Yarn Gallery Blog

1. You, my customers.

2. The boys.

3. Janet and Virginia, my sisters, and Sarah my niece who loves handknitted socks, Eric my nephew, and Hilary his wife and Jonathan and Samantha, their kids, and Mickey, the wonder brother-in-law.

4. Becky, Janet and Karen and Karen, employees and friends, and Donna, Deb, and Jettie, teachers and friends.

5. You, my customers.

6. Non-knitting friends - Judy, Susan, Nate in particular - who don’t get it, but put up with it anyway,  and don’t give up on me even though the business has taken over my life.

7. The business, which has taken over my life.

8. My aunt Virginia who left me the money to start the business which has taken over my life.

9. A president who can pronounce nuclear (and probably every other word in the English language) correctly.

10. You, my customers.

Get it?  You make it possible for me to have a business I love, and I’m so very grateful.  I love to see you when you have problems, and I love to see you when you’ve accomplished something all on your own.  I love it when you’re in just to look and get a “yarn fix” and I love it when you’re ready to treat yourself or someone near and dear to a new sweater or afghan.  I love it when you show off a really cute hat you’ve made, and I love it when you compulsively point out the (invisible) place where you made a mistake and didn’t rip back.  I love it when we can ooh and ahh over a new yarn together, find exactly the pattern you’ve been looking for, find the perfect pink for your granddaughter’s legwarmers, the perfect softness for your husband’s scarf, and the perfect yarn for a sweater to go with that skirt you found at 75% off that goes with nothing else in your closet.  It’s all good, and it’s all because of you.  Thanks.

top down fair isle, originally uploaded by yarngal628.

Hi Trish
i Finished my top down fair isle last night. now i th ink i have a new
favourite sweater.lol im going to work on a cabled tunic today. so ill
be cabling my hands off…
have a great Thanksgiving to you and your staff!!!

DAve Ritz

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.