You know how I promised that yarn was on the way? Well, here ya go:
New colors in Blue Sky Alpacas incredibly soft Dyed Cotton:
Aren't they beautiful?
We also got 2 new colors in their Alpaca Silk. (This is the yarn I am using for my Pioneer.)
Amy has restocked our Summer supply: (and more is on the way!)
And MALABRIGO arrived today!!!!
More goodies expected in the next few weeks. It's going to be a wonderful spring!
For those who may have missed it - here's the April Newsletter:
Hello Everyone,
Spring is finally here and the warm weather knitting is in full swing! Popular knits thus far this season: airy summer scarves and lightweight tops. Our current favorite pattern is also the spring Knit Along: Pioneer from knitty.com. The pattern and fun are completely free and you can join us at anytime. Contact the shop for details and watch the blog for updates, pictures of Pioneers in progress, and ideas for modifications
The new class schedule is now available. We're kicking off the season with our most popular class - Socks on Magic Loop! Other classes include: Learn to Spindle Spin, Time to Finish, Fun with Socks, Learn to Felt, Continental Anyone?, and Cables. The first session starts on Saturday, May 2 and class space is limited so call to register.
Spring also means that Spunky Eclectic Summer yarn is back! This was our hottest seller last year, with shipments being claimed before the yarn arrived in the shop. The amazing Amy has already sent us 4 colors, 2 of which have sold out completely. She is working as fast as she can, and Summer will be floating in and out all season. If you want to make sure you get some Summer, we do take special orders.
We are also introducing a number of new yarns this spring. Ty Dy cotton, from Knit One Crochet Too in Windham Maine, is here and a delight to knit. I'm currently using it for the Brittany Jumper from MinnowKnits. A worsted weight in fun variegate cottons, it quickly has become a favorite. We sold out of 3 of the colors last week as knitters snatched it up to make summer tops! Not to worry, more is on the way.
Louet Euroflax Linen is expected this week. Along with their fingering weight sock yarn.
A delightful surprise is scheduled to ship to us on May 15th. Details in the next newsletter.
As every knitter knows, it's not just about the yarn, it's also about the accessories! Namaste bags, the stylish knitting and handbag in one, have been wildly popular since arriving last month.
We'd like to thank everyone for making our online store such a success! Many have requested that we add a PayPal payment feature, and thanks to Peter's hard work, it is now up and running.
Finally, I am very excited to announce that The Knitting Experience Café has been asked to present The Knitted Knockers Program at this year's Maine Living With Cancer Conference on Wed. May 6, at the Augusta Civic Center, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The Living With Cancer Conference is a free, daylong conference for cancer patients and survivors, family members, caregivers, and medical professionals. About 6 years ago, I attended as a recent cancer patient. To be going back as a volunteer is so incredibly special.
We'll have a table full of boobies to distribute to survivors, information on what a knitted knocker is all about and how to knit one for yourself, and free samples of Soak Wash courtesy of Soak.
Many of you have donated your time and talent to this program, either as knitters or fundraisers. I am beyond grateful, and I'm going to ask you to do it again. We need more Knitted Knockers. We need them in all sizes. We need as many as possible before the conference.
Why not knit a booby? What could be more fun? To makes things a bit more interesting, we'll donate a $25 gift certificate and free bottle of Soak Wash to the wonderful knitter who brings us the most boobies between now and May 5th.
Happy Knitting!
Chesley
Neither Amanda nor I could resist the lure of the fun little balls of TY Dy Cotton. She snatched up one for the Fishnet Scarf from Ocean Breezes.
Looks fabulous, doesn't it? She's letting me borrow it for a bit as a shop sample. I think I may have to make one of my own.
I've been wanting to make another Brittany Jumper from MinnowKnits. It is the most adorable dress and fun to knit! Last KAN I grabbed the Ty Dy and cast on. As of last night, I am almost done!
I purposely made the 2 year old size so that it will fit my niece Madelyn next summer. In the meantime, it will earn its keep as a shop sample.
I gotta admit, I've been very impressed with the Ty Dy. It is soft to knit, doesn't split horribly as can happen with cottons, and the resulting fabric feels great.
Others had fun knits to share.
Christy finished this awesome throw out of Cascade Sierra. And, perhaps even better, she and Christine escaped the kids for the evening to join us at KAN!
Quinn completed the incredible shrug you see above while knitting with us. This piece made an appearance at KAN a few weeks ago, but in a slightly different shape. There was a border that curved around Quinn's body and resulted in an odd flippy action of the shrug in the back. Definitely not a good look. The collective wisdom of the KAN group considered and advised on possible changes to de-flip it. The result? Fabulous. And check out that cable action! Stunning.
Sam completed her VERY FIRST PROJECT EVER at KAN! Wahoo!!! Yay, Sam! What's next? The knitting world is your oyster. You can do anything now. Quite a powerful feeling, hun?
Luanne had a sock in progress out of On Your Toes Bamboo - a new sock yarn made from a bamboo, nylon blend. OMG, it feels incredible. I wish I could capture the texture with my camera. Oh - imagine the possibilities. Click here to touch this amazing yarn. Mmmmm.... .
Don't judge me. You have no idea of the heartache and disappointment I've endured in past relationships. To now, after all these years, find everything I've always wanted, and to experience things I didn't even know were possible, is pure bliss.
Love grabbed me today and I am giddy.
I bought a Dyson.
Isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?
You must understand that I am not one to go gaga over household appliances. And ones intended for some sort of cleaning purpose? I just don't see the point. My housecleaning skills are abysmal and I've never seen how a machine could improve an activity that is mostly a nonstarter in my house.
But, our old vacuum died. Gave up, really. 2 boys, 2 cats, a non-shedding Old English Sheepdog who never got the memo about the non-shedding part, and 2 parents who are too tired to do much about the debris they leave in their wake, equal a house that will make the hardiest of vacuums cry. We did not have the hardiest of vacuums as I didn't believe in spending any sort of money on something intend for the act of cleaning. Thus, the $30 quick vac that was asked to clean up after us burnt up its own engine just to escape.
For the past 2 weeks, we've been without a vacuum and the situation hit desperate. A dear friend (Lesley, this is all your fault) told me about her Dyson. She tried to get me to take it home. Like any good pusher, she knew that one hit and I'd be a goner.
I cracked. I had that moment we all experience from time to time when the little voice says, but what if this THING really makes my life better? What if it changes EVERYTHING and I start to be one of those people with a CLEAN house?
After such moments I am always left disappointed and feeling cheated. Promises are never fulfilled.
Until today. OMG. LOVE. Pure and simple.
It glides. Glides across my floor as if to say, don't worry, I got this, you relax. As it glides, it sucks up a level of dirt that is impressive even in our house.
It does not make the dog insane. This is huge. I cannot fully explain how huge this is. Tessa is insane when it comes to vacuums. She literally attacks them. Foaming at the mouth, she lunges in and grabs the hose. If she can't get the hose, she gnashes her teeth against the body of the thing, leaving a trail of doggie slime. (Who wouldn't love vacuuming when being chased by a rabid beast?) The Dyson whispers to her lovely calming things, that make her sit quietly nearby.
It has a wand. That works. That thingy that you put attachments on and it's suppose to help you clean the drapes? It works! I dusted my entire living room with it. The dust came off! Actually came off. We have wooden beams running along the ceiling in our living room. For the almost 8 years we've lived here, dust has settled in those beams. Every other wand thingy I have tried only leaves more dust up there, hanging over our heads. The Dyson CLEANED THE BEAMS.
The cord does not tangle and goes where I want to go. Honestly, you wouldn't think that would be a hard thing to engineer. But it is. I have lost many a battle against vacuum cords. This one cheerily followed along behind me. I'd give a tug and it would pop right along.
I didn't sneeze once. Not once. Vacuuming usually puts me into a fit of dust allergy misery. I think the air is cleaner now.
Oh, and check this out. I did not have to touch the dirt.
You press the lever, and,
a magic door drops open on the bottom, releasing a disgusting, yet oddly satisfying amount of dirt. (Yes, I know, the amount of dirt shown above is truly awful. But, the point is that it is no longer in my house!)
Nirvana.
I'm taking my new love to the shop tomorrow. Watch out fiber dust.
As a working mom, one of the things I appreciate greatly about owning my own business is the flexibility it gives me to be available when the children need me. I'm lucky enough to have the fabulous Becka and Amanda covering the shop so that I can be home most afternoons for the post-school hours. On those days when schedules don't quite work out and I need to be with the boys and at the shop, I can always bring them with me.
The key to such occasions is prep work, the gathering of activities and foodstuffs to occupy them for the duration.
Today they had books, a computer and an ipod. At home, that set up would mean I wouldn't see them until I had announced - at least five times - that dinner was ready, and then they only emerge once I finally scream that it was on the table and they had better COME DOWN NOW!
To which they reply, "what? I didn't hear you."
(This is when my head explodes. The building pressure has to escape and it takes all my neurons with it. With no brain power left, I can only stare at their oblivous faces as they commence to scarfing down the food.)
But at the shop. Oh, at the shop, it is an entirely different story. Books, computer, and ipod are all code for mommy has a lot of work to do and is trying to keep us busy, so clearly we need to refocus all her energy on us.
In the car, I had explained to the boys the available snack situation - pretzels ( Connor doesn't like them, which is, as it turns out, good, since Alec had already eaten them all) and yogurts (again with the not liking). They both seemed to accept that I'm not going to offer up anything else, and upon arriving at the shop settled into reading and computer playing.
Until people walk in. The arrival of customers was like a silent signal to launch level 10 parental harassment.
As I try to help 3 customers, the almost 10 year old announces that he's hungry and needs food. (Remember, only minutes before he rejected the food offered and was content with his book.) "Not now," I hiss and wave him away.
A minute later, as I discuss socks, he's at my side announcing for all to hear, "I'm hungry, I need food."
Yes, I am clearly starving you, my poor growing child.
He starts to chant: "Food, I need food. What do you have? Where are the snacks?"
This continues until the customers have departed. Audience that must be convinced that his mother is starving him is gone, book reading can recommence.
Oh, and he decides that perhaps he'll just go with a yogurt after all.
Despite such strangle worthy behavior, I am still knitting him a sweater. (Motherly insanity love at work.)
Halfway up the front and loving the look of this cable pattern.
The long stitches are slipped twice before being crossed in a cable. I'm almost at the arm shaping on the front. All other pieces are done, so it's the home stretch.
Everyone give Amanda big congrats next time you see her. She finished her first sweater!!!! This is an important knitting milestone.
She made a lopi-lite vest out of Cascade 220. The colors are beautiful. Unfortunately, the sweater is just a tad too big. Amanda is an itty bitty thing. Therefore, we have a problem. This being her first sweater, and a lovely one at that, how do we make the sweater fit? I'm thinking felting it just a tad. This is a risky maneuver. Too much of the felting, and it'll fit her niece. What do you think? Ideas?
Monique stopped by today and we had a great time picking colors for her latest sweater project. She also brought two sweater sets that are fresh off the needles and ready to be sent to some lucky kids in CA.
A gorgeous classic tweed jacket in a Debbie Bliss design and knit in Cascade 220 Superwash.
Note the matching beret:
That's going to be one stylin' little girl. Her brother will be equally adorable in his new vest and hat:
On Monday, I got to check out Anna's latest project.
She's making Dulce de Leche from the Spring 2009 Twist Collective and using Silky Wool from Elsebeth Lavold. The sweater is going to be stunning.
Today also brought a surprise present from my good friend Jocelyn.
It's a thingamagigy.
The box claims that it is a "McMorran Balance designed by H. McMorran, B,Sc. Formerly lecturer in Textile Testing at the Scottish College of Textiles, Galashiels, Scotland." It helps you estimate the yardage of a skein of yarn based on the weight of the yarn.
On my spinning side of life, this was a sorely needed item. I've been happily spinning pretty little skeins with only a rough guestimate of the yardage.
Joceyln discovered my problem 2 weeks ago when I presented her with this:
It's the skein I made from the Woolen Rabbit fiber. Even though I knew the colors weren't for me, I loved them and just HAD to spin it. But, after you've had the fun of spinning this luscious fiber and you have a skein of gorgeous yarn that you'll never knit because it just isn't a colorway that works for you, what do you do? You gift it to a friend who would look great in that color, and who also loves the spinning/fiber/knitting thing.
I definitely picked the right person. When I gave Jocelyn the skein and told her where and when I got it (SPA of this year), she laughed. She had picked up and put back those same braids of fiber many times, congratulating herself on her restraint.
She loved it and I was thrilled that she loved it. But, I couldn't tell her the yardage. I had no idea.
Now I will. I have a yardage thingy. Thanks, J!
The knit chicken pattern is back in stock! Check them out here.
The shop was full of great people, awesome knitting, and CAKE on Saturday! Thank you to everyone who was able to make it and help celebrate my birthday. A huge thank you to Karen for the fabulous cake.
Four Pioneer sweaters were in various stages of knitting.
Donna is almost ready to start her sleeves.
Barbara and I are at about the same point.
Peggy and Michelle are both using Spunky Eclectic Summer for their Pioneers. Luckily Peggy was a few rows ahead, so she could help Michelle through the set up of her very first top-down sweater.
Consider joining us for the Pioneer KAL and learn all about top-down sweaters, mini-cables, and personalizing your sweater. Ask at the shop or email me for details.
In addition to trying the Pioneer, Michelle conquered another knitting milestone - felting!
Awesome Booga Bag!
Susan came joined our Saturday party looking stunning in a recently completed sweater out of Cascade Venezia. (Great yarn!)
She also had these lovely sweaters to share:
I love knitted wardrobe enhancement!
Jen finished her Shalom in Spunky Eclectic Biggie Yarn.
I've been wanting to make myself a Shalom Cardi forever, but haven't found the time. That's one of the great benefits of having a yarn shop, you can live the knitting vicariously. Thanks Jen!
Aldona surprised me with another batch of Knitted Knockers. She has made countless knockers for our program, and I am grateful. Luckily she timed her arrival so that I could offer her a piece of cake as a small token of thanks.
Easter was spent trying to prevent Alec from inhaling the entire contents of his basket. Little devil gave us the slip at some point.
One chocolate bunny was found massacred at the site.
As many of you know, we have been besieged (that's a damn good word - besieged - isn't it?) by a vicious virus intent on breaking my spirit, or at least destroying what little sanity I had.
Over the past month, the darling boys have been walking petri dishes of vile germs. And just to make things extra fun, they decided to turn it into a sporting event akin to ping pong.
As one started to get well, he volleyed the virus across the house to the other. Each taking their turn at spreading disease, causing the desperate need to scour all surfaces, launder all linens, and parents to cry just a little bit.
For 2 days they might go to school, only to wake up on the third actively brewing a new batch of virus ready to overtake the entire house. (I'm pretty sure that their teachers thought we were making it up as we approached week 3.) Then, the cycle would start for child #2. And on it went.
And for some bizarre and mystical reason, Peter and I did not get it. How was it possible?
Ah - and here is where we get one of those fun and oh, so interesting twists of parenthood - we didn't get it, UNTIL they were quite healthy and happy. Then BAM!
Thus, week 4 was spent with the parents in misery. I even had to close the shop. For that, I am very sorry, but honestly, you didn't want to see me.
I coped remarkable well, all things considered, 'till Peter remarked that he thought the dog was acting a big odd. She was holding her head at a slight tilt.
Poor Tessa, who sat by us all throughout the ordeal, has been struck down! Not the virus, but an ear infection.
Unfreakin' believable, I thought. Even the dog is sick! Now, I'm just waiting for the cats to develop crooked tail disease, and the family will be complete.
This is why the silence on the blog for the past week. Much has happened while the virus had its way with us, but I had no energy to tell you any of it.
I shall try to recap:
Most importantly, at least to me, I turned 35! Waahhoooo!!!!
I know some people shy away from the whole age thing, but I am psyched. 35 is pretty sweet. I've only been in 35-land for 5 days, and sick for most of those. Just imagine what the other 360 might be like!
Honestly, each year is a gift. I'm grateful for each one, and will always claim every year proudly.
There has been much knitting. One good thing about tending a sick house, you get to knit.
My Pioneer for our KAL has been divided for the sleeves, and joined at the V to be worked in the round. I know other Pioneers are underway, and will pull together an update for you soon.
I'm learning crochet s*l*o*w*l*y
Knitting is happening all around.
Cheryl is making a baby sweater out of Dream in Color Classy, and check out Jen's sweater in her OWN HANDSPUN!!! Gorgeous!
Quinn was kind enough to model the incredible sweater she designed out of yarns she got at TKE.
Meet Babs. Our shop chicken. I love her to pieces. Sarah made her for me and I am so grateful. I don't know how we survived without a chicken before now. It is like she has always been there, peacefully minding the yarn nest. (We are currently sold out of the chicken pattern, but more are on the way, and we are taking reservations.)
Marcia is making socks for her son, and the best baby set for a good friend.
Christy brought in her adorable girls to model their new knitwear. (Ok - who knows where I can get ruby slippers in a women's 7??? I NEED those.)
And because every knitter needs to make things for themselves (should be the 1st rule of knitting), Christy was sporting awesome socks in Smooshy.)
Saturday was cause to celebrate.
Donna spent part of her birthday with us. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DONNA!!!!!
Charlotte and Dave stopped in to say hi. HI!! They are Bowdoin alums who were back in town planning their August wedding. Charlotte is also a TKE KAN alum, and just one of the most fabulous people I know. She is knitting a caplet for the wedding - very romantic!
Saturday night found a bunch of us at The Gallery at Schoolhouse Crossing where photographer Keith Spiro is showing his latest exhibit: BLACK, WHITE, & REDall over. Keith and Adrienne treated us to art, homemade soups, salad, and breads. Then, they surprised me with knitting themed cupcakes in honor of my birthday eve! It was a lovely night.
Today brought back the routine. It was so wonderful to be in the shop. A sales rep came this morning and I ordered new yarns and toys. Lesley stopped by with more Summer yarn from Spunky Eclectic.
Amy dropped in for a visit. We actually found time to talk while her girls and Alec entertained themselves around the shop.
I finally got pictures of the new colors of TY DY cotton that arrived earlier in the week, along with some great new books.
Alec helped me with the camera.
I think that catches us up mostly. Well, I should mention that the new class schedule is now available, the KAL is great fun and you can still join, we've got exciting things happening with the Knitted Knockers Program. Details later, I am clocking out now. Happy Friday all!
Check it out, knitting is good for your health in so many ways! (Like we didn't know that already, but it is nice that others are recognizing it!)
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4917058n
Now... how do we get insurance to cover our stash??
Today was the day. Cookie A.'s new book Sock Innovation finally arrived. (Don't you just love it when the UPS truck pulls up?) I have been anxiously awaiting this book since word of it leaked in knitterland. I am very happy to report that it doesn't disappoint.
There are 15 designs in classically amazing Cookie A. style. I honestly can't decide which one I want to knit first.
Luckily, I have lots of sock yarn to work with. Lesley dropped off a new batch of Spunky Eclectic sock yarn.
We have the Yarn of the Month:
We also got these lovely colors in Tough Sock:
As well as a few in Super Nova that I neglected to photograph. Thanks Amy!!
14 Middle Street, Brunswick, Maine 04011
Member of the Brunswick Downtown Association
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