The Knitting Experience Café

The BIG boxes have been arriving. 

All year long we get boxes of various sizes containing an array of deliciously wonderful yarns (such as next week when more Dream in Color Classy and Smooshy should be here) but it is really only in the fall that truly gianormous boxes fill up the shop. That's when the yarns for those crisp cool weather knits fill the shelves. When your eyes start turning to cabley cardigans and handknit socks, you can bet that something equally yummy is entering the shop.

Cascade sent us the most recent massive shipment - and this is only part of the fall order!

We have a bounty of one of my absolute favorites ( I knit 2 sweaters out of this last year) - Baby Alpaca Chunky.

Notice the ones in the middle? Those are the new Paints.  Gorgeous variegated in the Baby Alpaca Chunky. 

We now have a tower of Eco Wool.  I couldn't quite get it all in one shot, but here's how it looks:

And here's a shot of the happy family:

David made Becka the Owls sweater out of Eco Wool in about 2 days. As soon as he gets the buttons sewn on, he has promised to let us borrow it in the shop. I'll share a pic once it arrives. Another great project idea for this yarn? The Heather Hoodie Vest from Knitscene. 

Magnum is back! We had so much fun with this beyond-bulky yarn last year.

The Last Hurrah Scarf was a big hit for this yarn, as were almost all the Twinkle Knits patterns. 

In the classic 220, we ordered some of the fabulous new tweed colors. What could be more perfect for fall?

This is actually a great choice for our current KAL - The Concetta Cardigan!

I couldn't resist getting 2 new colors in the Heritage Paints sock yarn. Aren't these pretty?

More colors of Debbie Bliss Rialto are here:

I REALLY, really want to make the cover sweater from 9 to 5:

And the shelves are packed with Noro Silk Garden and Kureyon.  A little taste of the colors:

Aside from taking pictures of all this yarn, what have I been doing? Well, Concetta is done and blocked. It needs buttons which will go on today or tomorrow. The Vintage Baby Cardigan is also in the done category. Projects off the needles, means new projects on!

Just started the Mondo Cable Cardi from Chic Knits. 

I'm using Dream in Color Classy in the Gothic Rose colorway.

As with The Concetta, I am alternating between 2 different skeins to prevent the dreaded pooling of color. 

I've been dying to cast on for this sweater since I saw it at TNNA in June. It is going to make the perfect layering piece for fall. The pattern has been hugely popular in the shop as well. We are almost sold out, but more should be here next week. 

This week the family and I are taking a little downtime. With only a handful of days before the boys return to school and the fall schedule begins, we figured that this was the perfect time to laze around the house, go to the beach, watch movies, or whatever  strikes out fancy at the moment.  In other words, we are thoroughly enjoying the very fashionable staycation.

In a moment I need to go fix the boys lunch before sending them out to splash in the little wading pool. But while Peter inflates the pool, and the boys are finding their swimming trunks, I thought I'd show you what I've been doing.

My Malabrigo Concetta is almost done.

These pics were taken yesterday afternoon. Since that time, the left band came off the needles, and the right is at the point of adding buttonholes. I stopped there since I don't yet have buttons and therefore don't know how big to make the holes.  I found the perfect buttons while shopping in Freeport on Sunday. Unfortunately, they were attached to a rather expensive wool jacket. The search goes on. 

Aside from the buttonband, I just need to weave in ends and sew up the arms. 

Wait, sew up the arms?!, you say.  Weren't those supposed to be knit in the round.  Yes. Technically. However, I've decided that I don't really like knitting sleeves in the round - so I didn't. 

Shibui emailed to let me know that more Vintage Baby Cardigan patterns are on the way, along with a new supply of sock yarn in the Spectrum colorway that I am using for the shop sample. That spurred me on to pull out the cardi and get it done.

Again, only end weaving and sleeve seaming left. 

Oh, and I've been spinning. The Panda braids from Spunky Eclectic are spun, plied, washed, and ready to knit.

They want to be socks for me. I'm playing around with potential stitch patterns and will keep you posted on our progress.

Ok - the boys are demanding food. I hope you are enjoying these August days. I'll be at the shop tonight for the fabulous Bridget's crochet class and then again tomorrow for KAN. I wouldn't miss KAN.