Stop the Deflowering of San Diego's Stop Signs!

You may have seen these delightfully decorated  stop signs throughout the city.  The most recent sighting for me was the stop sign located where Redwood dead ends at Pershing in North Park.  We were squealing with delight when we saw it and again thought of yarn bombing the decorative red bicycle in front of Daily Scoop this summer. 

On Ravelry today, I came across this entry about the City of San Diego requiring the removal of these innocuous stem and leaf decorations.  From what I gather the City's demand has something to do with not messing around with traffic control devices. Charlene Holkenbrink has started an on-line petition in protest to the demand for removal.  208 people have signed it including me.  1000 signatures are needed so if you have any interest, do visit that page and sign the petition.  Geeze, if they can yarn bomb the steps of Helsinki's cathedral we should at least be able to wrap the pole of a stop sign, no?

Sammy's Little Bumble Bee Sweater

Joni Schulz, who teaches crochet and knitting at the Grove, and her husband Chris, are adopting a newborn baby named Sammy.  We are all anxiously awaiting his arrival anticipated around May 26th.  Joni is also the creator of Grinning Cat yarns, those delicious hand-dyed sock yarns we carry.  I wanted to knit something special for Sammy as a welcome gift.  Since Joni and Chris will be flying him home from Virginia, I figured Sammy would need an in-flight sweater.  When I saw this Grinning Cat Curiouser and Curiouser yarn, I knew Sammy was going to get a Bumble Bee sweater!  I already had the bumble bee buttons in my stash so it all came together beautifully.

The amazing thing about this yarn is that it patterns like an argyle sweater on the front and back and ends up striping across the yoke!  Perfect!  Wouldn't you say?  And here's a detail shot of those darling little buttons.

This is a free pattern from Purl Soho called Little Baby Sweater and we'll be teaching it at the Grove on May 19th and 26th so if there's a little one in flying into your life soon, you may want to sign up.  Our May calendar is in the works and will be posted by tomorrow.

San Diego Love Affair

I know this is a really schmaltzy thing to say but, "San Diego?  Have I told you lately how much I love you?"  Cuz last night when I took this picture outside of C-Level Lounge I was thinking it really loudly!  And I'm thinking it again as I look at this view.  Some silly part of me thinks that by expressing our appreciation out loud, we will never lose what we love.  So on the outside chance that that's true, San Diego, I'm crazy about you!

Flower Fields in Full Bloom

Yep,it's that time of year again. Oh, the color! 5 acres of it. It's magic, really. And in the parking lot, there are strawberry stands with the absolute sweetest, freshest berries you'll ever taste. The strawberries alone are worth the ride. We were a little surprised at the fees to enter the Fields: $11 per ticket. Not sure why you'd pay that but I guess it is to stand in the fields right smack in the middle of it all. We did that once and it was like being at a ballet and too close to the stage...hearing every foot/toe step and seeing the straining muscles, etc. When you're in the fields, you see too much detail that detracts from the overall beauty. Better to view it from afar while eating strawberry shortcake (yes, they have that tooooo)!

Pelican & Succulents

Lambie Video

Good lord! You must watch these precious, darling little ones. Oh, how I want one. I've wanted one my whole life.

Not to be harsh...

but, really?!!!

Eye-yigh-yigh. This pattern, "Romp Around the Clock" has been featured for the past two days on Ravelry under "What's Hot", "Designs Ravelers are looking at today". Geeze, I think I'll go get a donut and contemplate this.

What's to stop a guy ....

from diving head first into a box of soft, colorful, delicious,newly-arrived Cotton Fleece yarns?









What's to stop a girl from ripping open these bags of Blue Sky's irresistible organic Worsted Cotton and rolling in them? Beat's me!

Vine

This is Vine by Jenise Reid, an 8' long scarf knit in lace weight yarn. Intriguing, isn't it? The pattern is both written and charted and it's a toss up as to which is easier to follow. I usually flip back and forth between the two. I'll follow the chart until I mess up and then I'll refer to the written instructions to figure out where I went wrong and then I'll stay with the writing for awhile. Eventually, I will learn the pattern, but until then, I am definitely pattern-dependent!
After completing the 3rd leaf, I decided it was time to block and see how the leaves lay and whether they'd stay open and flat. Blocking lace is critical in determining drape and appearance. Until those eyelets are opened up and trained, there's no predicting the final outcome. Ah, yes, I can tell this is going to work nicely and that it is worth the time and effort (t&e). I'm always weighing the t&e factor for every project. Since I knit every sample in the store, I can't afford to spend too much time on a piece that isn't working out. I am knitting this in Non-Repeating Filigran, an ombre merino lace yarn by Zitron. According to the distributor's blurb, this is quickly becoming Europe's go-to lace weight yarn. I need no convincing! It's heaven to knit with!

Happy Easter!

Waiting for the pie lady...strawberry cream pie hot out of the oven! Krista has outdone herself with table art. Carrot candles, carrot shaped marzipan on every plate, and a William Sonoma bunny platter to name just a few of her touches. Oops ... Gotta run. Fresh blackberry simple syrup & champagne!

Spring Yarns Arriving!!!

At last our spring yarns are arriving! Yesterday, I was ripping open boxes, diving into COLOR...lots of it ... and I just had to stop and take a shot of this yummy bouquet of Filigran, a gorgeous lace weight yarn. Oh, just look at the depth of the color and the vibrance of it all. It seems like just about every pattern posted on Ravelry lately uses lace weight yarn and I've been looking for some exciting solids for those customers who don't like to wear variegated. Ta da!!! Found it!!!

Get Yourself Some Joy... And Make That Metallic!

I admit to resisting this whole fluffy, ruffly scarf thing that's going on. But my Plymouth Yarn rep convinced me to bring some on board since apparently, it's selling like crazy and we're the only store in the entire galaxy that doesn't carry it. I got the first bag in yesterday (it is hard to get...the best colors are on back order). If you just look at the skein you think...ick. Really. That's what I thought. But I took a deep breath, imagined I was knitting with cashmere, and began knitting a Joy Metallic scarf last night. And guess what? I discovered that it is FUN! And I like it!!!When you stretch the yarn out, it is a wide windowed mesh with metallic flecks. You knit along the very top of the mesh. The technique is so easy, but you do need to watch the You Tube video since you do not wrap the yarn. It's hard to put into words, but one glance at the video, and you'll have it down. So if you like earth tones, have yourself some knit fun this weekend and stop by the shop to pick up a skein ( you only need one for the scarf and it retails for $12.50). The Joy Metallic pictured is the only color we've received so far. We'll keep you posted re: new arrivals!

Brightening Up Easter Brunch

These reversible napkins made from judipatuti's fabulous fabrics are my hostess gift for Easter brunch. The pattern comes from Chocolate and Zucchini's blog (thank you, Amanda, for leading me to it!). What a peaceful day it's been, cutting and sewing these lovelies thinking all the while of what fun we're bound to have on Sunday! It's not too late to whip some of these up yourself. They are easy schmeazy.