Wonderful knitting weekend

Had the opportunity to attend 3 classes taught by Margaret Fisher this weekend.

Scarves and Stoles from start to finish
7 Things that can make or break a sweater
Head turning hats

Margaret did an excellent job of explaining her techniques, took time to answer all of our questions, and was a joy to listen to.

Bobbie at Ewe Knit Kits says in her latest newsletter: "Some NEW yarn company products that have already come into the store are Rowan, Jeager, Misti Alpaca, Crystal Palace (but it never lasts long), Lana Grossa... AND, coming very soon, Dale of Norway and Colinette - YES, the Throw Kits have been replaced!!" Yippee Skippy....Dale is coming!

Also look for a special sale at Ewe Knit Kits coming up in April...the Easter Bunny tells me April 12 -15 and internet sales will also receive the 10% discount...but get on her mailing list to get the discount!!!!! Because you all know that actually means 20% off since Bobbie already discounts at 10% other LYS.

My lunch time trip to Ewe Knits last week was successful. I found more of the navy Donegal Tweed to finish the shawl for my 2nd niece. The red was gone, so I picked up 2 more skeins of the green to add to the 2 skeins I have at home. And since the red was gone and I needed to sooth my sorrow...like I needed an excuse...I picked up 5 skeins of Mexicali. I'm thinking the self fringing shawl with double the fringe.

And now let me tell you about the shawl pattern. I'm in love with it. Very simple. cast on 6. knit 2, place marker, knit 4. purl back. knit 2, increase 1, knit 4. purl back. repeat the second knit row until it is as wide as you want. then decrease back to 6 stitches. bind off 2. then unravel the 4 stitches after the marker. voila! instant fringe.

The first I knit with the Donegal Tweed in Navy, used 4 skeins (began decreasing at the end of the 2nd skein) and size 13 needle...correction from last post. The one I'm working on now is again Donegal Tweed in green, size 9 needles (tighter fabric).

So my changes on the second one....add a garter stitch edging so that it doesn't roll and more stitches after the marker for longer fringe. And shawl #3, the Mexicali, I think I'll play with doubling the yarn on the stitches after the marker for double the fringe!

Knitting Guild rumor mill says a new LYS is opening in Va. Beach....KnitWits. Not sure how it's spelled but it's going to be opening in the Providence Square Shopping Center on the side where the hardware store is located and next to the steak house. The good news is that it'll mean more yarn! The bad news is that it'll be 2 miles from our oldest yarn store The Knitting Corner (52 years open) which is already struggling with the declining health of it's owner.

And keep my friend Jan in your good thoughts...she collapsed late last week. It's reported an aneurysm burst in her brain..she's in a coma and on a breathing machine...she has 3 young children.

Can't come up with a catchy title

My annual cold arrived last week. I'm still doing the last bit of sniffling today.

There were 6 of us working on Saturday at Ewe Knit Kits. The new location is wonderful! Lots of room to see everything. A second cash register so there were almost no lines. Between the Library and the Classroom tables lots of space to spread out.

We're now carrying yarns and books by Jaeger and Rowan. Pretty cottons and cotton ribbons.

I'm burned out on KnittaPalooza samples! Decided to stop for a while.

Sunday began as overcast so I quickly got my usual activities accomplished and planned an afternoon of knitting and movies. I frogged the faux lace scarf I had begun for my 2nd neice and decided on a different pattern (self fringing) and different yarn (Sirdar Donegal Tweed). I spent the afternoon with Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal and Tom Hanks and knitted away. Took a break and cooked dinner (turkey burgers, salad) and went back to the tv and knitting. By the time Allan Shore had smirked his last smirk I had used up the 2 skeins I had in my stash. So I'll run out to Ewe Knits at lunch and pick up 2 more.

A note about the Donegal Tweed. I had tried knitting with it using the size 6 needles suggested by the DK weight. Hated the results. Very very stiff fabric. So I moved to size 9 needles and am enjoying the drape. I may pick up some red tweed for myself. The red is really nice.

Sally's Favorite Summer Sweater is on hold. Not really calling my name right now. Oh well, there's next summer to wear it.

This comming weekend Tidewater Knitting Guild of Va is sponsoring classes with Margaret Fisher. On Saturday it's "Scarves and Stoles from Start to Finish" and "Seven Things That Can Make or Break a Sweater". On Sunday "Head Turning Hats". I've signed up for both days, all 3 classes. My homework is done!

Found Sunday

I raced around Friday evening getting all of my Sunday errands done... groceries, laundry, cooking, cleaning....the usual stuff...because I had expected to be moving yarn across the parking lot on Sunday....boy was I surprised.

Walked into the old location for Ewe Knit Kits and Yarn on Saturday morning to pick up the felting samples for my class which was to be held in the new location and was surprised to see.... an empty room! With the exception of the cash register, the moving fairies had moved all of the yarn, books, shelves, samples down to the new location. At 10:00 a.m. it looked liked a hurricane had blown threw. Boxes, upturned tables, stacks of glass shelving, chairs and clutter everywhere.

I concentrated on the "training" area. Getting tables and chairs set right, hunting up the felted samples, extra supplies for the class and by 10:30 class was underway. 2 hours later, we emerged from the quiet corner and into an almost setup yarn store.

Windows were washed, glass shelves setup, yarn in their appointed cubby holes, customers shopping and the cash register ringing up sales. It was beautiful the way everything fell into place. Even with everything topsy-turvey, it was a good day for sales.

We now have a wall of Cascade yarns! Twice as much shelving space for books and patterns and table and chairs setup so you can sit and peruse to your hearts content....as a few of our customers did on Saturday. All of the "novelty" yarns are together. We're expecting a big shipment of Lorna's Laces Worsted Weight yarns. All of the Addi's are on one wall, shelving is available for winders and kits and fun things.

And the shipping / holding area is three times as big! And the office has 3 desks!! And there are 2 cash register stands.

Now to find the right place for swift and ball winder.....

And so my Sunday was free. Bailey got a bath, the car got a quick rinse off, the back yard was de-gumballed, and knitting was done.

And James Spader is getting his own tv show!

Weekend sound bites

Locked In
I wasn't there, but I heard that the door into Ewe Knits got stuck on Friday. With customers inside. Wouldn't budge. (Think the overnight weather change from 40 to 80 had anything to do with it???) Arriving customers pulled while imprisoned yarn sellers pushed. Finally it opened! And with the maintenance people called and the door propped opened yarn was sold. But someone closed the door and once again customers were forced to continue looking at yarn while yarn sellers took the screwdriver from the computer guy (who had arrived while the door was open) and took the door knob apart. A happy ending for all...except the maintenance people who were mad yarn sellers had taken apart the lock mechanism. (No customers or yarn sellers were hurt during this event, however one customer was late getting back to work...a written excuse was offered but was not needed)

KnittaPalooza Information on the knitting weekend is up at Ewe Knit Kits and Yarn website. Click on KnittaPalooza for class information.

The move is still on for next weekend. Looks like we'll have lots of volunteers and will be able to move all of the yarn onSunday.

We received a huge shipment this past week. I think we now have every color of Cascade 220. New for us is Rowan. And a big shipment of Trendsetter, Ironstone and Unicorn yarns to replinish our dwindling stock.


Generations of Knitters I taught a felting class this Saturday (we'll finish up next week). Four students. A brand new "I only know the knit stitch" knitter...welcome! and a Grandmother, her daughter, and her daughters' daughter!


The Passion of the Christ Saw this movie yesterday. As I expected, I didn't walk out with an "I've been saved" feeling. More of a sadness that man can be so violent to man. And why does this surprise me?...we're still doing it today.....Mel Gibson sucked me in totally with his film. I flinched everytime the whip was used. Everytime He fell, I felt my hands trying to help Him up. The agony of the mother was painful to watch. And as promised, just as I thought "I can't take this anymore" Mel let me step away from the sight so I could take a breath because I wasn't breathing.

That's where they get The Friday Five!

So it takes me a while longer to discover internet stuff than some folks....thanks Bess

The Friday Five

What was...

1. ...your first grade teacher's name?
Sister Imelda. I mentioned her in an earlier post. I was the third generation to attend St. Paul's Elementary School...and graduate from St. Pauls/Portsmouth Catholic High School.

2. ...your favorite Saturday morning cartoon?
I remember watching Mighty Mouse, Popeye, Bugs Bunny, but my favorite Saturday morning shows was "Sky King", with "Fury" and "My Friend Flicka" a close second and third. I wanted to BE Penny!

3. ...the name of your very first best friend?
Mary Ann Hill. Met her in 5th grade

4. ...your favorite breakfast cereal?
Coco Crispy's

5. ...your favorite thing to do after school?
Nothing really stands out. I do remember riding my bike around the neighborhood looking out for my siblings, making sure they weren't getting into trouble.

How do they accomplish so much?

Have you noticed how some knitters seem to finish projects really quickly? One night they begin a sweater and a few days later are sewing it up? When do they find the time? I begin my days at 5:30 with a walk, then off to work, home at 6:15ish, another walk, dinner, clean up, and then it's 8:00. Always something to do around the house (vacuum, pickup) and with summer heading our way yard work. I'm in by 11:00. Sometimes I'm too tired to pick up needles.

I've added to the list of blogs over there <----- more of the blogs I visit. They were out on my favorites list. They're in no paticular order.

In case you were wondering we didn't win the big lottery. HOWEVER, we did win $7!!!!! So we reinvested in the lottery and lost it all. I'm sure there's another jackpot with my name on it.

My nieces shawl is finished. Showed it off at the guild Monday night.

I've begun another, for my other niece. Different pattern. I'm using a yo, sl, k, psso stitch.

And work on Sally's Favorite Summer Sweater continues. As does a 3rd sample of my felted purse for KnitaPalooza.

Ya gotta love his little snub at dressing up. His favorite shoes at the SAG awards......and same shoes 2 weeks later at the Oscars