I hope that you have been knitting in the sun and enjoying the spring flowers!

• We have a new Facebook page.  This is now a store page on facebook – it will allow us to interact a little more easily than the blog and is different from our group facebook page, Mad About Ewe Friends and Flock.  We just set this up yesterday, please come on by and say hello!
• Twelve, or so, new colours of Madeline Tosh Dk arrived last Friday and they are absolutely gorgeous!
• We now stock Rowan Denim – it just arrived yesterday.  This great summer cotton once knit, will shrink and fade like your favorite jeans.
• As well, nine new shades of Rowan Summer Tweed are now in for the summer!
• Also the Rowan Summer Book is here – again.  The first time it arrived it flew out the door so fast I did not even get a copy!

Cuff detail!

A few knitters have been by to show us their finished projects.

Joyce’s coat is a pattern from Vogue’s 25th Anniversary edition and she has knit it up in Green Mountain Spinnery’s Yarn Over.

Maureen's Gorgeous Vest!

Maureen has been busy designing a new vest – she was worried that it was too wild to wear – I think that we convinced her that it was just perfect.

The back is different fromt the front!

Some knitters are also creative in other ways, Joyce (Clark) has created a great way to organize your yarn when you are using more than one colour – check out the reused CD box – great idea!

Joyce Clark's invention - very useful - very green.

I hope that you are enjoying this wonderful sunshine that we are currently enjoying.  I have been taking some time to sit in the backyard and knit in the sun.  It feels wonderful!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

Meet and make new friends at the WWKOIP!

Check out the tab at the top of the blog for the summer activities and workshop schedule.  We have lots planned for the summer. 

Starting June 9 for the WWKOIP day and finishing Aug 23 with our 3rd Annual Pic-Knit this will be a summer for lots of knitting action!

If there is anything that you would like to suggest as a summer activity – just let us know – maybe we could make it happen!

Last summer knitting at the beach!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

Beautiful Cobweb Estonian Lace Stole.

Last Thursday Carrie came to visit.

Carrie is an avid knitter and loves the craft, especially the traditional skills.  On Thursday she brought some absolutely incredible lace to show.  The lace belongs to her neighbour Mary Laanela.  It was her Mother-in-laws originally - I took lots of pictures.

I hope that you enjoy them!  There are some more pictures here.

Happy Knitting

Lynette

Thank-you to Anthea for the picture - a very knitterly sentiment!

…….Is the the cornerstone of the Knitters Life.  We choose it with care to reflect the person that we are knitting for and the use it will receive and the care that will be given!

Ie, a new mother will get things that are machine washable and soft for the new baby;  a young boy might receive a new sweater knit out of a nearly indestructible yarn; a bride, the softest and most ethereal knit lace shawl;  the yarn chosen reflects the gift given.

Emily is making sure that you will always have the right yarn!

Just some of Biscotti and Cie's fabulous colours!

New this week; From Biscotte and Cie, a Canadian hand-dye yarn company, gorgeous hand-dyed sock yarns, including a Cat in the Hat colourway and some pretty wild colourways and rich semi-solids:

Terra, from Kelbourne Woollens.

From the Fibre Company, distributed by Kelbourne Woollen, two gorgeous yarn, both Merino, Alpaca and Silk Blends, Terra and Acadia.  These yarns are kettle dyed and very soft.

Many of the patterns in the book Vintage Modern Knits by Kate Gagnon Osborn and Courtney Kelley use the Kelbourne Woollen’s yarns.

Norma's Soft Linen Twin-set!

Norma came in yesterday to show us her finished twinset.  The waterfall front sweater  and shell are knit with Classic Elite’s Soft Linen, another blend with merino, alpaca and linen, perfect for the spring/summer.  The drape of the yarn once knit is fabulous, another yarn that makes the project.  Beautiful job by Norma!

Thank-you Joyce for the beautiful Roses!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

Our Punk Rock Thrummer - class mascot!

Yesterday’s Thrummed Slipper Workshop was a gas!  A little loud, maybe a little raucaus – it was the best kind of class.  The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, the best kind, for learning and teaching.

From the first comments to the last stitch knit, everyone was having a great time.  The colours of the Thrums were fabulous, most were the Hand-dyed Merino Roving from Fleece Artist.  We had as much fun watching the colours emerge as we did learning the thrumming technique.  We also discovered new ways to use our thrumming.  We created a new mascot and some very old fashioned, yet now modern headgear!

Debbie's Thrummed Fascinator!

It was a full class – with friends coming together and others making new friends!

Check out the pictures if you are intested in seeing the colours as they combine!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

They came armed with patterns, questions and lists and they all left happy.  It is always fun when a group of friends come in to the store.  Everyone is relaxed and shares thoughts and opinions on colours, shapes and projects.  This can make the process of choosing a new project much more enjoyable – we all love a little feedback while trying to chose the right colour or project!

Another new Yarn, Aria by Crystal Palace, Very interesting soft yarn, great colours!

Dorothy and I spent yesterday moving yarns around.  Emily has been ordering again!  We received about 10 new colours of Cascade 220 and 4 new colours of Cascade 220 Superwash!  Extreme measures needed to be taken.  You will be happy to know that there is still room for more colours!  We did have to move the the Malabrigo Worsted, but the new location is even better than the old and we combined it with the Malabrigo Worsted Select – a new and vibrant special edition selection of colours.  One shot only, not to be repeated.  This is something that Malabrigo does every year, but this is the first year that we have brought in the colours!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

In this group are - Arlene’s Sailor dresses, matching, for her granddaughters – Linda’s miniature Thrummed Slipper for her granddaughter – Norma’s finished Rib Warmer – Darlene’s finished Entrelac Moebius – Eileen’s finished Entrelac Moebius and Mitered Cowl (Eileen also added beads) – and Judi sent me a picture of her finished Entrelac Moebius!

The Moebius were from the Retreat this year and quite a few have been finished amazingly fast!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

Shelves are packed with yarns!

….This post, I mean!  I do not know how time can escape us so fast!

Classes are well underway.  It  looks like there will be another Fear of Finishing, check your calendars for April 28th if you could not make the first one!  There is also going to be another Beginner’s class starting in about 3 weeks.  I’ll get it set up and post the dates.

Rowan Summerspun - a beautiful wool/cotton blend.

Many new yarns have arrived in the last few weeks.  Spring yarns are pouring in and the colours are vivid!  Tangerine is the new hot colour.  Add a touch of it to your wardrobe to update your colours.

Yesterday saw the arrival of a gorgeous new fingering yarn from Cascade – Heritage Paints a merino, 85% and silk, 15% blend  that looks and feels fabulous.  Also from Cascade the new Handpainted Superwash 220 – gorgeous colours.

We have also added two new sizes of beads, size 6/0 and 8/0.  Both are made by Matsuno and are beautiful. 

Happy Knitting

Lynette

A new, shimmery cotton based, yarn for trimming garments or making scarves - Bossa Nova by Katia.

Gorgeous day for knitting!

Another Retreat finished in a flash!  From the opening comments, appi’s and cast-on’s, the weekend just rolled on.  Thirty-seven women, plus Emily and Myself, and one absolutely gorgeous wee baby (Sara’s little boy Hamish!), gathered at the Kiwi Cove Lodge for Mad About Ewe’s 12th Annual Retreat!  The techniques that we focused on this year were Welting and Entrelac and the projects were either cowls or Moebius!  The weather was perfect, grey, overcast, low clouds and occasially rain.  It was the perfect West Coast Winter Weekend, great for knitting.

Everyone working hard!

The Moebius cast-on was mastered by those who wanted to learn how – sometimes several times over until it clicked!  We did not even notice the passage of time until – suddenly – it was past nine and time for us to quiet our minds.  We would need our sleep for the knitting marathon ahead!  As we reluctantly dispersed, those headed for home, whom were going and those to their rooms, whom were staying, and all still spoke of the weekend ahead with anticipation.

Harmish modelling for us!

Saturday morning whizzed by in a flash and the afternoon as well.  Suddenly it was show and tell – the projects and knitting shared were in credible.  We are surronded by so much talent!  The lace this year was absoutely gorgeous, several pieces were purple, were they thinking of me?!  Hamish got to model several of the baby items and was a real trooper, not a tear did he shed as bags, vests and hats were all put off and taken off with much laughter and comment!

Judi's bag. Chin and nose are short rowed sock toes! What a wonderful creation!

Judi brought an Entrelac shawl that she had knit and I “borrowed” it to show as a sample and then forgot to get a picture of it!!  So sorry Judi – it was gorgeous!

Jo decided that her Moebius needed some jazzing up!  And then found the perfect yarn.  Lucatape by Lucci yarns.  A gorgeous blend of 3 strands, including one strand of sequins.  Suddenly the rush was on – everyone needed some for their project.

Jo and her jazzed up Welted Moebius!

We had just received Lucatape on Thursday and I had thrown some in to go out to the retreat – just because it was so cool!  Who knew that it would become such a hit!

The theme for the Saturday night dinner was Greek and it was great!  Peggy followed dinner up with some Kiwi Cheesecake – Mmmmm!

Sunday was more of the same – lots of laughter, learning and sharing.  We can hardly wait for next year!  Check out the link below to see lots more pictures from the retreat!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

http://www.flickr.com//photos/24365805@N06/sets/72157629308618947/show/

Welted Moebius!

I hope that you have a great day!

Lynette