Cornwall Yarn Shop

Again I can’t believe how fast time passes – It’s been soooo long since I’ve posted anything.  I’ve been thinking about next year’s classes and have come to the conclusion that 2010 will be the year of color.  While thinking about color I have started 2 projects.  The first, Lucy Neatby’s Mi’kmaq Cardigan which has been on my list for can it be 2 years??  .

The above views are of the back – public side and inside. 

I’m using Mission Falls 1824 cotton.  This is such a fun project – but will probably take at least a year.  This is an example of the kind of color techniques we will be expliring all year – stripes, intarsia & stranding –  but with much smaller, more manageable projects !

My second project is from my new favorite book, Swing, Swagger & Drape, by Jane Slicer-Smith.  This book has so many great projects that I’m thinking of using it as a “textbook” for several upcoming classes.

  This is the beginning of my Harlequin Coat.  Here I’m using Plymouth Yarn Select Worsted Merino Superwash.  Again, another project that will take some time ….. but lot’s of fun !

I definitely have some catching up to do.  It always seems the the Annual Hudson River Yarn Cruise occupies so much of my thoughts.  We had a wonderful time and pictures will be posted soon – but it is now time to get on with other things !!

First – Judith Durant’s bead workshop was wonderful.  She was a delight and, smart woman that she is, had us learn the harder beading techniques first.  Some pictures of our workshop as Judith walked around helping each of us.  Of course, a great big thank you to St John’s Episcopal Church for welcoming the workshop.

We had a few things to puzzle out !!

I’ll plan to start a knitting with beads group soon – but Laura just couldn’t wait.  She not only finished her bag, but also showed us her scarf project during breakfast at the Dragon’s Den Deli !!

 The most urgent of the many projects I have to finish is the baby blanket for a friend.  I’m knitting it with Louisa Harding’s Kashmir DK – it feels so great.  Well, the friends are Red Sox fans – imagine that !! So I tried to use the appropriate colors – but I just can’t resist a pinstripe or two.  Below is a picture from a couple of days ago.

Lastly Jana - a most accomplished knitter - shared one of her newest projects – Shaun the Sheep of Wallace & Gromit fame ! 

Most knitters and crocheters – actually most fiber people, have more than one project going on at one time.  The new stitcher tries to finish one project at a time, but as they stretch their skills, they find the need for the thinking & the non-thinking project.  This is the season that I find most difficult.  I have projects to finish (2 sweaters to be exact) a scarf & hat pattern to write up, class outlines to finish AND then the fall yarns start arriving.  So of course who could resist the Mini Mochi – I have to start a hat – and finally the Ballet is in from Fiesta  – I have to start the scarf (it will make a great class project), the Silky Alpaca Lace has been sitting on the lamp table waiting for the smoke ring, I have yet to knit with the Vintage Wool (I love stroking it ,though) – JEAN !!! help.  The 9 inch circular needles are definitely a curiosity – so what better to do than start a pair of Sockin’ Sox – Have to restart the Baby Blanket -(friend’s baby due in October) .  This scenario goes on and on, because I know Paul will be pulling up today or tomorrow with a shipment from Euro Yarns and I can’t wait to get my hands on Willow Tweed…….

Olmue – one of my favorite yarns – crochets up with such great drape & feel.Liz’s shawl is absolutely gorgeous !

  Olmue (85% Cotton & 15% Viscose – 399 yds) is beautiful knit or crocheted alone, but also makes a great carry along yarn -  Pam combined Olmue with Lava from Punta Yarns for a great Garden Shawl.

Pam also made this cute Little Undershirt for her new grandchild – from the Fall Issue of Interweave Knits -

She used Plymouth Jeannee Worsted in 2 colors:  8 & 104 (Look at those toes !!!!)

I accidentally erased a post – so I want to put this link back in -

If you did not see 20/20 on Friday July 17 you may see this clip about how knitting saved this woman’s life – a fascinating story http://abcnews.go.com/2020/

This has been a catch up week – but I never seem to be able to accomplish that – catching up, that is !!  A big part of my knitting time has been spent reclaiming yarn.  I finished (including beautiful seams) a sweater a while ago out of Waterlily from Classic Elite.  I love the yarn, but the pattern really didn’t work after all was said and done. Poor choices, it seems, happen to all of us.   While at the NENA trade show I saw a beautiful swing jacket from Waterlily – well – Classic Elite sent me the pattern (the books will be out soon) and I started to knit the jacket – AFTER – spending a devilish time tearing apart the seams.  Now the sweater is well on its way.

    My daughter sent me this link http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/now-knitting-the-chair-cozy/.

We are starting our Tea Cozy contest – but maybe we should think about this cozy  !!!??  How much yarn does this take?

How many of us have chairs like this that we would like to cover?  Maybe …………

  In preparation for Judith Durant’s workshop on Sunday, September 13, I just finished the bead display (with John’s help).  They are all  Miyuki beads from Beadsmith  - mostly 6/O and 8/O seed beads – but some Delicas and a few other, too.  All are part of Judith’s new book, Knit One Bead Too.  We will be knitting a sampler purse in her workshop – practicing all of her techniques for adding beads to your knitting !!

Pick up the current issue of Knit Simple – now at the shop.  Maureen’s crocheted baby afghans , crocheted in Plymouth Yarn’s Jeannee Worsted, are featured in this issue !!

It’s exciting to see her published in my favorite knitting magazine !!!

A special thanks to JoAnne Turcotte from The Plymouth Yarn Company  for all her help & support !!

I don’t like to stray from knitting when writing here, but this is worth the exception.  Many years ago I clipped this gem from the newspaper and it has since been posted on my microwave.  Though it has yellowed with age,  the message is timeless.

Golden Rules for Living

By Miriam Hamilton Keare

1. If you open it, close it.
2. If you turn it on, turn it off.
3. If you unlock it, lock it up.
4. If you break it, admit it.
5. If you can’t fix it, call in someone who can
6. If you borrow it, return it.
7. If you value it, take care of it.
8. If you make a mess, clean it up
9. If you move it, put it back
10. If it belongs to someone else, get permission to use it.
11. If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone.
12. If it’s none of your business, don’t ask questions.

Simple rules aren’t they ……………..