February 2013 Update

February 2013 Update

&%(*&%^& I hate being behind in anything and it is with deep apologies that I start this update. I can't believe the last one came out in December!!

With our crazy Texas weather the last couple of months I am not sure if I should be knitting tank tops and t shirts or if I should be working on nice warm pullover sweaters. So, I say to myself, why not both!! On days like today I knit on my upcoming summer wardrobe, on days like yesterday, I knit on warm wooly things! Of course this is inbetween knitting on an afghan that is 120" wide by 120" long. This is being done for a friend from GRADE school! At first I dreaded working on that afghan, but there are 16" knitted and I have grown to love this project. It is great for mindless knitting. I am using Berrocco Comfort and what a great yarn for an acrylic. I know this blanket will bring years of warmth and it will definately be treasured. Our grandmothers crocheted and quilted together and here are the granddaughters years later still sharing the craft. 

Let's talk about the newest, most wonderful needle on the market! They are called Karbonz, by Knitter's Pride. They have a stilleto tip (really sharp), cord is fantastic, thin and pliable and the needle is made from Carbon Fiber. Carbon Fiber is one of the most versatile materials, used in the manufactoring of the new generation air crafts, space ships, automobiles and now knitting needles. We have truly moved into the 21st century with our knitting! The only sizes available at the moment are US Size 4 and under, including the half sizes. When I am holding these needles it feels like their is nothing in my hands! Very warm and light weight

 

We have gotten nothing but rave reviews on the new Poems Socks. Gorgeous self striping yarn, 459 yards of 75% Superwash Wool/25% Nylon. It is great for socks, but it looks wonderful in the entrelac scarf pattern, both Barbara and Marie used it and we will be posting pictures soon of their finished scarves. The Vortex Shawl looks fabulous in it

Also new from Universal is Poems Silk Worsted. I was really surprised at how nicely this yarn knit up. The colors are beautiful, 75% wool/25% silk gives it a nice feel. 109 yards to a skein. My favorite needle size to knit this with was a 9, and I would definately use a 10 also. Package calls for 18 stitches over 4" on a US 8.

New Colors have arrived in Zauberball Crazy, one of my favorite yarns in the whole store. I love the graduating colors, I love the feel and I love using it in shawls as well as tank tops. The Camino Bubble Shawl and the Camino Leaf shawl are done out of Zauberball Crazy

And I have heard it is the year of the SKIRT! This was after I scheduled our skirt class! In March we will learn how to make a skirt, using our own personal measurements and our own personal stitch gauge! My favortie kind of projects. I have been getting new kits in and putting some together, there will be lots to choose from. In the last issue of Knitter's Magazine it was almost all skirts and I am making three of them! The first one is all lace, pattern says to use two strands of lace weight, I am using one strand of Sea Silk, I didn't even mind when my needle broke with 160 lace stitches on it, ok, I minded a little, but will be eager to restart this weekend with a new needle and get as much as I can done. I have decided that that lace skirt is going to be my Easter outfit

 

 

Be watching we are having some "Special Events" coming up, one of them being our 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt. We had way too much fun last year not to do it again this year.

 Our classes are filling nicely! The year of free classes. I worried that I would regret this, but everyone has been wonderful! We have a new pattern for the Entrelac scarf that I wrote myself using the knitting backwards technique. The class will be offered again in April. We do have to stress that if you want to take a class you need to contact us no later than the day before the class to see if we have room. I believe that our scarf class is full as of this typing. We can still take 2 more people in the Two at a Time sock class.

 

Next week I will be placing a new Sea Silk order, if there are any special colors, or something else from HandMaiden that you would like me to order, please let me know as it takes 3 months to get our orders of this fabulous hand painted Silk/Kelp blend.

 

The website is now is very capable hands! Ms. Lori Nelson we cannot thank you enough. If I would have just listened to you 10 years ago! Lori, an official webmaster is slowly and methodically going thru the website. You will be seeing good changes soon, but things have to be changed in the background first. We have had the most problems with keeping our shopping cart updated and adding new items to it, Lori is fixing all of that for us and soon we will have a much more efficeint and easier to navigate site! Again, much thanks to Lori Nelson!

 Where ever there is joy, there also always seems to be some sadness. In January, my husband lost his brother, best friend, confidant of 61 years. He was a father, brother, grampa and friend to many. He is so missed and I thank all of you who reached out to us. His death was quite unexpected and just as we are accepting that and moving on, on Monday, one of our 34 year old nephews was killed in a horrific car accident. My sister's oldest son, he was a brother, son, nephew, finacee and father to a beautiful little girl. We worry about our children all of the time, but espiecally when they start driving and becoming more independent and then they have the nerve to grow up!! Once they are on their own, it's hard to let them go, but when they come back to visit, the joy and happiness are so overwhelming. The tragedys of the last 5 weeks are bringing our surrogate children home. They are coming home for Easter and to help my husband and I celebrate our birthdays. They are each grown, Precious with three children and Justin with a brand new chefs job, planned it all out to come for 10 days together! The joy I am feeling is so overwhelming and helps take the hurt away from our loss.