I have a class of beginning and not-so beginning knitters on Saturday morning.  Most of them are working on Barbara Walker's Learn to Knit Afghan Book.  There are 63 squares-- each square is a different technique.  It's really a great project.  If you read this blog, you would have seen the first finished afghan from my class.  Sometimes I'll work on a square, particularly if it's some new technique for the class.  Other times, I'm knitting on various projects in hopes of getting something finished.  So, it came as no surprise when one of the gals asked me if I ever finish anything.  I happened to be wearing my just-off-the-needles February Lady Sweater.  Why yes, I do finish something once in a while.  This got me thinking. How many things do I actually finish.  When  I bring up my Ravelry page, the WIP projects are always listed first, so it definitely makes me feel like I never accomplish anything.  So I decided to count.  Within the last 12 months, I actually finished 25 projects.  Now, I know this includes some hats, scarves and other small items.  But, there were a few sweaters and shawls.  Of course, I refuse to count all the projects that are lingering and the ones I just started and haven't put on Ravelry yet!

One of the reasons why I start so many new projects is because of all the wonderful new yarns that come my way. I can hardly resist all the new patterns and colors and textures.  I just brought some Sublime into the shop and I have to say these patterns are just my style!

Pattern book for Sublime Bamboo & Pearls

Here is the new Sublime Tussah Silk DK -- 50%Silk/ 50% Viscose

Sublime Bamboo Pearls

Sublime Baby Silk -- Machine washable silk and nylon for little or big ones .

 And how about a little Tequila?  (more colors are coming in )

I love to see my customers' finished projects.  Here is a wrap done by Hannah out of Nashua Isabella, a wool/silk blend   -- the pattern is from Nature's Wrapture.  It is really soft and yummy.   She loved the yarn so much that she's knitting another shawl from the book out of the same yarn.

Bonnie finished her Summer Flies out of Plymouth Kudo. Love the way the yarn stripes.

Gail did a spectacular job on the Isobel Skirt from Interweave Knits Winter 2010.  This is made out of Manos Silk Blend. A present for her daughter who just got married.

Courtney and Kate from The Fibre Company came to Woolbearers last Saturday for a class, book signing and trunk show.  The class was learning the Roositud Inlay technique which was featured in their book, Vintage Modern Knits.  Everyone used 2 skeins of Road to China Light to make this adorable hat.

Here's a selection of items from the book

I can't wait to see the finished projects from the class.

We've been getting in tons of new spring yarns.   I'm not sure where to begin.  Here's a small sampling.  If you come to Woolbearers' Annual Yarn Tasting on April 8th you'll get to try most of the yarns.  There are only a few spots left for the Yarn Tasting, so if you are interested call soon.



Debbie Bliss Bella -- cotton/cashmere/silk blend




Berroco Seduce, Artyarns cottonspring, Debblie Amalfi




Louisa Harding Mulberry Silk



Louisa Harding Jasmine, Schulana Sierra



Debbie Bliss EcoBaby



Artyarns Cotton Spring



The Green Sweater KAL is over.  Everyone had a wonderful time -- it was such a great group of gals and guy!   Not everyone finished, but are well on their way. The first sweater pictured is Gary's.  Gary is a perfectionist and this sweater came out perfectly.  He tried doing steeks a few different ways and decided that he liked the crocheted steeks best.   I am really pleased with the color -- it was dyed in Woolbearers' Ringspun/Alpaca and looks very similar to the original EZ sweater color.  The sweater is on display at the shop.

Of course, Gwen finished hers and its really beautiful.  This one is made out of Jamieson DK weight  I really like it with the clasp instead of buttons.

Bela's is out of Berocco Ultra Alpaca, the same yarn that Sunday Holm used in the redesign.  Great job!

Mary Ann finished hers first and is now knitting a scarf and purse to match.  This one was done in Cascade 220.

These gals have a little bit of knitting left to do, but I'm sure they will be done in time for our next KAL

 The Green Sweater KAL.  Here's a picture of Sunday Holm (the recreator of EZ's Green Sweater pattern) and Jane and Mary (KAL participants) holding the actual sweater that Elizabeth Zimmerman knit so many years ago.   Woolbearers is having a KAL for knitting this sweater and the participants are having a blast!

I dyed up some of Woolbearers' Ringspun/Alpaca for the KAL. Gary is knitting it up for the store. In this picture, the sweater steeks are ready to be cut.  I told Gary that you should have a glass of wine before cutting the steeks, but he wants to make sure he has a steady hand.   I am blown away at how close in color I came to the original sweater -- I had no idea what the color was when I dyed the yarn.  EZ must have had  hand in this!

Here are some pix of other Green Sweaters in progress (although they are not all green)

I am so proud of Janet.  Two years ago she came to my beginning knitting class, not ever having picked up needles. In this class we learn to knit by doing the squares in Barbara Walker's Learn to Knit Afghan Book.  There are 63 squares in the book, each square is a different technnique.  It covers the basic garter and stockinette stitches and then goes on to do mosaic, slip stitches, lace, cable, twisted stitches and some other ones.  Well, Janet is the first one to complete the entire afghan and she did spectacular job.

Woolbearers now has Jared Flood patterns.  Janice knit up a Juneberry  Triangle Shawl out of Plymouth Worsted Merino Superwash-- the results are absolutely gorgeous.

The pattern was originally published in St. Denis Magazine 1.  So, I tried my hand at doing it in the original yarn, which is St. Denis Nordique.  I'm blocking it here -- a little difficult to see the off white shawl on a same colored background.  I'll take better pictures and post it on  Ravelry.

Jane knit a Jared Flood hat -- this one is "Laurel" from Made in Brooklyn.  She also used Plymouth Worsted Merino Superwash.  It has such great stitch definition, it is a good choice for these patterns.

Do you ever wonder where designers get their inspiration?  Sandra went to an art show and was so enamored with the artist's work that she made a scarf for him and used his artwork as inspiration for the pattern..  Scarf is made out of Berroco Vintage and Cascade 220.