Luscious Yarn and a Custom Knitting Mug

I've been so very tardy in posting.......I don't know how some bloggers get it all done!  I think I just love to knit/crochet more than anything else.  Well, except traveling!  

My hubby and I took a little break from the frigid cold of the midwest, the day after Thanksgiving, to drive to Arizona where it was in the upper 70's the whole week!  A visit to a local yarn shop in Scottsdale was one of MY highlights.  The shop had a lovely staff, coffee, cookies and chairs for bored husbands!  You have to love them taking the time to "cake" your skeins too.  

Just look at the gorgeous deal I found!  Jessica Knits....and crochets had this Mango Moon in the sale bin.  It is hand dyed in Napal and provides safe shelter, health care and education to the women there.

150 yards for $11.00 is a good price, but, in the sale bin for $6.00 is a GREAT price.  I snatched them all up.  I bought one in Bluebell, three in Butter and two in Carnation.  Aren't they just gorgeous?  I've worked with this yarn before to make a giant rectangular shawl in a multi and it turned out lovely. I might do the same here.

We also had a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright winter home there....Taliesin West.  For those of you who don't know who Wright is, I snapped this off of Wikipedia:

We took a wonderful tour of this home, which is now a school of architecture with the students living there.  He built this in the late 1900's and was extremely cutting edge when everything was so victorian in nature.  

If any of you remember this flower pillow post, I had the photo transferred to coffee mugs for a few Christmas prezzies!  

Walgreens had all their photo products half off, so I thought I'd see how they turned out.  I made four.  Keeping one for myself, giving one to my Scottish mom filled with tea bags and a gift card and one to one of my best girlfriends with a chocolate candle inside.  That leaves one extra for a future gift to someone.  I like how they turned out.

Super easy to do online and they came out to $6.00 each.

That's all for now, thanks for stopping by!

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

When you purchase skeins from a yarn shop, ask them to wind them into cakes for you.  Then, they are ready to start your project when you are.

Gift Giving and Receiving

This is the time of year that I really treat myself!  I feel that I work hard all year knitting and crocheting away.  Custom orders, pattern writing, photography, networking and keeping up with 4 online shops and another one in the works.  I'm also working on my first book of patterns.  But who can pass up on all the yarny goodness of sales!  Just look at what arrived this week from Knitcircus!  Three hanks of glorious, hand painted yummy yarn from Jaala.  AND, a mini skein, free hat pattern and Soak soap.  Can't wait to get out my winder to cake these!  

Knitpicks has a great sale going on at the moment.  They have very affordable prices even without a sale, so you can save a bundle when the yarn is 50% off.  I am awaiting a big box of goodies from them this week!  Whoo hoo!

 I also treated myself to a Gelaskin for my Mac.  This is my logo for my knitwear business. A crocheted blanket and bunny, with an ombre ribbon, in a linen colorway.  I'm sorry that it does not show well in the photo.  I use it on all my Moo business cards, stickers and labels.  Gelaskins is a great product.  I do not receive anything for touting their praises.  The site is easy to navigate, upload your photo and purchase.  They have skins and cases for all your iphones and laptops.  They also have tons of designs to choose from if you don't have your own photo.

The keyboard decals are from Kidecals.  I bought these a few months ago and love them.  You can read the post here.  They have some new decals this season, a great sale and you can create your own on their site, too.

Have a great week,

Sheila

Yarn tip from Knit Simple:

To keep stripes even on circular needles,when you come to your next color change, put your needle in the stitch below and knit with the new color.

Yarn Shop Goodies & My Big Fat Greek Family

Just LOOK at my latest yarn shop goodies!  I was in St. Louis, Missouri visiting My Big Fat Greek Family, more on them later, and visited some local yarn shops.  In March, I posted about these yarn shops if you'd like to re-read.

Ewe Knit Yarns was the first stop for some Dyeabolical Strong Arm Skinny Sock Yarn in Firefly...love that name!   Gorgeous in red, black and yellow.

Julie, the shop owner took this pic for me for you to see it in hank form.  A bit dark, but you get the idea.  Totally different look when she so kindly "caked" it for me.  Julie is working on a book about the proper way to block your knitwear AND if blocking is not your favorite thing to do, she does offer that service in her shop!  How awesome is THAT?  Definitely will be buying her book as my blocking could use some help.

Lovely shop with chairs just calling all knitters and hookers to sit and clack or hook away.  Pets galore also in this LYS.  A couple dogs and a parrot hanging out with the locals and looking for treats!

Next stop, Kirkwood Knittery.  Beautiful shop with very helpful and nice staff.  Vibrant Universal Yarn Classic Shades in Tutti Fruitti.  I see a new shawl pattern in my future for these.  Also couldn't resist Classic Shades Sequins Lite in Antique Cobalt.  The photo doesn't show, but I bought 3 skeins of each.  Shop owner, Brooke, was so kind as to pop some Lavender Cuticle Balm in my bag.  No pic as it went right in my purse!

Then off to St. Charles, just outside of St. Louis.  THE quaintest town with little shops and restaurant galore!  Connie, at Knit and Caboodle on Main Streets carries all the favs.  Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 in a charcoal heather will also be a shawl as I am missing that color in my shawl wardrobe!  Something I have not seen is Smooshy Sock Yarn in Beach Fog.   It is by Dream In Color Yarn.  Perfect for jeans and light colored top.

I picked up these readers, in of all places, a flower shop!  You know the kind.....some jewelry and bits in the back of the shop.  I needed to bump up the vision to 3.00 on the readers and I LOVE the reader shades.

Ok, now a little bit about my family....if you don't mind.  My dad is first generation Greek, raised in St. Louis, and my mom is from Scotland.  VERY ethnic upbringing.  Greek family functions are huge to say the least.

My pop is the youngest of 7 and they all had 3 kids, my cousins. Add Yia Yia and Papou (Greek for Grandmother and Grandfather).  Then, there is the occasional cousin of theirs thrown in.  Then you add your Godparents and their kids if they are not of the immediate family.  All 40 or so gathering in small houses for the holidays.  I'm talking about 1950's and 60's.  Greek food, Greek dancing, speaking Greek.  Cigars, drinks and lots of laughter.  It was GREAT!

Now we are all married, many of us to other Greeks,  and have kids and some of those kids have kids!  Big Fat Greek Weddings, Big Fat Greek Baptisms, Big Fat Greek Funerals and Big Fat Greek Holidays.  It's THE BEST!

Well, I could go on about names and traditions, but I fear you will not reach the end of the post!  If you read about my family, I thank you very much.  My poor mother's side is left out today.  Posting about the Scottish side another day.

Best,
Sheila

Click here for Dyeabolical site

Click here for Ewe Knit Yarns site

Click here for Kirkwood Knittery site

Click her for Dream In Color Yarn Shop

Parchment Shawl

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I have been working on a shawl pattern for a custom order.  I must say, that I am so pleased with how it came out.  It's a great size if you are thin, like my daughter, or "fluffy" like me!

This is an easy, advanced beginner pattern.  Great project for car trips as it is a two row repeat.  Easily make it larger or smaller.  Would look gorgeous in a long run yarn!  

Beautiful Madeline Tosh in a neutral colorway makes a nice size using 2 skeins.  If you are a “one skein stasher” a scarflette would make a nice neck warmer.  Pop over to the Craftsy Yarn Shop to buy some Madeline Tosh!

I purchased my Madeline Tosh in Omaha, Nebraska at Personal Threads 

http://www.personalthreads.com/newsite/ If you don’t see what you like online, give them a call at 800-306-7733.  The folks there are very friendly and eager to help you with all your yarn and fabric needs.  If you are ever in our area and like to visit local yarn shops, stop by 8600 Cass St, in the center of the city and right off the interstate!

If crochet is not your thing, a simple garter stitch border will keep the edge from rolling and still look great!  

The crocheted edge in a contrasting color would be stunning!  A cotton weight with larger needles would be great for the warmer months and give a breezy, open weave effect.

Find the pattern here in my Etsy Shop.  

Best,

Sheila

January in Red Scarf

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This scarf was a joy to knit!  I found a wonderful yarn in Nashville, Tennessee while on vacation this spring.  A lovely yarn shop called Bliss Yarns carries this huge 560 yards (512 m) skein of squishy, yarny goodness in gorgeous reds/blacks by Miss Babs.

Yowza-Whatta Skein in Awesome!  Superwash and hand painted without a knot in sight!

As I have not yet blocked this beauty, it's a bit difficult to see the little eyelet detail on the points.  The drape is perfect and I think it looks divine on my petite daughter.  If you are rather plump, like me, you will look awesome too!

You can see from the back, the points are just on the one side.  I very much like these types of patterns. No edging needed, great for the shoulders or just around the neck.  Something like this in cotton would be great for the summer months and air conditioned spots.

It's all garter stitch, but interesting enough with the eyelet points.  You can just see them on the left.  If you are a beginner knitter, you will enjoy this very much.  Easy to read pattern and very well written.  The name of the pattern is January Scarf and Annie Lee, the designer is available, too, for questions.  Always a plus!   She has a web site and is also on Ravelry, so you can save her pattern in your library.

Annie is also the designer for my Freesia in Gold I had posted about recently.  Another easy, well written pattern that was fun!  You can find it in her Ravelry shop as well.  Freesia is the name of that pattern.

Click here for the Ravelry pattern page
Click here for Bliss Yarns shop
Click here for Miss Babs yarn shop

The sun is finally shining here in the Midwest and we look for temps in the mid '80's all week!  Yea!

Have a great week,
Sheila

Karen's Carnival Scarf

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Sometimes when I look at yarn, I love the colors, but it ends up staying in my stash for quite some time.    I had this Fiesta Baby Boom in Harlequin (photo below) I bought in the Craftsy Yarn Shop.  I just loved all the colors, even though my closet is nothing but grey, black, white and cream!  Alas, unless you already have this yarn, or can find someone that has it in their stash, you won't be able to find it.  I have looked everywhere on the internet.  No luck!  Try Fiesta's web site here.

It is a bit difficult to see what a yarn looks like until you "cake" it or knit/crochet it.  But, isn't it gorgeous?  Who would know the hank above would look like the scarf?

I made this scarf for my very good friend, Karen.  We have known each other since 1970 and she is the only person I have known longer than I have know my own family.  We have lived apart from each other since 1974, but have kept in touch with each other all these years.  Marriage, babies, deaths, reunions and vacations.  The older I get, 54 this week, the more I cherish people in my life.

I have to sneak in this pic of some fabulous yarn I bought today in the Craftsy Yarn Shop!  Jeez, I can't hardly wait for it to arrive.  Well, I guess it gives me time to find just the right pattern!  Speaking of patterns, the FREE scarf pattern belongs to a fellow Ravelry knitter Terhi Montonen.  Follow the Rav project page for the pattern here.

Best,
Sheila

Local Yarn Shops Vacation

Just LOOK at this yummy yarn I found in St. Louis, Missouri at the lovely Ewe Knit Yarns!   As an added bonus, the yarn dyer herself, Rachel was in the shop!  What a great pleasure it was to meet her and have a little chat.  That's Rachel below in the black top giving a knitting lesson to one lucky girl.  It really makes the yarn so very special when you have a memory to attach to it, don't you think?  This DyeabolicalYarn Strong Arm Skinny sock yarn is hand dyed superwash merino with the most make-you-smile name.....Queen's Tea.

I do like to buy local when visiting yarn shops during my travels.  I was in St. Louis, my home town, to meet my cousins for a trip to Nashville, Tn.  Above is another local dyer, Skeined Alive Dyed and Gone To Heaven in Stop Saying That.  It also is a superwash merino sock yarn.  Gorgeous autumn  colors in this one.

Above is the shop.  It was a bit nippy outside to do any yarnings, but the inside.....

was full of cute baskets holding all the squishy goodness that I can't resist!  I love the little hanging baskets holding even more!  The owners and customers were so very nice and eager to help with a question or just to chat.  You can't say that about every yarn shop.

I also bought a lovely shawl pin.  I was wearing my Crocodile Stitch Shawl and really needed something to hold it while wearing as a shawl and not a scarf.  I got more attention wearing that shawl everywhere I went!  The airport was full of gawkers.  The female TSA agents caused quite a stir all rushing up to me!  The men TSA agents were quite alarmed for a second.

The next stop was Kirkwood Knittery.  I love these buttons, so colorful and big at 2" across.  They are destined to be used to hold a shawl instead of a shawl pin.

Off to Nashville we go!  Now, I'm pretty sure no one is interested in my ramblings about the full size replica of the Parthenon in Greece that's in Nashville....or President Andrew Jackson's home....or The Grand Ol' Opry....or The Gaylord Hotel (the largest hotel in the USA without a casino)....or Corky's Bar-B-Q!  However, they were all GREAT and if you are in Nashville, they are definitely worth your time.

I did, of course, find a yarn shop!  Bliss Yarns hooked me up with this local dyer in Mountain City, Tn...Miss Babs.  Yowza-Whatta Skein in Awesome.  And it is!  Superwash, hand painted and 560 yards!  WOW!

AND in the 1/2 off sale bin.....Cascade Yarns 128 tweed.

Bliss Yarns was full of people shopping and knitting.  I saw two full tables and there was a table tucked around the corner full of ladies chatting away in their southern drawl.  My cousins had a bit of a struggle with the accent, but my husband, daughter and I lived in Memphis for a couple years, so I felt right at home!  They were so very helpful and just a pleasure to visit with.  When you travel to a yarn shop out of your area, be sure to tell them you are out of town, they love to show you local goods.

Well, that was my trip.  Now I am back to bill paying, laundry, my morning job and snow!  Spring can't come too soon for me!

Have a great week,
Sheila