08.19.10
Big game hunters
So cute! Couldn’t resist showing my two adorable grandsons, D and B, “exploring” in the dark in Mimi’s pantry with their lighted miner’s hats! And don’t miss big D’s sheriff’s badges – he’s ready for anything!
07.07.10
Perfect marriage
Don’t you love it when you find a perfect marriage of yarn and pattern? I just finished up a new shawl, and I think it looks great! The yarn is Socos from Ester Bitran Hand-Dyes, and the pattern is Nicky, a free Berroco pattern (available at Berroco’s website or as a Ravelry download.) I made only minor changes to the pattern – I used a US size 13 needle and omitted the fringe, and used 3.5 skeins of Socos in color #305.
I really like the contrast between the super-bulky, wooly Socos yarn and the open look of the dropped stitches – this was a fun and fast knit, and I can’t wait for cooler weather so I can wear it.
I’ve got marriage on my mind today, because tomorrow’s my dear hubby and my fifteenth anniversary. I’ve planned a little surprise – an unexpected brief getaway – that he knows nothing about. The weather’s not playing nice – we’re heading to a waterfront area, and the forecast calls for lots of rain and thundershowers. Might not be so bad, though – I’m thinking that cocooning in our getaway room, watching the rains come down in the harbor might be sort of romantic…
06.04.10
Hot fun in the summertime
Summer’s getting cranked up, and the heat’s on – are you ready for summer?
Next week, I’ll be heading to Columbus, Ohio, to attend TNNA – the huge yarn and needlework industry tradeshow where yarn shop owners get to see the newest products, pet the new yarns, and mingle with manufacturers and designers. TNNA really brings out that kid-in-a-candy-store feeling!
Meanwhile, at Great Yarn Company, design work on our new website is underway – I won’t divulge any secrets, but you’re going to see some wonderful new features that will make shopping with Great Yarn Company even easier!
Our patio is now sporting a new bbq/grill, and I am working on my grilling skills. I’ve never cooked on a grill before – I’ve always let my dear hubby handle the outdoor cooking, but this time I’m getting the hang of it. So far, we’ve had grilled flounder, tangy bbq ribs, fabulous steaks, and grilled corn on the cob, done by yours truly. Yum!
Do you like to grill? What kinds of meats/fish are your favorites for grilling? Any tips for doing veggies on the grill? As you know, knitting is my first true love, but hey – a girl’s gotta eat!
12.01.09
Modern Quilt Wrap Kits are here!!
You asked for them, and taa-daa – they’re here!!
We’ve put together Modern Quilt Wrap Yarn Kits, so now you can knit this lovely project without breaking the bank!
We introduced these kits at a recent tradeshow, and they were hugely popular, so we’re very pleased that we can now offer them online as well!
Our yarn kits include just the right amount of nine colors of Rowan Kidsilk Haze, a luxurious silk and mohair yarn. And you can download the Modern Quilt Wrap pattern FREE at KnittingDaily.com.
Happy knitting!
11.04.09
All in one place
Isn’t it frustrating when you’re happily knitting along and suddenly need a knitting tool, but gosh darn it, you just grabbed a few things before you left the house, and you really need a ________ (insert name of useful knitting tool that you didn’t bring with you)?? You’ve been there, right? Dropped a stitch but no crochet hook, need to change yarns but nothing to cut the old yarn with…
The solution, my forgetful knitting friends, is the Knit Kit. I didn’t think I needed one of these, but after demonstrating it about a zillion times at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, I decided to give it a try, and let me tell you – I am totally sold on this gizmo! I’ve been using my Knit Kit for two weeks now, and it’s giving me peace of mind that I have all my most critical knitting tools right there with me. I’ve even stopped carrying my overstuffed little zipper pouch that used to go everywhere my knitting went – I don’t need it anymore!
Just in case you haven’t heard of the Knit Kit, let me explain the wonders of this little device. It’s a small plastic kit, about 3.5 x 5 x .75 inches, so it slips easily into your knitting bag or purse. And tools? The Knit Kit is like a Swiss Army tool for knitters – it’s got a crochet hook to pick up stitches (also works as a cable needle), row counter that locks and resets like the regular kind, thread cutter, 5 ft tape measure, and in a cute little compartment on the back, there is a folding scissors that is TSA compliant, plus two point protectors and several sizes of stitch markers. Plus there’s just a tiny bit of space in this compartment to add one or two small items of your own – I added a blunt tip needle for weaving ends to my kit.
I very quickly became addicted to my Knit Kit, so I’m speaking from personal experience when I recommend this item – it’s one of the most useful knitting tools I’ve come across, and it would be a great gift for knitters.
Can you tell I really like these?? Our first shipment of Knit Kits arrived right before the quilt show, and we sold out of them halfway through the show. We’ve just received our second shipment, and they’re now available online – but with the holidays coming up fast, I expect they’ll go fast!
And if you are in the San Antonio or Austin areas, please come visit us at the Kid ‘N Ewe event in Boerne, TX on November 13-15. This will be our first time participating at Boerne, and we’re really looking forward to it!
Just catching my breath between shows…
Sue
10.06.09
A little something unexpected
Don’t you love seeing something familiar in a new and different context, a little unexpected twist?
Bet you’d expect to see Rowan Kidsilk Haze used in scarves and shawls, but how about a sheer tank top with color work? Is it unexpected? Yep. Does it work? Yes indeed.
This is the Hydrangea Tank on Knitty.com – soft, silky and sheer, colorful – I don’t think I would have come up with this idea on my own, but I love it! Hmmm, I’m thinking that if knitted a few inches longer, it might make a pretty little sweet nothing… as in “Wait right here while I slip into something more comfortable…”
On the home front, we’re going into week two of no dishwasher. Something inside it gave out, and water was seeping into the cabinet next to the dishwasher. Fortunately, DH is handy, so he’s going to fix it… someday… Meanwhile, I’ve rediscovered the zen-like pleasure of hand-washing dishes. Ah, modern life.
Still getting ready for the International Quilt Festival and trying, without much success, to squeeze in a bit of knitting time to unwind. I finished my Malabrigo Crofter’s Cowl this evening, but I want to block it before I photograph it again.
Glad it finally stopped raining and longing for some cool fall days,
Sue
09.29.09
Jewelry for knitters
We’re long overdue for a kitty photo, and who could resist this cutie? I’ve been setting up some wire grid cubes for yarn storage, and Coco’s convinced that I’m doing this for her. She supervises the whole process and loves to sit inside the cubes, so I wonder whether she thinks this makes her invisible.
We’re also getting ready for two upcoming events – the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX, on October 14-18, and the Kid ‘N Ewe fiber event in Boerne, TX in mid-November. We hope to meet lots of knitters at both!
Have you seen GoKnit Stitch Markers from KnowKnits? They’re sterling silver stitch markers in fun shapes and assorted sizes that come on their own black cord necklace. I can’t decide whether they’re knitting notions or jewelry… and really, they’re both. Wouldn’t these make a wonderful gift for the knitters on your holiday gift list? They’ve been flying out of here, so we’ll be seeing a lot of knitters showing the knittin’ love by wearing their stitch markers!
Off to set up more wire grids (and amuse the cat),
Sue
09.25.09
Have you ever seen a half-shorn sheep?
I came across this photo a few days ago, and thought it was the neatest thing! After some research, I also found a bit of background on it – it seems that they had trouble getting a good shot, because it was hard for the sheep to balance with a full fleece on one side and none on the other, so it kept falling over!!
Don’t cha love that?
Baaaaaa (that’s “Bye” in sheep-talk),
Sue
09.23.09
My dinosaur pal
This little guy’s my new buddy! He’s the Stegosaurus in the Prehistoric Pals pattern by Knitting at Knoon. 
I still have to knit his legs and attach the spikes along his spine, so he’s about half finished. He’s knitted in Noro Kureyon – gotta love the bright colors!
I’ve also finished another Noro Striped Scarf in Silk Garden, just for me. 
I made DH one a couple years ago, in husbandy colors, but mine’s a lot more colorful – a riot of aqua, pink, green, blue – definitely my colors. I’ve seen this scarf done in many color combinations, from subtle to shout-out-loud, and each one has looked great!
The International Quilt Festival in Houston is coming up fast – this year, it’s October 14-18, two weeks earlier than usual. The Quilt show is total nirvana for quilters, and lots of fun for non-quilters too, as there are zillions of booths to explore. Great Yarn Company will be there again this year, so if you plan to attend the show, please come visit our booth. We’ll have lots of yarns and patterns, and some fun new items that would be perfect gifts for you or someone on your gift list. (Can you believe it? Time to start thinking about gifts again!)
Also coming up, and very exciting (at least for us!) – we’re getting a new logo and redesigning our website! As we get closer to unveiling the new website, I’ll give you some sneak peaks!
Rarrrr – uh-oh, that’s my not-quite-finished dinosaur calling me!
Sue
09.18.09
Yarn like butta
Well, I’ve fallen head over heels for a new love. I was smitten the first time I laid eyes on it, and after I cast on, there was no turning back — it was like butta on the needles. My new love is Malabrigo Worsted yarn — what a wonderful yarn!
This is my first project with Malabrigo, and it’s immediately apparent why this yarn is so popular. It’s incredibly cushy and feels amazingly soft in your hands. I’m using the color Lettuce, a semi-solid with all the subtle variations of color that are characteristic of hand-dyed yarns. And I’m completely in love. Maybe even enough to challenge my well-known affection for Noro Silk Garden. (But don’t worry, Silk Garden – you’ll always be special to me!)
The neckwarmer pattern I’m using is a freebie on Ravelry called Crofter’s Cowl, and I plan to cheat – I’m going to keep knitting repeats until I like the length, instead of knitting it in two pieces and Kitchenering it together. Quicker, and I think it will be just as lovely. (Are you on Ravelry? Come join our Ravelry group “GreatYarnCompany”!)
You can see this neckwarmer and lots more next month at our booth at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, October 14-18, 2009. We made many new friends there last year, so don’t be shy, come visit us in our booth again this year!
I’ve just added several new yarns to our website, so hop on over and check out cotton blend Rowan Calmer, fun Regia Kaffe Fasset sock yarns, and a sweet fluffy baby yarn from On Line called Paloma Soft (Linie 252).
Knitting happy,
Sue
