Get Your Mummer On!

Best wishes to everyone for a Happy New Year!

Love - the Rosie's Staff

Coming in 2008 - Krazy Kolors - A Kaffe Fassett 4-6 Month Workshop - starting the last Thursday in January. Details to come!

Looking Ahead: Lace!

Hopefully, everyone's holiday knitting is winding down - if it's not, well, I hate to be negative, but if you still have something dangling on your needles that's supposed to end up wrapped with a nice bow, or stuck in a stocking, well, you may have to run to Macy's before it closes for a replacement gift. Or, the other option, of course, is to wrap said hat, scarf, sweater, sock, on the needles, and after its opened, and the appropriate ooing and ahing is done, take it back and finish it at your leisure.

Regardless of the state of your holiday knitting, it's time to fastforward to January - gift knitting is indeed done, and it's time to pick a project to make you happy. A cozy sweater? Nah. Winter is a contemplative, thoughtful time. It's time to take out the needles, sit in front of the fire, listen to music and take out - that CHART!! Can't you picture that perfect Sunday afternoon - curled up with your stitch markers, tiny needles, perhaps a podcast on the old iPod, yarnovering, ssking, ah - ok, well you're now picturing my perfect Sunday - and I want you all to join me.

This winter, I'm signed up for 2 lace mystery knit-a-longs - Spring Secret Surprise and Secret of the Stole II. Between the 2 projects, I need at least 3000 yards of yarn - miles and miles! So, I did a little survey of the store this weekend - and let me tell you, there's no shortage of laceweight at Rosie's -

First up, Conjoined Creations Soy Silk - our website says, "Pastimes is one of our favorite yarns. It comes in hundreds of colors and the lovely ladies who dye it will custom dye any number of skeins in any number of color combos. It's no wonder we spend well over an hour in their booth at TNNA twice a year! And, at $11 a pop for 550 yards it's good for you too! Stop in to see what we have available." And, here it is knit up: I knit Swallowtail, from Interweave Knits, in this yummy laceweight. While I did the number of repeats called for in the pattern, I had plenty of yarn left over, I easily could have knit a few more repeats, and still had yarn to spare. Need neon purple, electric blue? This is your yarn. The stitch definition is spectacular, even before blocking. Affordable, one of a kind colors, great yarddage, who could ask for anything more?

If you say more - we have more! Here's Helen's Laces, from Lorna's Laces. Helen's Lace, a 50 wool/50 silk blend, is 1250 yards, and comes in many lovely, variegated colors. If you don't have a pattern in mind, that's ok, because there's a free pattern for a half circle shawl, knit in short-row wedges, on the back of the label. I'm using it doubled, for the Bird's Nest Shawl from Folk Shawls. The varigation is very subtle, not stripey, so for a handpainted, multi yarn, the lace pattern isn't swallowed by the color, and it's still an excellent choice for many a project.

What else? How about Jade Sapphire's Lacey Lamb? Lacey Lamb is 100% lambswool, and comes in lovely little squishy balls of 825 yards. I have yet to knit with Lacey Lamb, but I love walking around the store, squeezing a ball like it's Charmin. I have 2 skeins of the Teal set aside for Secret of the Stole ii. For anyone who has walked by the shop, and stared in awe at the red, circular shawl from Victorian Lace hanging in the window, that's Lacey Lamb. Here's a swatch knit up:

Is a size 3 needle too big for you? We have a yarn for you! Grignasco Merino Silk - basically a cobweb weight yarn. "Merino Silk is miraculous stuff--even thinner than Zephyr, with a more even, polished twist. And like so many ultra-thin yarns, the value is almost ridiculous: 1533 yards per 100 grams for $16."
Too skinny, you say? Double it! It's still a bargain.
Not looking for a bargain? Looking for decadence? Cashmere, of course! Jade Sapphire's 2ply Cashmere. Do I need to blog about the wonders of cashmere? I think not, onward!

I've saved the tried and true for last (although,not really last - next time I'm in the shop with my camera, I'll put together a post of nontraditional yarns to use for lace, like Alpaca Sox . . .), Jaggerspun Zephyr. I love Zephyr because I've used it so many times, I don't have to swatch - I know I love it on a 4. Of course, there are more reasons to love Zephyr. How many yards you do you need? 3000 you say, not a problem! Color? Oh, we have a few - or 20. I think I'm doing Spring Shawl Surprise in Pewter, or Mushroom - or . . . I don't know, so many choices!

Not enough choices? Well, there's more at the shop, and I'll be talking about them in the coming weeks. And, come in - there's nothing like fondling the yarn to help you make a decision. Thanks to Sheri for knitting all of the above swatches in a lovely sampler scarf.

Happy Holidays everyone!!!!

Hot Baby Potato!

We had cookies! Aren't you impressed with my workmanship? I originally thought I was going to be the Rembrandt of Christmas cookies - I mixed colors, I had a whole painter's palette of colored icing - but, um, they were pastels - I had pink stockings, and neon trees, and they were gloppy, and runny . . . and enough of the horror story - thank goodness for Duncan Hines!

And we had presents! What goodies were in the
grab bag, you ask - fantastic stuff! One of a kind Silk Blend Manos, Lisa Souza sock yarn, Socks that Rock, Anne (and no, I didn't put the Anne in the bag, but I did go home with Anne!), Noro Silk Garden Lite, Tess, and sooo much more. The Rosie's girls were to polite for thievery the first round, by by the second round, everyone wanted to get their hands on that one of kind, pink Manos Silk Blend, and all bets were off. Thanks to everyone who participated in the Great Secret Santa Stash Buster. I hope everyone liked what they scored, and hopefully, this will become a Rosie's tradition.

Cookies,presents, nogg, what else could we possibly need. A baby! MUST HOLD THE BABY! When the music stops, pass the baby!!!

Marissa held the baby!
Suzanne held the baby . . .
Pass the baby!
Magda, Lisa and Allison - smell the baby, touch the baby, oooh ahh the baby!


And to think, there really was yarn at this party!

Secret Santa Stash Buster Party!!!!!

Dear Clyde:

You missed the last Rosie's Yarn Cellar Party - but now that you're here - you can go to our next party - December 19, 2007 during knitting circle, the Great Secret Santa Stash Buster!

Look at all the fun you missed - Aunt Stacy knitted her Knightsbridge Sweater.

Mom ooed and ahed at all the fanastic stuff you got - here's a nice red blanket from Andrea.

And - what are these pretty girls thinking? When's that Flippy going to get here already, darnit!

And a spiffy cardigan from Sheri.


And what are these mischievous girls up to? Thinking about what they're bringing to the Secret Santa Stash Buster party - look at that Marissa - she's thinking, "can I get away with a skein of Red Heart wrapped in a $20 - I really don't want to give up anything in my stash . . ."

And look what Aunt Laura got you - "Made in Philly," isn't she thoughtful that it doesn't say, "Yo, Adrienne,we did it!"




And lookie - a present for Mom - hope you haven't projectile vomited on it yet! Thanks Aunt Lisa!



Oh yeah, there weren't just presents - there was cake! Thanks Karen. I'm not sure about the cake on December 19, 2007 - you don't have any teeth yet. But the grownups will be having eggnog and Christmas cookies - and whatever other treats anyone else wants to bring.


And, since you're only oh, a month or so old, you probably don't have any stash accumulated - but the rest of us do! And, wait til ya see the madness when we have the Secret Santa Stash Buster - everyone is going to wrap up a $15- $25 item/items - throw it in a bag, and then, let me tell you, mayhem and frivolity will ensue. I promise you - there's going to be a skein of Anne in that grab bag - and I'm sure many other luscious goodies too.

So, Clyde, don't forget about the party. Take your nap early - and we hope to see you - and everyone else there!

Love -

Rosie's

Clyde is here! Look how cute!
And don't you love the 4-Ply Soft sweater? 6 lbs 10 oz and 19 1/4" long. Born on November 29th, and yes, natural childbirth is overrated. Yikes! But, he's absolutely perfect and we couldn't be happier. I miss you all, but happy to be home knitting in bed with Clyde.

SALE!!!!

We're having a book and bag sale - come on in!!!!! We only have one copy of many of the below books, so first come first serve - I'm sure they're going to FLY off the shelf, so hurry on down!

The following titles are 40% off!!!

In no particular order:

Hand Felted Jewelry and Beads by Carol Huber Cypher
Fabulous Felted Hand-Knits by Jane Davis
Knitstyle by Barbara Larson
Exquisite Little Knits by Iris Schreier & Laurie Kimmelstiel
Celebrity Scarves II by Abra Edelman
Knitting Beautiful Boas and Scarves by Ruth Lee
Crocheted Socks! Janet Rehfeldt and Mary Jane Wood
Classic Crocheted Vests Nancie Wiseman
Family Circle Easy Crochet
Crocheted Lace Pauline Turner
Cool Crochet Melissa Leapman
Crocheted Aran Sweaters and More Crocheted Aran Sweaters Jane Peever
Knit and Crochet with Beads Lily Chin
Cozy Crochet Melissa Leapman
Knit & Crochet Ponchos, Wraps, Capes & Shrugs
Fast Knits Fat Needles
Family Circle Easy Accessories
Creative Machine Knitting Ruth Lee
Tapestry Weaving A Comprehensive Study Guide
Learn to Knit
12 Easy Knitting Projects
Big Fish, Little Fish Jill Eaton
The Pattern Companion Knitting
Adorable Knits for Tots Zoe Mellor
Paintbox Knits
100 Hats to Knit and Crochet
Knitting in Color Brandon Mably
Decorative Knitting
After Dark, Uncommon Knits for Night Time
Brilliant Knits Brandon Mably
Handknit Style Linden Ward and Beryl Hiatt
Hot Knits Melissa Leapman
Simple Chic Jil Eaton
New Directions in Knitting
Perfectly Brilliant Knits Melissa Matthay
Chunky Knits
Knitting Simple Sweaters from Luxurious Yarns Marilyn Saitz Cohen
Big Needle Knitting
At Knits End Stephanie Pearl McPhee
Country Inspiration Sasha Kagan
Pursenalities and Pursenality Plus Eva Wiechman
The Knitting Experience: Book 3 Color
The Ultimate Knitted Tee
Reader's Digest Two-Stitch Knits

All bags (except the awesome Lantern Moon fish bags) are 35% off!

And, while books last, a free copy of Tara Jon Mannings Mindful Knitting or The Gift Knitter with any purchase of $100 or over.

Congratulations, Courtney!

Courtney's adorable Schoolmarm Vest is in the new issue of Interweave Crochet!

The magazine arrived in the shop yesterday. Doesn't it look great?

Oh, and also she had the baby yesterday. They're calling him Clyde.

Coming Soon! (Or Not Soon Enough!)

Take a peek!!!

Congrats Lisa, Laura and Carol! Can't wait to see it on our shelves.

We're Going to be in Pictures!

We're gonna be famous! We're gonna move to Hollywood! We're gonna get a sitcom! We're gonna drive convertibles . . .

Ok, I may be getting a bit carried away. But you never know - first CN8, next, the WORLD.

CN8 came to visit the shop last night, and is tentatively planning to air their "Holiday Knitting" extravaganza on It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle possibly on November 19th. We'll keep you posted on the date.

Of course, the reporter was a bit stymied when no one actually was doing any holiday knitting - but leave it to the Rosie's girls to be creative - "this sweater is for my sister, it's for her birthday . . . but it could be for Christmas."

No one doing holiday knitting??? Knitters, I hate to tell you this, but, that season is fast approaching. Here are my tips:

a. Don't do holiday knitting, knit for yourself.

b. If you can't do a, do the following:

1. Start early. If you come into the store on the Saturday before Christmas wanting to make grandma a sweater, I will surely sell you the yarn with a smile, but honey, you're not going to get it done. If you're planning a big project for mom, dad, husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, other, whoever, plan and start early.

2. Prioritize. Make sure you knit for people who are going to appreciate it. If your six year old nephew wants a matchbox car (do they still make those?), get him the matchbox car, don't knit him a scarf. Save the knitting for those that will understand the love and care behind each stitch.

3. Don't get overwhelmed. It's just a holiday, it's supposed to be fun. If you have to give one sock still on the needle, or wrap up your sweater in parts (a box for the sleeve, a box for a body, etc.), it's all good.

So, if you're planning on doing holiday knitting - come into the shop - we'll help you through this trying time. Or, we'll convince you to knit for yourself.

Diary of a UFO (or 4)

Or, "Why I Have 14 Projects On Needles At All Times."

Here's a quick overview of my knitting for the last two weeks:

I went to Stitches with two projects packed: a top-down sweater with the body finished and one sleeve on needles, and an unstarted sock.

When I got a moment to work on the sweater, a colleague looked at it and confirmed what I'd suspected for some time: the yarn is defective and the sweater will never look right. I'd been running on denial for weeks, but it's harder to ignore that little voice saying "That's not going to block out" when it's full-grown and outside your head.

Fixing it will require extensive ripping. I didn't have the heart for it, and there wasn't much point, since I didn't have any more yarn with me and will have to contact the manufacturer.

Let's call this UFO #1. I put it aside.

Then I picked up the sock needles and cast on for a rolled cuff and a simple two-color diagonal stripe pattern. The cuff went fine, but before I'd even started the stranded part, someone said, "Do you really think those two colors are going to read together?"

I kept going for an inch or two before admitting that no, they wouldn't. I considered a larger-scale stripe, which would be easier to read, but it still wouldn't be great. I decided maybe that yarn wanted to be lacy socks instead. I ravelled it out and put it aside, since I didn't have my stitch dictionaries with me. We'll call it UFO #2.

Now I was at Stitches and I had nothing to knit. There are, I know, worse predicaments. I found a beautiful skein of laceweight that I thought would go well with the #3 needles I'd brought for the socks. But it was a small skein (500 yds), and I didn't want to get involved in a large project anyway, since I happen to have two laceweight projects on needles at home already.

After some consultation with colleagues and books, I decided on Swallowtail from Knits sometime last year. With further help (thanks, Wendy!), I procured a copy of the issue in question, and cast on.

Swallowtail went beautifully over the next few days. I worked on it mostly on the bus. Then came the moment when I had to make some calculations about enlarging it. For this, I needed a postage scale and half an hour of good concentration. Getting either one was going to take a few days, so -- I put it aside. UFO #3.

Next, I cast on for a gift that has a definite deadline. Things have been going just swimmingly: I'm on gauge, on schedule, and I'm not using up the yarn too fast. But meanwhile, I got what I needed to continue with Swallowtail, and for a few days, I worked on both: Swallowtail is great for the bus because it's so compact; the other sweater is bulkier and mostly stays at home.

Then came the next stage of Swallowtail: the part where Wendy and Courtney had said, "Go get some beads. No one wants to do nupps." At the time, I thought, "Hmm, I like beads. But I know a trick for p3tog that will probably work for p5tog. And I don't think I have any beads the right color. So I'll try the nupps."

I got through almost half a row before giving up on that idea. Another couple days of working on the sweater while waiting to get to the bead store.

I got the beads last night, and they're great. But Swallowtail is now most definitely an at-home-only project.

Tonight is Knitting Circle. No problem, you say -- bring the sweater. But the recipient of the sweater is going to be at Knitting Circle, and I don't want her to see me working on it. So . . .

UFO #4, and I'll be casting on for something else tonight.

How do you one-project-at-a-time people do it?

Stitch-o-rama Mama

So, are you all recovered from Stitches East? I am, just barely. And all I have to say is, "Whoa. I have never been so tired in my whole life." Stitches for me every year is kind of like going to summer camp, you see all the vendors and friends that you only see at Stitches or TNNA, you go have some drinks and dinner, you shop together, you plan and plot. This year? I slept. What ever possessed me to think that I would be fine at Stitches 8 and a half months pregnant or not, I'll never know. My guess is that it is the same stubborn part of me that thinks I'll have a blast at Rhinebeck this weekend. I may be sleeping in the car.
BUT! That said, it was a really great weekend. Hello again to everyone we saw and sad we didn't see you to those who couldn't make it. I think I agree with Carol that it seemed less crowded this year, but I have also heard rumors that the numbers at the door were up. Who knows? Rosie's booth was busy, when I was there (I did lots of sleeping in the hotel room), and we sold lots of great projects. Kaffe came by Friday morning to sign his new book, which made many peoples day--and Brandon (who I think is one of my favorite people. One day when he is in Philly I am going to take him out on the town) stopped by and to say hello. Veronik signed her new lovely book that afternoon (I slept through it, but she forgave me) and it was great to se her again. And, I got some excellent Socks that Rock. I had a moment when I couldn't decide if making a baby blanket in a colorway called "Bleck" was okay or not, but in the end it is a nice lavender-ish grey and the baby will never know the color was named after a onomatopoeia for disgust. I thought I was going to make it through the weekend only having bought Socks that Rock but on the last day I got caught up in a whirlwind of Shadyside Farms yarn. It's just YARN. Good, old fashioned two ply softly handspun 100% wool yarn. It is sitting in the trunk of my car still with everything else I can't bring myself to carry up to our second floor apartment or I'd show you a picture. It's awfully nice. All in all, I think I was rather restrained.
It was a strange show for me though. In a way I feel like I wasn't even there. I was a bit in a daze the whole time I think. The crab whacking with the crew was great though. I'll see if I can get the rest of them to chime in.

Ready?

If you've got:

receipt pads
box cutters
tape
pens
calculators
trail mix
peanut brittle
breath-freshener strips
Rolaids
Aleve
No-Doz
Xanax
and a rental truck the size of a Septa bus --

what are you ready for?

Stitches!

At least, that's what you need if you're us. If you're you, all you need is comfortable shoes and some spending money. So come see us this weekend at the Baltimore Convention Center. Friday would be an especially good day, because Kaffe Fassett will be signing his new book, Kaffe Knits Again, at 10:30; Veronik Avery will be signing Knitting Classic Style at 2; and Brandon Mably will be signing Knitting Color at 4. Why not take a personal day to come meet some yarn-world bigshots? You deserve it.

Smells Like Holiday Spirit

The holidays are coming. They are coming to get us. I have mixed feelings about this particular holiday season--a lot is going on this year. The wee babe is due to arrive sometime the end of November or beginning of December and that has really sucked all of the life out of me. I just looked up this morning and thought, "Holidays. Gifts. Knitting. Family. Oh, sh!t." It really hadn't occured to me at all. I have been just bopping along, with the occasional thought bubble that goes, "I should ask for that for christmas," and now I realize I haven't gotten anything for anyone, and have no plans to, and now that I am officially a grown-up no one is going to get me a damn thing either. And, yes yes, I know, it's not about the gifts it's about family and togetherness and celebrating the timely arrival of little Flippy and all that crap but really what is it we stress about around the holidays? Gifts. Money. Your drunk Aunt Fanny.
Am I a bad daughter if I don't get anyone anything? Am I a bad mother if I don't get my baby anything? Are you supposed to get your newborn a gift? I mean, it won't know the difference and haven't I just given the greatest gift of all (life, my perky breasts, my abdominal tone)? What do you get a newborn? I just bought a choo-choo train lamp on ebay, should I stick it in a box? Aren't I supposed to be more sentimental than this?
Am I just stressing about nothing?
Yes.
And isn't that exactly what the holidays are about?
So, what are you guys knitting for your relatives this year?

Shibui Knits! Yea!

Oh, it is so yummy! Seven lovely colors of Shibui Knits Merino Kid DK. Soft as ever and with super saturated color and not to mention the sheen on these puppies! Stacy has already stashed a sweaters worth in the back!
We also got a little bit of new Alchemy, four colors of Alpaca Pure (two which are new for us). This is a great hand-dyed alpaca, and we have a nice popover mitten pattern for it here.

We also got three new colors of Alchemy Haiku-- Mediterranean, Dragon and Montreat Path Which rounded out the shelf nicely.
And I guess we have to admit that that time of year is looming ever nearer. Interweave's Holiday Gift issue arrived this afternoon, full of great patterns for quick (and not-so-quick) gifts.

All in all, a very nice day!

Stitches is coming!

Baltimore, you're home to me!

Stitches East 2007-October 11-14th

Rosie's Booth #430-432

We are beginning to gear up for our annual excursion to the Stitches East Convention, being held this year at the Baltimore Convention Center.

If you are coming down for the day, make it a Friday to see Kaffe Fassett in our booth starting at 10:30. He'll be signing his new book, "Kaffe Knits Again." If you are down on Saturday Veronik Avery will be signing her new book, Knitting Classic Style, at 2pm.

Stay for a while and maybe take a class of two with your favorite designers! Download the class schedule here. It's going to be a fun and busy weekend, we can't wait to see you!

Some things to do (non-knitting, you know, to appease the kids and spouses) in Baltimore:

Come on down for the day, explore the Inner Harbor, send the kids to the Aquarium and shop til you drop! Or, stay for the weekend, whack some crabs and maybe explore the seedier side of B'more with my personal favorite, the John Water's walking tour, or pretend that Baltimore really has gotten to be a nice place by spending the day at the Art Museum, where you can see mediocre art by great artists. I personally recommend the American Visionary Art Musuem if you are looking to be cultured, Baltimore style. Or traipse over to the Enoch Pratt Library which is very pretty. "Baltimore, the City that Reads" was actually a slogan the mayor developed to put on benches throughout the city in the late 90's. More often people were passed out drunk on the benches. As a teenager we always wanted to graffiti them to say "Baltimore, the City that Drinks". But there you can check out a copy of The Tale-Tell Heart and go sit on Edgar Allen Poe's headstone.

I love Baltimore, can you tell?

Yummy Cashmere

Mmm...Yummy yummy cashmere from Jade Sapphire in 5 new colors:


Mahogany
Mallard

Silver Fern

Smokey Mountain

and Wasabi

2 ply, perfect for shawls, stoles, delicate baby items or anything you need to get your luxury on with. $37 per skein for 400 yards.
And also arrived with a new label, in English this time (which is helpful when you are trying to figure out the yardage or something else silly like that!) is new colors of Lacey Lamb, the yarn we used for the Half Circle Shawl (<--see Wendy's Blog!) from Victorian Lace Today.

Auburgine
Charcoal

Chartreuse

Light Red

and Seafoam

And also Brown, but I seem not to have taken a picture of that one. Ah, yarn...another reason to love fall!