Yarn Shopping in New Jersey: Part One

Pagewood Yarns for a pair of socks and a small shawl
Koigu yarn for the drop stitch shawl

Part One: Since I visited two stores in NJ this weekend, I will do a post on each visit. Today's is about the shop in Princeton.

Spent a really nice Thanksgiving weekend in New Jersey visiting with family and friends. A tradition started about 6 years ago is the annual Saturday-after-Thanksgiving trek to Princeton for lunch, shopping, people watching, and looking at the gorgeous greenery/white lights/red ribbons that decorate the shops and downtown. There were no carolers on the corner this year, but we have seen/heard them in years goneby. This year there were four beautifully decorated horse-drawn buggies parading through town.

Since my really good friend Roberta moved from Central PA to the South almost 2 years ago we have added a wonderful element to the Princeton trip. Roberta travels to the central NJ town from either her brother's or sister's homes in PA/NYC and we spend the afternoon together. This year a large amount of time was spent in the Pins and Needles yarn shop.

We decided to do a two-person "knitalong" and chose a "Drop Stitch Wrap" complete with a ruffled edge. Absolutely adorable. However, we just can't leave well enough alone...we made a slight variation to the pattern by shortening the length. The wrap is knitted lengthwise, on size 3 or 4 needles, from Koigu. But, it is designed to be 90-inches long. Since Roberta and I are neither one over 5-feet tall, a 90-inch wrap is unnecessary. We opted for a 60-inch length which means less yarn needed to be purchased and it won't take as long to knit...a win-win!

I also purchased two skeins of Pagewood Farms sock yarn. Love the stuff. One will be used for socks and the other will most likely be knitted into "Ishbel" which is designed by Ysolda, a young and very talented Swedish knitwear designer. At this point I cannot decide which skein will be used for which project. Will see how the spirit moves me when I get that far.

To be continued....

Patches 8/2/98-11/20/09

My sweet cuddlebug is gone. The constipation proved too much and her body could no longer work the way it should. She tried so hard at the vet office but it just didn't happen. Surgery would have been a very temporary "fix" and she again would have been in pain. I didn't want a colon rupture when I was away working. Patches would have been in so much pain. I would have never forgiven myself. Rest in peace my love. You are now with your Golden brothers. I will love you all always.

Christmas Ornaments

I decided to use some leftover sock yarn to knit Christmas ornaments. Boy are they ever cute! ... if I do say so myself. The patterns are from Kalamazoo Knits and I bought them last fall at Stitches East in Baltimore.

I have two done and as soon as I finish this post will start a third from blue and white sock yarn...Penn State ya know. The patterns are easy and knit up quickly. I bought a box of 8 ornaments at Wal-Mart for $6 so they are inexpensive to make. Would be nice gifts.

I am now searching for a metal tree to hang them from for Christmas. Better start internet surfing.

This is October??

Today's post will again be basically photos. Mother Nature played a cruel joke on this part of Central PA today....first heavy rain which turned into snow...on October 15! The major problem is that the trees are still laided with their leaves and this heavy, wet snow is causing many branches to come down. Here are some photos from my yard. This nasty weather is not to stop until tomorrow. I hope the trees don't fall on the house or cars.

Teddy Bear's Trip to North Carolina

Teddy watches the world go by

Teddy and Daddy watched too much football on TV

Teddy's first time in a hotel. Notice his stuffed babies also made the trip.

Aaaaahhhhh...just like home!

Are we there yet?

Let Us Never Forget....

UFOs

For about the past six months -- since my personal life started to spiral downward dramatically -- I have had a bad case of "startitis." Translation: I keep starting, but not finishing projects. That must change.

This photo is of four pair of socks I have started.

The orange ones are a gift for a friend. Fortunately, she doesn't know I'm knitting them so I don't feel a huge pressure to finish immediately. However, I do want to finish this month so she has them to wear when colder weather hits. These will be the second pair I complete.

The striped ones are technically a "summer" sock. Since one is completed they are going to be my first pair to finish. In fact, I'm taking them along to knitting group this evening. Theory...if you take only one project then you have to work on it. Right? Right.

The reddish striped ones go quickly because they are sport weight and I am knitting them on size 3 needles. They will wait a bit but are third in line.

Last, but not least, is the sock at the bottom of the photo. I thought there was more of it in the photo but I guess not. Well, actually there isn't much to see. It is from an awesome cashmere/merino wool blend that I can't wait to wear. But, I will wait as it is last in line.

These are not my only UFOs. Oh my no. I have a neck warmer on the needles as a birthday present for a friend. Can't say more as she reads this blog. And then there are the various shawls I have started. I am anticipating a fruitful fall and winter of knitting. At least I hope so.

Stay tuned...