Purls of Wisdom Yarn Store

August 25th

2009-08-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

I recently had a frightening and shocking experience - I was without knitting - I know it was shocking for me as well.

Last night I had to go to a meeting at my daughters school about an overnight trip that her class will be taking. As I walked out the door it occurred to me that I didn't have a project in my bag (that's not completely true - I do have a finished chemo cap - my 3rd one - but it's more or less done - I only need to pull the end through the last 8 stitches and weave in the end - but that's done right?) POINT - I didn't have a current project in my bag. I paused for a moment when I was running out the door and I thought - if I stop to find something that's been abandoned I will be late - this was immediately followed by the thought - if I try to find a new project, I will never make it out the door tonight - so with the intention of trying to be a good parent (it's a stretch for me) I immediately left for the meeting. I consoled myself with the though of "there will be paperwork to fill out" how bad could it be? My friends, do not let this happen to you. I was fine for the first 15 minutes, I did have paperwork to do, but the next 30 minutes were excruciating, I don't know how the woman next to me restrained herself from not smacking me into unconsciousness. I fidgeted, I wiggled, I looked around, a toddler turned loose in a toy store is better behaved than I am. I will give myself credit for not throwing myself on the floor and announcing "I'M BORED" but other than that I was not really paying attention. It's funny I don't realize how focused knitting keeps me until I don't have it. I love the people that give you a horrified look when you go to a lecture/meeting/anything where there will not be other knitters who understand you, and pull out your knitting. One of the best comebacks I have ever heard was "I don't listen with my hands", and to be honest, if my hands aren't busy I apparently don't listen with my brain. Oh, I heard what they were saying, but it was filtered through the thoughts of all of the other things that I could have been doing at that moment. Isn't it funny that people think that you aren't paying attention when your hands are busy, but the truth is (for me anyway) when my hands are busy my brain engages completely with what is being said, rather than playing with all of the other shiny things bouncing around in there. Please like I don't have shiny things bouncing around in my head, everything in there is shiny how could it not be with the sparks that it creates as it ricochets off the inside of my skull. Sort of like fireworks.... Pretty.... even now, have realized that I have completely lost focus, sorry. (and as an aside why isn't there an "e" in shiny - I think that it would look prettier spelled shiney - look really focus now - pulling it back in)

So you know that I came home and immediately cast on a pair of socks, that was the one good thing that came out of the meeting. They really want us to send the kids on the trip with wool socks, and that's all of the encouragement that I need. So a pair of socks are on the needles, and I am thinking that my son keeps asking for his hat, so I am going to cast that on as well. That's right - two travel projects! You have no idea how frightening and upsetting this was for me, I have definitely learned my lesson and will not be caught without emergency / travel knitting again!

What's in your bag?

Thursday - July 16th

2009-07-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

Life - I wish that there were more hours in a day and I wish that I was better with time management. Maybe it's a knitter thing. I am very organized in some areas of my life, but in others I could not be more flaky. I have every intention of blogging at least once a week - really - that's my plan - but then life runs off with me and I realize that it's once again been a month since I wrote anything.

I say that perhaps this is a knitter thing because I do often have the same trouble being faithful to one project, starting that great new camisole at the beginning of spring only to finally finish it on the same day that we see the first snow (won't be wearing that anytime soon). I know judging from the things that I hear from other knitters it's a very common problem, flitting from one project to another. Add to the project jumping (wrote unfaithfulness and thought seems unfair to say that I am cheating on one sweater with another - like they will know that I have favorites) so, in addition to the project jumping like most of you I have a job and kids and a house that I occasionally need to clean (please note that I do not say "want to clean") and I just don't have enough hours in the day to get things done. It really doesn't help that my fall back position is knitting.

Feeling overwhelmed with everything that I need to do, perfect time to put on my pajama's, climb into bed put on a movie and knit for a couple of hours until the feeling passes. The fact that my 11 year old frequently joins me (am I doing her a favour or a disservice passing this trait along?) makes me feel that I am able to self soothe with knitting and spend time with my daughter, the entire thing feels very decadent and heavenly.

But that brings me back to my point - I have decided that life doesn't have to be a balance - and who decided that we have to balance things. I have decided that if you have it "all" what else is there to want. Isn't there something to be said for having something that needs to be done? gives you a reason to get out of bed and be motivated, otherwise I would pile my bed high with yarn and knit my way out...... Besides the house is always going to need to be cleaned - someone is always going to have a shirt or pants or pair of socks that need to be washed (although the rule of "once you are 12 you do your own laundry" has freed up quite a bit of time at my house - my daughter only has 6 more months of laundry service - wonder how many stitches are in a load of her laundry?) The garage is a mess - but I can get two cars in there so really how tidy does it need to be? Once my kids are gone and I am alone (what a sad thought that is) I will have all of the time in the world to finally tidy and organize my garage, office, basement. But today, today I am going home to knit.

Thursday - June 4th, 2009

2009-06-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

I am a complete yarn w***e completely incapable of being faithful to any one project. The Lace top and the Camisole (out of Premiere) held my interest for a long time (at least three weeks and that has to be a record with me). But while I was working on my lace top I have also been knitting on my hat (out of Calmer) for my chemo caps, after all I need a project that I can take with me when I need to be on the go, and nothing is better than a hat. So I have already been two-timing. BUT a very nice woman came into the shop on Thursday (June 4th) and asked if she were to purchase a ball of yarn would someone be able to knit a toddler hat for her. Before I even realized that I was forming a response the answer was out of my mouth "Of course I can".

I should also say that I then proceeded to encourage her to purchase a ball of wool...... not cotton (yes I know that it's June - have you seen the hail out there?) or acrylic, but good, solid, beautiful, natural, reliable wool, there really is nothing better than a good wool cap.

As soon as she left I casted on and started to knit only to realize that I needed to put the June Calendar on the web site, so I was a good store owner, stopped kitting and took care of that, with the thought in my head that I am going away this weekend and I would have time to finish the hat then.

Sure enough, on Saturday, on my flight to Seattle (I was surprising my sister for her 40th birthday) I finished the hat, it was a baby hat after all. On the flight home I finished my first Odessa hat (for the chemo caps) and started my second. So now I am three hats down in one weekend, but feeling slightly guilty that I have completely abandoned other things. But did I mention that I finished two hats? that has to count for something right? Does it make it worse that I completely dumped my current projects for the quickie baby hat? If I promise that I am going back to them does that make up for things, even if just a little?

Saturday May 23rd

2009-05-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Jen, and I am a knitter...... The other night I went to dinner with a friend, and I arrived a little early, so while waiting for her to finish her hair, I sat on the couch and whipped out my knitting (am currently carrying a hat - my new favorite transport project). Once we got to the restaurant, she needed the ladies room and the food hadn't arived yet, so I found myself alone at the table and you know that hat popped out again. When my friend came back she said "I can't believe that you are knitting" to which I replied "why wouldn't I? It's what I do". She then went on to ask why I didn't just surf the net on my phone, and I thought that this question made absolutely no sense. Why would I surf the web? First of all I don't have a data package for my cell phone - so it's costs me a small fortune, not to mention WHY? I can't think of anything that I would want to look at / for on the world wide web (well except, I do still need to find something to do with the possum, but I think that I have that worked out as well). I think that everyone knows where I stand on the internet, and that I am not a fan of twitter (I still don't understand wanting to know what anyone else is doing at any moment of the day) so why would I surf the web, why wouldn't I knit, and then I had this amazing and beautiful thought..... What if we could get everyone knitting, instead of playing with their phones during down time - what if they knit, yes I know that we would run out of wool if that happened, but still it's a beautiful thought and one that I am definitely hanging on to. So I realized that knitting is my outlet - and could help explain why I am not as into the internet - I barely have the time to knit don't have the time to play on the net. Not that I needed any of this reassurance, the fact that I have chosen to surround myself with yarn should have been my first clue..... With all of this said - am now going back to my knitting

May 19th

2009-05-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

I recently had someone bring me possum yarn. This yarn came all the way from Australia, where it is plentiful. I thought (incorrectly) that you couldn't get possum yarn in the states because it was banned. Turns out that I had that wrong..... oops..... But it is still interesting yarn, I did a little research and this is what I turned up:

The possum fur used in making yarn is not from the same type of possum that we have in the states - this possum is cute and soft and other than the whole "it's a pest destroying the natural forests in New Zealand" I think that they are adorable. The possum we have in the states is apparently stinky and greasy and you wouldn't want to use it's fur for anything (and don't some people eat it as road kill or is that just a joke?)
Possum yarn comes from New Zealand where they have a massive possum problem

Possums are protected in Australia

Possums are eating native trees in New Zealand

Possums are disturbing the native birds by eating the trees the birds also eat - except the birds consume the trees at a MUCH slower rate

By eating native trees the possums are also eating the homes of native birds.

Possums have been caught on camera eating kokako eggs and chicks.

Possums have even been known to push kiwi out of their burrows so they can have a dry place to sleep! - this is my favorite reason to dislike the possums - can you imagine kicking someone out of bed, so that you can have a place to sleep....... Do think less of me that this reason endears the possum to me just a little more........

Sometimes possums will eat native land snails .

Possums can spread a disease called 'bovine tuberculosis' to cows, cattle and deer.

Possums are noisy and can keep people awake, and they have been known to go inside houses! - I think that they might have made this up or added it just to prove a point

If you want to check my sources for these facts go here (and for the record I cut and pasted some of the list) : http://www.kcc.org.nz/pests/possum.asp

Now I know that this seems like a harsh attack against the little guys - particularly since I think that they are cute - I like rodents remember? BUT they really are a pest. Apparently they were brought to New Zealand for fur trade but it went awry (the guys that had the brilliant idea of making money off the fur couldn't turn a profit) so the possums were released into the wilds of New Zealand where they have no natural predators and due to that and their insatiable appetites they are destroying natural forests (sort of reminds me of my house - how does my son eat an entire bag of potato chips in 15 minutes). I agree that they need to be stopped and yay for me if I can get a yarn out of it. I won't tell you how they get the yarn - sort of takes the fun out of it but I will say this about the yarn it's very interesting:

The yarn is typically mixed with wool (all yarn should have some component of wool - yes I know that my personal love affair with wool is making me biased)
Possum fur doesn't take dye - yes the yarn can be dyed - but it's the base yarn / fiber that is actually taking the dye.
You can see the possum fur when you look at the yarn from the side - you can see the halo of fiber / fur.
Possum yarn blossoms when blocked, and the fur fibers become exaggerated so essentially you have this furry brown haze surrounding the project / garment - think mohair.....

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am at the prospect of knitting with this yarn - and even more shocking is the fact that I want to block it - I know I am thinking that I might be ill as well, the concept of me blocking something is almost as foreign as me gauging - but I guess in some aspects I am finally becoming a grown up knitter.

Now my biggest issue is finding the perfect project for this beautiful and amazing yarn - I want something simple so that it shows off the beautiful tweedy quality of the yarn - not to mention the haze that I know is coming. But I don't want it too simple..... just what I need a reason to find a new project and I have too many things going right now as it is.... Am trying to be good and focus on the current projects - but the lure of the possum is great. I'll let you know who wins. I am betting on the possum, after all it is destroying the natural forests of New Zealand it must be very powerful and strong - can not resist the force........

May 14th

2009-05-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

I keep writing this post - but then instead of posting it I keep saving it and I can't figure out how to find my drafts..... Maybe this is the real reason that I don't like technology - it's not that I think that it's driving a wedge in society it's that I can't figure out how to use it properly.

So I am nearly finished with the camisole top - had nearly completed one strap only to realize that I dropped a stitch on the first row - it was a knit three together and I only caught two of the three stitches. I had a moment of I could cheater fix it, but then I thought "no, it's only a strap and the rest of the top is lovely, do it properly" so I ripped back. Re-knit the same section, only to do the same thing a second time only this time it didn't hold - the first time I missed the stitch I had to look to see the wayward loop, but the second time the stupid thing actually unraveled. So I started once again, BUT, after knitting a few rows had an epiphany. I had 12 balls of premier (it's this amazingly soft very drapey yarn out of cotton and tencel and quite honestly it's heavenly to work with) and the camisole is supposed to take 6 balls, I also have a lace top that I have been eyeing from last springs Vogue Knitting, that is also done out of premier - 6 balls - and if my math skills don't fail me I have just enough yarn. EXCEPT how often are patterns wrong (even when you are using the yarn they claimed to have used). So I actually am only 5 balls in with the camisole and me in my brilliance decided that now would be a good time to start the lace top. After all - at this point I am only doing the straps, I could do the straps out of a contrasting color, heck I could do them out of ribbon, there is lots of options for straps. But with a top, if you don't have enough yarn you are stuck. So I started the top - No this is not justification for starting a new project, really my reasoning is sound - okay maybe it's a little justification, but still reasoning is sound!

So started the top and had to rip it back as well, mis-read which size I was making and didn't make enough increases - oops - but am back on track and had hoped to post pictures of both garments, except I can't seem to find my battery charger since I came home from England. I know that I brought it back with me - I vaguely remember taking it out of my bag, but for the life of me I don't remember where I put it. As soon as I figure it out - and charge the battery I will post pictures - yes I know - no one is holding their breath!

In the mean time - I am happily knitting away on my top - and when it gets really cold (like last Sunday) I pull out my sweater that I am nearly finished with. I don't quite know what is going on with me that I am sticking to one project at a time (not that I am not ogling, and fondling other yarn for other projects, but I haven't casted anything on yet) but I am going to go with it - it actually seems to be a productive way to knit. Instead of flitting from project to project never really making any headway. If you stick with one thing you can actually see progress and maybe even the end. It's interesting this new state of mind - I wonder how long it will last......

Maybe I have finally found my place of Zen - come join me!

Apologies and Personal Responsibility

2009-04-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

So first I need to say I am sorry - I shouldn't blame you for my lack of self control - but I must say that several of you did take pity on me and come down and hang out on Saturday and while I did pull out the yarn to make the sweater it is back in the bin (mocking me for now). I resisted the urge to start yet another sweater and am quite pleased with myself for my restraint (maybe even pleased enough to allow me to pick a new project - and we have gone in a giant circle - I love self indulgence).

I am nearly done with the Camisole that I am knitting out of Premier (it is the softest cotton yarn) and as soon as it's done I will try to get a picture posted. As soon as I am done with it I am going to use the rest of my stash of premier yarn to make this gorgeous sweater from Vogue Knitting. The magazine is currently in the store, I won't allow myself to take it home for fear that me and my short attention span will have it casted on before I knit another stitch on the camisole. I have to say that the warmer weather has inspired me to start knitting for summer and I am very excited about the prospect of lacy cardigans and have already picked out yarn for my next two projects (no the sweater above doesn't count - it's a I've been good treat and special and different) I need the new cardigans I need something to put over all of my cami's this summer..... and more exciting news, I am back at work on the crocheted camisole that I got bored with last summer, now if I can get back to the sweater that I also abandoned last summer I will be in great shape.

This weekend is supposed to be rainy and cold - come see me - even better come see what I am working on, at this point it could be anything!

I blame you

2009-04-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

I didn't think that I would be here today. The first time that I left my house this morning I made it half way up the hill got stuck, spent 20 minutes rocking my car (thank goodness it's a stick) back and forth and finally managed to get it back down the hill and into the garage. But then my ex came over - shoveled my walk, drove back and forth up and down the hill mashing down the snow and creating ruts for me to drive in, and then he pushed me out when I still got stuck in the cul-de-sac (have I mentioned that he really is a nice guy?). So here I sit all alone in an empty store surrounded by YARN and I can feel the call of a new project.

It's not as if I don't have several started and abandoned things here (much like at home) poor abandoned projects so sad and lonely (they would never have made it as the velveteen rabbit, loved enough to be "real" or even finished)

I have been eyeing this gorgeous sweater in French Girl Knits (it's knit from the bottom up - no sew, and we all know how I love that) it's out of Cashsoft Aran (my new favorite yarn - I don't even care that it pills) and have I mentioned that I am all alone surrounded by yarn...... it's snowing what else would a bored knitter do, but start a new project. I think if I had company I would be good so I am going to blame my starting a new project on all of you - It's all your fault, you my friends should have come in today and saved me from myself (can anyone else imagine me wild-eyed, clutching my circs and armfulls of yarn, muttering "my pretties").......

On the plus side - it does give all of you yet another project for you to make fun of me for not finishing........

What are you working on?

I hope you are all enjoying the snow it is the perfect weather to curl up before a fire with a stack of movies and knit to your hearts content - and I hope that is just what all of you are doing at this very moment! See you soon!

Finished Objects

2009-04-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

For those of you keeping track (and I know that some of you are) since returning from England I have now finished three sweaters, the fingerless gloves, and a scarf. I couldn't stick to my deal that I could only start one new project for every one project finished, Did anyone really think that I would stick to that?, but I haven't gone completely over board with spring as I normally do. So currently I am working on one camisole (very lacy and just in time for spring) four sweaters and one scarf (and I feel that I should mention my lonely sock that someday will be the travel project again). The irony is with me having less time I seem to be finishing and knitting more - so I am very excited about the spring. I have actually gone back and looked at projects in the naughty corner and decided that maybe they aren't as bad as originally thought - perhaps they have redeemable qualities - maybe I will start a new deal - for every project that I take out of the naughty corner and finish - I can start two brand new things....... I love spring, the promise of new things, the delusions I can convince myself of so that I can satisfy my inner yarn fiend. How about you? It's spring - time to start something new - what are you working on?

Ques, Obsessions & Irrational Fears

2009-03-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about my que a lot lately - especially since I made that dumb deal with myself that I can start one new project for every one thing that I finish and I just can't seem to finish things fast enough. At the rate that I am going - my grandchildren will inherit unfinished projects. But this has brought me to the question of why do I keep starting new things (without actually finishing anything) and I have recently come to a conclusion about myself:

I have an irrational fear that I will run out of projects / things that I want to knit. I know that most of you are familiar with Stephanie Pearl McPhee (The Yarn Harlot) and I would guess that you have heard of her irrational fear of the yarn blight. She's afraid that there will be some sort of weird illness that will strike the sheep causing their woolly fleeces to fall out and the crocheters will suck up the remaining supply of wool because they go through it twice as fast. Now we all know that this is just silly - that is never going to happen - but running out of things that you want to knit - that could totally happen right? Fashion could revert back to the 80's and who wants to duplicate those sweaters? So I feel that I have to start new projects as soon as I find them, because what if that happens all of the good designers run out of ideas and then I wake up one day with wool, and nothing to do with it. But this has brought me to a new weird thing - I have always been a sweater knitter (still am) but I have recently become obsessed with Scarves, and Hats, I am loving carrying them around in my bag instead of socks - equally transportable - but less thought involved. So maybe running out of projects isn't a real fear - but it's not going to stop me from casting on - which brings me to my obsession - I am obsessed with Wool - I know that most of you are going to say "this is not new" but you see it is. I have always worked with blended yarns and we all know how I feel about Calmer (and it's cotton) - but even Calmer doesn't hold the allure for me that it once did - I only want to knit with wool - the consistency of the fiber - the colors - the texture - the way you can block it - the way that it holds a stitch - the fact that you can spit splice it (I hate weaving ends) What's not to love...... so with that said - I am nearly done with my latest scarf - and I have found the most amazing sweater / wrap - that I have the perfect wool to knit it out of - so enough typing - must go knit now!

Jen

Finished Objects

2009-03-07T11:16:00.000-08:00

So no post for two months and then two in one day - isn't that just how things go?

I am a starter by nature - I love the casting on (okay I don't really like to cast on) the picking of the project the deciding of the wool - the beginning of the project - but often I get bored before I finish - luckily I am very good about unraveling projects in the naughty corner so I don't look like I am too out of control with unfinished things BUT - it's spring and that makes me want to start so many new things - I keep getting these gorgeous books in at the store and I want to make something from each of them - feel compelled really - so here is the new deal that I have made with myself.... For every project that I complete I can start a new one - so as of Thursday - I have now completed the fingertipless gloves and a sweater - am working on three other sweaters - and a hat and a scarf. Am thinking that the scarf will be done by tomorrow - and the hat - well really all I have to do is bind off the top - so by my count I should be allowed to start three new projects soon - I don't think that 5 sweaters on needles is too many do you? I can't wait to get started..... What are you working on?

The Land of Sheep

2009-03-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

Am going to blame the fact that I haven't posted in a while on the fact that I was out of the country - even though I have been back for three weeks - and I didn't post for two weeks prior to leaving.....

Regardless - I went to England - and it was amazing and brilliant and I loved every minute of it and I can not wait to go back - but I did notice something interesting while there.

Didn't do a lot of yarn shopping - but of course went into four different establishments that sold yarn (how could I not?) First two places were interesting - one was a fabric store so yarn would not be that out of the norm - the other was a DIY store (think ACE hardware but smaller). Was very funny to go to a store that sold paint, and nuts and bolts and there behind the counter - Yarn! Finally found a proper yarn store - it's called Crumbs and not only does Joanna (owner) sell some very lovely yarn but she also has stamps and beading, and this is the best part it's a Tea shop. So yarn and tea - Alison and I spent an entire afternoon there - it was wonderful. But there is also a store called John Lewis - it's a department store and on the top floor is a cafeteria (with some delicious soups and sandwiches, and we can't forget the cake) which is right next door to the haberdashery (don't you love this word) and there along the back wall is Yarn! so I could buy shoes and Yarn in one place - I thought that I had died and gone to heaven. It was amazing. But I did notice one disturbing thing - most of the yarn that I found was acrylic. At John Lewis and Crumbs they both had lovely wools and alpacas and bamboos - but still both had their fair share of acrylic which leads me to this question - Why?

It's the land of sheep - literally we would drive down the road and there would be wild sheep laying on the side of the road (yes they were alive they were just hanging out). I would see farm after farm of sheep - and they really are the cutest little guys - but not a lot of wool. I asked Joanna (owner of Crumbs) about this and she said that Brits want things that can go in the washer - Hello? Super wash?...... More for us in the states I say - but still - very odd..... land of sheep - no wool.....

Knitting for our Troops!

2009-01-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

Hi!

I am totally jumping on the Knitting For Our Troops band wagon - they are trying to collect 5,280 hats by January 24th and to promote this they are having a knitting marathon starting on the 23rd of January. So to that end - all yarn purchased to make hats (must be wool and there are color limitations) on Sunday January 18th will be discounted 15%. You can make two hats out of one ball of cascade and I have been told that it only takes 6 hours to make a hat - so come on guys lets see how many we can make. As added incentive to knit like a mad person - if you come in on the morning of January 24th and make a hat in the store that day I will give you 25% off the materials for the hat (yarn & needles) and 10% off of everything else that you decide to purchase that day.

So non-finishing things knitter that I am - I am going to commit to 5 hats - how about you????

If you need more information - like the yarn requirements / the pattern that they want us to use please follow the following link. Thanks for your help! and I hope to see you on the 24th!
http://denverlibrary.org/programs/fresh/knitting.html

Jen

PS I am happy to deliver the hats as well if you want to drop them off here......Thanks again for your help and support!

Holiday Hours

2008-12-23T17:37:00.000-08:00

SO - I will be closed on Wednesday - December 24th until Friday December 26th - I will reopen with regular hours on Saturday December 27th, Sunday December 28th and Tuesday December 30th. But will be closed again on Wednesday December 31st, through Friday January 2nd - again reopening with regular hours on Saturday January 3rd (and no anticipated closed dates again for a while).

I personally am going to try to finish a scarf - make a hat (big yarn - big needles) and make 3 (yes three) pairs of slippers - I have a day - how hard can it be...... yes I know I am a crazy person - but isn't that what knitting is all about - it's so soothing and cathartic.... especially when you put a ridiculous timeline on yourself..... Have reserved Christmas day to finish the gloves... Wish me luck.

Jen

PS for those of you keeping track - the pressure caused me to crack and I started a new sweater for myself (yes I am aware I don't finish things - stop yelling at me) so come in see what I am working on - torment me for my unfinished projects and the sad loved ones that got no gift - it is the thought that counts right?

See you soon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

2008-12-13T10:58:00.000-08:00

So Exciting News - Purls of Wisdom is One Year Old this weekend!!!! I know I can't believe it either -the year has just flown by!

In honor of my birthday - I will have some sort of goodie in the store - and even better - Ingunn will be here steeking (cutting) her sweater. So if you have ever wanted to see this done - or see how a real Norwegian sweater is made - now is your chance. She will be starting at 11:00 tomorrow (Sunday, December 14th) so come in early get a good seat - watch me completely freak out - because really who cuts their knitting - that's just crazy talk!

Can't wait to see you!
Jen

Is it really December????

2008-12-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

Holy Heck - I can't believe that it's December - and more importantly am completely embarrassed that I haven't posted anything in two months - the only thing that I can say is - one of my favorite sayings is "Life is what happens when you are busy making plans" and life has clearly run off with me.

I have received all sorts of yummy new yarns - I now have the entire line of Ester Bitran - the line includes a worsted weight wool, a chunky weight wool, a true worsted weight cotton, and a worsted weight cotton with a viscose thread (it's sparkly and we all know how I love shiny things) all of the yarns are kettle dyed and they are gorgeous. I also have Silky Wool, Calm Wool, Rustic Tweed, The organic wools from the English sheep farmers - am completely in love with these yarns and what they represent. Not to mention a fabulous new sock yarn that is mono chromatically variegated. I also have received many new pattern books for inspiration and I know for me when I can't decide what yarn to get - I just buy a pretty book and pretend that I am going to finish something. For those of you that love comfort the way that I do - I have received part of my order (I know the empty shelves where the comfort belongs were starting to freak me out as well) but I am still waiting on 12 colors - I guess we are not the only ones that love this yarn. As always the shelves are overflowing (except for the comfort and I am hopeful that will change soon) so come in have a look around get inspired start a new project (or 10).

As for me - I wish that I could say that I have been busy knitting but even that is not 100% true - I have just been busy - and I am sure all of you are as well.

On the plus side - I have been knitting - I had a customer that wanted to make the "Shimmer Shrug" on knitty - except she wanted to put a front on it - I thought to myself "how hard could it be to add a front???" so design one I did. I have samples hung up of the shrug following the pattern as written (there is a design flaw in the lace pattern - and that flaw is also apparent in the first sample in the store - I also have my new and improved shrug - with the front and the design flaw in the lace corrected - hung up for you to see as well.

I have also been working on my Great American Afghan - I am woefully lacking in squares - and am hopeful that I will have this amazing blanket completely by June - yes I am aware that this is 6 months past the original dead line - again the best laid plans.....

Currently in my knitting que I have a pair of homeless gloves (or so they've been dubbed by my son's friend - they are gloves with just the fingertips missing - not quite sure why he needs the fingertips off of the gloves - but when a 16 year old boy asks you to make something - you don't ask a lot of questions you just bask in the flatting glow that they want you to knit for them - because really how often does that happen? - so am working on the gloves - and have the yarn to knit a sweater for a friend - and the request to knit a second sweater for a different friend - and then there is the call of the yarn that I feel every time that I am in the store and have to restrain myself from picking yarn for a new and different project. With the blanket, the gloves, and the two sweaters I now have enough to keep me busy - and that's assuming that I am actually going to work on any of it - because we all know that I am not great about finishing things.....

Robyn Chachula & Marilyn King

2008-09-30T16:30:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to announce that Robyn Chachula - Author of Blue Print Crochet will be in the store for a book signing on Friday September 26th. She will be signing Books from 3:00 - 4:00 and then again from 6:00 - 7:00 - More exciting she will be teaching a crocheted sock class from 4:00 - 6:00 - I personally am very interested in this class and think it sounds very interesting. I have a little space left so if you are interested please come in and sign up - class fee is $30.00 + materials.

Also - I have Mariyn King - from Black Water Abby teaching a Sweater Workshop at the store beginning in September - the model garment will be on display in the store after September 16 - but it is my understanding that Marilyn has graciously agreed to teach several different sweaters simultaneously (this is a testament to her teaching abilities). The first class is scheduled for Monday September 29th, in the evening - I believe from 5:00 - 8:00. Each class will be three hours but the entire work shop will consist of 5 sessions. There will be a two to three week break in between each session so that you will have time to get your "homework" done. The entire workshop will be $75.00 + materials. I only have a couple of spaces left for this workshop as well so if you are interested please come in.

If you can not attend the sweater workshop - Please come in and see the trunk show for Black Water Abby yarns - is it amazing traditional irish wool and being fiber fans I think that this is one you shouldn't miss. I will have yarn available for purchase in addition, notions and patterns and there will be garments knitted out of this wool for you to admire as well. The Trunk show will be at the store from September 16th until the 29th and you really shouldn't miss it.

I hope to see you (and your projects) Soon!

ETA - I changed the date of this post - I want this to stay at the top of the page - sorry if it's confusing.......

Trunk Show - and Intro to Aran Knitting!!!

2008-09-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

Marilyn King brought in the Black Water Abby yarn today and it's beautiful - if you are not familiar this this traditional Irish wool you really should come and check it out. In addition to the yarn she also brought some beautiful patterns and sample garments of those patterns - if you are a sweater lover - or just a cable lover you need to come see what I have in the store - just the cable purse is worth the gas.

Also I keep forgetting to put out there - dumb me - that Marilyn has graciously agreed to teach a three hour Intro to Aran Knitting class - this class will be on Saturday September 27th from 1:00 - 4:00 and it's only $30.00. She is an amazing teacher so if you have wanted to try aran knitting please come in and sign up.

AND if you are interested in the sweater workshop - I still have a couple of spaces left - it's going to be brilliant!

I hope to see you soon!

Jen

Great American Afghan

2008-09-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

Okay - I am really falling down on the job with this one - I am so sorry. So far I am staying about three squares behind - I finished two squares over the weekend and started a new one - only to realize that it's waaaaay to big and I needed smaller needles (I didn't have the right size with me - how can I not have ANY available size sevens???? - must dig through started projects to see if I can steal them from something) SO even though I make strides in catching up I am remaining about three squares behind...... I am going to try really hard to work this week and next to get caught up but in the mean time - if you are struggling with a square PLEASE post problems or questions on the Purls of Wisdom Yahoo Group - if I haven't done that square maybe someone else is working on it and they can help you over the bump.... Thanks for your patience with me - and don't kill me but I have another of these blanket knit alongs planned for after the new year - BUT I am definitely learning from my mistakes and we will be much less ambitious with that one.... Again if you are having issues - please come on down to the store; even if I haven't done the square (again working on it) maybe I can still help you sort things out. I would love to get everyone together on Saturday September 27th to see where we all are compare square sizes, and just hang - Maybe if I know that people are coming to check up on me it will give me the incentive to knit like mad to catch up..... Again if you are having problems please come into the store - or if it's at 11:00 on a Sunday night - have a glass (or bottle) of wine - post a note to the yahoo group and hopefully someone will get back to you before you decide to steal the needles for something else (oh wait maybe that's only me that does that...)
jen

I'm Baaaaaack!!!!

2008-08-26T17:54:00.000-07:00

The site is fixed (still a few bugs - but much better!) and the blog couldn't be saved. I went back and looked at previous posts and realized that I am no Sage so it doesn't really matter what I wrote, and the fact that I can't transfer anything doesn't matter! SO - I have lots of news, but no time today - spent waaaaay too long trying to get the blog to move. Realized that I should have given up much sooner - typical knitter - I can fix it just let me keep working at this knot - instead of just taking a pair of scissors to it...... Okay more soon - but in the mean time I'm back!!!!

Missed you!!!

jen