TNNA Shopping Trip for Creative Fibers fans...

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

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

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

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

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

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

We received several new colors of Madelinetosh fingering today including the ever popular “tart” - a gorgeous red if I do say so myself.
.
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