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Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Hey, all! Penning a quick note amidst the frenzy of the last minute packing and organizing that comes with a cross-country move. As of Friday, September 26, my toll-free number will be ringing at a message service for a couple of weeks until I can get things set up on the other end. I will be checking my email, but very infrequently, also for a couple of weeks, so please bear with me if you're trying to order in the next little while. I want to leave you with a bit of eye candy: a new sock yarn in the shop for this fall, Misti Alpaca Handpaint Sock (fingering/4ply). This is truly a FABULOUS (with a capital "F") yarn ... and doesn't have to be used to just knit socks ... but boy, oh, boy, what socks they would make! The blend is 50% Alpaca, 30% Merino, 10% Silk, and 10% Nylon (for some strength). Really! And it just HAS to be felt to be truly appreciated. I've tried to scan in the four colors I've brought in (so far), but they are so much richer in real life. From left to right: #07: Miriam. A wonderful multi, earthy mix of all sorts of colors. #14: Maple Gray ... and though the name has "gray" in it ... it's really much more earthy tones of greens and browns, with a touch of slate blue. #08: Marina. For the blue lovers. #04: Taos. Beautiful desert shades. All the colors are very "natural" and earthy, but still with a wonderful richness that suits the hand of the yarn. 
Each skein is 100g/400m, and is $19.75 CDN. A skein will definitely make a pair of socks. Try this yarn with your favorite fingering/4ply pattern, or with one of the following: 
Or try using the Misti Alpaca to knit my "Sugar Snow" (scroll down) stole or scarf, with your choice of garter, fringed, or ruffled edge: 
Or use it to knit the Arctic Diamonds Stole from the Winter 06 issue of Interweave Knits. (Yup, I have this back issue): 
Yummy, yummy, yummy. Although I finished tweedy sock one (from the last post), I really think the poor second one is going to be abandoned in favor of casting on for a pair in the Misti Alpaca Sock. Whaddaya think? Travelling knitting. Don't forget, if you place an order in the next couple of days, it'll go out before the move. Otherwise, talk to you in a couple of weeks!! Happy Knitting. |
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Tuesday, September 9, 2008 Bursts of activity interspersed with bouts of both a) relaxation (reading a good book during the lulls of a garage sale; lying on a much-loved sunscreen-smelling beach blanket on the sand) and b) collapse from complete exhaustion. Well, that last one may be a tiny stretch of the truth, but it has been crazily busy around here, and sometimes, well, you just pretty much fall into bed. We're trying to wrap things up around here for our last few weeks in BC, which involves not only a lot of packing, organizing, and working, but also ... a lot of doing certain things that you know you won't get another chance to do for a looooooong time, and a lot of time visiting with friends and family that you know you won't likely see again for a good chunk of time. And now we're pretty much starting to run out of time. It's exciting and scary and sad and wonderful all the same time. Familiar sights and routines and seasons all take on a poignancy that they otherwise lack, burning themselves into our memories. True keepsakes. And a certain amount of well-timed knitting is definitely happening. (Sanity.) Finished: 
For a fabulous person who keeps things running smoothly on the electronic end. And who I hope never wants to COMPLETELY retire. These are the gloves from the JA33 CONSTANTINOPLE leaflet ... instructions for both gloves and socks, in adult sizes. I used the Fine Merino DK superwash with it, and they will be soft and warm. Making good progress: 
Hopefully to be done before we go, and tucked away into a birthday gift box for later this fall. I checked back in the blog, and I think I started this sweater two years ago. Sheesh. Now it's even destined for a different kid, as the first one is waaaaaay too big for this size. Gulp. Cross your fingers for me. (That's a back and one front done.) Classic Elite pattern, Kristin Nicholas design, using the gorgeous Montera llama/wool. And started: 
Well, I've been really good all summer, but I needed a completely mindless project to pick up for a round or two here and there when the chance arises. Love this tweed. English country gentleman, anyone? Can't you just smell the heather on the moor? Well, I don't know. Can you smell the heather, or only see it? (Can you tell I've never been to England? Oh, and it's German yarn ... Schoeller/Stahl Fortissima Socka.) Stuff is flying out of my shop at an alarming rate. The Tenth Anniversary/Moving Sale is still going strong, so let me know if you'd like email updates on the latest and greatest deal! I don't know how I ever managed to get so many yarn shop goodies into that size of space, but even with everything that's been sold with the sale, the place is still packed! (Which means I'll be moving it all. Help!) Off to hang some clothes in the sun. (Sun!) And to take a deep breath and dive into the whirlwind of the day. |
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THE WOOLLEN EARTH, General Delivery, Summerville, NS B0N 2K0 Canada Phone: (902) 633-2727 Email: |