Yarn Gallery Blog

I know this has happened to you:  You think of a little project - something minor that needs to be fixed or a new recipe you want to try or a drawer that should be sorted out - something that will take 20 minutes at the most and then it can be taken off your mental list.  You have the time and you THINK you have everything you need,  but…

This morning I was going to rake leaves but some very wonderful neighbors surprised me and did it for me, so I thought I would instead fix the hose reel that had a cracked fitting and was out of order all summer.  I had ordered the part to fix it and just never got to it.  I happily went to the basement, found the envelope with the part in it just where I had left it and was ready with my trusty Phillips head screwdriver, only to find that there were only 2 screws in the envelope, instead of 4.  Drat.  I set about looking for the other two - had they fallen out of the envelope onto the garage floor and rolled behind the storage tubs of dog food and old knitting magazines?  No, but while the tubs were moved, I should really sweep out these corners and all the leaves that had blown into the garage, and while the car was out, I could put away the pots and other things that need not be out during the winter.  Okay, that was done, but no screws.

Well, maybe the screws rolled under the washer or dryer in the basement while I was disassembling the hose reel this summer?  While I was moving the washer and then the dryer, the sisal rug that collects the dirt from the dogs’ feet should really be dragged outside and shaken and all the dust swept out, and for heaven’s sake, look at all the lint/dog hair/cobwebs under the dryer.  I collected a few coins and a couple little fasteners and a tube of lip balm, but not the screws I was looking for.

Well, while I was at it, it couldn’t hurt to move the old couch the boys sleep on when I’m out and see if the screws were under there - oh I won’t go on, but you’ll know how the story ends.  Two and a half hours later, I have a clean(er) garage and basement but no screws and a still-broken hose reel.  Maybe next spring.

Meanwhile, I hope everyone got the e-mail I sent yesterday - if you didn’t and you want to, please re-enter your e-mail address on the website.  The important thing to know is that we’ll be closed on Thursday and Friday next week for Thanksgiving, and open all our other regular days.

Here’s a photo of the Montana Textured Pullover I was talking about last week.  It took barely 4 skeins of Montana, and really, 2 dedicated evenings to knit it and 1 to sew it up.  I like this picture because it shows what the neckline is really like and that the hemline is swingy.  I lengthened the sleeves by about 2 inches.  It’s very cozy - I wish I had it at home today!

And here is a new Baby Surprise Jacket that Janet K just finished for us - two balls of Encore and a ball of soft washable mohair for the accent stripes.  A cute and practical sweater for a little boy or girl, fun to make (have you seen all the BSJ’s on Ravelry? Over 5500 are posted!), easy with our step-by-step directions, and the yarn cost under $20!

The little shrug under it is also quick and fun to make - top down and no sewing up.

Donna Guthrie brought in two beautiful holiday-themed circular needle holders - aren’t they gorgeous?

Everyone loved Carol Swisher’s little elephant sweater from last week’s photos - I can’t tell you what book it’s from, I don’t remember, but maybe Carol will post it. Meanwhile, don’t miss the projects below, and I hope to see you all soon.  If I don’t get a chance to post next week, have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  (I will be giving thanks for you!)

Trish

David in Mitered Sweater, originally uploaded by yarngal628.

David Ritz is a fabulous knitter who seldom makes anything for himself,
but here he is, looking stunningly handsome in his mitered sweater (and
the new beard.) The pattern is free on straw.com
, Crystal Palace
Yarn’s website.

Both So Pretty!, originally uploaded by yarngal628.

Here is Bernadette wearing a sideways cabled cardigan that her
grandmother Rita Franco made for her.

If there’s one thing I don’t like about being a yarn retailer (and there may only be one thing), it’s that you just settle into one season and here comes the next.  It’s barely even cold, and the sales reps are out and about and trying to talk me into buying for spring already.  I happen to be a very susceptible customer, because I love yarn and knitting so much, and word gets around, and I’m one of the first ones on their lists of people to see.  If I were in, say, the auto parts biz, I would have a much better handle on my inventory levels.  What, new style of air filter?  No thanks.  New scent of hand cleaner?  I can do without it.

But I’m in the yarn trade and I’m all - ooh, look at this pretty color and wow, doesn’t this feel great, and hot diggity dog, look at that cute design.  You’d think after all this time, I’d develop some immunity, but forget about it.  It’s all just gimme, gimme, gimme, gotta have it.  I’m trying to be good, but I have a feeling you’ll have a great selection of spring and summer yarns to choose from next year.

In the meantime, we have an amazing store full of goodies for you to knit with this winter.  I’m embarassed by how much yarn I bought, but having a great time.  I’ve had a really difficult time settling down to one project or another because there’s so much I want to knit with.  I’m making a list now and here it is (soon to be completely revised, I’m sure):

Montana Textured Pullover in black “Montana” - Status:  Complete, blocked, and at the shop, but need someone willing to model it for a picture.  This was way fun to knit, took (seriously) two nights to knit it and one to sew it up.

Diamond Turtleneck (MS159) from Mari Sweaters in dark chocolate “Palace” from Berroco - Status:  Complete, needs to be blocked and more patterns are on order.

Boyfriend Cardigan from Classic Elite’s Autumn Book 1, in “Tibet” from Ornaghi Filati. - Status:  just the sleeves left to do.  The pattern calls for a doubled strand of Classic Elite’s Moorland (love the yarn but doubled it’s quite expensive)  In Tibet, just one tweedy strand does the trick, and it’s machine washable. It’s coming along nicely in olive green.

Cable & Lace Cardigan from Classic Elite’s Winter, in silver-gray “Montera” - Status:  yarn is on my sideboard looking luscious and eager.  I love Montera so much that I knit at least a small project in it every winter and I’m treating myself to a sweater (in an older pattern I love) this year.

Something in Noro’s “Yuzen,” a charming yarn that I just can’t seem to match up to a project yet.  I want something mitered, I think, and I haven’t seen what I’m looking for.  Time to check the Internet for inspiration, or can any of you help me out?  Seen any great multi-directional knits lately?

Oh, enough, I should be knitting.  I didn’t want to haul my cardigan sleeves (both on the same needle) with me to get my car inspected this morning, but I couldn’t let an hour of waiting time go to waste, so I started a pair of socks in Jawoll’s Color Aktion in a weird but intriguing combo of smoky lavender and coppery brown.  Now I want only to knit on this sock until I see how it all plays out, but…I must get dutifully back to my sleeves.  Once they’re done I’ll finish a sock, then choose another soft and pretty yarn for my friend Judy’s chemo cap #2.  (#1 was too big, hope to get it right this time!)

Enjoy the projects pictured below. I’ll see you soon…

Trish

Jettie Models Again, originally uploaded by yarngal628.

Jettie wore a purchased sweater into the shop and wondered could we
develop a pattern for it. We’re contemplating it, so we made her leave
the sweater. Don’t worry, she wore one of ours home and looked so cute
in it, we talked her into a picture.