GO!!!

A group of us gathered at the shop Friday evening to begin our cast-ons for the Knitting Olympics.

KO

Knitting Olympics

KO Kidsilk haze start

KO kidsilk haze closeup

To set the mood, we played the most inspiring training music. That’s right, baby: Eye of the Tiger. Click here for the original.

Imagine customers’ surprises to have walked into a knitting shop full of lovely women (and man) knitting with the Rocky theme song blaring from the speakers.

Believe me, it was truly a scene.

While everyone had already casted on and were well along on their projects (e.g., Eileen), I was still flipping through books and magazines to find something to knit.

I finally landed on a kidsilk haze garment set (i.e., camisole and cardigan) from its pattern book, but became indecisive again while swatching. Toward the end of the evening, I remembered being inspired years ago to knit a cable semi-sweater I saw on a friend.

I immediately drew up the sketches and have now begun. My project will be an airy cable short-sleeved sweater out of Rowan kidsilk haze. As of right now, I’ve frogged the piece once and rewritten the pattern.

I’ve also cursed myself for starting such an ambitious project that needs completed in two weeks. My pace is about an inch per two hours.

If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work. Or as I told the hubby when he called to ask what I was making for dinner tonight, “I can’t. I have to get my game on.”

On your mark, Get set….

Remember, casting on is tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 8th from 6:00-7:30pm at Knitty Couture. You may want to come earlier to pick out materials, if you’ve not done so already, or just come by to hang a bit to get those knitting fingers prepared. HOW EXCITING!

Here’s the listing for the Knitting Olympics:

Adrienne T. - Socks
Alicia C. - undecided
Angie G. - Angora/alpaca lace scarf
Ann - Scarf and hat
Brenda L. - Sweater (a really hard one)
Cathy P. - IS ranch muffler (scarf)
Cecily - Toque (hat)
Cynthia A. - Cage cozy
Eileen - Neaty from Rowan (cardigan)
Heather A. - Hanami stole
Heather K. - Lace section of B. Walker afghan squares
Janine A. - #51-56 B. Walker afghan squares
Jen M. - February lady (cardigan)
Joelle - Cardigan for Lael
Karen G. - Gloves
Kasha - Sweater
Laura S. - undecided
LeAnn W. - Egeblad doily
Lenora K. - cape/poncho
Lora J. - undecided
Lori W. - Scarf of intensive stitches
Lynn F. - One spiral sock (extra long)
Mary Ellen M. - Capri from Rowan (cardigan)
Nupur K. - Short & sweet lacy bolero
Pat - With a Twist Vest
Sarah - Baby things (CONGRATS, Sarah!)
Shannon S. - Cardigan for daughter
Sherry - Anouk (baby dress/tunic)
Siri - Vest
Susan - Baby blanket
Thi - undecided
TJ - Bog jacket
Valerie - Socks

If I’ve forgotten to include your name & project, please email me at knit@knittycouture.com.

Are you training?

Getting up at dawn to swatch? Knitting 1, purling 2 ‘til sundown? Practicing lace stitches until midnight? Well, who’s preparing for a GOLD?! Do you have the stamina? Do you have the drive?! YOU CAN DO IT!

Knitting Olympics start at the shop between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8th–even if the Olympic flame isn’t quite lit, yet (shh, don’t tell). And, remember, the athletes don’t show up to the Olympic stadium without having already trained. Stop by before the event to swatch and pick up any supplies you need. Also, this event will not be supplying any Gatorade or condoning the use of Human Growth Hormone, although there might just be a nurse present to tell you with a great deal of apathy that you’ve sprained a finger (he’s kind of a jerk).

In actuality, this event is for challenging yourself and having a good time.

 

Blogpost courtesy of TJ and Siri.

Grrrrrrr!

Our little knitter friend, Harper, and her mom, Lynnea, were one of our first customers when we opened in November. In fact, I remember meeting Lynnea and seeing how excited she was to find a knit shop opening right by her home.

Harper’s tiger 1

Harper’s tiger 2

Harper’s tiger 3

Harper’s Tiger 4

Harper attends a Waldorf school at which she learns many wonderful things, including knitting. Near the same time in November, she happened upon a book in the shop called Knitted and Felted Toys and found in it a toy tiger she wanted to make. To help her learn about responsibility and money, Lynnea encouraged Harper to save her money so that she could buy the book near Christmastime.

I told this story to my mother-in-law during her Thanksgiving visit, and the kind person that she is, she bought the book for Harper and told me to tell Harper that it was from an admirer.

With (little) help from her mom, Harper finished her tiger, and it looks absolutely adorable! Each time she comes in, and especially on this day, everyone is mightily impressed with her knitting skills. This little one can even knit without looking. Wowzah!

For the tiger’s first photo, Harper placed it in the wall of 220 to imitate the scene of a jungle. Grrrrrrr.

The joys of knitting camp

After spending a few days at knitting camp and far, far away from all the worries of life, it’s been a bit hard to come back and get into the groove of things. The joys of knitting camp still linger and so I reminisce.

Meg Teaching

The DVDs

The Market

SHP yarns

Ball winder

KC Friends

Thi & Meg

Joyce & Thi

thi & amy

KC All the same size

KC - not the same size

The day begins at 9am with Meg going right into answering questions and techniques. Needless to say, the room gets very quiet in anticipation of whatever wisdom Meg may decide to impart on us.

In addition, her company, Schoolhouse Press, makes available incredible books and DVDs on knitting. Meg excitedly informed us of a soon to be released book on double knitting, an awesome technique that creates reversible, two-layered pieces.

A list of supplies is emailed to attendees before camp. I packed whatever yarn, needles, etc., I thought I needed. But honestly, I soon realized it was pointless. We all ended up buying enough yarn, needles, and books to last us for the rest of the year. Here, they’ve set up a “Market” in a room adjacent to the classroom.

That means we had access to everything you’d find at Schoolhouse Press, day in and day out. “Oh, I think I might stretch my legs a bit. Where should I go? To the Market.” Which, by the way, is, literally ten feet away.

Here are all the yarns that Elizabeth, Meg, and knitters of Schoolhouse Press use. I’ve bought a sample of each one so that you can all come by and check them out. And I’ve knowingly increased my stash.

And of course, the swift and ball winder, should you need to wind what you just bought.

I feel very fortunate to have attended camp, meet Meg, Joyce and Amy, and make new friends. Rather than a workshop, camp felt more like a social retreat… which it truly was. It was a three full-day party and was exhausting, but oh, so worth it.

There’s something about camp that makes one want to go again and again. I certainly am looking forward to another trip up north.

The last two pics are just for kicks.

They’re making fun of how short I am. I particularly like Amy’s pose at the end.

Full website coming soon!