Look who Ewenice brought home

Ewenice wanted to bring this little Alpaca home from Friday Harbor, so what could I say?  She was sooo cute!  Ewenice has two beautiful winter coats (thanks Lisa) and one fall coat (thanks Helen).  She is hankering for a Holiday coat and would like one for her friend (she needs a name).  Anybody who makes a coat for Ewenice and her friend for the Holidays, will receive a free skein of yarn and a free pattern (not necessarily to go together).  The coat for Ewenice should be about 4" long (for her back) and 12" width (to go over her back and hang down the sides.)
Her friend measures 1 1/2 to 2" for her back and 5" to go over her sides. 
By the way, if you can think of a good name for her new friend email me at eweknit@mainstreetyarn.com and I'll put the names on the blog and we'll vote. 

Knit Holiday Gifts

We just got this very cool CD in!  It is the 2006 - 2011 Holiday Collection CD.  It is 6 digital editions of Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts Special Issues exactly as they were originally printed.  This CD has an easy to navigate table of contents, easy to print patterns, and all the tips and techniques that Interweave is known for. 

This CD includes over 200 patterns for holiday knitting, from quick to knit accessories to heirloom quality projects that can be handed down from generation to generation.  This is for knitters of all skill levels. 

See you soon!

Thank you Charity Knitters!

Last night we had a great turn out for our Charity Knit.  Even though these aren't the hats we donate it resembles our gifts to children at Children's Hospital.  These hats mostly go to children who do not have parents to buy hats for them.  The nurses take the children down to where all the donated hats are and either let the child pick or they pick one for them.  The other children who are not in this situation, the hats make them happy, bringing a little cheer to their dreary day.  We can't do much for these children, but we can stitch a little love into our hats.
If you cannot attend our once a month Charity knit (the last Friday of every month), please feel free to bring in any hat you would like to donate or you can come in anytime and ask for yarn to knit a hat to donate.  Remember, these are preemies to 18 year olds.  They all need a little love knit into a hat.

Cat and Ewenice

Ewenice sitting in Cat's lap

Every night Cat tells stories.  We sit around and knit while she tells us stories.  Last night Ewenice was very interested in her stories so she jumped on Cat's lap and asked to have her picture taken.  Who can say no to Ewenice?  Certainly not me, nor Cat. 

I'm getting my sock knitting down.  I'm learning the toe up sock, knit with 2 circs, with a tomato heel.  Phew.  If I can get it settled in my brain, it might become my new favorite method.  I've always been a fan of double points, but I think I'm going to give this a try and if I like it better I'll teach this new method.

I still think when you make your first pair of socks it should be on double points.  It's the only method in my point of view that can really give you a good sense of the structure of a sock.

Tonight is our last night and I'm glad and sad.  Glad because I can start putting together all the new ideas I have learned.  

Sad, because it's such a beautiful relaxing place.  I don't know how long Cat's waiting list is, but I've signed up for next year on Oct 13th - 18th.  It would be splendid if you could join me.

 I believe we received some new Blue Sky Alpaca yarn while I was away, but I'm not sure, so I won't mention the name of the yarn just yet. You'll have to wait until Sunday. 

See you Sunday...



Cat Bhordi Retreat - Day 2

Lakedale Lodge

One of the greatest things about the Northwest is finding places like this in our very beautiful neck of the woods.  This is the lodge we are staying in. 

 

What did I learn today?  I learned that I'm fabulous at making errors that embarrass the living daylights out of me.  For example, yesterday on my Blog I told you I learned that I was making and teaching how to knit two together incorrectly - NOT - when I tested out my new way of knitting two together, I discovered that's how I had always been doing it.  So, not only did I make the error in my head I shared it with all of you.  Oh well....

 

I learned how to do the Cat Bhordi's Sweet Tomato Heel and refreshed my memory of knitting in the round on two circs. 

 

I learned that eating three big meals a day is too much.  It's dinner time and I'm still full from lunch and at lunch I was still full from breakfast. 

 

Mostly I just learned just how many different things I still need to learn.  

 

 



Cat Bhordi Retreat - Day 1

I've learned a lot today already.  I learned how NOT to take a picture with my new I-Pad. I took a picture (or so I thought) of Ewenice having a cookie and Ewenice checking in at the front desk, but turns out I took videos.  Didn't think you wanted to see a minute video of Ewenice just standing there.  These two pictures are from our balcony (Ewenice was enjoying some time with my husband) and  in our room above the fireplace.
I want to apologize to all my students, according to Cat I have taught you how to do an SSK and K2tog wrong.  I guess I've been doing it wrong my whole life and I now have several people doing it wrong because I taught them.  The correct way to do an SSK is when you are slipping the stitches from the left needle to the right needle you slip them as if to knit.  I'm sure some of you already know that and are probably surprised that I don't, but in my defense, I read that you ALWAYS slip as if to purl unless it states otherwise, so I figured that applied to SSK. 
The correct way to knit 2 together is to put your needle in your stitches from left to right instead of right to left.  The left slant is much more visible doing it that way.  I'm so embarrassed.   
For all of you that I have taught the wrong way, if you are in the middle of a project and come across these two stitches, continue to do them the way you started and don't change methods until you have started another project.
My head is spinning from all the information, projects and ideas that Cat has introduced us to.  I will try and absorb as much as I can, but anyone who knows me, knows even if I absorb it, doesn't mean I will remember it.  I have my I-Pad with me to take notes, so that should help.
More tomorrow...................

Ewenice is stylin'!

One of our wonderful customers, Lisa, made Ewenice two new coats for winter (I'll post a picture of the other one later).  Doesn't she look all warm and comfy?
Sunday I am headed off to Friday Harbor to attend a week long workshop with Cat Bhordi.  Ewenice is coming with me (along with my husband), so we will be sending you posts from Friday Harbor.  I'm hoping to learn lots of new things to pass on to you.

Stitch of the day

The Half Brioche Stitch

 

The one thing I have discovered about the Brioche Stitch, whether it be half or whole, there are several different methods of knitting this stitch.  While looking on line for the Half Brioche Stitch, I found several different ways to make it, each with a little different look.

This is a good stitch for just about anything that you want to have texture.  A man's scarf would be lovely in this or something as simple as a washcloth.  How about a fingerless glove?  Use your imagination with this stitch.  Only a 4 row repeat!

 

Row 1: Purl

Row 2 (right side): K1, *K1 in st below, k1; repeat from * to end

Row 3: Purl

Row 4: K1 in st below, *K1, K1 in st below; rep from * to end

Repeat these four rows.

 

This pattern is in Multiples of 2+1.

 

If you don't know how to knit into the stitch below watch this U-Tube video for some instruction or ofcourse you can always come in the store and we would be happy to show you.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8KgeMUwj2E

Jane Austen is back

You'll find lots of good reading as well as some cute patterns in Jane Austen's Fall 2012 magazine.
The Prettyish Wilderness Socks designed by Rachel Coopey is shown in Shibui Sock Yarn (one of our favorites).  "These socks are inspired by the garden surroundings in Pride and Prejudice when Lady Catherine de Bourgh comes to forbid Elizabeth Bennet from marrying Mr. Darcy."
A darling little tunic made from Louet Euroflax Linen.  If you've never knit with linen it's a good time to try.  It washes and wears great and gets softer each time you wash and dry it.  Make sure you knit a swatch, then wash it and dry it to get an accurate gauge. 
Henry Tilney's Brocade vest is shown as being knit with Spud and Chloe fine.   Henry Tilney wore a similar vest while he was in Bath attending a ball or theatre.
In the nineteenth century the military look started influencing feminine fashion.  With the invention of the tape measure and other tailoring methods, the design shifted to a more fitted garment.  Hussars Spencer is a wearable garment for today.  It was knit with Cascade 220 Superwash. 
The Pleated Neck Scarf is darling and made with Rowan Kid Silk Haze.  Did I mention we just got the Kidsilk Haze in self striping colors? 
A double layered Capelet made with Kidsilk Haze and Madeline Tosh Merino, is reversible so you can have the lace side turned out for the evening and the ribbed side turned out for your daily activities.
Whatever pattern you chose to knit, we would be happy to help you with a yarn choice.
Hope to see you soon!

It's T-Shirt Day

We have 3 Main Street Yarn T-shirts to give away today (for bloggers only).  There is 1size large and 2 size mediums.  First people to email me, specifying what size they want will win the size T-shirt they ask for.   First come first serve! eweknit@mainstreetyarn.com 

Red, White and Green

We just received these colors in Cascade 220, Cascade 220 Superwash, Fingering and Superwash Sport.  All the weights you'll need for your Christmas knitting.

Pininterest

I am becoming a  real technical expert, giant, ok, never mind, I hardly know what I am doing, BUT I did start a site, blog, well, I put some pictures up on Pininterest.  It's going very slow and is definitely a work in progress.  I thought you might want to see what we've done so far.  You can get there by clicking on this site http://pinterest.com/mainstreetyarn/.   I'm trying to figure out how to hook, attach,link it to our Facebook account, but haven't had much luck there.  Anyone I've talked to said "Oh, that's so easy" yah, maybe for you. 
To show you how saavy I am, I was having dinner with a friend and I called it Pin-Interest (like two words) - he just looked at me with a smirk and said "No, it's pintrest".  So however you want to say it is fine with me, I'll know what you are talking about. 

Ewenice doesn't want anything to do with it.

Mini Messenger

Namaste Mini Messenger

 

Wouldn't we look great sportin' around with one of these this winter?  They come in great colors, black, eggplant, lime, peacock,  pumpkin spice and red (shown here).  Cross-body design for hands-free function, the Mini Messenger has a padded adjustable shoulder strap, quick access exterior pocket, and lots of individual pockets for ultra organization. This bag is a perfect knitting bag or for someone with an active, busy lifestyle  (I may have to buy two - one for a knitting bag and one for my everyday bag).
The exterior is made from PVC-free animal friendly faux leather and the interior is PET microsued (faux suede made from recycled plastic bottles).
It is 5" W x 12" H x 15" L.
We've sold out of most of the colors, but I will be ordering again soon.  Let me know what color I can order for you.

Want to learn Entrelac?

 

You want to learn Entrelac, but don't have time for a class?  Enjoy learning in your own home with this DVD by Eunny Jang.   Come in and get a copy of this DVD soon!