Lake Tahoe Yarn Company

So yesterday was my first KPS workshop. I am hoping for many more. It was tons of information and tons of ideas. I only hosted the workshop and I saw something I wanted to knit.

Before the class arrived

There were 8 students and I think they all were a little pickled by the time it was done. They talked about the top down technique, shaping, some math, and gauge.

Everyone listening carefully to all the new information. What a great group of gals!!!

Diane helping students to learn so that there knitting becomes better and so they can fine tune their everything they make. I was really impressed with the subtle changes that can be made in one of her patterns to make a very different looking garment.

This is what happens to the students at the end of a long day!

I want to thank all 8 students who came. I had a wonderful day and I hope they did too. A sock workshop will be scheduled soon and I think that will also be a wonderful workshop.

Knit away girls!! Knit away!!

These are two of my three dogs. The one on the right is Lola She weights 135#and she is ever so in love with my husband. As far as she is concerned the sun rises and sets only for him. The one on the left is Marmaduke and he is mama’s boy. He brings an amazing amount of joy to my life. He is a goofball and he is pretty darn smart. Believe it or not he sleeps on the bed with my husband and I. He weights 145#.  My third dog is also a Saint and he is Hogan. He weights #155. He is a handsome boy! He’s our old guy right now.

Marmaduke has had more of a medical history than any dog should. I was worried last week that we may lose him. I become hugely aware of the enormous whole that would be left in my heart if he were gone. I find myself worrying before each blood test and then overjoyed when the results are good. But when the results are not so good I find myself drawn to knitting. Especially a complicated pattern. Something to distract my brain from what could be the worst news. I’ve been overjoyed and knitting a lot lately as the blood work has waxed and waned. Overall, he’s doing well.

I think that’s why knitting has still done ok in this economy. When were worried and stressed about bills and jobs and house payments we can knit to calm ourselves. We can knit to feel as though we have accomplished something. We knit to lower our blood pressure (I know mine has been elevated the last week). We meet with other knitters to share our worries and then feel inspired by a new stitch or pattern or yarn. For a moment we can remove ourselves from the stress and have a bit of knitting joy.

Now this morning I awoke to a big Saint Bernard nose right at my nose. (That’s his way of saying “HI Mom, I’m awake. Are you?? I’m really hungry. Can we go downstairs?? huh?? can we?? I’m really hungry!!”) Now as much as I love knitting, my knitting can’t wake me with a big wet nose cuddle! That is why life is wonderful! Knitting is the icing on the cake.

Kelly

There is something about knitted lace that inspires me. I’m not sure why because it used to be that when I saw lace it scared me to death. Now I see far more beauty in it than ever before. I also have such huge admiration for those who design it. Not quite sure how that part all fits together but maybe in my future thats coming too. I just love how what I see inspires me. We are having the most beautiful fall here this year and everywhere I look is inspiration. The colors are just spectacular! The leaves of the trees often remind me of lace. Especially the quaking aspens! They are just so beautiful. The more I knit, the more colors I play with the more I am inspired.

I’m not normally a hot pink kind of girl but even spinning something crazy gives me inspiration. I think if I can just keep knitters inspired then there will always something else for them to knit. Take a minute to look around a feel inspired. If that doesn’t work go to Ravelry. I am always inspired there!!

I have discovered thrumming. I live where it’s always cold. Well most of the time. I’m a skinny girl and I’m always cold! I like the idea of thrumming to at least keep my hands warm but the more I think about it I came up with more ideas for thrumming. After a cocktail I even was considering a thrummed sweater. Then I thought of that kid in “A Christmas Story” and decided against it. But I like the concept. Tufts of beautiful roving, tucked into my knitting creating amazing pockets of warmth! WOOHOO! I might actually be friggin warm someday.  As the thought circled around in my brain I thought about different types of roving. Alpaca might be interesting. Cashmere gave me goosebumps. The good kind, not the cold kind. Yak, Bison, Cormo, o my gosh. It’s a roving feast! I’m working on a pattern for mittens as well as a retro accessory to be mentioned later! I LOVE the idea. I have people slip on the thrummed mitten at the shop. They look at me funny then carefully slip their hand in and when it hits the roving there eyes POP and they gasp and they smile!!! I could do this ALL DAY LONG!!! It’s a blast to see their reaction! Obviously I’m easily entertained. LOL

Stop by the shop and don’t be surprised if I ask you to try on a mitten. he he  he (sinister laugh)

Kelly

Yep, I was there. It was a really cool class. Lots of historical information that  had no idea of and an amazing new concept of knitting. I really like it although as she said  ” I still suck at it”. That’s ok.  I am alright with it but find myself ready to try it again and again each day. Taking her advice and working on a 1×1 rib scarf. I can tell this is going to take the FULL 21 days. My hands are trying to figure out what the heck i’m telling them to do now. I kind of think of  it as playing the guitar and then playing the piano. Both hands are doing something but they feel as though they are a bit drunk. Hmmm maybe that would actually help. Have to take it home tonight and see. LOL

For those of us that were there we know which finger showed up next. I’ll forego those photos as they may be offensive to some but I personally thought she was a hoot. All we needed was a few beers to get the chuckles going. I think I’d like to see her knit after a few brews. My bet is that she’s even faster. Pretty amazing.

As you can see she had our full attention. It was as if you wanted to capture ever moment to even try to repeat what she does with the lever knitting. Quite impressive. I hop I can someday at least feel somewhat competent at it. Thankx  for flying all this way. If you ever feel like coming to the high country feel free to give me a holler.

Kelly:)

Ok so a retail yarn shop is new to me. I am just about to approach my first year mark. I’m learning a lot. Keeping a balance between check book and yarn and needles and accessories is a challenge. Especially when I want ALL the yarn, well most of it anyway. I want everything that I like here at my shop. Why is that so wrong??? Well, my check book reaches out and slaps my hand almost every morning when I decide I need another yarn in the shop. Why is it so wrong to want beautiful yarns in all weights and colors??? Because my check book once again says “No not yet, you dork”. Why is it so wrong to want all the beautiful needles to work with to make the very best we can make??? Because my Damn, Oh Darn check book is in charge of me to keep me in business for many years and to remind me that all things in moderation, well, most things in moderation. You should see how many fleeces I still have to spin. So for those of you who have made it into my shop please knw from the bottom of my heart I want ALL the beautiful yarn, here for both you and me. There are reasons beyond my control that it’s not here yet. Notice I say yet! One of these days the check book will be asleep and then I will have my way!

Kelly:)

It something that for some reason I would usually say quietly, “Oh, I love knitting socks” and usually the comment back is I haven’t done socks yet, they look way to hard, I don’t like the small needles, ect. I LOVE KNITTING SOCKS! There I said it out loud! I think they are wonderful and I can take them anywhere. I can fit them in most anything. They are the perfect for traveling/home/doctors office/tv watching project/you name it! I have an idea for my shop to embrace my inner sock addict. There will be a display in my store that will show off and continue to grow as does my addiction. If your in the shop in the next few weeks you will see what I mean. I am a sock knitter and I am proud of it! ( Oh BTW< I think I passed the gene on to my daughter Lindsey)

I bought pink sock yarn for October for breast cancer awareness month. (Shhh I have already taken some pink sock yan home) I hope that even if you don’t love knitting socks like I do you will buy some yarn for the addict friend in your life and help support breast cancer research.

Chameleon Colorworks has dyed a beautiful yarn for breast cancer research call appropriately”SUPPORT THE GIRLS”

It is very soft. A bamboo/superwash/nylon blend.

Come and join me in the addiction. It’s wonderful and most important, it makes me very happy!

P.S. Happy Birthday Liz!

This is my new sign! I finally have a 9′ sign out front and after being here about a week and a half I am amazed how many people respond to that sign. I had no idea what I was missing out on.

Once again I want to thank EVERYONE who helped move the shop.

It was a group effort. Everyone was an available pair of hands to do whatever I asked of them!  You guys ROCK!!!

After about 2 weeks of being here only a couple of fixtures are left to arrive and then the shop is done. Now the new yarn is starting to roll in for Fall/Winter. There are so many cool things to knit I can hardly restrain myself. I have to finish a few projects before I start anyof the new ones. My daughter is knitting one of KPS kids patterns out of a new yarn I’m carrying that is very kid/washer/dryer friendly. I hope she can get that done quickly. She has been busy doing lots of races. My 8 year old grandson ran an 8k race today in a 19 and under catagory (19 and under!!) and placed 4th! Can you believe it! He was running with college track athletes and placed 4th. I wash they lived closer! Congrats Bug!! I’m very proud of you!

I hope if your in the area you can stop by and check out the shop. I’m very happy with how it has turned out. I hope you like it too!

I’ve been thinking about my personal knitting evolution. I know I started knitting when I was little. I don’t remember knitting much but I have a memory of learning it. As I grew up I did embroidery and cross stitch and crochet and  other fiber arts but none of them at the time really stuck with me as something I loved to do. That seem to happen when I had children. I guess the Mom thing just jumped up and bit me. I remember being at my friend Allison’s house and looking around at all the needles and yarn with different projects and thought I want to knit. Why didn’t I think of this sooner. She said go ahead and start and if you need help let me know. At the time I had 2 little boys and I felt a strong urge to knit socks. My girls were older and I figured they would turn their noses up and something hand made especially socks. So I went to the Truckee Variety Store and met Diane Soucy. I got her pattern for Truckee Hiking Socks and went to town. I still have that pattern and have used it 100 times if not more. But I was awaken again at a craft fair. I saw a woman spinning on a spinning wheel. I was hooked. I went home that day and ordered one that day. I had no idea how to make it work but I knew I needed to know. With the help of Allison once again I learned to spin. Then I learned about fibers and fiber animals and what was good fiber and what wasn’t. I learned what was nice against your skin and what wasn’t. I learned what was the best way to spin each different fiber and why.  Then I moved on to weaving with all my hand spun yarn.  I was thoroughly engrossed. I had fiber and spinning dreams.

Now I own a yarn shop and the shift has been to knitting. I used to just knit what was relatively easy and enjoy my knitting. Now I’m driven to learn all the different techniques of knitting and challenge myself. I have also started my Elizabeth Zimmerman phase. Now this is also challenging. Even my daughter who is an amazing knitter is a bit stumped now and again. Although she has already done far more EZ patterns than I have. (I’m on my first).  I can tell you after ready some of EZ books I really like this woman. She has qualities I admire and I’m getting used to her style.

So I’m enjoying my EZ phase and kind of wondering what my next one might be. Hmmm….

Knit and enjoy!!

Kelly:)

I’ve been knitting cashmere at home. It’s lace, it’s soft, it’s wonderful. It probably the most beautiful yarn on the planet. I find myself knitting these days like a machine. I am constantly getting samples for the shop. I want my customers to have lots to look at and lots to inspire them. BUT…. when I knit cashmere everything slows down. I actually enjoy knitting each and every stitch. I stop often and look at my knitting. I snuggle it to my face and take pleasure in the touch and feel of the fiber. I take my time. I find myself completely in the moment with my knitting. Cashmere is just such a luxury. It’s expensive and it’s a treat. Usually to myself of course but I’m worth it. Knitting cashmere is a whole different knitted league. It’s special, it’a amazing and it’s pure pleasure! In this economy I know it’s more of a financial reach but I hope after you have been good with your finances, balanced your budgets and taken care of everyone else like most of us women do you will feel your worth it, buy a skein of cashmere and thoroughly enjoy your knitting!

Enjoy!!