Helen shows her love

Helen Huey was one of the folks we came into our shoppe. She passed away recently, and her daughter brought into our shoppe the sweaters that Helen knitted for her great-grandchildren this past year.




Here is a close-up of this sweater.




Helen knitted sweaters like this every year. She started in January so she would have them done by Christmas.

I did not know Helen very well, but I know that she loved her family.

Jackie, who has previously done amazing knitting, brought in a baby blanket she had just finished. The blanket is knitted with Punta Lava.

There are all sorts of bobbles on this blanket. Jackie stated that she almost lost her fingers after knitting all of those bobbles. The blanket is soft and very nice. Good job, Jackie.

Jill couldn't, but Lynn did

We called Jill in for help. Kate needed help with making loops. She and I worked on it Monday evening and were not able to lock the loops in.

So Jill came over and worked on it. She was not able to figure it out. Then Lynn came in and guess what?
Meet Stella.

She is a rescued greyhound from Florida. Lynn and Stella are from Ft. Wayne. They are up here on vacation. Stella makes a great yarn shoppe dog and Lynn - well, Lynn knows how to knit.

Mr. Greenjeans

Okay, this did it. On September 16, Diane posted a picture of her Mr. Greenjeans.

For those of you who are not familiar with this sweater, go to Knitty.com I have loved this pattern ever since it came out two years ago and now I am going to knit it.


Now, this is with the understanding that I am at a work site six days a week and then on my day off, I do other things that can't wait. So, if I can put in 5 hours a week on this sweater, it may be done later in the winter and just in time to add something new to my wardrobe.

So, the question is -what yarn do I use for this wonderful sweater? I was looking at Ravelry and some folks have used Cotton Fleece. That would be good for this terminally hot person, plus I can wash and dry it in the machine. But, I also like Lamb's Pride and they have some beautiful reds. Or, we carry Shaefer Yarn and I could order some Miss Priss in a colorway that I like. Annie looks nice, so does Catherine the Great, or what about Frida Kahlo? And I like Billie Holliday, but I think I want to stick with a red colorway. It is bright and cheery.

Are you ready to join me?

Only three and a half weeks

It is that time of year to pull out the pumpkins.



Susan made up a felted pattern for pumpkins and the wonderful thing about them, is that you can use them for Halloween and Thanksgiving and then knit them up in other colors for Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter....You get the picture.

Two skeins of Lamb's Pride worsted makes three pumpkins.

Mila sent us a picture of the baby jacket and hat pattern by Naturally she knitted for her new grandaughter. She used Buttons yarn from Fiber Trends.


Isn't Corallus cute? We blooged about her cousins on July 12.

Cast on and off

If you have noticed, I have a list of favorite blogs that I enjoy reading. On that list is TECHknitting. I have just finished reading her post for September 30, 2009 and it is full of many great ideas. But the one I want to specifically point out is the stretchy cast on and cast off.

First, start here with Knitty's article. Then let's look at Cat Bordhi's video of the cast off.



Jeny has also come up with a great technique for a stretchy cast on and here it is.



Isn't it great! I am so easily excited. Next pair of socks I knit, I will have to try the cast on technique.