Sunday, November 20, 2011

Pullin' a Yarn Harlot

So, most of you know that Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka The Yarn Harlot) travels alot. If you read her blog, you know that she knits and also works on her computer on ALL of her flights. Well...I pulled a Yarn Harlot and I uploaded pictures for the blog during my flight to Florida. Because the connection was so slow, I also knit while the pictures were uploading. But I did not knit socks...that would be what Ms. McPhee would do. I've been knitting my Noro Striped scarf. The only thing I didn't do was take a picture of my knitting and my computer on the tray table of the airplane. But, I ran out of time on the plane so I wasn't able to do that. And...once I got off the plane, I promptly forgot that I hadn't posted yet! So, it's the night before Thanksgiving and I just remembered. So, I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving. Don't forget to stop in the shop this weekend to take a break from the malls and the traffic. Remember that Saturday is Small Business Saturday too so be sure to patronize your favorite small business this Saturday and through the holiday season.

So...pretty much all I have below is customer show and tell. But I do have to confess, I've left my notes somewhere in the shop and I don't remember who owns some of the items below. So, if it's yours and I forgot, please accept my apologies and comment below.

This is Shiela's Boogie vest, I think. I hope I'm right on that one.


And I'm sorry but I've forgotten whose Irish Hiking Scarf and hat this is. Oh wait...it's...oh shoot...I just forgot. I can picture who it is but can't remember her name...so sorry.



Kathy L's Pavement Scarf and 2 Noro hats. So nice!



And her beautiful sweater from the Vintage Modern Knits book made out of Cascade 220 Sport. This picture does not do it justice. The cabling on this is just gorgeous.



Nancy C's blanket made for herself out of Encore. Perfect for those upcoming chilly nights.


The next 3 pictures are Flora's and Yvette wrote everything down for me about each item and I can't find the note. Guess it's been a little hectic. They are all beautiful Flora!








Melissa and her sock made during the Socks 101 class. Very nice...now onto the second one!

Jane's Noro hat. She added the earflaps. Isn't it cute?


More from Kathy L. Two Temple Cats Hats made during class here. I love these hats.

And Mari's Temple Cats Hat, also made in class here at the shop. And, her Knitted Beaded Ball made during the Charity Knit-Along this past weekend.


Have a good week everyone and a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Be Our Guest

On Wednesday night at the knit-in, we welcomed Emilia Laime, Director of the La Imillia Knitting Group in Arani, Bolivia. That's her in the hat (which was crocheted...I think...out of thin thread and then coated to make it strong...wow!) and her translator and business associate Tamara Stenn who owns KUSIKUY Clothing Company in Brattleboro, VT. KUSIKUY commissions La Imillia to knit designs out of the native Alpaca from Bolivia. These hand knitted items are then sold a boutiques and high end specialty stores in NYC and LA.


Emilia's work was just gorgeous and what was even more amazing about it is that all the women in her company knit on size 3 needles...yup...everything...from the hats, mittens and sweaters. And...they knit them fast. Most of them learned to knit at a company that paid them by the sweater so their incentive was to knit them as quickly as they could. And...they are gorgeous. I'll be wearing one of them at the shop this weekend as the samples were for sale and well...a few of us couldn't resist!

Below, Tamara is wearing the hat and scarf that she commissioned Emilia's company to design and knit. She asked them to come up with something for children and they came up with the gorgeous tiger mittens, hat and scarf. It was too cute.


I wish I had taken more notes but it was just so fascinating that I forgot. Oh well... I hope those of you that were there enjoyed the talk and her work. Anyone that was there, feel free to leave comments at the end of the post for the rest of us. Any tidbits you remember would be great!

Now...on to customer show and tell...

Isn't Karen's Leaflet Cardi just gorgeous. That was the KAL we did at the end of the summer and she knit it in that beautiful color of Pastaza.


And Annie...she made something for herself for once. I believe she'd been working on this for quite some time which makes it even more special. We all oohed and aahed over it on Saturday. It's Deb Anderson's leaf pattern shawl in Noro.


Take a look at all Mary Kate's mukluks. I do believe that ALL of her family will be getting these for Christmas this year!


Here is Libby's B4 bag made in class at the shop. That picture does not do it justice. The color combination is so nice. Notice those needle felted buttons. She made those in another class at the shop. They match perfectly!


And here is Teri's lockspun. She spun and dyed this herself. It is just beautiful. She started knitting a scarf with it at the knit-in on size 19 needles. Our guest, Emilia, got a big kick out of the size of those needles. Compared to the size 3 she's used to, they looked like tree trunks!


Well...that's all for now. Have a great weekend. Hope to see you at the shop soon!