The Knitting Experience Café

Happy Thanksgiving week! Although we knit all year, there is something special about this season. Cooler temperatures and the upcoming holiday season seem to inspire all kinds of knitterly dreams. I have my eye on a number of projects, some of which have already made it to the needles. My current favorites? The 5th Avenue Infinity Scarf and the Raindrop Lace Socks.

Now is also the traditional start of the gift buying season. Let us help you make it as easy as possible for your loved ones to find exactly what you want this year. As always, we will have wish lists ready to be filled with all your fibery desires. All you need to do is stop by the shop, fill out a card, and then tell your friends and family to ask for your wish list. We'll handle the rest!

Looking for a few ideas for your wish list? We can help with that as well! Here are our Top Ten gift ideas for the knitters in your life:

• Annie Adams shawl pins or keychains.

• Blue Sky Alpacas Pretty Cheep Project Bags

• The Knit Kit

• GoKnit Pouches

• ANY Namaste Bag

• Wooden Sock Blockers

• Ball Winder

• Oh Snap! Bags

• Catalina Pouches

•A skein of 400yds of pure cashmere from Jojoland

All of these items are available in the shop and through our online store: theknittingexperience.com (Send the links to your favorite items to friends and family!)

Of course, we can't forget the gift that everyone loves - Gift Certificates!

Enjoy this wonderful holiday week and we hope to see you soon.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging. 

Many apologies for the blog silence over the past week. A nasty stomach bug had its evil way with me, and I couldn't make it to the shop or even sit up at the computer. Thank goodness for the fabulous Amanda who kept things running at TKE! 

I have since recovered and even spent all day yesterday at the shop. It felt like such a wonderful homecoming - almost like a party. The knitters were talking, laughing, teasing and even knitting.

A very special visitor stopped by to say hello. Meet Samuel, Emily's adorable baby boy. This was the first of hopefully many visits the little man will make to TKE. He was the perfect addition to our Saturday. And can you believe he slept the entire time?! You need to understand that we are not exactly a quiet group. And yet he slept the perfect little baby sleep. I think it was the presence of all that yarn and knitting that relaxed him. 

We had a few knits to be shared. First up is Susan's Baby Alpaca Chunky vest. She actually wore this a week ago, so I'm a little late in posting. Doesn't it look beautiful? One of the things I adore about alpaca is the way it drapes. It creates the most lovely lines and turns a basic vest into an elegant wardrobe piece.

I haven't been the only one fighting the nasty germies. Unfortunately, Susan has been fighting an awful cold. On the bright side, it meant lots of time at home knitting. Check out what she made in what I think was just 2 weeks:

This gorgeous sweater is for her very lucky husband. She used Cascade 220. 

Adrienne made the most adorable little baby bib for a friend's new little one.

I love the way the cable turns into the strap, and the seed stitch in the main portion will be excellent for wiping off sticky baby faces. 

Amy has whipped up a modified version of the Colonnade shawl out of one of our new colors in Malabrigo Worsted. This one is called Deja Vu. 

Jen shared some sparkley handspun yarn. Isn't purty?

All in all, yesterday was a wonderful day and a bit of a whirlwind. While trying to get caught up on the things I missed, we had a happy flood of knitters throughout the day. There's just something about November and the approach of Thanksgiving that inspires us to get a great project going. Some of my favorite pieces have been knit over Thanksgiving week. 

Of course, I also got caught up in the new project fever. While researching a cowl pattern for someone, I noticed the 5th Avenue Infinity Scarf and HAD TO HAVE ONE. 

I'm sure you've seen these infinity scarves. They seem to be the must have accessory of the season and are on the runways, in all the fashion mags, and draped around the necks of celebs. We knitters are a bit ahead of the game and started in with cowls last year, turning towards our own infinity scarves - the moebius, - and now are designing elegant versions of the pricey runway scarves. This particular pattern isn't a moebius (although you could easily make it one), but is a 6 ft long circular scarf that you wind around your neck multiple times to create a stylish, no fuss, cowl. I love the basic lace of this easy 4 row pattern. Every other row is simply knit, so it makes a great mindless knit.  

Now, the pattern calls for a worsted weight and I initially thought of using Malabrigo. Mmmmm... yummy Malabrigo wrapped around my neck. But... then I saw the new Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool that we just got in. 

I couldn't resist the new plum. Even though the Silky Wool is a dk and the pattern calls for worsted, it isn't a problem. Remember, it's a scarf! I am using a smaller needle and made sure to get gauge. Because of the lighter yarn, my scarf will have more drape.  I noticed that at least one knitter on Ravelry is using a laceweight.  Think of it as a magic pattern. Decide what kind of fabric you want, then pick the yarn! You'll need about 600yds - 3 skeins of Silky Wool - and of course the pattern which is free on Raverly or on the designer's website. 

Sometimes the absolute best inspiration for your next project comes from fellow knitters. Seeing their beautiful projects, listening to their musings on what to knit with a gorgeous new yarn, or hearing their excitement about a newly discovered pattern. 

Right now, the most popular projects we're seeing in the shop were brought to our attention by the knitters themselves. 

Our two most recent KALs were entirely knitter-inspired.  We have the Colonnade KAL begun by Donna, and those Colonnades keep pouring in! Diana finished a lovely version out of Dream in Color Classy.

Joannie put her own twist on the pattern by limiting the lace design to two highlights among the stst. She used Malabrigo. Yum, yum.

And here's Penny looking fabulous in her Charmed Colonnade.

Diana also made this gorgeous Birch Leaf Beret out of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. Remember this pattern? It is by our very own Anna!

Chris finished her first Amused. It fits beautifully, so she's decided to go ahead and make another. 

Luanne quickly knit up a Just Enough Ruffles Scarf out of Malabrigo for a friend. Susan introduced us all to this great pattern.  It is a quick, fun knit, and makes a fantastic gift. 

Monique made her very first felted bag! She used the Elizabeth Bag pattern and Cascade 220. 

Jocelyn and I whipped up a little surprise for a friend. She made the Bella's Mittens, and I knit up a Darkside Cowl. 

Karen just finished one of the hot knits this season - the Drop Stitch Scarf. It is great for any variegated yarn, and works in any weight. We have knitters making it in handpainted sock yarn, dk, worsted, or light chunky. A great way to show off the colors and is a fast knit for those looking for gift ideas. 

Melissa just completed an adorable little knit. She made this cabled vest out of Malabrigo Chunky and then felted it just slightly. 

To make it even cuter, she knit a matching hat!

Drum roll.... we are now up to the most exciting portion of our inspiring knits. Amanda finished the first sweater that she absolutely loves. And you can see why - it is adorable on her! The pattern is Jane from Wendy Bernard's Custom Knits. Amanda used Cascade 220. 

Still looking for a few idea? The latest issue of Interweave Knits Accessories arrived last week. They packed it full of their favorite quick knits - hats, scarves, shawls, mittens, fingerless gloves, socks, and on and on. Plenty to keep those needles moving all winter!