Views from the Weekend.

First, Saturday. Hollie Wood modeling her finished Selbu from our 2nd KAL. Hollie used Fresco for both the main and contrasting colors. Very cute!

and then on Sunday, Reba Pearson's adorable pug, Weezer, "helping" Theresa with the computer.

New Yarn!

I love it when the UPS man delivers the really big boxes, the ones full of yarn. And yesterday, I had the privilege of opening three of them.

The first was Louet's Euroflax. We now have more than 12 colors, including a lovely new steel gray, in full-project quantities. Thinking maybe the Stacy shawl, or the Counterpane Blouse from the upcoming Interweave Summer 2010 issue?

that bag just behind my arm is that pretty steel gray

Then Lorna's Laces - six new colorways in both shepherd sock and shepherd worsted. Here's Lou admiring the Zombie BBQ colorway. Seriously, these socks would be FUN!

And finally, Madelinetosh. Yes, four colorways of tosh merino have arrived! This yarn is perfect for the Tea Leaves Cardigan or the Cosette Wrap (just sayin' - those are the two projects at the top of my queue!)

fig, glazed pecan, olivia, celadon (you really do need to see these colors in person and in daylight to appreciate their depth - truly, they are stunning!)

We are awaiting more colors and more weights, including sock, pashmina, DK and vintage. And yes - I am looking forward to more of those big boxes!

Socks!

We have spaces available in our Sunday afternoon basic sock class. These socks are knit cuff-down, with a heel flap on double pointed needles. We'll tailor the pattern to match your gauge and measurements, so you can make socks out of whatever yarn you choose, to fit anyone!

The class starts this Sunday, April 25 and meets weekly for four weeks (the last class is Sunday, May 16) from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Liesl. Finished.

Virginia Maike wore her newly-finished Liesl to the shop yesterday. She did a great job with it and I loved seeing a finished sweater from one of our project classes*.

Project specs: Liesl, by Ysolda Teague, knit in Rowan Summer Tweed on size 11 needles. Virginia made the 34" size.

*if you've finished the February Lady Sweater or the Liesl (from classes in February, March, April), we'd LOVE to see it!

Underway with the Selbu Modern Beret.

Friday afternoon, we officially kicked off our 2nd KAL, the Selbu Modern beret. Although we had a full table of knitters, Lucille and Hollie were the only ones working on the beret.

But others are participating - this is Lynn DiCristina's as of yesterday. LOVE how the koigu colors "pop"!

Here are two tips for the beginning:

• First - the stitch count (32) at the end of the instructions about working rows 1-62 of the chart. That is the count of stitches you'll have after you've worked those 62 rows. The chart begins with 24 stitches per repeat; you'll have 8 repeats across the 192 stitches.
• Second - carry the koigu (your contrasting yarn) under the fresco (your background yarn) to make those contrast stitches stand out.

We'll be knitting at the shop again this week - Friday, AugustApril 16 at 2pm.  Please join us!

Cast-on Cottage is on Facebook!

...yep, it's true.

I admit I am brand new to this (Theresa too :-) But it seems the next logical step in building our community, so we're jumping in. Please let us know what you think - your ideas and feedback are just what we need.

And please, become our fan! (many thanks to the eight others who have already shown their support!!)

Getting Ready.

This past Friday was the "official last day" of our first KAL, the Traveling Woman. To mark the occasion, Jane and I modeled our finished shawls.

Mary on the left and Jane on the right

Lynn DiCristina modeled her finished Springtime Bandit, knit from four balls of the lovely soft Debbie Bliss Donagal Luxury Tweed Aran. (and note that the designer of this shawl is the same Kate Gagnon Osborn who designed our 2nd KAL project, the Selbu Modern beret!)

And Karen Cicio selected and wound yarn for her Selbu Modern.

Are you ready to cast on this Friday? 2pm at the shop. If you can't join us in person, please feel free to participate virtually. The more the merrier for sure!