Shiraito Falls

Shiraito Falls, Japan

Noro Shiraito

It's not too much of a stretch to see where Eisaku Noro got his inspiration for his yarn, Shiraito.  This yarn has to get The Most Underestimated Yarn of the Year award.  It has sat on our shelves for months now, pretty much ignored by most of us, especially me.  "Eh, it's ok, feels kinda nice", I thought, "but I'd rather buy x, y or z".  Well, it's clear I have no vision when it comes to yarn.  Marie (sure-I-can-knit-a-sample-in-an-hour) Woodford knit this cowl from one skein and holy cow, as I live and breath, I never expected it would knit up into such a pretty and soft fabric with a beautiful subtle bloom.  I guess the fact that it's mostly cashmere and angora totally escaped me.  Needless to say I added this to my stash.  We have it in two colorways, both of which are suddenly flying out of the shop, thanks to Marie's cowl.    

Finally Finished Baby Sweater

Ann's....Nancy's

Here they are!!  Well, here's Nancy's at least.  She actually finished a couple of weeks ago, which should have given me plennnnnty of time to get mine finished.  I'm so close too.  What is that - when the end is in sight and you stop dead in your tracks???  I think it's because I loved working with these colors and I didn't want the project to end.  The beautiful, rich green along with the pastel accent colors reminded me of the beauty of spring and summer in the finger lakes region. That was reason enough to keep it unfinished in my knitting bag (whilst waiting for the long, long winter to end) but now the warmer weather is here and everything is in bloom.  I no longer need to look in my knitting bag for spring.  I guess that means it's time to finish it.  No more excuses.

We've had requests to make up kits for this sweater.  We have 3 Tosh DK color combinations available with more to come:  Molly Ringwald with Fragrant Stripe, Jade with Mansfield's Garden stripe and Cove with Celadon strip.

Am I the only one...

...who never uses the strap conveniently attached to the camera?  Apparently.  I took a visual survey this week since I'm presently in a camera-laden location, New Orleans.  Every strap, be it neck or wrist, was in use.  Every one.  Well, my bad habit caught up with me last week.  The camera went flying out of my hand while shooting Nancy's and my sweaters, lens open and everything.  Not good.  I've spent a good amount of time trying to cajole the lens to its pre-cockeyed state but that's just not going to happen so it'll be off to the repair shop.  That's not my biggest regret for not using the strap though.  The picture I was shooting?  It showed our sweaters with mine One, 1, Uno! row further along.  Aaarrrgh.  It was a fleeting moment anyway as Nancy zoomed ahead to finish, block and add buttons.  It's cuter than all get-out and on display with the Madelinetosh yarns.  Mine's about where it was when I took that never-to-be-seen photo.  When I get back to town I'll take the final photos (with my phone, no doubt).

Broken Len

I did cast-on the Leydon Fingerless Mitts.  I love the elongated oval pattern.  The yarn has such a nice hand.  I can tell these will be lightweight yet warm; perfect for the fall.

Leydon using Green Mountain Spinnery Elegance

AND, I've started the Child's Balaklava, an absolute favorite of ours around the shop.  The ribbing lets it stretch so well that it can fit your child for years of winters.  We'll be holding a class this fall.

Child's Balaklava

Photos courtesy of my phone.  They're not too bad, right?    --Ann

 

Undiscovered Treasure

I spent a fair amount of time knitting while on some mode of transportation this weekend:  Train, subway, city bus, on foot (love to knit while walking although in NYC it can be extremely challenging) and I've come to the conclusion that I must daydream far more than I realize.  According to my crude calculations, I should have been able to complete the sleeves, the body, sew the seams, peruse Ravelry for a new mitts project, wind a skein from my suitcase and get a cuff started, all before pulling into Penn Station.  As you can see, I made progress but barely.  But I did find this, which I'm going to use with this (we have 3 skeins left in the store btw).  I'd say that made for a productive train ride.  What can I say about Nancy's sweater other than she's just fast, fast, fast.  Oh, and about that undiscovered treasure.  Whilst straightening the yarn in the shop today I found a leftover egg from our sale; and a decent percentage off I might add.  I'm leaving it where I found it, in the Swan Island Worsted.  Whomever happens upon it first, you can have that percentage off your yarn purchase.  --Ann

Nancy's progress after one afternoon (I'm sure), mine, after days of opportunity.

Our events committee is on the move!

I think I'm not alone when I say I love yarn and all aspects of it, from sheep-to-shawl as they say:  Looking at it, touching it, talking about it, reading about it;  visiting and exploring shops, farms, festivals;  and last but not least, going to sit and stitch meet-ups, retreats and events.  So I got pretty pumped yesterday as I listened to our events committee members discussing so many exciting ideas that they weren't sure how to fit them all into this calendar year.  Here are some Save-the-Dates:  May 2nd, First Fridays,  May 4th, Spin-In,  May 10th, Cascade Yarn Tasting (this is a biggie),  June 1st, Wool Day (this, too, is a biggie),  July 19th - 26th, Christmas in July.  We'll be posting all the details shortly on our website, Facebook, emails and newsletter.
Update on the Great Sweater Race - I'm so losing.  Nancy's on the second sleeve already.  I'm barely a couple of rows in on the first one.  But I'm looking at a five hour train ride tomorrow so surely....
 

 

Sunday's Suggestion

.... this pattern, Eyelet Shawl by Hoxton Handmade (a free Ravelry download) and Malabrigo Rios, which happens to be on sale this week!  

I wasn't looking for such a pairing but my knitting bud text-ed me this morning with her nearly-finished shawl done in Rios Lavanda.  It's just gorgeous and seems like it would be the perfect weight to keep the spring cool breezes off my shoulders.  I've never been real successful with lace shawls but those in the know insist this one is easy-peasy.  I've added it to my queue.   --Ann

Copycat, Yes, But Can You Blame Me ??

Nancy and Ann: Neck and Neck

  It wasn't quite closing time last week when I finished writing about Nancy's sweater, so I moseyed over to the Tosh DK and thought, "Hmm, I only have five projects going right now and not one of them is a striped baby sweater.  I think I HAVE to knit one of these."

   After ten minutes of indecisiveness (easy to be that way when it comes to Tosh), I chose Mansfield Garden Party and Jade.  And oh oh oh, ah ah ah, I love the combination knitted up.  Together they remind me of a Monet painting, of spring, of my sister's wildflower garden.

   We'll keep both sweaters-in-progress in the shop.  Stop in one of these upcoming warm-weather days and you can see for yourself how pretty they are.  And maybe chose a pairing for yourself.

 -- Ann

What Should I Knit?

                                                                         Tosh DK

Sue and I LOVE it when Nancy asks “What do you want me to knit for the shop?”.

So when Nancy asked just that the other day, she and I started looking at all the possibilities. We have a great selection of superwash yarns and decided on the irresistible Tosh DK (twist our arms) combined with the sweetest Yankee Knitter striped baby sweater pattern.  

We picked out Magnolia Leaf and Alabaster, a safe but gorgeous color choice when knitting for babies not yet here.  Here's the beginning snapshot with more to come as time goes by - can’t wait to see how this knits up!  If you are looking for a baby gift sure to please, let us recommend this project.  The pattern is a top-down raglan style with minimal seaming and we have many beautiful colors of Tosh DK in stock. 

Here’s another find we’re excited about. Alpaca Core Spun to knit or weave a rug. It makes getting out of bed on these cold mornings a pleasure. And yes, you really do say AHHH when you step on it. It knits up in an evening on size 17-19 needles and felts nicely. It is well worth the price tag when you realize you have a rug for life and then some.   -- Ann