I had no idea that so many people celebrated Valentines day! I also had no idea how many of you are born on or have loved ones born around Valentines day. Thank you all so much for your comments, I read and appreciated every single one of them.

Myself personally, I don’t really celebrate Valentines day. I like the lead up to it much better than the day. The chocolates, reds and pinks and all the buzz! C was kind enough to buy me roses one year, but when I learned the price of flowers on that day I asked him not to do it again…any other day is fine though! Most of the time I get a little treat for my mom and call her to wish her a happy Valentines day. She always made the day so fun that I seem to focus more on her than my guy. We really do a good job of expressing ourselves on a daily basis and often have special time alone as it is just the two of us (and simon and yarn) in the house.

So, by this time you are probably starting to scan for the contest winner, I will no longer bore you with my love life mush!

Congratulations Elizabeth! Please check your email and enjoy your shopping!

Now, on to knitting

I am happily test knitting the Gale stole for Anne.

The yarn is Funky Carolina Lace in a soon to be listed colourway. If you are desperate for it please email me…it’s stunning!

I am also working on another design for mag knits to be released in the spring. When I know exact dates I will let you know!

The yarn is Hip Knits Aran Silk…it is quite lovely!

We also have a huge week of updates next week!

Dream in Color Baby and the new colours in Smooshy, Avery Allison Yarns, Dyed in the wool handmade, Cashbah (seriously), a few new colours of Camelspin, Seacoast Handpainted and Zen Strings Merino Tencel!

I also replenished stock on Shelridge farms and Dream in Color Classy!

Wow, I can’t believe it has been 2 weeks since I last posted. Boot Camp was a blast and I brought home some fiber!

While I was gone the incredibly talented Anne announced her new shawl pattern with my yarn. I have been busily dyeing kits so that they can get on their way in time for the pattern release…you can be armed with yarn!

I will be back with a progress post next week, but in the mean time let’s have a january contest!  Leave me a comment telling me whether or not you celebrate Valentines day and why and I will choose a winner for a $20 gift certificate on Thursday!

so good!

I have a toe!

Originally, I hated the shape of the toe…it looks like a duck’s bill to me.

Then I tried it on and it actually fits the shape of my foot well…what do I know?

So I am considering this a success and am now looking forward to my next challenge…the heel. I will be spending most of my day in the airport tomorrow as I travel so I have printed out Wendy’s pattern to keep me moving.

I am heading to Alabama to Funky Boot Camp which is a few of us girls getting together to spend the weekend spining, dyeing and knitting at Funky Carolina’s. Orders will ship as soon as I get back on Monday. I will have email access so I will get back to you in a few days. I hope to have at the very least my first toe up sock done..there is also many other yarns and projects making the trip with me so I can keep busy.

Is it just me or does anyone else get intimidated by new techniques sometimes?

I am firmly a cuff down sock knitter. I understand the construction and the math that goes along with it and it is comfortable for me so I have never knit a toe up sock. A while ago I attempted, but gave up at the first snag I hit…which happened to be in the first row. Recently, I have been desiring a nice pair of knee highs…nothing fancy just some pretty self striping knee highs, but I want to knit them toe up. So with some encouragement from a friend and a great tutorial I went back at it.

So far I have half a toe…not bad! The sock yarn is Funky Carolina in Temple. I am starting to catch on and am finding it a bit fiddly, but I plan on finishing the sock no matter what mistakes I make and then I will start the next sock trying a different toe up method.

So today I encourage you to try something that has been intimidating you. If you have to rip it out, so be it, but at least give it a shot.

I will keep you updated on my progress, I am expecting the heel to be much easier.

My next challenge: stranded colourwork *shudder*

With the completion of the wrap I moved on to my sister’s tank top. I have been promising this to her for a while so I thought I would surprise her at Christmas…or after.

The pattern is from Fitted knits and lucky for me my sister is tiny and fits the smallest size…whoot!

This is the front. It is a really basic drop stitch pattern that just flies…then the back is pretty much all 2×2 ribbing.  The colour looks washed out in this photo, but it is a really beautiful dark blue from Shelridge farms in the DK which is the same yarn I used for the Oh! Canada Wrap. I really love how the yarn very subtly shifts. It is honestly one of the most solid hand dyed yarns I have ever worked with.

I am just splitting for the long neckline so I am hoping to have the front done in a few more nights of knitting. Tuesday night is girls night at my mom’s house so I won’t get any done tonight due to my sister being there so I think I will have to dig through the UFO Pile mountain and find my next victim!

On the spinning front I have been preparing for my next sweater. I am fully aware that my last is not finished, but alas I have run out of yarn again on the sweater that eats yarn…let’s not mention that for now.

This is my own roving in a colourway called Overachiever. Both skeins are worsted weight and I have not quite settled on a pattern yet. I was originally planning on Flair, but I am not sure that I’m going to have enough yardage. The third skein is on the bobbin so I will keep you updated as I go along.

Not a lot of sock knitting going on around here for a few reasons. First of all, I prefer to knit them in the summer when sweaters are too heavy to knit and secondly I seem to be getting a LOT of holes in almost all pairs which is really discouraging me, any suggestions on how to avoid this?

I have been waiting patiently for the sun to show her face so I may photograph my Oh! Canada wrap. So far 3 days of no luck. Yes, I know…it’s winter.

So until the sun shines:

Sorry for the bad picture, red is so hard to photo without natural light.

I have also been busy in the shop! What’s New?

 Malabrigo bulky,  jitterbug, Oceanwind knits lace, fingering and  and funky carolina

Do you remember my Mr. Green Jean Sweater?

Many of you asked which yarn I used. It was the Oceanwind knits worsted  in Razz Cherry that is now in stock!

We have had a bunch of Mystery dyers lately and the fun is not close to stopping. Late last month I added a fantastic Mystery dyer to the shop, her yarns are not yet carried here but will be soon and they are really REALLY beautiful. If you are looking for a treat pick up our current Mystery Dyer. I will also be adding a few left over skeins from previous Mystery dyers later this week.

Thank you all SO MUCH for the incredible response and support of Evangeline. I am truly overwhelmed and flattered by your comments and those sent to me on Ravelry. I had no idea she was going to be on the cover which made the first day of 2008 just that much sweeter. Please send pictures of your mitts!

I am currently working on something for a spring issue of magknits so stay posted!

Things have been a little quiet on the blog, but behind the scenes it is certainly not. I have finally gotten all of your boxing week sale orders out (thank you) and am finishing getting the clubs out. I am also preparing some kits for Anne’s next shawl pattern featuring Sweet Lace.

Oh, and did I forget to mention that Funky Carolina Lace and Sock yarns are up as well as her incredible Spin a Sweater Kits! Please take the time to check these out, you won’t be sorry.

I also wanted to share my favorite Christmas present with you.

C made this for me on a computer, which in itself is a gift as he is not very computer savy. He is going to put it up in my office.

On the knitting front I have finished the Oh! Canada wrap and it is currently blocking. Pictures to come hopefully tomorrow. I have a tendancy to get excited and take things off the blocking board before they are dry causing shrinkage and then a need for re blocking.  Christmas presents with my family were pushed back to the end of January because of a few trips being taken by my parents…so my gifts really arn’t late yet

As much as we love our family and friend how many of you are happy to be knitting something for yourself? I know I am..back to working on the (missed) Rhinebeck Sweater!