My Favorite Yarn Store and A New Project on the Knitting Needles

Gosh, as if I didn't already have enough projects started I just had to have one more.

Actually, I am taking the Sweater Class from Lettuce Knit as a way to introduce someone from my Tuesday night knitting to MFYS. As you remember our LYS was recently sold and moved closer into the village; it has not been easy for the Tuesday night group to make the change, new owner, different ideas, different 'community of knitters' etc, etc. Our group never knows from one week until the next exactly what to expect and while each of us wants to support the shop and new owners, we don't feel comfortable. Most of the ladies in our group were taught to knit by the previous owner and felt a loyalty to her. They seldom went anyplace else to purchase yarn and knitting supplies; or to take a class offered by anyone else. I, on the other hand moved into the community having never been in this shop except once before our move. I was taught to knit by my sister many years ago and I had access to a number of yarn stores. I love visiting them all and do, but my true loyalty remains at Lettuce Knit where the ladies working there are really phenomenal. They are ever on the ready help you whether it is to select some beautiful yarn, work on a problem, teach you a new technique. or if there is time just chat with you. Most of the chatting in this shop is done while the staff is helping customers. Its a busy place and a wonderful place, that has a large group of loyal customers.

Anyway, as I was saying, I am taking their Sweater class with one of the ladies from my Tues. night knit group. I wanted to show the group what they are missing by not venturing out to the other shops within driving distance and seeing the yarns, patterns, and talent that can be had by shopping around. I must say, my friend was very impressed with Lettuce Knit.

To begin with, the sweater class started a week ago yesterday and here we were asking to begin a week later. Most shops wouldn't take the time to help two additional people choose a pattern (a choice of about ten patterns from the beginner to the experienced), choose yarn, and knit a swatch on a busy Saturday afternoon. It didn't phase these ladies although they were extremely busy all afternoon and, their 'new customer' didn't loose sight of this. In fact she was rather thunderstruck when a lady came in and saw some yarn she wanted but the shop was one skein short of what was needed. What did the proprietor do? She got on the phone and made a couple of calls. She was able to located the same color and same dye lot and arrange for it to be mailed from about a two hour drive away. Needless to say, she had a 'pleased customer', the lady buying the yarn, and an 'impressed' customer, my friend.

This wasn't the only thing that my friend didn't miss. She saw several customers come in and ask for help with something they were working on, she saw their patience taken with a new knitter struggling to learn her stitches, and another lady 'sitting to knit' just to have the relaxing atmosphere of the yarn shop. She saw them take out several rows of knitting for someone and get that person started back on the right road. These things never happened at our LYS. This is a small shop with barely room to walk down a center isle and between tables of yarn up and down the store, yet they are forever gracious to the customers who come in with 'extras' in toe and wonder around just to feel the luscious yarns and see the vivid colors. Never once was any frustration shown when a large skein of previously purchased yarn was brought in to be wound and had to be untangled numerous times during the winding. It was a typical day for my FYS but fascinating for my friend to witness.

Back to the project I chose. It is a simple sweater/coat pattern from Nashua's Theatre series. I'm knitting it in Rowan's Cocoon, color alpine. Its a gorgeous pearl grey and its ever so soft. Cocoon is a new line of yarn at Rowans and the content is 80% Merino and 20% Mohair. It is a scrumptious feeling yarn that knits up to about 3 sts per inch on size 11 needles. I love the boxy coat look of the jacket and my favorite sleeve length, three-quarters. When I was a teen-ager there were lots of three-quarter length sleeves, very popular, and I've always loved the length. They are long enough to be warm and short enough not to hang into whatever you doing. They are also attractive on people with big arms or very small arms, hiding the above elbow portion that is usually the unattractive part.
Shortly DH and I are off to shop for flooring. There is lots to think about in this arena. I hate carpeting but like wool rugs. DH loves wall-to-wall carpeting 'cause its warm on your feet. We both love real hardwood floors but it is the most expensive when installing after the house has been built; at our age I don't feel the cost of real hardwood flooring is justifiable. I can deal with the new imitation hardwood floorings, DH doesn't like them. Tiles, linoleum, and whatever else is out there is probably not a choice. Stay tuned to find out who wins this round on the flooring.

Oh, Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Today is cold and wet, a day for hot drinks, fires, soup, and knitting but so far I haven't done any of it. We were expecting a bit of snow, and that's what we got, a bit, before it turned to freezing rain, and now rain. DH is under the weather so I trotted out to the shed early this morning and drug snow shovels back to the house and into the garage, just in case. I also scattered a bit of de-icer on the steps, front walk, and back deck just in case. I know....the salt is not a good thing, but neither is a broken leg and a trip to the vet. Maestro is eleven years old now and has a history of being 'fast', we have to watch him on icy areas to keep him from hurting himself.

I worked on a project for the knitting guild this morning, a bus trip to Stitches East in the fall, and I worked on the newsletter for the Iris Society. The morning just kind of slipped away and before I knew it DH was ready for lunch and needed some roughage so we had a big salad rather than soup. I have a pot of chicken and herbs simmering right now, tonight will be chicken and dumplings...yum.

In place of blogging I have a dozen (probably more) other things I should be working on; finishing the Melly bag, not much left to do, the straps are now in place (I decided to do them in solid pink) and the pocket is basted just waiting for the final sew down, and then tossing it into the hot water bath. I also have another Wotton Bag ready except for felting and attaching the handle; both bags can have a bath at once. I've worked a few more rows on the Nicky Epstein's intarsia Jacobean Bag and am finding I enjoy the work but, is it ever slow with all the bobbins hanging from the back. And of course I'm dying to start something more, another vest or sweater I think.

BTW, I forgot to post this beautiful yarn that I received from Amanda a few days ago. It is a 2 ply hand spun Corriedale wool, one from Thelma and one from Stella in beautiful shades of grey, almost browns. Grey is the color for the January yarn exchange. Thank you Amanda, I'd like to send you a note but don't know where to send it. I don't have your e-mail address and am unable to make out the label on the package other than Amanda and Millisville NJ. If you'll let me know how to contact you I will do a proper 'thank-you'.

On Sunday I received a call from a contact in SC that my sister was in the emergency room. I am so thankful that everything is alright but it was a scare in the beginning. It turns out that along with the myeloma she also has atrial fibrillation. Fortunately I was able to get in contact with another sister that is closer in distance and she and her husband went to help out and then on Monday her daughter from Milwaukee flew in to be with her for a few days. I think this was a wake-up call to the rest of our family that this sister doesn't need to be living alone. Now we have to hope the house will sell really soon and she can get moved and be near her daughter. I will worry continuously until her AFib is under control and that sometimes takes a while.

MFYS is starting a sweater class and you work on a sweater of choice to fit your level of knitting. I have a gift certificate from DH for the shop and probably should use it to tackle something that I would normally put off because 'I don't have time to concentrate on anything difficult right now'. Actually I may go by and see what patterns they are making available. The classes are to be held on Sunday afternoons starting this Sunday and this would be the perfect time of year for spending Sunday afternoons knitting and working on a new Sweater.

The spicy chicken broth is calling me. I'll whip up some of my Bisquick dumplings and we will be sitting down for dinner by six o'clock. If DH feels like it maybe we can work in a game of Scrabble after dinner.

A Knitting Christmas Around The World

Gosh, do I ever have a boxful of goodies to show you today. My upstream partner in the Christmas Around the World Exchange has spoiled me this time for sure.

Karen had sent me an e-mail saying the package was going to be late that she was working on something. Christmas came and went, then another note saying she waiting on something to dry but that it would be delivered before the end of the Twelve Days Of Christmas and that she thought I'd be pleased and think it was worth the wait. Well, I AM PLEASED and it was Worth the Wait. Karen you have been so generous with your giving and that in it's self means as much as the items in the box. Thank you for both, you kind and generous heart and the wonderful goodies you chose for me. This is what I had to wait for, do you think it was worth the wait?

I certainly think so. The bag is gorgeous and big and the fabric is nice and heavyweight, knitted with double strands throughout. It has a beautiful lace design all around the top of the bag and the color is perfect too. Thank you Karen for all the time you took to make something for me that you knew I'd enjoy. I stuck some items on top of my 'stuff' (I'm already using the bag) to hold it open so you can see a bit of the lacy part. I'm sure it will get lots of wear. (That's Mr. Maestro peeping in the door.)

Before I got to the bag, which was laying flat on the very bottom of the bag, look at all the other things I pulled out. And just as dear as all the wonderful items, was a handwritten note attached to each one of them - so special. There was knitting stuff, food stuff, music and lots of other goodies. It was like having Christmas again. Thank you Karen,for making my day special.

I've been so busy this week that I haven't had time to blog. I missed my Monday and Tuesday night knitting and haven't accomplished much this week at all. I did sit down last night and added a few rows to the intarsia bag I'm knitting on and I did pick up the Lily Chin jacket I've been playing with for two years. I still don't have gauge on it and I've tried every size needled and different type needles from the 10 1/2 that it calls for, to a size 8. The needle size hasn't made much difference. I've steamed my test pieces and steamed using a wet cloth. I must be the only person in the world that can't knit this simple stockingknit pattern? Is it because of the stretchy yarn I wonder?

Anyway, I hope to get back in the swing with my blogging and knitting for the next few weeks. Spring will soon be here and we all know that means I will be spending a lot of time in the iris gardens.

Some Pictures For You - Knitted Vest & Knitted Melly Bag

This is such a neat pattern, just a rectangle of yarn, how simple can it get.

I'm not sure I like the straps I've made for the Melly Bag and may re-knit them in a solid color. The figure 8 in the diamond is the front pocket and the stitches are picked up after the body of the bag has been knitted, then knitted as a separate piece and sewn on before the fulling process. This is a pretty big bag that I think I will use a lots, therefore I will be adding a lining with inside pocket that can be also be closed.

Knitted Vest and Bag Completed Last Week

I'm back home and it feels good.
As I drove up the drive last night and into the garage I felt giddy just to be back home. Although I'd only been gone a week, the last few months have been so hectic driving up and down the interstate for one reason or another, home seems like a bit of heaven to me right now.

My sister seems to have a bit more strength now that she has gotten a shot to help build her red blood cells and medication to clear up the sinus infection. Now we pray she will be able to get the house sold soon and can make that move to be near her daughter. I'm also hoping she will be able to keep herself well enough and strong enough to continue living alone with her friends checking in on her daily and the family's phone calls. My older sister is still in the hospital but is able to sit up a bit now. The blood clot is still in her artery and there seems to be no change in what the doctors can do for her. It isn't a pleasant situation.


I got a good bit of knitting done last week while sitting in waiting rooms and after dinner each night. I finished knitting the Melly bag but still have to stitch the front pocket up and put the straps in place. I'm pleased with the way the knitting turned out, just hope the fulling will work out as well. I didn't add the pocket knitted to the inside because I plan to line the bag and will add a pocket or two to the lining. The outside pocket isn't quite as wide as I thought it would be once knitted, but I think it will stretch out just fine when I stitch it down. I also completed the finishing work on the vest I knitted a couple of weeks ago and wore it a couple of times last week when I drove my sister to her appointments. It is nice, warm, and light weight, just what I enjoy. I am a coat lover only in the sense of owing them because of their color, style, or material, I do not enjoy wearing coats unless it is absolutely freezing. I don't like the weight or the confinement of a coat. That is probably the reason I love shawls so much and yes, I also wore my entralac stole a couple of times last week.

Today has been a day for not doing much and just relaxing around the house. Dear Dariana came out for a while and we had a tea party with cheese, pepperonis, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on party bread. Just the right size sandwich for her tiny fingers. She has a little table cloth and apron that my sister made for her while she was here and that gets spread on grandma ma's coffee table before she sets out her teapot, cups and plates. She is so delightful to watch and listen to; so attentive to her tea guest. What a joy she is.

I still haven't gotten around to working on my Ravelry records, something that I really wanted to have done before now. There should be more time for those kinds of things now that the weather is colder. Right now. beside all the illness in our family, I have a sun room to re-decorate and plans to do something with the floors in the remainder of the house. When we bought this house it was carpeted and I'm not fan of carpeted floors in my home. Our plan is to have it pulled out and replaced with wood floors. Trying to get all this taken care of in the next couple of months may still leave me with little time for Ravelry or knitting.

I had DH make a couple of photos of the alpaca vest but they are far to dark to post so will have to make another try at it tomorrow. I do want to share but tonight I feel really sleepy and tired so plan to say good night and get ready for bed. Tomorrow is another day. I have several things on my agenda we can probably find time for a couple of photos.