The Yarn Shop and Fiber Place

February is for Finishing!

Yay! I love the idea of a whole month to concentrate on organizing and finishing up some projects, as well as the fabulous alliteration (yes, I am a geeky language major). I’ve been puttering about my so-called studio lately and “finding things” which is good and bad. Good for fairly obvious reasons. Bad because of the sheer scary number of them. I decided to make a list (heaven help me) of my unfinished projects. I suppose, theoretically, I should also make a list, a queue I believe it’s called, of planned projects with yarns that are already in my stash, but that doesn’t seem quite so urgent. I think I’ll concentrate on the finishing. I’m kind of excited about The List, in a weird sort of way. Not that I don’t make lists all the time; I do. But I tend to make them and then promptly lose them or forget about them. I hope that doesn’t happen to this list. I want to pin it up to my wall and cross off project after bleeping project for that wonderful “I’m actually accomplishing something” feeling. Hmmm… in writing this I seem to recall that I made a list like this a few years ago. I wonder what happened to that one? No matter! I will not get distracted by petty failings in the past! That was then – this is 2012! Moving forward with hope and optimism! I did manage to finish two things this week:

My Kool-Aide dyed socks:

And my gorgeous Bohus Swing Coat, designed by Nicky Epstein.  Please forgive the blatant lack of humility but I’m SO excited about this one! You might just see me wearing it everywhere.

Oh, and the cat likes it too.  That’s very important:

Best of luck to you all on your February Finishing.  I’ll keep you posted….

Barbie Pink

All was going swimmingly and Things were being accomplished:   I knit in the New Year
with a sweet mitten in organic Merino that I had dyed myself.  I had written out the pattern and was on the verge of posting it on Ravelry and our own website.  I had made Great Progress on an unfinished sweater from … shall we just say awhile ago. We had completed inventory at the shop.  Yes, all was going very well, when I made the bold and fearless move to clean up my so-called-studio in preparation for the many wondrous fibery projects I’m dreaming of for 2012, when slam, bam, siss-boom-bah, I threw my back out.  All dreams of all kinds came to a screeching halt while I could do nothing for several days but lie in bed and let the cats walk all over me (literally). Today, praise be, I feel myself to be back among the living, although the very slow-moving, delicately-walking living for fear of wrenching the thing again.  Clearly the lesson to be learned here is:  housework can be very dangerous.  Probably best not to do it at all.

Now, to slowly and oh-so-carefully return to some of my ongoing projects:

Here’s some of my recent handspun yarn that I’ll be putting in the shop for sale:

Here’s part of my latest dyeing project, also to go to the shop for sale:

And so, friends!
Let’s surge forth into the New Year, ready to overcome whatever crazy
obstacles may come our way!  Best wishes to all for a HEALTHY and happy 2012!

~Barb

Hello friends!

What a glorious fall it’s been, and now with the chill setting in, we can say with certainty that it’s time to knit!  We’ve been receiving some exciting new things at the shop, just in time for your upcoming projects, as well as gift-making season.  Come by and check them out!

New Yarns

Just in this week, a new box of Mountain Colors River Twist yarn in several beautiful new color combinations.  River Twist is the gorgeous, soft Merino wool yarn with the handspun look.  I noticed right away that I’m crazy for the new colorway, Crazy Creek.  It’s pink!  But that’s me.  I’ll be you will find your favorite colors in this box, too.

Also just in:   a new shipment from Habu Textiles including new colors of their Silk/Stainless Steel yarn and the Fine Merino, and Shosenshi Viscose (linen paper) yarn.  And for those who love natural fibers, even in their novelty yarns, Habu has a wool pom pom yarn:  adorable little puffs of wool on a carry-along thread.  What fun will you dream up for that?

And the coolest thing just in may be the official Bobcat hats, mittens, scarf, and Christmas stocking kits!  They’re amazing, and developed and made here in Montana. You may have seen the recent article in the Chronicle. We have them and what fun projects they can be for presents. Get in the spirit and Go Bobcats!

New Books

200 Fair Isle Motifs by Mary Jane Mucklestone.  From simple and understated to wildly colorful, these motifs will inspire your Fair Isle creations for years to come.  A must-have for the color-knitting-lover’s library.

Jane Austen Knits, 2011, from Interweave Press.  What a concept!  Beautiful creations inspired by all things Jane.  Come and see it!

Vogue Holiday 2011:  Vogue Knitting does it again; this issue is bursting with amazing knits.  I’m making my list and checking it twice…

Have a wonderful, crafty weekend, and we’ll hope to see you soon…

Barb and all your friends at The Yarn Shop