Something for everyone

I missed last weeks post and apparently people were missing it! I didn't realize I had so many avid readers, so I will try to be a little more diligent in the future.

This weeks pattern is the Echo Flower Shawl.


This lovely pattern has been in my Ravelry queue for a very long time and I haven't had a chance to cast it on... ("had a chance"? who am I kidding, I've cast on about 30 different projects since I first put this in my queue...) It's a free pattern with lovely little nupps, it comes in 2 sizes-this is something I lov e since I am not keen on large shawls-I prefer shawlette's, I wear them like a scarf.

I thought I would do something a little different this week and explore a variety of different yarns that this could be knit in. Mainly because I haven't decided what I want yet, but also to show a variety of yarns suitable for different economic situations. At our store we really strive to have a variety of products in a variety of prices ranges-within that scope we really work hard at making sure that all of our products meet a certain quality level so that all fibre artists can make something they can be proud of.

My first choice of yarn is Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts 70% Long Staple Cashmere/30% Silk


This yarn is, without a doubt, the softest most decadent yarn in the store. The colours are deep and rich and the texture of the yarn is unbelievable. If you are planning on knitting something extra special for yourself or a loved one, I definitely recommend this yarn. Dyed in Canada! Cost to knit this project: $75.98 (eep! However, the cost is definitely worth the quality.)

Yarn choice #2 is malabrigo sock


If you've never used malabrigo sock, you are in for a real treat! This yarn is soft and delightful. Malabrigo is well known for their dyeing prowess and this yarn does not disappoint! It is machine washable, which is a bonus. Cost for this project: $25.99

My third choice for this project is Fleece Artist BFL Socks


BFL is a favourite of mine. I love how it is nearly as soft as merino but has more of a shine to it. I find the colours more vibrant in BFL than in merino. This yarn is hand dyed in Canada by an incredible dyer, her colours are incomparable. Cost to knit this project $17.99


All of these yarns are high quality and worth knitting. For the extra special or extra decadent there is the cashmere, for the more economical or everyday wear you can use Fleece Artist. You don't need to sacrifice quality to save money, $17.99 is not too much to pay for a beautiful handmade object that you will enjoy for years to come.

RETREAT!!!

So I did miss posting last Friday, but I have a good excuse- we were at the first ever electrictree yarns retreat! It was a fantastic time and Barb Brown, as always, was an amazing instructor!
It was a great group of knitters, some people I have met at other retreats, and some new faces!
The following photos are courtesy of my Aunt, who was a retreat attendee and blogger!


What a lovely group of knitters! My stepdaughter Mackenzie took the class along with us and did a wonderful job!


Nothing but knitting, and talking about knitting, and learning about knitting (and eating and shopping!) for a whole weekend!


The end result: a goofy bag (which isn't goofy at all) a slew of new techniques and skills, and some new friends!

The next retreat is in the planning stages right now!

Friday's pattern is Omar's Carpet Socks! I would/am knitting these in Diamond Luxury Superwash Merino DK. I chose this yarn for a couple reasons-it's a good solid yarn and it's economical. 1 pair of knee high socks is going to cost $26 (plus the evil HST!)


I am really loving how much more even my stitches are after taking Barb's class!

The store is going really well. It's been great meeting so many lovely knitterly people! The bad thing is being surrounded by yarn and patterns all day. It has increased my Knitter's ADD exponentially. There's always a reason to start a new project-"Oh, I just need to try out these needles! I can't very well sell needles I've never used!" I am really hoping the novelty will wear off so I can get some focus!

Is it Friday again?

Wow! What a fast week. How strange to be back in the working world.
This week's pattern is the Crevasse socks. I would knit it in Sea Sock...oh wait...I already AM knitting in Sea Sock!!


I am already finished the leg, turned the heel and have started working the foot.

Seriously...this is my most favouritest sock yarn that I have ever knit with. It's not cheap but I am pretty sure that it's going to feel like my feet are wrapped in hand knit love.

This weekend we are looking forward to redoing our window! Hallowe'en is coming and we have some great ideas for the display! I am hoping that by doing some awesome displays it might give some downtown businesses a "keeping up with the Joneses" attitude and step it up for some downtown displays.

Sometime next week (hopefully) we are getting a whole bunch of new products in! Our first Ashford order will be here! Piles of roving, spinning wheels and knitter's looms! Bolga Baskets will be here soon, they are beautiful Fair Trade baskets from Ghana, I managed to find a supplier that is a better price than some others and is certified Fair Trade.

Nest week will be busy with new stuff! Hooray!

I love Fridays!

I am really starting to love Fridays. It's blogoriffic!
The week has been fantastic so far-we had a business mixer on Wednesday night and it went really well, many of our neighbour businesses came out to welcome us. It was great fun and full of great conversations!



I taught Wenda from the Downtown and North Shore Echo magazines how to spin and she took to it like a fish to water! She still claims she doesn't want to knit, but I'm pretty sure I can wear her down. After all, spinning is what prompted me to learn how to knit-I had a pile of handspun yarn and realized that I had to find something to do with it.

Thursday we had the Thompson Treadlers come in for the evening. It was a small but fun group and we had some great conversations. I really enjoyed having the chance to sit down and spin for a couple hours!


Today's pattern is the Bonnie Birds Knee highs by Barb Brown. Barb Brown is the wonderful knitter who is teaching at our retreat in a few weeks (there are a few spaces left!)


Dear Barb: Can you forgive me for copyright infringement?


My Mom is actually going to knit these and she has chosen Pace and Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts as her yarns. Mom is wicked at stranded knitting, so I know they will turn out incredible!

On a final note, I have a funny little story to tell about the word getting around about our little yarn store. The story is a little...personal, so I won't tell you who it was, and if you are at all easily offended I suggest you skip this part (and just by writing that you probably want to read right to the bottom now!)

She was in her doctor's office getting her regular physical, which of course included a pap smear. While she was there in dishabille getting every woman's least favourite, but unfortunately necessary chore over with-the Dr. suddenly asked her "So have you heard of the new yarn store?"

Ladies, word is getting out.

Musical things!

The past two days have been exceptionally musical! Yesterday I was messing around with a miniature harmonica I picked up at the antique store in Barriere. I looked up some videos on youtube and learned a few blues riffs. This morning on my way to work, I stopped in at Lee's Music and picked up a Hohner Marine Band Harmonica, it's a lovely harp with a wood reed. I've been messing around with it all day. Mackenzie and I walked from Riverside Park to the store and I played it the whole way with Mackenzie jamming some made-up blues lyrics. At one point a couple of elderly ladies clapped and insisted I play some more, I laughed and explained I had only been playing for one day and that was all I knew. I know about 5 riffs now and can throw together a credible blues song.
When I got home there was another musical surprise! My husband had bought a piano for me for our anniversary! It's beautiful! I did some research on it, it is a Lenox by Lauter and was made in Newark, NJ. The piano is about 100 years old. Unfortunately, the company no longer exists so it's going to take a little work to get an exact age even with the serial number. It has been refinished on the outside-but they did a nice job. The harp inside is beautiful with hand painted enamel flowers and hand pressed foil. On the inside paneling for the bottom, harp cover (or whatever you call it) and the top, you can still see the maker initials and chalked serial # (the serial is metal stamped on the harp). From the research I have done I would make a guess of slightly Pre-WWI (that's the great thing about sequential serial numbers). It has a beautiful sound and only two of the hammers need to be slightly adjusted. It's been recently refelted. It's fantastic!
I am not much of a piano player, I can read music for it somewhat, but it's a labourious process. I am hoping withe constant access to a piano I can improve my playing.
Include my recent return to guitar playing and I may have a slight decrease in my knitting...however I take lots of time for knitting in the store so I feel no guilt!

Friday Again!

I can't believe it's already Friday! The weather is starting to cool down, which bodes well for yarns sales. I am so excited that it's finally cool enough that I can wear all my hand knits!

Todays Pattern is Olympia by Kristin Spurkland. It's wonderfully asymmetrical and unusual. This one has been in my queue on Ravelry for quite some time. I have a few things on the needles that I HAVE to finish or horrible guilt will overcome me, then I can cast on my next knit which will be this or the Opposite Pole Cardigan *subject to change


Isn't it purdy? It's feminine without being lacey or flowery (not that there's anything wrong with that...)

My in-store choice for this project is Debbie Bliss Angel


This yarn is quite a bit finer than what is recommended. However, somebody knit this project in Rown Kidsilk Haze which is the same weight (honestly the yarn is almost exactly the same, as is Kid-Seta) I love how her project turned out, so I am going to follow her lead and do this in a mohair/silk laceweight.

By the way, most of my links to yarns, patterns, etc, are Ravelry links. If you aren't on Ravelry already, and you are a knitter, your life is horribly empty black hole. Ravelry is the greatest resource on the internet for knitter's and crocheters. You have access to tens of thousands of patterns, virtually every yarn on the planet, and every combination thereof. There are groups and forums for learning, socializing, etc. So go there and join! While you're there, join the electrictree yarns group!

As the Co-owner of a yarn store, Ravelry helps me daily to find yarns and projects for people. If someone comes in and knows the name of a pattern, but can't remember what yarn it uses, and how much-I can look it up immediately and help them pick out something that works. We have a Ravelry computer in-store for customer use.

New Things

Here's an idea I had to help me publish more regularly. Every Friday I am going to post my favourite pattern of the week, talk about why I like it, and what in-store yarn I would use to knit it.
Today's pattern is the Opposite Pole Cardigan (rav link). I LOVE THIS SWEATER! Obviously I can't knit every pattern I blog about, but this one jumps out and screams "KNIT ME!!!"
Just look at it!


Maybe it doesn't call to you the way it does to me, but I love this sweater!


I love how it has so many interesting elements without being too busy. I love that it's a circle. I love that it has cables. I love the how the short rows look in garter stitch.

I would knit this sweater in Cascade Ecological Wool.


Cascade Ecological Wool is surprisingly soft and springy. It's good for the environment and good for your pocket book. It comes in big 200 gram/478 yard skeins for $19.99 a skein.

This pattern calls for 1400-2000 yards, and one of the great things about it is that it comes in a huge variety of sizes! 30"-60" bust! I absolutely love it when designers try to please as many people as possible.
Another nice thing about the pattern is on the Ravelry page-they have the yarn requirements for the individual sizes available. Often designers just put in a size range and a yardage range so that unless you are the smallest or the largest size, you have no idea what your yardage requirements are going to be unless you buy the pattern. For someone like me, who constantly "shops" for patterns and likes to weigh out a million pros and cons, I love it when I can look at the Rav page, see the yardage for my size, and figure out if the cost of the project is going to be prohibitive before I purchase the pattern.

I love this pattern, I love this yarn!