The Knitting Experience Café

Babies inspire so much, don't they? That warm fuzzy, awwww... that complete strangers exclaim upon seeing a wee little head and scrunched up face. The odd habit of the adults in the checkout line at the grocery store to rock back and forth when a baby is crying, as though each one is holding the actual baby. Stories of our own babies, or even our own childhoods. But most of all, babies inspire us to give. These precious little angels who aren't yet capable of actually ASKING for anything, make us want to give them the world. 

For knitters, the arrival of a new little person inspires us to set our needles to work. We want to ensure that the tiny little head is covered against the chill with the most adorable hats, that the feet have handcrafted booties, and the little baby bodies and bellies are swathed in cuddly blankets and sweaters. 

For all those with a baby arriving in their lives soon, or the lives of someone close to you, here is your Inspiration Monday: The Vintage Baby Cardigan from Shibui Knits. It is knit in one piece, from bottom up, out of Shibui Sock (meaning that it is completely machine washable and dryable for all those baby spill ups, downs, and sideways.) All you need is 3 skeins of Shibui Sock for sizes newborn, 6mos, 12mos.

Why all these thoughts of babies? No - no more for me, thank you very much. 

 My two monkey boys are more than enough. See?

One of our regular TKE knitters, Emily, is expecting her very first baby. To celebrate we had a shower, knitter style.

In a frustrating turn of events, I managed to come down with the most horrid cold right before the shower and was unable to attend. Huge thanks to Bridget for organizing everything, and to Becka for taking pictures and handling the shop.

Since I wasn't there I don't know exactly who made what, but that's ok. From the pictures, you can see the love that went into each and every gift, and how special Emily is to us all.

I think that last one is my favorite.  I hear that Jen came up with it - is that right?? How can I get a T-shirt like it?

While I wasn't able to make it to the shower, I finally got to see Emily and give her my little present.

Now we get to wait and watch as her little guy (yes, it is a boy) grows into all the knitted and quilted things. 

Ok, I'll show you the socks.

They are called Vertigo by FIgheadh Yarnworks. The yarn is Fine by Spud and Chloe. The pattern makes me happy because it looks beautiful and elegant swirling down your foot, but is easy peasy to remember and knit. After the first repeat, you can see what needs to happen where - thus the perfect knitting for camping out on the couch all weekend.  As you know, I don't usually knit with green -just not one of my usual colors - but this green, called Cricket, was just what these socks needed. 

I'm not the only one who was taken with Cricket. Barbara selected it for an adorable top that she made for her granddaughter.

She is also making great progress on her Concetta Cardigan. (I hear that a new pattern will be available soon from Elizabeth Smith!)

Speaking of Concetta, check out Susan's stunning version:

She went ahead and placed the two buttons called for in the pattern, but prefers the one button closure. I like this way of wearing it. 

Susan also finished off the Kiri KAL! 

The yarn is Malabrigo sock. Thanks to everyone's beautiful shawls using sock yarn, I have come to really appreciate the many incredible uses of sock yarn. 

For example, have you seen the recent issue of knitty? There's a pattern by a knitter very dear to our hearts, an elegant sweater knit in sock yarn, called Ruby Red.

We are so incredibly thrilled for Anna. After watching her knit these past few years, we all have seen how talented she is and have just been waiting for the time when she would start publishing her own patterns. If you visit her website, you'll see that other designs are coming. One is available now - this gorgeous beret, the Birch Leaf Beret:

Anna has generously offered to let us borrow the beret so that you can see it in person. She used 2 skeins of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino for this version. 

Thursday night brought out a few more of the Colonnade shawls currently on the needles. 

Diana got well into the lace portion after just a day or two:

Lisa's shows how beautiful sparkly yarn is when knit: (this is Charmed from Cherry Tree Hill.)

And Donna, the woman who started this whole KAL, has set a good pace:

Luanne decide to join in on the fun. Look at the perfect color combination she selected. Both yarns are Malabrigo Chunky.

That same night, Luanne was working away on a pair of Bella Mittens out of Spunky Eclectic Biggie yarn in Thunderstorm for a granddaughter. 

Every since Lesley came into the shop excited about this pattern, I knew we needed a pair for the shop. Amanda volunteered to knit up a pair out of Spunky Eclectic Biggie yarn in Blue Steel. 

Diane is making a fabulous vest using Malabrigo Worsted. I think she may have inspired Sue, who just added this to her list of knits. 

And Penny finished her FIRST SWEATER EVER!!!!!!! 

Ok, technically she is still going to add buttons, but all the big stuff is done. Congrats Penny!!!

I got to visit with a good fiber friend, Jocelyn, last week and she brought many of her current knits along to share. 

She was inspired by David's Owls Sweater 

and so whipped up one of her own.

She made a few adjustments, such as removing the shaping and adding cables to the ribbing. Like David, she is using the Cascade Eco Wool. 

Jocelyn also finished a February Lady Sweater using Malabrigo Worsted in Velvet Grapes. It is going to be a gift for a friend. 

And she had an example of how amazing Spunky sock yarn looks when knit. 

Phew! I think that just may catch us up. 

Oh, except for this:

That would be my Mondo Cable Cardigan in Dream in Color Classy (with capped sleeves) that is FINISHED. 

I have buttons, but need hooks for the closure. Once those are done, I'll have it hanging up in the shop (when not wearing it.)

Our sock yarn family welcomed a sweet little addition yesterday: Mini Mochi from Crystal Palace Yarns. 

If you like the colors of the Noro sock yarn, but wished it were softer, Mini Mochi is the answer. It is like buttah. Washable, wearable, and oh, so knitable buttah. 

I want to make this hat (it's a free pattern from Crystal Palace.)

We're starting a new little thing on the blog - Inspiration Mondays. Since this is the time of year when people come rushing into the shop just itching to knit but not quite sure WHAT to knit, we thought a few suggestions might be helpful. That, and we have so many cool things that WE want to knit or have knit up as shop samples that this gives us a place to share. And, really, who couldn't use a little inspiration to start their week?

I was debating which project idea to post first, when Donna blew all my plans out the window. She started a spontaneous knit along on Saturday by bringing in the Colonnade pattern from the Fall Knitty. 

This yummy wrap is knit with 430 yds of heavy worsted to a light chunky yarn on size 10 US needles. A fast, satisfying knit. 

Just imagine all that luscious yarn wrapped around your neck and shoulders when the temperature starts to drop. The construction of the wrap is rather interesting and makes perfect use of the chunky yarn. 

It starts with a stst portion that can be wrapped around you like a cowl of cozy scarf. Then the pattern moves into a lovely textured lace pattern for the shawl.  I cast on yesterday morning and was at the lace by the evening! Donna, Penny, and I all have thoughts of getting these done in time to wear to Rhinebeck. Since that gives us 6 weeks, I don't think it will be a problem.

Now, for yarn ideas. Donna pulled out Cascade's Baby Alpaca Chunky in the plum coloway:

I shamelessly copied her, but with red.  (You only need 4 skeins of the Baby Alpaca Chunky for this pattern.) 

Pam picked this incredible teal called Emerald City.

Sue went with a gorgeous fall orange in Spunky Eclectic Biggie Yarn.

Penny and Lisa were feeling a bit more fancy and went with the Cherry Tree Hill Charmed. Also a baby alpaca, it is handpainted and has a touch of silver thread running throughout the yarn. Sparkles!! 

Penny is using:

And Lisa:

Join us for the Spontaneous KAL and have a fabulous wrap to keep you warm all fall and winter!

Let's see some other Concettas!

I'm not the only one who has made progress on their Concetta Cardigans.

Susan is working on the sleeves:

Cheryl finished the sleeves on Saturday and is onto the button bands. 

Donna is at the sleeves:

Michelle is zipping along:

Of course, Concettas aren't the only knits appearing at the shop.

Sue just finished the most gorgeous shawl out of Noro Silk Garden:

Deb made her daughter - a teacher - a pair of back to school beaded socks in an apple colorway:

Muriel brought in the Irish Fisherman sweater she's been knitting. It's done, and it is amazing!

She is incredibly talented - you should see the fair isle sweaters she makes! While at the shop, she picked up more yarn to make another fisherman sweater, exactly like the one above, only this time for herself.  Can you believe she has never kept one of her beautiful creations? 

Penny was making us all jealous of her gorgeous moebius wrap.

There are about a zillion different ways to wear it, and all look fabulous!

She and I worked on seaming up her Noro sweater. The goal is to have it done in time for Rhinebeck.

Diane joined us and was looking stunning in her Drop Stitch Tank out of Spunky Eclectic Summer.

Saturday's celebration was tons of fun. We had happy knitters everywhere and Amanda was kept very busy at the massage chair.

Thanks everyone for a wonderful TKE birthday!