Lacy Cabled Scoop

I'm excited about this knitalong because I plan to make this sweater. Designed by Chrissy Gardner to be a loose fitting sweater worn over a camisole or other shirt, this sweater is flatterning for many figures and sized generously so many knitters can enjoy it.

When Jill and I were in Vermont this fall for our Y2Knit2Gether Event, I discovered that I had not brought enough shirts for our 5 days. Fortunately, we always bring samples of our designs, so there's often something that will fit me. Jill pulled the Lacy Cabled Scoop out of her bag and suggested I try it on. The medium sized sample was not a loose fit, but the body skimming fit looked good! I wore it one day and was pleased that the wool was not scratchy at all. I wore it over a nude colored camisole (I wear a camisole whenever the temperature is below 60, being a wimp about the cold).

TNNA

Jill and I were at TNNA (The National NeedleArts Association) trade show last week in San Diego. The Y2Knit booth was a busy place and we took lots of orders. We only wished the weather had been nicer! I expect San Diego to be warmer than 40 degrees this time of year! As luck would have it, back home in Funkstown it was in the 60s.

We like going to TNNA as it's a great place to network with others in the industry. We see many of our favorite people, like Donna McGranaghan, the Skacel rep who also reps our patterns. She introduced us to Sherry, another Skacel rep, who is eager to knit up our new Four Directions pattern in Trekking sock yarn.

For this trade show, we joined the "Red Carpet Collaborative", a group of 7 companies that bought extra booth space where we set up a "beach", with chairs and water. Jill and I decorated. I loved the barbecue grill (at left) with yarn kabobs from Universal Yarn. We made "drinks" with yarn in Starbucks cups with needles sticking through the hole.

Someone brought a "palm tree" and I had fabric birds we hung from the tree, along with Jill's fabulous Valentine thong. There were a few bikinis about too - little stuff knitting that Jill loves to do. The beach turned out to be a nice place for people to sit and rest or knit. The market area is huge and there's lots of walking and standing.

What did we buy?
More colors of sock/fingering yarn and boucle from Claudia Hand Painted Yarn. Her booth was right across the aisle from us, so we got to see lots of her and her beautiful yarn (she's beautiful too).

Skacel has new colors of Zitron yarns (Mr. Zitron is a color genius and he must like redheads) so we stocked up on Trekking for socks and Four Directions. We are totally excited about their new needle felting kits--stay tuned for more about that. Let me just say "make your own fabric". Jill has plans for a skirt! I'm thinking a bag and buttons. It's very cool and if we'd had the supplies in our hotel room, we would have been felting! The colorways are by Zitron--need I say more?

Kraemer Yarns has four new colors in Tatamy Tweed: turquoise, coral, avocado, and ginger. Yummy! They also are offering TT in worsted weight, so we are getting some of that.

We have new Denise needle sets in pink--$5 goes to breast cancer research.

Spring in January

We've had unseasonably warm temps this week - not exactly great weather for inspiring knitting, but the weather forecasters promise it will get cold yet. Abigail is chasing a fly in the house, I swatted at mosquitos last night and the stink bugs seem to be everywhere. Outside, bulbs are coming up and trees are budding. A customer told me she had been in Washington, DC and the cherry blossoms were out, along with daffodils. Someone else drove on Rt. 40 from Frederick and reports a bank of forsythia bushes in full bloom. The flowering quince (japonica) in my yard is budding.

My garden, one of my sources for inspiration (how I love to sit on the bench in the warm weather and knit!), is still alive. I walked through this morning and see I have broccoli to pick and lettuce is still growing. The spring weeds are doing well, as evidenced by the ground cover leafing out in my walkway. Perennials are sending up new shoots. I don't know how they will be affected if we do have cold weather and the ground freezes. The garden pests are probably flourishing too.

With spring in January, I was inspired to pick up some pastel pink yarn this morning.

Charity Knitting - January

Charity Knitting at the Y2Knit Shop occurs on the first Thursday. We meet from 10-12 and again in the evening 7-9, with different knitter/crocheters coming to each session. After creating over 900 caps for low birth weight infants for Caps to the Capital - we got lots of help from the community - we are now working on chemo caps for Breast Cancer Awareness of Cumberland Valley. Sadly, they continue to have a need for these, but it's our pleasure to create caps for women receiving chemo for breast cancer.

When I was collecting the caps, I filled two huge boxes and began to wonder how much it would cost to mail them. Jill suggested I put out a collection basket so people could donate towards the mailing costs. I collected $21 and expected Y2Knit it contribute to balance. When I went to UPS on Monday with the boxes, the clerk told me, "$20.98" and I responded, "You're kidding!". She was a bit taken aback by my response, but I was surprised (why? these things to work out) at the cost nearly matching my collection. I am going to tape the 2 pennies change up as a reminder that there is a wonderful balance in this universe.

Pat Riggle's Fabulous Vest

Pat is a fabulous knitter who likes to take on challenging projects. Her first steek project was this vest for her son. I'll get specifics regarding pattern, yarn, etc. and post that information.

Abigail's Corner

Abigail spent most of the holiday season in her felted bed / basket. Many people came into the shop and were surprised to see her, and I kept hearing comments like, "I thought it was one of those stuffed cats you see in the mall"! Not spending any time at the mall, I didn't have a clue as to what they were talking about, but someone described stuffed cats in baskets that are sold in the kiosks. My reply became, "No, she's real--she eats and poops"!

Christmas at Y2Knit

It was a windy evening, clear and cold. December 8th was the Old Time Christmas Celebration in the tiny town of Funkstown. All the businesses and homes were decorated for Christmas, most included homemade luminaries among their decorations. Every year a group of townspeople get together and fill brown paper bags with a dozen white paper bags, sand, and candles and deliver them to every home and business. All the shops stay open, there are hayrides and the town hall serves cookies and punch.

Susan set her luminaries out and I managed to get one photo with all of them lit before the wind put them all out. One even blew over and caught
fire leaving a candle, and a pile of sand and ashes.

Despite the weather the town was bustling. This event always attracts a good crowd. Inside the shop the conditions were much nicer. Susan had invited two other crafters to display their wares.

Frankie Yourgulez was offering her handmade sterling silver jewelry and homemade salsa and Allison Coles Severance from Coles Pottery set up a large display of her pottery.

Chips and Frankie's salsa were served in two beautiful little bowls with pouring spouts and handles.


Susan had a collection of her handmade books for sale.