Turning Japanese

Maybe it was following the Bento Nouveau Sushi truck. Perhaps it was the fact that none of the Noro Transitions has sold since kniterary opened. Could it have been my close proximity to the Clover Bamboo? I'm not sure. But something made me think Japanese today. It's rather slow here in ye olde wool shoppe. There are at least seven other things that I should/could be doing. Rather than organize classes, place orders, rearrange shelves, update inventory, sweep floors, return calls or tuck in ends on the Bloomfield Cardigan, I decided to start another project. In fairness to me, I have completed all that I can on my daughter's Freedom Wool sweater. Hopefully the new shipment will arrive soon and I can finish the collar and other sleeve. (Sharon did call back - she's short a ball to, so we're both anxiously waiting!) I have tucked in 339 ends on the Bloomfield Cardi - yes, I am counting! And that's just one sleeve and half of the left front panel. Just about more than this knitter can take. I'm almost finished the doll underwear required for Julia's upcoming birthday. At home, I'm on the last few inches of the back of my husband's sweater. (The Fair Isle cardigan has taken a back seat to projects made from wool I carry at the shop.)

The new project - well, it's a beauty. The pattern is one I found last year in a Better Homes and Gardens "Knit It!" magazine. The sweater is a shawl-collar cardigan with a single front button and a hidden tie on the inside. Very easy knitting. It's shown in a solid colour in the magazine. I'm using Noro (Japanese) Transitions in Colour 6 - a khaki/coral/magenta/brown mix - and I'm loving it! And of course, it's on Clover (Japanese) bamboo needles. There's something about using variegated yarn that just makes me want to keep on knitting. It's the surprise you get as every row is knit and the whole thing comes together. This is definitely picture worthy - so as soon as I find my camera.....

What's even more remarkable is this is going to be for me. Yes, I've done it. I've put aside everything for everyone else. I'm not close to starting my holiday knitting and I do have a number of projects in mind. Guess I'll have to learn how to knit in my sleep.

As fall approaches, my spare time decreases. On this year's fall line up - football (Go Gators!), concert band (the drum lessons have paid off!), cross country, Sparks (of course I said I'd help), swimming lessons for three and hockey for two.

Mark and I are hoping to get away for a night - maybe Stratford (a personal favourite) or wine tasting in Jordan Station. The logistics of one day away are mind boggling. But I'm working on it.

Back in the shop the shelves are beginning to fill up. If all goes well the Mille Colori should be here tomorrow. And I just heard from the Nova sales rep today that the new Sublime yarn is arriving next week. It is absolutely lovely - I've got dibs on one pattern book!

Looks like I may have found some Saturday help too, so that should make things easier.

Well - I can hear the Noro calling me from the other room. Must go!

Easy (@#&^$#) Knitting!

Sometimes, logic doesn't work. I've been working on a sweater for my daughter, using a pattern from a 2001 issue of Easy Knitting magazine. I re-discovered the pattern as I was showing one of my customers what could be done with Freedom Wool by Twilley. The pattern was quite cute - a bulky, buttonless, cardigan. Quick and easy. While the yardage of the yarn was out by 5 metres a skein, everything else matched up - i.e. the gauge was the same. So - like I have done many times in the past and will do many times in the future, I figured out the yardage required for the pattern. It worked out to 5 skeins. The customer purchased the wool, I gave her a copy of the pattern, everything was great. Until.....I decided to make the same thing. This is a bulky sweater so knitting it has been a cinch. In the little spare time I've had over the last couple of days, I've managed to complete the back and just about both front halves. So here's the problem. I'm not quite finished the second front piece and I'm working with the 4th skein of yarn. I still have two sleeves and a collar to go. I don't think 50 more metres is going to cut it. I've gone over this and over this, trying to figure out where I went wrong and I JUST DON'T GET IT!!! I'm sorry Sharon - where ever you are. I've already ordered more yarn. Thankfully, it's variegated so I think that a different dye lot (if it turns out the first one can't be matched) won't be too noticeable. I searched out the Errata for that particular issue of the magazine and there was no mention of a mistake in the amount of yarn required. There is no logic.

In other news, the fall shipment has finally started to arrive. Today the FiberTrends patterns came in as did the Naturally Colourworks yarn and the Buttons (a great double-knitting option for kids sweaters). Most of the Colinette Parisienne I ordered and some of the Tao silk made it, as did the Baby Alpaca, Stacey Charles Ritratto ( a new yarn) and the Fiammatino Musa (also new). These yarns are a little fancier than the traditional kniterary fare, but/and, they're perfect for the upcoming season.

The exciting thing is there's still lots more on the way. I think I'll be making an earlier morning IKEA run for another shelving unit.

When I'm not pricing, ordering, re-arranging or catching up on paperwork, I'm dreaming about what I can do with the new stock. I'm doing my darndest to get some things knit for display. Sadly, and ironically, I have less time now to knit than I ever did. What's wrong with this picture?

Otherwise, I'm really enjoying getting to know some of Durham's knitters. A number of people have been in the shop more than once and it's great to have some time to chat with them and see what projects are underway. I learn something new every day and am always humbled by the talent out there.

So, What Have You Been Up To Lately?

Well, there might be someone out there saying, "For crying out loud Kim - change your post!" OK, OK, I hear you. As always, time just seems to fly in my household. All three kids were back in the house as of August 25, and it's been an adjustment! We managed to squeeze in a trip to the Ex on the 27th. They enjoyed themselves but it certainly wasn't the place from my youth! I think I'm turning into one of those "When I was a girl..." people. But really - what happened to the Food Building, the freebies, the Flyer? I don't think Blue Jays baseball or concerts have ever been the same since they tore down the Grandstand.

I took each of the boys out on his own for a back to school shop. No more Please Mum and Old Navy - it's American Eagle and West 49 now, or for the jock in my family, Sport Chek and Naitonal Sports all the way. Thank goodness for my little girl - I can practically outfit her for the year on what it costs to buy one pair of running shoes for the boys.

Life at kniterary has been good. The Thursday night knitting group is a lot of fun - it's only taken a few weeks to build up a decent number of attendees - and there are different people all the time. I really enjoy watching the progress people make on their projects. Hopefully Dana will keep us all posted on the progress of her Bloomfield Throw if she finds the time while she's away at law school. And, in response to Q107's latest contest, I think Anna Mae should be crowned "funniest person with a day job." So what if she took early retirement!

I've felt like the shop has had a rotating door lately, what with visits from salespeople from Diamond Yarns, Estelle Designs and Old Mill Knitting. Problem is, I'm just a girl who can't say "no." But, for kniterary customers, this could be a good thing. I'm really looking forward to the endless supply of new yarns and patterns that will be making their way to 229 Brock in the next little while. Mille Colori by Lang, as featured in a Vogue magazine ad. Baby Ull by Dale or Norway. Naturally Colourworks for scarves and Buttons for kids' sweaters. Pretty, fancy yarns for Christmas knitting and party-wear. Bulky yarns for scarves and cozy sweaters. Loads - and I mean loads - of Fiber Trends patterns. http://www.fibertrends.com/ The list goes on. Check out the Sublime yarns - the DKs are on their way...and you should see the patterns. http://www.novayarn.com/nv/Manufacturers/Sublime.html

And, as if that weren't enough, I have lights. Yes, my dear brother arrived today with tools and equipment in hand and installed fluorescent lighting in the main part of the shop and track lighting in the front. Squinting no longer required!

I appreciate the patience of my customers over the last few months as I have fumbled my way into life as a shop owner. I know there have been days when some may have arrived to find the place unexpectedly closed. Unfortunately, the schedule of my day care provider did not always jive with mine. Throw in a few football practices (my son's, not mine!) and a husband who travels - and works at least one day in Hamilton each week - and things get messy. Therefore, I have had to make some changes. My daughter is off to a new after SK program. And, my fifteen year old has learned to use that modern day miracle called public transportation! However, it still means that kniterary hours will be changing somewhat. These will be posted on the website. But for those of you reading this, you'll be in the "know."

Sunday, Monday - closed (until I can find someone interested in working a few hours a week*)

Tuesday - 10 to 5

Wednesday - 10 to 5

Thursday - 10 to 9 (or later, if we're there knitting)

Friday - 10 to 5

Saturday - 10 to 5

*I'm on the lookout for an enthusiastic, trustworthy knitter who would be interested in working a few hours here and there each week. This could help to open the shop up for longer hours and get those much-demanded courses underway. Durham Regioners - please pass the word!

As for my knitting: I'm more than half way finished the back of my husband's sweater; I need to sew up a Mission Falls' Just Kidding hat for my daughter; started a Freedom Wool sweater for her too; a simple Debbie Bliss sweater is next for my mum, in just the right blue, to thank her for all her help this summer; then, a Netherlands soccer team themed sweater for son one; and a Mod target for son two. Somewhere in there, I'll tuck in all the Bloomfield Cardigan ends.

That ought to keep readers satisfied for a few days. Knitting pictures will follow soon!