The Knitting Experience Café

We can now offer to wind up hanks of yarn. My aunt and uncle made the trek north from South Carolina and my aunt brought her button stash for our button basket. There are buttons from my grandmother, and great-grandmother! They also gave me a pattern-a-day calendar - which I adore! I have seen these before and think we should definitely carry them in the shop, so check back because I am looking into a possible supplier. 

For those who haven't had a chance to stop by in the past week - the Malabrigo is here! As with the last shipment, we are almost sold out of a couple of colors already, but we have many new colors as well. 

Knit One, Crochet Two's Fleece arrived. You would not believe how soft this yarn is - completely washable and perfect for kids. I am making a little hoodie sweater out of it right now.

 

Becka has developed the most gorgeous scarf pattern by combining Louisa Harding's Impression ribbon with Debbie Bliss's Cashmerino. The colors are amazing. Based on her display people have already been snatching up the yarn to make this scarf. 

... but the knitting is delightful!! Isn't this just the perfect day to curl up with your favorite knitting project? To be honest, I am spending the morning paying bills, but I WANT to be knitting. I braved the weather to open the shop for those hearty souls who dare to venture out for their knitting supplies. Since most people are heeding the weatherman's advice to stay home, I am getting some much needed paperwork done. I am also waiting for UPS and FedEx to deliver some yarn we have all been waiting for and once they come I will probably head home. I don't want to be out once the sleet starts.

The mohair/wool from Friends Folly Farm has arrived!! Everyone has been drooling over the colors and fiber. The olive/blue combination seems to be the most popular so I have called in an extra order of that as well as a pink/beige mix that Becka and I just loved. One of our knit at night regulars snatched up the hat kit with the pink and we were so sad to see it go that I had to order more. 

I've been busy working on an alpaca ear flap hat for Peter. Poor guy has been getting cold ears watching the kids on the playground at school. The pattern was from the latest edition of Interweave Knits. The hat came out perfectly - but too small for Peter. Connor is now proudly wearing it. And yes, I did do a gauge swatch! I actually did five of them. Since I was substituting Blue Sky 100% alpaca for the yarn used in the pattern, it took me awhile to get the gauge right. Then when I was actually knitting it, I was worried to my knitting had gotten too loose lately so I made it extra tight - thus the hat became extra small! Oh well, Connor has a fabulous new hat and Peter will get another one. I've decided to design my own with a snowflake motif for him. Bec and I spent hours working out the graph for the snowflake. If it comes out well, I'll post a picture. 

Ok - back to the paperwork. Happy snow day everyone!