swellknits

A Man Is Only As Good As His Tools

2012-01-25T15:02:00.000-08:00

Yes, that is a favorite saying of mine. As a lawyer, my books and computer were my tools. Now it's swifts, ball winders, and needles! Just about for ever, I've wanted a Nancy Knit Nack swift and ball winder set. They are handmade in North Carolina (the furniture making capital) from hardwood and are incredibly durable. They wind much larger skeins than other swifts and the ball winder is faster with less hand movement. Once we figure out if we're using it correctly, we'll be zipping your skeins into balls in no time!!!

Making a Calendar

2012-01-24T14:28:00.000-08:00

Every morning while the coffee is brewing, I look at recently posted patterns on Ravelry. With an eye towards teachable projects, I queue the ones I like. I also go through recently released knitting magazines and scout for pieces that would make a good Knit Along or class project. When it comes time to do the calendar, I review the projects I queued and notes I've made and list potential classes. For each class, I decide which of the yarns I carry will work best. And then I start a sample, like the one pictured above. I don't necessarily complete every project but I start most to make sure that the yarn I've selected will work. I also write notes so I can warn of pitfalls to avoid. (I blaze the trail and mark it for those who follow!).

I tagged Esperofits, pictured above and below, in the "Geek Love" column in Vogue Knitting's Winter 2011 issue (p. 22) which focused on patterns that evoke the beauty of nature. Esperofits features "little bobbles framed by an arch shape, which evoke flowering vines growing in an English garden." Well, how tantalizing is that description? As much as I study Ravelry, I had never come across this beautiful pair of gloves before. I started them last night using a Grinning Cat hand-dyed sock yarn by our own Joni Schulz. I am loving the pattern and the way the colors fall into it so easily. This will definitely be on February's calendar and the sample will be in the shop soon!

Do Knit Disturb!

2012-01-12T12:55:00.000-08:00

From this morning's New York Times:

Chunky, cabled, cropped — wool is popping up in everyone’s wardrobes this season. (Chalk it up to all those knitting clubs and yarn-bombers.) But who would expect to check into a hotel room and find the sheets, the bedside lamp and even the morning breakfast knitted?

Such is the case in the Do Knit Disturb room at the Hotel Pelirocco, a funky B&B in the coastal English town of Brighton. Kate Jenkins, a local artist who got her start designing knitwear for Marc Jacobs, spent a month — and 11 pounds of yarn — creating the room. The bedspread, curtains and wallpaper are all knitted; the telephone, lampshade, flower vase, teapot and teacup are covered in crochet. There’s even a knitted fried English breakfast, with woolen eggs and bacon.

If all that wool sounds a bit too itchy, you could try one of the other offbeat rooms, most of which are music-inspired. The Soul Supreme is a tribute to Motown, the Pressure Sounds to dub and reggae, the Dollywould to — who else? — Dolly Parton.

Hotel Pelirocco, 10 Regency Square, Brighton; hotelpelirocco.co.uk.

Cool, right???

New year, new shawl!

2012-01-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

I started the Age of Brass kerchief on January 1. Now that's starting 2012 out right! I'm smitten with Filigran, a non-repeating merino colorway in smoke. While the pattern doesn't call for beads, some brilliant knitter on Ravelry incorporated them into hers. Well I couldn't not include them after seeing hers. So on New Year's day, I made an emergency visit to my friend Marcia (bead queen extraordinaire). She understood my having to come over immediately with this project being a burning desire! She hooked me up with the perfect size 6's. Marcia, you are also a friend extraordinaire! Thank you!!! Off to a wonderful start and loving every stitch!
P.s. We're offering a class on the Age of Brass kerchief starting January 7. Check our our current newsletter for more information.

Hogwarts-Express

2011-12-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

What a delightful pattern this was to knit ... and it's even more delightful to wear. I used Zauberwolle, which is 100% virgin merino ombre. The subtle color changes just happened to hit the owl section right, making it look as if they were intentionally highlighted with a lighter color. I chose a matte bead for the owl eyes which was compatible with the rustic look of the organic shawl. I am loving knitting with Zauberwolle and am currently using it to knit the Wurm hat, featured in our January knit-along. Since I had some yarn left over from Hogwarts-Express I knit a pair of fingerless gloves to go with the shawl. And if yarn allows, I will also do a pair to match the Wurm. Stay tuned for more photos!

Meet Grover, Our Mascot!

2011-12-13T19:51:00.001-08:00

Growing up in New England, I've always had a love for the ocean. So it follows that I also love fish. For my birthday, Krista of Daily Scoop, bought me a gorgeous Betta and named him Grover after The Grove. Honestly, it was one of the best presents I've ever received. I would never have thought that this little guy could bring me such pleasure.

It's been nearly a month now and I think I'm finally getting to know Grover and what he needs. He came in the bowl on the left (above) and he swam in spring water that clouded within a couple of days. I did some research and discovered this awesome globe aquarium (shown below) with a filter and waterfall! According to some, it only needs changing once a month. I'm all about low maintenance so I got one, filled it with gravel, live plants, and seashells that I've gathered throughout my life from different oceans and seas. Oh, the pleasure of setting Grover free in a spacious new home with lights and oxygen pumping though the water...It makes me sooo happy! It's like having a little piece of the ocean in my kitchen. If the Grove were warmer, I'd keep the little guy there but he's a tropical fish and he was freezing without heat. He's much happier at home in a warm kitchen.

Cash Mob Hits South Park!

2011-12-07T07:38:00.000-08:00

You just never know what a day may bring. Yesterday morning, a reporter from NBC showed up at the Grove and asked me if I had ever heard about a Cash Mob. He explained what it was and asked if he could interview me. Geeze, I'm glad I put on clean underwear before I left the house (by that I mean, I had just done my hair and had some new makeup on...just coincidentally!). I was happy to talk about the support of our community and to emphasize that the Grove would not exist without it. At 6:30 the mob gathered across the street by Ray's Liquor and the group decided to mob "Make Good" which was a wonderful decision! We love what "Make Good" does, providing a venue for local artisans and artists to showcase their work. It seems that the stars are shining brightly on our little corner of the world and we're all feeling blessed!

2012 Knit Kits!

2011-12-05T17:12:00.001-08:00

As if they could get any cooler, Knit Kits has added a needle gauge to their kits! We just got an email from them today saying that the turquoise ones are sold out and that the hot pink ones won't be received from China until "Christmas week". They're suggesting that we have customers prepay and issue them a coupon entitling the bearer to a knit kit as soon as they arrive. I think that's a pretty good idea! They raised the price a bit. They will now cost $24.00. So, if you're interested, call the Grove at 619-284-7684 with your credit card and we'll put you're name on our list. BTW, the needle gauge goes from 000 to 15.

Sweater Mice

2011-12-02T11:32:00.001-08:00

We are having a great time this holiday season decorating the store. This darling mice couple has stolen the hearts of many who have visited the Grove recently. Completely understandable! South Park's Winter Walkabout is tomorrow night and we are ready for it. The San Diego Mandolin Orchestra will be here again. This time, we are expecting 6 players instead of 29. Last year we were a tad too crowded for comfort. We're pretty sure that with this acoustically friendly space of ours, the orchestra will sound just as sweet. Hope you can stop by and join us for some music and a cup of eggnog!

Let Heaven and Nature Sing!

2011-11-30T08:10:00.000-08:00

We are so blessed at the Grove by being surrounded with artistic souls and one such soul is Jo Madden of Go-Go Paperarts. This gorgeous card is one of her new holiday designs and my favorite. We've heard the phrase she chose so often but when you isolate it like Jo did and drop it into a gorgeous hand-made card it becomes new again and has such an impact! What a lovely thought...heaven and nature singing. I'm going to keep that in mind this holiday season to rise above the pressure and worries that so often run alongside of the joy.

Julie's Bandana Cowl

2011-11-11T08:58:00.001-08:00

Julie was one of the 10 knitters who came to the Bandana Cowl KAL on Sunday. She had never worked with circular needles before and she'd never done short rows. Besides which, she chose Indigo, a very dark blue organic worsted cotton, which made spotting the wraps somewhat difficult. Imagine all those hurdles! None, however, stopped her. She came to the shop on Tuesday wearing her cowl which came out beautifully! For anyone who would like to knit the cowl in the same yarn, Julie used a 16", #9 needle and made no modifications to the pattern. Fantastic job, Julie!

Door Prizes!

2011-11-05T06:58:00.001-07:00

Skacel Yarns heard about us celebrating our 8th anniversary in business and they sent us 2 kits to give away as door prizes this weekend. How nice was that!!! The yarn is a 2-ply tape by Austermann yarns in Germany and is surprisingly soft . I figured it may be scratchy because of that sparkling tinsel ... but no! It's pleasing! The pattern is a triangular scarf with long tails. From the picture, it looks like you put the point of the scarf in front, wrap the tails around your neck and tie them in the front. Sort of like the Baktus.

Everyone who walks through the door on Sunday, gets a shot at winning one of these kits at the end of the business day! So c'mon in! We'll be serving canapes and bubbly from 3-5 p.m.

Penguin PJ's

2011-11-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

Aw. You gotta love the knitters in New Zealand who have made many pj's for oil-drenched penguins! Following rehabilitation, these jumpers keep the little ones warm and also prevent them from preening while they recover. So sweet!

All Wound Up

2011-11-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

She's done it again. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, that is. We just received her latest book, All Wound Up, and it is as engaging as her other two. I never tire of her. In chapter one, she describes her seemingly eternal wait in a government office and the difference between a knitter waiting and a non-knitter waiting. It is funny and something we can all relate to. It's just a joy to read, so if you're looking for a good book to cozy up with (heard we are getting some weather soon), this is the one!

Kids, Cookies & Carvings

2011-10-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, there were bat and ghost cookies to make:

Pumpkins to carve:

Power tools to hold:

A grandpa to help:

A big brother who makes us laugh:

And bikes to ride off into the sunset:

Such a beautiful day!

Wishing all much fun in preparing for and celebrating Halloween!

Scarf Soup

2011-10-27T08:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the answer to "what's for dinner?" is "scarf soup". Or "hat soup", or "wrap soup", or ... you get the idea! This delicious cowl is knit from one skein of hand-dyed Kidlin, a linen/mohair blend that is surprisingly soft.
The pattern, "Myra" by Louet, falls in the lace category and while it is not a difficult pattern, it's hard to gain speed. This is most likely due to the width of it and the eyelet work. So it's best to sit back with this one and loving create every stitch, appreciating the gorgeous texture and depth of color. I finished and steam blocked it yesterday morning and when I put it around my neck for the first time, I thought: Uh oh, everyone is going to be sick to death of seeing me in this because I Love It! If neutral colors aren't your thing, we have a beautiful selection of jewel tones. Shoot, as I think about them, I just know I'm going to have to knit one in color now (despite my obligation to knit shop samples)! Probably the raspberry & orange one! Darn this blog and my roaming thoughts.

Introducing Grinning Cat Yarns

2011-10-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

We are so thrilled to introduce Grinning Cat Yarns, hand-dyed here in San Diego by our very own Joni Schulz. I hardly ever come across a yarn enthusiast (in every day life) who actually loves yarn more than I do. Joni is one such person. Man, it doesn't take her long to learn anything! Her byline is "curiouser and curiouser" and that is Joni personified. Not content to just knit, she started spinning a few months ago...not content to just spin, she started hand-dying weeks ago! And the results of her recent forage into the world of color is truly extraordinary. A perfect way to try out her sock yarns is to take the Quilted Lattice Mitts class with Joni on Saturdays, Nov. 12th and 19th, from 1-3 p.m. at the Grove. Please click on our calendar (above right) for further details.

Contagious Relaxation!

2011-10-13T06:49:00.001-07:00

Knitting can be contagiously relaxing...especially when you're knitting with hand-painted Chunky by Misti Alpaca. It's dreamy!

Knitivity

2011-10-09T14:23:00.001-07:00

We just received "Knitivity, Create Your Own Christmas Scene" by Fiona Goble. Every critter and every human is irresistible. I'm not big on knitting little things because it's impossible to build up momentum, but I just had to knit baby Jesus! There he is posing right in front of the baby Jesus on the cover.

Once he is relieved of his swaddling, he is free to wave his arms and legs around without dislodging his diapers. (Luckily, they don't have to be changed because that would be a deal breaker.)

Now I don't know how far I'm going to go with this project, but I have finished Mary's robe. That's all I have to say on the matter.

Hand-Crafted Yarn Bowls from the 'Hood'

2011-10-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

How I love this neighborhood! When Vogue published a page of incredible yarn bowls, we immediately thought of Plum Pottery, the pottery studio around the corner from us. Let's have 'em made right here in the hood, we said! And Brandy Noon, an accomplished ceramicist, was gracious enough to create a special line of them just for Grove customers! They are as practical as they are pretty and they frame our exquisite hand-dyeds beautifully. When you are knitting from a hand-wound ball or the outside yarn on a pre-wound ball, the ingenious design holds the ball in place while you pull freely as you knit. These are must haves, and I'm not kidding. And it's also a good for your soul to support a local artisan.

Goody Gumdrops!

2011-10-06T08:19:00.003-07:00

YUM!!! The fall yarns have begun to arrive and it is a mouth-watering experience. The latest arrival is a delicious yarn called "Cortina" which are those beautiful gum drop balls on the top. I'm always looking for light-weight bulkies which hold their shape, are reasonably priced, and have good colors. Cortina is one such yarn! It has a nylon core wrapped in merino so it is light as a feather and soft as down. It retails for $9.95. At 2.5 sts. per inch on a #17, this yarn knits up ever-so-quickly.

Another huge yarn in color and texture, is Pagewood Farm's Rustic Spun yarn which is hanging on the sides of the shelves. It's hand-dyed (of course) and one skein knits up a luxurious scarf, long enough to wrap around your neck. Since it's a thick/thin yarn, garter stitch emphasizes the slubs to the max. It is a textural, color-drenched wonder.

And from Misti Alpaca, Baby Me Boo, has arrived. It is a blend of alpaca, merino and bamboo and it is as soft as a baby's cheek. We haven't gotten all the colors in yet, but we're off to a great start with ivory, red, green, and charcoal with more on their way. One skein makes a wonderful mobius cowl (which you'll see on our November class schedule).

Last but not least, on the bottom shelf, is our best-selling Chunky, by Misti Alpaca. Beware. You cannot touch this and put it back down without buying it. It should have a warning label on it!

So c'mon by and check out our new finds!

Donna, Baby Fashionista!

2011-09-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

Donna was spotted at the Grove yesterday, donning a hand knit organic cotton hat in a lime green and orange, yarn by Blue Sky Alpaca, design by Susan Wells. The hat was embellished with a large crocheted flower in yellow and lime green organic cotton, with a colorful button from judipatuti's collection in the center. Donna also wore a silk ruffle scarf that matched her hat and outfit perfectly. The scarf is hand knit from Louisa Harding's Mulberry Silk, pattern by Susan Wells.

In the photo posted below, Donna is selecting her next project and has wisely chosen Chameleon Green in Lanaloft, a variegated 100% wool, grown & spun in the U.S. This reflects Donna's allegiance to natural fibers, reasonably priced yarn ($7.00 for 160 yds.) and fiber from U.S. grown sheep. For additional information on Donna's ensemble, please contact the Grove at 619-284-7684.

Lisa in "Abigail"

2011-09-27T06:51:00.001-07:00

Ah, sweet success! This is Lisa wearing "Abigail", a pattern by C2Knits. Lisa knit one scarf; I repeat, one scarf and then she launched straight into "Abigail". She's a fearless one. She chose Covington, a mercerized cotton by Plymouth, in fog. The drape of this yarn is beautiful and it has a shine to it that puts it on the border of "casual" and "dress". Add one of judipatuti's cool buttons and voila...a masterpiece! Bravo Lisa! Great fit, great job!

Classes in Full Swing!

2011-09-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

We had a full house this past weekend with classes in full swing. This is Eileen and her mom Jan (favorite mother-daughter knitters!) getting the Linen Lace Diagonal Scarf under way.
Meanwhile, in the conference room, judipatuti taught students how to tattoo aka embroider images on these really cool faux vintage towels.

Little Lola could not have been more content sitting in Lee's lap while Lee embroidered. Hands down, Lola wins the Cute Award.

Oh, how we love September and the start of the Serious Knitting/Craft season!

Bite of Boston

2011-09-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

Today is our 16th anniversary. To celebrate, we're going to see Debt with Helen Mirin and then we're going to Bite of Boston to eat Fried Ipswich Clams (with da' bellies....yummmm!!!!!!!), crinkle cut french fries, and homemade coleslaw. And we're going to drink Sam Adams from plastic cups while we sit at the outdoor picnic tables (I don't care if it's raining), and we're going to laugh our patookies off cuz if there's one thing we know how to do, it's to have fun (well, when DH is in the mood, that is...but I think he will be today!). And I'll pretend we're sitting on a dock in Maine and it will ease my homesick heart. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else than here but I do long for the Atlantic and New England, especially in the Fall. Now, for a little Boston trivia, check this out! Cracks me up!!!

If you take my lead and you go to Bite of Boston in University City, try the wicked awesome Chowdah which is made from the infamous Legal Seafood's recipe. At the counter to the right of where you order, is this crazy red lobster. Look for the small white button on it's platform and hit it. The lobster dances and you'll hear "Don't Rock the Boat Baby" and other oldies. I want that lobster so badly!

Knitting in La Jolla Closing

2011-09-11T08:03:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry to write that Knitting in La Jolla is closing Mid-October. I got the news from a post on Ravelry. What it said was that Susan's lease is up and she chose not to renew saying it was time. It doesn't look like she has a web presence so it's probably best to check the San Diego knit groups on Ravelry for any sale information.

Heavy heart this morning.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

2011-09-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

I read. A lot. Not quite as much as I knit, but almost! At the Grove, I am always asked for book recommendations and it isn't often that I can make one without reservation. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is my current favorite. A good customer of mine, who is an avid reader, gave me her copy saying it was one of the best books she has ever read. Coming from Elizabeth, that's a Serious Recommendation! I have cherished reading it and just this morning finished the last page which was surprisingly happy (despite all odds). A perfect way to start out this chilly, grey morning. So if you're looking for a really good book to curl up with and read under a warm binkie with a cup of tea, this is the one!

Abundanza & Antonia

2011-08-24T07:02:00.001-07:00

Wow! What a night it was at the Grove! Lisa Limber brought a boatload of gorgeous Schaefer yarns with all her magnificent samples. The warm night did not deter any of our many customers from fondling and purchasing the ever-so-soft hand-dyed silk, wools, and cottons. We had over 50 names in our drawing for the Butin Necklace and Beaded Cuff Kits.

As luck would have it, Antonia was one of the few customers left at the end of the evening so she was actually there when we pulled her name! Serendipity! She was so pleased because she said she never wins anything. Ah, the magic of the Grove continues!

And many thanks to my dearest friends, Marcia and Judy, who despite their busy schedules were there to help throughout the hectic evening. Just seeing those smiling faces makes any night manageable (never mind their incredible willingness to pitch in and their extraordinary competence).

Muslin Project Bags & Knitter's Sayings

2011-08-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

I hear so many reasons for people to knit. Some knit so as not to eat. Others knit so as not to think. Some knit not to worry and some knit so as not to lose their minds. I have always loved ivory muslin and linens and I've always loved words (hence the banner on my blog!). All these things came together as I was whipping up some project bags for myself. And the sayings just kept coming! I got such positive feedback on these that I decided to make some available for purchase. They are modestly priced and make great bags because they allow fibers to breathe, they're washable, and easy to just grab and go. Next time you're in the shop, check them out. You might find you're favorite reason for knitting spelled out!

Purple Kitty Design Feature Saves the Day!

2011-08-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

The Purple Kitty idea came about when Dee feared running out of yarn before finishing the sleeves on her sister's sweater. She came across the kitty chart in one of her books and since her sister's a Cat Lover, she decided to stretch the yarn she had left by inserting him on an ecru backdrop. We brought him to life using a combination of fair isle knitting and duplicate stitch. You will find that the absolute coolest pieces you will ever create come from addressing yarn shortage, a pattern flaw, or some other knitter's dilemma. When this happens to you, just remember the "Purple Kitty"!

Butin Necklace: Fun and Gorgeous!

2011-08-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

This Butin Necklace by Laura Nelkin has got to be the best gift a knitter can make for herself or others especially for around $15! The yarn is Audrey by Schaefer made of 50% merino and 50%. Truly, exquisitely silky ... hand-dyed, of course, because that's all Schaefer does. The small glass beads are lined and the large ones are multi-colored copper. [Apologies to Marcia because I know there is a name for them that escapes me!]. All the beads are strung prior to knitting and pulled forward as needed. The set-up must be precise because if you miscount the beads, there's no turning back except to rip out at least for the middle tier section. Beyond that, this is an easy pattern to follow. I know about the precision part because I wasn't careful and misstrung. Ended up tearing it out and re-knitting it. Okay, I did that 2x because I was watching t.v. and not giving this project the attention it deserved. Don't do as I did!!! One of the outstanding characteristics of silk is its strength and as you can see, the yarn was no worse for the wear. We have the kits in 6 different colorways and plenty of long #2 needles. [Oh c'mon ... don't be a baby...#2 needles are nothing to be afraid of!!!]

Stylin' Bamboo Knitting Totes!

2011-08-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the look out for good knitting totes. To me, a good knitting tote has a flat bottom so it can sit by your chair wide open without any closure or fold to prevent your working yarn from pulling easily. A good knitting tote has got to be fabric lined. A zippered inside pocket is nice. It has to be light-weight! It cannot have any velcro enclosures to snag yarn. And finally, it cannot cost an arm and a leg.

Well, these knitting totes fit the bill exactly! They are fabric-lined bamboo totes with handles long enough to put over your shoulder. The flat bottom can be manipulated so that the entire tote can be folded and stored flat. It is well-made, roomy and has a zippered enclosure. Best or all, they only cost $35!!! What a deal!!! Aside from the black and brown ones shown here, they also come in a natural bamboo color (due at the end of August). But if you want the ones that don't show dirt, we just got our shipment in yesterday. These are definitely worth checking out!

Sparkling Sequins Stun!!!

2011-07-29T09:03:00.001-07:00

Darn it all, you can't see those stunning, sparkling sequins in this picture. You'll just have to take my word for it that this is the most eye-catching piece in the store. People gasp when they see it. Really. The pattern is called Wisp and it's free on Ravelry. There are 3 different ways to wear this, but the one shown is my favorite. The tassle-topped wooden shawl pin is a perfect compliment both color-wise and design-wise. I bought a bunch of these from an Australian woman who was visiting a friend of hers in San Diego. Irresistible. Oh, and reasonable too.

I just placed Big Fall Orders this morning, including bags of this gorgeous Kid-Paillettes from Skacel. We are awaiting their new fall colors ... merlot and navy which compliment their naturals beautifully. We'll keep you posted on their arrival!

L.A. Gift Show Treasures

2011-07-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

The summer gift show in L.A. is the show where we select our holiday decorations and gifts so it's sort of Christmas in July for us. By the end of a long day, what we've purchased becomes just one big blur. When we receive our orders starting in October, we are always surprised and delighted to remember what we did buy!

In addition to placing orders for future deliveries, we are also able to buy some "cash and carry" items. This time, we discovered an organization called Woman for Woman, a fair trade Cambodian business where disabled women are taught to sew and create beautiful silk accessories to support themselves. . What impresses us about their products is the quality. They are all 100% silk, the colors are vibrant, the styles run from fun to sophisticated and the stitching and soundness of construction is excellent. Silk is one of the strongest fibers available and known for its soil resistance. Okay, so all this is leading up to us telling you ... we brought back a very nice supply with us! Tomorrow we price and display them and Tuesday, you will be able to buy them at the Grove.

The other treasures we picked up at the "cash and carry" are paper products by Little Heart Designs, a California family run operation.
We adore their ultra feminine, glittery gift cards (see "Girlfriends Matter" card above!), journals and notepads. They have over 1000 images and the most difficult part is trying to pare down and select what we can afford. How can you possibly resist these lovebirds?!#

The Perfect Model!

2011-07-17T14:07:00.001-07:00

This is Kira, a beautiful customer of ours who was enamored with the Cloche. When I saw her wearing the hat I squealed and she said, "Oh, is it not okay that I try this on?" It's more than okay, I told her! She graciously agreed to pose for this picture and her mom and mom's friend both took pictures and sent them to me. If I didn't need the Cloche as a shop sample, I would have gladly given it to her because she is the rightful owner of it!

Pagewood Farm Hand Spun Bouquet Cloche

2011-07-15T22:10:00.000-07:00

So this morning, I get a call from one of my favorite reps, Cia, who also happens to be the rep for Pagewood Farm. That would be Sweet Cia. She got my email re: tomorrow night's Walkabout and sent me a copy of a one-skein pattern for this adorable cloche made from Pagewood's Hand Spun Bouquet. A shop in Florida designed this and artfully arranged the "bouquet" on one side of the hat. Brilliant! It was one busy day, but the minute I received Cia's email, I cast on this beauty and finished right after dinner. Good lord, it's so cute, I can hardly stand it. And Easy Schmeazy! We have several of these gorgeous skeins on hand for the Walkabout and will provide the pattern free with purchase of the yarn (at 15% off). So c'mon in!!!

Pagewood Farm Extravaganza!!!!

2011-07-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

For this Walkabout Weekend only, we have over a hundred skeins of Pagewood Farm hand-dyed yarns to choose from at 15% off. Pagewood Farm yarns on sale?#! Unheard of!!! Rustic Spun, Fuzzy Purls, Giant Purls, Handspun with Felted Flowers, One of a Kind Embellished Hand-Spun (incorporating glittery ribbons and other cool stuff!), and more! We also have over a dozen Tinkerbell Needlefelting Silk Scarf kits and bags of hand-dyed roving...all at 15% off. All unsold skeins of yarn will be returned to Pagewood Farm following this weekend so don't miss this opportunity.

Early Fall Knitty Issue

2011-07-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

Wow. It's not even July 4th and the Early Fall Knitty Issue has been posted! Mind you, I am not complaining, just pleasantly surprised. As you might imagine, this issue is full of accessories (primarily socks) which suit us year-round knitters who knit through the summer in preparation for fall. Socks and accessories are perfect vacation projects since they don't take up much room and are highly portable. Although I'm not a sock knitter per se, I just love these Double Helix socks. We're discussing have a sock class in August and this pattern is one we are considering. I just don't think I would be able to cover those very cool heels with shoes. Transparent Croc's perhaps?

Good lord, I can just imagine my sister shaking her head in disapproval, saying...why do you always pick out such ugly shoes?

Diagonal Lace Linen Scarf or Wrap

2011-07-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

We have just received a new shipment of Euroflax and this morning, I noticed Churchmouse's Diagonal Lace Linen Scarf/Wrap pattern on Ravelry. What a perfect evening wrap for our climate! The pattern is a freebee and can be knit with 1 or 2 skeins of Euroflax depending upon your gauge and size. Churchmouse patterns are tested and retested before presented to the public. Their patterns are one of the few trustworthy ones out there! Maybe we'll do a knit along with this one in August. Let me know if you are interested.

P.S. They suggest Euroflax or an "equivalent sport-weight bast fiber". "Bast"? Huh. Never heard that one before. Check it out! It is a great Scrabble word!

My Beautiful Grandsons!

2011-06-30T08:48:00.000-07:00

That little juicy one on the right is 6-year-old Trey and he is the sweetest honey bear. He starts kindergarten in the fall. And Patrick, my heart, is 19 years old and the best big brother a kid could have. There is a chance that they will be moving back to San Diego (with their sister, Viv, and their parents, Estes & Dave) in August. I am not supposed to breath a word about it because Dave has not officially accepted the job offer yet but he's got one!!! I am daring to dream of having all my chickies close to me again. To watch them grow up and witnesses all the events in their young lives would bring me the greatest joy. I write this to make it happen. Hold a good thought for us.

Turkey Stampede!

2011-06-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

The Turkey Stampede is a terrific reason to go to the Del Mar Fair. What on earth, you may rightfully ask, is a turkey stampede? It is the creation of an ingenious couple from Ramona who have figured out a way to get turkeys to run around a race track chasing a remote controlled red truck, appropriately named "Big Red". The bed of Big Red contains feed and those crazy turkeys chase it like a gazelle chasing prey. Big ol' dorky, funny looking turkeys!
I don't want to give away the whole show, but kids from the audience are included in part of the show (one who announced she was from "The United States of America" when asked where she was from). And the couple who runs it..well, the woman is so naturally funny and great with a crowd that this is a Don't Miss!

Piper in a Pot, Pipin' Hot!

2011-05-25T19:22:00.001-07:00

This is precious Piper, Jan's beloved grand baby girl. She's what's for dinner in her crock pot crib! Who doesn't want to just eat that little cutie up? Anyone who hears the name "Piper" exclaims...that is the coolest name!!! Jan has knit this darling collection of caps and embellished them (which really puts them over the top).

All three are knit from Blue Sky Alpaca's "Simple Baby Hat" pattern. The light green one was knit in Blue Sky's Skinny Dyed organic cotton, color "Sprout". Jan modified the pattern a bit by ending with an I-chord "umbilical chord" top and then tying a leaf ribbon around it.

The red one is also knit with Skinny Dyed in the color "Cherry" with a hand-made polymer clay heart button by Zecca.

And the hunter green one is knit with a 100% alpaca and finished with a sheer ribbon bow on top.

By knitting for Piper, Jan has become a fine knitter. I don't think she even blocked these hats, but look at her tension. It's perfect. I am encouraging her to take on a sweater next. It will be the beginning of Piper-Wear, a collection of children's hand knits!

Blue Sky Has Whipped Up a Beauty

2011-05-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

I have often been accused of being dramatic and prone to exaggeration. (I can hear my friends saying...NO! YOU? and Gail I'm thinking of you in particular.) It's hard being the woman who cries beauty too much because when I find something extraordinary I may not be taken seriously. Well, I am going to deliver my message about Blue Sky's new yarn, Techno, as unemotionally as I can. The construction of the yarn is unique. Baby alpaca (which is a grade of alpaca...not really from babies) and fine merino are blown into a silk mesh tube (which is invisible to the naked eye). The result is a yarn as soft as fine cashmere without any twist. The label reads "Fast knitting, no splitting". It comes in several neon colors like Marquee Yellow above and several neutrals. It is going to be introduced at the June TNNA so it is not available to purchase yet but I was able to get a preview hank. It knits up on a 10.5 needle at 3 sts. per inch. You can also go down a few needles sizes bringing it to 5 sts. per inch without getting a dense fabric. Okay, I can't help this: I nearly cried when I held it because I have never felt anything so pleasing. I'll let you know when the first shipment arrives so you can see for yourself that I am not exaggerating!

Floppy Flounder KAL Comin' Up

2011-05-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

Here's Floppy Flounder looking for a school where he fits in! Apparently, he missed the roll call when the others where being selected to hand-applique on this darling pillow (one of three for sale in the shop...fish for Father's Day anyone?). The KAL is Thursday evening, May 12, from 6:30 - 8:30 and we'll be making this guy some friends of his own. Our plan is to use him and his friends in our June window display. So, if you can part with yours for a month or so, we'd love to show it off. I'll be at the shop today and tomorrow so call if you have any questions. This little guy is knit on double pointed needles so experience with dpns is required. So just print the pattern, grab your needles, and join us for the fun!

Coastin' Along

2011-05-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

My coaster/basket making came to a screeching halt in December when my Baby Lock locked up. A trip to Central Sewing in El Cajon (far, far away) and months later...voila, I'm back in business. Since there's something fishy going on at the Grove this month (check out our class schedule), I decided to get a little more creative with my coasters. This little guy came to life under my hands on Sunday. And I think he's pretty darn cute! I'll be making schools of them as I rediscover all the beautiful judipatuti fabric I've squirreled away.

Spinning Yarn with a Drop Spindle

2011-05-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

Chuck Page of Pagewood Farm fame, taught us how to use a drop spindle yesterday. He brought us hand-dyed Blue Face Leicester (BFL) roving. It looked like colorful cotton candy and honestly it was hard for me not to eat some of it. It is so gorgeous, you just want to Injest it! We were so engrossed in our spinning that 3 hours into the class, Chuck packed up as planned, and I don't think one of us raised a head to even thank him. Spinning is absolutely mesmerizing. I finished my first 2 oz. bundle last night and started on the second. Now I don't know if I did a good job or bad but I can't wait to dive back into it today!

Succulents Are Popping Up Everywhere!

2011-04-27T21:14:00.001-07:00

The other day I stopped by Anderson's Nursery and I saw this amazing sight...a bumper turned into a traveling home for succulents. I was so impressed. I have trouble keeping one alive by my kitchen sink, never mind tending to an outdoor, moving garden. Now that I think about it, I guess this means that you couldn't go into a car wash. Not even a succulent shower cap would protect them from the fury in one of those. And what about theft and vandalism? Okay. I'm overthinking this, I know.

Happy Easter in Llama!

2011-04-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

Translate to Llama here!
Eat lots of jelly beans and remember the excitement of being a kid when that bunny showed up while you were sleeping and hid the damn basket in places that were hard to find.

Knitter Torrie Dunlap Speaks at Pentagon

2011-04-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

We get to know so many wonderful women in our business. They come from all walks of life and are brought together in the pursuit of creativity and inspiration. One of the most creative and generous souls to cross our threshold is Torrie Dunlap. She is the Executive Director of KIT and has a busy travel schedule. I love to know where she's been and recently I asked her about her trips this year. She mentioned she was in D.C. and as an afterthought she said, "oh, yeah, I spoke at the Pentagon which was cool!" (Well I guess!!!) Good lord. Now how many people can say that?!#@ Bravo, Torrie!!!

P.S. Torrie is entertaining the idea of knitting her beautiful nephew the farm and all its animals from Spud & Chloe at the Farm. I'm on board and we're starting with the lambie. Give me a call at the shop (619) 284-7684 if you care to join us!

Hello Babies!

2011-04-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

We all but finished our Hello Baby sweaters on Sunday. As to be expected, one is cuter than the next! I love the button choices!

Jessie's on the right is trimmed in "Toast" and has these darling wood buttons that complement the organic feel of the sweater.

Karen chose the sweetest polymar clay leaf buttons that look as if they were dyed to match "Grass".

The ones on my shop sample (pictured below right) are handmade glass with each being a tad different. This variation creates a more fun look for a baby sweater. The trim is called "Waterslide" and it is one of Spud & Chloe's newest Sweater colors.

As for the "Hello Baby" pattern, it is well written re: the body of the sweater. Knit from the top down there is virtually no sewing involved except a stitch or two under the arms. So I would recommend this pattern to new knitters who can knit and purl comfortably.

However, when it comes to the applied I-cord, it is a challenge to get started. The directions in the pattern aren't going to help new knitters. I have knit a gazillion I-cords in my lifetime (starting with my Little Red Spinning Wheel when I was a wee one), but have never done an "applied" version. There are gaps in the pattern instructions. I ended up figuring this out by referring to online tutorials. The stitch itself is easy, but getting started can be a bit tough. These instruction may help.

Applied I-cord for Hello Baby sweater:

Step 1: Cast on 2 stitches on a #7 dpn with contrasting yarn. Without turning, slide the same two stitches to the opposite end of the needle (this is the I-cord part). Knit one of them, slip the second one as if to purl, yarn over.

Step 2: Attaching stitches on the dpn to the sweater stitches. With the same dpn in your right hand and the circular needle in your left (the one that holds all the picked up sitches from the right front, neckline, and left front of the sweater), knit 1 sweater stitch from the bottom right front of the sweater. You now have 4 stitches on your right dpn: from right to left, you have 1 knit stitch, 1 slipped stitch, 1 yarn over, and 1 sweater stitch.

Step 3: Pass the 2nd and 3rd stitches (i.e., the YO and slipped stitch) on the dpn in your right hand over the sweater stitch. You now have two stitches left on your right needle; the 1 knit stitch and the 1 sweater stitch.

Step 4: I-cord part
Push both these stitches to the opposite end of the needle and knit 1 stitch, slip the next, YO 1, and knit the next sweater stitch. You now have 4 stitches on your right dpn.

Repeat Steps 3 & 4 until all of picked up stitches on sweater have been knit.

Finishing: End by casting off the last two stitches that remain on your needle in Step 3. Weave in your tail and you're done!

It's A-OK to Flounder!!!

2011-04-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

I hate to beat the fish thing to death, but c'mon, they're popping up everywhere. Forget owls. They are passe. Focus on the fish!

For weeks now, I've been checking Knitty, waiting for their Spring issue. Finally, today, I was not disappointed. If I didn't have to work at 11:00 (I know, I should be getting ready), I'd whip one of these Flounders out. The instructions appear to be very clear and the technique photos are terrific. Don't be dissuaded by the length of the pattern. It appears that the designer is just being very thorough, spoon feeding all the directions.

Anybody up for a Flounder Knit-Along in May? Ahem, judipatuti? You can make up for dissing my fish socks by joining me!

Abigail

2011-03-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

We just got in 6 new c2knits patterns which are all topdown. The advantage of topdown patterns is that they are seamless, avoiding the dreaded task of finishing! I am particularly fond of this pattern which is actually a pullover...so you don't even need to make a button hole!
As soon as we get our Spring yarns in (starting next week), I'll be cranking out a shop sample. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Chubby Chirp

2011-03-27T11:26:00.001-07:00

I stumbled across this darling pattern by Rebecca Danger on Ravelry yesterday and immediately cast on Chubby Chirps (despite the fact that I had a gazillion things to do in preparation for last night's Spring Walkabout). I finished the little guy this morning so I could bring him to work to keep me company. I so wish I could have captured the gorgeous yarn he is knit in...it's Chic Sheep by Done Roving and the colors are crisp and deep and luscious! You'll just have to stop by and see him at the shop where he will be living.

We Carry K. Bell Socks!

2011-03-26T07:58:00.001-07:00

We were feeling rather sorry for non-knitters who can't whip up their own pair of deliciously soft and warm socks so when we saw the K. Bell line at a recent gift show, we decided to do something about it! Judipatuti nearly cringed when I got all excited over these fish socks. Despite her negative reaction, I bought them anyway and guess what we sold out of week #1? The fish! The reorder arrived just in time for tonight's Spring Walkabout. Aside from this very popular design, we have socks with bicycles, ninjas, owls, martini glasses, kitties, and a whole bunch of others. We have "elimination" problems when it comes to K. Bell's designs...the collection is so extensive and they are all so wonderful that we have trouble narrowing down the choices. This, of course, results in us having a wide selection! While most of them are cotton blends, we do have a pair of remarkably soft bamboo socks with a single elegant crane printed on the side. So if you are a K. Bell groupie (we understand there are such people!), you can score some at the Grove!

P.S. Hope to see you at the Walkabout tonight! For more information, check out South Park Scene.

Knitter's Humor!

2011-03-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

By Dave Coverly, www.speedbump.com.

Knitting by the Beach Closing

2011-03-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

I was so sad to read that Knitting by the Beach is closing their fine knitting shop in Solana Beach. The owner, Tanya Alpert (pictured), who is also the author of Haiku Knits, is an incredibly talented designer. I visited her shop when it first opened and was so impressed with her selection of yarns and accessories. All I can say is, please support your LYS despite the temptation of purchasing yarns on the internet. Soon there will be no where to go to fondle the yarns in person, get expert advice, and knit in a community of like-minded people. I try not to think that way, but we have lost 3 LYS' in the past few years. With the Grove only a few miles from downtown San Diego, we are the only yarn shop in San Diego proper. I just can't imagine life without yarn and I'm hoping you share the same feeling.

I read on Ravelry that there is still time to get some wonderful deals at Knitting by the Beach before the March 31st closure. While this is against our interest at the Grove, I urge you to stop by there if you can. You will get some beautiful product for 40% off and it will be very helpful to Tanya.

Augusta Knit in Skinny Dyed Cotton

2011-03-17T08:58:00.001-07:00

How darling is this? "Augusta" is Kim Dolce's new pattern knit in Blue Sky's Skinny Dyed Cotton. White is a big color this summer (isn't it usually"!#) and Vogue's Knitting Spring/Summer 2011 issue devotes a whole series of patterns in it. There is nothing as crisp and fresh looking as white cotton...especially Blue Sky's Skinny Dyed that has a blueish tint to it. Gorgeous in an understated way! Check out Blue Sky's new website starting with Augusta and the other "Staff Picks". As usual, it is tasteful and alluring!

Vogue Spring/Summer 2011 Knitting

2011-03-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

A peek at Vogue Magazine's Spring/Summer 2011 issue is available on their website and it looks like this one is a must have. I don't say that for every issue, honestly, but this particular one is filled with patterns you can see yourself wearing. One that I am itching to get started on is the Diagonal Front Vest (pictured above) which is knit in our beloved Worsted Cotton by Blue Sky Alpaca. And this is but one of many wearable pieces. So do check it out...especially the video!

Atenti Caddies & Needle Cases Are Here!!!

2011-03-12T14:55:00.000-08:00

These pictures don't do justice to Atenti's new knitting caddies! These are handmade in Los Angeles in the most beautiful tapestry fabrics. The workmanship is of the utmost quality. Notice the contrasting fabric used as trim and all those outside pockets. The caddy sits flat on the floor and has a wide mouth perfect to accommodate larger projects.

We also purchased accessory bags with zippers. Typical of Atenti's colors, there are animal prints on the back of the bags, and a tapestry on the front. FUN!!!

And last but not least, we have their new needle cases!

Tapestry fronts and animal prints on the inside!

Stolen Moments Are Trying At Times!

2011-03-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

I am teaching the Stolen Moments Shawl on March 23 so it is my job to blaze the trail, making every possible mistake (often unintentional!) so that I can warn those who follow me of the pitfalls. Well, with this shawl, I have done a pretty good job of doing just that all to my students benefit. I come up with "Susan's Tips" and they're all about avoiding mistakes.

With the Stolen Moments Shawl, my first tip is that this is not for t.v. knitting. No sir. I would say until you are about 1/3 of the way through, you have to pay attention. It's not that you won't know the pattern after the 2nd row. It's that it is so easy to miss a yarn over or a pass over. I have read most of the comments from the Ravelers who have knit this project and see that that is a common observation. This is no reason not to knit it because you will also see that it is an easy pattern, quickly memorized.

The big question I also have to ask myself as a teacher is: is it worth it? That's always the question. Is it worth the cost of yarn and is it worth the time it takes to knit? I would say this one absolutely is. I think this is one of those pieces that you will grab time and time again on your way out the door and you may just have to knit more than one.

I am experimenting with different yarns and looks, starting with Blue Sky's Alpaca Silk which is light and drapey in some gorgeous jewel tones. The one I am using is called "Peridot". Although the pattern calls for chunky or worsted weight yarn, neither is the best choice for Spring in San Diego. Hence, the choice to use a dk weight yarn on a #10 needle. If time allows, I will do a small sample of the stitch in Blue Sky's Worsted Cotton so students can select which look and feel appeals to them most. Now, back to knitting in the early morning quiet with DH and Scoutie Rosie still curled up together sleeping.

Spinning Fiber Arrives at the Grove!

2011-03-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

In keeping with our philosophy of supporting small businesses, we have purchased these gorgeous super fine merino spinning fibers from Anzula, a fledgling company in Northern California. These girls started out selling fiber at farmer's markets. They took the big leap in January and exhibited at the Long Beach TNNA where we discovered them. I wish you could reach into this picture and feel how creamy and soft this fiber is. While picking out this incredible stuff wasn't difficult at all, we don't know how to spin it yet!

Enter, Chuck Page from Pagewood Farm! He'll be teaching us all how to spin yarn with a drop spindle on March 12 & 19th. He's also bringing Pagewood's own gorgeous roving with him for us to chose from. Don't miss this class which includes the drop spindle as well as fiber in a color of your choice. See the current class schedule (upper right side of this page). Hope to see you on the 12th!

Peep Mugs & Key Chains Have Arrived!

2011-02-20T10:25:00.000-08:00

Well it seems like we have waited forever to receive these irresistible mugs and key chains! Finally, they have arrived and they could not be cuter! They are made in Sri Lanka by a British company. Dream in Color is the U.S. distributor. At the TNNA, their rep mentioned that they were having a hard time getting product. Hence the time delay and the partial order. Coming sometime in the future are coasters, aprons, lambie banks, and salt & pepper shakers. Some things are worth waiting for!
P.S. I've carried mugs designed with knitters in mind and have not reordered since there were flaws in the color and some arrived chipped. The peep mugs are well made and each is flawless!

Bling Bites

2011-02-07T18:25:00.000-08:00

Oh man, Pagewood Farm is Out Of Control!!!!! Their colors are so saturated, so drenched that it makes your teeth hurt to look at them!!! Their Bling Bites are mill ends, hand-dyed by Robin. They're perfect for needle felting or just incorporating into a scarf, cuffs, or collars.

So many uses for these yummy tidbits! We just received our shipment late last week and have some gorgeous colors! So come check them out!!! Every fiber lover should have a little Bling in their collection, no?!#

The Baaa Studs!

2011-02-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

For all those lambie lovers out there, this is the most astounding video! Can't imagine what it took to coordinate and plan this from above never mind pull it off!

P.S. Needed a visual so I am sharing a photo I took at the Del Mar Fair last summer. These pampered pets are not in the video!

What I Want for Valentine's Day

2011-02-02T08:14:00.001-08:00

I am all about chocolate and always have been. In the mid-80's, my parents moved to Belgium for 3 years and I agreed to let them go if they sent me shipments of Belgian chocolate (purportedly the best in the world). I still have one deep velvet heart box from those days that I keep sea shells in. Well, spoiled I was. After that experience, most chocolate tasted like Crisco to me and I wasn't even able to eat M&M's for a few years. Luckily that was a long time ago and my palette has dulled and my standards have dropped. Until, that is, I discovered Eclipse Chocolat Cafe on El Cajon Blvd, not far from the Grove.

I was first introduced to Eclipse when a customer of ours named August mentioned that he works there. My business partner then came in with their caramels one day and I have never, not ever, tasted anything so good. Honestly. I am prone to exaggeration but not in this case, I swear. Then August brought me a chocolate lavender sea salt something-or-other bar and I was hooked. Their chocolates are all made on the premises and are remarkably fresh. You don't know fresh chocolate until you've taste theirs. The exotic ingredients they use, including rose petals and violets, are amazing. It's almost as if you can't taste those flavors but you can smell them. It's like your mouth is infused with the smell of flowers in a good way!
The salts they use are also exotic...they push everything over the top.

So, If you have a love in your life who is crazy about chocolate....you must check this place out! Also, they have chocolate drinks that I've heard are heavenly and happy hours where they serve truffles with every glass of wine. Awesome.

Stop in the name of Yarn before you break my heart!

2011-02-01T09:52:00.001-08:00

Well, we picked up some friends and were on our way to the movies and they insisted on going in this particular direction. You have got to come to a full stop at the next stop sign, they said. Full stop indeed! Do you believe it?!# I've read about decorating trees and outdoor sculpture with knitwear but had never seen it done. This stop sign scarf is at Pocahontas and Hatteras Ave. in Clairemont across from the Montessori School. How cool is that? If you have made any similar sightings in San Diego, do let me know. I'm thinking about knitting a scarf for the bike sculpture in front of the Grove. Maybe this summer when it slows down a bit!

Tilli Thomas' Mystery Skeins Have Arrived!!!

2011-01-30T08:40:00.000-08:00

There's no mystery about Tilli Tomas' Mystery Skeins except how they can make such exquisite yarns and colors for under $20 with 130 yards of silk, ribbon, alpaca, etc! We have them in a bouquet of spring colors and Valentine's Day Red.

Although many folks think I have the perfect job, it is work and it's work that doesn't pay well! So you've really got to love it. When I got that box from Tilli Tomas on Friday, I was so excited to see this gorgeous fiber. I love, love, love this, I thought. And I counted my blessings to be surrounded with such stunning colors and textures. It is absolute heaven. Couple that with the arrival of Done Roving's hand-dyed yarns and Pagewood Farms Rustic Spun, and I tell you, the store never looked so beautiful. And I'm excited to be going in to work today so I can see it all again.

A Few of My Favorite Things

2011-01-27T06:58:00.001-08:00

I got up early this morning to do the February calendar and here's how it's going. I get some coffee. Sit at my desk. Stare out the window at my lemon tree. See how many different birds I can spot on the wisteria. Turn on my computer. While it's warming up, I knit on the Braided Necklace with Tilli Thomas' Disco Lights. Ok. I'm in Constant Contact. Staring. Nothing's coming. I know, I'll get one of my favorite fountain pens...that'll help me get in the right frame of mind. Let's see which one. I try several of them and decide to go with the standard Monte Blanc that is the least exciting pen in my collection but it is good for every day writing. I smell the fragrant ink that I bought in Florence years ago. I don't think there's anything more genteel than having perfumed ink. It's heaven. Hmmm. Oh look, there's that ball of Rayon Metallic in Old Gold. Geeze, I love that so much. I pick it up and turn it this way and that like a pitcher getting a good grip on a ball. I put it down next to the ink bottle. Hmmm. Look, these are some of my favorite things. I know. I'll blog about them. I get the camera and here I sit one hour into my day with nary a word written on the calendar. Does any of this sound familiar?#! Okay. I'm really, really gunna do the calendar now. But wait, I better wash those jeans I want to wear today. (And so it goes.)

Heart Stitch Marker Holder By Puffin

2011-01-20T11:04:00.001-08:00

One of the most unique vendors at the TNNA was Puffin & Co, the creator of this ingenious Stitch Marker Holder. The entire piece is made of copper, brass & nickel. There is a very powerful magnet on the back of the holder to keep it securely on your blouse without making any pin holes or other marks. The markers attach to the holder by a lobster claw...two per claw so when you are ready to use them, you just unhook the marker and away you go. Ingenious. Just ingenious! The markers do have jump rings which can tend to snag, but Puffin's are made of brass. They're a little finer and the joins are precise so snagging is not an issue. They retail for $30 which is an incredible value especially when you see the quality of the piece and those 6 markers. Aside from the heart, there is a cat holder and a lamb holder, with one being cuter than the next. We also carry their packaged stitch marker sets (6) in each pattern without the holders and their adorable needle gauges made out of Alder, a hardwood from Thailand. You must see them!!!

One Button Waistcoat

2011-01-18T07:31:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while you come across a winner of a pattern and you want to make one in every color. This One Button Waistcoat by Sirdar is that kind of pattern. A customer of ours came in wearing this vest whereupon we demanded the pattern. She indulged us and I chose to knit it in charcoal grey Chunky by Misti Alpaca. I took a chance with this alpaca thinking that it was so soft and drapey that it wouldn't look too bulky. It worked. Many a customer has tried this vest on in the past week or so and it looks terrific on everyone. The small and medium take 6 skeins of Chunky and the large takes 7. So it's a bit of an investment but when you know it's going to look good on you and feel great, it is definitely worth it.

Gap-tastic Cowl Underway

2011-01-13T08:44:00.001-08:00

We started the cowl last night and it is, indeed, fantastic! I chose Hand-Painted Chunky by Misti Alpaca which is 100% baby alpaca (meaning it is going to be one of the softest fibers you will ever feel). What I really like about their hand-painted is that it doesn't stripe and it doesn't pool. You get just these wonderful little dots of color throughout that are so pleasing. And it does go incredibly fast. I didn't bring a second ball home with me after the KAL and I should have! But then I'd have been up far too late. This yarn should come with a warning label...cannot stop once you start!

True Grit, Frankie & Gap-tastic Cowl

2011-01-12T09:08:00.001-08:00

Some days are just bound to be better than others. I am very excited about seeing True Grit this afternoon! Can't wait to see Jeff Bridges on the big screen saying ... "ain't nuthin' I kin do fer ya, son"! And if you are a fan like I am, you won't want to miss "American Masters: Jeff Bridges-The Dude Abides" tonight at 10 p.m. on KPBS.

After the movie, it's a quick stop to visit my chick, Frankie. For those of you who are Frankie followers, you're not going to believe what she did last week! She laid her first egg!!!!!! Actually, she's been laying one a day for the past 7 days or so. She's the first of the 5 chicks to bless us with one. I'm so proud of her. I take back everything I said about her when she was going through her ugly duckling phase. Here she is in all her Rhode Island Red beauty!
Don and Celeste surprised me with 3 little eggs, precious as jewels on Sunday. Here they are: They were so pretty, I almost didn't want to eat them, but I did!!!

After spending face time with Frankie, I'm heading to the Grove for the 6:00 p.m. Gap-tastic Cowl KAL. (For more details, just hit the top right bird-nest icon for our current schedule). We'll be knitting it in Misti Alpaca. I just got in 30 skeins of their Hand-Painted Chunky which I will be using for mine. It is gorgeous and I can't wait to get my hands on it. So join us if you can. We allow wine.

Unpatterned

2011-01-10T08:36:00.000-08:00

At the TNNA, I always scout for indie designers to promote small businesses while satisfying my customers' needs. Oftentimes, customers come to the Grove looking for a simple tank top pattern or a man's simple crew neck sweater. Oddly enough, there are few to no patterns that fit that need. Go figure!

Enter Karen Alfke and her ingenious pattern designs...called "unpatterns". Karen has written patterns for basic designs that suit any yarn, any gauge, and any size. Her patterns are written for bottom up or top down (requiring little finishing) knitting, both equally suited for beginners.

As I read over her patterns, I felt like I was reading my own words starting with ... to get a custom fit, the best place to start is by measuring a sweater that fits you. My approach is based upon a lifetime of knitting and reading patterns as well as the experience of having knit too many sweaters to count. With this experience, I am able to simplify steps and communicate information in a way that is easily understood. Now none of this exists in writing...until now. Karen has done this beautifully and working from her patterns, you will feel like a very experienced knitter is sitting by your side helping you with each and every step.

Although some of her patterns are not going to be available until mid-February, her accessory patterns are ready to ship. So within a couple of weeks, we will be receiving her hat and sock patterns. I will announce their arrival on Ravelry. I think you are really going to like them and I can't wait to help you select just the right Schaefer or Pagewood Farms sock yarn to go with them!

TNNA Treasures!

2011-01-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to sleep dreaming of yarns, designs, and new class ideas (which actually isn't too different from every other night!). But last night's dreams were fueled by yesterday's TNNA in Long Beach where hand-painted yarns seemed to be in nearly every booth. We missed the fashion show the night before but heard that lace accessories were prominent. Although attendance was light, we saw a lot of familiar and welcoming faces and we placed quite a few orders.

I thought it would be fun to share with you the highlights over the next few days (not in any special order) starting with herdy.us. I hope I'm not the only one head over heels in love with this line cuz i bought just about everything they sell!!!

Can you find the lambie bank? She wears a little tag around her neck that says...why should pigs have all the money?!# And the salt and pepper shakers come with that little patch of grass under them. And there are key chains, coasters, and even aprons that come in all those fun colors. These will be shipped to us from Chicago midweek so we should be getting them in early next week. I'll be waiting in the window watching for the UPS truck and will let you know through our group on Ravelry when they arrive!

Welcome 2011 With Open Arms!

2011-01-02T08:16:00.000-08:00

Since we've had the shop, our New Year's Eve's are quiet, blessedly quiet. To me it signifies the end of the hectic retail season and a busy family time. All I really want to do is put my feet up and relax with David and Scout. No wild parties for us. No sir. We drink wine, play Scrabble (!), boil lobsters for dinner, listen to music loaded with memories, watch the ball fall in Times Square and sometimes we actually make it past midnight! This year was no exception except to the degree in which Scoutie involved herself.

Scout has got to, got to, sit right next to her dad at all times. Here we are sitting on the sofa with our deluxe Scrabble game in between us. This is not okay with Scout. She stands stamping her little white boots, snorting, and looking up at David as if to say....yeah, and where am I supposed to sit in this scenario. We ignore her. Eventually she jumps over the side of the sofa and lands on the back of it worming her way deep into the cushion behind David. Crazy, isn't it?

And she looks at me like, What? What?

Everything David does, she does. Here she is studying the board as intently as he is.

And when he got bored, she got bored (and didn't even try to hide it).
We barely made it through one game.

Then David starts getting the lobsters ready. Of course, he has to put one of them on the floor for Scout to play with before it meets its end.

She is absolutely clueless as to what a lobster is. She just sniffs and stares at it with her head turned and one ear cocked, with that little snaggle tooth showing. Enough already! I grab the damn lobster and put it in the pot myself. Geeze, boys and their dogs.

Well, I am hoping you all had a New Year's Eve that suited you just perfectly and that you have a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!!!

Sock Weather Has Arrived!

2010-12-30T20:59:00.000-08:00

As the lion in The Wizard of Oz said: "Funny weather we're havin', ain't it?" Brrr!!!! It is pretty cold in San Diego. Can't help but think about warm socks and cozy felted slippers. Luckily, I just met with Lisa Limber, Schaefer Yarn's rep, and stocked up on this beautiful array of hand-dyed sock yarns shown above. We are kicking off the new year with a terrific sock seminar and the French Press Felted Slippers that are too cute for words!!! Check out our latest calendar for dates, times and fees. We are thrilled to add a new teacher to our staff, Eileen Adler. Many of you may be familiar with her since she is a teacher extraordinaire and has taught in many different venues. She'll be teaching the sock seminar, and I'll be teaching the felted slippers. Hope to see you at the Grove soon!!!!!!!
Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Crack!

2010-12-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

I was up at 6 a.m. the day of Daily Scoop's Cookie Exchange to make my traditional Spritz cookies. Well, of all the times I've made these (practically my whole life), I had my first disaster. No boring details, just know that 2 lbs. of buttery dough with green food coloring in it is a lot to get rid of! And there was no time to do anything about it because I had a luncheon at 11:30 followed by work from 2-6. Curses.

My dilemma was solved unexpectedly by a late afternoon customer who told me to Google "Christmas Crack". She assured me I could make it in a flash, which was encouraging since I had only one hour between closing the shop and getting to the Cookie Exchange. Now I've heard a lot of frightening things about crack and never imagined I'd partake in it, but I did, and now I am hooked. Double curses. Christmas crack is a toffee made from saltines, butter, brown sugar, chocolate chips and chopped walnuts. It only takes about 15 minutes to make and it is crazy good. Check it out...c'mon, just try a little bit...it won't hurt you...it's the best high ever. I promise!

We've Got Red Knit Kits!!!

2010-12-11T10:41:00.001-08:00

The ladies at Knit Kits created a limited edition red Knit Kit to help knitters embrace the holiday season. Treat yourself to one as a reward for finishing up those knitted gifts. They also make great stocking stuffers. We have just a few on hand so if you're interested, c'mon in to the Grove and get yourself one!

Frankie All Growed Up!!!

2010-12-07T09:04:00.001-08:00

Yes, that beautiful red head is my little Frankie all growed up. I am embarrassed to say that when she was going through her awkward teenage stage, I wanted to trade chickens. Horrible of me I know. David said that she was just the ugly duckling that would turn into a beautiful swan (okay, if that were literally true that would have been Crazy!). And he was right. This photo was taken right before we had Thanksgiving dinner and I know she very glad that she wasn't born a turkey.

On the right side of the picture, you will see the black & white Lacey. She's a mature chicken and she's been laying for quite awhile now. And she is such a piggy!!! Very aggressive around food. She actually flies to get to Celeste first when she enters the coop to give the chickies treats. She stripped that Swiss Chard stem in my hand immediately and I was not pointing at Frankie. I was trying to give her a piece of it but as you can see, I was a little late on the draw.

Frankie is going to be laying her own eggs in January or February. As it turns out, she is a Rhode Island Red and they lay light brown eggs. It will be great fun to be part of Frankie's coming-of-age!!!

A Bit Bossy, No?

2010-11-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

Dee started this absolutely gorgeous Bitteroot Shawl in January. It's knit out of Heather by Schaefer Yarns and it has matching beads incorporated into the lacework. Enough said?!I saw her recently and she mentioned that she hadn't finished it yet. She left mid-cast off because it was taking forever. I begged her to come into the Grove the next day and sit in a comfy chair and finish it so she could wear it for the holidays. Well, I insisted, actually. Hence the title of this blog entry. Dee, who is so good natured, complied! And within a couple of hours she walked out with the shawl all but ready to wear. All she has to do is block it and accept the inevitable awe that is bound to follow. She did a magnificent job.

If you have a half-finished project that you purchased at the Grove, I would love to coach you to the finish line also! Just drop by!

Knitting an Heirloom

2010-11-22T11:40:00.001-08:00

One of the best parts of owning the Grove is getting to know our customers and sharing in their family events and joys. Holly is understandably ecstatic over the birth of her first grand baby...Abby. Unfortunately, Abby lives up north so Holly doesn't get to see her as often as she would like. So in between frequent trips, she settles for knitting for Abby and receiving wonderful text messages and nearly daily photos.

When Holly learned her daughter, Anne, was having a girl, she wanted to do something "very girlie" for her and she decided upon this eyelet-edged baby blanket. She used "Icing", Blue Sky Alpaca's worsted cotton, which is a slightly variegated deliciously pale pink yarn. It could not be more feminine. To personalize it, I embroidered "For Abby, Love Grammy" on muslin and I think it definitely placed the binkie in the heirloom category. Well, if you're going to knit for your beebee, you might as well knit an heirloom, right?!

Reversible Lace Class

2010-11-12T19:22:00.001-08:00

Wednesday night, Lisa Limber taught Andrea Reversible Lace Scarf at the Grove and it was a good night! Lisa brought a bunch of new hand-dyed Schaefer yarns for the class to chose from (see all of them on the table?) and everyone completed at least one pattern repeat before the end of the evening. I only wish I had the presence of mind to photograph the beginning of every one's scarves! Next time...!

Keffiyeh Wrap

2010-11-10T07:06:00.001-08:00

This intriguing wrap is featured in Modern Top-Down Knitting by Kristina McGown. There is a lot of knitting in this wrap and I debated whether I had the time to devote to such a project. But when I received Joseph Galler's Prime Alpaca recently, I gave in to the temptation and began knitting. The wrap starts with a provisional cast on and the wavy Knot Ridge I pattern you see below. I love the texture and the color play. It's like frosting on a cake! The pattern is simple, however, it is a challenge to knit 3 sts through the back loop (which is how you get the knotted ridge). It is so easy to miss one of the three loops and not so easy to detect the error until you're several rows up. With 153 sts in one row, that's a fair amount of ripping. So this piece cannot be rushed. The good news is that you have 4 rows of stockinette in between the 2 pattern rows. Rest rows are always a welcome sight.

Ah, A Woman's Play Is Never Done!

2010-11-08T16:45:00.000-08:00

First, I want to thank all of you who came by yesterday to help celebrate our 7th anniversary! We had a wonderful time and your visit and well wishes made our day! Thank You!!!

For those of you who couldn't make it, Carol Brown served tea sandwiches, fresh scones, lemon cake and more. We walked the room with trays. Whenever a customer declined the treat in front of them, I asked them: "May I have it then?" and I had quite a little stack for myself! Who knew that cucumber, watercress, and cream cheese on white bread could be so good!!! You have got to try it!!! [It took me back to my old Boston days. When I was taking care of Rosie (my British friend) post surgery, I told her I would get her whatever comfort food she wanted. She said, "I should like a cucumber and watercress sandwich". And I replied, "Where in the hell am I supposed to get watercress?!# You are in New England and it is the dead of winter! Next choice please!"] Hah! But I digress.

Today, on our day off, judipatuti and I did a fresh window display featuring Thanksgiving colors of copper, brown, and lime green. Okay, lime green doesn't fit the traditional T-day palette but we do live in Southern California after all!

It is impossible for to get a decent photo of our window display because of the glare. So you'll just have to come by and see it for yourself!

Viv as Cleopatra on Halloween

2010-11-01T10:10:00.001-07:00

Someone shoot me. I'm about to be braggin' on my grandbaby, the aspiring knitter!!! But c'mon. She is 7 years-old. I know that's just plain ol' wrong, but it's true! Her poise comes from her mom, Estes, who has taken her to dance studio since she was a wee one. (Est grew up on ballet and now teaches little chickies to dance. Viv assists her in the studio.)

Viv was a tough baby because she didn't like not being able to walk (i.e., she cried a lot out of frustration). She was one of those babies that didn't even crawl...she just raised herself up on anything she could and started walking. Then she was happy (whew!). Movement is and always has been very important to her.

When I see Viv in this photo, I see the benefits of dance in her stature. She is centered and calm in front of the camera. She is at ease as a performer. So I'm predicting she will be a dancer, doctor, and knitter when she grows up!

Take Care on Halloween!

2010-10-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge fan of Halloween and I just want to say to everyone....take care tomorrow night.

When I was a teenager, two of my friends and I jumped on the back of Billy O'Brien's jeep. We were driving down Drury Lane where so many of my classmates lived. We were having the best time, waving to everyone and laughing. Some of the guys yelled "O'B!!!" and they started throwing eggs at the jeep. All of a sudden Marylee wasn't sitting between Margaret & me anymore. She was laying flat on her back crunched up and in excruciating pain. She got hit in her right eye with an egg. We yelled for Billy to stop the jeep and Margaret and I put her between us. With her arms wrapped around our necks, we got her home. She was in such pain, she couldn't uncurl her body so her feet didn't touch the ground. Luckily, she lived on Drury Lane. Her father, who was a pretty pretty high-powered lawyer, went wild. He was yelling..."who did this, who did this?" over and over. "Dunno", we said. "It was dark, there were a lot of kids on the street". He called his brother who happened to be a doctor and we waited until he got there and then left.

A couple of days later, an investigator called me asking me questions. Marylee's dad offered a reward to anyone who could identify the guys who threw the eggs. He kept his money because no one would speak to the investigator.

Marylee had to lie flat in a dark room for at least a month. We used to go after school to her house and read her lessons by the light of a very small high intensity lamp. She lost all but her peripheral vision in her right eye. She was never the same after that. She was nervous in cars and really lost her ability to have fun. Can't blame her one bit.

Now despite such a loss, Marylee went to Tufts medical school and she is now a practicing dentist!!! Can you imagine that?!# Margaret goes to her. I would too but she's back in Connecticut.

So have fun tomorrow night, but don't partake in any kind of risky business where someone might get hurt! Just take care!

Estela Goes Chilean Miner-ish!

2010-10-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

Last night at knit salon, the door opened around 8 or so and in walks this macho looking chic wearing a head lamp. It took me a few minutes to recognize Estela even though she told me the day before that she was dressing as a rescued Chilean miner for Halloween! I dug out my hard hat for her (left over from my maritime days...I know, of all people to have a hard hat!). The head lamp fit perfectly on it and the outfit was complete!

We had her pose in front of the fabrics ... for the sheer contrast of it all (!) and quick as a whip she pulled out a hummingbird garden stake we have for sale and held it as if it were a pick. Good lord, that made me laugh (hence the blurry photos). She is so feminine, soft-spoken, and cute as a button. The tough persona she put on just for the outfit slayed me! BTW, she won first price for the "most creative outfit" at the Halloween party she attended with her work buddies!

It Fits!!!!!

2010-10-26T19:51:00.001-07:00

We've been teaching this shop classic beanie for 7 years now. We've probably taught over 100 knitters how to purl, decrease, and sew with this beanie pattern. It is always so exciting when the last stitch is sewn and it fits!

This is a smiling Mia who is a natural. She started knitting in September and was understandably proud to walk out of the Grove on Saturday, sporting this adorable beanie.

And here is Karen, who wanted to learn to knit this beanie so badly, that she came to her first class after working a double shift. She was courageous enough to change colors so that the latter half of the hat (including the crown) was knit in "tulip". Just today she learned to knit in the round, starting a wonderfully fun Christmas stocking. 'Tis the time!

The Grove Was Rockin' Last NIght!

2010-10-22T07:08:00.001-07:00

Last night, 23 knitters came to the Baktus Knit Along. Lisa Limber, a Schaefer Yarns rep and designer brought bags and bags of incredible hand-dyed skeins of "Anne", "Heather" & "Nicole". This photo was taken at the end of the evening so you can imagine what that luscious heap o' yarn looked like initially. Curses, I was so busy I didn't get a chance to take any photos (p.s. thanks for the photo Marcia). What I wish I had shot: All the gorgeous samples Lisa brought with her, a roomful of smiling faces, all my precious friends who manned the winders and made the evening run so smoothly, and the beginnings of everyone's Baktus! We all had so much fun that we decided to continue the Baktus KAL next Thursday, October 28th from 6 to 8. And, everyone loved the Reversible Lace Scarf so much, that Lisa agreed to give a workshop on it. We're working out a date now and will keep you posted. As I told the group last night, if anyone is willing to teach a workshop in lace...go to it!

It Never Hurts To Have Another Friend

2010-10-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

As soon as I finished Little Owl, I thought...I wonder if it would be even cuter if I reversed the colors. I had to find out. And I just couldn't stop myself from knitting another. I presented both to Marcia and she ended up liking the blue one best. It's nice to have two. Now they'd be able to board the Ark (should the occasion ever arise)!

P.S. The claws on Little Owl 1 were my misinterpretation of the pattern. The claws on Little Owl 2 are done according to pattern but I think I'm liking 1 best.

Little Owl Prepares for Aussie Flight

2010-10-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Marcia is leaving soon to spend four weeks in Australia teaching beading in at least three cities. Originally, her husband was going to join her but that has become infeasible for several reasons. So she'll be going it alone. Now she's traveled all over the world and loves to travel, but I've got to think that four weeks away from home could be a bit of a challenge. I told her she needed a talisman or something to guide her on her trip. I just made "Little Owl" for that purpose. He doesn't weigh much. He can slip into any small space and brighten any room she finds herself in reminding her of home and the dear ones who will await her return. So disappointed that the crystals in the center of his eyes don't show up in this photo!

Tre in Salute

2010-10-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

This is my dear sweet grandson, Tre, wearing Salute. He lives in Portland and his backyard is like a beautiful park with a creek flowing through it. I so love him peeking out from behind the tree because this really is his natural environment. What little boy doesn't love hanging onto and around trees? I'm just wondering how his mom got him to stand still for a minute so she could snap these photos! As Estes says, he is "so four!", all action, questions, wide-eyed wonder and excitement. We also say that he is so sweet that when he cries, honey comes out! Ouch. Must end here or I'll be trying to get to Lindbergh Field to board a plane instead of working today!

Baktus Scarf

2010-10-15T08:49:00.001-07:00

This is Baktus, a fun and easy long, long triangular scarf...all knit in garter stitch. Thursday evening, October 21st from 6-8 p.m., designer Lisa Limber of Schaefer Yarns will be at the Grove with large bags of cash n' carry sock weight yarns and we are doing a Baktus knit along. I can hardly wait and you know I'm not kidding.

I have knit so many pieces in "Heather" and couldn't tear myself away from it to try Schaefer's other sock yarns...like "Nicole". How could I possibly like any Schaefer yarn better, I thought? Well, I grabbed a skein of "Nicole" right before I left the shop Wednesday evening. Okay, now I have a "Nicole" fetish going on! It's springy and yummy and I keep running my hand over the fabric because it feels soooooo good. I don't really have words for its texture. I just know that my feet are screaming for socks made out of it.

Baktus has been knit by approximately 4500 Ravelers so it's fair to say it's one of the most popular patterns ever. You weigh your yarn first (hence, my little WW buddy photographed above). And then you knit half of it (weighing it to determine that point)increasing one side with a yarn over every fourth row. At the half way point, you switch to decreasing on one side. You end up with this wonderfully long scarf that can be wrapped and tied around your neck. We figured this would be a good KAL since it can be knit in public with ease.

If you would like to join us, just give me a call at the Grove (619) 284-7684 to reserve a seat.

Tre's Salute Hat

2010-10-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

Kate Oates did a KAL for the Salute Hat last month, parceling out the directions one step at a time. It was such a fun project...like having homework in a good way. I had all but the brim done when I visited Tre in Portland last month (my four-year-old grandson). I intended to finish it there but forgot to pack the bill instructions. ARGH! I was able to try the brimless hat on him though and was grateful that it fit. He so wanted it finished (ouch!). While Viv and I were at Knit/Purl, he went next door to the fabric shop and picked out these "manly" leather covered buttons which I think are the exact size of his huge brown Bambi eyes.

His "Grandpa Dad" is mailing this to him today, so that one day soon it will be waiting for him when he gets home from his preschool, Happy Hollow (seriously, that's what it's called!). If you're interested in more details on Salute, check out my project page on Ravelry.

The Alpaca Stole That Has Stolen Hearts

2010-10-12T08:43:00.001-07:00

Hands down, the most popular pattern we have ever carried is, well, let's just call it The Swell Stole. (BTW, "Swell" is a combination of my first initial and last name of Wells.)

The yarn comes from an old New York company that you just sort of have to know about. They don't advertise and they don't accept credit cards. Their hanks are in large put ups which reduces cost. And Ursula alone answers the phone and takes your order. So by reducing their overhead in this fashion, they are able to offer some amazing yarns at modest prices. 600 yds. of alpaca for only $28...now that's modest!

When I held this yarn and tried to figure out what it wanted to be, the thought "fabric" ultimately came to me. It looked beautiful in a plain garter stitch. So I cast on and knit until I really, really got bored! When I took it off the needles and wrapped it around my neck, it folded beautifully in a shawl collar and almost looked like a coat from the front. With one of Jul's Cracked Coconut Shawl Pins, it is my favorite winter accessory.

We recently received a new shipment of their various natural heathers which are selling fast. So if you have any interest in knitting the stole, best come in soon!

What's in a display?

2010-10-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

Today judipatuti came in and worked on all our displays. Now, I'm friends with Judy. I admit it. And I'm a big fan. But honestly, without bias, she does the most awesome displays. She is an artist on so many levels. The above display focuses on our October classes. Displayed from left to right, is the Hip Hamper, the Clapotis, and the "Its a Wrap" pillow (to the right of the Clapotis).

But she didn't stop there. Here is the "baby" display where she artful hung the hand-knit Moo-Cow off the back of a child's chair by her tail! And surrounding Moo-Cow (hand-knit in organic cotton, by the way!), are the pacifier clips (also hand-knit in organic cotton) and clip-on baby bibs. She started from scratch seating all these wonderful items in the most appealing way.

And last but not least is the Halloween display on the table across from our cash wrap desk.

Can you find the following items in this photo?

- Hand-made fabric Trick or Treat and Candy Corn bowl,
- Sparkling Day-of-the-Dead fabric,
- Alpaca stole with crackled coconut scarf pin, and
- a basket of Joseph Galler's incredible Alpaca (i.e., the best deal in the shop at $28 for 600 yds.)?

Stumbling Upon a Design

2010-10-08T09:30:00.001-07:00

This is the Noble Cowl fresh off the needles and unblocked. As I was figuring out how to photograph it, I draped it over my hand and wrist. Well, look at that, I thought. This would make a gorgeous fingerless glove especially with the scalloped edges. Wouldn't it?!#

And that is what you call...stumbling upon a design. This cowl took 1 1/4 balls of cashmere. I have 3/4 left and am wondering if I'd be able to get 2 gloves out of it. Hmmm. Well, I could always go into a third if I had to. Yes, I do believe I will start working on this today and if the results are positive, I'll let you know!

Meanwhile, I'm wet blocking the cowl and hoping it will be dry enough to take to work at 11 so we can place it on the class sample table.

Uh oh. My Roots Are Showing!

2010-10-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I slip back into my New England roots and have these "Victoria" spells where I need bows and lace and reds, golds & greens. This usually happens to me in October when I get nostalgic for Fall foliage. Sure enough, my past snuck up on me this weekend last, and voila: the "Victoria Fabric Bowl" was born. (I could have really gone haywire and filled it with potpouri but I didn't!).

And this was just one of three bowls I cranked out between Friday & Saturday in preparation for Saturday night's Walkabout (along with over a dozen coasters). The word "Intervention" comes to mind as in I NEED ONE!

A Noble Cowl

2010-10-02T08:08:00.001-07:00

I started knitting Noble Cowl in Blue Sky's Sportweight but that word "noble" kept running through my mind. It's not that I don't love Sportweight, but I wouldn't call it "noble". So I switched to cashmere and that was the right thing to do! Why not. One of the benefits of owning a yarn store is that I get to knit with whatever yarn I want. Since the cashmere isn't exactly flying off the shelf these days (!) I decided to indulge myself with this Italian cashmere in a winter white. I shall just this post with one descriptor: YUUUMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I'm teaching this cowl class on October 16th, 2-4p.m.. For more info, just click on the bird's nest in the right-hand column.

Rockabout Saturday Night!

2010-09-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

Do you remember about 3 years ago, an artist created some incredible cairns on the beach in Cardiff? All the rock formations, including arches, were made with only gravity to balance them. It was remarkable. We got up early one morning to take photographs of them when the light was misty grey. There were already cars lined up along the beach road with other admirers shooting pictures.

When I saw these cairns at the July gift show in L.A., I couldn't believe my eyes! (This photo is from their catalog). The rep who tended the booth said that I was the 5th person from San Diego that told her about the beach sculptures. Well, of course, I had to buy them.They are all natural beach pebbles and river rocks from Indonesia. They are organic and rustic and beachy and I love every one of them.

When the shipment arrived yesterday, Jo Madden of Go-Go Paper Arts, one of our resident artists, helped me create the display pictured below. She said that Saturday Night's Walkabout should be renamed the "Rockabout". Haha! Oh, yes, did I mention the Fall Walkabout is on Saturday night? Karen Baumeister from the Kitchen Sink is serving homemade chili (who knew it would be so warm?) and demonstrating the kitchen gadgets used to make it. It's bound to be another fun, fun night. So come early and get the cairn of your choice!!! They come in candle holders, votives, and sculptures. We also got a slew of engraved beach pebbles with symbols and words engraved in them. Words like "create", "inspire", "do it", etc.!