Remember when I was sick two weeks ago and whipped up Photoshopped all of those Palindrome Scarfs to show you? Well I really did do some knitting while I was sick and not moving from the couch. I worked on this shawl, called “And So Are You“. I made one in the fall for a friend and decided I wanted one for myself, too. I did this with two skeins of Studio June’s Eight Bells, in the large size. I talked Elf -> Cathy into modeling it for you today (thanks, Cathy!). It looked great on top of her green sweater.

This pattern has a P3tog/YO/P3tog in the same three stitches, and I was using the new Knitter’s Pride wooden needles on this project. I was so impressed that the tips were sharp enough to do stitches like that.

I like the shape of this scarf, with big tapered ends to wrap around you. It kind of ends up being almost heart-shaped, doesn’t it?

The ruffles can sometimes be tricky to block. Here’s a close-up of how I pinned them for blocking.

Cute on the back, too.

I really need to learn to wear shawls. I have such fun making them. I do wonder how this one was named. (“And So Are You”? And so are you … what?) Another pattern I love (but has an unusual name) is 28′s Cousin 53. Have you come across other strange pattern names? It makes me want to design something and give it a really bizarre name.

Sheri weirdnames?Thepossibilitiesareendless.

Another big batch of things up on the website tonight – bags, yarn, needles and patterns. That pretty much covers it all! Just added:

Knitter’s Pride Dreamz Needles - We’ve had our eye on this line for quite awhile, but we simply didn’t have space for more needles. Our current Needle Wall is 17 feet long and full. That’s a lot of needles! But we wanted to add in this line, so we added 10 more feet of slatwall for needles so that we could carry this line for you. (That makes 27 feet of needle options here. Lots to choose from.) In this new line you’ll find:

- Symfonie Cubics 6″ DPN’s (a cubed ergonomic shape provides comfort for your hands as you work)
- Dreamz 6″ and 8″ DPNS’s (All Dreamz needles come with a polished wood surface that works effortlessly with all yarn types. Each size is a different color. Note – some sizes are backordered, but we’ll get them soon.)
- Dreamz 10″ Single Point Needles
– Dreamz Circular Needles (16″, 24″, 32″, and 40″)
- Dreamz Cable Needles
– And sets of Dreamz DPN’s, Dreamz Single Points, Dreamz Crochet Hooks, Dreamz Interchangeable Deluxe and Chunky, and Interchangeable Cords.

When I first started knitting, I loved the warm feel of wooden needles and bought them in several sizes. As I got better at knitting, I strayed from wood because the points were never pointy enough for the way I knit, and the wood made my stitches feel draggy. I’m on my second project with the Dreamz Circular needles and I feel like it has all come full circle. These are pointy enough for me, they are polished enough for me (not draggy), and I’m totally sold on them. I hope you like them, too!

In addition to all those needles, we have also just added in:

- A re-stock of the Jordana Paige bags that flew out the door last week!

- New Atenti Carpet Bags in Backstitch, Camelia Sky, Denim Bloom, Groovy Brown, Juliette, Madrid, Night Bloom, Sugar Skulls and Tuscany. (Shown here in Madrid.)

- Chic-A bags - re-stocks and new styles in all colors and fabrics, including a 3-ball yarn keeper (I use my 2-ball one all the time), and a new style that has a 2-ball keeper on the bottom and a bag to keep the project in attached to the top. Smart.

- Cascade re-stocks in : 220, Eco, Eco Duo, Heritage Sock, and Heritage Silk.

- Malabrigo Sock re-stocked in the 12 colors that we could get. We have lots more Malabrigo (all weights) on order.

- Through The Loops Patterns (new and re-stocks)

- Knitting Pure and Simple Patterns (great sock basics, sweater basics, and kids sweaters)

- New Indie Dyer Lola-Doodles – this heavy fingering / light sport weight yarn is soft (merino/cashmere/nylon) and springy and comes with 435 yards in a skein. (Shown here in The Raven). I made this hat when I was testing Temple’s Lola-Doodles line last fall, and I love how the colors knit up. You might try this with Ivete’s Riverside Handwarmers, or Beverly’s Barcarolle Hat, or The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief, which I made last summer and loved working on. I like those patterns that knit up quickly like that.

So there you go. You can pick a new pattern, some beautiful yarn, a set of needles, and a new bag to keep it all together. Fun, right?

Sheri workingonmySothiaShawltonight
Almosttotheruffle!

Have you branched out in your knitting? I started with scarves (knitting 20 or 30 of them, probably) and moved on to socks. I thought I’d prefer sock knitting for the rest of my life. Then I tried shawls and quickly became hooked on those, instead. It’s interesting to see how things evolve as you learn and grow, isn’t it? I’m glad that I didn’t just stick with scarves. Or socks. And I’m glad I’m not going to stick with just shawls forever, either. There are too many fun things out there to work on.

Two things I want to try next. First – Colorwork. In particular, colorwork mittens. Oh, I tried one. But I need to get much much better at my tension, before I feel like I can enjoy the whole colorwork knitting process. There are bunches and bunches of wonderful colorwork patterns that I have made note of, for when I get good at this.

I’d also like to learn to knit those cute little amigurumi/mochi creatures, just because they’re adorable. I bought this book because of the cute gnome on the front. (And several cute patterns on the inside.) I think the little creatures would be fun to pop in the mail to a friend or tie on a package. I also might need a few sitting along the top of my computer.

So that’s one important technique on my To Learn list, and one just-for-fun thing on my To Learn list. What is on your To Learn list? Leave a comment below and we’ll do a drawing next week for Loopy Gift Certificates (so that you can pick out something and move forward on one of your new projects or techniques!).

Sheri thatcolorworkmittenintheabovelink?Itturnedoutwaytoobig.
Iamstilllearning……

Bad news: I was so sick last week that I had to cancel out on a long-planned trip to visit Knitting Daughter at college. (I don’t even want to talk about it. Still so sad.)

Good news: United Airlines said, “No problem. We’ll credit you that $270 for a future flight.”

Bad news: And then they said, “There will also be a $180 re-ticketing fee at the time that you use the credit.”

Good news: I’m never flying United again. Southwest all the way, even if United has better flight times for certain flights.

Bad news: I sat sick and unmoving on the couch for 3 days.

Good news: I did manage to knit. Look at all of the fun springy Palindrome scarves I whipped up:

Bad news: Just kidding. (Thanks, Photoshop.)

Sheri feelingmuchbetternow,thanksforyourwellwisheslastweek

It’s another one of those No Mail Mondays here in the U.S. (Presidents Day), but that didn’t stop us from getting lots of fun things ready for you in the Monday Update! (I really have been having way too much fun ordering things for the shop in the last few weeks. Someone needs to stop me.) Just up:

Three Irish Girls Glenhaven Cashmere Worsted - You really need (“need”) a sweater, shawl or caplet out of this yarn. It’s squishy and heavenly. I made the Winter’s Rhythm Capelet out of it. (And mittens. And mitts. Yes, I do love yarn with cashmere in it. Remember?)

Three Irish Girls Glenhaven Cashmere Fingering – You also need socks or a lighter weight shawl out of this one. (Need.) Be sure to check out our exclusive colors – a re-stock of the popular Sweet Home Colorado color (shown above), as well as new colors Moon for the Misbegotten and Beyond the Horizon.

Swan’s Island Organic Merino Fingering – Soft. Great yardage. Beautiful colors (shown here in Raspberry). Perfect for wrapping up in.

Fiesta Baby Boom – I have socks from Fiesta, but I also love using their bright, happy colors for those two-color Chevron Scarves that I showed you on the blog last week. Taking two colors that don’t match at all and blending them into one scarf that winds up look gorgeous is fun!

Malabrigo Arroyo – This is the final shipment of our first order of Arroyo. (Remember, we ordered a lot so they had to split it up into 3 different shipments to us.) This new sport weight super wash has been very popular, and we’ll do our best to continue to keep it in stock for you, as often as they can get it to us.

Patterns - lots of pattern re-stocks. Check Ysolda, French Press Knits, Cosmic Pluto Knits, Heirloom Stitches, Westknits, Romi, Carina Spencer, Tiny Owl Knits, Grace Akhrem and Rowan.

Atenti Bags – more Overnight Bags have arrived, including more Sugar Skulls.

NEW Rowan Fine Lace – a little ball of lusciousness (shown here in 933 Aged). This 80% Baby Alpaca, 20% Extra Fine Merino yarn is one of those that you pick up and don’t put back down. It feels wonderful in you hands, and you can only imagine how it might be around your shoulders or neck! 437 yards per ball, and just $11.95.

NEW Frogtree Pediboo – a 3 ply fingering weight yarn made up of 80% merino wool and 20% bamboo, which gives it a nice extra pop in your projects.

NEW Jordana Paige bags – I ordered one, just to check it out. (You know, for YOU. In case it was something that YOU might like.) Well the answer is yes – you’ll like it, because I love it and we have the same excellent taste in bags. Here’s what caught my eye – the pockets inside. Pockets for all kinds of things (which means great organization). Also, the divided sections. It allows me to carry a no-brainer knitting project on one side, and a “watch what you’re knitting” project on the other side. You never know what you’re going to need to work on. Plus, there’s a zippered compartment separating the two, where I can keep my wallet and checkbook, in case I want to leave my purse at home. I got the LJ Kaelms bag for myself (shown here in Red), but the Rio bags are equally cool.

New bags, new patterns, new yarn, new projects – it’s a good day.

Sheri lookingforwardtobeingbackatLoopytomorrow

Here’s a quick and easy way to entertain friends – a taco salad bar. (You know, this would have made a fun Superbowl party idea. I should have shared it awhile back. We had this for Christmas Eve dinner.) My friend Monica over at The Yummy Life blogged about these tortilla molds last fall, and I immediately ordered them. ($12.99 for 4 – great deal).

Making the bowls is easy. Buy 8″ diameter tortillas (the kind sold in a plastic bag at room temperature in the grocery store). Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Put one tortilla in each baking shell (no need to grease or spray them – just tuck the tortilla down in there). Bake for 15 minutes, or until evenly browned, and move them to a cooling rack.

You can make these ahead and store them in a ziploc bag or plastic container for several days.

See how easy that is? But your dinner guests will be so impressed. Serve with all of the makings for tacos or taco salad and put them on a lazy susan so that everyone can reach them easily. For dessert, you might serve Mango Fruit Salsa with Sugar & Spice Tortilla Chips. YUM!

We have winners from the Fourth Quarter Challenge contest! Congratulations to Mary from Texas who won the Reader’s Choice Award with her beautiful Pemberley Sweater. And congratulations to Chanina from Israel who won the regular drawing for her gorgeous Snuggle Up Wrap. We’ve added $25 to each of your Loopy accounts for winning. Have fun finding something to spend it on!

What’s up for your weekend? I’m laying low with the cold of the century (ugh), so that means staying away from Loopy, knitting and Netflix, or a good book.

Sheri caution:grumpywhensick