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!

It’s been an odd day, starting out by being awakened around 3:30 in the morning to the sound of my (much-hated) upstairs neighbors, moving out (their door is just outside my bedroom windows, which I have open at night for the fresh air). I think, with the last few carloads this afternoon, that they’re gone for good. Or at least I hope so. I finally got up for good around 7 a.m., and then lounged in the living room for hours upon hours, working on the back of a sweater a little bit and also just sitting there. I spent too much time “navel gazing”, tried to do some simple meditation (to calm down my brain, which was in hyperdrive mode most of the day) to no avail, and finally ran through the shower and got cleaned up and presentable. Off to the gym for a little bit (a shortened, but good workout), and some serious time in the whirlpool (hot tub) and then some swimming in the pool. I spoke with my Dad in-between destinations (he’s been in the hospital for over a week now–LONG story…see my Facebook page for details), and he’s doing much better today. Then it was errand time–groceries to be gotten (mostly fresh produce, but somehow I ended up with over $70 in stuff in my cart)–and a quick pop by the store (it was closed, but I wanted to drop off a couple things I had picked up) before driving home. I made an amazing dinner (a fun chicken thing I do that doctors up a simple boxed rice thing, some amazing haricots verts, and a tall glass of freshly-brewed sweet tea), relaxed a little bit, and here I am now. About the time I got to the gym, my day started to “feel” better…and I was able to do some calming/relaxing in the wet area at the gym, and tonight, I’m jovial and content as can be. Seriously!

So, I’ve been AWOL over a month again, but it’s not for lack of WANTING to be here. It’s for lack of TIME (or me dedicating time) to be here. The gym continues to be an important part of my week, and each visit takes about two full hours out of my day (but adds countless hours to my life, I’m sure). I’ve also been posting to the ThreadBear Facebook page every single morning (join it by finding it and clicking on the LIKE button). But I admit to neglecting you, dear knitting blog–and I’m sorry! Let’s see if I can make up for it with a picture-laden post!

On to the projects! First, there was major progress leading into May with the V-Neck Shell being made with Maggi’s Linen

as it (and two other variations–scoop neck and boat neck) were the Project of the Month at ThreadBear. Confession time? It sits, about 85% completed, in a zipper bag beside my couch, hiding under the end table. It was put aside in favor of a couple other project that I felt came before it…..and it NEEDS to be finished ASAP.

One of those projects was a top-down cardigan that would serve a dual purpose–it would be a fresh model using K1CToo Ty-Dy (one of my favorite cotton yarns) as well as be a model for an upcoming class taught by Sue Hall on summer cardigans. It started out humbly

but grew rapidly

until in under a week the entire body was completed

and just a few days later it was completed, blocked, and on display at the shop

workin’ hard for Sue’s class and for pattern/yarn sales. It’s a great project and looks fab in the yarn I used, but any worsted-weight you choose will turn out great (and it’s an easy one, cuz there’s no seaming when you’re done with the knitting).

Then I turned my attention to some new sock yarn that came in–Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Ysolda Red

that begged to go home with me and be turned into a sock

that’s coming along nicely, but is on ice for the moment. So many distractions!

The first was this

which I first released as that close-up photo last week, while working on it. Enter the Three-Way Rib Wrap

a multi-stranded project worked on big needles that is serving as our June 2010 Project Of The Month at the shop. It debuted today (June 1st) and I think it’s a great project that should garner some attention.

So now that it is completed and on display, I had a little bit of un-dedicated knitting time over the past two days. I cleaned out my knitting bag over the weekend (tragic, I say–it was JAMMED full and had some silly stuff in it) and resurrected a project that’s been rumbling around in the bottom of my bag for WELL OVER a year now. Re-enter Cassidy

a beautiful cabled hoodie sweater based on a pattern from ChicKnits (we carry her line at the shop, of course), being worked up in Cascade 220 in a beautiful heathered shade that’s almost blue and almost white. I’m telling you, there’s nothing better in my knitting world than a simple wool yarn (Cascade 220 fits the bill) and a great cabled pattern (Cassidy fits that bill). Check it out, in close up

I love how the cables POP, how the yarn is heathered, and how the overall fabric looks. It’s been a BLAST working on this again over the past 48 hours, and it’s more than DOUBLED in length in that time (well over 8″ of new fabric since Sunday evening) and I’m up past the armhole cut-in. The cable design is easily memorized and they work up quickly (the little three-stitch wonders I’m doing with out a cable needle).

But I have been distracted……..

by some BEAUTIFUL sock yarn that was left for me by a yarn rep (I’ve ordered this stuff, to be delivered later this summer). I have to have a model sock made up before it arrives, right? I did that knitting last night, when I didn’t want to have to think at all while going around and around and around. But I’m also hearing the siren song of some beautiful tweed yarn

that comes from MaggiKnits. I want to make something with this yarn, but the right design hasn’t presented itself just yet. So I will swatch with these two balls and see if that helps me decide.

Midnight approaches, and I have some swatching to do for YET ANOTHER project that I want to get started in the next couple days. I’m sure I’ll share it here, as it progresses. In the mean time, be well, be happy, and be knitting (or crocheting, or spinning, or weaving…..JUST BE CREATIVE!)

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!

Today (well, Thursday) was a l-o-n-g day. I got up without an alarm around 7:30 a.m., putzed around my room for about 30 minutes and came out to use the communal Mac around 8. Did some minor business stuff, a little Facebook (including chatting with Taiu Landra, of Koigu fame), and then got down to brass tacks on getting the newsletter finished so it would go out today (didn’t happen–it’s going out EARLY on Friday).

I had a 9:30 a.m. appointment with a sales rep (hard to believe that it’s still October and they’re out on the road, schlepping Spring/Summer 2010 merchandise, but that’s how this industry works). We had a good visit (she’s also a very good friend, and not just someone who sells me stuff) and Sabrina and I made some really good decisions for the upcoming season with respect to the companies represented today. This is my first real, full buying season without having Matt around as a sounding board (he was absent for several vendors last spring, as we had another one of our patented BIG ARGUMENTS in April, just before fall/winter buying season and he opted out of several meetings at that time). I feel good about what I’m doing, moving into 2010–both with me and with the shop. And that’s important, as attitude/perception is a BIG part of what comes through in how the shop is managed/run.

I did spend some time swatching on Tuesday evening, sitting in my room with candles burning and listening to some great music

That’s the full monty–the entire piece I knitted to not just test gauge but also to audition the two options for the contrasting color (the white tweed was immediately nixed by me–too stark). Let’s check out the two, separately

That’s the green/blue/purple as the main color, or what the vast majority of the garment will be knitted in. And in the middle, you’ll notice two rows of a more vibrant pinkie/fuchsia shade (it has black and teal color neps). That’s the solid fuchsia tweeded yarn used as it would be in the garment–just two rows for accent. And here’s the other option

the black tweeded yarn (with fuchsia and teal neps) as contrasting shade. So which would you go with?

I like the fuchsia option, but I’m afraid it’s too similar to the pink/plum tones already in the main colourway, so it doesn’t read as CONTRAST to me, but more matchy-matchy. The black, however, makes a pretty strong statement and definitely BREAKS the color. So black it is!

I did get to knit a little bit while looking over yarns and patterns and accessories and needles and more. I cast on and worked the first three inches of ribbing and a few rows of the stockinette (body) of the garment. I kept holding it up and feeling like it was HUGE-NORMOUS (I typically make nothing but shop models, and they’re usually 38″ to 42″ finished bust, and I’m making this to fit….ME; I’m no tiny person, mind you). So, I re-thought the garment and decided to drop down one size, to a 52″ finished chest (instead of the 56″). Even after intended weight loss, that should prove to be a comfy, albeit slightly oversized, garment that will be great to wear around. I really should knit more for myself, but the garments are always so HUGE and there’s always something needed at the shop, to help move more product.

I reknit the ribbing tonight, while watching Project Runway. Matt offered to make dinner for me, which ended up being a Thai dish with basil and lots of chilis. He apologized for it being too spicy, but I never noticed–it was quite tasty and I liked it a good bit. We sat and watched TV while eating, and afterwards there was basically no conversation and not much interacting. Granted, both of us were tired from our respective days (tho I’m not sure what he did all day, I know he painted a window for a friend of ours, and I’m sure he continued to work on his business plan to open a yarn shop). It might have been nice to visit and talk and interact a little, but it appears to have not been in the cards. But here’s the take-away from this paragraph—-I have a progress shot to share with you tomorrow (Friday), as there’s not just ribbing but a few rows of the body completed as well!

After a little bit of lunch this afternoon (yes, I’m jumping back in time), I had to hit it hard and get the newsletter finished. There were lots of other small distractions during the day (making stickers, visiting with custo-friends that came by today, running to the bank, and more), so it was slow going and didn’t get completed until late tonight; it will go out early on Friday morning.

Then there was dinner, Project Runway, and now here I am, upstairs MUCH TOO LATE, blogging. But here’s yet another reason why I love what I do so very much. I logged onto Facebook when I first sat down and I saw Trisha Malcolm was on line (she’s the editor of Vogue Knitting, a fellow scorpio, and just an all-around GREAT person who’s terribly witty, wonderfully understanding, and a great sounding board about things). Trisha and I had about a 30-minute chat conversation on everything from the Phillies to my life to the yarn business and more. I’m just flabbergasted that I have that kind of access to such amazing people (and it’s across the board in this industry–I have cell phone numbers for MANY owners of yarn distributorships/companies, consider many of the “movers and shakers” to be close friends, and get asked my opinion and more by wonderful and interesting people all the time). I lead a very charmed existence, and I’m thankful for it and am working harder and harder all the time to hold up my end of the equation–I’ve not been the best, most reliable business person in years past and I’m working HARD to rectify that now and into the future. And that, more than anything else, feels really really good!

Oh, and that holiday sock I showed you on Tuesday–in embryonic stage? It was completed yesterday evening, and it’s 90% dry from a good wet blocking to even everything out. See

It’s funny–we’ve had this yarn on the shelves for over two months, and not a single skein had sold. I decided it was close enough to the holidays to have one finished, so I started it on Tuesday afternoon and by mid-day Wednesday it was all sold out (with TONS more on order, to be delivered in about ten days to two weeks, as even the distributor is out right now). The yarn is Raggi, an aran-weight blend of 70% merino superwash and 30% nylon in 165-yard skeins for around $9 (two will make a pair of socks for most adults). There’s a darker (almost inverse) holiday version that wasn’t selling until this week, and only four skeins of it remain as of this writing (with more coming in two weeks, also). Ah, the power of a good model garment!

In closing, here’s a shout out to a friend who’s got a rough go of it right now out east. Buddy, you’re in my thoughts, as I can somewhat empathize with you on what you’re going through, personally and professionally. Just know that I’m here for you, whenever you need me……by phone, in person, as an oasis should you need to get outta town–whatever. As I told you earlier today, via text message……..friends are here to lift us up when we’re feeling down and the world is kicking our ass.

made with Meilenweit Soja Print–a blend of wool, soy, and nylon that comes in great shadesBR>

and was part of the massive Meilenweit delivery that came recently

and

On Wednesday of this week, I started another sock (during my monthly pedicure/reflexology appointment–NEEDED when you’re on your feet all day like me, especially now that I’m also walking every other day for fitness/personal reasons). It’s a new line of Meilenweit called “Merino” that’s merino wool/nylon instead of ??wool/nylon, and it’s UBER soft

and uber-beautiful, too! I couldn’t be more pleased with how it’s working up–the colors are crisp and clear, the stripes are WELL defined, and the resulting sock fabric is a joy to fondle (and I’ve fondled–trust me I’ve fondled). I also recently started (and tore out) a sock made with the orange version of this

which is Meilenweit Solo, another amazingly-soft sock yarn from Lana Grossa, only this time it works up into a beautiful degrade color ramble of goodness. I didn’t like how wide it was turning out (toe up, just to mix it up a bit, and this time for ME, where the others above are shop models). Hopefully I’l get it back on the needles over the weekend.

That’s about it from these parts–I’m out of here for now, as I’m having a late breakfast and it’s getting cold off my right elbow. Have a GREAT Friday!

There’s a new project on the scene, and it involves this

That’s two skeins of Prism Merino Mia, one each of two different colourways. I’m using an “oldie but goodies” pattern this time around called the Cross Stitch Scarf, which results in beautiful fabric. See

Stunning….and ThreadBear will be offering kits for this project shortly (meaning two skeins that we put together, color coordinating them so you don’t have to fret and fuss).

Next post (probably later today, after I get back from some simple errands) will be of the scarf finished and blocking. YUM!

All that remains is a hearty wet blocking and then it’s time to put on the three buttons (two on the collar and one on the top of the cabled edging). I’m so completely enamoured with this finished garment that I tend to share it with everyone who comes by the shop and/or near the table I’m usually working at. Hopefully Matt will be giving it a good bath early this week.

Of course, I’m well underway with a new project……….I’ve switched my affections to one Jared Flood (sorry Bonne Marie, but I’ll be back to finish Chelsea, trust me on that!), as I’ve been seduced by his “Made In Brooklyn” collection. First up (there will be several) is Huron

a beautiful men’s pullover with colorwork on the yoke. Of course, I’ve also found a new lover in Classic Elite’s Portland Tweed, a delicious aran-weight blend of wool, alpaca, and viscose. It works up into stunning fabric

that I really, really like

I’ve finished both sleeves and joined in the round, and made substantive progress on the yoke. I’ll have to show new pictures soon (hopefully I can carve out some time on Monday–no later than Tuesday), as the colorwork portion has begun as of this afternoon. Matt chose very well…you’ll see–shortly!

My in-between project (also known as “what I work on when riding in the car”) is almost always a sock.

It keeps on moving forward, and I’m almost finished with the first (yes, I’ll be making a pair this time around). I shouldn’t say, as I think he reads the blog now and then, but they’re for my father. He and I were talking awhile ago and he kinda/sorta asked about having another pair of socks, as I made him a pair 2-3 years ago and he likes them, but they’re too formal for him to wear on a regular basis (the yarn is Schaeffer Anne, in a deep green that’s so dark it looks quite black). I like these–they’re made with Trekking Maxima, a fun yarn introduced earlier this spring. I like the stripes—they’re motivating, keeping me moving forward to see what color is coming next.

So many temptations…..so many projects…..so many new yarns and patterns. I look forward to sharing them in the days to come!

and are now on display near said yarns. Great yarns that worked up into great socks–I’m a believer! We also received some sample skeins in other Meilenweit yarns that will be coming in later this fall, as available

I’m excited to start socks in these, especially the brightly-colored merino–it’s SOOO soft. You’ll see it here, shortly.

So, technically Monday was Tate’s birthday, as we mark the 27th of July as the day he found Matt and came into our lives. No birthday goes by without cake in these parts

which was mostly enjoyed by humans, but a little enjoyed by both he and Busby. They both loves them some cake, and Buzz has a birthday coming up in mid-November (as do I!).

With all of the finished projects (socks above, two sweaters in my last post), it was high time to start something new, so swatching was completed

for a new project (it’s not 100% new, as I’ve already started one of these and shown it to you, months ago). Remember this

a lovely blue ribbing in Cascade 220 for Cassidy, a hoodie with cables from ChicKnits (can’t find my photo from earlier…..YURG! I’ll show it next time, when I show a progress pic). Trust me when I say it’s a lovely garment and the color is coming out STUNNING so far.

Lest you think I forgot Emily (the one button cardigan from previous posts), I do have this to show off

That’s a completed back and both completed fronts! Onto the sleeves next, which have yet to be cast on, but will be shortly (the siren song of Cassidy was too loud for me to avoid). This has been a VERY fun knit, and while it is stockinette fabric, it’s far from a boring project. There’s lots of shaping going on (waist shaping, front shaping, etc.) and it’s not difficult, but you do need to track it.

If I can recommend one thing to you out there, it’s make a working copy of a pattern (THAT YOU PURCHASED and/or OWN) and don’t be afraid to make notes on it. Write down needle sizes being used (in case you pack it away for awhile), any alterations you’re making (shorter ribbing, longer arms, etc.), and don’t be shy in using different marking devices to track your progress. With the various shaping, there’s lots to follow, and since I’m not a serial monogamist when it comes to my projects, notes and check marks and more really help notate where I am in this design. It’s been a life saver!

Well, that’s enough for now. Back soon with other fun projects, maybe some dyed yarn, and more. I did do 96 new mini skanks the other day,

which are dry, retwisted

and ready for consumption.

First off, I’ve wanted to make this cardigan

for a shop model for over a year now, since discovering it in our pattern drawers at the shop. I think it will be flattering for variety of figures because of the low stance, and there’s some simple waist shaping at the sides. Calling for a worsted-weight yarn, my original plans were to use Nashua Creative Focus Worsted (and I may still do so…..), but I fell under the spell of this

That’s Eco Alpaca from Cascade. The eco part is that it’s undyed–all natural “critter colors”. This particular version is one ply of each of four shades–two tans and two greys–to form a beautiful marled yarn that works up into lovely fabric. So lovely that the back of the sweater flowed off my needles in about 36 hours

No, seriously–I cast on sometime on Monday afternoon and put the stitches on hold Tuesday evening. The resulting fabric is soooooooo soft and lush. I’m making 39″ finished bust and it’s only going to take five hanks–they’re $16 each (a GREAT price point for a baby alpaca yarn), so this is an $80 project in a luxury fiber (the largest size, a 48″ finished bust, would be six hanks, or $96 to make….still, quite the value). But I’ve put this on hold overnight in favor of another alpaca-based beauty…..

Girasole is a stunning design by Jared Flood, an east-coast designer, photographer, genius, spinner–I could go on and on about his myriad of talents. It’s written to be flexible as to yarns–there’s a fingering-weight option and chunky-weight option in the pattern, and you could use any yarn of your choosing just by altering the needle size accordingly. We’re running a Knit-Along at the shop that starts this coming Sunday, July 19th, at noon (and every third Sunday of the month) that’s FREE OF CHARGE and more of a “sit and knit with friends and ask questions when they pop up” versus an organized class. Marcia is leading it, and she’s already on the edging on her version,

which is underway using Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace, a delicious blend of 70% alpaca and 30% silk at $9.95 for 460 yards of luscious yarn (three makes the shawl….UNDER $30!!!).

My version is going to end up larger, as I’m using Pure Alpaca by Cascade (teaser shown in my previous post, below). Well, we had our first photo shoot this morning, on the back deck

Since Girasole is sunflower in Italian, I thought it was appropriate to take the glam shot in the dappled morning sun, around 8 a.m. today. If you think it looks lovely, you should fondle it (fondles are free–and it will be at the shop whenever I am…….just ask!). The pattern estimates about 1,800 yards for the larger version, but that’s in a thicker yarn so I’m not sure how much it will take (the finer-gauge version takes FEWER yards), so I’m holding an entire bag–2,200 yards– for my version, just in case. Progress checks to follow, as the project grows.

I threatened to swatch with Portland Tweed from Classic Elite a couple posts ago, and I finally did

however, the color has changed (I switched projects!). I’ll still get back to the red tweed pullover, but in the mean time a pre-release copy of a pattern has come available and the knitting has commenced! Swatching is done and casting on has happened, but it’s not impressive. Updates to follow, I promise!

Just one more start to share

I’ve always gotta have a sock in progress, to take with me to the bank and just for generic knitting time when presented with a few moments (or for movie knitting—Matt and I plan to see the new Harry Potter movie sometime soon, and this is perfect….round and round and round. It’s Trekking Maxima, and they’re special socks that will be a gift when they’re finally finished. I love Maxima, as the slow ramble of colors is very inspirational…..ya gotta knit more to see what comes next and how it will look with the previous colors!

OK–enough blathering on about my new projects. I’ve got to get ready and get to work at the shop. It will be a fun day, for sure, as tonight is Friday night, and that means the “Friday Night Rocks” bunch will be in full swing, complete with taco bar and more! Bring your odds and ends in sock yarn (or even worsted–some are using thicker yarns) and appropriate needles and we’re glad to help you learn the basics of making modular squares. If you already know or have a project in progress, it’s a great night to come by, enjoy the social aspect of things, and swap yarns with fellow fiber nuts. SEE YOU THERE!

That’s the Moderne Log Cabin Baby Blanket, from the first Mason-Dixon book, with nine of the ten strips/squares attached. All that remained was the thin strip up the left side that incorporated two colors

That was how things looked on Thursday morning, when I was out photographing on our back deck. The boys came out with me and found something interesting had been wandering around the back yard

that kept them occupied while I snapped glamour shots of the blanket. By Friday afternoon I was closing in on the last few ridges of section 10. Friday night is our “Friday Night Rocks” (aka Mitered Blankie) gathering, and this week was themed “holiday cookout” by the awesome planners. Mona loaned us her husband as grillmaster

who served up freshly-grilled burgers, dogs, and brats

with a big smile. From what Mona says, he adores grilling (he’d find a way to grill salad……….) and enjoys feeding (ask her about their grocery bills…but they do have a teenage boy in the home……and those things have rabid appetites)…..and now I can attest that he’s damned good at it! BIG thanks go out to Mona and Joe for making the evening complete, and to everyone else who participated and contributed to one of the most fun, enjoyable evenings we’ve had (and that says alot, as Fridays have been TONS of fun!). There was spinning (at leat five people were spinning), knitting, swapping, eating, laughing, smiling, and more……..all evening long! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!!!!

Along the way on Friday night, I goaded a few people into making their own skein of hand-dyed sock yarns. I hope they enjoyed the time spent in the back, splashing dye on things, making Sabrina’s office smell (that’s where the microwave is located), and watching vivid color emerge (I think the ladies did a GREAT job (hopefully they’ll share on Ravelry or personal blogs……hint hint hint). In the middle of it all, Helen (aka “High Helen” if you’ve been a LONG TIME reader of this blog) claims something guided her to the back of the shop, where we were dyeing. Then SHE got the dyeing bug and worked up a skein of sock-weight yarn and proceeded to move into spinning fiber. With her training in art and innate sense of color (she’s amazing at it–we miss her at the shop, as she used to work for us a few years ago), she created some amazing things in terms of a hank of sock yarn and two bumps of spinning fiber. However, we were there until 1:30 a.m. (which severely cut into my time to work on the blankie you see above…..and I wanted that bitch finished by Friday night). Being at the shop until 1:30 isn’t conducive to coming home and knitting, nor knitting the next morning, so it didn’t happen by Saturday morning. URGH!

However, Helen and I set some fiber to soak, along with multiple hanks of yarn, too. She was going to return on Saturday morning to take up the process again, this time with acid dyes from Gaywool (something we’re stocking again)–the previous evening’s dyeing was done with food-safe colorant, so we were moving down the learning curve into acid dyes. I got some quality knitting time in over the course of the morning and I have this lovely photo to share

STICK A FORK IN IT! WOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOO! Finished project………..that means I can start four new ones, right (or is it three? I forget my own rule…..or am looking for an excuse to start even more!).

Truth is, I already cast on for a couple socks over the past week, as we had a meeting on Wednesday morning and the blanket was too large to bring with. Here’s my latest Monkey

in Prism Saki. It may turn out to be a surprise gift, so I’m not saying where it’s headed just yet. I also cast on for a “no thinking” sock, too

That’s a new colourway of Fortissima Mexico that will be available shortly…….so I always like to knit up a model sock ahead of time, so it can be on display when the yarn arrives. It’s also great movie knitting, so if we decide to go to a movie tonight (no major plans, but if), I’m set for in-the-dark knitting.

I did pull a project out of cryo-storage last night, too

My excuse for not working on it was that when I bound off at the waist, I repurposed the needle into other knitting (at TNNA, etc.) and had to wait until it was “free” to put it back into this project. All that remains are a few inches of sleeve (well, twice) and bands on the front and neck, so this should be an easy completion……which will allow me to start even MORE projects once it’s done. YES! If you’ve forgotten (it’s been several weeks since there was a sighting of this one in these parts), it’s the “Eyelet Cardi” by ChicKnits, done in Schulana Sojobama, a blend of bamboo and soy that’s uber-luscious and quite cool to the touch (great for the upcoming heat, no?). I hope to wrap this one up this week…….keep me legal, folks……goad me into making progress if you see me slacking or not being overly-faithful to it! If I am to get distracted, it’s probably going to be by this

as I have to reknit my Baby Surprise Jacket (something small about …… skipping part of the instructions in the yoke part……and it not assembling right….cough cough cough………OH LOOK, OVER THERE……..distraction…….

I have done some dyeing of late

that has been turned into finished skeins

and even some named to share with you here

that are still around and for sale. They’re on the “Rob’s Hand Dyed” base and are 490+ yards for $22.50. There were, last week, 45 other skeins on the table, but a few have sold (they were recapped on the NEW ARRIVALS blog last week). I’m out of base yarn (grey goods) again, and this time around I not only have my trusty two bases coming in again late in the week, but I hope to have two shipments coming of NEW bases from two different companies. We all like new bases!

OK–it’s 10 minutes until the shop opens today (Sundays, at noon) and I’m not showered yet. Gotta run, clean up, and get to work! Hopefully you will see more progress shots here soon, along wtih puppy pix, dyeing stuff, and other random silliness. Thanks for tuning in, even if I haven’t been very faithful!