08.08.09
Posted in General Info at 11:05 am by Sue
Wow, the few past weeks (make that months) feel like they went by in a flash – we’ve had big goings-on in our family (and at Great Yarn Company too)!
My beautiful step-daughter’s wedding was two weeks ago, with all the excitement and hoopla that leads up to a big wedding. The ceremony was sweet, the bride was amazingly gorgeous, the groom looked happy (and maybe just a little stunned) — a very joyous occasion all around.
And then we baby-sat two little grandsons for a week while the newlyweds honeymooned… lots of fun, busy, busy, busy, and jeez, louise, am I ever tired!!! It’s truly amazing how fast a 5-year-old and a 16-month-old can be! They kept us all running the entire week – they’re so cute and so smart – definitely kept us on our toes! I didn’t think I was slowing down, but ya know, I was wrong – it’s gonna take us a few days to recover!
And just a few weeks earlier, there was another wedding in our family – dear hubby’s niece and her red-headed cutie had their special day. Another beautiful bride and very fun wedding!
Has anyone else had weddings or new babies or visits from little ones to share? I love new babies – such a great excuse for knitting adorable little tid-bits!
There are a lot of big things going on at Great Yarn Company too – new yarns on the way from Rowan, Alpaca with a Twist, and more, lots of great new pattern lines coming, along with cool notions and gift items, and we’re working with our computer gurus on our new website, which is coming soon! I’ll keep you posted!
Catching my breath, finally…
Sue
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03.27.09
Posted in General Info at 8:41 pm by Sue
It’s wonderful having a husband who can cook. We trade off on who’s got kitchen duty, and as I write this post, I can hear him working in the kitchen, frying fish and eggplant. Fried eggplant is one of my favorite things in the world! (Bet you can tell that I’m from New Orleans – we’re having two deep-fried foods in the same meal, and I’m not hyperventilating about it!)
Last night, my weekly knitting group consisted of just two of us, so I was actively involved in conversation all evening – I usually mostly just listen in, while I concentrate on my knitting, but with only two of us, I couldn’t sit on the sidelines. I brought my Modern Quilt Wrap to work on – it’s fairly simple, but does involve some row counting, which apparently was beyond me last night.
When I started knitting, I was about to change colors, so I cut the yarn from the previous color, joined the new color, and knitted five rows before I realized I had forgotten to do the decrease row twice. I ripped back five rows and re-knit them with decreases where they belonged.
Then I noticed that I had changed colors too soon – I had not knitted enough rows in the previous color. Theoretically, this shouldn’t matter, because who’d know, right? But I can be a little obsessive about my knitting, so I ripped it back again.
Since I had already cut the yarn from the previous color too short to get another row out of it, I joined a new strand and knitted the missing row, cut the yarn, joined the new color and knitted the five rows again. But something didn’t look right. That’s when I realized that I should have added three rows in the old color, not one.
So I ripped back the five rows a second time, ripped back the newly-added single row of the previous color, joined a new strand of the old color and knitted the three missing rows before the color change. I double-checked the pattern, and my stitch count was correct, row count was correct, all is good.
Joined the new color, knitted the five rows with decreases where they belong. This is the third time I’ve knit the same five rows in the new color, but who’s counting? Then I looked more closely at the pattern, and discovered that while I am knitting with color “I”, the pattern says I’m supposed to be using color “H”. Yep, I joined the wrong color. Three times.
Now, again, in theory, this shouldn’t matter – in a wrap of many colors, it wouldn’t be apparent if one color were out of place, but my slight obsessiveness kicked in again. So I ripped back to the old color one last time, joined the correct new color, and knitted the five rows again. Like I said, not enough progress to document it with a photo. Pitiful!
Knit, frog, knit, rip, arrgh…
Sue
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03.22.09
Posted in General Info at 10:16 pm by Sue
As I’ve mentioned previously, my little kitty Coco is a bob-tail. She was born bob-tailed, and has a very short little tail, only about 2 inches long. It’s so cute when she’s annoyed and whips that little tail from side to side, only it’s this tiny little ball of fluff instead of a long tail! Although these photos are a bit grainy, I’m posting them because I finally managed to capture the motion of that little tail in a picture, and it’s too funny not to share!
Front view of mildly annoyed kitty: 
And rear view of increasingly irritated kitty, complete with tail movement: 
I started a new project today with Rowan Kidsilk Haze – I may well be the last knitter on earth to start the Modern Quilt Wrap). The Kidsilk Haze has such a lovely halo – I can tell already that this sheer and light-weight wrap is going to be much warmer than I expected.
The gold color I’m using is the now-discontinued Swish #578, the unavailability of which has frustrated many a knitter longing to knit the Modern Quilt Wrap in the colors shown in the pattern. (I stashed the yarns for this project some time back, and was lucky enough to get a ball of Swish before it became scarse.)
But I’ve got great news for anyone still searching for it! Rowan has introduced a new color, Ember #644, that’s VERY similar, and as I understand it, Ember is actually intended to be a replacement for Swish. I have photographed the two colors together, so you can see for yourself. They’re not identical – Ember is just a tad less intense, but I think it would work beautifully as a substitute for Swish.
If the Modern Quilt Wrap is still on your wish list, or if you’ve been postponing this project because you couldn’t find certain colors, you’ll be pleased to know that we’ve got all the Kidsilk Haze colors for this pattern in stock, including the new Ember color that replaces Swish!
Fanning the embers… (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!)
Sue
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03.01.09
Posted in Sock Club, What's New at 6:04 pm by Sue
You may have noticed that Mardi Gras was this week – and I’ve definitely been missing New Orleans. I’ve gotta tell ya, looking at folks in costume on the internet just isn’t anywhere near as much fun as being there yourself. (Looking for knitting content? Keep reading, we’ll get to it in a minute!)
People who aren’t from New Orleans often have a very inaccurate impression of Mardi Gras, as they see only the most outrageous things in the media. Yes, there are some very interesting things going on down on Bourbon Street, and yes, you would not want to bring your six-year-old to the French Quarter on Mardi Gras weekend, but it’s mostly tourists doing all that risque stuff on camera – you may think we ALL do those things on Mardi Gras, but we don’t…
What the locals ARE doing is planning months in advance to have a great day with their family, setting up ladders and lawn chairs and even sofas on the neutral grounds (median strips to you non-New Orleanians) days before the big parades, then bringing their entire families to watch the parades – babies, toddlers, kids of all ages, grandmas and grandpas, everybody. For the natives, Mardi Gras is, first and foremost, a family event.
Yelling for beads, and hoping Uncle Nick (he’s on float #4, sidewalk side) can hear you from up there – because, really, all they can hear is the roar of the crowd. Costumes? Absolutely, and don’t even think about buying one -get busy with a needle and thread (or maybe a saw and some nails!) and make your own – the more creative, the better!
And food? Of course there’s food – this is New Orleans! Po-boys, home-cooked jambalaya, muffulettas, BBQ, chili dogs, king cake, and maybe some brownies your Mom brought from home, all wrapped up in foil… what a great time of year!
Yep, I’m sure missing it all. I picked up a King Cake the other day here in my corner of Texas – I have to give them credit for trying, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the real thing. I think next year I’ll have to try baking one at home. Obviously, my dear hubby thought it was pretty good… you can see there’s not much left! (Have you noticed that I’m always taking photos of food that’s almost gone? I need to learn to take the pictures BEFORE my dear hubby gets to the table…)
So, to distract myself from missing Mardi Gras, I’ve been playing with new yarns! I’ve recently added Kureyon Sock, Silk Garden Lite, Silk Garden Chunky, and lots of new colors in classic Silk Garden and Kureyon to our website – and all are totally gorgeous, of course. If you love Noro, check back often because we’ll be getting a lot more new Noro in the next few weeks.
Also new – Talinay and Socos from Ester Bitran. These are 100% wool yarns from Ester Bitran Hand Dyes in bulky and super-bulky weight. I just love these southwestern-looking colors – great for sweaters and jackets, and both yarns felt very well, making them perfect for totes and purses.
I also added Rowan Felted Tweed – such pretty heathered colors in a DK weight wool & alpaca blend -and we have a lot more great yarns on the way for spring.
I’ve got several projects on my needles right now – I seem to be unable to stick with just one thing lately. I’m working on a great sock in Claudia Handpainted Fingering. The color is Chocolate Cherry, and the pattern is Brick Rib Socks from Gardiner Yarn Works. This yarn and pattern were included in our GYC Sock Club kit for Winter 2008, and I think they look fabulous together!
My other work in progress is a Swirl Shawl – just barely started, but I’m very pleased with it so far. I’m using Jojoland Melody Superwash, and of course, Jojoland’s Swirl Shawl pattern. Each motif is knitted from the outside in, and the pattern calls for DPNs, but as you can see, I’m knitting it on two circulars, and it’s working out just fine.
So pass me some jambalaya and a Coke. Hey, throw me something, mister – some beads or a cup – say, how ’bout some yarn??
Sue
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01.10.09
Posted in What's New at 12:07 am by Sue
Have you made any New Year’s resolutions? I gave myself a break this year – I only made vague resolutions, like “eat less, move more” and “spend more time knitting.” I figure if I can manage those two, it’ll be a pretty good year.
My Wrap Me Up shawl had its inaugural wearing on New Year’s Eve – hubby, Mom, and I went to a fun gathering with my knitting buddies, with kids and grandmoms and dogs and party poppers – we had a grand time! I’m very pleased with how the shawl turned out, and I’m already thinking about what to knit next in Noro Silk Garden – my love of this yarn apparently know no bounds.
Next week, I’ll be heading to San Diego to attend TNNA’s tradeshow – this is the big, semi-annual market for needlework shop owners, where we get to pet all the new yarns and products, meet pattern designers, meet and mingle with other shop owners, and place orders for spring and summer. It’s lots of fun, although I wear myself out trying to fit everything in! I’ll be ordering some exciting new items for our website – lots more info coming on that when I get back.
I’ll also visit my sister-in-law while I’m out in California, and sshhh, it’s a surprise, I am bringing a present for her could-be-born-any-day-now first granddaughter. Isn’t this adorable? I found the free Baby Earflap Hat pattern on Ravelry (or here, if you’re not on Ravelry), and the yarn is Rowan RYC Cashsoft Baby DK, and it’s a wonderful baby yarn! I added the hearts myself – pretty good for my first attempt at fair isle!
California dreamin…
Sue
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12.19.08
Posted in General Info at 1:44 pm by Sue
Snip, snip – I’m trimming down my To-Do List!! The holidays have really snuck up on me this year – it’s becoming increasingly clear that I’m just not going to get it all done… and Santa’s got to be realistic!
Only six days til Christmas, and we haven’t even put up our Christmas tree yet! I’m considering going tree-less, but it is SO nice to sit in the cozy glow of the Christmas tree lights, watching a crackling fire in the fireplace, with a mug of hot chocolate, or better yet, mulled wine. (Well, okay, our fire doesn’t actually crackle – we’ve got a gas fireplace with ceramic logs, but hey – it LOOKS really great!)
On the positive side, I got the last of our out-of-town packages mailed today, so I am getting SOME things accomplished!
I posted recently to my Ravelry group (if you’re on Ravelry, come join our GreatYarnCompany.com group) that I was keeping my gift knitting list pretty small this year – but even that short list probably won’t get finished in time. I’m not sure where all my time is going, but it sure isn’t knitting. This week, I think it’s going mostly to traffic jams and lines at cash registers, cha-ching.
How are you doing on your holiday knitting? Gonna get it all done? Or will you give your knitted gifts with the needles still in them, then immediately take them back so you can finish knitting them? I admit it, I’ve done that more than once! The last time, my sweet sister-in-law thought I expected her to make her own present – she was very relieved when I clarified who would be doing the knitting.
The new issue of Knitty is up – I’m in love with the Amused sweater, maybe in Cascade 220 or Mission Falls 1824 Wool. And check out Bijouterie – knitted earrings!
Taking a deep breath, with visions of sugarplums dancing in my head…
Sue
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11.12.08
Posted in Sock Club, Tuesday Tips at 12:43 pm by Sue
Well, I’ve finally caught my breath after the International Quilt Festival… it ended over a week ago, but it probably won’t surprise any of you who met me there that I both lost my voice (must have been too many demos of Flat Feet and the Swirl Shawl!), and subsequently pulled some tiny, but apparently very important, muscle in my back while packing up at the end of the show. But I’m pretty much back to normal now, and catching up on things again. Whew!
The Quilt Festival was a HUGE event, hundreds of vendors, and thousands of attendees… we stayed busy the entire time, and met many wonderful knitters and quilters. Were you there?? Leave a comment to let us know how you liked the show!
I had wonderful helpers too – MANY thanks to Laura, Danuta, Elisa, Vicki, and Karen, not to mention my DH (who one customer nicknamed “Ruler Man” because he was handing out Great Yarn Company gauge rulers with abandon…), my own Mom, and my mother-in-law. Neither of the Moms knits, so it was especially fun to see both of them jump in and start demo’ing items!! Aren’t they cute?
Here’s my sweet mom (in the pink top) helping at the Flat Feet table:
And this is my very supportive mother-in-law (on the right), demonstrating Flat Feet yarn!
In knitting, I have made a lot of progress since the last time I posted about my Wrap Me Up Shawl – it’s almost finished, and I’m working on the dragon tooth edging now. I hope to have it fully completed in a few days, just in time for the little bit of cooler weather we get down here in Texas.
And I finally, FINALLY, finished my DH’s “Eternal Socks” – that’s what I nicknamed them because it seems that I’ve been working on them forever. When I gave them to him, he put them on immediately, sighed, and said, “AAhhhhh….!” Okay, maybe I’m a softie, but that made it all worthwhile! I don’t recall the exact yarn, I think maybe it was Trekking… here’s a look at the finished socks:
Tuesday Tips – knitting tips you can USE!
I know, this is Wednesday, but it’s been so long since my last tip that I thought I’d sneak one on in you!
Do you have trouble with “ladders” when you knit socks on either DPNs or circulars? Ladders are little lines of stretched-out stitches running down the length of your sock, right where you change needles, and they are caused by inconsistent tension when you move from one needle to the next.
Many people try to fix this by tugging the yarn tightly when they make the first stitch on the new needle, but that tightens the last stitch on the previous needle, which does not eliminate the ladder. (Don’t believe it? Try it and watch which stitch gets tighter.)
A better solution is to tug the yarn more tightly on the SECOND stitch on the new needle. Just knit (or purl) the first stitch as usual, then after you insert the needle into the SECOND stitch, give the working yarn a good tug, and complete the stitch. See? It snugged up the first stitch on the needle, and there should be no sloppy loose stitch now. This works no matter which method you use for knitting in the round – DNS’s, two circulars, or one long circular.
And a quick note to our GYC Sock Club members: Your Winter Sock kits will be shipping very soon – they’re all put together, just waiting on one last item, and then they’ll be on their way to you! Get ready for some sock-knitting fun!
So glad my voice has returned and that I can MOVE again (ouch!),
Sue
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10.18.08
Posted in Sock Club, What's New at 9:41 pm by Sue
I’m super excited – Great Yarn Company will have a booth at the International Quilt Festival on October 29 – November 2, here in Houston. I’ve been super busy – this show is a HUGE event, and it’s taken quite a lot of effort to get ready. But we’re all set to go, and can’t wait! If you’re in the Houston area, definitely come visit us at Booth 1617-1619!
If you’re still deciding about our GYC Sock Club, now’s the time – enrollment closes on October 25, and we have just a few slots remaining. I’ve already starting putting together the first shipment, which will go out in November, and I can tell you that you won’t be disappointed!
And just for fun, I’m offering $5.00 off your next purchase – just enter OCT5 in the coupon code field during checkout to get your discount! It’s a quickie – this offer expires October 27!
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08.26.08
Posted in Sock Club, Tuesday Tips at 10:09 pm by Sue
Tuesday Tips – knitting tips you can use!
What on earth is this? Can you guess? It’s one of my favorite knitting tools. I made it myself, and you can too.
I call this my 1-2 marker, and I originally got the idea from a sock knitting book, but I can’t recall which one.
So what is this and how do you use it? It’s designed to keep track of something that alternates, like an increase row and a non-increase row, where you increase in one round but not the next, over and over again. A good example is when you’re knitting the gusset area of a sock. One row has increases (or decreases, depending on whether you’re knitting toe up or toe down), and the next has none.
To keep track of this, I would place one of this marker’s rings as a stitch marker on a non-increase row. The rest of the marker just hangs straight down. Then when I get back around to the marker, I’m on an increase row, so I slip the second ring right next to the first one, using the two rings together as a stitch marker. Now I’ve got two rings on the needle, where I had only one before, and the marker hangs in a loop with both rings on the needle.
When knitting, you “read” the marker by counting rings. One ring = no increase. Two rings is MORE than one ring, so that signifies an INCREASE row. How simple is that? You could define your own method for using this, just decide that one ring means one thing, and two rings means something else. If you’re alternating between two kinds of rows, this is a very simple tracking method.
I have never seen a marker like this in shops, so I made my own with a few silver beads, two jump rings, and some monofilament line. Took all of about 5 minutes to make, and I totally love it. Hope you love it too – email me photos of yours when you make one!!
And in SOCK CLUB news – Sock Club Sign-ups begin TOMORROW!!! I can’t wait!!
Working hard to get everything ready for the onslaught when sign-ups begin tomorrow,
Sue
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08.07.08
Posted in What's New at 2:22 pm by Sue
I am SOOO excited, I can barely sit down long enough to type a blog post! Interweave Knits has long been one of my favorite knitting magazines, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to receive my subscription copy yesterday, open up the magazine, and yep, it’s there! Great Yarn Company’s first national ad!!
This issue’s chock full of inspiration – and lots of great sweaters and projects – my fingers are itching already! If you’re an IK subscriber, you should be receiving your issue any day now, and it will be arriving at bookstores and newstands in the next few days, for everyone else.
I especially like the Afterthought Darts Cardigan, a very intriguing design, which is shown in Louet Kidlin Lace. This sweater features darts added after you have knitted the sweater, for a made-to-measure, personalized fit – and the Kidlin Lace give the sweater a fluid, weightless appearance. Lovely!
Denise Interchangeable Needles have been one of our most popular products, and with good reason. You have every size needle right there when you need it – what a relief! They’re great for travel, as they don’t show up in x-rays at security points – no more arguing with security agents in airports! And now, they’re are available in Denise Singles – individual needles in single sizes!
And the Denise folks have introduced another new product, Denise Organizers, which are featured in this IK issue’s spotlight feature. These versatile organizers can hold your Denise kit or all the parts without the kit case, plus all the other goodies you usually tuck into your knitting bag. How clever is that?!
Still knitting away on my Wrap Me Up Shawl, no new progress photos, but it’s coming along. I’ll have updated pics for you in a few days, when there’s more to show for my efforts.
Trying to knit and admire our new IK ad at the same time,
Sue
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