Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The good news is that I own a yarn store and am surrounded by lots of beautiful yarn and can pick any project and any yarn I wish. The bad news is that I own a yarn store and am surrounded by lots of beautiful yarn and can pick any project and any yarn I wish. It's so hard to choose. But sometimes something really catches my eye. A few weeks ago, Sydney came in with a partially done Andrea Shawl and it was just gorgeous, even if it wasn't completed. She used K1C2's Crock a Dye sock yarn and Jojoland Melody Superwash for the striping. I fell in love and immediately faved it on Ravelry.  Then Gwen came in with one made out of Woolbearers' Hand Dyed Raw Silk.  She was just waiting for the right project for the her yarn. I had to agree it was a great choice.








 I was waiting for the right yarn to come along for my Andrea Shawl.  A few weeks ago, a customer who moved to Vermont called me and asked if I could get her some yarn.  No one else seemed to have it.  I didn't either, but that doesn't stop me.  I made a few phone calls and decided to order a few colorways of the yarn.  It's called Kiwi from Zealana yarns and it is comprised of Merino, cotton and possum (no, not roadkill!).  Anyway, it came last week and that was that.  I knew I had to knit my shawl with this yarn.  It's a fingering weight yarn that has a bit of loft to it, so it is nice and soft and a pleasure to knit with.  I decided to stripe mine with some Woolbearers' Hand dyed Woolie Bears sock yarn.  I think it was a good choice.  I'm having fun knitting this -- once you get past the endless border piece, it knits up quickly.  Only about 90 more rows to go!

I just had to take a picture of Jane's unfinished project.  She decided ot knit a simple pullover sweater from a pattern she has had for about 40 years.  We went over to the Vintage Wool and played with colors and I think we came up with a great color combo.


Just love Sabra's Gaia Shoulder Hug made out of Zauberball sock yarn


And here is the baby hat made with leftover Zauberball Starke 6 friom the BSJ
Here is the Zealana Kiwi Fingering weight yarn

Monday, May 10, 2010

Finally got in Manos' newest yarn -- Serena.  It's an alpaca cotton blend and is so soft and yummy I could hardly believe it. Gauge is 22-26 stitches/4 inches on a size 4-5 US needle.  Lots of folks are knitting shawls with this delicious yarn. I have to find the perfect project.  Any ideas?


Beth has an almost four-year-old and needed to make this cute little froggy backpack for him.  It's always filled with trucks and just about anything with wheels. The pattern is from Interweave Knits, Holidy Gifts 2009.  Beth used Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted.

























I was inspired to make another Baby Surprise Jacket out of the new Zauberball Starke 6.  There was lots of yarn leftover so I made another pair of Saartje's booties and a hat, which I'll show in the next blog.






















I do actually finish some projects -- ok, I know this is just a baby dress and took about 250 yards, but I did finish it -- it's Jil Eaton's Pinafore Dress and is made out of her latest yarn -- Cottontail -- 100% worsted weight cotton.  Isn't it cute?























Gwen decided to make the Andrea Shawl (pattern from Through the Loops) out of Woolbearers' Hand Dyed Raw Silk.  She did a fabulous job, as always.




























Can you believe this is Fran's first sweater?  She was inspired to knit a RED sweater, because she couldn't find her favorite one and needed a RED sweater.  So we found some RED yarn -- Plymouth's Mulberry Merino and a pattern from Classic Elite ---- it was originally in the Luxe Pattern Book, but you can also find it in the book Classic Elite Knits. Even though Fran had never knit a sweater before, she figured out how to size the sweater up -- there was lots of shaping involved as well -- I give Fran a lot of credit for being so brave. She did an outstanding job with this sweater and the best part is -- it fits perfectly!

Jane made another baby blanket from the Oat Couture pattern "Prairie Blanket".  This one is made out of Woolbearers' hand dyed Wool Boucle.  The blanket will be given to the new mom this week at a surprise baby shower. Hope she doesn't see the blog until after.