Rushing the Season
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