back to work for me

Posted on Posted in book reviews/events, designing, projects

comfortMeSwatch10_09

well, it’s not like i wasn’t working, haha, but teaching away from home does excuse me from spending my usual long hours at my desk—i get to move about, knit a bit more, talk to people. once i get home though, i gotta be strict and double my efforts to get back on track.

my trip home was a nail biter—storms sunday night between texas and the midwest and then again on the east coast caused plane delays all over the country. fortunately my connections were delayed in sync with my flight out and i made it home without getting stuck, albeit very late.

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back in the office, we are cranked up to full gear on every front, between receiving some exciting new inventory (more on that later) and getting prepped for rhinebeck.

as you can see from the board, our rhinebeck after party (or “RAP” as sarah and erica like to call it) is our #1 priority this week, with a long list of items to be pulled together.

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the control desk is wo-manned by sarah, who is a genius at multitasking (haha, i just heard her come in the door downstairs with phone ringing).

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the “operations room” is sinking into disarray with little piles of garments and booth fixtures beginning to sprout everywhere.

we couldn’t be more excited about our first organized event! there are still spots left in a few of the classes too; click here and scroll down for more information about how to sign up.

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we’re bringing a huge trunk show with samples knit in all of our yarns—as well as all the yarns in every color; the better to squish and squeeze them, eh?

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if you are going to be staying on during the days following the NYS sheep and wool show, please stop by the kingston courtyard marriott to say hello, knit and party with us, and browse the barenaked wools pop-up shop (we’ll be bringing everything, don’t miss it!). everyone is welcome. it’s going to be a ton of fun; we have knitspot friends coming from all over the country and canada to attend.

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and if you are already signed up, but want to reserve or preorder the yarn you have your heart set on, please email davidATknitspotDOTcom (changing the AT and DOT to symbols) and he will get you set up. we’ll have it waiting for you at the after party.

speaking of the trunk show, i took this scrumptious photo this morning when i opened the suitcase from last weekend to look for my new hat.

SSfabrics

you know, i hate to play favorites and i usually hem and haw when anyone asks me which design or yarn i like best, but can i just say how much i adore our stone soup blend yarns? especially the fingering weight . . . it’s got a great little grip that is so reassuring.

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and look at that gorgeous body, with its soft curves and folds—it’s light as air when you pick it up, but it holds a beautiful tailored shape for lightweight sweaters and accessories. and yet, you can knit lace with it too—it’s completely versatile that way.

stone soup DK feels totally different in the hands as you knit—soft as aged felt, with larger bits of tweedy stuff to contemplate. it knits up speedily into a dense warm fabric for garments and accessories.

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but the real beauty of this blend comes out when you wash it—holy cow, what a fabric surface. buttery soft with a hand like grandpa’s favorite old sweater, totally lovable.

and the colors—wow. as a group—stunning; if you enjoy color work this is a knockout choice for a classic you’ll wear forever. but individually each color holds its own as well for a strong statement.

and hey! i want to thank clara parkes for writing up a very VERY nice article that appeared in knitters review yesterday about our full array of bare naked wools (yes, please go see—i’ll still be here when you return!). wow; we just couldn’t be more grateful and happy that she likes our yarn. i can’t wait to see her in person at rhinebeck where she will be signing and selling copies of her new book, the yarn whisperer. i’ve been holding off buying it online so that i could snag my very own signed copy.

anyway, back at my desk, i have jobs to do for next week too. i’m working on my club chapter and some new patterns, preparing for classes, and knitting up a storm.

before i left last week, i went on a finishing spree because sarah was asking for the status of things i’d been working on (here in the office, i’m just another drone with people to answer to).

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this stunning, cozy highlander sweater jacket that our friend cherie knit from stone soup DK in color granite needed some button love. i found the ones i wanted, but then the holes needed to be spaced a little closer together. so i took out three or four rows of the buttonhole band and reworked the buttonhole size and placement; now it’s perfect.

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the horn buttons are just the right color and tone for this yarn, which has a bluish cast, maybe from the churro fiber?

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buttoned up, my dress form fills it out a bit more than i do (because she’s more well-endowed than i) and i like it as much on her as i do on myself. i am totally wearing this to rhinebeck, maybe all weekend, haha—it is completely ME.

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maybe with this scotty cap in pumice stone soup; what do you think?

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or the soon-to-be-released goobalini cap in marble DK?

haha, actually, both of those are a bit big on me; i might have to knit a special size to fit my head . . . a good project to bring along to the party.

and what’s that green sweater i’m wearing for these antics?

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you won’t believe it, but i finally completed the seaming and button bands on this sticks and stones cardigan which karolyn knit up in woolen rabbit sporty.

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it fits like a glove; i love it. and just in time for chilly weather—the nights and mornings are now in the 40s here and the house feels chilly most of the day. i can use this right about now.

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i love the cable and rib details against the simple background fabric of this sweater. i chose some bone buttons for it that have striping of dark and gold tones.

i’m telling you, it felts SO good to have all those projects done and dusted; that was just what i needed to get out from under the overwhelmed feeling i had last week.

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so good that i even finished up the two cowls i cast on for my public knitting projects over the weekend. on the left is a multi-shaded version of the rain on a hot tin roof cowl (remember that is the anniversary project i designed for the shop, soon to be released here), knit up in all five shades of our confection worsted. on the right is another new design, knit up in confection white chocolate—yum.

uh, yes, i have a backlog of new, unreleased patterns to unleash; there just aren’t enough days in a week to get everything up and out, plus continue to write about knitting (and DO knitting). but at least i’m ahead on christmas, right?

speaking of new designs—when one of our dear readers saw the title of my last post—comfort me—she thought it was going to be all about a new design, based on the squish me and squeeze me patterns.
“oh wow” i said, “that would be a great idea for a confection blanket, so squishy and reversible!”
and when i told erica, she just about jumped out of her chair rounding up someone to test knit it.

wow, i thought, i better get swatching

comfortMeSwatchA10_09

we don’t waste any time around here when it comes to something yummy. i see this piece as having no edges, the better to appreciate the effect of the corrugated pattern. on big needles, this will be a quick, delicious knit and seriously simple, without sacrificing style. i’m trying to figure out how many yards it will take so i can finish writing up the pattern.

which will, indeed, be named comfort me.

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and now, the last piece of news (and one i hope you’re going to be thrilled about)—our new shipment of breakfast blend yarn has arrived and is being processed in so we can get it up on the site in the next few days.

nicole has been hard at work unpacking and counting it all so we can stay on top of inventory. there are a couple of new scrumptious colors (bakery rye and cream & sugar) and a few return colors (morning smoke and oatmeal). we also have several more colors in testing.

it looks like we will be ready to relaunch this yarn on monday; stay tuned!

 

16 thoughts on “back to work for me

  1. I love your yarn stash!!!! and your knitting projects.
    I’m groaning with you about going back to work…I’ve
    been on 2 weeks holidays and boy it’s going to be hard
    to go back. lol.
    Cheers, Anita.

  2. Won’t be at Rhinebeck this year….. Please come to Maryland Sheep and Wool in May and bring all your yarn!!!!

  3. what a great post full of delicious knits! and oh so many soon-to-be-released patterns. how exciting!

    i’m so excited for my 1st rhinebeck. counting my sleeps…

  4. It’s so good to see you back in blogland!! To say that I am jealous of all of you heading off to Rhinebeck is the understatement of the year! And as for the comfort me blanket in one of my favourite patterns, well I cannot wait for this pattern to be released. I am just finishing off another Squish Me hat, it’s such an easy and rhythmical pattern to knit. A blanket……….sigh! You know how much I have been hankering for a blanket!

    PS I love your funky purple nails!! 😉

  5. I can’t be in Rhinebeck this year, well only in spirit. Would you consider coming to Stitch West in February? I really want to touch all the kinds of yarns you offer and go wild. Yarn fumes. I got great yarn fumes from your photos, that is how good they are.

  6. You’ve made it abundantly clear that I must knit faster! So many great designs coming from Knitspot. Can’t wait to vicariously experience Rhinebeck through your blog! Have a great time.

  7. Are you going to offer a kit for the tin roof cowl with all the confection colors?? I think you should, hint hint! 😉

  8. Busy busy you are…..I just LOVE the scotty in the pumice stone soup. When I seen it I couldn’t believe how nice it felt and it looks like it wasn’t knitted at all. Perfect time of the year to start thinking of a “comfort” blanket!

  9. I am breathless just reading this post! You guys never take a break, and everything is just lovely. Lots of gift potential, although I want it all for myself:)

  10. I’ll be at Rhinebeck on Saturday, will the Bare Naked yarns be for sale at any of the vendors?

  11. Wow! I can’t believe that you are getting any sleep these days!
    I just received my first two skeins of Confection and now I need the perfect patterns for them. I need those cowl patterns! You don’t by any chance need a test knitter or anything for those? They look so yummy! (I can’t stop yelling!)
    And new Breakfast Blend! (I have to go lie down now)

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  13. so bummed that i will be missing the RAP (sounds amazing!), but hopefully my mom and I will see you at your annual Rhinebeck lunchtime meet up? 🙂

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