Looking ahead

Hi.

I know this is a sad day, but instead of dwelling on it I thought I should look to the future and show my next project on the list, it should be a quick one at that, http://racheliufer.blogspot.com/2007/10/robins-egg-blue-hat.html

Closing this month

I'm assuming most of you get our newsletter and have already heard, but we're closing our doors in just a few days, word on the street is that the last day is January 31st.

It's sad, I know, but we've been holding out too long, and I've said my goodbyes too many times, and now it's time to give up and move on.

We will however be selling yarn online starting in March, I've been figuring out the logistics for weeks now, and I'm excited about it.

I'm going to keep our ravelry (my name is fibrous, we also have a group), twitter (thatyarnstore), myspace http://www.myspace.com/thatyarnstore, and facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Los-Angeles-CA/That-Yarn-Store/25781369442
accounts up, and will be posting with updates on the online store.

Thought it would be simple

Always do (think it would be simple, that is).
Basic cable socks, no pattern of course, but who needs one, they're socks.
Only problem is that I need to get from 38 stitches around the leg to 19 for the heel flap. One sock is done (a bit too long, but it won't take that long to reknit that part) because I figured I should stop being a perfectionist, leaving the funky bunching alone and just be happy content with a much nicer looking second sock. Except, the second sock is definately not looking nicer.
Each time I've ripped out I've ripped a little higher and started the decreases a little sooner.
Assuming I get it to look okay and finish it (unlike the 2nd generation of pirate socks which I don't even want to look at) I'll post the pattern. Other than the grumble grumble decreases I like the look of the sock, itty cables are cute after all.

tack-oes

I've been trying to not post anything about work for reasons you probably know, and I don't want to embarrass anyone or anything like that. But ... yesterday someone was telling me about his trip to Florida. We had been talking about food and alcohol and the differences between the two countries. He had been disappointing in the size of steaks as they seem to be huge whenever cowboys eat steak in the movies, I commented that at least cheap meat here in the UK is much better than in America. I've gone to some cheap Chinese food places here, and generally in America if I go to a cheap Chinese place I'll get vegies, maybe sometimes a sweet and sour pork or chicken, but when I order it it's with the full expectation that the meat will be rubbery and gross. But the meat cheap Chinese food here has been surprisingly decent, the beef isn't all gristle, nothing wrong with the chicken, or at least nothing that I can tell with my unsophisticated meat palate. Anyway, the guy from work said how he ate, and liked, the Mexican food there in Florida (they consider tapas to be Mexican food here, and when you can find a burrito, which is really hard to find, it's like 9 pounds, so like $15). He had fajitas, some other dish, and tacos, pronounced as tack-oes. He said, almost a direct quote, he got the tacos with chili, as he could choose whether he could get ones with or without, so he got the tack-oes with chili, in fact, the restaurant was named Chili's. Yes, Chili's. And yes, I was picturing a small, non-chain, "real" Mexican restaurant. Jessamy laughed a long, long time when I relayed this to her, but I managed to just smile, and stopped myself from ruining his memories. And then Jessamy and I ate at a cheap Chinese

Not much going on

Jessamy has four papers due next week, so she has been frantically doing that. I've been reading mostly, The Concise Pepys. I have two socks in the works, one needs to be ripped out and started again, and another I'm not sure what I'm doing with.

I was finally was able to get to the computer for an extended period yesterday, as in two hours, and found some hat patterns for Jessamy to choose from, so I might start that tonight, assuming I don't delete the internet (a favorite saying of mine) before Jessamy can actually choose one.

I've also spent the last few evenings looking up cities I want to visit in England, there's a long list. Haven't yet attepted a list of places in the continent. Jessamy has a break the weekend after next, and then spring break, otherwise known as easter break here, then I think we might try to stay and travel after she graduates.

Merry Christmas!

Ok, so I'm a little late, but I was too busy knitting my mom's shawl (forgot to take a picture) to think about anything else.

Mom liked the shawl, and Frannie liked her bag, which is based on the free pattern from U-Handbag. It was my second sewing project after the crooked that I made. The purse came out a little crooked too, could have probably have fixed it but I finished the sewing machine part of it on my last day in the UK before coming over here. And the foot pedal broke, so it was a bit diffucult to stop when I wanted to actually stop. The sewing machine was cheap, so I expected it to break quickly, though I had hoped it would last more than 5 or so uses. There is a one year warrantt, but I need to call them between 9 and 5 Monday to Friday, So I'm not actually sure when that's going to happen.

I had a nice Christmas, we played board games, opened presents. I got a pair of scissors for sewing and a book about writing.

Yesterday mom brought me and Noah to Burlington Coat factory to buy coats. It was huge, and we actually had to ask where the coats were located (bottom floor). I ended up buying (well, mom bought them as a Christmas present) two coats, one of which was a normal looking black short coat, the other was long and red, and will hopefully keep me very warm in my half hour walk to work. The red one has no hood, but I figure the head warmth factor can be easily solved by just wearing a hat, though of course I'm not just going to buy one, I have to make it, which means my head might be cold for a while.

I have been wearing my wimple everywhere, I'm considering knitting my hair into it so it becomes a permanent fixture. Though lately I've been wearing it like a huge headband, which the siblings claim looks rather Rasta.

Sock Ornament pattern

You can use any yarn and appropriate needles. The bigger the yarn, the bigger the ornament will be. I used fingering.

CO 16

Join in round

Work 4 rows rib, then 8 rows st stitch

Heel flap:

Row 1: K10 stitches

Row 2: sl 1, p9

Row 3: sl 1, k9

Repeat rows 2 and 3.

Turn heel:

Row 1: sl 1, p4, p2tog tbl, p1

Row 2: sl 1, k1, k2tog, k1

Row 3: sl1, p2, p2tog tbl, p1

Row 4: sl1, k3, k2tog, k1

PU 5 stitches with a new needle.

Knit 6 stitches with a new needle

PU5 stitches with a new needle, and knit 3 stitches

Row 1: Work 1 row even.

Row 2:

Needle 1: K 5, k2 tog, k1,

Needle 2: Knit

Needle 3: k1, ssk, k5

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have 16 stitches remaining.

K3 rows even.

Row 1:

Needle 1: K 2, k2 tog, k1,

Needle 2: k1, ssk, k2 tog, k1

Needle 3: k1, ssk, k2

Row 3: Work 1 row even

Row 4:

Needle 1: K 1, k2 tog, k1,

Needle 2: ssk, k2 tog

Needle 3: k1, ssk, k1

With same needle, needle 3, knit 2

Move the last stitch on needle 3 onto needle 2, and the remaining stitch from needle 1 also onto needle 2. You should have 4 stitches on 2 needles.

And now you’re ready to do the kitchner stitch and finish your sock!

I bought a stollen cake

Jessamy and I have been showing our Christmas spirit this week by eating lots of seasonal desserts. Today we had half a treacle pie (it was a small pie, it was also way more than half), and last week I spent over an hour's worth of my wages to buy a stollen cake.


It has nuts, raisins, little bits of cherries, and a marzipan center.

This weekend I was also on a mini sock ornament kick.

Here's the action shot:Unless the internet refuses to work I'll try to post the pattern for the sock ornaments tomorrow.

Warm Chin

Wore the smoke ring today to work. It kept slipping off my head since I had my hood on too, so I'm not sure if it's actually keeping my head warm, but it was keeping my chin warm. I probably looked strange to paserbys.

Last night I started on a sock-shaped ornament for a friend in the peacecorp. I was working on it for less than 2 hours and I'm almost done with it. I think the next one will go faster, I'm also thinking of making it smaller.

Wimpled

Today was a nice day. Most of the ice was melted so I only nearly slipped once on the way to the market.

I finished the smoke ring/wimple yesterday, it's being blocked as I type this.

The picture is a bit weird, but I look better wearing it in person, really.
Last night after I finished the wimple (does not seem like a proper word for an accessory, but perhaps a curse word or a body part) I tried to start on a Christmas project, but it turns out that bulky yarn with size 13 needles and a lace pattern do not mix well. If anyone is on Ravelry I'll post what I frogged on there.

Also brought out the sewing machine. Bought it last month, but I wanted to finish the twist and shout sweater before I started anything else. That never happened (still have a sleeve to do), but since I started on the wimple and the muff I figured I should do something I'll enjoy instead of setting myself limits.

Don't actually remember the last time I used a sewing machine, I might have never used one, but I was glad I was around the shop during the sewing classes so I knew to iron the hem before I tried to sew it and I was glad Jessamy was there as I got really confused with the lower bobbin, turned out it was working right I just didn't understand the concept. So my PJs are now a proper length. Yay! Next it's curtains, then a purse for a Christmas present. There will be a picture of that of course, but probably not until closer to Christmas as I don't know who's reading this...

Snow 2

This morning I stepped outside to go to work and was greeted by this sight:

No, it's not that my car was stolen (not that I have a car), but it's snow!

I had a nice leisurely weekend. Started on a smoke ring with Claudia Hand Painted yarn on Saturday and I'm half way through.

On Friday we saw Skellig which is a new opera by a US composer based on a children's novel by a Northumbria author. Sadly the singers did not have Geordie accents.

Jessamy and I had Thanksgiving dinner at a Chinese buffet. No pumpkin pie, but we did have tiramisu.

Muffed

Here's the picture of snow from yesterday, taken from the comfort of our apartment (those lines are the reflection of the blinds). It's a crappy picture, I know, but it is snow.

No snow today, but it did rain briefly while I was walking to work and I was starting to think that I wouldn't be able to test out my muff, but the snow cleared. My fingers were already freezing though (they were out in the open (with gloves on)) since I had to hold up the umbrella, so it was hard to tell if a muff was better or just as good as putting my hands in my pocket, but a muff's still exciting, and fun to say too. I did learn though that I should have made it a little wider. It's 3 and a half inches wide right now, which was fine when I was trying it on inside with my hands directly parallel in the muff, but not so good when my fingers were actually freezing and I ended up clutching my other hand. So next time I'll need to make it a bit wider and maybe an inch longer...

It snowed!

Woke up this morning to see snow on the ground! What, snow? Where am I again? Ah yes, in another country. Just searched the blog to find that it didn't start snowing until March last year (or rather this year)! Apparently it's due to arctic winds, which really just sounds like a good name for a band and not something that will make white things that fall from the sky during the night and then melt and become slippery and unattractive while I'm trying to walk to the grocery store .

Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture until most of it was melted, and then the batteries died right after the picture was taken, so you'll just have to take my word for it.

I guess I made that muff right in time, lets hope it keeps my hands warm during my half hour walk to work tomorrow.

Festive Muff

I've always wanted a muff. Whenever I see one in a painting the wearer always seems happy and warm while the cold snow around her flurries. I have yet to test it out in the elements, but even if it doesn't live up to my warmth expectations at least it's pretty (and quick to knit too).

Yarn:One 50 gram ball of eyelash yarn
One 50 gram ball of super bulky yarn

Gauge: 5 stitches per 2" in 1X1 rib

Needle: 11

Pattern:
Cast on 20 stitches with both yarns held together. Join in the round. Work 10 inches in 1X1 rib. Bind off loosely.

Tahdah!

Amigurimi class this Saturday

Amigurimi (crochet)

with Melise Gerber

November 22, 1pm, $40

According to Wikipedia the "pervading aesthetic of amigurumi is cuteness". And they aren't kidding. By learning to crochet this cute snowman you'll also learn the skills to go on to make your own customized dolls. Beginning crocheters are welcome to attend.

Great for quick Christmas presents!

Pictures from Housesteads Roman fort

Finally getting around to posting pictures of when a friend of Jessamy and mine visited.
We went to Hadrians Wall Country, but it was really cold, and rained most of the time so we had to scrap the plan of walking along the wall and went to see the museums instead, but you can see some of the wall here:
Roman ruins, don't remember which ones these were, but there was the remains of bathhouses, with their raised floors for more efficient heating, granaries, with their raised floors for vermin and dampness, soldier barracks, etc.
This is Jessamy pointing at one of the many sheep grazing in the area.
and me in a well

and Michelle in a welland me and Jessamy again.

This week's classes and events

Wednesday:
Kids Knitting/Crochet
Wednesday afternoons from 3-4pm.
Open to those just starting out and more experienced knitters who want
to learn new skills. $50 for 4 sessions, materials included. It's fun
and laid back. Classes also available Tuesdays 2-3pm and Fridays 3-4pm.

Yarn - Start to Finish
Begin with raw wool, and
finish with spun dyed yarn
made with your own hands
In 3 sessions, beginning
tomorrow, October 22 6:00
$80
Includes Oct 29th Spinning Class
call for details

Thursday:
Sewing Survival Skills
For men, or anyone who needs to know.
Learn to sew on buttons, easy repairs, etc
~Thursday, October 23 at 7pm~ or
~ Saturday, October 25 at 12:30 ~ $35

Friday:
Spanish Class
The first session will be held on
Friday, October 24, 2008 from 7-8:30 p.m.
The second session will be held on
Friday, November 7, 2008 from 7-8:30 p.m.

Cost per person is $20, with all proceeds to benefit the store.
And a tip jar for the teacher.

Study materials are provided at no additional
charge, and students are encouraged to take plenty of notes.

The material will be basic, every day Spanish to help folks get
by, and at least communicate with Spanish-speakers who may
not yet be fluent in English.

Teen Knitting
Teen Sit-n-Knit (free!) Fridays from 5-6:30pm.

Saturday:
If you like making socks, or would like to, we have something
of interest.
Sock Yarn Tasting of Skacel Yarns
Saturday October 25th, 2008.
It will run from 2 PM- 4ish.

A representative from Skacel will be there, so will sock yarn
and samples.
And if you'd like to hang out and share your own sock wisdom,
or need a bit of help with making socks this is your big chance.

Ongoing projects are still going

Still working on the Twist and Shout from knitty.

I wanted to have it finished by now, but I keep making mistakes, like not cabling or only cabling half a row.




















I've also finally started Jessamy's birthday present (her birthday was in September), it's a pencil case. I still have to do the zipper, which I'm not looking forward too. I've never sewn a zipper before and I attempted to do it last night, but it was late and I was sleepy and easily frustrated.

Two Things This Weekend

Saturday:

The Friends of That Yarn Store will hold a yard sale on Saturday, October 18, from 9-4pm at 4952 Vincent Ave. in Eagle Rock 90041. All proceeds will benefit our favorite LYS, That Yarn Store. Please donate items for sale - fyi, we're avoiding all clothing except for kids, vintage/retro, and high-end. Drop items off at 4952 Vincent Ave before 8am on the morning of, or at That Yarn Store sometime that week.If you can spare an hour or two to work the sale, that's great, too! Please contact Suzanne at sjbirder at roadrunner dot com or at 323-333-1630.

Tough economic times call for creative responses. Please help us keep this small, local business part of our community. Thanks!

and...

The music of Call and Response:
Saturday, October 18th, at 6:00 pm. Free
Dottie plays her music and Michael translates it into the language of trombone.

Decoupage Class today - decorating with paper

Yes, you heard me right, a Decoupage Class. Awesome isn't it.

Tuesday, October 14, 4:00 pm.$25

Learn this simple craft, perfect for decorating. Pick from a frame, or box or a flat square and we'll show you how to put together a cool, nifty design. Make mistakes, so that when you go home you have extra ideas on how to fix them. If you have any cool, light weight paper, please feel free to bring it in so we can add it to your works.

That Yarn Store
5028 Eagle Rock Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
www.thatyarnstore.com