MY Blog

Greg, one of our newest knitters:

Greg came in a few weeks ago to learn to knit.  He made this great charcoal gray scarf in Cascade 128 using a combination of garter and stockinette stitch, and quickly knit up another for his mother.  (awwww, lucky mom!).  Since he’s mastered both knit and purl, making him the envy of his “stuck in garter stitch purgatory” co-workers, he’s ventured on to Brooklyn Tweed’s striped noro scarf.  And, he’s also started a lovely blanket in the blue sky organic cotton.  Let’s just suffice it to say that Greg’s taken to knitting like a duck to water.  Way to go Greg!

And then there’s camera shy Robin.  Robin’s been knitting for over a year, and she’s grown more and more adventurous with each project.  Here’s her finished Pimlico Shrug from Knit2Together.  Robin’s knit this project before, in Malabrigo, but she went for broke on this one (the other was for her daughter, this one was for her). She used the Koigu Kersti (which is what the pattern calls for), and voila:

Ok, so I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful in the world than semi-solid kersti used so well.  Ouch, the beauty’s blinding!

I gotta say, one of the most rewarding things about owning the shop is seeing all the great projects.  Even if my knitting mojo is at a standstill right now, I can live vicariously through everyone else.  And that’s a good thing.

Paige

Today’s weather is just the best, and although the forecast is for seven straight days of rain, I’m happy that spring’s peaking its head out!

I’ve been quiet on the blogging front because of my VIP (very important project). I was knitting a christening gown for my godchild, Cousin 4. I had started this project spontaneously, assuming a few weeks would be enough time. But, even though the pattern was not difficult, I had a horrible time of the second tier lace pattern, ripping it out 11 times (yes, 11!) on the front, and five (!) on the back. For crying out loud, you’d think I’d get it the 2nd time around, but I’m dense like that. All that frogging left me with a back and two sleeves to go only 6 days before the big event. Yikes! But I finished. Woot!

Here’s the dress, pre-blocking.

I used the mulberry silk from Laines du Nord, about 4 skeins (I think). It’s not pure white; it’s more of a champagne color, but my sister, Cousin 4’s mom, didn’t mind. What I love about this dress–there is an eyelet row along the hem of the dress, bodice, sleeves and neckline. I heart this detail–my family’s baptism gown (for which Cousin 4 was too large) was made by my great grandmother for my grandfather in 1914. He wore it, as did his four sisters. Then all their children, and all the children’s children (that’s my generation). My things 1-3 also wore the dress. Thing 3 was actually the last baby to use the dress in 2004 (making it 90 years is a sign of good sewing!). That dress was a simple simple dress with an eyelet row along the sleeves and hem, and either a baby blue or light pink ribbon was strung through the eyelet depending on the sex of the baby. So, although Cousin 4 didn’t get to wear the family gown, this new one at least paid homage to it.

Here’s Cousin 4 in the dress:

Cousin 4 has cheeks that just won’t quit. To the right is Scotland Grandma. To the left (and slightly behind in the door) is Connecticut Grandma. Things 1-3 are very much into place names, and this is often how we identify and differentiate people.

Cousin 4 was christened at the Easter Vigil which is the longest service ever. Wally waited home for everyone

Wally is brother 2’s huge dog. He just sorta lies around, making him the perfect pet. He also patient, and doesn’t mind the ears.

And lastly, a shot of spring:

yes, I do a crap job raking. But the crocus don’t mind!

Now that my obligatory knitting is over, I’m working on my 3rd pair of sprung socks, and a BSJ–my first. Photos later.

So this month Kristen & I were trying to come up with something fun that would also let us make some room for the incoming spring yarns.  Voila–March Madness.

Every week we’ll be putting different yarns on sale, but the discount will be cascading–starting at 30% off on Monday and losing 5% a day until it’s at 10% on Friday.  No discounts on Sat or Sun.

Next week will be some of the Noro yarns.

Oh yeah, there are two other March Madness specials: first, the Koigu’s gone up in price (which affects our most latest and greatest shipment).  But we’re holding off on raising the price until April.  Also, if you buy $75 worth of koigu (either the sock or KPPPM), we’ll give you an extra 10% off.

And, last but not least, March 20 is sweater day in honor of Mr. Rogers’ birthday.  Now who doesn’t love Mr. Rogers?  (or should I be asking, who would admit to not loving Mr. Rogers)?  Anyway, to celebrate, we’re offering 20% off any sweater project bought at the store this month.  (this 20% will supercede the 10% koigu discount if you choose to make your sweater in koigu).

March on, march madness.

post more often–stuff just keeps building up, and then the thought of getting it all out there, with pics and all, becomes paralyzing.  Plus, I’m on a deadline with a project, so any time spent doing something else is time spent not knitting the VIP (very important project).

First, I finished the Vine Cardigan.  The pattern is from Clara’s The Book of Yarn.  I heart this book.  It’s chock full o’ great info and patterns.  I fell in love with the vine cardi, which is done (in the book) in angora.  I subbed the Blue Sky brushed suri in an icy light blue.  I added buttons.  I gave up on the applied i-cord around the front/neck, and crocheted instead.  The brushed suri was great to knit with–it’s not so great to rip out, and the applied i-cord was a mess.

Here’s another shot.  I’m trying to get more artistic in my photography.  I don’t think it’s working.

The sweater’s called the vine cardigan b/c of the lacey vine pattern in place of raglan decreases.  I love this detail.  It totally makes the sweater for me.  Incidentally, it’s a cropped, 3/4 sleeve pattern, making it light enough for chilly spring-time wearing.  I wore it monday when it was 56 out.  Perfect!

In other news, DH and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary today.  My gift to him was 14 clocks.  DH totally hearts wall clocks.  The very ugly cheap kind.  I don’t think he ever spent more than $3.99 on a clock.  He gets them at Duane Reade. Yes, Duane Reade–you know, they are known for their clocks.  Oh, and not only does he buy ugly clocks, he hangs them in odd places. A few weeks ago, he hung yet another fantastic clock on the wire hook I use to hang our Christmas wreath over our beautiful and original (to the house) 90+ year old stained glass window.  I got so angry, I shouted at him that he “was surrounding me with ugly.”  Possibly not the best choice of words.

So, I thought for our anniversary I’d get DH a nice wall clock.  But yesterday, when thinking about it, I realized that a wall clock for a present was just one step up on the food chain from a humidifier (another story there–but yes, I did get one of those as an anniversary gift early on–not a good year).  Then it dawned on me–14 wall clocks.  Now that’s a good gift.  So after work, I bundled up Things 1-3 and off we went to Target for some clock shopping.  Boy was that fun.  Target had a wide variety of clocks–large and small.

After returning home, we stealthily wrapped the clocks and hid them under Thing 2’s bed.  We awoke early this morning, and then hid the clocks around the house (in DH’s underwear drawer, closet, fridge, shower, etc.). Ha.  What a fun treat that was.  Here we are, all 14 clocks having been found:

Thing 3’s fave was the Hannah Montana clock. It has a boa–trust me.  DH kept asking “who’s hannah montana, and why does she have a clock?” Really.

Sadly, not all the clocks made the cut–about 8 were returned back to Target this evening.  Sadly Hannah Montana was one of them.  The big one stayed.

Hopefully, this will keep us all on time for the remainder of ‘08.

Paige