Yarn Gallery Blog

I’m in the midst of 4 projects right now, 3 of which I started to avoid working on the 4th.  I wish I wouldn’t get myself into these situations because nothing turns out right until I just go back to the project I hate, loathe, and despise and either get it done or rip it out (or throw it out depending on how much money/time/yarn has been invested.)  And I should have known better about this project.  It’s Chris Bylsma’s 24/7 Jacket,

which I heart and have coveted since I first saw it at TNNA two years ago. The problemo, as I see it, is that the whole jacket is seed stitch which I hate, loathe, and despise when I have to do it in large amounts, but which I also love the look of when it’s done.  So, I finally started the jacket, using an expensive combination of yarns (Cambio from Zitron and Lace Merino from Ella Rae, held together to make a really neat fabric).  I have everything done (after a lot of moaning and groaning and rather juvenile temper tantrums) except one sleeve.  To avoid finishing that sleeve, I have an adorable cover-up thingy going in Debbie Bliss’s Como, a lace shawl in Mountain Color’s Winter Lace, and a wrap in Classic Elite’s Wool Bamboo.  The chair I knit in at home is almost invisible behind all the yarn, needles, and pattern books piled up around it.  I gotta finish something – another wave of new yarns is due in early August and I’ll be wanting to start something with those.  I may need an intervention, folks!

I hope you got your email from me about the sock yarn sale starting tomorrow through August 7.  I need to make way for new stuff so I hope you’ll take advantage of the good deals.  We’ll help you use it up, because I hope to have a sock of the month class beginning this fall.  And yes, I’m taking one more weekend off, so we’ll be closed August 8 -11.

Here is a pretty lace scarf knit by Chris Urban, a fairly new knitter who is totally in love with lace.  Isn’t this lovely?  She knit it in a soft DK cotton.

Donna Guthrie whipped up this beautiful little Ridged Lace Cowl to entice her afghan class.   We have the yarn (Elsebeth Lavold’s Angora, discontinued) in the sale closet for 25% off.  Donna used only 2 skeins, which made a very cozy neckwarmer.  The yarn blooms as you knit it and becomes very soft and fuzzy.

Here’s a link to the free pattern. Donna very kindly did a step by step worksheet which she left with me to give you if you come in for the yarn.

And here is the masterpiece of the week and probably the month.  Barb Werner is expecting her first granddaughter soon and made this gorgeous baby blanket from Debbie Bliss’s Rialto 4-ply extra-fine merino.  The knitting is expert, the yarn is luxurious (yet practical), and she lined it with satin, and tied it to the knitting with little pieces of yarn to prevent bunching.  There is just pure satin-y smooth yumminess everywhere you touch on this beautiful heirloom.

Wow!  And don’t miss David’s simple tank top in Bonsai colors, posted below.  Isn’t it pretty – the yarn has a beautiful surface to it so the shape can be clean and simple.  ‘Kay, gotta go get ready for the sale.  See you soon…

Trish

tank top, originally uploaded by yarngal628.

hi tirsh.
I had a few more skeins of Bonsai left over from a previous project.
so i knitted up a seamless tank top. Im in the mood for cables, so im
going to start a summer sweater with lattice and rib stitch (top down)..

cya on sunday
DAve Ritz

I already just love this week – I’m in that drifty summer mood that I remember from my youth – oh, so many eons ago – wherein you simply feel as though there’s nothing pressing that has to be done and life is flowing just as it should be.  It might be that I ate my first peach of the summer – thank you, Tamara! – or that I picked my first tomato of the year, or that the windows are open, the birds are singing and I have no commitments today so I can knit as much as I want.  This has been my favorite summer in a long time and I really think it’s because it has been cool and reminds me of the summers in the western Pa. mountains where I grew up.  We were spoiled children who had nothing to do all summer but read, play, and sleep – lovely long days of roaming the town and the fields, hanging out, daydreaming, just being safe, oblivious, sometimes bored but generally happy, kids.  I can’t wait for my second childhood!

A nice box full of Mountain Colors came in last week  with new colors of Bearfoot and Twizzle and a new laceweight wool/silk blend.  I have a skein of the lace on my desk, kind of glowing and beaming at me in the muted light from the window.  It definitely wants to be knit and I definitely want to knit it.  Is there anything like a new project?  I’m in the midst of a seed stitch jacket – yes, every bit of it is seed and it’s taking quite a lot of time and I’m really kind of tired of it and I want to start something new!  And since I’m in a child-like frame of mind, I believe I just will.

This is the Danielle coat that I talked about last week, in Berroco’s Sundae yarn.  It turned out so very well and the drape is good so it doesn’t feel bulky even in this chunky yarn.

At 2.5 st/inch, it works up pretty fast and there’s no finishing, especially if you splice the yarn ends when you join a ball.  Don’t know how?  You know where to come!

This is the Roman Stripe scarf in Lang’s Mille Colori Big, with another picture of the yarn colors, too.  I just can’t over this yarn – the colors are simply beautiful.

I want a sweater in the 3rd color down – I can’t stay away from grays this year.

Here is a photo that Zena Hafetz sent me from her cell phone of a cute baby blanket with ruffled edges.  She added the ruffles to cover up an error – but we’ll never tell, will we, especially when it turned out so darned pretty!

And Julia Olafson modeled her very pretty sweater (Hey Teach from knitty.com) done in Laurel from Schaeffer Yarns.  Looks great even without buttons or blocking! (Yes, I made her model it.) (I told you, I’m relentless in pursuit of a good project photo!)

Lori Yatron brought in these two pieces – she was reluctant to let me take a photo but I can’t understand why!  She did a beautiful job on the slip-stitch hat and the Seaman’s scarf that Donna Guthrie designed. They’re beautiful!

And speaking of Donna Guthrie, she is so proud of her pupil Donna Howard who completed her Great American Aran Afghan and brought it in to show others at the last of the classes.  It’s gorgeous!  Donna the pupil did a fabulous job.  The blocks are wonderful, the finishing is lovely and the edging is perfect.  Donna the teacher also did a fabulous job – her help

is invaluable in finishing a challenging project like this.  She plans to start another series in this afghan in January so if you are inspired, keep it in mind!  Here is another look at Donna’s work:

Spectacular!

And in her spare time, Donna Howard also made this Lady Eleanor scarf in entrelac from Silk Garden Sock – and 4 new colors are on their way to the shop as I write!!

I love these colors with Donna’s hair and eyes.

And speaking of hair and eyes (Oh, I’m such a one for the segueways!), here is the newest member of my extended family.  Presenting Chloe, my sister’s newest Golden:

If you aren’t saying ‘Awwww…” right now, I don’t even want to know you.  She melts my heart and makes me yearn for a puppy of my own.  Wouldn’t we have fun housebreaking a puppy at the shop?  Oh, well, on second thought…

See you soon!

Trish

drop stitch ruffle top, originally uploaded by yarngal628.

hi trish
just finished the drop stitch, ruffled top made with cotton twist..
was a cool and fast pattern from filatura di crosa.
i have a few skeins of ribbon yarn left over. i think im going to make
a tank top out of it..

cya soon
Dave Ritz

You know, the hardest part – actually the only hard part – of writing a post is figuring out a title.  I  sit here and think and think, but I rarely have any particular theme to write on, do I?  I could call every single one Fabulous Yarn and Great Projects and hit the nail on the head.  So I’m going to just throw the date up there from now on.  You don’t care, do you?  I thought not.

I think I’m back in the swing of things again.  I’ve had a lot of time off lately so working five whole days in a row this last week almost killed me, but now I think I can handle it again.  One more weekend off in August, maybe – for some reason, my sisters want to celebrate my birthday together this year.  It’s not a milestone or anything, so I don’t know exactly why.  If they’re anything like me, it’s just a great excuse to eat cake.  Which I intend to.  If and when they firm things up, I’ll let you know.

I have really great projects to show you, but first you have to drool over this beautiful yarn. It’s Lang’s Mille Colori Big, 200+ yds of the prettiest chunky wool you ever want to see.  I’ve made a Roman Stripe scarf from it already, love how the colors come up in subtle stripes.  I’ll photograph the scarf this week after I block it.

I showed you the shawl I made from Margaree from Fleece Artist last time while it was being blocked.  Here it is finished and looking pretty darn fabu (if I do say so myself) over a black suit.

Karen Wenrich just finished this beauty, done in two yarns.  One is a multi-colored cotton tape called Mandy Color and the other is a solid coordinating worsted weight. The sweater is done in an open stitch that makes it wearable even in warm weather, and the other colorways of Mandy are just as pretty.

And here is Janet Kakareka, glamming it up (okay, reluctantly, but I’m relentless!) in her Ty-Dy bolero and matching Ty-Dy socks.  She looks so great – must really be enjoying her summer off.  She also did a bunch of other socks, as well as a ton of charity knitting.  The woman gets things done!

Chris Dreazen finished this wonderful yoke sweater with coordinating yarns.  The solid is Baby Twist alpaca and the multi is Manos Silk Blend.  The pattern is in Simple Style, fun to make and one of those comfy sweaters you just love to wear.  I love the touch of multi at the wrists.

Alice Batchelder made this adorable set for her granddaughter in Encore Bouclé and Jelli-Beenz and is almost done with a ruffled tank top in Ty-Dy. Lucky little girl!

And brand-new knitter Tamara Cannon completed this Edie’s Wrap in record time.  Love the enthusiasm that new knitters bring to their projects, and doesn’t she look just wonderful?

She should be so proud – she’s already on her way with a second dressier version in black ribbon!

I’ve been busily knitting from Berroco’s newest collection.  Finished the Danielle cardigan. I shortened it – no surprise there, right? – and changed a couple things but essentially loved the design and Sundae (the yarn).  I’m busily working on Anhinga – love this so far, am working it in creamy wool-silk Palace.  So many wonderful designs in this collection.

All right, I must quit gushing and look through my open orders.  I have two sales reps coming this week and even though I already have far too much yarn coming in, there must be something I need, right? Then I have running-around errands to do, grocery shopping – then by golly I’m sitting down to knit.  Meanwhile, the housework gets put off yet again!

See you soon…

Trish