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!

I did get that swatch done last week, as planned, and started the project. It’s a fun cardigan/vest project that is worked sideways

using Cascade Superwash 220 Quatro, in “Brown Bear”. It doesn’t look like much in the photo above, but it’s quite lovely fabric. I should have the body knitting completed today/tonight, so I’ll need two small shoulder seams done (yes, I’m that lame–I need someone else to do them) and then I can put on bands and the sleeve cap. Finished soon!

That means………..I can start TWO new projects!

I’ve been project shopping, over the past week or so…..looking for something wonderful to make with that delish tweed I showed last time around. I may have a winner in this

design from ChicKnits. Swatching will tell me more about combining the yarn and this pattern….we’ll see how it goes.

Also on deck is this design

from Dolce Handknits. I’ve got a nice shade of Cascade Soft Spun lined up for it, and again–swatching will be important. But I think the combo is a slam dunk.

Both are headed with me to the big twice-annual yarn shop trade show called TNNA. This version (in the summer, for the fall/winter seasons) is held in Columbus, OH, a city that I’ve grown to love over the past six/seven times I’ve attended. It’s a nice-sized city with great amenities and the show itself is always a good one, filled with interesting products, fun people, and amazing industry friends. It will be a great weekend and even better to get away for a little bit. It’s been awhile since I got out of Lansing…..a year, to be exact (TNNA last year). Best of all, there’s some other fun things on my agenda, above/beyond the show….should be fun!

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!)

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)

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!)

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!

In the mean time, there’s pretty things to see!

That’s the finished Cross Stitch Scarf, unblocked. But I did soak it in warm water and stretch it out on Sunday

to good results. It’s now completely dry, but needs final finishing (fringe) to be completed, and that task fell off of the radar yesterday VERY quickly in light of everything else going on. Hopefully I’ll find a few minutes today to cut and attach the fringe and share a final photo with you in my next post.

Speaking of blocking, another “all finished with the knitting” project finally got wet, after two weeks in the “done” pile

So I’m dragging the Mondo Cable Cardi across the finish line–it should be dry today, and all it needs are faux buttons (with snaps underneath) to call it DONE. I can’t say enough good stuff about this project, as it was a FUN knit, made with awesome yarn (that arrives on Friday of this week!), that worked up in a jiffy into a beautiful finished garment (that’s getting quite a bit of attention at the shop).

Speaking of that, it’s 7:30 and I have a 9 a.m. meeting with a rep today. Between now and then I have to shower and get some provisions on the way in (coffee cups, creamers, etc.–exciting, I know). See ya back here soon. (Put your response in the COMMENTS–would you rather see many smaller posts like what I’ve done so far this week, or fewer longer posts? Just curious).

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!