Creative Fibers LLC Blog

TNNA Shopping Trip for Creative Fibers fans...

2011-06-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

Terry & I just returned from Columbus where we completed? (are we ever complete?) with fall ordering for the shop. Here's a quick look at some of the highlights!

miKnitures - teeny tiny knitted swatches that are pins or necklaces (the necklace swatches are on actual circular needles! They are wonderful gifts

Malabrigo Arroyo yarn (like Rios but DK weight and different colors) - not due to ship until Sept. or later

Solemate Sock Yarn from Lorna's Laces - this yarn actually changes temperature. They had these mitts you put on to test if you could tell the difference. Terry guessed right; one hand actually cooled down. Laura guessed right; one hand had to warm up to as she was so cold. It really works! The sock yarn uses a fiber called Outlast that is used in the astronauts space suits.

Techno from Blue Sky Alpacas - really cool, soft, fluffy alpaca yarn that knits anywhere
from 3 - 5 sts per inch. Baby alpaca is blown into a silk mesh tube that make for fast knitting with no splitting. And it is to-die-for soft!

Patterns from Ruth Sorensen (using Kauni yarn in exquisite ways) & the Wiggle Wrap pattern using Kauni yarn.

Millamia Yarn and patterns from Sweden - This line features an extra fine sportweight merino yarn that is machine washable and the freshest line of patterns for babies, toddlers and children. We're the only shop in CT that is featuring the line and we'll let you know when it arrives.

Misti Qolla which is a "worsted" weight yarn of 20% baby alpaca, 80% merino, 218 yards in yummy Misti colors.

BIG Koigu order

Sea Silk - new colors

Claudia fingering - new colors and some favorite oldies

We met some new folks:
Alasdaid Post-Quinn. We previewed his new book Extreme Double-Knitting.
You have to see his 52 pickup scarf. The man (he's an I/T guy) is mental!

The Two Swede guys who created the 50 Christmas Balls book
(Terry got a Happy Birthday signed copy)

The ladies at Millamia and many others

As well as some old friends:
Melissa Leapman
Taui and Rhichard (Koigu)
Sally Melville
and others (of course my brain is just swimming at this point).

I can't wait for the new products to arrive; there is definitely something for everyone.

So now I need to answer emails, enter the orders and get back to the job of happiest shop owner on the earth!

Shop is Closed Today - Tuesday

2011-02-01T07:44:00.001-08:00

Due to the storm, the shop is closed today. With the wonders of technology there are certains "shop chores" I can do from home otherwise I would be knitting my heart out. Well, there is the driveway to think about too.

So off I go, placing some orders, shoveling and hopefully conquering some knitting (sleeves, I seem to have lots of sleeves to knit).

Stay safe, stay warm and healthy. Happy knitting!

Square DPNs, The Social Network and Laura

2011-01-26T13:39:00.000-08:00

Terry and I watched the Social Network last night and now Zuckerburg (or whatever) is in the news today because his facebook page was hacked. Isn't that how the whole thing got started at Harvard? Anyway, I am NOT (as you know by reading my blog) on the computer every minute like Mark Z is, not even every day. I would rather be making the shop be a wonderful knitting/crochet place or doing some of my own knitting or, yes, dear husband, spending time with you. But I am getting distracted.

Today the Kollage 6inch Double Pointed Needles (DPN's) arrived which prompted me to completely rearrange the needle department. I mean serious stuff. I must have lost a couple pounds moving all that stuff around. So, we now have a spinner with all the DPN's in "length" order.........5 1/2 inch birch, 6 inch bamboo, 6 inch metal, 7 inch metal, 7 1/2 inch birch and 8 inch bamboo. Then there were the oddballs, the Casein needles, and the steel 000 and 0000 needles. Whew, can you believe I was able to put all the puzzle pieces together and it even looks good.

That freed up space on the wall so I was able to neatly arrange the Straights and the circulars (the Addis and Colonial Rosewood circulars are still behind the register.)

I am so please with myself that I think I may go spend a little time crochetting a cute little project I am working on.

Enjoy this latest "blizzard" :) Laura

Addi Natura Interchangeable Needle Sets

2010-09-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Well, the bad news is that the lace needle sets are still in a quality control situation and probably won’t be available until December.

The good news is that the bamboo Natura sets are available and they are shipping me 6 sets today! Yippee.

Each kit contains 8 sets of bamboo tips (US 4 – US 11) and 3 cords (24”, 32”, and 40”).

$179.95

You can see them here:http://www.skacelknitting.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7365/.f

Stitches East 2010 - Halloween Weekend

2010-09-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

We have our booth - basically where we were last year but on the corner. Booth #819/821

We're working on our booth details - not only what to bring but how to display it. Terry is busy working on a "screen" so we can hang our shawls.

Kauni and Kauni Lace - I just ordered and should have it in time for Stitches. If you are lucky you may get a peek of it before it gets packed up (all depends upon when it arrives).

Fiesta Baby Boom (sock yarn: 90% extrafine superwash merino, 10% nylon, 440 yds) - ordered and should be here even before Stitches.

Fiesta Gracie's Lace (70% Extrafine Merino, 15% Cashmere, 15% Silk, 960 yds) - also ordered and expected before the show.

Madelinetosh Tosh Sock and Prairie - it has been ordered; hope to have it for the show but it looks doubtful according to their dye schedule.

Melissa Leapman - Wednesday evening before Stitches. She will talk about her new color book (I just finished knitting the baby kimono this morning), sign books, answer questions. We'll have light refreshments, a raffle and lots of fun.

6-7pm Please join us!

I Am So Very Blessed

2010-04-03T12:42:00.001-07:00

Last night Melissa brought a carrot cake to Open Knitting. Why? Because she remember me saying that it was 5 years ago on that date that I left my corporate job behind and was pointed in a new direction.
Then…..she baked it herself. It was still warm when she brought it; so yummy that I had two pieces.
I looked around the room and I thought about the five years; they have flown by. Some customers that arrived five years ago are still coming; some have moved on. New customers continue to arrive but above all, the connections that we all have made over the 5 years has been astounding. Who knew?
Thank you all; Triple thanks to Melissa…
Have a great knitting/crochet day - Laura

A Tale of Two Madelinetosh yarns

2010-02-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

We received several new colors of Madelinetosh fingering today including the ever popular “tart” - a gorgeous red if I do say so myself.
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New yarn - Prairie is a rustic looking lace yarn. Semi-solid dyeing leaves the yarn looking somewhat like raw silk even though it is 100% superwash merino. 840 yds $24.95. I think you need to see this one for yourself; much harder to describe than I thought

Classic Elite Knit-A-Long

2010-01-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

Join us in a shop Knit-A-Long that is co-sponsored by Classic Elite.

We’ve selected three designs from the new spring 2010 patterns. You may knit one or more of the designs however we encourage you to complete at least one of the projects so you may be entered to win a Classic Elite Gift Basket.

We need you to register (free) by February 21st so we know who is participating and which project/s you will be working on. You will need to complete your project by June 20th to qualify for the gift drawing (and you’ll want to be done by then so you can enjoy your completed project).

Since Classic Elite is donating the gift basket we do ask that you work with their yarns that are purchased at Creative Fibers.

We encourage you to work on your project at Friday Night Open Knitting and on Monday afternoons from 2-4pm.

We hope you will join us, make new friends along the way and end up with a fantastic summer project completed by the end of June.

Gathered Cuff Cardi in Premiere
SIZES: XS (S, M, L, XL)Finished Measurements: 32½ (35½, 38, 40¾, 43¾)"Yarn Requirements: 7 (7, 8, 9, 10) hanks

Market Bag in Allegoro.SIZES: One sizeFinished Measurements: Approx 12¼" wide by 12½" tall (excluding straps) after blockingYarn Requirements: 3 balls

Single Gore Skirt in Soft Linen.SIZES: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)Finished Measurements: 25½ (27½, 31, 35¼, 37¼, 41¼)" at waistYarn Requirements: 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10) bal

Eclectic Sole Yarn Pack

2009-12-23T14:37:00.000-08:00

For those of you who purchased the Eclectic Sole (or those of you who need to….) read on!
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Today we received a yarn pack from Skacel. Each of the yarns featured in the book are now available. So if you’ve dreamed of one of the sock designs, now is your opportunity to purchase they very same yarn that was used to create those fantastic socks.
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The fine print: only one skein of each design was sent so first come (or first reserve) and…. I do believe one, maybe two design colors are no longer available.

Check it out!

Lots of new arrivals

2009-07-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

I have good (Addi) news!
Not only are the Addi Click size 5 tips on their way, but also extra tips in sizes 4-9. (price ranges from $13.95 - $15.95) I did not order extra tips in the larger sizes (10-15) but I can if you need one.
I also have “cables sets” (one size 24, 32, 40 inch cord plus one extender in a package for $29.95) coming.
And 16inch lace needles in size 0-9 (again, they come larger but I didn’t order any of those. If you need one, jsut ask and I will get them too.)
If you would like me to put anything aside for you, just let me know.
Next???? Lace tips?????

Needle Gauge pendants in sweet colors make lovely (and functional) knitting jewelry.

Noro Silk Garden - 16 new fall colors are on the shelf and Abbey is working at the rest of the Noro order to get it stickered and on the shelves.

Stix Fix - restore your wooden needles with this wonderful lttle product from Knotty Girls. If you use wooden needles of any kind, this product should be in your notions bag. And if you are a DPN sock knitter, you definitely want to give your needles a tune up periodically.

Each day we are receiving orders - it's like Christmas in July at Creative Fibers.

Happy Knitting, Laura

Knitting, a Dangerous Hobby

2009-05-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

I confess. What I am about to tell you is a true story. I am going to poke a little fun at myself.

I had been seaming a lovely Jennie Watson sweater knit in Manos Wildflowers. I have such little knitting time, I was making great progress and I couldn't wait until after dinner to finish up my side seam.

As I approached the couch, the viper of a tapestry needle impaled itself into my well padded derriere. I immediately jumped up and ran over to my devoted husband. He didn't even have to ask, he could see the yarn, followed by my sweater, being pulled across the den. Being an engineer, he quickly determined that I had sat down on the tapestry needle. I really don't think so! I believe the needle morphed into a Python (with its tail all coiled up) and was ready to attack!

So knitting can be a dangerous activity. You can be certain that I will scan the territory for wild critters more carefully in the future.

And please don't stress. My tetanus shot is up to date......

Cherry Tree Hill Super Sock Design Contest

2009-04-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

Cherry Tree Hill (CTH) recently introduced a new version of their Super Sock yarn. It is "new" because it is a) a higher micron count which means is it even softer than before and still has that nice tight twist we love for socks, and b) the dye is a tonal varigation. Cheryl calls them "semi solids".

There are 30 colors and Cheryl outdid herself. Each of the colors is fantastic! Amy recently knit the ButtonJar Kimono in the sweetest rose color. (It is on our front display table with the yarn).

CTH is also sponsoring a Design Contest featuring this new yarn. You could win up to $1000 for your design. Check out the contest rules here:
http://www.cherryyarn.com/postcards/Rules.html

Lastly, we are one of about 20 shops in the world (yep, Cheryl distributes this to England and beyond) that supply this great new yarn. Come check it out and get those design wheels rolling.

49 Pounds of Koigu and ?? Pounds of Malabrigo are here!

2009-02-18T08:49:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh it's awesome!

New Malabrigo lace, silky merino, sock and worsted yarns. New colors, and old colors re-ordered (stone chat anyone?)

If we thought we had died and gone to heaven over the Malabrigo..... a 49 pound box of Koigu arrived this morning. Lots of Koigu Solids to coordinate with varigated colors.

We must have one of the best selections of Koigu on the east coast!

It's all here, we're putting stickers on fast as we can and we can't wait for you to see it.

New Malabrigo Order is in the mail

2009-02-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

I just got word that my new order is shipping today. Not sure when it will arrive but I do have the invoice so I know what colors are coming (you are never quite sure.....)

lace: geranio and naturalsilky merino: purple mystery, ruprestre, party pink, and arlene's purple

socks:lettuce, velvet grapes, impressionist sky, stonechat, indiecita, turner, and abril

worsted: too many colors to list

and sadly, because we have been experiencing so much theft, the sock yarn will be in the glass case (in case you want to know where to look)

Madelinetosh Scok Yarn arrived...

2008-10-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

If you haven't tried Madelinetosh sock yarn, you are missing out. Amy's eye for color and her dyeing is exquisite. The yarn has a nice tight twist and one skein makes a pair of socks - kind of like going to Rhinebeck without the drive.

Harry Potter Sock Yarn has Arrived!

2008-09-30T13:34:00.000-07:00

Well, the movie is delayed but the sock yarn is here. Each color represents one of the following characters:
Harry
Ron
Dumbledore
Hedwig
Draco
Tonks
Harry & Ron
Lupin
(one skein makes a pair of socks)

Addi Turbo Interchageable Circular Set

2008-09-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

I just got word that Addi Turbo will have their own circular set available in late October (I ordered several). The set includes tips in sizes 4-15, three cords (24,32,40?) and some connectors in a case. It was hard to tell by the photo but it appears to be a hard case. It retails at $149.95.

This would make an awesome holiday gift so if you are interested, just ask us to put it on your own personal wish list. Then place some hints with that special someone.

Maggie's Rags Workshop - Helix Knitting

2008-08-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

Maggie of Maggie's Rags will be here Saturday, September 13th to teach the Helix Knitting Workshop.
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If you aren't able to go on the Windjammer Cruise off the coast of Maine with her and attend workshops, try this one on land.
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Learn to knit circular stripes with absolutely no jogs. No one will ever find your beginning or end of round. Use as few as two colors or as many as you like. Class will cover casting on, shaping, intro to circular needles and dp needles.
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The workshop is from 1-4pm and costs $65.

PS Maggie is also the author of the Knitting Answer Book. Bring yours along (or purchase one here) and have her sign it for you.

For more info http://www.maggiesrags.com/

Thoughtful Customer..

2008-07-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

I just had to tell you all that during our recent sale, one of our customers came in with blueberries that she had “just” picked at a local farm. She wanted to share some with us.
Her timing was just so perfect. We had been running all weekend and this was almost an out of body experience. Talk about stopping to smell the roses. Of course that aha didn’t actually occur until I was driving home later that day.
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She is just one example of how all of you touch each other somehow in this crazy world. In fact, I didn’t know most of you before I opened the shop and look where we are 3 years later.
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As another customer (and fellow Raveler) told me early into the shop, you will love ALL your customers; some when they come in and some when they leave. Truthfully, we only have had one or two (ok, well maybe three) that fall into the latter category.
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“You” are what makes coming to work each day so enjoyable. (and that’s the reason we don’t have a shopping cart on our web site) - thanks

Good News/Bad News

2008-06-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, let's get the bad news over with quickly. Since summer is normally a slow time at a certain local yarn shop and given all the craziness with gas prices, well, recent sales have been slow. That makes it really hard for me to order a wide variety of new exciting products.

So the good news is a more "narrow" variety of exciting products have arrived this week.

~ Indie Dyer Hand dyed sock yarn; 80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon. 450 yds $25/skein
~ Misti Alpaca Chunky - several new hand painted colors and favorite oldies\
~ Misti Alpaca Lace - eggplant (gorgeous)
~ NORO - Daria cord - several fun colors
~ Jojoland - Melody yarn for the Swirl, Travelling Leaves and Beartracks shawls http://www.jojoland.com/do/page/Select?TopIndex=1&curSubIndex=1&curPageIndex=2&startPageIndex=1&totalPages=6&pageIndex=3
~ Just One More Row patterns - multidirectional knitting designs http://www.justonemorerow.com/
~ Brittany - 14in Single Point needles
~ Moving Mud - hand blown closures (circles & sticks)
~ Crippenworks needle cases ("straights" holds up to 40 pairs, DP holds up to 14 pair and "circulars" holds up to 20 circular needles)

Coming Monday:
~ Berroco - fall books and yarn

We hope to see you soon, Laura (and staff)

Fall B&B Knitting Weekend

2008-06-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

We recently announced the dates for the fall B&B Weekend (Nov 14-16th) and we already have half the rooms spoken for. It's a wonderful time away. Be social or not, knit or read, or walk (or just catch up on sleep?) The food is just perfect. Like Goldilocks would say, not too little, not too much, just....right! And delicious.

I guarantee you will make new friends. We have a couple new faces joining us and several repeat weekenders. (In fact, Myrna gave up a week long Mah Jong cruise just to be with us. This will be her 4th knitting weekend!)

So if you are thinking about joining us, please let me know soon so we can guarantee you a room and a most enjoyable weekend away from all the pressures of your daily routine.

Our home away from home is the Chesterfield Inn in Chesterfield, NH. It is just about 1 hour 10 minutes from the shop right up I91 to Brattleboro and turn right. The inn is just over the VT/NH border.

http://www.chesterfieldinn.com/

Koigu - Part 2 Has Arrived!

2008-05-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

Need I say more? Eighteen more colors, including that taupey greens I used in the beaded shawl are now ready to find good homes.

Have a great knitting weekend....

Goodies for You - from the Sunday Trade Show

2008-05-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

Today I attended the annual trade show for shop owners in Sturbridge, Ma. Not only do I get to preview the fall yarns, there are a few yarns that I can actually purchase. So, here goes....
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Schaefer Anne and Helene - replenished stock. Great colors as always from this fabulous hand dyer.
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Undulating Waves scarf with beads - uses the Helene noted above. GORGEOUS! If you search on this pattern in Ravelry I'm sure it has loads of attention.
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ArtYarns - Ultramerino4 - 100% merino wool (191 yds) - a great little sock yarn. I picked up 10 colors, just two skeins each. A pair of skeins makes a pair of socks so you have 10 chances (the 10 colors) to purchase this lovely yarn.
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J. Knits - Lace-A-Licious (100% ultrafine alpaca) and the Artemis Stole pattern. Oh, I am a sucker for this lace stole. One skeins makes the stole and I picked up several skeins.
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Manos Kids #1 booklet. Cute designs is sizes 1-8 years.
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Beadles knitting needles in sizes 8 and 9 have sterling silver and bead toppers. Very special - makes a nice gift!

I'll be looking through the literature from Classic Elite, Rowan, Berroco and Reynolds tonight to see what looks good for fall. I'll keep you posted.

Oh, and I was interviewed by Purl-Man for a possible pod-cast. Keep your fingers crossed that he airs it.

Koigu has Arrived!

2008-04-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

Twenty two delicious colors arrived today.
(about 22 more are due to arrive in a few weeks)

They are on the shelf and ready for you.

Patterns too! Socks, log cabin vest, several shawls and more.

(finally.....)

Ski Vacation

2008-03-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

It came and went so quickly; do you remember the relentless rain we had 2 Saturdays ago? It stayed with us all the way to SugarBush valley in Vermont. We met our daughter and son-in-law and enjoyed a lovely dinner. Then the 50 mph winds started, blew open the B&B front door and we were welcomed Sunday morning with snow in the foyer and no electricity.

When it became apparent that no ski lifts would start up on Sunday (they were encased in several inches of ice), we opted to go sledding on the golf course that is adjacent to the B&B.

By the way, I recommend the Beaver Pond B&B to those of you that enjoy a small (4 bedrooms) and intimate setting. The living room and dining room are lovely and comfy; the breakfasts (and afternoon treats) are most enjoyable. There's even an outdoor hot tub (no, I won't show you those photos). http://www.beaverpondfarminn.com/

I took several knitting projects to work on in the afternoons (between ski time and dinner time) however, after a full day of skiing, and then slipping into the hot tub (heavenly) to loosen up muscles that hadn't been used..... I actually napped before dinner. Imagine! I couldn't even muster enough energy to knit a few rows. The only knitting I did was in the car up and back.

This is me and my son-in-law Matt. Can you see the ice on the trees? We skied down one trail where the branches were completely bent into the center of the trail; we had to push our arms through the iced branches (poor birch trees....) Another time, our chairlift was encased in ice. It was like sitting on an ice cube all the way up the mountain.

Here's a peek of the sun on Tuesday in the background.

It was great fun to see our children, relax and take a break. And if any of you are skiers, there is so much snow in the valley - heck! They'll be skiing in June.

Now, back to work.....Louet linen just arrived and needs stickers.

Spring Newsletter, Class Schedule & Closed on Monday March 10th

2008-03-07T07:32:00.002-08:00

The Spring 2008 Newsletter and class schedule have been sent! We're very inspired by the return to more traditional designs though they come with a hint of fashion consciousness, not to mention eco friendliness.

Check out the classes and sign up early to guarantee your place in class. I'm just now knitting up the Classic Elite Premiere Tank Top (for class) that is featured in the new Summer book. You can see photos of all the class samples on our website.

Also, a reminder that the shop will be closed this coming Monday, March 10th. No, it is not a national holiday, just a quiet day for me.

Lastly, we still have rooms left for the upcoming Bed & Breakfast weekend, April 4-6th. Just call the shop if you are interested. One of us can fill you in on the details (or check out our website).

Happy Spring! (my heart and shoulders feel so lifted now that the newsletter is out to you....)

EXTENDED 1 WEEK - Berroco Try-it-On Trunk Show

2008-03-01T11:28:00.000-08:00

Wow! What fun we had today trying on all the garments from Norah Gaughn's newest book (and more). Even better is that Berroco is leaving the trunk show with us for one week.

You really DO NEED to try on these fun garments; it will put you in an instant "spring" mood. (We have all garments in small and large sizes) There are fun and funky, traditional and comfy and more.

And receive a 10% discount on your Berroco purchases during the trunk show.

Eucalan - new "flavors" and packaging

2008-02-28T13:52:00.000-08:00

Eucalan arrived today in all four "flavors" and sizes (16.9 oz. and the new 3.3oz that replaces the old 2.2 oz. bottle).

Flavors: original (eucalyptus)
lavender
grapefruit (new)
unscented (new)

This fiber wash is meant to be used as a wash; no need to rinse. And it is not just for your knitted garments. You can use it on virtually all your laundry.

Socks - New Sock Yarn!

2008-02-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

Socks are hot! There are Sock Wars , Hot Sox design contests, articles in the New York Times and magazines. If you aren't already knitting socks, now is the time to learn.

In recent days we've received the following sock yarns:

Opal 's Newest line: Rendezvous. We have 2 skeins in each of 8 colors AND a sample sock so you can see exactly how it will knit up.

SouthWest Trade's Tofutise exclusive color for February is here in addition to the newest colorpak of 20 colors. We've seen some fun toddler sweaters made from doubled Tofutsie yarn (and why not double it for socks and knit on size 3-4 needles?)

Preemie Hats! 300 and more coming

2008-02-02T08:40:00.000-08:00

Thank you all who knitted (and keep knitting). We have just about 300 hats.
I say keep knitting because this is a year round activity; think how many you can knit during the ball game tomorrow..... We're starting to fill the basket for the next delivery.

On Thursday evening Mary Rose and I divided them up for the 5 hospitals. We added a few extra, some blankets too. Thank you to whoever knit the matching booties - nice touch!

I am still looking for a volunteer to deliver hats to Manchester and Hartford NICU's. If you can help out, I'd appreciate it as I am here seven days a week. I'd like to deliver prior to Valentine's Day.

Thanks again, this is truly "one" the best parts of having a yarn shop.

Addi Lace Needles Sizes 7-9 are in!

2008-01-23T12:53:00.001-08:00

I think the title says it all. Oh, but I also ordered the size 40in lace needles in size 1 & 2 for you sock lovers.

So we now carry the lace needles in: 24, 32, 47 inch lengths; sizes 1-9
and 40 in size 1& 2

Preemie Hats for Valentine's Day

2008-01-22T04:07:00.000-08:00

Just after New Year's we sponsored a "preemie hat" weekend.

Our goal? 250 preemie hats so all preemies in five local hospitals would all have a Valentine's Day hat. Yesterday we counted 225 hats! Wow!

That means we only have 25 hats to go and we'll make our goal.

It's been a constant delight to have you come into the shop with more hats (some with matching booties) and beautiful blankets. It's quite a mountain of preemie items.

Berroco was generous and donated 40 skeins of Comfort Dk yarn in pink, red, blue and white and we distributed that yarn on the "preemie hat" weekend to our hat knitters. Thank you Berroco!

Please remember that we collect hats (blankets, sweaters, etc) all year round and it is a great way to use up leftover skeins of fingering or dk weight yarn.

What a generous use of your time and talent. Thank you to all who participated.

Happy New Year to you all

2007-12-31T13:54:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick recap of our New Year's Holiday in Saranac Lake, New York. Relatives are arriving and food needs to be prepped so I'll be brief.

This is my son-in-law Matthew modeling his Christmas gift, knitted on size 2 needles and sock yarn. It's done, he's wearing it ~ yippee!

And here's our ski day at Whiteface Mountain - I hadn't skiied since the shop opened ( 2 seasons) so I was a bit nervous but it all came back. Well, mostly.....

That night we had a lovely dinner at a German lodge/restaurant Homyer's (?) Lodge on Lake Clear. Their beer list is 7 pages long. The food is awesome! Like being in the Alps!

We slept in this morning and went cross country skiing this afternoon (in the kid's back yard that backs onto a state forest). We skiied for 2 hours and only saw one or two others. Lots of deer tracks and other little animal tracks - they're very lucky have this out their back door.

We'll be back home on Wednesday. We hope you all had a lovely holiday and we look forward to a wonderful 2008. Laura & Terry

Sally Melville's Visit

2007-12-03T08:58:00.001-08:00

This icy Monday morning I dropped Sally Melville off at the airport after the most perfect weekend. Sally taught 2 technical workshops and 2 non-technical classes. We certainly are blessed to have her visit us! She can easily take complex material or techniques and break them down into simple, understandable steps. No wonder she designed the Einstein Coat. Maybe they're related.

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Saturday morning was First Choices - Basic Shapes. Students calculated the perfect length for their sweaters besides having some fun while learning from the master.

they're measuring the length of their heads!

After lunch we dug into Stripes that Are and Stripes that Aren't

Sunday morning was all about Finishing our projects.

And Sunday afternoon was dedicated to dealing with Emergency Measures.

All of us learned much more than we ever anticipated. We laughed, we learned, we said goodbye to this dear Canadian knitting wizard.

Sally Melville Book Signing

2007-11-28T11:24:00.000-08:00

Saturday December 1st 4:30pm

Sally Melville will be at the shop signing her books.

Book 1: The Knit Stitch (features Einstein coat)

Book 2: The Purl Stitch

Book 3: Color

Styles

Purchase any of her books at a 10% discount (Saturday only).

Moving Mud, CEYEBER FIBERS and ButtonJar Knit Designs

2007-11-16T03:38:00.000-08:00

Having recovered from our lovely B&B weekend I wanted to let you know that we now stock Moving Mud buttons, closures and shawl sticks.

Aren't they beautiful? Each one is handcrafted and makes a statement.

While the buttons are very special they are not to be outdone by the delicious new hand-dyed yarns that we recently received from Mama E's C*EYE*BER Fiber. She sent us all 48 colors in her sock yarn and spinning fiber and they are flying out of the shop. Lovely to knit with and the colors......the computer does them no justice.

We received Seasonal Solids (tonal blends ), For the Boys (pictured left) the Elements (variegated earth, wind, fire and water colors) as well as Coordinates. Couldn't snag a photo of Coordinates so this is the deal. You get a total of 430 yards in a variegated color and a second small skein in a solid color that matches for the cuff, heel, toes. Very cute!

All are 80/20 superwash merino and nylon.

We also received 50/50 merino/Tencel tonals (again, sock yard) and last but not least, spinning fiber in your choice of 100% merino, 100% blue faced Leicester and 50/50 merino/Tencel. All are hand-dyed by Erin in the most lovely colors.

Our own Julie Cashin has a line of patterns called ButtonJar Knits. Some of you have already knit one of her fabulous cotton or felted bags (Cotton Tote, King St., Doctor's Bag) or one of her sweet baby sweaters (Baby's First jacket, Koigu Kimono, Top Down Cardigan - think Malabrigo).

We now have her Nutmeg (fingerless)Mitts pattern. Add a touch of pure angora to the edges and you have a very sweet gift for yourself or others.

Sorry - I couldn't figure out how to rotate it.

It's been a busy fall here at the shop. I came in early to work on the new class schedule and newsletter but as always, I got distracted. I think I'll make a cup of tea and REALLY buckle down on the scheduling task. Laura

Bn'B Knitting Retreat Weekend

2007-11-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was our 2nd Bn'B Knitting Retreat weekend. The Chesterfield Inn in New Hampshire was our home away from home and 15 lovely women joined Julie and me for a couple days of knitting, relaxation, fine dining, learning new knitting techniques, finishing projects from the stash and, of course, time for friendship. Oh, yes, there was that little Saturday afternoon walk as well. You know, to build up an appetite for dinner Saturday night. The chocolate dessert was just perfect!

The weather cooperated and we didn't get any of the nasty weather that came up the coast. Just a little bonus. In fact, the weather was so pleasant that we never needed a fire in the living room fireplace. The inn is just so comfy and inviting; several asked me what the next "date" is. I'll work on that just after our big Sally Melville event December 1st & 2nd.
I promised the 2-Timers and the First-Timers first dibs on the weekend.

Julie taught the group how to make her adorable Nutmeg Mitts. You can see how attentive the group is when she demonstrated her "surround and capture" technique. We saw three completed mitts by the end of the weekend and several "in progress". I even managed to finish one for my daughter as a Christmas gift. If our Saturday afternoon stroll was a bit shorter, I might have finished the second one as well.

By Saturday lunchtime, the living room was a mass of knitting bags, yarn and needles. You would have thought we owned the palce! Most of us are in this photo to the right, although a couple folks left early to get on the road. The inn is just a wee bit over one hour from Creative Fibers but we had two adventuresome ladies from New York City.

We hope you will consider joining us for our 3rd Bn'B Knitting Retreat Weekend next spring.

Thanks to all who came, and a special thanks to the Chesterfield Inn for making us feel like we were home.

Rhinebeck: New York Sheep & Wool Festival

2007-10-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

For those of you that missed the Rhinebeck show I have created a mini tour for you. The weather was gorgeous; the perfect day to be outside and amidst the many others who were there to enjoy the sheep auctions, sheep herding events, fiber, yarn and jewelry for sale, food, Ravelry get-together, special events and meeting cool folks.

I wore my mystery stole (photo) and everywhere we went I got stopped and asked about it (mainly those who haven't completed theirs - keep going I'd say, you'll love it when you are done). I was even interviewed for a pod cast so when I know when it will be broadcast, I'll let you know.

Terry wore his " I Work So She Can Knit" shirt

(photo) and he was an absolute hit.

He must have been asked by a dozen ladies if they could take his photo.

Terry and I started in Barn A so I could look at Golding spindles (yes, I bought one - I am almost too scared to try using it). Since we had to pass Socks that Rock (and there was no line to speak of) both Terry and I bought a skein or two. I must say the yarn is as soft as I imagined and the colors are terrific.

*
Terry purchased a lambskin for the baby booties project he is working on (photo).

Let's see, I also purchased a lovely shawl pin from Moving Mud, and a bit of fiber to spin.

We toured the barns to view sheep, alpaca, goats, rabbits (photo) and then got off our feet at the sheep auction. Careful! Scratching your nose might mean going home with a ewe.

After lunch I had the pleasure to meet "Mama E" (Erin) of C*EYE*BER*FIBERS (photo) who is shipping us her gorgeous sock yarn and spinning fiber TODAY! You will be amazed at her colorwork. Of course we ran into several friends and customers. Next time I'll remember Lisa's great idea of bringing a small cooler so I can buy cheese. And wine, organic bread, dip mixes, cookies, etc.

We got off our feet again watching the border collies herd sheep (I forgot to take a picture). If you ever watched the movie Babe, this is the real thing. The dogs are incredible, even with the most stubborn of sheep. Later, there was a dog/frisbee event but we missed that.

The drive to and from over the back roads of Connecticut was a treat as well. The foliage was delightful and just being together on a day off from work was the perfect date.

Back to work! Laura

Starts & Finishes

2007-10-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

This has been an incredible October! I finished Matt's Christmas gift sweater (photo) made out of sock yarn on size 2 needles. I love it! I hope he does too. (I don't believe he reads my blog so I'm not worried about spilling the beans...)

Berroco Jasper coat - I have one more sleeve seam to sew up (it's done - Deb was there) and it' s done - I'm liking it more and more. It's basically 5 rectangles sewn together; very freeform. The yarn is sooooo soft and the color only gets better and better. And I've heard that this yarn actually brightens when you felt it. But I don't think I'll be throwing my coat in the washer to see if this is true.

Rowan Kid Classic cabled pullover - it's all put together; I just need to pick up the neck stitches and do the turtleneck. This is a winner with lovely waistline shaping and large, lazy cables. It will be a class after the holidays (are you ready Val?).

Starts:

Ravelery! I finally received my invite and actually set up three projects before I noticed that I misspelled my username. I don't know how to (or if I want to) delete my username as I might have to get back in line and wait a kazillion months to be re-invited. So maybe I will stick with my (now) silly user name. It's amazing what a difference one little letter can make.

Koigu, lace and wristlet - well, it was going to have beads but I couldn't find anything I liked so I knit a lace pattern instead.

Boxy Jacket - my own design! Half the back is done; more work tonight. It needs a kicky name, not Laura's Boxy Jacket. Well, I could call it the LBJ Jacket and then folks would ask what the LBJ stands for. Any ideas (sight unseen?)

I think that's enough for one month at this point. I need to get some of it into Ravelry. And if you haven't joined, what are you waiting for?

Later, Laura

Cat Bordhi's Coriolis Sock

2007-10-10T09:49:00.000-07:00

While I've been busy knitting the Berroco Jasper coat (blocking as we speak), I've kept busy with a couple of Julie's Nutmeg Mitts trimmed in luscious angora for that special touch and.....my second Coriolis sock.

(I'm having the darndest time getting "spacing" to work. Can someone give me a hint on how to do this in my blog?)

I used a new sock yarn, Maxime Print, from Tahki Stacey Charles which has flecks of pink scattered throughout. Since I adore bead knitting, I added rose beads to the Coriolis swirl. No, I won't wear these with shoes, they are strictly "feet feeling yummy" socks. For the first sock I used a traditional toe up cast on (figure 8). For the 2nd sock I used Cat's moccasin cast on just to challenge myself into learning something new. The second sock goes so much more quickly once you've got the hang of the design. Oh, and I did an attached Icord bind off at the top to be consistent with the swirl.

If I were to do another Coriolis pair, I think I would lean towards a more solid color; I think a variegated yarn would hide the Coriolis too much and after all, that's the beauty of this sock!

Next up! Spindle spinning.... I took the plunge and enrolled in one of our own classes. After the first session I got, well, um, very frustrated and picked it up two days later. I am proud to say that I am no longer spinning super bulky thick and thin. In face, I have a nice little lace weight strand going at the moment. So, keep tuned; I'll show you some of my progress next time.

Matt's Christmas present

2007-09-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

My wonderful son-in-law will finally receive his Christmas sweater present! I'm finishing up the final touches (neckband and hem). As you can see, I used self patterning sock yarn on size 2 needles and he is a healthy 6ft 3in sort of guy. With the shop and all, it's been a couple years in the making. I'm very pleased with it (Terry tried it on last night and the sleeves will be perfect) and I'm also glad it's almost on its way.

I include a bit about my (sometimes) need to knit perfectly; I started striping the sleeves to match the body of the sweater. This meant that I knit 2 rows, broke the yarn, and started the next two rows with the next stripe as the sleeves (at the wrists) are no where near as wide as the body of the sweater. Call me nuts!

Mystery Stole 3

2007-08-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

Here it is! I am so pleased with the results; really, my first serious lace knitting. Sure I've incorporated lace into sweater patterns in the past, but this is the real thing.

The theme is Swan Lake; one end of the stole representing the long neck and beak (top right); the center section (right) and the other end being a wing (bottom right). While the two major characters in Swan Lake would best be represented in white or black, I chose these beautiful colors of Helen's Lace by Lorna's Laces. Some have suggested they are peacock colors. Hmm, that fits into the theme.

Anyway, we have been working diligently to get the new newsletter and class schedule out, class samples ready for photos and placement on the project board, summer yarns rearranged so we have show you the yummy new fall selections and on and on. I can't say it is all done yet but I had a tiny break between sending out emails so I wanted to get this updated for you all to see.

If you are the "least" little bit interested in lace knitting, I have to tell you it is addicting. And knitting along with others on this project was just so much fun. To get you ready for MS4 next year, we are offering two lace classes. One is a one skin scarf if you are the type that just wants to tiptoe into the topic of lace. The other is a triangular shawl that Ellen M. designed. Although it looks complex she has designed it quite simply; it should be done and ready to wear this fall. So, I am off to the land of email and resuming the sending of newsletters, etc....

New Sock Yarn that I hope you will love...

2007-07-31T13:36:00.000-07:00

I forgot to bring in my camera with the pictures of my most recent (vacation) knitting so I thought I would sneak this bit of news in.

I recently ordered sock yarn (and some spinning fiber) from C*EYE*BER FIBER and expect to receive it in early September. Erin hand-dyes her yarn and I do believe she has a keen eye for color. Here's a preview of the order:

sock yarn - 80%superwash merino, 20% nylon in all 48 colorways
sock yarn - 70% superwash merino, 30% Tencel (adds a nice little shine to the yarn) in 12 colorways
fiber - Blue Faced Leicester - assorted
fiber - 100% Merino - assorted
fiber - 50% Merino, 50% Tencel (nice to practice with before moving on to silk) - assorted

As so many of you enjoy knitting socks I am always on the lookout for new sources of quality yarn. The bad news is that Blue Moon Fiber Arts (Socks that Rock) informed me earlier this summer that at their current production level they would not consider me for their yarn until at least the end of this year. That is why I picked up C*EYE*BER Fiber. If you have other sock yarn favorites, Please let me know and I will hunt them down.

Now, back to composing "what I did on my summer vacation" complete with photos.

Summer Vacation

2007-07-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

OK , it was more like "summer long weekend" but I did manage to get away with my devoted husband "Terry", our dear friends and thier two adorable children who happen to be my god-children. When I woke up this morning I seemed to be thinking (or was it dreaming?) about what my essay would be had my teacher asked....what did you do on your summer vacation?

I guess it was a mix of playing with D. and V. (my 6 year old god-children; whose identities are to remain anonymous) , knitting and eating lots of great food and not necessarily in that order as you will soon see.

D. and V.'s parents (who are non-knitters) were constantly amazed when I pulled out yet another knitting project. Actually, I packed 5 projects for this mini-vacation:

1) my mystery shawl

2) sleeves for a Rowan cabled pullover that Val wants as a class project

3) a fingerless mitten in new yarn - Llama/Silk

4) my Berroco coat with the new Jasper yarn (getting too big and warm to knit on these days)

5) sleeves for my son-in-law's Christmas or birthday gift - whichever is closest to when I finish this project.

Vermont Day Trip

2007-07-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

mom and cria (baby alpaca)

curious alapca (click on image)

Yesterday, several of us (32 to be exact) spent a wonderful summer day in Vermont. A guided tour of Green Mountain Spinnery was fascinating! We were all amazed at how many steps and hard labor is involved in turning sheep's wool into beautiful knitting yarn. I heard several comments along the line of "I'll never complain about the cost of nice yarn ever again". A little bit of shopping in Putney, lunch at the Putney Inn and then on to our adventure: IBIWISI Alpaca Farm. Our motor coach couldn't make it up the driveway (a very steep and narrow dirt road) so we walked off our lunch and then some! Cathy who owns the farm (Now she's an interesting lady..a Midwesterner who moved east to work in Manhattan only to give it all up to move to Vermont alone to start her farm. Well, she met a nice gentleman, who happens to be very handy and they are celebrating their first wedding anniversary today!) I digress... Cathy has a herd of about 30 alpacas and there were 2 crias (babies) that were only 2 and 4 days old for us to adore. Some of the women hand dyed their own alpaca, others meandered the farm and we all relaxed under a perfect summer sky. It was a lovely day indeed!

the boys...check out his eyes!

Sally Melville is coming to Creative Fibers

2007-07-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars for Saturday & Sunday December 1st and 2nd. Sally will be teaching four different workshops in addition to a book signing; maybe an evening talk on Sat. as well. Or, would you be interested in having dinner with her? Let us know so we can structure her time with us.

Workshops being offered:

Saturday December 1st 9am - noon

First Choices/Basic Shapes - no matter how advanced or accomplished we are, we run the risk of producing garments that look awful! Why? We make a decision in the first 20 minutes of the project that dooms it to failure. What are theses decisions? Yarn, color, stitch pattern and silhouette. Skill level - anyone

Saturday December 1st 1:30pm - 4:30pm

Stripes and Stripes that Aren't - Stripes...oh so easy to knit, but who can wear them? The truth is that everyone can both knit and wear them. This workshop explores the ways to build stripes and match stripes. And then you'll play with simple stitch patterns that knit like stripes but don't look like stripes! Skill level - intermediate.

Sunday December 2nd 9am - noon
Borders & Buttonholes explores the best techniques for these finishing that make such a difference in our knitted garments. The class covers basic maneuvers, four or more basic edge stitch patterns and the very best buttonholes. Participants will never again struggle with instructions to "pick up and knit 137 sts along right front" nor with the question of how to make virtually invisible buttonholes. Skill level - beyond beginner

Sunday December 2nd 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Emergency Measures - sometimes the most insight comes from the struggle one faces when something goes REALLY wrong! But there are remedies for most any kind of disaster in knitting. Using these can turn a problem into a wearable garment while teaching us to be more intuitive and more confident knitters. Skill level - beyond beginner

Workshops are 3 hours, $75, and may include pre-work. More details to follow.

Mystery Shawl Progress

2007-07-02T07:49:00.000-07:00

Last Friday evening we hosted a CastOn party for several knitters who are knitting the 3rd Mystery Shawl. We had a great time, mistakes were made, Lucy's invaluable "forensic" knitting skills put us back on the right path and yummy desserts were shared. Ann came the furthest from Danbury, although, Lucy came from Massachusetts so it may be too close to call. We decided that to keep the momentum going we are meeting each Friday evening in July from 6-9pm. If any of you would like to join, please visit the Pink Lemon Twist website. I believe Melanie is closing off membership (free) on July 6th so you do still have time to join the fun.

In the upper right corner you can see my progress. That's 99 rows of lace knitting on size 4 needles. The piece is approximately 8 x 12 inches - we obviously have many more rows in front of us. That's the fun of it; we don't know what's next until Melanie posts the new set of directions. We can't wait for Friday's!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysterystole3/

Mystery Shawl

2007-06-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have not heard about this, there is still time to join. Designer "Melanie" of Pink Lemon Twist Patterns has designed a shawl - her third mystery shawl. Each week (starting tomorrow, Friday June 29th) she will provide instructions for part of the shawl. Each week you will receive more directions until, (voila!) your shawl is completed. It is sort of like making a jig saw puzzle without seeing the picture. For more information, I have included Melanie's website where you can get more info and join the group. There is no fee.

And, tomorrow night from 7-11pm Creative Fibers is hosting a Cast On Party so we can all get the first piece of the shawl going successfully. Bring you yarn and needles, your beverage of choice and a snack to share. It should be great fun to unite Mystery Shawl knitters in our area; I look forward to seeing you. Again, no fee.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PinkLemonKnits/message/9

Limited Edition Tofutsies

2007-06-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

We just received one bag of the Limited Edition Tofutsies yarn from Southwest Trade. We have 10 skeins of June although I would call it raspberry. It comes with a free sock pattern and we are offering it to you. When it is gone, it is gone for good (well, for at least one year according to SouthWest Trade). You also have access to a yahoo group dedicated to this sock yarn.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tofutsies_sock_club/

PS: the color featured in the photo appears more purple than what is in my office.

TNNA Trade Show Extravaganza

2007-06-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

Last week, Terry (devoted husband and knitter), Julie (employee and designer) and I visited Columbus, Ohio for the fall preview of knitting products and toys.

My mind is a muddle. I attended 6 classes (more later) and there were 2400 exhibitors. OK, we didn't visit them all but there was lots to see.

But first, TRENDS. In the Friday night fashion show (and repeated on the exhibition floor) we saw was the pendulum swinging back to traditional beautiful knitting. Cables, pattern stitches, lots of socks, and coats (great for New England and if you don't want a coat, stop earlier for a brilliant sweater.) Gone are the extravagant novelty yarn garments. Also, luxury fiber blends abound. Yarns featuring alpaca or llama paired with merinos or silk were everywhere.

Classes - well I started out with a 6 hour class with Cat Bordhi on sock architecture. Truly, this woman is brilliant and an excellent teacher. In a nutshell, until now, there have been two sock architectures: eastern (a tube knit from the toe up; later slit at the heel so stitches can be picked up and a heel created. Handy if the heel wears out. Just unravel and knit a new heel). Then there is the western method with heel flaps and gussets. Now we have Cat's 3rd architecture which can be top down or toe up. It all has to do with placing increases/decreases to create the right shape. In class we knit baby socks; one in each direction. And the best part for you 2 circular needle knitters or Magic Loop folks....the Addi circular lace needles are the best! So, what could make me happier? The UPS man just delivered our recent lace needle order; 24in size 1 and 2. (we also have other sizes but this was the first delivery of the 24inchers).

I spent 3 class intervals with Sally Melville. Like Cat, Sally is a brilliant designer with strength in design, construction and knitting technique. With Sally I learned multi colored knitting with multiple hands. We knit with 2 yarns held in the right hand, or the left, one color in each hand, 2 colors around the neck, one around the neck and one in the right hand (or the left). Which means we learned the Portuguese Purl. I'm not certain but that may also be the Peruvian Purl.

A class with Lily Chin is always fast, fun and fanciful! We did lots of little tips and techniques.

Lastly, a class on the modified continental knitting method and I think I have exhausted knitting technique for some time. They all have their purpose, and especially if you have arthritis, you may want to consider a different knitting/purling method. I'd be happy to teach you.

Terry and Julie also took classes that I won't go into right now. Maybe they should have a blog?

Well, the list of yarn, needles, notions and books to be published is daunting. I think our best find of the whole show though is a portable washing machine (that requires no plumbing) so we can felt items right in the shop. We ordered one and are so excited to give this a try. Keep an eye out for this new addition. Maybe it needs a name....any ideas?

Oh, and one last highlight. Seeing Debbie Bliss and Louisa Harding was a treat. Debbie visited our shop last yearin June; we were honored to host her. Louisa Harding is a dear and we love her Mother and Babies book featuring natural yarn selections.

Lots of new items ordered for the fall. We will keep you updated!
now, back to the mountain of paperwork generated by these orders.....

Blue Moon Fiber Arts sock yarn

2007-05-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention in the previous email that I have been diligently trying (for over a year) to get Blue Moon sock yarn into the shop. And I will keep trying. I know that many of you love to buy this yarn. You can buy it online but wouldn't it be nice to see it and hold it before you buy it? (Internet colors just aren't representative of the real thing). So I will persist in getting Tina to make us the 1st East Coast shop to sell Socks that Rock! Stay tuned!

Rainy Day

2007-05-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

Did I say rainy? There is a tornado watch here in Connecticut and the store is empty, so...I am going through the Retailer's Convention Guide (first week of June) and deciding which vendors to check out for the shop. This year there are 2076 vendors, big small, old, new...so many to select from. If there are any vendors that you are familiar with and would like to see in the shop, please let me know. I am always on the lookout for new offerings and you are my best resource!

One that I know I will be checking out is Moving Mud, from Stowe, VT. Seems ironic that I am travelling to Columbus, Ohio to speak with them. Their glass buttons and shawl pins are so unique!

By the way, more Addi Lace needles arrived today in sizes 32 and 40 inches. Size 24 inch needles are still on order; hopefully they will ship soon. I think you will like them for knitting socks if you are making 2 on 2 circular needles.

Learning (and Knitting)

2007-05-04T11:41:00.000-07:00

I came across a page I had ripped out of Woman's Day 9/14/2004. Here are some excerpts from that article that you might enjoy.... (my additions in blue)

"Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere" Chinese proverb

In general we retain:
10% of what we read
20% of what we hear and
90% of what we teach someone else to do So next time you want to learn something, trick yourself by saying you are learning it so you can teach someone else. That will get/keep your attention.

4 Ways to live and learn (and knit)
1. Second guess what you already know - things around you will always be changing, so just accept that you'll never have all the answers.
2. Read (or Knit) a lot! Books, magazines, patterns. The resources are never ending and fairly inexpensive.
3. Embrace your mistakes. Most of us learn more from our failures than our successes.
4. Stop thinking there's an end in sight. There will always be more to know (especially with knitting). That's the beauty of it.

Try learning one new trick or technique during the month of May! Laura

Join Us for a Day Trip to Vermont - Saturday July 14th, 2007

2007-04-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

Green Mountain Spinnery - Lunch - Ibiwisi Alpaca Farm Tour
This should be an educational and fun day for those who spin/knit/crochet and those who just haven't learned yet. Board the bus at the shop and enjoy the day. We'll tour Green Mountain Spinnery and make purchases at their shop in the morning, then enjoy a leisurely lunch at the Putney Inn before heading to Ibiwis Alpaca Farm. Besides touring the two barns and seeing these adorable creatures up close, you may want to paint your own fiber to create your own custom yarn.

Well behaved children are invited to join us on a trip that should be educational and fun.

$80 includes the bus, lunch, taxes and tips.

(Children under 12 years who select from the children's menu are $65)

Fiber purchases at Green Mountain and Ibiwisi are on you.

Departure time is 9am - estimated return time is 5pm.

http://www.spinnery.com/

http://www.alpacanation.com/farmsandbreeders/03_viewfarm.asp?name=10686

Photo of the Spring Fling Bag

2007-04-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

Here's my first attempt at adding photos to the blog. This is the Red version of the Sping Fling bag; there's also a green version. Check it out.

2007-04-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

I broke down today and created our shop blog. Probably because I came back from our 1st Annual B&B Knitting Retreat Weekend on such a high that I wanted to share it with others.

Fifteen guests joined Julie, Terry and me at the Nutmeg Inn in Wilmington, Vermont for a weekend of knitting, relaxation, yarn shopping and indulging in delicious food. We all left knowing each other better (Elizabeth came from NYC not knowing anyone other than me) and lots of knitting (and crochet) got done. Someone said (on Saturday afternoon) "if I were home right now, I'd be cleaning" which brought several nods around the room.

Julie from J.Knits came and shared her lovely hand dyed yarns with us. We shopped!

Julie from Creative Fibers taught a crochet lesson on the Spring Fling bag. Ten adventurous knitters tried their hand at that and made excellent progress over the course of the weekend. About half the group had never lifted a crochet hook before the class so we were all quite impressed with the progress.

Photos are coming and yes, there will be another weekend; I'm working on it. Until then, I've booked a Day Trip to Vermont on Saturday, July 14th. Hop the bus at the shop and tour Green Mountain Spinnery, have lunch at an inn and then tour an alpaca farm before heading home. Sounds like fun and the alpacas are soooo adorable. We might even see a cria (baby alpaca) if we're lucky.