A summer tee for my honey...

This June, Scarlett graduated from Nursery school, where does the time go? I feel like I blinked, and all of a sudden my baby girl has collected her "diploma" and is off to kindergarten (a big sigh). Going to work in your mama's yarn shop every day means, hmmm, what can my mom knit for me now? Well, she certainly needed something new and fabulous for all of her hard-earned achievements. After browsing through few patterns together on ravelry, we settled on this yoke top, by Knitterific.com. I figured this would be fantastic out of Blue Sky skinny cotton, with skinny stripes of course. I couldn't be happier with the fit, and Scarlett loves her new top!! Check it out...



This pattern was super easy and I loved that unlike most top down sweaters, there were only 2 rows on increases done in the ribbing around the neck, very cool. The skinny cotton is so nice to knit on a size 6 needle, it almost feels stretchy, and it's cool enough to knit with in this beautiful sunshine that has finally found it's way!! Hope you're enjoying your summer so far!!!

Baby Stella...

Our neighbors, whom we love very much welcomed their second child this past week, for them- it meant paint the nursery, stock pile the diapers, and buy lots of clothes with ribbons and lace. For me of course, it meant stand in front of the KPPPM for 3 hours until I decide on a color, and then contemplate on which pattern for another 3 hours... I was spoiled a bit, I must say, with this last shipment of Koigu, the colors were insanely gorgeous, each and every one. I chose the Dress with Eyelets, from Debbie Bliss, and I could hardy resist this magenta multi. I crocheted a shell stitch on the botton of the dress out of a solid Koigu, it was perfect. It was received extremely well, and it's safe to say, there was even a tear or two. That completed the gift...

This week has been crazy at the shop, with the arrival of Spud and Chloe, we officially have half of the shop dedicated entirely to Blue Sky, Spud and Chloe, and all of it's yummy goodness... The patterns are incredible, the yarn? It speaks for itself, I'm casting on tomorrow night- you didn't expect me to decide on a color in one whole work day, now did you? I don't know what more you really need, Blue sky has covered all bases, the yarn defines perfection, you must come to look and feel!! I'm so excited to go to work tomorrow!

Pembroke!

I woke up this morning to Pamie's email "Did you see him? Did you see the new site?" I was so excited to find it, I feel like I've been waiting forever for Petite Purls to debut their first issue! I was so tickled when Kirsten had asked if she could borrow baby Wes to model her AMAZING cabled vest- "Pembroke". Take a look, and check out the website. The patterns are free (I know, I can't believe it either, it's too good to be true)! The sweater will be in my shop soon for all to see and admire, along with plenty of Dream in Color to around!!

Whisper is so sweet...

I finished this fabulous little sweater last week (ok, maybe 2 weeks ago), but I haven't had much time to sit and blog lately. Hanna Fettig's "Whisper Cardigan" is a lovely pattern to knit. It was featured in the Spring 2009 Interweave, and seriously, I'm knitting another one- no doubt. Koigu? Ooooh, Jitterbug in Oyster Blush or Vatican Pie. It's knit in one piece, no sewing at all- what a treat... Oh, and the Malabrigo lace, I love it, I'm hooked completely- we just got some more in, and the colors are amazing. This is Tortuga, I'm more than happy with it (in case you can't tell)... If you come by to check out the lace, be sure to look for Indigo- it's really pretty...

Yeah! It's Carol!!

A few weeks ago, I was so delightfully surprised to hear from Carol Cypher! If you know Carol, you would agree, that just the sound of her voice is simply enough to brighten your day. Since having the baby, things have been a bit hectic, and I not always the best in keeping in touch. It often seems that there are never enough hours in the day, so I was really happy to hear from her (maybe even a little relieved). She called just to touch base and say hello, I was so glad. This week, however, I had a minute to give her a call, and decided to ask her to come down and visit, perhaps schedule a workshop, it's been too long. I miss Carol, and I also miss the felters who come from near and far, just to spend the afternoon felting together in my shop! It's always a blast. We decided on hand felted purses and vessels- how fabulous! Carol comes on June 28th from 12-5... There is no time to waste, if you want to sign up, do it asap, her workshops fill really quick!!! Here are a couple of examples... Pretty amazing!!!

Finally...

So often in the shop, crocheters fall in love with a knitted garment and ask me to convert the pattern from knit to crochet, and visa versa. I'd love to, and for the most part I have no problem figuring it out for myself- however, I'm not sure that I feel too confident passing it along to someone else. Luckily, the book "Knit or Crochet" by Margaret Hubert is complete with hook and needle instructions for 15 projects. Finally, there are options for everyone, very cool!

Don't ask me how this happens, but there seem to be a few books out there, that have in fact been out for some time now, that somehow, I've never seen! I don't know how this happens, but it does, like "Knitalong", by Larissa Golden Brown and Martin John Brown. Hello? What? This is a fabulous book!! Someone in the shop happened to be knitting "The Entomology Mittens" (so amazing) that are featured in the book, and I fell in love with them so I had to browse through it. It just so happens, that this book also holds the pattern for the next throw on my list, the "Barn Raising Quilt". I love this quilt thanks to Pamie! Take a look, this is a picture of the blanket from the book, knit from sock yarn scraps- to die for if you ask me, I must have this!!!

I think my favorite favorite favorite book right now, has to be "Pet Projects: The Animal Knits Bible" by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne. Not only are there beautiful and unique projects for your pets, like a hamster house and party collars for your pups, there are other projects- such as my favorite, the knitted wire bird feeder! This is the coolest, so Home Depot here I come- like this Sunday!! I love the horse blanket too, so so pretty... Even if you don't have a pet of your own, I think it's a really beautiful book. I'm not exactly a "cat lover", but I have to say the mouse blanket is pretty adorable!!!

My girlie girl...

I was finally able to finish Scarlett's "Monica" tank from knitty this past weekend. We were really hoping to snap some silly photos outside, maybe on a sunny day next to the start of our garden, but..... it seems like we would have to wait until next week to do that! Oh sun, where are you already? I'm listening to the pouring rain right now as I type and my hands are freezing! She tried it on though, and it is oh so cute, so I let her wear it tonight when she was playing with her dolls. She absolutely loves it, it's super girlie (and a cinch to knit). She picked out the colors (Dk cotton from Rowan), if only she could wear it, over a tee shirt this weekend, perhaps.

Happy Mother's Day, (and happy knitting to of course)!!