Conquering mesh stitch

I'm one of those keep your head down and keep moving knitters, so its rare that I admit defeat. Mesh stitch had me baffled, I made a hemp shopping bag, every round seemed to have a different number of stiches so I'd make up some kind of compensating decrease or yarn over and keep going. When it was done, it had a line up one side that looked like a bad surgical scar. I wound it back ito balls and shoved it in the bottom of my bag. Next I tried a beaded scarf in a mesh stitch. I strung the beads onto a slippery rayon yarn first which was no small feat, then began to knit. There were only thirty stitches but any slip up resulted in the all the knitting unraveling.

Bowed, bloodied but still not ready to admit defeat, I asked for help from Linda Michaluk and Patricia Landry of Swallowhill Creations. After about five minutes working with big yarn and pony beads, I got it. I've been working on a short rowed scarf with mesh stitch and I can really do it now.

Don't unravel get help! It really is true.

walking back and forth

The new space is shaping up and I've been working on executing the move next week. So far we have dragged alot of backstocked yarn to the new space and placed it neatly in its new home. at the same time I've been looking at new yarns and patterns for the fall. Lots of yummy things and choosing is not easy. I'm particularly excited about a new alpaca wool in all natural undyed colors from Aslan Yarns. Shelley has been knitting baby sweaters and blankets that are so cute. I 'm entranced by a little bear with his own handknit sweater.

June is bustin' out all over

In knitting shops the summer months are usually quiet. Shop owners will busy themselves making samples, drinking iced tea and posting to their blogs. This June we will be getting our new shop space ready and moving the last week of June to the other end of this building. We'll still be at 5204 Kingston Pike but in Suite #1. The new space is twice as big as this shop so we will be able to spread out a little and have a small classroom for messy crafts like wet felting, nuno felting and dyeing.
We also will have new employees: Shelley Hecht, a knitter with lots of experience and if you don't already know her, I think you''ll find her gentle ways and love of the craft inspiring. Jessica Hamilton will be here for July and August. She is a fiber arts major at Berea College and will be our gal Friday helping with the move and teaching Kids Kamp. She is also looking forward to working with adults as well so watch for opportunities to see what younger knitters have to share.