Friday, November 28, 2003

How many scarves can be given as gifts?

I ask this only because I sold so many different yarns to people to make scarves with on Friday that everyone in the US, heck maybe I should even include Canada, will get a scarf for the Holidays.

So I arrive at Ewe Knit Kits and Yarn about 9:40. Plenty of time to put away my things, grab my reading glasses, and check out the new yarns before we open at 10:00. Sherry was on the ladder making room on a top shelf for new yarns. She had this exhausted look about her. 5 big boxes of yarns (including the new Eros with a bit of sparkle had come in Wednesday right before closing, Bobbie made price labels, and Sherry had come in at 8:30 on Fri to put them out. And she'd already had 3 customers!

It was quiet for a time. Sherry and I putting up the new yarns and catching up. Bobbie came in about 10:30. A man came in to shop for his wife (sweater kit and gift certificate), a few phone calls about our hours, but all in all pretty quiet.

I glanced at my watch, 10:50, and Sherry mentioned she still had a box in the back that needed pricing. The next time I had a minute to look at my watch it was 2:20. I ran in and took a few bites of a sandwich and back out on the floor with me...

They came in droves!!! Scarf knitters of all ages and sizes...scarves for everyone! Credit Cards were being tossed across the counter, size 15, 17 and 19 needles were sold out, what are we to do?? don't worry a shipment is due next week...we'll be back...how long will it take me to knit this scarf?....do these colors go together?...how long is a scarf suppose to be?...what color is good for my sister-in-law/mother/sister/daughter/husband/best friend/son/kidsteacher?....the receipt printer was smoke'in!

Whew! Bobbie's family was in town for a visit and stopped in about 4:00. Bobbie mentioned in passing that it was the stores 6th month anniversary. She's done good.

A few more customers trickled in after that and we closed shop at 6:00. I did ring up a few sweater sales and gift certificates. And lots of questions about classes.

After walking the dog, fixing a plate of leftovers, I sat in front of the tv....I didn't pick up my needles all day.

Thursday, November 27, 2003

Thanksgiving Day

It was a typical day with my mother.

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

Back to square one....

Pulled out the Optically Delusional last night (from Simply Knit). I was short 2 stitches on each side of the mitered corner. Suppose to be 112 stitches on each side of the marker...I had 111. Grrrr.....So I was taking out one row at a time and that was too slow. So I ripped back to where I added the new strand of yarns....about 15 rows and 4 hours of work at Knitters Review Retreat. Oh well, I'm back on track. And I've decided to count every other row.

I threw the Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille Facecloth in the wash on Sunday with jeans, sweatshirts and dark towels. (no lint was seen) Then into the dryer it went. It came out soft soft soft! I washed my face with it on Monday and it's an okay washcloth (I like a little rougher texture) But it's still bleeding and it took forever to air dry. Still damp this morning (Tuesday). I don't think anymore washclothes are in my future. I'm thinking baby blanket though.

I picked up copies of Simply Knit 2 and Jameson Knitting Book 3 (I think that's the title, the one with the lady wearing the white shawl on the front) on Saturday. I have a list of things I'd like to make from each one. LOL I have tooo many lists!

One of which is Thanksgiving dinner....chicken, dressing, sweet potatoes, green beans, jello salad, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie. It'll be my mother and I and she likes traditional foods. The one year I told her I had chicken instead of turkey she cried...tears and all....off and on all day....so I don't tell her anymore...just get a big Purdue chicken, rip off the wrapper and she says it's really moist and goes home with a nice platefull.

Did you see? Did you see? Linda got $250,000 and David got a ranch... and they rode off into the sunset...... Yahoo!

Monday, November 24, 2003

Heaven, I'm in Heaven.....with Hanne Falkenberg sweaters!

Picture this....2 women go into work early just to try on sweaters from the trunk show before the customers get there. One a size XL-1X, the other size 6-8 both trying on the same sweaters in sizes M-L and all sweaters looked good on both!

That's why Hanne Falkenberg deserves the $$$ for her patterns/kits!

Customers of all shapes and sizes tried them on and while the colors didn't always agree, the shape of the garment looked good on everyone. Of course everyone had their preference, and would want to go up or down a size and change the sleeve length.

The trunk show items (that I can remember) are:
Ballerina - perfect!, it has a graceful flow that doesn't overwhelm small women
Dacapo - I will buy one day! The smaller you are the wider the turned back lapels are
Domino - the most traditional cardigan but with beautiful stitches.
Mareager - like a serape but tacked on the sides, long, looked better on the tall women, course you can make it shorter
Pyramide - My favorite! I will buy one day! Like a comfy sweatshirt, we have the medium which fit me okay, but I'd go up a size to wear something under it (I'm usually XL-1X)
Promenade - shawl that transforms itself by the different ways you can wrap it, it threw me with the points on the shoulders until I threw the long ends to the back and it all fell into place. You can also cross the long ends in the front and tuck into your skirt/pants

There are more but I can't remember their names....call if you would like them described.

If you're in the area this coming week, stop by to try the sweaters on. The construction and fit is beyond my understanding. And the yarn is softer (washings/cleanings/handlings) than when it is first knit.

Location:
Ewe Knit Kits and Yarns
Yorktown Commerce Center
228 North Lynnhaven Road
Va Beach Va
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 5:30
800-948-1565 (please call if you have any questions)

Ewe Knit Kits and Yarn

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.....and a bunch of strip malls

When I moved into my home 10 years ago, there were wooded areas along the "main" road into my development. Deer, possum, raccoons, snakes, rabbits, buzzards, etc, lived there. I'd see a deer every once in a while on the side of the road. As time has passed, the parcels of land have been sold, wooded areas paved and the animals left to fend for themselves if they weren't in the "round up". In the last few weeks I've seen a large deer on the golf course behind my house and one time in my fenced in backyard. This morning he was dead on the side of the "main" road. He had to cross the road for food. He didn't have a choice.

Ewe Knit Kits and Yarn just got in some Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille on Saturday. So of course I had to pick up a skein. Turquoise. Knitted the flower face cloth from Weekend Knitting. Yarn was great to work with. Nice stitches. My hands turned blue. Washed it in Dawn last night. Beat up on it really good, then layed on a towel to "block". Lots of dye in the water, but none on my hands or the towel. Very soft cloth. I put the rest back in a skein and washed it. I'll knit up a little swatch to see if the dye is still a problem.

As for the pattern, it was written well. Easy to follow. Wasted a lot of yarn asking you to leave 8" tails. Will I make it again...eh, maybe for a gift.

So, my nieces scarves are going to be Lorna's Laces sport weight. Garter stitch on size 15 needles in a triangle. I'll add fringe.

Favorite quote of the week from the guy the girl didn't choose: Her realm of comfort is completely different than my realm of existence.


Friday, November 14, 2003

Long short week

Vacation Monday and Tuesday and boy was work busy the other three days. Glad it's the weekend.

Not to confuse anyone, but I did stay the weekend at Graves Mtn. Friday night we had show and tell and the Sunday a hayride and lots of goodbyes. Read about it here: Knitters Review.

Collared Shawl from The Purl Stitchis completed. Wove the final end in last night. Now to block it. It's really nice. I'd do it again.

Bailey got a clean bill of health from the opthamologist (spell check didn't recognise the word and I don't know how to spell it, it's an eye doctor that does surgery) yesterday. Yippee!

Ewe Knits should be getting in the samples for the Hanne Falkenberg truck show that begins Nov 21st. Can't wait!

I'm going to use the "C" word here...crochet. Think I'll whip up a couple of Sweet November scarves for my nieces for Christmas. Two skeins of Lorna's Laces sport should do it for each one.

I'll let you know what I decide.....

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

The wait was worth it......

Knitters Review Retreat was as much fun as last year. Great people, great knitting, great instructors, great food.

Saturday morning was about color and knitting plaid. My first attempt was very colorful and a bit weird looking. But I was able to take what I learned home and Sunday night pulled out bits and pieces of my stash and made a beautiful brown/grey/black plaid swatch that I'm very proud of.

Saturday afternoon was shopping shopping shopping. Picked up some lovely things. Calendar and cards from Knitters review, yarn from Stoney Mtn and Caradan Farms, and beaded necklace kit from Annie.

Looking over the room Saturday night I saw what was missing in my life and I need to find it again. The community of people working together, teaching one another, learning something new. Little groups of women. Knitting with wire. Cables. Drop spindle. Drum Carding. Knitting. Crocheting. Laughing. Heads bent over a pattern, a stitch. A hug. Tears. I heard no bickering or gossiping. Just the simple gift of sharing.

And bringing an end to a great day.....a lunar eclispe.

Wednesday, November 05, 2003

Rushed

It's been a busy week and going to get busier. Guild meeting on Monday night, woman's seminar yesterday into the evening, conference calls from noon to nine the next two nights. Whew!

Glad the retreat is this weekend. I need a minute to sit still.

Still working on Collared Shawl from The Purl Stitch. Finished the bottom ribbing and have begun the collar ribbing.

Also one triangle for the back of Optically Delusional Sweater from Simply Knit is finished and the second one on it's way. I'm still in love with Zara.

Wonder if Elann has any left?