Sonja's Pullover

Sonja and I have been busy! One of the things she is working on is designing a pullover. With Jill's guidance we have started a top-down sweater that will have NO seaming. The yarn she is working with, Autunno from Cascade Yarns, is a dreamy soft merino that has subtle patterning when you knit.

We're also busy getting ready for the sale next week. We're celebrating the yarn shop being open 4 years.

We have one space left for our two weeks in Tuscany. I can't believe we have to wait another year! We've put together the Experience Tuscany Armchair Traveler portion and that information is now online. We do have fun!

I fell in love with this thick and thin wool from Neighborhood Fiber Company, hand dyed by Karida. All of her yarns are named after DC neighborhoods--don't remember this one, but it matches my hair.

I wanted to do something in scribble lace, so I took some black kid mohair and worked a few rows, then knit a row with the Victorian Bulky. I left the tails at the beginning and end of the row to add texture to this scarf/collar. One end has a loop and the other a ruffle of the mohair, twisted into a flower, which goes through the loop. This will dress up a t-shirt. Perfect for travel (like Italy), evening or funky casual wear.




Since I had yarn leftover, I felt that the look would be complete with a pair of fingerless mitts. I made a ruffle at the cuff with the mohair. Total knitting time: 75 minutes! Knit today, wear tonight! (except that it's 90 degrees out, but these will be great for cooler weather).

Like everyone, I don't get to knit all the time. This morning I worked in the garden. I had to cut a rose bush all the way back as it's diseased. That's why my arm in this picture has a red rash look. It's rose prickle. The underside has poison ivy. My arm may not be lovely, but the garden is!

Product Review: KA High Quality Bamboo Needles

I'm using the KA High Quality Bamboo Needles in size 0US/2.0mm instead of my usual KnitPicks dpns on my latest pair of socks and I really like them. The Brittany size 0's that I used in the past were too weak to pick up and knit the wraps on my shortrow heel. I snapped one on the first sock I knit with them. But these KA's are tough. Almost no bending, even on the k2tog's. They're made in Japan of aged bamboo and I guess that makes all the difference.


Here's a picture of the points for comparison. The KA's are a little blunter but sometimes that's a good thing. The KnitPicks are capable of drawing blood and are very slippery. I dropped one while I was sitting on a straw bale at the Fort Frederick Market Fair and it took Doug and I about five minutes to find it. The legendary needle in the haystack. The KA's stay in my knitting and in my hand but aren't grabby like some wood or bamboo needles. They have a smooth finish and feel good in my hand.

Sonja

Sonja and I had a great time yesterday. First, we dyed some yarn with kool-aid, then we needle felted (That's why Sonja looks so excited in the picture).

Sandy D'Onofrio brought by a entrelac basket she had knit and we felted that. At the end of the day, Sonja's last act was to wind her newly dyed yarn into a ball so she can knit on it on her day off!

She's also knitting her first sock. Her knitting experience is limited, but she took big strides this week!

For anyone reading this who doesn't know, Sonja Holmgren is an intern from the U of Akron, spending the summer learning lots with Y2Knit. She's mostly in Funkstown, but will spend 2 weeks with Jill in San Francisco (yeah, tough). Sonja is a quick learner, eager and easy going, so she fits right in! We're really happy to have her with us.

Oh I have been to Ludlow Fair and left my necktie God knows where...

I've always loved that poem by A. E. Houseman. I'm going to the fair too. The Washington County Ag Expo. It doesn't sound quite as exciting, does it? I just found the URL to enter exhibits online. Here it is:

https://www.blueribbonfair.com/washingtoncountymd/

Any readers in Washington County, Maryland who want to enter projects in the Ag Expo should goes to that URL immediately and register. It's free and the deadline is June 20th.

I just entered my Icarus Shawl...



a pair of socks made with Tofutsies yarn with a stockingette foot, short row heel and toe and a feather and fan leg...


And a Ukranian Egg.


Wish me luck!

Intern arrives tomorrow

Y2Knit is pleased to have an intern this summer. Sonja Holmgren is a Fashion Merchandising student at the University of Akron, which partners with the National NeedleArts Assn to place interns. She'll be at the "world headquarters" in Funkstown for about 7 weeks, then go to SF to spend 10 days with Jill.

Sonja is staying with Chris and Pete Madeo, wonderful people who have opened their home to her. Frankie is letting us borrow a computer. 'It takes a village'! Thanks to everyone who is providing or will be providing some kind of support during her stay here.

I moved the green "desk" which sits under the window in the laundry room/next to the bathroom. It's a highly visual space as it can be seen from the office and classroom so I like it too look inviting. The window is an old one and most of the small bottles on the ledge I found when digging in my garden. The red door leads to the bathroom.



The green desk is now in the corner of the "great room" where the two chairs previously sat. Sonja can work here and we can run wires for the computer to the printer and internet in the drop ceiling. She's only about 6 feet from my desk, but there's a wall in between. I think it will be a comfortable space. The window is a "fake" one--it used to be an outside window, but now is inside. Where the desk is used to be the backyard! Sonja will have a view of the large side entry and can see through the windows there to the outside. She can also pivot her head and have a view of my lovely garden out the back door.

TNNA Hangover

Another shop owner shared that she had a "TNNA Hangover". Going to the trade show is overwhelming. Yarn and products are everywhere and many decisions are made, which becomes exhausting.

Jill and I arrived Thursday at 5pm, so we parked the car, checked into the hotel and walked over to the convention center to register. That was perfect timing as there were no lines. We then checked out the Great Wall of Yarn, which is hank after hank of beautiful new yarns. We check out what appeals to us, looking mostly at the vendors we currently deal with but paying attention to others too. Snips of yarn are available to tape into a book with all the yarn names and info. We don't take much as we prefer to look at the real thing in the booths.

Friday started early with coffee/tea and a scone before getting to the convention center about 7:30. I had a class from 8-10 and Jill got the car and unloaded our booth display. She then had a volunteer stint for the Fashion Show, collecting garments from 9-10. We met up after, set up the new products display and began booth set up, breaking only for lunch at the North Market, a great farmer's market a couple of blocks away. The exhibit hall was so hot that we needed to go back to the room to freshen up before returning for the Fashion Show. Jill helped with dressing models and I got to sit and watch the show (and drink a beer!). After the show, we met with others for a dinner with the interns. We got to meet Sonja, who will intern with Y2Knit this summer.

Sat-Mon we worked the booth, selling pattern and book orders and meeting wonderful shop owners. We also took turns going around the market to shop, network, check out products, etc. So much to see and it becomes overwhelming; however, we made some great connections and ordered some cool new products. More on those as they arrive. Market closed at 3pm on Monday, we packed up and were on the road at 4:22pm, arriving back in Funkstown about 11 pm. We crashed for a few hours after unloading the car, getting up at 4am to take Jill to the airport.