Sunday, February 25, 2007

Otter Creek Calendar for March

I just finished the new calendar of events for the store and I tried to post it. I was hoping it could just copy and post it but I could not. So here are some high lights and you can email me and I will send the PDF version with pictures and calendar.
Margaret Brown Siebert a Not Just Socks Workshop , an inspired class to learn some new skills like: two color knitting, cables and braids in a sock of your own design using a basic sock pattern on #2 ndls. This is a class for folks who all ready know how to knit a basic sock. The class will meet 4 times beginning March 28 at 5PM.
Margaret used to worked for me at the store for 8 years thru High School and college.
Many of you would remember her as the young girl with friendly smile.

Mommy & me knit together Saturday mornings 10- 11:00 With Ellen. Bring your daughter or grand daughter and knit together will resume again in March.

Knitting Appointments with master knitters and a discussion with Kathy Zimmerman at the Pgh. Knit Fest.
Kathy gave me an autographed poster of her Designs for Classic Elite Yarns. We had a great time at Pgh Knit Fest. The hearts were well recieved and I am still selling this pattern at the store.

A wonderful pattern by Annie Modesitt is free to anyone who comes in and asks. You can only get this pattern in
a yarn shop. Annie is trying to help bring business to yarn stores. Thank You Annie!

Friday Knit Club for teens has been meeting at our store after school. A reporter from a local paper came and took pictures and did an interviewed the girls last Friday.

Lots and Lots of new yarn came in on Friday. Louisa Harding yarn with sequins and a ribbon with what looks like frozen rain drop beads on the surface of the yarn, very beautiful. Harding patterns to knit and crochet evening bags, tank tops and shells and dressy accessories. This yarn is very special.
On the other end of the yarn spectrum we also got in affordable afghan yarn A popular acrylic yarn, Patons Canadian at a Sale price during March/ $3.50 for 100gm ball. I have had a few requests for affordable yarn to crochet afghans. So, I ordered some to see if this is really what our customers want. I have always offered this yarn through special orders.

Otter Creek Store Logo

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Knitting in Winter Wonderland

Its a very snowy winter Sunday. I had a very busy day yesterday at the store. A group of 6 knitters came up from a knitting retreat camp weekend that they were attending about 25 miles south of Mercer. They came to visit my store as part of their weekend. It was fun to meet them and watch then enjoy seeing all the yarn and being at the store. They also bought a lot of the yarn I had on sale. I am clearing out my Rowan Felted tweed at $5.00 a ball and MarLa from Classic Elite at $6.50. They could not resist the sale. My total for the day was over $800. Who would believe that on a cold snow winter day this would happen. I needed this to make up for loosing two days $$ last week because of the snow. The shop was packed with knitters all afternoon. We had 6 regulars around the table for Sat. afternoon knitters support meet up from 2-4. The store filled up around noon and I did not clear everyone out till 5:00. I was supposed to close at 4:00.
Last week we had some really slow days. I did not even bother to go up town to open the store on Feb.14, Wed due to the snow and cold. I usually do really well with gifts on Valentines Day. Our schools and Courthouse was closed. I went up around 3:00 and stayed and unpacked yarn I took to the show in PGH. Thursday and Friday I continued to unpacked and rearranged the store. I moved yarn and shelves and free standing displays. The store looks so much better. I will post some pictures.
Their are several knitters that volunteer time to help me at the store. Some teach classes, some just hang out and help customers with their knitting, some watch the store when I cannot, one designs and changes my store front window displays, they unpack boxes and tidy up the store putting yarn back on the shelves after customers leave, they listen to my problems and help choose yarn. None of them want to buy the store but they all want to keep it going. They are part of a very loyal community that has grown around the store. Without their support I could not continue to run the store by myself. Just this week , Marlene showed up on Thursday with homemade lazania for me to take home for supper. Abigail came in on Friday to buy some yarn around 11:30 and stayed all day and helped unpack and move yarn. My customers are so good to me. I really do have a good life. I will post pictures of the store. It looks great. I have to go to the Penns Woods Craft Festival and help with the Chinese Auction this afternoon.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Knit Your Heart Out


Materials: Dish cloth = #8 ndls
Worsted weight Cotton: Rowan All seasons cotton,
Cotton Rich by Cascade, Sugar and Cream
Felted HEART = Cascade 220 Needles #10.5 . - #11 needles

Cast on 10 sts Loosly
.
Row 1: k across 4 sts, Increase one stitch (kf&b =knitting into the front and back of the stitch, You will continue increase this way through out the pattern) of the 5th stitch, PM (pass marker), Increase one stitch knit kf&b of the 6th stitch, knit till 2 sts remain , wyif (with yarn in front of work)
slip these two stitches as if to purl turn.
(you are creating an Icord edge on the heart by slipping the last two stitches and wraping the yarn around these two stitches as you knit them back)

Next 4 rows: Rows 2 - 5: k2, k1, yo. knit across to the stitch before the marker kf&b, PM, kf&b, k across till 4 stitches remain and k1, yo k1, wyif slip last 2 stitches as if to purl, turn. (you will have 28 - 30 sts)

Next 10 rows: Rows 6 - 15: k across to the stitch before the marker kf&b, PM, kf&b, knit across until 2 stitches remain wyif slip last two stitches as if to purl, turn.

Next 3 rows: Rows 16 - 18: K2, k2tog(slip knit pass over), k across to the stitch before the marker kf&b, PM, kf&b, knit across until 4 stitches remain k2tog(ssk) wyif slip last two stitches as if to purl, turn.

Next 3 rows: Rows 19 - 21: k2, k2tog (slip knit pass over) twice ,k across to the stitch before the marker kf&b, PM, kf&b, knit across until 6 stitches remain (k2tog/ssktwice, wyif slip last two stitches as if to purl, turn.

Finish: Bind off loosely. With a tapestry needle work in the tails.
Optional pattern stitches for your hearts: try alternating 4 - 5 rows seed stitch with
4 - 5 rows Stockinett, finish with 3 rows garter stitch.