January Blahs...

Does anybody have the January blahs?
I seem to today.
It is grey and rainy when it should be snowy and sunny.
How do you overcome the blahs?

I overcome them by picking something inspiring and colourful to knit. So I have picked up a small sharf (shawl/scarf) from the latest KnitScene called Emily to knit. It is a fun lace knit that can be done in a 4 ply or a lace weight yarn. I have chosen a 4 ply Malabrigo sock yarn from my personal stash. I think that it would also be stunning in any of the Cadenza sock weight that I have on the shelves.

This Mandy Moore Pattern is an easy to follow lace. It starts off small so by the time you are doing longer rows the pattern is solidified in the brain. At least that is what I am finding.

Don't you just love that orange? I feel surrounded by warmth when I knit with it.

If you are looking for something colorful to knit with there is now 3 shades of Silk Garden Sock in the shop and 5 colors of Silk Garden worsted weight.

The Silk Garden Sock is wonderful combined with Cadenza and knit into a simple triangular shawl. I have Emily's in the shop for inspiration!
About a year ago I knit a Log Cabin Blanket with Silk Garden Worsted and I think I am about to revisit that knit just to play with colour. I will get out my sample at the shop and dig up the basic pattern for anyone who is interested.

Also in my project pile is my latest tree. I am knitting a 3 dimensional Ash Tree. So far I have the main trunk done and I am prepping to start dividing it into smaller sections. This has led me on wanders through the neibourhood to analyze how an Ash tree branches out. I have also been really taken with the colors of the mosses that grow on Ash trees. Wandering outside, even on dull days, seems to banish the blahs for a bit too.

If you need a shot of color to ward off the January Blues pop by the shop and have a sensory feast!

See you soon!

Knew Year Knews.....

January is here and it is time for me to blog again. I hope to be able to keep my new blogyear resolution and blog a bit more frequently. Notice I place no time or frequency restrictions on myself! I am not a total fool!!

December saw me knitting many quick and simple shawls for presents...oh.. and one for myself. I have written out a simple template for doing a triangular shawl so if anyone is interested ask me and I'll give you a copy.

I also spent time knitting several Slouchy Trees.

A few friends were wearing them around town and many people ended up in the shop to get either the pattern and yarn or the finished product. Yes the pattern is available for $3. Trying to get it on Ravelry. I've almost got it figured out!

What am I up to in 2010?

Well, I have promised myself I will become more familiar with crocheting. I will learn to read patterns and I will actually make a few things! Can you tell I am still convincing myself of this fact??? Knitting is my joy. Crocheting is not.

I have been having fun knitting a few of Susan B. Anderson's Chickens. One of them is for a late Xmas gift so there will be no picture here! (But there is a close up in the previous post.)

"January is National Hot Tea Month and most of us have already made resolutions of one sort or another. Those that are simple to incorporate into our lives are the ones we are most likely to stick with past January. The potential benefits of adding tea to our diets, an easy and inexpensive addition to our daily lives, may aid in the ongoing battle of the bulge and increase the body's immunity to colds and flu. "(From http://www.teasetc.com/)

Tea Cozies are an excellent way to keep the tea as hot as can be!

Tea Cozies can be as easy as a hat to knit or they can be a canvas for any frivolity you would like to imagine!! You all know what side of that fence I fall on! (Even the Slouchy Tree could be a cozy!!) I am currently knitting a chicken tea cozy. I have been practising my fair isle technique on it. It is a great surface to practice or perfect a technique!

There are lots of patterns on Ravelry so if you are not a member yet do join!

In the shop:
Now until January 16th all in stock books are 30% off and in stock yarns are 20% off.

Berroco Sundae has come in and is included in the sale!

Check out the Kniterary website http://www.kniterary.com/ for updates and classes that are being offered this winter.

I wish all of you a Yarntastic 2010!!!

Chickens on the Table!

Chickens on the Table!
Originally uploaded by kniterary

I have been on a chicken knitting frenzy! So much fun! From a Susan B. Anderson pattern.

The Countdown is on!

Ok Folks where did November go????

Hopefully you are all in the final stages of your Christmas knitting! I am in the process of knitting another simple shawl for my MIL with Pink Cadenza and Sublime Mohair combined. It is coming out a beautiful frothy pink decadence that I know she will love. No Picture yet but you can pop in the shop to have a boo! (OOps I am back in October!!)

If you are looking for quick last minute knits there are scarves, hats and mitts. A new quick scarf pattern that I designed is in the shop and takes only one ball of Peruvia. Peruvia is only $7.99 a skein so it is an inexpensive knit too!

There are the Slouchy hand warmers! These take 2 balls of Milli Colori at $8.99 a ball. Fun to knit and fun to give!

Speaking of things Slouchy the Slouchy Tree is very popular again this year. It can be made big enough to be a hat if one 2 skeins of worsted are held together and a 6mm needle used.

I just got in a slouchy hat pattern from Oat Couture that can be done in DK or Worsted weight yarn
Come in to the shop for lots more ideas!!!

time eXhaLes

My latest entry into the Station Gallery Member Competition.

October? Really?

Surprise! October is here! Who knows where September has gone...if you do please let me know.
Through September the shop has been stocking up with lovely lovely yarns just for you!

The is a good compliment of sock yarns for your knitting pleasure and still some Regia on its way.

The latest arrival is Zephyr laceweight. This is an amazing yarn with - fantastic drape and gorgeous to knit with. It is 50% wool and 50% silk. One 2 oz. center pull ball is 630yards and it is very affordable at $15.50 per ball! The colour shown below is Blueberry. I have it and many other colours one the shelf right now!

Along with the Zephyr yarn I have brought in some shawl patterns from Queen Anne's Lace. She uses the Zephyr in her patterns. Pictured her is the Queen of the Earth Stole. Come in to see the other patterns I have!

It is not too late to start your Christmas knitting so make sure to get your yarn before you run out of time!

Also in is Folk Shawls and a Mother/Daughter Knits book to add to the book shelf.

This weekend is the area yarn crawl so everything will be 10% off (or more) for the day!

Secret Christmas Knitting

I am slowly and secretly working on a sweater for my new husband for Christmas!
Sorry for the terrible picture, but I have yet to figure out how to make a sweater progress shot look good!
This is Mission Falls tri colour yarn. I have a great love affair with Mission Falls and last year took Chris into the store to pick out what colour he would like and this is what we came out with...it's beautiful.
The pattern is Tom from the queensland collection. Ever since I met Jane Ellison at Kniterary during a workshop I have wanted to try some of her patterns...I love her simple yet classy approach and this sweater is both.
I have 15 of 26 inches of the back knit...whoo! I am hoping to have this done by mid October...Crossing my fingers and moving forward!!