Scary is how many people are describing the state of the economy. My son seems to be the only one I know who is enjoying the downward spiral of the stock market as he is playing a "virtual stock market" game with his high school class and he has shorted most of his stocks, so now he's in 4th place. If he keeps this up I will make him pay for college.

They say (whoever they are ) that yarn shops are recession proof. I just read an article in the New York Times last week that said Lion Brand was opening up a yarn shop in Manhattan and even though this did not seem like a good time for it, yarn shops were recession proof.

I was listening to one of the podcasts that I regularly download ---"Sticks and Strings". I just love listening to the bloke with the Australian accent. He always does an essay during the podcast. This one was about where to spend your money during the tight economic times. At first he said that using your stash was a good idea, but if you want to help the economy support your Local Yarn Shop. I think I'm in love.

Here's some photos of customers who have been supporting their local yarn shop, Woolbearers.

Pam is showing off her new Nashua sweater in Creative Focus worsted weight.

Jane finished her Einstein Jacket and wore it for the first time -- it looks smashing in person. Jane used Lopi and it was the perfect yarn for this project.

Brynn finished her February Lady Sweater made out of Cascade 220. Great job!

Kelly will be teaching a class in how to construct a Moebius scarf (see website for details). This one is made out of Manos -- I wish I had taken a picture of it on Kelly -- it looks terrific when you wear it.

Hannah is almost finished with her Great American Aran Afghan. She just has to put on the border and it will be done. Now, I know how much work this one is because I'm making one too -- with my class that meets once a month. Hannah's is done out of Cascade Eco Wool.

You must see this in person to appreciate all the work -- I hope Hannah can bring the afghan to my class next month.

I Hate the Yarn Harlot.. as if I don't have enough to knit, she has to blog about Brooklyn Tweed's Noro Scarf (from now on we'll call it the N-word scarf) and now I'm forced to make one. Not really. I love the Yarn Harlot and I can't think of anyone else who does done more to promote knitting than she has. And she is funny and witty while doing it. However, everytime she blogs about a project, one of Woolbearers' customers comes in and has to knit the project and of course, I get sucked in too. It looks like everyone got sucked in at today's knitting group.

This is what started it all. Here's Debra's Boku stash -- I think she's going to make 3 scarves - she's saving the skein of Tilli Tomas beaded silk for another project.

Well, then everyone had to get in on it.

Here's a close up of Linda's Punta Yarns' Merisoft in two different colorways.

Gwen's doing hers out of Ringspun -- can't wait to see it. Of course, Gwen will have hers done tomorrow.

Judy decided to use some Boku also -- she just loves blue. Is there any other color, Judy?

I Succumbed with some Boku and I have to say, I really like how it's knitting up.

Brooke is the only one who didn't fall for the Harlot's ploy. Here she is showing off her bounced check jacket, done out of Jamieson DK weight yarn. Love the color combination.

MORE KNIT TO FIT.....The Knit to Fit class is over and all the students are either finished with their sweater or well on their way to finishing. It was a great class with so much to learn -- Karen has agreed to teach it again; so if you missed the first go-round, do sign up for the next session which begins Jan. 24th (see website for details). Here are some of the finished and almost finished projects.


Thanks, Karen for a great class -- we look forward to the next one!

STEEKING. I finally finished the body of the Kauni Cardigan, after having to rip down to the armholes, because apparently I can't count. There it was. Waiting for me to cut into it. I put it aside because I couldn't bear the thought of making another mistake in counting and then cutting it and having to knit all over again. Folks warned me. Some said they would never cut into knitted fabric. But I must be brave. Besides, I really want to wear this sweater sometime before the summer.

OK, so before you steek, you need to sew a zig zag line up both sides of where you are going to cut, just in case the yarn decides to unravel. My sewing machine was only zigging when it should have been zig zagging. This was my excuse. I couldn't bear it any longer. One day I decided to try and figure out what was wrong with the sewing machine. After fiddling around with some of the knobs I got it working again. I took a deep breath (oh yes, I always tell people that a glass of wine is mandatory in the steeking process). I zigzagged up either side of the middle steek stitch. There it was.

Then I took another even deeper breath, got out my ginghers (I was a quilter in my former life and would only use my ginghers on my very best fabrics), and then I cut all the way up where the armhole is supposed to be. And guess what -- nothing unraveled and all was right with the world. I counted correctly this time.

Here, I am starting to pick up the

armhole stitches. Now I am on the third row of the pattern. The sleeves are knit from the armhole down -- lots of decreasing and I should be finished in no time! I'll post more pictures as I progress.

Knit to Fit. This class has surely been our most popular class. Karen Jenkins teaches the class for 5 sessions during the fall. She is a fount of knitting information. Karen says that she learned all about knitting to fit while knitting with a group of ladies in Minnesota years ago. She has definitely honed her skills and never uses a pattern for her projects. Patterns are only used for inspiration; her students will tell you they can now look at a sweater and use just about any yarn and stitch pattern to get the look they want. Here are some of the sweaters in progress

This is Dori's -- she is the only one brave enough to make a turtleneck (out of Malabrigo, of course). One of the neat things about knitting "top down" is that you can try the sweater on as you go. Here, Dori was discussing picking up stitches for the sleeves. She decided it was too bulky and needed to pick up less stitches. More frogging ....

Elda is making hers out of Cascade 220 and is ready to do the sleeves

This is Justine's first sweater, out of Cascade 220 Tweed

Cathy's sweater is out of Nashua Creative Focus worsted, also ready for the sleeves

Robin has already started her sleeves and likes the roomy feel her sleeves give her.

Josephine finally figure out some solutions to her buttonbands, .

while Lisa may just be making a vest to go over another knitted top she has

Our other Lisa is making hers out of yummy Malabrigo in a gorgeous stitch pattern that really shows off the yarn.

This is Anne's first sweater. It's hard to believe that we first taught Anne how to knit less than a year ago. She is just zooming along

Last, but in no way least is Jill's sweater made out of Wool around the World 8-ply. I also just had to get a shot of the scarf she knit up from a Mac and Me pattern out of Kid Silk Haze and Punta Merisoft.

Customers have been busy! Linda knit this vest of Manos seemingly overnight. Wish you could see how wonderfully the buttons compliment the vest.

These creepy characters are the result of a two session needle felting class taught by
Susan Maruska.

Sabra's Greystone Vest by Doreen L. Marquart is knit of Simply Shetland's Lambswool Cashmere. I am learning that although the Shetlands feel a little scratchy in the ball, once they are washed and with repeated washing, continue to soften and soften. I just love it.

Debbie's Wrap Me Up Shawl by Knitting At Noon of Rowan Tapestry. She is doing a beautiful job and says she has learned a lot about interpreting patterns and knitting techniques.

Trish and baby Ben! He is so sweet. I couldn't get too close due to illness, but I wanted to pick him up in the worst way!!! Trish is wearing her rib warmer of Woolbearers Lanamira.

Mike, the Fishmonger

You know how those days go. You are visiting with your girlfriends. The knitted uterus is hanging by the cash register. There is a brassiere pop up book on the coffee table. Women are sitting around chatting. Most men who walk into that milieu don't stay very long. (Tola's Mike and Jill's John are exceptions.)

But on this day, Mike the Fishmonger walks in. He smells a little fishy; has Wellingtons and a t-shirt on that are covered with scales. But he is in Mount Holly to register to vote, so right away, I fall in love with him. Then he tells us, he knits!! He's a knitter! This adorable, twenty something son to every mother, knits! He plops right down, and starts talking knitting. He is hungry for information, and we are happy to oblige. We find out he really is a fishmonger at the nearby, big organic grocery store, and made a death run to get to town in time to register. And he saw the store.

Oh, I hope he comes back. He is the epitome of a living doll. We don't have many men knitters; two guys who show up twice a year, and Bruce, our first crochet teacher who kept bringing Red Heart into the store. Mike needs to be a regular.....

Anne and Joanna and I had a great time at Bungs tonight...this is what they are knitting.

Joanna's sweater of Knit One Crochet Too Linus.

Anne's Rib Warmer of Jojoland.

The Autumn always makes me want to spin, so I got out this lovely bundle of wool and started working on it last week. I think I want to knit the Cottage Creation afghan out of my hand spun. Phyllis and Linda are knitting theirs out of Cascade 200.

Linda's beautiful vest from Knit Kimono knit of Rowan Felted Tweed. This is a classic piece she will be able to wear forever.

This is Branched Out, a lace scarf from Knitty.com. I'm knitting for my daughter, Jeni, who doesn't ask for much, but hinted she would like a shawl a while ago. The yarn is some Lily Chin we had on sale. It's really very lovely to work with.