Tuesday 31 July 2012

Day Four


I've been dutifully following along with the Olympics and keeping up with my Ravellenics games. Heres my progress on Day 4




I love love love Malabrigo Arroyo. Vodka Lemonade has a 5.5 inch seed stitch collar which seemed to take forever but now I've done 14 raglan increase so I feel like I'm in good shape with 13 days of knitting left.




Julia is also working with Malabrigo Arroyo - the prettiest pink ever! She even picked out her buttons - she's got her sleeves off the needles and is now on to the body - soo cute!

My Olympic knitting may have suffered slightly because Clue 3 from the Westknits KAL came out and I just could help myself - I had to get it done.




I'm not really sure what I think of it so far except that I've loved knitting it so I guess that is a big bonus. I wonder what Clue 3 will be.....

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Thursday 26 July 2012

I'm Ready to go....

Here's my first skein wound up and my pattern all ready to go - I swatched last night so I have my needle size all picked out. Just to remind you - I'm doing Vodka Lemonade and using Malabrigo Arroyo in Prussian Blue.


Julia has also chosen Shift of Focus and Malabrigo Arroyo in the most gorgeous pink, English Rose.





Jenn has also jumped on to our Ravellenics team and will be competing in WIP Wrestling - a great choice because none of us have any lack of WIP's.

So who else is going to join us? I know there's lurkers out there reading my blog - so come one, join us! Please....so that the Quilt side of the store does not continue to think I have a few screws loose by competing in Ravellenics aka Knitting Olympics.


Now for Westknits KAL - I've decided (because Julia will not switch with me - which leads me to believe that she doesn't really like it as much as she professes too)to carry on and have faith that it will all work out in the end - even if I don't like it, it has been really fun to knit - in fact, we had a customer this week purchase yarn for it just because she wants to make it. The next clue comes out tomorrow morning to I'm hoping it's going to save my project. Afterall, Stephen did say you could use self striping - so fingers crossed.
Just a few more rows and Clue 2 will be done!

Monday 23 July 2012

Ravellenics Team Yarn Store!

Have you heard about the Knitting Games?  Yup to coincide with the Olympics, Ravelry is hosting a Ravellenics.  You must check it out, choose your project, choose a knitting sport, and then join our Team by tagging your work in progress, letting us know what you are doing and best of all, celebrating your success with us on August 13 here at the store for prizes and treats!

So first - check out Ravelry for all the info by going here

Figure out what your sport is here

Then tell us all about it, tag your pictures, etc here

I am competing in the Sweater Triathlon.  My project is Vodka Lemonade from Baby Cocktails

I'm knitting it in Malabrigo Arroyo in Prussian Blue.  I had started it previously but ripped it out to make a bigger size and so this is just the kick in the butt I need to get going on it. 


Julia hasn't completely decided on what the project is yet but it looks like she will be competing in the Sweater Triathlon too! 

I'm in a quandry over my Mystery Shawl KAL  - Clue 2 is out and I'm not sure I like what's happening to my self striping yarn with this clue. 

Julia assures me that it's very happy looking but I'm thinking I will never wear it. 


Now that's easy for her to say when hers is a lovely combination that is much more wearable. 

What to do?  What to do? 

Comments, anyone?

Saturday 21 July 2012

Last Day Attempt #2

Pushed the wrong button so the previous post that was almost complete, I might add, is now lost somewhere forever.

Today is our last day - time flies when you are having fun - or maybe it's just when you are on vacation. Our family has had a wonderful time here this week and the magic of the island has captured us all.

I've been knitting - Clue 2 of Westknits Mystery KAL is out this morning and earlier in the week, Clue 3 of Zen Butterfly Knits was released. And...I started a plain sock from my stash - it's always good to have something simple and mindless to work on.

We've done somthing different every day and I now offer photographic evidence for your viewing pleasure.

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Clue #1 and some pics

Since I'm on vacation and don't know much about what's going on at the store except that the 50% off has been extended for one more week on all commercial yarns - so get in there! - I thought I would show you my finished clue #1 for Westknits Mystery Shawl Knit A Long -



I used stash yarns but the same result could be achieved with Dye Hard Fiber Arts Self Striping sock matched with a semi solid fingering weight.

Today we visited Summerside PEI - very pretty!



Then on the way home from there - we did some snooping around in Park Corner, PEI where our house is and look at the sites we found.

















Now I'm off to start the Zen Butterfly Knits Mystery Shawl KAL - we have Serenity 20 in stock at the store so you can participate too! I'm three clues behind on this one so I better get going!

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Sunday 15 July 2012

(Westknits KAL Spoiler) First Day of Vacation

We are just enjoying our first morning in PEI - the home that my dad rented for us is absolutely amazing. It's the most beautiful home I've seen - it's a renovated farm house that is decorated beautifully. It's so comfortable - Greg and I have this cozy little room - reminds me of a bed and breakfast kind of room. This is the view from the balcony upstairs. We are staying in Park Corner, PEI not far from Cavendish - I love this island!


Today we are visiting Cows Creamery and going for a tour - this cow met us at the airport. That's Emma and my red headed nieces Tiana and Katy.

This is my favorite spot in the whole house - a window seat perfect for reading - can't wait to try it out.

This is the tv room - definitely not the focal point of the house - only room for 2 - which I love because we will most often have to find something else to do. See that knitting there - it's Westknits KAL - fun, fun!

This is how it looked when I boarded the plane and that little bit is how it looks now. I was ignoring all the comments about using German short rows instead of traditional wrap and turn but when I finally tried it I had to tear everything else out to redo all of them. Urrrr! It was one of those knitting moments when you know that if you don't rip and keep going it will bug you for the rest of the project.
We have lots of yarn for this KAL at the Yarn Store and especially now with all of the commercial yarns remaining on sale at 50% off. I'm using a self striping yarn in mine and we have some great choices in the store.
Here's what is still on sale until July 21!
Berocco
Katia
Rowan
SMC
Debbie Bliss
Diamond Yarns
Nova Yarns
Sublime
Sweater Kits
Online
Laines du Nord
Ella Rae
Lang
Jawoll
Classic Elite
Louisa Harding
Louet
Queensland Collection
and commercial balls of Sock Yarn
That means all the yarns that we have in stock by all of these companies - still lots of yarn! Yay!
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Wednesday 11 July 2012

What Exactly 50% Off Can Buy!


This week the yarn is virtually flying out the doors - bags and bags and bags of it. However, those of you who know us, know that there is still no shortage of choices. It got us thinking - what exactly do you get for 50% off?
Well, considering most sweaters take 5-6 balls - let's figure this out!
There's:
Araucania Ruca is regularly $15.99 per skein which means most sweaters would cost about $79.95 which of course is before the dreaded HST and the purchase of any patterns. Half price is $39.99 - wow that's a super saving when you actually see it on paper. Now what could you make with this yarn?
How about Berocco Lago? Or Berocco Captiva? Both beautiful summer yarns available in loads of colors?
Lago is regularly $8.99 for $4.49
Captiva is $6.99 for $3.50 - so even if you needed 10 skeins, then this would only cost $35.00? Who buys 10 skeins of yarn for $35?
Ella Rae Bamboo Silk caught my eye as I was leaving last night - pretty silk and bamboo skeins that retail for $6 now for $3 - that's just crazy!
From Noro, we have
Nadeshiko reg. 19.99 for $10
Karuta reg. 19.99 for $10
Wadaiko reg 24.99 for $12.50
Kocharan reg. 19.99 for $10
There's still sweater quanitities of Cascade Soft Spun at 75% off. That means they are $1.25 each - seriously, ONE DOLLAR AND TWENTY FIVE CENTS FOR EACH SKEIN!
Now come on, get in here and share in the fun!
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Sunday 8 July 2012

Garage Sale Photos and An FO

This is what the garage sale started out to look like before we were rained on....thank you to all the shoppers who help us get all the stuff back inside without incident.


Julia and I loved this machine - so pretty and in such good condition. It worked but we both thought it would be a gorgeous home accessory.




I've finished something - yay me! A lovely scarf from Alchemy Yarns of Transformation in Silken Straw and Sanctuary.




Those two long lines are Sanctuary that has been felted - at first it looked like just ordinary knitting but after a few spins in the wash cycle it came out looking like this. So pretty! The method is called Shibori knitting which is the combination of a felting and a non-felting fiber. In the case of the Magician's Scarf the look of woven strips of fabric have been created when felted.

We have several Shibori kits coming from Alchemy to the Yarn Store - stay tuned for details!

Now I'm on to a top secret knit - I will post photos but I can't talk about the yarn - we've found a new dyer - we love her and she's dyeing up lots and lots of yarn for The Yarn Store.

Saturday 7 July 2012

Garage Sale over.....NEXT!


Things are never quiet for long at the Yarn Store - now you know how much shopping was done at TNNA - plus let's not forget that over 700 skeins of MadTosh will be arriving this month - now all this adds up to we need room and lots of it! Kinda like 1+1=2! Haha! I'm a bit punchy - been up since 4:30am this morning to get to the Garage Sale! Anyway.....back to the subject at hand.....what could all this possibly mean to all of you? Well, all of the yarn except for what was 30% off last week will be 50% off from Monday, July 9 to at least Saturday, July 14th.

Fun, wow!

BTW - the yarn that was 30% last week has been extended for another week! Yay!
So basically, all of the yarn and patterns are on sale for one deal or another!



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Thursday 5 July 2012

Wowsy wow wow wow!`

We are almost all set for the Garage Sale and my one recommendation is set your alarms! Here's the rundown:

30% Sale has been extended so Saturday you can pick up
Noro Silk Garden
Noro Kureyon
Noro Taiyo
Churchmouse Kits
DyeHard Fiber Arts (all weights)
Koigu KPPPM & Kersti
Prism Yarn & Kits
HPKY Yarn and Kits
Great Adirondack Kits & Yarn
Tahki Stacy Charles Yarns

50% off
Sirdar Escape
Sirdar Indie
Marble Chunky
SMC Aventica
Berocco Link
Lang Pareo
James Brett Monsoon
SMC Tweed Deluxe
Katia Hechizo
Nova Value Collection
JUST TO NAME A FEW!

75% off
Polaris
Cascade Soft Spun
Katia Azahar
Berroco Ric Rac
WOW!
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Wednesday 4 July 2012

Garage Sale Wow!

You all have been to a garage sale before, right?  Rock bottom prices, unbelievable deals!  Well, that's what is in store for the Annual Quilt and Yarn Store Garage Sale! 

Magazines .50 cents
Pattern Books $1
Bagged Yarns at $1.00 per ball
Garage Sale Yarns 75% off 7am-noon only!
Swifts $10

This is definitely the place to be on Saturday, July 7 at 7am - noon!
17817 Leslie Street
Newmarket


Be there or be square! :)

Oops - just when I think we've gathered all that is going in another bin of yarn shows up and in to the garage sale it goes.  This is going to be amazing!