Travel/Festivals - Knitting Notions

Home and then gone again

We had great weather and attendance at the Michigan Fiber Festival last weekend. It is always a fun show that I look forward to. I was very ready to be headed home by Monday though. Nineteen days away was hard on us all.

It was only a brief respite however since we had to leave again yesterday for Pittsburgh for the first annual Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival. We are excited to be a part of the show which has a wider craft audience than the late winter Knit & Crochet Festival.

We set up this morning and then got some lunch and headed back to the hotel for a few hours break before the market opens tonight for the preview which runs 5-9pm. Market is open 9-5:30 on Saturday. Click through to the site for more details. :-)

I clicked of some shots of the booth before we left.

I plan to share some knitting updates in my next post from home. We drive home Sunday and have nine whole days home. See you again soon!

Posted on August 22, 2014August 22, 2014 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Last day in Chicago

Opening night at Stitches Midwest last week were they only pictures I remembered to take and that with my phone. Here are the excited knitters after the gates were opened on Thursday night. :-)

Here’s a quick shot of my booth before they arrived.

After the show and the booth was all loaded back I the trailer Cassie and I had three days with no definite plans. I guess I am a bit of a hermit even when I am on the road because we have just kicked around Schaumburg a bit doing some book and music shopping mostly.

This is a little of what I bought and we when we weren’t shopping we have been just reading, listening to new music, watching videos and a little knitting too. No doubt some would find this a boring way to spend your days off but I rather enjoy having nothing to do but bum around every now and then. :-)

We are staying in a place with a kitchenette so we went to the Whole Foods and stocked up on good stuff so we haven’t had to eat out for the last 9 day at least. I feel better when I eat healthier.

Today I went to Kohl’s and found a new hand bag and wallet to replace mine which I have been carrying for a long time and they were looking very worn and tired. What do you think? I love the color!

We leave for Allegan, Michigan in the morning and will be setting up the booth in the afternoon/evening. Leisure time is over and it’s time to get back to work. Talk to you again from the eastern time zone!

Posted on August 13, 2014 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

First stop in Chicago

We arrived safely and uneventfully in Chicago on Wednesday afternoon. We spent the morning and early afternoon on Thursday getting the booth ready. For the rest of the afternoon we went to lunch at Panera and then we went to the Barnes and Noble. Cassie did some shopping and I just got out my Nook and did some reading while sipping on a Green Tea Lemonade. Yummy.

So now on to some new knitting projects. First up is two that I am working on.

You have seen the up-sized Sorrel but it is around 7” now so here it is again.

My other project is one of Dee O’Keefe’s new designs called Mayapple. Check my Ravelry profile for the pattern link and details. It is written for a fingering weight yarn and we are planning a second version of it in our Merino Bamboo, but I wanted to see what it looked like in a lighter weight so I am using my Classic Merino Lace in a bold color, Tiger Lily.

I started it on size 5 needles but I ripped it out and went down to size 4 and like the fabric much better.

Joanie is working on another of Dee’s new designs called Theresa Rose. We are using Classic Merino Superwash Sock in the color Azure. She started on size 5 needles and after taking this picture I decided that the stitch definition required for the twisted stitches was too loose. It needed to be ripped and re-knit on size 4 needles like my Mayapple. Hey, it happens right? So this is the first version and I will show you the restarted one when I get home in mid-August unless I can get here to take one and email it to me.

Last but not least is Cassie’s project, Glenallen, which is another Lace weight one in the color Garnet. The color is deeper than this shows. The lace work in this shawl is intricate and lovely. Can’t wait to see it full size.

Posted on August 1, 2014 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Sister Shawls

I am very happy to announce that we have two more gorgeous shawls off the needles and joining our booth display this coming weekend at the Friends and Fiberworks Summer Retreat in Asheville, NC. May I present to you the lovely sister shawls Elizabeth and Liz!

I showed you the beginnings of these two back in early May. They are both the design creations of Dee O’Keefe and are both knit from three skeins of our Classic Merino Lace yarn.

The blue one is Elizabeth and the color we chose to use is Winter Sky.

Liz is the stole version and we made it with the Tea Rose.

I can’t wait to see them on display along with Edwina. I think they compliment each other so wonderfully and I hope they inspire you to make your own versions.

Both these sister designs are fairly easy for knitters with some lace experience. The stitch patterns are varied and none are very hard to execute. The stole version uses a provisional cast on at the center and is knit to the edges.

Here’s how they looked fresh off the needles before the wet blocking that I did on them yesterday.

Here they are while still on the wires.

It was a stretch to pin them both out at the same time. We just barely had enough t-pins.

Maybe for my next post I can talk the sister knitters into modeling the sister shawls, LOL! No such luck this morning however.

Oh, I have one more bit of knitting to show you. In my last post I told you I was going to start a project that many have requested; a sized up pattern for Sorrel. I have crunched the numbers and cast on for one of the sizes which I hope will be my size.

I am not very far along yet as you can see and that is mostly lack of energy on my part. You may remember that I told you that we had sickness in the house starting on Memorial Day weekend with my husband and then my oldest son. Well, we all proceeded to get picked off like flies every day or two. It took three weeks to make the full rounds and my youngest son and I were the last two to get it while I was in Indianapolis for Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival last weekend. This thing would hang on with fever, chills, headaches, upper respiratory and a cough for well over a week. We are FINALLY all better. Still working on getting energy back.

Anyway we will be leaving on Thursday for Asheville. Maybe we will see some of you there!

Posted on June 17, 2014 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Edwina is off the needles

It has been a whirlwind two weeks and it’s not quite slowed down yet.

We were in Minnesota for Shepherd’s Harvest Festival last weekend and had one day at home before picking up and going to Wooster, OH where we still are now for the Great Lakes Fiber Show. Needless to say, I have been short on spare time for blogging.

I did manage to get in some knitting, a row or two here and there, and bound off my Edwina Shawl last night. It’s not blocked and that will have to wait until Tuesday after I get home, but here she is.

This top photo is more true to the color.

It looks like it will be pretty big, but not huge, once it’s blocked out. I am not an aggressive blocker. I like just enough to show off the lace but to maintain some texture and softness.

I haven’t weighed the left over ball of yarn but I estimate it to be a bit less than half of the third skein.

Okay I know this is brief but I just wanted to check in with you all and share my excitement at finishing this shawl. :-) I need to get my stuff together and scoot out the door to the fairgrounds for the day. I will tell you about my next project which I am eager to start and have some finished Edwina pictures when I get back to Nashville. Later!

Posted on May 25, 2014May 25, 2014 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Catoctin Shawl and Maize Cowl

One more gorgeous shawl is off the needles! Cassie finished the Catoctin Shawl this weekend and I got it blocked today and just had time for a quick photo shoot.

I am so very pleased with how this turned out. It is so lovely and easy to wear. I often struggle to feel natural in a shawl but the shaping on this one makes it perfect for a shoulder wrap or a scarf.

The edging remains my favorite part of the design. Very cool.

It will be making it’s debut appearance at Stitches South in Atlanta this weekend. If you will be there you can see it in person along with the other new shawls. We will be in booths 232-234.

We used just under two skeins of Classic Merino Superwash Sock to make ours. The pattern is available on our website as well as in Dee’s Ravelry store.

I also finished another knit this weekend. It’s my Maize Cowl knit from one skein of our new Classic Merino Superwash DK yarn. I have written up the pattern and will be offering it for free with the purchase of a skein of the DK yarn in my booth this weekend.

I do have more shawl progress to report but since I don’t have time for anymore picture taking right now because I have to finish packing for Stitches tomorrow, I will be back in a few days with those. Till next time!

Posted on April 8, 2014April 8, 2014 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Shawl progress and some new website additions

When I last wrote we were still in Pittsburgh. We made it home with no further problems on Monday. I was concerned about the winter weather that was forecast for that Sunday night and into Monday, but fortunately for us the line stayed to the south of our route home. I was resigned to waiting another night in Pittsburgh if I woke up to snow but that didn’t happen. I checked the weather conditions online along my route through West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky and all looked good, and it was. Man, I hope that is it for this year. I am leaving for Irving, TX on Wednesday of this coming week for my first time vending at the DFW Fiber Festival and the forecast so far looks promising. :-)

So on to the shawl progress updates. I am past the halfway point on the edging for Holbrook and am hoping to get it done in time to block it for showing at the festival.

Cassie has also started the edging on Catoctin and I really love the border pattern with that pretty cable and lace.

Tristano is coming along nicely. Joanie is on the third chart I think and doing quite well with it.

My favorite detail on this shawl so far is the center slipped stitch between the decreases.

And last but certainly not least is Kyla’s progress on Nadira. After this picture was taken she hit a snag which I tried to fix last night. I had been working on the website all day adding new stuff and updating and I am afraid my nerves where a bit frazzled. I ended up throwing the poor thing (the shawl not Kyla) across the room. I am sure I can go back to it fresh today and find the error now that I have time to recharge my batteries for tedious tasks. :-)

Oh and here’s what I was adding to the website. These are the new Leather Bowls we are making and debuted at the Pittsburgh festival. These are just a few of my favorites. Meredith made 12 designs in all that we have listed on the website. I also finally got some more nostepinnes added and I am working on adding Dee O’Keefe’s patterns today.

Posted on March 22, 2014March 22, 2014 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival 2014

Good morning all! I only have time for a quick post with mostly pictures before the market doors open in 45 minutes.

We are in our usual spot (#30-31) if you have been to the show and visited our booth.

These are the new Yarn Bowls we are introducing this year and Pittsburgh is getting first crack at them. The colorful ones in the front are hand made from genuine leather and of course we still have our popular wood bowls too. I am trying to get around to listing them on the website but I wasn’t happy with the first round of pictures I took and haven’t had a chance to reshoot them yet. I will let you know when that happens.

Another of our new leather accessories are these bracelets and Shawl Pins rings.

We still have a good supply of the yarns in which we are discontinuing the color ways and have them on final clearance price of 50% off until they are gone. Get them while they last!

Posted on March 15, 2014March 15, 2014 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Shawl updates

We are in Pittsburgh for the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Show and the boy has the weather been crazy. We left a day earlier than we planned, on Tuesday in sunny 70 degree temperatures to arrive ahead of the polar vortex expected on Wednesday. I didn’t want to drive through potentially high winds and snow with plummeting temperatures. So, that meant we had a day of down time in the hotel on Wednesday, which I made good use of. I got the body of my Holbrook done and moved on to the border. I am about one third of the way on it now.

Sorry for the color which is a bit washed out in this one. Hotel rooms aren’t usually the best for photography.

This one is a bit better.

Cassie is with me and is on the last set of repeats before the edging. You will have to wait on updates for the others since they are home. :-)

So this is how it looked outside yesterday morning before we went over to set up the booth.

The snow didn’t accumulate the 2-4” that were expected but man was it ever COLD. The temperature was about 10 degrees with a wind chill of –5. By the time we drove over to the venue it was warmer but not much. My fingers were numb after only about 5-10 minutes of unloading the trailer. We had to go in several times to thaw.

Finally we had everything in the booth and after a quick lunch break we started the arranging. It took us forever, 6 hours in all, to get it all done including the unloading. By the time we left we were tired and hungry again so I completely forgot to take any pictures. I will take a few today when we get to the booth so look for another post soon.

Got to run for now. I need to get my gear ready for the day. Market opens at 12:00 pm.

Posted on March 14, 2014March 14, 2014 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Family in Maryland

The Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival was great! It just gets better every year.

We have had a nice four days relaxing and working a little too. I have had orders to ship, emails to answer and patterns to print/restock. Today is our last “free” day. We are back to work tomorrow morning. We will pack and drive to Orange, VA in the morning. Then it’s over to Montpelier to set up the booth for the Fall Fiber Festival.

The weather forecast has changed about a half dozen times since I packed for this trip. It was calling for low to mid 70’s and mainly dry so I planned accordingly. Then after we got here it looked like this coming weekend would be chilly and wet. NOT GOOD at Montpelier, but we were prepared with boots just in case. What has actually come to pass though is low to mid 80’s here and it is going to be low 90’s at Montpelier. Yikes! But it’s better than wet in that big field so I guess we will take it. I am saving my lighter clothes for the weekend. Thankfully I did pack a few summer things. No sweaters will be needed though, that’s for sure.

Anyway we haven’t done too much while we have been in Winchester this time. We did drive over to Maryland on Tuesday to see my daughter, son-in-law, granddaughters, and my brother (Greg) who I haven’t seen in 3 years.

Heather was working on this adorable hat when we arrived and finished in time to give it to Elijah. I don’t think the expression is a reflection of his feelings about the hat. He liked it. :-) It was just too funny that this is the look Meredith captured though isn’t it?

Willow couldn’t find hers so she is wearing Sorrel’s.

A rare shot of me since I am notoriously un-photogenic, LOL

We went to Heather’s house first and while we were there it was a perfect opportunity to get some modeled shots of my design Sorrel on Willow (the older) and the dress’s namesake, baby Sorrel.

After hanging out there awhile we went to the Barnes & Noble in Ellicott City to meet up with my brother. Sorry I didn’t think to get a better picture of us but Meredith happened to catch us in the background of this cute one of Heather and Sorrel, LOL!

Category: Travel/Festivals

Home and then gone again

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Last day in Chicago

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First stop in Chicago

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Sister Shawls

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Edwina is off the needles

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Catoctin Shawl and Maize Cowl

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Shawl progress and some new website additions

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Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival 2014

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Shawl updates

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Family in Maryland

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