I mean, I read a wide variety of blogs and other online journals where people look at two photos, three skeins of yarn, and a fashion magazine, pick up a pencil and sketch pad, and VIOLA! out pops a new design. Matt and I watch things like Project Runway every season (we’re nothing if not good little gay boys, tho I did confess a very lackadasical interest in musical theater yesterday that brought out shreiks of terror from someone……), and he scans various magazines to keep up on couture. I do a little trend-spotting because it helps run ThreadBear and we need to keep up on color forecasting and shapes and how knitwear and various shapes figure into each season’s apparel trending. While I find it interesting, I’m more Al Bundy than Austin Scarlett.

I mean, this morning I went out with the dogs and the digital camera and found some inspiring shots

That’s a mallow plant, growing along our front walk, planted by the wonderful Janeen. Check it out close up

Beautiful! And around the corner, there’s a lobelia

that Matt planted last Thursday afternoon, after the groundbreaking for our new shop. Because the building is being renovated to LEED standards, a local greenhouse supplied flats of native Michigan plants so that all attendees could take one home and plant it there. Being some of the last to leave, we got several plants (columbine, lobelia, and more) and they now reside along our walk, as a constant reminder to the growth going on just over the river, at our new space (ready in about nine months). Speaking of the river, I snapped a peaceful shot of it, as well

That’s snapped from our front deck, looking to the east across the Grand River, which flows right by the house (and we’re lucky enough to have large decks on both the front and back of the house). I’m sure someone out there who designs could find some sort of inspiration in each of those shots, or all of them combined, but that’s not me.

I did, for some reason, become inspired by a popular shape I’ve seen in both ready-to-wear and knitwear–the a-line cardigan/swing jacket. Many women have commented on wanting to make one, and we have one or two patterns in the store for them, but I wasn’t quite “YES” about them. And after talking with a couple customers about what they wanted in a swing-type jacket/cardigan, I came up with a basic shape in my head, added a couple details to it, and have something that I’m working from. Unfortunately, I can’t sketch to save my life (seriously–art was the only C I received in high school, and the art teacher said “you deserved that C grade”…..and before you get all angry, he said it from a place of love; no, really–my artistic endeavors in that class SUCKED ROTTEN PIGEON EGGS)., so you don’t get to see any rough images or line drawings or some of what “normal designers” tend to work from.

Even more strange, Matt and I have (no surprise here) completely different design/work styles. I’m knitting and writing down design details and shaping instructions as I go, after having completed two different swatches (or three…see below) to get a feel for how things drape and feel. He, however, knits up an entire skein of the yarn, gets a full gauge swatch to work from (and to estimate yardage from), and then sets to working out the shaping instructions on the computer, emerging with a pattern written from start to finish, minus the verbage that goes between shaping directions (it looks alot like some of the Japanese knitting patterns you’ll find in books from there, as well as patterns from Habu Textiles, US distributor of Japanese yarns). He then works out instructions for all sizes and then commences to knit. Me, I’ll knit, rip (I abhor ripping!), make notes, knit, make notes, shape, make notes, and emerge with my own version of shorthand that will then be fleshed out into instructions for one size. Then I’ll take a mathematical approach of inches, stitches and rows per inch, shaping, and a good calculator and PENCIL and work out other sizes. Then I’ll employ some geometry and figure out square inches of fabric, work with my yarn usage from that, and then calculate other square inches of fabric in other sizes to estimate yardage for those sizes. WHEW!

Neither is right or wrong, in my opinion. Both get you to the same place, and everyone out there has their own style and way of working. I just find it interesting that we couldn’t be more different in approaches to design and pattern writing. But that’s no surprise, given how totally different we are when approaching almost everything else (I guess opposites attract…..but then they drive each other NUTS for the remainder of their lives…right darlin’?)

So, what the hell does this project look like to date? I don’t have swatch shots (tho both swatches are still in existence..hmmmmmmmm). I do have a distance shot of what it looked like on Monday

and a close-up of fabric

note the lack of knitting needles in that piece…..it’s a goner. But the fabric is pretty in the “real” piece in progress

The astute reader will notice a difference in edging (a.k.a. welt) on the two pieces. Here they are in comparison

stacked on top of each other. So, when I envisioned this garment (from the front), I saw it in my head with a wide band of seed stitch down the front and across the bottom of the fronts. Then why, you might ask, did I start the back with a little bit of ribbing, should I want seed stitch for trim? Beats the hell outta me, so off the needles and rip away! Oh, and a few choice words my mom doesn’t like hearing……good thing she’s 800+ miles away, cuz there were several!

In the mean time, I’ve knitted a bunch on this piece, almost to the armhole shaping. I have the rest of the back “in the can”, mentally, and it will be done shortly–possibly tonight (seriously!)–despite my starting something completely different this morning. Hey, I was called by a pattern and yarn last night, while teaching a baby bootie class (I may have to share that finished object with you soon–it’s ADORABLE and it’s CASHMERE).

Astute readers may also want to know more about the yarn I’m using…….all in due time, my sweets. But I’ll warn you of this–it’s coming to the shop for fall, it’s 70% merino wool and 30% silk and it drapes like nobody’s business. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVELY stuff, I tell you. YUM YUM. I’ve already seduced a couple folks with it just by having some sample skeins around. Mwahahahahahah…I’m evil.

Strangely…while writing this blog entry, I thought about an aran sweater design that’s been rolling around in my head. I have the yarn for it (some BEAUTIFUL Koigu KPM–their nearly solid stuff) and it’s almost exactly the same shade of rich, deep green. Hmmmmmm, I sense a green period coming on. This could be dangerous–I adore that shade of green, almost as much as blue.

Off to go knit (well, to fix dinner for us first—we’re grilling steaks from Goodrich’s tonight…another great recommendation from Dr. Beef, their in-house butcher). All that, from the back deck of the house that also overlooks the river. I have it good…and I appreciate it!

that I hammered out in a couple days, to show off how the new Shepherd Sock from Lorna’s Laces would look, knitted up. We loved it in the skein

in both Shepherd Sock and Shepherd Worsted. Just previous to that, I whipped out this basic sock

that, too, will serve as a model sock in the shop (if I didn’t mention it, the Panopticon sock is flying stag, serving as a model). And just this morning, I completed my Flat Feet sock

which was previously shown here and looked like this

and is now completed. Guess what? It, too, will be flying stag, as I’ll display it beside the other half of the flat as a “before and after” example when our shipment of 150 Flat Feet flats arrive somewhere between Tuesday and Thursday, fresh from Arizona. I had a blast knitting the sock and the changes in colors were very motivational for me. You’ll see more about the flats over here when they arrive later this week. For now, I continue to work on single socks

That’s the Seedy Rib Sock from Gardiner Yarn Works, run by Chrissy Gardiner (whom we LOVE!). I’m using a forthcoming colourway of Fortissima Mexico Country. They’ve done two collections so far, and the new one (due out in August) is themed “earth, wind, and fire” (obviously mine’s part of the FIRE). The pattern is awesome (we sell them, of course!) and the yarn will be available in the new shades shortly (but the ones in the link above are all available now, and on the shelves at the shop). While not a simple stockinette sock, I wanted a pattern that wouldn’t fight with the inherent stripes in the yarn, and I’ve definitely met my objective!

Much other knitting has been going on while we’ve been apart, including all parts of the “Swingin’ the Blues” from the awesome brains of Chris at Knitting at Knoon. My version is in Tahki Tweedy Alpaca, a blend of merino, alpaca, and tweed pops that works up ULTRA soft and beautiful

Here’s the back of the jacket

but all parts of the jacket are completed and awaiting assembly (I may just tackle that this evening, honestly, as my plans have changed from when I woke up this morning and I’ll not be headed out tonight). Tweedy Alpaca is a new yarn from Tahki that will be available later this fall, but we have nine of the ten shades on hand now (we’re missing a periwinkle that will be here in about a month). I really like this yarn, and it’s perfect for this project. Hopefully you’ll see the finished garment here shortly!

I’ve started another project, this time using Cascade Venezia Worsted, a delicious blend of 70% merino wool and 30% silk that knits up around 5 sts/inch. At just $14 for 219 yards, it’s a pretty good bargain, and the fabric it makes is just LOVELY. Check out a closeup of my work so far

which is part of a larger project (that’s not too large, yet)

It’s going to grow up to be a swing coat/a-line cardigan of my own design, for a purpose to be revealed later. It’s coming along nicely now that I’ve worked out most of the structural details (the closure remains up in the air, but that’s a finishing detail I can pospone until I see how the garment comes along). Between the luscious drape of a merino/silk yarn and the fun shaping of a swing-type cardigan, this could be a very fun garment!

I guess that’s about it for now. I’ve been making some pretty serious changes in how my days play out, from getting up much earlier (in the 6 o’clock hour versus 8 or 9) and paying closer attention to what goes in my face, and I’m starting to see some real results in how clothes fit (or now fit that didn’t just a month ago). It’s very rewarding to be able to SEE the progress when there’s additional effort going into the process. Next I think I might start some simple movement, like walking along the Riverwalk here in Lansing, early in the morning. Later, that will lead to (what?) actually going to a gym and working out. But for now, baby steps. It’s all part of creating a newer, happier version of me. And that’s something we can ALL Get behind! HOO-RAH!

as well as a set of dpns and a pattern book

that has a dozen different patterns that can be made with a single flat. A quick perusal through the book and I declare it QUITE useful (I’d made at least half of the patterns in here!). Not only do they show you a completed sock on a foot, but you also get a pattern close up to show you the stitch design

For now, however, I’m going to work a simple stockinette sock so as to show off the yarn best. Here’s a close up of half of the flat that’s being turned into a single sock

I think their dyeing is fun and quite different from anything I’ve ever seen before, and there’s almost no way to guess how it will knit up, which leads to fun during the knitting (and a little bit of motivation, as you wanna keep knitting into the next pattern design to see how it works up). Here’s my sock, laid out with the flat, just a few minutes ago

you can see that I’ve worked off the start and I’m into the first set of rings. There’s none of the black/green in the cuff (it was before the ring started), so the leg shows some of the additional colors introduced

My initial reaction to the project was that I wouldn’t like the crimp that’s in the yarn from being knitted up into a flat. My actual experience working with the yarn is that there’s NO PROBLEM with the crimp, as tensioning the yarn a little bit removes crimp, and I tension my yarn while I knit….therefore, no crimp. YES!

While the actual fabric doesn’t look perfect, the instructions specifically say to hand wash your sock the first time (it’s a machine-washable product) only and then block the sock. BLOCKING REMOVES THE IRREGULAR LOOK TO YOUR STITCHES. The fabric is nice and soft in my knitted sock, so I’m really looking forward to getting this one further along, despite having started three new sweaters this week (yes, you’ll see them in my next blog post) as well as a different sock, too! Startitis has struck–in a BIG way.

Back soon with more, but for now it’s off to the shop to get some paperwork completed and get things ready for the weekend visit with Beth Brown-Reinsel, who’s conducting classes for us this weekend. We LOVE Beth and always enjoy having her here.

Those are five new shades of Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight, a deliciously soft yarn we carry and look forward to restocking in the coming weeks. They’re beautiful additions to an already stunning palette, for sure.

Briggs & Little is a Canadian mill that turns out some very nummy woolen-spun yarns. They’ve introduced a new one, Soft Spun, that’s very much truth-in-advertising stuff

They gifted us with two hanks of this worsted-weight yarn and I intend to play with them a little bit to see if it would make a nice addition to our stock. The two guys in the booth were very kind and very genuine (very Canadian traits!) and this yarn will get full consideration!

Sheep Shop is a relatively new vendor for us at the shop, as we’ve added their Sheep 3 earlier this year. Fonnie, owner of the distributorship, has been FANTASTIC to us with amazing service and more, and her assistant Jessica has been awesome, too! Before this turns into a love fest, here’s some of the sample skeins they provided

That’s Sheep 1, an aran/heavy worsted yarn that comes in amazing solids and (as you can see) some stunning multis. Yes, it’s been ordered for fall delivery–full palette. I also managed to score some Sheep 2

their bulky-weight yarn that knits up quickly and comes in stunning shades as well. I can’t wait to get some of this on my needles, but I have to right now. And yes, we ordered this for fall as well (we already have a few shades on hand, actually). New for them for fall is SheepFeet, a sock yarn (YUM!) and SheepSpin, a kettle-dyed roving for spinning, needlefelting, and more.

In my quest for a non-wool sock yarn, I picked up a skein of SR Kertzer’s “On Your Toes”

that I look forward to working with. The yarn is a blend of bamboo and nylon, so this might be a good one–another yarn shop owner recommended it to me. Speaking of socks……here’s the Duett sock, completely blocked

I love the look of a blocked sock, as it transforms from lumpy shape into a beautiful sock. YUM!

OK, I’m outta here for now, as I have TONS to do before we open for the day–it’s WWKIP Day, and we’ve got tons going on at the shop as well. Given the clear skies and beautiful sunshine I see outside, it’s going to be a GOLDEN day!

Progress continues on the Sheep 3 sweater, but no pix of it today. I did put it down to work on a sock, so as to feel a sense of accomplishing SOMETHING. So here’s the scoop…the sock, she is done

and I’m really pleased with the finished result. I mean, who knew that sock was inside of this

So, it’s off to the blocking form tomorrow, so it looks pretty before it goes on display by the yarn. The yarn is Step Duett, a newer yarn from Austermann that’s just like their original Step (it has aloe vera and jojoba oil in it, so it softens your hands while knitting AND your feet while wearing–up to over 40 washings). The patterning version is dyed to match the stripe version, so you can make a wide stripe pair and a patterning pair in the same color combo…OR wear one of each together, as a mis-matched pair.

Sadly, that’s about all I have for today. Tomorrow, I may well share some of the wonderful other goodies I scored while at the recent TNNA Trade Show. Papa did goooooooood.

ROB: Well, from a retailer standpoint, we don’t have a ton of customers coming in and looking for skirt patterns. Our typical customer at ThreadBear tends to skew to the 35-and-up range, and given the demographics of our store, we tend to do really well with women who want “career wear”, or something nice for the office that would also take them day into night (out for dinner, to a professional meeting, etc.). The skirt project in “Knit So Fine” is perfect for that type of knitter, as it has structure and is a classic line. Check it out

I see a number of skirt patterns on the market for flirty, ruffle-covered skirts, but not as many really workable projects until this book and a couple in publications (Interweave Knits, especially) in recent months. I can see the attraction to a more sleek, more sophisticated knitted skirt, because it would be appropriate for career pieces or for something to wear to a little more “dress up” occasion. The Bamboo Skirt project in “Knit So Fine” is perfect for that type of knitter, as it has structure and is a classic line.

LISA: Even if your figure is an off-the-rack single-digit size, knitted skirts have some issues. The one everyone’s most aware of, I think, is the problem of stretch — there’s really no nice way to put it, knitted fabric (whether wool-based or cotton-based yarn) tends to stretch out in the seat and stay that way. The skirt that looks terrific when you put it on in the morning will be stretched out by lunchtime.

ROB: Yeah, there’s always jokes about wearing a knitted skirt and when standing up after a long meeting, it looks like you need to be changed…that your Depends is full.

LISA: One work-around is to choose a design that gives the fabric very little opportunity to stretch. That’s where the tiered and ruffled ones come in — if the skirt is very full at the hip, it won’t get stretched out when you sit down. Another is to choose a yarn with elastic built in — something like Cascade Fixation, or the old Melrose Cravenella (which had some nylon). Are you old enough to remember Cravenella?

ROB: Yes, Lisa, I’m old enough to remember Cravenella. And when Red Heart made 100% wool yarn. And to have crocheted with Dazzelaire (but we don’t reflect on that last one). I’ve been knitting and crocheting for right at 40 years, darlin’

LISA: Well I’ll be darned, you don’t look a day over 25.

ROB: Thanks…fat fills wrinkles!

LISA: I took both of those approaches with the skirt I did. First, I turned the fabric sideways, so I could work lots of short rows to add fullness from the hip to the hem. The wool component of the yarn was supposed to help the fabric bounce back into shape from all the usual moving around. The bamboo component was supposed to provide drape, so that the fabric fell where gravity took it rather than conforming to the shape of the wearer’s body.

Rob: The yarn selected for the project, Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo, is a nice, lightweight yarn that knits at a dk gauge (about 22 sts/4″). The fiber composition is half and half, wool and bamboo, and the palette is replete with classic shades that are very wardrobe friendly. The bamboo provides stunning drape and a beautiful lustre, while the wool lends “memory” and amazing breathability. Bamboo is also a VERY “green” fiber, given that it’s a quick-growing grass that’s a renewable resource.

My experience working with the yarn is VERY positive. It’s a nice, round yarn (many plies) that yields excellent stitch definition, especially for textures like cables and knit/purl combinations. It makes a cable really POP from the surface of the fabric, yet it’s lightweight and very smooth and slinky. Check out a swatch strip I worked up yesterday afternoon

LISA: I saw the new Fall colors at Market the other day — gorgeous. Still, as you say, “wardrobe-friendly,” but somehow unexpected. Very deep and rich.

ROB: Agreed— Matt (my business and life partner—now THERE’S a story to tell…) and I are excited and we’ve ordered deep in this yarn for Fall 2008 for our shop and expect it to be a staple in these parts.

LISA: Overall, I think the skirt worked — but there was one unanticipated result: the fabric is seriously, seriously drapey — so much so that the skirt tries to get longer and longer, rather than flaring out at all toward the hem.

ROB: Well, that’s in part due to the properties of the yarn. Here it is in simple stockinette

and again in cables

Just look at how they pop off off the fabric surface

Amazing….just amazing. And simple basketweave looks great, too

All in all, it’s a fantastic yarn that’s well suited to the skirt project, and it’s also wonderful in a wide number of styles and shapes and accessories for any other project you might be interested in tackling. In fact, it makes me want to resurrect a cardigan project that’s been on hold for a couple years now

That’s the traveling cable cardi from the Fall 2006 pattern collection by the name of “Luxe” from Classic Elite. I’m not real far on it yet

but it wll be done before Summer is gone…..that’s for sure. I mean, who could resist this???

Pretty stuff, just like so many other projects you can find in “Knit So Fine” (which you can find through the shop). Get yours today! And join us tomorrow (Thursday) for a great post from The Fitter Knitter, as we head into the final days of this traveling blog trunk show.

My great thanks to my collaborator on this entry, the fabulous Lisa R. Myers. Lisa, you’re the best procrastinator I’ve ever worked with! And I know from procrastination…I’m an expert at it!

where Matt mugged with Franklin, while other knitterati were part of the group we hung out with (and made snarky comments!) during the runway. Left to right you see Mary Beth Temple, Stephanie Purl-McPhee, Casey from Ravelry, our store manager Sabrina, (Matt/Franklin), and Anne Hanson of Knitspot.

After the Fashion Show, there was much merriment in the Hyatt lounge area. Pictures tell part of the story, but only part, right Jillian?

Suffice to say it’s been a FUN weekend so far, with more to come on Monday. It’s been great to catch up with tons of friends, be they vendors, teachers, other shop owners, sales reps, and more. We’ve met so many new people, as well, and every one has been a delight.

We did manage to have breakfast a couple days at our favorite spot in the food court

On the trade show floor, we’ve seen many amazing things (and ordered TONS of them)….and PS, all photos were taken with EXPRESS PERMISSION FROM THE VARIOUS VENDORS (with more to come another day, including something SUPER SPECIAL that I’ll show/tell you about after it is released on their website, but trust me……it’s EXCITING). Check out this stunning model from Needful Yarns, one of our favorite yarn companies

and this really REALLY pretty pullover, also from them

We’ve ordered both of these yarns–the brown garment is in a beautiful camel-blend yarn that’s sooooo soft, while the other is in a new and subtle self-striping wool that would be awesome felted, too! Both will be in stock later this summer, just before back-to-school time.

I’ve done my usual “begging for the balls” routine at the Skacel booth, which was very fruitful

Those are five new designs and colors in some of our favorite sock yarns, including four Trekking and one Step Duet. The Trekkings will be available later this fall, but the Step Duets were delivered on Thursday (maybe Wednesday) and are really fun when worked up. There’s a batch of the traditional Step striping patterns as well as a pattern that’s dyed to match, so to speak, in the same colors. Of course, I had to start knitting immediately (well, Saturday night) and here’s what I have as of today

and it’s working up quickly due to the FUN factor. New shop model this week!

On Saturday, while walking the floor, I worked on this

my Creatively Dyed sock yarn in her new “Tradewinds” colourways and dyeing style. Very creative and VERY pretty made up. This is DEFINITELY on my list of things to have from her!

I did score some additional skeins of yarn from various vendors

that will be turned into swatches soon so we can see how the yarns knit up and plan some projects around them, should they be part of our fall line-up.

We saw some amazingly beautiful things at the Sheep Shop booth today, but best of all we got to meet Fonnie, the owner, and her able assistant Jess (Jess is responsible for tracking me down prior to a shipment–NOT an easy task). We learned a good bit about their new two new products (spinning fiber and sock yarn—YES! both are awesome and ordered both for delivery as soon as they’re available as well as about the two yarns we don’t (yet) carry from them–Sheep 1 and Sheep 2. We’re well stocked on Sheep 3 now, as we filled in all gaps in our stock and placed orders for the new colors and more “tester yarn” to be knitted into a few other patterns (both Sheep 1 and Sheep 2)

which we already stocked a partial colour palette and which I’m quickly falling in DEEP love with as I work on their long cardigan pattern

that is totally amazing in knitted fabric

I made EVERYONE touch this baby over the course of the weekend and I can’t wait to work on it in the car on the way home tomorrow. Speaking of home, I can’t wait to see these guys tomorrow

after a long weekend of being away. It’s been exciting to be here (for pete’s sake, we had dinner with two amazing friends–Meg and Liz–and got to know Kim Werker, editor of Interweave Crochet alot better over some amazing pasta). Dinner with these ladies has got to be the highlight of the weekend, for sure. Wait until you see what we ALL have cooked up for fun and learning and more over the coming months.

Be safe, and keep your thoughts focused on the folks in the Midwest who are fighting with flooded homes from too much rain and fantastic property destruction due to tornadoes and wind sheer. It’s been a wild weekend while we were gone!

Oh, and we’ve opened up registrations for the Fall 2008 Yarn Tasting, September 13th and 14th. Feel free to drop by the shop or call (local is 517-703-YARN and at a distance is 866-939-BEAR) to sign up for this fun and fanciful event. Seats are limited and this will be announced in tonight’s e-mail, which goes out on schedule tonight (it’s already written and staged for an evening release). Saturday always fills up fast, so don’t be disappointed!

Be back soon!

Here’s a run down of who/what/where you will find the tour over the coming weeks:

Things kick off on June 2nd at The Fiber Forum with Andrea Lyn,


you’ll find a hot topic the next day (June 3rd) at RosieBlogs,


and the fun moves to Faina’s Knitting Mode on the 4th,


followed by Thursday’s post with Kat Coyle on the 5th (she wrote “Boho Baby Knits”!)


Friday the 6th it takes a spin through Lansing with LynnH at ColorJoy!


and a Saturday stop with Shannon Okey at KnitGrrl


and on Sunday, the week ends with Nautical Knitter.

Monday picks up again with Connie Chang, who I’m sure you recognize from all of her FAB patterns in recent issues of Interweave Knits.


Tuesday, the 10th we’re with Christi of Turtlegirl’s Bloggy Thing


Wednesday, the 11th, we’re HERE of all places……..and I’ll be talking with Lisa Myers about knitted skirts, Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo, and other things–DON’T MISS IT!


For the 12th, you’re off to The Fitter Knitter,


before heading off to see Veronik Avery for Friday the 13th!


Saturday brings us to The Unsinkable Franklin (hi darlin’!)


and the tour completes on Sunday at Woolbearers

Whew! that’s alotta runnin’ around the blogworld, but look at the varied and interesting and fun blogs you’ll visit while touring. I’ve found SEVERAL new sites to visit that are going to become favorites, I’m sure. The wealth of knowledge that’s out there in knitting-blogland is amazing, and better yet–we all share it for free and for the love of art and craft!

As for the tour, each stop will discuss projects from the book, various fibers used in the book (they’re all dk-weight and FINER! YES!), and the various designers and design concepts involved in the process. I think the sweater on the back cover would be STUNNING out of Colinette Jitterbug (sorry, couldn’t find a photo online). I’m thrilled and honored to be asked to join in and I look forward to my stop, which happens just a couple days after we return from the big trade show that kicks off next week. WOW! A busy June on tap, for sure. See you here……often!

with details to follow, as it’s damp blocking right now. It’s still lovely, but it’s still a single gal for now. More soon……….