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Baby Aria and her Mountain Chickadee Blanket

Posted in knitting, tagged Baby Blankets, Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, family, knitting, Mountain Chickadee on October 16, 2015| Leave a Comment »

I can hardly wait to see her personality emerge during this next year!

Aria’s mom Shelby (my great niece) shared this recent photo of Aria covered with the Mountain Chickadee blanket (knit in Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fleece) that I knit specially for her. Thank you again to Kimberly for inspiring me with her version of this wonderful design.….and a fun knit. Baby Aria, the first born of our next generation, is now three weeks old this coming Sunday.

During her first week of life she met many of her family….and, in particular, Aria met her grandma Sundee’s maternal family at a family brunch gathering a week after she was born. This little girl, born weighing 9lbs 2 ozs, is just as cute as can be…..and of course, I am not biased!

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On the Knitting Trail…

Posted in knitting, tagged Brown Sheep Lambspride Superwash, Fiber Trends, Gifts, knitting on October 13, 2015| Leave a Comment »

WhooHoo! Done! It doesn’t seem all that long ago that I had the great pleasure of meeting some of my cousins (via Ancestry.com) – Louise, her son Steve and wife Tammy – a little over year ago or was it two? I ask such questions because life is full and moving at a rapid pace!

Anyway….sometime after Louise asked if I would knit a hat for her….hard to say no…but unknown to Louise ….my knitting plate was pretty full. Louise has horses and every early morning she is out with her horses…like feeding. Many of us feed animals in the morning but most likely it’s our dogs and cats in the kitchen. In this case, Louise leaves her home to care for her horse(s)…reminds me of my lifelong friend Mary who has always had a horse or two in her backyard. Wait….do I need to knit a hat for Mary now? I think I do….she has a major birthday coming up in December.

Back to Louise….both our hearts were happy today. She received the hat and said ” Got your Beanie today and it fit good. That will keep my head warm this winter. Thank you so much. Love it!” I love it that Louise was happy! That’s what knitting and gifting are all about…..there are more things but for this conversation this fits. The fiber choice was Brown Sheep’s Lambspride Superwash – Color Rose Quartz. I particularly like Fiber Trends Pattern AC-20 for this hat style….the finishing at the stop is a nice feature. I generally am not a fan of superwash wool but Lambspride Superwash is really good.

Now onto finishing Elf slippers for my niece Betsy…bless her heart…she has been tolerant that her brother’s scarf re: Cornell College, her cousin’s Shelby’s baby Aria’s blanket, and Louise’s hat have moved ahead of my project for her. Back on track….damn (did I say that publicly) one of the yarns for this project went AWOL. Where could it have gone? I shared that with a co-worker in my day-time life and she asked if it might be in the closet. I broke out laughing…..my whole house/Skein Lane Studio is a closet. Oh where is that bulky superwash named Blue Rifff? Oh well….not to worry…ordered more today for Skein Lane Studio and I can “buy” from stock.

Betsy really you will get these Elfie slippers for this Christmas. She still gets a present along with the Elf slippers for this year!

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On The Knitting Trail Again…

Posted in Family, Friendship, knitting, tagged Alpacaa, knitting, Merino Wool, Scarves, The Fibre Company on October 12, 2015| 2 Comments »

Oh where has the time gone? With that prelude…note that the next several posts will be what’s currently happening as well as catching up on what has quickly gone before us.

As so many of you know yesterday was an exciting day for our knitting community….Avenue Yarns opened for their first day of business. I was there a couple hours after opening and was so happy for Karen and her team that the store was bustling! I did not need but I did buy!

As it relates to Avenue Yarns and my own retailing experience with Skein Lane’s store front I want to share what I posted on Face Book this past week…….Reflecting on retailing…..think it was in my blood early on….pre-school years my sister and I use to play grocery store by stocking Dad’s shelf in the garage with empty cereal boxes…..fast forward….one of my first jobs was both as a “soda jerk” and retailing in our small town drugstore. Many years later I had my own retail store Skein Lane…..I drew on many of my early retail experiences and my love of yarn and the crafting of it. Today I got to “dip” back into the retail world ever so briefly to be one of many helping hands to Karen as she and her team were readying for tomorrow’s opening of Avenue Yarns in Albany. Tomorrow will be a fun day for all!

I know I also posted on FB that I did not need yarn…..but want and need are two entirely different things. While I was helping Avenue Yarns for a very short time with tagging on Friday….I fell for one of the yarns. Two skeins of Adacia from The Fibre Company are now on my knitting table waiting to be wound into balls. Acadia is a hand wash yarn with the fiber content being 60% Merino Wool, 20% Alpaca and 20% Silk. This yarn is a perfect match for the pattern that I want to mimic from Margot’s recently finished Ruffled Scarf pattern. This yarn will be on my needles tomorrow.

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Bella’s “First” Coloring

Posted in knitting, tagged Coloring, Enchanted Forest, family, San Francisco, Secret Garden, Tourist on August 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

My Idaho nieces were just here for their annual 24-hour whirlwind visit. We played tourist….we visited……we ate……and we fantasized about the latest new craze of coloring….”Secret Garden” and “Enchanted Forest”. Some of my knitting friends – Kimberly, Bonnie, Merle, Karen (I think there are more) – have embarked on the adult coloring books that are so popular. I succumbed…have purchased copy for myself…well I had too because I decided to gift my nieces and nephew with these books. I was so happy that the girls were engulfed in their books (my nephew’s book is being mailed to him). Jade said, “I am so into this!” Jade and Abby were sharing comments Friday morning as they were waking up for the day.

Just before they left yesterday Bella (almost 13) asked for my phone # so that she could text. She did a few times in the afternoon….and the last one was her “first” coloring. Her message “finished my first one…but this is in Abby’s book” which is Enchanted Forest. The older girls, Bella and Jade, and I have Secret Garden…..Abby and Carson have “Enchanted Forest”.

So happy that these lovely coloring books are being enjoyed….off to get my coloring pencils today. Bella said I could share her work….so, of course, I am.

Our Annual Stair-step Photo

“Reading” their color books

The coloring books

Bella’s first coloring

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Announcing Avenue Yarns

Posted in knitting, Spinning, tagged Anzula, Appalian Baby, Avenue Yarns, Bagsmith, Black Yarns, Brown Sheep, Cascade, Classes, Dream in Color, Imperial Yarns, Juniper Moom, Lorna's Laces, Madelinetosh, Malabrigo, Mrs. Rosty, Rowan, Shibui, Sincere Sheep, Spinning, The Fibre Company, Weaving on July 31, 2015| 1 Comment »

Such exciting news from “our” very own Karen King….

Along with a new owner (Karen King), k2tog will get a new name: Avenue Yarns. Planning on opening in early October, the Avenue Yarns team is now dreaming and scheming many, many ways to bring new creativity and excitement to our knitting community. So many ideas! In addition to new supplies of your current favorites such as Rowan, Cascade, Brown Sheep, Shibui, and The Fibre Company, there will be lots of new offerings. Sincere Sheep, Lorna’s Laces, Mrs. Crosby, Juniper Moon, Madelinetosh, Anzula, Appalachian Baby, Malabrigo, Imperial Yarns, Dream In Color, Bagsmith, and Blacker Yarns will all be there, and much more. Also Avenue Yarns will offer spinning and weaving supplies. Knit Togethers will continue and a new roster of fun classes will be created. Watch your email and the website k2togonline.com for changes, news and announcements!

I, for one of many, couldn’t be happier for Karen and our knitting community.

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Working Mountain Chickadee

Posted in knitting, tagged Baby Blankets, Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, knitting on July 15, 2015| 1 Comment »

I am inspired to knit many things….and some of them I do. In this case, Kimberly who purchased the Mountain Chickadee baby blanket pattern at Stitches West earlier this year, inspired me with her version of this lovely pattern. “Off” to Ravelry I went to purchase the same pattern. Both of us used Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fleece (80% cotton 20% wool) …..a great easy to care for yarn for new mom’s.

I have a 2-week deadline…..1/3 done….much knitting to do! I recall the year I decided to make my grandmother an afghan for Christmas…..made that decision at Thanksgiving and was done two days before. I had more time then….but I know I can make this deadline…..I can and I will by golly!

Purl 3tog detail

Kimberly – The Inspirer

One third of the way

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We are back with a celebration!

Posted in knitting, tagged Birthdays, celebrations, knitting, Knitting Workshop on July 11, 2015| Leave a Comment »

…..well, we’ve never really been gone….I’ve just been absent from the “blogging board”….what better way to get back than honoring Jean who is so loved by us all. Some 15 of us gathered to celebrate her upcoming birthday! Jean is an avid knitter, witty as can be and a great friend to the Friday Morning Knitting Group aka FMKG peeps.

In the midst of gifts and cards, treats and champagne many of us were clicking our needles.

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Baby Joshua

Posted in knitting, tagged babies, knitting, Travel on April 29, 2015| Leave a Comment »

News from Connie….grandson wrapped in love and knitted garments!

Connie says, “It’s a little cool here and not sleeping so well, but am in ‘heaven’.”

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Susanne’s “Wallaby” Cable Hoody

Posted in Birthday Celebrations, Dogs, Friendship, knitting, Shopping on March 16, 2015| 1 Comment »

Before Susanne and her husband moved to Chico, they use to live in Pinole. She was a “regular” at Saturday morning knitting. We were blessed with a visit from her this past Saturday. Not only did we do some of the familiar….walk, knit, eat and yarn shop….Susanne shared her latest project. She said it is her most challenging…she has used life lines to stay on track. She so often knits patterns/designs that have challenge and the results are always beautiful. I asked her to send photos….here they are. I can hardly wait to see this when done. It was so good to see Susanne. We are going to have a knitting weekend in Chico during May….thank you Susanne!

Oh….here is the info re: project….Vogue Spring/summer 2014. Yarn Joyland Tonic 85 Acrylic / 15
Wool, color Gingerbread

The “Wallaby” Cabelled Hoody

New pattern…Susanne and I went shopping!

The “Wallby” Cabeled Hoody

Lucy – first day home….May 2009

BTW….my Lucy dog was more than a little happy to see Susanne. She drove with me to Manteca area to pick up Lucy to bring her home….that was almost 6 years ago. Lucy turned six today!

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Celebration of three…

Posted in Birthday Celebrations, Friendship, knitting on February 28, 2015| Leave a Comment »

It was another knitting gathering of celebration of three birthdays….Patricia, Sheri and Karen. We also celebrated (show & tell) our recent additions to our stashes….some from Madrona and some from Stitches West. I personally said I wasn’t going to purchase a thing….that was before the three new projects and one book became mine. More about that in next post.

We also celebrated Jean’s recent finished project….you can see her “show & tell” photo below.

Sheri gave a review of her Knitting Ergonomics Class at Madrona….great knitting tips to keep us healthy (free from pain in wrists, arms, backs, etc) as we knit. One that really stands out for me is …. knit for no more than 20 mins; then give yourself a break. Move those hands, wrists and arms around. Think the tips work for iPad and computer use as well. I find myself bent over both for way too long when I am not knitting.