Trip with the girls to Stitches Midwest in Schaumberg, IL

Hello again!

I’m back safely from Stitches.  I spent a grand total of $385 on yarn/kits.  It could have been a lot worse, believe you me.  I guess it didn’t help that I took a design class and a how-to class, as it spurned me to buy more yarn to add to my stash/plans.

I took Karen Alfke’s two Unpattern classes.  One was “Design It Yourself with Unpattern,” and the other was “Unpattern Top-Down Sweater Workshop”.  As I person, I found Karen to be very enjoyable:  personable, knowledgeable, attractive, inoffensive in all ways, thorough, practical, and of impeccable manners.  I enjoyed the classes very much!  After the first class I had already started knitting my new design, using her Unpattern method.  I’m designing a crewneck pullover using Araucania Ulmo (a yarn I already had in my stash!!!!), a gorgeous hand-dyed cotton yarn.  I’ll post my progress on ravelry (I’m Knitch).  I bought 2 skeins of Noro Kureyon Sock with which to knit the Webs Deep Breath sweater, that I’m already knitting in their fingering weight alpaca blend.  I thought it would look really cool in the Noro.  I told the nice Webs folks what I was going to do with the yarn, and they loved the idea.  They would like me to email them a photo when it’s completed.  I also bought a gorgeous kit from Adirondack Yarns (the second kit I’ve bought from them at Stitches Midwest).  It’s a capelet (NO, not a PONCHO!), knitted horizontally with a huge cable wrapping around the chest, and has an elegant wide turtleneck.  I’ll put this on ravelry also.  It’s knitted with two strands of an alpaca yarn they had.  I can’t remember what it was!!!  I bought 2 skeins of the Twisted Sisters fine kid mohair hand-dyed yarn, “Lust” in a black/purple colourway (purchased from the Great Yarns booth), to hold with black Malabrigo laceweight and Blue Heron Fine Chenille (purchased from Mass Ave. Knits) to knit my next SKIF sweater with.  I think that will be the Neptune Buttonback as soon as more patterns come in (I think they’re already on the way from the supplier, as the debit card has been charged).

The food in the hotel was super expensive.  We didn’t realize we could leave the premises with ease until we inquired at the desk about transportation.  We really didn’t want to get in the car, drive, etc.  THERE WAS A FREE SHUTTLE!  Pierre, our driver, took us to a really cool restaurant called “Weber Grill.”  Yeah, you got it.  There was a HUGE Weber grill out front, serving as signage.  This is a photo of Jesus, the grillmaster on the other side of the counter from us, doing the grilling.  We were the only ones sitting at the counter, and we soon found out why:  It was too damn hot!  My eyeballs got really hot after a while.  It was worth it though!

Jesus, bearing the heat, but smiling the whole time he worked.  I know you can’t see the smile, but it WAS there!

What was funny was that there were many grown men taking pictures of these grills.  Why do men love grills so much?  It’s a wonder to me.  If they like cooking so much, why aren’t they in the kitchen more?

 

I’ve noticed a lot of searching on the yarnstudio.com Rowan 44 page.  Is there a kit anyone would like me to put together next that isn’t yet online?  I can usually get it up pretty quickly when a request is made.  I have a kit from the All Seasons Cotton Collection (Parched) kitted now.  Remember, I kit at 10% the yarn price!  When ordering a kit, please notice that the book is shown for sale separately for those who already have the book and would like the yarns only.  The book is shown also at a discount for those who are purchasing a kit as well.  I have a new color of Atacama, #506, in stock now, as well as some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in #012 and #009, and Araucania Patagonia in colors #219, #205, #206, #211, #221, #223, #224, and #234.  Feast your eyes on the Patagonia colors!

Yes, they really ARE that beautiful!  Later taters! 

 

 

 

Rowan 44 kits are getting cranked up!!!!

Good Afternoon my little pretties!
I just got a lovely box of yarn from Rowan yesterday.  It contained yarn necessary to kit both Da Vinci and Florentino from Rowan Magazine 44, the 30th Anniversary Edition.  The photos really don’t do the masterpieces justice.  The colors are rich and warm.  I’m pricing them at the usual 10% off for your purchasing pleasure!  Remember…you deserve something special, especially if it ends up being a garment that you will make for yourself, and enjoy doing it.  These designs are timeless.  This is the link for the kits:  Rowan Magazine 44 Renaissance Kits  Here are photos of the kits that are available so far:

Da Vinci knitted in Wool Cotton and Kidsilk AuraFlorentino knitted in Kid Classic

It’s now time for a caravan update.  I’ve put a lot of new wood framing on it, but don’t have a photo of it.  I have a raw spot on my right palm from using the chisel without my work gloves.  BAD GIRL!  Anyway, I’m paying the price.  I may be getting a little ahead of myself, but I have selected FABRIC, LINOLEUM, AND LAMINATES from which I will make a final choice for the interior finishes.  The walls will be the original 1/4″ birch plywood.  I want the look to be a little retro, so I selected an Amy Butler fabric that’s got knockout shades of aqua and chartreuse.  (Chartreuse seems to be a constant in my life these past 8 years….why deny it?)  I welcome all comments.  Which laminate do you like?  The green “bamboo look” or the aluminums?

Samples for Caravan interiors

I tried to blog about the Rowan Colourscape cardigans that I shipped to Westminster Fibers last week, but WordPress seemed to be acting up, big time.  Below are photos of two of the cardigans that I completed.  I’m now working on the back of a coat for them, because it’s time sensitive and I didn’t have time to do the whole garment.  SO, we are sharing coat pieces! 

WOAH!!!  BLURRY!!!!!  Have you been hitting the bottle already?

I’m leaving for Stitches Midwest with some great friends from AR on Thursday 4 a.m.  Yes, 4 a.m.  Desperate measures for some desperate knitters!  I’m taking 2 classes:  Design it yourself with Unpatterns, and Unpattern Top-Down Sweaters.  I’m always trying to get over my fear of pattern writing.  I’ve only got 4 patterns to my name, that are self-published, only one of which is on etsy now, and there really should be more!  Anyway, I ramble….if you haven’t attended a Stitches event, you should, but you should also take lots of money.  The market is scary incredible!  Thank goodness we are driving.  If I run out of space in my roller bag, it can go in the car!

Please keep in mind that I welcome ALL comments, positive or negative about ANYTHING I write!  Let’s have some fun!  Oh, and I think I may have fixed the column problems with the blog.  Sorry about that!

Knit on!

Black-Eyed Peas and Patterns

 

Here are some photos I took at the Memphis Farmer’s Market a couple of weeks ago.

The Incredible Edible Eggplant

Raw Black-Eyed Peas

I had a long boring day at work yesterday and got home to find something good in the mailbox.  New patterns I ordered at market in JUNE!!!!  So far I’ve been able to create the page for Tree Knitter Designs.  I was so excited when I saw a really neat looking vest, “River Birch” in the Deep South Fibers booth.  Let me tell you my peoples, I DON’T WEAR VESTS.  Not any kind of vest.  No sirree, not me.  NEVER.  BUT, I have a lovely skein of Ozark Handspun that I just had to have.  Of course, it’s chartreusey.  (Yes, that IS a word.)  Now my skein of Ozark Handspun finally has a purpose in life other than collecting dust in my home office!  Of course, I have that special chartreuse Misti Alpaca Chunky in stock in abundance.  Folks, I WILL wear this vest!  Without further ado, here is the photo:

River Birch Vest made with Misti Alpaca Chunky and Ozark Handspun 

  This next one is extremely girly in my opinion, so watch out!  I’ll wear this, too!  I present to you “Willow.” 

Willow

On the pattern page I give MANY yarn choices for this garment.  I saw it in person on the designer, and believe me, it’s adorable!  Here are some photos of some other patterns that have come in that aren’t on the website yet.  Please check back often at yarnstudio.com for updates.  I’ll try to post here (without posting too much) as soon as I get the others on the site.  In the meanwhile, don’t hesitate to email me with questions at papatya@yarnstudio.com. 

Falling Water - front

Falling Water – back

Well that’s all for today folks.  Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to watch Michael Phelps clean up in the Olympics!  I know the Chinese are being sneaky again (i.e. dog fud, lead-based paint, fake fireworks on TV, etc.), but please respect the US athletes and all of the hard work they’ve done. 

And this one’s for you Peg!

The Seaside Shell

 

 

 

We have a “Knitting Classic Style” Book Drawing Winner!!!!

Good Afternoon my lovely knitting friends!  This is the reason why you must visit my “fibres” page on the yarn studio website and sign in for the stayintheloop alerts:

Cover of Knitting Classic Style

I sent an email out to the yarn studio stayintheloop email list announcing a drawing for an autographed copy of the book above.  All anyone had to do was follow the instructions in the email to enter.  AND THE WINNER IS: 

Ms. Tanya L. in New York City, NY

Congratulations Tanya!  I’ll be shipping your book to you in the next few days.  Please enjoy it, with my compliments, and those of my DB.  Below is the action photo of DB drawing YOUR name!

Paul (DB) drawing the winner, Tanya L.

You guys, I’m having a 25% off Noro sale.  I sponsored the knitting daily e-newsletter on Friday, August 1 and the response has been HUGE!!!!  Please don’t be angry with me if the quantities are low.  If you need a color that is shown that has less than you need, and you need more than 5 balls of a color, I’ll fill your order.  I’m just trying to unload some of my Noro stock.  It seems like EVERYONE has their Noro on sale, and I can’t ever sell mine for full price.  Since I can’t possibly knit it all, I put it on sale.  My loss is your gain!!!  Those of you who participated in the sale and have signed the guestbook and opted-in for future emails, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and look forward to serving your yarn needs OTHER THAN Noro in the future.  Please remember that you can remove yourselves from the emails whenever you like.

KNIT ON!