Category: Shop Update

Mystery MusiKAL Knitting and More

Mystery Musikal Shawl knitting progress

I have finished knitting Clue #3 on my Stephen West Mystery MusiKAL shawl. There is also a shop update and a reading discussion at the end.

Knitting

I am now preparing to embark on Clue #4, which involves very long rows. A lot of those rows are in brioche knitting. Pray for my fortitude. I love how it looks but it is time-consuming to knit.

Mystery Musikal Shawl knitting progress
part one of clue 3 complete
Mystery Musikal Shawl knitting progress
part two of clue 3 halfway complete
Mystery Musikal Shawl knitting progress
part two of clue 3 complete

I am knitting exclusively on this project until it is complete. I am fine doing that, but I may need a quick little project to work on after this as a palette cleanser. Maybe a pair of socks? Then maybe something lacy.

Shop Update

We have been working on that batch of Cherry Yarn Swifts as I mentioned recently. Those are now mostly finished and some are listed on the website. We tend to sell a lot of Yarn Swifts over the holiday shopping season. We bought more lumber yesterday to start another batch to get ahead for next year since we needed more wood anyway for dowels.

Reading Discussion

I have completed a few books in the last few weeks. I have been reading a lot of new releases lately and less interested in my classics.

Recently completed:

King Sorrow by Joe Hill – This book was amazing! I gave it ***** and I think it is maybe my favorite book of 2025. Highly recommend if you like slightly gritty but well told horror stories. The apple definitely didn’t fall too far from the tree in this case.

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix – This was a first read by this author. I picked up the hardback at a clearance rack at an indie bookshop. I had heard good reviews and decided to give it a go. I quite enjoyed this and gave it ****. I then found the new release from him at the library, as you see below.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix- I was surprised that I  liked this one. I had been leery of reading it because I didn’t think I would get on with it due to the subject matter. I found I was able to suspend my reservations enough to appreciate the positive elements. I gave it ****.

6:40 to Monteal by Eva Juscyzk – I picked this up in a recent book store browse as an impulse buy. It was one of the monthly staff picks. I liked it as a quick psychological thriller read. I sort of guessed the ending but not completely. It surprised me right at the end. I gave it *** I think.

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan – I have this on Audible. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It was pretty good but it’s not in my top 10 of 2025 or anything. I did give it **** though so I guess I liked it.

Currently reading:

These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant – I borrowed this on Libby after seeing a review on YouTube. I am only a few chapters in at the moment.

House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons – Same as above. I finally got the book today as there was a hold list. Have only read a few pages.

The Haunting Season – by Various Authors – I am listening to the audio book on Libby for this one. It is a collection of eight ghost stories for the long winter nights. It’s in the Victorian tradition of reading/telling ghost stories during the holidays. These are contemporary authors but so far they are written in Victorian settings and styles. I am on the second one.

I’ll see how these go and maybe I’ll start a classic soon too. I haven’t decided what I am in the mood for yet.

Closing

I’ll leave you with a bit of Christmas decorations that we put up on Monday. This is as far as I go in on decorations though. I like the lights but don’t care for the mess and bother of a tree anymore.

Christmas 2025

Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas in case I don’t talk to you again before then.

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Holiday Knitting and a New Pair of Socks

Hedgerow socks

I have some holiday knitting plans. I also have a new pair of socks to show you.

New Pair of Socks

I will begin my post with my newly finished Hedgerow Socks.

I love the simplicity of the stitch pattern. The pattern is continued in the heel flap which is a nice touch. My favorite element is the round toe decreases.

hedgerow socks
Hedgerow socks
round toe

I have made these in the past but I ended up gifting the first pair. I will probably be making this pattern again. It has become my new go to sock pattern.

Holiday Knitting

I am calling this holiday knitting, because I am starting it Christmas week.

Holiday Knitting vest

Last January I was doing some swatching of a few stitch patterns. I was planning to design a shawl or two. I tabled that idea since it was not working as I had envisioned. This week I had an idea, using one of those swatches, for a vest pattern. I plan to knit the sample and write up the pattern.

At first I was just going to make it for fingering weight yarn, using my Classic Merino Superwash Sock yarn. Later, I remembered that I had swatched the same stitch pattern in sport weight yarn. That gave me a really interesting idea. I think I will make the pattern for multiple gauges. It shouldn’t be difficult to do that.

swtaches
fingering weight swatch
swtaches
sport weight swatch

I am knitting the vest in two pieces and seaming the sides. The neck and arm edgings will be picked up and knit later. I haven’t decided what style I will make the neck shaping. A V-neck is nice but the stitch pattern may work better with a crew neck. We will see when I get there. In any case I am starting with the back so that can wait.

Upcoming Shop Update

In other news, we have been making some new Nostepinnes this month. We have some almost finished and there will be more after the holidays.

nostepinnes
nostepinnes

Merry Christmas!

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New Hand-knit Socks and New Yarn

merino bamboo hand knit socks

There are new hand-knit socks and some new yarn to show you, so let’s get into it. Since my last post, my knitting time is limited so I only have one item to show you today.

Knitting

I finished my Classic Merino Bamboo socks on Sunday. I used 67g/324 yards of yarn. I enjoyed making up the pattern by using various stitch patterns. I can see this pair being one of my favorites. They are comfy and soft, but the bamboo should make them pretty durable.

merino bamboo hand knit socks
merino bamboo hand knit socks

Yarn dyeing

The main reason that my knitting time has been limited is that it is yarn dyeing time again.

After I returned from Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival, my yarn arrived from the mill. I planned to do 2-3 new colors and restock the other colors.

winding mini skeins
winding mini skeins
color samples
Three new colors compared to some current colors

I wound some mini skeins of 10g each to do some color samples. The three mini skeins in the right picture are the ones that made the final cut.

I spent the next couple days getting all the dyes mixed and doing other preparations. We divided the work into four dye days.

Dye day one
Dye Day One
Dye day two
Dye Day Two
Dye day three
Dye Day Three
dye day four new colors
Dye Day Four – the three new colors

The week after this, I got all the labels printed and attached. Next, I packed the yarn in the trailer or in the back up inventory boxes in the workroom. Yesterday, I got all the new inventory logged into the system. That included taking pictures of the new colors and marking the discontinued colors on sale.

new yarn colors 2024
New 2024 Colors Iris, Oregano, and Rose
discontinued yarn colors 2024
SALE Colors Cerise, Pewter, and Winter Sky

I am excited about the new colors. They work well with the rest of the palette. I can’t wait to see them on the displays at the next show. I don’t know when I will get a chance to knit any fresh samples using them but hopefully by the fall. I don’t have a way to link to particular colors on the website. The new color names are Iris, Oregano, and Rose. If you select any of the hand dyed yarn bases, you can select those names to view them there.

The colors that are discontinued are also available for 50% off which is $14.50 a skein. The colors on SALE are Cerise, Pewter, and Winter Sky. I love all these colors. It is hard to decide which ones to switch out, but you have to do it periodically to keep everything fresh.

I will close with this and hope to back to work on my sweater or a new shawl in my next post.

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New Booth Sample Knitting is Done

Dora Cardigan large size

I have a new booth sample finished. There is a bit of sock knitting going on when I am able.

Dora Cardigan and Other Knitting

Dora Cardigan large size
Glittering Snoscape Sock 2

I am so pleased with the new booth sample for my Dora Cardigan pattern. I made the updates to the pattern for all three sizes. I will be altering the other two samples to match the changes soon.

As you can see, I have been knitting the second Glittering Snowscape Sock. I am almost to the heel flap and turn. As I am knitting this, I find myself with the idea of reviving this discontinued color.

I am considering using it as a replacement in my palette for Cerise. The Cerise is a much less muted cool red. The above color is a deep rose pink. The dark rose might fit more into my palette. If I do that it will be this summer. I will probably tweak the color mix a bit, so it may be a different version of this color. Here’s a picture that compares the two:

back to business as usual
The Dark Rose is on the far right

Shop Restocking

Speaking of dyeing, I spent about five days this past week getting all the fresh dyed yarn labeled and stored. The website inventories are all updated also.

On the heels of that task, came the new Darning Eggs. Jerry has spent the past several weeks working on more Darning Eggs. On Thursday, we applied the first layer of linseed oil. Yesterday, after that had time to cure, I applied the wax coat. Then got them all labeled and added to the inventory.

We have more Cherry, but we replaced some other woods that have been out of stock for a bit. These include, Mahogany, Maple, Oak, and Walnut. I love them all, but my particular favorite is the Mahogany ones. I love the rich color and the interesting grain. They feel as satiny as they look.

Mahogany Darning Egg
Maple Darning Egg
Oak Darning Egg
Darning Eggs

I will have a full selection of these in my booth at Greencastle Wool Show next weekend. I will be in the Community Building in booths 135-136.

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All in a Week’s Work

padauk shawl and hair sticks

Around here we are rarely idle. It’s hard to home educate and run a home based business any other way. It’s all in a week’s work most of the time. We do try to set aside one day a week for rest. This week has been filled with a variety of tasks.

Miscellaneous Stuff

I’ll start off with the news that my new phone and computer arrived. I took the picture with the phone so no shot of that. The new laptop is a nice upgrade, especially the 2.8K screen. I love my new S24 Ultra too. Jerry got my S22 Ultra.

painting the storage shed
new computer 2024

Since the weather finally turned warm and dry, it was time to get the storage shed painted. The tornado damaged the roof and that was fixed right after Christmas. After that the weather prevented us from getting the painting done until this week.

Dyeing and Wood Finishing

While the guys were painting the shed, I was doing some wood product finishing and yarn dyeing.

shawl and hair sticks finish station
yarn dyeing
yarn dyeing

The Shawl and Hair Sticks that we have been making are ready for the final steps. I applied the finish to them on Thursday. They need a day or two to dry and cure before packaging. I am so pleased with how the new Padauk ones look. I have them listed on the website. I still need to get pictures of the Padauk added this week, but they are available.

The yarn that you see up there is a custom order for a local percussion supply business. They use the yarn as a part of mallets for percussion instruments. I got this dyed on Saturday and wound it into balls for them yesterday.

Labeling and Packaging

In between these tasks, I got the labels ready to package the new Shawl and Hair Sticks. I have gotten some of them packaged but I still have the Purple Heart and Padauk ones to go after I finish writing this post.

purple heart shawl and hair sticks
padauk shawl and hair sticks
shawl and hair sticks
shawl and hair stick labels
sshawl and hair sticks packaging

Knitting

To round out my post I will update you on what I am knitting at the moment.

classic baby cardigan
spiral effect cowl
spiral splash socks

The top down raglan sweater is a large size Classic Baby Cardigan for a booth sample. I am using the Earl Grey and Garnet Classic Merino Superwash Sport yarn. I should have enough of the Earl Grey to knit the body and sleeves. I may add some Garnet to the ribbing if needed.

The middle picture is a Spiral Effect Cowl for the booth in my Classic Merino Superwash Sock in Heather. I introduced this one in my last post. My update is that I am currently almost at the halfway point.

The third project is Stephen West’s Spiral Splash Socks from the Year of Socks 2024 collection. I am late casting this on, since it was the January release. I did at least start them on January 27th.

I am excited to make the February ones so I am going to try and speed through at least the first one so I can start the current month pattern soon. I’ll talk about that when I get there.

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Flames and Lace and the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival

I have published my pattern for the shawl. I named it Flames and Lace because there were a lot of other designs already that were using my initial idea, Candle Flames. I have it on the website and on Ravelry for $6.

Flames and Lace Stole Knitting Pattern

I did get it written in time for the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival last weekend. I even wore it in the booth and got many compliments on it. We also have a new batch of Yarn Boxes in some woods we have been out of for a time. We have Mahogany, Oak, and Cherry for $60 and Walnut for $65. They were very popular in the booth!

I am currently in Ohio for the Wool Gathering festival at Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs. I will be getting the booth ready tomorrow. This festival is all outdoors in big tents. We usually have pretty nice weather so I hope that holds true this year too. The market opens on Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 10-4.

I have a few hours of downtime this afternoon and hope to get a bit of knitting done on Saltarello. Here’s how it is looking at this point.

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Meanwhile Back in Nashville: a visit to the Work Shop

Back in Nashville

I arrived safely back in Nashville on Sunday. The traffic on the drive was light for most of the day until I got to Knoxville. Between Knoxville and Nashville I hit at least 4 slow downs due to who knows what? There were construction zones a few times, but they didn’t have workers present. So, I finally arrived around 3:30 pm just as a rain storm was bearing down on Nashville. I got the trailer turned in the driveway and my luggage out before it poured. I waited for it to stop raining before unhitching though.

Back On the Road

I took the afternoon to unpack and rest a bit. On Monday I did the grocery shopping and some trailer restocking. Today, Tuesday, I washed and gassed up the truck, hitched up the trailer again, and packed for my next trip tomorrow. I am leaving in the morning for Michigan. I will be setting up the booth on Thursday for the Michigan Fiber Festival. I started vending at this festival in 2007. It is a three day show, Friday – Sunday and is at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. I have always liked this festival but improved more now that I am in the new Expo Building. The light and ventilation is much better than the old white building where I was for the first 12 years.

I will be going straight to Pittsburgh from Allegan on Monday next week. I am once again back for the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival in Green Tree, PA. We will be setting up the booths on Wednesday since the dates for the show are now Thursday-Saturday. It just makes more sense not to drive home. I’ll talk more about this show later though, because I wanted to spend some time in this post with a work shop update.

Work Shop Update

If you recall, we were starting a new batch of Yarn Boxes before I left for Charlotte, NC. While I was there, Jerry got the pieces all cut to final dimensions. That means that the next step is to cut ALL the finger joints. This is a time consuming process. Aside from the time involved in making the actual cuts, the jig is tedious to set up and tweak it until everything is lined up exactly right. If that doesn’t happen the joints won’t line up correctly when we start assembling the sides and bottoms together. Prayers for patience and wisdom are appreciated ;-).

While we are on the topic of the work shop and our processes, I’d like to share a new page I have on the website about that. I have had in mind for awhile to write up a gallery type page that not only shows but also informs interested visitors about what goes into making all of our various products. When people come into our booth at festivals or visit our website, they may not already know that almost everything they see there was hand made by us. From the wood knitting tools and accessories, to the hand dyed yarn and knitted samples, it is all us. That is pretty cool to me and I want to share what it takes for that to happen. I hope it will be interesting and informative and a work in progress itself as we add new items or change how we do things. If you’d like to check it out, here’s the link to a Sneak Peek at Our Production. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think. Is there something you’d like to see there that I didn’t include?

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