The Katoomba LYS

A few weeks ago, David invited us to visit his LYS - Katoomba Wool & Needlecraft...

We weren't really sure where we were heading, but Katoomba isn't all that big, and we knew we were in the right place when we saw this cute sign in the middle of the footpath...hee hee hee - a knitting sheep (I wonder if he is knitting in cotton???)

Just in case we had doubts, we found the trail of yarnbaskets to lead us right to the door...

And inside - all sorts of treasures and delights. If I had to describe this store in one word it would be "essentials" -

The store has all the yarn lines, in all the colours from Australian Country Spinners (Patons, Panda and Cleckheaton) as well as Naturally. There was also quite a collection of British yarns such as Twilleys of Stamford and Sirdar.

Although not the main focus of the store there was also some luxury yarns, such as quite a bit of Jo Sharp in stock, but not quite the entire collection. And there were also a few novelty yarn s (however, the store was not overrun with them.)

As far as the fruity new vegan yarns (such as bamboo, soy, maize or corn, and hemp) - they haven't seem to made it to this store - yet!

My guess is that a lot of the custom for this store comes from 'traditional' knitters who may not adventure away from machine washable 8ply wool crepe...

The flavor of the day for us was the Twilley's of Stamford new yarn, Freedom Spirit. I think 3 of us walked away with enough for a garment out of this fantastic yarn (I have already completed my bolero!)

Of course, one LYS is much like another if you don't get any personality from the staff. Jan - the owner - was on hand to help us with all our queries. If you listen to Sticks&Strings, you have probably already met Jan, as David interviewed her for one of his earlier shows. She is every bit as loverly in person, and, I discovered, has great taste in dogs...

Yes - that calendar in the middle there is a whole year of Papillons! And she owns two Papillons herself, quite possibly distant cousins to Pierre...

If you are driving up the Blue Mountains I would recommend popping in and saying hello to Jan. She is incredibly chatty, and didn't mind us bringing our take-away coffees into the shop while we browsed. (For some of us it was the first caffeine hit of the day, and we really needed it!)

Shadow Tweed Sweater

This is what I have accomplished so far with my shadow tweed - front, back and sleeves knitted separately and then joined in the round and shoulder shaping completed via raglan decreases and a v-neckline put in.

I made the pieces of the jumper slightly smaller than I would usually and am completing a sleeve/side seam gusset to make up the extra width - yes, it was intentional. I wanted long colour repeats, and wanted to experiment a bit with the construction. I have grafted in one of the side gussets, and only have to complete the other to have a finished garment. I am thinking this will be a great hot chocolate, on the couch, in front of the telly, pouring rain outside kinda jumper....

New blog - welcome Sally

Sally - the unofficial leader of the Rubi and Lana group, has finally given into her blog-envy and created her own at pompoms.wordpress.com. Please pop on over and say "hi!"

Sally is also playing with Shadow Tweed at the moment, making a jacket from the Patons booklet. She made the comment that this is the first time in 20 years she has used a pattern, so hopefully she will have lots of wonderful, one-off designs to share with us when she gets into the swing of things (hehehe - put you in it now, haven't I Sally!)

Canberra knitters

I checked out the Canberra knitters blog, and looks like I'll be able to make it to the S'n'B this thursday evening (the 5th) at Starbucks Civic. Look forward to catching up with you all again!

I am actually heading down to Canberra tomorrow, and I'm not sure what interweb access I will have while I am away, so if you don't hear from me for a week - don't worry. I'm living life!

boobies Mach II

Yay!

All the boobrocks have sold, so Miss V has $100 US to help with her medical costs.

Currently I have mach II of the boobrock beads baking in the oven. The ones have a bit of a tan, so if, unlike me, you aren't a pasty pink colour - these might appeal to you more.

I'll have another dozen up in the etsy shop on friday, and again, if they go within a week I'll chip in extra to the insurance sucks fund.

THANKS FOR HELPING MISS VIOLET!

What a weekend!

sorry, but all in dot points for the moment - hope to flesh it out over the next couple of days or so!

****Miss Violets boobrock fund :-

• so far $US60 has been raised for Miss V from the boobrock stitchmarkers in my etsy shop.
• There are four pairs left - get in quick if you wanted some!
• Thanks to Taph, ChocTrudi, Wendy, Kate, David and anyone else who has linked to the shop or publicised the fundraiser.
• All orders received by the time this post is published have been packaged and will be taken to post office tomorrow to begin their various trips around the world!

****Blue Mountains knitters guild roadtrip

• There is a loverly pic on Kate's blog, and a cool debrief on Lara's blog about our adventure up to the mountains.
• We stopped at the Wool Inn in Penrith along the way. There are pics lurking on my camera waiting for me to do an LYS review! Never fear, Penrith locals - although we all boughts lots of loverly knitterly things and yarn, we came nowhere near to emptying the shop (thou not for lack of trying!)
• I succumbed to the beauty of new Paton's Shadow Tweed in autumnal reds. Because this is a new yarn I plan to write a review of the product (so far V yummy!)

****Canberra Knitters!

• A Harlot inspired Knit-in-public is being organised by the Canberra s'n'b. Details are on taph's blog . Don't forget your socks-in-progress
• I'll be in Canberra this weekend - I'd like to spend an hour or so meeting up with some of the cool Canberra knitters - is there a s'n'b on this weekend? or can we have an impromptu one?
• drop me a line ginger_nut(at)bigpond(dot)com if your keen and we will sort something out!

****post goodies!

• I recieved my final package from SP9 - Raquel, you're fantastic. Go check out her blog, and her WIP ink artwork!
• I won a competition on the Shopping Sherpa's blog - and was send a great satchel bag full of goodies. TSS is selling these on ebay- i recommend checking them out.
• I plan to elaborate on both of these (complete with pictures) soon too!

sorry for the slackness, but I want to post and am to busy to sit and do it properly!

busy busy...

I have been busy starting out at work this week - the only way I could have more caffiene in my system is if I had it administered interveinously!

Apart from running off to catch buses into the city, I have been updating my etsy shop - I want to have a full range up because it seems a couple of podcasters are going to be featuring me on their show. Below is a peek of what is in stock! Listen to this weeks show to learn how to get a bonus.
I have also been sending a few emails back and forth with Miss Lime - and will be doing my bit to help out with the fundraising efforts. Here is a peek - I should get them into the shop on Monday.

Here is a progress shot of the polo shirt I am designing. It's glarey, but I am using some cotton I got off ebay to sort out the design stage. If the pattern works I will get some colours that compliment me a little better for a more refined version.

And here is my primary colour yarn, all knitted up in a funky swatch that will probably become a cushion. I have recieved good feedback about this colourway, so it will be in the shop - eventually.... probably when I start doing decent shifts at work and not annoying half-shift training sessions where I am being taught stuff I know better than the instructors (yes - I know, just a tad bit glib there, but I am sooo bored. I need the coffee to keep me awake during class!)And finally - here is a picture of Pierre, looking sweet, innocent and like he hasn't chewed the crap out of my headphones or the nose of my meerkat soft toy!

Ned the knitter...

Just got back from knitting at Rubi and Lana and was surprized that we had a little celebrity within the group today.


A gentleman entered the store and introduced himself as David. This was followed with a barrage of questions such as "Blue mountain David?", "Sticks-and-string David?" and "Podcast David?". Thou none of us had met David before, we knew him from the cameos he has been making in the blog-o-sphere recently.


And why is David so famous (or, perhaps infamous)? Because he happens to have a really unique podcast at sticks and string - by an Australian Bloke who knits. The show is updated every saturday, so get thee along and listen.


Because I finally met David (who has become a regular at SSK) I decided to pass on this clip I found at youtube


hope you enjoy, cos I did...