An amazing sweater and socks

This year Cherry Tree hill came out with a contest to design a grament using Sock yarn and win $1000. I wanted to design something. I had a head full of ideas and tried lots of designs but I never really managed anything amazing.
When I met Mary Tanti at the Knitting retreat in March she whipped up a little multi directional Teddy bear sweater and then recited the pattern to me from memory. I knew then that she could do this yarn justice and probably win this contest. I got her all the yarn and away she went. We sent the finished sweater to Cherry Tree Hill last week and today I got a call from Cheryl Potter. She loves the sweater and feels it is a winner. The contest is still open for a few more weeks but I am hopeful that Mary will win.
If the sweater wins she will take it to the TNNA and it will be in the fashion show. WOW. I asked Cheryl if I could blog about this. She said sure so I want as many people who read this to leave a comment on what you think about Mary's sweater. Maybe it will help her win. maybe Cheryl will read the comments.
We are rooting for you Mary !!!!!





The socks are something she whipped up with the left overs.
Good Luck Mary

Indigo Moon

This was the nicest looking booth at the Fiberfest. Trish Moon the owner of Indigo Moon and fellow Islander ( she lives and works on Gabriola Island) dyes all this yarn and weaves beautiful items. I was so impressed with her yarn and her great booth. Check out her Web site to look at her great weaving and yarns. She dyes lots of the yarns with natural dyes. The colour of her booth was amazing. I just thought I would share it with you. If you are interested in her yarns you can email her as she doesn't sell on line yet.

Back from Fibrefest

Well that was a lot of fun. I will definitely go back next year. Here are details of our weekend at Fiberfest International in Abbotsford, BC. We loaded the van with yarn and left room for Megan and Meika and off we went. Meika got bored and wanted to knit because Megan and I were knitting. I gave her a sock I was working on to play with off course she ripped it off the needles very quickly. She then worked very hard to get the stitches back on the needles. She got bored with that pretty quick and then she said " Look Grandma - I can knit with my toes" It was quite cute. This knitting amused her for about 1 hour of the trip. She will learn to knit someday, it is in her genes.





We got Meika to work once we got there setting up the booth. She put out all the knit dolls, she hugged and kissed everyone as she put them out. We finished setting up the next morning just in time for the show to open.










There were lots of wonderful animals at the Fibrefest. Meika enjoyed the animals a lot.



This is Reimer - He is also known as the Viking Santa - He makes Drop Spindles, Nostepinde and Lace bobbins. This is a picture of Reimer spinning lace cashmere. This is the most unlikely thing you could imagine this guy doing. He was great fun to meet and it was wonderful to watch this big biker looking guy spin such delicate lace.













Look at this cute alpaca. He had a permanent grin on his face.
And there were shoppers and spinners and wonderful people.
I had a great time. I got to see 2 old friends from a very long time ago. It was wonderful to catch up on everything. I got to see lots of people who were at the knitting retreat and lots of internet customers that I only know by email or ebay names. To all of you a special Hi from Quadra. I met a lot of people who read the blog so I will make a better effort to get something interesting on here more often for you to read.
Then on the way home today we had a a nice Family reunion for Mother's Day. This is my wonderful family. We all met at a park and had a picnic. What a nice Mother's Day present that was for me.

I was a great time but now we have to unload the van - Uck!!. The next show is the Knit out in Victoria.

Want to see something cute

Here is a picture of my new kitten (maybe). We have always had stray cats adopt us and have never chosen a kitten. Megan's cat had 4 kittens 2 weeks ago and I would love one of the kittens. I really like the little black one with white face and black chin spot. This cat is also the runt. It is sooooooo sweet.

On the knitting front. I am really busy packing yarn to go to Fibrefest International in Abbotsford. I will be selling yarn May 11-12 so if you are in the area please drop by my booth and say Hi.

The next month is going to be very busy too. I am going to Edmonton on a shopping spree with my Mom, Megan and Meika the last week in May. I'm looking forward to that.

In June we are going to the Victoria Fiberfest and Knitout. This is going to be great fun. Fun Knits is sponsoring the knitout this year. Since we are the sponsor Fun Knits staff get VIP seating at the Yarn Harlots presentation on the Saturday night. I am looking forward to meeting her. Sunday is the Knitout which was very fun last year. I had a booth (tent) and sold lots of sock yarn. This year should be even better. So watch for updates as these events come and go.

Let me know what you think. Should I get the kitten. I already have 3 cats and 1 stray that we feed.

Busy

Just so people know I haven't fallen off the world or got lost. I am still around just very busy. I will blog soon I hope.

try our web cam shopping

Hello, its Friday again. And some of you already know about our innovative new Idea with web cam shopping. Some of you may not know about it yet. Click the link below agree then enter your name and you will see our store in real time on the web cam. There is a chat window where we can communicate. I can show you new yarns, patterns, or just chat about your projects.
If you wish to make a purchase, I can send it on Monday if you call in your credit card number or I will send it as soon as a cheque arrives.
First time web cam customer get 10% off their purchase and free shipping over $50.
So just click (below) to enter a new way to shop from your home or office.

Meeting: May42007

Hope to see you soon
~Megan

Friday web cam shopping

Its Friday again :-)
Click on the link below to join us in the store and have a look via the web cam.
Meeting: 27April2007
I look forward to helping anyone who wants to look at yarns or patterns with our in store web cam. Remember you will get 10% off your first web cam purchase and free shipping over $50.
Hope to see you soon
~Megan

Knitter's night

Last Thursday was our month Knitter's night. We had fun as usual.

Darcy is wearing her first sock. She is new to sock knitting and has already cast on for the second sock.

Helen is wearing a beautiful sweater she knit from Cherry Tree Hill Potluck Bulky. I love the colours.

Deb is working on a vest of Cotton Patagonia. Turning out very nice. Too bad the colour isn't good in that picture.

Carol our newest knitter is working on a top down pullover. We are inventing the pattern from an old favorite sweater.

Meika is playing with knitting needles. She really loves my knitting needles. She didn't have any knitting done to show - can't seem to keep her knitting on the needles.

TGIF Web cam shopping day :-)

I am happy to announce that every Friday seems to get better with the web cam shopping. Click the link below to experience web cam shopping in real time. Get great customer service in the comfort of you own home ... or office for that matter ;-)
And don't forget I'm still offering 10% off and free shipping for first time web cam customers.
So come check it out
~Megan

Meeting: 20April2007

Weavers are lots of fun

I had a fun weekend at the Weavers retreat. I was 1 of 6 vendors at the retreat. When the weavers and spinners were all busy the vendors had down time. Of course I knit socks. I am working on my husbands Opal Autumn socks. They are turning out great. I even converted a couple of great weavers to sock knitting. Anna (sitting concentrating hard) had to learn everything. She got a crash course in knitting and purling and when I left she had 4 rows done. She will do great.

Jane already knew how to knit so she just needed a few pointers and she looks like a pro. Jane is a wonderful weaver and has a fantastic shop for weavers and spinners. I even bought a chenille scarf kit from her. It is time to dust off my Rigid Heddle loom. So I guess the conversion went both ways. The weavers inspired me too.
I also got a great offer I couldn't refuse to buy a spinning wheel. I will get it on Tuesday. I am going to keep it at the store. I bought some fleece from Joy. She has sheep on Cortez Island. I met her last year when I went to the retreat at Hollyhock.
If you are coming to the International Fibrefest in Abbotsford you will get to see all of these vendors including me. We are all going to be there. May 11-12. I wonder if Jane and Anna will have the socks done by then. I wonder if I will have my husbands socks done by then.

Blocking a shawl with a toddler

It was very fun, Meika had a very creative way to block the shawl. I finished the shawl a few days ago and needed to block it since I want it for the store window. Meika really wanted to help so since I wanted to encourage her knitting interest I let her helped.
I always use knitting needles to hold the edges straight. I have never invested in blocking wire. I figure 3mm and under needles are just right. Here are the pictures. The last one was after she went home. I forgot to get a picture of the shawl in the store window. It looks great. It is knit with Country Silk from Fiddlesticks on 5.5mm needles. The pattern is here. It is the same pattern we knit for the Teddy bear shawls at the retreat.

TGIF

Sorry, Im getting a bit of a late start. There is a weavers retreat happening on the island and my mom is going to have a booth at it, so I have been helping her a bit with that this morning. I am doing the web cam shopping today so click on the link below to begin your fun knits expirience.Come and see the new NEON Opal sock yarn and with the web cam you can almost feel the lovely Cashmere we got in. Dont forget on your first order you get 10% off and free shipping over $50. Hope to see ya today :-)

Meeting: 13April2007

~Megan

Here are some pictures from the Weavers retreat. It was fun tonight selling yarn. I am so out of my league here as I don't know much about weaving and spinning. It was lots of fun anyways and yarn is yarn whether you knit, crochet weave whatever we all love yarn. There were a few other booths I didn't get pictures of. They opened the doors and we all got busy no more pictures got taken. I will be there all day tomorrow too.

My booth is the first picture

Aurelea Wools

Jane Stafford

Pagen Creations

New Sock Yarn

First I want to show you the cutest Easter basket, then on to the new sock yarn. We had a fun easter with Meika. She had more fun with the fake grass and jumping in and out of the basket than anything. I will be cleaning up plastic grass for months. We had a lot of fun

The new sock yarn is Opal Neon. It arrive on Thursday and I am in love with the colours. I want a pair of 1934 and 1933 for myself. I also got in the Atumn Hand painted yarn from Opal. It is amazing. My husband want a pair of these. I told him I wanted to knit them by hand for him instead of on the machine and you know what he said. "Well I want a pair not just one." I think I am getting a bad reputation for knitting just one sock. That made me realize I do need to finish some pairs so he might just get a machine knit pair. We will see. It might be a matter of principle now.

Both are available at the Web Store.

Happy Good Friday

Meeting: 6April2007
Click on the link above to come and see Fun Knits Yarn Shop live on web cam. You can shop and chat and ask questions or just pop in to see what its all about. Hope to see some of you today :-)
Megan

When babies meet

The Mom's and Grandma's have more fun. Last week in the store we had a fun meeting. Keira and Meika met for the first time. Meika is 2 weeks older than Keira. Karen (Keira's Grandma) and I have been waiting for this moment since before they were both born. We went through the pregnancies of our daughters together and shared our knitting for the newborns etc. So this was a big moment. So what did the girls do - well what do any girls do when they get together in the store - They shopped. It was very cute. As if either one of them needs a new hand knit sweater.

Another original Teddy sweater and Happy Knitters

Thanks to Marilyn for emailing me this picture of her original Teddy Bear Sweater from the retreat. This is a great little sweater so I am glad to get a picture of it. The group from White Rock left before we got our Teddy bear group pictures. Here is the picture of the White Rock group knitting on the ferry on the way home. What a happy looking bunch. That is the only way to enjoy a ferry ride.

Mother Natures April Fools joke on us

I just had to blog about this. Anyone who knows where I live in BC knows we hardly ever get snow. Well we are really getting it right now. I can't believe it April 1st and its snowing. The 2 pictures, Megan and Meika playing in the snow. They made a Snow bunny. (Picture will be on the blog later. Megan has it in her camera.)also a picture of my spring flowers out in bloom. See the size of the flakes. This snow is actually sticking on the ground. Very pretty but I hope it goes away soon

New colours of Floral Spectrum Sock Yarn

We have some new colours of Floral Spectrum sock yarn list on the Web site.
They are Lilac, Lobelia and Country Garden. We also have something for the spinner and needle felters. Judy Maclean had some dyed tops for sale so I am offering them on the internet too. They make me want to take up spinning. I know nothing about spinning but I am sure going to learn soon . This fibre is beautiful. Go have at look at both additions to the web store.

happy mega meeting friday

Hi everyone.
The retreat was so much fun, I hope next year Meika will be sleeping all night so that we are able to stay at the camp. I hope to see a few retreaters on the mega meeting today.
Don't be shy, come see the store and chat with me. I'm still offering 10% your first purchase from mega meeting and if that order is over $50 I will throw in free shipping.
See you soon
~Megan
p.s
click on the link below to begin your mega meeting experience
Meeting: march3007

~Karen ... I got it working, hope to see you soon :-)

When Bloggers meet

There is something magical when bloggers meet. When you read someones blog you get to know the person a bit. You certainly get to know what style of knitting they like even what colours they prefer. You can also get a sense of what they are like. Same with email friends. I met a lot of people this weekend who read the blog. I met one person who I have got to know by email - Audrey. It is great to finally meet her.

I met Peg whose blog I follow, I told her she is just like her blog. She is just like I imagined she would be. Brenda whose blog I have followed for a long time and I have known for a while as she is a great customer also got to meet Peg for the first time at the retreat. I think bloggers have a special bond. This picture is Brenda and Peg with their Teddys.

The next pictures are of Mary and her Teddy. She made an original Teddy Bear sweater. Isn't he handsome. I was quite impressed how quick she whipped up that sweater and then dictated the pattern to me from memory.

I have got a lot of feedback about the retreat and most of it was positive so I talked with Camp Homewood today and they have given us next years date. The 2nd Spring Knitting Retreat will be March 28-30th 2008. I hope to see many of you again and lots of new knitter too.