Another Yarn Shop - with a twist

A PDX Knit Blogger posted information about Yarnia, so I can take no credit, other than spreading the word.


I won't be able to go to the grand opening on February 2, but, even though I need more yarn like I need a hole in the head, it's such an interesting concept, I'll have to visit the SE Portland store soon.

I will say that I have successfully used up all but 1/3 ball of some of the oldest yarn in my stash. The Elderflower skirt is knit. It just needs buttons and I'll post pictures.

Tuesday talk

New shirts
Although I didn't gift Tom with the promise of at least one shirt a month for 2008, I've just continued the tradition. Considering I haven't stopped finding new dog fabrics, it only makes sense that I keep making shirts.
 

New Machine
Tom was the first to benefit from my new cover stitch machine, which made short work of finishing the sleeves and hems. I have mentioned that I am susceptible to suggestion and the Fiberly friends has been talking about cover stitch machines on and off for a few months. A couple of weeks ago, I succumbed to the power of suggestion and started researching machines. In the end, with feedback from my Fiberly friends, some local sewing guild members and reviewing Debbie's excellent Coverstitch FAQ, we headed to Montavilla Sewing Center, where I opted for the Baby Lock Cover Stitch, to sit along side my Baby Lock serger and sewing machine. I think I am set for machines for a good long while.

New Knitting
Although I haven't posted recently to Ravelry, I have been browsing and among my friends projects, I found the Elderflower skirt by Ruth Sørensen. It intrigued me because I love skirts and it's knit without a gauge swatch, so it was just a matter of picking out some yarn and knitting away. Here's my progress from last week. I'm now on the stockinette portion, and admit to being a bit bored, but it is a good take along project since stockinette doesn't require that I pay attention. The yarn is a sock yarn I picked up when I first started knitting for $1 a ball. Craftmart became Lee Ward's which became Michael's. The yarn has been aging in my stash a really long time.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Though she won't see this and you can't email her any greetings, it bears noting that today is my mom's 81st birthday. Currently, she lives in Sun City West, AZ, but we are working hard to change that. After four years of "Absolutely not!" in August after spending a week of al fresco lunches and dinners, she seemed to soften her stance. So we set out to find a nice place for her to move not too far from us, address all possible objections and present it all to her at Christmas.

So far the words "I'm moving" haven't been spoken, but in February we head south to help fix the little house deficiencies and, with luck, she'll sign with the realtors, referred by Dianne and the decision will be made.


In the meantime, I've been single-mindedly working on her birthday gift which is more appropriate to Pacific NW winters than desert SW, but when I saw the picture in the November/December issue of Crochet Today! it screamed "Mom!" It's my second crochet project and, as expected there was plenty of un-crocheting, but I do have to admit, even for a novice, crochet seems to grow much more quickly than knitting. Though in the end I still prefer knitting, it's nice to be able to decipher crochet patterns now; it opens up lots of options.







This should have arrived on her doorstep yesterday and hopefully she likes it. It was crocheted using Elann Highland Wool yarn in color Redwood.










Mom and me

Dogs on Thursday...on Friday

My friends and family know me well. Here are some doggy things I received for Christmas.







But nothing can hold a candle to the real dogs.

Jake asks,"Is that all there is?"


Mandy says, "Hey, I'm not proud."


Tootsie says, "Leave me alone. I'm sleeping."