Hilarious

I just read this Yarn Harlot post and had to share it with you. I've had days like this, have you?:

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2010/08/27/a_pox.html

WIP's

It's been a while since I've showed you what I'm working on!

Just finished the Woodstock Knits Geometric Silk Scarf Kit:

Lovely yarn! Still needs to be blocked and it will then be wider and the pattern will show up better. The kit comes with 4 beads to attach to the corners of the scarf - so cute. Final picture will be posted...

Still plugging away on the Mythos (for the Knit a Long) and I'm so happy with it! The first side is done:

For those who aren't familiar with it, the part in the lower left corner is the cuff/sleeve; the part to the right is the right front and the part in the upper section of the photo is the right back. Once the two sides are done, they are grafted together in the center back. Pretty neat huh?


I've just started the second side:



And here is my Undulating Waves beaded scarf, getting knit up as a sample for the upcoming class!:



Close-up of the beads:

Once it is blocked, all the bumps will go away. It is really a gorgeous scarf. I'm using the Periwinkle Sheep cashmere/merino blend sock yarn and it is SOOOOOOO yummy. The pattern for this scarf will hopefully be in the shop soon! Did you know that the designer of this scarf, Laura Nelkin, is also the designer of the Mythos cardigan????


Customer Show and Tell:

This is Becky with her Echo Flower Shawl :

She came to the shop for the first time yesterday (would have been nice if I got a picture of her face, right?) and is an avid spinner and a knitter. I forgot to ask her what she knit this with. Gorgeous - I put it in my Ravelry queue!

And here are Kim's beautiful beaded scarf made with Berroco Ultra Alpaca (mmmmmm... alpaca):


And her pretty drop stitch shawl made with a cottony Noro whose name I can't remember(!):


Deirdre and Dorah both came into show me their completed Tappan Zee cardi's yesterday (the day that I happened to be wearing my own Tappan Zee!), and to get buttons/shawl pin for them. I completely forgot to take pictures but wanted to tell you that they are gorgeous!!! I'll get pictures the next time I see them.

We're all winners!

Wow - what gorgeous entries to the fair in the Sheep Barn!

Word is that the judge said the quality of work was very high compared to other years - what a compliment to those who entered.

And here are all the entries from Spinning Room customers:

Look at all those ribbons! Congratulations to everyone. For those of you who didn't enter, try it next year -- the entry fees are very small and it gives a great sense of satisfaction to see your project up there on display (whether you win a ribbon or not!).

The Spinning Bee was Saturday at noon.

There were wheel spinners:

And drop spindlers:

In the end, Carole Foster (from Foster Sheep Farm: www.fostersheepfarm.com ) won the spinning wheel contest:

And, after a tie-breaking spin-off (yes, Deb Guard and Christine Sitterly tied at 30 yards spun each!), Christine won the drop spindle contest:

Congratulations to Carole and Christine who each won Frabjous Fibers roving, donated by The Spinning Room!

On Tuesday, a group of us headed to Wiawaka Holiday House on Lake George (www.wiawaka.org) :

What a nice day we had, knitting on the porch of the main building, in the comfy rocking chairs:

Then, after lunch, heading down to the water.....

And knitting on the dock....

Here we all are:

It was an absolutely gorgeous weather day and very relaxing.

A tradition at Wiawaka is to greet the Minne-ha-ha, the tourist boat that goes around Lake George.

No, it's not just waving..... it's holding these signs that are kept in the boat house!

The boat captain tells the people on the boat about Wiawaka as they go by, he toots his horn at us and we all wave at each other wildly.

I'm sure we'll be going again next year - join us!!!!

Customer Show and Tell:

Deborah's pretty mobius cowl (her second one!):

Jan, hiding behind her gorgeous Noro Leaf Shawl, made with Silk Garden:

And a very pretty shawl made with cob web yarn, by a woman who came to the shop for the first time and I forgot to get her name!:

And Patti's very adorable fruit caps made for a set of triplets!:

No camera, lots of fun

What's going on on the homefront?
Paul and I went to see Annie Get Your Gun at the Park Playhouse in Washington Park last Saturday. It was so much fun. I never knew the songs "There's No Business Like Show Business" and "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better" were from this musical! The play is now over but I highly recommend you go next summer. A nice evening outside and the musicals are always great. As usual, forgot my camera.
http://www.parkplayhouse.com/

I also went to visit my mom and my sister and nephews in Connecticut. Went to a great hibachi restaurant for my nephew's 12th birthday. So much fun. As usual, forgot my camera.

What's going on around the shop?
The Altamont Fair is this week -- several of the Spinning Room's customers submitted items and won ribbons! If you go to the fair, stop by the Sheep Barn to see the items on display. Also, The Spinning Bee is this Saturday at noon. Do you spin? Join in! (drop spindle and spinning wheel categories).

Fall yarns are making their way in. Start planning your fall and holiday projects! Bear with us as we move the shop around to make room for these yarns. If you don't see what you are looking for just ask us!

What's on my needles?
I'm plugging away on my Mythos cardigan. I spent some time at my mom's on my "weekend" and got a lot done on the first side. Finally made it past all those sizing hurdles!

I also started working on a shop sample of a new Woodstock Knits kit that is coming, the Twisted Circle scarf, made with their beautiful alpaca yarn. No pics yet, since I only have a couple of rows.

Finally I'm going to be casting on for the third time for the upcoming Beaded Scarf class, the Undulating Waves scarf. I started twice with a yarn that just wasn't working. Now, I'll be working with The Periwinkle Sheep's new cashmere sock yarn! Yummy.


What are Spinning Room customers knitting?
Kathy's adorable baby socks made with Maizy:



Deborah's Mobius cowl, made with Silky Wool:



Sally's gorgeous Blooming Cotton Scarf made with Cotton Rich DK:




Stevie's adorable purple flamingo (the body is knit around a golf ball!) made with leftover Cotton Rick Dk from her Blooming Cotton Scarf!:



Yvette's pretty hat (a pattern in the new KNITS magazine) made with handspun yarn:




Mary Kate's very pretty Noro Leaf Hat made with Noro Kuryeyon:




Annie's Orientation Hat collection (for incoming international students at UAlbany) made with various yarns including Ella Rae Classic, Noro Kureyon and Malabrigo:



Susan's gorgeous, soft drop-stitch shawl made with alpaca yarn:

Finally, don't forget that you can make comments on the blog! At the end of the entry you will see "0 comments" (or "3 comments", depending on how many people have commented!). Click on that and you will be brought to a screen where you can type in your comment. You will see "Choose an identity" below the box where you have typed your comment. You can click on "Name/URL" if you'd like to leave your name, or just click "anonymous". Sometimes it's easiest to click on "anonymous" and just sign your name in the comment box. So, comment away!

The unthinkable

You aren't going to believe it. So I'll have to show you a picture:

I finished this baby jacket AND PUT THE BUTTONS ON!!!!!!

I know. Unbelieveable. But how cute is that? The little sheep buttons? I know....So. Cute.

So much knitting, so little time!

I've got so much knitting to do for the upcoming fall classes!
Here is one of my works in progress, the VERY adorable hooded baby jacket:

Just one more sleeve and the hood to do (oh, and put on buttons... yikes!). It is a very quick knit since it's made with chunky yarn. So. Cute. (sizes are 3m0s, 6mos, 12mos).

Next up is the hat for the Basic Hat Class. Then the toe-up sock. Then the Undulating Waves beaded scarf.

I'm still working on the Mythos for the knit-a-long but it's coming slowly since I've got these other things to work on. Hopefully those of you participating in the knit-a-long are making better progress than I am. I saw Sheila's WIP last night and it looks great!

And for those of you who were wondering what Pat (the winner of the Tour de Fleece prize) was working on for the tour.....

Finishing the knitting of these felted clogs for her son. Congratulations again Pat!


Show and Tell:
Jana's gorgeous Traveling Woman Shawl, made with Happy Feet:


Mary Jo's beautiful felted hat, made with Noro Kureyon (she's making a second one!):


Linda's first-ever adult socks made with Cascade 220 Superwash (she has several more planned!):

Tina's pretty tank top (ugh - can't remember the yarn, sorry!):

Karyn hasn't been in for a while so she brought all the projects she's finished recently. Look at these gorgeous shawls!:

And this pretty scarf made with Periwinkle Sheep's silk/wool fingering weight yarn (coming soon to the shop!):

And these great cotton bags: