These tiny, pocket-sized snips are perfect for carrying in your knitting kit — they’re only 1 7/8″ when closed. To open the snips, just squeeze the puppy’s feet together and pull down, and out comes a tiny pair of scissors.

We’ve had Puppy Snips at our last couple of tradeshows, and we’ve had a ball showing people the tiny snips hidden inside the puppy.

These puppies look so cute hanging on your project bag handle! They come in assorted candy colors — they look like jelly beans or maybe gummy bears!

It’s been super hot in Texas this summer, and we’ve had no rain at all for weeks — but this afternoon, we finally got a good long thundershower.

It was so nice to hear the rumbling thunder and the sound of the rain hitting the ground. I stood at the window for a long time watching branches swaying and moving as raindrops hit the leaves – I even went outside just to smell the rain!

Summer rain taps at my window…
Sue

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!

Happy knitting!
Sue

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!

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

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

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

People who aren’t from New Orleans often have a very inaccurate impression of Mardi Gras, as they see only the most outrageous things in the media. Yes, there are some very interesting things going on down on Bourbon Street, and yes, you would not want to bring your six-year-old to the French Quarter on Mardi Gras weekend, but it’s mostly tourists doing all that risque stuff on camera – you may think we ALL do those things on Mardi Gras, but we don’t…

What the locals ARE doing is planning months in advance to have a great day with their family, setting up ladders and lawn chairs and even sofas on the neutral grounds (median strips to you non-New Orleanians) days before the big parades, then bringing their entire families to watch the parades – babies, toddlers, kids of all ages, grandmas and grandpas, everybody. For the natives, Mardi Gras is, first and foremost, a family event.

Yelling for beads, and hoping Uncle Nick (he’s on float #4, sidewalk side) can hear you from up there – because, really, all they can hear is the roar of the crowd. Costumes? Absolutely, and don’t even think about buying one -get busy with a needle and thread (or maybe a saw and some nails!) and make your own – the more creative, the better!

And food? Of course there’s food – this is New Orleans! Po-boys, home-cooked jambalaya, muffulettas, BBQ, chili dogs, king cake, and maybe some brownies your Mom brought from home, all wrapped up in foil… what a great time of year!

Yep, I’m sure missing it all. I picked up a King Cake the other day here in my corner of Texas – I have to give them credit for trying, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the real thing. I think next year I’ll have to try baking one at home. Obviously, my dear hubby thought it was pretty good… you can see there’s not much left! (Have you noticed that I’m always taking photos of food that’s almost gone? I need to learn to take the pictures BEFORE my dear hubby gets to the table…)

So, to distract myself from missing Mardi Gras, I’ve been playing with new yarns! I’ve recently added Kureyon Sock, Silk Garden Lite, Silk Garden Chunky, and lots of new colors in classic Silk Garden and Kureyon to our website – and all are totally gorgeous, of course. If you love Noro, check back often because we’ll be getting a lot more new Noro in the next few weeks.

Also new – Talinay and Socos from Ester Bitran. These are 100% wool yarns from Ester Bitran Hand Dyes in bulky and super-bulky weight. I just love these southwestern-looking colors – great for sweaters and jackets, and both yarns felt very well, making them perfect for totes and purses.

I also added Rowan Felted Tweed – such pretty heathered colors in a DK weight wool & alpaca blend -and we have a lot more great yarns on the way for spring.

I’ve got several projects on my needles right now – I seem to be unable to stick with just one thing lately. I’m working on a great sock in Claudia Handpainted Fingering. The color is Chocolate Cherry, and the pattern is Brick Rib Socks from Gardiner Yarn Works. This yarn and pattern were included in our GYC Sock Club kit for Winter 2008, and I think they look fabulous together!

My other work in progress is a Swirl Shawl – just barely started, but I’m very pleased with it so far. I’m using Jojoland Melody Superwash, and of course, Jojoland’s Swirl Shawl pattern. Each motif is knitted from the outside in, and the pattern calls for DPNs, but as you can see, I’m knitting it on two circulars, and it’s working out just fine.

So pass me some jambalaya and a Coke. Hey, throw me something, mister – some beads or a cup – say, how ’bout some yarn??
Sue

My Wrap Me Up shawl had its inaugural wearing on New Year’s Eve – hubby, Mom, and I went to a fun gathering with my knitting buddies, with kids and grandmoms and dogs and party poppers – we had a grand time! I’m very pleased with how the shawl turned out, and I’m already thinking about what to knit next in Noro Silk Garden – my love of this yarn apparently know no bounds.

Next week, I’ll be heading to San Diego to attend TNNA’s tradeshow – this is the big, semi-annual market for needlework shop owners, where we get to pet all the new yarns and products, meet pattern designers, meet and mingle with other shop owners, and place orders for spring and summer. It’s lots of fun, although I wear myself out trying to fit everything in! I’ll be ordering some exciting new items for our website – lots more info coming on that when I get back.

I’ll also visit my sister-in-law while I’m out in California, and sshhh, it’s a surprise, I am bringing a present for her could-be-born-any-day-now first granddaughter. Isn’t this adorable? I found the free Baby Earflap Hat pattern on Ravelry (or here, if you’re not on Ravelry), and the yarn is Rowan RYC Cashsoft Baby DK, and it’s a wonderful baby yarn! I added the hearts myself – pretty good for my first attempt at fair isle!

California dreamin…
Sue

If you’re still deciding about our GYC Sock Club, now’s the time – enrollment closes on October 25, and we have just a few slots remaining. I’ve already starting putting together the first shipment, which will go out in November, and I can tell you that you won’t be disappointed!

And just for fun, I’m offering $5.00 off your next purchase – just enter OCT5 in the coupon code field during checkout to get your discount! It’s a quickie – this offer expires October 27!

This issue’s chock full of inspiration – and lots of great sweaters and projects – my fingers are itching already! If you’re an IK subscriber, you should be receiving your issue any day now, and it will be arriving at bookstores and newstands in the next few days, for everyone else.

I especially like the Afterthought Darts Cardigan, a very intriguing design, which is shown in Louet Kidlin Lace. This sweater features darts added after you have knitted the sweater, for a made-to-measure, personalized fit – and the Kidlin Lace give the sweater a fluid, weightless appearance. Lovely!

Denise Interchangeable Needles have been one of our most popular products, and with good reason. You have every size needle right there when you need it – what a relief! They’re great for travel, as they don’t show up in x-rays at security points – no more arguing with security agents in airports! And now, they’re are available in Denise Singles – individual needles in single sizes!

And the Denise folks have introduced another new product, Denise Organizers, which are featured in this IK issue’s spotlight feature. These versatile organizers can hold your Denise kit or all the parts without the kit case, plus all the other goodies you usually tuck into your knitting bag. How clever is that?!

Still knitting away on my Wrap Me Up Shawl, no new progress photos, but it’s coming along. I’ll have updated pics for you in a few days, when there’s more to show for my efforts.

Trying to knit and admire our new IK ad at the same time,
Sue