So, where do we start? Um, first off the Drop Stitch Cardigan, made with Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK and Alpaca Kid Lustre is complete

Modeled by the lovely Linda (who’s working on her own version, in different shades), the sweater was finished on the 7th and the belt was done by the 9th. I’m totally pleased with the finished result, and now Linda’s double-motivated to get busy wrapping up her own version. So—needle/cable #1 empty.

Cable #1 filled……..take one part this

and seven parts this

and you get a phenomenal summer cardigan with amazing drape and hand. The pattern is a ChicKnits design called “Eyelet Cardigan” and the yarn is Schulana Sojabama, a dk-weight blend of 55% bamboo and 45% soy in a tape-style yarn that’s actually machine washable! I’ve made great progress with it and am now past where you divide for the arms, so I’m motoring along on the body, which includes some waist shaping that will make it a really sharp layering garment. Plus, that mango shade just says SPRING!!! SUMMER!!!!! and is cheerful to knit.

Lest you think I’ve strayed from my wooly pursuits,

I did swatch for “Cassidy” (another ChicKnits design–I’m on a Bonne-Marie bender!), figured out what needle size I needed, and am now off to the races on that garment, too. Empty Click cable #2–FILLED….with Cascade 220 in “Pacific”. I’m done with the ribbing, I’ve started the gentle waist shaping, and the next row I knit will set the cable pattern on the back. PROGRESS!

I did also start a sock last week (pulled an addi Turbo from my circular pouch for that one), using Pagewood Farm sock yarn called Chugiak, in the Butterfly colourway. No pictures….but trust me, I love it. I’m using fun pattern I found online (link in my next post, which will include pictures–PROMISE) and I think this pair may go to my Mom. Since she’s an avid reader of this blog, there goes any surprise factor (unless she’s just surprised by the fact I finish something for her–which she shouldn’t be, as she should receive her “Kyler’s Kardigan” today via US Mail and I hope to hear back how it fits…I’m nervous about it being too long). Back to the Chugiak….we had a big delivery on Friday

and I wanted to start about six new pairs of socks, but I refrained. Why? because on Friday, I caught the fever and on Sunday morning it made a public appearance in the form of this

and metabolized into this

by mid-afternoon, and by nightfall it had doubled in size (now six blocks in size, and about to grow again). I swear, that damn sock yarn blankie/memory keeper throw is addictive. I participated in our group meeting (every second Friday of the month for SURE, but there’s talk of gathering EVERY Friday evening around 6 p.m. and swapping and knitting and laughing away the week’s stress, including “knitting juice” and snacks). I loaded up a bag of my sock yarn leftovers and passively participated in the swapping (left my bag out and asked for new to be put in a zipper bag and people could wind off what they wanted from my stash) and ended up with this haul of new yarn bundles

and made out quite well! The group plans to gather again this Friday, around 6 (I hear rumours that there WILL be wine again this week), so if you’re curious about the project, join us. If you’re working on one and want to swap yarn, join us. If you’re just knitting one of your own and wanna socialize, join us. (are you sensing a theme here–JOIN US!)

I snapped this picture last Tuesday afternoon, with every intention of sharing that evening

but ended up being a slacker. Looks like the rainy weather had all of us hunkered down, no? That scene was off my left hip, while curled up on the sofa with the rain falling outside. Today is a different story, with warm temperatures and lots of sunshine, they’re both downstairs enjoying the warming effects of sunbeams coming in through the sliding doors off the living room. And upstairs, where I am now, there’s a ladybug trying to escape and bumping into the window to my right. Yup–Spring is here in Michigan (for now–it gets cold again later this week after the rain on Wednesday).

Oh, and I’ve started two other projects, too……with Turbos pulled out of my circular needle pouch. I’m a bad, bad man. Proof of it tomorrow (even though you already know that I am). Now, to figure out what to make for dinner with the boneless chicken breast in the fridge (Thai something comes to mind, despite having great Chinese food last night at Fine China, about a mile south of the shop. Yummy crab rangoon, decent hot and sour soup, and happy family were on my plate……Matt had triple Mongolian delight (or something close to that), and it was tasty, too (we typically share…..). Off to hit the bank (we need change at the shop), check on things there, and then head back here to make dinner. YUM! (other suggestions welcomed, via comments below….I’m open!)

She’s conducting in-store spinning demonstrations on how to make the most beautiful novelty yarns, how to spin her fibers, how to use her little bags of color and texture (she calls them Puff and Puffette), and just being engaging and sweet. She’s here from 10-6 (all day) today, and that’s it. HURRY HURRY! You’ll want to see her expert hands at work

She also brought along a myriad of temptations, too. Check it out

That’s five tables and a playpen of goodies to peruse. And don’t feel bad–if you’re not local, they’re still available for the weekend. Check out the run-down below, including one BRAND NEW PRODUCT she’s releasing with this show. Keep reading.

First off, she has spinning fibers……

These are a 50/50 merino and yak blend that Matt is currently spinning with on his wheel out front (yes, he is actually taking it easy today…HOORAY). It’s working up beautifully…I’m sure he’ll show it off on his blog soon. It runs $15 for four ounces.

She also has some 50/50 merino and tencel here that is also $15 for 4 ounces and simply striking

I’m sure Matt will spin some of that soon, as well. In addition to the “traditional fiber” stuff, she brought Fiber Puffs and Puffettes

which is what she uses to create her hand-spun, hand-dyed novelty yarns, which are striking. Puffs are $22 (mohair, wool, nylon, and silk) for 3.5 ounces and Puffettes are just $3.50 (same stuff, just 1/2 ounce) The novelty yarns are here as well, if you prefer not having to spin

and even more

and are 80 yards, 4 ounces, $52 or half that much (yes, 40 yards, 2 ounces) for half that much ($26). She also has some amazing cashmere blend handspun yarn

that’s half cashmere, half merino, ALL amazingly soft…..185 yards of this handspun delight is a STEAL at just $40 a skein (it should retail for $80, being HANDSPUN cashmere). I think I’m gonna score a few and dye them…yes I do.

If you’re more interested in her sock yarns, how’s about some beautiful Yukon

that’s 450 yards (3.8 oz) of 70% merino, 20% bamboo, 10% nylon for just $17 each. Or you might like the Glacier Bay

that’s 3-ply superwash merino and 5.5 ounces (MONSTER skein) at 450 yards for $27. Or you might find yourself attracted to her Denali

which is 80% merino, 20% nylon and 4 oz/450 yard hanks for $17. All of these yarns are here for the weekend, but we did also get a MONSTER shipment of Chugiak (2-ply merino, 450 yards/4 oz., $17) that’s on the shelf as regular stock.

But my newest addiction……like crack in a skein….is her Alyeska

It’s 80% merino, 10% nylon, and 10% CASHMERE and oooooooh-so-soft. I’m not a cashmere whore like some people (it just doesn’t do it for me, for the price, typically), but I’m telling you…..this stuff has brought me over to the dark side. LOOK AT IT

OH……….MY………GAWD. And to knit with this….you won’t believe your hands. Or the resulting fabric. YUM YUM YUM. We have the hanks you saw above, which are 360 yards, 4 ounces, for $30. We’ll have more later in the month or early next month, but for now….GET YOUR HANDS ON SOME OF THIS. I’m knitting with it and it’s divine!

With that, I’m outta here. If you need anything, be in touch by e-mail or toll-free line at 866-939-BEAR or just drop by and see things in action.

A quick side note–Blogger has NOT been complying with my wishes of late (to publish posts!) and Matt had to rig the last post, which blogger has now eaten (it’s missing as of Thursday the 15th, but I’ll ask him to replace it when he posts this one). I’ll be migrating the blog from Blogger to another service shortly, but there’s a chance that we’ll lose direct access to old posts and archives, which will suck. Stay tuned for details as we know them, but that’s part/most of the reason I’ve not been posting lately….Blogger SUCKS!

Oh, and one more thing…stay tuned for yet another amazing hand-dyed yarn post–someone special sent me something AMAZING to try out from her recent dyeing experiments and they’re just SMASHING. It’s wound and on the needles…you’ll see fabric shortly.