Violet Knits

Slow to Post

I have been wanting to post for the past week, but haven't had the time.  Well, I did have some time last Wednesday.....I actually closed the store and took time off, but I was busy sitting around in my pjs knitting for most of the day.  Yes, I took a day off and I actually knitted....something for myself/the shop.  This is what I am working on now.  It is the Provincial Waistcoat from Interweave Knits Winter 2006.  Since I usually am too hot to wear actual sweaters, I thought that this would be nice to have to wear in the store with my long sleeved tees and turtlenecks.  So far, the pattern has kept me interested and Iam making decent progress.  This is how far I got last week.  I am now past the waist and am working on the bust increases.  I wouldn't recommend the pattern for a beginner, it is geared more towards the advanced beginner/intermediate knitter.  So far, I have only run into a few spots were more information would have been nice, but other than that, the pattern is working out fine.  Here is the detail of the cable and twisted stitches.  I decided to make the vest out of Tibet from Ornaghi Filati.  This is a tweedy wool blend that is nice to work with and has a nice stitch definition. 

I also worked on my Bristow sweater.  The sleeves are complete and I blocked the pieces.  You can see how I blocked them by clicking here.  I show how to steam block in this photo album.  I chose steam blocking because it is quick, however I feel that it is not as effective as wet blocking. The sweater is actually completed, but I am not sure that I like the frogs that I chose as its closure.  I am contemplating adding a zipper instead, but since I really don't want to sew one of those on, the frogs may stay.  I will post pictures of the sweater later this week.   

Hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  I will leave you with this lovely picture of my daughter's first loaf of bread.  She baked and cooked all day long with me for Thanksgiving and learned to make pie crusts and home made bread.

Actual Knitting Content

I have been knitting.....I know that is hard to believe.  While I don't have as much time as I would like, nor do I get to work on the projects I want to, I do get some things done.  Here are the almost completed sleeves for my Bristow sweater that I started in January. All of the other pieces are done, I just hadn't worked on the sleeves since March.  Once these are complete, I can put it together and have a new sweater to wear.  Interesting how I have a pink background for this.....the sweater is actually green on a grey table.  The close up of the cable makes the sweater look grey.  So, here are the details of the sweater:

Pattern-Bristow from Knitty
Yarn- Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in Moss green

My goal is to complete the sweater by the end of next week.  I have some other projects that I would like to start soon.

On the store front......we just received our first shipment from Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks.  This is the bombyx roving (silk) that we just received.  Now I really need to bug Susan (one of my instructors) to teach me to spin.  Just looking at this makes you want to do something, anything with it!  Of course, I received other rovings and yarn, but this one is the prettiest! 

That is all for now.....I plan on taking pictures of some of the completed projects in the store over the weekend as I have done some knitting.

This Just In.....

We got it!!! Finally!  Everyone has been asking for this book since Knitter's Magazine Fall 2006 was sent out.  Of course I am talking about Victorian Lace Today.  The book is beautiful......lots of lace patterns that I haven't seen before, beautiful photos of the lace and places all over the UK.  So far, I would have to say that it is a winner.....have already sold several copies and it just came in yesterday.  I am only excited about this book because it is lace...and I love to knit lace.  I think that I will have to have a knit a long in the store for this book so that I can knit something out of it....just don't know what I am going to do yet.......there are soo many to choose from.  Then I would have to decide on what yarn to use....this could get interesting!!!

Well, I am off to Johnny's football game......they are playing on a Thursday since tomorrow is a holiday.  This is really going to screw up my sleep schedule.  If they beat the Roseville Tigers, and Rocklin beats Woodcreek, Oakmont could be going to the playoffs.  That would extend the season. This should be interesting!

Confessions of an inconsistent blogger

Wow!  Has it really been that long since I have blogged?  Have I really been that busy?  Must have been......I had even forgotten my user name and password.  If there is anyone out there checking my blog anymore, I am sure that you are shocked.  Unfortunately, owning a yarn shop seriously cuts into my blogging time.  I will attempt to rectify this, but time will tell!

So, what have I been up to?  Mostly knitting store samples, trying to find the right yarns to carry in my shop and trying to have a life outside of my business.  How has it been going?  Well, it has been interesting to say the least.  The kids still have their activities: Johnny is still playing football and has done well personally (not the team so much) and Tori is cheering for her Jr. High this year.  Both have been keeping me busy.  I am hoping to add an album of my recent completed projects and the projects that I have in progress. 

The store has added a new mascot.  Say hello to Tink. She is much bigger now.  The picture of her here was taken when we first adopted her.  She was abandoned and found by Erica (she shops at the store) and, sucker that I am, was adopted as a store kitty.  She spends most of her time here, and part of her time at my home.  This way, she is supervised most of the time!

Well, that is enough for now........I plan on blogging again this week.....let's keep our fingers crossed!