Knitting Lab

Today we are packing the van up and getting ready to head south! I am so thrilled and honored to be a part of Interweave's first Knitting Lab! All the yarn's been dyed/rewound/labeled, just need to pack it up. I'm very pleased with the colors that are happening, I have my eyes on several skeins, we'll see if there's any left over for me!

I'm also crazy excited to be hosting Rachael Herron for a book signing Thursday night! We're kicking the event off with her at 5 pm when the market opens. Major thanks to her for coming and signing books. I'm even going to try and take a picture this time! I'll have all three books from the Cypress Hollow series for sale, and lots of Cypress Hollow Yarn. I'll be bringing my sweater along too, I'm so happy with the progress.

Then on Saturday I'm lucky enough to have Irish Girlie Knits stopping by for a meet up at 12! I'll have all her patterns in stock and lots of samples to try on. You can pick up your yarn and pattern for the IGK Knit A Long, Winter Wonder. I'm going to try to squeeze this KAL in, I have a sample for the booth but need my own! Such a great pattern and feels like a luscious silk hug!

If you're in the area of San Mateo I super hope you can make it to Knitting Lab! The market place is free and I'm bringing some beautiful treasures for your winter knitting!!

Add to your calendar: Trunk Show at Stash Local in Corvalis. Sunday, November 20th, come by from 12-4 and see all the samples and yarn. There will be some specials too! More details when I get back!

A Winner and New Perks

Thank you all for the comments! Super fun to interview Rachael and here what you like about the books. With out further delay.....FishGirl182 is the winner! I'll be emailing you to see what book you need or yarn!

On to the new perks! There's some new happening around here and this is how to play: show off a finished knit using Knitted Wit yarn and get 15% off your next purchase! Bring it to a show, post it on ravelry (send me a link), send me a picture (infoATknitttedwitDOTcom I'd love to show it on the blog!). Easy peasy!

Next fun perk: join the email list for quarterly updates. In the newsletter you'll find out about happenings: shows, new colors, sales. With each newsletter will also come the knit a long project. Each newsletter I'll choose a winner from the email list to get the yarn and pattern! No matter when you join the email list you'll always be eligible! I'm big on the changing of seasons so each equinox/solstice we'll be casting on. Look for the newsletter at the beginning of those months--enough time to get the pattern and yarn to join the KAL. There's a new little sign up spot, on the top right column of the blog. Sign up and be entered to win the winter KAL!!

I am so excited about these perks! Let me know what you think and what you'd like to knit for future KALs! December is just around the corner (that's what it feels like!)!

Feature Friday

Have I got some features for you today! If you are a fan of kits, watch out! I'm happy to say that I'm a dyer for the Crochet Rocks Socks Club! Sign up for six shipments over the next year and you'll get beautiful yarns, clever patterns and some extras! Including year long discounts to my shop! Thank you so much to Melanie, who is also dyeing for the club, for making this connection! I'm so excited about the theme and the luscious yarns I get to use. Sign up while there's still room!

I'm also dyeing for For Yarn's Sake sock club, being released in January I think. The color is amazing if I do say so myself and Sivia Harding is designing for the month!! Lots of love for Sivia! There's a rumor there might be beads!

There's a few more projects in the works, I'll keep you posted!

Because no post is complete with out a cute picture!

WIP Wednesday and an Interview!!

Happy Wednesday everybody! I managed to snap a photo of my Larch Cardigan, I'm almost to the 4" mark where I start the decreases.

I had a great time at For Yarn's Sake with the trunk show. So fun to meet knitters and fans of Rachael's books! There are lots of knitters joining the KAL at FYS, never too late to join. I have an order arriving in a few days to dye up, so pick your person and place the order. I'm crazy about this yarn, really happy with how it's knitting up!

Have you had a chance to pick up Wishes & Stitches? A few people on Saturday had already finished it! I had the chance to ask Rachael a few questions about Wishes & Stitches and about future stories!

Thank you so much Rachael for stopping in and giving some background to your writing. When you wrote How to Knit a Love Song did you have the whole town planned out? Have new couples evolved as each book has been written?

Rachael Herron: Oh, yes, the town evolves as much as my own town does. People move in, and move out, and sometimes the people I write about whom I don't think will matter very much end up being so fascinating to me I can't leave them behind! (I'm thinking about writing about Betty next, a mathematician who makes a brief and ill-used appearance in How to Knit a Love Song. I just can't shake her!)

Lorajean: I totally remember Betty! She seems like she would have a great story! There was a brief mention of Lucy in the first book too. When I read How to Knit a Heart Back Home I was looking for a character I thought would be in book 3 but you tricked me on that! Each book has a knitting project, are these influenced by what you are into knitting at the time or mainly what the story dictates?

RH: They are totally dictated by the story. Luckily, I'm happy to design and knit just about anything, with the exception of lace. I love to knit it--I'm just not as confident about my design abilities for lace. I designed the first two sweaters for the first two books, but when the third bok called for a wedding shawl, I turned to Rosemary Hill of Romi Designs to design a simple, elegant shawl for the book, and I'm so glad she did. It's one of my favorite pieces.

Lj: I love all the knits so far, they're all very comforting. I know Miss Idaho makes an appearance in Wishes & Stitches, do people in your life turn into characters or just the critters?

RH: So far, I just steal the critters. My border collie Clara has a cameo in the first (and second) book, and Miss Idaho appears briefly in a doggie-CPR scene in Wishes & Stitches. I'd like to work my beloved cat Digit in at some point, but he's stubborn and fractious and hasn't wanted to be fictional yet.

Lj: I totally forgot about Clara! And I recall a bunch of readers being very concerned about her at the end of book one. You can read here about her outcome, thanks for filling in that gap! When you're stuck in a spot while writing, what's your go to for problem solving? Drink? Knit?

RH: What a good question. I try not to combine both, that's for sure! (Okay, not very often.) I love to knit in front of mindless television (my favorite shows are Project Runway and the Amazing Race), and for real relaxation, I love to spin (although I don't do enough of that lately).

Lj: I love all these things! But I can't watch Amazing Race with out spazzing out at the end. I feel like everything is timed, like brushing my teeth before I get in bed. My heart is racing a little faster just thinking about it!! I'd love to know a little more about Rig, major crush on that one! Did you have a special source for all the oil rig information?

RH: Rig, the male doctor in the book, made his appearance, and I didn't even know his name at first. He was Hank for a while, but that just didn't work--it wasn't him. I knew he was exceedingly manly but I didn't know how, until his name flashed into my mind, and I knew it was a nickname fro the oil rigs he used to helicopter in and out from. After that, it was just a question of researching in books and on the internet for oil rig info.

Lj:Have there been any story lines cut that you want to revisit? Maybe another little story like Janet and Tom's? (Can you tell I never want this to end?!)

RH: I'd love to write a little short story about Eliza and Joshua. Yep. That's percolating. I love the short stories because they're good for a drop-in, like a short visit with a friend. Yep, there will be more. Thank you for asking, and thank you for loving the books!

Lj: You are super welcome! I can't wait to read more about Eliza and Joshua. Their story has been so tender in all the books. I just about teared up thinking about it!

Please leave a comment about your favorite character from Rachael Herron's Cypress Hollow books, a random winner will be chosen. The prize? One of Rachael's books signed by the lady herself!! If you have all the books then you can pick your favorite character from the Cypress Hollow Yarn! Prizes will be mailed after Knitting Lab (when I'll see Rachael (!!) and she'll sign your book). Comments are open until October 25th. Make sure there's an email so I can get back to you! Again, thank you to Rachael for chatting me up about your books!

ETA! Rachael will be at my booth, #18, at Knitting Lab to sign books Thursday night only. Doors open at 5, be there or be with out a book signed by the lovely Rachael!

Feature Friday

Today's feature is the sale section in the shop! Who doesn't love a sale. I've added a few more skeins of the bulky

and worsted super wash merino. Perfect for a hat or cowl as the weather is turning chilly! Snap these skeins up for $12 while they're still available!

I've been cooking along on the socks, I'm knitting the gussets on each. I think I might just get then done in time for Risa's birthday! I'm also about to bind off on the baby sweater, then I think it's just a button band, easypeasy. I have totally neglected my Larch Cardigan, but that's okay. I have a plan for it tomorrow!

Tomorrow I'll be at For Yarn's Sake in Beaverton! from 11-4 you can stop by and see all the character colors for the Cypress Hollow Yarn. Pick out your yarn for the KAL. FYS is doing Larch Cardigan for their November/December KAL! I'll also have lots of pretty fall colored yarn, a few kits, and lots of luxury fibers! When we're not talking yarn I plan to crank along on my cardigan. I'm just at the beginning so easy to knit and purl while chattin' it up! If you are in the area I hope you can make it out! See you tomorrow!

WIP Wednesday

Wow, never press enter after typing the title of the post. False start!

I actually took pictures to show off my WIP!! I can barely believe it myself! I managed to botch all pictures of my sweater start, but you can see it peaking behind the Yellow Brick Road socks.

I'm going to start on the heel flap tonight! I'm hoping to have both heel flaps done and maybe even start on turning the heel. The sweater is going along smoothly, I'm madly in love with the yarn, and really looking forward to having a sweater knit at a fine gauge. Both projects are reasonably portable and mindless, up until now with the socks.

As I was going through my knitting bag I found a little lingerer! I started this sweater when I was staying at Brooke's for LambTown.

I discontinued the yarn the original sample was in so started up with this one. It's Silky N Plied and a dream to work with. Worsted weight, 60% merino 40% silk. The pattern is Yoked by Hannah Fettig. I sell out of this pattern every show! The pattern is sized from baby (pictured below), all the way up to a 61" bust. The sweater will fit everybody!! And I think it's super flattering for all those sizes. Looks like I just have a few inches to finish this one up. Hmmm, a little tempting to put down the socks and finish this one up!

Feature Friday

Let's look at the new Bulkan, shall we? Bulkan is an aran weight merino/cashmere/nylon yarn, 181 yards/100 grams. There are so many great one skein projects for this yarn. Lots of cowls that will knit in a jiff, perfect for holiday giving!

In fact, Irish Girlie Knits just released a pattern last night, Comfort Food, that is p-e-r-f-e-c-t! I can't wait to pick a color and get it knitted. The cables are super sexy. I kind of want to double the cowl so it can snug down on my shoulders.

Picture snagged from pattern, thank you Carrie!

The Stitches of My Life also has a great pattern for this yarn: Virginia. If you omit the last little repeat one skein is perfect. (tried to steal a picture and couldn't snag one. click on the link and enjoy!)

Hop over to the shop and check out the colors available. There's also some great deals in the sale section. Want to try knitting lace? Snap up a few skeins at $18 for 1,100 yards!! I kind of want to try using some on my cricket loom, I think it would have beautiful drape.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends up North!

WIP Wednesday

I'm so sorry I missed last week! I hit the road Wednesday and thought I could squeeze in a blog post. Not so doable after 5 hours driving in the car with wee ones! LambTown was great, lots of fun. I'm so glad I went and I'm looking forward to next year.

While I was there I got to meet Rachael in person! So exciting!! She got the yarn to start her Larch Cardigan. She is knitting with Naomi, I'm knitting with Rig. The two lead characters in her new book! I've gotten as far as winding my yarn, casting on and I'm working on the first row. I think I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by all the knitting in my future. But one stitch at a time and it will get done!! Where are you at on your sweater?

Naomi

Rig

Also, For Yarn's Sake in Beaverton is doing this sweater for the shop's knit a long in November/December. I think that gives me a little extra time to get the sweater done! Also, I'll be at For Yarn's Sake on October 15th for a trunk show and book release party for Wishes & Stitches! I'm so excited to hang out for the day with some of my favorite yarn in a great yarn shop! If you're in town I hope you can make it out to Beaverton.