Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Running not crawling on the Northshore ...

has me finishing another project!

Presenting a Mochi Shawlette Neck Warmer.

Shawlett Neck Warmer

It's a modified version of the Crystal Palace Mini Mochi Shawlette. I used Mochi Plus so I knew the gauge would be different and less yards would go into the shawlette so instead of doing the lace border, I did an icord bind off and then I used buttons to hold it in place if the wearer needs 'em. What do you think? Does it work for ya??

Shawlett Neck Warmer

Shawlett Neck Warmer

So now I'm back to the Yarn Crawl Stash to pick out yarn for another scarf ...

IMG_2003


Try to keep up me!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Another Neck Warmer ... or Almost a Scarf!

Tied Rectangle Wrap

Finished for 2010 Christmas Basket! I'm on a roll. And this one is a little different. It's almost a Scarf don't you think? I have it on right now and it's nice and toasty warm around my neck. M-m-m-m, maybe I should keep this one.

Project info
: Tied Rectangle Wrap
: 60 Quick Knits
Yarn : Cascade Yarns 128 Chunky Solid / Tweed
2 skeins = 256.0 yards (234.1m)
: sapphire #9456


Rhonda and her knitting

I'm on a roll with the knitting in my stash ...

Don't stop me now!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Finished two projects with ...

yarn bought at the North Shore Yarn Crawl.

Into the Christmas Basket they go!


Another Neckwarmer

: Christmas Cowl
: Birthday Cowl by Nova Seals
Yarn: Soft Angora

I loved knitting with this yarn. Got it from Sit 'N Knit in Melrose, MA during the Crawl and I cast on right away the same day. It was done it two days.

Another Neckwarmer

Today I finished a hat ...

Bias Ridged Hat

Name: Bias Ridged Hat
This yarn is a lot like Noro Kureyon.

Bias Ridged Hat

I might knit one for myself ... but this one is going into the Christmas Basket.

Am I knitting fast enough?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Part Two: First Annual North Shore Yarn Crawl

We started out at 11:00 am on Sunday morning and headed up to Newburyport to start our day. I worked on the cowl that I had cast on the night before. It was a free kit from Sit 'n Knit remember? And a wonderful easy pattern. The rain continued to fall but we didn't let that discourage us.




And in spite of the rain, we got there early so we knit at a coffee shop while we waited for A Loom With A View in Newburyport to open. Mind you, it was really POURING out ... so there was no way I would expose my camera to take a picture outside but ...





I did take one inside and of course I bought more yarn. Wait ... no inside picture either! And I have no idea why not. Guess I was just to involved the in the yarn hunt and forgot to take a picture. Can you see how wet the bag is? I took the picture of the Louet Gems in the car. Got it for 40% off ... maybe that's why I didn't get a picture?

OR ...

maybe it's because it was nearing lunch and I was thinking about having another hamburg. Ah well ... there's more to see else where.

Like Toni Lee's Knitting Nook in Rockport ...


One of the tiniest places so far but of course I found a yarn I could use for the Bias Ridge Hat. Plymouth Yarn BOKU ... which feels and acts like Noro Kureyon. Perfect for this hat!







Then off we go to Coveted Yarn in Gloucester. In spite of the rain the parking lot was full.
This place really looks small from the outside doesn't it? Well not so much inside ...

There's another room in the back and it was bustling with activity and a lot of people here. Very helpful owner and staff in this store too. I'd love to go back again.
And of course; I bought yarn.
Lamb's Pride was on clearance and 30% off the two A Be Ewetiful Design Hat Kits.

Alas, we have no time to make it to Yarn Over Marblehead since we want our last stop to be Seed Stitch Fine Yarn in Salem. Got to make it to our "Local Yarn Store" (LYS) before the Yarn Crawl ends. I'll get over some time to Marblehead when the weather is nicer anyway.

Note: If you're reading this Courtney, I was asked to past this message from everyone at Coveted Yarn .... " Tell her we LOVE her! " They had shoppers on the crawl as far away as Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and many down from New Hampshire. In fact, every store we stopped into I asked if they had been busy during those 4 days of the crawl and everyone said it was "phenomenal!" They asked us to thank Courtney for suggesting the crawl and making all the arrangements. [And us yarn shoppers what to thank you too ... Thanks, Courtney!]

And of course we ended our Yarn Crawl back at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn in Salem, MA. Once again it was still pouring so I've dug out of my archive a picture of the infamous Seed Stitch during sunnier times ...
Did I buy more yarn?

What do YOU think ....



More Cascade 220. Remember I got the book on Thursday so of course I followed through on my plan to buy mostly yarns to make everything in this book. LOL ... and I mean EVERYTHING.


But look, I won another prize.








What a great way to finish up the weekend!

Monday, March 15, 2010

First Annual North Shore Yarn Crawl ...

In spite of the drowning rain that lasted the WHOLE weekend here in New England, we had a GREAT time on the first annual North Shore Yarn Crawl. I went with a group of six ... the "Knittin' Kittens.". The girls who weren't able to go sure missed out on a great time and we missed ya, Kittens. But ...

Here's the highlights.

First we all meet and picked up coffee and goodies from Perfecto's in Peabody and then headed over to Sit 'n Knit in Melrose, MA. Remember it was raining out and if it was raining too hard I didn't take an outside picture of the store (and forgot about the inside, but the store was filled with knitters and I was enthralled with the hunt for yarn.) ... so

here's a picture of the stash I walked away with.

The bag contains two skeins of Manos and the plan is to use it in a hook rug pillow I'm designing. Learned how to do it at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn recently remember ...

And this wonderfully soft ball of yarn was a gift for purchasing over $25. Came with a cowl pattern which I cast-on when I got home (needed something to knit while on the road the 2nd day right? ... well, of course.) And I loved this yarn too!

Then on to Butterfly Yarns in Wakefield. BTW, I'd go back to both of these places again when I have the opportunity. Very nice yarn & people here and well worth the trip.

Small but very nicely organized and displayed.







Just look at the goodies I got; two each of Crystal Palace's worsted Mini Mochi and Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Paints. Both with a project in mind. Mini Mochi to make this fair isle hat from Crystal Palace and the Cascade for a scarf project in their new book: 60 Quick Knits


I bought the book when the yarn crawl started on Thursday from Seed Stitch Fine Yarn and then went on the crawl with a "List". The trouble is though, I want to make everything in the book. As you know, I start early on Christmas gifts and this book is FILLED with styles and patterns that I just LOVE to knit.

And take a look at the little sticky note pad holder I got as a gift at Butterfly Yarns. Too cute!






Then off to ... Abbott Yarn Shoppe in Beverly.
Can you feel how cold & wet that it was?



Well here was a busy shop with very helpful people inside. I came out with





more Cascades only this time Cascade 220 Heathers ... for Christmas gifts you know.

And then it was time for a quick lunch at McDonald's. A girl's gotta eat ya right?






Smile ladies!
Then it's off to Cranberry Fiber Arts in South Hamilton.
It was pouring out once again so I only got pictures inside. This was a THREE room shop. The biggest place so far. Lot's and lot's of yarns and samples.
Of course I walked away with more stash ...
Did you think I wouldn't? Sure you didn't. More Mochi Plus is brighter colors and two Cascade Yarns Eco Alpaca and Cascade 220 Superwash Paints. For Christmas gifts right, for Christmas gifts.

Then we arrived at the Village Stitchery in Topsfield.Checked every corner for more ...
Cascade 200 Superwash Paints. For a scarf ... really.

Okay it's about time we had a coffee break!



And then we're off to ....




Loom 'N Shuttle in Ipswich. One of the smallest yarn inventories we saw but do you think I found something I wanted? Of course I did ... one of the most unusual scarf patterns: Bubbles and lovely yarn called Ella rae Palermo. This one might be for the StitchingNut!












And then the last shop of the day. The day mind you. We'll be back out tomorrow, but first we stop at ...

Yarns in the Farms in Beverly.

Are you warm & dry, Cindy?

This is one of the smallest shops but packed to the rafters with yarn and samples and friendly people...

Did you notice all those happy faces? Who would have thought a yarn crawl was all it would take to make so many people happy?

And of course I couldn't leave without buying yarn again.

Now if only I could remember what I wanted to make with it. But it's Noro Silk and it's luscious!

So now it's dinner time so we stop at Family Fare Restaurant in Peabody to eat and make plans for our second day on the yarn crawl.
(Did you think I'd stay out of ALL of the pictures?)

I think I'll cast-on a neckwarmer and get back to you tomorrow.

Of course there's another day of shopping ahead of us and I've got to be ready.