session of an Intro to Socks class and Matt and I left the shop a little later than normal. I’m not one given to shouting at the radio (I can’t recall when I’ve EVER talked to my dashboard), but when Sarah Palin said “I’m a tolerant person”, I uncontrollably yelled back at the radio NO YOU’RE NOT. As an elected official who does NOT support gay rights of any sort, as someone who’s worked hard to squelch other individual rights, and as a woman who has said she doesn’t believe in choice, she’s anything but tolerant. And her sniping at both Democratic candidates only demonstrates that (a Wednesday-last-week stump speech had her saying something to the effect of “I can’t wait to meet Joe Biden in person, as he’s a distinguished senator. I’ve been listening to his speeches since I was in the second grade.” But she said that wasn’t a jab at his age or his tenure in the Senate. Blatant lies.) But wait, there’s more.

At a campaign rally in California over the weekend, she was captured on video and pulled more of her “I’m just like you” crap when she said something about the other morning, she was reading the cup of her Starbuck’s mocha (see, she IS just like you…bwahahah) and saw a quote from former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who said (and she quoted) “There’s a special place in Hell reserved for women who do not support other women”. (please play it–it’s worth the effort)

There’s been quite an uproar since then, including Ms. Albright herself crying FOUL at the use of her name in an attempt to coerce other women to vote for Sarah Palin, not to mention getting the quote wrong

and it not even being about politics in the first place.

I’m also just amazed at the audacity of Palin to try to appear to be “just like you” and middle class–tossing around the moniker “Joe Six-Pack” and talking about being average. By the way, does anyone else find it offensive AND a bit sad that she uses an alcohol reference AND is married to someone who has a DUI conviction? (is he then “Todd Twelve-Pack”?). Poor choice, no matter how you slice it.

But back to her claim of being “an average American” and part of the middle class. She’s not exactly middle class, as the Palin family’s newly released financials will show. For 2007, their gross income was $166,495, and they paid just over $25K in taxes – a rate of 14.9%. They own a lakefront home in Wasilla valued at over $500,000, have partial ownership in two vacation properties, own an airplane, and have other investments/assets measuring up to an estimated $1.2million.

It’s really interesting, as she makes $125,000 as governor of Alaska (an office she’s held for just over 18 months). Before that, she was mayor of a town with a population (during her time in office) less than the entering 2008 freshman class at Michigan State University. (PS–her state has fewer people than the city of Columbus, OH, too). Hub supposedly works a couple part-time jobs and races snowmobiles part of the year, too (and is supposedly good at it, as he won $10,000 recently, doing just that).

Step back from all of that–the Palin family PAID more taxes than many of us out here actually MAKE in a year. Middle class? Just like you? Tolerant? Capable? Qualified? None of the above, please. I just had to get that off my chest.

Back to the fun stuff–more fluffy, tasty bread.

I whipped up a couple quickie projects over the weekend, using some of the newer items at the shop. First off, a quick bias-knit scarf

Nothing fancy, just a larger needle and an evening of knitting time is all you need to transform one hank of Be Sweet Magic Ball into a nice accessory or gift item. And speaking of gift items, I’m completely in love with this little darlin’

You start with just two hanks of Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend (we chose #105, Lava), add in a simple pattern and some US 10 needles. In under a day, I had this

which quickly turns into this with a little drop stitch action

that in close-up in the finished item looks like this

and is actually quite exquisite! I think it’s an amazing little quick knit that costs so little ($25 for the Manos Silk Blend, or choose one hank of Sheep Shop Sheep Three for under $24) that it would make amazing gifts for several folks on your holiday list.

This concludes our long, “tasty” entry for tonight. There will be more posting tomorrow, as I have more to share with you about newly-started projects, progress on other things shown here (including that little bit of knitting last week), and other projects about to be started. I’ve got a MAJOR case of start-itis again, and it’s all picture worthy!

Be well, use your brains whenever possible, and knit (and crochet!) like mad! MUCH LOVE!

fun person. That’s her reaction on Friday evening, just after arriving at ThreadBear and just after she left the part of the store we call Sockland. Speaking of Sockland and socks, over the weekend someone shared these beauties with me

Said feet belong to someone who took my sock yarn dyeing class last December (I typically teach how to do a standard multicolor hank, a specialized multicolor hank, and then a self-stripe–three in all). She came back for a knitting workshop over the weekend and had to show me the results of her dyeing, now knitted up into sock form. It was obvious she enjoyed the results, and I was like the proud Poppa. Very cool! I love it when people bring finished projects back for show-and-tell.

Leaving the house over the weekend, I captured a few pictures of things that bring me joy and make me smile. For example, our good friend Janeen planted some Cosmos near our front sidewalk this summer, and they’re still in full bloom

and individual flowers are just exquisite

I’m amazed at the beauty of individual blossoms on the plant right now, including the one above. The two-toned effect on the petals, the sharp contrast of the center versus the rest of the flower, etc. This plant is beside the sidewalk at the front of the house, so I see it when I leave every day and again when I return. And then there’s this shot from the same vantage point, looking out across the river that runs by our home

Morning fog, burning off with the first light of sun. I love the play of light and shadows and the wide range of greens in all of the different vegetation. It’s peaceful and it definitely reminds me of my childhood, as I grew up on water (a large lake in southern Missouri, on the MO/ARK border) and I like the idea of being near water. While the river doesn’t make much noise, even when it was at flood stage a couple weeks ago, there is a bit of a dam just north of the house and we can hear the water spilling over the top of it all the time, which makes a very soft, pleasant sound.

There was a little time for craftiness over the weekend…….behold the finished Woodland Shawl

from the current issue of Interweave Crochet. The body was done Friday, and I tackled the edging that evening and made a little progress. I got down one side, to the point, and didn’t like how it looked (too tight/bunchy), so I ripped it out completely and started again. After a couple adjustments, I made similar progress and had similar feelings about it, so out it came again (yes, I’m overly picky). So I went up a crochet hook size and finally found the perfect edging, which FLEW out of my hands at that point. I think it’s a genius stitch combination that’s the perfect edging for this project

that really “makes” the finished shawl. Plus I think the color we used for this example is perfect with the multi in the body. I’m thrilled with the project, without question, and look forward to it being on display at the shop later today.

And with that, I’m outta here for now………back soon, with a new project (or two, or three). I’ve been good about focusing on this one shawl, and that’s why it’s done less than a week after starting!

I HATE PAPERWORK

There, I’ve got that out for now.

I did crochet a little bit last night and again this morning, prior to coming to work for the day. The shawl, she is finished

Well, at least the body is done. I still have the flower edging to add on, and I might get a jump on that tonight (we’ll see how quickly I can get out of here…I have to post over at our “New Arrivals” blog, too). And I may even get home in time to check out the last part of the presidential debate…that should be ….interesting.

Cut to this past June, while at the semi-annual TNNA market, where Matt, myself, Meg from Yarn Expressions (in AL), her daughter Liz, and the fabulous Kim Werker (editor of Interweave Crochet) all had dinner together to discuss how to promote crochet in our yarn shops. Not only was the company extraordinary and the food tasty, but the conversation was exciting, as we all shared ideas, lamented the challgenges of inspiring crocheters, and brainstormed on what to do as the fall fiber season arrived. Cut to last weekend, when Kim showed up for an event (preplanned by her, of course!) to launch the fall issue of Interweave Crochet with Sandi Wiseheart (you know her from Knitting Daily) in tow. Sandi was here (with her mannequin Bertha) with the idea of doing a gallery with crochet garments for Knitting Daily (GENIUS!) as well as to help local folk with fit and shape and alterations and color and and and. Suffice to say, it was a FAB weekend with two wonderful women, over 40 folks excited about crochet (one young woman and her mother drove over from Madison, WI), and tons of fab garments (seriously–every single garment from this issue was here for the weekend!). THANKS to all who particiapted!

So, a weekend of crochet means I left inspired to make several things, but only started two (I wanted to start two others, but I’ve resisted so far…but can’t forever…Robyn Chachula is calling…….via her new book “Blueprint Crochet”). First off, I started the Woodland Shawl by Kathy Merrick, which happens to be the cover project of the current issue

I’m using the same yarn (Manos Silk Blend, YUM YUM), but in a different color scheme

with a fun color for the flower edging

different than the original

but still beautiful. I’ll be teaching a class on this project starting in late October, and it’s something that’s VERY VERY VERY beginner friendly, as all you need to know how to do is chain, slip stitch, single crochet, and half double crochet, and maybe double crochet. Easy peasy!

I’ve also been seduced by yet another project from this issue

That’s the Ridge Swing Cardigan by Robyn Chachula (surprise!), made with Tahki Savoy, a luscious blend of silk and merino wool (I see a trend here……..silk………wool……….yum).

That’s an evening’s work–seriously! I haven’t touched it since Sunday (I started the shawl on Monday) and there’s not been much time for crafty business this week, as we have had some other stuff keeping us busy here at the shop (including absolute tonnages of new merchandise…check out the New Arrivals blog for details, of course. I’m also intrigued by this

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but not enough to start it........yet. Not that it isn't beautiful (and I mean beautiful!), but I have enough crochet to work on right now. Plus some knitting, too!

I’ve started a new pair of socks

using some BEAUTIFUL Creatively Dyed Ocean, a blend of Seacell and wool that’s hand dyed by Dianne in South Carolina and available at ThreadBear, of course. I’ve just started the pattern, so you can’t see it at all, but look how BEAUTIFUL that is knitting up so far…and I don’t even like yellow!

I did finish a sock in a day last week….behold my Sheep Feet sock

made with one skein of Sheep Feet from Sheep Shop Yarn Company (there’s plenty in the skein to make the second sock, as long as you stick to about a ladies’ 8.5, max). The pattern is free with purchase of the yarn, and it’s TONS of fun to knit (very easy) and goes fast, as the yarn is worsted weight and you use US 4 needles. YEAH, baby!

Gotta run, but there will be more later ………… most likely tomorrow (if I don’t leave now, I can’t make progress on projects to show you…..well, I do have a new cabled jacket to share….that I started a couple weeks ago). Back soon!