Not-So-Monkey Socks

Finally! My Monkey socks, now named Not-So-Monkey Socks, are done. These are called Not-S0-Monkey socks because I made them toe-up (the pattern is a top down). I thought I was being clever by reversing the chart and knitting the chart from the top down instead of the bottom up. Didn't work. These are a vague resemblance to the Monkey sock, but I like it all the same. LOVE the yarn- did I mention that? Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors sock yarn in Fresh Lavender.

I visited my mom over the weekend and worked on her cashmere socks. Have one almost done, so the pair should be ready by the cold weather. It was a nice visit to Connecticut. We went to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Bricco, in West Hartford. I had a fig, gorgonzola and prosciutto pizza. Oh. My. Gosh. So good. We also hung around at a bookstore for a while -- another one of my favorite things to do. My mom was so nice and treated me to Janet Evanovich's newest book, Finger Lickin' Fifteen. Love her books - so funny!

Next project, a dog sweater for the demonstration at the Altamont Fair!

Visitors

Heidi Quick from Woodstock Knits came to visit with Susan, the yarn rep, yesterday. Heidi has some great new kits coming this fall! Here she is modeling a couple of them, the slouchy hat from the new hat/scarf kit and the tweed cardigan:

She had just finished the cardigan so it wasn't blocked yet and did not have buttons, but it's gorgeous! Both are made with alpaca.

And here is Susan, modeling her recently finished Girasole (Brooklyn Tweed's pattern):

Also gorgeous - I'm dying to make one of these.

So, I ordered lots of yummy stuff from both of them which will be coming in the fall.

Show and tell:

Lisa's beautiful beaded/knit necklace, made from a pattern in the 101 Luxury One Skein Wonders book:

So pretty!

Barbara's Branching Out Lace Scarf, made when she took the class we had here:

She used the Silky Wool and it came out great!

Also, Barbara's felted purse made from an Interweave Felt magazine pattern:

Kathy's Noro striped scarf.... made with Taos and added fringe!:

Don't forget the shop is closed tomorrow, July4. Enjoy the weekend!

What type of knitter are you?

Show and tell first!
Nancy's wonderfully colorful socks made with three different colors of the Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors Sock Yarn:

Christine's shawl made from a pattern in the Friendship Shawls book, with Linares yarn:

It's very soft and lovely feeling!

Robin's knitted Santa which will be a class coming up in September - great holiday decoration!

Annie's orientation socks made with Step Duett:

(She's giving them to a student at SUNY when they come for orientation)

There are several customers who come to the store to hang out and knit on the weekends. This means that sometimes we have interesting conversations that run the gamut - food, airplane horror stories, etc. This weekend it was about making mistakes and what different knitters will do to address it. For example, if you are working on a project and then realize you made a small mistake several rows back, do you:

1) rip it back to correct the mistake?

2) throw it across the room?

3) put it in time out until it behaves (Nancy's method)

4) just keep knitting?

Some are perfectionists and don't want any mistakes because while no one else will notice, they will know it's there. Some just want to get it done and keep right on going as if nothing happened. Some are all about the process, so rip it back to fix it because they want to learn to do it the right way.

What kind of knitter are you? Discuss amongst yourselves....

More progress....

These are my Bella's Mittens (modeled by Annie who didn't want to actually be in the picture). I LOVE them. They are so comfortable and the cables are just so pretty. Definitely will be a class coming in the fall.

I also started the Bird in Hand Mittens which I'm also really liking a lot. This class is already filling up and I may even need to schedule another (if I can squeeze it in - have you noticed I have a lot of classes scheduled???). There are so many great new techniques to learn - Estonian braid, picot edge, two color knitting....

Another big one!

Wednesday's knit-in was great --- 24 people were there! I'm so glad that everyone seems to be enjoying the knit-ins - they've been well attended. As always, lots of fun to be had. Jaye Nakamura and Yvette Terplak were there to do a small informational session for those who are thinking about submitting a knitted, crocheted, spun or woven item for the wool contests at the Altamont Fair. If you have finished a project that you are proud of, consider entering it in the fair.

Some show and tell....

Nancy's sheep sweater:

She made this for her mother. Isn't it wonderful??? After Jaye and Yvette's information, she decided to enter it in the fair!

Susan's Lucy Bag:

Made in SUNY New Paltz's colors for her daughter!

Keep the projects coming ---- I've gotten lots of positive comments about the show and tell being inspirational.

Summertime....

Now that the weather actually feels like summer, here are some summer pics from my house....

My pretty peonies. I love peonies - they are so stunning. These are the three (yes, only three) that grew on my poeny bush this year. It's only the second year, so hopefully next year there will be more!

Also, look what we have outside our kitchen window....

(It's blurry because of the window screen.) As far as we can tell, there are three hummingbirds that come around. It's so much fun to watch them compete for the food - even thought there are four spots to eat from , they get very territorial and don't let others come around when they are eating there.

Also, the other day, I forgot to post this show and tell item:

Heather, from St. Louis, stopped in. She and her husband do so when they come to visit family. This is her scarf made from her own hand spun cotton yarn. So pretty and wonderfully soft!

UFO's and FO's

I don't know if you've noticed, but I haven't finished any knitting projects in a long time. The past few weeks have been busy at the shop and at home. I've hardly knitted at all (literally a couple of stitches here and there) and I've been missing it. So, this past weekend, I finally got a chance to get knitting again. I'm coming along on my Spring Fling Cardigan. Finished the back and one side, and started the second side. Got a little more done on my Monkey socks with The Periwinkle Sheep sock yarn.
But, here's what I knit up on Saturday:

I started it AND finished it on Saturday! Truly a quick knit. This is the Thorpe hat which you can find on Raverly http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/thorpe . I will be scheduling this as a class coming up too! Has some new things to learn including starting from the top and adding the crocheted border. I used the Peru chunky yarn by Katia, which is wonderful to work with. Feels nice and squishy and comfy on my head. You can't really see it in this picture, but I added a little braided tassel to the top, which is not in the pattern. Just thought it needed a little something else up there.

I also started the Bella's mittens pattern, also from Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bellas-mittens. I've gotten one finished and started the second. They are long mittens and go about half way to the elbow, with a stunning cable. Thanks to Laura for showing me this beautiful pattern. This will also be an upcoming class!

It feels good to be knitting again.

Also, a sure sign of the charm of small-town Altamont:

A chicken promoting the chicken BBQ fundraiser for the library. That's dedication - it was raining!

Finally, some show and tell:

Laura's wonderfully soft and comfy 8-Hour Baby Blanket in the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran:

She said it really did only take 8 hours!

Annie's colorful socks made with Regia sock yarn:

These are for a favorite 4-year old friend of hers.

And Nancy's finished Picovoli!:

You saw this last without the edging. She learned to do a crocheted picot edge and loves the results!