Debbie Bliss Cashmer”oh my gosh!”

Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran… uhmm…..this yarn is so incredibly soft, and MACHINE WASHABLE!!!!  I have a meeting with my yarn rep next week.  I’m going to order this yarn for my shop, and tons of it!  I’m gonna get EVERY COLOR.  It’ll be $7.75/ball.  I’ll be kitting the designs in her books as well, at the usual 10% off kit price.  Why buy a kit if it isn’t a deal?  I can’t wait to knit with it!  Oh, and Debbie, she’s the nicest person.  I met her at market 6 years ago.  She supports her family with her business.  Get it?  Not her husband, but she.  Niiiiiiice……  Of course, the swatch above would be my favorite colourway.

Lexie Barnes Knitting Bags

Oh my gosh!  Have you guys seen the Lexie Barnes knitting bags?  They’re gorgeous!  Plus, they’re practical.  They’re made with oilcloth (easy to clean/keep clean) in cool prints.  There’s even one with skulls!  (The “baja” fabric)  She uses nylon webbing that won’t break the way fake leather does.  I want one for me.  I’ve contact Lexie, and hopefully she’s going to let me sell her bags.  There are no shops in TN that have them.  I wanna be the first! 

The Kasbah Collection

Rowan has a very attractive new book out, called The Kasbah Collection that utilizes their longstanding beautiful yarn, Summer Tweed.  However, the US distributors buggered up their order, and it’s not in our hands yet.  It should be in my shop in 2.5 weeks.  If you’d like to preorder it, click here:  The Kasbah Collection  It’s only $16.95 plus shipping!  This is a long-awaited book.  Please send me photos if you have knitted a garment out of this book!

Sopranos

Was that Nikki Leotardo, nephew of Phil Leotardo sitting at the diner counter?  Bummer.  Remember though…they never hurt the family.  They just have to witness the death, then live with it.  I hate that the series is over.  Some episodes were stale, but overall, very nicely done.

Back on Lizard Ridge

Good afternoon!

I’m so happy to be back on my www.knitty.com Lizard Ridge throw again.  For those of you who don’t know me yet and don’t knit with me in my shop:  I’m doing something different with it.  I’m knitting my lizard ridge in strips instead of blocks.  I take the skein of Kureyon as far as it will go, then switching to a skein.  I will complete one strip, then bind off.  I will cast on for the second strip, and as I work my first row, I will catch the edge stitches from the first strip I’ve knitted and do that until I’ve finished the strip.  This way there will be NO FINISHING (yeah!!!!) and the strips will be the same length, row for row.  I can’t WAIT to start that second strip!  What do you guys think about that?  I have some Noro Kureyon in stock for those of you who may be interested…

Decisions, decisions….

Have you guys seen the color range of Louet Euroflax Worsted?  Woah!  I don’t know how I’m going to do it.  I guess I’ll start with the colors used in the new Yarn Girl’s book.  I’m going to knit up the pullover designed in the two shades of purple, Eggplant and Grape.  I can’t wait ’til the order comes in!  I’ve never knitted with such a heavy linen blend before (only GGH Safari, another delicious yarn).  I understand I need to wash the doody out of it to soften it up.  I’m willing!

Hello world!

Hello everyone!

A little about myself…

At this publishing, I’m 45 years old.  I have a delicious boyfriend (of 21 years), a 10 yr. old boxer (Cassie), a 1 yr. old Jack Russell terrorist named Ripper, and a 15 yr. old mutt named Dobie.  We live in a beautiful house in Memphis, TN, an inexpensive, tree-wealthy, politically unsettling town.

Knitting for me is a passion that was latecoming.  I regret this, but I’m always trying to make up for lost time.  I knit for several “famous” designers:  Norah Gaughan, Susan Mills, Melissa Leapman, Dana Hurt, and Natalie Wilson.  I’m always looking for more work!  I also knit for my yarn shop (the yarn studio), my family (this includes my boyfriend), and my friends.  I knit when I drive (on straight shots) and at red lights.  My passion can be deadline driven at times, so every minute helps!  No, I’ve never had a driving misshap.

My (Turkish) mother taught me how to knit when I was a teen.  I learned the basics, made a scarf, but other interests took hold of me, and knitting was left behind for approximately 22 years.  I learned to knit with one straight needle in my right armpit.  This frees my right hand quite a bit and enables me to throw the yarn (or two) and use a cable needle with much speed.  You should try it sometime!  I will FOREVER be grateful to my mommie for teaching me this very satisfying skill!

I’ve been drafting (CAD) since 1985.  To me it’s just a living.  Don’t misunderstand me.  I take much pride in my drafting, as I do my knitting.  I make a good living, and have health insurance.  The latter helps with the migraines.  I work in a very relaxed atmosphere where we’re all treated as adults.  I’m wearing jeans to work today!  (Not to mention the fact that I’m blogging at work!!!!)

I have a mommie, sister, and two brothers.  Mommie is in Istanbul, Turkey.  Sis is in Gibraltar, with her wonderful husband.  One brother is in Gouvieux, France, with his girlfriend and young son (one more on the way), and one brother is in Cambodia, working for a NGO, in the process of saving their world.  I’m very close to my family.  I think of them all the time, and dream of seeing them more often.  With my boyfriend, they are everything to me.

More recently, I returned from TNNA (The National Needlework Association) market in Columbus, OH on Monday afternoon.  What a rush!  I think it was my 7th market.  Anyway, I saw/touched/smelled some very yummy yarn.  I’m planning on adding Be Sweet, Alchemy, Debbie Bliss, Mac & Me (patterns), and Louet yarns to the already extensive inventory in the yarn studio.

I love to mountain bike and roller skate.  I see either mountain bike racing (a repeat of a 1992 interest) or roller derby in my near future.  After all, a girl’s got to branch out a little!

I hope this blog will provide a window into the life of me, a shop owner (businesswoman), a knitter (creator), a webmaster (technical), a draftsperson (technical/creative), and a very loving and caring girlfriend.

I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing it!

Best to all of you…

Papatya