The Knaughty Knitter

Flowers....

Here are some flowers, knitted and crocheted, that I've made...poppy, chrysanthemum, pansy, clematis and another unfinished...you could make these in class too, plus bunches of others.  They'd be fun on a purse, or sewn together into a pillow or crocheted into a shawl...  

Busy Morning....

I  have sent the latest knewsletter and it is also on the blog - the links are at the left.  I've revised a page or two - "Fun Fiber Facts" is now more readable.  And I have worked on the class calendar through November.  A lot has been added and few more will be, but it is basically there.  After the last crochet class I decided to change the format.  There is now Crochet 101, the first session of this is in October.  Four classes and not trying to cram too much into a little time and space, overwhelming not only your brains but mine, seemed like a better idea.  There will be a monthly crochet class for specialized techniques too.  Robin will be teaching some of those for me.  She is awesomely patient and nice.

Lopi is still on special today and tomorrow - 30% off.  I will post another special Thursday.  Now I'm gonna go make flowers.....

Life's not only too short to knit with ugly yarn, it's

too short to knit projects you aren't happy with.  I have ripped out two shawls in progress in the last month - one a  knitalong shawl I was making and it had to go due to complete boredom with the pattern so far.  It had many endless rows of stockinette stitch interspersed with a bit of yo/k2tog and another odd made up stitch and from the last clue it didn't seem that was ending or changing any time soon.  And another completely lovely black crocheted lace shawl that was done in lace weight yarn and each row becoming more annoying than the next because I can't really see what I have done. I then went to the stash and found some black angora/wool worsted yarn a yarn rep had given me and am looking for a more interesting pattern, lace, but not so complicated that I get eye strain from using black yarn.  I have been needing a black shawl since we moved to town and the one I'd had from some time in the late 70's had disappeared.  No notion yet what it'll be though.  I have been in "working on UFOs" mode for a few weeks and am working on squares for an afghan that I started last year - there are 64 in all and I am at 35.  The cables section.  Not my favorite - I appear to be into crochet, or lace knitting or even fair isle knitting at the moment.  I guess I should skip these for now and do some others first.....But for now - except for the lace shawl - I am trying really hard to finish up a UFO.  (I've ripped two things - that means I can start one new thing, right?)

Designer/Bad Pattern Rant

 

Really?!?  How'd they get this on the model?  I crochet loose, went up a hook size, used a yarn the same size as the pattern original and crocheted it twice yesterday (once with the suggested hook size).  I love the stitch pattern, really it is interesting and different and the whole thing took barely two hours to do.  It wouldn't be hard to test the pattern, or put some sizes in it, make it work for anyone with a bigger head than a premie. Seriously!

 

Two HUGE boxes of Cascade came in Monday - 100lbs of yarn.  So I have rearanged the 220 and the 128 and made it all fit, though there are baskets everywhere again. 

I need to get rid of some things badly....so I'll start with this - from now til the end of the month Lopi is 30% off.  Just mention the blog and I'll take it off.  Check the blog often for more deals that will only be announced here.

I got a wild hair....

I was inventorying on Tuesday and got a little crazy - by the time I was done I had stopped inventorying and had moved yarn around so that the clearance shelves were in the back and there are three bookcases of them - the whole wall is clearance.  There are some yarns that just have to go and it will be constantly refilled until I get it all out of here.  Oh and this craziness extends to the loose patterns too - for the month of August loose patterns are buy one get one free.  Or buy the yarn for an adult sweater or afghan and the pattern is free (loose single patterns only).  And last week I moved the magazines and put a bunch of back issues on sale too - 40% off. (please note that all clearance merchandise sales are final and that other discounts will not apply)

And then there' the new Zauberball crazy Sock yarn..

These are not all the colors but the stuff is really pretty. 

I am working on this here at the store.  It is a vest and each piece is different.  I had to blow the charts up and be very conscious of where I am but it is fun.

That looks like a mistake in the middle - but I checked - it isn't.  I am hoping to have this side done this week.  So I had better get back to it. 

One more thing - Beginning Crochet starts this weekend and there are a couple of spots left in it.  We'll be doing lots more crochet classes and this is the basic one you'll need first. 
 
 
 

New stuff

These adorable baskets came in today - Janet Baskets to be more precise - They fold up flat and then open to hold a lot.

 
I have had a lot of calls asking if I carry crochet cotton over the years- so now we do!  I got lots of colors of #10 and black and white and natural too.  Look for a class in crocheted edgings this September.  You could do crocheted lace, filet crochet, or great edgings for baby blankets or pillow cases  (Beginning crochet is Aug 21 & 28 so there is still time to learn the basics too)

Monster

I finished him while I was off.  It's huge!  I will let him sit at the store until next weekend and then for Little Ty's birthday will let him decide if he wants it - mostly he is really only into cars, trucks and plane and trains so he may not be interested.  If not it'll come back here.

He's very hugable.

I cleaned up the yarn room while I was gone too......there is now lots of visible floor except for the huge pile of fleeces in one corner.  I took pictures but they are on another camera at home.  It is so much better - I could go in and sew and mess it up again if I wanted. 

Oh hey - Spin In this afternoon from 12-3.