26 February 2010

Hi Folks

I did sneak away for a short while and I told myself no business while I am suppose to be relaxing. Well, relaxing wasn't exactly in the cards but it was a change of scenery.

Just so you know, I do work on my projects while I am away. This is my island project. It is a counted needlepoint on 18 mesh. The challenging work is named Fresh Water Pearls, and is Sandra Gilmore's chart designed for DMC. I have talked with Sandra many times at trade shows and asked her about this work. The difficulty (which may be hard to see) is that there are as many as five colors per row per colorway. I have tried many ways of keeping the back neat but have finally given in.

I work with as many as 30 threaded needles at a time. These needles cover working just one quarter of the canvas (you can see that I am working on the bottom right-hand side). I attempt to have several of the same colors in one area to minimize the travel on the back side of the canvas.

When talking with Sandra I asked about how she solved the problem of working so many colors that are dotted along a row and do not have a corresponding placement above. She laughed. She told me that there was no way to keep the back any neater than I had, given the complexity of the design's colors. She also added that she was never going to do another image like this.

I work using the chart that has been enlarged 400%. The original design is done on an 8.5 x 11" piece of paper. Enlarging it in pieces gives me a workable size so the symbols for the colors are easier to read. I also use a Magni-Clips magnifier to see the chart and the stitches. I've tried working without the magnifier but after working for an hour I find that I loose my place on the chart too easily. The other necessity is the portable Ott Light. Don't know what I would do without that!

Sandra designs beautiful stitch-matched needlepoint that make her canvases a bit easier to work.

11 Feb 2010

Hi Folks

I made it in today. Hope you are all well and the digging out process has not been too overwhelming. We had about 35" at the house and Wednesday added another 2-3". We had no power for two days but I do have a generator so the vital systems (heat and well) were powered.

The streets are clear to the curb here in The Plains, and Old Tavern Road (exit 31 from 66) is clear. So if cabin fever is your problem, we're open. The sidewalks are clear and there are no mounds of snow to climb over to get into the shop.

5 February 2010

I'm glad I came into the store today because our UPS driver delivered the two newest colors of Stuff from Prism Arts.

Laura has out done herself. The first is Maui (Cool Stuff) and I'm not even going to try to describe the color. Cool Stuff contains no yarns made from wool, alpaca, mohair, etc. and knits at 4.5 sts/inch.

The other color is Coral Reef (Light Stuff). Light Stuff is thinner that the other "Stuffs". It too contains no hair and knits at 5 sts/inch.

I don't think that your computer screen will ever do her yarns justice. When you have time, stop by and ask to see the new colors.

I don't know if I will be at the shop tomorrow. It depends if I can get out of our road. Call the shop. The message will let you know if I am here. I will try to be here on Sunday for sure.

31 January 2010

"The Perfect Notion Case" has arrived. They come in the three colors shown, with and without sparkles.

This is just the handiest little case to store all of those bits that get lost in a normal case. There are five compartments on one side (three small and two larger) and one large compartment on the other. All of the compartments have snap locks and the whole case locks. No spilled surprises!

29 January 2010

The newest model of Rhythm yarn is in!

This takes entrelac to the next step. Those of you who like a bit of a challenge will love this one.

This wrap is a caplet with a round bottom - that's the entrelac challenge.

You really need to see this one in person. It is deliciously beautiful.

27 January 2010

We just got in local ORGANIC wool in three natural colors!

The colors are white of course (great for dyeing your own), a light heather brown and a rich chocolate brown. These colors are just what a warm winter sweater calls for. The jacket by Josh Bennett in the latest VOGUEknitting International (Winter 2009/10) would just "sing" in this yarn. Definitely a warm a snuggly sweater for a man or a woman.

The wool comes from Gum Tree Farm and it has been certified by NCCIA (we have a certificate here). The yarn was milled at Green Mountain Spinnery in Putney, Vermont and is a single ply yarn and has 140 yards per skein. we have knitted examples of the yarn so you can see what the colors will look like. The yarn fluffs up a bit after it is washed and looks great. It knits at 5 sts/inch but it will knit to 5.5 sts/inch.

22 January 2010

I know its been awhile since my last post. The store is being inventoried so that takes most of my time. But, now when you ask if we have something in stock the computer should have the correct information. It is amazing how I can make mistakes when receiving inventory.

I have also figured out the date problem not matching the date that I post the blog. The dates should be correct from this point on.

One of my customers decided to knit a pattern from a new issue of a magazine. After casting on the required number of stitches an attempt was made to make a study (swatch).

After several knitting attempts and several brain storming attempts it was decided that the shop wasn't the best place to puzzle out this complicated cable/eyelet pattern. Come to find out there was a mistake in the pattern. I guess I can say I wasn't surprised.

There are companies that really take the time to check a pattern and these companys' patterns are a pleasure to knit from. Then there are the rest.

I would say that the internet has become a valuable tool when it comes to errata. I suggest checking the company's website to see if any errors have been found in the pattern you've chosen. Magazine or book, check first. It saves your frustration levels from going critical.

In this particular case, the magazine is too new and no one has reported finding an error in the pattern - yet.

Many customers have come in thinking that they're making a mistake when all along it has been an error in the pattern - NOT their knitting.