On the Fourth Day of Christmas

My true love gave to us... a clean line of mini laundry!

Little alpaca sweaters to be exact.

Don't they just take your breath away?


I can't tell you the pattern, because our true love has secrets you know (as does everyone- so fair enough).

Each sweet little sweater is made out of a different colour of Drops Alpaca and each little sweater took one hour to make.


Is that true love, or what!?!?!?

I think I can find it in my heart to forgive that true love of mine for the computer virus.

This time around anyway...

On the Third Day of Christmas...

My true love gave to me...

A virus on my computer!

But on the bright side of things... that means that less computer time equals more knitting time.

YEOW!

Time for a new machine.

On the Second Day of Christmas...

My true love gave to me... a cowl that only took three hours to make!

Hello people! The clock is ticking!
You could cast this on Christmas Eve and be done by the time Santa knocks on your chimney.
Heck! Make him one while you're at it! The man deserves a little hand knit warmth, wouldn't you say?

Wear it snuggled up around your neck...


Or popped up like a hood.


(You just might not want to wear a bun in your hair in order to avoid looking like you have a cone for a head.)

Even my roomate loved it.
He just BEGGED me to borrow it.


It just matches his eyes so beautifully, I didn't have the heart to say no.


The yarn? Punta Yarns MeriTwist, 3 skeins.
The pattern? Vogue Knitting Holiday Issue 2009
The needle? 9 mm. ZOOM! ZOOM!

On the First Day of Christmas...

My true love gave to me... A pair of mini Elf Boots!

Now- you've all seen these before, but I just had to go back to this pattern the other day. I absolutely love the pattern and the finished result.



As I have mentioned time and time again, there are no little 'elves' in my immediate family, (and my intense urges to knit for these non-existent people frankly scares the life out of me), but I can think of no more satisfying project than this!

How festive, how delicate, how absolutely whimsical.



Pattern? It's a re-visit from the Sock Summit. Sivia Harding's Blossom Dearies.
Yarn? 1 ball of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (with LOADS left over).
Needle? 3.5mm double points.

These mini boots have a place on my shelf over the holiday season, and will likely drive any male visitor out of my house in a flash, but that's ok.

Pfft.
Walk on.
I've got more Elf boots on the needles mister.

Keeping Baby Cozy

Remember back in the warmer months when I made these?



Well, here we are in late November- the PERFECT time to slip on some mini-mukluks (if you happen to be lucky enough to have feet that teensy).

And look who happened to be wearing hers?



Not only that- this baby chick was decked out in ALL things knitted. A hat, a vest, and mukluks!

How cozy does she look!?!?!?
What a special little outfit.

So I feel as though this answers the question that customers ask me on a regular basis- "Do moms still put their wee babes in knitted things?"

The answer- 'Yes ma'am. And sometimes- more than one thing at a time.'

What toasty-warm people babies must be.

So I did Use that Degree Afterall

A fact about Lynn- Once a week she buys a tray of cupcakes from the grocery store (the kind that are so sweet they hurt your teeth when you bite into them- well, Kersti and my mom's teeth anyway). She lives alone and cupcakes just stay fresh longer as they are wrapped up all tightly in their sweet layer of icing and precious little wrapper.

Another fact about Lynn- In 2007 she completed a degree in Costume Studies at Dalhousie University.

Put those two fun facts together and this is what you get (with a little encouragement of course).


I fully understand if you mistake me for a sundae (the icing proportions are a little off), but you get the gist,-right?


A cherry for good measure of course.


And a metallic wrapper to keep me fresh- (and mighty toasty!)

Oh, and the best part of the day? When you dress up like a pink cupcake, someone just might pull through and actually make you a tray of pink cupcakes.


Thanks Grandma!

What Starts as a Store Sample...

Doesn't always end as a store sample...

Hear me out- When the new Knitty showed it's fresh Fall face online, I couldn't resist the lovely pattern by Stephen West called 'Colonnade'. I went so bananas for it in fact that I cast on immediately, tossing aside all other works in progress.
Imagine that!
And after a few gripping episodes of Discovery Channel's 'Deadliest Catch', I had a new store sample. (Note to self- don't ever take up crab fishing. It's not as romantic an idea as you once thought Lynn.)

Hah.
Right.
Store sample?
More like... I had a scarf that I haven't taken off since.

See? That's me at Honest Ed's on a particularly attractive day, posing in front of some GIANT dollah-dollah bills.
(Sadly... that's the only photo of me actually wearing it.)


It likely looks better on it's own anyway. Who doesn't love a scarf that just loves getting in front of the camera?


Work it.




You're beautiful!


Unbelievable.

Look at you spread those wings!

OK.
Enough.
Here are the details you maybe want to know.

Yarn?
Punta Yarns Merisoft.
I used 2 skeins total. One skein of shade number 73 and one skein of shade 60.
Needles?
6 mm
Pattern?
HERE. Man. I love this website.

Lastly- this yarn is indeed good for more than just lovely scarves!

Check out the sweet little mitts Mother Mary made out of it!
They match the scarf.
If you don't see these puppies in the shop, they're likely in my purse.



I think I just scored a matching set.
That's never happened.

In.

My.

Life.

Shown and Told

Dear Knitters,

Our first annual 'Show and Tell' has come and gone and I just want to thank you all so much. I am still flying from the event, running over the stories and projects through my mind. What a treat to have you all in one room!

I was so pumped the whole night, that I neglected to snap any photos. Forgive me for this, but I seem to feel that photos wouldn't have quite captured it anyway. I beg of you to use your imagination please.

Since a post is just not a post without photos, I have one for you I've been meaning to share for a while.

This was taken on a family trip this summer to a cabin up north.

See that?


Yup. I think it's a water dwelling knitting needle plant. (Look real close there.)

Did I mention that on that same trip I came across this plant(s), I also got a fishing license and caught dinner?

Man. Did I ever feel like I could hack it on my own anywhere.

Heh.

Not.

I had to get someone else to bait my hook, but you didn't need to know that- right?

Cats in Hats

My family members and myself are churning out hats at a fabulous rate these days. Why wouldn't we? We get a wee nip of coolish air and then BOOF! The needles start smoking.

Allow me to 'show and tell' for you.
(I've got 'show and tell' on the brain).

This hat?
Cover of Vogue Knitting, Fall 2009- size large with one extra repeat of pattern.
This yarn?
Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino- 2 balls.
This knitter?
Me Ma.
This cat?
Sister #2 (I'm talking birth order here- not preference)


You could have the pouffiest hair-do EVER and it would still pouf, even after having this hat on your head.
I love that.
Most days... Some days that hair of mine needs a little taming.


Hat numero deux.

This hat? From a Sandnesgarn hat book.
This yarn?
2 balls of Sandnesgarn Smart.
This knitter?
Moi.
This cat?
Sister #1.


Ugh-huh checkerboard!

This pup needs a pompom I think.


And this is only because there won't be many more pictures like this one.

Sob.
Sob.

Keep those hats handy!

Since When Have I Become Such an Adult?

I've been catching myself doing little things lately that are completely throwing me off. Things like, making the bed, unloading the dishwasher as soon as the cycle is complete (and not a week later), cleaning the bathroom on a regular basis, having an herb garden, putting the lid back on the toothpaste...

I suppose that at age 25, I have actually become a full blown adult.

Want to know what drew me to that conclusion?

I knit a swatch.

I NEVER knit swatches.

I feel so mature.

It's awful, I know. But, it does explain why I have so many sweaters that are too small/too big/too wide. I have finally come to realize that time is precious and if I want any nicely fitted garments in this lifetime, I had better just get on that swatching bandwagon and get going.



There's proof. A swatch, LABELLED even (so I know what needles I used) and a picture of what I'm swatching for.

The Clasica Coat KAL at the shop.

The pattern calls for Manos, I'm going for Cascade Soft Spun.

What does the swatch say? We're in business.

Something that makes me think that maybe I'm not so 'grown-up' is that I saw these and freaked out. Look at those leg warmers!
And the came in, breaking the bank at a whopping 99 cents!
Such a steal could only come from Value Village.


I wanted to cry just thinking of how long it would take me to make them.

Would I have bought them if I wasn't a knitter?

Probably not.

Would I wear them if I was actually a mature adult?

Probably not.

Fall Classes for EVERYBODY!

To those of you not near the shop, not interested in the shop, not aware of the shop etc, you are welcome to ignore this post. I post it because I am about to send out a newsletter with all of the latest classes happening at Mary's Yarns and I am unable to post pictures of all of these (my computer skills are lacking incredibly). One thing I CAN do though, is put pictures up here.

SO, I have posted a link on the newsletter to the blog so that people can see pictures of what classes they are signing up for.

Do I make my life complicated, or what? For more information on all of these classes, feel free to check out the class descriptions on the website.

You might even experience a wee bit of deja-vu while scrolling through some of these photos.
In the meantime, here we go!

Baktus Scarf
Saturday, October 31st.
2:00-4:00

Irish Hiking Scarf
Saturday, September 19th.
2:00-4:00


Oh-So-Cozy Neckwarmer
Saturday, November 14th.
2:00-4:00


Felted Wine Cozy
Wednesday, October 14th and 21st.
11:00 am- 1:00 pm


Granny Square
Friday, October 9th.
10:00 am- 12:00 pm


Clasica Coat Knit-A-Long
Beginning Tuesday, September 15th.
7:00-9:00 pm.



Vogue Knitting Tam
Tuesday, November 3rd and 10th.
10:00 am-12:00 pm


So, there you have it!

As I mentioned above, there are plenty more classes, just not any more with photos. Sorry. I'll get it together someday. (I hope).

Give us a ring at the shop if you're interested in participating. We'd love to have you there!

Bitsy Beaded Baby Booties

More Sock Summit news! Sheesh... where does time go??? I've been home for over a week now! Time flies... but I tell you, time flew faster in Portland.

Let me share with you something that I made, that I'm not embarrassed of. In fact... I'm rather charmed by it (or should I say them?).

I took a class with Vancouver based designer, knitting-with-beads extraordinaire... Sivia Harding. I enjoyed it far too much. Not only did I walk out with the most precious little embellished pair of elf boots, I learned lots and lots about knitting with beads. It's not an area of knitting I've really cared to venture too far into, BUT when all of the classes were disappearing faster than I could imagine during the SS registration, I just snagged what I could get.

What a happy thing that I snagged a spot in this class.

I mean... LOOK AT THEM! Did you stop breathing for a second!?!?!? I did when I first laid eyes on the finished product. I had no clue what I was getting into when I signed up for the class. There was no picture on the website, I just knew I was in for a pair of 'beautiful beaded baby booties'. Beautiful they are! But who says that they have to be for a baby???

Mine will surely assume a spot on my shelves for a while.

I mean... look at it! Doesn't it just look like it grew up in that tree?


I am forecasting more knitting with beads in my near knitting future.

In other Sock Summit news. You may have heard that the world record was broken during that week for 'most number of knitters knitting in one spot, at one time'.

The record was made in Australia last winter- 236 knitters.

Sock Summit? 935 knitters.

Lynn and Tara accounted for two of that 935.

I only wish I could have gotten a photo of the camera men who were documenting this event for the evening news. They looked like they had just witnessed an elephant casually operating an ATM.

Lastly, I feel the need to share with you flower photos at every post while the weather is nice.

We will look back on these photos with a tear in our eye in about... ooooh.... five months.

Photos Anyone?

I have an idea. If I were to attempt to write out everything I saw and did at the Sock Summit, 'blogger' would likely kick me off their site for rambling incessantly.

So, how about... a photo montage? With captions and wee notes about what you're looking at?
Would that work? Pictures are worth a thousand words so allow me to condense your reading material for the day. I think this might be the best way to give you a sense of what was going on over in Portland last week.

SO- here we go!

First off, I present to you, the lovely Meg Swansen (my new hero) and her assistant Amy Detjen. (This photo was taken shortly after those Barbara Walker tears were shed).

Is there anything this duo can't do? They've been together for 18 years.
That's an anniversary worth celebrating!

Impressive.

Do you not love Meg's adoring look?
They're in this for the long haul.

Now, that's... me. With my moccasin sock.
There will be no close-up shots of this sock because frankly, it's terrible workmanship. But man-oh-man, was I ever happy regardless!

Can't you tell?

And man! I even picked colours to match the wild carpet!


Do you know what I'm holding? A Wearable Art stocking that (I do believe) Meg made with her own two hands. Again, I shall refrain from showing you in close detail my version of this sock because it's such atrocious knitting. I was distracted by stories from Meg and Amy, the fact that Barbara Walker was sitting behind me and all the lovely new knitters surrounding me... BUT- again I stress, I had a hoot making it.


OK- it's only getting better. This is Elizabeth Zimmerman's Arch Shaped Stocking that Meg made and Lynn (yes, ME) is wearing.
I wore such an appropriate outfit for the occasion.
Wouldn't you say?
If only there was a mate... I just might have marched right outta that room.
I guess they suspected that some awful person just might do that... hence the fact they only brought one.
Heh.
I looked like a suspect the second I walked into that room wearing a pencil skirt. I just know it.


And here is the cherry on the top of the really delicious cake... Lynn, Barbara Walker and Tara (my trusty travel companion and photographer). Does she just not look like the toughest cookie on the block???
Yeah, I'm referring to both Tara AND Barbara of course.
Whoa.


See the pink socks in Barbara's lap? She was getting into the spirit of things.
What a good sport.
In fact, the Yarn Harlot has a picture of her wearing these pink beauties all finished up.

And lastly, I leave you with this.


I'll let you take what you want from that one.

Next post, I promise you show you something that I actually knit, and am not ashamed to share with you.

Let Me Sock it to You

We're back.

Safe and Sound.

And... overflowing with sock yarn and sock patterns. (You should see my kitchen table. I must keep the blinds closed so the neighbors don't think I've totally gone off the deep end.)

I shall update you throughout the week as I decompress and sort through all of my class knitting and yarn purchasing.

I will tell you though- it was an absolute blast.
A ridiculously wonderful blast.

My highlight?
Let me share.

Picture this if you will- sitting in a room, listening to Meg Swanson (my new hero) teach her mother's Wearable Art Stocking only to have Barbara Walker in the back of the room.
But that's not all! The best part?
When Meg kindly asked Barbara if she was the one who invented SSK.
The answer? Yes.
Meg's assistant teared up.
I kid you not.
I think I might have too.
Or, maybe it was just dry eyes from convention centre air.

And Portland?
Good city.

Better doughnuts.

I sure do love myself a Vanilla Dip doughnut during my mid-afternoon low blood sugar moment.

Voodoo doughnuts.

I dig.

Some Things Never Change

Do you know where I'm off to next week?

The Sock Summit.

I'm busting at the seams with excitement.

It will be four fun-filled days of knitting socks, talking socks, and shopping socks. Oddly though... I highly doubt I'll actually be wearing socks.

In any case, I will be taking several classes with fabulous knitting peeps (Hello? Is that Meg Swanson in the room?) AND I have to do HOMEWORK for them.

What's so depressing is that when I learned I had 'homework', I immediately seized up. Really? Did they have to call it that? Because even though I enjoy knitting toroughly, I'm having a very hard time with this. I'm experiencing flashbacks to school days when I would do everything BUT my homework.

Like... knit dishcloths.

So, that's what I'm doing. Rather than actually doing the dishes, OR knitting sock legs, I'm knitting dishcloths.

I won't even show you a picture.

They're boring, boring dishcloths.

And as stressed out as I'm getting over getting this homework done- I have a very nice assortment of new kitchen accessories.

Here.

Maybe looking at the garden will help.

Once a bad student... Always a bad student.

In other news, apparently Mary's Yarns is making the slow transition from being a specialty yarn shop, to being a specialty root vegetable shop.


Look closely....


Happy long weekend!