Was The Day Before Christmas

and Yarn Elf is trying finish what can be for family and friends. Needles are flying and yarn is dancing to knit 2 color a, knit 3 color b.

As you can see my table has several unfinished projects that will not make the shipping today

How did you fair on your Christmas projects?

Since September This elf has finished one red shawl, 2 large stockings, 2 medium stockings, 7 mini stockings, 3 children stocking caps with fair isle design, 2 adult stocking caps with fair isle design, 2 roll brimmed hats, 1 lace hat, and has 1 wide green scarf about 3/4 done, one medium size stocking 3/4 done, 1tam started, and one mini stocking half done.

. .

Yes it has been a busy time and no I never get all I want or need done. This year things got changed in October for plans and things were added. Mailed one special stocking and was concerned it had not arrived as promised by the post office, but arrived today. Some are making the trek with a Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt. So you can an elf use many ways to get things where they need to be. Also you have to be careful what you say around an elf as yes, he did get a sheep for a special person and another got her red shawl two years later.

Christmas Progress

It has been a busy time in the shop and the deadline for Christmas has begun.

For a special friend who is a pistol toting, hog riding but still a special lady,getting ready to semi-retire, and who has mentioned several times the need of a red shawl, one was created in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light in the redwood shade. The pattern by Evelyn Clark was called Swallowtail Shawl and was knit on a number 10 Susan Bates. It was a spur of the moment thought and given early for holiday enjoyment.

http://www.berroco.com/shade_cards/ultra_alpaca_lt_sh.html

http://www.evelynclarkdesigns.com/pdf/Swallowtail.pdf

Then my dear Mom had a birthday and her things is hats, can never have to many. So it was time for a special one. So I chose the Paton's Angora Bamboo is the Dusty Rose color and adapted a pattern from the Luxury Yarn One Skein Wonders by Storey Publishing.

http://www.patonsyarns.com/product.php?LGC=angorabamboo

http://www.storey.com/book_detail.php?isbn=9781603420792

Then as you can see from the below picture stockings and other things are being done.

And this new addition to the store will be our store mascot. He has a ball of yarn on his lap and has a scarf going. Yarn Elves always have things going and surprises up their sleeves.

Chaos In the Yarn Shop

Yes, chaos in the yarn shop. Along comes fall and a busy schedule becomes even busier.

Do to several request several lines have been expanded and one new one added. So it is time to move. redo and expand.

Part of the redo means painting the final small section, putting up shelves, and a peg board wall.

Finding new homes for some of the yarn, adding some of the new fall yarns and colors also. There is never a dull moment in the shop but there is a lack of time to get all done and keep up with the ever changing market.

I have not been very good at keeping you informed of projects going on, at day's end I wonder where the time has gone. At left is an Entrelac hat band being worked on along with several other projects.

I will have to bring all up to what is being done more often

Summer Projects

Has the beginning of summer made you think of other things to do besides knit or crochet.

It seems that some are seasonal project doers and some of us are die-hard all year around.

In the shop we have changed the display to reflect the sunshine and flowers in bloom. (Thanks YV for your help) In Arizona the sun makes the days warm-- 100 plus is normal for now and the months to come for awhile. Yet there are a few of us who still knit in those temperatures. Socks, hats and scarves are small take along projects. As you can see I have another hat going for my sis' mother-in-law. It seem pink hats are in for my family at this time.

I am also getting ready to start another sock. Do you have a favorite way and pattern to knit socks? Are you one of those who has never knitted socks? Or maybe you are one of those who does not understand the joy of knitting a pair of something.

There have been several inquires as to where is the sock you are knitting, so I will start a basic sock and maybe some of those who asked about socks will join in and learn about sock knitting. They can be knit toe up, cuff down in many styles or patterns, on double points, circular needles, even straight needles, and one or two at a time.

Playing Catch UP

Where do the days go it seems like only a few days ago was Christmas.

The reason for the above picture was a request for a pink hat by Mom and sis's mother-in-law so they could be like the great grand kids. One done and another started. Mom got hers for Mother's Day. The yarn used here is Bernat Jr. Jacquards. And yes it did knit up to the picture on the skein well.

About a half skein, knitted in the round on #4 and #6 needles.

http://www.bernat.com/

Also an update on the Lily project, come a little slow as income tax and record keeping do get in the way of knitting. I have one of the main patten done in this picture.

At the shop we have restocked some of the sock yarn so there can be socks knit as a summer project. Where did

spring go, as school is out here next week. A lace scarf would also make a nice summer project.

There were some nice solids and twist ones in the mix of Fortissima Socka.http://www.skacelknitting.com/

From Winter to Spring

It seems to bee an extra busy first of the year, in the yarn shop, there is the record keeping side and inventory is a required must. But there is always some knit time.

At right is the beginning of a shawl from the Wrapped in Comfort by Alison Jeppson Hyde and published by Martingale & Company

http://www.martingale-pub.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=628

The Pattern is called Bigfoot Shawl and the yarn is Nature Spun finger weight in Lavender Cliffs.
http://brownsheep.com/ns.htm

On the counter a friend, Yarn Vixen, has arranged some on the new yarn. Patons Bamboo and Silk which is soft and silky, Lion Organic Cotton, Moda Dea Vision and Bamboo Wool, and Red Heart Heart and Sole to entice the customers. Thanks for your input, Yarn Vixen.
http://www.lionbrand.com/

http://www.patonsyarns.com/

http://www.coatsandclark.com/



I have also take a little time to to try the Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine and their scarf pattern Adia. This picture does not due justice to the fine heather color. Depending on which color you place it beside as to which color comes out. Though I have only done a few rows, it seems like a nice pattern . Will have to share more again so you see what a nice scarf it will become.

http://www.berroco.com/shade_cards/ultra_alpaca_lt_sh.html

NEW YEAR

Along comes a new year with many things required to finish out the old year. There are end of month books, end of quarter books, end of year books and of course inventory along with the other day to day things.

I have also decided to brush up on my knitting skills to better help my customers along with the other things going on in the life of a yarn elf. I have decided to take the basic knitting course from The Knitting Guild Association and there is the possibility I might take it a step or two beyond. http://www.tkga.com/

I did finish some of my hats for my nieces and my Mom and my sister's Mother-in-Law would like to match their great-granddaughters. so I have a couple of more to knit.

With the new year there are new projects projects planned. I have begun to design a heart scarf for a possible knit along and I also have a scarf started from "Knitted Lace of Estonia" as another choice. The project chosen from this book is "Lilly of the Valley Scarf"

http://www.interweave.com/knit/books/Knitted_Lace_Estonia/