Category Archives: Sneak

I SAW IT FIRST!!

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Crazyfoot

Mountain Colors - Crazyfoot

Fresh off the UPS truck and in my hot little hands- and Lea-Ann isn’t even here to see it.  This is the newest sock yarn from Mountain Colors- a superwash/nylon blend sans mohair.  It’s been on order for quite some time.  I have fondled it and smelled it (I must admit I was a bit disappointed as Mountain Colors usually has a wonderful vinegar-ish smell and it is absent) and oggled every colorway.  They called last week to approve the shipment and I have been not so patiently waiting for it to come in.  I am a huge Mountain Colors fan – the colors seem so intense and vibrant to me.  Even the darker, more somber tones seem alive.   Yeah, I know all the Thursday knit night ladies are practically foaming at the mouth to get their hands on this but since I won’t be here I may have to hide the box- at least until I get scans for the internet.  Wouldn’t that be slightly wicked of me?

Edited 4/8/10  Lea-Ann is concerned that we’re going to get spam because I used the words “oggled” and “fondled”.  Ooops, I said it again!  Boy, add that to the talk in a previous post  of drug deals and inhaling and an unnamed previous president will be all over this.

While I was away

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This is what happens when I’m gone for a week ….

New Opal

This is the new Opal sock yarn that came in while I was on vacation.  Notice anything odd about it?  Like that it has already been opened and very obviously ooohed and aaahed over? :)   Seems that when I miss UFO night everyone goes crazy!  Honestly, I can’t really blame them.  Who doesn’t like to check out the freshly arrived new stuff  just begging to be cast on?  For those of you who weren’t lucky enough to be here when Lea-Ann opened the box, I will have it online and ready for purchase as quickly as I can. 

Here’s a bonus sneak peek for you…

Serendipity Tweed and Wildfoote

 

Also arriving at my desk while I was sunning my toes was Serendipity Tweed and Wildfoote from Brown Sheep.    I really like the looks of the Serendipity Tweed- sort of a heathery look more than a tweedy look.  Love the colors, too.  Check back frequently over the next few weeks, as this will also be available online as quickly as humanly possible.
 

A few days before I started packing I decided that I needed a way to protect my Kindle in my suitcase and this is what I came up with:

Felted Kindle Sleeve

Kinle Sleeve open

I used double stranded Noro and eyeballed the size it would need to be before felting (measured my kindle and added 30% for the felting process).  I knit it one night at my daughter’s Math Bowl competition and felted it a few days later.  My favorite thing about it is the funky chunky button I found in my Grandma’s button jar.  I love the texture it adds and the way it pops off the front.  I am happy to say that it worked like a charm and my Kindle sustained no damage at all.

Recycled Silk Shawl

I needed an ultra simple project to knit while traveling that needed no counting or really even looking at as I cannot do anything requiring the slightest concentration or I get car sick (no reading in the car for me).  I dug through my stash and found several skeins of recycled silk that I have had for nearly forever so I threw some of them in a bag and made this shawl.  It was quick, very simple and almost finished when we arrived- which turned out to be a good thing because it was a bit chilly the first day so I threw it across my lap and finished it.  I actually wore it when we went out to eat one evening even though it hasn’t been blocked.  The bad thing is that I took nothing to knit on the way home!  Yeah, I know…. what a doofus.

Stay tuned for a few vacation pics and another sneak peek (maybe the best one yet?) tomorrow. I am so excited!

New March category- finally

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Wow, it’s been a very long time since my last post.  Not because I’ve been slacking, though.  And, since we DID get the big snow and I DID get to snuggle in for a few days I haven’t been pouting, either.  Just been incredibly busy.   No Penny means that I am stocking and working the floor and doing a few other little things that she used to do and I tell you what- that takes away a whole lot of desk time!

I have finally gotten a New March category on the website. In it you’ll find the 1/2 Crepe that Lea-Ann introduced a few posts ago, as well as new patterns from Jojoland. By the end of next week you’ll also find Classic Elite Lite- barring a desk full of odds and ends and whatnots.

Keep your eyes open on the blog for new sock yarn, cashmere, and roving from Hippie Penguin Fibers. This is a very limited stock of hand dyed yarns from our very own Hilary Lash. I have every intention of having all the Hippie Penguin Fibers products available for purchase by Monday at the absolute latest. 

Hippie Penguin Fibers roving

Here is a sneak peek at the roving.  Isn’t it beautiful? The colors are so vibrant- I wish I could transmit that through the computer, but the image cannot capture the color to the fullest. I have never spun before but have always wanted to learn.  It is killing me to have this in the shop and not  know how to spin.  I’ve been telling myself that I do not need another hobby, but I am having more and more of a difficult time convincing myself.  I mean really, what’s one more hobby, right?  :)

spring fever? summer tops?

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its coming, spring that is, and i am itching to clean and organize and start more new projects. not a good thing for someone who has 26 projects on their list! can we say overwhelmed? i know, its time for another to ten list….I’ll get to that as I organize later.   Right now, though, a sneak peak at what susan will be doing during the week ….

Cotton Classic Lite

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Starry is here!

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I just (and I mean JUST) finished checking in Starry, the newest from Dream in Color.  The base of this sock weight yarn is Smooshy; so you know it is… well, smooshy and because it is Dream in Color you know the colors are fabulous.  I can see shawls and scarves in this, maybe a smoke ring.  What do you think?  Do you itch to knit socks when you see this or does something else pop into your mind?  Do share, please!

Woolly goodies back in stock!

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It’s still snowing so we are allowed to knit, felt and decorate with snowmen, right?  We just restocked all of Marie Mayhew’s patterns and the snowman really works well with Galway white.

Woolly Snowmen by Marie Mayhew

But if you prefer to ignore the snow, you could start on the cute bunnie or chicks for Easter or her newest pattern, Woolly Owls (susan is on vacation so be patient and wait for it to appear on the New January pages).

Woolly Chicks by Marie MayhewsWoolly Bunnies by Marie MayhewsWoolly Owls by Marie Mayhew

Sneak peak – quilt happy

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Do you have a friend who quilts? Treat her (or him) with a reminder to “quilt happy”. They should be ready for ordering next week.

Yes, that is a pink insulated tumbler and we will be gettting them in the “knit happy” soon.
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An Old Flame and a New Love

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We have just gotten new stock (and re-stocked a few colors) of Galway Worsted and I am reminded once again of how much I like this yarn. There is definitely a place in my knitting for the lofty, super-soft merinos such as Shepherd’s Wool, but Galway is what I want when I desire something a little more hard-wearing. I just adore the heather tones- so much so that I have a sweater’s worth of color 738 Lichen Heather in my stash. It was originally bought for the Cassidy but who knows- I may come across something equally fabulous and change my mind. I do know that no matter what I create with it, I will enjoy every minute of knitting and wearing it. Galway will forever be a love of mine.

And then we have the new flame Plymouth Tweed . Those who know me know that I am not what you would call adventurous by any stretch of the imagination. I am a fairly conservative knitter and I have no problem with a rustic feeling wool. When I knit a swatch of this at the yarn tasting it was love at first stitch. I really like that it has the look of Donegal, but is not nearly as stiff. Not overly soft, just not what I would consider a vintage feel. I picture the Neck Down Hooded Tunic for Women by Knitting Pure and Simple done in this. I don’t know what it is with me and hoods…. I am without a doubt going to do the Moxie by c2knits.

Moxie by c2knits

Moxie by c2knits
 I think it’s so cute and I like the way it fastens with the button. I am working on getting this one in the system. It will be a knit-along after the first of the year in case you’re interested. Drat!! I am having issues uploading the pic but keep watching the website- it is coming soon!

I am coming along well on my daughter’s stocking…. right about at 2/3 done. I have a set amount that I have to do each night as I am bound and determined that it will be hanging up Christmas Eve. Not an easy task by any means but I have the carrot of knitting dangling before my nose- right now I simply don’t have much time for knitting. I like seeing the picture develop and my daughter’s excitement at watching it progress has been a lot of fun. It may not be as quick as knitting but I still get that sense of accomplishment.

Happy Knitting (or crafting, baking, shopping, wrapping or whatever else this holiday season finds you doing)

Its not my hand in the box . . .

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ROFL — anyone who has been in the store knows that if someone is looking for something and its in the box in the back, I don’t hesitate to open it and let them go through the box.  But, one time, Susan was in the middle of inventory and when I opened a particular box, there was a note in there that my hand might come to some harm if I touched what was under the note – all done in good fun, mind you.  So now the joke is who’s hand is going to be harmed if I open that box . . . well, this one isn’t me folks.  This is Susan herself fondling the baby alpaca from Windy Hills Alpaca Farm.  This is one time I wish I had a video going as she is oohing and awing over the feel of the Baby Gracie.  I believe the direct quote is ”it is such a rich, deep brown and if it wasn’t so fuzzy, I’d lick it” (her favorite treat is dark chocolate). So, good luck finding it online because she also said “this is what is going home with me.”  We have four baby alpacas’ first shearing.  Here’s your sneak peak . . .

Windy Hills Alpaca yarn

more to come at http://www.knittingtoday.com/go.mvc?ID=whalpaca

the day after UFO night

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and I’m taking stock on what I was able to get done and don’t want to think about how much I need to go . . . a couple rows of Cassidy, which actually is a huge accomplishment considering that I’m knitting a huge size and I combined the fronts/back.  I did maintain some decreases at the waistline but increased back out to my bust size.  I want it fitting, but not fitted; if you know what I mean.  I am absolutely loving working in the Shepherd’s Wool worsted and my color is Great Lakes.   Here’s the current pic:

Cassidy Back Cassidy fronts

Also on UFO night, we caught up on some giveaways.  Jan had won Tom’s FCCTCC contest and she used the gift certificate toward Lorna Miser’s Faith, Hope, Love book and some yarn, I believe.  I’m a little foggy after staying up a couple hours later than normal.  Natalie and Jan had both won Knit Happy Notebooks in a pre-Stitches Midwest post too.  Here’s a picture with Haley standing in for Natalie. 

Haley and Jan with Knit Happy notepads

And, here’s the gang, happily knitting away.  Its so much fun and I love having everyone gathered here.  Haley took these candid shots and while everyone seemed to be smiling, I see she caught a few looking not so happy . . . and then some snuck out before the pictures even began. 
Natalie at UFO nightNancy at UFO nightInis at UFO nightUFO knitters
. . . thanks knitters!!  -Lea-Ann

P.S. Sneak preview:  Zauerball and the new Knitters!

Zauerball and Knitters Fall 2009 K96