So, Tom is a little mad about having to tear back almost three inches on his sweater front.

But then [...]]]> edited July 26, 2010: my post somehow got overwritten when I changed the title so I’m just going to go ahead and try and recreate it as it was.  I know it isn’t exact, though, darn it! 

So, Tom is a little mad about having to tear back almost three inches on his sweater front.

But then a good time was had by all. 

Getting down to the wire and Haley has three little fingers to finish, ends to weave in and washing/blocking to do. Saturday is judging. She has several days this week that she’ll be working with her horse, Luke, getting him ready to show so she needs to have it finished today. Thankfully [...]]]>

Getting down to the wire and Haley has three little fingers to finish, ends to weave in and washing/blocking to do. Saturday is judging. She has several days this week that she’ll be working with her horse, Luke, getting him ready to show so she needs to have it finished today. Thankfully she should have plenty of time. Instead of spending my day off at home, look what I’m trying out–a booth at the Shipshewana Flea Market. I brought some yarns we’re kind of tired of, some books and some Quilt Happy, Stitch happy, Scrap happy, and Knit Happy. It’s hot, 92f, but the building, the fans and the breeze make out cool. I’m meeting lots of knitters and getting time to work on my Cassidy sleeves, so all is well. Susan reports she has been busy back at the store, but with customers not website work so you’ll have to be patient and wait for the new stuff. (hint, one of the new Knit Happy products is in a picture below…can you find it?). We also have Caitlyn doing some ebay work for us. Check out her ebay auctions at http://myworld.ebay.com/girlbhindthemusic/

Nancy receiving her winning book, Knitted Gifts

And here she is just sitting down after a hard day of teaching.  No, she isn’t an employee, but is a valuable part of our teaching team and she was teaching [...]]]> Is that because she will turn 17 next year?  Anyways, number 17 was . . . drumroll please, Nancy Wilson! 

Nancy receiving her winning book, Knitted Gifts

And here she is just sitting down after a hard day of teaching. 
No, she isn’t an employee, but is a valuable part of our teaching team and she was teaching the Three Tams using a two-handed Fair Isle technique.  One tam took a skein of Silk Garden and a skein of Shepherd’s Wool. 

Everyone who took the class made the project their own:

And, here are some shots from BTS at Stitches Midwest and, yes, Tom was definitely the “go-fer” and we couldn’t have done it without him.  My thanks to the whole team that helped man the Knitting Today booth, Claudia from Yarn Sisters [...]]]> BTS = Behind The Scenes, an acronym we use at Emmaus Walks for the go-fers

And, here are some shots from BTS at Stitches Midwest and, yes, Tom was definitely the “go-fer” and we couldn’t have done it without him.  My thanks to the whole team that helped man the Knitting Today booth, Claudia from Yarn Sisters for Zealana, Karen and Patti from Knit Happy, Chuck and Deb from Stonehedge Fiber Mills.  My hope is they had a great time meeting all the knitters that came through and have had a chance to rest their feet and legs by now. 

Tom setting up

And where is Lea-Ann?

 From the back aisle you see the Noni Designs as well as the Heritage Spinning and Weaving and other Shepherd’s Wool samples:

the view coming around the corner was Shepherd’s Wool:

Walking around to the inside is another view of Shepherd’s Wool and on the back wall is the spinner rack full of Shepherd’s Wool Fingering.  Next to the fingering is a better view of Y2Knit’s Seven-Eighths and Winter Ball Scoop Cami (check Ravelry for their knitalong)

Back to a view from the aisle, on the left is Y2Knit’s Seven-Eighths and Winter Ball Scoop Cami followed by the Zealana Kia Ora Kiwi and Kauri and in the middle is the Knit Happy bags and tumblers with the Gathered Totes on top of the yarn

On the back right of the booth is the Zealana Eco 2020 on the top and Zealana Kia Ora rimu on the bottom with the Windy Hills Alpaca from a farm in Ohio to the right.  The models shown are on the left: Eyelet Cardi by Chic Knits knit in Kauri fingering; Laguna knit in Rimu DK,  on top is the Grommet bag and the Watermelon Tote, and on the far right with the long row of buttons is Noni’s new cardigan pattern.

On the right of the booth, we featured Willow by Zealana, a cashmere/merino blend yarn that feels luscious and we have Knit Happy mugs lined up next to the checkout

 

After all this set-up, here’s Tom:

 

And a big thank you to the three more helpers:  Deb and Chuck from Stonehedge Fiber Mills and Claudia from YarnSisters representating Zealana yarns:

Here’s the gang, Karen, Patti, Tom, Lea-Ann and Claudia:

 And, we did catch Tom smiling once or twice — he’s holding the Kiwi bird covered in Possum Fur:

Hope you enjoyed the virtual tour of our booth at Stitches Midwest 2009!  Thank you for stopping by, please leave a comment, you never know when I’ll do a drawing for some goodies!!

Oh what a wonderful time we will all have . . . this, our eleventh retreat, is looking like a fun, fun, time.  Of course, the snow days really threw a twist in the works since June 5 is now my girls last day of school.  I made it this weekend as it looked like [...]]]>

Oh what a wonderful time we will all have . . . this, our eleventh retreat, is looking like a fun, fun, time.  Of course, the snow days really threw a twist in the works since June 5 is now my girls last day of school.  I made it this weekend as it looked like their last day would be June 2.  Leave it to Indiana weather to throw a few snow days/fog days in there and the State Board not grant a waiver.  They have two half days June 1 and June 2, now how much schooling do you think they’ll actually get done??  Anyways, this post is about retreat, not a rant about our school system.  Let’s see . . .

 Joan McGowan-Michael, White Lies Designs is teaching our handknitting classes this year. 

•  Dress You Up starts the sessions on Friday with a class on combining knits and fabric.  While the sample is a small dress, the techniques can be interpreted into an adult jumper, lingerie, or even a lovely wedding gown.  I think we’ll see more of this style on the runways in the next few years as I had the opportunity to see some photos from Italy a month or so ago taken by Susan Lazear and there was a whole collection of fabric and knits combined.  I have a vision of a burgundy-colored bodice knit in a filmy lacy yarn, attached to a velvet skirt, princess styling, a-line.  Can you see it?  My girls would look just lovely for prom.  I think Susan had one like this in her photos. 
• Whip Your Knits!  On Saturday, this class will teach just how to shape for the larger bust, or larger belly, or smaller shoulders.  Learning how to add designer touches and flatter your figure.  Yes, it involves measuring, but do you know how much time goes into knitting a sweater that doesn’t look good on the body once its done and so you don’t wear it?  Do you want to wear what you knit and have it look FanTastIc?  Take this class!
• Beading Your Knits finished up the weekend on Sunday morning.  The inspiration on Joan’s Blog is beautiful, but I know I probably won’t spend that much time adding beads to a sweater  — Oh, no, I just had a vision of lovely beads added to a knitted coverlet over a wedding dress; I think Lukinda (my son’s fiance) already has her gown so maybe this will be for one of my girls in 10, 15, 20 years!) — but the class project of a beaded sunglass case sounds do-able.  I’d probably make it into a cell phone case personally since I don’t wear sunglasses.  But still, the technique will be one useable for many projects down the road. 

Look for White Lies Designs upcoming trunk show too!  Tomorrow, more about classes . . . .  Lea-Ann