Spring Stock

I thought the winter stock arriving would be the highlight of the year but surprisingly, I have been very excited by our recent new stock:
Crystal Palace Mini Mochi, a basket to rival Kidsilk Haze........


Crystal Palace Taos which is a soft aran wool:



We also have Panda silk, a bamboo based sock wool and this fantastic beaded 'Chakra' by Mango Moon. It is multi coloured with beautiful beads and sea glass, really special.



We are loving the Rowan Revive, not only is it made from recylcled clothes,the patterns are fantastic and it can be combined with regular double knit.


Last time I promised something for the crochet fans, we now have proper crochet cotton and

some amazing crochet patterns from Leisure Arts..................

A lot of new colours in cotton have been arriving. The weather is not very spring like so
to cheer myself up I have been looking at the cottons and dreaming of sunshine while hugging the radiator. Perhaps I should knit myself a warm jumper.

My Heart's In The Highlands

Well, did you guess? Action Man does not look too pleased with his kilt, I think it is the oversized ruffles and tammy that really upset him, that sporran looks a bit dodgy too


We just managed to get him in place on Monday in time for Burns Night.


As it is nearly February we teamed him up with hearts on tartan ribbon and we both heaved a sigh of relief to get the messy boxes out the window and a new display which makes the passers by stop and smile.

The sale is still on and I haven't taken a picture of our poor couch which is groaning under the boxes of bargains. We have a beautiful new crocheted blanket to put on the couch when that corner of the shop returns to normality.

Meanwhile Maxine tidied up the stock room and I was in raptures over the organisation (sad but true) :

The tidying was necessary as we have done a stock take and are eagerly waiting some exciting new stock. Crochet fans watch this space...but don't worry we have a few things coming for you knitters too.

Anyone for a Rummage?

This month our double award winning window has taken a downward turn and taken on the 'tatty jumble sale' look.



Where there are usually oodles of quirky knits there are just boxes of wool.


Even the comfy sofa has been downgraded to jumble style wool display.


Needless to say there are several bargains to be had and well worth a good old fashioned rummage.


But, we have not given up on our dear old window and are both knitting like mad for the next display which is coming very soon, here is a preview of the half finished project I am working on....

Any ideas?

Happy Snowy New Year

Happy New Year. What a start, just as you think normality is returning...............

Now the kids are off school again and the shop was shut for most of the day. Maxine opened for a couple of hours and was amazed at the invincible spirit of the local knitters who flocked through the door, I suppose if things worsen we could all make do without bread or milk but if we ran out of yarn.... heaven forbid.
Thought you would like to see my 'live' wool, one of them sporting a snow beard.

Hope you are all cosying up by the fire with your needles or hooks, I have a few plans of my own:

MERRY KNITMAS

Where has December gone?

It's hard to believe it is nearly Christmas eve. We have vowed to start our Christmas knitting in February next year to avoid the panic knitting in December. However everything is made and wrapped and we are looking forward to our 2 hours in the shop om Christmas eve. We have really enjoyed the sparkly yarns in the shop and despite my grumbles, I will miss the extra lights.

Maxine's cushions have been popular and we could have sold them a dozen times, she refuses to sell them however, I might try to sneak them past her on Christmas eve, they would look good on my sofa.

Remember Charlotte and the dolls with their knitted outfits? Well, she also made this beautiful fairy which we had perched at the top of our tree for a few weeks. I was sad to say goodbye to her and the top of the tree is really bare.

We hope you have all finished your knitted presents and are going to indulge yourselves over Christmas and knit or crochet something special.

See you in the New Year.

Advent

Every time I post something I promise myself that it won't be as long before I do another update but things always conspire against me and weeks pass by. This time it was my computer which tried very hard to die. Luckily a fantastic computer surgeon saved it and all the files; amazing!

Now December has arrived and there are so many things I want to show you. I ran down to the shop today with the camera and quickly snapped a few of the Christmas decorations and the stockings which were entered in our competition however, running and quickly snapping are not conducive to producing good pictures so I will definitely have to do this in 2 parts (or more)

So here are the things which I managed to photograph with no wobble or silly angles:

The wreath on the front door, there are miles of garter stitch involved and it took a lot longer than anticipated :

One of my favourites, the Alan Dart Christmas advent tree, complete with decorations and knitted by one of our wonderful customers in aid of Help for Heroes:

and a small part of the window featuring Maxines amazing Christmas Pudding alongside our Noro coffee cosy and you can just see the edge of a pom-pom wreath with Mary and Joseph beside it.

Our window was highly commended in the Chamber of Commerce Christmas window competition and I will try to post an in focus picture soon. I have to admit that being surrounded by Christmas all day in the shop is fun and I am really glad it is December now so I can start to get a few decorations out at home... I said a FEW.

More soon (I hope).

Madness, Mayhem and Mochi

We always knew this was a seasonal business and lucky for us we took over the shop in the quiet season. We are now in full flood knitting season and happily, most days the shop is bursting at the seams. I always take some knitting with me to work but can't remember the last time I had a minute to do a row!
We survived half term, Maxine had her first holiday since we opened and brought back some Crystal Palace Mini Mochi for us to play with.

True to form, Maxine now has a pair of fingerless mittens and mine is stashed waiting to be socks, probably in time for my 50th birthday. However, we are so pleased with the wool we have decided to stock some and now have 5 colours. These fingerless mittens/wristwarmers are wonderful and can be made with any wool, a great stash buster and Christmas present ....(sshh don't mention Christmas)


While away Maxine also managed to whizz up a beautiful Kureyon hood, so simple but very effective and cosy.

This has started a Noro love affair and even the cafetiere has a Kureyon cosy. This only takes one ball and dare I say, another great present.


This brings me back to the painful truth that I have to face, not only am I now in retail where Christmas starts in October (silent scream), my business partner thinks this is great and wants to do everything with extra lights and more glitter, I have already hoovered up bits of tinsel from trees that are lined up waiting to make an appearance. I am taking lots of deep breaths and trying to get in the mood.

We have a lovely customer who has kindly brought us some festive coloured cotton from America. Our first thought was to make some Christmas bunting in the style above but if any of you creative bloggers have better ideas we would love to hear them.


I am off to knit a Christmas present. Teeth are gritted...