Sweater Fever

I am on a big sweater kick.  Now that our weather has cooled to the mid 80's I am actually thinking fall and have 3 different cardigans going.  Pictured here on the top is my "Contented Cardi" by Hannah Fettig.  It is a top down and a really easy knit.  I am using Cascades 220 Superwash Paints  and the color is really gorgeous.  I am hoping to make it long enough to mostly cover my butt.  This may become my favorite sweater and superwash means it will be great for my "gooey boy" , Riley!

The pink sweater is a free pattern from Knitty.com called Amiga.  I am using a washable wool from Colinette "Hand dyed in Wales".  It is really a lovely pale pink!

Buying Yarn

I LOVE to buy yarn and that I own a yarn shop I NEED to buy lot of yarn!  I get to buy it in bags of 10 and I don't have to decide on one color I can buy it in ALL the colors I like!   It is one of my favorite part of owning a shop!

This week i met with 2 different sales reps, both women that I really enjoy working with.  They are both knitters and besides yarn they always have good ideas for projects and pictures and samples to share!   On Tuesday I ordered from Skacel and stocked up on more of their sock yarns plus some of my favorite wools:  Trekking sock yarns, Ambiente sock, Fortissima Socka, Nimbus, Murano, Opus, Unisono, Urban Silk.  I ordered lots of colors of Cascade wool and superwash wool:   220, Eco Wool, Eco Duo, Magnum 128, 220 and 128 Superwash, baby alpaca lace, and heritage sock yarns.  By mid July we should have new yarns arriving every week!!   Fun!!  

Lisa's Stripey Shawlette

This is a small shawl, more of a triangle scarf.  I used one skein of yarn and wound it into 2 balls so that the stripes were finer.  I used both balls of yarn alternating every 2 rows and carrying the other yarn up the side. 

Yarn: Unisono sock yarn, 1 skein  (100% superfine merino with aloe vera and jojoba, 300 meters, 330 yards.)  I wound the skein into 2 equal sized balls.

Needles:   Size 6  32" circular
YO = yarn over
pm = place marker
sm = slip marker


For stripe pattern alternate yarns every 2 rows, carrying yarn up the side as you work.


Directions:  
Cast on 7 stitches.
Row 1: knit
Row 2: purl
Row 3: K2, yo,k1,yo,pm,k1,pm,yo,k1,yo,k2.
Row 4: K2, purl to last 2 stitches, K2

Stockinette section
Row 1,3,5,7,9:    K2, yo, knit to marker, yo, sm,K1,sm, yo,k to last 2 stitches, K2.
Row 2,4,6,8,10:      K2, purl to last 2 stitches, K2.

Garter section: 
Row 1,3,5:   K2, yo, knit to marker, yo,sm, K1,sm,yo,K to last 2 stitches, K2
Row 2,4,6:   Knit


Work these 2 sections to desired length.  My shawl measures 16 '" tall by 32" wide.
Try to end with a section of garter stitch.   Bind off loosely.

Pattern Writing

I am not a pattern writer. 

I have a habit of making "design changes" in patterns or just not following the pattern and "doing my own thing".  This was not a problem until I bought a yarn shop and put some of my creations on display.  Customers are not happy when they try to re-create  something and it doesn't look like mine. 

I am trying to write down what I do and publish them here in my blog.  I do not mind if you use these patterns for your own creations, just keep in mind there may be mistakes or instructions that are unclear!  

Please do not sell these patterns or items created using them.  Please realize that we all have a unique style of knitting as well as different tensions and styles.  These are mostly things I am knitting for my own use so they will be knitted in a size to fit me. 

Mia Shrug Pattern

Lisa’s Top-Down Mia Shrug

Yarn:   Mia Hand Dyed by Tahki Yarns (100% cotton, 41 yards,

Color sunset #002)  3 skeins

Needles:           Size 11 (8.0 mm)  24” circular

                        Size 11 double pointed needles

Guage:  11 stitches and 14 rows = 4 “ in stockinette

Size;                one size (34-36” bust)  Shrug is worn open and does not meet in the center

Neckline:          Cast on 49 stitches.  Work in K1 P1 rib for 1 ½ inches.   

Sleeve set-up Row 1:  Place markers as follows: K8 for front, place marker, K7 for sleeve, place marker, K15 for back, place marker, K7 for sleeve, place marker, K8.

                        Row 2:   K2, purl to last 2 stitches, K2

Keeping first and last 2 stitches in garter stitch work the following 2 rows until the sleeve section measures 14” across.   Try on shrug as you work to check fit around upper arm and across bust, adding more or less rows as needed to fit!

Row 1                *Knit to marker, YO (yarn over) sm (slip marker) YO* repeat across row.  You should have increased 8 stitches.

Row 2               K2, purl to last 2 stitches, K2.   (You will be purling your yarn over increase stitches leaving an open lace stitch pattern.  If you want to close these stitches purl into the back of the stitch.  Whichever you choose, opened or closed look, work this on ALL yarn over stitches!)

Separate for sleeves:   Remove markers as you come to them.  Knit to first marker, slip sleeve stitches on scrap yarn for holder (stitches between Markers 1 and 2) and continue to knit across back, slip next set of sleeves to another scrap yarn (stitches between markers 3 and 4) and knit to end.

Body                 Work back in forth in stockinette stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side) keeping the end 2 stitches in garter stitch (knit both sides)  Work to desired length, ending with one inch of K1, P1 ribbing, binding off loosely.

Sleeves             Place one set of sleeve stitches on needles and join to work in the round.  Work K1,P1 rib for 4 rows (about 1”), then bind off loosely.  Repeat with second sleeve.

                        Weave in loose ends and enjoy your shrug!!

I am not a pattern writer.  I have a habit of making "design changes" in patterns or just not following the pattern and "doing my own thing".  This was not a problem until I bought a yarn shop and put some of my creations on display.  Customers are not happy when they try to re-create  something and it doesn't look like mine.  I am trying to write down what I do and publish them here in my blog.  I do not mind if you use these patterns for your own creations, just keep in mind there may be mistakes or instructions that are unclear!

Family Time

Sunday was Father's Day and we were blessed to have 3 of our kids spend the evening with us.    As parents of a blended brood we often share holidays with the "other families."   Noah and Karen and Noah's girlfriend Amber visited Sunday evening.  We ordered pizza and spent a relaxed couple of hours sitting together and talking.  (Yes, I did have my knitting to work on.)   The conversation was lively and covered many topics.  All of our kids are big talkers and very opinionated.   John and I are usually the quietest as we just enjoy having them around. 

Karen is a recent college graduate with a degree in history.  If you hear of any jobs available locally, let me know!  She would like to work in a museum but would take anything right now while she searches for a "real job."  As the youngest of the bunch she has watched the others work a variety of jobs while searching for something in their chosen field.  I have offered to teach her to knit if she needs something to keep her busy while she waits!   We are happy to have her back in York right now and hope to spend a lot of time with her this summer!

Boy in a Basket

I have a good selection of toys at my house for Riley to play with but most of the time he is just not interested.  He loves to open the corner kitchen cupboard that has all of my storage containers and pots and pans.  He can pull out the drawers and gleefully tosses everything on the floor.  We are working on putting all of these things back in when play time is over but not having any luck with that. 

This week he and Ozzy are enjoying this old round laundry basket.  Ozzy races around and then lands in it, often tipping it over.  Riley likes to pull it over his head but then has trouble getting it off.  As you can see from the photo Ozzy is wherever Riley is!  Ozzy is always very gentle when he plays with Riley even when Riley grabs his ears or tail.  Both of my boys are a constant source of amusement!

Take me out to the ball game

Last night was Uncommon Threads Stitch-n-Pitch Night at the York Revolution.  While the team lost it was a great night to sit and knit!  This was the fourth year we hosted this event and we had 28 people participate.  The evening was warm and the crowd was lively.  My friend Laura was there with her daughters and we talked non stop during the game.  (I am really not a big sports fan.)  Our good bags were a big hit.  I hope to see some of the socks and shawls when they are finished!  

The stadium is lovely --very clean and well staffed.  There is a large selection of food and drinks.  Between innings there are silly games and prizes.  We were there on a fireworks night which was a fun end to the evening.  The parking lot seemed well staffed and the line of vehicles moving out was orderly.  If you haven't been to one of these games --give it a try!  Fun, wholesome family entertainment!

Team Effort

This morning I arrived at the shop early to get some computer work done and heard the beeping of the answering machine.  I admit, i rarely listen to the messages  because i work the afternoon and evening shifts and others are here to open.  I expected a salesperson trying to sell me something I don't want or need but instead had a lovely message from a woman who visited our shop yesterday.  She left a wonderful message about the great experience she had shopping here and raved about the person who helped her select needles and answer some questions about lace knitting.   I was not the one who helped her yesterday but I know who did and I know she always offers customer service that is well above what is experienced in most businesses today. 

As the shop owner I am here 5 days a week for part of the day, and do most of the ordering and make the "big decisions."  I could not do what I do with out the FABULOUS team of ladies who make up the "yarngirls of Uncommon Threads."  I am so blessed to work with an amazing group of talented knitters and crocheters who seem to truly love to be in here and help customers with their projects.  I do not feel like they are my employees but my friends.  I often say to customers that I am probably the "least talented knitter" here, and I am really not kidding.  Each "yarngirl" has unique talents and skills that make her an integral part of our team.  From arranging window displays to website design each has something special to add to the mix.  My husband John has his own business and has worked with "foundry employees" for over 30 years and he is always amazed at the wonderful crew we have working here.  i hear him tell people how the girls often stop in to sit and knit when they are not scheduled to work.  We have even had regular customers put down their needles to help customers when we are busy. 

I frequently tell customers that " I need to sell yarn and needles to keep the shop open , however I love to have a group of women (we would welcome male knitters, just don't see them too often) gathered around the table chatting and knitting.   Please grab your needles and stop in for a visit, no purchase necessary.

The Gift of Girlfriends

I have always been a big believer in the power of friendship.  I know that my friends have been there for me in difficult times.  As a child I watched my mother interact with her girlfriends and was amazed when i would hear them giggle and laugh like teenagers.  My mom didn't try to be my friend when i was a child, she took her role of mothering very seriously, and was a fairly strict parent.  She is still in touch with some of those early girlfriends and has a new group of girls in Florida.  

I enjoy being in the yarn shop and sitting at the table with friends.  Conversation shifts wildly often several conversations are going at the same time.  Sometimes it is quiet as we all count or concentrate on stitch patterns but mostly it is loud and lively.  I love to have "new friends" join us and hear different perspectives on anything.  

Yesterday we had a customer in for a class and it was someone who graduated from Dover High with me. (That was a few years ago!).  It was great to see her and catch up on her life and family.  She thought she would try to come in again to sit and knit.  Old friends or new --it always good to see them !

My Two New Hats

Since I have finished more than 10 items from my UFO collection I took a break last week and made 2 hats --possibly for holiday gifting.  The striped hat on the left is knit using Jared Flood's Turn a Square pattern (free on Ravelry.com)  I used a Malabrigo worsted solid in brown and striped it with Zitron's Nimbus, a self striping organic merino.  It was a quick knit and the alternating stripes kept it interesting.  

The hat on the right is knit from one of my hand spun yarns using a chemo cap pattern from Ravely.race for Life 2009 chemo cap by erica downs.  It has a little bit of lace detail in the first couple of rows.  This was another quick knit --finished in one day!

Sock Love

i really like knitting socks and have several on needles right now.  I did finish a "second sock" this week so I gave myself permission to start a new pair.  This is knitted with Fortissima Socka Mexico Color by Schoeller & Stahl.  We have it in several colors and i want to knit them all.  I love the fair-isle type striping.  It seems to hold my interest to kit something with color changes. 
I am teaching a sock class tonight, part 2 of a 3 part class.  My students had home work --they were to complete the leg portion of the sock and be ready to learn how to knit the heel flap and turn the heel tonight. 

Three of the four students are moms with young children (one has 3 boys, another 4 girls and the other 2 girls and 2 boys--all under the age of 8!)  I thought I should also do some home work so I have done my sock thru the heel flap to show them what theirs will soon look like.  They all worked very hard last week and actually they were concentrating so hard that it was a very quiet group.  I look for ward to seeing them tonight!!

Weddings

My daughter Abby was home over the weekend to attend the wedding of one of her oldest friends.  She and Liz attended preschool together at the age of 3 and went to the same Catholic Schools.  They don't see each other much right now since Abby works in New York City and attended college in Boston.  Abby was very excited to attend the wedding and convinced her boyfriend Peter to join her in York for the wedding.  

The weekend started with a bit of drama when Abby missed her train stop in Lancaster and called me in a panic.  I told her to get off at the next stop which was Mount Joy and only a few miles up the road.  I then called John who was waiting in the parking lot at the Lancaster train station.  When I called Abby back to tell her he was on his way she said she was turning her phone off since she forgot to charge it.  So I had a nervous 45 minutes waiting to hear from someone that my baby was safe.  They for got to call me until they nere back in York!  Apparently there is no "station" in Mount Joy just a platform and a parking lot --both very dark and creepy at 10 pm!!  John did find her and all is well that ends well.   Why did she miss her stop?  She was so engrossed in her book that she totally missed the stop!  Sound familiar Mom????  My mother used to say the house could burn down around me and I wouldn't even know it!!

Thinking cool thoughts

It is another steamy day here in central PA.  We are expecting record breaking temps again --98 expected high today.  I am grateful to have an inside job.  The air conditioning is on here at the shop it is a cool place to hang out in the heat.  I am not fond of extreme heat, but prefer summer to winter most of the time.  Remembering our cold and snow from recent winters I am happy to have the warmer temps right now.

I am teaching a sock class tonight and excited to share my enthusiasm for sock knitting.  Several years ago I spent most of my knitting time working on socks.  I made lots of socks for myself plus many pairs as gifts for friends and family.  My husband has 7 pair and enjoys showing them off all winter. 
Right now I am into self striping sock yarns.  The knitting seems to pass quickly as I watch the colors and patterns appear.  Socks are a great small project to carry in your purse and great for hot weather knitting. 

Works in Progress

I have successfully finished 10 items in May, a huge accomplishment with my busy schedule, but I still have too many knitting projects.  When does a WIP (work in progress) become an UFO (unfinished object.)  Two of my finished items are the socks I have photographed here.  They are finished items, but as "first socks" they are still part of a WIP.  I have been asking customers and employees how many projects they have on needles and surprisingly i am not alone in having too many projects going at once.  A couple of people admitted they don't know how many projects they have.  We also had some discussion around our knitting table about unraveling lingering projects and saving the yarn for a different project.  I did that with 2 things but the rest are things I still like and want to finish. 
I did cast on one new project this week.  It is a sleeveless top with some lace details. I am using a red cotton called Banyon from Colinette.  I should finish another 10 before I start another new project, but I don't always do as I should.  I am hoping to start a cardigan for my mom later this month.  She will be in York in July and will be available to try it on as I work on it.  She picked out some beautiful turquoise cotton when she was here in April and wants a February Ladies Cardigan. 

Cool Pirate Baby

My sweet little Riley is now wearing an eye patch a couple of hours each day to strengthen his "lazy eye".  I had him at the grocery store last week and notice many people staring at him.  One small boy actually said to his mom "I don't like that baby."  The poor mother was mortified.  I tool a minute to explain that he had an eye that wasn't working like it should and the patch was helping him to use his weak eye.  I explained that we told Riley it made him look like a baby pirate.  The little boy listened intently and then said, " I like that baby pirate, Mom."  
Having spent many years as a preschool and kindergarten teacher I know that children (and some adults) often "dislike" or criticize something they don't understand.  Hopefully this little boy will look differently at people with disabilities or differences now.  Riley is young enough that he doesn't realize people look at him differently when he wears his patch.  His parents are doing a super job of keeping an upbeat attitude about it.  They don't make a big deal about it or act like it is some sad or embarrassing.  Personally I think he is adorable with it on or off!