Finished Objects (Sort of...)

Here are two more finished objects of mine:

This is my version of the Bangle Bracelet, a free pattern on Knitting Daily. My yarn was thicker than what the pattern called for, so I only ended up with four squares. I used Needful Yarns Dubai Stretch, so it's easy to fit over my hand. I'm not sure if I love the colors, so I'm doing a 2nd one with smaller granny squares and without the pale blue.

This is my crocheted sock that I finally finished, but alas the foot really is too long, so I've ripped it out past the heel, and I will be redoing it. It worked up pretty fast - that is when I actually worked on it, so I don't feel too bad about ripping it out!

Finished Needlepoint

I posted not too long ago that I've been having problems finishing things, so I'm excited to say that I finished a little needlepoint canvas yesterday. It's a Kathy Schenkel mini-stocking:

There will be a cute longhorn steer to go inside the stocking, and the whole thing will be made into a fabulous Christmas tree ornament - and some lucky relative is going to get it for Christmas! 'Nuff said.

Of course, because I finished something, I had to start something... Sigh! I started the fabulous Bangle Bracelet pattern from Knitting Daily in Needful Yarns Dubai Stretch - which is a bit too large for this pattern, but at least I won't need to make as many granny squares!

More Garter Stitch Please

No, I haven't finished the Maude jacket... Or the Colinette shawl jacket...r the Kaleidoscope Tote... Or the crocheted hat made out of hemp... Or my 2nd needlepoint gift stocking... Or the Sunrise Circle jacket (which just needs to be sewn up for goodness sake!)...

BUT I have started something new!

It's the Ty-Dy bolero from K1C2. I've already finished the other front, and after my daughter's soccer game last night I'm almost finished with this front, then on to the back. The skeeves are incorporated into the front of the sweater, so I won't have to do anything extra there. I think I can get this finished & up in 3 Kittens pretty quickly.

But, I do need to finish the Maude jacket, because we have a class starting next week, and because we don't have a sample up in the store, I don't think we've got any takers yet. Unfortunately, my sleeves ended up way long, and I have to rip out the seams and the sleeves themselves and redo them, and I just haven't had the time to do that. SIGH! Maybe tonight. Here's what it's supposed to look like when it's done:

World Wide Knit in Public Day

Did you know that today is World Wide Knit in Public Day (or wwkipd)? So get out there and do your stuff! And, if you're a crocheter or stitcher and not a knitter, get out and do that instead. If you're in the Twin Cities, come by 3 Kittens and sit on our porch while you knit and enjoy some lemonade (or iced coffee from TK's which is just three doors away).

While I was at market last weekend, I took a class on how to reach out to teens and tweens for our store, and one of the key points that I took away was that young people (as well as not-so-young ones, I bet) need to see people doing their craft or wearing their products many times before they get the "bug." So spread the gospel of knitting, crocheting or stitching today!

Maude Jacket

I'm back from market. I got to meet more celebrities - Sasha Kagan who has a wonderful crochet book coming out and Adina Klein the new editor of Vogue Knitting, plus the brains behind the iKnitiative collection, Natalie Wilson.

While I was there, I worked steadily on the Maude jacket by Pam Gillette. Pam is the owner of the blog, Knotty Generation, and a fantastic designer. I am happy to say that we are in the process of coming to terms on bringing her design talents under the umbrella of 3 Kittens Designs. The first design that we will be publishing is her Maude jacket (which is currently available on her website to consumers, but will be available wholesale through us). I almost completed the jacket - it was a fun, quick project to crochet. Very simple, yet elegant. I stayed up late one night trying to get it done so I could wear it the next day, only to realize I still had one section to crochet. So, it's still not done. But it should be in a day or two. Here's a photo in process:

Of course, I should have been working on my Colinette 'Rossetti' shawl jacket

which is supposed to be done this weekend for a wedding (my sister Jenny's in San Antonio). Looks like I'll be looking for a new dress this week, since there is no way I'm going to get the shawl jacket done... SIGH! Sounds a bit familiar, doesn't it?

Wish You Were Here

God, I love being a yarn store owner! My partners and I are at The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) trade show this weekend in Columbus, Ohio. I can't believe the incredible number of inspiring products I'm seeing. I want to crochet and knit and needlepoint and punch needle and... You get the idea! I'm exhausted but energized at the same time. I got to meet some wonderful designers ("rock stars") in the knitting and crochet world. Probably the neatest for me was the editor of CrochetMe.com, Kim Piper Werker, who is having her first book (aptly named Crochet Me) this fall. She was super friendly, and I was able to tell her how I've blogged about her e-zine right here. I hope she'll be able to come to the store as part of her promotional tour. Second would have to be Nicky Epstein, although I've met her before (but, sigh, she didn't remember me - go figure...). She's a delightful person. I also was lucky enough to meet Lucy Neatby, Debbie Bliss, Louisa Harding, Iris Shrier (sp?) and Jane Ellingson. And, I'm sure I'll get to meet others tomorrow.

What fun!