a few thoughts from Ellen

i have just been reading Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Casts Off - and as always, it's very funny. (i have for sale if you are intrigued!)
When i got to the chapter entitled "Five Things to tell to a Recent Immigrant to Knitting" i broke up laughing! These are the same things i've been saying all along, and i think they bear repeating.
1. This is not Rocket Science. I've seen schematics for rockets and they are way harder than knitting. So take a deep breath, steady your hands, roll your shoulders back and down and smile. You are half way there!
2. No one knits well the first time! Because my darling hubby is a golfer and i did try to take it up in a foolish moment, i liken learning knitting to golfing - it can feel like the most unnatural motion in the world - you just have to practice and practice makes perfect. AND, knitting is un-doable. We can fix it.
3. We all make mistakes - and sometimes those of us who are supposed to know better, make them! Chalk it up to experience and move on. Don't give up - your masterpiece is right around the corner!
4. Don't knit with crappy yarn!!!! Look ... if you have to cast on 85 stitches and the gauge is 17 st and 24 rows to 4", that's 20" x 120 rows of knitting to knit a square, but 2,040 stitches. Multiply that by ... lots and all of a sudden you've got a garment that has potentially thousands of stitches and you're knitting it in ... acrylic? This is after you've bought bamboo needles because they are ecco friendly and you're knitting ... plastic. You've invested the time ... invest the money and buy the best quality of yarn you can afford. Your project will reflect your efforts. Promise.
5. Buy some good wool cleanser - it really doesn't take long to rinse out a wool sweater and the extra time you spend on cleaning will result in lots of years of use.

Okay - steady now. Knitters forward!

Almost Merry Christmas...

okay - fess up - how many of us gave a 1/2 done project for Christmas with the enthusiastic promise of completion ... soon! I even wrapped the darn things up - very pretty with bows and stuff. But that doesn't forgive the fact that the project was 1/2 done - sorry Ryan. (and in the case of Christopher and Taryn -they only got the ball of wool - i didn't even start it!!!!)

We're sitting in the middle of what will probably be the first of many snow storms this year - haul that project out! Forgive yourself, move on, get that project done ... because there is only so much time and just so, so much wool!

Ravelry - and other stuff!

And a happy new year .... that was sung in a trilling alto, if you didn't know!
The new year has begun - and we're going gangbusters. I'm going to take this weekend to set up some classes - if you have a request - let me know!

I wanted to tell you all about Ravelry - it's a fab spot to connect with other knitters and crocheters. You can keep track of your stash (i personally don't have that kind of time... stash is too big!), your projects, find new projects, new FREE patterns and just generally chat with a group of knitters that shares your interests. For example, two groups i belong to are "knitters with Pugs" and "LYSO" (which are Local Yarn Store Owners). I have received tons of info about how to run a shop, or not. And how to diagnose that really strange noise Purl makes in the middle of the night that scares the crap out of me! I'm also a member in "Knitters who Ski", "Durham Knitters", "Canadian Knitters", GTA Knitters - you get the idea. I'm sure there are groups for people who love horses and want to knit them sweaters (really, i have a Lopi pattern for one - too funny!)

Here's the really great part - i have a group on Ravelry called - wait for it - On The Lamb! It's a place where customers and friends of the shop can meet and chat and share patterns and all that stuff. Each month, i'm going to put a secret word within my chat room on the group. If you know the word - you get 10% off. How fun is that?

And just to give you a giggle - here are the men in my life - i bought them the 'team' shirts for Christmas! Aren't they handsome? That's the "heir-t0-the-throne" on the left (Christopher), Taryn's beau Peter, Christopher's beau Ryan and hubby Warren. I know! I can hardly stand it!

Wishing you and yours the very best of life, health and happiness in the New Year!