From the trenches

By means of an iPhone, an iTouch and the Knit Purl server, we bring you images of the booth at Madrona:

And even a "closeup":

How cool is that? The Festival just started this morning, and will go through Sunday. You can see Darcy and Sandy Kay above. There are also more Madrona photos here, in which you might spot slivers of Micah and Sandy B (who, it seems, were a little more elusive).

Next, Micah finally relinquished his photos from Ruth's workshops...

Oooh, pretty. Love the Fair Isle hats. And Ruth's beautiful colorwork shawl:

Simply gorgeous. We now can sell the pattern, if you (like me) couldn't take the workshop but just love the design. Anyway. Back to pictures from Ruth's classes:

Though, I'm afraid that since Micah took the photos, I can't really tell you much about them. Sorry. They're certainly pretty... He put together a photo collection, if you'd like to see more of Ruth's workshops. It should be mentioned, while we're discussing Ruth and Madrona, that (through this weekend) we'll be offering a kit for Ruth's Summer Shawl. The kit includes the recommended yarns, Kauni W-EG and Kauni RR7, as well as the pattern and free shipping. Drop by our booth or call us for details.

In less exciting, but still interesting, news - we have another crane (and a half). We've been trying to knit some of our own up for the collection and they're quite fun to make. This might be addicting. I don't have a photo... maybe next time.

And, on that note, it's time to go and set up for tonight's Sip 'n' Stitch - we hope we'll see you here!

end of week round-up

Let's pretend it's Thursday, eh? Yesterday was New Year's Day and I can't remember why I couldn't post on Tuesday, but it's been that kind of week.

First and foremost, the promised "Gina's socks" (modeled by Gina on Monday):

Made out of ShibuiKnits Sock in ManBlue. Knit on size 1.5 (2.5mm) Addi Turbo circs at a gauge of 8 sts & 12 rows per inch. The pattern was something I made up, but am rewriting because I like it so much.

Next, we have Trish and her awesome self-designed funky hat:

Made with ShibuiKnits Merino Worsted in "Spectrum". I'm afraid we didn't get any more details than that, sorry!

Then, let's see, we had a visit from da babies:

Which I had to share because of the gratuitous cuteness factor.

It should be mentioned that they came by with their daddy to pick up this year's OFB Food Drive donation box (to drop off at the OFB):

Which, I am told, weighed in at 90lbs. A fact I find rather disheartening as we collected over 130lbs last year during a food drive that lasted less than a week. Maybe we'll do better next time.

In less depressing news, we have the whatsit prototypes:

The Whatsit (once it is properly named) will be a Knit Purl pattern, which is worn like this:

(modeled by Darcy)

Cool, huh?

But I can't tell you too much about it yet, as the patterns aren't finished and it still doesn't have a name.

Moving on, to... sock club SPOILERS. Before proceeding, let it be know that you were warned.

The January 2009 kit is available for members to pick up in the store:

Out-of-town members' packages have already been shipped.

Whoo, what a week!

Regular blogging schedule should resume next Tuesday, I promise. It should also be mentioned that my New Year's resolution for the blog is to get more coworkers involved, so expect (or hope) to see posts from knitters other than myself here... eventually.

Rethinking the Blog

I’ve gotta rethink this blog thing.

Love them though I may, customers are interfering with my yarn hoarding.

Do you notice something peculiar about this photo?

No? Okay, how about this one:

That’s right folks, it’s missing.

I suppose I made a tactical error in announcing my new favorite yarn as Habu Textiles’ Bamboo. One day it’s there happily smiling at me with a come-hither expression the next day it’s gone.

Not to worry, I’ve been assured by my commander-in-chief more supplies will arrive soon. In the interim, we will all just have to survive on these succulent beauties:

Yeah, I know. They look like bathing beauties basking in the sun. I believe the technical term for this sort of attraction is “Homina-homina-homina”. It’s Hand Maiden’s Sea Silk and these skeins are the “off” dye lots. Fearless Leader, a.k.a. Darcy, ordered a little extra so customers could have more choices for the Tuscan Lace Shawl class with Amy Singer. Like the Bamboo, it’s completely RAI approved.

For the rookies out there, that stands for “Roll Around In”.

Such yarns include: Alchemy Yarns’ Bamboo, Joseph Galler Yarns’ Pashmina, ShibuiKnits’ Baby Alpaca DK, and Windy Valley Muskox’s Suri Alpaca. A yarn so scrumptious your first inclination is to rub it on every part of your body (for test purposes of course). Hence: Roll Around In.

I suppose I will just have to drown my sorrows in another company’s yarn. I’ll cope somehow.

Beginnings

It seems with every year there are fewer and fewer “beginning” moments but surpluses of “been-there-done-that” moments. It’s painful to realize the trend can only continue.

Last week, two new knitters completed their first hats. Do you remember the thrill of that first half-sphere of warm yummy goodness? What was the texture? What was the color? Mine was an acrylic, fingering weight, hombre pink hideousness. (sigh) I loved that hat.

Tiffani Shakespeare completed hers out of ShibuiKnits “Baby Alpaca DK” in Mulberry. It was her first knitting project. She withstood the pain of the cast-on. She bravely battled the double pointed needles. She disregarded the friends who said her hat would be ready just in time for the summer heat.

Sandy and I had the thrill of showing her how to cinch up the last stitches, and with the ends neatly woven in she gingerly tried on her rolled brim hat. It was stunning. No really, a top notch job.

Thwack! She plunked down her money for more purple yarn. This time it was for Louisa Harding “Nautical Cotton”. Then she strutted in an Antonio Fargas “Fly guy-esque” kind of way out the door into the rain. We live in Oregon people; what summer heat?

The other new knitter was Winter Mcleod. She is going to be a fashion designer someday and she has the right name for the business. Say it with me folks: Winter Mcleod. Sounds posh doesn’t it?

Anyway, she finished a baby hat for a brand new relative and later eyeballed the worsted weight wall. Again, say it with me folks: Worsted weight wall. Hmm, that sounds posh as well.

It was exciting to share their “beginnings” and as I think about it, I realize I still get twitter-pated when I see new yarn or begin a project.

Right now, I am all about the Habu “Habu Bamboo”. Sandy plotzed over the Hand Maiden “Big Sea Wool” in Blackberry. Darcy, as cool and serene as Lake Tahoe, purred (I kid you not) when the Hanne Falkenberg kits arrived. I foresee new projects in our future.

Although there are fewer of them, we will still have beginnings. This blog is new and I’m just beginning my blogging adventure. So, comment on your favorite new project or yarn. If you still have them, post those memories of your first fiber art related experience. With your help, I hope the beginning of this new relationship with you is as memorable as your first project.