Testing....

I'm testing out a new blog layout. I thought maybe having a white background for my pictures might make them look better. I like the color and it's fun to mix things up a little.

In case you forgot....

I posted a picture of one of the new Woodstock Knits kits in a recent post, but wanted to share it with you again to help get you excited for Heidi's visit on Saturday.....

This is the hat from the Slouchy Hat & Scarf kit. I can't tell you how nice this alpaca is to knit with --- and the resulting hat is so comfy! Heidi will have samples and kits, as well as color cards.

The knit-in was last night and there were several people knitting sweaters - a sure sign of the cool weather that is coming. I'm wearing my very comfy top-down cardi made with the Kathmandu Aran this morning since it's a little chilly. Love. it.

Some show and tell:

Stevie's slippers made with the Cotton Rich DK:

Very cute...and the little section of beads adds a touch of elegance.

Elizabeth's 3rd and 4th set of leg warmers for her friend's twins:

So adorable!

Robin's To-go Cup Cozy made with Noro Silk Garden sock yarn and Cipria novelty yarn:

This is the project we will have this year for the Charity Knitting class. You'll make this for yourself but the class fee will go to help the families we will adopt for the holidays!

And finally, I finished my cabled hat last night:

Haven't blocked it yet, but will do that today. I really like how it came out and the yarn (Leche) is wonderful. (I've got to say, the blue head creeps me out a little. I have several of these heads but the others are white. This blue one is a little weird, don't you think?)

Woodstock Knits Trunk Show

Just a quick post today to remind you about the Woodstock Knits Trunk Show this Saturday 11am-2pm. Owner, Heidi Quick, will be here with her new fall line of kits made with the wonderfully yummy superfine alpaca. Samples for you to touch and try on, and kits for you to buy (or order if you like). Come stop by and say hello to Heidi!

And here is some show and tell!:

Jana's adorable teddy bear baby blanket made with Jeannee:

So cute, and very soft!

Also, her very adorable baby kimono made with Debbie Bliss Eco:

Joan's 10 millionth Baby Surprise Jacket, made with Encore:

No matter how many she does, they are all so cute!

Sue's textured circle shrug which she made in the class here at the shop:

Made with the soft and yummy Suri Merino. (It looks great on her but she didn't want to be in the picture!)

And finally Nancy's (we've got a lot of Nancy's!) shawl, hat, sock and scarf made with various yarns - lots of different textures, some knit, some crochet:

Wonderfully original!

Oh, yeah, I've been knitting some more too.... the basic chunky hat for the upcoming class in the beginning of November, made with Encore Chunky:

Great beginner hat class...

And my not-quite-done cabled hat for the class at the end of November, made with the new Leche yarn by Queensland:

Love this new yarn - very soft and nice to work with!

Do I look like a bagel shop?

A guy walked in today and stopped short saying "Oh. I'm in the wrong place." I asked what he was looking for and he said, "the bagel shop". What about the outside of my building made him think this was the bagel shop? The YARN SHOP sign? the word YARN in the window? the actual YARN in the window? I pointed him toward Hungerford Market and he went on his way. Just thought that was pretty funny.

Knitting has come to a stand still for the past two days. Hoping to get back to it later today.

Meanwhile here is what others have knit!:

Deb Anderson's very pretty Leaf Scarf made with Noro Kureyon, in her own pattern, which is now for sale in the shop!:

Robin has been on a finishing spree. Here is her enlarged, soft and cozy, 8-hour baby blanket made with Encore:

And her cotton bathmat:

Wonderful!

Joan's (she back!!!) Mini Mochi sock in pretty rainbow colors:

This sock yarn is unbelievably soft (mmmmmmm, merino).

And here is Joan's previously posted baby sweater, given to it's future recipient, Megan's baby!!! (coming in Oct):

Iryth's adorable baby booties made from The Periwinkle Sheep sock yarn:

Trudi's wonderfully soft Shalom cardi made with a chunky yarn that I can't remember the name of !:

Nancy's beautiful drop stitch scarf made with the Ella Rae Lace Merino:

Kim's georgeous Judy's Colors Christmas Stocking:

This has some wonderful braid detail -- these are kits and I'm looking into getting some into the shop!

And, finally, Kim's cute Scrappy Flap Hat:

This happens to be the same pattern that Trudi will be teaching in the two-colors-in-one-hand-stranding-for-continental-knitter's class!

It's supposed to be rainy tomorrow (Saturday) -- good day for coming to the shop to knit!

Nothing but knitting

That's pretty much what I did on my days off! We went down to New Jersey for the day (for a race) on Sunday. I couldn't knit in the car because the highway was so incredibly bumpy. But I knit most of the day while we were there. Then on Monday and Tuesday I got a LOT of knitting done.....

Finished one half of my super secret pattern. (sorry, no pics yet)

16" of the Celtic Cabled scarf got done:

Such a pretty pattern. I'm knitting it with the Debbie Bliss Rialto DK which I LOVE. Such nice soft yarn and really wonderful to knit with. I think it really shows off the cables well.

14" of the Luscious Lace scarf got done:

Nice and easy lace pattern - great for beginning lace knitters. Knit with Ella Rae Lace Merino which is also a VERY nice yarn to knit with. 100% superfine merino. Beautiful colors.

Show and Tell:

Elizabeth's adorable baby leg warmers:

Can't you just picture them on a little baby???

Annie's Bella's Mittens:

Warm and cozy. I tried them on. They fit me.... just saying.

Jan's Einstein coat!:

She knit this up so fast -- It looks great!

Diane's beautiful Waterall Beaded Scarf made with Mirasol Tupa at a class in the shop:

I'm amazed at all the different color combinations of yarn and beads that the class members have chosen. BEAUTIFUL!

Now that I've gotten a significant portion done of the scarves.... On to hat knitting for upcoming classes.

Already on the back burner

That would be the Heather Hoodie Vest.

I got about 2 1/2 inches knit, but then got into the oh-my-gosh-i-have-to-get-the-class-schedule-out-which-means-i-have-to-knit-some-projects-for classes mode....

So, I'm knitting a Celtic Cabled scarf for those who want a more challenging cable pattern. And, a Luscious Lace scarf for those who want to knit something lacy with lace weight or fingering weight yarn. And a cabled hat where you knit the band, turn it sideways to pick up stitches along the edge and finish the hat, for those who want something different in a hat. And a basic hat for those who want to learn a basic hat. Just a little preview of what's coming up in October, November and December! Check out the website for the October class schedule... http://www.spinningroom.net/classes.htm November and December will be up soon.

Oh and I've also been working on a special super-secret pattern to be unveiled at the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival. How's that for a tease? Actually, if you happen to be here at the shop, you'll see me knitting it, so it's not really super secret. And if I wasn't knitting it and you asked me to see it, I would still show it to you. It just won't be available until the festival....

Who knew tying shoes was so rare?

I tied my shoe today. Normally, one wouldn't think this was noteworthy, however I can say that I don't think I've tied a shoe in several months. Seriously. Ok, there was the one time in Ohio when I tied Raymond's shoe because he was having trouble with his back and couldn't bend down. I wear my sneakers every day - I take them off without untying them, then put them on without untying them. But today, for some reason, one shoe came untied, so I tied it. I know what you're thinking.... what a weirdo.


Meantime, I've started the Heather Hoodie Vest from Knitscene ( http://www.knitscene.com/issue/Fall-2009/heather-hoodie-vest.asp ) and it was quite the event last night at the knit-in as I was whining and complaining about having to do a guage swatch. I did one and my guage was spot on. I was so excited. Until Robin said, "You really should block it before you measure it." Ugh. More whining and complaining. [Mind you, for some reason I was blocking out the fact that my top down cardigan came out larger than I expected even though my (unblocked) gauge swatch was perfect. After I blocked it, I measured and was a half stitch off! Which is a lot.]


So, off I went to the back room, soaked the swatch, gently squeezed it out and proceeded to measure it every 5 minutes even though it wasn't dry. Sure enough, the guage changed. It was 3.5 sts/inch before blocking. After blocking, while still wet, it was 3.25 or 3 depending where I measured. It was pretty clear that some adjusting was needed. Rather than change needle size, Nancy helped me figure out that I could knit the next smaller size (and Elizabeth pointed out that I should knit to the length of the larger size) but still get the size I wanted. [This morning, once it was dry, the gauge was 3.25 inches and thus proving Robin's point. Thanks Robin!]



And take a look at my One Button Wonder:



I started this on Sunday and finished it Wednesday afternoon! It is made with the Big Softie super bulky yarn. LOVE. IT. So soft and comfortable. The patterns in the Sirdar Big Softie books are great and really simple - geared toward beginners. Talk about a quick knit.

I'm off to work on the new class schedule! Stay tuned....